Shack Together

Welcome to episode 65 of Shack Together! We're joined by special guests Donovan Erskine and Greg Burke to discuss their impressions of Universal's Epic Universe theme park. Today's show features our review of Elden Ring Nightreign, as well as our new "Mount Switchmore" segment, where we match Nintendo Switch first-party games to Mount Rushmore presidents based on their leadership qualities and legacy. The Nintendo Switch 2, launching next week, continues to dominate headlines with Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake's October release window and an upcoming Pokemon Presents showcase announced for July 2025. Meanwhile, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 celebrates an impressive milestone of 3.3 million units sold in just 33 days, while EA makes waves with the cancellation of their Black Panther game and the closure of Cliffhanger Games. We also explore new previews of Persona 5: The Phantom X and review several recent releases including Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon and The Siege and the Sandfox. Industry news brings record-breaking results from NVIDIA's Q1 2026 earnings, with gaming revenue hitting an all-time high of $3.8 billion. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy!   Timestamps 00:01:27 Asif On Assignment 00:03:30 It's Shack Together! 00:03:59 Greg and Donovan's Universal's Epic Universe Grand Opening Trip 00:36:39 Joe's PC, Clair Obscur 00:38:30 Asif's Games: Blue Prince, Doom: The Dark Ages 00:55:36 Mount Switchmore Draft: Matching Nintendo Switch Games to Mount Rushmore Presidents 01:30:00 Story Time! 01:30:04 Previews: Persona 5: The Phantom X, Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake 01:33:49 Reviews: Elden Ring Nightreign, Tainted Grail, F1 25, The Siege and the Sandfox, Scar-Lead Salvation 01:56:21 News: Black Panther Game Cancelled, Star Wars Battlefront 2 Record, Clair Obscur Sales, Pokemon Presents July 2025 02:11:08 Industry: NVIDIA Q1 2026 Earnings, Record Gaming Revenue 02:13:34 Community Notes   Articles mentioned in this episode Universal Epic Universe park impressions Elden Ring Nightreign review Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake preview Pokemon Presents showcase July 2025 Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 sales milestone Black Panther canceled, Cliffhanger Games closed NVIDIA Q1 2026 gaming revenue record Persona 5: The Phantom X preview Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon review The Siege and the Sandfox review

Welcome to episode 64 of Shack Together! We're joined by special guest Sam Chandler as we discuss Bungie's ongoing copyright controversy with an artist claiming unauthorized use of assets in Marathon, while also sharing our continued experiences (and Sam's divisive take) on DOOM: The Dark Ages. Today's show features our "2015 MetaGames" segment, where we compare critic and user scores from that landmark year in gaming, analyzing the sometimes significant disparities between professional reviews and player reception for titles like Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain and Halo 5: Guardians. In Story Time, we cover major industry developments including Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2's surprise PS5 announcement and the ongoing Epic vs Apple saga as Fortnite briefly returns to iOS before being blocked again. We also explore new previews of Lies of P: Overture's frozen zoo and Yakuza 0: Director's Cut coming to Switch 2, while discussing OpenAI's acquisition of Jony Ive's AI startup. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy!   Timestamps 00:01:07 TikTok Salsa   00:04:26 It's Shack Together!   00:05:15 Sam's Games: Oblivion Remastered, The Finals, DOOM: The Dark Ages   00:34:12 Joe's Games: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33   00:41:09 Asif's Games: DOOM: The Dark Ages, Blue Prince (Spoilers?)  00:48:34 The 2015 MetaGames: Critics VS Users   01:14:40 Story Time!   01:14:45 Previews: Lies of P: Overture, Yakuza 0: Director's Cut, Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S, Gimmiko   01:20:36 Reviews: Deliver At All Costs, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown, Monster Train 2, Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny, Blades of Fire, Roadcraft   01:32:40 News: Mario Kart World Info Dump, Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 to PS5   01:40:15 Industry News: OpenAI acquires Jony Ive Startup, Marathon Art Theft, Fortnite to iOS Issues Continue   02:05:39 Community Notes    Articles mentioned in this episode Artist claims Bungie used assets for Marathon without permission Lies of P: Overture DLC preview Yakuza 0: Director's Cut Switch 2 preview Monster Train 2 review Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 PS5 reveal Mario Kart World free roam jukebox features Fortnite returns to iOS App Store Apple blocks Fortnite's re-submission OpenAI acquires Jony Ive's AI startup

Welcome to episode 63 of Shack Together! We're joined by special guest David Craddock to discuss his review of DOOM: The Dark Ages, who shares insights from his extensive time with the entry's new parry mechanics and combat mechanics. Afterward, we dive into everyone's favorite "DOOM: The Darth Plagueis" segment, where we compare and contrast the lore between DOOM and Star Wars universes, from ancient civilizations and powerful artifacts to legendary warriors and dimensional portals. In Story Time, we cover the crew's most recent PAX East previews including Shadow Labyrinth's Metroidvania-meets-Pac-Man approach and FBC: Firebreak's return to the Bureau of Control. Industry news brings significant developments with Take-Two's optimism for Nintendo Switch 2, Microsoft's 3% workforce reduction, and Sony's $1.7 billion share buyback program. We also discuss Palworld's monster glider removal and Epic Games' official Fortnite iOS submission. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy!   Timestamps 00:01:09 NBA Playoffs Update   00:04:02 It's Shack Together!   00:04:42 David's Games: Doom: The Dark Ages, WWE 2K25   00:34:21 Joe's Games: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Fragpunk   00:42:47 Asif's Games: DOOM: The Dark Ages, Blue Prince, F-Zero 99   00:49:47 Doom: The Darth Plageuis   01:06:13 Story Time!   01:06:18 Previews: Tony Hawk 3+4, Shadow Lbyrinth, Hank: Drowning on Dry Land, Patapon 1+2, Battle Train, God Save Birmingham, FBC: Firebreak, Gex Trilogy   01:27:04 Reviews: DOOM: The Dark Ages, The Midnight Walk, Capcom Fighting Collection 2, Deedlee Doo! Carkour!   01:37:24 News: Mafia: The Old Country Release Date, Palword Concessions to Nintendo, NTDOY Sales Forecast, Bam Margera in THPS3+4, Fortnite Submitted to iOS   01:43:38 Industry News: Twitter AI, TTWO Q4 Earnings, Microsoft Layoffs, Super Mario World, Sony Supply Chain out of China, Sony Share Buyback   02:02:15 Community Notes     Articles mentioned in this episode DOOM: The Dark Ages review Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 preview Shadow Labyrinth PAX East preview FBC: Firebreak hands-on preview Bam Margera confirmed for THPS 3+4 Palworld removes monster glider mechanics Take-Two CEO on Nintendo Switch 2 Microsoft laying off 3% of workers Sony announces $1.7B share buyback Epic Games submits Fortnite to Apple

Welcome to episode 62 of Shack Together! We're joined by special guest TJ Denzer to break down the newly released GTA VI trailer and discuss its May 2026 delay announcement. Our game segment features "GTA Which?", testing our knowledge of Grand Theft Auto series firsts, from GTA III's groundbreaking 3D world to GTA V's character-switching mechanics. Major announcements dominate today's news, including Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate's July 2025 release date and Gears of War: Reloaded coming in August 2025. Meanwhile, the industry sees significant financial developments with EA's strong Q4 bookings and AMD facing $1.5 billion in revenue impacts due to chip sale restrictions. In Story Time, we explore The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered's review and discuss GameStop Canada's acquisition by Stephan Tetrault. Electronic Arts and AMD's earnings reports reveal interesting trends in gaming industry financials, with EA spending $2.5 billion on share buybacks in FY25. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy!   Timestamps 00:01:03 NBA Playoffs   00:05:58 It's Shack Together!   00:08:08 TJ's Games: EVE Vanguard, Fatal Fury   00:19:49 Joe's Games: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, GTA IV   00:27:25 Asif's Games: Blue Prince, F-Zero 99, Schedule I   00:40:28 GTA Which?   00:54:58 Story Time!   00:55:02 News: GTA VI Trailer, Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate, Gears of War: Reloaded Announced, teamLFG Studio, Split Fiction Sales   01:28:27 Previews: EVE Vanguard   01:35:39 Reviews: Oblivion Remastered, Tempest Rising   01:39:05 Industry News: GameStop Canada Acquisition, EA Earnings, AMD Earnings   01:46:38 Community Notes   Articles mentioned in this episode GTA 6 Trailer 2 highlights GTA 6 delayed to May 26, 2026 Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate expansion release date Gears of War: Reloaded announcement The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered review Stephan Tetrault GameStop Canada acquisition Electronic Arts Q4 FY25 earnings results EA stock buybacks FY25 AMD Q1 2025 earnings results AMD revenue hit from China restrictions

Welcome to episode 61 of Shack Together! We're joined by special guest Ozzie Mejia to discuss Microsoft's surprising Xbox price hikes and dive into this week's massive list of tech earnings reports. EA enacts significant shifts with Respawn Entertainment announcing layoffs and game cancellations, while impressive sales figures roll in for titles like Oblivion Remastered, Elden Ring, and more. Today's show features our "Warframe or Soreblame" segment, testing the crew's knowledge of the popular free-to-play game's extensive weapons arsenal, from the widely-used Tenet Envoy to the fan-favorite Opticor. Ozzie also shares insights from his interview with Towerborne's Game Director about the game's Xbox debut and future plans. In Story Time, we cover major industry developments including Fortnite's return to iOS, Apple's court ruling in the Epic Games case, and Nintendo's latest (and perhaps final) System Update preparing for Switch 2. The tech sector dominates our industry news with comprehensive earnings reports from Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, and Apple, revealing significant developments in gaming revenue, AI initiatives, and hardware sales. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy!   Timestamps 00:01:09 Intro 00:10:44 It's Shack Together! 00:11:26 Ozzie's Games: Star Wars Outlaws 00:19:25 Joe's Game: Selling The Xbox 00:21:45 Asif's Games: Blue Prince, F-Zero 99 00:40:24 Warframe or Soreblame 00:49:29 Previews: Towerborne, Wartorn 00:53:54 Reviews: Shotgun Cop Man, Skin Deep 00:58:48 Gaming News: Oblivion Remastered Sales, Clair Obscur Sales, Elden Ring Sales, RE4 Sales, Xbox Price Hikes, Fortnite Mobile Returns, Nintendo Switch V20 01:24:11 Industry News: Respawn Layoffs, Tesla Seeks to Oust Musk, Meta Earnings, Microsoft Earnings, Amazon Earnings, Apple Earnings 01:48:48 Community Notes   Articles mentioned in this episode Towerborne Xbox Game Preview interview Xbox console & game price increase Respawn Entertainment layoffs & cancellations The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion 4 million players Elden Ring 30 million copies sold Fortnite mobile return to US iOS App Store Nintendo Switch Update 20.0.0 Microsoft Q3 FY25 Gaming revenue Meta Reality Labs Q1 2025 earnings Apple Q2 FY25 earnings results

