As we kick off a new season, we find ourselves in a Groundhog Day-like loop of the biggest industry players making the same baffling decisions that leave us scratching our heads and wondering “why?” — or just shaking them in disappointment. From the sudden retirement of Phil Spencer and his questionable replacement to the sudden shuttering of Bluepoint Games, we sit down to hash out yet another round of troubling industry news and where we think it all leads from here. But first, we get carried away with talking about the games we’ve been playing and going on related tangents about the series we love.

Timestamps:

0:00 - Introductions and what Dom's been playing (Neva, Cairn, Nioh 3)

10:54 - What Robert's been playing (Yakuza 0, Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth)

00:16:15 - What Angie's been playing (Like a Dragon: Ishin!, Yakuza Kiwami 3)

27:00 - Yakuza series sidebar

47:52 - What Zack's been playing (Gravity Circuit, Forza Horizon 5, NFS Heat, Burnout Revenge, Animal Well, Andro Dunos II, Fantasian, Nex Machina)

1:11:05 - Xbox leadership shakeup

1:49:43 - Sony ices Bluepoint