The Nextlander Podcast

This week: New video games! Sword of the Sea, Is This Seat Taken?, and yes, the annual Madden check-in. In the news, PS5 price increases in the US, Halo on a PlayStation (sort of), a Gamescom wrap-up including Road Kings, WH40K: Dawn of War IV, and uh, Bubsy 4D, and lastly... maybe Hollow Knight Silksong is getting a release date. Or maybe it's just out now?

CHAPTERS

(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:10) Intro
(00:03:03) I need to be more Coonce-like in my approach to stress
(00:05:18) 2 weeks? 2 weeks... Construction updates
(00:08:09) Mafia: The Old Country  |  [PlayStation 5, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox Series X|S]  |  Aug 08, 2025
(00:15:46) Sword of the Sea  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5]  |  Aug 19, 2025
(00:28:19) First Break
(00:28:24) Madden NFL 26  |  [Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Aug 14, 2025
(00:38:45) Is This Seat Taken?  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch]  |  Aug 2025
(00:44:34) The other games in our lives
(00:49:13) Second Break
(00:49:18) Sometimes spam gets tricky folks...
(00:51:01) Gamescom 2025
(00:55:43) Star Trek Voyager: Across the Unknown
(00:57:42) Bubsy 4D  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5]  |  TBD
(00:59:42) Road Kings  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  2026
(01:02:04) Routine  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Q4 2025
(01:03:51) Cronos: The New Dawn  |  [Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2]  |  Sep 05, 2025
(01:04:53) Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  TBD
(01:10:18) John Carpenter's Toxic Commando  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  2026
(01:10:49) Hollow Knight: Silksong  |  [Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Mac, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Linux]  |  2025
(01:12:16) LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight  |  [PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  2026
(01:12:28) La Divina Commedia
(01:12:45) Silent Hill f  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Sep 25, 2025
(01:12:56) Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Oct 21, 2025
(01:13:30) Resident Evil: Requiem  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Feb 27, 2026
(01:14:03) Death by Scrolling
(01:14:26) Cult of the Lamb: Woolhaven  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S]  |  2026
(01:14:56) Fallout Season 2
(01:15:38) Denshattack!  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5]  |  Q2 2026
(01:18:27) Silksong has/had a big announcement!
(01:22:34) Rod Fegusson joins the BioShock 4 team
(01:27:14) Halo and Helldivers join forces
(01:29:56) PlayStation consoles in the U.S. are getting a price increase
(01:33:32) Emails
(01:45:41) Wrapping up and thanks
(01:46:03) A late bit of Gamescom "news"
(01:48:18) Summer of Star Trek is ending soon!
(01:51:00) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts
(01:52:48) See ya!

This week we get extra retro with Gradius Origins, Operation Night Strikers, The Scouring, and (in a way) Mafia: The Old Country. Also: pressure builds inside Xbox against Microsoft's support of Israel's actions in Gaza, Switch 2 dev kits are still pretty scarce, more game cancellations and studio closures continue to be a fact of life, and more.

CHAPTERS

(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:08) Intro
(00:02:29) Revisiting your old school
(00:05:56) Fake Plastic Trees (or grass)
(00:11:11) Mafia: The Old Country  |  [PlayStation 5, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox Series X|S]  |  Aug 08, 2025
(00:33:22) First Break
(00:33:26) Gradius Origins  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Aug 07, 2025
(00:47:57) Operation Night Strikers  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch]  |  Aug 07, 2025
(00:53:19) The Scouring (Early Access) |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Aug 12, 2025
(01:06:52) Donkey Kong Bananza  |  [Nintendo Switch 2]  |  Jul 17, 2025
(01:11:18) Second Break
(01:11:22) Union members within Arkane call on MS to end military support
(01:18:58) Avalanche's Contraband development stopped
(01:27:54) Bithell Games announces major layoffs
(01:30:36) IGN Layoffs
(01:31:46) RedOctane Games is making a rhythm game?
(01:42:02) More details are appear regarding Switch 2 dev kits
(01:54:47) Emails
(02:01:13) Wrapping up and thanks
(02:04:49) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts
(02:07:25) See ya!

