Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast

New leaks from friend-of-the-show MLiD have given us a deeper glimpse into Sony's plans for PlayStation 6, especially when it comes to the rumored handheld iteration, codenamed Canis. It appears this device -- slated as part of a potential trio of PS6 hardware due out in '27 -- will be affordable, powerful, and perhaps most surprisingly dockable. With all first party competitors now occupying space (Nintendo, Valve) or chasing a presence (Sony, Microsoft) in the handheld realm, it seems like things could get very spicy on multiple fronts. Allow us to discuss in minute detail. Plus: Hermen Hulst gives a rare interview, Ken Levine emerges with hot-off-the-presses details about Judas, Sony reveals its first four incubated products in the MENA Hero Project, it'll now be easier to request a refund on PSN, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Some 14 years after release, what are our thoughts on Catherine? Could a major Xbox announcement be lurking in Sony's reported September showcase? How does Hello Games and No Man's Sky survive by giving so much away for free? Is Where's Waldo nothing more than an unconvincing psy-op? Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:29:02 - Metal Gear Solid Delta poster0:34:47 - Benji!0:36:27 - Allegheny Hogs0:42:00 - Washing your legs0:54:33 - Waldo0:58:16 - Ghost of Yotei console preorder September 4th1:00:34 - PlayStation 6 Portable leaks1:27:50 - Hermen Hulst interview1:59:33 - New Judas info2:14:26 - New MENA Hero project games2:29:11 - Forza Horizon 6 could be in Japan2:33:12 - New PSN refund system2:39:22 - Skate early access release date2:43:15 - July 2025 Circana data2:49:37 - New PS+ Essential games2:54:35 - What We’re Playing3:40:59 - Thoughts on Catherine3:49:24 - Is Intergalactic a soulslike?3:54:12 - Will Xbox announce a game at a Sony event?3:58:41 - Are remakes creatively bankrupt4:08:42 - No Man's Sky keeps going4:16:05 - Do podcasts hosts need to be experts? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For prospective PlayStation 5 owners, America's new tariff regime has struck at a most inopportune time. Having carved through their backfill of PS5 units in America, and seemingly moving at least some of the console's manufacturing process out of China, Sony still has to foot the bill to import the machine. A $50 increase across the board -- on standard and Pro units alike -- has led to much consternation. What do we think about the whole situation? Beware: It's impossible to talk about this issue sans politics. Plus: Hollow Knight: Silksong gets a surprise release date in literally two weeks, storied 'closer' Rod Fergusson joins Cloud Chamber to help ship the beleaguered fourth BioShock, Triangle Strategy randomly launches on PS5 (but not PS4) three years after its Switch debut, long-time studio lead Pete Parsons leaves Bungie after more than 20 years, PS3 JRPG Tales of Xillia is finally being remastered, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Is there a desire for more modern and grounded military shooters? Should Guerrilla abandon Aloy as Horizon's protagonist? What's our hype level (if any) for Borderlands 4? Is Dustin's hometown well and truly haunted? Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:31:02 - Is Last Stand in trouble?0:50:48 - Car totaled while listening to Sacred0:53:46 - Our relationship with comments1:13:53 - PS5 price increase2:16:15 - Silksong release date2:30:21 - Gamescom announcements2:41:04 - Ghost of Yotei is getting a Legends mode2:47:44 - Helldivers 2 x ODST2:54:24 - Rod Fergusson is moving to Cloud Chamber to save Bioshock 43:09:49 - Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 launches November 14th3:17:18 - Triangle Strategy is out on PSN3:21:10 - Tales of Xillia Remastered launches in October3:27:34 - Callisto Protocol sold 6-7 million copies3:28:26 - Sony unloads EVO shares to a subsidiary3:29:54 - Bungie leadership change3:38:13 - What We’ve Been Playing (Doom: The Dark Ages, MindsEye, Mafia: The Old Country, Battlefield 6, Indika)4:10:16 - Is the podcast parasocial relationship unhealthy?4:17:20 - Is FPS culture shifting?4:23:14 - Hype level for Borderlands 44:28:29 - Killing Aloy4:32:55 - Spouses interrupting game time4:38:06 - Colin doesn't play driving games because he doesn't drive Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sony is a many-tendrilled corporation, which can be both a blessing and a curse. But in fully leveraging all that the wider company does well, it seems they're closer than ever to achieving the "One Sony" goal from years and decades past. Enter Physint (sometimes typed PHYSINT, for some reason), a Hideo Kojima-led project revealed last year as a mysterious cross-pollination between PlayStation and Sony Pictures, one that appears to go into a distinctly Metal Gear Solid-like direction. With Death Stranding 2 now in the past, Kojima is confirmed to be working on Physint itself, presumably for PlayStation 6, which raises some questions, like: What will the game be like? When will it come out? Will it be a commercial success? We know so little about it, and yet, that's never stopped us before, so why start now? Plus: Arrowhead rather blatantly teases a Helldivers 2/Halo crossover, Strauss Zelnick expresses confidence in GTA6's Spring '26 release window and promises that BioShock 4 will indeed launch one day, rumors percolate about upcoming Resident Evil remakes, Crimson Desert gets delayed, PUBG is the next game to reveal it's leaving PlayStation 4 behind, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! What's the best stoner game? Are people overreacting to recent PlayStation executives' chatter about moving away from hardware? Is Danganronpa actually bad? Did we actually (and unintentionally) get someone fired from their job? Download Cash App Today: https://capl.onelink.me/vFut/ty57yree #CashAppPod. As a Cash App partner, Imay earn a commission when you sign up for a Cash App account. Cash App is a financial servicesplatform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cardsissued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. Visit cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures. Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:22:21 - Tarman joke gone too far?0:25:33 - Sacred episode titles0:36:20 - Ranking autistic fanbases0:42:04 - Who gets the worst taxes?0:50:29 - Starting a business tips0:53:47 - Kojima has started working on Physint... alone1:09:39 - Light of Motiram makes some big changes1:17:25 - Helldivers 2 x Halo?1:28:09 - Strauss Zelnick is confident in GTA VI's release date1:41:14 - Is Code Veronica and RE Zero the next remakes from Capcom?1:46:09 - New Resident Evil movie1:55:24 - Crimson Desert delayed to 20262:03:49 - PUBG is leaving PS4 behind2:07:23 - New PS Plus games2:14:51 - July PSN Sales charts2:31:36 - Control sells five million copies2:38:45 - Far Cry TV show2:47:52 - What We’re Playing (Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, Doom: The Dark Ages, MindsEye, Battlefield 6 Beta, Hell is Us Demo)3:35:44 - Raging at Danganronpa3:39:15 - Can Dollman shut up?3:43:30 - Good stoner games3:47:19 - Genie 3 making games3:55:29 - Nu Metal is back?4:03:08 - Is Sony moving away from hardware? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If Sony's recent fiscal report shows anything, it's that PlayStation is turning into a bona fide money printer. Yes, PS5 has surpassed 80 million units sold, and that in and of itself is a substantial figure. But the more interesting numbers reside in the financials, where the brand netted more in profit in a single three month period than it did for much of entire previous generations. That's completely insane. So let's discuss PlayStation's meteoric growth, what it means, and how Sony may be doing all of this with one arm tied behind its back. Plus: Media Molecule loses its final founding member, the new BioShock game is in trouble, Lost Soul Aside goes gold, Starfield is rumored to be PS5-bound in 2026, Darksiders 4 gets announced, Silent Hill F brings the franchise into an action-oriented direction, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Is PlayStation Plus fundamentally underrated? Could Battlefield 6 outsell Call of Duty: Black Ops 7? Are we on the verge of having to verify our identity on PSN? Will Colin travel to a nearby town to try and find life-sized box art of the old game X-Blades? Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:27:20 - Derek <30:30:16 - Keep on, keeping on Luke0:37:24 - Grace’s first platinum0:41:28 - This is Tarman0:43:45 - SouthPeak Games0:45:52 - Is the opening of the show too out of hand?0:48:55 - Ghost of Yotei film festival1:01:40 - Sony financials1:37:35 - Media Molecule's last co-founder leaves1:50:39 - New Bioshock is in trouble2:08:32 - Lost Souls Aside has gone gold2:12:36 - Will Exiledge be a hit?2:17:30 - Starfield on PS5 rumors continue2:23:53 - Darksiders 4 announced2:28:01 - Silent Hill F is action focused2:35:47 - Red Octane is making a new rhythm game2:43:58 - Genshin Impact removes PS4 support2:51:23 - New Pragmata gameplay2:52:49 - Marvel Tokon beta2:56:36 - What We Are Playing? (Death Stranding 2, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, Deus Ex: The Conspiracy, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Luto, Delta Rune)3:34:07 - What is going on with the Steam payment processor story?3:40:38 - PlayStation Plus is also a great deal3:47:08 - Is it Battlefield's time?3:53:02 - Why are reviews so long?4:04:15 - Why don't game support couch co-op?4:11:40 - ID verification in games Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Earlier this year, Chinese publisher Tencent revealed a new project so shameless that it belies belief. It's called Light of Motiram, and it's no exaggeration to say that it's a pound-for-pound carbon copy of PlayStation's vaunted Horizon franchise. It crossed the line to such an extent that Sony is suing Tencent over it, packing fascinating evidence that this title was likely intended to be Horizon all along. Is Tencent dead-to-rights? Other news this week includes likely massive overreaction to PlayStation's hiring of a cross-platform manager, updates on Amazon's God of War TV project, Xbox's dominance of PS5 sales chart with rumors of more to come, Warner Bros. dipping its toes back in the games-as-a-service space, fresh PS+ offerings, and more. To round things out, we then go to listener inquiries, as always. Is the original Metal Gear Solid overrated? What's happening with Insomniac's Wolverine project? Have payment processors gone too far in seemingly bullying the likes of Steam? Will Colin ever understand that Bob Dylan is still alive? Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:16:13 -  Bob Dylan is not dead0:33:00 - 401k Sacred boys0:35:03 - RIP in Peace0:35:58 - Remembering Tomvy0:41:38 - Katy, let the PS5 breathe0:44:23 - Section 8 clarification0:48:39 - Twisted Metal release schedule1:03:52 - Sony sues Tencent over Horizon clone1:26:40 - Sony hiring a multiplatform manager1:57:25 - Ronald D. Moore talks God of War2:11:52 - New China Hero Project games2:17:06 - Xbox games dominated Q2 PS5 software sales2:34:45 - WB is hiring for a live service game2:49:16 - Lies of P coming to PS+2:53:54 - Sony's fightstick is called FlexStrike3:01:17 - Nintendo Direct stuff3:14:43 - What Are We Playing? (Death Stranding 2, Deus Ex, Silent Hill 3)3:38:32 - Steam's credit card drama3:59:19 - Does Metal Gear Solid hold up?4:05:13 - What's up with Wolverine?4:14:11 - Is anti-crunch making game development longer?4:18:24 - PlayStation sequels are