Press X

Join the Press X Discord: https://discord.gg/MAXtvmv2rw

Topics:

• A Nintendo Direct is reportedly planned for mid-September https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/a-nintendo-direct-is-reportedly-planned-for-mid-september/

• Switch 2 has sold more than 2 million units in the US, Donkey Kong Bananza is selling well https://bsky.app/profile/matpiscatella.bsky.social/post/3lxf3jiq7dc26 https://bsky.app/profile/matpiscatella.bsky.social/post/3lxf3jiqg6326

• Nintendo is reportedly still turning away many developers for Switch 2 dev kits https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/they-cant-get-the-hardware-nintendo-is-reportedly-telling-would-be-switch-2-devs-to-release-on-switch-instead/

• Nintendo introduces "It's Me, Mario!" stop motion shorts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ts9wIUMnYJY

• Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade is maybe the "best-looking thing" on Switch 2, per Digital Foundry https://x.com/Stealth40k/status/1959782788162359424

• Yooka-Re-Playlee will retail for $49.99 on Switch 2 as a real physical release 

Questions from Discord: 

• Brydude: What do you think: Since PlayStation is getting Gears of War and Xbox is now getting Helldivers, are the console wars dead?

• RaxonXVI: Favorite Fire Emblem girl? I'm insanely new to the series and it's hard for me to pick. My top off the top of my head are Celica, Byleth, Lucina, Tarja, and Yunaka (with Kiria and Tsubasa if you count TMS).🦉

• Jtlawbass: Who is a game designer that you cannot stand (whether it’s because of their games or just personality)? I’ve never liked Cliffy B for some reason I cannot identify, but seeing his tweets about Gears of War launching on PS5 reminded me. *And feel free to include gaming execs, personalities, etc. in general if you can’t think of any designers. Cryin’ Jim Ryan, for example.

What we’re playing: 

Mary: :)

John: Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, Final Fantasy III Pixel Remaster

Greg: Rivals, Maiden Cops (beat), Donkey Kong Bananza

Brett L: Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream (beat)  Sword of the Sea

Brett M: Donkey Kong Bananza 

Press X

Join the Press X Discord: https://discord.gg/MAXtvmv2rw 

Topics:

• Hollow Knight: Silksong launches September 4 on all platforms https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XGeJwsUP9c

• Kirby Air Riders Direct reaction https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtkHiB7WKf4

• Pokémon Legends Z-A reveals Mega Victreebel with a found footage horror video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyfDz36JkkU

• Gamescom Opening Night Live zzzzz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74oh7zD_jxI

• Mortal Kombat Legacy Collection adds 3 more games https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O89KZUGXbqY

Questions from Discord: 

• RaxonXVI: To keep the trend going (it's super fun ^^), favorite girl in Street Fighter? Mine’s Juri.

• RaxonXVI: If you could go back and buy a game knowing how expensive/hard to get it is now, what would it be? For me I'd love to get Pokémon Soul Silver with the Pokéwalker; it's my favorite game in the franchise and it's so expensive.🦉

What we’re playing: 

Mary: :)

John: I’m mostly watching The Wire.

Greg: Rivals, Donkey Kong Bananza 

Brett L: DK Bananza (beat)  Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream

Brett M: Donkey Kong Bananza 

Press X

Join the Press X Discord: https://discord.gg/MAXtvmv2rw 

Topics:

• Drag x Drive gets lukewarm reviews https://www.metacritic.com/game/drag-x-drive/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch-2

• Hello, Mario! app announced for Switch, iOS, and Android alongside My Mario children’s product line https://www.gematsu.com/2025/08/hello-mario-app-announced-for-switch-ios-and-android-alongside-my-mario-childrens-product-line

• Indie World was ironically great https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250807831138/en/New-Indie-World-Showcase-Ushers-in-Indie-Games-Galore-for-Nintendo-Switch-Nintendo-Switch-2

• Nintendo of America and the ISEA partner to bring gaming esports to schools https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250812630712/en/Nintendo-Partners-With-Interstate-Scholastic-Esports-Alliance-ISEA-to-Welcome-Students-to-Competitive-Gaming

• Super Mario Bros. warpless speedrun world record gets beaten by 5 whole seconds https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POEbiJioKbY

• Leaker doubles down on claim that Resident Evil Code Veronica and Zero are the next remakes https://x.com/AestheticGamer1/status/1955335602913919472

Questions from Discord: 

