CORE - Core Gaming for Core Gamers

So it turns out Fallout on TV is rad, and we have lots of thoughts, with ZERO spoilers. As a result, some of us delved back into Fallout 4 and 76 with a weird twist. Also, confirmed leaks about PS5 Pro specs and PlayStation's new PC trophy feature this week. Todd Howard says "no dates" on Fallout 5. Hades 2 had a big test. Golden Axe gets animated at Comedy Central. Heist 2 is here to make us happy. Your texts too! And some calls on the other side.GAMES THIS WEEK:SCOTTAll the Fallouts, especially 76Final Fantasy 14Buckshot RouletteJONSpell RogueBalatroNeiR ReplicantBEAUNo Rest For The WickedStarcraft 2WoW SoD BG3 Multiplayer Run Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lots to discuss and none of it has to do with girls faces. Time to highlight BAFTA Awards Winners, the Fallout TV show's critical acclaim, and Microsoft/Blizzard's new deal with Netease, despite previous breakdowns. We hit on the absence of Dead Space 2 Remake and the reasons why, the pricey Ubisoft SW game, and Microsoft/Xbox's progress on their next console. Seems like that thing is full steam ahead. Listener emails and texts, including recommendations for Blood Bowl 3 and excitement over Slay the Spire 2's announcement. And more! (Dear Martha too!)GAMES WE PLAYED THIS WEEKSCOTTDead Island 2Final Fantasy 14Spell RogueBalatroHotwheels 2JONNieR ReplicantFortniteGranblue Fantasy: RelinkBalatroBEAUWorld of Warcraft phase 3- Scored Sul'Thraze the Lasher on day 2- Sunken Temple- Much more WoW biz Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What to do with a Sonic balloon. The dominance of older games in recent research is a little eyeopening, raising questions on innovation and project impacts. "Dear Martha" delves into gamer drama, while BAFTA polls honor Lara Croft. Notable points about System Shock remake update and some other side news. Plus, emails and texts!WHAT WE PLAYED:SCOTT GAMESDarksidersDarksiders IISongs of ConquestAFK JourneyJON GAMESMore No Man's Sky, Baldur's Gate 3, WWE 2K24, and Helldivers 2Dragons Dogma 2Final Fantasy XIV's XVI eventLegend of Korra in FortniteBEAU GAMESSolo Adventures in HearthstoneShogun ShowdownSpellRogueFights in Tight SpacesGriftlands Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The whole world seems to be playing Dragon's Dogma 2, but not us. Wonder what's up with that! Also, we've a discussion about Phil Spencer's concerns regarding the gaming industry growth and Xbox's strategy shift. Interesting stuff. Other news includes Stardew Valley's revived success, Take 2 acquiring Gearbox, and Relic becoming independent again. Emails clarifying male anatomy terms and a text suggesting a new co-op game, "Plate Up!", and a giveaway of a Mobius Gaming Laptop from DogHouse Systems! SCOTT PLAYEDLightyear FrontierDying Light 2: Stay HumanSerious start to Crusader Kings IIIThe System Shock remakeAnd some usuals.JON PLAYEDBaldur's Gate 3No Man's Sky new updateBEAU PLAYEDStarcraft 2 Coop commandersWoW ClassicHL2 in VR! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ubisoft unveiled an AI-driven virtual assistant, offering visual and audio features. And it kinda sucks. Scott explored "Lightyear Frontier" and "Enslaved: Odyssey to the West," while Jon enjoyed "Civilization VI" and "Baldur's Gate 3." Beau made progress in "Like A Dragon" and tried "Timberborn" and "Plunderstorm." Blizzard's WoW Battle Royale mode, BG3 news, and Stardew Valley's record-breaking update. Also, Margot Robbie plans a Sims movie, while Nvidia predicts AI-generated games within a decade. Emails and texts and more!SHARED PLAYRavenswatchSCOTT PLAYEDLightyear Frontier (Gamepass, Steam)Enslaved: Odyssey to the West (Steam)Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit (Steam...insanely on sale)(more BORE Blasters...so hooked...and other stuff from last couple weeks)JON PLAYEDCiv 6Baldur's Gate 3BEAU PLAYEDPlunderstorm (wow)Classic WoWTiberbornLike a Dragon Infinite Wealth Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of CORE: The woes of moving house. Scott