Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast
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435 afleveringen, van nieuw naar oud
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#235 | Our Most Anticipated Games of 2023
2 januari 2023 · 1 uur 33 min
2022 is but a fleeting memory. Thus, as the calendar turns over, we thought it would be best to look ahead. As is our tradition, it's time for Sacred Symbols to talk about our most-anticipated games of the next 12 months. 2023 is shaping up to be a far, far stronger year than 2022, an especially bold proclamation considering we know virtually nothing about what's coming from either first or second party. Indeed, none of our 15 selections are PlayStation-published games, but -- naturally -- all of them are coming to PS5, PS4, or both. Without further ado, we present to you the upcoming adventures that've piqued our interest the most.
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#234 | Our Favorite PlayStation Moments of 2022
26 december 2022 · 1 uur 53 min
It's time once more for our annual Sacred Symbols tradition: Recounting and discussing the most memorable and interesting moments from the last 12 months of PlayStation. The reality is, this year was quiet on the first and second party front, at least when it comes to news (the games were dope, as always). But much happened that's worth going over again: Sony's acquisition of Bungie, Haven's potential promise, PS+'s struggles, and more. Then, there's everything in orbit around PlayStation: The Abandoned saga, Cyberpunk's revival, Square Enix's firesale, EA's gambit with Koei Tecmo, and so much more. We appreciate your support, as always, on Sacred Symbols. Happy Holidays! Lees meer
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#233 | Force Feed
19 december 2022 · 4 uur 45 min
Word of a third core The Last of Us game emanates from a reliable film industry-based source. If true, The Last of Us: Part III is one of at least two games in-development at Naughty Dog, news that is being met with equal parts excitement and disappointment. With other happenings pointing towards a God of War TV show at Amazon, and with so much of Sony's strategy seemingly relying on PlayStation's existing IP, it makes sense to wonder something very simple: Where are the new could-be franchises? When it comes to AAA fare, we've gotten one from the first and second party in PlayStation 5's entire lifecycle to date in the form of Returnal. Should we be concerned? Or should we put our faith into a brand that -- let's be honest -- has largely treated us very well over the last decade-plus, particularly when it comes to what matters most. Other news this week includes official word of the Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters' imminent PS4 release, the announcement of Ys X: Nordics, the exit of one of Media Molecule's co-founders from the studio after 16 years, and much more. Listener inquiries wrap things up as always, touching on topics like noisy controllers, the proper way to play Death Stranding, the commercial triumph of Sonic Frontiers, and a compelling suggestion that Chris may in fact be a time traveller with an uncanny predictive flair. Lees meer
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#232 | Should We Have Connected?
12 december 2022 · 5 uur 1 min
There's little doubt that this year's Video Game Awards was the strongest industry showcase in a long time, potentially in several years. Geoff Keighley did a great job, and he deserves credit as a great ambassador for our medium. But even more important than the VGAs, the winners, and the pomp and circumstance were the game reveals. PlayStation players are going to be eating very, very well in the years to come, particularly when you consider how full the schedule is without much of an inkling of what's coming from first and second party outside of Insomniac's Marvel duo. So let's dive extensively into Ken Levine's new BioShock-like banger Judas, Hideo Kojima's haunting and wonder-invoking Death Stranding 2, Guerrilla's beautiful LA-based Horizon: Forbidden West DLC called Burning Shores, a promising new action-RPG from Don't Nod titled Banishers: Ghost of New Eden, the return of From Software's dormant mech battler with Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon, 505's surprisingly fun-looking romp Crime Boss: Rockay City, Supergiant Games' first sequel ever in Hades II, and so much more. Other news this week includes the industry's unending obsession with Days Gone discourse, the FTC's decision to sue Microsoft over the Activision acquisition, and more. Is this the longest episode of Sacred Symbols ever? Yes... it sure is. Lees meer
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#231 | The Hunt
5 december 2022 · 3 uur 49 min
Capcom's Monster Hunter is a years-long smash hit, but it really hit its stride on PS4 with Monster Hunter World, Capcom's best-selling game ever. So it was mysterious when Monster Hunter Rise was launched on Switch (and later PC), but never on PlayStation. Rumor has it that's all about to change. Rise is apparently due for PS4 and PS5 very soon -- in perhaps a month and a half -- and with it comes the promise of high-quality hunting not yet seen on PS5, a genre gap Capcom rival Electronic Arts was hoping to fill with its Omega Force-developed Wild Hearts (which it had no doubt hoped would go uncontested, but no longer will). Thus, we've much to discuss. PlayStation also released interesting new updates for its tournament structure, as well as Stars, new PS+ games have been revealed, scant details about Peacock's Twisted Metal TV series have been unearthed, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Why doesn't Sony include New Game+ at launch with all first and second party titles? What game has the saddest opening ever? Which character is the current 'Face of PlayStation'? Is alliteration the most powerful determinant of a good name? Lees meer
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#230 | Confidential: Contains Business Secrets!
28 november 2022 · 3 uur 39 min
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The British government has released a mildly-redacted -- but largely intact -- 20-something page writeup from a law firm representing PlayStation. Dated late October of this year (but new to all of us), Sony attempts to retort, basically line-by-line, Microsoft's various contentions about the pending Activision-Blizzard-King deal that has fascinated the industry for the better part of 12 months. Though we all share a relative malaise about this subject, there's huge news within this document, and we couldn't help but go through it in great detail, garnering as much information as we can out of it about Sony's operation, that of its competitors, and the various theories and gamesmanship behind the completion or destruction of one of tech's all-time biggest acquisitions, one that could affect the very future of the PlayStation brand (or so they claim). And yes, we also get to other news -- Sony is publishing two flashy Chinese games as second party products, God of War: Ragnarok sells huge, and more -- and, as always, we rounded things out with inquiries from our beloved audience. How're we feeling about Forspoken now that it's a couple of months out? Does physical software have a future on PlayStation 6? Demon's Souls won a newbie Souls fan over, so where does he go next? What, precisely, is the meaning of life?
