True Avatars - A Queer Video Game Podcast

I took a week off from recording and during that time, there were so many queer game announcements that it’s gonna take me an hour to get through them all! We’ve got Final Fantasy, Diablo, Overwatch, Horizon, Hollow Knight, Oblivion, Fallout, and… Thomas the Tank Engine…?! In the second half, Cleo joins me for our long overdue discussion of the off-the-wall rhythm game UNBEATABLE. Was the game actually beatable after all? Cleo gives us all the details (including a dose of spoilers in the last 10 minutes)!   00:00:00 - Intro 00:10:51 - News 01:02:41 - UNBEATABLE 01:28:34 - SPOILERS for UNBEATABLE   The news segment was recorded on Feb 16 2026. The UNBEATABLE segment was recorded on January 28 2026.   Follow True Avatars: Official website: https://trueavatarspodcast.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueAvatars Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/trueavatars.bsky.social Twitter: https://x.com/TrueAvatars Threads: https://www.threads.com/@trueavatars/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@true.avatars Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trueavatars/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569951551559   Guests: Cleo: https://www.instagram.com/cleostrophobia   Sources: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/den-of-wolves-studio-10-chambers-confirms-large-number-of-layoffs-including-several-co-founders/ https://www.linkedin.com/posts/alex-graner-a37262114_alex-graners-resume-activity-7427480816940892161-hmDh/ https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/designer-claims-most-of-highguards-dev-team-have-been-laid-off-weeks-after-launch/ https://www.polygon.com/ubisoft-strike-workers-france-italy/ https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/overwatch-is-dropping-the-2-adding-10-new-heroes-and-coming-to-switch-2-in-major-revamp/ https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/we-agree-that-she-can-be-even-better-overwatch-director-vows-to-redesign-anran-following-player-and-voice-actor-backlash/ https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/france-gives-28-clair-obscur-developers-a-knighthood-and-says-video-games-have-reached-a-new-level-of-recognition/ https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/clair-obscur-expedition-33-wins-five-awards-at-the-d-i-c-e-awards-2026-including-game-of-the-year/ https://deadline.com/2026/02/baldurs-gate-3-tv-show-craig-mazin-hbo-1236710583/ https://deadline.com/2026/02/jason-momoa-helldivers-release-date-1236715868/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JubgL46Xkmk https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/playstation-and-guerrilla-announce-tactical-co-op-horizon-game-horizon-hunters-gathering/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88Ym9SCKFpc https://www.teamcherry.com.au/blog/hollowknightupgraded https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Games/Nintendo-Switch-2-games/Granblue-Fantasy-Relink-Endless-Ragnarok-3017587.html?srsltid=AfmBOorhQ3-uZMqM7eIViFQbSYBIcz5otAFbrhK6pxKj9UoBleVhUWBe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tnOYh_jIZ0 https://store.steampowered.com/app/3839790/Granblue_Fantasy_Relink__Endless_Ragnarok_Upgrade_Kit_Standard_Edition/ https://x.com/Borderlands/status/1970609156936868102 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGdFBim7nYY https://www.konami.com/games/darwins_paradox/ https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/fromsoftware-owner-reiterates-duskbloods-is-still-coming-this-year-exclusive-to-nintendo-switch-2/ https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2026/01/psa-apex-legends-switch-version-shutting-down-this-august Diablo 30th Anniversary Stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnAsWN-6hvw https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/diablo-2-gets-its-first-new-class-in-25-years-as-diablo-4-director-promises-players-will-freak-out-at-whats-coming/ https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/valve-confirms-steam-machine-price-and-release-details-have-been-delayed-by-exploding-component-prices/ Valve release date schedule (Valve time): https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Valve_Time https://www.wondersofsodor.com/gb https://x.com/cartycinema/status/1880062136766067108?s=20

Nintendo fulfilled its promise to include same-sex relationships in Tomodachi Life, but they didn’t stop there! Just how queer is the new Nintendo wacky life-sim? We’ve got all the big gay details! Lloyd joins me for this episode in which we also discuss the first steps into our Celeste journeys, plus the news, and finally a discussion about generative AI in video games. Headlines include game developers reportedly *maybe* skipping the Game Developer Conference, a bold industry response to the Ubisoft layoffs/restructuring, and Scott Pilgrim EX has a release date. Please note that our connection was a bit weaker than usual so there is a bit of a delay between some of mine and Lloyd’s discussion. Sorry about that, True Avatars!   00:00:00 - Intro 00:04:06 - What We’ve Been Playing 00:38:18 - News (incl. Tomodachi Life) 01:15:49 - Generative AI in Video Games   This episode was recorded on January 30 2026.   Follow True Avatars: Official website: https://trueavatarspodcast.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueAvatars Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/trueavatars.bsky.social Twitter: https://x.com/TrueAvatars Threads: https://www.threads.com/@trueavatars/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@true.avatars Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trueavatars/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569951551559   Guests: Lloyd: https://www.twitch.tv/lloyd_lloydster   Sources: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_0kl1WiSPg https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/71317/ https://gamerant.com/gdc-2026-ice-concerns-us-safety-fears-dev-comments/ https://www.gamesindustry.biz/gdc-organiser-says-it-hasnt-seen-cancellations-from-overseas-visitors-attendance-tracking-in-line-with-expectations https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/ubisoft-proposes-to-cut-18-of-workforce-at-france-headquarters-as-part-of-major-reset-plan/ https://insider-gaming.com/ubisoft-employee-suspension/ https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/-it-s-time-for-real-accountability-ubisoft-unions-call-international-strike?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/wario64.bsky.social/post/3mdgfmwvhtf2y https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2026/01/scott-pilgrim-ex-brings-more-beat-em-up-action-to-switch-in-march https://www.polygon.com/gaming/604420/scott-pilgrim-ex-new-game-release/ https://www.linkedin.com/posts/simoncarless_interestingly-pc-video-game-platform-steam-activity-7417944215675908096-OGNg/ https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/valve-has-significantly-rewritten-steams-rules-for-how-developers-much-disclose-ai-use/ https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/google-rolls-out-prototype-of-project-genie-an-ai-tool-which-generates-playable-worlds/ https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/data-centers-and-water-consumption https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/artificial-intelligence-types https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/computer-vision

Hosting solo again and covering a big week of queer game reveals: Life is Strange: Reunion, 1348 Ex Voto, and possibly even Fable. There was a bunch of Mario news (including trans reps in the new movie), Warframe is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 very soon, the PS6 might be delayed, Ubisoft is laying off even more people, and so much more!   00:00:00 - Intro and What We’ve Been Playing 00:03:17 - What I’ve Been Playing 00:10:41 - News   Mild spoilers for the ending of Life is Strange: Double Exposure   This episode was recorded on January 25 2026.   Follow True Avatars: Official website: https://trueavatarspodcast.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueAvatars Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/trueavatars.bsky.social Twitter: https://x.com/TrueAvatars Threads: https://www.threads.com/@trueavatars/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@true.avatars Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trueavatars/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569951551559   Sources: https://youtu.be/b2eHeCKYHJc?t=1806 https://www.youtube.com/live/hXn6bvU1Kh4 https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/fables-evil-landlords-wont-grow-devil-horns-as-reboot-ditches-classic-character-morphing-due-to-a-lack-of-belief-in-objective-arseholery https://1348exvoto.com/ https://x.com/1348ExVoto/status/2014714742108024903?s=20 https://www.gematsu.com/2026/01/1348-ex-voto-launches-march-12-for-ps5-and-pc-xbox-series-version-canceled https://www.ign.com/articles/ubisoft-cancels-6-projects-including-prince-of-persia-sands-of-time-remake-closes-2-studios-and-confirms-further-layoffs-in-major-company-restructure https://www.linkedin.com/company/ubisoft-stockholm/ https://www.reddit.com/r/PS5/comments/1qk6qd6/rumor_sandstoneinsights_analysis_sony_expects_the/?share_id=jwMnzRpiBdD8gCbT0PdXG&utm_content=1&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_source=share&utm_term=1 https://www.digitalextremes.com/news/january-warframe-devstream-highlights https://www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/free-update-for-mario-kart-world-lets-you-race-as-a-team-in-knockout-tour/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVB3hZoOF0A https://youtu.be/yP5RGz_CRFM https://x.com/USJ_Official/status/2014203076266348758

Ekamy and I dive into the strange queer game phenomenon: the Lesbian Plot Twist™. Isn’t it a little odd that so many gaymes prefer a mid-game “she’s actually a lesbian” surprise? Spoilers abound (see below). We also discuss the news (including updates on the Life is Strange 5 and Sims 4 leaks, some queer games are being delisted, layoffs, and anniversaries), what we’ve been playing, and Queer Game of the Week!   00:00:00 - Intro 00:12:06 - What We’ve Been Playing 00:16:40 - News 00:47:37 - The Lesbian Plot Twist 01:23:58 - Queer Game of the Week: Of the Devil   SPOILER WARNING: Gone Home, Unpacking, This Bed We Made, The Last of Us Part I - Left Behind DLC, Life is Strange 1, Lock & Key, A Normal Lost Phone, Another Lost Phone, Tacoma   This episode was recorded on January 18 2026.   Follow True Avatars: Official website: https://trueavatarspodcast.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueAvatars Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/trueavatars.bsky.social Twitter: https://x.com/TrueAvatars Threads: https://www.threads.com/@trueavatars/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@true.avatars Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trueavatars/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569951551559   Guests: Ekamy: https://www.twitch.tv/ekamy   Sources: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2eHeCKYHJc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Rsi1cN3O48 https://www.ea.com/games/the-sims/the-sims-4/news/the-values-that-shape-the-sims https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/the-sims-studio-says-its-values-are-unchanged-including-inclusivity-as-eas-saudi-takeover-progresses/ https://x.com/accidentalq/status/1998069196224385420 https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/meta-has-closed-several-studios-including-splosion-man-studio-twisted-pixel-and-asgard-wraths-sanzaru-games/ https://aftermath.site/meta-layoffs-camouflaj-batman-arkham-shadow/ https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/ubisoft-hits-the-division-and-avatar-studio-massive-entertainment-with-layoffs/ https://www.gamesindustry.biz/ubisoft-shuttering-freshly-unionised-halifax-studio-71-jobs-affected https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/nintendos-share-price-has-dropped-33-in-the-last-five-months-in-japan/ https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj4le852wgeo https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/sega-announces-sonic-35th-anniversary-plans-to-celebrate-sonics-legacy/

I said I wasn’t gonna record a new episode this week, and then the Life is Strange: Reunion leak was just far too juicy to ignore. So I took the opportunity to also cover some older news stories I missed during December. This week is a little shorter because it’s just me and it’s only the headlines. Other news includes Netflix buying Warner Bros and significantly undervaluing its games division, Fortnite is collaborating with She Who Must Not Be Named to offer Harry Potter cosmetics, more video game adaptations are coming to the big and small screens, and Sims 4 might have a new expansion coming soon. PLUS, if you somehow missed it, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – remember that indie darling? – got DISQUALIFIED from winning one of its many Game of the Year awards (and that same awards show snubbed most of its queer nominees).   00:00:00 - Intro 00:05:42 - News   SPOILERS for the ending of Life is Strange and mild spoilers for ending of Life is Strange: Double Exposure   This episode was recorded on January 10 2026.   Follow True Avatars: Official website: https://trueavatarspodcast.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueAvatars Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/trueavatars.bsky.social Twitter: https://x.com/TrueAvatars Threads: https://www.threads.com/@trueavatars/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@true.avatars Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trueavatars/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569951551559   Sources: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/a-rating-has-leaked-an-unannounced-life-is-strange-sequel-with-strong-language-and-drug-use/ https://www.gematsu.com/2017/09/esrb-rates-grand-theft-auto-liberty-city-stories-vice-city-stories-max-payne-2-midnight-club-3-ps4 https://www.reddit.com/r/Games/s/FiwgBXORSD https://x.com/NateTheHate2/status/2009691766191165501 https://larian.com/news/divinity-original-sin-2-is-now-available-on-switch-2-ps5-and-xbox-series-x-s_147 https://productionlist.com/filming-may-frederick-e-o-toye-direct-upcoming-series-fallout-season-3-santa-clarita-ca-united-states/ https://www.inverse.com/gaming/fallout-season-2-jonathan-nolan-interview-phil-spencer-xbox https://screenrant.com/fallout-season-2-filming-wrap-ella-purnell-bts-photo/ https://variety.com/2025/film/news/sonic-spinoff-movie-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-live-action-film-2028-release-dates-1236596459/ https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/helldivers-movie-justin-lin-sony-1236438370/ https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2026/01/toby-fox-shares-development-update-on-deltarune-chapter-5 https://twistedvoxel.com/stardew-valley-shadow-drops-on-switch-2-with-free-upgrade/ https://x.com/concernedape/status/2006079498849247743 https://x.com/ConcernedApe/status/2006086790311272546 https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/12/fortnite-dragged-for-collaboration-with-jk-rowling-after-canceling-pride-celebration/ https://kotaku.com/netflix-warner-bros-games-batman-harry-potter-deal-2000651695 https://www.indiegameawards.gg/ https://insider-gaming.com/indie-game-awards-disqualifies-clair-obscur-expedition-33-gen-ai/ https://www.reddit.com/r/expedition33/comments/1prr5f6/sandfall_clarifications_about_their_use_of_genai/ (post was removed a day after I double checked it, but the paywalled source from the reddit user is the next URL) https://english.elpais.com/culture/2025-07-19/the-low-cost-creative-revolution-how-technology-is-making-art-accessible-to-everyone.html https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/battlefield-head-infinity-ward-co-founder-and-respawn-ceo-vince-zampella-has-died/ https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/01/08/xbox-developer-direct-2026/ https://simstime.net/2026/01/04/confirmado-the-sims-4-legado-realeza-e-a-proxima-expansao/

Cleo and Lloyd are back, and together we break down all the queer games scheduled for 2026! There’s tons of indies and AAAs, plus a whole bunch of non-queer games we’re excited for too! But we don’t know everything that’s coming out next year; we also make some bold predictions for games (and where the industry might be heading). Let’s find out what queer gaming is going to look like in 2026!   00:00:00 - Intro 00:09:23 - Looking Ahead to 2026   SPOILERS for Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis (and the original Tomb Raider)   This episode was recorded on December 18 2025.   Follow True Avatars: Official website: https://trueavatarspodcast.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueAvatars Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/trueavatars.bsky.social Twitter: https://x.com/TrueAvatars Threads: https://www.threads.com/@trueavatars/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@true.avatars Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trueavatars/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569951551559   Guests: Cleo: https://www.instagram.com/cleostrophobia/ Lloyd: https://www.twitch.tv/lloyd_lloydster   Queer indies highlighted: Usual June: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2702430/Usual_June/ Interplanetary Love Guide: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3390210/_Interplanetary_love_guide/ Hedgehog’s Dilemma: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3192120/Hedgehogs_Dilemma/ Monster Gal’s Voyage: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3743860/Monster_Gals__Voyage/ BrokenLore: Unfollow: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2133830/BrokenLore_UNFOLLOW/ Steel Century Groove: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1858950/Steel_Century_Groove/ Laugh Track: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3765430/Laugh_Track/ Scarlet Hollow Episode 5: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1609230/Scarlet_Hollow/ Key Fairy: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2878580/Key_Fairy/ Dead in Antares: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2511800/Dead_in_Antares/ Coffee Talk Tokyo: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3161220/Coffee_Talk_Tokyo/ The Wide Open Sky is Running Out of Catfish: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3172760/The_Wide_Open_Sky_is_Running_out_of_Catfish/ Lap of the Gods: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3138230/Lap_of_the_Gods_A_Visual_Novel/ Building Relationships: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2666920/Building_Relationships/ Frame of mind: a game of thoughts.: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2515480/Frame_of_Mind__A_game_of_thoughts/ Hungry Horrors: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3048840/Hungry_Horrors/ Find this Pixel Anomaly: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3290400/Find_This_Pixel_Anomaly/ Feline Forensics and the Meowseum Mystery: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2945150/Feline_Forensics_and_the_Meowseum_Mystery/ High Times - Dating/Cooking Sim: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2251220/High_Times__DatingCooking_Sim/ Neo Junk City: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2378230/Neo_Junk_City/ Messy Hearts: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3892820/Messy_Hearts/ Paralives: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1118520/Paralives/ Sucks To Be In The Sticks: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3665100/Sucks_To_Be_In_The_Sticks/ Neverway: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2318330/Neverway/ Fear Effect 2: Retro Helix (technically not indie): https://store.steampowered.com/app/3509140/Fear_Effect_2_Retro_Helix/ IKUMA: The Frozen Compass: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1728620/IKUMA__The_Frozen_Compass/ Scott Pilgrim EX: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2640950/Scott_Pilgrim_EX/ Dosa Divas: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2950710/Dosa_Divas/ Cyber Paradise: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2431790/Cyber_Paradise/ WILL: Follow the Light: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3144860/WILL_Follow_The_Light/ Banned Together: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3551960/Banned_Together/ Love in the Time of Spellphage: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3825300/Love_in_the_Time_of_Spellphage/ Virtue and a Sledgehammer: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3743260/Virtue_and_a_Sledgehammer/ Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3256150/Moomintroll_Winters_Warmth/   Sources: https://www.ign.com/articles/after-a-relatively-quiet-the-game-awards-microsoft-says-it-has-a-packed-xbox-developer-direct-coming-in-january-2026 https://bsky.app/profile/anniemay.bsky.social/post/3ma6wi5kfvc2g https://bsky.app/profile/unburntwitch.com/post/3ma4ozsue5c22 https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/hardware-sales-and-physical-game-spending-in-the-us-just-had-the-worst-november-in-30-years/ https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/global-games-revenue-in-2025-is-expected-to-grow-7-5-compared-to-last-year-analysis-suggests/ https://bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-12-18/sony-s-naughty-dog-studio-orders-employee-overtime-on-intergalactic?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTc2NjA4NTY0MSwiZXhwIjoxNzY2NjkwNDQxLCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJUN0hDRFNLR0lGUEUwMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiJCMUVBQkI5NjQ2QUM0REZFQTJBRkI4MjI1MzgyQTJFQSJ9.jGluGdyZVa1EEBKJKLlY2aRo0tCwewmOk2TBd_9y2Iw

2025 is almost over and I’ve invited Zoe, Ekamy, and Lloyd on to discuss our favourite moments from the year, as well as the many scandals. This is also a much more conversational and laid back discussion than most episodes, a kind-of “party” vibe, so join us for a laugh or two!   00:00:00 - Intro 00:12:57 - 2025 Year in Review   This episode was recorded on December 16 2025.   Follow True Avatars: Official website: https://trueavatarspodcast.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueAvatars Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/trueavatars.bsky.social Twitter: https://x.com/TrueAvatars Threads: https://www.threads.com/@trueavatars/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@true.avatars Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trueavatars/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569951551559   Guests: Zoe: https://bsky.app/profile/zoeleet.bsky.social Ekamy: https://www.twitch.tv/ekamy Lloyd: https://www.twitch.tv/lloyd_lloydster   Sources: Pixel art video Zoe mentioned: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bC-8y2R6IxI https://x.com/LenteGameDev/status/1991473653771599957?s=20 The many podcasts we recorded throughout this year! :)

