Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast

Latest Episodes:

#120: The Kenzo Conspiracy Oct 19, 2020

Show notes

We've all been dying to see PlayStation 5's UI, so it's awesome that -- finally! -- Sony has given us a little taste. In a roughly 12-minute video, we grabbed a prolonged glimpse at the basic user experience on PS5, and it looks great. Snappy. Utilitarian. Perhaps even a little crowded and busy. Yet, there was also an overt Killzone Easter Egg put before us that seems to indicate more than meets the eye. Or does it? We discuss. Plus: Miles Morales has gone gold, PS4's new firmware update is both mandatory and controversial, precisely 10 PlayStation 4 games won't work on PS5, and beloved developer Level-5 may be in trouble. Then: Listener inquiries! Is Colin too hard on Jak & Daxter? Should Sony keep its marketing powder dry until consoles are actually available to the public? Can "speaking with your wallet" spell doom for many developers? Will Chris tell us more about Stone Cold Steve 3:16?

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#119: Seeking Power Oct 12, 2020

Show notes

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

#118: Face-Off Oct 05, 2020

Show notes

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

#117: Nuclear Winter Sep 28, 2020

Show notes

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

#116: This Means War Sep 19, 2020

Show notes

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

#115: Uprising Sep 14, 2020

Show notes

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

#114: Don't Go Back Sep 07, 2020

Show notes

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

#113: Sunset Suicide Aug 31, 2020

Show notes

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

#112: Tantos For Two Aug 24, 2020

Show notes

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

#111: Corporate Imperialism Aug 17, 2020

Show notes

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

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected