Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast

The first bomb has dropped following the Saudi Wealth Fund's purchase of American publisher Electronic Arts, and it's a Canadian studio that suffers the consequences. As predicted, EA has decided to shutter long-running RPG-centric studio BioWare, cancel its forever-percolating Mass Effect title, and instead double-down on sports franchises and shooters. None of this is surprising, of course -- the EA purchase is the largest leveraged buyout in the history of human economics and strapped the company with potentially-insurmountable loads of debt -- but something still has to give. Can an all-new EA rise to the moment in a culture and environment that seems increasingly hostile to predictable and repeatable games? Or is the culling of BioWare only foreshadowing the bloodletting to come? Other news this week includes the potential high cost of PlayStation 6, specious rumors of Sony's acquisition of the Kena IP, Wolverine's strong sales showing, and more. Then, we wrap things up (as we always do) with listener inquiries. Could PlayStation withstand a concentrated attack on the PSN during Grand Theft Auto VI's launch? Will Sony blunt the cost of PS6 by offering payment plans? Which engines and other technologies do the first party studios rely upon? Is Chris ready to disavow the Ritual Network once and for all?

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:32:24 - The towel after a shower
0:35:48 - Chris and the Ritual Network
0:37:51 - Best kind of buffet
0:45:28 - Are we into e-sports?
0:53:16 - EA shutters Bioware, 3% of staff laid off
2:04:07 - Will PS6 cost $1000?
2:22:49 - Has Sony acquired the Kena IP?
2:28:10 - Indie dev backs off playtesting due to AI theft
2:44:14 - September 2026 sales data
2:54:52 - A few PSAs
2:56:17 - What We’re Playing
3:19:23 - GTA launch concerns
3:24:44 - Removing games from PS Plus Premium
3:28:04 - Payment plans for PS6
3:36:05 - Why should listeners even care?
3:39:59 - What engines do Sony studios use?

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Recent data analysis indicates what was already fairly obvious: The online pushback to Sony's discless announcement this past summer was at least partially astroturfed. It's not to say that no one had authentic grievances, or that real people didn't try their hardest to make their voices heard. Rather, it's that a tangible amount of the seemingly-earnest feedback that was plastered underneath everything PlayStation posted for months is demonstrably fake. This revelation brings us back to the original point, which is consumers' unwillingness to hit Sony where it really hurts -- in its wallet -- meaning that PlayStation can continue to merely wait this thing out, sans consequences. Why won't angry consumers do the hard work of removing themselves from the ecosystem entirely? The ramifications of such a move would speak in a language no company can ignore. Other news this week includes the reveal of a 30th anniversary Gran Turismo DualSense, a God of War: Laufey collector's edition that doesn't come with the actual game, trouble percolating over the extreme cost of licenses associated with EA's College Football, and more. Then: Listener inquiries. Was PlayStation 3's brief foray into 3D gaming a waste of time, or a promising technology that was too early to market? Should Sony prepare to lose access to Xbox's catalog of games in the PlayStation 6 era? Why don't animators and artists change the aesthetic of actors during motion capture? Did you know we're now further away from BioShock's release date than BioShock's release date was from the decade of the 1980s?

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Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:41:43 - Christmas wedding update
0:42:55 - Bioshock is getting old
0:47:34 - Treble update
0:48:43 - Shoutout James Turner
0:55:39 - PlayStation disc backlash was partially bots
1:22:18 - PS5 hacking
1:41:59 - Midnight Black PS5 only in Japan
1:45:41 - God of War Laufey Collector Box
1:58:11 - Gran Turismo 7 controller
2:00:31 - New PS+ Game Catalog entries
2:04:31 - EA College Football issues
2:11:05 - Peak rated for PS5
2:11:27 - Control Resonant sold 1 million copies
2:16:04 - What We’re Playing (Control, The Adventures of Elliot, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, Silent Hill: Townfall, Hellraiser: Revival, Valor Mortis, Gears)
2:44:11 - 3D games on PS3
2:58:11 - Where are the female game commentators?
3:17:11 - Xbox's poll on exclusivity
3:38:01 - Real life likeness in games

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 A common complaint during the PlayStation 5 generation has been that the core fanbase has is being ignored. There's obvious truth to this statement, as Sony pivots more and more towards the free-to-play and games-as-a-service audiences that now sustain the brand. But perhaps they're still listening, after all. Recent rumors indicate a new Ape Escape is in development at an external second party team, joining People Can Fly's alleged Killzone project as yet another look backwards into PlayStation's extensive well of dormant IP. The real question now is: What else would we want to see? We discuss. Plus: Sony sells hundreds of PSVR-related patents to Meta, a new Portal model with an OLED screen may be incoming, Forza Horizon 6 gets a PS5 release date, Warhorse's CEO thinks games should obviously cost more, Alan Wake 3 may be early in development at Remedy, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Is 'hybrid gaming' the future of the industry? How do we deal with latent DLC for games we're no longer familiar with? Should Sacred Symbols be focused on attracting more female listeners? Which host has earned the title of Emeritus?