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 cleaned up at the Game Awards and a certain queer actor took home Best Performance (while mentioning her girlfriend in the acceptance speech to boot). Several other awards went to queer games and there was a nice handful of queer and queer-adjacent game announcements.   00:00:00 - Intro 00:03:51 - The Gayme Awards 2025   CONTENT WARNING: Harry Potter/Hogwarts Legacy/JK Rowling discussion   This episode was recorded on December 14 2025.   Follow True Avatars: Official website: https://trueavatarspodcast.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueAvatars Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/trueavatars.bsky.social Twitter: https://x.com/TrueAvatars Threads: https://www.threads.com/@trueavatars/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@true.avatars Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trueavatars/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569951551559   Guests: Ekamy: https://www.twitch.tv/ekamy   Sources: https://x.com/discussingfilm/status/1999329463142605208?s=46&t=sVUrhNeL5EXDMRDpzdemfQ https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1903340/view/491585297311596633 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nCX95t5cWY https://store.steampowered.com/app/3743260/Virtue_and_a_Sledgehammer/ https://store.steampowered.com/app/3839300/Dogpile/ https://folly.studio/ https://store.steampowered.com/app/3256150/Moomintroll_Winters_Warmth/ https://x.com/CaseyDHudson/status/1999652683972489385 https://www.archetype-entertainment.com/en-US https://www.reddit.com/r/OutOfTheLoop/comments/1k15opn/whats_the_deal_with_people_being_annoyed_at/ https://www.linkedin.com/posts/girls-make-games_girls-make-games-scholarship-fund-activity-6998343842693275648-7WsN/ https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Misc-/The-Super-Mario-Galaxy-Movie-2915226.html?srsltid=AfmBOor5wf4IJIZ-O1CyTslhMRxtW3fYTMxQKJ5ZeB_9lC735RG_cKhN https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-BDeU3R5ic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYwGSLM8lsQ

This week I’m taking a break from news and other current events to interview Elana and Nat from Unquiet Games! Back in Episode 53, I spoke about a demo I played for a game called “Banned Together,” a first person 3D puzzle game (a “Metroidbrainia”) about queer books that are quite literally disappearing from the shelves of a library. Elana and Nat are the two lovely humans behind this exciting and timely game, and we talk about the development, their inspirations, as well as the impact the payment processor situation could have on the game’s release.   00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:34 - Interview with Unquiet Games   The intro was recorded on December 3 2025. The interview was recorded on December 2 2025.   Follow True Avatars: Official website: https://trueavatarspodcast.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueAvatars Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/trueavatars.bsky.social Twitter: https://x.com/TrueAvatars Threads: https://www.threads.com/@trueavatars/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@true.avatars Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trueavatars/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569951551559   Guests: Banned Together on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3551960/Banned_Together/ Unquiet Games on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/unquietgames.bsky.social Unquiet Games Official Website: https://unquietgames.com/

Gayming Mag’s Streamer of the Week, Ekamy, joins me to discuss what we’ve been playing, the headlines, and the big fancy 2025 game everyone is talking about: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33! Headlines include two upcoming games that won’t be featured at The Game Awards, the Electronic Arts purchase has had a negative effect on the right people, Steam has censored another queer game, and Udo Kier (star of OD Knock) has passed away. Ekamy shares her thoughts on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the game that is poised to sweep The Game Awards next week. It’s also a queer game, believe it or not!   00:00:00 - Intro 00:04:24 - What We’ve Been Playing 00:14:43 - News 00:38:02 - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33   This episode was recorded on November 30 2025.   Follow True Avatars: Official website: https://trueavatarspodcast.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueAvatars Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/trueavatars.bsky.social Twitter: https://x.com/TrueAvatars Threads: https://www.threads.com/@trueavatars/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@true.avatars Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trueavatars/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569951551559   Guests: Gayming Mag’s Streamer of the Week - Ekamy: https://www.twitch.tv/ekamy   Sources: https://www.ign.com/articles/naughty-dogs-intergalactic-the-heretic-prophet-reportedly-still-years-from-release-and-dont-expect-to-see-it-at-the-game-awards https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/the-witcher-4-wont-be-appearing-at-the-game-awards-cdpr-co-ceo-says/ https://gaymingmag.com/2025/11/cozy-indie-hit-flick-solitaire-pulled-from-steam-in-russia-following-anti-lgbtq-censorship-demands/ https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/saudi-arabia-is-reportedly-running-low-on-cash-for-investments-following-ea-deal/ https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesagencycouncil/2023/11/17/the-gaming-industry-a-behemoth-with-unprecedented-global-reach/ https://x.com/hideo_kojima_en/status/1992785286712209409 https://gaymingmag.com/2025/11/jennifer-english-celebrates-queer-joy-in-golden-joysticks-award-speech/ https://www.ign.com/articles/yes-another-clair-obscur-game-is-coming-expedition-33-is-one-of-the-stories-that-we-want-to-tell-in-this-franchise-teases-director

This week, Amy-Lynn and I discuss all the queer games that got nominations for The Game Awards and the Indie Game Awards. There were more layoffs. And in very sad news, Rebecca Heineman has passed away after a short battle with cancer. For the main segment, we share our spoiler-free impressions of Kirby Air Riders, Masahiro Sakurai’s latest masterpiece (which is unusually accessible for a Nintendo game).   00:00:00 - Intro 00:02:59 - News 00:33:51 - Kirby Air Riders   This episode was recorded on November 23 2025.   Follow True Avatars: Official website: https://trueavatarspodcast.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueAvatars Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/trueavatars.bsky.social Twitter: https://x.com/TrueAvatars Threads: https://www.threads.com/@trueavatars/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@true.avatars Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trueavatars/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569951551559   Guests: Amy-Lynn: https://bsky.app/profile/amethystlylac.bsky.social   Sources: https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/11/guilty-gear-strive-switch-edition-update-and-dlc-finally-arrives-this-december https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/31-developers-laid-off-as-avalanche-liverpool-closes-following-contrabands-cancellation/ https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/fan-group-gets-concord-working-again-but-warns-of-potential-worrying-legal-action-by-sony/ https://www.indiegameawards.gg/ https://dreadxp.com/vile-is-banned/ https://thegameawards.com/nominees https://gaymingmag.com/2025/11/gayming-icon-and-lgbtq-games-pioneer-rebecca-heineman-has-died/ https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/11/kirby-air-riders-in-game-events-are-planned-to-run-for-a-year-after-launch