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#229 | Shimmy Simulator
21 november 2022 · 4 uur 5 min
God of War: Ragnarok has finally arrived, and with it comes opinions. A whole slate of them. The three of us have sat with the newest PlayStation 5 smash-hit for varying amounts of time, and we come away with equally-varying opinions that we're eager to share, expand upon, and challenge. Needless to say, we spend a whole lot of time talking about the game this week, so buckle-in. We also delve into the last seven days' news, touching on Witcher III's much-delayed PS5 release, the official announcement of Remedy's Control 2, Embracer's perilous studio structure in the face of a truncating games industry, and more. We round things out, as always, with listener inquiries generated from our audience on Patreon. Is Sacred Symbols taking on too negative a tenor as of late? Should we expect better than 1080p60 on PS5? Why do people keep giving a platform to Adam Sessler? How young is too young to join the Gamer Batallation? Lees meer
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#228 | We're Doomed
14 november 2022 · 3 uur 50 min
We really hope you like the Horizon series, because a new rumor from a reliably-placed source indicates that much, much more of it is coming. There are purportedly five Horizon projects in the works: Call of the Mountain on PSVR2, some sort of Zero Dawn remake for PS5, the inevitable third game in the core trilogy, a Netflix series, and now an MMORPG from South Korean firm NCSoft. Meanwhile, a journalist attempts to race-bait Final Fantasy XVI producer Naoki Yoshida, and Naughty Dog hires the renowned creator of Fortnite's monetization system. But this episode's doomish vibe really begins with Doom itself, since renowned franchise composer Mick Gordon nukes id Software from space in a sprawling, 14,000 word document chock-full of receipts. In addition to other news, we round out our show with questions, comments, concerns, thoughts, and ideas, as we always do. Topics this week include a revitalized Sonic the Hedgehog, the potential of PlayStation Stars, the disparity in pricing between physical and digital software, and a rant about "with no ice," which is how all soft drinks should rightly be ordered. Lees meer
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#227 | Lose All Sense of Reality
7 november 2022 · 4 uur 38 min
It's hard to stop a moving train, and when big corporations make meaningful decisions, the results occur over years, not days, weeks, or months. It's clear now that Sony's PSVR2 is stuck between a rock and a hard place -- there's simply no way Sony could have forecasted the last two and a half years of human history when this thing was being workshopped and greenlit -- and with a high price, a bad economy, and a seeming dearth of actual games, well, PlayStation's timing may be all wrong. Does PSVR2 have a real future? We discuss at length. Other news this week circulates around updated PS5 sales data and impressive numbers for 2018's God of War, Microsoft's 700th reiteration that Call of Duty will always remain on PlayStation, Electronic Arts' new three game deal with Marvel, and much more. Listener inquiries round things out, per usual, touching on topics like a lacking creativity in PlayStation's first party, why spoilers are so detrimental and wrong, and the potentially bright future of Mega Man. We also place a moratorium on a popular user-favorite term, because we need to mix things up a bit, and because we enjoy keeping you on your toes. Lees meer
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#226 | London Calling
31 oktober 2022 · 3 uur 54 min
For two decades, Sony's London Studio has been known almost exclusively for its casual fare, usually driven by a peripheral, whether it's a camera, microphone, or even Move. But a recent conversation the team's two co-leads conducted with an industry publication indicates definitively that recent rumors were true: London Studio is pursuing a more hardcore course, specifically with an online co-op game-as-a-service that's set in a fantasy-themed London. (How fitting.) Is PlayStation's most inconsequential team about to run up the pecking order as part of a new, multiplayer-centered initiative? We discuss. Other news this week includes the construction of a new first party team allied closely with Naughty Dog, confirmation of an Unreal Engine 5-run Witcher remake from CD Projekt, the exit of studio Rocksteady's talented co-founders, the potential return of Square Enix's Parasite Eve, and more. Then: Listener inquiries. Will AAA PSVR2 games cost $70, too? How can we get back to the three year dev cycle? Did patching ruin game launches forevermore? Does Dustin know what "Oingo Boingo" means? Lees meer
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#225 | The Hills Surprise
24 oktober 2022 · 3 uur 58 min
Konami sure knows how to make someone wait. After literally years of rumors and build-up, the long-dormant Japanese publisher spilled the beans about its plans for Silent Hill, its once-popular survival horror series. It turns out three games are coming -- a new entry, a remake, and something smaller -- and, well, the choice of devs has some people puzzled. Bloober Team and Neobards Entertainment aren't exactly household names befitting a proper revival. Or perhaps that's the point? We discuss. Plus: We give you the very first details about the plotline of Quantic Dream's Star Wars: Eclipse, DualSense Edge gets both a date and price, Bungie is apparently planning a major comeback of its '90s FPS franchise Marathon, and more. We then end, as always, with listener inquiries. Could Sony begin 'Kickstarting' the development of riskier titles? Do we have a problem with cliffhanger endings? At a rumored 10-to-12 hours, is The Callisto Protocol too short? And just what is it with the Europeans, anyway?
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#224 | Revelations
17 oktober 2022 · 3 uur 36 min
As we enter the season of spookiness, we're left wondering about the scariest possibility: Continuing PlayStation 5 scarcity. But there's good news emerging, at least if recent reports are to be believed. It appears Sony is readying to gear-up PS5 production in ways so dramatic that they plan on selling more units in one year than consoles like GameCube and the original Xbox did in their entire respective lifetimes, with millions to spare. Soon, the question may not be if you can get a PS5, but if you really want one. (You do.) Plus: New discoveries about first party team Haven suggest Sony wants them more for making making games easier than making a game (follow all that?), Persona 3 and 4 quietly receive a release date on PS4 (speaking of Revelations), new PS+ offerings leave much to be desired (some old games would be nice), and more. Then: Listener inquiries! What are some obscure digital-only PS3 titles worth playing? How come games rarely launched in the summer back in the day? Do we have a hard time playing with an evil karmic slant in choice-based campaigns? Has a recent YouTube suggestion from Dustin ruined actual lives?
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#223 | Zero Shame
10 oktober 2022 · 4 uur 23 min
The Last of Us: Part I is one thing, but 'remaking' Horizon? Five years and change after it came out? Give us a break. Tantalizing rumors (seemingly confirmed by reliable sources) indicate Sony is indeed endeavoring to deliver a Horizon: Zero Dawn remake of some sort, a game that first came to PS4 in 2017 and PC in 2020. What level or kind of remake? It's unclear. But something akin to Naughty Dog's aforementioned PS5 foray is likely. Naturally, we discuss, while also going into the rest of the leaked Sony document that shows off a bunch of upcoming PlayStation products we know little or nothing about, with codenames like Ocean, Bates, Heartbreak, Camden, Carbon, and Redstar. Other news includes a bunch of Herman Hulst media hits, word on PSVR2's production targets, a ton of information about upcoming CD Projekt games, and much more, and as always, we end things with listener inquiries. Which titles, if any, have us holding our controllers in an unusual fashion? Is there such a thing as a game with too many endings? How can Activision better listen to its players following the recent Call of Duty beta? Did you know that there's such a thing as a littering fetish? Now you do. We hope you're happy.
