Mastercard and Visa face backlash after hundreds of adult games removed from online stores Steam and Itch.io, Microsoft starts rolling out Xbox age verification in the UK (and reversed plans to charge $80 for The Outer Worlds 2) Switch 2 has become the fastest selling video game hardware device in US history, Sony’s new Power Saver mode will ‘scale back performance’ of supported PlayStation 5 titles, and Wolfenstein is the next game series to get an adaptation for TV.

Also: burned food, save files, biscuits, billionaires, and more.

Games discussed: Death Stranding 2, Wheel World, Donkey Kong Bananza.

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Microsoft kills its movies and TV store on Xbox and Windows, Nintendo is doing another mysterious ‘online playtest’, Steam games disclosing generative AI use ‘are up 800%’ this year, FromSoftware is working on an unannounced project alongside The Duskbloods, and Zelda and Link’s movie actors have been revealed.

Also: Internet black-outs, bank notes, money taboos, 90s game news, Fantastic Four, fun friend-meeting stories.

Games discussed: Donkey Kong Bananza, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

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Forza Horizon 5 sold 2 million units in a month on PS5, there’s a whole Subnautica 2 saga, the Donkey Kong Bananza director says he’s aware of occasional performance issues, and Nintendo and Universal are planning a Donkey Kong movie.

Also: video podcasts, politics, tattoo updates, slippers and more.

Games discussed: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Two Point Museum, The Ascent.

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Job losses, studio closures, cancelled games at Xbox, Phil Spencer isn’t leaving any time soon, Helldivers 2 is coming to Xbox Series X/S in August, port studio says any 60fps Xbox Series S game will ‘easily port’ to Nintendo Switch 2, and Neil Druckmann is stepping away from The Last of Us TV show to focus on game development

Also: Good facts, Chinese takeaways, stickers and more!

Games discussed: Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, PEAK, Another Code: Recollection, Two Point Museum, Zenless Zone Zero, Rematch, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, Walkabout Mini Golf VR.

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This week, a totally normal show.

Lost Records developer Don't Nod cuts a "non-insignificant chunk" of jobs; turns out The Alters has undisclosed gen AI use of in images, text, and translation; Sony sued in Netherlands over "Sony Tax" and its perceived monopoly on digital sales, PlayStation maintains that it still won’t release first-party games on PS Plus on day one, and Dbrand is sending improved Switch 2 grips to all customers after ‘spectacularly terrible response’ to detaching claims.

Also: Mr. Resetti, Star Wars nerds, feeling old, and so much more.

Games discussed: Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, PEAK, 9 Kings, Cast n Chill, Rematch, Lumines Remastered.

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Microsoft says it's working on next-gen Xbox "consoles", third-party Switch 2 game sales are reportedly “below estimates” (but Nintendo is banning people for pirating games on Switch 2), a Metroid Prime 4 ad on London Underground claimed the game is ‘out now’, support for Beat Saber on PS4 and PS5 ends, and Bungie delays Marathon.

Also: Prison time, good boys, Sonic’s birthday, masculine film idols, and more.

Games discussed: Rematch, The Alters, Mario Kart World, Fortnite, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II.

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This week we’re joined by the amazing Ellie Gibson!

Switch 2 sells 3.5m units in four days, SAG-AFTRA reaches tentative agreement with major games companies to end strike, SGF viewing figures up by 89%, John Marston’s actor teases “big announcement” coming “before Friday”, and Splatoon Raiders is announced for Switch 2.

Also: being sell-outs, catchphrases, could we host the BAFTA Games Awards, and more!

Games discussed: The Alters, Trash Goblin, Mario Kart World, Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, Absolum, Assassin’s Creed: Shadows.

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We discuss everything announced at Summer Game Fest and Sony State of Play, and we give our first impressions of Nintendo Switch 2, its games and accessories.

That’s it. That’s the show.

Games discussed: Mario Kart World, Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, and more.

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EA cancels Black Panther and shuts down Cliffhanger Games, Xbox’s handheld has been reportedly "sidelined", GAME cancelling Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders, and Summer Game Fest 2025 is almost here.

Also: games in space, nuisance gaming, school screw ups, non-tech upgrades, murders, and more.

Games discussed: To a T, Rematch, Ghost Town

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This week: Borderlands 4 might actually cost $80, Molyneux talks about Project Milo, Alex Garland is directing the Elden Ring movie, and Sony ends its PlayStation Stars loyalty programme.

Also: best kissers, own brand lifestyles, spoilers, TCGS Trump Cars, bunkers, and more.

Games discussed: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Doom: The Dark Ages, Monster Train 2, Helldivers 2, Split Fiction.

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