Happy Steam Next Fest to all who celebrate! We break down the free demos that have been keeping us WELL-entertained over the past week. Also, the fine line between Homage and Rip-Off, and a fascinating look at cozy indie game that was changed after players discovered it wasn't so cozy after all. Join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/5xz84B…

The free-to-play hero arena battler "Marvel Rivals" has hit hard since its release in December, scooping up 40 million players and almost $3 billion in net revenue. So it's totally logical and not weird at all that its Chinese publisher NetEase just laid off the entire U.S. design team. We discuss the weird geopolitical landscape, and why the relat…

We run down the list of games revealed Wednesday in Sony's State of Play showcase, and add a bunch of PS5 games to our Steam wishlist because none of them are exclusive. Join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/5xz84B9RRJ Subscribe to the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ColetteAndMatt Email us with what you're playing and we'll read…

Good Guy Valve is at it again, this time with some handy yellow text that will be very helpful when considering your next Early Access purchase. And the wiki site Fandom dot Com suffers another exodus as the official Warframe wiki moves off the crappy ad-infested site. Plus, the gayest match 3 game ever, and hitting the road with Indiana Jones. Col…

Colette is off this week, so Matt shares his early impressions of "Eternal Strands," a new action RPG that blends elements of "Breath of the Wild," "Control," and "Shadow of the Colossus." Plus, the new update for No Man's Sky is excellent, and why won't dwarves bury their dead children anymore? Join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/5xz84B…

Games are (probably) coming out in 2025! We share the indie gems, fresh demos, and AAA bigguns we can't wait to play this year. Also, social media is bad! Join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/5xz84B9RRJ Subscribe to the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ColetteAndMatt Email us with what you're playing and we'll read it on the show…

After months of leaks and rumors, Nintendo finally revealed ... exactly what we already knew. We react to the official announcement, run down the features that are confirmed, and speculate about what's next for the Switch 2. Join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/5xz84B9RRJ Subscribe to the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ColetteA…

Rumors swirl about the "Switch 2" (or whatever it will be called) as case manufacturers, store listings, and CES drop an ocean's-worth of leaks about the next console's functionality and design, including one surprising new feature. Speaking of handheld consoles, the upcoming Lenovo Legion Go S will be the first device besides the Steam Deck to nat…

Happy nude year. We reveal our top 5 games of 2024 in REVERSE chronological order, which means the BEST ones come last! Join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/5xz84B9RRJ Subscribe to the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ColetteAndMatt Email us with what you're playing and we'll read it on the show! HaveEnteredTheChat@gmail.com Foll…

Happy holidays one and all! We want to know what video games you're cozying up with in between family obligations this year. Plus, we revisit the recent Valve leaks around a new Steam Controller, a SteamOS-powered under-the-TV box, and the possibility of a Steam streaming service. More Metaphor, Path of Exile 2, a peek at the Steam Winter Sale, the…

The 2024 Game Awards probably had some awards, but the real show is all about the trailers and reveals, and boy howdy, there were some big ones. We run down the games that joined our wishlists. Plus: The disappointment of a promising indie, and why you should probably be playing "Path of Exile 2." Join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/5xz8…

Shocking private recordings, obtained exclusively by this podcast, reveal for the first time that Colette Bennet is madly in love with a 2007 video game man. Meanwhile, we recount what our community played during the Thanksgiving weekend while hiding from their families. Plus, janky spaceship adventures in "Void Crew," the tranquil beauty of "Moonr…

A credible leaker claims Valve is in the final stages of manufacturing a new Steam Controller, a device that the community has been clamoring for, especially after the Steam Deck's rise to hardware stardom. The dream controller (codenamed "Ibex") will hopefully have two track pads, two thumb sticks, and buttons on the back, bringing parity with the…

Valve has released a stunning new limited edition OLED Steam Deck, and it's WHITE. We try very hard to not spend $700 on it. Plus, the Warcraft remastered rumors were true, Xbox's confusing plans for 2025, and our continued adventures in "Metaphor," "Baldur's Gate," and a new MMO from NCSoft. Join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/5xz84B9RR…

THIS IS FURUKAWA. Nintendo has officially confirmed what we've all been waiting to hear. The successor to the Switch will play your existing library of games (and hopefully run them better!). The news broke in a tweet after a CORPORATE MANAGEMENT POLICY BRIEFING, which is perfect timing since there's nothing else in the world or the news worth talk…

Nintendo fans, rejoice! For the first time ever, you can listen to your favorite songs from Mario, Zelda, and... Pikmin(?) on the Internet, thanks to Nintendo Music, a new streaming app that nobody asked for. With video game music is hotter than ever, why would Nintendo skip the streaming services and build a standalone platform? And what will happ…

Some lucky Nintendo fans took part in a TOP SECRET online test for a new game, and were SWORN to SECRECY about it! Which means gameplay was leaked within 1.5 seconds. Data miners excavated something codenamed "Rockstock," and as the playtest rolled out, images and videos of the blocky new build-em-up spreading across the Internet - much to the dism…