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#222 | That's Wild
3 oktober 2022 · 3 uur 59 min
As promised, publisher Electronic Arts has revealed its all-new, so-called 'hunting' game. It's called Wild Hearts, and it's coming by way of Koei Tecmo-owned developer Omega Force very soon: It hits PlayStation 5 in February. This is a fun move to analyze, an aggressive maneuver from EA that encroaches entirely on an unexpected rival's turf. Naturally, we delve-in. Plus: The totalitarian Saudi government is prepping to spend tens of billions of dollars to whitewash its horrific image (this time in gaming), The Last of Us on HBO is looking mighty fine (though Ellie has some people thrown-off), PlayStation Stars seems inoffensive and engaging (and dare we even say fun), and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Is "dynamically-generated quests" the single worst term ever? What's our gut-check when it comes to Square Enix's weird release schedule? Are digital releases truly ephemeral, after all? Dare we even ask if you want to hear the tale of the listeners whose roommate showers completely in the dark? (You're going to, one way or another.)
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#221 | Appeasement
26 september 2022 · 3 uur 36 min
Life is full of choices. And a fundamental choice is what you do for a living and who you work for. So it was disappointing to see Shawn Layden -- a champion of PlayStation's first party games for a run of very good years -- choosing to sign with Tencent as a Special Advisor. As an ex-Fortune 500 executive, Layden is already set for life, and with a reputation and track record like his, he can work anywhere and do anything. He's chosen to be used to help normalize and strengthen Tencent's western operation, and in our humble opinion, he has some explaining to do. Plus: We further assess the catastrophic Grand Theft Auto VI leak (as well as Rockstar's response to it), EA's new Iron Man game (and its potential to be the next Spider-Man), rumors circulating about a new PS5 model (with a detachable disc drive), and much more. Then: Listener inquiries. What's the economic strategy behind Square Enix's coming avalanche of releases? Is there a firm line in game emulation that simply shouldn't be crossed? In an industry so mired in negative news, what's a glaring positive we've identified? Where the hell has Chris gone off to?
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#220 | Assassin's Greed
19 september 2022 · 4 uur 13 min
Just when you thought mega-publisher Ubisoft finally 'got it' when it came to Assassin's Creed, they went ahead and simultaneously announced three brand-new AC games for console. This is of course a change from their more recent strategy of treating this particular franchise with more care; they now seem fine with potentially running it back into the ground. What's going on at Ubisoft? And what does the future of Assassin's Creed hold? Plus: Trouble may be brewing at Sony second party studio Deviation, Team Ninja's Rise of the Ronin surprises at State of Play, the Yakuza franchise is turning over a new leaf, Babylon's Fall goes bye-bye, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Are we excited about under-the-radar third-person shooter Evil West? How long will AAA games stay at $70 before the price goes up once more? Is the drama around Forspoken's dialogue a sign of rote political and social discourse? Why does Chris keep talking about a clown wearing his father's clothes?
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#219 | Oh, Oh, Oh, Jimmy's Cryin'
12 september 2022 · 4 uur 26 min
It's clear: PlayStation's problems with Microsoft's in-motion purchase of Activision-Blizzard run deep. The financial implications are enormous, of course, but in going public with his dismay in potentially losing Call of Duty on PlayStation platforms beginning in 2028, CEO Jim Ryan illustrates Sony's concern is material enough that it's willing to take a PR beating to make its point. Our theory? They're simply trying to buy time as they continue to sort out their strategy and make sense of a growing consensus that doesn't necessarily cater to what they do best. Nonetheless, we discuss the wide-ranging, ongoing situation between Microsoft, Sony, Activision-Blizzard, and various global economic regulators that will make or break the deal. Other news this week includes the announcement of PSVR2 game Firewall: Ultra, Tencent's growing acquisition of Ubisoft, the mostly-missed confirmation that Returnal is indeed coming to PC, the reveal of Cyberpunk 2077's DLC, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Can Sony gleam anything from Microsoft's mismanagement of Halo and 343? With Spider-Man 2 rumors percolating, what are we most looking forward to in the sequel? Have we reached a point of irreversible open-world fatigue? Did someone really try to make the case that 'Chicago-style' pizza is the 'real' pizza? Lees meer
Note: After Ubisoft's underwhelming presentation, we decided to keep this episode as is with no pickup. We'll be covering the Ubisoft news on episode 220.
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#218 | Savage Guardin'
5 september 2022 · 3 uur 45 min
Sony's procurement of its first-ever mobile studio isn't something to get excited about, and we're not even gonna pretend to try. However, the acquisition of Savage Game Studios does suggest a new strategy for PlayStation, one that seeks to protect its various flanks even if it's not yet necessarily begun to fight on said front. Mobile gaming is a good example: They've said they've wanted to do something, and they have, but they don't acknowledge or pay attention to anything that results. It's as if it's not very important, but clearly, that's all about to change. We discuss. Plus: Sony acquires 14% of FromSoftware, SNK says there's interest in both sides for a Capcom vs. SNK revival, Quantic Dream gets scooped up by a Chinese firm, Mafia IV is early in development, and more news, followed (as always) by listener inquiries. Should we embrace the term "I" and "Triple I" when it comes to indies? Is there such a thing as "too much accessibility" when it comes to gaming? Why are console-exclusive pre-order bonuses so darn persistent? Is Colin fearful of Dustin's growing podcasting power?
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#217 | Pray They Don't Alter It Any Further
29 augustus 2022 · 4 uur 13 min
For the first time in the history of the gaming industry, a major piece of hardware is getting a price increase across virtually the entire world. PlayStation 5, launched in 2020 at $500 or your local equivalent, will still cost that much (with a disc drive) here in the States. But virtually everywhere else in the world -- from the UK and Europe to Australia, Japan, and beyond -- PS5's price is about to go up modestly, but noticeably. Sony no doubt isn't taking this PR catastrophe lightly -- you have to imagine there's a need here -- and, indeed, this highly-controversial will help them make an additional half-a-billion bucks this year alone. But with market conditions as they are, inflation running rampant, and production as trying as ever, the only question is whether any of their competitors follow-suit, and whether Sony itself is done upping the ante. Other news includes the reveal of PlayStation's long-awaited Elite-style controller called DualSense Edge, confirmation that PSVR2 will launch in early 2023, release dates for Dead Island 2, Sonic Frontiers, and more. and so on. Then, we wrap things up (as we always do) with listener inquiries. What's with some outlets slamming Saints Row, then accepting money to promote it anyway? Is it becoming increasingly difficult to avoid the industry's inherent negativity? Will Sony ever begin caring about their PlayStation Mobile initiative? Should one listener's public bathroom encounter have left him as scared as it has?
