Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast - Last Stand Media & Studio71

#333 | Waking, Believing, Running Nov 18, 2024

With profits falling and first party game releases scarce, it seemed like PlayStation's positive commercial situation may have been softening. But Sony's newest financial report illustrates a rosy picture, with ballooning sales, impressive margins, and a brighter software-driven future that promises more of the brand's bread-and-butter: First party, single-player AAA fare. With a temporary PS5 price cut now instituted, rumors of Guerrilla's Horizon Online targeting a 2025 release date, and so on, it appears PlayStation may be back-on-track and off to the races. Other news this week includes even more confirmation that Xbox games will continue to migrate to PlayStation in greater numbers, a potential tease of a Sony event commemorating PSone's 30th anniversary, Amazon finally getting a Mass Effect TV show off the ground, and more. Then, we wrap up with listener inquiries. Have we started thinking about what our respective "Game of the Year" might be? How come Game of Thrones never got an adequate (or even great) video game rendition? Is it possible to play the "biggest" and "best" games on a budget? Can we all agree that Christmas trees shouldn't be put out until November at the earliest?

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro

0:26:20 - Secret pooper

0:40:15 - Christmas decorations in August

0:43:25 - Colin and Micah's 1 year anniversary

0:47:41 - Lillymo's next game

0:50:03 - PS5 Pro experience so far

1:06:13 - RIP Tony Tod

1:11:38 - A few PSAs

1:13:47 - Sony is teasing something for December 3rd

1:19:34 - Horizon Online in 2025?

1:26:32 - More Xbox games coming to PlayStation

1:46:46 - New Indiana Jones gameplay video

1:53:32 - Mass Effect TV show coming from Amazon

2:05:19 - What Are We Playing?

2:27:54 - Sony Financials

2:44:32 - New PS Plus games

2:53:06 - Best Selling PSN Games for October

3:01:29 - Are we ready to decide Game of the Year?

3:08:46 - Are FPS games losing their visual identity?

3:17:04 - Paywalled articles is theft?

3:30:07 - When will PlayStation make a handheld?

3:37:37 - Why isn't there a good Game of Thrones game?

3:42:39 - Is gaming a luxury hobby?

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#332 | Through A Fractal on a Breaking Wall Nov 11, 2024

Barriers continue to erode in our industry, with the surprising news that one-time PlayStation exclusive Death Stranding would be migrating to Xbox platforms on the fifth anniversary (to the day) of its launch on PS4. Taken along with Sony publishing games like Rise of the Ronin and Stellar Blade that it never owned outright to begin with -- a truly marked change from prior behavior -- what does the brand's increasing flexibility mean for its traditionally robust and powerful exclusives catalog? Is openness a vital component of keeping the games flowing in the modern era? And with yet another Xbox game seemingly en route to PS5 in the form of Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, how are things moving in the other direction? Other news this week includes fresh word of a Hogwarts Legacy sequel, confirmation of Grand Theft Auto VI's release season, Take Two's sale of AA label Private Division, and more. Listener inquiries help us round things out, per usual. How do we define "the modern audience?" Is gaming an important component of our respective relationships? Has replayability taken a nosedive this generation? How did the interaction between a listener's mother and Colin go when she encountered him walking his dogs?

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Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro

0:18:23 - Joseph's mom

0:21:16 - Daylight Savings time

0:27:48 - Time to put up Christmas decorations?

0:38:24 - Take Two confirms GTA VI next year and sells Private Division

0:52:18 - Alan Wake 2 is still not profitable

1:02:51 - List of PS5 Pro enabled games

1:06:46 - Bandai Namco trademarks two new games

1:12:40 - Death Stranding coming to Xbox

1:31:44 - What Are We Playing?

2:04:05 - HogLeg 2 is confirmed

2:15:11 - Age of Empires II coming to PlayStation

2:22:05 - Games media becoming more Political

2:44:29 - Who is the "modern audience"?

2:51:20 - Real world ads in EA games

2:54:48 - Can you have a long term relationship with someone who doesn't like games?

3:02:50 - Game replayability

3:09:43 - Time off playing games

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#331 | I Can See Inside You, the Sickness Is Rising Nov 04, 2024

It's not been a good week for PlayStation's vaunted first party studios. For starters, Insomniac's long-in-development licensed Marvel title Wolverine (first revealed to the public way back in 2021) has lost both its game and creative directors, an ominous sign that something has gone seriously wrong behind-the-scenes. Meanwhile, two Sony-owned teams -- Firewalk and Neon Koi -- have been shuttered outright, ending any glimpse of a return for the troubled service game Concord, and stymying mightily Sony's glacial mobile initiatives. Between blowing billions on Bungie, the disaster of the aforementioned Concord, the cancellation of a slate of fare (including The Last of Us Online), and a trickling first party pipeline, what exactly is going on at Sony? And who's responsible for this mess, anyway? We have an enormous amount to discuss. We wrap things up with listener inquiries, of course. What are some of our favorite defunct gaming websites? Should the Tales JRPG series be played in a certain order? Is Sonic experiencing a sales (and critical) renaissance? Can we stop with all the flagrant tipping, already?

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#330 | Milk It For All It's Worth Oct 28, 2024

It's now obvious that Sony shouldn't have purchased Bungie back in 2022, but considering the transaction did indeed occur, both parties have to make the best out of a less-than-promising situation. After instituting a significant reduction in headcount, poaching key employees for posts within PlayStation proper, and even swiping an entire team and drafting it into PlayStation Studios, Sony has made another play, ingesting Bungie's Creative Studios to help shepherd the wider brand's future service games. How will this entire ordeal play out in the end? We're years away from finding out, but that doesn't stop us from speculating. Plus: Spider-Man 2 is getting a Nixxes-led PC port in early '25, Amazon Prime's God of War project receives a massive personnel overhaul, a recent interview with Guerrilla has some fans longing for more Killzone, and more. We wrap things up (as always) with listener inquiries. Have we reached a dead end with game design? Are 60 frames plenty, or should we ultimately strive for 120? How might Sony celebrate PlayStation 2's 25th anniversary next year? Are we able to convince a skeptical fan that -- yes, indeed! -- 'tchotchke' is a real word?

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#329 | Window Sitting in the Banishment Room Oct 21, 2024

Dustin is still roaming aimlessly around Japan (he'll be back next week), and the news has been slow in our beloved industry, leaving me (Colin) and Chris up to our own devices. And yet, there are still a few interesting tidbits to discuss. For starters, PS5's Astro Bot is getting weekly -- and totally free -- content over the next month-plus, while the Until Dawn film has been given an April '25 release date for its arrival in theaters as rumors surrounding a sequel to the 2015 game continue to percolate. Plus: Helldivers 2 received another major update, Sony revealed an in-person PlayStation concert series, Dino Crisis is locked to PS+ Premium for some reason, and Bandai Namco is reportedly exploring headcount reductions leveraging a shady Japanese corporate tradition: Oidashibeya, an evolution of another tactic called madogiwazoku. Listener inquiries tie things up on the back end, per usual. If Donald Trump wins the presidency, will gaming consoles in America be strapped with a tariff? Are we amped about the revival of the long-dormant and once-popular Backyard Sports series? Could Metaphor: ReFantazio appeal to JRPG fans that don't like Persona? Will Colin ever wake up after being put to sleep by a Dragon Age: The Veilguard-related question?

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#328 | 12th Time's A Charm Oct 14, 2024

The long-awaited remake of Silent Hill 2 has finally arrived on PlayStation 5, and it's a hit. Players around the world are loving it, providing audiences with the very first acclaimed title from Polish studio Bloober Team. Indeed, many (including some on this show) questioned whether these guys were even up to the task, and reasonably so: Bloober's average Metacritic score across 11 previous PlayStation releases is a 65. But it's here, it's great, and we're excited to talk about it, along with other horror-themed fare in the form of Until Dawn Remake, too. Other news this week includes rumblings of a potential Concord F2P comeback, Ubisoft possibly being taken private, SEGA's surprise announcement of Alien: Isolation 2, the delisting of LittleBigPlanet 3 from the PSN, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Are scalpers merely serving a necessary purpose on the free market? Should everyone cut Assassin's Creed: Shadows a little bit of slack? Has Atlus overcome Square Enix as the industry's most prolific JRPG publisher? Will the New York Jets ever stop ruining Colin's life?

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#327 | Electric Eyes Are Everywhere Oct 07, 2024

Last week, many tried -- and most failed -- to get their hands on the extremely limited PlayStation 5 Pro 30th Anniversary Edition, of which only 12,000-ish units were made. But the crush on PlayStation Direct for regular Pro units and other 30th anniversary accoutrements all at the same time led to a lot of disappointment. What did each of us come out of the scuffle with, and how do we think Sony can better manage special events like this, where loyalty and engagement should matter a whole lot more than random queue placement. Plus: PSN goes down for a surprising amount of time, HBO's second season of The Last of Us gets a trailer, something seems up between Sony and Square Enix, Dragon Quest's creator isn't too happy about censorship, and more. Then: Listener inquiries. With some distance now established, what are our overarching thoughts on the PlayStation Portable? Where is Capcom's Pragmata hiding, and will it ever come out? Are in-game Photo Modes actually popular? Can we contain our laughter at watching someone playing Heavy Rain without doing any of the QTEs?

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/symbols and get on your way to being your best self
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#326 | Stirring Ghosts Sep 30, 2024

With a fresh State of Play now behind us, it felt like a good opportunity to publish this week's Sacred Symbols early for our paying audience on Patreon. And yes: There's cause for celebration. After years of dormancy, Sony-owned studio Sucker Punch has finally revealed its sequel to 2020's Ghost of Tsushima. It's called Ghost of Yotei, and it launches exclusively on PlayStation 5 in 2025. But the recent presentation was chock-full of other games, too, including lingering remasters from times past, like Soul Reaver and Lunar. And -- yes, indeed! -- the rumors surrounding Horizon: Zero Dawn Remastered are real, too. From Hell Is Us and Fantasian Neo Dimension to LEGO Horizon Adventures and a new Yakuza title, we've got a lot to discuss. We wrap things up with listener inquiries, as is our tradition. Is the games industry missing a vital source of positive energy by eschewing live events? Will Square Enix ever port the Final Fantasy XIII trilogy to modern hardware? Could Helldivers 2 be in the midst of a major comeback? Do the New York Jets have Colin feeling a special sort of way?

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#325 | The Relentless March of Progress Sep 23, 2024

It seems like just yesterday that PS5 Pro was officially revealed, so in that context, we have some weird news for you: It's time to talk about PlayStation 6. Some of the first hard reporting on Sony's future console has emerged from newswire Reuters, and there are some interesting details within. But we have plenty of time to look backwards, too, because Vita classic Freedom Wars is being ported to PS5, as-is Horizon: Zero Dawn (though some people think we don't exactly need the latter one). Other news this week includes fresh information about Concord's demise, a ton of new PlayStation 30th Anniversary console and accessory announcements, rumors of Marathon's price point, and more. Listener inquiries end the show, as usual. Is it time for some 7th console generation revisionist history? Are naysayers going to be dead-wrong about the demand for a new Pro console? Will the price of next-gen consoles stagger or surprise? Can loud gulpers and chewers ever own their own behavior and stand down?

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#324 | Astronomical Sep 16, 2024

It's been an exciting week in the world of PlayStation. On the software front, Team Asobi's Astro Bot has arrived on PS5, and everyone loves it, us included. We gush about it in the What We're Playing section of the show, and encourage all of you to give it a try if you haven't already. Meanwhile, over in hardware territory, the long-lingering PlayStation 5 Pro has been officially revealed for a November release. Some people are excited about the machine (the three of us will each be buying our own for launch), but many others aren't pleased at the high price, the lack of a disc drive, and even what the machine can do. Who's right? It turns out everyone is! Capitalism will sort this whole thing, one way or another... but something tells us PS5 Pro will be just fine. Other news this week includes John Garvin's most recent Days Gone-related Twitter episode, a slight increase in the cost of a new DualSense, a fresh approach for future Destiny 2 content, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Why would a band ever turn down an opportunity to have their music in Grand Theft Auto VI? Could Ubisoft 'go private' and repair its deepening financial woes? How can we justify buying a game at launch when the product is always cheaper and in better shape later on? Are everyone's cats and dogs safe and sound?

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#323 | Losing the Northstar Sep 09, 2024

The situation with Concord couldn't be any more dire. By the time this podcast is published, Sony's beleaguered hero shooter would have already been pulled offline, with every purchaser refunded. It marks the tragic end of a project that barely got off the ground at all, and certainly represents the biggest black eye PlayStation first party has ever experienced in its near-30 year history. We spend a lot of time going over everything that went wrong, and all such a failure implies: Poor vision, lacking leadership, and utter directionlessness. It's as if Sony execs completely lost sight of what's important, and no: It has nothing to do with Concord being multiplayer. Other news this week includes Hideaki Itsuno's exit from Capcom after three decades, layoffs plaguing a bunch of studios (including a PlayStation second party that hasn't even released its game yet), and more. Listener inquiries round things out, as always. What's the deal with this Wukong exclusivity drama? Should we be happy or concerned about Annapurna investment in Remedy's future projects? Are we suffering from a glut of "ugly characters" in video games? Is Chris prepared to hear a fact about the cast of Foamstars from which he may never be able to recover?

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#322 | Conquered Sep 02, 2024

It seems all any of you want to talk about is Concord, Sony-owned studio Firewalk's dead-on-arrival service shooter, and easily one of the biggest commercial bombs in PlayStation first party history. We have a lot to say about it, and you can find that chatter in the What We're Playing section. But there's a ton of other news this week, too, including more PS5 Pro leaks that show us what the console actually looks like, further trials and tribulations at Bungie, the announcement of Sony's MENA Hero Project incubation effort, Blue Protocol's cancellation, Foamstars going free-to-play, a looming strike at French studio Spiders, and more. Then: Listener inquiries. What can Sony do to ensure Fairgames doesn't fall into the same traps Concord did? Should PlayStation Studios be pursuing single player-friendly games-as-a-service, a la MiHoYo titles? Do we criticize or commend Konami for seemingly changing very little in MGS3 remake Metal Gear Solid Delta? What did Colin think of a particularly eldritch video Chris recommended, ranking Sonic's most attractive characters?

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#321 | Stolen Treasure Aug 26, 2024

What we assumed would ultimately happen has come to pass: Machinegames' upcoming Indiana Jones title is indeed coming to PlayStation 5. Between Minecraft, Call of Duty, and Bethesda -- not to mention Xbox Studios itself -- Microsoft has quickly become one of Sony's biggest third party partners, and we suspect things are still just getting started. Other news this week includes the announcement of Borderlands 4, new Mafia and Dying Light games, word of Sea of Thieves' meteoric success on PS5, impressive Silent Hill 2 Remake gameplay footage, tons of Astro Bot spoilers, pricing details for Until Dawn Remake, and more. As usual, listener inquiries help us round things out. How come rank-and-file developers never get the blame for bad games? Can Chris guide a new Destiny 2 player through the trials and tribulations of figuring things out? Which upcoming PlayStation-aligned game-as-a-service has the most potential? Has Colin yet again offended the sensibilities of the Irish?

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#320 | Closing Walls and Ticking Clocks Aug 19, 2024

We're getting into the late summer now, and it's no surprise that the news is beginning to pick up, starting with word of more Xbox games migrating to PlayStation. By our next episode, we should have at least one more Microsoft-centric title lined-up for PlayStation 5, a sign of the times as -- ultimately -- much of that catalog finds itself elsewhere. Meanwhile, problems are brewing in Sony's games-as-a-service initiative. On one hand, Concord's release is imminent, and the excitement level is precariously low. It's unclear whether Firewalk can really pull this thing off. On the other hand, we have second party title Helldivers 2, which has been tinkered with to such a degree that players are being rebuffed en masse. Can Arrowhead turn it around and keep a good thing going? Other news this week includes Dragon Age: The Veilguard's release date, the revival of Tango Gameworks, Final Fantasy VII Remake: Part III's potential move to Unreal Engine 5, and more. Then: Listener inquiries. How bad can the Borderlands film actually be? What kind of power does Fortnite wield these days? Is controller drift caused by faulty hardware or aggressive players? Did Chris really think he could win a breakdancing gold medal at the Paris Olympics?

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#319 | Just A Taste of All That Might Come to Be Aug 12, 2024

We're pleased to present to you a decidedly old-school-coded episode of Sacred Symbols, recorded in the traditional 1v1 fashion. And we've plenty to keep us busy, starting with Sony's quarterly financials showing a thriving games division hampered by slowing console sales. But with PS5 Pro around the corner (and the inevitable first true price cut for the core hardware), can we count on things picking up once more? Meanwhile, as we've long-assumed, Santa Monica Studio is indeed working on a new IP, its first since the original God of War launched in 2005 (and only its second, period). When can we expect its reveal? Plus: Our first look at The Last of Us on HBO's second season, PC specs for God of War: Ragnarok, the closure of one-time Sony second party Ready at Dawn, PlayStation 4 still drawing ports like Star Wars Jedi: Survivor after 11 years, and more, followed by listener inquiries. What are our expectations for Insomniac's Wolverine? Can the heyday of Guitar Hero and Rock Band after be recaptured? Could The Last of Us Online quickly have become Sony's most expensive game ever? Did Dustin's absence inadvertently cause the Japanese stock market crash?

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#318 | Hey Man, Wake Up and Smell the Concrete Aug 05, 2024

While Sony may have purchased Bungie with specific end-goals in mind, it's clear -- some two years later -- that the deal hasn't improved PlayStation whatsoever. In fact, it's becoming increasingly nebulous why the acquisition was made at all, with Bungie hemorrhaging money, laying off hundreds, shedding high-end talent, and churning through funds that could be better spent by Sony's actually reliable stable of teams. With further layoffs, the creation of a new spin-off first party squad, and drama galore, there's plenty for us to get into on this topic alone. But there are other things to discuss, too: Firesprite is seemingly making a PlayStation 6 game, Until Dawn Remake got an ESRB rating, Activision's compelling white paper makes a great case for skill-based matchmaking, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Do we have any nostalgia for pandemic-era gaming? Would Sony have been wise to rely more heavily on established IP for their games-as-a-service push? With studio failures aplenty, is it even worth getting into game dev at this point? How has Colin been dealing with Boar's Head's darkest days ever?

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Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro

0:28:15 - San Diego Live show!

0:29:55 - where baby?

0:36:39 - Will CCDF work at LSM?

0:45:46 - Boar's Head listeria outbreak

0:53:52 - Stolen pet waste basket

0:59:22 - Mega Man figure jar

1:03:51 - Cleaning in the shower

1:07:50 - New PSVR2 and PS5 pricing

1:14:33 - Astro Bot Dualsense

1:16:44 - Until Dawn Remake gets rated

1:20:43 - Voice actors strike

1:23:12 - Skill Based match making works

1:32:51 - Legacy of Kain returns?

1:42:57 - Alien Hominid 1 and 2 remastered

1:46:20 - Armored Core and Silent Hill sales and downloads

1:47:37 - What are we playing?

2:08:23 - Bungie Layoffs

2:52:06 - Firesprite's future game

2:59:00 - New PS Plus games

3:03:31 - Gaming with Biden and Trump

3:06:23 - PlayStation's creativity

3:12:34 - Pandemic gaming

3:19:58 - New vs old IP for live service

3:26:43 - Why pursue a career in games?

3:38:06 - Requirement to keep games going

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#317 | Cater to the Hollow Jul 29, 2024

Anything can happen, but it seems likely that Firewalk's upcoming hero shooter Concord is essentially dead-on-arrival upon launch in late August. But with less than a month to go until release, what more can really be done? Making it free-to-play in the pre-release environment is an admittance of defeat and a sacrifice of what paying customers you managed to garner at all, while delaying it just... well... delays the inevitable (just ask Kill the Justice League). Does this game have a chance? Did Sony make a mistake by buying Firewalk at all? Why don't publishers pursue projects that fill a specific need, as opposed to copying what already exists? Other news this week includes details about Helldivers 2's Escalation of Freedom update, more tantalizing rumors concerning PS5 Pro, College Football 25's meteoric success, Ubisoft's fumbling Assassin's Creed Shadows statement, three fresh China Hero Project announcements, and more. Listener inquiries wrap things up, per usual, on topics like the best time of day to game, catching up on series you may have missed, forgetting games you've already played but don't remember, and the preposterousness of defrosting bread and there somehow being no water left behind.

Tickets to Sacred Vs Dukes live show: https://bit.ly/sacreddukes

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro

0:09:50 - Frozen bread again for some reason

0:13:39 - I vs. Me

0:31:24 - Political secrets

0:40:00 - deadass

0:46:51 - Colin goes to Vegas

0:48:31 - Summer Olympics

0:57:25 - Entertainment during delivery

1:08:27 - PSVR2 PC app

1:12:47 - PS5 Pro settings appear

1:20:47 - New PS5 beta firmware

1:23:37 - NCAA is huge

1:32:07 - Ubisoft's statement on AC Shadows

1:48:53 - WB buys Player First Games

1:52:13 - Humble Games closing?

1:59:57 - More Mega Man coming?

2:07:08 - SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos

2:08:08 - Capcom physical games

2:10:12 - Tales of Xillia Remastered?

2:11:36 - What are we playing?

2:41:32 - Helldivers 2 update

2:54:32 - Concord info and woes

3:09:27 - New games from China Hero Project

3:17:07 - Space Marine 2 gutcheck

3:23:20 - Favorite time to game

3:29:35 - Games we forgot

3:34:52 - Loot lexicography

3:40:51 - Series to get into from scratch

3:45:46 - Staggered release dates

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#316 | Days Pass, and This Emptiness Fills My Heart Jul 22, 2024

We're truly in the doldrums of summer when it comes to console gaming, at least when considering news, releases, and other notable happenings. But we have a show to do nonetheless, and there are still a series of interesting tidbits worth discussing. Nexon's Bungie-inspired shooter The First Descendant has found itself in some controversy around in-game art, Amazon's Fallout TV series received a ton of Emmy nominations (with Twisted Metal on Peacock receiving one of its own), Sony will show off a slew of games on the show floor at Beijing's ChinaJoy '24 convention, Black Ops 6's beta details have been revealed, and more. We round things out with listener inquiries, as we usually do, this week approaching topics like our game of the year so far for 2024, immersion, playing games with our spouses, and the generational gap (in player age) when it comes to the hardcore space.

Tickets to Sacred Vs Dukes live show: https://bit.ly/sacreddukes

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro

0:41:47 - Snark Tank dash cam crash update

0:46:10 - F Cancer

0:48:56 - Where was Dustin on Saturday?

1:13:28 - Dustin's baby publicity

1:29:50 - Too similar?

1:38:14 - Sony at ChinaJoy

1:42:03 - Black Ops 6 beta details

1:49:39 - New Emmy nominations

1:54:07 - Crash 5 cancelled?

1:58:19 - First Descendant copies Destiny?

2:03:59 - Gamers love microtransations

2:11:32 - AAA console games bomb on iOS

2:20:49 - Valve's low employee count

2:24:01 - What we're playing

2:44:29 - GOTY so far?

2:54:20 - Gaming nostalgia

3:13:18 - Immersion problems

3:21:24 - Gaming with your significant other

3:26:30 - Gaming demographics

3:37:45 - DEI layoffs

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#315 | Beta Energy Jul 15, 2024

The next PlayStation Studios game in the pipeline is Concord, and we're all interested to see how it pans out. But by opening up its imminent beta weekend to all PS+ subscribers instead of those who pre-ordered the game, it's obvious that the pre-release energy for this title simply isn't there. Will a mass of people going hands-on change its trajectory? Or do things seem a little bit dire for Firewalk's maiden voyage? Plus: Bloodborne for PS5 appears on PlayStation Stars in a cruel tease, Zenless Zone Zero hits 50 million players in only a week, Arc System Works is toiling away on a 3D Double Dragon game, Sony gets into bed with PalWorld studio Pocketpair, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! What do we think of the extensive changes Microsoft made to Xbox's Game Pass program? We've talked a great deal about AI, but how do we feel about its distant cousin procedural generation? Which changes do we want to see instituted most in Firaxis' Civilization VII? Will Chris trade his PSVR2 to a listener for standing room concert tickets?

Tickets to Sacred Vs Dukes live show: https://bit.ly/sacreddukes

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro

0:22:41 - Happy Birthday Emily

0:28:45 - Lockmort's patronage

0:30:40 - Stretch our legs

0:34:00 - Heat

0:35:11 - Chingers

0:44:55 - Marriage advice

0:54:53 - New team name

0:57:02 - Trade offer

1:00:51 - Concord beta

1:16:55 - Bloodborne PS5

1:22:24 - Double Dragon reboot

1:26:18 - Zenless Zone Zero success

1:29:58 - Ys X release date

1:32:43 - What the Sigma Star Saga?

1:33:54 - What we're playing

2:02:07 - Pocketpair’s Sony Partnership

2:10:23 - Software and hardware sales data

2:19:55 - New PS Plus games

2:26:25 - Xbox Game Pass price increase

2:44:53 - Stigma to lower difficulties

2:52:15 - Legendary fights

2:56:01 - How much AI is ok?

3:12:56 - Civ VII dreams

3:20:09 - Right-wing grifters

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#314 | Bend, But Don't Break Jul 08, 2024

Days Gone came to PlayStation 4 more than five years ago, and though it sold very well, a sequel hasn't been greenlit, and will almost certainly never be. So why are we still talking about it? Because the civil war that fractured Bend Studio after Days Gone's release has left a sour taste in some folks' mouths. Fair enough. But ultimately, we've all got to move on, and a public airing of grievances -- while personally satisfactory, no doubt -- solves very little. We discuss. Other news this week includes the cancellation of Netflix's in-development Horizon TV series, Sony confirming it will have a presence at Tokyo Game Show for the first time since 2019, reports of SEGA's Crazy Taxi reboot being an MMO, and more. We wrap up our snug lil episode with inquiries from the audience, per usual. If we had complete immunity as the President of Gaming, how would we abuse our power? Are we attracted to the speedrunning scene? How is Elon Musk's Neuralink already changing the way people interact with games? Is Dustin a fake PlayStation fan?

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro

0:32:14 - Six years of Sacred

0:38:44 - 126 degree party

0:51:31 - Angry Colin?

1:01:12 - Dustin exposed/canceled?

1:12:20 - The Getaway issues

1:17:27 - Days Gone Drama

1:29:53 - Horizon Netflix canceled

1:36:22 - New PlayStation collectibles

1:40:39 - Sony at TGS

1:47:53 - Dead Rising details

1:54:16 - Star Wars Outlaws goes gold

1:56:27 - Crazy Taxi reboot

2:04:57 - What we're playing?

2:25:37 - Presidential Gaming immunity

2:33:28 - Castlevania speed run

2:40:04 - Waiting to play games

2:41:48 - Neuralink gaming

2:52:27 - Game within games

2:57:04 - Goodbye to goodbyes

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#313 | I Ain't No Mathematician, But I Can Count Jul 01, 2024

Good news emanates from South Korea, where developer Shift Up announced that PS5-exclusive release Stellar Blade has surpassed a million copies sold. To the rational thinking person, this is obviously a great accomplishment for a niche and provocative release on a single platform, and yet there are know-nothings debating its success. Thus, we correct the incorrect while also talking about Stellar Blade's future, including DLC, a PC port, and -- ultimately! -- a sequel. Other news this week includes details for Concord's upcoming closed and open betas, the surprising return of Capcom zombie-killing classic Dead Rising, fresh PSone-era collections for the likes of Fear Effect and Fighting Force, percolating rumors about PlayStation 3 emulation finally coming to PS4 and PS5, and much more. As always, we wrap things up with inquiries from you, the audience. What do we think about a Guerrilla producer's desire to get Aloy in Smash Bros? Is poor media literacy stopping gaming from reaching its true potential? Which random PlayStation 2 games would we like to see ported to modern hardware? If we could go back to the 17th century and permanently scar a peasant child with a video game experience, which one would we choose?

Get a free gift with your Journey Pack at https://www.tryfum.com/sacred and use code SACRED

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro

0:13:04 - Independent wrestling promoter

0:15:22 - Bread

0:34:26 - Rotating third chair?

0:45:31 - Chips in the microwave?

0:54:12 - Taking a game back in time

1:05:09 - Concord beta details

1:16:27 - Astro Bot's dev team is 60 people.

1:33:49 - PS3 emulation rumors

1:47:35 - Smaller news items

1:58:00 - What we're playing

2:26:41 - Stellar Blade sells over 2 million

2:38:04 - PSVR 2 woes

2:59:39 - Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster

3:08:14 - Limited Run Games announcements

3:15:38 - New PS Plus games

3:27:33 - Retro PlayStation Podcast

3:33:43 - Smash-like PlayStation game

3:50:39 - Media literacy in gaming

4:04:09 - Stranded PS2 games

4:15:17 - Boss Rush mode

4:20:17 - Fixing the amount of games

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#312 | Draggin' Quest Jun 24, 2024

Nintendo and Microsoft both had rock-solid presentations during this faux-E3 time of year, and it has some PlayStation fans on their back foot. Why does it seem like Sony is dragging its feet when its competitors are going full steam ahead? Isn't there anything to say? And while many (including some of us on this show) make the argument that its lack of communication doesn't particularly matter in the long run -- PlayStation 5 is doing great as-is -- the consternation is nonetheless growing in the vacuum of silence. Plus: Dragon Quest III HD-2D and a Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Collection are both en route to PS5, as is Hironobu Sakaguchi's Fantasian, while the seventh China Hero Game, Evotinction, is slated for release later this year, Shovel Knight prepares his triumphant return, Bluepoint reconfirms it's working on an original title, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Did developer Game Science really get shaken-down for $7 million by a DEI consultancy? Will Hollow Knight: Silksong ever actually come out, or is it a myth? Whatever happened to the reconstituted Telltale Games? Has Colin gained full royal status, complete with new honorary titles?

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro

0:30:51 - Happy Juneteenth Dustin

0:43:53 - Dustin's demise

0:49:39 - Around the NFL RIP?

0:53:18 - Dog pee scandal

1:01:06 - Expectations are the thief of joy

1:03:04 - Corrections

1:08:14 - Horizon at a Nintendo Direct

1:14:33 - Bluepoint's original IP

1:24:51 - Uncharted 2 movie

1:28:45 - PS Portal Update

1:30:58 - Sony will not be at Gamescom

1:33:16 - Sony owned company skipping PS5 publishing

1:39:17 - TimeSplitters rated for PS4 and PS5

1:50:46 - Jedi: Survivor rated for PS4

1:52:02 - Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP release date

1:55:02 - Beyond Good & Evil 20th Anniversary Edition

1:57:05 - Tomba! 2 is being remastered

2:02:24 - What We’ve Been Playing

2:32:13 - Dragon Quest III HD-2D

2:53:37 - Fantasian is coming to PlayStation

3:04:42 - Evotinction

3:10:41 - Marvel Vs Capcom Fighting Collection

3:19:15 - Shovel Knight news

3:28:07 - How long can Sony keep it low key?

3:39:01 - Does Sony need more games?

3:52:38 - Games journalism ethics

4:07:29 - Toxic Silksong fans

4:16:02 - Where is Telltale Games?

4:18:52 - What happened to video game reviews?

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#311 | You Can't Stop Entropy, So Why Even Try? Jun 17, 2024

t's getting crazy out there. Fresh off of E3 Lite comes a slew of new game announcements, more than we could possibly cover, nonetheless play. And this brings up a good point, one we burrow down on: Who's gonna be able to buy and play all of this stuff in an ecosystem dominated by vacuum-like powerhouses that leave little room for competition? Are we nearing a breaking point, where there are simply too many games seeking too few players spending too few dollars, even as the industry grows? Well, we're about to find out. The news this week is otherwise copious: Horizon LEGO Adventures is coming to PS5 and PC... and Nintendo Switch?! Mark Cerny gives a rare interview and provides some insight into PlayStation's thought processes. Black Ops 6, Slitterhead, Civilization VII, The Thing Remastered, Doom: The Dark Ages, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and so much more were announced. Sea of Thieves dominates the PlayStation Network, foretelling an obvious continuing migration of Xbox games to PS5. And much more! Then: Listener inquiries. Is Astro's Playroom teasing upcoming PlayStation announcements? How come publishers and developers are keeping specific release dates so close to their vests? Could anything get us excited about Assassin's Creed Shadows? Is Colin accidentally inhaling mind-altering chemicals while he cleans the shower?

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Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro

0:11:23 - Cleaning in the shower

0:19:03 - Shoes in the house

0:26:15 - Happy Birthday Cyprus

0:31:35 - Sony acquires Alamo Draft House

0:41:34 - Xbox showcase reflections

1:31:41 - COD: Black Ops 6

1:38:32 - Slitterhead

1:46:36 - Valorant

1:52:12 - Civilization VII

1:59:06 - Metal Gear Solid Delta

2:11:25 - Prince of Persia: Sands of Time remake

2:15:23 - Life is Strange: Double Exposure

2:19:36 - The Thing Remaster

2:24:41 - Visions of Mana release date

2:26:27 - Game sales

2:43:20 - New trophies for classics on PSN

2:44:59 - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

2:52:05 - Wolfhound

2:54:06 - PlayStation Stars downtime

3:00:12 - FF Tactics is happening

3:03:46 - What we've been playing

3:33:23 - Lego Horizon Adventures

4:12:18 - Epic Game Store leak

4:17:46 - Mark Cerny interview

4:31:48 - Doom: The Dark Ages

4:39:02 - Dragon Age The Veilguard

4:47:40 - New PS Plus Games

4:51:27 - What would get us to play Assassin's Creed Shadows?

4:57:11 - Pixel art more expensive?

5:01:18 - New Xbox console strategy

5:08:35 - Astro teases a showcase?

5:12:11 - Missing dates in 2024

5:15:37 - Are we real hardcore gamers?

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#310 | The Waves Keep on Crashing on Me For Some Reason Jun 10, 2024

fter a flurry of activity, we find ourselves in a bit of a lull. And frankly, that's good. We could all use a little bit of a rest. Doing so allows us to catch up, refresh, and anticipate what lies behind the next undoubtedly-busy corner. With E3's multi-pronged replacement readying a barrage of announcements and other newsworthy bits, let's clear what's on our plate at present. Firewalk's divisive Concord has been given a (compelling?) price, PSVR2 is receiving its long-rumored PC adapter, WB loses $200 million on Rocksteady's Suicide Squad game, the original Halo is rumored for release on PS5, and much more. Listener inquiries wrap things up, per usual. Does Astro Bot have the potential to be PlayStation's next big IP? Do Chinese games deserve more respect? Why doesn't PlayStation Network allow you to buy digital titles for your friends? Is Colin a psychopath for embracing the 'sock-shoe, sock-shoe' lifestyle?

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro

0:18:57 - Dustin’s baby’s name

0:30:56 - Dusty

0:34:35 - Colin’s Body Pillow

0:40:04 - Ranch

0:42:59 - sock, shoe, sock, shoe

0:49:24 - Slitter’s Return

0:52:50 - Dagan’s IMDB page

0:54:46 - Puff puff

0:58:48 - Tomba: Special Edition dated

1:10:26 - PSVR PC Adapter

1:23:56 - Multiple projects confirmed at Naughty Dog

1:32:55 - Concord price and beta details

1:55:34 - PS5 8K box change

2:10:11 - Is The Last of Us Part 2 PC port done?

2:14:04 - Octopath Traveler is out on PlayStation

2:19:20 - Suicide Squad bombs

2:25:41 - Silent Hill 2 gameplay

2:32:16 - Dragon Age has a new name

2:33:31 - YouTube Leaks

2:34:29 - Amazon’s Yakuza show

2:43:24 - What We’ve Been Playing

3:00:39 - Astro Bot’s potential

3:08:10 - Do we miss E3?

3:15:25 - Game selling regret

3:22:16 - Battle Pass objectives

3:25:02 - Chinese Games

3:29:21 - PSN buying for a friend

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#309 | No One's Dying Dishonorably Jun 03, 2024

During Sony's fiscal recent reporting, the company promised that it would further outline its respective situations and plans with each of its internal silos. When it comes to PlayStation, the result was an informative, information-rich PDF and an earnings call-like presentation that gives us a lot of extra insight into the brand. Here's what's clear: PlayStation is economically vibrant, growing, and reaching more than a hundred million people each month. Its generational revenue and profits are at all-time highs. People are spending more on the console than ever, purchasing more content, engaging with more products, and hanging around longer than ever. So, uh... maybe all of that chatter of an industry-wide console decline was a little premature? Sony (and Nintendo) is doing much better than just fine. Other news this week includes details on all 14 games shown during Sony's State of Play stream, including our first look at first party products like Firewalk's Concord and Asobi's all-new AstroBot game, rumors of the next Doom coming to PS5 day-and-date, the mystery behind Dragon Warrior III HD's long-time disappearance and recent return, controversy surrounding the misquoting of Neil Druckmann by Sony's own PR, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! When we say an executive has a fiduciary obligation, what do we mean? Should Sony be worried about Call of Duty going to Xbox Game Pass day one? Why is Activision being sued by the Uvalde shooting parents? Does Colin have any advice for a new Boston Terrier owner?

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro

0:18:09 - Texas Tornado

0:22:23 - Boston Terrier advice

0:26:02 - Listening in the shower

0:38:16 - Two rapid questions

0:49:31 - New Doom on PS5

1:11:53 - PSVR2 PC adapter

1:21:50 - Neil Druckmann misquoted

1:45:43 - Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 announced

1:50:48 - Dragon Quest III HD update

1:57:28 - Dragon's Dogma 2 sells three million

1:59:14 - What are we playing?

2:34:27 - State of Play

3:21:54 - Sony investors meeting

4:09:34 - Days of Play 2024

4:21:07 - Resident Evil rumors

4:31:00 - Circana's April data

4:39:21 - JRPG lingo ranking

4:43:55 - Rebuilding a lost collection

4:51:30 - Will people switch to Xbox for COD on Gamepass?

4:59:54 - What are fiduciary obligations?

5:01:36 - Class Action lawsuit against games

5:14:35 - Was Destiny successful?

Get a free gift with your Journey Pack at https://www.tryfum.com/sacred and use code SACRED

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#308 | Second Party Puzzles May 27, 2024

We talk about 'first parties' and 'third parties' all the time, and we all fundamentally understand the terms. But what about the mysterious 'second party' game? Where do those fit in? Well, PS5 has recently been the recipient of two key second party exclusives -- Arrowhead's Helldivers 2 and Shift Up's Stellar Blade -- and both have been wildly successful, surpassing the respective expectations surrounding each product. In years past with different studios (think Naughty Dog, Guerrilla, Sucker Punch, Insomniac, Housemarque, and others), this level of accomplishment in the second party (where publishers own the game and/or its publishing rights, but not the team making it) often meant acquisition. But things seem awfully different now. There's no doubt Sony's interested in Arrowhead and Shift Up, but is it mutual? Other news includes hints surrounding PlayStation's bubbling mobile initiative, Ghost of Tsushima's amazing performance on PC, Death Stranding 2 entering its final phases of development, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Why are we so obsessed with PlayStation 3 games coming to PS4 and PS5? Have we ever kept a journal to chronicle our experience with a game? With LEGO Horizon rumors amok, what other Sony IP would make sense in that aesthetic? Has Dishwasher Gate officially broken the collective spirit of the Last Stand community?

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro

0:29:32 - Last week's unhinged start

0:42:42 - Sacred encouragement

0:45:28 - Southern man epidemic

0:50:15 - "I don't know"

0:59:39 - The Division 3 is coming

1:00:33 - Financial reporting correction

1:02:09 - Trophy completion data

1:05:26 - Where is the time to play games?

1:10:03 - Goodbye London Studio

1:16:10 - Death Stranding releasing in 2025

1:21:52 - Ghost of Tsushima is PlayStation biggest single player PC launch

1:32:27 - Strauss Zelnick is confident in GTA6's release date

1:41:38 - IGN buys everyone

1:55:57 - Rolling Stone revives its gaming coverage with Saudi money

2:15:00 - What we’ve been playing

3:06:28 - Changes at Arrowhead

3:26:11 - Shift Up's future plans

3:39:00 - PlayStation mobile job listings

3:48:50 - Why do we want PS3 emulation?