Welcome to episode 60 of Shack Together! We're joined by special guest Sam Chandler as we discuss the surprise release of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered and dive into the ongoing Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order situation, where demand has far exceeded Nintendo's launch supply expectations. Today's show features our Video Game Character Draft segment, where we select from an impressive roster including iconic figures like Lara Croft, Master Chief, and Samus Aran. Meanwhile, F-Zero 99 receives a substantial Ver. 1.6.0 update, adding Mini World Tour mode, new decals, and additional customization options. In Story Time, we explore Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny's remaster preview and review several new releases including Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves. We also cover major industry news with Discord's CEO resignation, Remedy's FBC: Firebreak release date announcement, and Ghost of Yotei's October 2025 launch window. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy!   Timestamps 00:01:00 NFL Draft 00:09:55 It's Shack Together! 00:10:52 Sam's Games: Marathon, Oblivion Remastered, Blue Prince 00:36:36 Asif's Games: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, F-Zero 99 00:43:08 Video Game Character Draft 01:00:28 Story Time! 01:00:33 Previews: Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny Remaster 01:02:20 Reviews: Clair Obscur, Steel Seed, The Hundred Line - Last Defense Academy, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves 01:17:52 News: Nintendo Switch 2 Preorders, Phasmophobia Sales, Ghost of Yotei Release Date, Oblivion Remastered Shadow Drop, FBC: Firebreak Release Date Announced 01:35:58 Industry: Discord Co-Founder Resigns, TSLA Earnings, GOOGL Earnings 01:41:16 Community Notes   Articles mentioned in this episode F-Zero 99 Ver. 1.6.0 patch notes Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny Remastered preview Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 review Nintendo Switch 2 launch supply Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order volume The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered is out now Remedy FBC: Firebreak release date Ghost of Yotei release date Discord Jason Citron CEO resignation Google Q1 2025 earnings results

Welcome to episode 59 of Shack Together! Today's show features our inaugural "Blue Switch" segment, where we test our knowledge of Nintendo Switch Metacritic scores, comparing titles like Super Mario Odyssey and Breath of the Wild against surprising high-scorers like [redacted - you'll have to listen!]. The latest news from Nintendo's Mario Kart World Direct dominate our news coverage, with exciting revelations about character skin unlocks through Yoshi's restaurant, free-roam fast travel features, and new items including Coin Shells and Hammers. We also discuss the Nintendo Switch 2's camera technology, capable of recognizing and tracking up to four faces simultaneously. In Story Time, we explore new previews of Capcom Fighting Collection 2 and Palia's expansion to PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, while covering reviews of Lost Records: Bloom & Rage and the Lunar Remastered Collection. Industry news brings significant developments with Google's advertising technology monopoly ruling and OpenAI's reported social network plans. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy!   Timestamps 00:01:25 Food Poisoning 00:04:58 It's Shack Together! 00:05:27 Donovan's Game: MLB The Show '25 00:12:18 David's Games: Animal Crossing New Horizons, WWE 2K25 00:17:27 Joe's Games: Blue Prince, Joe's PC 00:30:24 Asif's Games: Schedule I, F-Zero 99 00:43:43 Blue Switch 01:08:53 Story Time 01:08:57 Previews: Capcom Fighting Collection 2, Palia 01:11:41 Reviews: Lost Records: Bloom & Rage, Lunar Remastered Collection, Rusty Rabbit 01:16:14 News: Nintendo Switch 2 Camera, Mario Kart World Direct, RTX 5060, Star Wars Zero Company 01:39:31 Industry: Google's Advertising Monopoly, NLRB Whistleblower, OpenAI Social Network 01:49:57 Community Notes   Articles mentioned in this episode Capcom Fighting Collection 2 preview Palia Elderwood PS5 & Xbox Series X/S impressions Lost Records: Bloom & Rage review Lunar Remastered Collection review Nintendo Switch 2 camera face tracking Mario Kart World skin unlocks Mario Kart World free roam fast travel Star Wars Zero Company reveal Google ad market monopoly lawsuit OpenAI social media network