selling less?4:25:13 - SkillUp's gaming website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With leaks galore coming out of its closed testing period, it should come as no surprise that Battlefield 6 is real, and it's en route very soon. Electronic Arts and its quartet of fully-owned teams under the Battlefield Studios moniker promise a full multiplayer reveal in late July, and rumors indicate the full title is primed to launch in October. Can EA finally turn the ship around and fully deliver on the potential of its ailing franchise? Or has its lunch been permanently eaten? Plus: Sony invests $450 million into Bandai Namco in return for 2.5% of the publisher, FromSoft is reportedly working on a mystery game due out in 2026, the reasons for Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles' long development cycle suddenly become clearer, Microsoft backtracks on The Outer Worlds 2's aggressive pricing, Death Stranding 2 sells big, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Did our parents ever play games with us while we were growing up? Is Colin an unadulterated and unhinged Nintendo hater? Will shorter and more reasonable development cycles ever return to the AAA space? Could one listener's ex now be dating another listener? Download Cash App Today: https://capl.onelink.me/vFut/ty57yree #CashAppPod. As a Cash App partner, Imay earn a commission when you sign up for a Cash App account. Cash App is a financial servicesplatform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. Visit cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures. Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:21:45 - Sacred Symbols lifts you up0:22:56 - Good news for a change0:23:49 - Loud yawning0:32:16 - Perfect Colin0:34:17 - Colin's allowance0:42:06 - Sony buys 2.5% of Bandai Namco0:53:29 - Battlefield 6 announced1:10:52 - What is FromSoft's Project FMC1:19:29 - New PS5 beta firmware1:29:49 - Why FF Tactics took so long1:36:53 - Outer Worlds 2 lowers its price1:48:30 - Splitgate 2 goes back to beta2:07:05 - June 2025 Circana2:16:32 - What We’ve Been Playing (Death Stranding 2, Donkey Kong: Bananza, Tony Hawk Remakes)2:38:07 - Playing video games with your parents2:51:03 - Is Colin jealous of his ex (Nintendo)?3:07:12 - Why does game development take so long?3:13:18 - The homogeneity of AAA gaming2:55:55 - New TV settings3:19:19 - Why do we care so much about news? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sony-owned Santa Monica Studio is one of PlayStation's first party powerhouses. Responsible for the God of War franchise -- and, other than Kinetica early in the PS2 era, only the God of War franchise -- there was some excitement building about what was next. But what if it's just more God of War... at least kinda? New rumors indicate that Santa Monica is working on something more familiar than we might have hoped, and from our perspective, that can only mean one thing. We discuss. Plus: Sucker Punch expresses interest in returning to Infamous, Ghost of Yotei gets special edition PS5 hardware and a DualSense, HBO's second season of The Last of Us earns a ton of Emmy nominations, concept art for Deviation's cancelled PlayStation exclusive emerges, Dragon Quest VII is apparently being remade at Square Enix, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! With the demise of Xbox's Turn 10 Studio, is it time for PlayStation to port Gran Turismo to its rival's machine? Is Colin totally off-base with his desire for Arc System Works to create a PlayStation fighter instead of a Marvel one? What's the worst example in our personal gaming lives of losing a save file? Should Dustin enter into an illicit relationship with an eager listener? Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:44:52 - Dustin's cry for help0:52:56 - Sacred Streaming1:07:46 - Stand down Chrissy1:11:43 - What is Santa Monica working on?1:33:34 - Ghost of Yotei PS5 special edition1:38:23 - Restock of 30th Anniversary gear1:41:11 - 16 Emmys for TLOU season 2 + Season 32:00:46- Art from Deviation's canceled game2:08:21 - Dragon Quest VII remake rumors2:15:09 - Ubisoft announces new co-CEOs2:35:35 - Iron Galaxy's guitar hero joke2:52:39 - What We’re Playing3:30:11 - Favorite video game merch3:37:11 - Custom Powerwash simulator levels3:40:53 - GT7 on Xbox3:45:52 - Demands to Spider-Man on Xbox3:52:55 - PlayStation fighter vs Marvel Tokon4:01:18 - Accidentally deleting your save Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you're tired of The Last of Us, well, it's really too bad. That's because Naughty Dog has updated The Last of Us: Part II yet again, this time with a so-called Chronological Mode that orders the game's chapters and subchapters sequentially. It's easy to mock this many updates, of course, but in reality, is Sony going above-and-beyond in keeping some of its older games alive? Shouldn't we applaud the years-long dedication to not only The Last of Us, but to God of War, Ghost of Tsushima, Days Gone, Horizon, and others? We discuss. Then: Twisted Metal's second season on Peacock gets a new trailer, STALKER 2 is finally confirmed for PlayStation 5, Final Fantasy IX Remake may be in trouble, Capcom acknowledges Mega Man, and more. Plus: Listener inquiries! If we could only play a single game-as-a-service, which would it be? Could gaming be entering a more serious phase, as the industry finds itself fused more with education? Is it crazy to play sequels without having experienced the original? What are the percentage odds Colin is on the precipice of becoming a Kingdom Hearts superfan? Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:25:36 - Favorite color and number0:26:16 - Furries0:35:30 - Hot dog advice0:48:36 - Sacred vernacular0:53:57 - Fawn-ta0:58:34 - Kingdom Hearts Stockholm syndrome1:05:21 - Upcoming Games list1:07:14 - Last of us Part II Chronological mode1:18:00 - Twisted Metal Season 21:22:34 - STALKER 2 is coming to PS51:28:26 - Is FFIX Remake canceled?1:38:32 - Capcom comments on Mega Man1:48:25 - SAG-AFTRA strike is over1:57:14 - The industry's statement on Stop Killing Games2:13:08 - New PS+ Games2:23:42 - May Circana2:30:55 - May PSN sales2:37:01 - PS4 Firmware update2:42:39 - What Are We Playing? (Death Stranding 2, Peak)3:15:17 - Gaming attention span3:28:38 - Picking one live service game3:33:23 - Sequels that clicked3:39:15 - Does our jobs make us enjoy games less?3:51:11 - New concurrent player count record3:59:35 - Video games in education Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For the first time ever, PlayStation is publishing one of its own games on Xbox. The new port comes in the form of 2024's smash-hit multiplayer game Helldivers 2 from second party studio Arrowhead, and though Sony has a long-but-silent history of bringing games to other consoles -- there was a Wipeout game on N64, after all, and the likes of Death Stranding and MLB: The Show have already migrated to Xbox via intermediaries -- never before have they acted as publisher. Is this a one-off, or a move that could signify a new strategy? Will Xbox players conditioned to Game Pass put their money where their mouth is? Are single-player exclusives next? Then: Neil Druckmann announces he's done with The Last of Us on HBO, instead turning his full attention back to Naughty Dog, while it sure does sound like Sony-owned team Firesprite is openly hiring for a PlayStation 6 project. After some other news, we get into what we're playing before ending the show as we always do, with six questions, comments, concerns, thoughts, and ideas from our audience. What are our ruminations concerning Xbox's recent layoffs and cancellations? Will the PS5 era be looked back upon as a generation of wasted potential? How do we feel about the Stop Killing Games initiative in Europe? Are some listeners intentionally exposing their wives to Sacred Symbols in order to facilitate a divorce? Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:23:03 - Patreon numbers0:29:17 - Benji0:36:16 - Don't show your wife Sacred0:43:47 - This week's situation0:47:51 - Happy Birthday Nick0:52:23 - Defending the PlayStation concert0:59:28 - Helldivers 2 coming to Xbox1:31:18 - Neil Druckmann is no longer working on TLOU on HBO1:40:45 - PSSR update in 20261:54:12 - Firesprite is hiring1:59:29 - Is College Basketball returning?2:02:56 - Street Fighter movie casting2:06:49 - What We’ve Been Playing (Death Stranding, Death Stranding 2, Peak)2:45:15 - Xbox's unraveling3:04:57 - Supporting layoffs3:15:19 - Studios moving to cheaper cities3:18:57 - What is going on this generation?3:30:10 - Journalism as a path into marketing or development3:33:38 - Stop Killing Games Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is your PlayStation 5 about to break? Probably not, but speculation is increasingly circulating suggesting that the old run of PS5s -- pre-Slim and pre-Pro -- may start running into a 'liquid metal' problem that's causing issues for some players. What does this all mean, from where does this speculation stem, and what (if anything) can be done about it? We discuss in detail. Plus: Death Stranding 2 is out, and thus it's time for us to gush! Then: The other news of the week, including Hellblade II's PS5 release date, rumors of RPG progression systems in Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, PlayStation Plus turns 15, SEGA accidentally leaks a ton of sales data, and more. Finally: Listener inquiries. What's the best 'one-hit wonder' game? With PlayStation: The Concert coming Stateside, do we have any interest in attending? Which studio's three-game run is most impressive, quality-wise? Will you, too, find a Sacred Symbols shirt in your local Goodwill or Salvation Army? Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:29:19 - This week's situation0:34:22 - Nintendo 690:43:33 - Colin's power washing0:59:42 - Nitpick from last week1:01:04 - Are PS5s failing due to liquid metal?1:15:16 - Hellblade 2 releases August 12th1:20:25 - Intergalactic will have RPG elements1:27:27 - Midnight Murder Club releases August 14th1:37:33 - Sony reiterates the PS Plus strategy1:49:57 - Sega sales leak1:57:45 - Lies of P sells over three million1:58:06 - Square Enix is "aware" of Expedition 332:01:27 - System Shock 2 Remake delayed on PS52:05:15 - Blood of Dawnwalker gameplay video2:08:23 - What We’ve Been Playing (Death Stranding, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach)2:27:40 - Established or custom characters2:34:21 - One hit wonder games2:42:11 - Best 3 game run2:49:44 - Rush to story or pace yourself2:58:11  - PlayStation: The Concert3:03:47 - Selling Physical games Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sony's recent PlayStation-centric corporate presentation illustrated just how powerful their gaming vertical is. Indeed, PlayStation 5 has already generated more revenue for the company than PS1, PS2, and PS3 combined, and in the last five years, Sony has netted more in profit from gaming than it did in all 26 prior years the brand has existed, combined. Within their presentation was a lot of interesting data, quotes, anecdotes, and more to comb through, and we do that with a fine-tooth comb. We also wonder why the video presentation was so awkward, stilted, and choreographed. Can these people not speak extemporaneously and off-the-cuff? But we digress! Then, we get into other pertinent news of the week: Bungie's indefinite delay of Marathon, rumors of Sony's potential interest in Warner Bros., fresh PlayStation 5 and 6 handheld rumors, and more. Then, we end the show (as we always do) with listener inquiries. Is Hermen Hulst truly to blame for PlayStation's serious first party woes? When will Ghost Story's Judas launch? Is controller rumble and vibration an important component of our gameplay experiences? Will Colin's 100 hours in PowerWash Simulator translate to the real world? 