• RaxonXVI: What's your favorite non-Persona Atlus girl? It's a tough one, but I am gonna say Catherina from Metaphor; she's super underrated.RaxonXVI: What’s a game that you have wanted to play for years but for whatever reason haven't yet? One for me is Chrono Cross.🦉

What we’re playing: 

Mary: :)

John: Dear me, I was…(finished), Dragon Ball Sparking Zero, Cosmic Fantasy 3 

Greg: Rivals, Donkey Kong Bananza 

Brett L: DK Bananza 

Brett M: Donkey Kong Bananza

Press X

Join the Press X Discord: https://discord.gg/MAXtvmv2rw 

Topics:

• Switch 2 worldwide sales top six million, Switch tops 153.10 million (96.7% MKW attach rate in June) https://www.gematsu.com/2025/08/switch-2-worldwide-sales-top-six-million-switch-tops-153-10-million

• Switch prices have gone up https://www.gematsu.com/2025/08/switch-price-increase-announced-for-the-us

• Switch 2 game cards may see more storage sizes in the near-ish future https://x.com/SMetaldave64/status/1952437214060679597

• Nintendo issues survey about physical and digital media on Nintendo Switch 2 https://mynintendonews.com/2025/08/04/nintendo-issues-survey-about-physical-and-digital-media-on-nintendo-switch-2/

• Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection physical editions announced, including Switch 2 https://www.gematsu.com/2025/08/mortal-kombat-legacy-kollection-physical-editions-announced 

• THQ Nordic Digital Showcase announces Darksiders 4 and more https://thqnordic.com/article/thq-nordic-showcase-2025-recap-all-announcements-trailers-steam-sale-details

• Darksiders 4 apparently has online 2-4-player co-op and splitscreen

• Silent Hill f features more action gameplay to avoid being a Silent Hill 2 “clone,” but also to appeal to younger audiences, producer says https://automaton-media.com/en/news/silent-hill-f-features-more-action-gameplay-to-avoid-being-a-silent-hill-2-clone-but-also-to-appeal-to-younger-audiences-producer-says/

• RedOctane Games established – rhythm game studio led by genre veterans https://www.gematsu.com/2025/08/redoctane-games-established-rhythm-game-studio-led-by-genre-veterans

Questions from Discord: 

• Jtlawbass: On the pod one of you mentioned renting video games, and it got me thinking: What bygone mainstay of gaming do you miss most? For me, it’s either renting video games at the local Blockbuster or Movie Gallery on a Friday night and playing them all weekend, or instruction manuals for video games.

• RaxonXVI: What’s your favorite girl in Resident Evil? Mine’s Jill, but I have a massive thing for Ashley as well, and I'm absolutely LOVING Grace so far. (I'm crazy hyped for 9.) 

• RaxonXVI: What's a mobile free-to-play game that you wish would have been a standard game release instead? I can't get into gachas no matter how many times I try, but everything from MiHoYo looks absolutely amazing and especially Zenless Zone Zero for me. (I love games like Jet Set Radio and TWEWY and ZZZ has that kinda sense of style and I love it.)🦉

What we’re playing: 

Mary: :)

John: Donkey Kong Bananza (finished), Dear me, I was…(finished)

Greg: Rivals, Donkey Kong Bananza 

Brett L: DK Bananza

Brett M: Donkey Kong Bananza

Press X

Join the Press X Discord: https://discord.gg/MAXtvmv2rw 

Topics:

• Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase disappointed hard https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250731606545/en/Nintendo-Direct-Partner-Showcase-Spotlights-All-the-Ways-You-Can-Explore-Hit-the-Dance-Floor-and-More-on-Nintendo-Switch-2-and-Nintendo-Switch

• No Xbox games, no FFVIIR, no Elden Ring, no COD, no AoI release date

• Drag x Drive overview trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ls_NtQ0s8k

• Mario Paint joins SNES NSO

• Sony sues Tencent for allegedly ripping off 'Horizon' video games with Light of Motiram https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/sony-sues-tencent-allegedly-ripping-off-horizon-video-games-2025-07-28/

• Idk, Battlefield 6 is a thing

Questions from Discord: 

• Beavis Christ: Who else has been eating more bananas bc of DK? And when you unwrap it, do you go OOOOHHHH, BUHNAAAHNAHHH - yes or yes?

• RaxonXVI: Who's your favorite girl in Final Fantasy? I love a lot, but I have a massive special place in my heart for Terra from 6.🦉

• RaxonXVI: Have you ever loved a game so much you bought different versions of it, and what game have you bought the most? My top 2 are Final Fantasy 6 and Saints Row: The Third.