3:59:28 - Trophy addiction

4:07:15 - Video game journaling

4:12:13 - Dualsense Edging

4:18:22 - Other Lego PlayStation games

4:22:17 - Exclusives shouldn't exist?

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#307 | Two Princes May 20, 2024

Jim Ryan's tenure leading PlayStation is officially over (as is Hiroki Totoki's stewardship), and he'll be replaced by a co-CEO format moving forward. Sony veterans Hermen Hulst and Hideaki Nashino hope to divide and conquer, turning an ever-growing brand -- and Sony's flagship -- into an efficient gaming powerhouse. But can they deliver? Good question. We discuss. Other news this week revolves around Sony's jam-packed fiscal year financials, Square Enix's abandonment of their by-platform strategy, release dates and timing for the likes of Grand Theft Auto VI, Assassin's Creed: Shadows, and EA NCAA Football 25, a rumored LEGO Horizon game, the cancellation of The Division: Heartland, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Could Helldivers be turned into a mockumentary-style TV show? Would Sony consider stepping in to save Tango Gameworks? Are Chris and Dustin excited about Destiny 2's upcoming The Final Shape expansion? Will we ever stop unintentionally convincing audience members to get divorced?

Get a free gift with your journey pack at https://www.tryfum.com/sacred and use code SACRED

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/symbols to get on your way to being your best self

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro

0:32:19 - Happy Birthday Ethan

0:34:00 - Vampire Robot YouTube channel

0:44:52 - Sacred ending marriages

0:49:37 - Mid Year review

0:52:52 - The next generation of Kingdom Hearts fans

0:58:20 - Sony capitulating

1:00:33 - No new Sony games this year

1:02:07 - The Last of Us Season 2 First look

1:06:15 - Bungie's CTO joins PlayStation

1:11:41 - LEGO Horizon?

1:25:53 - Ghost of Tsushima's PC port Legends mode crossplay is in beta

1:35:25 - Ragnarok rumored to be the next PC port

1:46:17 - Xbox's initiative to bring more games to PlayStation

2:03:22 - PS2 games coming to PS5

2:11:08 - Ubisoft cancels The Division: Heartland

2:25:30 - Adult Swim games reverting ownership to devs

2:27:23 - Tomb Raider TV series coming to Amazon

2:34:28 - What We’re Playing

3:11:45 - GTA VI is launching Fall 2025

3:14:40 - PlayStation has announced two new CEOs

3:29:12 - Sony earnings report

3:50:01 - Square Enix's shift to 3rd party

4:08:49 - Assassin's Creed: Shadows announced

4:26:42 - New PS Plus Games Catalog titles

4:29:38 - Helldivers TV adaptation pitch

4:34:05 - LSM Showcase live reaction?

4:40:23 - Could Sony scoop up what remains of Tango?

4:42:46 - Final Shape gut check

4:46:41 - RNG woes

4:52:38 - Uncharted 5 tease

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#306 | To Hell and Back May 13, 2024

What a week! It seemed like we were just done recording last week when Helldivers 2-related drama broke out, and yet by the time we were ready to record this time around, the situation had mostly settled. How serendipitous for us and our analysis. Now, we're left to reflect and ask some questions, starting with why Sony had to push the first domino in this scenario over at all. Couldn't they just leave well enough alone? And how does this portend the reception of future PC releases from the PlayStation camp? Other news this week includes major layoffs and closures at Fallout and Doom publisher Bethesda (plus what that means for Xbox's uncertain future), percolating rumors of an imminent PlayStation Showcase, confirmation that -- yes indeed! -- Media Molecule is making a game and not a service or toolset, Remedy bailing out of its multiplayer project as Alan Wake 2 still fails to break even, and more. Then: Listener inquiries. How do we choose what game to play next? Was Days Gone 'right-wing'? Are in-game animations getting out of control? Can Colin help revive a long-maligned (but incredibly descriptive) word?

Get a free gift with your journey pack at https://www.tryfum.com/sacred and use code SACRED

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro

0:27:43 - King Radec

0:33:36 - Too long?

0:45:03 - R word uptick

0:56:14 - Derek’s Journey

0:59:28 - Colin, the gardener

1:01:01 - Next PS Showcase

1:14:15 - Helldivers 2 Drama

1:45:06 - Xbox/Bethesda studio closures

2:47:55 - Switch 2 incoming

2:54:31 - Media Molecule’s next game

2:55:38 - Alan Wake 2 hasn’t made a profit

3:02:31 - April’s best selling PSN games

3:05:03 - What we’ve been playing

3:30:15 - How do we decide what to play next?

3:38:22 - Why Sony killed Days Gone

3:42:23 - Returnal turning point

3:44:48 - Too much realism?

3:53:01 - Saved video game item from a natural disaster

3:59:24 - Being watched (playing video games)

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#305 | Man the Floodgates May 06, 2024

Times, they are a-changin'. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is rightfully pleased with Xbox's performance on the PlayStation Store, bragging about being the biggest publisher on PSN while presenting Microsoft's recent financial report. His company has seven games in the top 25, more than even Sony itself. So, uh, batten down the hatches, because you're inevitably about to get way more Xbox on PS5. Plus: Fresh leaks show us how Sony's digital games have sold in recent years, Square Enix writes-down $140 million in losses while cancelling multiple games, Take Two guts its Private Division label, Kingdom Hearts promises to horrify in film form, and more. Then: Listener inquiries. Based on recent moves by a rival, would Last Stand Media ever consider going platform-free with all of its content? Which drug from the Fallout universe are we most likely to become addicted to? How can a small indie game garner any attention in such a crowded market? What is it that Chris actually does all day?

Get a free gift with your journey pack at https://www.tryfum.com/sacred and use code SACRED

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro

0:19:34 - RIP Claire, the Dutch Shepherd

0:25:56 - Sacred subs

0:29:40 - Take the leave Dustin

0:42:47 - Why is Chris busy?

0:55:25 - The last time we applied for a job

1:06:18 - Platform focused podcasts

1:26:41 - Returnal comic

1:38:59 - Firesprite director laid off

1:40:35 - New PSN social feature

1:51:06 - Rise of the Ronin is outselling Nioh

1:56:08 - Shinji Mikami wants to get away from survival horror

2:04:34 - Private Division closes Roll7 and Intercept games

2:16:16 - A Kingdom Hearts film is coming

2:21:04 - AAA GI Joe

2:23:24 - 750 million downloads for eFootball

2:24:22 - What we’re playing

3:04:12 - Xbox's 3rd party future

3:25:38 - PSN sales data leaks

3:41:57 - Square Enix cancelations and changes

4:00:06 - March NPD

4:07:55 - New PS Plus games

4:12:04 - Publicity for a small game

4:16:41 - Fallout chems

4:21:37 - Video game gambling

4:28:25 - Underrated influential games

4:36:00 - Crunch vs over hiring

4:39:17 - PSN stats

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#304 | Too Big to Succeed Apr 29, 2024

Embracer Group's downfall will be long-studied as an example of capitalistic hubris you rarely see, even in our ruthlessly capitalist society. Following mass layoffs, spin-offs, and studio closures, Embracer will ultimately split into three smaller, more manageable entities, instead of acting as a lone unit with more employees than the entire PlayStation brand, including all of its studios combined (seriously). It's just another example of people in positions of power somehow knowing less about their industry, the economy, and business than completely random people that do a video game podcast. Other news: Stellar Blade's "Hard R" controversy, the permanent closure of LittleBigPlanet's UGC servers, the cultural revival of the Fallout franchise on the back of a successful Amazon show, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! How do we feel about Ubisoft's apparent abandonment of the Watch Dogs franchise? Are gaming cookbooks the new rage? Can you be a fan of video games without actually playing them? Will British people ever acknowledge Americans' acumen with a map?

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

Timestamps:

0:00:00 - Intro

0:21:44 - Where is Sacred 300?

0:25:25 - Sacred through college

0:32:10 - Quintin's surgery

0:39:52 - British people

0:46:20 - PS Stars points correction

0:52:35 - LBP goes offline

1:09:36 - Hard R Shop

1:32:07 - Fallout show is getting another season

1:44:57 - Metaphor ReFantazio releases October11

1:48:53 - What we’re playing

2:36:34 - Embracer's downfall

2:53:42 - Watch Dogs is dead

3:01:11 - Dustin raising a gamer

3:09:56 - Is capitalism the problem?

3:13:29 - Gaming cookbooks

3:21:51 - Colin’s trophy inconsistencies

3:25:03 - Am I broken?

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#303 | The Unified Field Theory Apr 22, 2024

For better or for worse, modern console manufacturers like Sony and Microsoft -- and even Nintendo -- are slowly learning that sustained success in the mid-to-long-term will require a wider view. Whether via mobile, or PC, or even your competitors' own machines, a certain message is getting through to the powers-that-be, and when it comes to Sony, the Japanese giant seems committed to opening a second front on home computers in particular. Thus comes word of a new PlayStation overlay that will launch with Ghost of Tsushima on PC this May, another step in a direction towards an inevitable conclusion. Other news this week includes so-called "transmog" drama in Helldivers 2, pending layoffs at publisher Take Two, compelling rumors of remakes for the original Persona game and its sequel, additional PS5 Pro details, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Do we track our gaming backlogs? Does Tencent's minority ownership of Stellar Blade developer Shift Up give us pause? How far back in time could you go before you could -- in no way, shape, or form -- explain what a video game was? Can British people ever overcome their insane shared vocabulary?

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

Timestamps:

0:00:00 - Intro

0:26:55 - Sacred in Antigua

0:30:12 - British Vernacular

0:36:22 - Colin's Networking Solution

0:41:10 - Chris Ray Trump

0:43:09 - Dustin's vacancy

0:55:45 - Marriage insight

0:58:05 - Chess.com

1:10:39 - Ampere Analysis

1:16:23 - No Helldivers 2 transmog

1:22:04 - Take Two layoffs

1:36:08 - Ascendant Studios furloughed

1:37:37 - Persona remakes?

1:42:16 - March top downloads

1:45:39 - Possibility Space shut down

2:01:37 - Keanu Reeves cast in Sonic 3

2:02:48 - What We’re Playing

2:37:58 - PlayStation trophies on PC

2:56:54 - New PS5 Pro leaks

3:19:02 - Have we used Backloggd?

3:26:16 - Will companies chase the success of Helldivers?

3:35:47 - How do you explain video games to the past?

3:43:32 - Shift Up and Tencent

3:48:33 - Divergent timelines and parallel universes

3:54:57 - How do our personalities play into our taste?

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#302 | SOCOMeback Apr 15, 2024

We've long-wondered what Sony's plans were with its dormant SOCOM franchise (or if it even had plans at all). After all, we can't just ignore the success the likes of Ubisoft have found with titles like Rainbow Six: Siege, and even in a post-Zipper Interactive world, it always felt like PlayStation's tactical shooter never really got a fair shake at success after its PS2 heyday. So color us both pleased and surprised when information from the resumé of a deceased actor pointed towards a SOCOM game that no one had ever even heard of: SOCOM 111. While it's fairly clear this project never got off the ground (or did it?), its existence gives us a fleeting glimpse into Sony's potential plans, and frankly, we can help but wonder if Zipper's defunct series may yet see the light of day in the future. Other news this week includes a release date for Star Wars: Outlaws, Vampire Survivors finally migrating to PlayStation platforms, Stellar Blade going gold, potential hiring for a new God of War game at Santa Monica studio, copious Destiny 3 and Dead Space 2 Remake rumors, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Will PlayStation's colorful old logo ever make a return? Do we ever rename the characters in our digital adventures? What's our worst 'losing progress in a game' experience? Should one listener extract his stolen garbage bin from his neighbor, no matter the cost?

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro

0:42:47 - Do you know what we look like?

0:46:42 - Colin's internet problems

0:55:01 - The return of Hector

0:57:14 - Micah Stan

1:00:19 - "clowns, the good kind"

1:07:05 - Plane worries

1:12:45 - Garbage can situation

1:21:36 - Portal hack correction

1:23:55- Stellar Blade has gone gold.

1:29:25 - Santa Monica Studio gearing up for a new God of War

1:37:47 - Dead Space 2 Remake drama

1:54:14 - Sea of Thieves PS5 closed beta

1:59:48 - Is Destiny 3 in development?

2:15:30 - Yuji Naka returns

2:19:41 - Fallout 4 next gen update

2:29:37 - What we've been playing

3:16:44 - New SOCOM rumors

3:32:42 - Star Wars Outlaws has a release date.

3:45:56 - Vampire Survivors is coming to PS5

3:53:25 - New PS Plus games

4:00:37 - Cozy games

4:09:08 - Will the original PlayStation logo come back?

4:15:23 - How do we name characters in games?

4:20:59 - Why do games keep getting greenlit?

4:28:00 - Game crash woes

4:33:38 - Ubisoft hate

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#301 | It's Never Too Late to Reinvent the Bicycle Apr 08, 2024

It was just a couple of weeks ago that we were discussing the newest PlayStation 5 Pro rumors, and now we have fresh scuttlebutt to parse through, particularly concerning our precious framerates and the potential of the still-unannounced console. But we can't help but also wonder what PS5's market potential will be. Will it spread the field or, as it's recently been suggested, merely sell to existing PS5 players? Heck, is there any saving console gaming at all in the long-term? Let's take some time to chat about all of that, plus other news: Helldivers 2's new patch, day-one games coming to PS+ Extra, Silent Hill 2 Remake's ESRB rating, revised PlayStation 2 sales numbers, and so much more. Then: Listener inquiries! How much to we absorb a given game's internal lore, codices, documentation, and so on? Are we ever going to figure out what a 'Soulsborne' actually is? Could a new Shark Tank-like show aimed at indie games help exciting products find their audience? Is Dustin hiding anything else from Colin and Chris that he'd like to talk about?

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Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro

0:27:41 - Is game drama exclusive on Twitter?

0:44:39 - Universal LSM fans

0:59:49 - Retro PlayStation Magazine

1:04:05 - Chris's Red Pants

1:12:37 - Tips for moving in together

1:18:10 - IGN's Zelda April Fools

1:21:19 - PlayStation Store Spring Sale

1:27:56 - New PS5 Pro news

1:41:51 - Helldivers 2 update

1:44:42 - PS+ Game Catalogue Day One games

1:50:55 - New PS2 sales data

1:57:16 - Portal hack reported to Sony

2:01:38 - Silent Hill 2 rated

2:19:10 - KOTOR Remake is alive

2:29:03 - Dragon's Dogman 2 Sales

2:29:59 - Unicorn Overlord 500k Copies sold

2:31:47 - Hollow Knight: Silksong incoming?

2:37:33 - PS5 Minecraft port

2:40:12 - What are we playing?

3:33:30 - Do we read collectibles and lore?

3:44:51 - "this will make me sound like a hater"

3:54:20 - Updated thoughts on the Portal

4:08:48 - What does SoulsBorne really mean?

4:20:54 - Pixel Pitch

4:31:20 - Post-game emptiness

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#300 | We're Nothing If Not Consistent Apr 01, 2024

Somehow, some way, we've made it to our 300th episode, and we did so without missing a single, solitary week between the first show in 2018 and today. We celebrated our milestone this past weekend with 500 listeners at a sold-out live show in New York City, and we're eager to reflect on what the experience meant to us. But the news marches on, too, albeit somewhat softly, and we'd be loath to ignore it. So let's delve in. The once-leaked Stellar Blade demo is set to be properly released on PSN by the time we publish, Embracer took a $800 million loss in selling Gearbox to Take Two, legendary game dev Shinji Mikami has founded a new team, Sony's Bend Studio seems to be going down the live service route, and more. Listener inquiries help us wrap things up, touching on topics like the golden era of RPGs, Dragon's Dogma 2's microtransaction drama, Nintendo's status as the ultimate gateway drug, and a listener too sick to come to Sacred 300 in NYC.

Start the Good Habit at https://www.tryfum.com/SACRED to save 10% off the Journey Pack today.

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro

0:31:13 - Live show video?

0:36:01 - Sacred friends on the train

0:38:39 - Too sick for Sacred 300

0:41:05 - RIP

0:46:23 - YouTube Premium

0:52:39 - Stellar Blade demo incoming

0:55:51 - Embracer sells Gearbox to Take-Two

1:02:46 - Community Game Help

1:04:11 - Final Fantasy IX teased?

1:08:50 - It Takes Two sales

1:15:32 - Shinji Mikami is back

1:21:20 - What Are We Playing

1:42:44 - Sony Bend’s Live Service Project

1:56:33 - Final Fantasy XVI's DLC

2:02:10 - PS Plus Games

2:08:11 - The rise of RPGs

2:22:50 - Dragon's Dogma 2 discourse

2:38:29 - The power of $40-50 games

2:47:48 - The future of GameStop

3:00:21 - What's wrong with comic book games?

3:14:56 - Nintendo, the gateway console

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#299 | None of These Things Happen For Free Mar 25, 2024

Various leaks (and our own sources) have long-indicated the arrival of a so-called PlayStation 5 Pro console this calendar year, and now new reports have given us a great idea of what this yet-unannounced machine can do. Similar to 2016's PlayStation 4 Pro, PS5's Pro model largely keeps its CPU functionality in place, instead focusing on GPU-centric graphical boosts that promise to please the discerning eye. Combined with mysterious proprietary upscaling technologies and AI-related features, it sounds like PlayStation 5 Pro will be a beastly machine when it comes to aesthetics. But what about the all-important framerate? The news may be less stellar. And the price? Well, that remains to be seen. We discuss. Other news this week includes continuing and seemingly never-ending drama at Sony's great unforced acquisition error Bungie, stalled sales numbers for Sony's struggling PSVR2 hardware, exceptional performance for Helldivers 2 on the US market, the beginning of the end (or maybe more like the end of the end) of Kotaku, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Between multiple cancellations on one end and Helldivers 2 on the other, what is our current assessment of PlayStation's embryonic games-as-a-service initiative? Does Resident Evil 5's setting and antagonists make the game truly un-remakable? Has 2024's schedule of strong releases unabashedly picked up right where 2023 left off? Has our show successfully infiltrated Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, corrupting its personnel?

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro

0:18:17 - Sacred Symbols Military Base

0:20:27 - Use Sacred to make people think you're busy

0:27:44 - Boars Heads superiority

0:36:25 - Chris Chan catch-up

0:42:06 - concerning notification?

0:51:22 - Connie Booth goes to EA

0:59:09 - New Helldivers developments

1:03:09 - Palworld looking to release on PlayStation

1:09:07 - Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra

1:18:18 - Halo co-creator's thoughts on EA

1:24:50 - Callisto Protocol spin-off

1:29:01 - Tales series character artist has pass away

1:30:22 - What We've Been Playing

1:41:50 - PS5 Pro leaks

2:14:17 - PSVR2 stops production

2:43:33 - Trouble at Bungie

3:06:32 - Monthly sales data

3:07:56 - Kotaku EIC resigns

3:15:17 - Community Managers

3:23:37 - What's the best handheld console?

3:36:28 - Should Resident Evil 5 be re-written?

3:47:28 - 2024 best year ever for games?

3:53:25 - Gut check on Sony live service games

4:01:21 - What games need to go?

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#298 | I Know the Pieces Fit, 'Cause I Watched Them Fall Away Mar 18, 2024

From this show's perspective, there simply aren't that many rational targets of acquisition in PlayStation's sphere, especially with a tightening economy all around us. But there are two teams in particular -- Helldivers' Arrowhead and Stellar Blade's Shift Up -- that seemed like obvious potential marks based on Sony's historical activity. But with Shift Up about to go public in South Korea and Arrowhead's CEO publicly stating they aren't being courted, are we overestimating these teams' want to join the family? Or maybe it's on Sony? Or perhaps it's something else... So let's discuss. Plus: Ex-second party partner Deviation closes its doors, Embracer continues its sell-off, a trailer leaks for Insomniac's cancelled Spider-Man multiplayer game, Final Fantasy XVI's PC port draws near, and more. Then: What do we think of Sea of Thieves' success in pre-order on PSN? What does a "community manager" do? Are Trophies worth protecting? Did Colin's undying love of Long Island unite two star-crossed listeners?

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro

0:30:55 - Shoutout Ray

0:35:30 - Pride of Long Island brings Sacred fans together

0:39:57 - Sacred's Point of No Return

0:42:14 - Vice President Aaron Rodgers

0:47:58 - RIP In Peace

0:49:53 - Goth Girls

0:53:12 - Colin's Beyond 200 Promise

0:55:48 - Are new studios a good idea?

1:01:42 - Why is every game a lightning rod?

1:13:37 - New PS5 firmware

1:18:16 - Spider-Man: The Great Web

1:24:51 - PSN most-downloaded games

1:29:53 - Embracer jettisons Saber, 4A Games and Zen

1:31:18 - Helldivers 2 introduces flying bugs

1:35:26 - FF16 is coming to PC

1:38:12 - Mega Man tease?

1:40:58 - RE4 Remake surpasses 7 million sold

1:41:39 - System Shock Remake comes to PS4 and PS5

1:43:13 - MultiVersus returns

1:45:17 - What Are We Playing?

2:04:26 - Deviation closes

2:13:27 - Shift Up's evaluation

2:23:38 - Grandia 1 and 2 are coming to PlayStation 4

2:29:27 - PS Plus new games

2:37:48 - More games made for less money?

2:44:55 - Sea of Thieves is the most pre-ordered game on PS5

2:57:20 - Instruments over games

3:04:43 - Are community managers needed?

3:10:17 - Why does games media turn a blind eye to racism?

3:35:34 - AITA for protecting trophies?

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#297 | There's No Magic When the Tricks Get Old Mar 11, 2024

The last week in gaming has been a bit of a downer, no doubt. But we don't dodge the news; we lean into it. And frankly, it's not all bad. Quite the contrary: Ghost of Tsushima is coming to PC, Spider-Man 2 has finally received a major update, and the STALKER Trilogy is migrating to console for the first time ever. But then there's drama surrounding a random DEI-slanted consultancy called Sweet Baby Inc., the closure of the storied media brand Rooster Teeth after more than a decade of running in the red, and word that the publisher behind 2023's biggest commercial hit wants to abandon the model it followed for greener pastures. Listener inquiries help us round-out a strange seven days, focusing on topics like crossover fighters, Marty O'Donnell entering the political realm, Helldivers 2's newest patch, and one listener who was 'caught' playing an anime game, and had a lot of explaining to do at the dinner table.

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro

0:31:15 - Gaming’s Three-Fifths Compromise

0:33:07 - Arby’s x LSM

0:35:31 - Copium around laxative-gate

0:43:06 - Games to take to space

0:51:05 - Doordash disgust

0:57:35 - META

0:59:14 - Helldivers 2 patch

1:02:30 - Horizon Forbidden West PC specs

1:04:49 - Balatro age rating issues

1:11:41 - Persona 3 Reload DLC

1:16:04 - Rooster Teeth closed

1:40:27 - What Are We Playing?

1:57:05 - Ghost of Tsushima is coming to PC

2:08:14 - India Hero Project

2:11:52 - STALKER re-releases

2:17:26 - Spider-Man 2 update

2:20:04 - A counter-argument on 1st Party

2:33:34 - What developers should collaborate?

2:42:54 - Warner Bros. Live service comments

2:49:53 - Sweet Baby Inc controversy

3:11:34 - Marty O’Donnel is running for Congress

3:16:18 - When your kid exposes you as a weeb

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#296 | A Smooth Operator, Operating Correctly Mar 04, 2024

There's no doubt that the console games space at large is predicated on some shaky economics, and recent layoffs are just the beginning of what will likely be a substantial purging of talent from the ranks of teams around the world. Late last year, we caught wind (via the Insomniac leaks) that Sony was planning layoffs, and would close one of its teams, too. This turned out to be true: 8% of PlayStation's workforce has been released, London Studio is no more, and multiple games have been cancelled, including a Twisted Metal project. Will these drastic moves help buttress the PlayStation brand's ever-narrowing profit margin, and allow the world-class brand to operate from a point of renewed strength? Or is the pain only beginning? Plus: Neil Druckmann may be burning out, footage of a never-released LittleBigPlanet product emerges on the net, cheaters begin ruining Helldivers 2, and more. At the end of our show, we field audience questions, as usual. Where do we fall on the recently-brewing localization fiasco surrounding games like Unicorn Overlord? How come Stellar Blade got such trouble for its fanservice while Final Fantasy VII Rebirth's blatant fanservice is celebrated? Should everyone be a little nicer to Geoff Keighley? Has Dustin's opinions on Aldi changed one listener's life forever?

Start the Good Habit at https://www.tryfum.com/SACRED to save 10% off the Journey Pack today.

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Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro

0:24:24 - RIP Richard Lewis

0:31:03 - Annals of manifested wishes

0:34:39 - Laxative-gate

0:39:55 - First apartment advice

0:45:09 - Aldi is awesome

0:54:01 - Potential baby names

0:55:05 - Best Podcast award

1:00:18 - Peloton LSM crew

1:02:13 - FFVII Rebirth discs are messed up in Asia

1:06:42 - Helldivers 2 cheaters

1:12:18 - LittleBigPlanet Hub leaks

1:14:55 - Remedy regains control of Control

1:20:39 - Supermassive Games layoffs

1:21:46 - NCAA Football is offering $600 to players

1:25:09 - What Are We Playing?

2:00:39 - Sony layoffs

3:22:41 - EA layoffs

3:31:36 - Neil Druckmann says he only has a few games left in him

3:41:00 - January 2024 Game Sales

3:43:44 - March PS+ Games

3:45:03 - Localization issues

3:55:17 - Stop attacking Geoff Keighley

3:58:39 - Proportional hypocrisy

4:02:18 - Multiple playthrough trophies

4:04:24 - Bloodborne leak woes

4:07:56 - Two-path system

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#295 | The Love That You Need Will Never Be Found at Home Feb 26, 2024

The dam has broken. After paving the way just last week, Microsoft has confirmed its four games that are coming to PlayStation platforms, and they're arriving a lot sooner than any of us thought. One of them -- Pentiment -- is available on PS4 and PS5 alike right now, while Hi-Fi Rush isn't far behind. Multiplayer titles Grounded and Sea of Thieves will round things out, but certainly, this is just the beginning of the migration, right? Other news this week includes the release date for Elden Ring's long-awaited expansion, percolating PS5 Pro rumors suggesting a fall release, the beginning of Jim Ryan's goodbye tour, PSVR2's PC future, and much more. Listener inquiries help us round things out, as usual. Did Hiroki Totoki successfully diagnose Bungie's issues? Does Sony suffer and Nintendo benefit from a double-standard when it comes to porting and otherwise re-releasing their respective games? Could Resistance: Retribution's reemergence indicate a future for the dormant franchise? Is Brad saying "Colin" wrong on all of his shows?

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/symbols and get on your way to being your best self

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#294 | Sorry For Helldiving Feb 19, 2024

It's been an unusual week in the PlayStation ecosystem, especially in recent years, where the exclusives and heavy-hitters from Sony primarily resided in the single-player sphere. But then a game like Helldivers 2 drops out of orbit, and suddenly we're brought back to the days of SOCOM, Killzone, and others, when PlayStation had an actual online identity, albeit a fledgling one. Could this be the beginning of a great new trend? Or does pessimism reign supreme? Other news this week includes the most vague, circular PR from Xbox that confirms -- yes, indeed -- Xbox games are en route to PlayStation beginning with four titles, while Sony releases a financial report that shows promising revenue and meteoric PS5 sales, but with serious financial warnings on the horizon. Plus: What the hell is Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet? Is there a rift between Konami and Bloober Team? Are people overreacting to the Tomb Raider Remaster's content warning label? Then: Listener inquiries! Where do we fall in the raging 'yellow paint' debate? What's our favorite JRPG battle system? Which order should the Castlevania games be played in? Was Colin's and Micah's recent visit to Cracker Barrel everything they hoped it'd be?

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#293 | Natural Selection Feb 12, 2024

We know that Xbox games are migrating to PlayStation, and by the next episode of this very show, we'll have a much better idea of what a future slate of Microsoft products on Sony's console may look like. In the meantime, however, we're left to wonder how we got here in the first place. One could easily argue that PlayStation's and Xbox's rivalry essentially concluded with the end of the 360/PS3 era (Microsoft has been nowhere near Sony in terms of quality, mindshare, or revenue ever since), but we may very well be on the cusp of a true sea change not seen since the decline of SEGA. While we wait for answers, let's speculate and analyze to our hearts' content. Let's also delve into some other news -- Stellar Blade protagonist complaints, Disney's marriage with Epic, The Last of Us: Part III rumblings, and more -- and conclude with listener inquiries, like we always do. Are we amped for Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden? Is IGN's staff unionization drive a wise move in this environment? Do we overestimate the importance of the Uncharted franchise to gaming? Could we maybe tone it down a bit on the nearly-six hour episodes?

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#292 | Meet Me In Outer Space Feb 02, 2024

A new State of Play presentation -- arguably the best Sony has ever executed -- has given us a plethora of items to discuss on this week's all-new episode of Sacred Symbols. For starters, we finally have a release date for the amazing-looking second party PS5 exclusive action-RPG Stellar Blade, which we cannot wait to play. We also got a lengthy glimpse at Team Ninja's Rise of the Ronin, confirmation of a near-remake of Until Dawn from Ballistic Moon, a fresh look at Death Stranding 2 en route to PS5 in 2025, and the confirmation of a new, MGS-like Kojima series, presumably on PlayStation 6 (!). And there's lots of other news, too, including the first details concerning Firesprite's upcoming title, Project Heartbreak. Likewise, MLB: The Show 24 and Horizon: Forbidden West's PC port have both been dated, obscure PlayStation vehicular combat game Hardware Rivals may be returning, classic shooter Spec Ops: The Line has been delisted, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is driving people insane, leaks indicate we'll be playing Xbox 'exclusives' on PlayStation very soon, and much more. Finally: Listener inquiries! Are recent rumors of a new Sony handheld to be believed? Have Battle Passes ruined online gaming forever? Is cross-media the future no matter how much it's resisted? Can we please stop with the double-spacing, once and for all?

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#291 | The Guillotine Jan 29, 2024

Our beloved games industry is currently mired in an economic crisis of its own creation. By rapidly expanding corporate headcounts during the pandemic -- and by foolishly forecasting 2020-era gaming habits would persist into future years -- many publishers and developers have found themselves dramatically overextended. In 2022, some 8,500 people lost their jobs in gaming; that number grew appreciably to 10,500 last year. Here in 2024, though? Not even a month into the calendar, we're sitting at around 6,000 job losses. And it's going to get way worse. How did pubs and devs get this so wrong? And how come the human cost falls upon the people who were hired, but not those that did the hiring? Plus: A reliable rumor indicates Until Dawn is PS5-and-PC-bound, Death Stranding 2's re-reveal may be right around the corner, Focus Entertainment foolishly rebrands itself, and more. Then: Let's wrap things up with listener inquiries, as usual. How do we balance multiple games at once? Could the harm leaks do to studios actually be overstated? Is paywalling New Game+ a step too far? When is the appropriate time in the day to shower?

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/symbols and get on your way to being your best self

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#290 | In the Black and the White, a Technicolorful Life Jan 22, 2024

As we wade through the mundanity of the turn-of-the-year -- when very few new games come to market and we work through our respective backlogs -- hope sits on the horizon. After all, the drab is about to turn into the delightful with the release or near-release of the likes of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, The Last of Us: Part II Remastered, Granblue Fantasy Relink, Persona 3 Remake, and Helldivers 2, among others. And as we look forward to all of that, we have news galore to cover, too. Square Enix's Splatoon-like Foamstars is coming to PlayStation+ day-and-date, but is its mild use of AI art egregious? (And what about its strange proximity to Helldivers 2?) Ubisoft+ is being reformed as a more value-rich proposition for consumers, so why did so many outlets blatantly take one of their executives out of context following a recent interview? PlayStation Productions is pursuing an Until Dawn film based on the cult-hit PS4-exclusive horror game, but are we starting to beat a dead horse? Plus: Listener inquiries! Are we getting too fast and loose with the term 'live service'? Why do some developers and publishers choose to hire diversity consultants? Should we expect an exorbitant number of Steamboat Willie games in the near-to-mid future? Will Chris continue to be bullied over his love of Julia Louis-Dreyfus?

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#289 | It's Just Murder; Least You Know I Care Jan 15, 2024

The most infamous character in The Last of Us franchise is undoubtedly Abby, and with her casting in the HBO rendition of the famous Naughty Dog series now set (along with a couple of other key roles), we're starting to get more clarity about just what her on-screen vendetta with Ellie will look like come 2025. Are we about to relive 2020 all over again, or will fans be pleased? And then there's Xbox, a conspicuous subject that seems to keep coming up on Sacred Symbols for one simple reason: Smoke indicates fire. Fresh on the back of denouncements about GamePass on PlayStation comes compelling industry rumors of multiple first party Xbox games en route to the PlayStation ecosystem, potentially in the form of Sea of Thieves and Hi-Fi Rush. Does this move represent the opening frames of a coup de grace? Other news this week includes Helldivers 2 PC details, a DualSense model with a better battery, disastrous Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League previews, rampant corporate layoffs, the confusing reemergence of Gravity Rush and Patapon, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Is gaming experiencing a dangerous economic bubble? Could Horizon's rumored MMO skip PlayStation 5? Have we been too hard on Spider-Man 2? Can Chris raise the spirits of a listener merely by changing his usual podcast outro ever-so-slightly?

Start the Good Habit at https://www.tryfum.com/SACRED to save 10% off the Journey Pack today.

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#288 | You're A Slave To Money, Then You Die Jan 08, 2024

Sony-owned Insomniac Games suffered a major hack in late 2023, and seemingly infinite leaks made their way to various corners of the internet mere days after we went away for break. We're not going to shy away from the subject matter -- the news is the news, after all -- but we do want to talk about the situation holistically. Yes, Insomniac is a money-printing machine, but it's also now almost completely indentured to a licensor to keep the supply of cash flowing, and may be unable to stop if it wants to survive. Meanwhile, many of our peers and competitors shied away from covering the topic at all, in perhaps one of the rarest and most pristine examples of media bias seen in recent memory. Let's delve into all of it, shall we? Since we haven't recorded in some time, there's obviously other news to get through as well, including a new sales milestone for PS5, tantalizing details about NCSoft's mysterious Horizon MMO, the quiet return of CoD veteran Jason Blundell to the PlayStation fold, the closure of a key PSVR second party partner, and more. Listener inquiries help us round things out, touching on topics like NCAA Football's return, PS5 Pro's potential, GTAVI's potential price, and an admission that -- yes, indeed -- sleeping without underwear but in a t-shirt is the optimal way for one to rest.

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/symbols and get on your way to being your best self

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#287 | Our Most Anticipated Games of 2024 Jan 01, 2024

2023 is done (or just about, depending on when you listen to or watch this), and it was an undeniably awesome year for our industry, and for all of us as enthusiasts. But now we can begin to safely -- and even earnestly -- look into 2024, and figure out just what we're most excited to play in this new calendar year. Each cast member brought five games to discuss, making 15 total. Of course, our selections don't nearly represent the full spectrum of available titles people are stoked about, but we're confident we'll have pointed you in a few fruitful directions by the end of our brief recording. Our only rule? The game in question has to be dated for 2024 on PlayStation 5.

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#286 | Our Favorite PlayStation Moments of 2023 Dec 25, 2023

The holiday season is here, and it's thus time to employ the first of our traditional yearly wrap-up episodes. Let's take a gander back at the year that was, not only in PlayStation, but in the gaming world surrounding the brand, too. Each Sacred cast member brings five 'moments' to the table, and naturally, they're of a wide array. Jim Ryan's retirement, PlayStation 5's domination, PSVR2's irrelevance, Bungie's problems, Unity's meltdown, Yuij Naka's prosecution, Baldur's Gate 3's success, PS5 Pro's inevitability, and more are on the board. Let's get to each topic -- and more! -- as we wind our way through 2023 with a keen eye toward 2024.

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#285 | Deader Than Dead Dec 18, 2023

We recorded a full episode of the show -- originally called Deader Than Dead because of the demise of E3 -- but we had no idea how apt that title would actually become. In the hours after we hit stop, word broke of Naughty Dog's cancellation of The Last of Us' standalone Factions mode, which they call The Last of Us Online (as first reported right here on Sacred Symbols). Naturally, we had to record a lengthy pickup to discuss the unfortunate news. And yes: E3 is dead, as mentioned above. From 1995 through 2019, E3 ran each and every year in LA (except for those two random Atlanta shows in the '90s), and it was a gathering point for games professionals, the media, and others. But as the magazine era gave way to web 1.0, and then to 2.0, and now to wherever we are now, the once mighty convention has no place in an environment where devs, publishers, and consumers can reach each other directly. In short: Let's give E3 the viking funeral it deserves. Plus: Insomniac purportedly gets hacked, Spider-Man 2's updates have been delayed, film production house A24 teams up with Kojima, fresh Resident Evil remakes are en route, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! If Blade is an Xbox console exclusive, why won't Microsoft just say so? Should we expect a State of Play early in the new year? How did FNTASTIC take their customers for a ride with The Day Before? Is Colin's "please look forward to that" saying simply an alteration of Jeb Bush's "please clap" debacle?

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#284 | Say Anything Dec 11, 2023

After a long wait, PlayStation utilized Geoff Keighley's Game Awards to reveal new information about its upcoming slate of first party games. Psych! While TGA's three-hour runtime was ample -- and while a litany of quality games were announced and explored -- PlayStation's complete lack of first party presence (outside of free God of War: Ragnarok DLC) is notable. Will the company ever talk again? Or will we continue to be stuck in this pincer, with promising second and third party games coming down the pike, but precious little information about what matters most to Sony's more hardcore and devoted fans? Nonetheless, we break down The Game Awards' announcements one-by-one, getting deep into the likes of Exodus, Kemuri, Visions of Mana, Last Sentinel, Exoborne, and more. And there's a heck of a lot to talk about outside of the event, too, including the release of Grand Theft Auto VI's first official trailer and serious trouble brewing at Sony-owned Bungie. As is typical, we wrap things up with listener inquiries from the audience. Is Fortnite primed to take over the world? Do we simply have to spend more time with PSVR2? How long do retro enthusiasts expect their hardware to last? Can we get our hands on one of those "Thank You Jim" cookies from Jim Ryan's retirement party?

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#283 | The SEGA Moment Dec 04, 2023

For years on this show, we've put forth the logic that Game Pass would ultimately find its way to PlayStation, fulfilling Microsoft's goal of ubiquitous access to its popular subscription service. And you may recall that -- during the FTC hullabaloo with Activision -- Xbox executives all-but-confirmed these intentions, adding fuel to the fire. But now that Microsoft CFO Tim Stuart has explicitly and publicly spoken about Xbox's desire to get Game Pass on PlayStation by name, we're no longer in the realm of hypotheticals. Perhaps not surprisingly (and as you may imagine), this gives us plenty to discuss on today's episode. But there's more! An ex-Rockstar North employee spilled the beans on just what happened to vaporware PS3 exclusive The Agent, Sony signs agreements with two key South Korean partners, Dragon's Dogma 2's release date is official, The Game Awards' Future Class doesn't realize no one cares what they think, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! What are our memories of our respective first experiences with the original Metal Gear Solid? Is it possible to deliver a war game with true reverence? Has the games industry been too consumed with subjects that are decidedly not fun? Can the pronunciation of GIF ever truly be settled, even amongst civilized people?

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#282 | Where Are the Games, Bub? Nov 27, 2023

A new leak seems to confirm what was already fairly obvious: Insomniac can only put so much on its shoulders, and its Wolverine game won't arrive on PlayStation 5 until 2025. But if this source's testimony is true, it means PS5's lack of upcoming first party games is even more stark in the near-and-mid-term, not to mention longer. Yes, The Last of Us: Part II Remastered is en route in January -- and with a $10 upgrade charge, there's literally nothing to complain about -- but even the rosiest amongst us must admit that it sure is looking barren from a PlayStation Studios perspective. Whether or not it matters or not to the wider market, of course, is another thing entirely, as the vacancy of exclusives hasn't halted PS5's sales dominance whatsoever. Other news this week includes conflicting reports concerning Sony's one-time timed PS5-exclusive KOTOR remake, the leak of Dragon's Dogma's 2 release date, the exit of Returnal's director from Housemarque, and more. As always, listener inquiries help us wrap everything up. Can Netflix really produce a quality BioShock film? Which game series really hit their stride with the second release? What happens to our digital games libraries when we die? Did Colin watch Oppenheimer on his phone simply to annoy Chris?

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#281 | Purge Me Now of Thoughts of Blaming You Nov 20, 2023

Rocksteady's long-in-development multiplayer-centric Suicide Squad project has finally reemerged in anticipation of its February 2024 release on PlayStation 5, and the reception has been mixed at best. Kill the Justice League is entering a tough market wielding an oft-failed commercial strategy, but it's also true that DC products have the potential to be huge, and WB yearns for this style of game to truly hit. There's another possibility too, though: That everyone involved has made a very bad mistake and wasted nearly a decade on a boondoggle. Let's talk it through. Then: PlayStation Portal finally arrives, our beloved PlayStation 4 turns 10, Spider-Man 2 and PlayStation 5 dominate the sales charts, and more. Plus: Is DLC, expansion, and MTX pricing officially out-of-control? Will PlayStation premiere a game at the upcoming Game Awards? Could skill-based matchmaking be backfiring on audiences? Will one listener accept that he's attending a furry convention because he's in love with his best friend?

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#280 | Hiroki Totoki Literature Club Nov 13, 2023

Sony Corp's quarterly financials have finally arrived, and they carry within good news for the PlayStation brand. PS5 is selling briskly, third party games are moving, monthly active users are steady, and so on. But this recent report portends rougher times ahead, too, especially when it comes to PlayStation's vaunted dozen-or-so 'games-as-a-service' that once promised to help shepherd in a new era of Sony exclusive. And all of this against the backdrop of a mysteriously-exiting CEO? With Concord confirmed for 2024, Bungie looking a little bit like a lemon, and a potential Twisted Metal teaser embedded in a recent live-action trailer, the reality is: We have much to discuss. Plus: Grand Theft Auto VI's reveal trailer is coming in December, Sony will be co-funding and co-producing Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda film, BioWare continues to tease Mass Effect for some reason, Embracer's collapse continues unabated, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! PlayStation Portal is right around the corner. What's our excitement level? Nearly a million people have already Platinumed Spider-Man 2. Does this data have significance? PSVR2's coverage is virtually non-existent on Sacred Symbols. Is a lack of media attention partially responsible for the peripheral's soft reception? World War III lurks right around the corner. Which military job would be the best fit for us as individuals when we inevitably get enlisted?

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#279 | You Wore Our Expectations Like an Armored Suit Nov 06, 2023

Layoffs at Bungie are just the latest in a line of labor issues for PlayStation and its studios in recent months, but as usual, there's great dissonance afoot. Consider this: PS5 is selling briskly, Spider-Man 2 is a critical and commercial smash-hit, and high demand for Sony's product persists as we enter the generation's fourth year. So how can the day-to-day news be so bad when the end result is so positive? Between employee tribulation, an exiting CEO, a fired legendary producer, and more, just what's going on behind-the-scenes, anyway? Are Sony's hard-earned years of goodwill evaporating? Other news this week includes word of a fresh PlayStation 5/Modern Warfare III bundle (and peculiarity about the game's Trophies), rumors of an expansion for God of War: Ragnarok, vague updates on SEGA's mega-expensive so-called 'Super Game,' and more. Listener inquiries end our show, as always. Is 2023 an unusually good industry year specifically because of COVID delays? Would Sony ever put PlayStation Stars on PS5? What does the future hold for Capcom's behemoth Resident Evil franchise? Will Chris get a vanity license plate that reads SACRDBOY?

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#278 | Only Skepticism Will Save You Oct 30, 2023

These are undoubtedly strange times in the PlayStation world. As if getting a new CEO next fiscal year wasn't enough of a shakeup, the brand has also lost (in an apparent firing) their long-time Head of Internal Production Connie Booth, someone who has been with Sony since the late '80s and who helped bring to market such titans as Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, Ratchet & Clank, Uncharted, The Last of Us, and more. With fresh layoffs hitting in-house teams like Media Molecule and support hubs like Visual Arts -- and with an increasingly barren upcoming exclusive schedule made even worse by Factions' apparent cancellation -- is it time to panic? Signals are mixed, after all. Spider-Man 2 is PlayStation Studios' fastest-selling title ever and a banger in its own right, and PlayStation 5's console sales are meteoric with or without first and second party offerings. Naturally, we take time to talk about both the big news and the big game in great detail. Plus: Listener inquiries! How're we feeling about Alan Wake 2? What in god's name is going on with the Metal Gear Solid Collection? Should Sony attempt to replicate Nintendo's development continuity in order to extract similar results? Just what is Dustin doing with that figurine in the jar?

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#277 | Is the Skinsuit Complete? Oct 23, 2023

We've talked about it ad nauseam on this very show: With a competitor like Microsoft, Sony has every reason to be concerned. The Xbox brand is willing to spend however much on whatever's out there, and whether or not it all adds up in the end doesn't exactly matter. After all, only 6¢ of every dollar Microsoft earns comes from gaming, and that's something they want to enhance no matter the price. But in cobbling together its hodgepodge skinsuit of developers over the years, is their expansion now complete? And -- perhaps more interestingly -- will Sony respond? If yes, how? The Activision situation is finally behind us, so let's reflect, predict, and celebrate as we move beyond one massive distraction. One of the biggest in industry history, actually. Other news this week includes Minecraft's bonkers sales milestone, rumors of PC Trophies, murmurings of a Rise of the Ronin playtest in London, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! What's the perfect FPS to play if you've never played a shooter before? How does a game like Skull Island: Rise of Kong even come to exist at all? Should the Metal Gear Solid franchise be played in order of release, or chronologically? Is Dustin intrigued by the return of Chris Chan?

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#276 | Second Life Oct 16, 2023

The new era of PlayStation 5 is here, at least in terms of a hardware revision. Like every PlayStation console before it, PS5's upgrade comes packing a smaller form factor, and increased storage and an optional disc drive sweetens the deal. But this so-called PS5 Slim comes with a peculiarly stubborn price that isn't reflective of generations past. Could it be that the dueling pressures of inflation and monetary conversion rates have finally come to bear? Either way, one thing's for certain: These new consoles will sell by the millions upon millions in the months to come, and if you want an old-style PS5, you better act before it's too late! Other news this week revolves around crescendoing rumors concerning a PS5 port of The Last of Us: Part II, fresh PS+ offerings, and more. Listener inquiries close our show, as is tradition. Is there anything actually there with these Disney/Electronic Arts rumors? Could right-of-repair change the way we interact with our hardware and peripherals? How come PlayStation doesn't get any credit for Sony's mobile success with Fate Grand Order? Does Chris think Brazillian is a language?

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#275 | Attention Deficit Disorder Oct 09, 2023

A light smoke is emitting from sunny Santa Monica, but is there cause for concern? Sony's crown jewel studio Naughty Dog has recently let some contractors go, and -- worse yet, if reporting is to be believed -- its long-awaited Factions spin-off has been shelved, with an exiting bigwig and an unknown future. When combined with SEGA's cancellation of Creative Assembly's Hyenas, which was apparently the publisher's most expensive project ever, we simply have to ask: Do games-as-a-service have the bright and airy future once widely-assumed? Or is there a significant deficit of collective attention, time, money, and inclination necessary to support the long-tail of all of these games? Maybe Jim Ryan made the wrong bet, after all. Plus: Spider-Man 2 is the perfect length, GT Sport is going offline, KOTOR's PS5 remake enters a new and even more mysterious phase, Bungie's virtue signaling backfires, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Will Assassin's Creed: Mirage satiate the old-school AC fanbase? How do we feel about the proper pronunciation of Final Fantasy VII's Cait Sith? If your girlfriend is jealous of your in-game relationships, is that a red flag? Has Colin's psychosis grown to such a degree that it rarely surprises his co-hosts anymore?

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#274 | Jim Ryan Is Sick of Flyin' Oct 02, 2023

PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan -- sometimes known on this show as Cryin' Jim for whatever reason -- is officially retiring from Sony next spring. Why? The demand of incessant travel, which is wearing him awfully thin after all these years (he's expected to be on three continents each and every month, an absurdity). He's been with the company since before the original PlayStation launched in '94, and his business and marketing acumen saw him rise the ranks of Sony's gaming outfit, first in Europe and then globally. A far cry in presentation from other notable personalities from within his ranks like Jack Tretton, Shuhei Yoshida, or even Shawn Layden, Ryan's more austere approach was undeniably sterile. But the results of his tenure also speak for themselves. He leaves PlayStation in an even more dominant position than he found it when he ascended to the CEO position in 2019 -- PS5's success throughout the pandemic in particular is already the stuff of industry legend -- and naturally, we have a lot to say about what the future holds following his exit. Plus: News about the recent Sony hack, Helldivers II's price, layoffs at Epic and SEGA, Far Cry 7 details, Capcom's stance on game pricing, trouble in the world of collectibles, and much more. Then: Listener inquiries. Is reaction fodder the lowest form of content imaginable? How do we feel about product placement in games? Will review bombing ever be mitigated? When can we expect Chris to join OnlyFans (and for how much)?

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#273 | They Are Who We Thought They Were Sep 25, 2023

We have PlayStation news to get to and through, of course -- and lots of it! -- but so many of you wrote into the show about the recent Xbox leak that we couldn't just ignore it. And really, nothing we learned from the treasure trove of documents one way or the other should come as much of a surprise, so we'll let a famous Coach Green quote do the talking instead. Has the games industry let Microsoft off the hook?! Plus: PS5 sales surge in Europe, The Division 3 is real, Final Fantasy VII Remake surpasses seven million copies sold, NES' Contra is getting a remake, and more. And yes, we talk about the biggest news of all: Spider-Man 2 is gold! We're only a month away now. As usual, we wrap things up with listener inquiries from you, our dear audience. Does it make more sense to wait for a game to be patched and content-complete instead of succumbing to day one pressure? Remember Invizimals? Will Final Fantasy VII Rebirth really be 100 hours long? Did Dustin return from Japan penniless and inundated with anime figurines?

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#272 | The Unanimity of the Unity Sep 18, 2023

A State of Play stream was announced right before this week's episode, so naturally we watched it, and our thoughts are within. Topics of interest from Sony's showing include release dates for Helldivers II and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, new PS5 and DualSense colors, an open beta for Foamstars, Resident Evil 4 Remake DLC, and more. However, all of that news is covered in a pickup, because we recorded a huge show for you without all of that. Have you heard what's going on with the popular engine Unity? You should familiarize yourself with the situation, because it's a fascinating one that best represents the strained nexus between creating games and paying for them. Plus: Roblox is finally coming to PlayStation, Square Enix is 'in trouble,' but not really, PS5 gets new firmware while fresh PS+ games come to the Extra and Premium tiers, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Should Colin finally break down and play Skyrim? Are artists really more important than the suits that often oversee them? Have cinematic trailers gone too far? Will Dustin be kidnapped by the Yakuza in Japan, forcing a hefty cash payment? Join us for an unusually old-school episode of Sacred Symbols.

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#271 | Great Artists Steal Sep 11, 2023

Hollywood's labor problem may not be an isolated event in the entertainment industry for much longer. A recent press release from actors union SAG-AFTRA indicates that their members will vote to authorize a strike upon further negotiations with 10 major entities in gaming, including the likes of EA, Take Two, and even Sony-owned developer Insomniac. After all, the guild represent voice and performance actors in many of our favorite games. Yes, the consequences for not getting a deal done could extend far and wide. But it's also important to make note of an important fact: Otherwise-soulless mega corporations that exist entirely to propagate creative content should appropriately pay the creative people that fuel them. And yes, AI plays an inevitable -- but dangerous! -- role in the future of the humanities, and needs to be accounted for. Other news this week hinges on Final Fantasy XVI DLC chatter, tons of Starfield-related talk (since Chris is obsessed), and some new announcements, release dates, and so on. We wrap things up with listener inquiries touching a myriad of topics, including hoarding items in RPGs, the importance of playing a game right when it launches, the preposterous GTAVI/$150 rumors, and fighting back against a neighbor who won't leave your lawnmower alone no matter how much you may want him to.

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#270 | PlayStation Minus Sep 04, 2023

For the first time since 2016, Sony has increased the price of its PlayStation Plus subscription, and the torches and pitchforks are out en masse. See, there's no doubt the increases are large -- $20 a year more at minimum is nothing to sneeze at -- but it's also important to assess what the service was when it launched in 2010 at $50, and what it's become today at $80 and above. Now's a better time than ever to truly assess what you even get out of PS+ to begin with; the answers people arrive at will be vastly different, as you'll witness during our extensive conversation. We also touch on other big news this week -- PlayStation Portal gets dated, Volition closes its doors after three decades, Sea of Stars does big numbers, and more -- and we wrap things up with a litany of listener inquiries, as is our tradition. What are our current thoughts on PlayStation Stars? Is the console gaming gender gap officially closed? Could big sites and creators do more to avoid spoiling products? Will Colin ever recover from Dustin and Chris not understanding his Can't Hardly Wait reference?

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#269 | Second Screen Experiments Aug 28, 2023

The long-awaited Project Q is officially called PlayStation Portal, and the reaction to it has been surprisingly divisive. Priced at $200 and intended purely as a remote play option for PS5, some potential players see obvious use cases while others think this entire initiative is a waste of time and money. Here on Sacred, we have three different opinions to present you with about the future of Portal, and why it might be a mightier machine than some think. Plus: Sony announces new high-end audio devices for PlayStation while gobbling up a boutique headphone company, release dates have been revealed for games like Granblue Fantasy: Relink and Persona 3, BioWare lays off 50 employees, Geoff Keighley finds himself under siege on-stage at Gamescom, and more news followed -- as always -- by listener inquiries. Has game writing hit an all-time low? Which game world (if any) would we like to visit? Will we ever escape the era of the sequel? Is Colin a secret glizzy gobbler?

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#268 | Baldur's Great Aug 21, 2023

In early September, prominent CRPG Baldur's Gate III migrates from PC to PlayStation 5, and it sounds like it may just be what the doctor ordered. A deep role-playing experience chock-full of choice and consequence -- and layered with a thick patina of polish -- could potentially sell millions of copies on PS5. Will the critically acclaimed, purportedly amazing experience successfully catapult from computer to console? And should we expect it to stem the tide until Spider-Man 2 arrives? Other items this week include fresh release dates for Assassin's Creed: Mirage and Alan Wake II, the reveal of new TMNT and South Park games, a horrible-looking Walking Dead title arriving this fall, and an inopportune quote from Square Enix executive producer Yoshi-P that unintentionally fed eager fanboys. Listener inquiries round things out, per usual. Why do people encumber themselves with a backlog? How do we navigate our personal relationships when it comes to making the time necessary to play games? Is Sony's silence starting to become conspicuous, and even worrying? Will Colin strike back on Dustin's bad take-calling?

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#267 | Funny Money Aug 14, 2023

Is PlayStation doing well? It's easy to answer "yes" after reading Sony's recent quarterly financial reports, which shows exploding levels of revenue, with a lower-than-expected profit margin scaring markets (even as the Japanese behemoth remains in the black). Then again, that something as relatively cheap as Bungie's acquisition could in part affect the firm's wider earnings is a sign that Sony simply isn't on the level of its competition when it comes to purchasing power, and thus it needs to be more deliberate and cautious. Should we be worried about PlayStation's trajectory, specifically with a seeming dearth of known first and second party games beyond Spider-Man 2 and Helldivers 2? Heck, did Final Fantasy XVI undersell after all, potentially fracturing their relationship with Square Enix? As usual, we've much to discuss. Other news this week includes an analysis of Rockstar's questionable Red Dead Redemption PS4 port, controversy surrounding PSVR2, Twisted Metal's excellent performance on Peacock, and much more. Listener inquiries wrap things up, as usual. Should we tip our cap to Fortnite for a job well done? Are Nintendo's recent patents a step too far for game development? Why do some people think Starfield will fail when it's obvious it won't? Will Colin survive hearing a list of his perceived worst takes?

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#266 | Mysteries of the Universe Aug 07, 2023

On this week's episode of Sacred Symbols, we delve into a series of perplexing and puzzling enigmas. Will Helldivers launch in October, as rumors indicate? Could PS5's new firmware update allow desperate husbands to dodge the ire of their angry wives? Should Anita Sarkeesian's sunsetting Feminist Frequency brand hold a positive legacy in our industry? Why is EA bringing Star Wars Jedi: Survivor backwards to PS4 in the year of our lord 2023? All of that, plus more news and a series of listener inquiries that will simply add more question marks to an already question mark-laden description. Are people who invert the Y-axis (like Colin) touched in the head? Is Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart too short? Will PS5 Pro disrupt the development flow of regular PlayStation 5 games? Is Chris racist against aliens from space?

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#265 | Total Mindshare Jul 31, 2023

At 40 million units sold after 32 months, PlayStation 5 is only half-a-quarter behind PS4's prodigious sales pace. This is a big deal for a console that was launched into a pandemic economy that made it extremely difficult for people to find a machine for nearly two straight years, not to mention afford one, what with eroding purchasing power due to inflation. Now, the question becomes -- with Project Q and a PS5 Pro around the corner -- can PlayStation 5 continue its meteoric sales trend? Plus: Sony's investment into China continues to pay off, with a trio of new China Hero Games revealed for PlayStation 5, while it appears that Insomniac is making a third AAA game concurrent to Spider-Man 2 and Wolverine, which is mighty intriguing. We wrap up our recording, as we always do, with listener inquiries. What does the word "retro" mean in today's gaming environment? With recent happenings, is it high time we get a UFO abduction game? Will Sekiro go down as one of FromSoft's most-revered titles? Is Arizona about to disintegrate off the face of the Earth?

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#264 | Modern Lawfare Jul 24, 2023

It looks like we can finally -- finally! -- stop talking about Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, at least on this podcast. That's because PlayStation settled on what it frankly could have always had, namely a 10 year deal for access to Call of Duty that runs into the mid-2030s, keeping the cash-cow franchise on Sony hardware for a long time to come. Is this an ideal situation for Sony? Certainly not. But that's their problem, not ours, and at least we can flip the page to make way for more interesting topics! Other news this week includes an interesting, years-late update to Dreams that could have at one time saved it from inevitable failure, drama surrounding the PC launch of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, release dates for Firewall Ultra and Goodbye Volcano High, and -- perhaps most importantly -- PlayStation 5's meteoric sales, as it continues to move at an extremely brisk pace around the globe. Listener inquiries wrap the show up, per usual, touching on topics like Baldur's Gate III, the potential return of Einhander, the PlayStation-centric censorship of indie title LISA, and thoughts on whether Colin compliments Dustin enough, which apparently he doesn't.

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#263 | Endless Horizons Jul 17, 2023

Sony finds itself in a pickle, or so it seems from the outside. With ever-burgeoning development costs comes the reality that new IP is an increasingly-risky endeavor. The safer and more reliable route, it could be argued, is in doubling-down on what works. And let's be real: Guerrilla-developed Horizon works. The two core games have sold 33 million units combined across PS4, PS5, and PC. The question, though, is how much does Horizon work? Could a good thing become a bad thing through simple repetition? This week, we discuss the future of Horizon (not to mention the past of Killzone) via reporting from an enlightening panel conducted with the leadership of Guerrilla, and we're forced to confront a reality where Horizon never truly disappears. Other notable news this week includes the retirement of legendary Naughty Dog co-president Evan Wells, The Last of Us' ridiculously successful run of Emmy nominations, Sony's new investments into live service, and more. Inquiries from the audience end the show, as usual. What does SEGA's unionization mean for the future of industry labor? Can 2D games simply be too difficult for some people to handle? Is D&D more nerdy than anime? If you had to stop at a gas station right now, what would be your go-to snack and drink choices?

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#262 | Well It's A Dirty Job, But Someone's Gotta Do It Jul 10, 2023

Like a meteor from the sky -- or perhaps a capsule drop from orbit -- Sony second party partner Arrowhead randomly released new information about its upcoming co-op-based third-person shooter Helldivers II, including new gameplay footage. Arcadey, difficult, and sarcastic, Helldivers II aims to recognizably evolve 2015's PS4, PS3, and Vita original, and a 2023 release window has thankfully been reiterated. Let's discuss the promise of killing bugs and fellow humans (intentionally or otherwise) in the name of Super-Earth. We also go through recent rumors surrounding a purported The Last of Us: Part III and the upcoming Team Ninja PS5 exclusive Rise of the Ronin, chronicle ongoing troubles with PlayStation's nascent mobile initiative, and more, and we wrap things up with a salvo of listener inquiries. What are our feelings on 2D Soulsborne games? Do box office bombs in the movie space portend a rough future for our AAA industry? How could Sony best celebrate its various IP in a single product? Will Daffy Duck star in Kingdom Hearts IV?

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#261 | Imagine Accepting the Truth Jul 03, 2023

Whether Microsoft completes its acquisition of Activision or not, the FTC's legal assault on the company has nonetheless exposed Sony's archrival's strategy for all to see. Xbox's argument is a simple one: Thoroughly outclassed by their competitors with access to orders of magnitude fewer resources over a continuous period of more than two decades, their only way to compete is through brute force. Microsoft isn't wrong for acting like a corporation seeking profit. The bigger question is why anyone would root for them when they've shown little true feel for the business, as evidenced by their lack of success relative to their competition. We spend more than two hours going through all of the interesting tidbits from the FTC vs. Microsoft, not through the lens of whether the deal will go through, but via all the interesting information we've garnered through discovery, deposition, and testimony. We also spend more than an hour talking about our time (so far) with Final Fantasy XVI, which very easily slides into the Game of the Year category with its exceptional gameplay and riveting story. We bounce around to other news items, too, before leaving you -- as always -- with listener inquiries. How can PlayStation salvage the early-damaged reputations of Concord and Fairgames? Will there ever be a single-player FPS renaissance? Should increased dev time equal the end of gaming trilogies? Could Colin and Chris write a successful remake of Billy Joel's classic We Didn't Start the Fire?

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#260 | The Marathon Can Humble You Jun 26, 2023

Great intrigue surrounds Bungie's upcoming revival of its long-dormant FPS IP Marathon, first confirmed (but long-rumored beforehand) at the recent PlayStation Showcase. Post-show reporting outlines an ambitious service title, but questions linger about Bungie's current and continued handling of Destiny 2, not to mention if the storied developer finds itself newly-distracted by a demanding parent company. Let's take some time to dissect current-day Bungie and get to the heart of Marathon's promise (or lack thereof). Plus: PlayStation Studios loses its head of mobile gaming before he ever releases a game, Konami's upcoming Metal Gear Solid collection sounds pretty awesome, Electronic Arts' studios split into two separate entities, and more news, rounded out -- as always -- by inquiries from the audience. Have we ever encountered a spiritual or religious issue with a game? Why, exactly, are turn-based games fun? Does voice chat give us anxiety? Did Colin really need to learn about the true wonders of "marinating"?

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#259 | Things Have Changed Like A Decade Jun 19, 2023

In another legendary Colin Was Right moment, Embracer Group has officially broadcast an SOS. The mega-publisher is in significant debt and severely overleveraged, with 17,000 mouths to feed over 131 studios making something like 250 games. But few of its products matter, it can't release enough quality fare to draw the requisite income to sustain its Ubisoft-sized headcount, and its products inevitably compete with each other, too. Embracer was always an absurd proposition, one that almost no one made a peep about while its teetering tower was built ever-higher. Let's discuss their future, one markedly different from the one they planned just a few years ago. We also take the time to get deep into this week's other news, as there are a lot of announcements emerging from various showcases. Star Wars: Outlaws, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, Persona 3 Reload, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, and Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth are just some of the upcoming titles we touch on, as well sharing lots of thoughts about Final Fantasy XVI's well-received demo, and listener inquiries on topics like the arcade ticket economy, the perfect game length, and Last Stand licensing its content to a big media company. Plus: Can we get Boar's Head to sponsor this show? Probably not, as it turns out.

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#258 | I Feel Summer Creepin' In Jun 12, 2023

The PlayStation Showcase left many fans disenchanted, but can Geoff Keighley's Summer Game Fest deliver some positive energy? It turns out that yes, it certainly can. Spider-Man 2 now has a release date, Prince of Persia, Sonic, and Like A Dragon are all getting new entries, known titles like Mortal Kombat 1, Witchfire, Remnant 2, Lies of P, and Banishers all look great, and new IP were revealed and elaborated on, too, like Toxic Commando and Sandland. Let's catch up on all of that, plus much more from the week, including Final Fantasy VII Rebirth details, NCAA Football licensing issues, Octopath Traveler 2's solid sales, and more. Then, let's wrap things up with listener inquiries, as we're wont to do here on Sacred. When do we know it's time to abandon a game? Is Spider-Man 2's map too big? Why hasn't anime fully captured Colin? Did a man named Mark really kill the Vita?

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#257 | Negative Vibe Merchants Jun 05, 2023

We're more than a week distant from the recent, highly controversial PlayStation Showcase. And because we recorded our last episode directly after it, we did the best we could shooting from the hip. But with time to think, have our opinions on Sony's event evolved? We spend a lot of time talking about the fallout from the showcase, the various games that caught our eye (or otherwise), and where we think everything sits, now that we've pondered. But there's one thing we certainly agree on: A lot of people are overreacting while completely forgetting (or perhaps just being ignorant of) the brand's history. We also take time to delve into recent reporting surrounding PlayStation's crown jewel first party studio, Naughty Dog. News indicates that none other than Bungie has come off the top rope to potentially throw the kibosh on their standalone multiplayer game, indicating that it may not be ready for primetime. Has Sony mismanaged Naughty Dog into a BioWare-like situation, or is this much ado about nothing? Other news rounds out our show, as well as listener inquiries. How do we balance objective and subjective analysis? Is PlayStation focusing too heavily on sci-fi? Will PC players need PlayStation Plus to play Sony's games-as-a-service? Is Colin about to return to his roots as a deli worker?

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#256 | Words Like Violence Break the Silence May 25, 2023

We've waited so long for a fresh PlayStation Showcase that it came as a bit of a shock to be sitting there watching a new one. Yet we did just that, and frankly, we were left feeling a little bit underwhelmed. It's not to say that potentially-amazing games weren't shown-off, because they were. Out of the 34 titles seen, many of them looked great. But a lack of a truly meaningful first and second party presence coupled with gameplay scarce makes it's hard to feel too excited about what Haven or Firewalk are toiling away on when we somehow still don't have a release date for Spider-Man 2, when Factions remains as much of a mystery as it was before, when a predictable reliance on new PvP products nonetheless leaves some fans distressed. We take the time to go game-by-game, from Fairgame$ and Helldivers II right on through Marathon and Concord, covering all that the event had to offer. We also do a 'regular show' around that, touching on the other news from the week, with plenty of listener inquiries, too. Are you feeling better than you were pre-Showcase, PlayStation fans? As usual, it's likely just a matter of perspective.

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#255 | Showcase Showdown May 22, 2023

Unbelievably, the moment has finally come: A PlayStation showcase draws near. By the time the hour-plus event concludes, it'll have been more than 600 days since the last showcase in '21. In other words, Sony simply has to bring the heat, and we suspect they will. This week, let's take the time to dissect PlayStation's potential first, second, and third party plans for its mid-gen coming-out, and get into some other news in the ecosystem, too, including the reveal of a Mortal Kombat reboot and strong indications that Grand Theft Auto VI is nearing its end-phase of development. Listener inquiries help us explore other interesting topics as well, including nudity in games, Sony's potential to sell Zelda-like numbers, and how we "earn" our gaming time. Colin also nails himself in the nuts mid-show, much to everyone's delight.

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#254 | I Hear the Magic in Your Sighs May 15, 2023

A minor culling is underway at and around PlayStation, with a smaller first party studio going away and an in-production second party FPS seemingly cancelled. But it's unclear why this would necessarily be looked at as a bad thing. If teams and products aren't living up to their promise -- and if they presumably don't reach an ever-increasing quality bar internally -- shouldn't they be cut loose? Still, at a time when consolidation and headcount means anything, that Sony is taking these risks indicates there's more at play, with the potential of a brighter future on the other side. Let's discuss. Other news this week includes massive numbers for the Horizon franchise, now Sony's sixth best-selling series ever, while Pokémon studio GameFreak gets into bed with Take Two and PS+ gets its strongest slate of new additions in months. Finally, we wrap things up -- as always -- with listener inquiries. Was IGN wrong to say that games its staff has never heard of aren't worth your attention to begin with? Have the Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters invoked a new interest in Stranger of Paradise? Can anything be done to halt the death of game rentals? Will we ever recover from how hard The Good Doctor makes us laugh?

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#253 | I'm Gonna Learn You My Philosophy May 08, 2023

In a recent interview, Hermen Hulst -- the head of PlayStation's first party studios -- spoke extensively about Sony's plans with its vaunted 10 in-development games-as-a-service. Through his words, we can begin to formulate a vision of a future where PlayStation first and second party games are both of the expected and unexpected variety, a marked change from a brand known first-and-foremost for marquee single player experiences. And in the wake of Xbox's disastrous launch of Redfall and the obviously-plateauing numbers of GamePass, a conversation about the very philosophy of PlayStation seems as timely as ever. We also take the time this week to go over the trailers for the Gran Turismo movie and Twisted Metal TV show, celebrate some recent Square Enix sales successes, discuss the continued destruction of games media, touch on new PS5 Pro rumors, and more. Listener inquiries round things out, per usual, on topics like reviews taking into account the technical performance of a game, Sony's dearth of WRPG heft, players' toxic relationship with publishers, and Colin's increasingly dramatic southern man voice.

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#252 | Don’t Break the Branches off the Family Tree May 01, 2023

Naughty Dog and Insomniac are the two studios often looked at as the bulwarks of PlayStation's first party family. But it's clear that -- over in Europe -- a third team is quickly climbing the depth chart: Guerrilla. In recent days, the team revealed a complete shakeup of their executive staff, and for the second time in just a few years, they're losing their leader to PlayStation proper. In other words, many compliments are being paid to a studio not only working on Horizon 3, but a Horizon multiplayer game as well, in addition to shepherding the increasingly-important Decima engine. What's the future look like for Sony with Guerrilla in increasing control? We've much to chat about. Plus: The CMA surprisingly blocks Microsoft's acquisition of Activision, a new Sony patent seemingly confirms a detachable PS5 disc drive is en route, Burning Shores' review bombing convinces Metacritic to clean up their site, and more. Then: Nearly three years out, what are our thoughts on Ghost of Tsushima? Are we ever tempted to try Final Fantasy XIV? How come Colin loves sports so much, but hates competitive gaming? Will Chris' and Colin's portraits hang in an Ohio deli like two communist dictators?

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#251 | The Heat Is On Apr 24, 2023

As it comes to grips with the new realities of an ever-consolidating market, Sony has opted to increase its aggressiveness by purchasing Firewalk Studios. Like Haven and Nixxes before it, buying Firewalk is an unusually premature move for a company that typically likes to conduct extensive second party dances before putting a ring on it. But its arch-rival and third party publishers alike have made it clear that the old rules of buying teams no longer apply, and that courtships can no longer span the production of multiple titles. Will this increasing embrace of size benefit PlayStation or hinder it? Only time will tell, but we've obviously much to discuss. Other big news this week includes PlayStation 5's staggering sales figures, the exit of more high-level talent from Media Molecule, and much more, and we round things out -- as always -- with listener inquiries. Is enemy scaling really necessary? Could Ubisoft be readying a low-key banger with XDefiant? Do players rerally 'graduate' from Nintendo to PlayStation? Is Colin developing a hankering for gardening?

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#250 | The Dream Is Finally Dead Apr 17, 2023

After witnessing its death in slow motion, Media Molecule is mercifully pulling the plug on its beleaguered project Dreams. And it's sad, no doubt. But here's the reality: Dreams was a bad idea and a waste of time. Sony voluntarily hamstrung its most creative team for the better part of two generations on a dead end, and you can't really blame artists-types for taking all the corporate rope you'll give them. After all, Media Molecule hasn't released a AAA game in more than 12 years, an unfathomable gap. How that's even possible is anyone's guess. Who's responsible for Dreams' abject failure? Why was this idea allowed to go along so staggeringly beyond its expiration date? And what's next for the House of Sackboy? Other news this week includes tacit confirmation of a Persona 3 remake, Sony's aggressive push into cloud gaming, an official delay for Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, and more. The conversation's rounded out with listener inquiries sent from Patreon, touching on topics like the Redfall 30-frames controversy, the cost of putting Call of Duty on PlayStation Plus, the best order to play the original Final Fantasy games, and a continued ode to a deli that's become a central icon of show lore.

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#249 | Q (For Questionable) Apr 10, 2023

A new Sony handheld is rumored to be in the works, but don't get all hot-and-bothered. It's not another PSP or Vita, but rather a device codenamed Q-Lite, essentially a DualSense controller with an 8-inch screen affixed to it that facilitates (presumably high quality) local remote play. But with PSVR2 seemingly floundering, is it a good idea to release another distraction from the main goal? That being the production and release of the highest-quality AAA games imaginable. We discuss Sony's presumed strategy. We also delve into awesome Final Fantasy-related news, including word that XVI has gone gold on PS5, with the Pixel Remasters right around the corner for PS4, while the Saudi Arabian government is preparing tens of billions of dollars in new gaming investments that will undoubtedly encroach into our space. Also: Listener inquiries! Will Spider-Man 2 be co-op? Why aren't Monster Hunter fans showing Wild Hearts any respect? If Sony purchased Square Enix, would it be left alone (a la Bungie)? Was Queen Elizabeth II a closet Sacred Symbols listener?

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#248 | Trap Card Apr 03, 2023

It's a week of surprise turnarounds and unexpected outcomes. First up: Has Sony flown too close to the sun? In trying to halt Microsoft's acquisition of Activision, it may have exposed itself to critical governmental and social attention it would have otherwise never garnered. And the deal's probably going to go through anyway. Meanwhile, reporting indicates PSVR2 is bombing in its first month on the market, which our eyes and ears were already telling us. Meanwhile, E3 is cancelled (probably forever) after the promise of a triumphant comeback, The Last of Us: Part I on PC wildly misses the Naughty Dog bar of quality, once-accused games writer Chris Avellone clears his name, and more news rounds our upside-down episode, dotted as always with listener inquiries. Your topics this week? The potential of animated PlayStation TV series and films, the best third-party publisher ever, a defense of day one DLC, and much more.

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#247 | Do You Remember Swinging Around in September? Mar 27, 2023

In September of 2018, one of the biggest PlayStation games of all-time -- Insomniac's Spider-Man -- came to PlayStation 4. Along with its '1.5-style' follow-up Miles Morales, the fledgling franchise has sold somewhere in the neighborhood of 40 million copies, and it seems like the original's direct sequel will launch five years to the month of its street date, in September of 2023. Word comes by way of the loose-lipped voice actor playing Venom, who would absolutely and obviously know these details in preparation for his press tour, so we believe what he says to be true, and it all begs the singular question: When will we see more? Other news this week revolves around Horizon: Forbidden West's upcoming DLC Burning Shores, the sunsetting of a trio of Battlefield games on PSN, Sony's ability (or lack thereof) to make a viable Call of Duty competitor, and more. Listener inquiries help us round things out, as always. What's up with all of the 10s being given out by games media? Is Ubisoft's Ghostwriter technology a harbinger of things to come? Why the heck won't some games let you pause? Will you bet cold-hard cash on Chris in his Creator Clash bout?

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#246 | How Refreshing Mar 20, 2023

Rumors are percolating anew of a PlayStation 5 Pro console that may launch as soon as 2024, but in reality, this isn't news at all. Our very own tech analyst told us about PS5 Pro last year right here on this very show, and with more information now garnered, it sounds like this thing is really happening. Or is it? Deep economic pain lingers (with more potentially on the way). And how much more power does the PS5 need, anyway? Let's discuss the freshest hardware murmurings. Then: Neil Druckmann spills the beans on The Last of Us' future on HBO and the potential of a third core game, Konami's Project Zircon indicates Castlevania is about to return, Chinese developers voluntarily submit to self-censorship in a new pact, and more, buttressed -- as always -- by listener inquiries. What's going on with Capcom's Pragmata? Could gaming magazines ever make a comeback? How long should a game be? Has Dustin's coffee snobbery gone a step too far?

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#245 | Delayed Execution Mar 13, 2023

Interesting news broke while we were recording the episode, and we made sure to incorporate it: Rocksteady's beleaguered Suicide Squad game (Kill the Justice League) has been indefinitely delayed from its May release on PlayStation 5, no doubt a response to the drubbing-by-consensus it recently took. Is such a move necessary, and could it right the game's trajectory? Did it even need saving it all? Other news items this week include a wild Jim Ryan quote regarding the Activision-Microsoft deal, a huge firmware update for PS5, the potential of Spider-Man 2 going head-to-head with Starfield, and more. We intersperse our show, as we always do, with listener inquiries, ranging on issues like a remake's eligibility for Game of the Year, skipping cutscenes, playing a single-player title via multiple roles, and the reveal of the soon-to-be-famous Sacred Symbols-themed sandwich at a very special Ohio deli.

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#244 | Lights Out Mar 06, 2023

As you well-know, Sacred Symbols doesn't work with any publishers, developers, or manufacturers. As such, we're excited to talk about PSVR2 for the very first time now that we've gotten our own purchased units in the mail. We go into some of our varying experiences so far, particularly with Horizon: Call of the Mountain, and Colin in particular wonders if his unit is broken or just permanently blurry ('sweet spot' be damned). We also get into all of the week's news, of course, starting with IO Interactive's big reveal of a new fantasy RPG in the works, Elden Ring's mysterious upcoming DLC, the closure of Square Enix's Luminous Productions, and more. As usual, listener inquiries round things out for us on topics like 3D platformers, endemic industry negativity, the potentially offensive nature of the term 'JRPG', and one funny anecdote from our live show in Houston about a few mystified men who thought they were there to see Moulin Rouge.

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#243 | Desperate Measures Feb 27, 2023

Xbox's pursuit of Activision Blizzard reached a new crescendo in recent days, as Microsoft President Brad Smith gave both private and public presentations to the European Commission about the virtues of the proposed deal. In its persistent recalcitrance and total unwillingness to get out of the way (particularly when it comes to Call of Duty's availability on PlayStation), Sony's strategy of silence may actually be paying off. Is Cryin' Jim really Thrivin' Jim? As always, we go deep into the weeds of this never-ending saga. Other news this week includes word of Diablo IV's open beta, Bungie suing cheaters into oblivion, and Embracer's presumably overleveraged position. Listener inquiries round things out, touching on topics like games that solve puzzles for you, our favorite so-called Sony-isms, the upcoming biblical title I Am Jesus Christ, and a potential Sacred Symbols sandwich at an Ohio-based deli. (Remember: We recorded a day earlier than usual because of our live event in Houston.)

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#242 | Rogue Satellite Feb 20, 2023

Sony has never so much as acknowledged the existence of the British team known as Ballistic Moon, but that hasn't stopped sleuths from figuring out as far back as last summer that they're working on a PlayStation exclusive called Project Bates. But in recent days, something interesting happened: Sony kinda-sorta referred to Ballistic Moon as a first party team in a job listing, which they later amended. And you may remember that Sony in fact clumsily leaked their acquisition of Bluepoint months before they properly revealed it. Is something up here? Possibly so; we'll let you decide. Other news this week includes an awesome new array of games on PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium, rumors of PlayStation-branded earbuds, the approach of the long-shambling Dead Island 2, and more. Listener inquiries round things out, as always. Is it okay to dislike BioShock? How come Colin thinks it's weird when media-types jump to publishers and developers? What exactly does the term 'survival horror' actually mean? Just what's happening at Wal-Mart, anyway?