It’s that time of the year!! Video games are on sale and a lot has changed since Black Friday 2024. So Ekamy, Lloyd, and I have advice, tips, tricks, and what to look out for when it comes to navigating the next two months of what will certainly induce some impulse purchases. I also start the show off, by myself, with what I’ve been playing and the news. Headlines include: Steam is launching a bunch of new hardware, PlayStation had an Asia-focused State of Play (with some queer games!), the Mario Galaxy Movie got a new trailer, Horizon has a new game coming out (and it’s… weird), more layoffs, and a followup on last week’s Rockstar debacle.   00:00:00 - Intro 00:06:42 - What I’ve Been Playing 00:09:35 - News 00:39:42 - Segment   The Holiday Sales Guide was recorded on November 11, 2025 and the news segment was recorded on November 15, 2025.   Follow True Avatars: Official website: https://trueavatarspodcast.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueAvatars Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/trueavatars.bsky.social Twitter: https://x.com/TrueAvatars Threads: https://www.threads.com/@trueavatars/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@true.avatars Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trueavatars/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569951551559   Guests: Ekamy: https://www.twitch.tv/ekamy Lloyd: https://www.twitch.tv/lloyd_lloydster   Sources: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/hardware https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJp8K40TSxc https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/3161220/view/579402232979523481?l=english https://store.steampowered.com/app/2395770/Never_Grave_The_Witch_and_The_Curse/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgVvnVr7ojY https://www.theverge.com/news/819657/horizon-steel-frontiers-mmo-sony-ncsoft-playstation https://www.ign.com/articles/a-new-ratchet-clank-game-was-just-announcedfor-mobile https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/this-case-stands-as-a-warning-union-issues-legal-claim-against-gta-6-dev-rockstar/ https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/tomb-raider-developer-crystal-dynamics-announces-yet-more-layoffs/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqjMaKQskW8 https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/kojima-productions-has-announced-death-stranding-isolations-an-animated-series-coming-to-disney-in-2027/ https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/7-years-after-it-was-announced-the-elder-scrolls-6-is-still-a-long-way-off-todd-howard-says/

Cleo joins me for a lot of exciting queer game news and a heaping pile of drama! On the news side: Zorkie Studios, the developer duo behind Quality Dreams, Reasonably Priced, has a brand new game announcement, Sonic Racing CrossWorlds and Warframe have Nintendo Switch 2 updates, Pokémon Legends Z-A’s DLC is dropping very soon, and some weird and maybe disappointing updates on Mass Effect 5 and Fallout New Vegas 2. On the drama side: tons of layoffs, and a massive update on GTA 6 that is meant to distract us all from Rockstar’s alleged attempt at union busting.   00:00:00 - Intro 00:05:19 - What We’ve Been Playing 00:25:35 - News 01:08:00 - Segment   This episode was recorded on November 9 2025.   Follow True Avatars: Official website: https://trueavatarspodcast.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueAvatars Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/trueavatars.bsky.social Twitter: https://x.com/TrueAvatars Threads: https://www.threads.com/@trueavatars/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@true.avatars Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trueavatars/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569951551559   Guests: Cleo: https://www.instagram.com/cleostrophobia/   Sources: https://store.steampowered.com/app/4047160/Im_Making_a_Monster/ https://blog.bioware.com/2025/11/07/n7-day-2025/ https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/mass-effect-boss-mike-gamble-slips-a-hidden-message-into-his-n7-day-update-asks-fans-to-stop-yelling-at-him-for-not-sharing-more-info-about-the-new-game/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WC-0DOg4z9A https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/11/warframes-switch-2-version-is-officially-launching-in-2026 https://www.gamesradar.com/games/fallout/obsidian-knows-that-everyone-on-the-internet-keeps-asking-for-fallout-new-vegas-2-but-its-devs-are-currently-happy-working-on-their-own-ip-and-xbox-has-been-pretty-supportive-too/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMve2vXAQGQ https://x.com/serebiinet/status/1986443665120579796?s=46&t=sVUrhNeL5EXDMRDpzdemfQ https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/another-netease-games-studio-is-shutting-down/ https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/yet-another-netease-studio-has-closed-this-time-watch-dogs-devs-bad-brain/ https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/neteases-closed-studio-t-minus-zero-entertainment-is-back-from-the-dead/ https://www.rockman-corner.com/2025/11/capcom-taiwans-game-development.html https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/square-enix-announces-more-layoffs-as-part-of-us-and-europe-restructuring/ https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/square-enix-says-it-wants-generative-ai-to-be-doing-70-of-its-qa-and-debugging-by-the-end-of-2027/ https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/11/the-legend-of-zelda-movie-is-now-in-production-in-new-zealand https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-10-31/-grand-theft-auto-studio-accused-of-union-busting-after-firings https://www.reddit.com/r/GamingLeaksAndRumours/comments/1ol535e/jason_schreier_grand_theft_auto_studio_accused_of/?share_id=jD4aca9IotIqoUFjuB4D9&utm_content=1&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_source=share&utm_term=1 https://www.reddit.com/r/GamingLeaksAndRumours/comments/1opjkg4/jason_schreier_rockstar_games_said_that_the/?share_id=jdo6UO90RAZ74PX1UTr_k&utm_content=1&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_source=share&utm_term=1 https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-05/-grand-theft-auto-studio-says-fired-employees-were-leaking-information?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTc2MjM4NDU1NSwiZXhwIjoxNzYyOTg5MzU1LCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJUNUEwS0JHUFdDTDgwMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiJCMUVBQkI5NjQ2QUM0REZFQTJBRkI4MjI1MzgyQTJFQSJ9.PipR6t4x9M3EqRs9jXeXrZNn3d-RZBZhXyh8pTYZhFs&leadSource=uverify%20wall https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:2mkgbhbhqvappkkorf2bzyrp/post/3m4wbmgq46k23 https://iwgb.org.uk/en/post/staff-at-rockstar-fired-en-masse/ https://www.rockstargames.com/newswire/article/ak3ak31a49a221/grand-theft-auto-vi-is-now-set-to-launch-november-19-2026 https://gtaforums.com/topic/1004182-rockstar-games-alleged-union-busting/#comment-1072605777 https://x.com/videotechuk_/status/1986569797799453128?s=12 https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/support-rockstar-workers-fighting-unfair-dismissals/