Welcome to episode 58 of Shack Together! We're joined by special guest Lucas White to discuss his recent reviews of SaGa Frontier 2 Remastered and Bleach: Rebirth of Souls, while also exploring Ozzie's review of the newly released Blue Prince, a game making waves as an early GOTY contender. Today's show features our first and likely only "Donkey Kong Sixty-Farce" segment, where we separate fact from fiction about the N64 classic, before diving into the latest Nintendo Switch 2 news. The upcoming console's pre-orders face delays due to tariff concerns, with Nintendo, the ESA, and even protesters in NYC responding to Trump's proposed 90-day tariffs on video games and tech. In Story Time, we go on to cover announcements including Marathon's April 2025 gameplay reveal, Hades 2's Switch console exclusivity, and the Nintendo Switch 2's achievement system, or lack therof. We also discuss Microsoft's AI Quake 2 Copilot demo, Vampire Survivors' free Emerald Diorama update, and Doug Bowser's comments on Nintendo game prices. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy!   Timestamps 00:03:44 It's Shack Together! 00:07:22 Lucas's Games - Vampire Survivors: Emerald Diorama, SaGa Frontier 2 Remastered, Bleach Rebirth of Souls, Inayah - Life After Gods   00:29:14 Joe's Games: Super Mario RPG   00:35:18 Asif's Games: Schedule I, F-Zero 99   00:43:25 F-Zero   00:53:55 Donkey Kong Sixty-Farce   01:06:59 Story Time!   01:07:03 Previews: Monster Train 2, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, The Midnight Walk, Doom: The Dark Ages   01:16:00 Reviews: Blue Prince, Disney Villains: Cursed Cafe, Commandos: Origins, Grit and Valor, SaGa Frontier 2 Remastered, South of Midnight   01:28:38 News: AI Quake, Marathon Gameplay, Localthunk loves Blue Prince, Xbox Games Showcase coming, Hades 2 exclusive to Switch 2 at Launch, Hollow Knight: Silksong coming to OG Switch, No Trophies on Switch 2   01:38:45 Industry: Tariff impact on Gaming, Nintendo delays Switch 2 Pre-Orders, Doug Bowser speaks on Switch 2 Game Prices   Articles mentioned in this episode SaGa Frontier 2 Remastered review Bleach: Rebirth of Souls review Blue Prince review AI Quake 2 Copilot Microsoft fail Marathon gameplay save the date April 2025 Hades 2 Switch console exclusive Nintendo Switch 2 achievement trophy Donald Trump tariffs 90 days video games tech stock Nintendo delays Switch 2 pre-order date due to tariffs Nintendo Switch 2 game prices Doug Bowser

Welcome to a special episode of Shack Together! Today's show is entirely dedicated to the Nintendo Switch 2, as our host Asif Khan shares his exclusive hands-on experience with Nintendo's next-generation console, set to launch on June 5, 2025. This two-hour deep dive explores every aspect of the new hardware and its launch lineup. The Switch 2 represents a significant leap forward with 1080p handheld gaming at up to 120 FPS, HDR support, and 4K output in docked mode. New features include an innovative camera peripheral for GameChat and a redesigned Pro Controller sporting additional buttons and an audio jack. The system will even support mouse input (via the JoyCon 2) for compatible games, reminding us once again of their pedigree for fun, strange hardware design. The launch lineup is headlined by Mario Kart World, alongside an impressive roster of titles including Donkey Kong Bananza, The Duskbloods, and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment. Third-party support is robust with announcements for Elden Ring, Borderlands 4, Hades 2, and Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade. The long-awaited Silksong also finally gets a 2025 release date on the platform. And that about covers things for today's special episode! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy!   Articles mentioned in this episode Nintendo Switch 2 will launch on June 5, 2025 GameShare lets you share games on Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo Switch 2 will be 1080p up to 120 fps and feature HDR Nintendo Switch 2 4K docked mode Mario Kart World is a Switch 2 launch title Nintendo Switch 2 confirmed games Silksong gets 2025 release date Elden Ring is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade will start Cloud's journey on Switch 2 Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller new buttons audio jack