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#241 | The Wizard Who Won Feb 13, 2023

The brand-new Harry Potter adventure Hogwarts Legacy will very easily go down as one of 2023's best-sellers, a testament to its high quality and faithful treatment of the so-called Wizarding World. But its success is also a triumph for reason and truth, and a major defeat for the outrage machine that tried to destroy it via a distorted game of telephone. Nestled within the maelstrom is nonetheless a heck of a game, and we're eager to talk about Avalanche Software's release in-depth. Plus: BioWare's continuing troubles, PixelJunk's triumphant return to PlayStation, and much more news. Then: Listener inquiries! Should we be more mindful of old game spoilers to help the younger generations 'go in fresh'? Was the Nier: Automata Platinum Trophy a step too far? Did Take Two announce Ken Levine's Judas too early? Will Colin ever recover from the precipitous decline in almond volume in his Honey Bunches of Oats... With Almonds?

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#240 | God of Dollars Feb 06, 2023

In only about 10 weeks on the market, God of War: Ragnarok has grossed (give or take) around $750 million. At 11 million units sold and counting, it's a stark reminder that -- yes indeed! -- people will buy games, buy them at a high price point, and buy them in great quantities. All that's necessary is for that product to be special. Having already made back Ragnarok's development and marketing costs several times, what's next for Santa Monica Studio? Behold yet another Sony money printer! Plus: PlayStation 5 sales are very strong, a sequel to an older PlayStation game is quietly (but blatantly) revealed, PSVR2's strengths and weaknesses are called into question weeks before launch, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! How do we feel about James Gunn's attempts to tie DC games into their larger entertainment universe? Will changes to Resident Evil 4 ruin the remake? Does Amy Hennig get too much credit for Uncharted? Can we learn to embrace the power of the badger?

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#239 | Forgetting Bruce Straley Jan 30, 2023

Think back a ways, to the lead-up to The Last of Us' launch on PlayStation 3. There wasn't one name -- but two! -- oft-invoked in media: Neil Druckmann and Bruce Straley. The duo's work was well-established in the Uncharted series, and they would later rescue Uncharted 4 from development tribulations as a team. But the team split apart, and these days, Druckmann is the focal point of PlayStation's internal development efforts while Straley is a ghost of times past. A recent LA Times piece allowed Straley to elaborate on the situation, which led us to a Sacred Symbols-style deep discussion on Naughty Dog, credit, Neil and Bruce's seeming divorce, and what's fair and isn't when it comes to game development. Of course, news also plays a central role in this week's episode, as it always does. Square Enix is finally squashing its questionable Avengers game, BioWare loses arguably its most prolific writer, Spider-Man 2 rumblings have everyone excited, Forspoken launches into a questionable environment, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Have we ever managed to score a game at retail before its street date? What would a modern Nintendo and PlayStation collaboration look like? Would Colin ever interview Adam Sessler on Sacred+? Are people making up tall tales specifically to be included on our show?

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#238 | Ad Astra Jan 23, 2023

Long-percolating rumors have been confirmed: Housemarque's wonderful third-person PS5 shooter Returnal is headed to PC, and you're going to need a beefy rig to enjoy all it has to offer. But not all is well in the stars. Krafton's The Callisto Protocol, released in December to middling reviews, was also met with soft sales. Somehow, the publisher spent something like $160 million over three years making the game, and the project is very much in the red. How could things have gone so poorly for such a promising title? And how is it possible that something like Callisto cost literally 10 times what it took for Remedy to make Control, and five times what they're spending on its sequel? Tons of sales data, discussions about Atomic Heart and Hogwarts Legacy, and more round out this week's news offerings, as we then delve into listener inquiries from Patreon. Should we expect Sony to make more acquisitions this year? Are recent layoffs at Microsoft at all emblematic of issues with the Xbox brand? Is the end nigh for GameSpot and Giant Bomb? Will one listener ever find out who the mystery person in the bathroom was? You know, the one listening to Sacred Symbols while doing his business?

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#237 | Fading Ubiquity Jan 16, 2023

Not too long ago, Ubisoft was one of the most powerful publishing entities in all of video games. Today, it's a beleaguered entity haunted by an absurdly high headcount and a development pipeline ill-suited for modern trends. The result has been an in-progress collapse notable enough to warrant an extensive update from the company itself, alongside a flurry of cancelled projects and ominous adjusted financial expectations in a worsening economy. The long and the short is: Ubisoft has big changes coming, and we're eager to talk about all that's gone wrong, and what may go right in the future. Other news includes rumors of a second party People Can Fly-developed shooter for PS5, the faux story about vertical PS5s breaking, and the embarrassing Limited Run Games fiasco, plus more. We then end this week not as we traditionally do -- with six questions from the audience -- but rather with our Game of the Year awards, the most prestigious and important you can possibly imagine. We also focus-in on a listener who wrote in about his teeth-brushing habits, and... well... we'll leave it for the show.

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#236 | Science Is The Captain Jan 09, 2023

It's easy enough to forget (especially these days) that Sony is, first and foremost, an electronics company. So perhaps we shouldn't be surprised that the company showed up to CES not only to show off its upcoming PlayStation VR2, but also something brand new: A fresh controller codenamed Project Leonardo, one designed with maximum accessibility in mind. By leveraging the power of tech, video games can reach even more people if they simply cater to them, and when it comes to the disabled, Microsoft proved nearly five years ago that their so-called adaptive controller represented something real. It's finally time for Sony to follow suit. Plus: PlayStation 5 surpasses 30 million units sold, The Last of Us: Factions gets teased yet again, Hitman turns into the World of Assassination, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Is gaming culture broken? How important was Shuhei Yoshida to PlayStation's first party output? When can we expect to (at last!) play Six Days in Fallujah? Is hand sanitizer essential, or a prophet of dryness?

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#235 | Our Most Anticipated Games of 2023 Jan 02, 2023

2022 is but a fleeting memory. Thus, as the calendar turns over, we thought it would be best to look ahead. As is our tradition, it's time for Sacred Symbols to talk about our most-anticipated games of the next 12 months. 2023 is shaping up to be a far, far stronger year than 2022, an especially bold proclamation considering we know virtually nothing about what's coming from either first or second party. Indeed, none of our 15 selections are PlayStation-published games, but -- naturally -- all of them are coming to PS5, PS4, or both. Without further ado, we present to you the upcoming adventures that've piqued our interest the most.

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#234 | Our Favorite PlayStation Moments of 2022 Dec 26, 2022

It's time once more for our annual Sacred Symbols tradition: Recounting and discussing the most memorable and interesting moments from the last 12 months of PlayStation. The reality is, this year was quiet on the first and second party front, at least when it comes to news (the games were dope, as always). But much happened that's worth going over again: Sony's acquisition of Bungie, Haven's potential promise, PS+'s struggles, and more. Then, there's everything in orbit around PlayStation: The Abandoned saga, Cyberpunk's revival, Square Enix's firesale, EA's gambit with Koei Tecmo, and so much more. We appreciate your support, as always, on Sacred Symbols. Happy Holidays!

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#233 | Force Feed Dec 19, 2022

Word of a third core The Last of Us game emanates from a reliable film industry-based source. If true, The Last of Us: Part III is one of at least two games in-development at Naughty Dog, news that is being met with equal parts excitement and disappointment. With other happenings pointing towards a God of War TV show at Amazon, and with so much of Sony's strategy seemingly relying on PlayStation's existing IP, it makes sense to wonder something very simple: Where are the new could-be franchises? When it comes to AAA fare, we've gotten one from the first and second party in PlayStation 5's entire lifecycle to date in the form of Returnal. Should we be concerned? Or should we put our faith into a brand that -- let's be honest -- has largely treated us very well over the last decade-plus, particularly when it comes to what matters most. Other news this week includes official word of the Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters' imminent PS4 release, the announcement of Ys X: Nordics, the exit of one of Media Molecule's co-founders from the studio after 16 years, and much more. Listener inquiries wrap things up as always, touching on topics like noisy controllers, the proper way to play Death Stranding, the commercial triumph of Sonic Frontiers, and a compelling suggestion that Chris may in fact be a time traveller with an uncanny predictive flair.

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#232 | Should We Have Connected? Dec 12, 2022

There's little doubt that this year's Video Game Awards was the strongest industry showcase in a long time, potentially in several years. Geoff Keighley did a great job, and he deserves credit as a great ambassador for our medium. But even more important than the VGAs, the winners, and the pomp and circumstance were the game reveals. PlayStation players are going to be eating very, very well in the years to come, particularly when you consider how full the schedule is without much of an inkling of what's coming from first and second party outside of Insomniac's Marvel duo. So let's dive extensively into Ken Levine's new BioShock-like banger Judas, Hideo Kojima's haunting and wonder-invoking Death Stranding 2, Guerrilla's beautiful LA-based Horizon: Forbidden West DLC called Burning Shores, a promising new action-RPG from Don't Nod titled Banishers: Ghost of New Eden, the return of From Software's dormant mech battler with Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon, 505's surprisingly fun-looking romp Crime Boss: Rockay City, Supergiant Games' first sequel ever in Hades II, and so much more. Other news this week includes the industry's unending obsession with Days Gone discourse, the FTC's decision to sue Microsoft over the Activision acquisition, and more. Is this the longest episode of Sacred Symbols ever? Yes... it sure is.

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#231 | The Hunt Dec 05, 2022

Capcom's Monster Hunter is a years-long smash hit, but it really hit its stride on PS4 with Monster Hunter World, Capcom's best-selling game ever. So it was mysterious when Monster Hunter Rise was launched on Switch (and later PC), but never on PlayStation. Rumor has it that's all about to change. Rise is apparently due for PS4 and PS5 very soon -- in perhaps a month and a half -- and with it comes the promise of high-quality hunting not yet seen on PS5, a genre gap Capcom rival Electronic Arts was hoping to fill with its Omega Force-developed Wild Hearts (which it had no doubt hoped would go uncontested, but no longer will). Thus, we've much to discuss. PlayStation also released interesting new updates for its tournament structure, as well as Stars, new PS+ games have been revealed, scant details about Peacock's Twisted Metal TV series have been unearthed, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Why doesn't Sony include New Game+ at launch with all first and second party titles? What game has the saddest opening ever? Which character is the current 'Face of PlayStation'? Is alliteration the most powerful determinant of a good name?

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#230 | Confidential: Contains Business Secrets! Nov 28, 2022

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The British government has released a mildly-redacted -- but largely intact -- 20-something page writeup from a law firm representing PlayStation. Dated late October of this year (but new to all of us), Sony attempts to retort, basically line-by-line, Microsoft's various contentions about the pending Activision-Blizzard-King deal that has fascinated the industry for the better part of 12 months. Though we all share a relative malaise about this subject, there's huge news within this document, and we couldn't help but go through it in great detail, garnering as much information as we can out of it about Sony's operation, that of its competitors, and the various theories and gamesmanship behind the completion or destruction of one of tech's all-time biggest acquisitions, one that could affect the very future of the PlayStation brand (or so they claim). And yes, we also get to other news -- Sony is publishing two flashy Chinese games as second party products, God of War: Ragnarok sells huge, and more -- and, as always, we rounded things out with inquiries from our beloved audience. How're we feeling about Forspoken now that it's a couple of months out? Does physical software have a future on PlayStation 6? Demon's Souls won a newbie Souls fan over, so where does he go next? What, precisely, is the meaning of life?

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#229 | Shimmy Simulator Nov 21, 2022

God of War: Ragnarok has finally arrived, and with it comes opinions. A whole slate of them. The three of us have sat with the newest PlayStation 5 smash-hit for varying amounts of time, and we come away with equally-varying opinions that we're eager to share, expand upon, and challenge. Needless to say, we spend a whole lot of time talking about the game this week, so buckle-in. We also delve into the last seven days' news, touching on Witcher III's much-delayed PS5 release, the official announcement of Remedy's Control 2, Embracer's perilous studio structure in the face of a truncating games industry, and more. We round things out, as always, with listener inquiries generated from our audience on Patreon. Is Sacred Symbols taking on too negative a tenor as of late? Should we expect better than 1080p60 on PS5? Why do people keep giving a platform to Adam Sessler? How young is too young to join the Gamer Batallation?

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#228 | We're Doomed Nov 14, 2022

We really hope you like the Horizon series, because a new rumor from a reliably-placed source indicates that much, much more of it is coming. There are purportedly five Horizon projects in the works: Call of the Mountain on PSVR2, some sort of Zero Dawn remake for PS5, the inevitable third game in the core trilogy, a Netflix series, and now an MMORPG from South Korean firm NCSoft. Meanwhile, a journalist attempts to race-bait Final Fantasy XVI producer Naoki Yoshida, and Naughty Dog hires the renowned creator of Fortnite's monetization system. But this episode's doomish vibe really begins with Doom itself, since renowned franchise composer Mick Gordon nukes id Software from space in a sprawling, 14,000 word document chock-full of receipts. In addition to other news, we round out our show with questions, comments, concerns, thoughts, and ideas, as we always do. Topics this week include a revitalized Sonic the Hedgehog, the potential of PlayStation Stars, the disparity in pricing between physical and digital software, and a rant about "with no ice," which is how all soft drinks should rightly be ordered.

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#227 | Lose All Sense of Reality Nov 07, 2022

It's hard to stop a moving train, and when big corporations make meaningful decisions, the results occur over years, not days, weeks, or months. It's clear now that Sony's PSVR2 is stuck between a rock and a hard place -- there's simply no way Sony could have forecasted the last two and a half years of human history when this thing was being workshopped and greenlit -- and with a high price, a bad economy, and a seeming dearth of actual games, well, PlayStation's timing may be all wrong. Does PSVR2 have a real future? We discuss at length. Other news this week circulates around updated PS5 sales data and impressive numbers for 2018's God of War, Microsoft's 700th reiteration that Call of Duty will always remain on PlayStation, Electronic Arts' new three game deal with Marvel, and much more. Listener inquiries round things out, per usual, touching on topics like a lacking creativity in PlayStation's first party, why spoilers are so detrimental and wrong, and the potentially bright future of Mega Man. We also place a moratorium on a popular user-favorite term, because we need to mix things up a bit, and because we enjoy keeping you on your toes.

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#226 | London Calling Oct 31, 2022

For two decades, Sony's London Studio has been known almost exclusively for its casual fare, usually driven by a peripheral, whether it's a camera, microphone, or even Move. But a recent conversation the team's two co-leads conducted with an industry publication indicates definitively that recent rumors were true: London Studio is pursuing a more hardcore course, specifically with an online co-op game-as-a-service that's set in a fantasy-themed London. (How fitting.) Is PlayStation's most inconsequential team about to run up the pecking order as part of a new, multiplayer-centered initiative? We discuss. Other news this week includes the construction of a new first party team allied closely with Naughty Dog, confirmation of an Unreal Engine 5-run Witcher remake from CD Projekt, the exit of studio Rocksteady's talented co-founders, the potential return of Square Enix's Parasite Eve, and more. Then: Listener inquiries. Will AAA PSVR2 games cost $70, too? How can we get back to the three year dev cycle? Did patching ruin game launches forevermore? Does Dustin know what "Oingo Boingo" means?

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#225 | The Hills Surprise Oct 24, 2022

Konami sure knows how to make someone wait. After literally years of rumors and build-up, the long-dormant Japanese publisher spilled the beans about its plans for Silent Hill, its once-popular survival horror series. It turns out three games are coming -- a new entry, a remake, and something smaller -- and, well, the choice of devs has some people puzzled. Bloober Team and Neobards Entertainment aren't exactly household names befitting a proper revival. Or perhaps that's the point? We discuss. Plus: We give you the very first details about the plotline of Quantic Dream's Star Wars: Eclipse, DualSense Edge gets both a date and price, Bungie is apparently planning a major comeback of its '90s FPS franchise Marathon, and more. We then end, as always, with listener inquiries. Could Sony begin 'Kickstarting' the development of riskier titles? Do we have a problem with cliffhanger endings? At a rumored 10-to-12 hours, is The Callisto Protocol too short? And just what is it with the Europeans, anyway?

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#224 | Revelations Oct 17, 2022

As we enter the season of spookiness, we're left wondering about the scariest possibility: Continuing PlayStation 5 scarcity. But there's good news emerging, at least if recent reports are to be believed. It appears Sony is readying to gear-up PS5 production in ways so dramatic that they plan on selling more units in one year than consoles like GameCube and the original Xbox did in their entire respective lifetimes, with millions to spare. Soon, the question may not be if you can get a PS5, but if you really want one. (You do.) Plus: New discoveries about first party team Haven suggest Sony wants them more for making making games easier than making a game (follow all that?), Persona 3 and 4 quietly receive a release date on PS4 (speaking of Revelations), new PS+ offerings leave much to be desired (some old games would be nice), and more. Then: Listener inquiries! What are some obscure digital-only PS3 titles worth playing? How come games rarely launched in the summer back in the day? Do we have a hard time playing with an evil karmic slant in choice-based campaigns? Has a recent YouTube suggestion from Dustin ruined actual lives?

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#223 | Zero Shame Oct 10, 2022

The Last of Us: Part I is one thing, but 'remaking' Horizon? Five years and change after it came out? Give us a break. Tantalizing rumors (seemingly confirmed by reliable sources) indicate Sony is indeed endeavoring to deliver a Horizon: Zero Dawn remake of some sort, a game that first came to PS4 in 2017 and PC in 2020. What level or kind of remake? It's unclear. But something akin to Naughty Dog's aforementioned PS5 foray is likely. Naturally, we discuss, while also going into the rest of the leaked Sony document that shows off a bunch of upcoming PlayStation products we know little or nothing about, with codenames like Ocean, Bates, Heartbreak, Camden, Carbon, and Redstar. Other news includes a bunch of Herman Hulst media hits, word on PSVR2's production targets, a ton of information about upcoming CD Projekt games, and much more, and as always, we end things with listener inquiries. Which titles, if any, have us holding our controllers in an unusual fashion? Is there such a thing as a game with too many endings? How can Activision better listen to its players following the recent Call of Duty beta? Did you know that there's such a thing as a littering fetish? Now you do. We hope you're happy.

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#222 | That's Wild Oct 03, 2022

As promised, publisher Electronic Arts has revealed its all-new, so-called 'hunting' game. It's called Wild Hearts, and it's coming by way of Koei Tecmo-owned developer Omega Force very soon: It hits PlayStation 5 in February. This is a fun move to analyze, an aggressive maneuver from EA that encroaches entirely on an unexpected rival's turf. Naturally, we delve-in. Plus: The totalitarian Saudi government is prepping to spend tens of billions of dollars to whitewash its horrific image (this time in gaming), The Last of Us on HBO is looking mighty fine (though Ellie has some people thrown-off), PlayStation Stars seems inoffensive and engaging (and dare we even say fun), and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Is "dynamically-generated quests" the single worst term ever? What's our gut-check when it comes to Square Enix's weird release schedule? Are digital releases truly ephemeral, after all? Dare we even ask if you want to hear the tale of the listeners whose roommate showers completely in the dark? (You're going to, one way or another.)

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#221 | Appeasement Sep 26, 2022

Life is full of choices. And a fundamental choice is what you do for a living and who you work for. So it was disappointing to see Shawn Layden -- a champion of PlayStation's first party games for a run of very good years -- choosing to sign with Tencent as a Special Advisor. As an ex-Fortune 500 executive, Layden is already set for life, and with a reputation and track record like his, he can work anywhere and do anything. He's chosen to be used to help normalize and strengthen Tencent's western operation, and in our humble opinion, he has some explaining to do. Plus: We further assess the catastrophic Grand Theft Auto VI leak (as well as Rockstar's response to it), EA's new Iron Man game (and its potential to be the next Spider-Man), rumors circulating about a new PS5 model (with a detachable disc drive), and much more. Then: Listener inquiries. What's the economic strategy behind Square Enix's coming avalanche of releases? Is there a firm line in game emulation that simply shouldn't be crossed? In an industry so mired in negative news, what's a glaring positive we've identified? Where the hell has Chris gone off to?

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#220 | Assassin's Greed Sep 19, 2022

Just when you thought mega-publisher Ubisoft finally 'got it' when it came to Assassin's Creed, they went ahead and simultaneously announced three brand-new AC games for console. This is of course a change from their more recent strategy of treating this particular franchise with more care; they now seem fine with potentially running it back into the ground. What's going on at Ubisoft? And what does the future of Assassin's Creed hold? Plus: Trouble may be brewing at Sony second party studio Deviation, Team Ninja's Rise of the Ronin surprises at State of Play, the Yakuza franchise is turning over a new leaf, Babylon's Fall goes bye-bye, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Are we excited about under-the-radar third-person shooter Evil West? How long will AAA games stay at $70 before the price goes up once more? Is the drama around Forspoken's dialogue a sign of rote political and social discourse? Why does Chris keep talking about a clown wearing his father's clothes?

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#219 | Oh, Oh, Oh, Jimmy's Cryin' Sep 12, 2022

It's clear: PlayStation's problems with Microsoft's in-motion purchase of Activision-Blizzard run deep. The financial implications are enormous, of course, but in going public with his dismay in potentially losing Call of Duty on PlayStation platforms beginning in 2028, CEO Jim Ryan illustrates Sony's concern is material enough that it's willing to take a PR beating to make its point. Our theory? They're simply trying to buy time as they continue to sort out their strategy and make sense of a growing consensus that doesn't necessarily cater to what they do best. Nonetheless, we discuss the wide-ranging, ongoing situation between Microsoft, Sony, Activision-Blizzard, and various global economic regulators that will make or break the deal. Other news this week includes the announcement of PSVR2 game Firewall: Ultra, Tencent's growing acquisition of Ubisoft, the mostly-missed confirmation that Returnal is indeed coming to PC, the reveal of Cyberpunk 2077's DLC, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Can Sony gleam anything from Microsoft's mismanagement of Halo and 343? With Spider-Man 2 rumors percolating, what are we most looking forward to in the sequel? Have we reached a point of irreversible open-world fatigue? Did someone really try to make the case that 'Chicago-style' pizza is the 'real' pizza?

Note: After Ubisoft's underwhelming presentation, we decided to keep this episode as is with no pickup. We'll be covering the Ubisoft news on episode 220.

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#218 | Savage Guardin' Sep 05, 2022

Sony's procurement of its first-ever mobile studio isn't something to get excited about, and we're not even gonna pretend to try. However, the acquisition of Savage Game Studios does suggest a new strategy for PlayStation, one that seeks to protect its various flanks even if it's not yet necessarily begun to fight on said front. Mobile gaming is a good example: They've said they've wanted to do something, and they have, but they don't acknowledge or pay attention to anything that results. It's as if it's not very important, but clearly, that's all about to change. We discuss. Plus: Sony acquires 14% of FromSoftware, SNK says there's interest in both sides for a Capcom vs. SNK revival, Quantic Dream gets scooped up by a Chinese firm, Mafia IV is early in development, and more news, followed (as always) by listener inquiries. Should we embrace the term "I" and "Triple I" when it comes to indies? Is there such a thing as "too much accessibility" when it comes to gaming? Why are console-exclusive pre-order bonuses so darn persistent? Is Colin fearful of Dustin's growing podcasting power?

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#217 | Pray They Don't Alter It Any Further Aug 29, 2022

For the first time in the history of the gaming industry, a major piece of hardware is getting a price increase across virtually the entire world. PlayStation 5, launched in 2020 at $500 or your local equivalent, will still cost that much (with a disc drive) here in the States. But virtually everywhere else in the world -- from the UK and Europe to Australia, Japan, and beyond -- PS5's price is about to go up modestly, but noticeably. Sony no doubt isn't taking this PR catastrophe lightly -- you have to imagine there's a need here -- and, indeed, this highly-controversial will help them make an additional half-a-billion bucks this year alone. But with market conditions as they are, inflation running rampant, and production as trying as ever, the only question is whether any of their competitors follow-suit, and whether Sony itself is done upping the ante. Other news includes the reveal of PlayStation's long-awaited Elite-style controller called DualSense Edge, confirmation that PSVR2 will launch in early 2023, release dates for Dead Island 2, Sonic Frontiers, and more. and so on. Then, we wrap things up (as we always do) with listener inquiries. What's with some outlets slamming Saints Row, then accepting money to promote it anyway? Is it becoming increasingly difficult to avoid the industry's inherent negativity? Will Sony ever begin caring about their PlayStation Mobile initiative? Should one listener's public bathroom encounter have left him as scared as it has?

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#216 | Going Ballistic Aug 22, 2022

There may not be very many games coming out right now, but there sure is a lot of news to get through. For starters, enterprising internet detectives have conclusively uncovered an unannounced second party PlayStation game from a British studio called Ballistic Moon. Staffed by ex-Supermassive personnel, some are wondering whether their title -- codenamed Project Bates -- is a horror game in the vein of 2015's Until Dawn. We discuss. Plus: Sony-owned Japanese dev Team Asobi speaks out about its present and future plans, compelling evidence of a PlayStation PC launcher has been uncovered, Embracer continues to mindlessly gobble up whatever it can find, the KOTOR Remake for PS5 is apparently alive and well, and much more. Then: Listener inquiries! Should Sony remake the original God of War trilogy? How do we feel about Death Stranding coming to PC Game Pass? Why is Sony actively making the PlayStation Store worse? Is it time for Colin to be considered a man of color because of his Italian heritage?

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#215 | Brawling in Brazil Aug 15, 2022

What was supposed to be a routine exchange between corporations and an economic regulatory body in Brazil has turned into the hottest news in gaming over the last week. That's because both Sony and Microsoft have launched soft salvos at each other, picking apart each other's strategies on the market and their intentions to squeeze the other guy out. Buried within both of their arguments are interesting tidbits, though, particularly in regard to how Xbox and PlayStation see both themselves and each other, and we couldn't help but delve in head-first to pick it all apart. Plus: Square Enix is either priming to sell or buy more studios (potentially both), Call of Duty's beta is inbound to Sony platforms in September, PS+'s new offerings are surprisingly solid, and more news. Then: Listener inquiries! Are we tempted to go-in on the Backbone One controller? Can a game be so good that it ruins every other game you play? Is keeping old hardware less important in an era of digital software and backwards compatibility? What lessons has Colin drawn from living to his advanced age?

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#214 | Missing Kevin Butler Aug 08, 2022

Is PlayStation missing an element of 'fun' that used to be present in its ecosystem? One listener wrote in with such a thought, revolving his argument around one key figure from yore: Kevin Butler. The long-lost fictional Sony executive represented a different time for PlayStation. The question is, do we want to go back? News items this week include a peculiar missive from Sony in Brazil about Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, an analysis of Sony's first quarter fiscal report, Tencent's pursuit of Ubisoft, and more. Other listener inquiries include ones on the potential of an $80 game, the value-versus-length argument, subscriptions acting as modes of curation, and Dustin's peculiar pronunciation of a northwestern American state. If only we could have done more to protect him.

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#213 | Jawbreaker Aug 01, 2022

An industry source was kind enough to leak to me (Colin) what purports to be a script being circulated for the upcoming Tomb Raider game. It's codenamed Project Jawbreaker, the two-scene script is for actors trying out for various parts, and I forced Chris and Dustin to read through the entire thing for your amusement... with Chris as an apparently lesbian Lara Croft. Plus: More news! An ex-studio head indicates Sony is indeed interested in purchasing Square Enix, Rockstar has some players nervous about Grand Theft Auto VI's apparently 'woke' transformation, PS5's timed-exclusive KOTOR remake has been binned, EA is apparently working on a Black Panther game, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Is PlayStation losing its identity under Jim Ryan's stewardship? Could edutainment games ever make a comeback? Should developers nurture 'farm systems' of lesser devs? Are Colin's handwritten notes more sinister than you think?

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#212 | Repeat After Everyone Jul 25, 2022

There can be no doubt, now, that Sony wants to be a major player in the esports space. This was first evidenced by left-field acquisitions like EVO, moving into branding decisions like INZONE. Now, with the purchase of esports tournament operator Repeat, the writing's obviously on the wall. Can PlayStation discover success in the games-as-a-service and competitive spaces, where they've traditionally found little to write home about (outside of Gran Turismo)? Plus: Spider-Man's PC port gets detailed, mega-toy company Spin Master gets in bed with Sony, Bungie and PlayStation are official, and more news, followed by listener questions galore. What would we want to see in a Bloodborne 2? How, exactly, does the publisher-developer relationship function? Is it time to get video games more heavily integrated into our schools? Will Chris dedicate his entire life to a $20,000 Halo 2-related bounty?

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#211 | It Can't Be For Nothing Jul 18, 2022

The Last of Us: Part I has officially gone gold, interesting news considering it doesn't launch for some seven weeks. Yet, the upcoming PS5 remake's very existence has proven mighty contentious. Some claim it doesn't need to exist at all; many others insist it's a "cash grab" of the highest order. But some folks who worked on the game have come out staunchly in its defense, not only in terms of its sky-high quality, but also in terms of the shockingly-healthy circumstances under which it was made. We try to make sense of the hullabaloo surrounding Naughty Dog's latest before moving onto news surrounding freshly-purchased first party team Haven. A recent extensive interview seems to paint a picture of Haven as both a developer of games and of technologies and workflows, which fits in well with recent acquisitions like Nixxes, Bluepoint, Valkyrie, and even Bungie. After we get through all of that news (and more), we go into listener inquiries, including thoughts on PlayStation Plus' gravitational pull, the current JRPG renaissance we're living through, predictions for first and second party PS5 games in 2023, and one especially strange tale of a man who left a poop stain on a woman's couch.

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#210 | Sucker Punched Jul 11, 2022

It's always fun to receive a letter, unless that letter happens to be very sad. Sony-owned developer Sucker Punch penned one such melancholy note to its audience in recent days, and it relayed sorrowful news indeed: The team isn't working on Infamous or Sly Cooper games now, they won't be in the foreseeable future, and -- perhaps most surprising -- no other studio is, either. Is the abandonment of Sucker Punch's history... well... a sucker punch of its own? We discuss. Plus: God of War: Ragnarok finally gets a release date, Forspoken is delayed into 2023, Rockstar abandons plans for a Grand Theft Auto IV remaster, and more news. Then: Listener inquiries! What are our expectations for Dragon Quest XII? Is there a future for digital game rentals? Will we ever 'retire' from playing games? Why does Colin hate phone calls so damn much?

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#209 | Square Dancing Jul 04, 2022

It's a relatively slow week in the world of PlayStation, but there are still matters to discuss. Yes: We're all curious about when God of War: Ragnarok's release date will be revealed, and we have some things to say about this strange new line of Sony electronics under the INZONE brand. But really, we'd rather get into the weeds with smaller stories and lots of listener inquiries. Topics range from Horizon's TV debut and the potential of Persona live-action media to the return of Star Ocean and Final Fantasy XVI's British-style English. Speaking of Final Fantasy XVI, we also get into just what's happening with Square Enix and its relationship with PlayStation. Is Sony courting the publisher, particularly with so much money heaped at it for timed exclusivity and marketing? Plus: Do we care about speedruns? Are live service games ruining our gaming cadences? Should Sony have allowed its studios to speak out on Roe vs. Wade? All of that and more on the other side of the play button.

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#208: Bobby Kotick's No Skater Jun 27, 2022

The news can be painful sometimes, and, well... get the medicine. It appears Activision, in its infinite wisdom, halted its developer Vicarious Visions (now Blizzard Albany) from remaking PlayStation 2-native titles Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 and 4 in a similar fashion it remade the PSone THPS games for PS4 in 2020. This leaves us crestfallen, wondering why such a money-hungry entity would leave such obvious cash on the table. We also get into copious news surrounding Final Fantasy XVI, DICE's stubbornness when it comes to Battlefield 2042, Creative Assembly's questionable FPS HYENAS, John Garvin's new Web3 game, various PlayStation Plus updates, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Are we being too harsh on The Last of Us: Part I? What's our gut tell us about God of War: Ragnarok's release date and review scores? Why do Xbox fans seem particularly agitated at us? Will Chris create the most successful OnlyFans in history?

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#207: A Crisis Reborn Jun 20, 2022

This is a week tailor-made for Final Fantasy fans, particularly on the back of Final Fantasy XVI's re-reveal. That's because... well... wait! There's more! During a brief live stream celebrating Final Fantasy VII's 25th anniversary, publisher-slash-developer Square Enix made two big announcements: The 2007 PSP Final Fantasy VII prequel Crisis Core is coming to PS4 and PS5, and the second part of the now-confirmed-three part Final Fantasy VII Remake launches the following winter, only on PlayStation 5. Thus, we have much to digest in the land of role-playing. This jam-packed episode has much more to work over, too, including the leak of an in-production, high-end Elite-style controller for PS5, the long-in-coming confirmation of Dragon's Dogma 2, reliable information concerning God of War: Ragnarok's release month, the arrival of Persona 3 and 4 on PS4, and so on and so forth. Then: Listener inquiries. What game dev jobs would Chris and Dustin want to undertake? Is the audience being too hard on The Last of Us: Part I? Could the incoming economic recession have a negative effect on the games industry? Will Dustin bend the knee and finally kiss Jim Ryan's ring?

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#206: The Return of Them Jun 13, 2022

Joel and Ellie are set to return to PlayStation, and a lot sooner than you might think. The long-rumored The Last of Us: Part I is real -- it's a ground-up remake of the 2013 PS3 original, slated for PS5 and later PC -- and it comes out in just a few months. But that's not all: Naughty Dog has also opened-up about not only its upcoming TLoU multiplayer game, which it describes as their biggest game yet, but even hint at a PlayStation 5 project beyond that. This means we've much to talk about when it comes to Sony's crown jewel team. But there's a lot more news than just that. There's conflicting word about the release status of God of War: Ragnarok, with some claiming it's been pushed to 2023 while others state it's simply not so. Meanwhile, PlayStation 5 has surpassed 20 million units, with Sony both severely supply-constrained and without any truly meaningful exclusive launches to date. Plus: Street Fighter 6's roster leaks, Bend is working on a multiplayer game, Overdose may be Hideo Kojima's next game, and more. Then: Listener inquires! Is Snowrunner a low-key Chris game? What kind of 'value' would Sony have to add to get us to subscribe to higher tiers of PlayStation Plus? Does Colin hate too much on the PlayStation 3 XMB? Who would win in a fight: Knack or a hundred Sackboys?

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#205: State of Play Wins the Day Jun 06, 2022

It's good to keep your expectations low. That way, surprises could be around every corner. With the PlayStation ecosystem so vacant in recent months, it's clear that Sony and its many partners have a lot to say. It's just that we didn't think a State of Play presentation that Sony seemed to actively and repeatedly lower expectations for would be the venue. Well, consider us surprised, indeed! During a tight 30 minute showcase, we got to see 15 different games (including three from first party), spanning PS4, PS5, and PSVR2. Horizon: Call of the Mountain looks great, and -- believe it or not -- 2018's Spider-Man is PC-bound, where it looks to add to its and Miles Morales' stunning 33 million copies sold. Resident Evil 4 Remake is real (and it's glorious), Stray finally has a release date (and will be a 'free' title for PS+ Premium and Deluxe), Callisto Protocol wears its Dead Space inspiration on its sleeve (and preempts Dead Space Remake on the calendar), and Final Fantasy XVI -- due out in Summer 2023! -- looks incredible. We have a lot to gush about. There's other news this week, too, which makes this episode officially jam-packed. Dragon Age's return draws near, Killzone may be en route to PSVR2, Sonic Frontiers looks questionable, and more. Plus: Listener inquiries! Are we being too hard on Forspoken? Why, exactly, does Colin hate multiplayer gaming? Can print strategy guides ever experience a resurgence? Has Dustin underestimated the selling power of the Slitterhead Shuffle?

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#204: Going Pro May 30, 2022

When PlayStation 4 Pro launched in 2016, it was fairly divisive. Why did we need two iterations of the same console? Isn't it a waste of money? Wouldn't developers have more work to do? It all ended up being needless worry, and so it should come as no surprise that -- if indications are correct -- PlayStation 5 Pro is en route for 2023 or 2024. What's the potential of the machine? Do we even need it? And how will potential consumers respond to a higher-end console when they can't even find the base version? We discuss. This news-thick episode also touches on lots of other issues, from God of War: Ragnarok's release date and Death Stranding 2's seeming leak, to lots of PlayStation Plus drama and new nuggets about PlayStation's PC and acquisitions strategies. Our lengthy podcast ends, as always, with listener inquiries. Why do people insist on scapegoating video games for societal violence? Will Square Enix ever re-package and re-release the Final Fantasy XIII trilogy? Can The Callisto Protocol earn the survival horror crown? Did one listener's car accident bring a deer within striking distance of this very podcast?!

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#203: Shattering the Silence May 23, 2022

In the coming weeks, the all-new PlayStation Plus will begin rolling out, and we've finally learned more about what we can expect, especially when it comes to games. First and second party are well-represented across PSone, PS2, PS3, and PSP, and of course PS4 and PS5 will have plenty of fodder for you, too. And yes: PSone games can have Trophies! Apart from talking deeply about PS+ and its evolution, however, we also get into other news. Rumors indicate The Last of Us Remake -- still unannounced! -- might be PlayStation 5-bound sooner than we thought, while Final Fantasy VII Remake: Part II and Final Fantasy XVI may also receive much-desired updates. Oh, and even more Silent Hill rumors, if you can stomach them. Then: Listener inquiries! Are the Mafia games overrated? What's with the paranoia surrounding Naughty Dog's output? Will we predict the next 'water cooler' game? Can Chris and Dustin steer the ship while Colin goes to take a call?

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#202: Scarce Silicon May 16, 2022

Sony's annual financial report brings with it good news for the brand. PlayStation, as usual, is the most important vertical in its corporate family in Japan, pulling in the most revenue and raking in the highest profit (even more than Sony Pictures, currently in a renaissance of its own). Yet, with PlayStation 5 doing well, Sony has a serious issue: It still can't manufacture enough PS5s to satiate demand. Not even close, in fact. Such a situation isn't only allowing its competitor to catch up; it's also creating doubt regarding if they can even fix the problem at all. Yet, they're hoping to right the ship over the next year, where they essentially intend to double their sales. Will they succeed? Only time will tell. Elsewhere in the industry, Electronic Arts has pulled the plug on its 30-year FIFA franchise, opting -- as rumors indicated -- to go it alone. But FIFA is ready to fight back, and with eFootball in the mix, too, things should get quite interesting in the soccer space in the years to come. Plus: Elden Ring sells huge, Gotham Knights is cancelled on PS4, Outriders was a financial dud, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Should cloud saving be free? When should Sony have a games showcase? What ever happened to Army of Two? Will Colin sell Last Stand Media to the communists?

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#201: Embracing the Chaos May 09, 2022

The Embracer Group's appetite for developers cannot be satiated. The never-ending expansion of what is rapidly becoming gaming's largest publishing entity has gobbled up three more studios from rival Square Enix (as well as a bunch of IP) for cash money. Does this say anything about Embracer? Probably not. It seems like they'll buy just about anything, and $300 million is a small price to pay for more than 1,000 heads and 50 licenses, including Tomb Raider. This deal does, however, say something about Square Enix. Potentially many things, in fact. Refocused on western second party relationships and Japanese internal development, some think Square Enix is trimming the fat to be purchased itself. But does that make sense? We discuss this deal extensively. Other news this week include rumblings of a takeover at Ubisoft, the leak of some of PlayStation Plus' upcoming retro games, the surprising lawsuit that potentially puts Yuji Naka's epic failure Balan Wonderworld in context, and more. As always, we touch on plenty of listener inquiries too, including ones about Reggie Fils-Aime, a potential sequel to Death Stranding, the likelihood a Punisher game might someday appear, and so on. We're back in the saddle after a very successful 200th episode, and we hope you enjoy.

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#200: Ranking PlayStation 4's 25 Best Games May 02, 2022

It's a celebration! Our PlayStation podcast-that-could has reached its 200th week of existence, which of course means its 200th core episode is here. To commemorate this auspicious occasion, we decided to do thing proper-like, renting out a famous theater in Richmond, Virginia entertainers much more talented than us typically play, and recording live in front of 400+ fans. The topic? PlayStation 4's 25 best games -- ranked! -- based on a combination of our individual lists, as well as the audience's. The results are going to be controversial, of course, but we were wise enough to mathematically split things up in such a way that you have yourselves to blame just as much as us. Such is the way of life with Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast. Thank you for your support. Here's to the next 200. (While this episode can be enjoyed as an audio experience, it is meant to be viewed. We hope that, if given the choice, you will watch Sacred 200 as opposed to listen to it. But how you proceed is up to you.)