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Timestamps:

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.
0:00:00 - Intro
00:19:10 - Chris and the future of Sacred Symbols
00:54:12 - A new Ape Escape is in development
01:15:30 - Sony offloads VR patents to Meta
01:34:23 - New Portal models could be coming
01:44:36 - Forza Horizon 6 coming to PS5 in January
01:50:01 - Warhorse hope GTA will allow game prices to go up
02:04:44 - Vice City Heat rebrand
02:07:36 - Is Remedy already making Alan Wake 3?
02:16:10 - Paramount-WB merger
02:27:00 - PlayStation blind boxes
02:30:08 - Crunchyroll's further integration into PS5
02:33:14 - US Sales data
02:37:20 - What We’re Playing (Control, The Adventures of Elliot, Control Resonant, Gears of War: E-Day, Find the Needle)
03:04:31 - When to come back for DLC
03:14:08 - New options for trophy hunters
03:21:56 - Appealing to a female audience
03:32:58 - PSN Security updates
03:43:15 - Is the future of consoles hybrid?
03:49:29 - Sony IPs with different first party teams

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There's simply no denying that Naughty Dog's absence this generation is deeply felt. Apart from a couple of ports and a defunct, half-made multiplayer project, Sony's crown jewel studio hasn't contributed much of anything to PS5. Thankfully, that's on the verge of changing, not only as we get late in this cycle, but ever-closer to PlayStation 6. Three important pieces of news emerged: Intergalactic will be shown-off next year, a new Uncharted is indeed in development and will come to market following Intergalactic, and two The Last of Us projects are being incubated as well (one presumably The Last of Us: Part III). For the first time in ages, we have a clearer and more robust view into what Sony's most important team is planning for the next half-decade and well beyond. Is it time to celebrate? Or will the proof be in the pudding? Plus: Sony is skipping CES for the first time since 1967, a new look at God of War: Laufey's combat shows something decidedly DMC, AI upscaling comes to base PlayStation 5, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Why do so many "spiritual successors" fail to live up to the original? What's with all of the 10s IGN gives out these days? Should players embrace 'the grind' in video games, or seek ways around it? Who has the audacity to schedule a wedding on Christmas Eve?

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:28:56 - LSM quality
0:31:25 - PSP Marcus
0:38:23 - Don't play Sacred around your kids
0:52:26 - Wedding on Christmas Eve
0:59:57 - Mike Tomlin's Minecraft city
1:05:29 - Sony is skipping CES
1:16:49 - Naughty Dog's future
1:39:58 - Uncharted 4 spoilers start
2:01:00 - God of War: Laufey pre-orders are live
2:09:07 - QSSR introduced on base PS5
2:16:42 - PlayStation 5 jailbreak
2:28:27 - Sony Japan's PS5 Pro lottery
2:36:07 - Kena 2 pushed to 2027
2:39:01 - Portal's battery update
2:44:01 - Sony credit card patent
2:47:32 - Ubisoft's mega-studio: Massive Entertainment
2:51:30 - New Person sales figures
2:56:57 - October PS+ games
2:59:30 - What We’re Playing (Silent Hill: Townfall, Ace Combat 8, Control Resonant)
3:36:36 - Reducing hand holding in games
3:47:53 - Spiritual successors missing the mark
3:54:43 - Modern gaming ADHD
4:02:02 - Physint on PlayStation
4:09:59 - Steam's personal calendar
4:13:08 - 10/10s

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When it comes to Bungie, Sony's long been at a crossroads. Either PlayStation needs to invest heavily into keeping the studio afloat so it can support existing products and spin-up new ones, or it needs to pull the plug before more good money went after bad. Well, Sony's made a decision, and it's seemingly very much the former choice. With a new wind at its back, can Bungie turn Marathon around, revive Destiny, and survive and even thrive within the first party family? Or is it simply too little, too late? Plus: More information emerges on the Physint-Kojima situation, ex-Naughty Dog director Bruce Straley tells some hard truths about modern AAA gaming, SEGA got oh-so-close to binning Sonic the Hedgehog entirely, Square Enix intends on letting Final Fantasy VII Revelation players controversially auto-level their characters, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! What are our thoughts on Xbox's recent consolidative efforts? Are we sometimes too cavalier when openly spoiling older games? In what fashion should Crash Bandicoot's 30th anniversary be properly celebrated? How many listeners in total has Dustin gotten into Iron Maiden?

