Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast

A recent video out of Japan finally gave us our first look at PlayStation 5's innards, a nice change of pace from a mysteriously silent Sony as we approach Zero Hour. The teardown gave us a glimpse at the console's technical configurations and setups, though it also revealed the machine to be a bit of a beast, size-wise. Either way, for those in pursuit of power, the newest PlayStation should be a tantalizing product. Also: Sony revealed a surprise reconstruction of the Trophy landscape, Jim Ryan expects PS5 to sell big, Cyberpunk 2077 has gone gold amidst pseudo-controversy, internal mini-team PixelOpus is officially hiring for its third game, and more. Then: Is Cory Barlog teasing something non-God of War-related out of Santa Monica Studio? Could Level-5 be on a downward trend? Should consumers purchase extended warranties for consoles? Has depression and despair fully gripped Chris? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

PlayStation 4's smash-hit exclusive Spider-Man game was played by more than 15 million people, and when they jump into the PS5 port, they're going to receive something literally not one of them asked for: A brand-new Peter Parker. Sometimes, the intersection of art and business can be messy and confusing like that. We discuss. Plus: Is the most recent report of crunch at CD Projekt yet another reoccurrence of a troubling trend, or just more ado about nothing? Is JK Rowling's 'transphobia' controversy an anchor around Avalanche Software's neck? Is Capcom's possible intent to bring Resident Evil 8 to current-gen as well as next-gen a disappointing or welcome development? Then: Which PlayStation 5 launch game are we most excited about? Do we tend to overrate Xbox One's early failures? Is Horizon: Forbidden West closer than we think? What in god's name is "a fat piss"? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Things have been looking great for PlayStation 5, but a seismic event threatens to restructure the entire landscape of console gaming. With Microsoft's purchase of ZeniMax Media (and therefore Bethesda, all of its studios, and all of its IP), Xbox suddenly controls the fate not only of talented teams like id Software, Machinegames, Tango Gameworks, and others, but some of gaming's most iconic franchises, too, like The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, and Doom. It's a huge deal, and it could leave Sony in a tough spot with one of the industry's most-beloved brands. Let's talk about the sale, all of the recent developments over the last few days, and -- above all else -- what it means for the future of the PlayStation brand. Other news is a-brewin', too, though! Spider-Man is getting a PS5 remaster, and it's littered with some of that old-school Sony marketing confusion, while PS5's Godfall has gone gold, Cyberpunk 2077 is purportedly shorter than The Witcher 3, and legacy backwards compatibility is a dying dream. Then, we get to your inquiries. What PlayStation 5 game are we going to play first? Is Colin disappointed that Final Fantasy XVI isn't turn-based? What does the future hold for PS5's limited SSD storage? Will Chris ever return? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We've waited so long for concrete details concerning PlayStation 5's release date and price that it all feels a bit like a fever dream. But the spell has broken: The results, as Maury would say, are in. PlayStation 5 has a price and a release date; it all fits exactly where it should. But there are some complications, to be sure. For instance, did you know Miles Morales is also a PS4 game? Thanks to an afterthought paragraph in a PlayStation Blog post -- or this podcast! -- now you do! But there's a lot to be truly excited about, too. Final Fantasy XVI is real, Deathloop looks rad, and Miles Morales may be cross-gen, but it looks awesome. In addition to all of the PS5 news, there are some other items to get through, too, like the re-emergence of a possible Mass Effect Trilogy on PS4 and the intelligent VR-centric expansion of THQ Nordic. Then, listener thoughts! How do we control the dreaded Hype Machine? How awesome does BPM: Bullets Per Minute look? How do we convince skeptical adults that -- yes! -- video games are awesome?! How does Chris live with himself knowing he'll never receive another Splinter Cell game? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For months, we've been noting the shocking level of silence emanating out of both Sony and Microsoft. Eventually, something had to give, and it has: Xbox Series X has a release date, a price, a launch library, and even a cheaper companion, the long-rumored Xbox Series S. These two machines are interesting in that they're truly different from one another. They play the same games, but they don't have nearly the same power, and it's an approach that allows Microsoft to attack Sony from below. So let's spend time working through Xbox's big news, and whether it all cumulatively represents a marked changing of fortunes for PlayStation's comparatively-struggling competitor. Then, let's chat about Ubisoft's new announcements -- including a clever new sports-driven battle royale-like game -- and deal with some other, smaller happenings in the industry before we move onto your inquiries. What's the perfect release window for single-player DLC? How do we feel about Colin Kaepernick's return to Madden? Will we see a post-release surge in popularity for The Avengers? What's the specific amount of time a towel can be used before being washed? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're something like two months and change removed from PlayStation 5's presumed release window, but if you were expecting Sony itself to say anything about it, keep on hoping and dreaming. One of the upcoming console's deepest mysteries remains just how far in PlayStation history its backwards compatibility will allow us to delve; yet if a seemingly-innocuous FAQ from Ubisoft is any indication, you shouldn't expect to put your PSone, PS2, and PS3 discs into the machine. Does it really matter? Let's chat about it. Plus: New Sony financials paint a rosy picture for the PlayStation brand, first party games will continue to be ported to PC, Media Molecule loses a co-founder, Ubisoft renames Gods & Monsters, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Will The Getaway ever make a return? How come no one's talking about 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim? Could Insomniac be playing with our hearts when it comes to its incessant Resistance teases? Did you know Michael Jordan had a Hitler mustache for a little while? It's true! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It was just weeks ago that we were chatting about persistent rumors concerning WB Interactive, and the potential sale of its studios, projects, and licenses to outside interests. But suddenly, we're talking about the publisher in a different light, because not one -- but two! -- of its games have been revealed, in all their DC glory. Suicide Squad looks a bit like Sunset Overdrive, while Gotham Knights reminds us of the Arkham games of yore. With both, there's much to discuss. Plus: Sony has begun an obnoxious lottery for PS5 pre-orders, Activision talks much more about Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, the Karate Kid spin-off Cobra Kai is getting its own video game, and much more. Then! What's going on with Bethesda's Starfield? Should people be more excited about Kingdoms of Amalur: Rereckoning? What's with the dearth of American Civil War-related games? Is it socially acceptable to eat a lime by itself? As you can see, we've much to cover. Join us! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You didn't expect it. You may not even want it. But you're going to get it: A free, multiplayer-centric update to Ghost of Tsushima called Legends is coming this fall, an update that allows you to play the game with up to four players, with missions, endless waves of enemies, and even raids. Does such an addition to Sucker Punch's most recent game make any sense? Or should we be skeptical? We discuss. Plus: Call of Duty is Cold War-bound, PS5's Deathloop has been delayed while Demon's Souls Remastered gets a release rating, Rocksteady is the newest studio plagued by tales of impropriety, Lazlow Jones has left Rockstar, and much more. Then: Listener inquiries, as always! Has Chris' opinion on Days Gone softened at all? Can one really separate the artist from the art? Is there still a place for fixed-camera action games? Why in the world does Chris wear his glasses in the shower? Let's delve in, shall we? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You may not have heard of The Embracer Group... but they've heard of you. Okay, maybe it's not that serious, but Embracer -- the holding company that owns THQ Nordic, Deep Silver, Koch Media, and others -- has been steadily acquiring dev talent for years. And now? Well, now they have a first party family of studios bigger than PlayStation's and Xbox's combined. It's not all AAA talent, of course, but such empire-building suggests that the future of publishing is in owning the entities that make games instead of just their projects. Plus: The Last of Us 2 gets some cool (and free!) updates, Rocksteady is preparing to discuss it's new project (finally), Yoshinori Ono is leaving Capcom after nearly 30 years, G.I. Joe is getting an all-new game, and more. Then: Does anyone actually care about Godfall? Is Overwatch 2 a bridge too far? Should Sony delay PS5 to avoid launching in a potentially devastating economy? Could there be more than one way to properly eat a pizza? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Next month, the long-in-development Avengers game comes to PlayStation 4 (it'll come to PS5 when the console launches, too), and there's a special sort of catch for Sony gamers: When Spider-Man arrives in Crystal Dynamics' long-awaited multiplayer adventure in 2021, he'll only be available within the ecosystem. That is to say, Xbox and PC players won't have access to arguably the biggest character in the entire experience. Is such a move a vestige of generations past? Or are the Big Three about to compete for every exclusive scrap like never before? We delve in. Then, in other news: PS4 continues to climb the historical sales charts, Street Fighter V is about to welcome four new challengers, 2020's Call of Duty is on the verge of being revealed, Ubisoft sheds more dead weight, and more. And in listener questions, we explore if visual novels are really video games per se, whether Wild is officially vaporware, if the so-called "Console War" between fans of the different consoles is getting better or worse, and if it's possible that Chris doesn't understand food. All of that -- and much more! -- on the other side of the play button. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We may not have any idea when PlayStation 5 is coming out, what it'll cost, or even if many of us will be able to get our hands on one at launch. But what we do know -- thanks to a recent consumer survey conducted in the UK -- is that Sony's upcoming console is far, far more eagerly-anticipated than Microsoft's Xbox Series X. Does this spell good (or even great) news for PS5, or are any celebrations out of Tokyo premature? Let's sift through the details and figure it out. Then: Ghost of Tsushima sets a first party sales record, a spiritual successor to Suikoden is on the way, Ubisoft almost green-lit a medieval RPG, Cuphead has randomly arrived on PS4, and more. Plus: G4 is coming back... but why? Joe Rogan isn't a big video game fan... but so what? Crunch seems to be derided in games yet celebrated in other industries... but does it matter? Chris has probably never had baked beans in his life... but how is that possible? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We already know PlayStation 5 was primed to provide a technological quantum leap to AAA projects, but what it'll be capable of in its first round of games is fairly surprising. Sony-owned Insomniac has revealed that its launch game -- the kinetic Spider-Man: Miles Morales -- can run at 60 frames-per-second in 4K resolution, which is virtually unheard of on current-gen consoles. But nothing is free, so at what technical cost are such results achieved? Let's chat about it. Plus: Ubisoft escalates next-gen's pricing wars, Madden NFL 21 says goodbye to the Washington Redskins, NHL 21 is staying on PS4 (for now), Final Fantasy VII Remake: Part II's mysterious development situation remains as murky as ever, and much more. Then, listener inquiries! How do we balance gaming as a hobby with our real-life relationships? Will standalone expansions become more common as development costs rise? Do Sony's outspoken studio heads help or hurt their respective brands? If a person doesn't return a shopping cart after use, should they go to prison? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It was a really big week for Ubisoft. They revealed (the admittedly leaked) Far Cry 6, stamped a couple of release dates on Watch Dogs: Legion and Assassin's Creed Valhalla, and gave us some more details on the upcoming battle royale Hyper Scape, too. But the company has also been persistently dogged by accusations of sexual impropriety and other illicit activities at its highest levels of management, and the purge of its ranks continues unabated. With the ignominious fall of both its Chief Creative Officer and the leader of all of its Canadian studios (not to mention its Head of HR), how should one of gaming's biggest publishers proceed in the wake of what can only be described as an internal reckoning? Let's chat about it. Also: Sony is ratcheting-up production of PlayStation 5, Destiny 2's upcoming DLC has been delayed, Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer is approaching this year a little differently, and more. Then: Listener inquiries galore! Is Xbox making a mistake by emphasizing cross-generation play? Should Sony pad its first party family with smaller devs? Does Sony's acquisition of a small share of Epic mean future Epic Games Store exclusivity for its PC releases? Is it normal to eat oranges in the shower? Our answers may surprise you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Until Fortnite, the primary fuel that made Epic Games run was Unreal Engine, its ubiquitous and flexible framework on which hundreds of notable, successful, and popular titles have run for more than two decades. But these days, Epic's many initiatives have the North Carolina-based company accelerating at light speed, and now, Sony owns a sliver of 'em. We discuss what this modest acquisition means, and why owning just a little bit of Epic can go a very long way. Then: A tension is growing in the industry concerning next-gen game pricing, and we've gotta jump back into the fray. Also: Horizon's writer has left Guerrilla, Kingdoms of Amalur is getting new DLC 8+ years after launch, Mafia: Definitive Edition gets delayed, Infamous may be coming back, and more. Plus: Listener inquires! Could episodic releases help adjust rising game dev costs? Are some gamers being completely over-the-top in their reactions to The Last of Us: Part II? Should Sony attempt to acquire WB Interactive? Does Long Island have the world's best pizza? (The answer to the last question is a simple and emphatic "yes".) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Now that we've gotten a limited look at next-gen, a few major unknowns remain. Perhaps the biggest mystery -- apart from the cost of PlayStation 5 itself -- is how expensive AAA software running on the new hardware will be. Thanks to 2K, we may have an answer, marking the first price hike in well over a decade. Such a move may cause sticker shock at first, but rest assured: Gaming is still cheaper than ever. We explain. Plus: TLoU2 sells big, Sony is on the hunt for its next studio acquisition, Tencent comes to America, the Harry Potter RPG is real, PlayStation Plus turns 10, and more. Then, listener questions! Should difficulty Trophies hinder one's enjoyment of a game? When did the arcade racer (essentially) go extinct? How long do we have to wait for The Last of Us: Factions to return? Do birds get too little respect for being descended from dinosaurs? We have an answer we think you'll dig. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices