Has GTA VI finally shown us what this console generation can really do?

GTA VI’s extended look may be the best demonstration yet of what the current console generation can achieve.

Liam reacts to Rockstar’s 27-minute presentation, including the return to more methodical Red Dead Redemption 2-style gameplay, the extraordinary lighting and world detail, Jason and Lucia’s relationship, changes to the wanted system, new activities and the soundtrack.

The presentation left him astonished, but it raised a larger question. If GTA VI can run on PS5 and Xbox Series X, what would make us buy another generation of consoles?

With console, accessory and handheld prices continuing to rise, Liam admits that he may not buy the next PlayStation or Xbox at launch. Could a dedicated PlayStation handheld, cloud gaming or simply keeping the PS5 Pro offer a better alternative?

We also look back at Gamescom and Opening Night Live, including Gears of War E Day, Warlock Dungeons & Dragons, Stage Tour, Final Fantasy VII Revelation and several hours that could have used a good edit.

Elsewhere, Liam returns to Mad Max, Shadow of War and Marvel Snap. The Last of Us becomes September’s Pixel Picks Replay game, while Final Fantasy VII Remake and Rebirth face Gamer Court.

Would you still buy a new console on day one, and what is the highest price you would accept?

Follow for weekly gaming discussions from two adult gamer parents.

https://www.youtube.com/@PixelParentsPodcast

In this episode:

• GTA VI Extended Look Reaction
• Gamescom and Opening Night Live Discussion
• Main Topic: The Big Next Gen Chat
• Pixel Picks Replay - September Selection
• Gamer Court

GET BONUS SHOWS AND MORE BY JOINING OUR ALWAYS FREE PATREON (www.patreon.com/pixelparents)

Music licensed through Soundstripe.
Code BMB591ST2JKNHXWE

#GTAVI #NextGenGaming #GamingPodcast

—

CHAPTERS

00:00 GTA VI and the future of gaming

00:27 Welcome to Pixel Parents

02:28 Liam’s new normal

04:47 Spider Man 2 deserves more respect

07:12 Returning to Shadow of War

09:36 Marvel Snap drags Liam back

12:03 GTA VI extended look reaction

14:17 Red Dead Redemption 2 style gameplay

16:44 Vice City looks astonishing

19:02 Wanted levels and open world activities

21:25 GTA VI soundtrack and final verdict

23:45 Opening Night Live was far too long

26:09 How to fix Geoff Keighley’s showcases

28:30 The best games from Opening Night Live

30:50 Final Fantasy VII Revelation

33:09 Xbox gets something right

35:34 A £1,299 gaming handheld

37:52 What should next gen gaming offer?

40:17 Did this generation ever truly begin?

42:41 Can consoles keep chasing PC?

45:00 GTA VI finally fulfils the current generation

47:29 What price is too high?

49:53 Are exclusive games still enough?

52:17 Liam might skip the next console launch

54:41 The PlayStation handheld changes everything

57:07 Fighting the launch day FOMO

59:28 Would you still buy a console on day one?

01:01:29 September’s Pixel Picks Replay

01:03:55 Final Fantasy VII enters Gamer Court

01:05:53 The verdict

Write to us: [email protected]Follow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.social
Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com

New episodes every Friday.

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Where does gaming fit when life gets hard?

After unexpectedly being made redundant, Liam found himself questioning whether he deserved to spend time playing games. It took a return to Spider-Man 2 to remind him that enjoying something during a difficult period does not mean ignoring what has happened.

Scott also reflects on returning to Death Stranding, and why its message of simply putting one foot in front of the other meant so much to him.

We discuss gaming as comfort, escapism and a small source of control when life feels uncertain. Games cannot solve serious problems, but sometimes they can help us feel a little more like ourselves.

We also answer a listener question about how we find time to play as parents, catch up on the alleged GTA VI gameplay leak and return to Gamer Court.

Elsewhere, Scott finishes The Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess, shares his impressions of Kynseed and continues his strange new life as a miner in Starfield.

Where does gaming fit in your life when things become difficult?

