Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast

Let's be honest: This whole Light of Motiram thing was shady from the get-go. A game that blatantly rips off Guerrilla's Horizon franchise, created by the publisher-and-developer combo that was later revealed to have unsuccessfully pitched Sony a Horizon spin-off beforehand? They call that 'dead to rights.' And now it's official, because Sony's lawsuit against Tencent over this facsimile has been dropped with prejudice, and the game has been delisted from Steam. That's a win for PlayStation, and an even bigger win for creativity in the AAA space. We discuss. Plus: Sucker Punch co-founder, long-time producer, and studio lead Brian Fleming is officially retiring from the team after 28 years, Bungie's Marathon is slated to come to PS5 in March, Hollow Knight: Silksong is getting a free nautical expansion in '26, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Should we expect devs to lean more deeply into attractive characters? Do we think "made using AI" warnings will appear on games at some point in the near future? Who's to blame for Highguard's tepid response at The Game Awards? Is it strange if a wheelchair-bound listener wants to proudly wear a Stand Down shirt? Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:37:46 - A nice note from William0:43:47 - Andrew and Steven0:52:25 - Ratchet & Clank: Ranger Rumble is out in some European countries0:53:55 - Light of Motiram case dropped1:02:24 - Sucker Punch's co-founder is leaving1:15:19 - Marathon gets a release month1:28:21 - Silksong sells 7 million with an expansion on the way1:31:05 - Ubisoft acquires an Amazon team1:32:32 - Mega Man Star Force Legacy collection announced1:35:14 - US sales data1:47:35 - What We’re Playing (Terminator 2D: NO FATE, Dying Light: The Beast, Marvel Cosmic Invasion, The Outer Worlds 2, Destiny 2: Renegades (The Star Wars Expansion), Skate Story, Tomba 2, Metroid Prime 4)2:11:17 - Featuring "attractive female characters"2:27:14 - Game studios and AI2:45:51 - Will the DRAM shortage effect consoles?2:53:46 - One handed gaming2:57:39 - Highguard3:08:25 - Games that will never get revived Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Game Awards have come and gone, leaving in its wake a whirlwind of game announcements, release date reveals, and fresh perspectives on our industry. Indeed, there's something for everyone, a draw for all comers. For starters, what's new? Two Star Wars offerings, Larian's secret Divinity project, Jonathan Blow's long-awaited Order of the Sinking Star, a sequel to Remedy's Control, Toshihiro Nagoshi's anticipated Yakuza rival Gang of Dragon, two Tomb Raider games in the form of a remake and something unseen, a Cyberpunk-like called NO LAW, and even Mega Man 12 -- well, Mega Man Dual Override, anyway -- to keep Colin fed, and more beyond that. And new looks, too, at PlayStation games like Saros and 4:LOOP, as well as Resident Evil Requiem, Pragmata, Exodus, and Phantom Blade 0. And then there are the awards themselves, and the pomp and circumstance, and... well... there's a lot to discuss! Plus, we have all of the non-TGA happenings from the past week, too. PlayStation Wrap-Up is live, Deviation's cancelled second party shooter has leaked, London Studio's cancelled multiplayer game has seemingly reemerged under a new team, Call of Duty might be in trouble, and so on. Then: Listener inquiries! Could MLB: The Show succeed on PC with a Football Manager-style experience? Does Netflix really see no value in WB's gaming assets? Is a rumored $1 million for three minutes of advertising at The Game Awards too much? Remember when Dustin called DW from Arthur Double D? Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:27:06 - Sacred Compliments0:33:32 - A happy write in for once0:45:45 - Double D0:48:04 - Slandering the English1:01:45 - Glass Snapple1:09:54 - The Game Awards overall thoughts1:25:51 - Pragmata1:30:02 - Tank Rat1:33:16 - Bradley the Badger1:37:49 - Stupid Never Dies1:42:15 - Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic1:50:40 - Divinity1:57:23 - 4LOOP2:04:34 - Coven of the Chickenfoot2:08:56 - Ontos2:13:45 - Resident Evil Requiem2:15:35 - Order of the Sinking Star2:24:09 - Exodus2:26:48 - Warlock: Dungeons and Dragons2:27:55 - Control Resonant2:35:28 - Gang of Dragon2:41:22 - Street Fighter movie2:45:11 - Lego Batman2:47:39 - Tomb Raider2:56:09 - Saros2:58:32 - NO LAW3:03:56 - DMC Season 23:04:20 - Ace Combat 83:06:40 - Star Wars: Galactic Racer3:07:37 - Out of Words3:10:33 - Phantom Blade 03:12:02 - Mega Man: Dual Override3:20:41 - Highguard3:34:27 - PlayStation Wrap-Up 20253:52:14 - PlayStation 20264:02:32 - Can we thank Flight Sim for Xbox on