Shared Save: A Gaming Discussion Podcast

A relatively quiet week in terms of news but the show goes on! S-Game have released Phantom Blade Zero to critical and commercial success - we will share our impressions so far! In other news, Xbox has released its latest quarterly earnings report and it's painting a bleak picture for the state of the brand; we discuss.

Time Stamps:

0:00 Intro & housekeeping

10:50 Phantom Blade Zero Impressions

43:00 Xbox Financials are BLEAK

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#XBOX #GamePass #PhantomBladezero #PhantomBlade0 #Podcast #Gaming

Quite the news week around the industry: BioWare, the legendary studio behind games like KOTOR, Dragon Age and Mass Effect - is no more. Electronic Arts has decided to close the studio amid publisher wide layoffs. We once again have reporting around the future of Xbox - including changes to Game Pass, next-gen console(s) release windows and the INSANE pricing for Project Helix. Over in PlayStation land - rumors Sony has acquired Ember Labs and the Kena IP - let's discuss.

Plus, a review for Stupid Never Dies, Sam's thoughts on Control: Resonant and more!

Time Stamps:

0:00 Intro and whatcha playing

26:00 EA Shuts Down BioWare

51:00 Has PlayStation Acquired Ember Labs?

1:06:00 Xbox Helix Price Range & Fortune Interview

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#BioWare #EA #Gaming #Xbox #PS5 #Kena #stupidneverdies #podcast

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has long been outspoken about his love of AI - well, is Bloomberg reports are to be believed - Epic is done with human made games. A delayed Disney project is now going to be entirely made by AI. In other news, Xbox has seen this as a greenlight to embrace and create their own AI development initiative with Xbox Labs.

We also have tons of reviews this week with: Thank You Bus Driver, Valor Mortis, Warhammer 40K Boltgun 2 and more!

Time Stamps:

0:00 Intro

5:30 El Paso, Elsewhere 2 Preview

10:00 Valor Mortis Review

19:30 Thank You Bus Driver Review & Giveaway

26:15 Well Dweller Review

31:50 Warhammer 40K: Boltgun 2

38:00 Control: Resonant

48:00 Epic Games Embraces AI Development

1:11:00 XBOX Labs & AI

1:28:00 XBOX Survey re: Exclusivity

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Grab a copy of Warhammer 40K: Boltgun 2 here: https://devolver.link/bg2

Code provided via Keymailer for Thank You Bus Driver

#EpicGames #AI #Podcast #Gaming #Xbox #ValorMortis #TYBD #Boltgun2 #Warhammer40K #Keymailer

PlayStation has long been criticized for ignoring fan favorite IP from previous generations; however, if new reports are to be believed - Ape Escape is coming back and PlayStation is letting developers pitch ideas to revive other classic IP. In other news, Asha Sharma has held an Xbox town hall and from it, given hints about the future of Xbox Helix, Game Pass and PC.

We will also give our thoughts on Order of the Sinking Star, Echo Weaver, Kalanoro, Control: Resonant and more!

Time Stamps:

0:00 Intro

6:00 Order of the Sinking Star Review

20:30 Echo Weaver Review

40:00 KALANORO Review

1:06:00 Xbox Next-Gen Plans

PlayStation Segment: https://youtu.be/c25a4ffbLRo

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Disclaimer: Code provided for review of Kalanoro.

#XBOX #PlayStation #ApeEscape #Reviews #Kalanoro #Keymailer #EchoWeaver #Orderofthesinkingstar #Indies #Gaming

Naughty Dog celebrated "The Last of Us" day this year by teasing fans that not one, but MULTIPLE, projects are in development. They've also confirmed we will see a full reveal of their new game: Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet in 2027 - but could we be playing it before the end of next year as well? Lastly, rounding out our trio of Naughty Dog news is a new rumor of an Uncharted game in development at the studio. Let's chat all about PlayStation's premiere studio.

In other news - Gears of War E-Day is out to RAVE reviews, so let's do a hype check but - is the game set up for commercial success? Early Steam numbers indicate a slow start sales wise. Plus, Sam has reviews for the new Ghost of Yotei Expansion and Toem 2!

Time Stamps:

0:00 Intro

4:00 Toem 2 Review

10:00 Ghost of Yotei Expansion Review

23:00 Naughty Dog Updates!

1:01:00 Gears of War E-Day Critical & Commercial Success

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#XBOX #Gearsofwar #Uncharted #TLOU #NaughtyDog #PS5 #Rumor #Gaming #Podcast

In another exciting week of industry news - Xbox has announced the 2nd round of their layoffs this fiscal year. Following up the 1600 laid off a few months ago, an additional 238 employees across Xbox have been let go. These layoffs bring MAJOR changes to Xbox's internal organization. Xbox's flagship IP - Halo - is now going to Activision, but is it too late to revive the IP? Undead Labs has gone independent and 2 deals fall through for Ninja Theory - who look set to close. What does the future of Xbox look like? Let's discuss

In other news, Bungie has announced that Destiny WILL continue and we have our thoughts on Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, Silent Hill: Townfall and more!

Time Stamps:

0:00 Intro & Whatcha Playing

4:00 Sam's Wolverine Review

10:00 Silent Hill: Townfall & Control Resonant

25:00 Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave Impressions

37:00 Xbox Layoffs & Restructure

1:35:00 Bungie Saves Destiny

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#Xbox #Halo #Activision #SilentHilltownfall #FireEmblem #Destiny #Bungie

PlayStation's latest release - Marvel's Wolverine - has been under constant fire since reviews dropped nearly a week ago. We've got our hands on it (in fact - rolled credits on the game) - so let's chat (spoiler-free, of course). Apart from that, Xbox Game Pass is rumored to be undergoing a MAJOR shakeup in a few months...

Time Stamps:

0:00 Intro

4:00 Wolverine Impressions

35:00 Media Molecule New Game Leak

56:00 Xbox Game Pass Rumor

1:16:00 What are the GOTY Contenders?

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#Wolverine #PS5 #Xbox #XboxGamePass

Nintendo graced us with not one but TWO Nintendo Direct this week - one dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the Legend of Zelda and gave us a deep dive into the Ocarina of Time remake; the other - a general direct which, while showing off a new Metroid and Kirby game - was not as well received. PlayStation has also cut ties with Kojima and handed PHYSINT over to Xbox. Lets' discuss!

Time Stamps:

0:00 Intro & Whatcha Playing

7:00 Orbitals Review

17:00 PlayStation Dumps Kojima

50:00 Ocarina of Time Remake

1:00:00 General Direct Thoughts

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#Nintendo #Zelda #Metroid #Ocarinaoftime #Kirby #NintendoDirect

PlayStation held its annual September State of Play along with a Japan focused State of Play right after... and well, to say we were underwhelmed is an understatement. Let's go through every announcement - the good and the bad. We also have news that Xbox is making major changes to its cloud gaming ecosystem. Plus, we have reviews of newly released Crimson Moon and Wheelmates!

Time Stamps:

0:00 Intro and Whatcha Playing

16:00 Crimson Moon Review

32:00 WheelMates Impressions

36:00 State of Play Recap

1:40:00 Xbox Cloud Gaming Limits

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Affiliate Links:

Crimson Moon: https://store.steampowered.com/app/4317690/Crimson_Moon/

WheelMates: https://lurk.ly/6fMdvH

#Xbox #PS5 #StateofPlay #FF7 #Wolverine #CloudGaming #Konami #CrimsonMoon #Wheelmates #Indie

WARNING: FULL SPOILERS FOR EVERY A PLAGUE TALE GAME AND RESONANCE AHEAD!

Join Sam and Kevin as they breakdown the gameplay, story, themes and future of A Plague Tale after beating Resonance: A Plague Tale legacy. Did Asobo deliver with this spin-off? Let's dive deep in this nearly 2 and a half hour conversation

#APlagueTale #Resonance #XBOX #GamePass #Asobo