The Optional Podcast

And that’s it! Thank again, everyone, for sticking with us for so long. Here’s one last pod for the road. Más Fanbyte: Fanbyte Podcast Network (We have other channels with equally incredible shows. We promise.) Follow us on Twitter (Yell at us on Twitter in good ways.) Talk to us on Discord (Talk to us and our loving community. Also we have a pets channel that is very good so like...) Twitch Live Streams (Hang out with us live and yell good things at us.) Rate and review our show (Please show us your support by rating and telling Paul how much you love his work to make his heart feel good or we keep him in the podcast dungeon forever, never to see the sun again.) Get in touch if you want to advertise with us -- advertising@fanbyte.com

This week, we’re talking more motorsport with a return to F1 2021, Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade, and yes, WORDLE. We also chat Euphoria, W Series on YouTube and answer a couple of your questions. Más Fanbyte: Fanbyte Podcast Network (We have other channels with equally incredible shows. We promise.) Follow us on Twitter (Yell at us on Twitter in good ways.) Talk to us on Discord (Talk to us and our loving community. Also we have a pets channel that is very good so like...) Twitch Live Streams (Hang out with us live and yell good things at us.) Rate and review our show (Please show us your support by rating and telling Paul how much you love his work to make his heart feel good or we keep him in the podcast dungeon forever, never to see the sun again.) Get in touch if you want to advertise with us -- advertising@fanbyte.com

This week, we’re talking Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade hitting different under COVID, Star Wars: Knights of the old Republic giving us some old school RPG goodness, Deep Rock Galactic’s casual conquistadoring, a retro motorsport anime, and going for a damn walk. Just go do it already. Log off. Still listen to this though. Check out our friend Manny’s stuff! Más Fanbyte: Fanbyte Podcast Network (We have other channels with equally incredible shows. We promise.) Follow us on Twitter (Yell at us on Twitter in good ways.) Talk to us on Discord (Talk to us and our loving community. Also we have a pets channel that is very good so like...) Twitch Live Streams (Hang out with us live and yell good things at us.) Rate and review our show (Please show us your support by rating and telling Paul how much you love his work to make his heart feel good or we keep him in the podcast dungeon forever, never to see the sun again.) Get in touch if you want to advertise with us -- advertising@fanbyte.com

The end is HERE. Well, for 2021 at least. Join us as we take one last look at our holiday games playlist, the stuff we liked that are *crucially* not games, and one last round of questions for the road to either chill with on New Years Eve or ring in the new year with. Happy New Year! Más Fanbyte: Fanbyte Podcast Network (We have other channels with equally incredible shows. We promise.) Follow us on Twitter (Yell at us on Twitter in good ways.) Talk to us on Discord (Talk to us and our loving community. Also we have a pets channel that is very good so like...) Twitch Live Streams (Hang out with us live and yell good things at us.) Rate and review our show (Please show us your support by rating and telling Paul how much you love his work to make his heart feel good or we keep him in the podcast dungeon forever, never to see the sun again.) Get in touch if you want to advertise with us -- advertising@fanbyte.com

Happy holidays! This week, we’re taking it easy and talking about a couple of the games we’re still checking out like Dead Cells, Guardians of the Galaxy, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Generation Zero. We’re also giving a few non-gaming options to stream while you’re pretending to have a headache when visiting family. <3 Más Fanbyte: Fanbyte Podcast Network (We have other channels with equally incredible shows. We promise.) Follow us on Twitter (Yell at us on Twitter in good ways.) Talk to us on Discord (Talk to us and our loving community. Also we have a pets channel that is very good so like...) Twitch Live Streams (Hang out with us live and yell good things at us.) Rate and review our show (Please show us your support by rating and telling Paul how much you love his work to make his heart feel good or we keep him in the podcast dungeon forever, never to see the sun again.) Get in touch if you want to advertise with us -- advertising@fanbyte.com

After a lackluster 2021 Game Awards, Paul returns home with a renewed perspective on the games media circus and cools down with Halo Infinite’s campaign, Cam ventures into the calming (?) wilds to pet robot dogs in Generation Zero, and we take a peek into the future with that Unreal Engine 5 Matrix demo.  Más Fanbyte: Fanbyte Podcast Network (We have other channels with equally incredible shows. We promise.) Follow us on Twitter (Yell at us on Twitter in good ways.) Talk to us on Discord (Talk to us and our loving community. Also we have a pets channel that is very good so like...) Twitch Live Streams (Hang out with us live and yell good things at us.) Rate and review our show (Please show us your support by rating and telling Paul how much you love his work to make his heart feel good or we keep him in the podcast dungeon forever, never to see the sun again.) Get in touch if you want to advertise with us -- advertising@fanbyte.com

Surprise! It’s a Wednesday drop because Paul’s off to LA to hang out with the Fanbyte crew in-person. Before that though, Cam and Paul chat more Halo Infinite, Solar Ash, Pen15’s brilliant final season, and the joys of unpacking and making a new place feel like home. Optional Discord! https://discord.gg/Wfau7NrK8a Más Fanbyte: Fanbyte Podcast Network (We have other channels with equally incredible shows. We promise.) Follow us on Twitter (Yell at us on Twitter in good ways.) Talk to us on Discord (Talk to us and our loving community. Also we have a pets channel that is very good so like...) Twitch Live Streams (Hang out with us live and yell good things at us.) Rate and review our show (Please show us your support by rating and telling Paul how much you love his work to make his heart feel good or we keep him in the podcast dungeon forever, never to see the sun again.) Get in touch if you want to advertise with us -- advertising@fanbyte.com

With Cam on the ISS this week, Paul’s joined by our friend Renata Price, Staff Writer at Kotaku, to talk more Halo Infinite, Shin Megami Tensei V, Guardians of the Galaxy and more. Plus we give you PLENTY of non-gaming recommendations to keep you covered while you recover from those booster shots and answer all of your questions. And yes, we go over our top songs of 2021, don't worry. Más Fanbyte: Fanbyte Podcast Network (We have other channels with equally incredible shows. We promise.) Follow us on Twitter (Yell at us on Twitter in good ways.) Talk to us on Discord (Talk to us and our loving community. Also we have a pets channel that is very good so like...) Twitch Live Streams (Hang out with us live and yell good things at us.) Rate and review our show (Please show us your support by rating and telling Paul how much you love his work to make his heart feel good or we keep him in the podcast dungeon forever, never to see the sun again.) Get in touch if you want to advertise with us -- advertising@fanbyte.com

For this Thanksgiving, we’re here to help you avoid weird family members or help endure any travel with more chat about Halo Infinite multiplayer, the disappointing launch of Battlefield 2042, Life Is Strange: True Colors, and Sable. Throw in some solid non-game recommendations, a couple of your questions and you might just need a nap after this one. Más Fanbyte: Fanbyte Podcast Network (We have other channels with equally incredible shows. We promise.) Follow us on Twitter (Yell at us on Twitter in good ways.) Talk to us on Discord (Talk to us and our loving community. Also we have a pets channel that is very good so like...) Twitch Live Streams (Hang out with us live and yell good things at us.) Rate and review our show (Please show us your support by rating and telling Paul how much you love his work to make his heart feel good or we keep him in the podcast dungeon forever, never to see the sun again.) Get in touch if you want to advertise with us -- advertising@fanbyte.com

This week, we’re joined by Fanbyte’s Head of Media, John Warren, to chat about Halo Infinite, The GTA Remastered collection, Circuit Superstars and a few non-gaming options that include a documentary, some music, and TV so you can put that damn controller down for a little bit. Plus find out whose job we’d love to trade with... Más Fanbyte: Fanbyte Podcast Network (Check out our other amazing shows.) Follow us on Twitter (Yell at us on Twitter in good ways.) Talk to us on Discord (Talk to us and our loving community. Also we have a pets channel that is very good so like...) Twitch Live Streams (Hang out with us live and yell good things at us.) Rate and review our show (Please show us your support by rating and telling Paul how much you love his work to make his heart feel good or we keep him in the podcast dungeon forever, never to see the sun again.) Get in touch if you want to advertise with us -- advertising@fanbyte.com

