Next-Gen Console Watch

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Donkey Kong Bananza Is Switch 2’s Killer App - Next-Gen Console Watch Jul 18, 2025

Show notes

Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week the team discuss IGN's first 10 out of 10 game of the year: Donkey Kong Bananza. Nintendo Voice Chat's Logan Plant, who reviewed the game, stops by to elaborate on his glowing score. We also look on the PS5 and Xbox side to see what would be those consoles' definitive "killer app" titles. Plus we have last week's poll results, and a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com.

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Game Pass Isn't Hurting Xbox Sales, So Is AI To Blame For Layoffs? - Next-Gen Console Watch Jul 11, 2025

Show notes

Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week Ryan and Max try and make sense of the latest round of layoffs fro Microsoft, which saw the company dismiss over 9,000 staff across multiple subsidiaries. Arkane Studios founder Raphael Collantonio recently blamed Game Pass for the megapublisher's financial belt tightening, but recent sales data suggests Game Pass isn't hurting game sales; in fact, five of the top seven best-selling games of May 2025 were Microsoft-published titles, and all available on Game Pass. This suggests that those games are selling very well on other platforms, like PlayStation. So what's really to blame?

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Comparing the ACTUAL Exclusives of PS5, Xbox, and Switch 2 - Next Gen Console Watch Jul 01, 2025

Show notes

This week on Next-Gen Console watch, we take a look at the state of games exclusive to one console, . Between Sony’s expansion into the PC gaming space, and Microsoft putting more and more Xbox Game Studios games topping the charts on competitors’ platforms, it seems like Nintendo is the only console maker keeping its games in one place, and Donkey Kong Bananza is shaping up to be one of the Switch 2’s first killer (gorilla) apps.

This week’s show is Max Scoville, Ryan McCaffrey, Logan Plant, and is produced by Nick Maillet

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First PS6, Xbox Next Details Analyzed – Next-Gen Console Watch Jun 19, 2025

Show notes

Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week, Daemon, Ryan, and Max analyze Xbox's recent announcement that they're partnering with AMD on multiple pieces of hardware, including the third-party ASUS ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X handhelds, and the likely successor console to the Series X and S. What does this mean for Xbox's hardware future? How does this connect to their push for cloud gaming? And how does this affect Sony's future with the PlayStation 6? Plus we go over last week's poll results and we have a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com.

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Nintendo Switch 2 Launch Wins and Losses - Next-Gen Console Watch Jun 13, 2025

Show notes

Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! After a week off because of IGN Live, Daemon, Max, and Ryan take a look at the Nintendo Switch 2's launch and dive into what worked, and what didn't. Nintendo is touting the launch as their most succesful, outselling the original Switch over the same four-day period. Some analysts are already hailing the Switch 2 as the fastest-selling console of all time, which is great, but the common criticism, is there's not exactly a "killer app" akin to Breath of the Wild for the Switch 1. We also have last episode's poll results, and a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com.

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Nintendo Switch 2: Our Hopes and Fears - Next-Gen Console Watch May 31, 2025

Show notes

IGN Live is nearly here and we have a limited number of complimentary tickets for it! Head here and use the code "NGCWGUEST" to get a complimentary GA ticket for Saturday or Sunday: www.ign.com/live . Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week, Logan is on a very special assignment, so it's just Daemon, Max, and Ryan. The topic: their biggest hopes and deepest fears for the Nintendo Switch 2. We're hoping the Switch 2 can maintain momentum with third-parties, especially considering the Switch 2 is closer in parity to the other current-gen consoles, than the Switch 1 was to the PS4 and Xbox One. And we're all worried that everyone Switch owners biggest fear could return: Joy-Con drift. We also ahve last week's poll results, and a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com.

And don't forget to buy tickets to IGN Live happening in Downtown Los Angeles next week, June 7-8. Go to https://www.ign.com/live/ for the full schedule, and use promo code NGCWGUEST for one free ticket!

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Our PS5, Nintendo, Xbox Summer Show Predictions - Next-Gen Console Watch May 23, 2025

Show notes

Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! We have a full squad this week, with Max Scoville, Logan Plant, and Ryan McCaffrey going over their predictions for each major console's upcoming summer showcases. Nintendo already gave us a showcase when they full unveiled the Switch 2 along with the launch window lineup, but of course Sony and Xbox need to have their time in the sun, too. PS5 has a couple of high-profile games still slated for this year, including Ghost of Yōtei and Marathon. Xbox needs to show off the next project from Double Fine, along with deeper dives on the upcoming Ninja Gaiden 4, the Gears of War remaster, and more. What are you hoping to see from this summer's showcases? Let us know in the comments.

And it's not too late to get tickets for IGN Live! Head over to ign.com/Live and use promo code NGCW for a discount.

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Nintendo Says Physical Games Are Still Key (Cards) - Next-Gen Console Watch May 16, 2025

Show notes

Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week we speak with Nintendo Voice Chat host Logan Plant about visiting the new Nintendo Store in San Francisco, and interviewing Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser. In that interview, Bowser explained the benefit of having game-key cards that don't actually have the game on them, and we discuss how Nintendo is setting up the Switch 2 for success in its first year. Plus we have last week's poll results.

And don't forget to secure your tickets to IGN Live, our second annual in-person event being held in downtown Los Angeles next month. Get tickets at ign.com/live and use promo code NGCW for a discount.

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GTA 6: Why PS5 Pro Should Be the Best Way To Play - Next-Gen Console Watch May 07, 2025

Show notes

Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week Daemon is joined by Podcast Unlocked's Ryan McCaffrey and IGN's Executive Tech Editor, Bo Moore, to talk GTA 6's influence on the PS5 Pro. Will Sony's latest Pro console get a bump in sales because of GTA 6, considering it'll be the best way to play the game until the inevitable PC release? And we take a look at Microsoft's new pricing strategy for the Xbox Series X and S and all the accessories. The strategy: everything costs more now. And, will PlayStation follow suit and raise prices on their hardware? They've done it in other markets, will the U.S. be next? Plus we have last week's poll results, and a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com.

And don't forget to join us for IGN's second annual IGN Live, a huge in-person event held in Downtown Los Angeles. You can get tickets at IGN.com/Live and use promo code NGCW for a discount.

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Console Pre-orders Are Still a Disaster - Next-Gen Console Watch May 02, 2025

Show notes

Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! The Nintendo Switch 2 officially went up for preorder in the United States last week, and it went about as well as one might expect considering it's the follow-up to one of the best-selling gaming consoles of all time. Websites crasheds, credit card charges were declined, launch day deliveries were missed—it was chaos. Although many prevailed in securing a Switch 2 preorder, it wasn't easy; why hasn't the games industry learned from this? Why aren't retailers like Best Buy and Walmart better prepared for big consumer-focused moments? Should console manufacturers just bypass third-party retailers and sell directly to consumers? Plus we have last week's poll and a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com.

And don't forget to secure your tickets to IGN Live! Our big in-person event is returning to Los Angeles June 7-8, after a major turnout last year. Visit IGN.com/Live for details and tickets.

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