Alex dips back into the FGC tournament scene and then mixes it up with Ninja Gaiden Ragebound, Vinny takes the long EV trip and finishes DK Bananza, and Brad mixes it up arcade-style with Rhythm Storm and Earthion. Plus, the Switch is getting pricier in the US, BioShock 4 might be troubled, itch.io begins to address its recent content purge, and more.

CHAPTERS

(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:10) Intro
(00:00:55) Initial thoughts on our first EV non-local trip
(00:12:12) EVO 2025 has happened!
(00:20:10) Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound  |  [Nintendo Switch, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Jul 31, 2025
(00:26:42) Donkey Kong Bananza  |  [Nintendo Switch 2]  |  Jul 17, 2025
(00:35:29) First Break
(00:37:50) Abiotic Factor  |  [PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Jul 22, 2025
(00:43:42) Grounded 2 (Early Access) |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox Series X|S]  |  Jul 29, 2025
(00:45:39) Rhythm Storm  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Jul 25, 2025
(00:50:57) Brad still wants Geometry Wars to be honored properly
(00:55:35) RoboCop: Rogue City - Unfinished Business  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Mac]  |  Jul 17, 2025
(00:59:10) Earthion  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), Arcade]  |  Jul 31, 2025
(01:12:21) Second Break
(01:12:25) Nintendo's Switch 2 News!
(01:15:53) Switch Price Increases in North America
(01:28:11) Itch.io updating some listings for NSFW labeled games
(01:34:13) Bioshock 4 gets some leadership changes
(01:39:52) Video Game History Foundation acquires Computer Entertainer
(01:46:55) Emails
(01:58:41) Wrapping up and thanks
(02:01:38) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts
(02:03:02) Nextlander Content Updates
(02:05:18) See ya!

Video games! We talk about some this week, like Ninja Gaiden Ragebound, Wheel World, Grounded 2, Wildgate, and more DK Bananza, plus news like the purging of adult games from Steam and itch.io, Sony's lawsuit against Tencent's Horizon clone, Atari's acquisition of Thunderful, and the momentous and long-overdue return of Mario Paint to a modern Nintendo platform.

CHAPTERS

(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:10) Intro
(00:04:22) Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound  |  [Nintendo Switch, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Jul 31, 2025
(00:17:19) Wheel World  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Jul 23, 2025
(00:25:55) First Break
(00:25:59) Grounded 2  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox Series X|S]  |  Jul 29, 2025
(00:39:10) Donkey Kong Bananza  |  [Nintendo Switch 2]  |  Jul 17, 2025
(00:45:45) Wildgate  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Jul 22, 2025
(00:53:49) Len's Island  |  [Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Jun 19, 2025
(00:55:10) Second Break
(00:55:15) What's going on with Steam, Itch, and Collective Shout?
(01:14:32) Sony and Tencent have a lawsuit on the Horizon
(01:21:13) Atari acquires Thunderful Group
(01:26:47) Metroid 4 Prime has gotten its rating, maybe we'll get a date soon!
(01:27:51) Mario Paint will finally be coming to a Switch platform near you!
(01:32:58) Emails
(01:51:33) Nextlander content updates
(01:54:17) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts
(01:55:55) Wrapping up and thanks
(01:58:58) See ya!

The gang's all here and going, uh, bananas for Donkey Kong Bananza, plus Shadow Labyrinth, The Drifter, and more Death Stranding and MindsEye. In the news, Splitgate 2 prepares to unrelease, From Software might have another new game in the works, and Hellraiser is finally getting that video game after nearly 40 years. All that, plus your emails!

CHAPTERS

(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:10) Intro
(00:03:41) Brad's Field Market Research
(00:10:40) Donkey Kong Bananza  |  [Nintendo Switch 2]  |  Jul 17, 2025
(00:38:04) First Break
(00:38:09) Shadow Labyrinth  |  [Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2]  |  Jul 18, 2025
(00:46:42) Death Stranding 2: On The Beach  |  [PlayStation 5]  |  Jun 26, 2025
(00:55:51) Kaizen: A Factory Story  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), Linux, Mac]  |  Jul 14, 2025
(00:57:02) MindsEye  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Jun 10, 2025
(00:58:54) The future releases and what August has in it
(00:59:34) The Drifter  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), Linux, Mac]  |  Jul 17, 2025
(01:01:47) Second Break
(01:01:51) News
(01:02:13) Splitgate 2 is 'Unlaunching'
(01:08:06) Directive 8020 is getting a delay amid layoffs
(01:10:15) FromSoftware might have another game cooking
(01:16:51) There's a new Hellraiser game?
(01:31:40) Emails
(01:53:18) Wrapping up and thanks
(01:54:50) Mysterious Benefactor Tier Shoutouts
(01:56:00) Nextlander content updates
(01:57:14) See ya!