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#216 | Going Ballistic
22 augustus 2022 · 4 uur 10 min
There may not be very many games coming out right now, but there sure is a lot of news to get through. For starters, enterprising internet detectives have conclusively uncovered an unannounced second party PlayStation game from a British studio called Ballistic Moon. Staffed by ex-Supermassive personnel, some are wondering whether their title -- codenamed Project Bates -- is a horror game in the vein of 2015's Until Dawn. We discuss. Plus: Sony-owned Japanese dev Team Asobi speaks out about its present and future plans, compelling evidence of a PlayStation PC launcher has been uncovered, Embracer continues to mindlessly gobble up whatever it can find, the KOTOR Remake for PS5 is apparently alive and well, and much more. Then: Listener inquiries! Should Sony remake the original God of War trilogy? How do we feel about Death Stranding coming to PC Game Pass? Why is Sony actively making the PlayStation Store worse? Is it time for Colin to be considered a man of color because of his Italian heritage?
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#215 | Brawling in Brazil
15 augustus 2022 · 4 uur 5 min
What was supposed to be a routine exchange between corporations and an economic regulatory body in Brazil has turned into the hottest news in gaming over the last week. That's because both Sony and Microsoft have launched soft salvos at each other, picking apart each other's strategies on the market and their intentions to squeeze the other guy out. Buried within both of their arguments are interesting tidbits, though, particularly in regard to how Xbox and PlayStation see both themselves and each other, and we couldn't help but delve in head-first to pick it all apart. Plus: Square Enix is either priming to sell or buy more studios (potentially both), Call of Duty's beta is inbound to Sony platforms in September, PS+'s new offerings are surprisingly solid, and more news. Then: Listener inquiries! Are we tempted to go-in on the Backbone One controller? Can a game be so good that it ruins every other game you play? Is keeping old hardware less important in an era of digital software and backwards compatibility? What lessons has Colin drawn from living to his advanced age?
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#214 | Missing Kevin Butler
8 augustus 2022 · 3 uur 58 min
Is PlayStation missing an element of 'fun' that used to be present in its ecosystem? One listener wrote in with such a thought, revolving his argument around one key figure from yore: Kevin Butler. The long-lost fictional Sony executive represented a different time for PlayStation. The question is, do we want to go back? News items this week include a peculiar missive from Sony in Brazil about Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, an analysis of Sony's first quarter fiscal report, Tencent's pursuit of Ubisoft, and more. Other listener inquiries include ones on the potential of an $80 game, the value-versus-length argument, subscriptions acting as modes of curation, and Dustin's peculiar pronunciation of a northwestern American state. If only we could have done more to protect him.
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#213 | Jawbreaker
1 augustus 2022 · 4 uur 7 min
An industry source was kind enough to leak to me (Colin) what purports to be a script being circulated for the upcoming Tomb Raider game. It's codenamed Project Jawbreaker, the two-scene script is for actors trying out for various parts, and I forced Chris and Dustin to read through the entire thing for your amusement... with Chris as an apparently lesbian Lara Croft. Plus: More news! An ex-studio head indicates Sony is indeed interested in purchasing Square Enix, Rockstar has some players nervous about Grand Theft Auto VI's apparently 'woke' transformation, PS5's timed-exclusive KOTOR remake has been binned, EA is apparently working on a Black Panther game, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Is PlayStation losing its identity under Jim Ryan's stewardship? Could edutainment games ever make a comeback? Should developers nurture 'farm systems' of lesser devs? Are Colin's handwritten notes more sinister than you think?
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#212 | Repeat After Everyone
25 juli 2022 · 3 uur 20 min
There can be no doubt, now, that Sony wants to be a major player in the esports space. This was first evidenced by left-field acquisitions like EVO, moving into branding decisions like INZONE. Now, with the purchase of esports tournament operator Repeat, the writing's obviously on the wall. Can PlayStation discover success in the games-as-a-service and competitive spaces, where they've traditionally found little to write home about (outside of Gran Turismo)? Plus: Spider-Man's PC port gets detailed, mega-toy company Spin Master gets in bed with Sony, Bungie and PlayStation are official, and more news, followed by listener questions galore. What would we want to see in a Bloodborne 2? How, exactly, does the publisher-developer relationship function? Is it time to get video games more heavily integrated into our schools? Will Chris dedicate his entire life to a $20,000 Halo 2-related bounty?
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#211 | It Can't Be For Nothing
18 juli 2022 · 3 uur 6 min
The Last of Us: Part I has officially gone gold, interesting news considering it doesn't launch for some seven weeks. Yet, the upcoming PS5 remake's very existence has proven mighty contentious. Some claim it doesn't need to exist at all; many others insist it's a "cash grab" of the highest order. But some folks who worked on the game have come out staunchly in its defense, not only in terms of its sky-high quality, but also in terms of the shockingly-healthy circumstances under which it was made. We try to make sense of the hullabaloo surrounding Naughty Dog's latest before moving onto news surrounding freshly-purchased first party team Haven. A recent extensive interview seems to paint a picture of Haven as both a developer of games and of technologies and workflows, which fits in well with recent acquisitions like Nixxes, Bluepoint, Valkyrie, and even Bungie. After we get through all of that news (and more), we go into listener inquiries, including thoughts on PlayStation Plus' gravitational pull, the current JRPG renaissance we're living through, predictions for first and second party PS5 games in 2023, and one especially strange tale of a man who left a poop stain on a woman's couch.
