The Gift of Gaming Podcast

Darren is joined by Chris once again to go through some of the biggest news items of the last month! The hopes of game price increases after GTA 6, the biggest games of BlizzCon, how the EU Kids Act may affect video game industry and even the latest from Naughtydog. Its all here on the Gift of Gaming podcast!

GTA 6 Price Hopes to Blaze a Trail for General Increase

https://www.pcgamer.com/games/grand-theft-auto/kingdom-come-deliverance-studio-co-founder-hopes-grand-theft-auto-6-will-blaze-a-trail-to-higher-game-prices/

BlizzCon 2026 Announcements

https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/09/12/blizzcon-2026-opening-ceremony/

Stop Killing Games movement sounds alarm on EU Kids Act

https://massivelyop.com/2026/10/02/stop-killing-games-movement-sounds-alarm-on-eu-kids-act-this-is-a-bomb-that-could-implode-the-whole-video-games-industry/

Activision Takes Over Halo

https://kotaku.com/activision-taking-over-halo-franchise-and-what-remains-of-halo-studios-will-now-be-a-support-team-2000736427

Naughty Dog Update

https://www.polygon.com/naughty-dog-the-last-of-us-two-new-projects-intergalactic-update-2027/

https://www.polygon.com/uncharted-5-naughty-dog-in-progress/

Darren, Craig and Colm have put some good hours into Star Wars Zero Company. The turn-based tactics style game from Bit Reactor and Respawn has received positive reviews, hitting 85% on Metacritic at the time of writing. But what the GoGPod guys think of this new entry into the turn-based tactics genre?

With Star Wars being such a hit, the guys are doing a post show on what other skins/IPs could help promote the next turn-based tactics game. Check it out over on Patreon.com/thegiftofgaming

The Doctor is in the house! Darren and Chris are joined by Dr. Daniel, the GoG Pod's in house medical practitioner, to discuss all the various gaming injuries we've all come to know and hate. Looking for some insight on how best to practice your gaming as our bodies decay and we slump ever closer to our demise? Look no further!

On today's post show, we're discussing all things Hideo Kojima (Darren isn't his biggest fan) so if you want to check that out, check out our Patreon over at patreon.com/thegiftofgaming.

Want to get in touch? Hit us up on our email at [email protected]!

Darren is joined by Kev and Craig, the podcast's most knowledgeable team on all things Final Fantasy 7. With new trailers, new news and updates from the games director, Final Fantasy 7 Revelations is looking bigger and bigger. So if you're a Final Fantasy 7 fan, sit back and enjoy the ride. If you're not, what on earth are you waiting for?!

Check out today's post show on our thoughts of Nintendo's remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time over at patreon.com/thegiftofgaming

Want to get in contact? Message us at [email protected]

Darren is joined by Chris to take a look back at the news from August. Playstation doubles down on discless, Kingdom Hearts fans are eating well and Compulsion studios has saved itself from Microsoft!

Looking for more? Check out our Patreon for post show content where this week, Darren spills the online tea for Chris over Saber Interactive's CEO.

Want to get in touch? Send us an email over at [email protected]

Playstation Discless Saga:

https://www.eurogamer.net/playstation-reasonable-consumers-know-dont-own-digital-games

https://www.eurogamer.net/sony-state-of-play-no-disc-no-buy-destiny-3

https://www.eurogamer.net/sony-ending-playstation-discs-physical-media-january-2028

Marvel Tōkon's Bad on PC:

https://www.ign.com/articles/marvel-tokon-devs-confess-regaining-trust-after-fumbled-pc-launch-will-be-extremely-challenging

Tekken 8 Game Director Leaves:

https://www.ign.com/articles/hot-on-the-heels-of-katsuhiro-haradas-exit-from-bandai-namco-the-director-of-tekken-7-and-8-has-left-too

Kingdom Hearts 4 Update:

https://www.polygon.com/kingdom-hearts-4-square-enix-tokyo-game-show-news-teased/

Compulsion Studio Saves itself:

https://www.gamesindustry.biz/compulsion-games-officially-separates-from-xbox-the-team-told-me-we-would-rather-eat-rocks-and-drink-gasoline-than-be-split-up

Darren and Craig, long time Fire Emblem fans, spend the episode breaking down the Fortune's Weave Nintendo direct and discuss whether or not its something to look forward to.

Check out today's post show on patreon.com/thegiftofgaming where Craig and Darren talk about video games they would love to see based on recent experiences.

Want to get in touch? Please do! Email us at [email protected]

Darren and Chris look back on the last few weeks of the biggest gaming news. From Playstation moving away from Discs, more layoffs at Xbox and the latest news for Fallout fans, its all here on the Gift of Gaming podcast.

Playstation Discless

https://www.polygon.com/sony-playstation-physical-discs-ending/

Microsoft layoffs

https://www.gamedeveloper.com/production/-good-work-is-not-going-to-save-your-job-at-this-company-laid-off-xbox-devs-condemn-microsoft

The cost of a Steam Machine

https://www.polygon.com/steam-machine-original-price-valve-cost-pc-gaming/

Bethesda's update

https://www.gamesindustry.biz/bethesda-reveals-plans-for-fallout-5-the-elder-scrolls-6-and-more

Want more? Check out patreon.com/thegiftofgaming for more content. This week's episode is Chris' review of the new Steam Controller

The guys at the Gift of Gaming Podcast have a lot of ground to cover since they took their break. No part of any gaming updates have been deemed more important then the reveal of Final Fantasy 7 Revelations.

Join Darren, Craig and Kev (the FF7 experts) as they deep dive into the trailer and all we know about the upcoming final instalment of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake.

Want more Final Fantasy discussion? Check out our Patreon over at patreon.com/thegiftofgaming for loads more content, including today's Post Show where Kev and Craig will blind rate some of the bigger games in the Final Fantasy franchise.

Want to get in touch? Send us an email over at [email protected]

Darren's back after his holiday with all the gaming news from March! Check out the news items covered below:

The Krafton Lawsuit Update

https://www.gamesindustry.biz/bombshell-judgment-demands-krafton-immediately-reinstate-ousted-ceo-and-return-his-authority-over-subnautica-2

The Nvidia DLSS 5 Problem

https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/theyre-completely-wrong-nvidia-ceo-responds-to-widespread-criticism-of-dlss-5/

Fortnite Layoffs

https://www.theguardian.com/games/2026/mar/25/fortnite-staff-layoffs-redundancies-epic-games

Xbox Games Pass Could Get Cheaper

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-xbox-ceo-could-make-game-pass-less-expensive-report-says/1100-6538978/

The Sony Console Price Increases

https://www.ign.com/articles/sony-announces-price-rises-for-ps5-ps5-pro-and-playstation-portal-blames-continued-pressures-in-the-global-economic-landscape

Check out more news on our Patreon over at patreon.com/thegiftofgaming

Darren is joined by Colm and Andy for an off the cuff discussion on video games. The guys are all back playing Gen 1 of Pokémon, they look back on memories of Minecraft and discuss how today's review system may not be fit for purpose.

Darren is on holidays for the next two weeks so if you're looking for GoG Pod content, check out our patreon over at patreon.com/thegiftofgaming

Let us know what you think of the podcast! Email us at [email protected]

Do you listen to your podcast on Youtube? All our episodes are now available there at youtube.com/@thegiftofgaming