The Random Encounter Podcast

Welcome to The Random Encounter Podcast Episode 165! Today we discussed the surprisingly strong PlayStation State of Play that broadcasted on February 12th, 2026.

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James runs these:

Twitch: therandomencounterpodcast

YouTube: @therandomencounter

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Check out Ash on:

BlueSky: @ashdestroyum.bsky.social

X: @ash_destroyum

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Check out Bryant on:

X: @red_so_deep

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Check out Phan on:

BlueSky: @phaneckswhy.bsky.social

X: @PhanEcksWhy

Twitch: phaneckswhy

YouTube: @phaneckswhy⁠

Welcome to The Random Encounter Podcast Episode 164! Today we talked about the Nintendo Partner Direct from 02.05.26 and what the overall vibe of the 3rd party announcements were. We also discussed news items like Sony’s latest stab at multiplayer synergy with Horizon Hunters Gathering, Overwatch 2 losing the “2” (which it never should have had), as well as what we think will happen to Valve’s Steam Machine’s price due to component shortages/inflation.

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James runs these:

Twitch: therandomencounterpodcast

YouTube: @therandomencounter

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Check out Ash on:

BlueSky: @ashdestroyum.bsky.social

X: @ash_destroyum

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Check out Bryant on:

X: @red_so_deep

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Check out Phan on:

BlueSky: @phaneckswhy.bsky.social

X: @PhanEcksWhy

Twitch: phaneckswhy

YouTube: @phaneckswhy⁠

Welcome to The Random Encounter Podcast Episode 163! Today we talk about what we’ve been playing, rumored PlayStation hardware, Virtual Boy coming to Nintendo Switch Online, Final Fantasy VII news, and the controversy surrounding the censorship of the Nintendo Switch 2 version of Dispatch.

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James runs these:

Twitch: therandomencounterpodcast

YouTube: @therandomencounter

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Check out Ash on:

BlueSky: @ashdestroyum.bsky.social

X: @ash_destroyum

----------------------------------------------------

Check out Bryant on:

X: @red_so_deep

----------------------------------------------------

Check out Phan on:

BlueSky: @phaneckswhy.bsky.social

X: @PhanEcksWhy

Twitch: phaneckswhy

YouTube: @phaneckswhy⁠

Welcome to The Random Encounter Podcast Episode 162! Today we talk about what we’ve been playing, the latest Ubisoft cancellations, and Ohsnap's MCON mobile gaming controller.

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James runs these:

Twitch: therandomencounterpodcast

YouTube: @therandomencounter

----------------------------------------------------

Check out Ash on:

BlueSky: @ashdestroyum.bsky.social

X: @ash_destroyum

----------------------------------------------------

Check out Bryant on:

X: @red_so_deep

----------------------------------------------------

Check out Phan on:

BlueSky: @phaneckswhy.bsky.social

X: @PhanEcksWhy

Twitch: phaneckswhy

YouTube: @phaneckswhy⁠

Welcome to The Random Encounter Podcast Episode 161! Today we talk about what we’ve been playing (with a healthy dose of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Donkey Kong Bananza, as well as the demos for Dragon Quest VII Reimagined and Pragmata). We end with a discussion on our main platform of choice when deciding where to play games.

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James runs these:

Twitch: therandomencounterpodcast

YouTube: @therandomencounter

----------------------------------------------------

Check out Ash on:

BlueSky: @ashdestroyum.bsky.social

X: @ash_destroyum

----------------------------------------------------

Check out Bryant on:

X: @red_so_deep

----------------------------------------------------

Check out Phan on:

BlueSky: @phaneckswhy.bsky.social

X: @PhanEcksWhy

Twitch: phaneckswhy

YouTube: @phaneckswhy⁠

Welcome to The Random Encounter Podcast Episode 160! Today, we discuss our top three favorite games of 2025 as well as what we're looking forward to most in 2026.

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James runs these:

Twitch: therandomencounterpodcast

YouTube: @therandomencounter

----------------------------------------------------

Check out Ash on:

BlueSky: @ashdestroyum.bsky.social

X: @ash_destroyum

----------------------------------------------------

Check out Bryant on:

X: @red_so_deep

----------------------------------------------------

Check out Phan on:

BlueSky: @phaneckswhy.bsky.social

X: @PhanEcksWhy

Twitch: phaneckswhy

YouTube: @phaneckswhy⁠

Welcome to The Random Encounter Podcast Episode 159! Today, we discuss the award winners from The Video Game Awards 2025 as well as the new video game announcements.

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James runs these:

Twitch: therandomencounterpodcast

YouTube: @therandomencounter

----------------------------------------------------

Check out Ash on:

BlueSky: @ashdestroyum.bsky.social

X: @ash_destroyum

----------------------------------------------------

Check out Bryant on:

X: @red_so_deep

----------------------------------------------------

Check out Phan on:

BlueSky: @phaneckswhy.bsky.social

X: @PhanEcksWhy

Twitch: phaneckswhy

YouTube: @phaneckswhy⁠

Welcome to The Random Encounter Podcast Episode 158! Today, we discuss Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and the future of gaming in the world of ever-increasing hardware prices. We also discuss what we've been playing leading up to The Video Game Awards 2025!

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James runs these:

Twitch: therandomencounterpodcast

YouTube: @therandomencounter

----------------------------------------------------

Check out Ash on:

BlueSky: @ashdestroyum.bsky.social

X: @ash_destroyum

----------------------------------------------------

Check out Bryant on:

X: @red_so_deep

----------------------------------------------------

Check out Phan on:

BlueSky: @phaneckswhy.bsky.social

X: @PhanEcksWhy

Twitch: phaneckswhy

YouTube: @phaneckswhy⁠

Welcome to The Random Encounter Podcast Episode 157! Today, we discuss the Xbox 360's impact on its 20th anniversary as well as where the Xbox brand is now. The bulk of this episode, however, is guessing who we think will win various categories at The Video Game Awards on December 11th as the nominees just dropped. Will there be some prize for who gets the most right? I guess we will find out!

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James runs these:

Twitch: therandomencounterpodcast

YouTube: @therandomencounter

----------------------------------------------------

Check out Ash on:

BlueSky: @ashdestroyum.bsky.social

X: @ash_destroyum

----------------------------------------------------

Check out Bryant on:

X: @red_so_deep

----------------------------------------------------

Check out Phan on:

BlueSky: @phaneckswhy.bsky.social

X: @PhanEcksWhy

Twitch: phaneckswhy

YouTube: @phaneckswhy⁠

Welcome to The Random Encounter Podcast Episode 156! Today we talked about PlayStation’s State of Play (Japanese Edition), Metroid Prime 4: Beyond preview impressions, and finally, the exciting announcements of new hardware from Valve: the new Steam Machine, Steam Controller, and Steam Frame.

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James runs these:

Twitch: therandomencounterpodcast

YouTube: @therandomencounter

----------------------------------------------------

Check out Ash on:

BlueSky: @ashdestroyum.bsky.social

X: @ash_destroyum

----------------------------------------------------

Check out Bryant on:

X: @red_so_deep

----------------------------------------------------

Check out Phan on:

BlueSky: @phaneckswhy.bsky.social

X: @PhanEcksWhy

Twitch: phaneckswhy

YouTube: @phaneckswhy⁠