got a Playstation Portal and is excited about several games including Unicorn Overlord and Granblue Fantasy Relink as a result. Jon has been busy moving but has also been playing WWE 2K24 and building FROG Wreslting 2.0. Beau has been playing WoW, FF7 Remake/Rebirth, and Spider-Man 2. We get breaking news about a PS5 Pro rumor. In the news, the controversy surrounding the recent release of STAR WARS™: Battlefront Classic Collection, the surprising success of Sea of Thieves pre-orders on PS5, and the announcement of Summer Games Fest. They also discuss the passing of Dragonball Z creator Akira Toriyama. The episode ends with a listener-submitted dad joke and some calls and stuff!SCOTT GAMESThe Playstation PortalUnicorn OverlordGranblue Fantasy RelinkBORE BlastersHonkai Star RailJON GAMESWWE 2k4BEAU GAMESWoW SoDFF 7 RemakeFF 7 RebirthSpider-Man 2 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Microsoft Partner Game Stream revealed several new games including Unknown 9: The Awakening, a magical adventure set in India, and Alters: All By Myselves, a creepy survival game. Existing franchises like Final Fantasy 14 and Stalker are getting new content or remasters. The stream also showed footage from upcoming games like Frostpunk 2 and a Persona 3 remake. The crew discusses what they've been playing this week, including Scott's retro trip on GBA and where that led him into Anime game town. Beau's adventures in FF7 Rebirth and Helldivers 2, as well as wow. Other news includes the addition of mechs to Helldivers, a new Fallout trailer, and Ghosts of Tsushima coming to PC. Plus your calls! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's DUNE II week, and we are excited! Sony and EA are the latest to impose some fairly hefty layoffs and we spend some time talking about the games that got hit along with the people. Plus what some smaller studios are planning to do. Theres more to talk about with Helldivers II and what might be next. Plus, Jon has an answer to the Balatro controversy. The games we played, plus Epic hackers, GameScent and Inkbound nearly cooked! Emails and texts and more!SHARED PLAYHelldivers IISCOTT PLAYEDTales of AriseRegency Solitaire IIMore No Man's Sky, Balatro, and AC: Black FlagJON PLAYEDBalatroDark Forces RemasterQuickies: Pacific Drive, No Man's Sky, & Deep Rock Galactic: SurvivorBEAU PLAYEDLast EpochWoW SoD Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Debate on Sonic vs. Mario for kids' toys. A LOAD of games we played (see below). CORE Crush - Co-Op Edition this week! Other news covers the surprise launch of Dead Island 2 on Game Pass, Elden Ring DLC details, the release of the first Borderlands trailer, and Enshrouded reaching 2 million in sales. Texts, voice mails and more!SHARED GAMESHelldivers IILast EpochBalatroSCOTT GAMESGeometry SurvivorsNo Man's SkyJON GAMESWWE2k3 and Frog WrestlingDeep Rock Galactic: SurvivorBEAU GAMESWoW SoD Phase 2 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Microsoft is expanding its gaming reach by releasing four Xbox titles on other platforms, including Hi-Fi Rush, Pentiment, Sea of Thieves, and Grounded. Furthermore, Diablo 4 will join Game Pass on March 28, marking the beginning of Activision Blizzard games on the service. Microsoft emphasized the need to evolve for long-term success, reassuring the commitment to Xbox hardware. We talk about it. The show's break features a Valentine's Day-themed game, "CORE Crush." Other news includes Sony following Microsoft in cross-platform game releases and Diablo's $30 portal pack. Nvidia briefly became the world's third-largest company, and the FCC bans AI voice generation in robocalls. The episode concludes with listener correspondence discussing Palworld's automation element. And more!SHARED PLAYDeep Rock Galactic: SurvivorSCOTT PLAYALL the Unreal TournamentsWH40K: DarktideThe Mobius MachineBlack SkylandsBEAU PLAYHelldivers 2 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To start, elite controller takes more damage than a toe when dropped on a hard floor. Darktide and the