Subscribe for weekly gaming discussions from two adult gamer parents.

https://www.youtube.com/@PixelParentsPodcast

In this episode:

• Kynseed
• GTA VI leaks
• Main Topic: Where Gaming Fits When Life Gets Hard
• Gamer Court

GET BONUS SHOWS AND MORE BY JOINING OUR ALWAYS FREE PATREON (www.patreon.com/pixelparents)

—

CHAPTERS

00:00 Where gaming fits when life gets hard

01:51 Scott takes control

04:15 Surviving the sleep regression

10:12 Liam shares his difficult week

12:17 Returning to Spider Man 2

14:43 Twilight Princess is still the best Zelda

16:35 Kynseed impressions

20:17 Scott starts Starfield

24:02 Becoming Starfield’s most boring miner

30:33 The alleged GTA VI gameplay leak

34:07 Gaming leaks are ruining everything

43:40 How do we find time to play?

47:24 Gaming with a newborn

50:15 The rule of three

54:48 Gaming when life gets hard

56:48 Feeling like you do not deserve games

59:58 Gaming as therapy

01:03:36 Finding control when life feels uncertain

01:06:28 Death Stranding, grief and keeping on

01:10:30 Why Liam returned to Spider Man

01:15:26 Handheld gaming provides an escape

01:18:52 Can difficult memories ruin a game?

01:23:52 Do not suffer in silence

01:25:22 Pixel Picks Replay

01:25:52 Gamer Court

01:26:54 Was PlayStation’s live service strategy bad?

01:33:39 Gaming discourse has lost the plot

01:41:23 Closing the court

Write to us: [email protected]
Follow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.social
Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com

New episodes every Friday.

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We’re predicting the review scores of 2026’s biggest upcoming games.

Liam and Scott lock in their scores for GTA 6, Marvel’s Wolverine, Silent Hill Townfall, Fire Emblem Fortunes Weave, Control Resonant, Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4 and more.

Before that, we share our early impressions of Marvel Tōkon Fighting Souls. Neither of us planned to buy it, but its accessible combat, brilliant presentation and love for Marvel won us over.

Scott also begins Starfield for this month’s Pixel Picks Replay and brings Bethesda’s inventory management before Gamer Court. Which prediction do you think will age the worst? Leave your own scores below.

Subscribe for weekly gaming discussions from two adult gamer parents.

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In this episode:

• Marvel Tokon Fighting Souls
• GTA VI reveal manifestation 
• Main Topic: Fantasy Critic Review Score Predictions, 2026’s biggest games
• Gamer Court

GET BONUS SHOWS AND MORE BY JOINING OUR ALWAYS FREE PATREON (www.patreon.com/pixelparents)

—

CHAPTERS

00:00 Predictions we will probably regret

01:21 Welcome to Pixel Parents

06:15 Marvel Tōkon Fighting Souls impressions

09:22 Why we both bought it

11:16 Combat and single player

15:44 Building the perfect team

20:51 Taking Marvel Tōkon online

23:34 A genuine fighting game surprise

29:51 DualSense, fonts and that soundtrack

34:02 Will we keep playing?

36:41 Scott returns to gaming

38:31 Starfield first impressions

40:55 GTA 6 is coming to Netflix

46:01 Fantasy Critic predictions

47:59 Star Wars Zero Company

51:44 The Blood of Dawnwalker

55:29 Orbitals

58:08 Onimusha Way of the Sword

01:01:58 Marvel’s Wolverine

01:05:20 Fire Emblem Fortunes Weave

01:08:06 Control Resonant

01:11:26 Silent Hill Townfall

01:14:30 EA Sports FC 27

01:15:24 Gears of War E Day

01:17:16 Castlevania Belmont’s Curse

01:17:44 Final Fantasy Resonance

01:19:14 Nintendo Switch Sports Resort

01:20:14 Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4

01:21:49 Phantom Blade Zero

01:23:21 Grand Theft Auto VI

01:26:43 Scott’s Fantasy Critic team

01:29:03 Gamer Court

01:29:42 Bethesda inventory must die

01:32:39 Did No Man’s Sky actually get better?

01:36:39 Closing the court

Write to us: [email protected]Follow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.social
Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com

New episodes every Friday.

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Have you ever bought a great game at completely the wrong time?

Scott bought Assassin’s Creed Valhalla alongside three other games for the PS5 launch. Liam bought Super Mario Odyssey, Wolfenstein 2 and Assassin’s Creed Origins shortly before becoming a parent. Neither plan went particularly well.

This week, we discuss the games we never gave a fair chance because life, other releases or our own buying habits got in the way. We also revisit the second attempts that changed our minds, including Dark Souls, BioShock and Alan Wake 2.

Scott delivers his full review of Sovereign Tower, a story-rich Round Table management RPG from Wild Wits Games and Curve Games. After playing it extensively on Steam Deck, he gives his score out of ten.

Elsewhere, Liam continues Halo Campaign Evolved and Denshattack. We discuss rising Xbox prices, the difficulty of fitting large games into family life, and whether we should stop buying games simply because they are new.

Gamer Court returns as Scott argues that Breath of the Wild has a bad open world. Starfield is also confirmed as our August Pixel Picks Replay game.

What game did you buy at exactly the wrong time?

Review code for Sovereign Tower was kindly supplied for coverage.

Subscribe for weekly gaming discussions from two adult gamer parents.

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In this episode:

• Sovereign Tower Review
• Halo Campaign Evolved 
• Main Topic: Right Game at the Wrong Time
• Gamer Court

GET BONUS SHOWS AND MORE BY JOINING OUR ALWAYS FREE PATREON (www.patreon.com/pixelparents)

CHAPTERS

00:00 Great games bought at the wrong time

00:48 Scott’s strange advertising obsession

03:21 Liam’s week and Spider Man

08:35 Sovereign Tower review

16:01 Scott’s final score

18:24 Halo Campaign Evolved

21:08 Why Denshattack keeps delivering

24:35 Marvel Tokon Fighting Souls

27:51 Xbox layoffs and price increases

36:44 Games bought at the wrong time

37:54 Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

39:11 The PS5 launch problem

41:58 Max Payne 3 and exam season

46:17 Games we loved on a second attempt

47:05 Scott returns to Dark Souls

49:36 Liam finally understands BioShock

52:00 Can handhelds rescue neglected games?

54:42 Games that arrived during major life events

58:50 Alan Wake 2 was worth the wait

01:01:41 Should we stop buying games at launch?

01:04:18 Do sales encourage bad purchases?

01:08:26 Is buying the game part of the fun?

01:10:15 Are modern games simply too long?

01:13:42 Surviving the September release rush

01:15:44 Every game could arrive at the wrong time

01:18:31 August Pixel Picks Replay

01:20:21 Gamer Court

01:21:19 Breath of the Wild on trial

01:27:13 Indie games against triple A games

01:29:56 Gamer Court is adjourned

01:31:10 Closing thoughts

Write to us: [email protected]Follow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.social
Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com

New episodes every Friday.

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Episode 123 - The Unwritten Rules Every Gamer Follows & Halo Campaign Evolved - Pixel Parents Podcast

How wrong are we about to be?

What are the unwritten rules every gamer follows? Check behind every waterfall. Smash every box. Explore away from the objective marker. Never use your best healing item because you might need it later.

This week, we confess the strange gaming habits nobody had to teach us. From reloading a save after being spotted to judging stair animations and refusing to travel without the right radio station, we put the unofficial Gamer Code on record.

Scott also returns briefly from paternity leave to discuss how gaming has changed with baby number two. Handheld gaming, short sessions and a lot of Zelda are keeping him going through the night feeds.

We also share our Halo Campaign Evolved impressions. Liam is hit by a tidal wave of nostalgia, while Scott plays for an hour, cancels Game Pass and declares that Halo is still rubbish.

Elsewhere, Scott revisits Burnout 3 Takedown for Pixel Picks Replay, Starfield is chosen as our August game and Gamer Court delivers its first guilty verdict.

What is the unwritten gaming rule you follow every single time?

In this episode:

• Scott’s Paternity Gaming so far
• Halo Campaign Evolved Impressions
• Main Topic: The Unwritten Rules of Gaming
• Pixel Picks Replay: Burnout 3 discussion and August Game Reveal
• Gamer Court

GET BONUS SHOWS AND MORE BY JOINING OUR ALWAYS FREE PATREON (www.patreon.com/pixelparents)

CHAPTERS

00:00 The unwritten rules of gaming

00:51 Scott returns

06:32 Gaming with baby number two

21:32 Halo Campaign Evolved impressions

29:44 Scott delivers his Halo verdict

34:21 Does Halo still matter?

43:19 Would we buy Halo without Game Pass?

45:34 The physical games problem

51:19 The unwritten rules every gamer follows

54:45 Reloading after getting caught

56:30 Why gamers hoard everything

01:01:01 The strange details we always test

01:03:49 Exploration rules

01:08:41 Moral rules in games

01:12:19 Gaming rules on trial

01:18:47 Pixel Picks Replay

01:19:29 Burnout 3 Takedown retrospective

01:24:45 August replay game revealed

01:25:10 Gamer Court

01:26:30 Stop romanticising cancelled games

01:30:49 Scott’s anime game crime

01:34:01 Closing thoughts

Write to us: [email protected]
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Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com

New episodes every Friday.

