Lendoris Plays On

This week was a big one. World of Warcraft: Forever has launched, and Blizzard says it's the biggest launch in WoW history. I talk about level 30 and beyond, the new quests, and why it feels more open world than ever, with each dungeon done once and then on to the next quest. I also play Ocarina of Time with my son, watch him tackle the 3rd-person camera and jumping, and chase the same memories I had 28 years ago. GTA launches next week, so what's the first thing you're going to do? Then a listener question: how do you juggle games? And in the throwback, I'm still hunting a Triforce that was never in Ocarina of Time.

Sources

• GamesIndustry.biz: GTA 6 becomes the most pre-ordered game on PlayStation and Xbox storefronts
• IGN: Ocarina of Time is a huge success for Nintendo and just broke a Switch 2 sales record
• Windows Central: Blizzard confirms WoW: Forever is the biggest launch in WoW history

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• Email: [email protected]
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Play on.

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This week on Lendoris Plays On, we're heading back to Azeroth and revisiting the music, memories, and games that made us fall in love with gaming.

A new chapter for classic Azeroth is almost here! We're talking about Blizzard's plans for WoW Forever, the return of old-school adventure, and whether it can recapture the magic of classic WoW while giving players something new to discover.

From Halo 3: ODST and Skyrim to Mass Effect, we're exploring the soundtracks that take us back in time. Plus, original Mass Effect composer Sam Hulick is working on a re-scored version of the leaked Mass Effect trailer for N7 Day. Why does video game music stay with us long after the credits roll?

With the original Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare era approaching its 20th anniversary, we're asking whether the latest release can bring back the classic Call of Duty feeling.

• What's your first character going to be in WoW: Forever?
• Which game soundtrack takes you straight back to another time?
• Are you buying Modern Warfare 4 or waiting for a sale?

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Questions, feedback, or gaming talk? Get in touch!

Lendoris Plays On.

• PC Gamer - Sam Hulick's Mass Effect trailer re-score
• Official World of Warcraft website
• Metacritic - Call of Duty reviews

We say goodbye to a legendary studio. EA is shutting down BioWare and ending early development on the next Mass Effect, so I look back at my own Mass Effect story and talk about who should carry the IP next.Then the news: Final Fantasy Resonance comes out today. I'm also giving my final thoughts on Gears of War: E-Day, and breaking down Xbox's price hikes and what Project Helix might cost.Play on.SOURCESGameSpot: EA shuts down BioWare, layoffshttps://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-shuts-down-dragon-age-mass-effect-studio-bioware/GamesRadar: EA cancels new Mass Effect, closes BioWarehttps://www.gamesradar.com/games/rpg/ea-cancels-new-mass-effect-closes-bioware-after-being-bought-by-saudi-arabia/VideoCardz: BioWare shut down, EA cuts 400 jobshttps://videocardz.com/newz/ea-shuts-down-bioware-after-30-years-next-mass-effect-game-canceledNintendo Life: BioWare founding and cataloghttps://www.nintendolife.com/news/2026/10/ea-shuts-down-legendary-rpg-developer-biowareBleeding Cool: Mass Effect series statushttps://bleedingcool.com/tv/mass-effect-series-writer-work-continues-the-writers-are-writing/Thurrott: Xbox console price increasehttps://www.thurrott.com/games/337919/microsoft-announces-up-to-150-price-increases-for-xbox-consoles-starting-on-august-1Video Games Chronicle: Project Helix price reporthttps://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/xbox-project-helix-could-cost-999-to-1200-report-suggests/OnMSFT: Helix memory costs and pricinghttps://onmsft.com/?p=58976Nintendo Life: Final Fantasy Resonance Famitsu reviewhttps://www.nintendolife.com/news/2026/10/the-first-review-for-final-fantasy-resonance-is-inFOLLOW ALONGEmail: [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/lendoris_is_my_gamertagThreads: https://www.threads.net/@lendoris_is_my_gamertagBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/memoryunlocked.bsky.social