Tribes III demo were great for all of us. Scott played Unreal Tournament 99 and Hellcard. Jon played Rotwood, Star Trucker, and Lightyear Frontier. Beau explores Stormgate's open beta demo, prompting a return to Starcraft 2 co-op commanders amidst the World of Warcraft Shadowlands Phase 2 launch. Rumors of Microsoft Xbox going 3rd Party, a unique Baldur's Gate 3 completion by Proxy Gate Tactician, Disney investing $1.5 billion into Epic for a "persistent universe," and Tencent reportedly developing an Elden Ring mobile game akin to Genshin Impact. Core-Spondence promising an intriguing voice mail on the history of dead presidents in office. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the latest Sony State of Play, notable announcements include a Metal Gear-like game from Kojima called PHYSINT, a bizarre trailer for Death Stranding 2 featuring puppets and guitar battles, and the stealth launch of Silent Hill: The Short Message, described as a short experimental free-to-play game introducing newcomers to the Silent Hill universe. A remake of Until Dawn for PS5 using Unreal Engine 5 was revealed, and Team Ninja's Rise of The Ronin received a more in-depth look. Other highlights include Metro Awakening VR for PSVR2 and Ken Levine's new game JUDAS, which carries a Bioshock vibe. News about The Suicide Squad, World of Warcraft Classic's GDKP ban in Phase 2 of SoD, the cancellation of Deus Ex by Embracer Group, and the upcoming Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor on February 14th. And your feedback!GAMES WE PLAYED TOGETHER:More Sea of Thieves!Like a Dragon: Infinite WealthGAMES SCOTT PLAYED:Lil' GuardsmanMonster Sanctuary)Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney TrilogyAnd more Forbidden WestGAMES JON PLAYED: Boxes: Lost FragmentsBlazBlue Entropy Effect FROG Wrestling returned yesterday! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Massive layoffs hit the industry, affecting Riot Games and ABK post-Microsoft merger. Notable departures include Mike Ybarra and Adham, with Blizzard canceling a survival game and outsourcing customer service. Concerns arise about Blizzcon's future. The Palworld vs. Pokemon debate unfolds, with accusations of imitation and AI stuff. Scott explores Forbidden West and Timberborn, Jon finishes Yakuza: Like a Dragon, and Beau engages in TTRPG "Order & Defiance" and ENSHROUDED. Calls and emails and texts too! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

GTA 6 is now the second-most viewed game trailer on Youtube. Meanwhile, the Microsoft Developer_Direct '24 event unveiled exciting updates, including Obsidian Entertainment's Avowed coming in the fall, Ninja Theory's Senua's Saga: Hellblade II arriving on May 21st, Square-Enix's Visions of Mana (first new game in 15 years) in the Summer, Oxide's ARA History Untold with mechs and crafting in Fall 2024, and MachineGames' Indiana Jones and the Great Circle set for 2024. Other notable mentions include Diablo IV season 3 details and concerns about Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. Voice mails and texts too! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How games positively impact work and life patterns, especially Shapez. We played Deep Rock Galactic, with Scott immersed in Horizon Zero Dawn and ChillQuarium. Jon explores Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Final Fantasy X, and Sea of Stars, while Beau tries out MythForce and delves into VR with Dungeons of Eternity. "Dear Martha: This Day in Gaming History" and highlights news like Brian Cox narrating Tekken's story and updates on Final Fantasy XIV's Dawntrail Expansion. The new PS5 controller version and Season 2 casting for The Last of Us. Insights from a listener about Steam's private games functionality and a gameplay leak for Wolverine, along with a science question! And loads more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Square-Enix's plan to implement "aggressive use of AI" in 2024. We have thoughts. Square-Enix's lack of details in their announcements is a