For the news segment, it’s just me: Zoey. It’s a lighter news week (ish). Metal Gear Solid Delta remake got a free update, Animal Crossing: New Horizons has some exciting news related to the Nintendo Switch 2 and… Lego(?!), Queer– I mean, Fear Effect 2 is getting a remaster like the first game, and Amazon has laid off tons of staff and canceled 2 MMOs. Also, two strange pieces of news regarding Kojima and a certain sitting US president… In the second half, Zoe Straw is back to talk about her time playing Borderlands 4! We discuss the story, the performance, and the Randy Pitchford drama of it all. Plus, at the end, we talk about, well, the end (of the game)!   00:00:00 - Intro 00:04:38 - News 00:25:31 - Borderlands 4 01:05:00 - Borderlands 4 Spoiler Talk   SPOILER WARNING: Borderlands 4 ending spoilers at the 1 hour and 5 minute mark until the end of the podcast.   The news was recorded on November 2 2025, and the Borderlands 4 segment was recorded on October 28 2025.   Follow True Avatars: Official website: https://trueavatarspodcast.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueAvatars Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/trueavatars.bsky.social Twitter: https://x.com/TrueAvatars Threads: https://www.threads.com/@trueavatars/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@true.avatars Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trueavatars/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569951551559   Guests: Zoe Straw: https://bsky.app/profile/zoeleet.bsky.social   Sources: https://youtu.be/QK5Ow9zHA4U?t=1180 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0252431/ https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/animal-crossing-new-horizons-is-getting-a-nintendo-switch-2-edition-and-a-free-update/ https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/animal-crossing-new-horizons-free-update-will-add-lego-furniture-and-playable-nes-and-game-boy-games/ https://www.reddit.com/r/StopKillingGames/s/ZH3NoRfnMu https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/playstation-the-concert-woes-continue-as-at-least-17-us-dates-cancelled-and-webpage-offline/ https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/amazon-making-significant-cuts-to-games-business-moving-away-from-mmos/ https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/new-world-is-officially-ending-development-following-huge-amazon-layoffs/ https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/amazon-have-reportedly-cancelled-their-lord-of-the-rings-mmo-again https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-10-31/-grand-theft-auto-studio-accused-of-union-busting-after-firings https://www.reddit.com/r/GamingLeaksAndRumours/comments/1ol535e/jason_schreier_grand_theft_auto_studio_accused_of/?share_id=jD4aca9IotIqoUFjuB4D9&utm_content=1&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_source=share&utm_term=1 https://x.com/gamestop/status/1982213786221109263 https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1982587953676247375 https://x.com/gamestop/status/1982619455797821810 https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/gamestop-stock-jumps-after-white-house-reposts-console-wars-declaration-4310262 https://youtu.be/c46xM5-wScg https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/fox-hunt-the-online-multiplayer-mode-for-metal-gear-sold-delta-snake-eater-is-available-now/ https://www.timeextension.com/news/2025/10/no-one-ever-told-me-such-a-conversation-had-taken-place-kojima-wasnt-aware-of-the-wachowskis-matrix-game-offer

Please forgive the audio quality this week! There was an issue with the recording service we use that created a very challenging sync error. To help with a bandage, the service gave me a lower quality cloud backup to use (while they try to fix the issue… much too slowly, unfortunately). But this week Cleo joins me to talk about the news and a horror game that’s steeped in sapphic vibes! For the news: Sims players are planning a boycott, EA has a weird commitment to AI, Kirby Air Riders is surprisingly accessible (for a Nintendo game), more layoffs, and 5 different queer games got release date updates… plus a whole lot more! In the second half, Cleo and I are diving into our discussion on 2024’s Fear the Spotlight, a PS1 style horror game that plays like Resident Evil but with lesbians! It’s not a game that advertises its queerness, but this game is so scary and beautiful and well designed, it almost caught us off-guard.   00:00:00 - Intro 00:07:31 - News 00:50:13 - Fear the Spotlight   SPOILER WARNING: In explaining how Fear the Spotlight is similar to Life is Strange in some aspects, we inadvertently spoil a major twist in the original Life is Strange game.   This episode was recorded on October 25 2025.   Follow True Avatars: Official website: https://trueavatarspodcast.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueAvatars Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/trueavatars.bsky.social Twitter: https://x.com/TrueAvatars Threads: https://www.threads.com/@trueavatars/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@true.avatars Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trueavatars/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569951551559   Guests: Cleo: https://www.instagram.com/cleostrophobia/   Sources: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/final-fantasy-14-director-yoshi-p-says-hell-keep-working-on-the-game-for-at-least-a-good-while/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZHYjYHHiBM https://gaymingmag.com/2025/10/ive-lost-my-safe-space-lgbtqia-the-sims-players-boycott-game-over-potential-conservative-acquisition/ https://www.tweaktown.com/news/108403/report-eas-internal-ai-is-causing-issues-with-games-development/index.html https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/10/ea-is-diving-headfirst-into-generative-ai-with-new-partnership https://www.outsports.com/2025/10/14/24119785/lgbtq-sports-execs-coaches-athletes-outsports-power-100/ https://www.ign.com/articles/mortal-kombat-2-release-date-changes-once-again-but-this-time-its-good-news https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/rovio-is-laying-off-36-staff-says-angry-birds-dream-blast-has-not-been-performing-as-expected/ https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/thegamer-website-suffers-widespread-editorial-layoffs/ https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/ubisoft-is-asking-staff-at-the-division-studio-massive-entertainment-to-volunteer-to-be-laid-off/ https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/10/elden-ring-delayed-on-switch-2-to-allow-time-for-performance-adjustments https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/assassins-creed-shadows-has-finally-been-officially-confirmed-for-nintendo-switch-2/ https://bethesda.net/en/article/N00XVTawnzBBH7HNwv0hN/fallout-4-anniversary-edition-announced https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRpy9SYCxuk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57Dj9vrW20g https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/after-numerous-delays-sonic-rumble-finally-has-a-release-date/ https://bsky.app/profile/blacktabbygames.com/post/3m3uuxpdzf22p https://store.steampowered.com/app/1609230/Scarlet_Hollow/ https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/were-seeing-people-evolve-way-past-that-xboxs-sarah-bond-says-the-idea-of-exclusives-is-outdated/ https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/confirmed-halo-is-coming-to-ps5/