What we’re playing: 

Mary: :)

John: Donkey Kong Bananza

Greg: Rivals, Donkey Kong Bananza 

Brett L: DK Bananza

Brett M: BioShock Infinite, Donkey Kong Bananza

Press X

Join the Press X Discord: https://discord.gg/MAXtvmv2rw 

Topics:

• Switch 2 is the fastest-selling video game hardware device in US history, selling 1.6M units in June, compared to 1.1M PS4 units sold in November 2013 https://bsky.app/profile/matpiscatella.bsky.social/post/3lun37olbek2k

• Mario Kart World was third bestselling game of June, not including its digital sales https://bsky.app/profile/matpiscatella.bsky.social/post/3lun37lnhg22k

• Pokémon Presents reveals very little (Switch 2 Pokémon Legends Z-A bundle is being sold for $499.99) https://press.pokemon.com/en/releases/Pokemon-Unveils-New-Details-for-Pokemon-Legends-Z-A-Pokemon-Champions-

• Pokémon Sleep has actually raised Japanese players’ average sleep time https://automaton-media.com/en/news/pokemon-sleep-has-actually-raised-japanese-players-average-sleep-time-but-theyre-still-among-the-least-rested-in-the-world/

• Nintendo is doing another NSO Playtest Program, between July 28 and August 10  https://x.com/NintendoAmerica/status/1945971026426274287

• Nintendo Music app update adds 26 NES game soundtracks https://automaton-media.com/en/news/nintendo-music-app-gets-tracks-from-26-classic-famicom-games/

• Switch 2 exclusive Dear me, I was... launches July 31 https://www.gematsu.com/2025/07/dear-me-i-was-launches-july-31

• Borderlands 4 launches on Switch 2 on October 3, targeting 30 FPS (September 12 on other platforms) https://x.com/DuvalMagic/status/1947721753331134496

• The Outer Worlds 2 drops price to $69.99 https://www.gematsu.com/2025/07/the-outer-worlds-2-priced-dropped-to-69-99

• Ghost of Yotei’s map is about the same size as Ghost of Tsushima’s https://automaton-media.com/en/news/ghost-of-yoteis-map-is-about-the-same-size-as-ghost-of-tsushimas-the-devs-didnt-want-to-compromise-on-density-for-a-larger-map/

Questions from Discord: 

• RaxonXVI: Similar to last week, which is the best version of Princess Zelda, and who's the best girl in the series that's not Zelda? For Zelda herself, I'm torn between Skyward Sword's and the Wild versions. And best non-Zelda girl is Purah; I loves her.

• RaxonXVI: Are there any games that you wanted so much only for them to get canned? For me, it's Alice Asylum; I wanted that game so badly.

• 🦉

What we’re playing: 

Mary: :)

John: Donkey Kong Bananza

Greg: Rivals, Donkey Kong Bananza 

Brett L:  Death Stranding 2 (beat),  DK Bananza

Brett M: Clair Obscur, BioShock Infinite

Press X

Join the Press X Discord: https://discord.gg/MAXtvmv2rw 

Topics:

• Link and Zelda have been cast in the Legend of Zelda movie https://x.com/Nintendo/status/1945433161124688335 / https://variety.com/2025/film/global/legend-of-zelda-movie-cast-bo-bragason-benjamin-evan-ainsworth-1236462236/

• Donkey Kong Bananza Ask the Developer https://www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/ask-the-developer-vol-19-donkey-kong-bananza-part-1/

• Nate the Hate says a Nintendo Direct is coming in July after Donkey Kong Bananza launches https://youtu.be/NYkD9QCBp4Y?t=2526

• Nintendo and Universal record copyright for Donkey Kong movie https://mynintendonews.com/2025/07/13/nintendo-and-universal-register-copyright-for-donkey-kong-movie/

• Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds will be a real physical release on Switch 2, not Game-Key Card (but launches later) https://www.sega.com/news/sonic-racing-crossworlds-nintendo-switch-2-faq

• Dragon Quest VII remake is reportedly in development for 2026 launch https://mp1st.com/news/square-enix-developing-dragon-quest-vii-remake-for-release-in-2026

• Mass layoffs at Virtuos are reportedly underway (see translation lower in doc) https://bsky.app/profile/gautoz.cool/post/3lu3ntewdrk2t

Questions from Discord: 

• RaxonXVI: Simple one, who's your favorite Mario princess? Mine’s officially Rosalina 😍🥵🥰 and unofficially Bowsette 🥵💝🥰 I loves them so much (and so hot)

• RaxonXVI: What's a game that never left Japan that you wish we got?(Raxon picked Xenosaga 1-2 and  Death Note: Kira Game on Nintendo DS.)