Happy Steam Next Fest to all who celebrate! Miniaturist and friend of the show Sky Burkson returns to share the banger demos he's been dabbling with this week, and what it's like to make a Bloodborne sculpture for Jacksepticeye! These are the demos we've been LOVING: Rogue Flight Heartworm Empire of the Ants The Spirit of the Samurai Beastieball Se…

No one: Nintendo: How 'bout waking up to coin sounds every time you move? Nintendo's latest hardware is here, and it's a $100 alarm clock that turns your mornings into a psychotic fever dream. We discuss why it's weird, bad, and already sold out. Plus: A fascinating (and seriously biased) deep dive into Roblox's horrible reputation. Colette caved a…

Ubisoft can't catch a break. Their development costs are through the roof, their games are flopping, and the next entry in their marquee franchise "Assassins' Creed" has been delayed, sending share prices (and confidence) plummeting. Plus, more notes on "Echoes of Wisdom," Matt's continued adventures in the Forgotten Realms of "Baldur's Gate 3," an…

"The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom" came out for the Nintendo Switch this week, and it is charming, adorable, fun, and extremely innovative. There's just one problem: The frame rates whip around faster and harder than Tingle cashing in his rupees. Due to the (now passed) hurricane in the Southern U.S., Colette takes a break this week (all is we…

A big announcement shook the Game-O-Verse to its core earlier this week. "Flappy Bird," the massively viral mobile game from 2014, would be making a triumphant return: New game modes, updated levels, and...crypto? An entity called "The Flappy Bird Foundation" plans to resurrect the beloved game this year. But as the media poked at this announcement…

Busy lives, work schedules, children, and sleep did not permit a co-operative recording this week, so Matt shares how starting "Baldur's Gate 3" last week with Colette's husband Patrick and friend-of-the show Sky Burkson has been a transformative experience. We shall return with more BG3 shenanigans (and the week's news) next Friday! Join our Disco…

After 8 years in development and two weeks of beta testing, Sony has pulled the plug on "Concord" after a shockingly low player count. The hero shooter failed to pull its target audience away from the 47 other live service games they're already playing, and Sony has de-listed it for sale and refunded those who have pre-purchased. What does this say…

The past week+ has seen an avalanche of announcements, teasers, demos, updates, DLCs, collab-os, and shadow drops. Why?? Gamescom 2024 and a surprise Direct from Miyamoto & Co. We pluck out the most interesting and hype-filled tidbits, including some games you should download RIGHT MEOW. Plus: What's up with the puppet museum in Atlanta? Join our D…

Another day, another news story about studios laying off hundreds of video game developers. Why did this industry become so volatile? And what makes game devs so vulnerable to job insecurity, especially when the industry's profits have never been higher? This week we're joined by Dr. Johanna Weststar, a professor of labor studies (and Stardew enthu…

Larian Studios has shared player data on the 1-year anniversary of their smash hit "Baldur's Gate 3." Among the fascinating tidbits is that only 34 players have reached a VERY rare ending to the story that can only be unlocked through a specific sequence of events. What's more, there's an even SECRET-er ending that cannot be reached by normal means…

After a 33 year run, the print magazine and website "Game Informer" has been abruptly shuttered by its parent company, GameStop. Fans and preservationists have been scrambling this week to preserve its decades of articles, but the fate of the digital content remains unknown. We discuss the importance of media preservation, and why it's so hard for …

Screen actors reached a deal with movie, TV, and streaming studios earlier this year after striking over pay, benefits, and AI. But what about voice acting in video games? Specifically when it comes to AI, they feel more vulnerable in the short term: Audiences have accepted stiff, robotic video game characters for decades. In response to the loomin…

"Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition" has arrived, bringing bite-sized speed run challenges from our favorite 8-bit '80s games. But more than just a nostalgia hit, this asynchronous online battle has some innovative delights, if you approach it with the right mindset. Matt shares impressions of his first week with the game. Colette is finally…

We're back in action to answer the question on everyone's mind LAST week: Who is Emio? A mysterious trailer for a Nintendo-developed horror title set the game-o-verse abuzz. Turns out, the cryptic teaser is actually a sequel to a classic Japan-only Famicom game. Colette breaks down the details. Also, a MASSIVE update to "No Man's Sky" just dropped,…

miHoYo released their 3rd(!) gatcha game in the West within four years, called "Zenless Zone Zero," which blends "Genshin" style combat with a "Persona" vibe. It got 50 million downloads within days of release, cementing the Chinese developer as an absolute unit. So, is ZZZ actually good? Colette shares her early impressions of the PS5 version. Plu…

This week is cut short by work and travel plans, but we have a BRIEF update on the games we're playing, including "Moonstone Island," a title that recently came to Switch. It blends cozy farm life and town romances with a Pokémon-style creature taming system, Wind Waker-esq exploration, and deck building battles. So, is this indie life sim more tha…

We really tried to play some hot new demos this week, but alas, Nintendo has graced us with a banger of a Direct. We tackle each announcement and calibrate hype levels, along with your most anticipated games coming to the Switch (2?). Among them, the reveal of a new Mario & Luigi game, a top-down Legend of Zelda where you — get this — play as Zelda…

E3 may be gone, but video games INSIST on coming out! We are WHELMED with announcements, trailers, updates, teasers, and demos popping off from the Xbox Showcase, Wholesome Games Direct, Summer Game Fest, and more. We can't cover them all, but we can each pick the 5 games that we're most excited about, and reveal them to you (and each other) one by…

For the foreseeable future, we will only be playing video games that are: A) Sequels B) Start with the letter "H" We don't make the rules. That's just how it is. For some reason, we talk about exercise for a while. Then, Colette shares her "Hades 2" update as she approaches the "final boss" (which is probably not the end of the game), and the lates…

Hey! Something good just happened in the American justice system! We take a moment to high five democracy, even when it feels hard to do so. More importantly, Sony dropped a State of Play which we didn't even watch because LIFE. So we peep in real time at the list of announcements and trailers. There are definitely some goodies in there for PS5 and…

Colette's Internet pooped the bed right as we sat down to record this week, so Matt flies solo to wish a happy "Paper Mario" day to all who celebrate. Will you be binging the "Thousand Year Door" this week? In the news, IGN Entertainment (owned by Ziff Davis) has acquired all your favorite video game publishers, including Rock Paper Shotgun, GamesI…

Video games are BACK, with three bangers released over the last week. "Hades II" officially entered Early Access after a brief tech test, and Colette has been screaming in her hotel room trying to get back home to play it. But is it more than just "more Hades?" She shares her first impressions. "Little Kitty, Big City" puts its paws on Game Pass, P…

Colette is on assignment this week, so video game miniaturist and social media hurricane Sky Burkson returns to discuss his latest project for Summer Games Done Quick, Sony's idiotic blunder with their hit "Helldivers 2," the announcement of the "Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition," ACTUAL OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION that the Switch 2 exists, what…

Since 2017, a small collective of "Super Mario Maker" enthusiasts have been trying to complete every single player-created level — a quest to truly "beat" a game with hundreds of thousands of uncleared stages. But when Nintendo announced that the servers for Wii U games would be taken offline in April 2024, the urgency reached new heights. Team 0% …

A handful of third-party games were showcased on Nintendo's short-but-sweet Indie World on Wednesday, and on second glance, there are some bangers coming up (including multiple cat games!). We run down the full list, and share our impressions of new releases and demos. Meanwhile, Colette bought a cheap ticket back to the post-apocalyptic glory of t…

The Triple-i Initiative, a loose collective of successful indie development teams, ran a showcase on Wednesday full of announcements, sequels, updates, and DLC. We run down the games that caught our attention, joined our wish lists, or got a hard pass. Also, some regulatory changes in the EU have big implications for the future of iOS, specifically…

After years of monetizing through premium features and publicly dismissing the prospect of ads, Discord will soon roll out its new "Sponsored Quests," as reported by The Wall Street Journal. But unlike algorithmic news feeds or mid-chat interruptions, these ads will be centered around video game discovery and Discord's livestreaming features. We di…

A fascinating Polygon interview with Xbox honcho Phil Spencer kicks off a discussion about about why AAA games are SO expensive to make, and the pressure it puts on them to succeed across platforms. We break down how this relates to the indie space, and debate what players actually want from game experiences in 2024. Plus, a surprise trivia challen…

The long awaited 1.6 update for "Stardew Valley" has hit PC, and Colette wasted no time in diving back into her favorite cozy game. We discuss her experiences so far, and react to the absolutely HUGE amount of new content in the patch notes. And if you need more farming in your life, "Lightyear Frontier" has just released into Early Access and Game…

"Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection" contains the two original games fans have been salivating over for decades. They look great. They run great. So why does everyone hate them? Plus, a group of "Mario Maker" enthusiasts are attempting to beat all 41,000 player-created levels in the entire game before Nintendo shuts down the Wii U servers in…

The Switch emulator Yuzu has been in development since 2018, allowing hobbyists to play Nintendo software on PCs and Steam Decks, often at higher resolutions and frame rates. But the trappings around Yuzu — including a Patreon that raked in $30,000 per month, and specific updates encouraging users to emulate "Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom" — have fin…

Colette is on assignment this week, so Matt flies solo to rundown Nintendo's February Partner Direct, which looks like a banger — depending on what kind of games you like. New games, new footage reveals, Xbox exclusives crossing the divide, the return of some Rare classics, and a surprising amount of demos, including "Pepper Grinder" and "Unicorn O…

Colette shares her early impressions of "Persona 3 Reloaded," the remake of the 2006 Atlus classic that updates and streamlines in all the best ways. Also, is Colette a min/maxer now???! Plus, Matt launches a demo for the highly anticipated "Homeworld 3," but it's missing a key element. Also, a $2 game with bad reviews is actually...great? Join our…