CAM’S BACK! This week, 🎵ya boys are back in town🎵 for a regular degular episode from your favorite bi-coastal pirate radio ships. This week Paul’s talking more Forza Horizon 5 (we know), Cam talks more Back 4 Blood and a return to a small indie game called Apex Legends. For our non-gaming options, we’re talking two movies: one set in the future where somehow people’s names just never evolved and a return to old-school martial arts flicks with a side of expert commentary. Check out You Love to See It! Más Fanbyte: Fanbyte Podcast Network (We have other channels with equally incredible shows. We promise.) Follow us on Twitter (Yell at us on Twitter in good ways.) Talk to us on Discord (Talk to us and our loving community. Also we have a pets channel that is very good so like...) Twitch Live Streams (Hang out with us live and yell good things at us.) Rate and review our show (Please show us your support by rating and telling Paul how much you love his work to make his heart feel good or we keep him in the podcast dungeon forever, never to see the sun again.) Get in touch if you want to advertise with us -- advertising@fanbyte.com

With Forza Horizon 5 nearly here, Paul sits down with friends of the show Kahlief Adams (Spawn On Me) and Ari Notis (Kotaku) to talk all about their thoughts on one of the most anticipated games of 2021. Paul also answers your questions about the game and even sneaks in some time to throw in a returning recommendation that, crucially, is not a $40k watch, but pretty close. Read Paul's Forza Horizon 5 review on the site! Más Fanbyte: Fanbyte Podcast Network (We have other channels with equally incredible shows. We promise.) Follow us on Twitter (Yell at us on Twitter in good ways.) Talk to us on Discord (Talk to us and our loving community. Also we have a pets channel that is very good so like...) Twitch Live Streams (Hang out with us live and yell good things at us.) Rate and review our show (Please show us your support by rating and telling Paul how much you love his work to make his heart feel good or we keep him in the podcast dungeon forever, never to see the sun again.) Get in touch if you want to advertise with us -- advertising@fanbyte.com

This week, I’m flying solo since Cam's on the ISS on his way to the West Coast (tickets were cheaper that way). Hear me ramble into a microphone for an hour about my recent trip to Austin, Texas where I got to see my first ever US Grand Prix for Formula 1! Plus, hear my thoughts on Metroid Dread, Senna Forever, and another podcast dedicated to following the drama of Formula 1. Ooh and I also answer all of your questions about the race, what I think of Austin as a city, who would race on the Fanbyte F1 team, and what vaporware I still have hope for. Apologies in advance. Join the Optional Discord! Más Fanbyte: Fanbyte Podcast Network (We have other channels with equally incredible shows. We promise.) Follow us on Twitter (Yell at us on Twitter in good ways.) Talk to us on Discord (Talk to us and our loving community. Also we have a pets channel that is very good so like...) Twitch Live Streams (Hang out with us live and yell good things at us.) Rate and review our show (Please show us your support by rating and telling Paul how much you love his work to make his heart feel good or we keep him in the podcast dungeon forever, never to see the sun again.) Get in touch if you want to advertise with us -- advertising@fanbyte.com

With Paul out of town screaming at cars flying by at over 200/mph, we’ve got a pre-recorded pod full of POV driving YouTube videos, Midnight Mass, and the Nightlight Podcast. Plus we’re answering your amazing questions like what would our Love Island strategies be and which pieces of media weren’t we fully ready for? The correct answer is Mirror’s Edge btw and don’t worry, we get into that. Más Fanbyte: Fanbyte Podcast Network (We have other channels with equally incredible shows. We promise.) Follow us on Twitter (Yell at us on Twitter in good ways.) Talk to us on Discord (Talk to us and our loving community. Also we have a pets channel that is very good so like...) Twitch Live Streams (Hang out with us live and yell good things at us.) Rate and review our show (Please show us your support by rating and telling Paul how much you love his work to make his heart feel good or we keep him in the podcast dungeon forever, never to see the sun again.) Get in touch if you want to advertise with us -- advertising@fanbyte.com

HAPPY FRIDAY! This week, we’re doing a slightly shorter version of the show where we’re talking all about Metroid Dread, Back 4 Blood, and Tetris Effect on Switch. So jump in and let’s take a trip back into time with updated versions of three classic games. Más Fanbyte: Fanbyte Podcast Network (We have other channels with equally incredible shows. We promise.) Follow us on Twitter (Yell at us on Twitter in good ways.) Talk to us on Discord (Talk to us and our loving community. Also we have a pets channel that is very good so like...) Twitch Live Streams (Hang out with us live and yell good things at us.) Rate and review our show (Please show us your support by rating and telling Paul how much you love his work to make his heart feel good or we keep him in the podcast dungeon forever, never to see the sun again.) Get in touch if you want to advertise with us -- advertising@fanbyte.com

THIS WEEK, the podcast reaches new heights as the great Nicholas Grayson joins us to talk about this weird phenomenon happening in video games: they’re fun again? From Halo Infinite’s test flight to Battlefield 2042’s open beta, there’s a return of a familiar feeling that we've missed. Plus, Paul dives into the Far Cry 6 discourse because his papa would expect nothing less. So, hurry up and join this Xbox Live party and just vibe with us for a bit. Más Fanbyte: Fanbyte Podcast Network (We have other channels with equally incredible shows. We promise.) Follow us on Twitter (Yell at us on Twitter in good ways.) Talk to us on Discord (Talk to us and our loving community. Also we have a pets channel that is very good so like...) Twitch Live Streams (Hang out with us live and yell good things at us.) Rate and review our show (Please show us your support by rating and telling Paul how much you love his work to make his heart feel good or we keep him in the podcast dungeon forever, never to see the sun again.) Get in touch if you want to advertise with us -- advertising@fanbyte.com

What? Another Optional pod on your feed this week? Yup, we’re changing release days to Fridays, baby. We’re talking Hot Wheels Unleashed, Sable, Ted Lasso, Malignant and Star Wars: Visions. Plus find out who we think should be on the Mario movie soundtrack and of course we picked a rapper from Queens. Más Fanbyte: Fanbyte Podcast Network (We have other channels with equally incredible shows. We promise.) Follow us on Twitter (Yell at us on Twitter in good ways.) Talk to us on Discord (Talk to us and our loving community. Also we have a pets channel that is very good so like...) Twitch Live Streams (Hang out with us live and yell good things at us.) Rate and review our show (Please show us your support by rating and telling Paul how much you love his work to make his heart feel good or we keep him in the podcast dungeon forever, never to see the sun again.) Get in touch if you want to advertise with us -- advertising@fanbyte.com

This week, we take a trip back to the 90s with Cruis’n Blast and look back fondly at these old sacred spaces called arcades. Plus we’re talking about how Deathloop’s multiplayer functionality feels a bit more stressful than is worth the trouble, the nightmarish hellscape of Squid Game on Netflix and we answer your questions. Oh and we definitely recast that Mario movie. John Leguizamo, please come back. Más Fanbyte: Fanbyte Podcast Network (We have other channels with equally incredible shows. We promise.) Follow us on Twitter (Yell at us on Twitter in good ways.) Talk to us on Discord (Talk to us and our loving community. Also we have a pets channel that is very good so like...) Twitch Live Streams (Hang out with us live and yell good things at us.) Rate and review our show (Please show us your support by rating and telling Paul how much you love his work to make his heart feel good or we keep him in the podcast dungeon forever, never to see the sun again.)

This week, Cam’s talking about Deathloop’s surprisingly non-cringey writing and characters and Paul explains why The Artful Escape’s vibrant aesthetics do a lot to make up for its maybe-a-little-too-simple gameplay. Plus the guys actually download TWO mobile games that they actually like? For our non-game options, we’re talking about Netflix’s High On the Hog and Schumacher. Content Warning Skip: 58:11 Más Fanbyte: Fanbyte Podcast Network (We have other channels with equally incredible shows. We promise.) Follow us on Twitter (Yell at us on Twitter in good ways.) Talk to us on Discord (Talk to us and our loving community. Also we have a pets channel that is very good so like...) Twitch Live Streams (Hang out with us live and yell good things at us.) Rate and review our show (Please show us your support by rating and telling Paul how much you love his work to make his heart feel good or we keep him in the podcast dungeon forever, never to see the sun again.)

This week, we’re talking DayZ, Artful Escape, Psychonauts 2, and a return to Grid. Plus Cam talks Apple TV’s See and Paul takes a trip to Staten Island for What We Do in the Shadows season 3 (so far). Plus, we find out what celebrity families we want to see play our pick for a good tabletop games. Más Fanbyte: Fanbyte Podcast Network (We have other channels with equally incredible shows. We promise.) Follow us on Twitter (Yell at us on Twitter in good ways.) Talk to us on Discord (Talk to us and our loving community. Also we have a pets channel that is very good so like...) Twitch Live Streams (Hang out with us live and yell good things at us.) Rate and review our show (Please show us your support by rating and telling Paul how much you love his work to make his heart feel good or we keep him in the podcast dungeon forever, never to see the sun again.)