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#199: Turning Agnostic Apr 25, 2022

Where is Kratos? Belief that we'd see God of War: Ragnarok by now has left us dismayed, particularly in light of a rather odd video from Santa Monica Studio that gives us little information about a game originally slated to launch in 2021. But without a release date (outside of year) and no confirmation it's even incoming by year's end (except for from a random Tweet from a dev), PlayStation fans are left wondering if their faith in getting something timely from Santa Monica Studio was ill-founded. Other news this week includes the return of Amy Hennig to the Star Wars universe, endless rumors about a new Uncharted game and The Last of Us' remake, the arrival of the NFL on PSVR, the increasing perils of in-game advertising, and more. We wrap up with listener questions galore, as usual, including inquiries on what Netflix's fall in fortune means for gaming subscription services, circumventing old-school punishment with save states, the bad design around level caps, and so much more. Would we do it with an alien? We talk about that, too. Enjoy!

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#198: The Kingdom Stirs Apr 18, 2022

The recent 20th anniversary celebration for Kingdom Hearts came with a major surprise: The announcement of Kingdom Hearts IV. While leaked in unintentional (and obviously completely accurate) GeForce documents last year, the new Square Enix-Disney collaboration is the talk of the industry, and obviously, we dedicate plenty of time to it. We also touch on the week's other news, including Ghost of Tsushima's film project procuring its writer, CD Projekt taking the Witcher III PS5 port from Saber Interactive due to their Russian ties, PlayStation's fresh investment into Epic, Bungie's dedication to work-from-home, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! What's the most-aesthetically pleasing PlayStation console? Why hasn't Star Trek made the jump to AAA games? Are we reaching a breaking point when comparing physical and digital game prices? How young can we indoctrinate children to ensure they become Sacred Symbols superfans?

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#197: Remedying the Payne Apr 11, 2022

The studio behind Alan Wake, Remedy, has certainly come into its own in recent years, particularly on the back of its surprise-hit third-person shooter Control. Now, they've decided to go back to the near-beginning, remaking both the original Max Payne and its sequel on behalf of publisher Rockstar. Thing is, this spreads the team to at least five projects helmed by four publishers, so a big question needs to be asked: Is Remedy overextending itself, particularly on the back of its ill-received supplement to Crossfire X? We discuss. Then: A new Tomb Raider is PS5-bound, and is being built on Unreal Engine 5, Capcom raises salaries across the company by an average of 30%, SNK is officially owned by a murderer, and more. Plus: Listener inquiries galore. How are we going to take advantage of the upcoming slow release schedule? Is IGN's poor freelance pay indicative of a wider industry trend? Are fighting games perfect for the free-to-play model? Will Chris and Colin ever settle their bad blood over the quality (or lack thereof) of Home Improvement?

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#196: This Is Spartacus Apr 04, 2022

As long-rumored, PlayStation Plus is receiving its first major refresh since the subscription service launched in 2010. Beginning in June, the PS+ will split into three, with its base form being the PS+ we're all familiar with. Atop that will be two more tiers, however, giving players access to hundreds of PSone, PS2, PS3, and PSP games, and more. But there are, of course, many catches. We spend a great deal of time delving into the ins-and-outs of PlayStation Plus Essential, Extra, and Premium, and deliver the rest of the week's news, too, including information on April's free PS+ games, details surrounding a possible Knack revival, Gran Turismo 7's ongoing microtransaction saga, Firesprites trio of in-development games, and more. We also focus-in on our experiences with Ghostwire: Tokyo on PS5, which we like a lot. Then: Listener inquiries! Has Elden Ring permanently altered players' expectations for open worlds? How useful are spoilercasts to our audience? What license should get the Hogwarts Legacy treatment? Can we help one listener find love at work?

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#195: Expanding the Map Mar 28, 2022

In recent years, Sony's first party family has grown mightily, with sensical additions like Housemarque, Insomniac, Bluepoint, and others filling obvious roles. That's why the outright purchase of fledgling, game-less second party partner Haven is a little confusing. Yet, through the lens of the modern industry -- which is crunched by worker shortages, high budgets, and even higher expectations -- perhaps this acquisition can be justified from personnel, creative, and even geographic perspectives. Either way, let's welcome Haven to the family with a candid discussion about what Sony's turn in strategy may mean. Plus: Gran Turismo 7 is a complete mess, The Witcher IV has been officially acknowledged, Rocksteady's Suicide Squad game has been delayed, NFL football is coming to PSVR, and much more. Then: Listener inquiries! Do we believe in the 'metaverse'? Are we tired of crafting systems? Does Hogwarts Legacy have any chance of being treated fairly by the media? What happens to Sacred Symbols when Colin dies? All of this (and more!) on the other side of play.

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#194: Stunning Wizardry Mar 21, 2022

After much waiting, we've finally been treated to a deep-dive into Hogwarts Legacy, the controversial Harry Potter-aligned game slated to launch on PS4 and PS5 later this year. Developed by one-time Disney outfit Avalanche, Hogwarts Legacy is -- in a word -- ambitious. Like, really ambitious. And it looks awesome. So let's discuss. Plus: News! The very Supermassive-2K title we told you was coming on this show a month or two ago, The Quarry, has been announced, while FromSoft's Elden Ring is absolutely obliterating the sales chart. Konami keeps hinting at Silent Hill's comeback, while Dead Space Remake gets a release window, Moss 2 is right around the corner on PSVR, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Is the in-process failure of Microsoft's studio The Initiative a sign of Xbox's inability to manage their teams? Is Square Enix's Tetsuya Nomura overrated? How do we find the recent GTA-related rumors about where the new game may take place? Are we going to institute a No Fly Zone over the Keebler Elves' forest?

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#193: The Small Scream Mar 14, 2022

God of War is a big PlayStation franchise, and word is it's about to make the leap to the small screen. As in, a TV show, apparently on Amazon Prime, led by the same minds that helped The Expanse and The Wheel of Time make the leap from page to moving image. But can God of War actually work as a serial? We discuss. Plus: Gaming news galore! Returnal is getting free DLC that adds co-op and an endless mode, while Capcom unveiled a Dino Crisis-like game called Exoprimal that's... well... primed to delight. Square Enix revealed PlayStation console-exclusive action-RPG Valkyrie Elysium, as well, along with a RTS called DioField Chronicles and an unfortunate delay for Luminous' upcoming PlayStation 5 console-exclusive Forspoken. Oh, and did you know there's a TMNT 8/16-bit collection en route? There is! We end every episode of Sacred Symbols with listener inquiries, as you know, and this episode is no different. Should Sony's approach with State of Play be rethought? What in God's name was Platinum thinking with Babylon's Fall? Will PlayStation fail to survive the next decade? Why is Colin eating ramen for dessert? All of that -- and much more -- on the other side of play.

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#192: Modern Warfare Mar 07, 2022

The eyes of the world are on Eastern Europe, where the Russian invasion of Ukraine has unsettled the post-World War II order. Perhaps not surprisingly, external forces in the west are bringing their economic might to bear to help halt the senseless violence. While Ukrainian politicians ask the gaming industry to do more, some have already started to do what they can. EA, for instance, has removed the Russian national teams and associated clubs from their FIFA and NHL games, while developers like CD Projekt have halted game sales in Russia, full-stop. Is this the right answer? Will it do any good? Or is the industry contributing to the demonization of a society that doesn't support its government and didn't ask for these actions? We discuss. Plus: Ghostwire gets a visual novel prequel, Twisted Metal's TV show is greenlit by Peacock, Trails From Zero receives a western release date, Capcom's renaissance continues unabated, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Is PlayStation 5 officially a must-buy? With Infamous and Sly Cooper rumors circulating, which teams would be appropriate to tackle both? What's Epic's intent in buying Bandcamp? Should the boys go to a fan's wedding?

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#191: Forbidden Whispers Feb 28, 2022

It's been five years since Horizon: Zero Dawn launched, and finally, we have its sequel. Forbidden West has arrived on PS5 and PS4, and it's awesome. We have a lot to say about it, so we dedicate over an hour to talking about Guerrilla's new open-world action-RPG in spoiler-free terms. But of course, we can't ignore the news. Fresh Project Spartacus rumors suggest a three-tiered subscription that will include hundreds of digital games, classic access, and more. Yet, the upcoming day-and-date release of Shadow Warrior 3 on PlayStation Now seems to conflict with potential timing. What gives? After that, we get into rumors about Call of Duty's new release schedule, the unexpected success of the Uncharted film, Electronic Arts' daring move away from the FIFA brand, Street Fighter 6's underwhelming reveal, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Were David Jaffe's recent comments truly unsavory, or just taken out of context? Why doesn't the games press care more about Japanese RPGs? Can a dying studio ever truly recover its lost reputation? Will Colin ever be able to escape the shadowy specter of Sonic the Hedgehog?

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#190: The Bright Side Feb 21, 2022

It seems like PlayStation has taken some body blows recently, but stark reality paints a different picture. Sales data shows PlayStation 5 is steadily outselling Xbox Series X|S, while games like the original Horizon and Miles Morales are doing Nintendo first party-level numbers, something its primary competition could only dream of. Heck, with Cyberpunk 2077 sneakily arriving on PlayStation 5 in the shadow of Horizon: Forbidden West's launch, there's much to be excited about. Of course, it isn't all good news. Sony second-party partner Haven has already lost its COO and co-founder -- a bad sign, indeed -- while PlayStation seems to be unnecessarily screwing around with cross-gen pricing. And what's up with Platinum Games' recent desperation and the censoring of horror game Martha Is Dead? We discuss. We then end, as we usually do, with a smattering of listener inquiries. Does the upcoming closure of Wii U's and 3DS' digital storefronts portend bad things for PS3 and Vita? Is Sony Pictures on the verge of taking full advantage of the Destiny IP? What's with all the anti-"gamer" hate in the industry? Will Chris ever return to New York?

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#189: Safehaven Feb 14, 2022

Microsoft's pending purchase of Activision has turned the industry upside down for weeks, but now we're not so sure it deserves too much worry, at least not for the PlayStation fanbase. In anticipation of regulatory concerns, Microsoft has explicitly and repeatedly ensured that PlayStation (and Nintendo?!) will receive plenty of Activision-Blizzard games well after already-inked deals have lapsed. In other words: Call of Duty, Diablo, Overwatch, and the like will be on PlayStation forevermore, with new IP likely to forego Sony's platforms. We discuss. Then: Rockstar finally acknowledges Grand Theft Auto VI (or whatever it'll be called), we're grateful to learn more about Haven and their mysterious PlayStation 5 project (though not very much), Chrono Cross is coming to PlayStation 4 in a brand-new edition, Platinum Games' new direction may spell trouble, and more. Plus: Listener inquiries! What do we think of FromSoftware's pre-Demon's Souls output? Should Sony make a move for the Lord of the Rings games license? What should Bungie make when it's done with Destiny 2? Is Colin secretly illiterate?

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#188: Fulfilling Destiny Feb 07, 2022

When it comes to mergers and acquisitions, it appears Sony is willing to play along: It's $3.6 billion acquisition of Bungie is proof. Thing is, this marriage is a bit different for the brand. Bungie will remain outside of PlayStation Studios' publishing hierarchy and remain both independent and multiplatform. However, Sony isn't done yet. Far from it. It's as ominous as it sounds, and we dedicate plenty of time to get all of our thoughts out. Then: Other news! Sony has released fresh financials indicating a very healthy company, but one severely supply-constrained and unable to meet demand, MLB: The Show 22 has a release date on PS4 and PS5, Ghostwire: Tokyo is coming way sooner than you may have thought, Yacht Club's newest game is a Zelda-inspired romp, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Will we ever see Destiny 3? Could Fat Princess ever return? Are games becoming too ideological? Where's Dustin getting all of his recent bravado?

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#187: In A Galaxy Run Far, Far Into the Ground Jan 31, 2022

Disney couldn't care less whether or not you want more Star Wars, because you are, nevertheless, getting more. In our realm, three new Star Wars games have been revealed -- one we kinda knew about, two we certainly didn't -- but what makes things interesting is that they're all coming from the same source: EA-owned Respawn, the team behind Titanfall and Apex Legends. What's with this massive investment into Star Wars? Do we really, honest-to-god need more of this series? We discuss. Plus: Horizon 2 is gold, as is Elden Ring, Call of Duty will remain on PlayStation through at least 2023, PlayStation Plus' February offerings leave much to be desired, Sony invests even more into first and second party teams, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Is it the right time to revive MotorStorm? Will Spartacus ultimately disappoint us? How do analysts draw their sales conclusions? Will you join us in Richmond, Virginia for Episode 200 live?!

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#186: A Very Stupid Arms Race Jan 24, 2022

Microsoft -- as it's wont to do -- just went and spent a bunch of money on a publisher. But this is no ordinary publisher or forgettable amount of money: By buying Activision-Blizzard for a record $68.7 billion, Xbox now controls some of the industry's most vital IP and studios, including the king of them all, Call of Duty, and its constellation of developers, including Infinity Ward and Treyarch. Yet, Microsoft's bullish move will likely set off an even-further damaging series of mergers and acquisitions that remove risk for certainty and eliminates creativity for volume. It amounts to a very stupid arms race that everyone else will be compelled to compete in, whether they want to or not, and there's only one entity to blame. Then: Release dates for Ghostwire Tokyo, LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, and WWE 2K22 have emerged, God of War does big numbers on PC, Sony renews trademarks related to defunct first party team Psygnosis, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! What's our temperature on Horizon: Forbidden West less than a month away from launch? Are we not keeping an open enough mind when it comes to the possibilities of gaming NFTs? Will Sony botch the little things that could make Project Spartacus shine? Is David Jaffe more attractive than Colin Moriarty?

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#185: Twisted Resistor Jan 17, 2022

First party rumors are growing. With a Twisted Metal revival unannounced (but very much in-development) comes word that it's now an internal project under the control of Firesprite. Meanwhile, the candor ex-Bend Studio leads displayed in a conversation with David Jaffe continue to reverberate, bringing to light the possibility of a Resistance revival, or something new in the world of Syphon Filter. Meanwhile, word out of the UK is that PlayStation Now cards will stop being sold in physical stores, a near-certain sign that Sony's GamePass competitor is nearing. There's more news to discuss, too, including Dying Light 2's hour-count misstep, the continuing manufacture of PlayStation 4, tantalizing details surrounding a possible Armored Core revival, and indications that a second Quantic Dream game may be in development. We then interrupt tradition by forgoing our mailbag-centric ending for something grander: Our Game of the Year awards. We each pick our top three games of 2021, and give away five random awards, as well. So hit play! There's much to discuss.

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#184: The Virtual Horizon Jan 10, 2022

This week's episode of Sacred Symbols is full of acronym soup. Let's start with the biggest news: PSVR2. While Sony revealed PlayStation VR's successor last year, we finally have new information, though -- frustratingly -- we still lack a release date or price. Along with fresh PSVR2 details comes a new game, too, something from the first party. It's called Horizon: Call of the Mountain, and we're eager to talk about it. Then: NFTs. Japanese publishers Square Enix and Konami are the latest to signal their intentions to enter the goofy world of the non-fungible token. What does it all mean for we gamers? We discuss. And how about TLoU? That stands for The Last of Us, of course, and compelling new rumors indicate a ground-up PS5 remake of the classic PS3 game is near. Plus: New details surrounding God of War: Ragnarok's release date, sales data for both Ghost of Tsushima and Days Gone, a delayed reveal for Final Fantasy XVI, Tencent's further expansion, and more, all capping off with listener inquiries. Are we underestimating Tom Holland's value to Sony? What's the deal with silent protagonists? Which 2022 release has the potential to be most disappointing? Is it okay to use your hand instead of a tissue when blowing your nose?

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#183: Our Most Anticipated Games of 2022 Jan 03, 2022

It's time for us to gather 'round the digital fire and talk about what's to come. We -- the three Sacred Symbols Boys -- each selected five games, confirmed for 2022 release on PlayStation 4 and/or PlayStation 5, that we're most excited to get our hands on. We round out our choices with your own, of course, giving us more than two dozen exciting titles to opine about as we wait for them to arrive in the next calendar year. The only thing we can hope for, then, is that delays are minimal... or perhaps even non-existent! But perhaps that's wishful thinking...

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#182: Our Favorite PlayStation Moments of 2021 Dec 27, 2021

The last 12 months have been contentious in the real world, and here in our digital escape, you could say that things have been equally rocky, albeit for wildly different reasons. While perhaps not the strongest year for new releases, 2021 still easily contends as one of the most interesting years in recent memory when it comes to the gaming industry itself, and PlayStation in particular. From PSVR2's promise and Sony going all-in on PC gaming to the sudden ending (and equally-sudden revival) of PS3's and Vita's storefronts and the mystery surrounding Blue Box, we have much to remember. And then there's the madness in the third party realm, from the major GeForce leak and troubling activity at Activision to GTA's disastrous reemergence and the reappearance of Six Days in Fallujah. We've much to talk about, so hit play and let's get to it.

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#181: Three Green Lights Dec 20, 2021

What's that there? In the dark? That familiar setup can only mean one thing: Splinter Cell is returning. In the form of a remake of the 2002 original, in fact. Questions remain, however. Is Ubisoft Toronto the studio that should be undertaking this project? Should a Splinter Cell remake be undertaken at all? We discuss. Even more Chris-centric news occurred this week, too, as rumors of Bully 2 from Rockstar persist, while Sony quietly made a first party purchase in the form of Valkyrie Entertainment, though it's nothing to be over-the-moon about. Also: Babylon's Fall gets a release date, all indications are Persona 3 is getting a current-gen console release, new DualSense (and console) colors arrive for PlayStation 5, and more. Then: Listener questions! What's a good way for a non-creative to work in the gaming industry? Is the use of the word 'biome' out of control? Are we making too much out of upgrade pricing? Has Colin become a communist?

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#180: The Lame Awards Dec 13, 2021

Have the Game Awards officially lost their charm? For as likable as Geoff Keighley is, this year's offering was a gratuitously advertisorial affair, and we simply have to call it like it is. What's the purpose of holding an audience captive for three hours, only to bombard them with commercial after commercial... other than bean-counting, of course? Still, through it all, it was still cool to see Quantic Dream's Star Wars: Eclipse, hear about Monolith's Wonder Woman game, get an official reveal of Alan Wake II, receive a release date for PS5 console-exclusive Forspoken, and more. Plus, there's everything else we need to talk about unrelated to the gala. Uncharted 4 and Lost Legacy finally have a release date on PS5, but buying them may be a more complicated situation than you may have anticipated, while a new Bill has been cast in HBO's The Last of Us, and it may not be who you expect. Plus: Ubisoft launches an NFT program, GTA Online gets story DLC, Activision-Blizzard continues to play with fire, and more. Then: Listener questions, ranging on issues like the use of social media in the industry, the advantages and disadvantages of using fake languages in fiction, the endless potential of a LEGO PlayStation game, and the fact that Chris accidentally outed Santa as being fake to a listener's kid. C'est la vie.

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#179: Spartacus and Shock Dec 06, 2021

This is a big episode of Sacred Symbols, so big that we've done the unprecedented: We've gone back and edited a half-day old podcast to incorporate some smashing news: Sony is indeed planning a rival to Xbox's Game Pass. It's codenamed Spartacus, and details are scarce, but we've obviously got to discuss what we know so far. Likewise, we have brand-new information about the upcoming BioShock game to chat about, including the 'anatomy' of how such a story is chased in the first place, and why rumors and speculation sometimes falls incomplete. Anyway, you'll want to bring your jacket. Plus: Battlefield has a new future, Godfall on PlayStation Plus is an insult, Dying Light 2 is gold, and more. Then: Are award shows (and awarded products) becoming too homogenized? What game mechanics truly shined in 2021? Will auteurs come to rule the industry landscape? Will Dustin ever appreciate the complexity and versatility of applesauce?

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#178: BioWhere? Nov 29, 2021

What happened to Electronic Arts-owned studio BioWare? Once the crown jewel of EA's family of devs, BioWare has experienced nearly a decade of consistent struggle, and now it's been hit with yet another punch: The loss of Dragon Age's Creative Director, seemingly on not-great terms, injuring a game that's already been in development for some six years. Needless to say, BioWare is a shadow of its former self with no true identity, begging the question: Is it even worth saving at all? Plus: Other news! Chrono Cross Remastered is apparently on the verge of being announced, while Sony is the newest company to be sued by its own employees, this time a female accusing the corporation of gender bias. Meanwhile, some dedicated and talented fans are in the midst of salvaging the online functionality of some of PlayStation 3's most important exclusives, while Hideo Kojima is finally getting into the movie industry, though we're unsure if that's where he belongs. After all of this (and more), we get into some listener inquiries to wrap things up. What in God's name is going on with Battlefield 2042? Are there rules that determine who's included in the credits of video games? Is scalping consoles really a worthwhile financial endeavor? Should Colin, Chris, and Dustin name their new child Drilin or Crustin (or both)?

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#177: Grand Theft Uh-Oh Nov 22, 2021

Sometimes, very easy things turn out to be very hard for no apparent reason. Apparently, this mantra rings true for Rockstar, which released its acclaimed PlayStation 2 trilogy of Grand Theft Auto games on PS4 and PS5 in... well... a pretty shocking state. It's a big story (and a damn shame), and we discuss it in-depth. Rockstar ain't the only one hurting, though. Activision isn't only beleaguered from top-to-bottom due to claims of impropriety galore, but because its new Call of Duty game is apparently selling softer than any entry in the series in some 15 years. That, too, is a big story (although less of a damn shame), and we discuss that in-depth, too. Plus: Delays! Six Days in Fallujah, Saints Row, and Pragmata have all been pushed, while WB's crossover fighter MultiVersus is real, and League of Legends goes all-in on expanding its universe on PlayStation. We wrap up, as we always do, with listener inquiries. Will the effects of COVID and the chip shortage extend the PS5 generation? Is it possible that PlayStation's Spider-Man will appear in the new Spiderverse film? How do we feel about detective-style games? Can we instruct a listener on how to properly execute his first kiss?

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#176: Paucity Nov 15, 2021

Bad news: Sony isn't going to be able to make as many PlayStation 5 consoles as it was hoping, at least in the short term. What does that mean for you? It means that, if you're still on the hunt for a console, you may want to get used to the idea of ponying up for a black market unit or settle in for a long and painful winter. We discuss. Plus: Gaming engine Unity has made a substantial acquisition, Q-Games acquires The Tomorrow Children from Sony, licensing issues bog down GTA's re-releases and Metal Gear Solid's legacy titles alike, Konami has totally botched the rollout of eFootball, and so on, and so on, and so on. Listener inquiries allow us to cleanly wrap things up as always, touching on subjects like Mass Effect's revival, the demise of Jump Force, the uncertain future of Media Molecule, and word from a funeral director that -- yes -- she listens to Sacred Symbols while embalming bodies. We suppose somebody's gotta do it.

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#175: Chasing Amy Nov 08, 2021

We have some awesome news for long-time PlayStation fans: The Mother of Uncharted, Amy Hennig, is finally returning with something new. Seriously. And it's just in the nick of time, since it's been a staggering 10 years since Uncharted 3 launched on PS3, which was her last brainchild. Heck, it's been nearly eight years since she left Naughty Dog! So it's great to know what she's working on next, but there's a catch, of course: She's making a Marvel game. And thus, both the excitement and complaining begin in earnest, and naturally, we must take part. Other news also crossed our desk this week, including the $50 million loss Take Two is taking on a cancelled game codenamed Volt, the going-public nature of publisher Devolver Digital (which Sony now owns 5% of), the potential rise of a true AAA console game out of China, Call of Duty 2022 rumors, and so much more. We also get into listener questions, as is our wont. Will Sony ever create a dedicated PC launcher? Did Guardians of the Galaxy benefit greatly from not being overexposed? Is there a stigma attached with Game Pass games? Did Chris accidentally leave his "jerk tissues" in-frame?

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#174: Running Up the Score Nov 01, 2021

While there's no doubt Microsoft's Xbox Series X is doing great, there's also no doubt that Sony's PlayStation 5 is doing even better. Markedly so. Microsoft stubbornly refuses to publicly state how many consoles it has sold, but we now know that Sony has surpassed 13 million in less than a year, almost certainly beginning to put some distance between PS5 and XSX. Let's discuss what these new sales figures mean, and whether inertia might be turning into new momentum. Also: Guerrilla is hiring for external Horizon projects, Warner Bros. is making a goofy-looking crossover fighter, the next PlayStation-to-PC game isn't one you may have expected, Stardew Valley's spiritual successor looks awfully endearing, PS+ games are en route, and more. Oh, and we talk at length about the most recent State of Play, too. We also get into listener questions, as always. Do we trust Bluepoint with a Bloodborne sequel? What's going on with Sony's and Apple's increasingly-obvious closeness? What are the right foods (if any) to eat while gaming? Has Dustin fooled everyone with his love of Aldi? All of that -- and much more -- on the other side of the play button.

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#173: Mouse and Runeboard Oct 25, 2021

If you listen to this show (and we know that you do), you would have known months ago that God of War was coming to PC, because we told you it was. Well, if you didn't believe us, it is indeed true: 2018's God of War is indeed PC-bound, and it has some players in their feelings... and not in a good way. Is it time for PlayStation's audience to embrace the inevitable? Or will stragglers hold on for dear life as the industry moves past console exclusivity above all else? Meanwhile, the upcoming Uncharted movie has its first trailer, and it's not as bad as we thought it'd be, while some 2022 DC games are looking mighty hot and Blue Box is suffering under the weight of its endless conspiracy. Plus: Elden Ring is delayed, Dbrand punches Sony in the mouth, a new Splinter Cell is indeed in production, and more, and listener inquiries bring us to just some of the following topics: Striking workers, the rise of SEGA, Gamepass' flat growth, and the proper placement of toothpaste on the toothbrush.

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#172: Anti-Crunch Oct 18, 2021

Square Enix-owned studio Eidos is running a little experiment on behalf of the industry-at-large: Its teams are now working four days a week, for 32 hours, with Fridays off. In a line of work absolutely demanding of your time, that a AAA publisher and well-respected studio are taking the initiative to do things differently is an awesome sign, though it's unclear if such a life/work balance is even possible if you want to create truly great games. Naturally, we discuss. Also: Sony has quietly poached the Head of Content of Apple Arcade, Ryu Ga Gotoku simultaneously loses its director and producer, EA and FIFA are fighting over the future of Electronic Arts' most important franchise, and much more. Then, listener inquiries! Are we as perplexed by Ubisoft's recent decisions as many of our audience members? What do we expect out of Returnal's rumored upcoming update? Did Crystal Dynamics lie to its audience by unleashing pay-to-win schemes in The Avengers? Will the boys ever cease quarreling about the efficacy of bidets?

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#171: A Strategy For A New Era Oct 11, 2021

It's not 1995 anymore, or 2000, or 2006, or even 2013. During those years -- when PSone through PS4 launched in the west -- PlayStation's success revolved around what it itself can do. Its own system, its own studios, its own architecture. But in 2021? Things are changing. Sony's recent acquisition of Nixxes was all of the evidence you needed of the shifting sands, but recent interviews from ex-PlayStation CEO Shawn Layden and current PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan are incredibly illuminating when it comes to intent. After all, when Ryan is asking how a PlayStation hit selling 10 million can instead sell 100 million, he understands that can only happen by opening things up. The question is, does the audience understand too? Or is everyone about to get angry? We discuss. Plus: PS5 supply issues may ease in 2022, Konami is going both big and small, Final Fantasy's bizarre prequel has a release date, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Can third parties protect each other from consolidation? Should Sony cuddle up to Valve? Does PlayStation require more kid-friendly fare? And whatever happened to that man that pooped his pants on that date, anyway? The answer will surprise and please you.

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#170: Getting to the Point Oct 04, 2021

The inevitable has happened: Bluepoint Games has officially joined PlayStation Studios as its 16th team. You may recall that this news kinda-sorta leaked months ago, and either way, it's the most obvious acquisition Sony could have possibly made, so we're not exactly shocked. Yet, there's much to say, because it seems like Bluepoint may be breaking the mold when it comes to what they're best known for, potentially focusing on new projects rather than remakes and remasters. There's other first and second party news to consider, too. On the first party front, rumors strongly indicate Guerrilla's in-development multiplayer game may actually be Horizon-related, which frankly disappoints us. Meanwhile, over in second party, Destruction AllStars dev Lucid is apparently working on a Twisted Metal revival. Color us interested, though bummed Jaffe isn't consulting. There's other news, as well -- Firesprite's headcount has grown, GTA re-releases have been rated, etc. -- and we end (as we always do) with listener inquiries. What games did we turn our noses up at only to be pleasantly surprised when we actually gave them a chance? What licensed song do you most associate with a video game? Do we even care about Abandoned anymore? Is Colin being too harsh on bidets, and in turn European sensibilities?

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#169: A Transylvanian Triumph Sep 27, 2021

God Almighty, it's finally happened: The long-rumored (and much-leaked) Castlevania Advanced Collection is indeed coming to PlayStation 4. Actually, it's available right now, bringing along with it some wondrous vampiric action out of the clear blue sky (or dark night). Surprise! Then, in another piece of news that can only be described as For Colin, Square Enix randomly revealed a remake of 1991's SNES classic ActRaiser, also available now. Talk about random (and awesome). For many, though, the bigger news of the week will be word of former Sony second party partner Quantic Dream reportedly making a Star Wars game. And it's apparently not the Star Wars game you'd expect, leaving us much to discuss. Also percolating are some new THQ Nordic announcements, some key secrets hidden in both PS4's and PS5's recent firmware update, and even rumors that famous fighting game Marvel vs. Capcom 2 may be making a comeback. Then, as is typical, we like to wrap things up with your inquiries. Will Sony ever update the PlayStation Plus Collection? Was the PlayStation 3 generation one of gaming history's very best? Could Microsoft's next purchase set off a cascade of bad press for the Xbox brand? Will Chris finally test the very boundaries of his mysterious and arcane powers?

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#168: Hold the Phone Sep 20, 2021

As vaguely promised only a month or two ago, PlayStation announced the first of its new burst of mobile games. Which IP are they visiting this time? None other than dormant Liverpool Studio-driven racing franchise Wipeout. The thing is, this Wipeout game isn't what any Wipeout fan is looking for... and that's the honest truth. So what's the point of migrating your products to the world's most ubiquitous platforms if you're not going to do it well and do it right? We discuss. We also jump into recent news surrounding PlayStation Productions live-action TV iteration of Twisted Metal, the sudden destruction of LittleBigPlanet's historic servers, tantalizing drug-fueled rumors surrounding next year's Call of Duty, a slew of leaked games via NVIDIA (though they deny it), new PS4 and PS5 firmware updates, and so on and so forth. We also deal with your listener submissions on topics ranging from Kena: Bridge of Spirits and the potential of Resident Evil 4 Remake being PS5-exclusive to DualSense support on PlayStation 4 and Wolverine's M-rated potential. And yes: We also talk a lot about depression and sadness. This is, after all, Sacred Symbols.

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#167: Sleepless in Burbank Sep 13, 2021

It's been well over a year, but finally -- finally! -- Sony has given us some new, much-needed details concerning their upcoming slate of PlayStation 5 games. Word came by way of a tight, 40 minute presentation, and perhaps the biggest news of all was that Sony-owned developer Insomniac, already responsible for two PS5 games, will be delivering two more by 2023. First off, is Insomniac now Sony's uncontested crown jewel studio? And how could they possibly be working at such a rapid clip? We get into all of that, plus all of the other reveals and details from the Showcase, including a PS5 KOTOR remake, Square Enix's Forspoken, cross-gen exclusives God of War: Ragnarok and Gran Turismo 7, and more. We also delve into the week's other news, including the acquisition of a brand-new first party team in Firesprite, fixing Sony's inane game pricing scheme with Horizon: Forbidden West, the PlayStation debut of Alan Wake, and so much more. Then, we dive into some listener inquiries. What indie studios are impressing us most right now? Would we rather 4K resolution at 60 frames or 1080p at 120 frames? Could Parappa the Rapper be a good multiverse IP for Sony to explore? Did Colin sleep without any underwear on when he stayed at Dustin's?

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#166: The Foreshadowing Sep 06, 2021

It's about time! Sony has revealed that it will be conducting a 40 minute PS5-centric presentation in the coming days, and it'll be our first real, showcase-like look at PlayStation 5 content since the console launched (in fact, since long before it launched). The question is therefore this: What should we expect? God of War and Gran Turismo 7 seem like obvious choices. A Deathloop launch trailer, too. But it's what we don't know about that's most exciting of all, particularly from first and second party studios where the possibilities are seemingly endless. Plus: Death Stranding 2 looks like a distinct possibility, PlayStation Plus' newest free game offerings are a step in the right direction, Final Fantasy is about to storm PlayStation Now, and much more. Then: What's the difference between a remaster, a remake, and a reboot? Speaking of definitions, how do we define shovelware and vaporware? Will live shows like PAX ever make a full return? Will Chris ever return, or did he float away? All of that and more, as -- per usual -- we litter our show with your inquiries.

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#165: Mark Your Calendars Aug 30, 2021

It's true: Things have been pretty slow in the world of PlayStation. Returnal and Ratchet have kept us busy enough, and we're looking forward to Deathloop, but what we really crave are some announcements, a tease of what's to come. Thankfully, some more announcements have finally arrived. For starters, Horizon: Forbidden West has a firm launch date, a new Saints Row is launching on both PS4 and PS5, Destiny 2 is getting its fresh expansion, and that long-rumored XCOM Marvel game is en route, too. The bad news? They all come out within weeks of each other. Go figure. We also discuss yet more rumors of the cancellation of PS4-exclusive vaporware Wild, the six-month delay of the next WWE game, a fresh release window for the oft-delayed LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, and more, before taking listener inquiries on our game of the year (so far), sticking lootboxes behind an M rating, et cetera, before diving deep into the ideal ambient temperature for our respective homes, which is itself a vital topic.

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#164: Get to the Chopper! Aug 23, 2021

In 2015, Sony quietly opened a brand-new, British first party team called Manchester Studio. Their charge? Make PSVR games. And so they did. Or, they tried to, anyway. Five years later, before even announcing their project or even leaving pre-production, the studio was shuttered, and now -- for the first time ever -- we know what they were working on and what went wrong. Their search-and-rescue virtual reality adventure sounds interesting, but leadership left much to be desired, and their execution was non-existent. So let's discuss. We'll also get into Call of Duty: Vanguard's proper reveal, chat about relics of The Last of Us: Part II's scrapped multiplayer functionality left in the game's code, wonder at the first-ever release of the original Quake on PlayStation hardware, and more. We'll also get into the mailbag, fielding your questions on topics ranging from emotion in our medium and the meaning of AAA to corporate consolidation and an unfortunate catastrophe concerning a Kit-Kat.

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#163: Liberty, Vice, and Everything Nice Aug 16, 2021

These slow summer days have been suddenly interrupted by a most-tantalizing rumor: PlayStation 2's classic trilogy of Grand Theft Auto games are migrating over to PS4 and PS5, reworked and modernized (though not remade!) for a new generation. Yes, it's true that GTA 3, Vice City, and San Andreas are already natively playable on PlayStation 4, but in their stubbornly-old formats. Let's talk about returning to Liberty City, Vice City, and San Andreas in full, retro effect, and how excited we are to delve back in for all the fun and mayhem. Plus: Sony has officially acquired anime streaming giant Crunchyroll, timed PS5-exclusive shooter Deathloop has gone gold, the US Congress is looking to stomp-down on lootboxes and microtransactions, Focus Home Interactive grows its internal roster of studios, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Is 2022 shaping up to be the craziest year in gaming history? Should Sony revive Massive Action Game? Is it possible (or even worthwhile) to boycott a game or a company without actually hurting it? Why does Colin sleep like Winnie the Pooh?

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#162: Distant Horizon Aug 09, 2021

The news out of Sony-owned studio Guerrilla is bad, at least if some recent rumors are true. Horizon: Forbidden West -- once promised for both PS4 and PS5 this fall -- is likely going to come out in 2022, instead. This leaves PlayStation 5 fairly barren for the rest of the year, with only the likes of Kena and Deathloop filling in the timed-exclusive gaps. Should PlayStation fans be disappointed, or even worried? Or is the old adage as true now as it has always been: A delayed game is never worse-off for being pushed. Let's chat about it. Then: Sony has overcome a major obstacle in the manufacture of PS5 consoles, PlayStation 4 is predictably losing steam, new PSVR rumblings sound awfully tantalizing, and Grand Theft Auto V sets a new, incredible sales milestone. Let's then wrap up our show, as we always do, with your inquiries. In light of Activision-Blizzard's recent scandal, how should Sony manage its exclusivity and marketing arrangements for Call of Duty? Considering staggering advances in AI, should we allow artificial intelligence to assist in making games? With both PlayStation and Xbox thriving, why are the fanboy wars seemingly worse than ever? With time as our barometer, will Colin ever get over the time he accidentally smoked a hit of opium at a frat house 19 years ago?

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#161: Grandeur Aug 02, 2021

This generation is well underway, and it's official: Sony's PlayStation 5 is 'winning' by a lot. At 10 million units sold and counting, PS5 is the fastest-selling home console ever and a testament to a clearly well-oiled corporation that launched hardware in a supply-constrained, virus-infected environment. We discuss what this huge figure (and accompanying software data) means, and whether Sony should start getting comfortable as the Big Dog yet again. Plus: A new PS5 firmware update is about to fix many of our most glaring UI issues, Mortal Kombat is now the best-selling fighting franchise of all-time, ex-PlayStation CEO Shawn Layden is still very worried about the cost of making games, new PS+ games are on the horizon, and much more. Then: Has a game's controls been so bad that you've refused to play it? Is the Valve Deck about to change everything? Are we underestimating the appeal of XDefiant? Will Colin ever update his LinkedIn profile?

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#160: Red Storm Rising Jul 26, 2021

It's time for you to wake up. Unsavory, international, and shadowy corporate and political interests are starting to tie themselves more and more to the gaming industry, and it's time for us to talk about how to resist. It's impossible for any of us to live truly ethical, modern economic lives -- only those living truly off-grid are doing so -- but it's incumbent on us to know what's happening, why, and to what extent. Tencent's recent acquisition of Sumo Digital brings the forces of Chinese Communism closer to Sony than ever, and that relationship never, ever comes at a neutral cost. Quite the opposite, for the cost is implied. Plus: Konami is making major moves with PES and some other IP, Netflix and PlayStation may be cozying up to each other, Ubisoft announces the most generic shooter you've ever laid eyes on, Xbox Series X outsells PS5 in America, and much more. Then: What's the best-looking 2D game ever? Should Sony investigate manufacturing its older hardware and games for a niche audience? Is Sony making a massive mistake with its Ghost of Tsushima upcharge? Are we seeing the edge of Chris' power when it comes to a new, still-non-existent Splinter Cell title?

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#159: Wire Act Jul 19, 2021

Fresh off the further reveal of the slick-looking timed-PS5 exclusive Deathloop comes word of another Bethesda-published timed exclusive that's being pushed further into the horizon. Tango Gamework's PlayStation 5 horror project Ghostwire: Tokyo has been delayed into 2022, perhaps not a huge surprise, but one worth delving into particularly when it comes to where this game fits in the PlayStation 5 catalog to come. How annoying must it be for Microsoft to have its new prized jewel publisher be working without the full force of two of its teams? We discuss. Plus: A new Nintendo-themed fighting game has everyone talking, Persona is reading a salvo of announcements in celebration of its 25th anniversary, Polyphony Digital may be quietly revving-up a Gran Turismo 7 beta, and more. Then: Will PlayStation Experience ever return? Have we ever used PlayStation 5's 'Accolades' system? Is there such a thing as the Reverse Platinum Trophy? Who will be hungriest by the end of the show?

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#158: Hunting the Hunter Jul 12, 2021

Sony's newest State of Play presentation gave us a glimpse at some third-party games of varying quality, Death Stranding's PS5 port, a sequel to one of PSVR's most notable adventures, and so on. We also got a deep dive into Arkane's upcoming PS5 console-exclusive Deathloop, and it looks amazing. With its Dishonored roots shining through, Deathloop is like Returnal meets Hitman. Let's chat about that, the rest of the State of Play slate, and all of the week's other news, too. Speaking of Returnal, Housemarque apparently had other suitors before Sony secured the team, Ubisoft is making some major, series-altering changes to Assassin's Creed, Electronic Arts' DICE LA has a new name, RoboCop and Dan Houser are both making video game comebacks, and much more. Plus: Should "influencers" be hiding their Trophies and Achievements? Is it high time for Persona 4 to come to PlayStation 4? Where in God's name are PS5's external hard drives? What's with Chris' enormous water bottle?

