We're pretty busy having our minds blown by Alan Wake II this week, but we also find time for a mini-Spider-spoilercast, news like the layoffs at Bungie, Atari's purchase of Digital Eclipse, updates on Remedy's other projects, Xbox's lockout of third-party accessories, and more.



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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

(00:02:30) Show rundown

(00:03:21) The scary movies of Halloween

(00:04:53) Alan Wake II [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S] on Oct 27, 2023

(00:48:36) Assassin's Creed Mirage [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S] on Oct 05, 2023

(00:51:31) Super Mario Bros. Wonder [Nintendo Switch] on Oct 20, 2023

(00:51:52) El Paso, Elsewhere [PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S] on Sep 26, 2023

(00:52:34) [MAJOR SPOILERS] Marvel's Spider-Man 2 [PlayStation 5] on Oct 20, 2023

(01:23:00) News

(01:23:46) Layoffs at Bungie

(01:31:05) Digital Eclipse being acquired by Atari

(01:37:42) Microsoft ended compatibility for unauthorized accessories

(01:45:28) Updates for future Remedy projects

(01:49:48) Ubisoft ending some online services for older games

(01:55:10) Emails

(02:00:25) NXL Watchcast Updates

(02:02:04) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts

(02:03:51) Thanks and wrapping up

(02:04:12) Nextlander content updates

123: Thumpin' and Rumpin'

Longtime friends and games media colleagues Vinny Caravella, Brad Shoemaker, and Alex Navarro share their combined decades of knowledge, expertise, and passion for games with weekly discussions about what they're playing, what's happening in the industry, and whatever else they're up to.

Hobbies

Games & Hobbies

Leisure

We're thrilled to be joined by Remap Radio's Rob Zacny this week to talk about everything from Shogun: Total War to Qui-Gon Jinn's Force balls, Manor Lords, Another Crab's Treasure, the post-Embracer troika, strategies for truly unplugging, and plenty of other stuff!



Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Audioboom, or support us on Patreon!



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

(00:00:38) Welcome Rob Zacny!

(00:01:09) How many days of vacation before you're in the zone?

(00:15:46) Total War: Shogun 2 [PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Linux] on Mar 15, 2011

(00:29:42) Where does Nobunaga fit into all of this?

(00:33:19) How many swords does Rob own?

(00:40:09) Wait, Yoda?! Ok, let's just get into it...

(00:55:00) Another Crab's Treasure [Nintendo Switch, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5] on Apr 25, 2024

(01:03:16) Manor Lords [PC (Microsoft Windows)] on Apr 26, 2024

(01:19:41) Harold Halibut [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S] on Apr 16, 2024

(01:23:17) Citizen Sleeper [Xbox Series X|S, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Mac] on May 05, 2022

(01:32:17) Balatro [PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox One] on Feb 20, 2024

(01:39:13) Final Fantasy VII Rebirth [PlayStation 5] on Feb 29, 2024

(01:44:37) Fallout 76 [Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows)] on Nov 14, 2018

(01:54:37) Switch 2 getting cool magnets?

(02:01:57) Nintendo loves a DMCA

(02:04:44) PSVR 2 possibly inching closer to PCs?

(02:08:01) Embracer Group breaks into smaller, oddly named, units?

(02:19:43) What happened to Dark Void?!

(02:21:30) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts

(02:22:42) We're returning to Twin Peaks on The Watchcast

(02:23:02) Thanks to Rob Zacny for joining us!

(02:25:25) See ya!

149: No Mall Katanas


Head to https://www.squarespace.com/NEXTLANDER to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code NEXTLANDER.



We're taking a week off of the regular podcast, so in its place we offer an episode of our monthly reunion show, in which Dan Ryckert and Jeff Bakalar join us to talk about snakes in the basement, Stew Leonards, and cotton candy versus popcorn!



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CHAPTERS



(00:01:03) Intro

(00:02:06) Oh, it's marijuana

(00:03:01) Concerned Citizen Dan Ryckert

(00:04:36) Never screaming. Always hollering.

(00:07:15) Sneaking into places

(00:09:18) Stories from backstage

(00:15:35) If a wrestler were a console...

(00:19:00) The days of the easy fridge joke

(00:21:09) Cotton Candy is more dazzle than razzle

(00:23:59) Intentionally ruining the popcorn

(00:27:42) The Lantern Fly issue and the end of nature

(00:32:25) Cash only please

(00:34:05) Catching cabs

(00:40:18) Never take an actual cab from Newark?

(00:47:30) Mystery substance in the basement

(00:55:02) Home construction issues

(00:56:40) The TV version of New Jersey

(00:58:21) Early Seinfeld episodes

(01:02:50) Being jealous of another state's identity

(01:10:10) Tips on running into David Letterman

(01:11:26) What is a Stew Leonards?