0:00:00 - Intro0:31:11 - Colin and the pool0:44:34 - New home tips0:58:35 - Sony Business Segment Presentation2:26:40 - Marathon delay2:55:14 - Is Stellar Blade coming to Switch 2?3:02:17 - Does Sony want Warner Bros Discovery?3:15:09 - PlayStation handheld rumors increase3:29:00 - Death Stranding changed because people liked it too much3:39:11 - Death Stranding animated adaptation3:41:34 - Borderlands 4 is $703:51:35 - Beastsaber updates on PSVR2 is ending4:00:36 - Gears beta extended4:02:42 - What We've Been Playing (Cyberpunk 2077, Splitgate 2, FBC Firebreak Death Stranding)4:24:06 - Hermen Hulst's long term projects4:29:36 - PC titles on Xbox's next hardware4:48:44 - Where is Judas?4:54:33 - Is vibration important?5:01:10 - Climate station5:04:59 - Does knowing who developed a game even matter? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With Bend Studio laying off 30% of its staff as it gears up to enter a lengthy pre-production stage, it's clear their next release (should it ever materialize) will be on PlayStation 6. This is just the most recent example in a lengthening string of Sony absolutely botching its first party initiative, deploying teams on projects that make no sense, purchasing studios that have never even released a game, and complicating a service game strategy that -- at least on paper -- made a lot of sense. Where does the buck stop, exactly? And how lucky is Sony and the PlayStation brand that they've been able to coast almost entirely on external content and commercial inertia all the while? Plus: MindsEye is a complete disaster, Stellar Blade becomes PlayStation Publishing's most-played single-player PC port, Capcom and Konami reveal Resident Evil Requiem and Silent Hill Remake respectively, the Outer Worlds 2's $80 price point infuriates some, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is somehow coming to PlayStation 4, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! When Colin talks about a hypothetical AAA Mega Man game, what exactly is he envisioning? Why did Microsoft include the PS5 logo so readily during its showcase? Will GameStop ever stop selling opened games as new? Will Dustin and Brad one day own Last Stand? 0:00:00 - Intro0:32:13 - Habroxia Special Edition0:46:31 - LSM at TooManyGames!0:51:17 - Sacred proposal0:54:05 - Bradstin1:05:28 - Mindseye refunds1:24:59 - Stellar Blade is PlayStation's biggest single-player game on Steam1:35:14 - Bend Studio layoffs2:01:18 - Tencent acquires 15% of Arrowhead2:05:17 - Resident Evil: Requiem announced2:15:18 - Silent Hill Remake announced2:22:30 - Persona 4 Revival2:28:38 - Black Ops 72:35:05 - Gears of War: Reloaded PS5 beta incoming2:41:41 - Halo coming to PS5 soon?2:51:16 - The Outer Worlds 2 is $803:00:32 - DualSense will connect to multiple devices3:04:05 - Mina the Hollower launches this Halloween3:04:55 - New PS+ game catalog entries3:12:11 - What We’ve Been Playing3:29:30 - What would a new Mega Man game look like?3:34:25 - Should we keep going to GameStop?3:38:06 - Is the future handhelds?3:52:28 - PS5 logos at Xbox's Showcase3:58:27 - Alex Hutchinson's Game Pass comments4:11:25 - Pandemic hiring sprees fallout Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Since we published our previous episode, Sony not only announced it was having a State of Play event, but that event has already happened. Thus, we have much to discuss throughout this lengthy episode, an unexpected surprise for the PlayStation faithful. In short, the most recent State of Play was a great showcase of nearly 30 upcoming PlayStation 5 games, with some PS4 and PSVR2 mixed in there, too. And -- for those that care -- more than a half-dozen of the games are PS5 console exclusive, nipping that entire argument in the bud. In the realm of Sony second party, we've learned about a Marvel-themed fighting game from Arc System Works called Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, while Tecmo Koei's Team Ninja is hard at work on Nioh 3. Elsewhere, we were given the first glimpse at IO Interactive's long-in-development James Bond game called First Light, a brand-new Lumines offering from the creators of Tetris Effect, the return of Capcom's seemingly-beleaguered Pragmata, something fresh from Grasshopper Manufacture called Romeo Is A Dead Man, a late-September release date for Silent Hill F, our first look at the sequel to Iga's Bloodstained, and -- yes indeed! -- confirmation of Final Fantasy Tactics coming to PlayStation in just a few months in the form of The Ivalice Chronicles. "No games?" Maybe if you don't like or play video games, perhaps. Other news this week includes our first look at Witcher 4 via a controversial UE5 tech demo, rumors of a native PS5 port for Red Dead Redemption 2, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Should 'game length' be considered a spoiler? How do we feel about pinball video games? Do we ever mess with the PSN's 'activity cards' while playing? Is Dustin poised to elope with Brad?Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. Timestamps:  0:00:00 - Intro0:26:17 - Habroxia Special Edition0:36:59 - Too much to play0:42:31 - Look or talk like Jar Jar?0:44:49 - This week’s “situation”0:51:21 - MLMs0:57:49 - State of Play overall thoughts1:10:07 - Lumines Arise1:14:44 - Pragmata1:21:10 - Romeo Is a Dead Man1:28:46 - Silent Hill F1:34:33 - Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement1:40:12 - Digimon Story Time Stranger1:45:17 - Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles1:57:37 - Babysteps2:02:06 - Herogami2:04:37 - Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots2:10:32 - Ninja Gaiden Ragebound2:14:08 - Cairn2:17:55 - Mortal Kombat Legacy Collection2:25:34 - Playstation Fight Stick (Project Defiant)2:35:44 - Metal Gear Solid Delta2:37:48 - Nioh 32:43:17 - Thief VR2:47:48 - Tides of Tomorrow2:50:49 - Astrobot update2:57:47 - Sea of Remnants3:00:46 - Sword of the Sea3:04:57 - FBC: Firebreak3:08:39 - Deus Ex on PS Plus Premium3:11:43 - Twisted Metal 3 and 4 on PS Plus Premium3:14:22 - Resident Evil 2 and 3 on PS Plus Premium3:16:07 - 007 First Light3:27:37 - Ghost of Yotei3:28:48 - Marvel Tokon Fighting Souls3:39:11 - Apple Pay on PS53:39:43 - Witcher 4 UE5 tech demo3:48:01 - People Can Fly cancels two games3:49:22 - Red Dead Redemption 2 PS5 port3:51:06 - MindsEye executives leave3:54:56 - Shift Up’s Project Spirits3:58:54 - MediEvil and Tenacious D’s canceled movie4:04:17 - Elden Ring Nightrein’s success and PSN charts4:09:43 - What Are We Playing (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Borderlands 2, Dead Island 2)4:25:37 - Is game length a spoiler?4:28:47 - Pinball video games4:33:54 - PlayStation activity cards4:37:54 - AI making games4:42:40 - New console reviews4:48:02 - Fixing inverted controls for a kid Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The global economy is in a tumultuous state, inflation has carved away everyone's purchasing power, and prices are almost universally going up. So naturally, PlayStation will follow suit and jack its rates up too, right? Well, no. Instead, they're doing the exact opposite of what seems natural: For their annual, weeks-long Days of Play sales event, Sony has slashed prices on PS5 and PS5 Pro, PSVR2 and DualSense, and even DualSense Edge and the Access controller. Is Sony's boldness in risking economic erosion worth it? Is its strategy simply to put its boot on Xbox's neck once and for all? We discuss. Plus: If all went according to plan, The Order: 1886 would have gotten two sequels, EA cancels its Black Panther project while shutting down the studio behind it, Build A Rocket Boy suggests there may be a paid, organized campaign against its upcoming title MindsEye, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! What does Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's success mean for the future of global JRPGs? Could Star Wars Battlefront be revived on the basis of a recent resurgence in popularity? Is Colin ignoring an obvious connection between Souls games and his beloved Castlevania? Should we invest thousands in a commemorative Concord plaque, currently for sale on an online auction site?Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. Timestamps:  0:00:00 - Intro0:39:27 - Store bought pasta0:47:19 - Micah cooked Colin0:49:13 - **TLOU2 spoiler** Jerkin Joel0:53:34 - New YouTube censorship words0:58:50 - Concord plaque found1:07:37 - Days of Play 20251:17:56 - The Order's canceled sequels1:26:43 - EA cancels Black Panther game1:39:50 - MindsEye under attack?1:57:53 - PS+ for June2:05:40 - Dragon Quest 1 and 2 HD release date2:09:53 - Video game sales numbers2:38:38 - What We've Been Playing (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Shovel Knight Dig, Powerwash Simulator Shrek DLC, Borderlands 2, Death Stranding)2:47:09 - Gaming "moment of clarity"2:52:29 - More JPRG settings3:07:37 - PlayStation's return to handheld2:08:32 - Watching a playthrough to catch up3:14:16 - Battlefront 2 resurgence3:22:31 - When will Colin play a Souls game? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The last couple of weeks for Bungie have been nothing short of catastrophic, calling into question whether their upcoming extraction shooter Marathon has any chance at all in finding market success. We've long discussed whether Sony should have bought Bungie at all (they shouldn't have), but now that they're so deeply invested, how do they get the team out of this mess? And what does all of this hullabaloo -- about stolen art, poorly-reviewed gameplay, and lackluster audience reaction -- say about the team's future, full stop? Meanwhile, things aren't much better north of the border, where Quebec-based Haven recently parted ways with founder and once-famous producer Jade Raymond, who has now left three different teams without any sort of release. Is Fairgame$ DOA? Maybe not, but we have lots of new information on the recent closed test of the game under the moniker Project Hearts, and... well... it's not sounding great. Also: MLB: The Show is seemingly getting a mobile release, PlayStation Stars is going away unceremoniously, Stellar Blade 2 is in active development, Xbox's Hellblade II is coming to PS5, Kojima's Physint is at least five more years away, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Keeping in mind Sony's typical naming conventions, what will PlayStation 6's controller be called? Do we also find delight in Darth Vader's AI voice in Fortnite? Is the PS5 Pro truly worth purchasing before prices likely go up? Has Chris ever seen a ghost?Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.Timestamps:  0:00:00 - Intro00:44:13 - Best man bromance00:46:03 - ghoul-ing01:04:41 - Haven/Jade Raymond reflections01:37:51 - Bungie art theft reflections02:33:15 - MLB: The Show mobile02:38:25 - PlayStation Stars is over02:51:24 - Stellar Blade sequel coming02:56:49 - Kojima's next game is far off03:01:41 - Hellblade 2 is coming to PS503:05:56 - Randy Pitchford on Borderlands 4 pricing03:26:21 - Circana data03:35:21 - New Naughty Dog logo03:37:18 - Doom: The Dark Ages surpasses three million players03:40:44 - What Are We Playing (Doom The Dark Ages, Stardew Valley, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Shovel Knight Dig)04:05:34 - Iconic PlayStation Games04:16:19 - ChatGPT game hints04:19:15 - DualSense 2?4:22:38 - AI Vader in Fortnite04:28:19 - "Editions" releases04:35:04 - Current thoughts on PS5 Pro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