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How wrong are we about to be?

This week we're putting our reputations on the line by making bold predictions for where gaming is heading over the next five years.

Will physical games survive? Will next-generation consoles become so expensive that finance plans become the norm?

Which companies are about to get it right... and which ones are heading for trouble?

We also share our thoughts on Denshattack!, discuss the continuing battle for physical media, and ask whether gaming is becoming too expensive for ordinary players.

In this episode:

• Denshattack! impressions
• The ongoing battle for physical media
• Is gaming becoming a Klarna hobby?
• Our bold predictions for the next five years

GET BONUS SHOWS AND MORE BY JOINING OUR ALWAYS FREE PATREON (www.patreon.com/pixelparents)

CHAPTERS

00:00 Gaming Predictions We'll Probably Regret

00:41 Welcome Back

03:12 Housekeeping

04:05 What We've Been Playing

08:24 Denshattack! Impressions

17:36 The Fight For Physical Games

28:41 Is Gaming Becoming A Klarna Hobby?

35:18 Main Topic: Locking In Our Predictions

37:04 Console Predictions

45:56 Industry Predictions

54:33 The Games We'll Still Be Talking About

01:03:17 Pixel Picks Replay

01:06:42 Final Thoughts

Write to us: [email protected]Follow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.social
Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com

New episodes every Friday.

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Some games never really leave us.

Years later, we can still remember the soundtrack, the ending, a favourite character, or exactly where we were when we first played them.

This week we're asking a simple question.

What actually makes a game stay with us?

Is it nostalgia? Music? Replayability? The people we played with? Or something much deeper?

Joining Liam once again is Alex from The Mimic's Veil, as we dive into one of our favourite gaming conversations yet.

Also in this episode:

• Full review of Nex Playground
• Returning to Call of Duty Black Ops II
• Arcade racer 4PGP
• Indie roguelike Hell Clock
• We launch our brand new segment... Gamer Court, where one controversial gaming opinion stands trial each week.

GET BONUS SHOWS AND MORE BY JOINING OUR ALWAYS FREE PATREON (⁠www.patreon.com/pixelparents⁠)

CHAPTERS

00:00 What Makes A Game Stay With You?

00:39 Welcome Back Alex

03:17 Housekeeping

04:14 What We've Been Playing

04:28 4PGP Review

06:40 Hell Clock Impressions

09:05 Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced

11:38 Returning To Black Ops 2

16:09 Nex Playground Review

29:39 Main Topic. What Makes A Game Stick With You?

30:53 Favourite Gaming Memories

40:48 Music That Never Leaves You

43:33 Characters & Endings We Still Think About

50:05 Games We Always Replay

59:57 Emotional Gaming Moments

01:03:49 Pixel Picks Replay. Burnout 3 Takedown

01:05:08 Gamer Court Debuts

01:05:48 Xbox Was Ahead Of Its Time?

01:10:31 Are Shorter Games The Future?

01:13:06 Final Thoughts

Write to us: [email protected]

Follow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.social

Music & production by Sean Murray – ⁠barehandsdesigns.com⁠

New episodes every Friday.

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Gaming feels like it's at a crossroads.

This week, we react to another difficult week for the industry as Xbox announces more than 3,000 layoffs in what it calls a "reset". What does this mean for the future of gaming? Are publishers chasing impossible growth, and is the industry heading towards a wider correction?

Then we ask ourselves a very different question… If we could start our gaming lives all over again, what would we do differently?

Would we still buy games on day one? Would we build enormous backlogs? Would trophies, FOMO and social media still shape the way we play?

Joining Liam this week while Scott enjoys paternity leave is Alex from The Mimic's Veil, bringing another perspective to one of our most personal discussions yet.

In this episode:

• Final Fantasy VII Remake finally clicks
• Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced impressions
• PlayStation's reported move away from physical media
• Main topic: Gaming Reset… what we’d do differently
• Xbox layoffs and the future of the platform
• July's Pixel Replay reminder. Burnout 3: Takedown

GET BONUS SHOWS AND MORE BY JOINING OUR ALWAYS FREE PATREON (www.patreon.com/pixelparents)

CHAPTERS

00:00 Gaming Has Hit Reset

00:48 Welcome Alex Back

03:39 LEGO & Middle-earth Chat

07:38 Housekeeping

08:33 What We've Been Playing

08:45 Final Fantasy VII Remake

09:36 The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales

15:12 Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced

20:14 PlayStation & The End Of Physical Games?