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#210 | Sucker Punched
11 juli 2022 · 3 uur 18 min
It's always fun to receive a letter, unless that letter happens to be very sad. Sony-owned developer Sucker Punch penned one such melancholy note to its audience in recent days, and it relayed sorrowful news indeed: The team isn't working on Infamous or Sly Cooper games now, they won't be in the foreseeable future, and -- perhaps most surprising -- no other studio is, either. Is the abandonment of Sucker Punch's history... well... a sucker punch of its own? We discuss. Plus: God of War: Ragnarok finally gets a release date, Forspoken is delayed into 2023, Rockstar abandons plans for a Grand Theft Auto IV remaster, and more news. Then: Listener inquiries! What are our expectations for Dragon Quest XII? Is there a future for digital game rentals? Will we ever 'retire' from playing games? Why does Colin hate phone calls so damn much?
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#209 | Square Dancing
4 juli 2022 · 3 uur 19 min
It's a relatively slow week in the world of PlayStation, but there are still matters to discuss. Yes: We're all curious about when God of War: Ragnarok's release date will be revealed, and we have some things to say about this strange new line of Sony electronics under the INZONE brand. But really, we'd rather get into the weeds with smaller stories and lots of listener inquiries. Topics range from Horizon's TV debut and the potential of Persona live-action media to the return of Star Ocean and Final Fantasy XVI's British-style English. Speaking of Final Fantasy XVI, we also get into just what's happening with Square Enix and its relationship with PlayStation. Is Sony courting the publisher, particularly with so much money heaped at it for timed exclusivity and marketing? Plus: Do we care about speedruns? Are live service games ruining our gaming cadences? Should Sony have allowed its studios to speak out on Roe vs. Wade? All of that and more on the other side of the play button.
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#208: Bobby Kotick's No Skater
27 juni 2022 · 3 uur 41 min
The news can be painful sometimes, and, well... get the medicine. It appears Activision, in its infinite wisdom, halted its developer Vicarious Visions (now Blizzard Albany) from remaking PlayStation 2-native titles Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 and 4 in a similar fashion it remade the PSone THPS games for PS4 in 2020. This leaves us crestfallen, wondering why such a money-hungry entity would leave such obvious cash on the table. We also get into copious news surrounding Final Fantasy XVI, DICE's stubbornness when it comes to Battlefield 2042, Creative Assembly's questionable FPS HYENAS, John Garvin's new Web3 game, various PlayStation Plus updates, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Are we being too harsh on The Last of Us: Part I? What's our gut tell us about God of War: Ragnarok's release date and review scores? Why do Xbox fans seem particularly agitated at us? Will Chris create the most successful OnlyFans in history?
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#207: A Crisis Reborn
20 juni 2022 · 4 uur 52 min
This is a week tailor-made for Final Fantasy fans, particularly on the back of Final Fantasy XVI's re-reveal. That's because... well... wait! There's more! During a brief live stream celebrating Final Fantasy VII's 25th anniversary, publisher-slash-developer Square Enix made two big announcements: The 2007 PSP Final Fantasy VII prequel Crisis Core is coming to PS4 and PS5, and the second part of the now-confirmed-three part Final Fantasy VII Remake launches the following winter, only on PlayStation 5. Thus, we have much to digest in the land of role-playing. This jam-packed episode has much more to work over, too, including the leak of an in-production, high-end Elite-style controller for PS5, the long-in-coming confirmation of Dragon's Dogma 2, reliable information concerning God of War: Ragnarok's release month, the arrival of Persona 3 and 4 on PS4, and so on and so forth. Then: Listener inquiries. What game dev jobs would Chris and Dustin want to undertake? Is the audience being too hard on The Last of Us: Part I? Could the incoming economic recession have a negative effect on the games industry? Will Dustin bend the knee and finally kiss Jim Ryan's ring?
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#206: The Return of Them
13 juni 2022 · 4 uur 9 min
Joel and Ellie are set to return to PlayStation, and a lot sooner than you might think. The long-rumored The Last of Us: Part I is real -- it's a ground-up remake of the 2013 PS3 original, slated for PS5 and later PC -- and it comes out in just a few months. But that's not all: Naughty Dog has also opened-up about not only its upcoming TLoU multiplayer game, which it describes as their biggest game yet, but even hint at a PlayStation 5 project beyond that. This means we've much to talk about when it comes to Sony's crown jewel team. But there's a lot more news than just that. There's conflicting word about the release status of God of War: Ragnarok, with some claiming it's been pushed to 2023 while others state it's simply not so. Meanwhile, PlayStation 5 has surpassed 20 million units, with Sony both severely supply-constrained and without any truly meaningful exclusive launches to date. Plus: Street Fighter 6's roster leaks, Bend is working on a multiplayer game, Overdose may be Hideo Kojima's next game, and more. Then: Listener inquires! Is Snowrunner a low-key Chris game? What kind of 'value' would Sony have to add to get us to subscribe to higher tiers of PlayStation Plus? Does Colin hate too much on the PlayStation 3 XMB? Who would win in a fight: Knack or a hundred Sackboys?
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#205: State of Play Wins the Day
6 juni 2022 · 4 uur 39 min
It's good to keep your expectations low. That way, surprises could be around every corner. With the PlayStation ecosystem so vacant in recent months, it's clear that Sony and its many partners have a lot to say. It's just that we didn't think a State of Play presentation that Sony seemed to actively and repeatedly lower expectations for would be the venue. Well, consider us surprised, indeed! During a tight 30 minute showcase, we got to see 15 different games (including three from first party), spanning PS4, PS5, and PSVR2. Horizon: Call of the Mountain looks great, and -- believe it or not -- 2018's Spider-Man is PC-bound, where it looks to add to its and Miles Morales' stunning 33 million copies sold. Resident Evil 4 Remake is real (and it's glorious), Stray finally has a release date (and will be a 'free' title for PS+ Premium and Deluxe), Callisto Protocol wears its Dead Space inspiration on its sleeve (and preempts Dead Space Remake on the calendar), and Final Fantasy XVI -- due out in Summer 2023! -- looks incredible. We have a lot to gush about. There's other news this week, too, which makes this episode officially jam-packed. Dragon Age's return draws near, Killzone may be en route to PSVR2, Sonic Frontiers looks questionable, and more. Plus: Listener inquiries! Are we being too hard on Forspoken? Why, exactly, does Colin hate multiplayer gaming? Can print strategy guides ever experience a resurgence? Has Dustin underestimated the selling power of the Slitterhead Shuffle?
