Normal People Gaming

GTA 6 is taking over Game Informer with a 14-page cover story, and a years-old 4chan post that got GTA 6 details right has L.A. Noire 2 rumors heating up again. Michael and Duane break it all down.Plus: The Witcher 3 Remastered is out today as a free upgrade, Xbox Disc to Digital rolls out to everyone, Mythic Achievements are on the way, and the Guillermo del Toro BioShock movie that almost happened, until some "disastrous phone calls."Normal People Gaming is a weekly live show about gaming news from two regular dudes who just love games. Drop your take in the comments: is L.A. Noire 2 real? We'll have more to say in the post-show, available soon to Patreon and YouTube members.TIMESTAMPS:0:00 Intro1:03 Halloween costume plans4:20 Duane's pick: Clive Barker's Hellraiser Revival9:00 What we're playing: TCG Card Shop Simulator & No Man's Sky12:11 GTA 6 Game Informer cover story14:43 GTA 6's $400 collector's box (no game included)20:03 Xbox Disc to Digital25:52 Xbox Mythic Achievements28:40 More Last of Us & Intergalactic29:22 The "woke meter" review site34:06 The Witcher 3 Remastered36:47 Heroes of the Storm's first new hero in 6 years38:46 L.A. Noire 2 rumors & the 4chan leak45:04 Guillermo del Toro's BioShock movie46:44 Video game movies: Mortal Kombat & Street Fighter50:35 Pokémon TCG player hygiene52:31 Gears of War: E-Day54:08 Metal Gear Solid 2's first boss skip58:06 God of War Laufey pre-orders59:40 Wrap-upJoin our Discord!https://discord.gg/mAqzE9mCBwJoin our Patreon!patreon.com/NormalPeopleGaming

Is Wolverine proof that video games hold your hand too much? Marvel's Wolverine is selling like crazy, but its design has players debating how much games should guide you. Michael and Duane get into it.Plus: Xbox shakes up its studios with Halo heading to Activision and Obsidian joining Bethesda, a ton of Bethesda news, Fable, GTA 6, BlizzCon, and TCG Card Shop Simulator with the upcoming Stage Tour. We also talk about Starfield. Weird!Normal People Gaming is a show about gaming news from two regular dudes who just love games. Drop your take in the comments: should games hold your hand or let you figure it out? Subscribe so you don't miss the next one.Join our Discord!https://discord.gg/mAqzE9mCBwJoin our Patreon!patreon.com/NormalPeopleGaming

2025 delivered some of the most revealing signals the industry has seen in years—and not from the usual blockbuster suspects.

In this episode, we break down the breakout indie success of Clair Obscur and Arc Raiders, and why their reception says more about the future of gaming than any annual franchise release. From player trust and long-term support to pacing, tone, and mechanical restraint, these games highlight what audiences are actually responding to right now.

We also dig into the growing backlash against AI usage in games. Where it’s being rejected outright, where it might still have value, and how misuse risks eroding player confidence. Is AI a creative tool, a cost-cutting shortcut, or a ticking PR time bomb?

Looking ahead to 2026 it seems there's a bigger question:
What lessons will studios take from 2025, and which ones will they ignore?

Xbox just dropped a huge bombshell: Game Pass is jumping from $20 to $30/month—and gamers are NOT happy. In this episode of Normal People Gaming, Duane and Michael dive deep into the Game Pass controversy, whether the new price hike is worth it, and what it really means for Xbox fans.We also share what we’re currently playing—Cyberpunk 2077, Dying Light: The Beast—and preview one of the most exciting upcoming games of 2025: Arc Raiders, a brand-new extraction shooter from the creators of The Finals. Plus, shout-outs to Borderlands 4, Game Informer’s Sierra feature, and more.🎮 Topics in this episode:Xbox Game Pass price hike explained ($30 Ultimate tier)What’s new: Fortnite perks + Ubisoft Classics libraryIs Game Pass still worth it in 2025?Cyberpunk 2077 vs Starfield’s “sanitized” M-ratingDying Light: The Beast first impressionsWhy Arc Raiders could be the next big extraction shooterShout-outs: Borderlands 4 & Sierra Games👾 Join the Normal People community:👉 Discord: https://discord.gg/3AX5nfqutd👉 Patreon: https://patreon.com/NormalPeopleGaming💬 Question of the week:What do YOU think about Xbox Game Pass at $30/month—still worth it or time to cancel? Drop your thoughts in the comments!

In this episode of Normal People Gaming, Michael and Duane dive into one of the most shocking stories in the industry: how the creators of Subnautica were fired from their own company after selling to Krafton. Along with many other similar stories! Is this just business—or is it a warning to every indie developer?

We also catch up on what we’ve been playing lately (like Clair Obscur), break down some surprising headlines, and talk about what keeps us excited about gaming even when the news gets grim.

🎮 Topics include:

The Subnautica dev drama

When selling your studio backfires

What we’ve been playing

Staying positive in a chaotic industry

👉 Hit play and let’s get into it.

💬 Join the conversation in our Discord: ⁠

https://discord.gg/3AX5nfqutd⁠

🎧 Listen ad-free on Patreon:

⁠https://www.patreon.com/NormalPeopleGaming⁠

📦 Sponsored by Magic Mind: Try it today and use code NORMAL60 for 60% off:https://www.magicmind.com/normal60In this episode of Normal People Gaming, we dive into the weird, the wild, and the wonderfully dark world of video games. Michael becomes obsessed with Crime Scene Cleaner, a gory and hilarious indie sim where you mop up murder scenes (before the cops arrive). Meanwhile, Expedition 33 sits untouched on his hard drive.We also discuss:🎮 Randy Pitchford’s $80 Borderlands 4 controversy🎮 The rise of “boomer shooters” like DOOM: The Dark Ages🎮 Simulators gone wild—from Firefighter Sim to Coffee Shop VR🎮 Games we're buying (and ignoring)🎮 Your comments!💬 Join the conversation in our Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/3AX5nfqutd⁠🎧 Listen ad-free on Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/NormalPeopleGaming⁠

Michael and Duane kick off this week’s show by unpacking Rockstar’s record-shattering GTA 6 trailer—from the jaw-dropping lighting engine to the surprisingly subtle (yet headline-grabbing) booty physics.

That sparks a broader dive into the long, bumpy history of “jiggle physics,” from Dead or Alive: Beach Volleyball to modern Pixar-level character animation, and why believable body movement no longer has to feel gratuitous.

Next up, the guys weigh Ubisoft’s newly revealed Assassin’s Creed Shadows roadmap, celebrate the cozy diorama builder Tiny Glade, and debate whether looming console tariffs and special-edition pricing are about to make $80 the new normal for AAA games. (Spoiler: GTA could probably charge $119.99 and still smash sales records.)

In listener-comment corner, we respond to hot takes on Oblivion’s lock-picking, Ghost Recon Wildlands’ Bethesda vibes, and cultural concerns around AC Shadows’ Japanese setting. Plus: Fallout 4’s Nuka-World nostalgia, the eternal Skyrim re-rebuy question, and why beer foam and ragdoll physics both deserve more love.

Chat with us and other fans in our discord:
https://discord.gg/3AX5nfqutd

Get the podcast ad-free and early by supporting our Patreon:
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Nostalgia vs. New Blood — Two Takes on the Oblivion Remaster

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Chat with us and other fans in our discord:
https://discord.gg/3AX5nfqutd

What happens when a 2006 classic drops in 2025 with a fresh coat of Unreal Engine polish?
Michael (the battle-scarred Oblivion veteran) and Duane (the wide-eyed first-timer) fire up the shadow-dropped remaster and compare notes on:

• Retro charm vs. modern shine – why the game still screams “2005” even while the forests look next-gen gorgeous.

• Exploits, Umbra chases & lock-picking woes – Duane speed-levels like a gremlin while Michael tries (and fails) to play it straight.

• What Bethesda tweaked (hello, sprint button!) and the little UI quality-of-life touches you’ll notice only after a few hours.

• Sales shocker – 2 million copies in 12 hours; sorry, Mike Ybarra, nostalgia isn’t dead.

• Will this open the floodgates? Fallout 3 remaster hype, layered-engine tricks, and why some remakes are worth the trouble.

⏩ Lightning-round news:
• Switch 2 supply-chain chaos
• Subnautica 2 heads to Early Access (with co-op!)
• RoboCop: Rogue City – Unfinished Business earns the side-eye
• Quick hits on Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Marvel Rivals, and more

Plus: legendary Patreon shout-outs, Discord antics, and the debut of the show’s new video format. Grab your lockpicks and meet us in Cyrodiil—whether you’re brand-new or rocking full Daedric nostalgia, this episode has a take for you.

Michael and Duane lament Warner Brothers' shutdown of Monolith studio and discuss the efforts made in game preservation by companies like Good Old Games. We also talk about Avowed, Uncharted and more!

In this episode, Michael and Duane talk about the pros and cons of