Spectator Mode Gaming Podcast

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We’re back! In this episode of the Spectator Mode Podcast, we dive into our hands-on time at Summer Game Fest 2025 Play Days, talk about the state of fighting games with all the big announcements (yes, including Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls), and share what caught our attention during the Steam Next Fest – June 2025 edition. From indie bangers to AAA hype, we’ve got a lot to say!

Topics:

• Games we’ve played, stuff we’ve watched
• Summer Game Fest Play Days
• State of Fighting Games
• Steam Next Fest

Thanks for listening, and please, if you enjoy the show, leave a rating on Spotify or Apple Music.

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Spectator Mode Podcast Episode 189 is finally here — yeah, we know it's a little late. Between our trip to Summer Game Fest 2025 and things got a bit chaotic. But we're back with a stacked episode!

This week, we dive into our predictions for Summer Game Fest 2025 (some of which may or may not have already come true), and break down the Witcher 4 tech demo that just dropped. We also talk about what stood out in the recent PlayStation Showcase, plus the games we've been playing and stuff we've been watching.

Thanks for your patience, and as always, we appreciate you tuning in!

Topics: 

• Games we’ve played, stuff we’ve watched
• Summer Game Fest 2025 predictions
• Witcher 4 tech demo released
• What we liked from the PlayStation Showcase

Thanks for listening, and please, if you enjoy the show, leave a rating on Spotify or Apple Music.

Spotify – spoti.fi/2HsmTZ8
Apple Music – https://apple.co/43Bz67A
YouTube – Youtube.com/theouterhaven
Amazon Music – https://amzn.to/3FE4bPM

Join our small but growing Discord channel!

Discord – https://discord.gg/c7FPrj3MGj

Support the show

You can find the Spectator Mode podcast on the following podcast platforms. Please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcast, as it will go a long watch in more people discovering us. Thank you!

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Ready for some spicy gaming talk? Well, that's what we have in this latest episode, as the crew discusses the frustration about the PC version of Stellar Blade and PSN woes, again. We can't forget Nintendo's recent change to its EULA and what that means for anyone who owns a Switch or the Switch 2. Finally, gamers and expensive games, and who ultimately wins when prices get hiked up. 

Thanks for listening, and please, if you enjoy the show, leave a rating on Spotify or Apple Music.

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Join our small but growing Discord channel

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#stellarblade #pcgaming #psn #playstationetwork #switch2 #nintendo #videogames

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You can find the Spectator Mode podcast on the following podcast platforms. Please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcast, as it will go a long watch in more people discovering us. Thank you!

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In Episode 187 of the Spectator Mode Podcast, we dive into this week’s biggest stories in gaming! 

We talk about the shocking return of Giant Bomb, clear up the Steam hack rumors, and break down EA's controversial return-to-office policy. Sony warns of a PS5 price hike, DOOM: The Dark Ages struggles on Steam Deck, and Nintendo drops a firmware update that could mess with your virtual cards. Plus, Stellar Blade finally makes its way to PC, we give our full PAX East 2025 impressions, and we discuss the cancellation of Kingdom Hearts: Missing Link.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 - Intro / Games Played and Stuff Watched this Week
• 25:07 – The Return of Giant Bomb
• 26:02 – Steam Wasn’t Hacked
• 32:15 – EA Forcing Employees Back to the Office
• 39:06 – PlayStation Price Hike Warning
• 44:40 – DOOM: The Dark Ages on Steam Deck
• 53:20 – Nintendo Virtual Card Warning
• 56:40 – Stellar Blade on PC
• 1:03:10 – PAX East 2025 Impressions
• 1:24:15 – Kingdom Hearts: Missing Link Cancelled

#GamingPodcast #StellarBlade #PAXEast2025 #DOOMTheDarkAges #PS5PriceHike #KingdomHearts #GiantBomb #SteamDeck #SpectatorModePodcast #GamingNews

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You can find the Spectator Mode podcast on the following podcast platforms. Please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcast, as it will go a long watch in more people discovering us. Thank you!