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#204: Going Pro
30 mei 2022 · 4 uur 24 min
When PlayStation 4 Pro launched in 2016, it was fairly divisive. Why did we need two iterations of the same console? Isn't it a waste of money? Wouldn't developers have more work to do? It all ended up being needless worry, and so it should come as no surprise that -- if indications are correct -- PlayStation 5 Pro is en route for 2023 or 2024. What's the potential of the machine? Do we even need it? And how will potential consumers respond to a higher-end console when they can't even find the base version? We discuss. This news-thick episode also touches on lots of other issues, from God of War: Ragnarok's release date and Death Stranding 2's seeming leak, to lots of PlayStation Plus drama and new nuggets about PlayStation's PC and acquisitions strategies. Our lengthy podcast ends, as always, with listener inquiries. Why do people insist on scapegoating video games for societal violence? Will Square Enix ever re-package and re-release the Final Fantasy XIII trilogy? Can The Callisto Protocol earn the survival horror crown? Did one listener's car accident bring a deer within striking distance of this very podcast?!
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#203: Shattering the Silence
23 mei 2022 · 4 uur 5 min
In the coming weeks, the all-new PlayStation Plus will begin rolling out, and we've finally learned more about what we can expect, especially when it comes to games. First and second party are well-represented across PSone, PS2, PS3, and PSP, and of course PS4 and PS5 will have plenty of fodder for you, too. And yes: PSone games can have Trophies! Apart from talking deeply about PS+ and its evolution, however, we also get into other news. Rumors indicate The Last of Us Remake -- still unannounced! -- might be PlayStation 5-bound sooner than we thought, while Final Fantasy VII Remake: Part II and Final Fantasy XVI may also receive much-desired updates. Oh, and even more Silent Hill rumors, if you can stomach them. Then: Listener inquiries! Are the Mafia games overrated? What's with the paranoia surrounding Naughty Dog's output? Will we predict the next 'water cooler' game? Can Chris and Dustin steer the ship while Colin goes to take a call?
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#202: Scarce Silicon
16 mei 2022 · 4 uur 19 min
Sony's annual financial report brings with it good news for the brand. PlayStation, as usual, is the most important vertical in its corporate family in Japan, pulling in the most revenue and raking in the highest profit (even more than Sony Pictures, currently in a renaissance of its own). Yet, with PlayStation 5 doing well, Sony has a serious issue: It still can't manufacture enough PS5s to satiate demand. Not even close, in fact. Such a situation isn't only allowing its competitor to catch up; it's also creating doubt regarding if they can even fix the problem at all. Yet, they're hoping to right the ship over the next year, where they essentially intend to double their sales. Will they succeed? Only time will tell. Elsewhere in the industry, Electronic Arts has pulled the plug on its 30-year FIFA franchise, opting -- as rumors indicated -- to go it alone. But FIFA is ready to fight back, and with eFootball in the mix, too, things should get quite interesting in the soccer space in the years to come. Plus: Elden Ring sells huge, Gotham Knights is cancelled on PS4, Outriders was a financial dud, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Should cloud saving be free? When should Sony have a games showcase? What ever happened to Army of Two? Will Colin sell Last Stand Media to the communists?
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#201: Embracing the Chaos
9 mei 2022 · 4 uur 18 min
The Embracer Group's appetite for developers cannot be satiated. The never-ending expansion of what is rapidly becoming gaming's largest publishing entity has gobbled up three more studios from rival Square Enix (as well as a bunch of IP) for cash money. Does this say anything about Embracer? Probably not. It seems like they'll buy just about anything, and $300 million is a small price to pay for more than 1,000 heads and 50 licenses, including Tomb Raider. This deal does, however, say something about Square Enix. Potentially many things, in fact. Refocused on western second party relationships and Japanese internal development, some think Square Enix is trimming the fat to be purchased itself. But does that make sense? We discuss this deal extensively. Other news this week include rumblings of a takeover at Ubisoft, the leak of some of PlayStation Plus' upcoming retro games, the surprising lawsuit that potentially puts Yuji Naka's epic failure Balan Wonderworld in context, and more. As always, we touch on plenty of listener inquiries too, including ones about Reggie Fils-Aime, a potential sequel to Death Stranding, the likelihood a Punisher game might someday appear, and so on. We're back in the saddle after a very successful 200th episode, and we hope you enjoy.
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#200: Ranking PlayStation 4's 25 Best Games
2 mei 2022 · 2 uur 44 min
It's a celebration! Our PlayStation podcast-that-could has reached its 200th week of existence, which of course means its 200th core episode is here. To commemorate this auspicious occasion, we decided to do thing proper-like, renting out a famous theater in Richmond, Virginia entertainers much more talented than us typically play, and recording live in front of 400+ fans. The topic? PlayStation 4's 25 best games -- ranked! -- based on a combination of our individual lists, as well as the audience's. The results are going to be controversial, of course, but we were wise enough to mathematically split things up in such a way that you have yourselves to blame just as much as us. Such is the way of life with Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast. Thank you for your support. Here's to the next 200. (While this episode can be enjoyed as an audio experience, it is meant to be viewed. We hope that, if given the choice, you will watch Sacred 200 as opposed to listen to it. But how you proceed is up to you.)
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#199: Turning Agnostic
25 april 2022 · 4 uur 4 min
Where is Kratos? Belief that we'd see God of War: Ragnarok by now has left us dismayed, particularly in light of a rather odd video from Santa Monica Studio that gives us little information about a game originally slated to launch in 2021. But without a release date (outside of year) and no confirmation it's even incoming by year's end (except for from a random Tweet from a dev), PlayStation fans are left wondering if their faith in getting something timely from Santa Monica Studio was ill-founded. Other news this week includes the return of Amy Hennig to the Star Wars universe, endless rumors about a new Uncharted game and The Last of Us' remake, the arrival of the NFL on PSVR, the increasing perils of in-game advertising, and more. We wrap up with listener questions galore, as usual, including inquiries on what Netflix's fall in fortune means for gaming subscription services, circumventing old-school punishment with save states, the bad design around level caps, and so much more. Would we do it with an alien? We talk about that, too. Enjoy!
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#198: The Kingdom Stirs
18 april 2022 · 3 uur 48 min
The recent 20th anniversary celebration for Kingdom Hearts came with a major surprise: The announcement of Kingdom Hearts IV. While leaked in unintentional (and obviously completely accurate) GeForce documents last year, the new Square Enix-Disney collaboration is the talk of the industry, and obviously, we dedicate plenty of time to it. We also touch on the week's other news, including Ghost of Tsushima's film project procuring its writer, CD Projekt taking the Witcher III PS5 port from Saber Interactive due to their Russian ties, PlayStation's fresh investment into Epic, Bungie's dedication to work-from-home, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! What's the most-aesthetically pleasing PlayStation console? Why hasn't Star Trek made the jump to AAA games? Are we reaching a breaking point when comparing physical and digital game prices? How young can we indoctrinate children to ensure they become Sacred Symbols superfans?
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#197: Remedying the Payne
11 april 2022 · 3 uur 48 min
The studio behind Alan Wake, Remedy, has certainly come into its own in recent years, particularly on the back of its surprise-hit third-person shooter Control. Now, they've decided to go back to the near-beginning, remaking both the original Max Payne and its sequel on behalf of publisher Rockstar. Thing is, this spreads the team to at least five projects helmed by four publishers, so a big question needs to be asked: Is Remedy overextending itself, particularly on the back of its ill-received supplement to Crossfire X? We discuss. Then: A new Tomb Raider is PS5-bound, and is being built on Unreal Engine 5, Capcom raises salaries across the company by an average of 30%, SNK is officially owned by a murderer, and more. Plus: Listener inquiries galore. How are we going to take advantage of the upcoming slow release schedule? Is IGN's poor freelance pay indicative of a wider industry trend? Are fighting games perfect for the free-to-play model? Will Chris and Colin ever settle their bad blood over the quality (or lack thereof) of Home Improvement?
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#196: This Is Spartacus
4 april 2022 · 4 uur 7 min
As long-rumored, PlayStation Plus is receiving its first major refresh since the subscription service launched in 2010. Beginning in June, the PS+ will split into three, with its base form being the PS+ we're all familiar with. Atop that will be two more tiers, however, giving players access to hundreds of PSone, PS2, PS3, and PSP games, and more. But there are, of course, many catches. We spend a great deal of time delving into the ins-and-outs of PlayStation Plus Essential, Extra, and Premium, and deliver the rest of the week's news, too, including information on April's free PS+ games, details surrounding a possible Knack revival, Gran Turismo 7's ongoing microtransaction saga, Firesprites trio of in-development games, and more. We also focus-in on our experiences with Ghostwire: Tokyo on PS5, which we like a lot. Then: Listener inquiries! Has Elden Ring permanently altered players' expectations for open worlds? How useful are spoilercasts to our audience? What license should get the Hogwarts Legacy treatment? Can we help one listener find love at work?
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#195: Expanding the Map
28 maart 2022 · 3 uur 50 min
In recent years, Sony's first party family has grown mightily, with sensical additions like Housemarque, Insomniac, Bluepoint, and others filling obvious roles. That's why the outright purchase of fledgling, game-less second party partner Haven is a little confusing. Yet, through the lens of the modern industry -- which is crunched by worker shortages, high budgets, and even higher expectations -- perhaps this acquisition can be justified from personnel, creative, and even geographic perspectives. Either way, let's welcome Haven to the family with a candid discussion about what Sony's turn in strategy may mean. Plus: Gran Turismo 7 is a complete mess, The Witcher IV has been officially acknowledged, Rocksteady's Suicide Squad game has been delayed, NFL football is coming to PSVR, and much more. Then: Listener inquiries! Do we believe in the 'metaverse'? Are we tired of crafting systems? Does Hogwarts Legacy have any chance of being treated fairly by the media? What happens to Sacred Symbols when Colin dies? All of this (and more!) on the other side of play.
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#194: Stunning Wizardry
21 maart 2022 · 4 uur 5 min
After much waiting, we've finally been treated to a deep-dive into Hogwarts Legacy, the controversial Harry Potter-aligned game slated to launch on PS4 and PS5 later this year. Developed by one-time Disney outfit Avalanche, Hogwarts Legacy is -- in a word -- ambitious. Like, really ambitious. And it looks awesome. So let's discuss. Plus: News! The very Supermassive-2K title we told you was coming on this show a month or two ago, The Quarry, has been announced, while FromSoft's Elden Ring is absolutely obliterating the sales chart. Konami keeps hinting at Silent Hill's comeback, while Dead Space Remake gets a release window, Moss 2 is right around the corner on PSVR, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Is the in-process failure of Microsoft's studio The Initiative a sign of Xbox's inability to manage their teams? Is Square Enix's Tetsuya Nomura overrated? How do we find the recent GTA-related rumors about where the new game may take place? Are we going to institute a No Fly Zone over the Keebler Elves' forest?
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#193: The Small Scream
14 maart 2022 · 4 uur 7 min
God of War is a big PlayStation franchise, and word is it's about to make the leap to the small screen. As in, a TV show, apparently on Amazon Prime, led by the same minds that helped The Expanse and The Wheel of Time make the leap from page to moving image. But can God of War actually work as a serial? We discuss. Plus: Gaming news galore! Returnal is getting free DLC that adds co-op and an endless mode, while Capcom unveiled a Dino Crisis-like game called Exoprimal that's... well... primed to delight. Square Enix revealed PlayStation console-exclusive action-RPG Valkyrie Elysium, as well, along with a RTS called DioField Chronicles and an unfortunate delay for Luminous' upcoming PlayStation 5 console-exclusive Forspoken. Oh, and did you know there's a TMNT 8/16-bit collection en route? There is! We end every episode of Sacred Symbols with listener inquiries, as you know, and this episode is no different. Should Sony's approach with State of Play be rethought? What in God's name was Platinum thinking with Babylon's Fall? Will PlayStation fail to survive the next decade? Why is Colin eating ramen for dessert? All of that -- and much more -- on the other side of play.
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#192: Modern Warfare
7 maart 2022 · 3 uur 38 min
The eyes of the world are on Eastern Europe, where the Russian invasion of Ukraine has unsettled the post-World War II order. Perhaps not surprisingly, external forces in the west are bringing their economic might to bear to help halt the senseless violence. While Ukrainian politicians ask the gaming industry to do more, some have already started to do what they can. EA, for instance, has removed the Russian national teams and associated clubs from their FIFA and NHL games, while developers like CD Projekt have halted game sales in Russia, full-stop. Is this the right answer? Will it do any good? Or is the industry contributing to the demonization of a society that doesn't support its government and didn't ask for these actions? We discuss. Plus: Ghostwire gets a visual novel prequel, Twisted Metal's TV show is greenlit by Peacock, Trails From Zero receives a western release date, Capcom's renaissance continues unabated, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Is PlayStation 5 officially a must-buy? With Infamous and Sly Cooper rumors circulating, which teams would be appropriate to tackle both? What's Epic's intent in buying Bandcamp? Should the boys go to a fan's wedding?