(01:15:41) Trunk or Trick or treating

(01:17:45) Punished Dan Ryckert

(01:20:15) Wrapping up

(01:22:37) See ya

148: Special Ep: Never Been a Better Podcast 004: Snakes, Sneaks, and Stew Leonards

Let's talk about such games this week as Harold Halibut, Life Eater (eater of life!), and Laysara: Summit Kingdom, plus news and sundries like the games of the Triple-I initiative, what "PS5 Pro Enhanced" is going to mean, $90,000 copies of Castlevania, awkward dining experiences in Japan, and plenty more.



Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Audioboom, or support us on Patreon!



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.

(00:00:09) Intro

(00:01:40) Dog allergies and feathers?

(00:12:10) Harold Halibut [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S] on Apr 16, 2024

(00:29:03) Life Eater [PC (Microsoft Windows)] on April 16th, 2024

(00:41:01) Laysara: Summit Kingdom [PC (Microsoft Windows)] on Apr 10, 2024 [Early Access]

(00:56:34) Final Fantasy VII Rebirth [PlayStation 5] on Feb 29, 2024

(01:00:19) Dyson Sphere Program [PC (Microsoft Windows)] on Jan 21, 2021 [Early Access]

(01:09:49) Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy [Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4] on Apr 09, 2019

(01:18:28) Sony's PS5 Pro Enhanced Games?

(01:34:07) Sony PC games getting Trophies

(01:40:45) The Big Triple-I Initiative Showcase

(01:58:57) Final Fantasy 7 Part 3 in possibly 3 years?

(02:03:55) Fallout 4 upgrade coming soon!

(02:14:37) Emails

(02:23:28) Coming up on Nextlander

(02:25:14) Wrapping up and thanks

(02:25:57) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts

(02:28:15) No streams next week, but get yer podcasts here!

(02:29:36) See ya!

147: Ah, Yes, He Is Internet Boy?


Head to https://www.squarespace.com/NEXTLANDER to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code NEXTLANDER.



This week we all bend bullets in Children of the Sun, Vinny parties at the Gold Saucer, Brad digs deep into the childhood archive, and we enjoy our new post-eclipse mutations. EA reassigns Motive to Battlefield (and kiboshes a Dead Space 2 remake?), Gears 6 appear to be imminent, and the 3DS and Wii U servers are gone... or are they??



Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Audioboom, or support us on Patreon!



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

(00:00:15) Our post-eclipse New Jersey

(00:12:44) Fixing things that don't want to be fixed

(00:22:17) Children of the Sun [PC (Microsoft Windows)] on Apr 09, 2024

(00:44:17) A Little to the Left [Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4] on Feb 15, 2024

(00:48:06) Final Fantasy VII Rebirth [PlayStation 5] on Feb 29, 2024

(01:00:51) Brad's Video Game Experiments

(01:31:38) Xbox's new console and "game preservation"

(01:35:56) Xbox talking new Gears and Call of Duty this summer?

(01:42:51) Folks from the Dead Space team working on Battlefield?

(01:47:43) Roku filing patents that make you sad

(01:51:52) Wii U servers are gone... but not forgotten

(01:54:54) A Dredge movie? Sure!

(01:58:37) Emails

(02:02:22) Wrapping up and thanks

(02:03:15) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts

(02:04:43) Nextlander content updates

(02:05:45) See ya!

146: I'm a Fan of Clothespins!

This week we all dig (lol) into the indie drilling platformer Pepper Grinder, continue catching up with FF7 Rebirth and LAD: Infinite Wealth, and do battle with American air travel. Also: Embracer and Sega divest of Gearbox and Relic (respectively), a disc-less Xbox Series X is sighted in the wild, we think seriously about Krull and Willow and Ladyhawke, and more!



Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Audioboom, or support us on Patreon!



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

(00:01:29) Another trip another weird and long delay?

(00:09:40) The escalation of Egg Hunts

(00:14:55) Trying to make a list of the best couch co-op games (for kids)

(00:17:37) [Possible Minor SPOILERS] Final Fantasy VII Rebirth [PlayStation 5] on Feb 29, 2024

(00:35:55) Pepper Grinder [Linux, Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch] on Mar 28, 2024

(00:46:39) [SPOILERS] Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S] on Jan 26, 2024

(00:53:28) Dragon's Dogma II [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S] on Mar 22, 2024

(01:00:03) News

(01:00:08) Stop Killing Games!

(01:04:47) Take-Two is buying Gearbox!

(01:10:04) Sega sells of Relic

(01:15:35) New white Xbox Series X with no disc?

(01:25:56) People like to play old (and maybe free) games, apparently

(01:42:27) Emails

(01:53:01) Wrapping up and thanks

(01:55:03) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts

(01:58:08) Coming up on Nextlander

(01:58:55) See ya!

123: Thumpin' and Rumpin'

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