This week, it’s just me – Zoey – for the news. Headlines include the Horizon movie getting a possible release date, the PS6 and Xbox 720/Two/Series Y&T (whatever they're calling it) getting a possible release date, and Nintendo reassures us they didn’t get hacked and your user data was not stolen. Additionally, there were no layoffs this week and the industry has even started to fight back on two fronts, which gives me some cautious optimism. In the second half, some familiar guests are back: Amy-Lynn, Juno, and Nicole! And we’re talking all about the new Pokémon game: Legends Zed to Eh. Zee, Ay. Zeyay. Anyway, it turns out the game is actually surprisingly quite queer, but as is tradition, Game Freak may be a few steps short of perfect queer representation.   00:00:00 - Intro 00:03:42 - News 00:28:04 - Pokémon Legends Z-A Discussion   Spoiler warning for Pokémon Legends Z-A: we talk about everything up to the first Vinnie battle, and we spoil one unrevealed Mega Evolution from later in the game (a Pokémon with a silly design that has gone viral – you’ve probably already seen it).   This episode was recorded on October 19 2025.   Follow True Avatars: Official website: https://trueavatarspodcast.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueAvatars Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/trueavatars.bsky.social Twitter: https://x.com/TrueAvatars Threads: https://www.threads.com/@trueavatars/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@true.avatars Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trueavatars/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569951551559   Guests: Amy-Lynn: https://www.instagram.com/amethystlylac Juno: https://twitter.com/ThatTransNPC Nicole: https://www.instagram.com/nicoletyngs/   Sources: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/ps6-and-next-xbox-console-are-both-aiming-for-2027-release-separate-reports-claim/ https://thegamepost.com/sony-horizon-zero-dawn-movie-filming-release/ https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/mindseye-studio-build-a-rocket-boy-is-being-sued-by-union-members-over-alleged-mishandling-of-layoffs/ https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/saudi-arabias-acquisition-of-electronic-arts-faces-pushback-from-game-developers-petition-calls-on-ftc-to-scrutinize-this-deal-closely/ https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/quantic-dreams-first-multiplayer-game-is-spellcasters-chronicles-a-3v3-strategy-action-game/ https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/10/nintendo-responds-to-reported-crimson-collective-hack-with-official-statement https://x.com/pinapberi/status/1979116389941043478 https://x.com/Keisaraynja_/status/1979228043580207106

It’s that time of the season, and Steam Next Fest has returned! Ekamy, Cleo, Lloyd and I played 7 gayme demos (and it was hard to pick, there were so many amazing queer games)!   00:00:00 - Intro 00:03:27 - Steam Next Fest - October 2025   This episode was recorded on October 16 2025.   Follow True Avatars: Official website: https://trueavatarspodcast.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueAvatars Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/trueavatars.bsky.social Twitter: https://x.com/TrueAvatars Threads: https://www.threads.com/@trueavatars/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@true.avatars Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trueavatars/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569951551559   Guests: Ekamy: https://www.twitch.tv/ekamy Cleo: https://www.instagram.com/cleostrophobia/ Lloyd: https://www.twitch.tv/lloyd_lloydster   Games: Steel Century Groove: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1858950/Steel_Century_Groove/ Laugh Track: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3765430/Laugh_Track/ Killer Chat - Original Edition: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3476730/Killer_Chat__Original_Edition/ Winter Burrow: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3008740/Winter_Burrow/ Lap of the Gods: A Visual Novel: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3138230/Lap_of_the_Gods_A_Visual_Novel/ Messy Hearts: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3892820/Messy_Hearts/ Dead Pets Unleashed: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1851720/Dead_Pets_Unleashed/

This week it’s just me for the first half: I talk about what I’ve been playing (Three Days to Chicago, a visual novel by Chris Schroyer, as well as the news! Headlines include a character from the Fallout TV series coming to Fallout 76, A Minecraft Movie is getting a sequel, there were more layoffs, and Fortnite has officially skipped its Pride event this year. For the second half, remember the game I mentioned I played this week? Three Days to Chicago? Well Chris Schroyer, the game’s creator, joins me for an interview! Chris has had a long and exciting career working at Telltale and other studios, and his gameography includes The Wolf Among Us, Tales from the Borderlands, and more! He discusses his time at Telltale and his approach to what he calls “attainable fantasy” in Three Days to Chicago.   00:00:00 - Intro 00:03:37 - What I’ve Been Playing 00:21:29 - News 00:36:08 - Interview with Chris Schroyer   Note: I mentioned Super Mario Galaxy might run at 120fps on Switch 2, but a quick search after recording indicates   This first half was recorded on October 11 2025. The interview was recorded on October 10 2025.   Follow True Avatars: Official website: https://trueavatarspodcast.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueAvatars Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/trueavatars.bsky.social Twitter: https://x.com/TrueAvatars Threads: https://www.threads.com/@trueavatars/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@true.avatars Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trueavatars/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569951551559   Guests: Chris Schroyer: https://bsky.app/profile/schroyer.bsky.social   Three Days to Chicago: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2495380/Three_Days_to_Chicago/   Sources: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/fortnite-skipped-pride-this-year/1100-6535186/ https://deadline.com/2025/10/minecraft-2-release-date-1236574896/ https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/1o2ckvv/minecraft_sequel_announced_official_teaser_poster/ https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/we-are-all-hurting-metal-hellsinger-studio-closed-as-part-of-funcom-cuts/ https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/development-ends-on-hyper-light-breaker-as-studio-heart-machine-says-its-making-layoffs/ https://www.ign.com/articles/world-of-warcrafts-long-awaited-housing-releases-in-december https://x.com/discussingfilm/status/1973388284895072318?s=46&t=sVUrhNeL5EXDMRDpzdemfQ https://bethesda.net/it/article/2nqh2JMnLeJnjpxwUUi5n6/inside-the-vault-burning-springs-public-test-server-release-notes https://gaymingmag.com/2023/08/three-days-to-chicago-is-midboss-first-third-party-game/