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#191: Forbidden Whispers
28 februari 2022 · 4 uur 39 min
It's been five years since Horizon: Zero Dawn launched, and finally, we have its sequel. Forbidden West has arrived on PS5 and PS4, and it's awesome. We have a lot to say about it, so we dedicate over an hour to talking about Guerrilla's new open-world action-RPG in spoiler-free terms. But of course, we can't ignore the news. Fresh Project Spartacus rumors suggest a three-tiered subscription that will include hundreds of digital games, classic access, and more. Yet, the upcoming day-and-date release of Shadow Warrior 3 on PlayStation Now seems to conflict with potential timing. What gives? After that, we get into rumors about Call of Duty's new release schedule, the unexpected success of the Uncharted film, Electronic Arts' daring move away from the FIFA brand, Street Fighter 6's underwhelming reveal, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Were David Jaffe's recent comments truly unsavory, or just taken out of context? Why doesn't the games press care more about Japanese RPGs? Can a dying studio ever truly recover its lost reputation? Will Colin ever be able to escape the shadowy specter of Sonic the Hedgehog?
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#190: The Bright Side
21 februari 2022 · 3 uur 20 min
It seems like PlayStation has taken some body blows recently, but stark reality paints a different picture. Sales data shows PlayStation 5 is steadily outselling Xbox Series X|S, while games like the original Horizon and Miles Morales are doing Nintendo first party-level numbers, something its primary competition could only dream of. Heck, with Cyberpunk 2077 sneakily arriving on PlayStation 5 in the shadow of Horizon: Forbidden West's launch, there's much to be excited about. Of course, it isn't all good news. Sony second-party partner Haven has already lost its COO and co-founder -- a bad sign, indeed -- while PlayStation seems to be unnecessarily screwing around with cross-gen pricing. And what's up with Platinum Games' recent desperation and the censoring of horror game Martha Is Dead? We discuss. We then end, as we usually do, with a smattering of listener inquiries. Does the upcoming closure of Wii U's and 3DS' digital storefronts portend bad things for PS3 and Vita? Is Sony Pictures on the verge of taking full advantage of the Destiny IP? What's with all the anti-"gamer" hate in the industry? Will Chris ever return to New York?
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#189: Safehaven
14 februari 2022 · 3 uur 56 min
Microsoft's pending purchase of Activision has turned the industry upside down for weeks, but now we're not so sure it deserves too much worry, at least not for the PlayStation fanbase. In anticipation of regulatory concerns, Microsoft has explicitly and repeatedly ensured that PlayStation (and Nintendo?!) will receive plenty of Activision-Blizzard games well after already-inked deals have lapsed. In other words: Call of Duty, Diablo, Overwatch, and the like will be on PlayStation forevermore, with new IP likely to forego Sony's platforms. We discuss. Then: Rockstar finally acknowledges Grand Theft Auto VI (or whatever it'll be called), we're grateful to learn more about Haven and their mysterious PlayStation 5 project (though not very much), Chrono Cross is coming to PlayStation 4 in a brand-new edition, Platinum Games' new direction may spell trouble, and more. Plus: Listener inquiries! What do we think of FromSoftware's pre-Demon's Souls output? Should Sony make a move for the Lord of the Rings games license? What should Bungie make when it's done with Destiny 2? Is Colin secretly illiterate?
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#188: Fulfilling Destiny
7 februari 2022 · 4 uur 16 min
When it comes to mergers and acquisitions, it appears Sony is willing to play along: It's $3.6 billion acquisition of Bungie is proof. Thing is, this marriage is a bit different for the brand. Bungie will remain outside of PlayStation Studios' publishing hierarchy and remain both independent and multiplatform. However, Sony isn't done yet. Far from it. It's as ominous as it sounds, and we dedicate plenty of time to get all of our thoughts out. Then: Other news! Sony has released fresh financials indicating a very healthy company, but one severely supply-constrained and unable to meet demand, MLB: The Show 22 has a release date on PS4 and PS5, Ghostwire: Tokyo is coming way sooner than you may have thought, Yacht Club's newest game is a Zelda-inspired romp, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Will we ever see Destiny 3? Could Fat Princess ever return? Are games becoming too ideological? Where's Dustin getting all of his recent bravado?
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#187: In A Galaxy Run Far, Far Into the Ground
31 januari 2022 · 3 uur 43 min
Disney couldn't care less whether or not you want more Star Wars, because you are, nevertheless, getting more. In our realm, three new Star Wars games have been revealed -- one we kinda knew about, two we certainly didn't -- but what makes things interesting is that they're all coming from the same source: EA-owned Respawn, the team behind Titanfall and Apex Legends. What's with this massive investment into Star Wars? Do we really, honest-to-god need more of this series? We discuss. Plus: Horizon 2 is gold, as is Elden Ring, Call of Duty will remain on PlayStation through at least 2023, PlayStation Plus' February offerings leave much to be desired, Sony invests even more into first and second party teams, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Is it the right time to revive MotorStorm? Will Spartacus ultimately disappoint us? How do analysts draw their sales conclusions? Will you join us in Richmond, Virginia for Episode 200 live?!
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#186: A Very Stupid Arms Race
24 januari 2022 · 3 uur 28 min
Microsoft -- as it's wont to do -- just went and spent a bunch of money on a publisher. But this is no ordinary publisher or forgettable amount of money: By buying Activision-Blizzard for a record $68.7 billion, Xbox now controls some of the industry's most vital IP and studios, including the king of them all, Call of Duty, and its constellation of developers, including Infinity Ward and Treyarch. Yet, Microsoft's bullish move will likely set off an even-further damaging series of mergers and acquisitions that remove risk for certainty and eliminates creativity for volume. It amounts to a very stupid arms race that everyone else will be compelled to compete in, whether they want to or not, and there's only one entity to blame. Then: Release dates for Ghostwire Tokyo, LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, and WWE 2K22 have emerged, God of War does big numbers on PC, Sony renews trademarks related to defunct first party team Psygnosis, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! What's our temperature on Horizon: Forbidden West less than a month away from launch? Are we not keeping an open enough mind when it comes to the possibilities of gaming NFTs? Will Sony botch the little things that could make Project Spartacus shine? Is David Jaffe more attractive than Colin Moriarty?
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