Robert and Angela just spent the last week at this year’s GDC. Between the fun and experimental games and the general excitement of the conference, there was an underlying sense of reservation and unease about where the industry is headed. It was most palpable in some of the sessions they attended, particularly on the state of PC and console games, AI, and games preservation.

In this episode, Robert and Angela lead Zack and Dom in a discussion about their takeaways from these sessions. The group covers how the industry is having to grapple with the dangers of AI, the very real risk of the loss of games and gaming history, and how gamers’ changing behaviors — and developers’ continued tone deaf decisions — have the industry standing at a crossroads (or possibly even a precipice).

Timestamps

0:00: Introductions and what Dom's been playing (Dynasty Warriors: Origins, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights, Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist, Lies of P, Split Fiction)

11:01: What Robert's been playing (Princess Peach: Showtime!, Super Mario RPG, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker)

20:23: What Angie's been playing (Dynasty Warriors: Origins, Hello Kitty Island Adventures)

38:38: What Zack's been playing (Rise of the Ronin, Dynasty Warriors: Origins, Avowed, Pillars of Eternity, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Hi-Fi Rush, Cocoon, Chants of Sennaar, Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous, Assassin's Creed Shadows)

1:00:13: GDC coverage, starting with Day of the Devs highlights (inKonbini, Out of Sight, Ultimate Sheep Racoon, Star Fetchers, Demonschool, Super Farming Boy)

1:21:31: GDC itself and highlights (Spirit X Strike, Mononoke No Kuni, Big Hops, The Bustling World)

1:39:34: GDC session discussion, touching on topics from the following sessions:

• The State of PC and Console Games in 2025
• Game AI Summit: The Human Cost of Generative AI
• Preserving the Past for the Future: A PlayStation Case Study
• Capturing Game History Bits by Bits