Welcome to episode 56 of Shack Together! We're joined by special guests Donovan Erskine and Ozzie Mejia to share insights from GDC 2025, while we also dive into Nintendo's final Direct for the original Switch, packed with exciting updates on Metroid Prime 4 Beyond, Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake's release date, and even more info on the new Pokémon Legends title. Today's show features our "Final Nintendo Direct: Wii U Edition" segment, where we test our knowledge of Nintendo's historic announcements from the Wii U era. Afterward, we explore an extensive lineup of GDC previews, including promising titles like Dreams of Another, Revenge of the Savage Planet, and TMNT: Tactical Takedown, while discussing the newly announced ShackMaps feature. Next, we cover significant industry developments including Game Informer's return independent from GameStop, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle's PS5 release date announcement, and ESA's new accessible games initiative. We also discuss GameStop's convertible notes situation and Ubisoft becoming a Tencent subsidiary. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy!   Timestamps 00:01:19 Hustle Culture   00:10:17 It's Shack Together!   00:11:24 Ozzie's Games: Hearthstone: Into the Emerald Dream, The Rogue: Prince of Persia 00:15:12 Donovan's Games: MLB The Show 25   00:19:11 John's Games: Assassin's Creed: Shadows   00:23:13 Joe's Games: What should I play?   00:24:57 Asif's Games: Retro Slam Tennis, Last War, F-Zero 99, Nintendo Music, Nintendo Today!   00:28:33 Asif's 11th F-Zero 99 Victory   00:45:26 The Final Nintendo Direct: Wii U Edition   00:59:45 Story Time!   00:59:51 Preview: Dreams of Another, Mindwave, Wildgate, Pathfinder: Abomination Vaults, Clawpunk, LUCID, Forestrike, Revenge of the Savage Planet, TMNT: Tactical Takedown, Cairn, Jay and Silent Bob: Chronic Blunt Punch   01:16:37 Reviews: Bubble Ghost, PS5 Pro, Look Outside   01:22:53 News: Cristiano Ronaldo comes to Fatal Fury, Shackmaps, Nintendo Direct, GI is Back, Indiana Jones to PS5   02:12:58 Industry: Accessible Games Initiative, GME's Convertible Notes, GME Crash, Ubisoft Subsidiary   02:19:51 Community Notes    Articles mentioned in this episode Watch Nintendo Direct March 2025 Introducing ShackMaps Dreams of Another preview impressions Revenge of the Savage Planet preview PlayStation 5 Pro review Game Informer returns without GameStop Indiana Jones and the Great Circle PS5 release date ESA accessible games initiative tagging awareness GameStop GME convertible note 2025 Ubisoft becomes Tencent subsidiary

Welcome to episode 55 of Shack Together! We're joined by special guest TJ Denzer to discuss his review of Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, while also diving into the inexplicable announcement of Taco Bell's partnership with NVIDIA for AI integration. The show features the lovely, slightly belated "Operation Siege or Sham" segment, testing our knowledge of Rainbow Six Siege's numerous operations. Today's episode covers several major releases, including our review of Assassin's Creed Shadows and an extensive preview lineup from GDC 2025 featuring titles like FBC: Firebreak, Winter Burrow, and The Finals Season 6. We also discuss Balatro's big win at the IGF GDC Awards 2025, where it took home Game of the Year honors. In Story Time, we explore significant industry developments, including EA Sports College Football 26's player likeness payout details, Silent Hill F's platform reveal, and the formation of a united US-Canada video game workers union under CWA. We also cover NVIDIA's new partnership with GM for AI factory vehicles and Tesla's recall of 46,000 Cybertrucks. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy!   Timestamps 00:01:12 Japanese Public Holidays 00:07:22 It's Shack Together! 00:09:35 TJ's Games: Deadlock, Xenoblade Chronicles X 00:33:15 John's Games: Pirate Yakuza, Assassin's Creed Shadows 00:58:00 Joe's Games: None! 00:58:50 Asif's Games: Wreckfest 2, F-Zero 99, Retro Slam Tennis, Bubbletron 01:07:04 Operation Siege or Sham! 01:18:43 Story Time! 01:18:59 Previews: FBC Firebreak, Winter Burro, Out of Sight, Clair Obscur, The Finals 6, To a T, The Knightling, Hero's Hand, Is This Seat Taken? 01:23:51 Reviews: Xenoblade Chronicles X, Assassin's Creed Shadows, FragPunk, Atelier Yumia 01:29:17 News: MLB + Nintendo, College Football 26, Game Dev Choice Awards 25, Atlus Games Are Hard, Nightdive's I Have No Mouth, Silent Hill f 01:37:53 Industry: Taco Bell AI, NVIDIA + GM, Tesla Recall, CWA Union, BYD Fast Charging 01:54:59 Community Notes   Articles mentioned in this episode Taco Bell & Yum Brands partner with NVIDIA for AI integration Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition review Assassin's Creed Shadows review FBC: Firebreak preview The Finals Season 6 Team Deathmatch preview EA Sports College Football 26 player likeness payout IGF GDC Awards 2025 winners Silent Hill F reveal platforms NVIDIA & GM AI factory vehicle deal Tesla recalls 46,000 Cybertrucks over exterior panels US-Canada united video game worker CWA union announced

Welcome to episode 54 of Shack Together! Today's show kicks off with John sharing his excitement about his new tabletop SEGA arcade, while we dive into major gaming news including Death Stranding 2's release date announcement as well as Josh Broadwell's (who was not able to join us today) emphatic reception of Wanderstop. The gaming industry sees some significant shifts this week, with Niantic selling Pokemon GO to Scopely and Nintendo announcing their San Francisco location's opening date. We also explore new previews of Rainbow Six Siege X Dual Front and Mandragora, while touching on our review coverage for Wanderstop and The Hungry Lamb. In addition, we discuss several curious announcements, including Katamari Damacy Live coming to Apple Arcade and the unfortunate shutdown of Mountaintop Studios' Spectre Divide. We also cover Apple's AI Siri delay and other industry developments. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy!   Timestamps 00:01:07 First Ever Cold Open Audio Unboxing: Astro City Mini by SEGA 00:06:23 It's Shack Together! 00:07:02 John's Games: Pirate Yakuza 00:12:48 Joe's Games: PC Parts! 00:27:40 Asif's Games: Retro Slam Tennis, Super Mario Maker 2, F-Zero 99 00:39:42 No Game Today 00:39:59 Story Time 00:40:03 Previews: Rainbow Six Siege X, Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree 00:49:35 Reviews: Wanderstop, The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty 00:56:53 News: Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Space Marine 3 in development, Katamari Mobile, Spectre Divide shut down 01:17:56 Industry: Niantic Sells Portfolio, Nintendo SF, Apple Delays Intelligence 01:37:26 Community Notes   Articles mentioned in this episode Rainbow Six Siege X Dual Front Preview Mandragora Preview Wanderstop Review The Hungry Lamb Review Death Stranding 2 release date Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 3 announced Katamari Damacy Live Apple Arcade announcement Spectre Divide shutdown at Mountaintop Studios Niantic sells Pokemon GO to Scopely Nintendo San Francisco opening date Apple AI Siri delay

Welcome to episode 53 of Shack Together! We're joined by special guest TJ Denzer to discuss his review of Split Fiction, while we all buzz with nostalgic excitement over the (formal) announcement of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 Remake. Today's show also features an in-depth look at Metacritic's 2024 publisher rankings, where a certain prolific publisher, famous for a certain Blue Blur, claimed the top spot. The show features our Publisher Draft segment, breaking down Metacritic's comprehensive ranking system that evaluates publishers based on their average Metascores, quality ratios, and ability to avoid critical failures. From industry giants like Capcom and Sony to smaller publishers like Aksys Games and Gamera Games, our squad competitvely drafts last year's top players in an effort to come out on top. In Story Time, we cover major industry developments including Monster Hunter Wilds reaching 8 million sales, Neil Druckmann's comments on The Last of Us Part 3, and the revival of the Acclaim publishing brand. We also discuss Pokemon TCG Pocket hitting 100 million downloads and explore several Steam Next Fest demos including Fumes and Curiosity. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy!   Timestamps 00:01:11 LinkedIn Jump Scare 00:08:50 It's Shack Together! 00:09:35 TJ's Games: MH Wilds, KCDII, Split Fiction, Atomfall 00:26:36 John's Games: Pirate Yakuza 00:32:25 Joe's Games: Mother 3 Complete, XDefiant, PC Shopping 00:43:20 Asif's Games: MH Wilds, Retro Slam Tennis, Mario Maker 2, F-Zero 99 01:01:41 Shack Together's Metacritic Publisher Draft 2024 01:29:09 Story Time 01:29:19 David Craddock's Long Read: Catacomb 3-D 01:30:16 Previews: FUMES, Sims 4 DLC, Warframe Techrot, Curiosity 01:33:36 Reviews: Split Fiction, WWE 2K25, Slime Heroes, Knights in Tight Spaces, Carmen Sandiego 01:42:51 News: THPS3+4, TLoU 3, Absolum, MH Wilds Sales, Pokemon TCG Downloads 01:47:49 Industry News: Discord IPO, Acclaim is Back, Sasanqua Launch, Digg Returns 01:53:54 Community Notes   Articles mentioned in this episode Split Fiction review SEGA named top publisher of 2024 Living the Dream: The Making of Catacomb 3-D Fumes Demo - Steam Next Fest The Sims 4: Businesses & Hobbies Preview WWE 2K25 Review: Island of Relevancy Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 Remake announced Neil Druckmann: Don't bet on The Last of Us Part 3 Monster Hunter Wilds reaches 8 million sold Pokemon TCG Pocket hits 100 million downloads Acclaim publishing brand revived Studio Sasanqua opening with Kenji Ozawa

Welcome to episode 52 of Shack Together! We're joined by special guest Bill Lavoy to discuss his take on Monster Hunter Wilds, while Pokemon fans worldwide buzz with excitement over the newly revealed Pokemon Legends: Z-A gameplay and the announcement of Pokemon Champions. Today's show features Asif's mystery game segment which does feature a Monster Hunter flavor, alongside discussions of fresh previews from Steam Next Fest including Monaco 2 and Splitgate 2. We also dive into reviews of recent releases like Two Point Museum and Omega 6, while covering major industry news including Fable's delay to 2026 and Bloober Team's mysterious new collaboration with Konami. In Story Time, we explore NVIDIA's impressive Q4 2025 earnings report and growing demand for their Blackwell GPUs, while also discussing devestating industry developments like Warner Bros. Games shutting down Monolith Studios. PlayStation VR2 gets a significant price cut for March 2025, and the Annapurna Interactive Showcase brings exciting new announcements and gameplay reveals. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy!   Timestamps 00:01:19 John's Airpods 00:02:20 Intro 00:06:32 Bill's Games - Monster Hunter Wilds 00:21:38 John's Games - Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii 00:27:16 Joe's Games - Mother 3 00:27:55 Asif's Games - REKT Party, Retro Slam, Omega 6, ToTK, F-Zero 99 00:33:10 Game! Monster Hunter or Make Believe 00:51:21 Previews - Monaco 2, Splitgate 2 00:54:48 Reviews - MH Wilds, Omega 6, PGA Tour 2K25, Two Point Museum 01:04:27 News - Pokemon Day, Fable Delayed, Bloober + Konami, + more 01:27:02 Industry News - NVIDIA Earnings, PSVR 2 Price Cut, Monolith Shuttered 01:56:06 Community Notes   Articles mentioned in this episode Monaco 2 Preview - Steam Next Fest Demo Splitgate 2 Hands-on Preview Monster Hunter Wilds Review Omega 6 Review PGA Tour 2K25 Review Two Point Museum Review Pokemon Legends: Z-A gameplay reveal Pokemon Champions reveal Fable delayed to 2026 Bloober Team and Konami announce new game Annapurna Interactive Showcase 2025 recap NVIDIA (NVDA) Q4 2025 earnings report PlayStation VR2 March 2025 price cut Warner Bros. Games shuts down Monolith & Player First Games

Welcome to episode 51 of Shack Together! We're joined by special guest Sam Chandler to discuss his in-depth (and belated - our fault, not his) review of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and share insights on the latest S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 update. In addition, TJ Denzer (not present) has published their review of Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, which we touch on during today's episode as well. Our main segment today introduces "NOW! That's What I Call Trivia: Volume Gaming," a game that tests the crew's knowledge on everything from Marvel Rivals to Annapurna Interactive's catalogue of releases. In Story Time, we cover significant industry developments, including NetEase Games' Marvel Rivals layoffs despite the game's enormous popularity, GameStop's sale of its Canadian and French operations, and Pacific Drive reaching 1 million units sold. We also discuss the newly announced Annapurna Interactive Showcase 2025 and share impressions of the Delta Force: Black Hawk Down campaign. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy! Timestamps 0:00.000 Episode Summary 0:58.060 Chicken Chain Restaurants 13:43.046 It's Shack Together 14:44.963 Sam's Games - KC:D2, Elden Ring Neightreign 19:11.734 John's Games - Pirate Yakuza, GT7 on PS5 Pro 30:41.164 Joe's Games - Mother 3 36:02.404 Asif's Games - Balatro, F-Zero 99, Tokyo Xtreme Racer, Mario Maker 2 46:24.326 NOW! That's What I Call Trivia: Volume Gaming 1:15:08.506 Previews - Delta Force 1:16:51.511 Reviews - Pirate Yakuza, Warriors: Abyss, Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog 1:23:09.464 News - Annapurna Interactive Showcase announced, Pacific Drive sales numbers 1:25:13.497 Industry News - Unity Stocky, Rivian Stock, Cliffy B's Panic Garden, Marvel Rivals and NetEase, + more 1:54:42.227 Community Notes   Articles mentioned in this episode Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 review S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Update 1.2 patch notes Delta Force: Black Hawk Down campaign impressions Stories from Sol: Gun Dog review Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii review Annapurna Interactive Showcase 2025 date and time announced Pacific Drive reaches 1 million units sold StreamElements State of the Stream January 2025: Marvel Rivals NetEase Games Marvel Rivals layoffs NetEase Games issues statement on Marvel Rivals layoffs GameStop sells Canada and Micromania France stores Humane AI Pin end date, bought by HP

Welcome to episode 50 of Shack Together! We're joined by special guest TJ Denzer to break down the latest PlayStation State of Play showcase, which brought major announcements including Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater's release date and Housemarque's new project Saros. TJ also shares his hands-on impressions of Killing Floor 3, giving us insight into the next chapter of the zombie-slaying franchise. The State of Play dominated our discussion with its packed lineup of reveals, from Sonic Racing CrossWorlds to the intriguing Shinobi: Art of Vengeance. We also got a demo release announcement for Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii along with the announcement of Lies of P: Overture, a snowy expansion of the beloved title. In Story Time, we explore previews of South of Midnight and Elden Ring: Nightreign, alongside reviews of unique titles like Rift of the NecroDancer and Urban Myth Dissolution Center. The industry news rounds out with PS5 reaching an impressive 74.9 million units sold and Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii providing an update on the mysterious Dragon Quest 12. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy! Articles mentioned in this episode Killing Floor 3 Hands-on Preview South of Midnight Hands-on Preview Elden Ring: Nightreign Preview PlayStation February 2025 State of Play Sonic Racing CrossWorlds announced Shinobi: Art of Vengeance release date announcement The Dark Pictures Anthology: Directive 8020 release date Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater release date Saros game announcement from Housemarque Lies of P: Overture reveal trailer Dragon Quest 12 Yuji Horii February 2025 update PS5 sales reach 74.9 million units

Welcome to the 49th episode of Shack Together! This week, we're thrilled to have fan-favorite David Craddock joining us for our "49er or Capcom Fighter" segment. In this segment, we challenge the crew's knowledge of San Francisco 49ers players and Capcom video game characters. Why this particular combination, you ask? Sometimes the best ideas start with a catchy title. Also sometimes mediocre ideas start with a catchy title. I'm not sure this title's even catchy. In Story Time, we dive into hands-on previews of upcoming titles including WWE 2K25, Apex Legends: Takeover Season 24, and Dune: Awakening. We also cover major reviews of anticipated releases like Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Civilization 7, and Citizen Sleeper 2. The news brings some interesting developments, including Forza Horizon 5's surprise PS5 release announcement and Steam's new warning system for abandoned Early Access games. Industry updates include ESA's announcement of IICON 2026, Nintendo Switch reaching new lifetime sales milestones, and EA's latest live service revenue reports. We also discuss Google's removal of their AI pledge and the slow sales figures for Mario and Luigi: Brothership. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy! Articles mentioned in this episode WWE 2K25 Preview: Throw your ones to the sky Apex Legends: Takeover Season 24 Preview Dune: Awakening Hands-on Preview - January 2025 Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Review Spirit Swap Review Civilization 7 Review Steam adds warning system for abandoned Early Access games Forza Horizon 5 coming to PS5 ESA announces IICON 2026 event Nintendo Switch lifetime console sales update Google removes AI pledge EA reports 2024 live service revenue

Welcome to episode 48 of Shack Together! We're joined by special guest Donovan Erskine to break down all the exciting announcements from the Xbox Developer_Direct, including the highly anticipated DOOM: The Dark Ages. The presentation brought several major reveals, including Ninja Gaiden 4, South of Midnight's release date, and an in-depth look at what's next for the DOOM franchise. In Story Time, we cover a wide range of topics including Ted Price's retirement from Insomniac, the winners of the New York Game Awards 2025, and reviews of interesting new titles like Synduality: Echo of Ada and Mika and the Witch's Mountain. We also cover some discouraging industry news, with the cancellation of both the God of War live service game and Extremely OK Games' Earthblade, while celebrating Balatro's impressive milestone of 5 million copies sold. Last, we discuss Netflix's latest subscription price hike and Samsung's AI-focused Galaxy S25 announcement. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy! Articles mentioned in this episode Watch Xbox Developer Direct January 2025 Ninja Gaiden 4 reveal South of Midnight release date DOOM: The Dark Ages release date God of War live service game cancelled Extremely OK Games cancels Earthblade Balatro hits 5 million copies sold Assassin's Creed Shadows final preview Insomniac CEO Ted Price announces retirement New York Game Awards 2025 winners Netflix subscription price hike 2025 Samsung Galaxy S25 AI smartphone  

Welcome to episode 47 of Shack Together! Our gaming adventures continue as I wrap up Astrobot with a decidedly above average score and subsequently dive into Yakuza Kiwami, while Greg Burke joins us to share his continued thoughts on Marvel Rivals. John's been splitting time between Marvel Rivals, Fortnite Ballistic, and completing God of War Ragnarök, while Asif maintains his ever-eclectic mix of Disco Elysium, F-Zero, Balatro, and (you guessed it) Marvel Rivals. Today's show, however, is dominated by the recent Nintendo Switch 2 announcement. We dive deep into the reveal, discussing our expectations for the launch lineup (including potential titles like Red Dead Redemption 2, Silksong, and Metaphor ReFantazio), backward compatibility concerns, and our hopes and fears for Nintendo's next generation of gaming. In Story Time, we cover a range of news including hands-on previews of Civilization 7 and Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, AGDQ 2025's impressive fundraising total, and Sony's intriguing AI player input lag patent. We also discuss the upcoming Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo release and TikTok's preparation for potential USA server shutdowns. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy! Articles mentioned in this episode Nintendo Switch 2 reveal Switch 2 Nintendo Direct coming April 2025 New Mario Kart teased for Switch 2 Civilization 7 preview Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii preview Donkey Kong Country Returns HD review Dynasty Warriors Origins review EA Sports College Football 26 announced Sony AI player input lag patent Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo release date AGDQ 2025 final total DICE Awards 2025 nominations TikTok USA servers shutdown prep

Welcome to episode 46 of Shack Together! Today's show features our first-ever Gaming Resolutions Draft, where we compete over a set of insane pre-defined gaming goals for 2025. It's a chaotic way to start the year, as we each try to draft the most achievable (or least ambitious) gaming goals for the many months ahead. In Story Time, we cover some exciting developments, including AGDQ 2025's ongoing charity marathon, Ubisoft's potential strategic changes, and NVIDIA's reveal of their RTX Blackwell 50-series GPUs at CES 2025. We also discuss LocalThunk's Golden Thunk GOTY award going to Animal Well, and Valve's interesting move to bring SteamOS to the Lenovo Legion Go S. And that's all for today's show! Thanks as always for listening and enjoy! Articles mentioned in this episode Freedom Wars Remastered review Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana review Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete review Awesome Games Done Quick 2025: Watch Day 5 Ubisoft pursuing strategic options Assassin's Creed Shadows delayed Xbox Developer Direct announcement Animal Well wins Golden Thunk GOTY Steve Gibson joins Cooldown Games NVIDIA RTX Blackwell announcement Valve bringing SteamOS to Lenovo Legion Go S