PlayStation is booming, at least depending on how you look at things. On the one hand, Sony's annual financial results are incredibly strong: PlayStation drove more revenue last year than any gaming entity ever has in the entire history of the industry. Meanwhile, PS5 will surpass 80 million units sold soon, and has become the default console for most players this generation. But there's a downside; indeed, Sony is doing all of this damage with one hand tied behind its back, as major exclusive releases have slowed down to a trickle, while the level of behind-the-scenes mismanagement becomes ever-starker. As we were wrapping our episode up, word dropped that first party studio Haven lost its founder and biggest name, Jade Raymond, apparently after a tumultuous testing of Fairgames, boding poorly for the future of that product and team. Maybe this entire initiative was a bad idea, after all? Plus: Death Stranding 2 goes gold, Stellar Blade is coming to PC, rumors percolate about a Grand Theft Auto IV remaster, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Will Final Fantasy XVII be turn-based? What does the 11th hour saving of Giant Bomb mean for the future of games media? Could Game Pass' undeniable value proposition begin peeling away the Sony hardcore? Who should we cast Obesaga on, so that we can have an overweight cast member for representation's sake?Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. Your browser is holding you back. Level up here:  https://operagx.gg/SacredSymbols Sponsored by Opera GX! Timestamps:  0:00:00 - Intro0:19:30 - No more sad write-ins0:22:20 - How are we doing?0:31:22 - LSM needs more diversity0:43:46 - This week's "situation"0:47:08 - HBO MAX0:54:09 - Guy waking up meme0:59:22 - Sony FY2024 financials1:20:50 - Capcom continues to dominate1:26:38 - Death Stranding 2 goes gold1:37:18 - Stellar Blade coming to PC1:44:33 - Tati Gabrielle trained on online hate1:57:10 - GTA IV Remaster?2:04:34 - Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra delayed2:10:21 - PS Plus updates2:13:51 - Fallout Season 2 in December2:17:01 - What We’ve Been Playing (Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Doom Eternal, Doom: The Dark Ages, Tomba!)3:16:24 - Final Fantasy returning to turn based3:20:16 - Gatekeeping3:35:18 - Giant Bomb goes independent3:42:44 - Moon Studio in trouble?3:55:14 - More Xbox games to PlayStation4:03:13 - Will the value of Gamepass convert PlayStation users?4:13:43 - Jade Raymond leaves Haven Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Grand Theft Auto VI promises to be the biggest video game (and likely entertainment product, full stop) in history. But unfortunately, it's been delayed. It'll come out just over a year from when this episode publishes, and a brand new trailer indicates it'll launch with all of GTA's essential trappings: Cars, guns, insane characters, a crazy story, and -- of course! -- lots and lots of crime. What are our fresh thoughts on GTA6? And do we think it'll make its new May 2026 release date? There's a lot of other news to get to this week, too. For starters, a new PlayStation first party studio has been revealed, though we already sorta knew about them. They're called teamLFG, they've been splintered off from Bungie, and they're making a more lighthearted multiplayer game. Is there cause to be optimistic about this project? Plus: The next Xbox domino falls, as Gears of War will arrive on PlayStation 5 this August, something that was completely unthinkable just a couple of years ago. But what about the other Gears games? And when's Halo coming over, too? Later: Mafia: The Old Country gets a release date, EA indicates Battlefield 6's reveal is imminent, Death Stranding 2 is getting its own DualSense controller, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Are we ever going to get another PlayStation Showcase? With the US threatening tariffs on foreign movies, should we be worried about foreign games suffering a similar fate? Why does Colin fail to see the intrinsic value of the modding community? Is Bradley Ellis slowly-but-surely taking Last Stand over from the inside?Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.Timestamps: 0:00:00 - Intro  0:06:46 - Mumu  0:16:12 - The Man Who Sold the World  0:32:40 - Sacred in space  0:46:20 - Punching Up takeover  0:49:06 - PSN horror story  0:58:14 - GTA VI delayed  1:35:50 - teamLFG  1:55:48 - Gears of War Reloaded coming to PS5  2:26:33 - Xbox games dominated PSN  2:36:36 - Mafia: The Old Country releases August 8th  2:46:24 - Destiny 2 expansion revealed  2:57:38 - EA gets ready for Battlefield  3:04:56 - Death Stranding 2 Dualsense  3:08:23 - Game sales  3:09:58 - What We’ve Been Playing  3:55:34 - Remaster/remake naming  4:01:45 - PlayStation Showcase  4:08:11 - PS5 identity  4:13:33 - Tariffs on video games  4:20:14 - Live service pricing  4:28:31 - Modding projects   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While the Xbox console brand continues to wane, Microsoft's wise pivot to third party publishing is already paying dividends. According to recent financial reports, Xbox is now PlayStation's single biggest publishing partner, dominating PSN's very own pre-order and pre-load charts on the backs of Forza Horizon 5, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and Doom: The Dark Ages, not to mention strong performance across its brands, from Activision Blizzard's Call of Duty to Mojang's Minecraft and beyond. It's weird, to be sure, but predictable, too: These one-time rivals are now intrinsically linked, with both sides benefiting mightily from this new normal. With Halo, Gears, Fable, and virtually everything else Xbox-related no doubt en route to PlayStation 5 as we move forward, how deep and fruitful can this new, unusual relationship become? Plus: Long-in-development China Hero Project darling Lost Soul Aside gets delayed, Borderlands 4 experiences the extremely rare move-up in release date, Electronic Arts lays off hundreds and cancels projects at Respawn, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Is it high-time for Sony to explore asymmetrical sticks for its controllers? Does PC gaming represent an existential threat to the console space? Should Sony tap Chinese mega-studio Virtuos to revive its old IP? Are we willing to endorse the new term "remakester?"Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.Timestamps: 0:00:00 - Intro  0:22:22 - Girl crying in the bathroom Part 3?  0:23:58 - Hi Jimi  0:24:35 - Sacred Wives  0:26:14 - Best man's speech gone wrong  0:38:04 - nerd slop  0:44:09 - Xbox is PlayStation's top publisher  1:07:11 - Lost Soul Aside delayed  1:13:25 - Borderlands 4 release date moved up  1:21:17 - EA and Respawn layoffs  1:35:38 - Video game sales numbers  1:39:18 - New PS+ essential games  1:49:36 - Split Fiction movie  1:53:23 - Until Dawn original writers not credited in the movie  1:59:07 - Polygon is done, Giant Bomb next likely  2:05:26 - What We’ve Been Playing  2:07:43 - Marathon  2:34:20 - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33  3:00:05 - Dualsense with asymmetric sticks  3:07:50 - Virtuos remakes  3:15:29 - Remakester  3:20:24 - Goofy games we liked  3:31:42 - PlayStation's future errors  3:39:27 - The best case scenario for the big three going forward   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's been a very busy week in PlayStation Land. For starters, Sucker Punch's long-awaited follow-up to Ghost of Tsushima -- Ghost of Yotei -- has a release date. It'll be coming to PS5 on October 2nd, alongside a non-linear, almost Mega Man-like gameplay structure. We're excited! Let's discuss. Then: Bethesda's Oblivion Remastered has finally arrived, PS5's new firmware memorializes the 30th anniversary celebration once an for all, Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders light up the internet, Star Wars is getting a strategy RPG, and lots of others news, too. Finally: Listener inquiries! How come Sony subsidiary Aniplex isn't publishing Danganronpa-like The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy on PlayStation 5? Which existing entertainment properties would best benefit from the Supermassive/Quantic Dream "CYOA" formula? Is the Catholic Church really canonizing a "gamer saint"? Which Last Stand contributor should we replace with AI first?Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. Timestamps: 0:00:00 - Intro  0:17:17 - AI replacement  0:23:33 - Crying Woman Part 2  0:36:25 - Skull lining at a funeral?  0:37:28 - Divorce proceedings  0:41:25 - Dave Ramsey  0:53:45 - Letting each other talk  0:55:37 - Ghost of Yotei releases October 2nd  1:24:35 - Switch 2  1:36:01 - Oblivion Remaster released  2:13:18 - New PS5 Firmware  2:20:45 - Devolver Digitals stats  2:28:59 - Star Wars: Zero Company  2:32:50 - Football games release dates  2:34:31 - Onimusha 2 "Hell mode"  2:36:07 - US Sales for March  2:40:50 - What We’ve Been Playing  (Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Lunar: Silver Star Story, Oblivion Remastered, Marathon Alpha, Blue Prince)3:28:48 - Engagement bait  3:47:22 - Non-stop games  3:55:37 - The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy  3:59:20 - Choose your own adventure dream IP  4:03:48 - Indexed archives  4:09:31 - Saint of Gaming  Your browser is holding you back. Level up here:  https://operagx.gg/SacredSymbols Sponsored by Opera GX! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After years of hard work (and tons of external speculation), Sony-owned developer Bungie has finally revealed gameplay from and tons of details concerning its next project, Marathon. An extraction shooter that will be sold for a mid-range price ($40 seems to be the going guess), reactions to the project have been mixed. Does a large market for a game like this exist? Is the cost of entry too prohibitive? Is it DOA like Concord? Honestly, we feel like a lot of people are overreacting one way or another, but one thing's for sure: For some, any payment is too much. Speaking of cash-money, prices for PlayStation 5 hardware and/or PS+ subscriptions alike are going up in various parts of the world, including Europe, Australia, and Canada. Is Sony trying to inoculate itself from American tariff threats by exploiting safer markets? Or are global currencies and economies really doing that poorly? Amongst other news comes, of course, listener inquiries. As Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 draws ever-nearer, what's our collective gut-check? Could rumors of a Prototype 3 actually be real? Have we gotten to the point where trashing games has become tropey? Are we closer than ever to discovering the identity of the woman who was crying in the bathroom during Sacred 200? EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/sacred Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. Timestamps: 0:00:00 - Intro 0:30:49 - Sacred is here for you 0:33:24 - Crying woman revealed 0:37:55 - Sacred Lore 0:48:38 - More Sacred dating advice 0:58:59 - Marathon revealed 1:52:25 - PS5 price increase in certain regions 2:18:44 - Last of Us Season 2's strong start 2:23:05 - Oblivion remake is real 2:35:32 - Chronos: The New Dawn 2:41:38 - Minecraft movie domination 2:45:24 - Ubisoft making an Apex Clone 2:50:23 - What We’ve Been Playing (Blue Prince, Death Stranding, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle) 3:13:40 - Clair Obscur gutcheck 3:18:00 - Most toxic fanbase 3:24:09 - Fan service complaints 3:39:21- Prototype 3 rumors 3:46:55 - New Naughty Dog game? 3:49:36 - Final gaming experiences Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices