Kotaku Splitscreen

We're just days away from the best time of the year: E3. Kirk and Jason open with some discussion of Mass Effect: Andromeda's turbulent development (4:03) before jumping into E3 talk, going through each press conference to talk about hopes and predictions. First up is Electronic Arts (17:17), then Microsoft (25:15), Bethesda (35:52), Ubisoft (43:44), Sony (49:44), and Nintendo (1:00:27). Last, a quick discussion about our podcast plans for the coming week (1:15:25).

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Jason explains to Kirk why gambling is the best thing ever and talks wedding catering before we jump into ARMS (11:54) and Star Trek Bridge Crew (19:21). Then, Kirk and Jason talk about "service games" (22:53), how the Final Fantasy VII remake will never come out (29:34), and Far Cry 5 hot takes (35:45). Kotaku staff writer Cecilia D'Anastasio joins the show (43:08) to talk about Overwatch, reporting, and her favorite animes. Then we cap things off with listener questions (1:11:05) on E3 Judge's week and free video game updates. 

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Jason and Kirk talk about YouTube copyright strikes (10:21), Red Dead Redemption 2's delay (21:10), and Overwatch's one-year anniversary (27:19) before bringing on Giant Bomb editor Dan Ryckert to chat about working at Giant Bomb, unhealthy eating habits, and what it'll be like to get married at Taco Bell. Then we sign off with some light TV talk (1:06:20).

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Join Kirk and Jason for a VERY SPECIAL BONUS EPISODE dedicated to the Destiny 2 reveal.

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Industry luminary Chris Avellone joins the show once again to talk about his recent work on Prey. First, Kirk and Jason talk a bit about Nier: Automata (6:55) and the Nintendo Switch (11:15) before jumping into this week's news: Zelda reportedly coming to smartphones (16:24); Tom Brady appearing on the cover of Madden 18 (21:19); and Alan Wake disappearing from Xbox Live and Steam (28:55). Then we speak to Avellone (34:30) about his writing work on Prey and how he constructed all of those great characters. We even BLOW HIS MIND with the revelation of a fantastic easter egg. Finally, we've got a couple of listener questions (1:04:17) including one that really Takes a Chance.

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The new Zelda has been out for two months now, so let's spoil it! First, Kirk and Jason talk this week's news including the rocky future of Mass Effect (5:20), an eleven-year-old getting GTA V and finding a bag of meth instead (11:41) and Assassin's Creed/Far Cry leaks (15:38). Then Stephen Totilo joins the podcast for a nice chunk of Breath of the Wild spoiler talk (22:56). And Kirk and Jason finish things off with some Prey (1:06:55).

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Jason just started Nier: Automata, so he and Kirk talk about that for a bit (7:17) before jumping into the news, starting with Zelda's first DLC (18:33). Then, they chat New 2DS XL (24:42) and Darksiders 3 (31:59) before pulling open the listener mailbag to take YOUR questions on all sorts of things, from Switch's VR potential (38:16) to Mass Effect: Andromeda (53:51) to what Kirk and Jason would do if they were put in charge of Bungie and asked to make up some new Destiny games (1:18:02). Assuming Bungie didn't oust them in a grand coup, that is.

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Kirk and Jason start off the show by talking about the new indie games What Remains Of Edith Finch and The Sexy Brutale before jumping into this week's news: the announcement of Call of Duty: WWII (13:01), an Overwatch player's racist tirade (21:48), and Persona 5 localization complaints (28:02). Then they bring on veteran programmer Brett Douville (38:12) to talk about the stresses of LucasArts, his work at Bethesda on Fallout 3 and Skyrim, and his lovely podcast, Dev Game Club.

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There's lots to discuss on today's Splitscreen, starting with some brief chat about Kirk's cool Undertale cover (3:37) and some of the games we've been playing including Mario Kart 8 and Dungeon Keeper (10:23). Then, we dig into the week's news, starting with Nintendo discontinuing the NES Classic (23:44) and selling nearly a million Switches in the United States last month (29:21). We talk about why we're optimistic for Star Wars Battlefront II's campaign (34:10) and then Jason disappears so Kirk can talk to Kotaku staffers Mike Fahey and Heather Alexandra about what makes Nier: Automata so rad (42:59). Finally, Kirk and Jason reconvene to talk about The West Wing and answer a listener question (1:00:47).

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Actress and writer Ashly Burch joins the show to talk about what it was like to play Aloy, the protagonist of Horizon Zero Dawn. But first, News Hour, with stories on PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds selling a million copies (14:59), Star Wars: Battlefront II's first trailer (17:34), and Scorpio specs (19:27). Then Ashly comes on to talk about voice acting for Horizon, perfecting the voice of Aloy, and how her character has the most badass video game hair of all time (29:34). We close things off with some listener mail about video games changing after they launch (1:04:38).

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