Friend of the show Lex Luddy joins us to talk about how Death Stranding 2 holds up, the Megami Tensei Universe, and what exactly constitutes an Irish Pub. Vinny shares his closing thoughts on Assassin's Creed Shadows and Alex helps us unpack the week's news!



CHAPTERS

(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.


(00:00:10) Intro
(00:00:55) Welcome Lex Luddy!
(00:09:29) SPOILER Warning (Death Stranding 2 and Assassin's Creed Shadows)
(00:10:29) Death Stranding 2: On The Beach | [PlayStation 5] | Jun 26, 2025
(00:25:36) Assassin's Creed Shadows | [Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S] | Mar 20, 2025
(00:50:58) First Break
(00:51:09) MindsEye | [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S] | Jun 10, 2025
(01:18:49) Kaizen: A Factory Story | [PC (Microsoft Windows), Linux, Mac] | Jul 14, 2025
(01:23:05) The Megami Tensei Multiverse!
(01:38:37) Second Break
(01:38:41) News
(01:39:13) Subnautica 2 delay and lawsuits
(01:48:28) Romero Games loses publishing deal
(02:03:31) Laid off King staff reportedly replaced by AI tools
(02:18:00) Helldivers 2 gets an Xbox release date
(02:21:07) John Wick Hex is being delisted from sale
(02:24:05) CyberPunk Edgerunners is getting a new season
(02:25:50) Some Nintendo news
(02:27:06) Go check out Bakalar's new web comic
(02:29:04) Nextlander Content Updates
(02:33:00) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts
(02:35:12) Wrapping up and thanks
(02:37:26) See ya!

We're on break this week, so we bring you another hit from the Never Been a Better archives, when Abby Russell and Austin Walker joined us to talk about dream jobs, Generation Alpha, and much more!

CHAPTERS

(00:01:12) (Flawless) Intro
(00:02:29) Abby Russell is here!
(00:02:48) Austin Walker is here!
(00:03:34) Alex Navarro is here!
(00:04:43) To 2023 and getting together with friends
(00:06:00) Don't threaten me with a good time!
(00:07:13) The kids don't like using their i-statements
(00:10:50) Generation... Alpha?
(00:13:26) Kurt Loder was born in 1945!
(00:15:24) First Break
(00:17:55) The passing of the Queen
(00:26:33) The humans just don't like change
(00:27:46) Second Break
(00:27:58) The big basement reveal
(00:31:04) Sewage is a mess and has great job security
(00:32:31) Childhood dream jobs
(00:45:55) Gotta learn how to embezzle
(00:52:17) Aquatic nightmares
(00:54:42) Tom Cruise is chasing death
(00:59:56) Brazilian Butt Lift?
(01:04:33) Wrapping up
(01:05:24) See ya!

We unfortunately have to start this week's episode with the brutal cuts at Xbox, which saw studios shuttered and projects like Everwild and Perfect Dark straight up cancelled, but also touch on Donkey Kong Bananza and the next 3D Mario game, get way deeper into Death Stranding 2, try to make sense of the increasingly fantastic casting for the new Street Fighter movie, and more.

CHAPTERS

(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:10) Intro
(00:01:18) Microsoft begins layoffs, cancellations, and closures
(00:39:26) SPOILERS - We'll be talking about Death Stranding 2 next, including early game story moments.
(00:40:37) First Break
(00:40:55) Assassin's Creed Shadows  |  [Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Mar 20, 2025
(00:42:37) Death Stranding 2: On The Beach  |  [PlayStation 5]  |  Jun 26, 2025
(01:36:08) Next week's Ramblecast and our favorite games
(01:37:12) Second Break
(01:37:17) News
(01:37:27) Updates to the Microsoft news
(01:41:35) Donkey Kong Bananza and the Super Mario Odyssey team
(01:47:40) The original Switch will get a price increase in Canada
(01:50:21) 2K Sports might be getting back to college basketball?
(01:54:31) The Street Fighter movie gets more casting news
(02:16:41) Emails
(02:27:35) Nextlander content updates
(02:30:05) Wrapping up and thanks
(02:30:40) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts
(02:33:10) We're heading out for vacation for a week
(02:33:45) See ya!