Timestamps:

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:28:18 - Wearing Sacred merch listening to Sacred
0:31:51 - Hogs update
0:33:32 - Shoutout Samantha
0:35:42 - Aaron and Dimitric
0:40:51 - Iron Maiden fandom
0:52:40 - Jury duty
0:59:55 - Trophy by the clock
1:01:32 - Bungie's future
1:58:59 - Gene's interview with Kojima
2:19:45 - Bruce Straley and God of War
2:38:06 - FF7 Revelation allows auto leveling
2:49:04 - Sega nearly did the right thing
2:51:29 - Lisa Dualsense I guess
2:54:30 - Lufia I + II are coming
3:00:55 - What We’re Playing (Wolverine, Silent Hill: Townfall, Fire Emblem, Big Walk)
3:35:45 - Armed Fantasia canceled
3:38:35 - Xbox's reset part 2
4:01:37 - Were apps on console a mistake?
4:03:53 - Asking executives any question
4:08:06 - Crash's 30th anniversary
4:11:46 - When are spoilers okay?
4:20:30 - Do fans care about gold, silver, and bronze trophies?

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A player-organized "PlayStation Blackout" recently asked Sony's hardcore customers to stay off of PSN for a mere week. It was a no doubt modest ask -- one that wasn't going to break the brand -- and it's always nice to see people try and do something when they deem it necessary. But if data from reliable US industry tracking firm Circana is any indication, the PlayStation Blackout had no discernable effect on their data whatsoever. When does initiative end and performance begin? If something is clearly not working, should one's tactics change? Perhaps most importantly, does a movement, no matter how laudable, need actually likable leadership to be effective? One thing's for sure: The blackout was a dud, something its most ardent champions cannot (or perhaps will not) square. Other news this week includes rumors surrounding Media Molecule's next game, an altered update approach for Bungie's Marathon, the reported closure of MindsEye studio Build A Rocket Boy, the trademarked sequel to 2023's beloved Lies of P, and much more. Then: Listener inquiries! Are Sony games victimized by over-focus testing? Should we be worried about Housemarque's future? Why don't more scary games launch in October? Does Colin need to remind everyone what about the true definition of "pithy"?
Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.
0:00:00 - Intro
0:22:49 - Colin's "nachos"
0:36:21 - Can Mitch McConnell beat Wolverine?
0:37:22 - Define pithy
0:46:02 - Resident Evil movie is good?
0:50:05 - PlayStation blackout had no effect
1:06:52 - Details about Media Molecule's next game
1:21:33 - Marathon development update
1:41:44 - Marvel Tokon's director on the PC launch
1:47:18 - Build A Rocket Boy is no more
1:58:11 - Lies of P Sequel trademarked
2:09:01 - New PlayStation headsets
2:20:53 - Powerwash Simulator 2's next DLC
2:24:48 - Level 5's AI drama
2:29:28 - Wardogs is a hit
2:35:38 - Dragon Quest sells over 100 million
2:38:48 - Terranigma releases January 14th
2:44:28 - What We’re Playing (The Blood of Dawnwalker, Onimusha: Way of the Sword)
2:45:15 - PlayStation's side of the Kojima divorce
3:00:40 - Is focus testing ruining games?
3:19:16 - Bloat and personnel in gaming
3:27:25 - Porting trophies to Xbox
3:35:03 - Housemarque's future
3:39:33 - Horror games in October

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So much bad mojo currently surrounds the PlayStation brand, that the negativity is starting to feel more like a trend than a temporary happenstance. The most recent news -- that Sony cancelled Kojima's Physint project, allowing him to take it to rival Xbox -- is the freshest addition to an increasing line of gut punches. Worse yet, such a move reveals something seemingly deeper: A sick PlayStation, unable to make rational decisions, desperately in-need of going under the knife and emerging with new leadership and a new directive. We discuss. Plus: Killzone Remaster/Remake rumors percolate, a popular PS3 emulator now allows play directly off of Blu-ray discs, the Saudis plot an EA-Savvy merger, Valve accidentally leaks a ton of upcoming games' achievements, and more. Then, we finish things up (as we always do) with listener inquiries. Could the greater multiplayer space benefit from a reorientation away from PvP and towards PvE? Are people severely underestimating the demand for PlayStation 6? Could Sony once again expand its first party sports offerings beyond MLB: The Show? Should we start deploying mouth-agape thumbnail images?