• 🦉

What we’re playing: 

Mary: :)

John: Ys Seven (beat)

Greg: Rivals, Rivals, Rivals, COD, Rocket League

Brett L:  Death Stranding 2

Brett M: Still Wakes The Deep, Clair Obscur, THPS 3+4, TLOU 2 chronological

Press X

Join the Press X Discord: https://discord.gg/MAXtvmv2rw 

Topics:

• Donkey Kong Bananza Interview: Kenta Motokura producer, Kazuya Takahashi director https://www.ign.com/articles/our-big-bananas-interview-with-the-developers-of-donkey-kong-bananza

• Director played a lot of Donkey Kong Country as research - Mobile Syrup

• Nintendo Switch Game Vouchers are being discontinued on January 30, 2026 https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/70933

• Crocs launches first-ever collaboration with Animal Crossing https://www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/crocs-launches-first-ever-collaboration-with-animal-crossing/

• FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time sales top 1.2 million; Switch 2 physical edition launches August 7 in Japan https://www.gematsu.com/2025/07/fantasy-life-i-the-girl-who-steals-time-sales-top-1-2-million-switch-2-physical-edition-launches-august-7-in-japan

• Virtuos technical director says: “Any game shipping at 60 FPS on the Series S should easily port to the Switch 2” https://wccftech.com/nintendo-switch-2-qa-with-virtuos-i-think-we-will-see-it-surpass-the-predecessor/

• Conspiracy theory: NSO has leaked various upcoming Nintendo 64 games https://mynintendonews.com/2025/07/06/rumour-nintendo-switch-online-may-soon-be-adding-super-smash-bros-and-donkey-kong-64/

• Shigeru Miyamoto is said to view video games as a “product, not art,” but in a good way https://automaton-media.com/en/news/shigeru-miyamotos-background-in-industrial-design-explains-his-pragmatic-product-not-art-approach-to-making-games-nintendo-veteran-says/

• Romero Games is clinging to life after its publisher cancels funding https://x.com/romerogamesltd/status/1942307080301420682

Questions from Discord: 

• Joe: Have you ever unintentionally ignored a gameplay mechanic until late in a game? I beat Sekiro this week and didn't realize I could increase my attack power until like 7 or 8 main bosses into the game. Also I guess that means I'm Hella good at games lol.

• Brydude: Backstory on how you guys all met.🦉

• RaxonXVI: So in the last episode it was mentioned how Death Stranding takes some time to click and become fun. What's another game you love that's like that? For me it was Final Fantasy 12; once you figure out how to set things up, it becomes super fun.

What we’re playing: 

Mary: :)

John: Ys Seven, Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean

Greg: Resident Evil Revelations 2 Started the Final Chapter! (Switch 2), Stellar Blade, Rivals

Brett L:  Death Stranding 2

Brett M: South Park: The Stick of Truth, Death Stranding, Still Wakes The Deep, Clair Obscur

Press X

Join the Press X Discord: https://discord.gg/MAXtvmv2rw 

Topics:

• Nintendo confirms Donkey Kong Bananza was developed by ‘the same team as Super Mario Odyssey’ https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/nintendo-says-donkey-kong-bananzas-developer-is-the-same-team-as-super-mario-odyssey/

• Super Mario Strikers joins GameCube NSO on July 3 https://x.com/NintendoAmerica/status/1938402228047429699

• “Dear me, I was” is a textless adventure game launching exclusively for Switch 2 this summer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kt4ojxXBIck

• Bloomberg: Nintendo pulled its products from Amazon US over third-party merchants undercutting Nintendo's prices https://archive.md/h0WR2

• Switch 2 screen has a terrible average response time https://bsky.app/profile/dark1x.bsky.social/post/3lsdytube7s2a

• Prices of Nintendo Switch family of systems and products will increase in Canada in August https://www.nintendo.com/en-ca/whatsnew/nintendo-switch-pricing-update/ 

• Former Japanese Nintendo employees talk about feeling inferiority while working there because Nintendo employees are like “celestial beings” https://automaton-media.com/en/news/nintendo-is-so-full-of-geniuses-even-zelda-and-star-fox-veteran-takaya-imamura-felt-a-constant-sense-of-inferiority-working-with-them/