29:30 Xbox Layoffs & Industry Reset

39:35 Main Topic. If We Started Gaming Again...

40:57 Would We Still Buy Games Day One?

46:41 Would We Build A Backlog?

50:31 Online Opinions & Reviews

55:18 Do We Replay Enough Games?

59:33 Trophies & Achievements

01:00:37 Would We Buy Less Hardware?

01:03:24 Game Pass & Subscription Fatigue

01:06:16 The Biggest Lesson We've Learned

01:12:09 Pixel Replay. Burnout 3 Returns

01:14:21 Closing Thoughts

Write to us: [email protected]Follow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.social
Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com

New episodes every Friday.

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This week on the Pixel Parents Podcast, we're preparing for a huge life event. No, not GTA 6.

Scott has become a father for the second time.

Before he disappears into a haze of nappies, sleepless nights and questionable gaming decisions, we're sitting down for one final check in.

In this episode:

• Preparing for baby number two
• The games secretly piling up in the backlog
• What gaming looks like during the newborn stage
• The biggest misconceptions about gaming and parenthood
• Expectations versus reality
• Liam's Balatro addiction continues
• Tetris Effect Pixel Replay review
• July's Pixel Replay game is revealed

GET BONUS SHOWS AND MORE BY JOINING OUR ALWAYS FREE PATREON (www.patreon.com/pixelparents)

CHAPTERS

00:00 Preparing For Baby Number Two

00:42 Welcome Back

04:52 What Will Scott Be Playing Last?

06:37 Balatro Returns

09:33 Life Before Kids

13:39 Gaming With Your Children

21:34 Main Topic. The Paternity Backlog

22:54 Scott's Secret Gaming Stockpile

27:30 Which Game Is He Most Excited For?

29:29 The Games He'll Never Finish

30:32 Expectations Vs Reality

39:17 Biggest Gaming Misconceptions About Parenthood

45:39 Dad Advice Corner

54:22 The Games That Got Us Through

58:08 Paternity Leave Predictions

01:00:00 Pixel Replay Returns

01:00:57 Tetris Effect Review

01:07:17 July Pixel Replay Reveal

01:07:25 Burnout 3 Selected

01:09:27 Scott's Farewell

01:11:22 Final Thoughts

Write to us: [email protected]
Follow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.social
Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com

New episodes every Friday.

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This week on the Pixel Parents Podcast, we're asking a question that felt impossible just a few years ago… Has gaming become too expensive?

Following the announcement of the Steam Machine and its eye-watering price tag, we're discussing whether gaming hardware has finally crossed a line. Are we entering a future where new consoles and premium hardware are becoming inaccessible for average players?

In this episode:

• Steam Machine pricing shock
• Have consoles become too expensive?
• Are we entering our backlog era?
• The growing divide between gamers and gaming influencers
• What this means for PS6, Project Helix, and the future of gaming
• GTA 6 hype reaches new levels
• Liam returns to GTA V and Watch Dogs Legion
• Scott revisits Twilight Princess and dives into Hell Is Us
• Steam Next Fest discoveries

GET BONUS SHOWS AND MORE BY JOINING OUR ALWAYS FREE PATREON (www.patreon.com/pixelparents)

CHAPTERS

00:00 Has Gaming Become Too Expensive?

01:05 Welcome Back

07:58 GTA VI Hype Check-In

18:16 Liam Returns To Watch Dogs Legion

21:37 What Scott Has Been Playing

22:03 Wind Waker On Switch 2

24:17 Twilight Princess Obsession

25:00 Blood Dungeon Preview

28:28 Hell Is Us Impressions

33:10 Main Topic. Backlog Era

34:12 Steam Machine Price Reaction

39:32 Why Buy A Steam Machine?

43:16 Are We Entering The Backlog Era?

45:47 The Two Class Gamer Problem

52:12 Hardware Vs Software Spending

57:24 How Much Would We Pay For PS6?

01:03:35 Has Console Pricing Gone Too Far?

01:07:24 Project Helix & The Future Of Xbox

01:14:11 Who Is The Steam Machine Actually For?

01:20:08 Pixel Replay Reminder

01:21:28 Scott's Karaoke Story

01:24:24 Final Thoughts

Write to us: [email protected]
Follow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.social
Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com

New episodes every Friday.

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