Ep 3: Why the GameCube never took off, my love for Wind Waker, and whether Ocarina of Time is getting a remake or reskin. Plus GTA news, Can Xbox make a good game movie, and Castlevania's first 2D return in 17 years. Play on.Sepsiss Website

• IGN: Cyberleek crypto crash
• Variety: Xbox film and TV division
• IGN: Castlevania: Belmont's Curse review

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Gears of War: E-Day is out, so we’re heading back to where it all started. We look back at the Gears trilogy on Xbox 360, from the chainsaw Lancer and cover system to Horde, plus the “Mad World” trailer that made me stop and stare. Then E-Day’s launch and how it’s landing, the new Mythic Achievements badge, October games worth getting excited about (Final Fantasy Resonance, Star Wars Galactic Racer), and a quick check-in on my enhancement shaman in the WoW: Forever beta and M$ just release WoW on Consoles already!

Addendum

A couple of corrections from the episode:

• The High on Life achievement says 15 hours in the alien strip club not 20.
• The Gears 4 and Gears 5 Horde mode has 5 players, not 6.

Links & Sources

News

• IGN: Gears of War: E-Day devs on being one of Xbox’s main titles
  https://ign.com/articles/gears-of-war-e-day-devs-proud-to-be-one-of-xboxs-main-titles-amid-newfound-focus-on-exclusivity
• Metacritic: Every Gears of War game ranked
  https://www.metacritic.com/pictures/every-gears-of-war-game-ranked-worst-to-best/2
• IGN: World of Warcraft: Forever, Skyborne lore, abilities and overview trailer
  https://www.ign.com/videos/world-of-warcraft-forever-official-skyborne-lore-abilities-overview-trailer

Gears of War cinematic trailers

• Gears 1: “Mad World”
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wy8LRlS1SCc
• Gears 2: “Rendezvous with Death”
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXIjDzlGc5I
• Gears 2: “The Last Day”
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNCF6sDymRc
• Gears 3: “Ashes to Ashes”
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7Te5fcnrUA
• Bonus: Gears 3: “Dust to Dust”
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86QvTlQ5ziY

In Episode 1, I’m digging into the big changes happening with Halo, including Xbox layoffs and Activision taking over development of the next mainline game. What could this new chapter mean for the future of Halo?

Plus, I share my early experience with WoW: Forever, and look back at the legendary 2007 showdown between Halo 3 and Call of Duty 4 and how that rivalry changed gaming.

Contact

[email protected]

Sources & Further Reading:

IGN — Halo’s Former Franchise Creative Director Sees 3 Possible Paths for Activision’s Halo
https://www.ign.com/articles/halos-former-franchise-creative-director-sees-3-possible-paths-for-activisions-halo

GamesRadar+ — WoW: Forever Beta and Blizzard’s Server Issues
https://www.gamesradar.com/games/world-of-warcraft/the-craziest-numbers-ive-seen-in-17-years-working-at-blizzard-wow-forever-devs-seem-genuinely-shocked-the-beta-is-so-popular-as-they-explain-why-their-mmo-servers-keep-breaking/

Xbox Wire — Continuing Our Reset
https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/09/22/continuing-our-reset/

Dork — Bonnie Ross and Kiki Wolfkill Respond to Halo Studios Layoffs
https://readdork.com/gaming/bonnie-ross-kiki-wolfkill-halo-studios-layoffs-reactions-11b331e0c9

Lendoris Plays On is a podcast for people who grew up with a controller and now have kids yelling for snacks.

Gaming culture can feel overwhelmingly negative these days with layoffs, broken launches, price hikes, and declaring games “dead” before they even arrive. But what happened to simply being excited about games?

Lendoris Plays On is about finding that excitement again. Each episode takes a look at the latest gaming news, revisits memorable moments from gaming’s past, and shares honest thoughts on what’s worth playing, all without ignoring the problems or pretending everything is perfect.

From the legendary Halo 3 midnight launch to whatever gaming moment comes next, the goal is simple: remember why we love this hobby in the first place.

20 minutes. Real gaming talk. A little more hope

Contact

[email protected]