• EA and 2K both tease new college basketball games on the same day https://x.com/EASPORTS/status/1939703160479637660 / https://x.com/NBA2K/status/1939805441468342727

• Microsoft lays off 9,000 employees, fourth mass layoff for Xbox in 18 months, 10% of King laid off - Bloomberg

• Everwild and Zenimax MMO canceled 

• The Initiative shut down, Perfect Dark canceled, unannounced projects canceled https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/microsoft-is-closing-down-xbox-studio-the-initiative

• Banjo-Kazooie, Sea of Thieves director Gregg Mayles reportedly leaves Rare after 35 years https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/sources-banjo-kazooie-sea-of-thieves-director-leaves-rare-after-35-years-following-everwild-cancellation/

• Xbox user research team apparently halved https://www.theverge.com/news/697111/microsoft-xbox-layoffs-user-research-child-safety

• ‘I think Xbox hardware is dead’, says founding Xbox team member Laura Fryer https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/i-think-xbox-hardware-is-dead-says-microsoft-gaming-veteran/

Questions from Discord: 

• jtlawbass: Finished Expedition 33 over the weekend. Loved the music. What game scores or soundtracks do you like best? I’m currently working my way through all 8.5 hrs of tracks (!) in the E33 score and it’s inspired me to create a game soundtrack playlist. Would love suggestions for it. 

• 🦉

What we’re playing: 

Mary: :)  

John: Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess

Greg: Resident Evil Revelations 2 (Switch 2), Penny’s Big Breakaway, Rivals

Brett L:  Death Stranding 2

Brett M: South Park: The Stick of Truth, Death Stranding, Still Wakes The Deep, Clair Obscur

Press X

Join the Press X Discord: https://discord.gg/MAXtvmv2rw 

Topics:

• Drag x Drive launches August 14 for $19.99 https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/drag-x-drive-switch-2/

• Third-party publishers were disappointed in launch game sales on Switch 2, but Switch 2 third-party share is up compared to Switch 1 launch https://www.thegamebusiness.com/p/it-was-the-biggest-console-launch / https://bsky.app/profile/matpiscatella.bsky.social/post/3lrxzlxpmlk2t

• 3D NES emulator 3DSen launches in ver. 1.0 https://www.timeextension.com/news/2025/06/this-one-of-a-kind-emulator-that-lets-you-play-nes-games-in-3d-has-just-left-steam-early-access

• Sonic Racing: CrossThis One-Of-A-Kind Emulator That Lets You Play NES Games In 3D Has Just Left Steam Early Access | Time ExtensionWorlds announces SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, and Avatar Legends DLC https://www.gematsu.com/2025/06/sonic-racing-crossworlds-spongebob-squarepants-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-mutant-mayhem-and-avatar-legends-dlc-announced

• Little Nightmares 3 launches October 10, Little Nightmares Enhanced Edition launches October 10, Little Nightmares VR: Altered Echoes announced, Little Nightmares: The Lonely Ones novel is coming https://www.gematsu.com/2025/06/little-nightmares-iii-adds-switch-2-version-launches-october-10 / https://www.gematsu.com/2025/06/little-nightmares-enhanced-edition-announced-for-ps5-xbox-series-switch-2-and-pc

• NetEase Games announces AAA single-player action adventure game Blood Message for consoles, PC https://www.gematsu.com/2025/06/netease-games-announces-aaa-single-player-action-adventure-game-blood-message-for-consoles-pc

• THQ Nordic Digital Showcase 2025 set for August 1 https://www.gematsu.com/2025/06/thq-nordic-digital-showcase-2025-set-for-august-1

• Microsoft Plans Major Job Cuts at Xbox Gaming Division - Bloomberg Link

• The Verge: “One source tells me Microsoft is restructuring Xbox distribution across central Europe, resulting in some Xbox operations ceasing in some regions.”

Questions from Discord: 

• jtlawbass: Without spoiling the twist, what game had a plot twist that just didn’t work for you? I just finished Act 2 of Expedition 33 and not sure how I feel about that.

• 🦉

What we’re playing: 

Mary: :)  

John: Star Ocean The Second Story R (beat), Baten Kaitos

Greg: Rivals, MarioKart World (All Grand Prix done), Stellar Blade 

Brett L:  Mario Kart World, Welcome Tour, Kirby and the Forgotten Land (beat)

Brett M: MIA