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Spectator Mode Podcast Ep. 186 is here! This week, we break down some of the biggest topics shaking up the gaming world:
– The rising cost of games: Is $80 the new norm?
– GTA VI delayed to 2026 — should we be surprised?
– Elden Ring Nightreign won’t support crossplay, and fans aren’t happy
– Polygon and Giant Bomb shifts signal a changing media landscape

Hit play and join the discussion. Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
#podcast #videogames #videogamepodcast #gamingjournalism #grandtheftautovi #gta6 #grandtheftauto6 #eldenringnightreign 

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You can find the Spectator Mode podcast on the following podcast platforms. Please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcast, as it will go a long watch in more people discovering us. Thank you!

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In the latest episode of the Spectator Mode Podcast, the crew kicked things off by discussing the games they’ve been playing and the shows they’ve been watching. The crew then dove into their initial impressions of the highly anticipated Capcom Fighting Collection 2, exploring its gameplay mechanics and features, moving on to a lively debate about Forza Horizon 5 heading to the PS5 and how suddenly it's a great game. 

Of course, we didn't shy away from major headlines, covering Sony’s PS5 price hike in several regions and speculating on the cost of the rumored Nintendo Switch 2 in North America. Other topics included Shuhei Yoshida’s remarks about the Switch 2, rumors of an "Oblivion" remake, and news from the INDIE Live Expo. On a more somber note, they reflected on Niantic’s announcement of layoffs and the broader impact on the industry. #playstation5 #oblivion #switch2 #shuheiyoshida #indieliveexpo #gamingpodcast #videogames

That and more on Spectator Mode Podcast episode 185! We hope you enjoy!

Topics:

•  Games we played & stuff we watched 
•  Capcom Fighting Collection 2 impressions
• Forza Horizon 5 is suddenly good since it's coming to PS5
•  PS5 price hike in several regions
•  Niantic Spatial To Lay Off 68 People
•  INDIE Live Expo
•  Shuhei Yoshida’s comments about the Switch 2
•  Oblivion Remake
•  How much do we think the Switch 2 is going to cost in North America?

You can find the Spectator Mode podcast on the following podcast platforms. Please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcast or Spotify, as it will go a long way in helping more people discovering us. Thank you!

• Apple Podcasts
• YouTube
• Spotify
• Amazon Music

Support the show

You can find the Spectator Mode podcast on the following podcast platforms. Please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcast, as it will go a long watch in more people discovering us. Thank you!

• Apple Podcasts
• YouTube
• Spotify
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Send us Fan Mail

On Spectator Mode Podcast episode 184, the crew kicks things off by diving into the games they’ve been playing and the shows and movies they've been watching. One of the big highlights is the debut trailer for Tron: Ares, which has the team buzzing with mixed excitement and frustration about Disney's latest sci-fi venture. From there, the conversation shifts gears to more serious territory, touching on the impact of tariffs and how they've trickled down into consumer tech and gaming—sometimes in unexpected ways. The team also discusses how Switch 2 pre-orders are being delayed in Canada, sparking a broader debate on hardware availability and Nintendo’s next-gen rollout strategy.

The Nintendo talk doesn’t stop there as the hosts weigh in on the company’s decision to introduce variable game pricing for the Switch 2, and Nintendo's defense of that choice. They also question why Nintendo Tour isn’t offered as a freebie or bundled in, especially as competition in mobile and handheld gaming heats up. There’s also a good laugh (and a little heat) over people defending the Steam Deck over the upcoming Switch 2. For those feeling priced out of the new console, Nintendo’s not-so-subtle answer is: just buy a Switch 1! The episode wraps by explaining Nintendo’s game key cards and a surprising twist in comic book news—the All-New Venom host has been revealed, and it’s none other than Mary Jane. #videogames #allnewvenom #nintendoswitch2 #tronares #gamingpodcast #tariffs

Hosts:

• Keith Mitchell
• Scott Adams
• Karl Smart

Thanks for listening and watching!

Support the show

You can find the Spectator Mode podcast on the following podcast platforms. Please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcast, as it will go a long watch in more people discovering us. Thank you!