Death Stranding 2 is upon us and dominates the first hour of the show this week, Vinny finished Clair Obscur, Brad will (probably not) be playing more Hopshot, more layoffs at Xbox and Build a Rocket Boy, Sega leaks a bunch of sales figures, Nickelodeon is mashing up with Sonic, a great brawler debate ensues, and more.

CHAPTERS

(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:10) Intro
(00:05:21) Brad's very localized power outage
(00:07:09) Death Stranding 2: On The Beach  |  [PlayStation 5]  |  Jun 26, 2025
(00:12:54) There are going to be some original Death Stranding spoilers throughout here.
(01:01:15) First Break
(01:01:20) Clair Obscur: Expedition 33  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Apr 24, 2025
(01:08:23) Peak  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Jun 16, 2025
(01:12:57) Len's Island  |  [Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Jun 19, 2025
(01:15:06) Elden Ring: Nightreign  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  May 30, 2025
(01:21:44) Hopshot  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Mar 17, 2025
(01:27:28) Second Break
(01:27:33) Layoffs coming to Microsoft again
(01:34:07) MindsEye's studio will also be doing layoffs
(01:49:03) Sales numbers leak for certain Sega titles
(01:58:46) Sonic Racing and Nickelodeon crossover officially announced
(02:11:01) Drag x Drive gets a release date
(02:17:44) A new Patreon enters the ring
(02:22:54) Is Altered Beast a Beat 'em Up?
(02:27:22) Emails
(02:40:33) Wrapping up and thanks
(02:42:52) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts
(02:45:55) See ya!

It's the season of Fests (both Summer Game and Steam Next) and between the two, one metric tonne of video games is discussed on the show this week, including FBC Firebreak, Dying Light: The Beast, Dosa Divas, Snap & Grab, Directive 8020, Blighted, Ratatan, Ball x Pit, Dispatch, Baby Steps, and Peak. Also: the Marathon delay, official word from Microsoft about opening up the next Xbox, Beat Saber bails on PlayStation VR, and other stuff!

CHAPTERS

(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:10) Intro
(00:02:44) Show rundown
(00:03:05) Possible to overthink buying a new car? Definitely.
(00:06:49) FBC: Firebreak  |  [PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Jun 17, 2025
(00:26:48) First Break
(00:26:52) Brad's Summer Game Fest Gaming Experiences
(00:27:10) Resident Evil: Requiem  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Feb 27, 2026
(00:28:42) Dying Light: The Beast  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Aug 22, 2025
(00:37:18) Directive 8020  |  [Xbox Series X|S, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5]  |  Oct 02, 2025
(00:46:41) Dosa Divas  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  2026
(00:50:25) Snap & Grab  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5]  |  2026
(00:59:10) LEGO Party  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch]  |  2025
(01:01:40) Blighted  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  2026
(01:05:56) Toem 2  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  2026
(01:09:07) Wuchang: Fallen Feathers  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5]  |  Jul 24, 2025
(01:11:12) Ratatan (Early Access) |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Jul 25, 2025
(01:18:02) Some Steam Next Fest demos we liked
(01:18:13) Ball x Pit  |  [Nintendo Switch, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox Series X|S]  |  2025
(01:25:53) Dispatch  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  2025
(01:30:33) Baby Steps  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5]  |  Sep 08, 2025
(01:33:41) Peak  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Jun 16, 2025
(01:35:45) Dead as Disco  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  TBD
(01:37:31) Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound  |  [Nintendo Switch, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Jul 31, 2025
(01:38:37) Second Break
(01:38:42) Vinny with some Breaking News!
(01:40:20) News
(01:40:37) Marathon is getting a delay
(01:48:29) Xbox's reveals some news about its next hardware plans
(02:01:14) Beat Saber ending PS VR2 support and updates
(02:07:15) Borderlands 4 will be $70
(02:13:27) Nexus Mods has been sold
(02:17:23) Emails
(02:29:01) Wrapping up and thanks
(02:32:17) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts
(02:35:06) Nextlander content updates
(02:37:04) See ya!