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#157: Marque and Reprisal Jul 05, 2021

Sony has finally announced a couple of first party acquisitions (and preemptively leaked a third), and while one target has been a very long time in coming, the other is out of left field, indicating that PlayStation is thinking more broadly about how, when, and in what fashion it gets its products into the world. Naturally, we delve deep, welcome Housemarque and Nixxes to the family... and pretty much do the same for Bluepoint, too, though at the time we're recording, a ring isn't yet on its finger. Plus, more news! A peculiar Konami partnership reignites persistent rumors, Sucker Punch's Ghost of Tsushima is getting a native PS5 port and an expansion, Remedy is going all-in on Control, Falcom and NIS America are giving Trails fans exactly what they want, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Will Kevin Butler ever make a comeback? When will PlayStation 5 games come to PC? Which video game websites (if any) are worth your time? Did Colin accidentally get a listener disciplined at work?

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#156: Alive Space Jun 28, 2021

Strange and potentially exciting things are happening at Electronic Arts, the once-maligned super-publisher that seems intent on turning things around, at least when it comes to hardcore players' perceptions of its brand. After ruining Mass Effect, nearly running BioWare into the ground, closing down storied dev Visceral, and botching most of its exclusive run of Star Wars games, it seems EA finally gets it: The audience demands more single-player games. And rumors are EA's about to deliver another one in the form of a Dead Space revival. That makes what was once dead very much alive, and we're very excited to talk about it. Plus: It appears Castlevania is getting a new collection, Sony expects PS5 to break sales records once it can adequately manufacture units, Ghost of Tsushima may be getting a standalone expansion, and much more. Then: Is Microsoft's xCloud a really big deal? What does it mean for a developer to be "media trained?" Will Sony wow us when they return to the mobile market? Does Chris know the difference between Cesar Romero and George Romero?

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#155: I Want to Believe Jun 21, 2021

Is Hideo Kojima teasing something big? It seems like that could definitely be the case. The intrigue surrounds an unknown studio called Blue Box, a game dev no one has ever heard of named Hasan Karahman, and... well... maybe Silent Hill? We honestly have no clue, but the evidence is frankly rampant and impossible to ignore, and we go into all of it. We also discuss Bethesda's Pete Hines' words about PlayStation gamers losing access to their titles, the political destruction of Five Nights at Freddy's creator Scott Cawthorn, the increasing likelihood of Bluepoint's Demon's Souls Remake coming to PS4, rumors about PSVR2's release window, Cyberpunk 2077's inglorious return to the PSN, and more. Also: Listener inquiries! Did PlayStation make the right call by not going to E3? Is Colin a hypocrite for how he feels about Resident Evil's Wesker? Do games ever make us cry? Which of the three of us would most likely survive a zombie apocalypse?

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#154: All's Not Quiet Jun 14, 2021

It's E3! While PlayStation has gone largely incognito -- frustrating our ability to pore over new first and second party announcements -- there's still a whole lot to talk about when it comes to its third party partners. Heck, our run-time proves it! Let's chat about a new Final Fantasy game, the official reveal of Guardians of the Galaxy, the reemergence of Elden Ring, the confirmation of a new Battlefield, and more. Let's also digest a very strange Death Stranding PS5 trailer that seems to say a whole lot more than people are giving it credit for, a new PlayStation second party relationship that makes no sense, Platinum Games' play for games-as-a-service with Babylon's Fall, new statements from PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan, an indication from Naughty Dog that its new multiplayer project is a whole lot bigger than we thought, Yuji Naka's surprise retirement, and so much more. Like we said: Jam-packed!

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#153: Generational Divide Jun 07, 2021

It appears PlayStation no longer believes in generations, a quick reversal from its insistence only last year that PS4 and PS5 would be separated by games, and what one console can do that the other cannot. Yet, we now know that PS5's three biggest upcoming exclusives (Horizon: Forbidden West, God of War: Ragnarok, and Gran Turismo 7) are all coming to PS4, too. Not one or two of them. All three. In fact, we don't know about a single PlayStation first party PS5 exclusive after Ratchet & Clank launches (Ratchet & Clank being its only internal exclusive so far!), and that's... well... strange. What is Sony's strategy, and why has it so markedly altered course when not only when compared to its previous behavior in older generations, but its obvious and stated intent as of months ago? Plus, we get into other news. Sony teams Bend and Asobi spring to life, Platinum's lost PS4 exclusive Babylon's Fall may be reemerging imminently, Far Cry 6 is somehow both political and not, EA makes a play for Call of Duty-level success, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Does the success of Netflix's Castlevania series give Konami the perfect opening to release a new game? Is there any way to be a modern gamer while avoiding giving money to Chinese interests? Should developers be forced to release demos for their projects? Will Colin ever play "That Communist Game?"

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#152: A Storm Is Coming May 31, 2021

We've known for quite some time now that Horizon: Zero's Dawn's long-awaited sequel was en route. We've even had a title (Forbidden West) and target platforms (PS4 and PS5) since it was first revealed in 2020. But now? Well, now we have 14 minutes of gameplay to talk about, along with a very, very conspicuous absence of a release date, or even year. So, let's jump back into Aloy's futuristic (yet crumbling) world and measure our excitement for and expectations of Guerrilla's new project. Let's also return to the realm of JRPGs, specifically with Square Enix's dueling franchises Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. The former is rumored to be getting a PS5-exclusive spin-off based on the original game, while the latter's 35th anniversary celebration brought with it a few games worth discussing. Finally, we'll work our way through the rest of this week's news -- PS+ games, Uncharted 4 on PC, new Sonic titles, and more -- and end, as we always do, with listener inquiries. Where should Grand Theft Auto VI take place? Should Sony be better at calibrating PS5's supply with demand by adjusting pricing? What's the most important IP to ever run on PlayStation hardware? Is Chris' constant state-of-being simply one long yawn?

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#151: Agreeing to Disagree May 24, 2021

The last week in our beloved gaming industry has been interesting, and of course we're going to delve into all the news that's fit to print (well, say) here on Sacred Symbols. Many, many people wrote in to ask us about IGN, Israel and Palestine, and the general drama surrounding all of that -- and we oblige, complete with timestamps so you can skip the politics at your leisure -- but the core of this week's episode has much more to do with PlayStation itself. Returnal isn't selling well, but it's growing on us (and audiences) a great deal, and Housemarque seems to be primed to keep running forward if a recent interview is any exception. Meanwhile, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart has gone gold while The Last of Us: Part II is finally running at 60 on PS5. Plus: Hades is coming to PS4, TimeSplitters is being revived, AT&T is splitting WBIE up after all, and much more. Then: Listener inquiries! Can we please stop talking about game pricing? Is it time to kill the QTE once and for all? How should Square Enix celebrate Dragon Quest's 35th birthday? Has Colin turned Red?

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#150: Epic Money May 17, 2021

Who knew Epic Games' lawsuit with Apple would be rife with so many interesting tidbits about our beloved PlayStation? Here's one piece of news: The House of Fortnite apparently offered Sony a staggering $200 million to port between four and six of its exclusives to its PC store. Sony -- at the time owners of 1.4% of Epic -- doubled-down by refusing the deal and nearly doubling its investment into the company instead. This is a strange story, so let's explore it! We'll also get into the week's other pertinent news, too, like PlayStation's (apparent) 25 games in development, fresh rumors circulating around PSVR2, the first new DualSense color schemes, and much more. Then: Listener inquiries! Are Sony's recent moves answering its naysayers? Will EA ever revisit Dead Space? How will monetary inflation affect the games industry? Can Dustin survive his role as full-time member of our show?

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#149: Returnal of the Mack May 10, 2021

We've waited long enough: Housemarque's newest PlayStation game has arrived. Indeed, they always seem to be there in a second party capacity at launch, whether it's with Super Stardust for PS3 and Vita, or Resogun for PS4. Yet, their newest offering -- Returnal -- is a stark departure for a team previously known only for its arcadey fare, and so the question is: Do we like it? Well, we've got a whole lot to say (good and bad) in our exploration of the endless loop. Then: News! Sony has acquired a piece of Discord, and the service will be fully integrated into both PS4 and PS5. A redesign for PlayStation 5 is apparently already being redesigned, though it's nothing to get excited about. A new trademark for Sunset Overdrive has people talking about Insomniac's lone Xbox game and its future. And much, much more. Plus: Listener inquiries! Is publishing games on PC actually a really bad idea for PlayStation? Should critics be reviewing games without having finished them? What's the story with Sony's smallest first party team, Pixelopus? Will Colin be able to handle David Jaffe?!

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#148: The Model of Perfect Health May 03, 2021

PlayStation is booming. Recent financial results from Sony prove it, countervailing the prevailing wisdom about the brand's shortcomings. The reality is stark: PlayStation 5 is the fastest-selling home console of all-time so far, even under severe supply constraints. Meanwhile, more games have now been sold for PlayStation 4 than any gaming hardware, ever, and PlayStation made nearly twice as much in revenue as rival Xbox over the last fiscal year. They're very much in the black, with billions in profit to show for it. So what does this all mean? Well... it means we need to give Sony a lot more credit than we've been providing in recent weeks, so let's remedy that. Let's also cover the other news, as it presents itself. Ideas for The Last of Us III are percolating at Naughty Dog, PS5 launch game Godfall looks like it's getting a PS4 port, old LittleBigPlanet games have apparently been in a non-functioning state for quite some time now, Sony filed new trademarks for PlayStation Home and Soho Engine, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Is the key to accepting a $70 price point the launch functionality (or lack thereof) of modern games? Can you host industry events, galas, and the like, and be an objective critic? Has a game ever been so good that it's ruined everything else for you? Is Colin lying about his lack of a sweet tooth?

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#147: Phoenix Down Apr 26, 2021

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#146: Recharted Apr 19, 2021

We know it seems like everything is on fire recently, but does that feeling match reality? On the back of explosive reporting concerning Naughty Dog, Bend Studio, and an unacknowledged (by Sony) second team in San Diego, PlayStation fans are left questioning just what's going on with a company that seems more interested in smash hits, remakes, and extracting blood from a stone than trying something new. An Uncharted remake? A remake of The Last of Us?! Eh. Let's talk about if recharting old territory is the wisest use of time for some of the industry's most talented teams. Then: News! PlayStation 5 has received its first firmware update, Sony has dumped even more money into Epic, PlayStation is hiring a new Head of Mobile for its first party family, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Will Horizon: Forbidden West actually make it out in 2021? Why are some Trophies hidden? How can Sony not figure out how to emulate PS3 when hackers have already done so? Just what's for dinner, anyway?

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#145: Green Monster Apr 12, 2021

Sony's arch-rival Microsoft is beginning to make key moves that directly encroach on PlayStation's turf. Nailing down MLB: The Show 21 -- a game Sony itself develops -- as a day-one Game Pass offering is the ultimate insult. Worse yet, the swings are coming in hot from two directions: Their corporate enemy that wants to body you and a long-time licensing partner that appears to have zero problems throwing them to the sharks. One can't ignore PlayStation 5's strong sales... and yet... something is definitely up, and the shadows are looming larger. We've much to discuss. Also: Deathloop has been delayed, E3 is coming back, PlayStation Productions are coming to Netflix, and more. Then: What's up with Outriders? Are cross-gen games really holding us all back? Is Jim Ryan stumbling with the PlayStation brand? Is Balan Wonderland enough to give Chris nightmares? Press play!

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#144: At Death's Door Apr 05, 2021

The words are hard to type, but they must be typed nonetheless: Sony is pulling the plug on PlayStation Vita. Beginning in late August, you won't be able to buy any games anymore (though you'll still be able to download what you own). The same goes for PlayStation 3, though its ignominious date comes even sooner, in early July. Thus, we are left with more questions than answers, and a lot of emotion, too. And so we spend a lot of time talking about the PlayStation Store shutdowns for these platforms (and PSP) this week, and work through all of the philosophical, commercial, and other relevant ramifications that this major move presents. Other news this episode involves fresh PlayStation Plus games, an unfortunate AAA delay, more nonsense from CD Projekt, and much more, and we round it all out -- as we always do -- with questions, comments, concerns, thoughts, and ideas from the audience. What's the best time to play during any given title's day/night cycle? Which games would be best for someone new to the shooter genre? Is there any hope for relationship co-op, or will the likes of Overcooked forever ruin love? If you were offered $1,000, would you eat a random person's boogers?

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#143: Pirates of the PSN Mar 29, 2021

Recent (still unsubstantiated) rumors indicate Sony may be considering a full shutdown of its digital stores for PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 3, and -- perhaps most tragically -- PlayStation Vita. While we don't yet know what Sony's plans are (if any!), such a possibility raises a lot of interesting philosophical and practical questions, particularly this one: Who's watching out for the digital-only games that may be lost to history? Today, let's delve deep into the PSN, the digital ecosystem more widely, and the industry's history of piracy-for-good, as well as rampant piracy-for-piracy's-sake. Right or wrong, is it the only way we'll have access to many games in the future? Plus: News! Housemarque's Returnal has gone gold, a Ghost of Tsushima film is in the early stages, Media Molecule's Studio Director is receiving a very prestigious award, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! What did we think about Six Days in Fallujah's gameplay reveal, and the new fiasco(s) that came about as a result? Where are the PlayStation 5 firmware updates? Should Sony seek a partnership with Google's Stadia? Will Colin ever one time comprehend a technical question?

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#142: Phantom Bust Mar 22, 2021

Interesting news emerged in recent days: Sony is funding the creation of a new second party studio in Canada, and it'll be working on a brand new IP for PlayStation. But it's who's leading the team -- Jade Raymond -- that has people excited. But should that excitement be replaced with skepticism? Raymond hasn't released a game in years, and it's uncommon (as in, it virtually never happens) that an industry gets excited over a game producer, as opposed to someone who contributes more creatively. So what gives? Is there reason to be stoked, or is this studio and project nothing more than (for the time being) a figment of our imagination. Plus: More news! Sony has officially revealed PSVR's new controllers, Square Enix has given a proper name to Project Athia, Life is Strange is readying to show off its True Colors, Tiger Woods is now a 2K Sports game, PlayStation is getting generous with the giveaways, and much more! Then: Listener inquiries! Is Colin displaying gatekeeperish tendencies? Are scalpers holding onto their PlayStation 5 consoles? Is watching how long you played on PS5 the new Trophy hunt? Will the delivery man ever find Chris?

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#141: Oblivion Mar 15, 2021

The deed is done: Microsoft has officially purchased Bethesda. What's that mean for PlayStation gamers? Well, it doesn't seem good, at least if you care about many of that label's products coming to PlayStation 5 outside of Deathloop and Ghostwire Tokyo. But between the lines are still myriad topics ripe for discussion, like Phil Spencer's years-long lack of categorical, definitive statements, Microsoft's seeming inability to manage the studios they already own, and what PlayStation may look like without the likes of Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, Doom, Wolfenstein, and more. So let's jump deep into the topic at hand, shall we? Plus: PS5's sales are historically high in the United States, TMNT is redefining the definition of Turtle Power, NCAA Football's return may be further away than you think, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Why is Square Enix so hesitant to re-release their NES and SNES-era Final Fantasy games? Does the 'end' of Japan Studio have any sort of effect on Fumito Ueda? Where are all of the detective games? Did Colin give Chris a PSVR unit in the past so that Chris can give it back to him in the future?

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#140: The Cost of Immersion Mar 08, 2021

There's little doubt Sony is near (or perhaps even at) the front of the race for mass-consumer virtual reality, and it's done a pretty nice job of putting its money where its mouth is. But with PSVR2 tacitly acknowledged and PSVR itself more than four years old, things are starting to slow down a little bit. Or are they? Out of left field, Sony has announced six new PlayStation VR games -- not PSVR2, PSVR -- all of which are due out by the end of 2021. These half-dozen titles create a tantalizing picture of VR's near-future, but at what cost? Why did Sony reveal these titles all at once, how does their strategy line-up with the future of their VR initiative... and are we not paying enough attention to VR on this very show? We discuss. Plus: News galore! Neil Druckmann and Cory Barlog both tell their fans to be patient for their next games, Japan Studio is indeed being taken over by Team ASOBI, Final Fantasy VII Remake's PS5 port is causing some confusion, live-action Nathan Drake actor Tom Holland sounds like he doesn't even know who Nathan Drake is, and much more. Then: Listener inquiries! What's the deal with fanboys? How do we approach cable management? Do PlayStation games go on sale too often and too quickly? Why doesn't Chris tell his mom he loves her when he hangs up the phone? All of that -- and more! -- on the other side of the play button.

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#139: Salvo Mar 01, 2021

The PlayStation world is in absolute overdrive right now, at least on the news front (not so much on the games front). Such is typically the case when a new State of Play stream occurs. The new one gave us some interesting items to consider -- fresh looks at Returnal and Deathloop, for instance -- but learning about Final Fantasy VII Remake's PlayStation 5-exclusive DLC definitely takes the cake. Yet, we have to ask: Are States of Play all-too-transparent marketing gimmicks dressed up as fan events? Let's discuss. Plus: News galore! Sony has officially announced PSVR2 (though it's unclear why), Days Gone is going to PC (with more first party games behind it), EA has officially pulled the plug on Anthem (perhaps a year or more too late), Gran Turismo 7 has been pushed out of 2021 (but only into 2022), and much more. As always, we round things out with listener inquiries, this week ranging in topics from the hypothetical value of Square Enix on the open market and the usefulness of games as a coping tool to the perfect devs to take on Castlevania and Metal Gear Solid and Chris' peculiar New York dialect.

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#138: A Vicious Cycle Feb 22, 2021

Who knew that we'd talk about Six Days in Fallujah for two weeks in a row some 12 years after the original iteration of the contentious game was cancelled. Yet, it's all our sphere wants to talk about, as the FPS revival of Six Days is drawing the ire of predictable industry-types. The question, though, is simple: When does criticism of a game stop being about the game itself, and start being about the critic? This is a deep subject, so naturally, we dive right in. Plus: The DualSense class action lawsuit is on, Avengers is getting its PS5 update very soon, Legends of Mana, Ninja Gaiden, and even Xbox-exclusive Stubbs the Zombie are all PS4-bound, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Does G4's revival have any prayer of succeeding? Following the recent Nintendo Direct, are we hankering for a State of Play? Does Project Triangle Strategy tickle Colin's SRPG itch? Is Chris in action figure form as eldritch as it sounds?

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#137: Combat Evolved Feb 15, 2021

After a slow start to 2021, news has finally arrived via a rather compelling trio of items germane to our show. For starters, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart finally has a release date on PlayStation 5, while HBO's planned The Last of Us series casts both its Joel and Ellie. We chat about both in great detail. But perhaps the most intriguing piece of news comes in the form of Six Days in Fallujah. Yes, -that- Six Days in Fallujah, the third-person tactical shooter that was virtually finished in 2009, only to be unceremoniously cancelled due to perceived audience outrage. Yet, the game is returning -- remade and now in first-person -- and it will indeed endeavor to tell the story of The Battle of Fallujah, the bloodiest engagement American forces took place in throughout the entire Iraq War. It's a controversial move for many reasons (not least of which due to claims of war crimes during the engagement), but are we glad it's coming back? We sure are! Plus: GTAV is still selling millions and millions (and millions) of copies, a bunch of publishers talk sales data and financial performance, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Whatever happened to woodgrain consoles? Will Square Enix ever revive Sleeping Dogs? Why doesn't Remedy's Sam Lake get more love? Does Chris sleep in a twin-size bed? Inquiring minds want to know!

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#136: Absolute Scarcity Feb 08, 2021

Sony is thriving. The Japanese mega-company released its quarterly financial results showing a healthy, growing, and forward-thinking organization that's doing a lot right. Especially when it comes to PlayStation. Yet, buried in their financials and accompanying phone calls and interviews is some bad news: PS5 is being sold at a loss, for starters, and worse yet, it doesn't appear Sony is confident that they'll be able to fix the console's supply constraints any time soon. In other words, they're in a frustrating period of what economists call Absolute Scarcity, and it spells bad news for those still on the hunt. We discuss. Plus: The Embracer Group buys Gearbox, San Diego Studio finally shows off this year's MLB: The Show (which is also coming to Xbox for the first time), EA's NCAA Football is about to make a comeback, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Are we finally about to hit our next-gen stride in May? Is there a fundamental ergonomic problem with DualSense that needs to be fixed? Are PlayStation Store sales getting the best of us? How much Snapple can Chris possibly drink at one time?

This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp and Sacred Symbols listeners get 10% off their first month at BetterHelp.com/SYMBOLS

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#135: Stock and Bond Feb 01, 2021

All anyone wants to talk about is the recent GameStop stock market fiasco. Well, fine! We'll do just that. Let's chat about capitalism, "the market," class, and much more, sifting down into the actual nitty-gritty: How did a dying brick-and-mortar video game store find itself at the center of one of the most memorable global financial stories in recent history? But there's other news, too, of course, specifically out of Denmark, where IO Interactive is doubling its headcount as it gears up for its post-Hitman foray into 007. What should we expect from Bond's digital revival? Plus: February's PS+ games have been revealed, Returnal has been delayed, and we have some bad news about continued PlayStation 5 shortages. Then: Listener inquiries! When is Sony San Diego gonna talk about MLB: The Show? How come so many multiplayer games are resisting cross-platform play? Will we ever escape from the Gamergate boogieman? Can Colin resist giving a spelling and grammar lesson to one unsuspecting Patron?

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#134: Stubborn Ghosts Jan 25, 2021

If we're being totally honest, Capcom's recent Resident Evil Village event was largely a waste of time, considering we could have just watched gameplay and gotten a release date without the false promise of an "event." But it was awesome to more thoroughly see the newest entry in the company's long-running survival horror franchise, and we simply cannot wait to play it. Yet, with RE8 now coming to PS4 in addition to PS5, it begs the question: When will publishers and developers more readily say goodbye to last-gen, even if it means leaving behind a whole host of potential customers? We've never seen the industry operate in cross-generational space like this, and so we've much to discuss. Plus: More tiresome Cyberpunk 2077 news emerges, Team Ninja speaks about the future of both Nioh and Ninja Gaiden, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! What's with PlayStation 5's missing entertainment apps? Is Naughty Dog about to go 'high fantasy'? Or perhaps they'll make a Punisher game instead? Is the word "callipygian" the new "thicc?"

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#133: A New Hope Jan 18, 2021

When Electronic Arts signed a 10-year exclusive development and publishing deal with Disney for the Star Wars license, it had the potential to be something huge for the lucrative (but oft-under siege) companies. Eight years later, though, it's clear both sides (and EA in particular) have largely squandered the deal, with a couple of Battlefronts, a Rogue Squadron revival, and an admittedly very promising single-player game to show for it. Yet, in the bleakness comes unexpected news, for the monopoly, as it turns out, is broken. Ubisoft's Massive Entertainment -- the group behind The Division -- is hard-at-work on a Star Wars game of its own, begging a rather obvious question: What could it be? We discuss. Plus: A new Killzone seems more unlikely than ever, the team behind Wolfenstein is making a new Indiana Jones game, newly-filed trademarks from Square Enix indicate a widening of the Final Fantasy VII universe, CD Projekt offers a mea culpa over Cyberpunk 2077, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Will Colin really play Final Fantasy XIV? Is Sony spying on our PSN messages? Where's MLB: The Show 21? Should potato chips be eaten ice cold?

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#132: Divining the Details Jan 11, 2021

For some peculiar reason, Sony simply refuses to officially announce how many PlayStation 5 consoles have been sold, which leaves us only one choice: We've gotta speculate. Really, we can actually do a little bit better than that -- reliable inside sources note PS5 is a meteoric success -- but we're left to wonder why Sony won't say anything itself. Say something, why don't you?! Plus: Cyberpunk 2077 draws its first class-action lawsuit, People Can Fly's Outriders has been delayed, Tenchu may be coming back, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Should Colin be excited about Final Fantasy XVI when he didn't care for XV? Is SEGA about to experience a Capcom-like resurgence? Which 2021 PlayStation exclusive will score highest on Metacritic? If you could flip a coin and either win $50 million or die, would you do it?

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#131: Our Most Anticipated Games of 2021 Jan 03, 2021

Thank the maker: 2020 is behind us! Now, 2021 sprawls before us with 12 promising months of gaming goodness on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PlayStation VR, and even Vita! (Okay, probably not the Vita.) To celebrate the exciting and unknown, we thought we'd do a special show dedicated entirely to the 2021 catalog of games coming to PlayStation that we simply can't wait to get our hands on. We present to you 13 of our own selections, and you -- our beautiful audience -- gave us plenty of your own additions, too. So let's look forward. Let's be thorough. And let's have a little bit of fun before half of these games inevitably get delayed or otherwise disappoint us. (Only kidding... we hope.)

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#130: Our Favorite PlayStation Moments of 2020 Dec 28, 2020

For every last one of us, 2020 was an absolutely insane year. And, yes: We're all very, very worn down by it all and happy to wave it goodbye. But this unusual 365 day period also gave us a lot to be pleased with, particularly when it comes to the PlayStation brand we all know and love, a brand that we may owe an extra tip-of-the-cap to in an era dominated by a need for distraction. PS5 was properly revealed and released this year, and lots of awesome games, too, including PlayStation 4's wonderful swan songs. There were some long-awaited reckonings in our industry, some new devs emerged while others closed shop, and rivals have revved their engines, too. Let's cut through it all, see what's what, and make sense of 2020, if not from a grander perspective, then perhaps through a narrower one: Through the lens of the hobby we love.

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#129: Cardinal Misdirection Dec 21, 2020

Cyberpunk 2077 isn't what it was promised to be. At least, that's the experience of countless gamers the world-over, as they grasp with playing CD Projekt's long-awaited RPG on, say, a PlayStation 4. The resulting fallout has engulfed our industry, and rightfully so, because what happened here was bound to occur eventually. In a fandom dominated by loud, boisterous voices excited for every last product and willing to devour anything the powers-that-be give them, we do here on this show what we always do: Sift through the nonsense and tell it exactly like it is. There's other (admittedly less important) news to wrap our minds around, too, including the possible discontinuation of PS4 Pro and the sudden acquisition of Codemasters by Electronic Arts. But really, it all comes back to a very broken role-playing game. Listener questions allow us to explore some off-the-beaten-path topics as always, however, including the use of the term 'PlayStation Studios', Mass Effect's future possibilities, realism in game design, and much more.

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#128: An Old Friend Dec 14, 2020

Geoff Keighley's Game Awards went off without a hitch, and -- as usual -- the show came along with a boatload of announcements, release date reveals, and other such newsworthy items. But buried within the event is an interesting truth: Sony only showed up with one game, from the second party, which we already knew about. In doing so, it lined-up PlayStation 5's next exclusive of consequence, giving it a date. Housemarque's Returnal will be expected to carry the load until the likes of Ratchet & Clank, Horizon, Gran Turismo, and God of War are ready. Can Sony rely on its old partner to come through yet again? We discuss. Plus: Neil Druckmann gets promoted, Telltale touches base, the Metal Gear Solid movie stirs to life, and more. Then: Is it time for Bluepoint to make their own AAA game? Why use a console for streaming when smart TVs do the same thing? Are hidden Trophies more frustrating than they should be? What will Colin order from Wawa?

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#127: Bye-oWare Dec 07, 2020

We were about to wrap-up recording this week's show when some unexpected news broke: Long-time BioWare creative leads Casey Hudson and Mark Darrah have both left the EA-owned dev, and one can't help but wonder if they were pushed out the door. After all, modern BioWare is a far cry from the glory days of yore. We make sure to discuss these notable exits, though they come as a sort of ironic twist, since we had already planned to talk about some high-profile departures from Bend Studio and Japan Studio, too. Plus: PlayStation 5 is doing huge numbers (though we don't exactly know how many have been sold, per se), Square Enix is remastering its PSone JRPG Saga Frontier (though we're unclear why), Aardman Animation and Bandai Namco are getting into bed with one another (continuing Bandai Namco's westward movement), and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Will COVID permanently change the way games are made? What older games could benefit most from haptic feedback? Does DualSense's sticks get the convex/concave mixture just a little bit wrong? What if every time you farted, you also cried?

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#126: Arbitrage Nov 30, 2020

There are a lot of understandably frustrated PlayStation fans out there right now. After all, PS5s are truly and persistently hard to come by, a situation unassisted by COVID, component shortages, a wobbly economy, and other macroeconomic factors. But -- much like the market for virtually any desirable object -- a vacuum has been created, facilitated by bot-assisted scalpers serving monied and desperate clienteles alike. Let's chat about this unfortunate situation with an open mind, and consider when Sony hopes this pileup of demand may clear up. Plus: New patents indicate a technically-impressive PSVR2, The Last of Us on HBO has officially gotten its first season order, Red Dead Online and Fortnite make changes in pursuit of an ever-distracted multiplayer audience, and much more. Then: Listener inquiries galore! Would Bluepoint and Konami make for the perfect marriage? Does obscure Norse mythology predict the next God of War's release date? Should developers be offering more linear routes through their non-linear games? What does it mean when one listener's girlfriend tells him she "really likes falling in love" with him?

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#125: Oh, Crap(com) Nov 23, 2020

Capcom has been the victim of a massive external hack, and the group responsible is apparently holding the company for digital ransom. Yet, the beloved Japanese publisher and developer has reportedly refused to yield, and as such, a treasure trove of ill-begotten information has been dumped on the 'net, most of it irrelevant to our show. But amongst the details are a few trinkets we simply cannot ignore, including what appears to be the business' entire AAA release schedule through 2024. Let's talk about what we can, without giving too much credence to bad actors. Then: Spider-Man is apparently PlayStation's best-selling exclusive of all-time, IO Interactive is hard at work on a 007 game, Sony's stance on cross-gen gaming seemingly evolves yet again, Microsoft's CFO signals Bethesda support outside of Xbox, and more. Plus: Listener inquiries! What do we think of the nominees for The Game Awards? Why is Sony so seemingly hesitant to re-release many of its older titles? Will time be kind to the hype surrounding DualSense? How does Colin take care of his luxurious beard?

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#124: The Dawn of a New Age Nov 16, 2020

We've covered the lead-up to PlayStation 5 on this podcast from every conceivable angle. In reality, there wasn't much of importance left to say, aside from idle speculation and over-analysis. Yet, the time has indeed come: PS5 is finally here, and now that we've gotten our hands on our consoles and spent time with some games, it's safe to assume we're not gonna run out of things to talk about on this show for years to come. The first 90 (!) minutes of this show are dedicated to our impressions of Sony's new console, along with thoughts on games ranging from Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Astro's Playroom to Demon's Souls Remake and Bugsnax. But of course, there's news to tend to as well. Sucker Punch has scored a commercial hit with Ghost of Tsushima, while Crystal Dynamics' Avengers game has cost Square Enix tens of millions of dollars in losses. We now have a better idea of when we can expect PS5's second wave of exclusives, including Ratchet & Clank: A Rift Apart and Horizon: Forbidden West, while a timed third party exclusive in the form of Arkane's Deathloop has been given a more specific release date. Plus: More! But at the end of the day, it all falls back to PlayStation 5. So let's enjoy the moment together, shall we?

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#123: Took You Long Enough Nov 09, 2020

There was a time not too long ago when League of Legends was one of the most-played games in the industry, and even today, around a decade after launch, Riot's core offering remains popular. And now, for the very first time, a game taking place in that universe is coming to PlayStation in the form of an RPG called Ruined King, and it's launching sooner than you might think. Question is, what took Riot so long to release a complementary console adventure, and is it too little, too late? What's not too little, too late however is PlayStation 5, which we are finally on the verge of getting in our mitts. Yet, Sony has a few last-minute things to say about its new console's storage possibilities, VR capabilities, and even its short-term availability. On the back of those discussions come your inquiries, as always. Is Killzone better than Resistance? Has Sony displayed shrewdness in making Miles Morales cross-gen? What are "roguelikes"? Which band is better: Creed or Nickelback?

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#122: Cyberpunk'd Nov 02, 2020

Barely two months after promising not to delay Cyberpunk 2077 yet again, famous Polish dev CD Projekt has done just that, though for a mere three weeks. This pushes their open world RPG (arguably the single most-anticipated title of 2020, though certainly one of them) precariously close to Christmas, and some candid words from one of the studio's execs indicates they're not entirely sure they'll ship in December, either. Is something wrong with Cyberpunk 2077? Let's discuss. Then: Bugsnax becomes PlayStation 5's very first free PS+ game, Destruction AllStars gets blasted into 2021, Sony is mighty bullish on PlayStation 5's prospects, and Final Fantasy XVI is starting to take form. Plus: Let's end with some listener questions, as always. How will we say goodbye to PlayStation 4? What's the scariest game we've ever played? How do we feel about The Last Guardian? How does Colin know who Rick Rude is?

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#121: Gearing Up Oct 26, 2020

When Kojima careened from Konami's cocoon (that's called alliteration!), he was left to his own devices for the first time in basically his entire career. The result was his unusual Sony-funded project Death Stranding, an interesting (if divisive) game that left us curious what he may pursue next. We don't yet know a specific answer, but thanks to a salvo of job listings out of Kojima Productions' Tokyo office, we know he and his team are revving up. And we're intrigued. So let's chat about it. We'll also touch on some other news, too, for KojiPro ain't the only ones hiring. Sucker Punch, too, is openly hiring for more Ghost of Tsushima, all but confirming the continuation of the franchise. And did you know Phil Spencer has spoken even more about the Bethesda situation, saying whatever anyone wants to hear? We'll get into all of that, and more, buttressed by your many inquiries. Will persistent gaming drag PlayStation 5's attach rate down? What's going on with PS5 launch titles The Pathless and Bugsnax? All of that and more on the other side of play.

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#120: The Kenzo Conspiracy Oct 19, 2020

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?

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#119: Seeking Power Oct 12, 2020

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?

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#118: Face-Off Oct 05, 2020

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"?

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#117: Nuclear Winter Sep 28, 2020

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?

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#116: This Means War Sep 19, 2020

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?

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#115: Uprising Sep 14, 2020

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?

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

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!

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#113: Sunset Suicide Aug 31, 2020

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!

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#112: Tantos For Two Aug 24, 2020

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?

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#111: Corporate Imperialism Aug 17, 2020

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?

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#110: Gatekeeping Aug 10, 2020

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.

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#109: Popularity Contest Aug 03, 2020

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?

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#108: Peak Performance Jul 27, 2020

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?

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#107: Impropriety Jul 20, 2020

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.

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#106: Epic Moves Jul 13, 2020

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".)

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#105: Dollars and Sense Jul 06, 2020

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.

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#104: Crashed Jun 28, 2020

As you probably know, Chris has a very specific arcane power: He can seemingly wish games of his choosing into existence. So when Crash Bandicoot 4 was revealed, it appeared that the planets aligned for Ray Gun (it's one of his favorite series, after all), and so we have much to talk about with that topic alone. But there are other important pieces of news to get to, too, including a deep dive into the recent allegations of sexual impropriety that have engulfed the industry as of late. Plus: Ghost of Tsushima goes gold, Ready at Dawn gets bought, Rocksteady is making Justice League, and much more. Then: Listener inquiries! Does Mixer deserve a rousing eulogy? Should older games pack content disclaimers? What happened to gaming journalism, anyway? Does deodorant belong in your buttcrack? Once more unto the breach! (Pardon the pun.)

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#103: Vanguard Squadron Jun 22, 2020

Publisher Electronic Arts gets a lot of grief -- much of it earned -- but it also announces something truly exciting and different on occasion. Star Wars Squadrons is one such game, a dogfighter in the same spiritual vein as beloved Star Wars-related franchises of the past like Rogue Squadron and X-Wing (vs. TIE Fighter). It sounds pretty awesome, and we go deep into why we think so. Plus: We talk about all of the rest of the news EA announced (including the unexpected reveal of Skate 4), we go over plenty of clarifications and new morsels from the recent PS5 event (touching on the likes of Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Horizon: Forbidden West), we talk about Cyberpunk 2077's newest delay, and much more. As always, your listener inquiries round things out, as we ponder the sheer meanness of games media, the tantalizing possibilities of Silent Hills, the "racism" scandal hitting Little Devil Inside, and much more . We even dedicate time to confirming the proper pronunciation of the word "caramel," because this is indeed a PlayStation podcast.

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#102: Play Has No Limits Jun 15, 2020

It's hard to believe, but the time has finally come, for Sony hasn't only shown PlayStation 5 games galore, but PlayStation 5 itself. That's right: The box. Now that we know what the console actually looks like, it's time to discuss its aesthetic. But more importantly, it's time to discuss the titles that will run on the machine. From first party to second party to third party, Sony brought out some of big guns, and there's much to chat about. A new Horizon? A new Gran Turismo? A new Ratchet & Clank? Yes, yes, yes... and even that Demon's Souls remake that's been long-rumored? That's also real. We've got a ton of games to sort through, so let's get into it. (Plus, we parse through all of the week's other news, too, so fear not.) These are exciting times! Let's embrace 'em.

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#101: Unrest Jun 08, 2020

Here in America, a cop's murder of an unarmed black man has temporarily torn our society asunder. It's caused peaceful mass protests around the country, and the situation has occasionally fallen into outright rioting and looting as well. In other words, we're experiencing a period of substantial unrest. That unrest has naturally transferred its way into the World of PlayStation, where Sony's much-awaited reveal event for some first (and second and third) party PS5 games was delayed out of respect for the moment. With that, we're left to speculate about what Sony's plan is, and when this event might take place in the (hopefully) near future. It hasn't stopped PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan from talking extensively about his company's plans for the console, though, and so we've much to discuss. Plus: More news! Konami is silently creeping back into the publishing game, Paradox Interactive is now officially a union shop, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is making a welcome comeback, Hideo Kojima vaguely talks about his next project, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Should Sony attempt to bring EA's BioWare into its own first party fold? Is it time for Twisted Metal to make a comeback? How much better can sport sims become? Is it psychotic to buy the Pop-Tarts without frosting? Well...

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#100: The Century Mark Jun 01, 2020

We've somehow made it 100 episodes, and it's all thanks to you, our precious listeners. To celebrate our auspicious milestone, we thought we'd do something a little different: Answer 100 minutes worth of listener questions, comments, concerns, thoughts, and ideas. You can find that at the end of the normal show. In the meantime, though, there's a ton of news to get through, and we discuss it all. We cover Naughty Dog's impressive 30+ minute State of Play for The Last of Us: Part II, discuss the NFL's renewed exclusive license with Electronic Arts, chat about Sony's strong PlayStation Plus lineup for June, consider the future of Silent Hill upon the reveal of some random SH-related content for a completely different game, opine about the new Dragon Quest action-RPG, and much, much more. Oh, and that aforementioned 100 minutes of listener Q&A? We cover our favorite demos, the future paths of Final Fantasy VII Remake, the new high water mark set by The Witcher on Netflix, the dearth of dinosaur games, Insomniac's possible direction with Sunset Overdrive, and so on and so forth. Thanks again for making Sacred Symbols a smash hit. We couldn't do it without you.

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#99: The Approach May 25, 2020

We're getting close now. Really close. Compelling rumors are now circulating (along with some vague words from Sony's CEO himself) that PlayStation 5's official reveal is close on the horizon, and may happen in just a few weeks, along with the first showcase of Sony's first party, next-gen offerings. So let's chat about the rumors, what we think will happen, and when we can expect everything to go down. Plus: Let's delve deeper into Ghost of Tsushima, talk about that bizarre (and very real) Gears of War 3 PS3 port making the rounds, consider Call of Duty's pivot back to the Cold War, assess the newly-revealed PS4 and PSVR bundles, opine over PlayStation Now's impressive new numbers, and much more. Then, user inquiries! Is the industry becoming to reliant on remasters and re-releases? What cultures could be better represented in upcoming titles? Could historically inaccurate games injure the real-life study of history? Which of the Seven Dwarfs would we want to be in a relationship with? It's go-time.