For the first half of the show, Cleo and Lloyd are back to discuss yet another piece of hot gossip: EA has been purchased by Jared Kushner and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund for $55 billion, which is the second largest video game company purchase of all time. What does this mean for the queer games at EA, namely Mass Effect, Dragon Age, and The Sims? Of course, we also talk about what we’ve been playing along with a bunch of other headlines (Kojima has cast a trans woman as a lead in his new PT-inspired horror game, and we’re pretty excited)! Plus lots of other queer game news, including indies and AAAs. In the second half, it’s me and a new guest: Juno! Juno and I have played the first chunk of Ghost of Yotei, which features genderfluid actor Erika Ishii as the player character Atsu. We discuss minor spoilers for the early sections of the game and our experiences with it.   00:00:00 - Intro 00:04:01 - What We’ve Been Playing 00:25:35 - News 00:59:00 - EA Gaymes in Danger? 01:13:55 - Ghost of Yotei Discussion   ***Minor spoilers for early section of Ghost of Yotei***   The news segment was recorded on Oct 3 2025, and the Ghost of Yotei segment was recorded on Oct 5 2025.   Follow True Avatars: Official website: https://trueavatarspodcast.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueAvatars Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/trueavatars.bsky.social Twitter: https://x.com/TrueAvatars Threads: https://www.threads.com/@trueavatars/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@true.avatars Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trueavatars/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569951551559   Guests: Cleo: https://www.instagram.com/cleostrophobia/ Lloyd: https://www.twitch.tv/lloyd_lloydster   Sources: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHCqxLtwy5g https://www.ign.com/articles/hideo-kojima-reveals-debut-poster-for-playstation-exclusive-physint-first-cast-announcement https://insider-gaming.com/konami-asked-fans-which-metal-gear-remade/ https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/09/classic-mech-anime-and-tactical-card-combat-collide-in-battle-chef-brigade-devs-new-rpg https://battlesuitaces.com/ https://bsky.app/profile/tanatb.housefuckinggame.com/post/3m2aub7jc6s27 https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/days-before-release-borderlands-4-is-indefinitely-delayed-on-switch-2/ https://www.theverge.com/games/784264/pokemon-legends-z-a-hands-on-fashion-nintendo-switch-2 https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/avalanche-is-closing-its-liverpool-studio-following-contrabands-cancellation/ https://www.ign.com/articles/just-one-month-after-xboxs-contraband-cancelation-developer-avalanche-announces-layoffs-and-uk-studio-closure-plans https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/starbreeze-has-cancelled-its-dungeons-dragons-game-and-is-laying-off-44-staff-as-it-focuses-on-payday/ https://www.gamesindustry.biz/dune-awakening-developer-funcom-announces-redundancies https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/xbox-game-pass-is-increasing-in-price-by-50/ https://x.com/lbabinz/status/1973394895017845236?s=46&t=sVUrhNeL5EXDMRDpzdemfQ https://x.com/lbabinz/status/1973395627183935628?s=46&t=sVUrhNeL5EXDMRDpzdemfQ https://www.theverge.com/2024/7/9/24195312/microsoft-xbox-game-pass-ultimate-price-increase-standard-subscription https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/ea-confirms-that-it-will-be-acquired-for-55-billion-by-investors-including-saudi-arabias-pif/ https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/eas-new-owners-are-leaning-heavily-on-ai-to-make-some-money-and-its-huge-debt-go-away-which-seems-like-one-helluva-gamble-to-me/ https://insider-gaming.com/bioware-staff-worried-about-studios-future/ https://www.reddit.com/r/gaymers/comments/1nuzffk/are_we_screwed_for_the_simsbioware_games/?share_id=_1xwZ04x__KFgmQKnGdzj&utm_content=1&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_source=share&utm_term=1 Petition: https://www.change.org/p/protect-the-sims-from-censorship-and-political-control

Did you know there’s an entire conference focused entirely on queer games? Neither did I! So I took the train to Montreal to check it out for myself… and IT WAS SO COOL! The Queerness and Games Conference (QGCon) is an annual 3-day conference for queer developers and queer gamers, featuring all types of games! They had board games, card games, TTRPGs… but of course, I went for the video games. Not only did I attend a bunch of the panels, but I met a lot of amazing queer video game devs and played tons of demos for recently released and upcoming games! Some of them we’ve even talked about on the podcast before…! Oh, and did I mention I even did some on-the-fly interviews at the conference, too? You can see (or hear) all about it in this very special episode of True Avatars!   00:00:00 - Intro + QGCon Primer 00:12:04 - Day 1 - Friday Sept 26 00:12:51 - Yurivania series 00:17:04 - Three Days to Chicago 00:20:15 - Redjackets 00:25:41 - Day 2 - Sat Sept 27 00:31:10 - Rocket Adrift 00:33:16 - A Night for Flesh and Roses (+Interview) 00:53:47 - Love in the Time of Spellphage (+Interview) 01:06:09 - Neov*gina Dilation Simulator 01:07:35 - Queen Boat (+Interview) 01:16:15 - Fundamental and Incontrovertible Reality (+Interview) 01:23:51 - Banned Together 01:34:05 - Physical Queer Games 01:36:27 - Overall Thoughts + Montreal Experience   CONTENT WARNING: Suicide mentioned during the Queen Boat segment.   The interviews were recorded on September 27 2025 and the main episode was recorded on September 28 2025.   Follow True Avatars: Official website: https://trueavatarspodcast.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueAvatars Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/trueavatars.bsky.social Twitter: https://x.com/TrueAvatars Threads: https://www.threads.com/@trueavatars/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@true.avatars Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trueavatars/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569951551559   Guests: Elliot Rex White: https://necropocene.itch.io/ Kylie Szymesko: https://bsky.app/profile/kymira.ca Ahmed Khalifa: https://amidos2006.itch.io/ Chelsea Brtis: https://bakiara.itch.io/   Games: Yurivania series: https://mxashlynn.itch.io/yurivania-3 Three Days to Chicago: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2495380/Three_Days_to_Chicago/ Redjackets: https://annacwebs.itch.io/redjackets Psychroma: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1879950/Psychroma/ Dead Finger Dice: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3512300/Dead_Finger_Dice/ A Night for Flesh and Roses: https://necropocene.itch.io/a-night-for-flesh-and-roses Love in the Time of Spellphage: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3825300/Love_in_the_Time_of_Spellphage/ Neov*gina Dilation Simulator: https://gamedevbrook.itch.io/dilation-simulation Queen Boat: https://amidos2006.itch.io/queen-boat Fundamental and Incontrovertible Reality (not available online): https://bakiara.itch.io/ Banned Together: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3551960/Banned_Together/ Slasher U: An 18+ Horror Movie Dating Sim: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2655620/Slasher_U_An_18_Horror_Movie_Dating_Sim_Act_1/ Lucah: Born of a Dream: https://store.steampowered.com/app/896460/Lucah_Born_of_a_Dream/   Sources: https://www.qgcon.org/ https://www.qgcon.org/2025/arcade https://annacwebster.com/