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Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.
0:00:00 - Intro
0:40:31 - Mega Man amiibo
0:40:56 - Advice for divorce
0:54:28 - Sacred Make-A-Wish
0:58:15 - Thumbnail preference
1:03:47 - Sony's physical production was misreported
1:06:30 - Sony pulls PHYSINT, Kojima goes to Xbox
2:14:20 - Rumor: Killzone is returning
2:26:33 - Valve leaks achievements of tons of games
2:38:02 - You can play PS3 games on disk on PC
2:41:50 - EA and Savvy could combine
2:46:43 - SNK announces Metal Slug Ultimate Collectoin
2:51:48 - New PS+ Game Catalog titles
2:54:27 - August PSN charts
2:57:02 - What We’ve Been Playing (Alan Wake II, The Blood of Dawnwalker, Onimusha: WotS, Plague Tale Resonance)
3:19:34 - Wolverine discussion
3:42:57 - PvE over Pvp
3:48:48 - Where is Mega Man Legends?
3:55:00 - Is it better to be an early adopter?
4:04:23 - Video game innovation
4:14:57 - Sony first party sports
4:18:34 - The end of remasters

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PlayStation's dueling State of Play presentations -- one for western audiences and the other for its native Japanese territory -- hasn't quelled the ever-increasing animus for the brand in some corners. Though widely considered a weak showing (we rank it somewhere between a C and F, depending on which one of us you ask), there were still some great games worth discussing, and we'll do just that. New announcements included shark-eating sequel Maneater 2, an eastern take on New York City with Konami's Rhapsody in Scarlet, old-school bona fides in SlashZero, and the uniquely liminal World Phasebound Control Authority. Plus, release dates flowed for the likes of Final Fantasy VII Revelation, Until Dawn 2, and Metro 2039, all excellent-looking titles. But underneath the surface, the same issues remain. Is Sony disconnected from the reality on the ground, or are we too busy misinterpreting the noise while dodging the signal? We discuss at length. Other news this week includes some Grand Theft Auto VI updates, the exit of Housemarque's co-founder, faux rumors of Square Enix going private, and more. Then, we wrap things up (as we always do) with listener inquiries. Do we believe the scuttlebutt out of Gamescom that Sony's development and publishing partners are upset with them? What do we think of the new website Video Games Critic? Does developer Bit Reactor furloughing staff indicate a future trend for sustainable game dev? Is Sacred Symbols the absolutely perfect podcast for the manic depressive?

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.
0:00:00 - Intro
0:16:34 - Pre-Sacred ritual
0:28:26 - Chris Ray Goon
0:31:09 - Bathroom paper towels
0:33:04 - Podcast etiquette
0:40:44 - Wendy's encounter
0:52:21 - Money flow follow-up
0:54:57 - State of Play
1:46:37 - Netflix's GTAVI breaks records
1:49:41 - Sony's comments on "digital ownership"
2:03:08 - Housemarque co-founder leaves
2:07:52 - Square Enix denies going private
2:10:38 - Sony Music buys 24% stake in Gung Ho Entertainment
2:13:06 - Sony brings live TV to PlayStation
2:15:48 - Iron Man game leaked
2:18:38 - What We’re Playing (Alan Wake 2, Mortal Shell 2, Halloween: The Game, Onimusha: Way of the Sword)
2:29:30 - PlayStation getting cold feet?
2:38:54 - Naughty Dog’s new reality
2:50:52 - Video Games Critic
2:59:12 - Physical games replacement
3:07:32 - Mega Man’s future
3:13:26 - Star Wars: Zero Company furlough