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#98: An Apparition No More May 18, 2020

When it comes to Ghost of Tsushima, Sony-owned Sucker Punch has the distinct honor of delivering PlayStation 4's very last first party AAA exclusive. Yet, there's no doubt that both the publisher and developer of the 13th century samurai adventure have been pretty quiet about it, which raised some doubts about whether it'd be any good. The silence has been broken, though, with an 18 minute-long presentation shining some much needed light on the open world action game. Were we impressed? Well... Plus: There's a lot of other news to get through, too! PlayStation 4 has surpassed 110 million units sold, Sony is rebranding its family of exclusive devs, Epic has unveiled Unreal Engine 5 running on PS5, and both Tony Hawk's Pro Skater and Mafia are making big-time comebacks. To round things out, we go to the audience, with inquiries concerning the future of Crysis, Naughty Dog's misbehavior on YouTube, Ken Levine's inexplicable silence, and -- yes indeed -- nachos. Because for some reason, we can't stop talking about wonderful, glorious nachos.

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#97: X Misses the Spot May 11, 2020

The hunger for next-gen information is palpable, and with this week's Xbox event, it seemed like Microsoft was keen on going first in some sort of substantive way. Instead, most fans were left confused by their showing. But there's good news for us here in PlayStation Land, because concentrating on third parties simply means that what's coming to Xbox Series X is coming to PlayStation 5, too. We discuss. Plus: Sony reveals more details about TLoU2's catastrophic leak (as the game goes gold), rumor has it The Mass Effect Trilogy is finally (finally!) coming to PlayStation 4, two AA publishers randomly (and we mean randomly) trade IP with one another, and Techland refutes rumors of Dying Light 2's reported development difficulties (though we remain skeptical). As always, we sprinkle your inquiries throughout the show. What's going on with Doom Eternal's soundtrack drama? Cyberpunk 2077 is letting you do WHAT with your genitals? Should Sony pursue From Software and make them first party? When given the choice between French fries and onion rings, in which direction does one go? Let's do this thing.

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#96: The Leaks of Us May 04, 2020

Our shifting podcast schedule couldn't have possibly come at a better time, because it just so happens that the last seven days (or so) in the gaming industry have been among the most news-packed in recent memory. For starters, The Last of Us: Part II has a new release date, but such a revelation comes on the back of something truly traumatic for Naughty Dog, Sony, and TLoU fans: Catastrophic story leaks that threaten to ruin the game for everyone. (Don't worry: We don't discuss ANY spoilers in this show.) Ghost of Tsushima also got a new release date, but is Sony quietly burying Sucker Punch's long-anticipated adventure? Meanwhile, the Assassin's Creed rumors are true, and the series is going Nordic and turning to 9th century England for its next entry, and Square Enix doesn't know quite how it's going to finish Final Fantasy VII Remake, or even how many games will be required to do so. Amongst other news are plenty of listener inquiries, as always. Why don't games seemingly ever visit the Korean and Vietnam Wars? Could video games treat religion more positively? What's with awful difficulty spikes? Are nachos an appetizer or an entree? Let's go!

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#95: Be Afraid Apr 24, 2020

That face in the thumbnail? That's the face of your doom. It's also the face of a bizarre patent Sony filed for a robot that can experience PlayStation games right alongside you. What does it mean? We don't exactly know, but we're definitely afraid of it. Also: A new Bloomberg article talks much more about PlayStation 5 and when we can expect it, and even how much it'll likely cost, giving us much to discuss. Meanwhile, Crytek is bringing Crysis back (kinda), Grand Theft Auto VI is in development (but be patient), and Cooking Mama is in trouble (for real). As always, we wrap up with listener questions, this time regarding The Last of Us: Part II's religious villains, Ghost of Tsushima's lack of waypoints, the endless PS5 backwards compatibility saga, and much, much more. Hit play and take a listen... and look under your bed and in your closet for that scary face, while you're at it.

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#94: Cloud Nine Apr 17, 2020

Final Fantasy VII Remake has finally arrived, and with it a bevy of high expectations. Have they been met? Well, for one of us, anyway, expectations have been far exceeded. We're excited to gush about Square Enix's fresh tour-de-force, and dedicate tons of time to Cloud's new-old adventure. Of course, we won't forget about the news! DualSense is PS5's new controller, Resident Evil 4 Remake and Silent Hill Remake both get new rumors, Sony is automatically refunding people's digital pre-orders for The Last of Us: Part II, CD Projekt is feeling confident it's going to get Cyberpunk 2077 out on time, and much more. And then, naturally, there are listener inquiries! Is the Gearbox/Borderlands 3 bonus situation as bad as it seems? Can we expect more special editions toting digital games? Are people getting too uppity about PS+'s "free" games? Chicken nuggets may not be meatballs... but how about popcorn chicken? All that and more on this Very Special Episode of Sacred Symbols.

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#93: Indefinitely Quarantined Apr 10, 2020

When it comes to gaming, anyway, Coronavirus has officially claimed its greatest victim yet: The Last of Us Part II. As predicted on this show more than a month ago, COVID-19 has forced Sony's and Naughty Dog's hand, and the most anticipated PS4 exclusive of them all hasn't only been delayed, but delayed indefinitely. We don't know when it's coming out, now, and it's a huge deal, which we discuss in-depth. There's lots of other news to get through, too! Resident Evil 8 is rumored to be PS5-bound in 2021, Minecraft Dungeons and Wasteland 3 both have fresh release dates, Sony is furthering its XDEV initiative in Japan, and much more. Plus -- as always! -- listener inquiries. Did Microsoft reveal too much too soon about Xbox Series X? Why do devs and pubs insist on spoiling their own games in trailers? Is innovation in a rapid decline around the industry? Is a chicken nugget a meatball?

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#92: Staying Indoors Apr 03, 2020

Are you losing your mind yet? Hopefully not, for while Coronavirus is running roughshod over societies around Earth, imagine how bored you'd be if you were isolating yourself and surviving a pandemic in, say, 1900. With the Internet, video games, streaming TV, and much more, we can stay entertained and connected even through these trying and historic times, but it doesn't mean it's not taking a toll on many of us. And, not surprisingly, COVID-19 is taking a toll on the gaming industry, too. Speculation continues to rage about the likelihood of PlayStation 5 launching this year, while even Sony admits that first and second party delays are possible, and imminent third party releases -- like Resident Evil 3 and Final Fantasy VII Remake -- may have problems getting to you in physical format. Business moves are being made during the crisis, though: Both Avalanche Studios and Epic Games have announced reorgs and publishing deals, and tons of titles continue to come to PSN. We talk about all of that and much more (with plenty of listener inquiries) this week on Sacred Symbols. Stay safe out there.

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#91: Go to Hell Mar 27, 2020

Here on Sacred Symbols, we like to make fun of Chris Ray Gun for all sorts of reasons, but it's his undying love of Doom that's perhaps easiest to target. After all, he brings it up nonstop. But this week is Chris' week, friends, because Doom Eternal has finally arrived, and our young Puerto Rican friend is hyped up and ready to talk all about it. Let's give him the floor, shall we? Then, let's jump into the news! Sony's bizarre PS5 tech reveal was so confusing and ill-conceived that they had to release some clarifications, GameStop is closing its doors (temporarily?), Final Fantasy VII Remake's release will be kinda-sorta uninterrupted, and much more. Then, listener inquiries! Does Microsoft have to pay Sony for Xbox's use of Blu-ray? What could a Castlevania game on PlayStation 5 look like? Is Ghost Recon about to ruin Splinter Cell? Is Colin really an anime dork, after all?

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#90: Crisis Mar 20, 2020

This episode of Sacred Symbols -- like every one before it -- will become a time capsule. It's just that, in these seemingly historic days, this time capsule might be a little more real than the rest. The world is going through a tumultuous period, and in our little corner called The Gaming Industry, we certainly aren't immune. E3 is cancelled, for starters, but that's no surprise. And word of distress is emerging from Naughty Dog about harsh working conditions, too. But perhaps the biggest news of all is about PlayStation 5's seemingly inevitable delay into 2021, something not yet confirmed, but something being widely speculated about. It's big news not only because it pushes next-gen into the distance, but because its delay would come because of the Coronavirus that's currently giving us a run for our money. So let's talk candidly about the troubles facing our hobby and ourselves, and spice in some humor, listener inquiries, and other pieces of news, too. No, this certainly isn't the apocalypse. But who can blame you for feeling like it is?

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#89: Cordyceps and Katanas Mar 13, 2020

While we await news of PlayStation 5 from Sony (seriously... what the hell are they doing?), news has emerged from two important -- and very different -- projects. First, Ghost of Tsushima, arguably the last of the big PlayStation 4 first party exclusives, finally has a release date, and it's a lot sooner than any of us expected. Then, a more unexpected nugget: The Last of Us is getting an HBO series! But is that a wise risk to take with arguably the brand's most beloved IP? We discuss. Lots of other news is circulating this week, too. Sony Santa Monica loses its longtime leader, Call of Duty's free-to-play battle royale has arrived, E3's slow death continues, and the existence of a Star Wars game called Project Maverick leaks on PSN. Also, listener questions! Why did Ubisoft make such significant changes to The Division 2? Does stress and worry ever stop us from enjoying gaming? Should Sony buy Arc System Works? Is Chris dying of a deadly virus?

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#88: Maintaining Its Luster Mar 06, 2020

Back in 2007, Platinum Games was founded by some of (at the time) Capcom's heaviest hitters, including Shinji Mikami and Hideki Kamiya. Some 13 years later, the team is one of the most respected independent development studios in the world, and it's finally ready to shed its shackles from publishers like SEGA, Activision, and Nintendo, and strike out on its own. So let's chat about it! Plus: The creator of the famous Konami Code has passed away, GDC gets postponed in fear of the Coronavirus, Supermassive's Dark Pictures Anthology is on track to continue this summer, you'll be able to try Predator: Hunting Grounds for free very soon, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Could there be an XFL video game? Is Xbox Series X's "Smart Delivery" really that big of a deal? What's with WB Montreal's weird, drawn-out Batman teases? Is the Kool-Aid Man the jar or the liquid inside the jar?

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#87: Beefy Trendsetter Feb 28, 2020

Persona 5 Royal comes to western PS4s soon, but an interesting controversy has overtaken the hype. Buried within the massive JRPG's original release are a couple of scenes that a small group of players found homophobic, and in response, Atlus is making some key edits to lessen the blow. The question is, should the publisher be making these changes? Are the scenes even offensive at all? Let's chat about it, and see how we feel. Then, more news! Sony, Kojima Productions, and others are bailing out of upcoming trade shows in fear of Coronavirus, EA cancels yet another Star Wars game, Call of Duty's upcoming battle royale mode may just surprise you, THQ Nordic just can't stop buying companies, and more! Following that: Listener inquiries! Would we play a game with the American military as the antagonists? How important of a factor should inflation be in the cost of gaming hardware? What happened to Ubisoft's Skull and Bones? Is Chris a communist? Let's go!

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#86: The Means of Production Feb 21, 2020

The American publication Bloomberg is typically a reliable source of information, and a recent story within its pages tells an interesting tale. It appears Sony is having a hard time keeping production costs of PlayStation 5 down, so much so that it's delaying the Japanese corporation's ability to determine what it should charge for the console, or if it can even turn a profit selling it. There's even reportedly a little civil war going on internally, with some powers-that-be convinced profit should be extracted no matter what, even if it affects demand. Should we be worried? Well, maybe. We discuss. Then again, other news flows this week, too! After four Need For Speeds, EA is taking the series away from Ghost Games and giving it back to Criterion, Quantic Dream leaps forward into the great self-publishing unknown, People Can Fly's Destiny-like Outriders is PS5-bound, Ubisoft wants The Division 2 to live again, and much more. Plus: Listener inquiries! Was the Sonic movie any good? Should Untitled Goose Game really be DICE's Game of the Year? Is E3 in an uncontrollable death spiral? Can we please -- for the love of all that is holy in this world -- stop talking about Kingdom Hearts?

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#85: Going Viral Feb 14, 2020

By now, you've undoubtedly heard of the Coronavirus, a lethal illness originating in mainland China that has so far claimed the lives of more than a thousand people. What you may not have considered, however, is how this might affect PlayStation 5. No: We're not kidding. Game consoles are manufactured in Chinese factories, and it's entirely possible that Coronavirus could delay PS5's launch, a possibility so real that even a mainstream investment firm is warning its clients of such an eventuality. Should we really fear such a delay? Would Sony launch a supply-constrained console instead of being late to market? Do people really need to be eating bats to begin with? We discuss. This episode is chock-full of other news, too! Long-time Rockstar creative lead Dan Houser is leaving the studio he helped create, Sony shut down a first party studio that never so much as released a game, BioWare and EA simply won't stop trying to make Anthem happen, and much more. Also: Let's hear from you, dear listener! Has Chris been unexpectedly teaching Colin a thing or two about video games? How come Ninja Theory stopped working with Sony? Will we ever give Yakuza a chance? Should one listener return his old roommate's forgotten PlayStation 2 games, even if he hated that roommate? Let's go deep.

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#84: Enraptured Feb 07, 2020

PlayStation Plus' free game offerings have always been a little hit or miss, but this month, an essential compilation comes to the service: The BioShock Collection. BioShock, BioShock Infinite, and even BioShock 2 are some of the best games last-gen has to offer, and the original title in particular is an absolute must-play. If you haven't enjoyed these gems yet, you should, and we tell you why now's the time, since they're free-of-charge and all. But how about some news, too?! Sony is sending out random surveys asking some mighty interesting questions about Remote Play, Platinum Games is bringing Wii U-exclusive The Wonderful 101 to PS4 via Kickstarter, Respawn's Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order exceeds EA's sales expectations, Cyberpunk 2077's delay might not be so dire after all, and much more. Plus: Listener questions! Is the PS3 a retro console? How many AAA exclusives should come to PlayStation 5 each calendar year? Why aren't there more games with destructible environments? Is it time we accept that you can't capture a human being in a Pokéball?

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#83: Mao Money, Mao Problems Jan 31, 2020

When money flows from companies that call communist dictatorships home, those funds typically come with strings attached. Activision-Blizzard learned this the hard way just months ago, but it hasn't stopped western teams from accepting this cash with reckless abandon. The next business about to get gobbled up by Chinese conglomerate Tencent is the Norwegian MMO dev-slash-pub Funcom, and Tencent is even willing to pay a staggering 30% over market value for the honor. The big question is: Why? When bizarre corporate cultures and diverging governments collide, it can make for some choppy waters. So let's chat about this recent acquisition-to-be, and what it might mean. Also: Housemarque makes another sharp left turn, the Uncharted movie no one wants gets delayed again, Daybreak is splitting into three separate teams, and much more. Plus: Could Xbox ever win Colin over? Should Sony purchase Kojima Productions? Is our new cross-gen reality about to create some unexpected problems? Can you capture a person in a Pokéball?

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#82: Better Late Than Never Jan 24, 2020

The year started out quietly enough... that is until all of the delays began and started ruining our lives. Final Fantasy VII Remake. Cyberpunk 2077. Dying Light 2. The Avengers. Even that completely random Iron Man VR game wasn't immune! But should we be concerned about the reworked schedule? Or has the shifting calendar serendipitously bought us precious time to catch up on our backlogs? We discuss. Plus: It looks like Horizon is coming to PC, Call of Duty absolutely dominated last decade's sales charts, Monster Hunter: World continues to crush it for Capcom, and much more. Then, listener questions! Does E3's decline signal the end of The ESA? What's with all of the tiny text in games? Could DualShock 5 have a small screen on it? Was Chris riding a bicycle through the streets of London last week? All of that (and much more) right after you press the play button.

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#81: Arkham Assumption Jan 17, 2020

For nearly a decade, WB Montreal has existed in the shadow of its better-known and more-beloved sister studio Rocksteady. But finally, it appears the Quebecois dev is poised to break out. Yet again, the team has teased a vague image on its social media channels that almost certainly points towards a new Batman game, something WB Montreal has dabbled in in the past with 2013's Arkham Origins. But with Rocksteady's Arkham Trilogy getting all of the respect and Origins getting precious little, is WB Montreal walking into a trap? We talk it through. Then: Media Molecule's Dreams finally goes gold, Platinum Games confusingly accepts substantial Chinese investment, Capcom is emphasizing the Remake in Resident Evil 3 Remake, and Nioh 2 is so friggin' hard that Team Ninja is toning it down. Plus: Will Beyond Good & Evil 2 ever come out? How do we define "hardcore" gaming? Is Tetris Effect dropping the ball when it comes to DLC? Should a man be murdered for thinking Friends is better than Seinfeld? There's much to discuss!

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#80: A Roll of the DICE Jan 10, 2020

Most of you know EA-owned DICE as the Scandinavian creators of the Battlefield series (and the resuscitators of Star Wars Battlefront, too), but tucked quietly away in Los Angeles is a DICE support studio aptly called DICE LA. DICE LA is essentially the remnants of the old Medal of Honor team Danger Close that's since been relegated to secondary status, but it appears all of that's about to change. Electronic Arts has opted to dispatch the creative might of Respawn co-founder Vince Zampella to revitalize and rebrand the dev, with a new game promised for the coming years. Is this a wise move, or is EA getting distracted by shiny objects to the detriment of perhaps its most reliable talent? Let's chat about it. Then: Sony talks PlayStation 5 at CES (kinda), Dragon Quest XII is officially in development, Final Fantasy VII Remake is getting a demo, and much more. Plus: Listener questions galore, and Colin tells Chris he's getting drafted and going to Iran to fight on our behalf. How unfortunate for him.

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#79: Game of the Year Awards 2019 Jan 03, 2020

2019 was an interesting year for games. While we eagerly await The Next Generation (no, not the Star Trek show, you godforsaken nerds), a litany of good, great, and even fantastic games hit our precious PlayStation 4 in recent months, and now that the last year is in the books, it's time to look back on some of the best titles '19 had to offer. Without further ado, here are our favorite games of the past 365 days or so, with a special Sacred Symbols twist: A bunch of completely made-up awards, some of which no developer would actually want to win. Alas! We simply couldn't help ourselves.

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#78: The Witching Hour Dec 27, 2019

It wasn't even a year ago that prolific Polish developer CD Projekt and The Witcher's creator Andrzej Sapkowski found themselves in a legal battle over the beloved fantasy IP. But times certainly do change. Both sides of the dispute have announced that, in the wake of their dispute, they'll now be working more closely together than ever. Go figure. But what does it all mean?! We discuss. Plus: What's with this new DualShock 4 peripheral? Should we be excited about these fresh Capcom trademarks coming out of Japan? Who will buy the Nintendo PlayStation prototype going up for auction next year? Plus, listener questions! Does Sony San Diego have Xbox Series X dev kits? Will Colin get Twin Breaker's Platinum Trophies before anyone else? Why do PlayStation gamers love PornHub so much? How does "Peggy" come from "Margaret"?

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#77: Summer Samurai Dec 20, 2019

As PlayStation 5 lumbers toward us like an AT-AT stomping across Hoth (but in a good way), the calendar has left us with precious few PS4 exclusives of consequence. The Last of Us: Part II is obviously the King of the Unreleased, and Dreams is a commercial long-shot, but Ghost of Tsushima might just be the most intriguing of the bunch. One part third-person action game and another part historical fiction, Sucker Punch's eagerly-anticipated PlayStation 4 swan song finally has a release date. Well, window. So let's chat about it. Oh, and have we mentioned we're making a PS4/Vita game of our own? It's true! It's called Twin Breaker, and we're super excited to tell you more. Along with other announcements out of The Game Awards and news from parts elsewhere, we fit in some of your inquiries, too. Does Final Fantasy VII Remake's lack of PS4 exclusivity matter? Does Capcom risk going overboard with the remakes? Is Death Stranding getting critically short-changed? Why is Dick a nickname for Richard? Mysteries abound!

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#76: It's Outta Here Dec 13, 2019

Since 1997, Sony has published an annual baseball game -- once eponymously called MLB and more recently dubbed The Show -- that has lived exclusively in its ecosystem. Indeed, for the last 15 years or so, PlayStation has dedicated a first party studio to essentially (and obsessively) focusing on America's pastime. So recent news that MLB: The Show would begin publishing outside of PlayStation platforms beginning in 2021 came as a bit of a shock. It's a first for Sony, and it's a story that requires some study and analysis. So let's dance. Of course, other news occurred since we last met, too, particularly surrounding 2019's final State of Play stream. Dreams is ready to emerge, Resident Evil 3 is real (and spectacular), and Ghost of Tsushima is quietly creeping up. Naturally, dear listener, we could never forget about you. Ever! So let's take some of your questions, comments, concerns, thoughts, and ideas as we do each week, on topics ranging from political ads in games and the return of Resistance to the future of SOCOM and the power of Jesus Christ. In gaming form, anyway.

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#75: 25 to Life Dec 06, 2019

In December of 1994, the original PlayStation launched in Japan, and the rest (as they say) is history. Fast-forward 25 years, and the PlayStation brand is an absolute powerhouse. PSone, PS2, and PS4 have all surpassed 100 million sold (only one other home video game console has ever done the same), and even those that fell short -- PS3, PSP, and even Vita -- have all left an indelible mark on our industry. So let's celebrate, shall we? Then, let's get into some news! Hideo Kojima's longtime producer has officially left his side after nearly two decades, more PS5 dev kits have popped up in the wild, Codemasters made a new studio purchase, and Titanfall 2 dramatically returns as a free PS+ game. Also, listener inquiries! What does the increasing prevalence of digital marketplaces mean for game sharing? Is PS4 Remote Play on iOS and Android viable? How do games with broken Trophies make it through certification? Does anyone in this world like Long John Silver's? Let's talk it through.

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#74: R3make Nov 29, 2019

Beloved publisher-slash-developer Capcom has been experiencing a renaissance of sorts over the last few years, fueled not only by new games like Monster Hunter: World, but by a litany of re-releases and remakes, too. At the top of the pile is Resident Evil 2, an astounding revisiting of a '90s survival horror classic that sold millions. So it should come as no surprise that a remake of Resident Evil 3: Nemesis is right behind it, at least if recent rumors are any indication. How excited are we? Very! Plus: Amy Hennig finally returns to gaming, Final Fantasy VII Remake's Part II is in development, Activision's CEO says his company isn't interested in making any political statements, and Shenmue IV might be en route (even if Shenmue III is in the midst of bombing). And how about some listener questions?! Will Half-Life: Alyx come to PSVR? Could Rockstar ever revisit Bully, Manhunt, or Midnight Club? When will Sony finally show us PlayStation 5? Is it okay to rip farts in public bathrooms? Let's go!

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#73: Try, Try Again Nov 22, 2019

Did you know that -- in the United States -- Anthem is the eighth best-selling game of the year? This little factoid tells us a whole lot. It indicates that our instincts as enthusiasts don't always speak for the wider market. It suggests a void in our understanding of meaningful metrics in the world of games-as-a-service. And it confirms perhaps the most unfortunate fact of all, at least for EA and BioWare: Lots of people paid good money to play their game, and few people cared to stick around. Yet, in a bold move, the publisher-developer combo are secretly planning to revive their beleaguered shooter with a slate of reported updates, tweaks, and overhauls, begging the question: Is such a move wise? We discuss. Then: DualShock 5's patents suddenly appear from out of Japan, it looks like Dreams may be hitting retail sooner than we thought possible, Microsoft's X019 event serendipitously reveals new PS4 games, and Deep Silver reaches out to the hardcore. Plus: Listener questions, comments, concerns, thoughts, and ideas! Could Sony engineer a PS4 buyback program to help sell PS5? Is Remedy running damage control over Control's sluggish sales? Does Shenmue III stand a chance? If vegans hate meat so much, how come they're so eager for food that tastes like meat?

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#72: Timefall Nov 15, 2019

Death Stranding is finally here, and we use the word "finally" lightly. Conceived and developed at light speed compared to many of its AAA contemporaries, Hideo Kojima's new game came to fruition relatively quickly, and with lots of expectations in tow. What it delivers is one of the most unusual experiences we've ever played. And we mean that in the best way possible. So join us as we gush about Death Stranding for a while, and stay with us as we work through the PlayStation news of the week, from a corporate reshuffle at Sony HQ to an all-new first party studio working on PS5 games from Southeast Asia. Then, listener questions round-out the episode, per usual, with a requiem for PlayStation Vue, a lesson on how the Trophy system works, the possibility of Ghost of Tsushima preempting The Last of Us: Part II, and an unfortunate (albeit necessary) revisiting of last week's show, in which a listener pooped his pants on a date. (Turns out there's more to say about that, for some reason.)

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#71: The King Nov 08, 2019

Nary a decade ago, many an industry analyst wondered if console gaming was dying. Would mobile take over? Could Facebook become the new dominant platform? With PlayStation 4 now securely occupying the spot of second best-selling home console of all-time (behind PlayStation 2), questions like those sure do seem quaint, don't they? Let's discuss PS4's new sales figures, what they mean for the brand, and how great PlayStation 4 performance may just harm PS5. Plus: Blizzard announces two new eagerly-anticipated games, fresh PlayStation Plus games are coming to a PS4 Nioh you (sorry), Modern Warfare earns its keep for Activision, and Ubisoft takes aim squarely at next-gen. Also: How does Sony make money on PlayStation Now? Why are credits so friggin' long? Does anyone care about Shenmue III? If cereal is a soup, does that make oatmeal stew? We apologize for entertaining these hypotheticals, but we just can't help ourselves.

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#70: Halcyon Days Nov 01, 2019

Obsidian's all-new open world RPG The Outer Worlds is a blatant (and in some ways even shameless) ode to its 2010 cult hit Fallout: New Vegas... and it should come as no surprise that it's pretty damn good. So let's spend some time talking about why, and celebrate the many things it does so very right. But let's also not neglect the news! The Last of Us: Part II has been delayed, Ubisoft admits its recent critical and commercial reception has been tepid, Fallout 76 gets perhaps the most unpopular subscription service ever concocted, and WWE 2K20 is an unmitigated disaster. Plus: Audience questions! What's the specific definition of Metroidvania? Is 3D audio here to stay? Is anyone else experiencing inconsistent performance on PS4 Pro? Has Chris really never eaten corn-on-the-cob? All of that and more on the other side of the play button.

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#69: Rumor and Innuendo Oct 25, 2019

As we settle into the fall months, rumors abound. A new photograph seems to confirm the v-shaped PS5 dev kit design that was earlier making the rounds, much to our chagrin. But does it actually matter? Guerrilla Games is mo-capping, while Sony Bend is pre-producing. But should we be surprised? The US Congress has officially put Activision-Blizzard on notice over its behavior regarding Hong Kong and China. But will it be enough to bring change? Plus: Fallen Order goes gold, League of Legends is PlayStation-bound, Fallout 76 DLC gets delayed, and THQ Nordic goes to Japan. Then, listener questions! Could AI become sophisticated enough to make games without human intervention? Should Sony be willing to take significant financial losses to ensure PlayStation 5's proliferation? What should Square Enix do with Final Fantasy after VII Remake? Why do British people pay for goods with squid instead of money?

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#68: Visions of the Future Oct 18, 2019

We were spoiled last week, what with lots of new PlayStation 5 details to obsess over. But Sony has another piece of PS-themed hardware that's worthy of next-gen attention, and no, we're not talking about a third handheld (which is surprising, since we talk about Vita constantly). PlayStation VR was launched just about three years ago, and some five million units later, it has quietly found its way into the living rooms of one-in-twenty PS4 owners. Now, thanks to some patent leaks and tech analysis, we may just have a glimpse at the next iteration of what PSVR looks like, from its purported new controller to its apparent wirelessness (!). Let's talk about what we know, what we think we know, and what the future just might look like (literally). Also: Layoffs quietly hit PlayStation Europe at the exact time PS5 is revealed in Wired (weird!), IO Interactive gets to work on something that isn't Hitman (mysterious!), Ubisoft invests in cartoons galore (bold!), and Donald Trump is the next major political figure to join Twitch (...JYNA). Plus: Listener inquiries on what happens to first party studios when they die, the far-flung fate of our digital libraries, the ruthless mediocrity of the PlayStation Store, and much more. Let's podcast, old friends!

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#67: PlayStation 5 Is Alive Oct 11, 2019

We've been calling Sony's next-gen console PlayStation 5 for quite some time now, but we weren't sure that's what it would actually be named. Now, we know PS5 is indeed PS5, and along with that news comes lots of fresh details straight from the horse's mouth. From the console's release window to the nature of DualShock 5, there's a whole lot to talk about, and we do just that. Also: Activision-Blizzard appeases communists, Doom Eternal has been delayed, PS4's firmware livens-up the party, and SEGA's House of the Dead is being revived. Finally: Listener inquiries! Is Madden really just a turn-based RPG? Why does such a liberal industry like gaming glorify gun use? Can a bad boss fight ruin an entire game? Is Earth a ravioli...?

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#66: See Ya Layder Oct 04, 2019

We recorded this week's podcast, flipped off the microphones, and went on Twitter, where we discovered a surprise piece of late-breaking news: Shawn Layden is leaving Sony. Layden used to be CEO of the American branch of PlayStation, and most recently held the position as Head Honcho of PlayStation's fully-owned, first party studios. So let's discuss his departure (albeit briefly, because we don't have all the answers yet). Beyond all of that, though, is our usual run of show, an episode littered with news. Sony is starting to cut the middleman out of its retail sales, there are lots of fresh details concerning The Last of Us: Part II, Call of Duty is absolutely dominating the historic PS4 sales charts, and Death Stranding is apparently finished and primed for publishing, whether you're ready or not. Plus: When will we learn more about Ghost of Tsushima? What's the actual definition of "Adventure Game"? What are the best places to buy and sell used hardware and games? Why are Colin and Chris so confused about the difference between sheep and a lamb?

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#65: We Just Survive Sep 27, 2019

The silence surrounding The Last of Us: Part II has been somewhat deafening, what with PlayStation 5 hurtling toward us on the horizon and PS4's most important and anticipated exclusive still unreleased. Our patience has been rewarded with precious new information, however, including the game's release date, and there's a whole lot to discuss, including for all you Joel fanboys and fangirls out there. Then: Borderlands 3 sells big (with seven out of ten copies purchased digitally), Sony promises a green PS5 (though not literally), and WB Montreal's Twitter account comes out of a long and dark slumber to tease a new Batman game (or so it appears). Listener questions on issues ranging from the lackluster state of the physical games market to the perilous finances of subscription services round out this week's offering, including tons of non-TLoU information from Sony's State of Play event concerning both PS4 and PSVR . Let's trek forward, friends! It can't be for nothing.

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#64: Boredomlands Sep 20, 2019

It may be hard to believe, but it's been nearly seven years since Borderlands 2 launched, and so with Borderlands 3's recent arrival, you may expect fans to be delighted. Some are, no doubt, but many others aren't, and such a situation calls much into question: Are there too many loot-based shooters? Can a game like this compete on the modern market? Is Borderlands 3 simply too late? Chris and Colin don't see eye-to-eye on this much at all, which makes for an interesting conversation. Then, how 'bout some news?! GameStop keeps tanking, Final Fantasy VII Remake appeals to the old-schoolers, Control's sales are soft, and Ubisoft promises massive open-world games galore in its future. Finally, to round things out, we take some listener questions. Are publishers and developers releasing DLC too far after a game's launch? What do we think of Katamari Damacy? How do we carve out time to game? If you get a DiGiorno Pizza delivered via Amazon, does it rip a hole in space and time?

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#63: Ghosted Sep 13, 2019

A rather interesting piece of industry news went largely unreported last week. It seems the Creative Director of Bethesda-owned Tango Gameworks' Ghostwire: Tokyo has randomly left the studio mere months after introducing and showcasing her game at E3. This was clearly unplanned and obviously spur-of-the-moment, so what gives? We speculate. Also: Thriving publisher Capcom has revealed an all-new Resident Evil spin-off with serious L4D vibes, a couple of Xbox and PC-centric Star Wars games are coming to PlayStation for the very first time, a leak suggests Remedy's strange action game Control is getting story DLC, and a Fairy Tail game is coming to PS4 next year, which is no doubt exciting news for all you weebs out there. Then, listener questions! Is PlayStation 2 Classic a non-starter? Are we being robbed of our gaming abilities by Father Time? Is Sony losing the Indie Battle to Nintendo? All of that and more in another stunning episode of Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast!

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#62: Incoming Biohazard Sep 06, 2019

Capcom's recent resurgence hasn't only been fueled by Street Fighter, Monster Hunter, Devil May Cry, and slick retro collections. Resident Evil -- known as Biohazard in Japan -- has itself been a lynchpin since RE7 shocked us the gaming world early 2017 (not to mention RE2's wonderful remake earlier this year). Now, the Japanese publisher is teasing a new Resident Evil, but it's unclear just what it could be. A mainline entry? Another remake? Or perhaps something else entirely? Let's talk about our hopes and dreams for what's next for Raccoon City and beyond. After that, we delve into the apparent return of Telltale Games, September's surprisingly strong PS+ free games offering, the relaunch of some classic 16-bit Disney platformers, and much more. We then round out our weekly offering, as always, with questions, comments, concerns, thoughts, and ideas from the audience. Will game prices really go up next generation? Does Sony have any intention of playing nice with Stadia? Has 2K gone too far with NBA 2K20's gambling features? Is a Pizza Roll just an Italian Gusher? (That last one made Chris really angry.)

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#61: Assuming Control Aug 30, 2019

Every once in a while, a game comes along that you think is one thing, but ends up being something entirely different. (This is especially true for those of us who do our best to avoid preview coverage for titles we're excited about.) Sometimes, this is a good thing. Other times, it isn't. With Remedy's newest game Control -- the dev's first adventure on a PlayStation platform in 16 years -- it's a little bit of both. Frenetic to play and puzzling to understanding, Control has all the makings of an MGS-like political thriller with a supernatural twist, and there's a lot to say about it. Then: We discuss GameStop's most recent round of layoffs, Final Fantasy VIII Remaster's imminent release date, Persona's big sales milestone, and much more, back-loading our fresh-out-of-the-oven episode with listener inquiries. Where's Mafia 4? Can Sony make a portable PS4 on the cheap? Could mandatory demos increase game sales? Do Shrek and Han Solo have the same stylist? Turns out, it's more complicated than you think. (Not really.)

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#60: Welcome to the Family Aug 23, 2019

Today's episode was already shaping up to be a sizable one. After all, there's THQ Nordic-related news galore to get through, not to mention the conspicuous exit of two prolific producers from BioWare, new NPD sales data, and much more to discuss. But then a meteor struck: Insomniac Games has been purchased by Sony, the first acquisition PlayStation's first party has made in more than eight years! This news comes unexpectedly, but also represents a seemingly necessary move, particularly in light of Microsoft's recent splashes in the exclusive studio space. So let's chat about the biggest news in the PlayStation universe in quite some time, and then wrap things up with delightful listener questions on topics like retro game collecting, couch co-op, loading up on sales, and generation-defining experiences.

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#59: Tantalizing Possibilities Aug 16, 2019

While they share some commonalities, Microsoft and Sony are chasing next-gen victory in fundamentally different ways. Sony's doubling-down on everything that made it a resounding winner this go-around -- including a full embrace of its proprietary ecosystem -- while Microsoft seems more eager to lower barriers and spread the love. In a recent interview, the head of Xbox's first party studios candidly admitted that Microsoft sees some of its games migrating to other consoles. Such an admission draws a line in the sand and makes a bet on reach as next-gen's most valuable currency. So let's talk about it. Plus: Quantic Dream jumps head-first into independent waters, Death Stranding's PS4 exclusivity causes confusion anew, another game gets whisked away by the digital storefront grim reaper, and Shenmue III and Destroy All Humans Remake up the ante on collector editions. Inquiries from the audience round things out this week, as always. Thanks to you, we chat about our expectations for Remedy's Control, Infamous and Infamous 2's conspicuous absence from PS4, the persistent high cost of Vita memory cards, and much more. Like Microsoft and Sony of the future, let's be friends and have fun together (or die trying).

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#58: The Unpersoning Aug 09, 2019

The popular gaming convention PAX West chose to host the first-ever live show in Sacred Symbols' history. We were excited, and so were many of you. Oh, but wait, never mind! Weeks after confirming our panel, the powers-that-be at PAX uninvited us from the show without explanation and with no recourse for fans. It's completely unacceptable, and we dedicate the beginning portion of our show to what went down. And yeah, fine, things happened in the video game world that had nothing to do with this, too. PS4 passed a staggering sales milestone, August's free PlayStation Plus games are a step in the right direction, Borderlands 3 is just about ready for primetime, and GameStop inches one step closer to death. Listener inquiries round out our show as always, touching on topics like Ninja's lucrative jump to Mixer, the future of game-sharing, the limits of retro appreciation, and the erosion of the console generation. And, of course, there are topics aplenty unmentioned in this meager write-up. So come aboard, friends. We still love you, even if PAX doesn't.

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#57: Dreamstate Aug 02, 2019

Sony-owned Media Molecule is hiring for a most unusual task: The studio is seeking small dev teams to create experiences inside the Early Access version of its PS4 exclusive Dreams. And they're willing to pay. The question, of course, is what that says about the state of Sony's absurdly long-in-development sandbox, and if we're now officially entering Insane Territory. Is there something here we simply cannot see? We discuss. Plus: PS4's next firmware update is officially in beta, Dying Light 2 is crossing generations, Remedy's Control has gone gold, and Ready at Dawn's recent office move suggests some interesting behind-the-scenes happenings. And yes... yes! Of course we let you, the listener, in on the action, with inquiries about the popularity of Mario Maker 2 (and how Sony can replicate its success), Tokyo RPG Factory's quiet existence, the possible physical size of the PlayStation 5, and the likelihood of Red Dead Redemption 2 single player DLC. So wake up, sit up straight, and listen up closely. You can sleep once we're done.

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#56: The Sinking Ship Jul 26, 2019

Resistance is futile: The future of video game distribution is digital whether you like it or not. But we're an agile sect of consumers, and even the most stubborn among us can change our buying habits. Corporations entrenched in the ever-stagnant status quo, on the other hand, will inevitably be less fortunate. GameStop in particular seems destined to be consumed by creative destruction, but can the American mega-games-retailer stop the inexorable march of progress? We discuss. Also: PS4's Spider-Man sets sales history, current-gen consoles sales slow to a crawl, Sony's slow censorship march continues, and Plants vs. Zombies is mounting a quiet comeback. As always, listener questions round-out this week's episode, touching on subjects like the future of Konami, Rainbow Six Siege's changing Trophies, the next step for Capcom's Breath of Fire, and much more. Oh, and Sacred Symbols is coming to PAX West 2019! Details within.

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#55: Game of the Year 2019 (So Far) Jul 19, 2019

Our beloved industry has a decades-long tradition of declaring a Game of the Year, which usually occurs in December or January. But such decisions can be quite overwhelming, especially with 12 months' worth of content to go over. So we thought we'd do things just a little bit differently. While you can count on a "proper" Game of the Year episode when you'd usually expect it, we thought we'd throw a six month checkup into the mix, giving us the time and space to discuss the titles we love most now that 2019 is halfway finished. Of course, such an endeavor requires a lot of feedback from you, too, which we've included in this episode. So let's chat about what's impressed us the most as we move into the back half of what can easily be described as one of gaming's strongest years in recent memories. At least so far.

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#54: eGirl Arms Race Jul 12, 2019

The free market is a splendid thing. And sometimes, it's even a little scary. Today -- unplanned and at the tail end of our episode -- we discuss the eGirl Phenomenon on the back of the Gamer Girl Bathwater controversy. Just what in the actual hell is going on out there? We discuss (and we don't even judge anyone that much). If you're not into perverted stuff, though, that's okay, because most of this week's episode is of a more normal fare. The Batman Arkham Trilogy is coming to PlayStation 4 (again?), Sony pulled 'the ol' switcheroo' with July's free PlayStation Plus offerings, the weeb games are still coming in hot, Dragon's Dogma Online is about to quietly fade away, and an obscure FromSoft game is on the brink of its first western release. Plus, listener inquiries! About what, you might ask?! Possible console tariffs, the upside of censorship, the future of Skate, and Guerrilla's mysterious multiplayer game, of course! C'mon, you godforsaken nerd. Let's do this thing.