problem. Games we played this week were: Shapez, Horizon Zero Dawn, Slay the Princess, Red Dead Redemption II, WoW and Shadows of Doubt in VR. The "Dear Martha Reddit Review" segment explores a breakup over a favorite game insult. Other news includes a 13-year-old beating Tetris, Mickey Mouse going public domain for a horror game, Jack Black voicing Minecraft Steve, Guardians of the Galaxy free on Epic Games, a Heroes of the Storm remake mod, and a City of Heroes private server receiving an official license. Shoutout to a creator, Michael Betts, for his game "Tower Song"!! Emails and calls too!GAMES WE PLAYED THIS WEEK:SCOTTShapez (complete obsession now, cant stop wont stop)Horizon Zero Dawn (yeah, you heard me)(just started Pizza Tower)JON: Slay the Princess - Finished itRed Dead Redemption IIStacklandsQuickies: Baldur's Gate 3, Sea of Stars, Final Fantasy X, Yakuza: Like a DragonBEAUWoW SoD continuesShadows of DoubtVR: Dungeons of Eternity with Crofton Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Well what do we have here? Our year-end MASSIVE round up of the best games of the year, including a load of categories you won't find anywhere else. Check the RSS feed or Patreon for a FULL text list of the games we covered. Can you guess our number one? Listen and find out!Group Category #1 - Most Anticipated Games of 2024: Scott: Space Marine II Shapez 2 Suicide Squad Kill The Justice League Jon: Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Dragon's Dogma II (Honorable Mention: Hades 2) Beau: Like A Dragon 2: Infinite Wealth Hades 2? FF7 RebirthGroup Category #2 - Biggest Surprises of 2023: Scott: Robocop Death Must Die The Finals Lethal Company Rogue Trader Jon: Remnant 2 RoboCop: Rogue City Bang on Balls Death Must Die House Flipper 2 Beau: WoW SoD Dead Space Remake was actually really good AR is better than you think (Quest 3 is awesome) M$ actually bought ABK WoW SoDGroup Category #3 - Best Non-2023 Games of 2023: Scott: Mark of The Ninja GW2 WoW: Dragonflight Jon: World of Warcraft - Retail, Classic, & Hardcore Octopath Traveler Transformers: War for Cybertron Beau: Yakuza: Like A Dragon Darktide StacklandsThe CORE Crew's Top 5 Games of the Year: Scott: BG3 Phantom Liberty (yes it counts) Starfield Sea of Stars Diablo IV Jon: Baldur's Gate 3 CyberPunk 2077 w/ Phantom Liberty Final Fantasy XVI Resident Evil 4 Remake Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Beau: Baldur's Gate 3 Dead Space Remake Like A Dragon: The Man Who Erased His Name Wartales Diablo 4CORE's 2023 GAME OF THE YEAR: Baldur's Gate 3 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steam Year in Review highlights gaming experiences, shared by Scott, Jon, and Beau. And we played The Finals, Lethal Company, and House Flipper 2 together. Scott played Warhammer 40k: Rogue Trader and An Arcade full of Cats. Jon delves into Bang on Balls, Death Must Die, WWE 2K23, and Fortnite. Beau conquers WoW SoD BFD, VR adventures, BG3, and Diablo 4 winter event. Dear Martha: Steam Reviews! Other News: Bobby Kotick's departure, Insomniac's leaks, Steam's profile game hiding, and Sony's 50m PS5 sales success. Oh and the WoW 2024 roadmap is out and it's kinda great. Your calls and more!SHARED PLAY:The FinalsLethal CompanyHouse Flipper 2SCOTT GAMES:Warhammer 40k: Rogue TraderAn Arcade Full of CatsJON GAMES:Bang on BallsDeath Must DieWWE 2K23FortniteBEAU GAMES:WoW SoD BFDVR: Asgard's Wrath 2VR: Arizone Sunshine 2VR: Lego Brick TalesBG3 Multiplayer ContinuedD4 Winter Event Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Old gaming pleasures when your sick! Plus we do a Disco Elysium contest today! The big Day Before mess. The aftermath drama of the Game Awards. Twitch getting into and then out of the boobies game. E3 is dead...for real this time. Dyson Sphere just got a HUGE patch. And here are the games we played this week! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All the announcements, all the reveals, and all the commentary you can stand from the CORE crew! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.