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Welcome to a very impromptu episode of the Spectator Mode Podcast. To be honest, we totally didn't expect us all to be available to watch the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, let alone have so many options about it, but nonetheless, here we are. And, well, we definitely have some stuff to say. Some were positive, some negative, but it's all in fun. Also, no damned F-Zero... C'mon, Nintendo #nintendoswitch2 #gamingpodcast #duskbloods

Hosts:

• Keith Mitchell
• Karl Smart
• Josh Piedra
• Kevin Kelly
• Scott Adams

Support the show

You can find the Spectator Mode podcast on the following podcast platforms. Please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcast, as it will go a long watch in more people discovering us. Thank you!

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Send us Fan Mail

On Spectator Mode Podcast episode 182, we dive into the latest gaming buzz, starting with our excitement about heading back to Summer Game Fest before diving into the big news—Game Informer is back! Dotemu and Tribute Games also made headlines with their reveal of Marvel Cosmic Invasion, while The First Berserker: Khazan left Keith seriously impressed. We reviewed Dark Deity 2 and even had an insightful interview with MASUMI. The episode also featured a deep dive into Assassin’s Creed Shadows, discussing its overall impact and how it runs on Nvidia GeForce Now. We then examined what’s happening between Ubisoft and Tencent before shifting gears to the announcement of Trails Beyond the Horizon. The conversation got even more interesting as we debated whether publishers are afraid of Grand Theft Auto 6 and pondered the misinformation over the Xbox's Steam integration disclosure. Finally, we wrapped up with some housekeeping and ended with Jordan's displease about his PC. Don't miss this jam-packed episode! 

#thefirstberserkerkhazan #marvelcosmicinvasion #trailsbeyondthehorizon #assassinscreedshadows #xbox #steam #gamingpodcast #gameinformer

Hosts:

• Keith Mitchell
• Scott Adams
• Jordan Andow

Timestamps:

• 00:00 - Intro
• 01:15   - Games we played / stuff we watched 
• 22:51 - We’re heading back to Summer Game Fest
• 23:34 - Gameinformer is back
• 24:55 - Dotemu and Tribute reveal Marvel Cosmic Invasion
• 28:33 - The First Berserker: Khazan is amazing 
• 34:33 - Dark Deity 2 review, and Interview with MASUMI
• 36:41 - Assassin’s Creed Shadows DISCUSSION
• 49:08 - Assassin’s Creed Shadows Nvidia Geforce Now Impressions
• 1:01:19 - What’s going on with Ubisoft and Tencent 
• 1:18:06 - Trails Beyond The Horizon announced
• 1:26:07 - Are publishers afraid of Grand Theft Auto 6
• 1:28:50 - Xbox Steam integration
• 1:57:03 - Housekeeping
• 1:57:44  - Story Time With Jordan
• 1:59:43 - Outro

Support the show

You can find the Spectator Mode podcast on the following podcast platforms. Please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcast, as it will go a long watch in more people discovering us. Thank you!

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On Spectator Mode Podcast Episode 181, we dive into the latest gaming buzz, starting with our impressions of the Mechabreak demo and what it brings to the mech genre. We then shred into the exciting reveal of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 remake before discussing our thoughts on Monster Hunter Wilds. The hardware talk heats up with news of an Xbox handheld (again), and we celebrate Chrono Trigger’s 30th anniversary by reflecting on its RPG legacy. Finally, we explore whether PC gaming in the living room has hit its stride.

For our roundtable, we debate if playing Death Stranding 1 is necessary before diving into the sequel and question whether Xbox’s acquisition of Activision was worth it. With hot takes, nostalgia, and industry insights, this episode is packed with gaming goodness you won’t want to miss!

Hosts:

• Keith Mitchell
• Scott Adams
• Kevin Kelly

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro 
00:33 - Games we played / stuff we watched
20:43 - Mechabreak demo impressions
29:26 - Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 + 4 remake revealed
36:48 - Thoughts on Monster Hunter Wilds so far
44:29 - Xbox handheld is a thing again
54:40 - Chrono Trigger 30th anniversary
01:01:00 - PC gaming in the living room hits prime time
01:06:42 - Roundtable discussions
01:07:16 - Do you need to play Death Stranding 1 before 2 
01:11:54 - Xbox purchasing Activision pointless 
01:16:38 - Outro

Support the show

You can find the Spectator Mode podcast on the following podcast platforms. Please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcast, as it will go a long watch in more people discovering us. Thank you!

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