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It's finally time! Rockstar has revealed an in-depth look at Grand Theft Auto VI for the first time, with tons of gameplay, details, and more that so many tens of millions of fans have been hungry for. We discuss all we saw and what we loved and didn't, along with in-depth coverage of the hullabaloo surrounding the game's preview cycle and price. Colin even takes some time to educate the masses that GTAVI at $80 is nearly twice as affordable as GTA1 was at $50, based simply on average incomes and not at all adjusting for dreaded inflation (so next time someone tells you pay hasn't kept up with the increase in game pricing, now you know they're unapologetically lying). Other news this week includes fresh rumors of electronics tariffs in America, booming Helldivers 2 sales, a ton of Gamescom ONL fodder (including Witcher 3 Remastered, Final Fantasy VII Revelation, Stage Tour, Exodus, Mega Man: Dual Overdrive, and more). Then: Listener inquiries! Is game development in danger of so-called "mode collapse"? How has MiHoYo managed to find so much success across so many high-caliber games? Would Sony ever explore re-releasing old PlayStation hardware? Will Chris and Dustin join Colin in the Fart Corner?

Timestamps:

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00 - Intro
20:46 - Patreon player
22:05 - Free codes
26:43 - Sacred is here for you
28:28 - Glass Snapple is back
32:03 - GTA VI leaks and pricing
1:52:47 - GTA VI showcase reaction
2:23:20 - New tariffs could be coming
2:28:34 - Anti-data center craze
2:40:40 - Gamescom catchup
3:20:24 - Sony confirms Helldivers is a huge success
3:21:27 - Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement delayed
3:22:59 - Terranigma confirmed
3:23:45 - Dave Bautista cast as Kratos
3:24:37 - New PS+ games
3:28:07 - What Are We Playing? (Beast of Reincarnation, Alan Wake II, Endacopia, Mortal Shell 2, How to Fish)
3:53:48 - Mode Collapse of gaming
4:02:30 - HoYoverse expansion
4:07:33 - "Legacy PlayStation"
4:11:44 - Will this be one of the best years in gaming?

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Sony's mishandling of its games-as-a-service initiative is well-worn territory here on Sacred Symbols, but that doesn't mean the fallout doesn't persist. This time around, Guerrilla's new multiplayer title Horizon: Hunters Gathering is the focal point. Based on recent reporting, it appears Sony is having the dev team rework the game to remove live service and other persistent elements, and its fate will be decided by December, with cancellation still very much on the table. Bungie and Marathon, Haven and Fairgames, Firewalk and Concord, Naughty Dog and The Last of Us Online, the Deviation-turned-Dark Outlaw project, Bluepoint and God of War Online, a cancelled multiplayer Spider-Man game at Insomniac, Twisted Metal never getting far off the ground at Lucid... Truly, it's enough already. Plus: Until Dawn star Hayden Panettiere sadly passes away at 37 years old, Grand Theft Auto VI suffers a catastrophic leak, Hiroko Totoki talks to the Wall Street Journal about Sony's move away from tech and towards entertainment, Square Enix swears Kingdom Hearts IV will launch in 2027, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Is Naughty Dog's high-caliber approach ultimately unsustainable? Have we lost sight of the reality of how bad the experience of using physical media actually is? How can we both run Sacred Symbols effectively while ignoring the endless, persistent, and unrealistic negativity? Will Colin ultimately push Dustin over the line by insisting he's Japanese?

Timestamps:

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00 - Intro
39:18 - Shoutout to Chris and Porter
50:08 - "Dustin is Japanese"
52:26 - Drinking in the pool
1:03:09 - Digital ownership brother in arms
1:09:27 - RIP Hayden Panettiere
1:15:08 - GTAVI Leaks
1:44:20 - Horizon: Hunters Gathering is being reworked
2:28:31 - Hiroki Totoki Literature Club interview
2:42:15 - Sony's shovelware purge gone wrong?
2:55:21 - Kingdom Hearts IV releases late 2027
3:01:28 - Terranigma port
3:05:32 - Pulse Elevate speakers coming in November
3:07:53 - Call of Duty beta includes campaign level
3:09:44 - Simpsons Hit and Run returns?
3:14:25 - July US sales data
3:18:42 - What We're Playing (Beast of Reincarnation, Spider-Man 2, Mortal Shell 2)
3:40:39 - Toxic fandoms
3:56:42 - Enshittification across media
4:06:53 - Curbing your expectations
4:20:17 - Is Naughty Dog unsustainable?
4:24:14 - Is America AAA game dev dead?
4:30:34 - Was physical media a nightmare?

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