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#53: The Plot Thickens Jul 05, 2019

Until recently, we've been left to wildly speculate about PlayStation 5. And boy, have we speculated! But since spring, Sony has been more than willing to talk about its next-gen machine, though it still declines to name it publicly. In a wide-ranging Wall Street Journal article, sources both at Sony and familiar with their internal happenings describe a gaming machine with great capabilities, one being aimed at a specific, hardcore market in mind. But does Sony's approach to hardware, games, and player satisfaction in turn satisfy us? We opine. Then: July's PS+ games are lackluster (to say the least), Remedy has reacquired the rights to Alan Wake, a third Ni No Kuni game is incoming, Bernie Sanders gets crazy with the kids on Twitch, and much, much more. And, to close, listener questions about GI Joe video games, Colin's obsession with in-game clocks, the plague of terrible PSVR games, and one Sacred Symbols fan's quest for everlasting love.

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#52: Lost in Translation Jun 28, 2019

Did you know words are important and have specific meanings? The gaming industry learned these essential lessons this past week, when a mistranslated and misunderstood Japanese interview concerning Final Fantasy VII Remake made it seem like the dev team was ordered to make one of the character's breasts smaller. And so we spiraled into madness... except... that's not what was said at all. Oh well! Also: Ape Escape may be making a comeback, EA failed to let everyone know Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is a Metroidvania for some reason, Disaster Report 4 is finally finding its way to the west nine years late, and Platinum Games is none-too-impressed with PlayStation 5. As is tradition, we rounded our episode with some listener mail, on topics like the ever-rarer third party exclusive, the return of Dead Space, and Konami's lack of love for Suikoden. Fear not! We'll speak clearly so there's no confusion.

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#51: Uncanny Valley Jun 21, 2019

E3 2019 is behind us, but -- like the persistent radiation of Chernobyl -- its effects still linger. Indeed, there's much to discuss in the afterglow of the show, and we do just that, revisiting The Avengers, Final Fantasy VII Remake, and Cyberpunk 2077. We also touch on Square Enix's plans for its own subscription service, the future of Amazon Game Studios, Konami's surprise new Contra game, and more, and take listener questions on Crash Team Racing, PlayStation 5 backwards compatibility, Assassin's Creed, and what our Game of the Year is thus far. As usual, though, all of that merely skims the surface of this episode of The Internet's Most Beloved PlayStation Podcast. So strap in, Little Billy, or whatever your name is. Let's talk about video games.

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#50: E3 2019 Bonanza! Jun 14, 2019

It's early June, which can mean only one thing: The NHL playoffs are nearly over, and it's time to hunker down for several long, lonely months without hockey. But something else happens in early June each year that's especially pertinent to this podcast's audience: E3! And isn't it so strange -- serendipitous, even -- that our very first E3 show would also be our fiftieth core episode? Fate's funny like that, sometimes. To celebrate both E3 and Episode 50, let's talk about the biggest, brightest, and most promising games showcased during the various publisher press conferences, the miscellaneous news items that always accompany such a busy time of year, and even hazard a guess as to E3's longterm future. Not surprisingly, there's a whole lot to get through. Could you imagine if Sony actually showed up? The podcast would never actually end. But perhaps that's what some of you wanted all along. You're not fooling anyone.

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#49: Reimagining Warfare Jun 07, 2019

It's the week before E3, and all through LA, games keep on leaking much to publishers' dismay. A third Watch Dogs is coming. New Destiny DLC, too. And Modern Warfare's being rebooted, though that one didn't leak, it's true. So to welcome E3, we thought we'd cook up a game. One that replaces 'Predictions,' which have become stale and lame. "Fill in the blank!" Colin loudly declared. "Tell me your thoughts, Ray Gun, and your life will be spared!" With all he could muster, Chris gathered his might: "Doom Eternal will win E3, or your soul I shall smite!" Colin looked puzzled, and meekly added, "I can't control that, Chris, like those Nintendo scores that are padded." And so Sacred Symbols preps for gaming's big week, with all of the info and news that you seek. We suppose that's no different than your normal week, though. So enough of all of that: Let's get on with the show.

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#48: Stealing Thunder May 31, 2019

E3 2019 is right around the corner, and Sony ain't gonna be there. But that doesn't mean the company is being quiet. Quite the opposite! Likely in anticipation of big Xbox-related moves and announcements at the annual convention, PlayStation has loosened its spigot even more than it already had in recent weeks, talking PlayStation 5 (or whatever the hell it's going to be called), not to mention PlayStation 4, which it anticipates will be the brand's primary driver until 2022. We discuss. Plus: Mortal Kombat 11 and Days Gone sell big, the new Call of Duty is causing title confusion, Twisted Metal is coming to a TV near you, and The World Health Organization thinks gaming will kill us all. To wrap things up, we take some listener questions, including on Supermassive's upcoming horror game anthology, Sony's possible exclusive return to the FPS genre, and how Oculus Quest may just help PSVR. Oh, and did you know Chris is creamy? More details within!

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#47: Strange Bedfellows May 24, 2019

In recent days, word emerged of a most unusual alliance: It seems Sony is teaming up with longtime arch-rival Microsoft across a series of initiatives that could have significant impact on both entities' future gaming success. Indeed, the announcement was such a surprise -- and seemed to have so much impact for both companies -- that Sony employees were internally fretting that plans for PlayStation 5 might have been altered. But, of course, there's nothing to worry about. Right? We discuss. Plus: Call of Duty's unannounced 2020 entry is in serious production turmoil, Square Enix closed its Tales-like studio just as quickly as it opened it, the PlayStation brand is eyeing the film industry, and THQ Nordic may just be tantalizing Chris at his innermost core. Also, let's delve into some listener inquiries too, on topics ranging from the philosophy behind menu screens and Final Fantasy VII Remake's possible Trophy conundrum

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#46: All the Rage May 17, 2019

This week, the seemingly endless march of open world something-or-the-others continues with the release of Bethesda's and Avalanche's Rage 2. How have we been enjoying the FPSRPG's opening hours? We go into all the highs and the lows. The last seven days have also provided fertile soil for news, especially on the back of Sony's second State of Play stream. PS4's Medievil remake finally has a release date, while a new second-party Predator-themed asymmetric multiplayer game is also en route to the console. Meanwhile, Capcom's mega-popular Monster Hunter: World is finally getting a major expansion, John Wick is now a video game, EA Access is coming to PS4 five years too late, and much, much more. Listener questions also bring us on a wild journey, touching on topics ranging from Final Fantasy VII Remake's episodic nature to the mysterious design philosophy of too-long button prompts. Also: Is Chris' shirt red or crimson? This is a podcast, so perhaps you'll never know.

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#45: Not So Fast! May 10, 2019

SEGA never stops trying to make Sonic the Hedgehog relevant again. Indeed, the storied games publisher even announced a foray into feature films some months ago. But now, that mere announcement has been given life and motion, and... well... the results are highly disturbing. But with the filmmakers' decision to heed fans' calls for design changes, have we reached Peak Entitlement? Let's chat about it. Plus: Sony reveals perhaps the most disappointing lineup of free PlayStation Plus games yet, Dreams is getting its first big update, Rage 2 is ready for launch, and Bloodstained finally has a release date. And what's that, you say? You have some input, too?! Why, of course you do, listener! So let's take your inquiries, per usual, touching on topics like the publisher-developer relationship, how to (maybe?) not support crunch in game dev, and the reinvigoration of the single-player FPS genre.

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#44: Don't You Forget About Me May 03, 2019

PlayStation 4 is getting kinda jealous. After all, we've been heaping all this attention on its successor over the last couple of weeks, and it thinks we've forgotten about it. So let's prove it wrong with a heaping helping of PS4 news and info! For starters, new PlayStation 4 sales figures have been announced, and with PS4's all-new exclusive Days Gone now released, you'll be pleased to know that (free!) DLC is on the way. Plus: Bloodborne is now a board game, Kingdom Hearts III is getting new content, a Persona 5 Musou is en route, Square Enix will announce new games at E3, and much more! Then, to wrap things up, let's talk to the audience (that's you!) about topics ranging from playing Sekiro the really hard way and if DualShock 5 should have more buttons to Horizon's sequel and the reality of 8K gaming.

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#43: Analyzing PS5 Apr 26, 2019

Sure, we talked about PlayStation 5 extensively last week, but we just can't get it off our minds. This is especially true considering an extra morsel of information we weren't aware of until recent days, a morsel all about price. We jump into the new info, plus take a bunch of PS5-related questions from the audience, 'cause it turns out you want to talk about it a whole bunch. Then again, we still need to dwell in this generation, and so there's plenty of news to cover there, too, including Mortal Kombat 11's leaked DLC roster, The Last of Us: Part II passing a key production milestone, and all the juicy (and nerdy) details about Konami's upcoming Castlevania compilation, plus more. Then, we put a bow on everything by considering the possibilities of more Xbox-Nintendo collaborations, the future of outrage-driven games journalism, and the possibility of upgrading your PS4 games to PS5 games... for free!

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#42: Sony Talks PlayStation 5 Apr 19, 2019

This week was already going to be zany here on Sacred Symbols. That's 'cause there's a ton of news to get through, including the roll-out of the long-awaited, vaunted PSN name change functionality, new tidbits relating to Ghost of Tsushima and The Last of Us: Part II, kinda-sorta-maybe confirmations concerning new entries in the Horizon and Killzone franchises, and much more. Hell, we even learned more about Respawn's upcoming (entirely single-player?!) Star Wars game. But then something quite unusual occurred: An interview with Sony's Mark Cerny was released, like mana from heaven, and within it was a shocking amount of information about PlayStation 5 (though they won't yet call it that). For the first time, we have actual answers to common PS5-related questions (like backwards compatibility, various confirmations on components, PSVR integration, and more). So it's only right that the World's Most Beloved PlayStation Podcast jumped into the details with all the gusto you'd expect from such a mighty show. Thereafter, we round things out with listener questions, including one that presents a puzzling inquiry: Is there an unsolvable tension between art and play?

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#41: The Great Accessibility Debate Apr 12, 2019

Over the last couple of weeks, a debate has raged within the gaming industry: Should games be easier? Should they be more accessible? And are those two things actually the same, or in some way, shape, or form different? On this episode, we take the time to drill down deep and get to the bottom of some lingering questions about game difficulty, disabled players, and the Games Are For Everyone philosophy. But no episode of Sacred Symbols would be complete without copious news and plenty of letters from the listeners. Borderlands 3 has a release date and couch co-op, the UK's Prince Harry thinks parents are helpless against their Fortnite-playing children, GameStop is hemorrhaging money, and much more, while fan inquires range on topics from Mega Man Battle Network and The Elder Scrolls VI to PlayStation Plus, PlayStation Now, and the dreaded PlayStation Store. Oh, and we gush about Phoenix Wright for a bit, too. Objection?! We think not.

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#40: Kaz Hirai Says Goodbye Apr 05, 2019

Like virtually any gigantic multinational corporation, Sony has seen its share of ups and downs. Its most recent upswing, however, was overseen by Kaz Hirai, who -- from 2012 to 2018 -- served as Sony's CEO after nearly two decades cutting his teeth on the PlayStation brand. Now, he's on the verge of retirement, and so it's time for us to say goodbye. But fear not, for there's plenty of video game news this week, too. Borderlands 3 is real (shocking, we know), Dreams' Early Access is right around the corner, DriveClub is driving off a cliff, and a prominent Japanese developer left his studio over concerns of censorship. As always, we round out things with your queries, touching on topics ranging from Trophies on other hardware and remastered soundtracks to the status of Ready at Dawn and our lack of Mortal Kombat 11 coverage. Oh, and one listener makes a bet with Chris, and PlayStation 5 is involved. How intriguing!

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#39: Shadows Die Constantly Mar 29, 2019

We're barely through the first quarter of the year, but the new releases keep piling up. This week, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice joins the fray (and many others' backlogs), and we have a word or two to say about it. But after catching up on what we've been playing, we take a sharp turn into the news. Sony's new Nintendo Direct-like State of Play initiative debuted, with a few announcements and release dates worth noting, particularly when it comes to PSVR. Persona 5 is also back in the news with a mysterious announcement of an announcement, Konami piles on the classic compilations (Castlevania!), and a new Lord of the Rings game appears to be PlayStation 5-bound (yes, 5). Then, with your encouragement via listener mail, we leave the Sony ecosystem for a bit, diving deep into Google's Stadia announcement, the controversies surrounding Epic's new digital game store, the nature of game pricing, and much more. After all, we may be a PlayStation podcast... but it's good to venture outside every now and again.

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#38: Long Division Mar 22, 2019

The Division 2 has finally arrived, and players around the world are having a blast. So too are we here at Sacred Symbols, and so we delve deep into our experiences so far, while also pondering the obvious: Does this game have the long tail its competitor, Anthem, so severely lacks? There's lots of news to get through this week, too. Borderlands 3's announcement is imminent, Turtle Rock's Left 4 Dead spiritual successor is in the works, a new Sonic the Hedgehog game is a-comin', the Uncharted movie's ex-screenwriter apparently loathes Neil Druckmann, and much more. And what would Sacred Symbols be without letters from the listener, letters ranging on topics from Ghost of Tsushima's release window and Capcom's meteoric upswing to the pros and cons of turn-based combat and the glory of the South Park RPGs. There's much to get through, agent. Let's do it.

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#37: Games As A Disservice Mar 15, 2019

When it comes to the gaming industry, the war for your time and money is a relentless slog. It almost makes you wonder if -- in trying to give you more -- you're actually getting less, not only in content, but in creativity and wonder, too. A listener question sparks a conversation surrounding just such a topic, and we naturally delve head first into it. But before we get there, there's some news to attend to. One upcoming PS4 exclusive (Days Gone) has gone gold, while another (Death Stranding) seems to be falling behind. New firmware brings PS4 Remote Play to iOS devices. PlayStation is breaking the Chinese gaming industry wide open. And did you know NIS is bringing a new Vita game out... in 2020?! We discuss all of that, plus much more, rounded out by even more listener questions, like: Where's Killzone? Will Legend of Dragoon ever come back? And does Colin really hate gum more than anything else on Earth? The answers may just surprise you.

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#36: Goodnight, Sweet Prince Mar 08, 2019

The longest slow death in world history is about to finally conclude. After more than seven wonderful, memorable, and possibly even unnecessary years, Sony has finally pulled the plug on the production of new PlayStation Vita units, signaling the end of the handheld's tortured life. But are we really, truly in its final chapter? We discuss. Plus: The news! Respawn is readying the reveal of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Horizon: Zero Dawn passed a huge sales milestone, The Division 2's puzzling season pass has finally been explained, Phoenix Wright has been dated for PS4, and more. Oh, and how about some questions, comments, and concerns from the audience, like: Why does EA refuse to publish the Mass Effect Trilogy on PS4? Should great game studios be held to a higher standard than their mediocre peers? Will BioShock 4 ever materialize? Is "moist" a worse word than "damp?" Listen, and find out...

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#35: Throw All Your Hands Up Mar 01, 2019

Anthem is finally out in the wild, and it's arrived with a noticeable commercial and critical thud. But is it as thoroughly mediocre as it seems? We go in-depth into BioWare's newest online loot grind, and give you our candid thoughts. Then -- per usual -- we delve into the news. Media Molecule's Dreams is finally coming out (sorta), Bethesda has outlined Fallout 76's year-long content plan, The Outer Worlds may be closer than you think, Square Enix goes on a Mana-related trademarking binge, and more. Rounding things out are listener questions on topics ranging from the future of Mega Man Legends 3, the symmetric vs. asymmetric analog stick debate, Nintendo and Microsoft's increasingly cozy relationship, and the best JRPGs to enjoy for a player new to the genre. Enjoy this week's episode. Just please don't use the term "Looter Shooter." We beg you.

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#34: The Game of Capitalism Feb 22, 2019

At the center of any enterprise is money, and the gaming industry is no different. But with the recent layoff of a staggering 800 people at gigantic (and profitable) publisher Activision Blizzard, questions are starting to be raised about the financial viability of game development as-is, and the treatment of the thousands of talented men and women that make the games we love. Se, we dive head-first into the subject. There's also plenty of news to get through. A high-ranking Sony executive has spoken openly and candidly about PlayStation 3's struggles. Is that a good sign for PlayStation 5? Also: Hollow Knight's getting a sequel, Tokyo RPG Factory's next game has been revealed, The Division 2's open beta is inbound, and both Catherine: Full Body and Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night have much more release clarity for we, the western gamer. As usual, we round things out with your letters, including a chat about hunting games, the longterm viability of the Battle Royale market, the future of EA's NCAA Football series, and violent video games' relationship to real world violence.

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#33: Old, Irrelevant E3 Feb 15, 2019

Late last year, we learned that Sony would skip E3 in 2019, an unprecedented exit from the world famous trade show that began way back in the mid-'90s. But with the recent words of a top PlayStation executive, we now know for sure what we earlier suspected: The company feels June's annual gathering has grown increasingly irrelevant. Is their stance forward-thinking? We discuss. Plus: We open up to you about our relationship with gaming PR, wish the very best towards those likely facing layoffs at Activision Blizzard, recount January's best-selling PSN games, commiserate over Disney's relationship with EA, and more. Your questions, comments, and concerns round things out, as always, on topics ranging from subtitles in games and the ethics of using walkthroughs to Japanese voice acting and the old 3D fad we all hated.

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#32: The Apex Theory Feb 08, 2019

Ready or not, a brand new battle royale adventure has joined the fray. It's called Apex Legends, and it's a free-to-play Titanfall spinoff from EA's Respawn Entertainment, launched on PS4 as a complete surprise to everyone. That's all well and good, but can the market sustain another one of these types of games? And why does it seem like Electronic Arts is competing with itself? We sort through it all. Then: Sony's recent financial report shows a healthy company and a very healthy PlayStation 4, but what does the future hold for the Japanese behemoth, what with a serious threat from Microsoft's Xbox brand on the horizon? Plus: Quantic Dream officially leaves Sony's second party family, GameStop could be in serious financial jeopardy, 2K announces a brand new studio, and more. And for dessert, your inquiries and thoughts, including on PlayStation 5's hypothetical launch library, the wisdom behind buying a PS4 late in its lifecycle, and the possibility of a new middle market emerging for A (not AAA!) games.

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#31: Horror Returns Feb 01, 2019

For some strange reason, rock solid survival horror is somewhat scarce these days. (Indeed, if you think about it, that's kinda always been the case.) But with Resident Evil 2's long-awaited remake finally out, it's fair to say that our hunger for the undead is satiated, in the best way possible. After chatting about RE2, though, we get into the news. The NPD Group has released the best-selling games in America for the year of 2018, and the results may surprise you. Meanwhile, Ubisoft has added "Light RPG Elements" to Far Cry: New Dawn, making us even more excited for the game. Oh, and did you hear those rumors about Fallout 76 going free-to-play? Well, they're not true, and we'll tell you why. We cover all of that, plus more, rounded out with listener questions, comments, and concerns on topics ranging from Anthem's lack of PvP and its unimpressive demo performance to fixing the broken Trophy ecosystem and willing into existence a brand new modern shooter... if the market could even support one.

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#30: A Failed Empire Jan 25, 2019

In 2013, Electronic Arts signed a promising (and lucrative) deal with Disney to be the exclusive developer and publisher of Star Wars video games. Fast forward nearly six years to 2019, and EA has very little to show for it. With the most recent cancellation of yet another EA-developed Star Wars game, is it time for Disney to work with other publishers? We discuss. Additionally, we tackle other news items from the past week, including Guerrilla Games getting an extended peek at Death Stranding, Bungie remaining committed to Destiny's long-term future, Ubisoft bungling in-game relationships in Assassin's Creed: Odyssey's DLC, and much more. Plus, we tackle plenty of listener inquiries, including where Resident Evil should go in the future, the wisdom of revitalizing PlayStation Home, THQ Nordic's possible "Moneyball" tactics, and perhaps the most important question of all: Is a corndog a popsicle?

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#29: Bungie Jumps Jan 18, 2019

This past week, something seemingly unthinkable happened: Developer Bungie and publisher Activision parted ways when it comes to the mega-popular Destiny IP, and weirder yet, the measure seems completely amicable. So let's spend some time dissecting this significant business move from all the angles. Also: PlayStation 4 continues to set the world on fire with both hardware and software sales, as it eyes 100 million sold. But does that milestone truly matter? Plus: GearBox Software's co-founder and CEO is being sued, Sony makes a covert corporate purchase, Catherine abandons Vita, and Ninja Gaiden might be making a comeback, and we answer listener questions concerning speedrunning, game narrative versus design, future retail and digital pricing, and the perfect DualShock 5 controller, in addition to much, much more. (Oh, and we render a final verdict on sour cream and onion potato chips, too.)

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#28: Game of the Year Awards 2018 Jan 11, 2019

We like to do things just a little differently here on Sacred Symbols, even with tried and true industry-wide traditions like Game of the Year. For our First Annual Prestigious Sacred Symbols Game of the Year Awards, we opted to dole out 20 accolades, but not in the way you'd probably expect. What's the best action game? Best RPG? Best exclusive? No, no, and no. Instead, we dole out our high honors like The What Could Possibly Go Wrong Award, The Best Unintentional PlayStation-Related Entertainment Award, The Game I Forgot I Played And Couldn’t Tell You Anything About Award, and much more. Of course, we also cover the news! The return of Telltale's The Walking Dead has a release date, From Software both apologizes to and teases its audience in the same interview, EA and BioWare are prepping two Anthem demos, et cetera, with your questions, comments, concerns, thoughts, and ideas sprinkled in, as always.

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#27: PlayStation 5 Intrigue Jan 04, 2019

It's a new year, and it's time to get down to brass tacks. 2019 will almost certainly bring with it the first concrete details -- official or otherwise -- concerning Sony's PlayStation 5, and it's high time we start speculating. But while much of today's episode of Sacred Symbols is indeed dedicated to PS5, not all of it is. Rather, today's show is totally structured around your questions, comments, concerns, thoughts, and ideas, not only about what's next in the World of PlayStation, but about what has been, and what is right now. We'll get back to normal order next week. For now, let's gather 'round the digital fire and chat, shall we?

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#26: 2018's Best (and Worst) PlayStation Moments Dec 28, 2018

Before we get into our Game of the Year awards in a couple of weeks, we wanted to clear our plates (so to speak) by touching on some of the greatest (and worst!) PlayStation-related moments of the last calendar year. For instance, God of War, Detroit: Become Human, and Spider-Man gave us a trio of amazing PS4 exclusives that lifted our spirits, but the likes of the PlayStation Classic and Sony's initial attitude towards cross-platform play left us a bit sour. Then there's the nebulous stuff -- such as Sony exiting next year's E3, the company acknowledging PlayStation 5 for the first time, and the like -- that have left us excited, but also nervous. Let's work through it all, with a ton of listener memories and thoughts complementing our own. We also get into some recent news, too, including the long-awaited Dreams beta finally arriving on the scene, Sony's inability to manufacture the Vita carts publishers ordered, and much more.

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#25: The Kingdom of Leaks Dec 21, 2018

Colin is just about near death with some sort of winterborne illness, but he and Chris gather for their weekly ritual -- bestowing upon you some PlayStation goodness -- nonetheless. Kingdom Hearts III doesn't come out until late January; yet, the game has leaked, and spoilers are abound. We discuss the fiasco in spoiler-free fashion. Also: Metro Exodus has gone gold and gotten a bumped-up release date, Detroit: Become Human hits a sale milestone, Uncharted guru Amy Hennig is set to receive prestigious honors, the Game Awards have us rethinking our most-anticipated games of 2019 podcast from last week, and much more. We also integrate plenty of your questions, comments, and concerns (as always), including on if in-game ads have gone too far, if games media needs to fundamentally rethink how it reviews games, and if developers are perhaps too focused on quality over quantity. Have at you!

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#24: Our Most Anticipated Games of 2019 Dec 14, 2018

2018 is just about behind us, and 2019 lies just around the corner. To celebrate the coming year, we sat down and sifted through our most anticipated games of the next 12 months. Chris came packing 10 games; so did Colin. Through some very complicated mathematics (not really), we made a solid list of 16 games, cobbled together to represent our collective excitement. The rules? The games in question have to be playable on a piece of PlayStation hardware, and have to be aiming (at least somewhat) for a 2019 release date. That's it. So enough talk! Let's do this.

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#23: The Censorship Conundrum Dec 07, 2018

Should video games be censored, or should anything go? The PlayStation ecosystem has recently found itself having to answer this important question, one framed around a peculiar (and often distasteful) grouping of fan service-heavy games. Some niche devs are claiming that they're being stymied, the consumers of those games aren't happy about it, and Sony itself has admitted that the rules are shifting. So, let's chat about where to go from here. Plus: December's PS+ games have arrived, GameStop posts a major financial loss, the FTC has its eyes on lootboxes, Fallout 76's drama continues, Rocksteady isn't making a Superman game, WayForward joins the Bloodstained team, and much more, enveloped -- as always -- by your questions, comments, and concerns. Oh, and it's Chris' birthday, so Colin got him a very appropriate gift. More details within.

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#22: Bethesda's Big Bomb Nov 30, 2018

The holiday gaming season arrived with a massive dud with the launch of Fallout 76, the online-centric Fallout game that's being poorly received both critically and commercially. What does it all mean for Bethesda as a publisher, its world-famous Bethesda Games Studios dev team, and fans alike? We delve in with our thoughts, and plenty of listener questions, too. Plus: PS4 continues its sales domination, Media Molecule's Dreams is getting a beta before year's end, Rockstar has abandoned its PS3-exclusive vaporware Agent, Kingdom Hearts III has gone gold, and Square Enix filed a new Parasite Eve trademark. Also: One listener asks what PS5's launch library could look like, and much, much more. Let's go!

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#21: Sony Ditches E3 Nov 23, 2018

E3 began way back in 1995, and each and every year since, Sony has shown up with its PlayStation brand, often in a major way. But in 2019, that all changes. Sony has announced that it won't be at E3. At all. No press conference. No show floor offerings. Nada. This is a huge deal, and it gives us an enormous amount to chat about. Plus: PlayStation 4 turns five, Square Enix is toiling away on a PS5 title, THQ Nordic has an astounding 55 games in development, and much more. Listeners also chime in with questions about dormant franchises like Jet Moto and Parasite Eve, and one fan inquires about our respective audio setups, too. So let's get going, shall we?

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#20: Final Fantasy Fiasco Nov 16, 2018

Just when things seemed to be going swimmingly for Square Enix, bad news strikes: Not only has most of Final Fantasy XV's DLC been cancelled, but the game's director -- one of their most vital employees -- has left the company. Combined with a $33 million loss over the past six months, the famous Japanese publisher may not be in fighting shape. We discuss. Plus: Red Dead Redemption 2 keeps selling huge, Activision is disappointed with Destiny 2's performance, Supermassive Games is still in the PlayStation exclusive fold, and Colin wonders aloud if he's going senile. Oh, and should Twisted Metal go Battle Royale? That's just one of the many listener questions we answer, too. So come one, come all! Let's get nerdy.

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#19: An Unexpected Blizzard Nov 09, 2018

The PlayStation news never stops rolling in, and with new PS4 global sales figures, random NPD releases concerning lifetime Vita and PSone software numbers, and fresh information about both the Medievil remake and the recently announced MLB 19: The Show, we have plenty to keep us busy. But we also wanted to take time to focus on the non-PlayStation fiasco surrounding Blizzard, Activision, the Diablo franchise, and... well... many gamers, including many of you. Why is the gaming industry becoming so increasingly toxic, and how can we repair the many rifts that exist around us? Did Blizzard commit a rare faux pas, are gamers expecting too much, or is the truth (as usual) somewhere in the middle? Plus: We remember Monster Rancher, discuss innovations from the multiplayer realm, give a fair shake to Fallout 76 and Kingdom Hearts, and gush over Netflix's Castlevania series. (And much more, of course.)

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#18: PlayStation Classic Blues Nov 02, 2018

Sony has finally revealed the 20 games that are set to come loaded onto each and every PlayStation Classic. The lineup has pleased some, but has left many others disappointed (and dare we say aghast). Not surprisingly, we jump into the ongoing conversation. Plus, Shawn Layden finally talks specifics when it comes to PS4's Medievil remake, Spider-Man sets sales records, Bethesda continues to pay for the trap it set for itself with Starfield and The Elder Scrolls VI, there are problems galore with the PSN name change beta... and one intrepid listener asks what Sony thinks when its hardware appears in porn, which is a surprisingly great question. Speaking of questions, we wade through many other listener inquiries, too, including ones about review scores, midnight launches, and much, much more.

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#17: Days Further Gone Oct 26, 2018

Just when you thought Sony Bend was actually going to release a game this generation, you were wrong. Well, kinda. The studio's eagerly-anticipated third-person open world game Days Gone has been delayed, and we discuss what that means for PlayStation 4's 2019 calendar year. Plus, the saga surrounding Rockstar's phantom 100-hour work weeks continues, and we sound off with some candid and honest thoughts. Also: News about Medievil Remastered on PS4 is imminent, CoD: Black Ops 4's online functionality is leaving people unimpressed, Jade Raymond has officially left Electronic Arts... and one wily listener had the audacity to ask Chris if a Pop-Tart is indeed a ravioli. So let's jump into a heaping helping of Sacred Symbols, where the news are noodles, and your many questions, comments, and concerns make for a savory sauce.

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#16: Sound the Alarms?! Oct 19, 2018

In an interview, Rockstar's co-founder seemed to indicate that the massive team working on Red Dead Redemption 2 is pulling 100-hour work weeks to finish the game. But is that actually true, or have his words been completely misconstrued? Is all well, or is it time to sound the alarms? We discuss. Plus: Sony finally confirms PS5 is coming (duh), PlayStation Network names will be a-changin' starting in early 2019, some naughty bits are being removed from the upcoming Senran Kagura game, and Sony Santa Monica appears to be working on two separate, unannounced titles. You can look forward to all of that -- and much more -- on this week's Sacred Symbols, with plenty of your questions, comments, and concerns peppered in. Y'know. For flavor.

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#15: Harry Potter and the PSN Name Change Oct 12, 2018

A few days ago, cell phone footage of a new, triple-A Harry Potter game (purportedly an open world RPG) was leaked, giving us a glimpse into what the popular franchise could look like on current-gen (and possibly even next-gen) consoles. But this week's news doesn't stop there. All signs are pointing to PSN name changing possibly happening very soon, Skybound Entertainment swooped in to save the Telltale Walking Dead franchise, Killzone's revival is looking mighty likely, The Witcher's author is suing CD Projekt Red, Symphony of the Night's PS4 release may disappoint Castlevania purists, and much, much more. Of course, we sprinkle a couple dozen of your questions, comments, and concerns in there, too. So keep it locked: We've much to discuss. Much to discuss, indeed.

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#14: Mega Meh Oct 05, 2018

The fall rush is just about here, and there's much to discuss. For starters, Mega Man 11 has arrived, and Colin -- The World's Biggest Mega Man Nerd™ -- has some feelings about it. News concerning the recent (and very surprising) Telltale closure has also been flooding out, including word of a class action lawsuit, which we discuss. Plus: Our long PS4 cross-platform play national nightmare is over, new PlayStation Plus games have been revealed, Bungie trademarked a new video game title, and you better damn well buy Dragon Quest XI, or else. You have all of that (plus much more) to look forward to, rounded out, as we do each week, with your questions, comments, and concerns.

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#13: RIP Telltale (and Vita, too?) Sep 28, 2018

The last few days have been dire. Beloved adventure game dev Telltale has been suddenly shuttered, leaving some 250 people unemployed. It's incredibly sad, and we take the time to go through the whats, whys, and hows. Sony also revealed that PlayStation Vita manufacturing will officially conclude in the coming months, indicating that, after dodging death for years, Vita's end is nigh. And Capcom's Canadian studio, Capcom Vancouver, has been shuttered as well. But even with all of the blood, there's good news, too. Insomniac's Spider-Man has broken sales records, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is coming to PS4... oh, and did you hear about the PlayStation Classic? Where do we begin?!

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#12: Colin Hates Himself Sep 21, 2018

It's the calm before the storm, and we're looking to keep ourselves busy in the wake of Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Spider-Man. Colin made the unusual step of starting up Mass Effect Andromeda to pass the time. Did he make such a decision because he hates himself? We discuss. But beyond that, of course, there's news to discuss. Spider-Man is getting New Game+, PS4 firmware 6.0 is in the wild, Assassin's Creed ports are PS4-bound... and we apparently scarred someone by discussing the Human Centipede last week. All of that news (plus much more) is accompanied by your questions, comments, and concerns. Let's enjoy the lull while we can, shall we?

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#11: Lara Croft's Mean Streak Sep 14, 2018

Shadow of the Tomb Raider's launch is imminent, and we've been playing it, so we decided to dedicate a portion of this week's episode to Eidos Montreal's latest. Our conversation focuses not only on the finer points of the game, though, but on Lara Croft herself. Does her selfishness and callousness make her an unlikable protagonist? We discuss. We also go into the copious news that's emerged over the last seven days. Rocksteady is openly hiring for a next-gen game. THQ Nordic's buying streak continues unabated, this time with the Kingdoms of Amalur IP. Henry Cavill has been cast in the upcoming Netflix Witcher series. And that's just the beginning of a heavy news week.

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#10: Is The Last of Us 2 Overhyped? Sep 07, 2018

Next year (presumably), we'll finally get our hands on Naughty Dog's highly-anticipated sequel to The Last of Us, the aptly-named The Last of Us: Part II. But one Sacred Symbols listener has a concern: Is it even possible for it to live up to the hype? We discuss. We also delve deep into news from the past week. Spider-Man's DLC has already been announced, PS2's Onimusha is finally coming to PS4, Battlefield V has been delayed, Anthem is getting a demo... and did you know Sekiro was originally going to be a Tenchu game? We talk about all of that, plus much more, with plenty of your questions peppered into the mix.

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#9: Cyberpunk 2077 and the Gamescom Afterglow Aug 31, 2018

Gamescom came and went with a whimper this year, but thankfully, we don't need to rely on the show for news to discuss. After all, CD Projekt finally publicly released its Cyberpunk 2077 demo, giving us much to discuss. But our show doesn't nearly stop there. Supermassive Games announced an Until Dawn-like anthology of horror games, NPD numbers for last month illustrate how PS4 games are selling in the US, Assassin's Creed is taking another much-needed break, and Shenmue III finally has a release date. We chat about all of that, plus much more, wrapped up with plenty of your questions, and information about our coverage plans for Insomniac's Spider-Man, which is just around the corner.

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#8: PlayStation VR Purgatory Aug 24, 2018

Sony recently announced updated sales figures for PlayStation VR -- 3 million and counting -- which raises an interesting question: Is that actually good? After all, only one in 27 PS4s sold have a PSVR unit hooked up to it. We discuss what that means. Meanwhile, there's news galore to cover, including DICE's long-abandoned Genesis game coming to PS4 and Vita, Until Dawn developer Supermassive's all-new IP trademark, the cancellation of Bloodstained on Vita, Bethesda's aggressive attitude towards Sony, and much more. Colin also gives a preview of Dragon Quest XI, the boys discuss the newly-released Metroidvania Guacamelee! 2, and we round things out, as always, with your questions. Oh, and there's a debate about the pronunciation of "GIF" as well.

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#7: Red Dead Doom Aug 17, 2018

In just the last few days, we were treated with the first gameplay footage ever for both Red Dead Redemption 2 and Doom Eternal. So naturally, we take the time to discuss what we thought of both demonstrations. Meanwhile, Chris is worried that Insomniac's Spider-man is being shown way too much, and so we dive deeper into his concerns. IGN's plagiarism scandal also keeps us busy, with a nearly half hour conversation about that alone. News ranging from a new PS4 Pro and God of War's New Game+ to Bethesda's newest in-house studio and Child of Light II rumors keep us busy otherwise, rounded out -- as always -- by your questions. Oh, and we sacrifice a baby during the show, too, in the name of the Dark Arts. Sorry about that.

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#6: PS4's March to 100 Million Sold Aug 10, 2018

At 82+ million sold, PlayStation 4 is still lighting the gaming world on fire, and will sell in fewer than five years what PlayStation 3 sold in nine. Indeed, it's all but assured -- barring a mega meltdown at Sony, or within the gaming industry itself -- that PS4 will sell 100 million units, a number only three other home gaming consoles (two of them PlayStation-branded) ever reached. So naturally, we discuss what that means. We also take the time to chat about the Metroidvanias that are currently occupying all our gaming time, the newest NPD sales numbers, BioWare's strange insistence that it's still working on Mass Effect and Dragon Age, a possible (but unlikely) comeback for Resistance, FIFA 19's all-new survival mode, and much, much more, rounded out per usual with your questions.

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#5: Ruining PlayStation Trophies Aug 03, 2018

Developers are getting less and less stingy with their games' Trophies, almost to a comical -- and dare we say destructive -- degree. So this week, we discuss the Trophy ecosystem in-depth, and reflect on how Sony can better protect and nurture the ecosystem. But of course, we also get nitty-gritty with the games themselves. Chasm is out, and Chris has played it extensively, so we chat about the newest entrant to the Metroidvania genre. Old video game website The Escapist is returning, but is its apolitical slant too little, too late? Plus, Spider-man and Shadow of the Tomb Raider have gone gold, Quantic Dream lost an important court case, Capcom is making tons of money, and much much more. Get ready for a jam-packed episode, rounded out as always with your questions.

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#4: Expanding the House of Killzone Jul 27, 2018

Sony-owned studio Guerrilla Games, the minds behind Killzone and Horizon: Zero Dawn, recently announced that it's expanding its roster from 250 employees to 400. This is huge news, indicating that Guerrilla is going to start releasing games at a far greater clip. So naturally, we discuss. Of course, there's other pertinent news to chat about, too, including expectations that the battle royale genre is set to gross $20 billion next year, Fallout 76's newly announced beta, Spider-man's exclusive PS4 Pro console, the fate of Telltale's The Walking Dead, tons of Bethesda-related chatter, an update on the upcoming Sly Cooper cartoon, and much, much more. All capped off, as always, with your questions.

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#3: The Kinda-Sorta Uncharted Movie Jul 20, 2018

Nathan Fillion, an actor beloved in nerd culture from his Firefly days, released a movie-quality Uncharted short film, and it has the Internet abuzz. So we chat a bit about it. But in reality, news is pretty light this week, so we rely on a ton of awesome listener inquiries to fill our 100+ minute run-time. Should Sony's studios have Nintendo-level clout? Will we ever get a sequel to The Order: 1886? Is games journalism failing? How can Sony make PSN better? Will we ever do Sacred Symbols Spoilercasts? The questions are many. Many more than this. So, thankfully, are our answers.

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#2: Media Molecule and the Phantom Game Jul 13, 2018

It's been seven years since Sony-owned studio Media Molecule released a full-fledged triple-A game, which is ridiculous. So today, we figured we'd answer a listener inquiry about Dreams, Media Molecule's perpetually-upcoming game first rumored in 2012, shown in 2013, properly revealed in 2014, and... *looks at watch*... well, it's 2018, and it's still not here. We also take the time to chat about Nathan Drake's astounding luck, sales expectations for Red Dead Redemption 2, the status of the long-in-development Dead Island 2, possible release dates for Ghost of Tsushima and The Last of Us: Part II, the future of EA's Star Wars games, the recent God of War movie rumors, and much, much more.

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#1: The Maiden Voyage Jul 03, 2018

Welcome to Sacred Symbols, a hardcore PlayStation podcast for hardcore PlayStation fans! In our inaugural episode, we keep it simple: What are we aiming to do with our show? What is the podcast going to be like? And how can you be involved? Of course, once we get through all that housekeeping, the lion's share of Episode 1 is full of PlayStation chatter. Will Sony ever allow cross-platform play? Is Sucker Punch preparing to be raked over the coals for its representation of 13th century Japanese society in Ghost of Tsushima? Will Final Fantasy VII Remake ever come out? Do we really need Jim Carrey playing Dr. Robotnik in a Sonic the Hedgehog movie? In our maiden voyage, we answer those questions, and many, many more.

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