PlayStation4:09:26 - Deviation's cancelled game has leaked4:24:06 - Ex-London Studio's game reemerges4:35:37 - Maybe Call of Duty isn't doing so great?4:54:32 - Capcom wants to grow their smaller IPs4:58:08 - New PS+ games5:02:35 - What We’ve Been Playing (Metal Eden, Dying Light: The Beast, Skate Story, Marvel Cosmic Invasion, Metroid Prime 4, YARG)5:32:21 - Rise of actors in games5:42:19 - Would Chris and Dustin play sports games?5:50:22 - PlayStation making a Football Manager game5:56:27 - Is WB games "worthless”?6:04:28 - $1 Million for a Game Awards trailer6:09:14 - Refunding Game Pass Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When it comes to the evolving gaming market, there's a lot for Sony to keep an eye on in the years and decades to come. To keep PlayStation the vibrant brand it is today, the company needs to spread the field, and two newly-announced projects -- an all-new co-op multiplayer game from the director of Left 4 Dead and a mobile port of mega-popular baseball franchise MLB: The Show -- fit the bill nicely. It's true that Sony has had more than its fair share of false starts (and even outright failures) in both the mobile and games-as-a-service space. Yet, there's gold in them there hills. Lots of it. Can Sony finally slay some off-platform and off-genre demons and reap some rewards? We discuss. Plus: Nixxes helps reduce Helldivers 2's PC file size by an astounding 85%, Bungie has apparently solved its dispute with the artist it purportedly stole Marathon-related art from, Shovel Knight developer Yacht Club Games finds itself in self-inflicted financial duress, Amazon has already renewed the God of War TV show for a second season, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Has leaking culture gone too far? Will Micron's exit from the consumer RAM business affect console manufacturing? How can people find likeminded gaming friends online? Can we please do away with adult gift-giving once and for all? Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:52:36 - Juices flowing0:54:56 - YouTube Recap1:08:13 - Colin dying1:11:02 - Switching to no presents1:21:02 - PlayStation partners with Bad Robot1:35:15 - The Show: Mobile releases1:46:06 - Helldivers 2 PC install sized down1:53:26 - Helldivers 2 movie has a director2:03:31 - Amazon orders two seasons of God of War2:08:14 - Bungie settles with artist over stolen art2:11:45 - Yacht Club Games may be in trouble2:27:26 - Saudi PIF will own 93.4% of EA2:31:22 - IO confirms Hitman 42:36:53 - Splinter Cell Remake director returns2:40:15 - Tomba 2 gets a release date2:43:10 - November's top PSN downloads2:45:16 - What We’re Playing (Ball x Pit, Metal. Eden, TMNT: Cowabunga Collection, Metal Gear Solid Delta, Red Dead Redemption)3:09:22 - Arc Raiders introduces gamers to socializing3:25:28 - Games that age well3:31:54 - Disdain for leakers3:41:44 - Micron leaves the consumer market3:49:29 - Meeting new people to play games3:56:53 - Can criticism go too far? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Two months ago, a now-fired Sucker Punch developer lost her job due to an ill-timed social media post, and she's been fairly quiet ever since, at least until now. In a new article, artist Drew Harrison talks about what befell her, but -- truth be told -- she seems to have missed the biggest part of her own story: How much she could have (and did) harm the hundreds of other people that worked for years on Ghost of Yotei, only to disrupt the entire marketing roll-out of the game on the precipice of its hyped release. Let's revisit the situation with new context and insights, and see if we can make sense of whether her dismissal was fair, unfair, or perhaps just the product of the environment many industry professionals gleefully cheered on when the shoe was on the other foot. Plus: Death Stranding 2 gets an ESRB rating for a PC release, PlayStation 3 emulation is actively being worked on outside of Sony's walls, Stellar Blade 2 is abandoning PlayStation as its publishing partner, RAM price spikes threaten the future of console pricing, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Did Sony's recent update to PlayStation Portal ruin the functionality of the PS button? What happened to the so-called "One Sony" initiative? Could an ex-Housemarque developer's new game spark a renewed love for arcade-style romps? What's the latest on the misadventures of an entity called Young Colin? Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:32:10 - Pursuing your dream0:44:04 - Walking inspiration0:49:29 - Young Colin0:52:29 - Black Friday memories1:04:24 - Colin’s Intergalactic drama1:17:41 - Fired Sucker Punch employee speaks out1:43:21 - Death Stranding 2 PC release leaked1:47:39 - New info on PlayStation emulation from MysticRyan2:00:30 - Sony's PC releases are declining2:04:33 - Stellar Blade 2 will be multiplatform2:13:22 - Is PS5 safe from RAM price increases?2:26:16 - New Marathon closed beta2:37:04 - December PS+ games2:43:23 - Splitgate 2 returns in December2:45:38 - Far Cry is getting a TV show2:49:42 - What We’ve Been Playing3:08:52 - Shoutout to Sektori3:11:59 - Portal for Christmas3:14:57 - Portal's PS button change3:17:41 - What happened to One Sony?3:25:03 - Why drives the love for retro games?3:37:14 - PSA on getting your partner into games Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Last year, Sony launched it's service-based third-person shooter Concord, and it bombed worse than virtually any PlayStation-developed title in history. In fact, it was received so poorly that Sony disappeared it off the market in a matter of two weeks, gave everyone their money back, and snuffed the entire project out of existence while closing the studio that made it. Fast-forward more than a year, though, and Concord has kinda-sorta returned. Tech-savvy enthusiasts have revived the game on private servers, but Sony has already caught wind of it all and are working to nip it in the bud. Do we really need Concord to return? Why does Sony care if it does? And why do smart people work so diligently on things they don't own or have control over? Plus: Black Friday will be exceptionally nice for those looking for PlayStation hardware, accessories, and games, Sony dominates The Game Awards nominations with 19, Bungie prods its playerbase for ideas on how to improve Destiny 2, EA's F1 series is taking a year hiatus, possibly indicating the future of EA Sports, Peacock renews Twisted Metal for a third season, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Do we keep the physical boxes for our gaming hardware? Would Sony ever revive The Legend of Dragoon? How does one navigate gaming's ragebait culture? Out of all of our many choices, which type of French Fry is the absolute best? Take advantage of Ridge’s Biggest Sale of the Year and GET UP TO 47% Off by going to https://www.Ridge.com/SACRED #Ridgepod Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:23:07 - Stay well Will0:29:30 - Is Colin an actual curmudgeon?0:36:30 - Best French Fries0:46:01 - Thanksgiving plans1:04:16 - PlayStation Black Friday1:09:18 - Game Awards nominations1:36:53 - Concord returns and dies again1:46:08 - Horizon surpasses 40 million copies sold1:54:16 - Major changes coming to Destiny 22:06:29 - EA is changing up F12:16:00 - Nintendo inspired PlayStation to cut prices in Japan2:22:35 - Ghost of Yotei NG+ update2:26:48 - Twisted Metal renewed for S32:27:33 - Bandai Namco is remastering Tales of Berseria2:31:39 - Circana October data2:37:07 - What We’re Playing (PowerWash Simulator 2, Silent Hill F, Ball x Pit, Elden Ring, Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines 2, Metal Gear Solid 3: Delta, Black Ops 7)3:23:20 - Rage bait culture3:42:00 - When will it be time to move away from consoles?3:54:42 - Where is Legend of Dragoon?3:57:19 - When gaming feels like it isn't for you anymore4:06:11 - Saving gaming packaging4:15:16 - Half-Life 3? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

PlayStation 5 has officially turned five, giving us much to reflect upon. Has the console lived up to its potential, left folks disappointed, or fallen somewhere in between? We get into that -- alongside new Sony financials that paint an admittedly rosy picture -- before getting into the meat of our show. Two new Sony-aligned games have been revealed, but they've left many potential players puzzled, as neither offering is actually on PlayStation hardware. For starters, NCSoft's long-rumored Horizon MMO is real. It's called Steel Frontiers and it actually looks really nice. But it's only on PC and mobile. Meanwhile, a new Ratchet & Clank game has also been showcased, an online arena shooter called Ranger Rumble. But it too eschews PS5 and PS4, instead going straight to mobile platforms only. What gives? Why does Sony seem half-in on these off-platform initiatives, all the while neglecting their core audience that could give these respective titles the boost they need? Is it time for them to break old habits and embrace a more cogent multiplatform direction that centers PlayStation first and foremost? Plus: Sony's new 27" gaming monitor has people intrigued, Marvel Tokon: Fighting Spirits is getting another closed test, Elden Ring: Nightreign is receiving some much-needed DLC, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! What do we think of Valve's new Steam Machine PC-console hybrid? In any given game's menus, where should subtitle options be nestled: General, Audio, or Graphics? Does ARC Raiders success potentially benefit Marathon? Is Dustin wielding his power over Brad in unsavory ways? Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:28:20 - Keep your head up Cam0:33:46 - Is this marriage destined for failure?0:38:06 - Depressed?0:46:26 - LSM power dynamics0:53:35 - Ubisoft halts trading0:57:08 - PlayStation 5 turns 51:13:41 - Red Dead Redemption is coming to PS51:16:41 - Horizon: Steel Frontiers revealed1:34:24 - Ratchet & Clank: Ranger Rumble comes to mobile1:52:17 - Sony Q2 financials2:14:31 - New PlayStation PC monitor2:23:34 - Cheaper PS5 coming to Japan2:28:15 - New Marvel Tokon beta2:31:17 - New Elden Ring: Nightreign expansion2:33:52 - Todd Howard interview2:37:27 - Mass Effect is still in development2:37:56 - New PS+ game catalog games2:41:21 - What We’ve Been Playing (Ghost of Yotei, PowerWash Simulator 2, Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted, Arc Raiders, Lumines Arise, Dispatch)3:00:54 - Valve's new hardware3:29:09 - Will Sony change their PC strategy?3:34:44 - Gran Turismo 73:44:04 - Where should the subtitles option go?3:46:53 - Will Marathon benefit from Arc Raiders?3:58:46 - Eurogamer’s 2/5 review of Arc Raiders Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For those with specific use cases, the PlayStation Portal has always been awesome. But Sony has been quietly bolstering the device over the last two years, and with its newest update, it's become more powerful than ever. Those with a PS+ Essential subscription can now purchase and stream nearly 3,000 games directly to the device without any sort of console tether, a major step-up for a peripheral once reliant on PS5. What's it all mean for the future of PlayStation? We discuss! Plus: New cross-buy tags on PSN indicate Sony is preparing some sort of PC launcher, dynamic pricing on the PlayStation Store has some customers in a tizzy, Dan Houser spills the beans on Rockstar's cancelled PS3-exclusive spy thriller Agent, Marvel looks to stick with Sony-owned Insomniac for a long time to come, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Does Colin have any reflections on GameFAQs as it turns 30? What constitutes a good in-game map? How has our gaming behavior changed over the years? Who's most likely to want to blow into the DualSense microphone to light fires in Ghost of Yotei, even if they don't have to? Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:19:05 - Coffee Swamp0:21:55 - Sacred Sighting at Cedar Point0:29:58 - YouTube Premium is great0:36:54 - Tanvi0:38:40 - Alucard0:45:33 - Reesees0:47:28 - GTA VI delayed again0:51:18 - PlayStation Cloud streaming leave beta1:09:20 - "Cross-Buy" appears on PSN1:30:50 - PlayStation plays around with dynamic pricing1:46:45 - Dan Houser on Lex Fridman1:58:06 - Marvel will continue to work in Insomniac2:16:44 - Top PSN games in October2:25:20 - Physical games are 100x worse for the environment2:33:55 - What We’re Playing3:05:11 - What advancements do we want to see in games?3:17:04 - The shift to quick hit games3:27:20 - GameFAQs turns 303:33:54 - Blowing into the controller3:37:37 - Good video game maps3:41:56 - Genre preference changes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

An old piece of games industry lore has recently reemerged, and it has people wondering about a tantalizing what-if. Back in 1999, The Matrix hit theaters, and the co-creators of the film happened to have been huge fans of Hideo Kojima, himself a year removed from the launch of Metal Gear Solid. And, as was reported at the time, there was potential that Konami would allow Kojima to pursue a licensed Matrix game post-MGS. A lot of new information has since emerged about what did and didn't happen here, and it makes for a great conversation starter. So let's lean into it, shall we? Our conclusion: Perhaps Kojima doing MGS2 instead of a Matrix game means he likely dodged a bullet (pardon the pun). Other news this week includes some quiet updates seemingly being made to PlayStation Portal's functionality, leaks from Bluepoint's cancelled God of War game, the most recent China Hero Project title in the form of Loulan: The Cursed Sand, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Following Freedom Wars, Patapon, and Everybody's Golf, what should Sony's and Bandai Namco's next collaborative re-release be? Do PC players have any reason to invest in the modern PlayStation ecosystem? Will the culture war consume Naughty Dog's Intergalactic? Does Colin type so fast that his keyboard smokes? Download Cash App Today: https://capl.onelink.me/vFut/ty57yree #CashAppPod. Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. See terms and conditions at https://cash.app/legal/us/en-us/card-agreement. Discounts and promotions provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit http://cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:43:10 - RIP Nick Mangold0:44:13 - stand down non-traditional candy0:50:45 - Chris wills glass Snapple back0:55:36 - New York location lore0:59:19 - PS+ Premium streaming to Portal leaked1:12:23 - Bluepoint's cancelled God of War game leaks1:22:33 - Sony isn't interested in buying WB1:30:51 - Konami turned down a Kojima Matrix game1:48:20 - Loulan: The Cursed Sand is the next China Hero Project game1:58:19 - Square Enix is cracking down on Dragon Quest spoilers2:11:02 - November PS+ Games2:13:51 - What We’ve Been Playing (Ghost of Yotei, PowerWash Simulator 2, Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted, Battlefield 6, Vampire Survivors)2:41:13 - What Japan Studio game will get released by Bandai Namco?2:45:10 - Halo and the US government2:54:17 - Gaming ads on Sacred3:11:04 - Wait for PS6?3:20:24 - The console war lives in on services3:38:25 - Is Intergalactic the next target? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With Xbox's famous ringworld officially arriving on PlayStation 5 in 2026, we can rest assured that Sony's longtime rival has finally conceded the console space for good. Halo: Campaign Evolved -- clever! -- is a ground-up remake of the smash-hit 2001 Xbox launch title, and it comes with some new bells and whistles, including fresh content and a four-player online-enabled campaign. Microsoft even trotted Halo's community manager out in a PlayStation shirt, promised all upcoming Halo content is Sony-bound, and yielded perhaps their last meaningful franchise to the competition. This gives us much to discuss! Plus: Helldivers 2 dev Arrowhead begins work on its next project, Horizon's live-action movie is slated to film next year and launch in '27, Resident Evil 0 Remake rumors are percolating, we may be waiting a while longer for Starfield's PS5 debut, Electronic Arts scores a renewed deal with the NFL to continue the Madden franchise, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Why does anyone care about Photo Mode? What's our dream PowerWash Simulator 2 DLC? Is it okay to play a game without delving into its greater meaning and themes? Will Chris ever return from New York? Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:42:57 - RIP Sam Rivers0:44:41 - buttrock and rap metal0:54:36 - Couple vs few0:58:55 - Keep on keeping on Thomas1:03:48 - PSN Profiles issuers?1:12:16 - Halo is coming to PS51:54:28 - Arrowhead is hiring for a new game?2:01:24 - Updates on the Horizon film2:09:25 - Resident Evil 0 remake rumors2:14:37 - Starfield announcement for PS5 next year2:23:12 - EA NFL renewal2:28:25 - Ex-AC lead claims he didn't step down2:33:46 - Remedy CEO steps down2:37:22 - New sales data3:07:02 - What We’re Playing (Ghost of Yotei, Ninja Gaiden 4, Ball x Pit)3:21:03 - How's our media literacy?3:29:03 - Dream DLC for Power Wash Simulator?3:32:17 - Updates with trophies3:36:11 - Photo mode is free marketing?3:40:06 - Sony's PC strategy with Xbox's PC push3:45:59 - Soundbar recommendations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Time sure is moving, but has a sufficient amount of it passed for us to start considering the next generation of PlayStation console? According to two reliable leakers, the answer is yes: Sony is very much aiming to get PS6 out in 2027. This makes sense by historical standards -- seven years between consoles is fairly normal, if not even a little slow -- but it really doesn't feel like we need this thing. Or do we? By 2027, who knows what our ecosystem might look like. Let's discuss! Plus: Legendary Tecmo director and producer Tomonobu Itagakai has sadly passed away, Sony-owned studio Bluepoint is hiring for a mysterious third-person action project, San Diego Studio appears primed to finally bring its smash-hit MLB: The Show series to PC, Ghost of Yotei is selling at parity with Ghost of Tsushima, we could have very easily gotten a mobile The Last of Us game, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Do we like to partake in New Game+, when applicable? With Xbox's displacement as a hardware competitor, is Sony and Nintendo's long-standing rivalry primed to be reignited? Why don't we talk more about the fighting scene? Will Dustin regale us with some of his Japanese language skills? Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:38:55 - Shoutout Saxon0:43:38 - Eloping in Vegas0:54:26 - Dagster check in?0:55:44 - 今週何個の瓶を埋めたか教えてください0:57:31 - RIP Tomonobu Itagaki1:07:17 - PlayStation 6 in 20271:44:10 - Bluepoint hiring for a 3rd person melee action game1:53:40 - Ghost of Yotei sales similar to Tsushima , Suckerpunch can only do one game at a time2:05:41 - MLB: The Show coming to PC?2:12:13 - Tencent pitched a mobile Last of Us2:24:34 - PSVR2 controller for sale2:32:23 - Fans revive ModNation Racers2:36:49 - Quantic Dream reveals multiplayer game2:48:20 - Remedy's FBC Firebreak is in the red2:57:15 - Build A Rocket Boy in trouble3:01:13 - New PS+ games3:08:23 - What We’re Playing (Ghost of Tsushima, Ghost of Yotei, Battlefield 6, Lumines Arise)3:53:35 - Why is New Game+ late?3:58:58 - Why isn't Nintendo competition?4:06:34 - Video game betting4:14:01 - What do we want from a PlayStation handheld?4:19:03 - Why aren't we into fighting games? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you're a regular purchaser of games, you're a stark minority within the very industry you know and love. We've known all about the revenue-related trends directing games as of late, but recent data indicates things are far more dire than they seem, particularly if you're a single player purist. For instance, a third of gaming consumers purchase less than one game a year; 12% buy one game a year; 18% buy two games a year. Only 14% of players buy at least one game a month! Yet, there's more money flowing than ever. Like, lots more. What gives? A migration of customers and their habits, of course! We discuss. Other news this week includes a brief Mark Cerny video celebrating Sony's collaboration with AMD for PlayStation 6, the reemergence of Marathon with invites to an NDA'd closed test, the bluest DualSense controller you could possibly imagine, rumors of a cancelled Reconstruction-era Assassin's Creed, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Could Sony be on the precipice of adding to its family of first party studios? Is there a potential unfilled niche for medical-themed titles? Does PlayStation need to spin-up a new loyalty program? Forget about your favorite color. What's your favorite shape? Download the PrizePicks app and use code SACRED to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:37:16 - Strange places to listen to Sacred0:41:27 - Ben Debate0:52:43 - Favorite shape0:58:31 - Mark Cerny appears!1:09:26 - New player purchasing data1:29:11 - New Marathon technical test coming1:49:59 - New early PlayStation lore1:58:37 - New blue Dualsense2:03:38 - PlayStation Concert cancelled2:10:25 - Cancelled Assassin's creed leaked2:33:10 - Expedition 33 sells over 5 million, new content coming2:35:40 - New Circana data2:43:33 - Top PSN downloads2:47:34 - PowerWash Simulator 2 release date and Mina the Hollower delayed2:54:28 - What We’re Playing (Ghost of Tsushima, Ghost of Yotei, Baby Steps, Mario Galaxy)3:27:58 - SIE and Sword of the Sea?3:31:39 - Will Rockstar innovate gameplay in GTA VI3:37:38 - What's the end point of live service?3:42:44 - What do "fans" want?3:55:38 - PlayStation Stars still floating around3:59:19 - Where are the medical games? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

All anyone wants to talk about right now is Electronic Arts, and reasonably so. The American publishing titan is on the verge of being purchased by external interests for $55 billion, and when we say external, we mean it. The major player in reverting EA to a private corporation is Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, muddying this already complex deal that also happens to be the largest leveraged buyout in human history. Perhaps not surprisingly, this gives us much to pontificate on. Other news this week includes rumblings of a DualSense revision with a removable battery, the very real potential that a Prototype remaster is imminent, the wisdom (or perhaps lack thereof) in Forza Horizon 6 skipping PlayStation 5 at launch, and more. We then get into listener inquiries to wrap up the show, as we always do. What are our thoughts on Xbox's staggering Game Pass price hike? How do we feel about Magic: The Gathering's stylish new collaboration with PlayStation? Is Destiny officially on death's door? Will Dustin have a coffee named after him at a cafe in Texas? Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:27:35 - Sacred Sweaters! Preorder starts Monday!0:30:44 - Sacred Coffee specials0:38:06 - Salary for a henchman0:44:03 - EA sells to a consortium for $55 billion1:31:33 - Is Sony a "terrible company"?1:46:24 - New DualSense revision1:53:25 - Revisions to the PS5 Slim1:54:51 - Prototype remaster incoming?2:05:22 - Forza Horizon 6 is coming to PS5, but delayed2:14:03 - Ubisoft and Tecent's collaboration is called Vantage Studios2:17:13 - What We’re Playing (Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut, Puzzle Quest: Immortal Edition, BioShock 2, Baby Steps, Silent Hill f, Megabonk)2:46:17 - Xbox's price hike3:23:32 - What's next for Halo?3:40:36 - Direct sequels or spiritual successors3:47:29 - Sony/Magic the Gathering3:57:56 - Is Destiny 2 dead?4:04:54 - Series prime for AA sequels Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The "where are the games?!" crowd is having a bad week, because PlayStation's most recent State of Play showed that plenty is indeed incoming for your PS5. For starters, Insomniac's long-dormant Wolverine has reemerged. Revealed four years ago and having clearly gone through some tribulations behind-the-scenes, Wolverine is slated for PlayStation 5 next fall, and it looks violent and grisly in all the right ways. Coming sooner from first party, however, is Housemarque's Returnal sequel Saros, launching in March of '26. It looks awesome, and we're to get back to shootin'. But as if these two games didn't give us enough to talk about, there's more: Microsoft Flight Simulator is the next Xbox-aligned game PS5-bound (with Forza Horizon 6 somewhere behind it), the original Deus Ex is getting the remaster treatment, a God of War DualSense has been revealed in recognition of the franchise's 20th anniversary, Kojima both revealed a Physint poster and showed off his new horror title OD, and much more. Then: Listener inquiries! What's going on with the PS5 Pro's many technical issues? Will NetEase's F2P game Ananta be as insane as it seems? Why do we have such a problem with the premise of licensed games? Is Boar's Head's fine deli meat becoming too expensive for the average consumer? Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:21:17 - Sony mascots owning a gentlemen's club0:26:19 - Boar's Head prices0:32:22 - Colin in wedding vows0:34:04 - Ghost of Yotei hype low?0:40:21 - State of Play - Wolverine1:05:31 - Saros1:16:39 - Microsoft Flight Simulator 20241:31:35 - PlayStation Pulse elevate speakers1:39:34 - Smaller SoP announcements2:11:18 - Kojima announcements2:29:25 - Forza Horizon 6 announced, coming to PS52:32:57 - PlayStation Franchise Rewards2:40:27 - Metal Gear Solid Collection Vol 22:46:46 - Yakuza announcements2:48:24 - A new Mafia game has been greenlit2:50:04 - New player habits data from Ampere Analysis2:51:48 - What We’ve Been Playing (Cronos: The New Dawn, Puzzle Quest: Immortal Edition, Baby Steps, Borderlands 4, Hitman 1-3, Silent Hill f)3:23:52 - Current feelings on PS5 Pro3:36:00 - Ananta copying Spider-man, GTA etc3:44:24 - Negative outlook on licensed games4:00:09 - Best gamer at LSM4:07:37 - Top 5 genres Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The internet is alight with word that a State of Play (or perhaps even a proper so-called Showcase) is right around the corner, and with it the purported reemergence of Insomniac's Wolverine, first revealed way back in 2021 alongside Spider-Man 2 (which itself came out two years ago). Is our clawed, self-healing, and somewhat short friend about to reemerge from the shadows, perhaps with a 2026 release on PlayStation 5 in tow? We're about to find out, along with -- perhaps! -- confirmation of a Venom title, too (and presumably much more). Plus: Ghost of Yotei and Helldivers 2 find themselves sucked into recent social events, Tencent hits back at Sony over its Horizon-based lawsuit, Borderlands 4 is a technical mess for many (and Randy Pitchford won't shut up about it), Hell Is Us' director calls Silksong's surprise release "callous," and so much more. Then: Listener inquiries! Would we ever attempt something as challenging as a company Top 100 Games of All-Time list? What are some potential launch games for PlayStation 6? How does one display their physical games collection when there isn't enough room for all of it? Is Dustin about to move into the poorhouse? Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:19:41 - Following up on last week0:33:18 - Sacred Mad Libs0:43:44 - Result of mad libs0:49:34 - Dustin's YouTube channel1:01:12 - This Week's Situation1:10:51 - Is or Are1:13:38 - Sony PR is having a bad time1:44:13 - Insomniac rumors1:58:25 - Tencent responds to Sony's lawsuit2:06:15 - Borderlands performance issues2:23:18 - Hell is Us director comments on SIlksong2:34:51 - Sega leaks Kiwami 32:38:13 - AC Black Flag remake is coming2:46:40 - Dragon Quest VII Reimagined announced2:54:41 - Mega Man Star Force collection3:04:22 - TV adaptations drive sales3:18:23 - Flight Simulator coming to PlayStation?3:22:36 - What We’re Playing (Cronos: The New Dawn, Everybody’s Golf: Hot Shots, Skate, Borderlands 4, Hell is Us)3:56:47 - 100 greatest video games of all time4:04:29 - PS6 cartridge based?4:08:18 - PS6 launch titles4:19:09 - Ninja Gaiden Ragebound enemies4:21:42 - Managing a physical game collection Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Name any random PlayStation IP from the days of yore, and people will claim to want it back. One such franchise is Sucker Punch's long-dormant Sly Cooper trilogy, the third game of which is now 20 years old. (And yes, we got a fourth Sly game from Sanzaru in 2013, but it's not like many of you played it.) A recent interview indicates there are very few people at Sony's Washington-based studio interested in returning to the Thievius Raccoonus, and perhaps for good reason. After all, they want to sell actual units. We discuss! Plus: New PlayStation 6 rumors percolate in the wild, Bend is apparently hiring for a multiplayer title, precious details about Naughty Dog's Intergalactic emerge, and deep sales information has been released about PlayStation's historic software sales here in the US over the last 30 years. Then: Listener inquiries! Will the Hollow Knight: Silksong pricing drama ever end? Should Media Molecule invest in the 'cozy game' revolution? Is Marathon even worth being excited over at all? Can we help ingratiate the younger generation into the psychosis of Sacred Symbols? Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:10:39 - Addressing recent events1:10:54 - End of political conversation1:25:01 - Happy Birthday Lily1:28:12 - Shout out Jessica1:29:49 - Dustin and Chris contributing to the show notes1:37:22 - PlayStation Family App1:41:00 - PS6 will still have a disk drive1:50:59 - Sucker Punch doesn't want to make a new Sly Cooper game2:06:43 - Bend is hiring a creative director and looking for multiplayer experience2:13:01 - New Intergalactic info2:19:54 - Wolfenstein third game teased?2:26:05 - Best selling PlayStation games since 19952:39:45 - PSN downloads for August 20252:41:43 - New PS+ Extra games2:45:33 - What Are We Playing? (RoboCop: Rogue City Everybody’s Golf: Hot Shots Hell is Us, MGS Delta, Silksong, The Finals)3:21:04 - Portal charging dock3:26:50 - Is Marathon worth being excited for?3:30:40 - How can Media Molecule turn things around?3:34:20 - SIlksong's $20 price point3:46:23 - Dan Houser's future3:52:02 - PlayStation embracing timed exclusivity Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While Ghost of Yotei has gone gold and is now right around the corner, other segments of PlayStation Studios are on far less sturdy ground. Fairgames (or Fairgame$, if you like marketing) is seemingly the latest victim of an unprecedented run of bad decision-making, execution, and leadership within Sony's first party, as the upcoming shooter has shed its director, often (though not always) a dire sign for any project. Taken with recent reports (from this very show) of poor internal playtesting -- all the while Haven has already shed its major front-facing face and co-founder Jade Raymond -- we simply have to wonder whether Fairgames will ever launch at all. And if it does, does it have any potential to succeed whatsoever? Other news this week includes the rumored reemergence of Insomniac's Wolverine project, downward-revised SSD space for upcoming PS5 consoles, a fresh look at the promising Uncharted-like IO title 007: First Light, and much more. Then: Listener inquiries! Does Naughty Dog actually represent the pinnacle of game dev? How much can people twist themselves into a knot to justify piracy? What kind of pressure are studios and publishers under to adopt AI solutions? Will "Alleghany Hogs" catch on around the world? Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:32:42 - Shoutout Preston0:40:47 - "Please clean up after your dog"0:52:10 - Let em oink0:54:16 - Chronos helmet = penis?0:55:36 - MGS3 correction0:56:34 - Ghost of Yotei goes gold1:03:22 - Fairgames creative director leave Haven1:28:24 - Wolverine rumors1:47:23 - PS5 reducing storage space on new units2:02:18 - 007 First Light gameplay revealed2:14:27 - IO may not publish an external game again after MindsEye2:19:13 - Hollow Knight SIlksong is only $202:27:57 - Capcom president says consoles are too becoming too expensive2:34:55 - Pragmata is not a Mega Man game2:37:01 - More games coming to PS42:44:57 - New live-action Tomb Raider2:47:04 - What We’re Playing3:29:04 - Emulating new games3:44:41 - Why is Naughty Dog one of the best?3:53:42 - Call of Duty changing course on skins?4:00:24 - World's first platinum4:04:38 - Sony's pressure to integrate AI4:09:31 - Grading the show at the end Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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

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

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

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