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The honeymoon is over as Xbox prepares to close multiple studios | Friends Per Second #97 Jun 21, 2026

Show notes

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

03:05 What's Going On with XBOX

37:36 Control Resonant Interview with Mikael Kasurinen and Sean Durrie

53:26 Control Resonant Impressions

1:04:11 Summer Game Fest Impressions

2:04:57 Show and Tell

2:12:31 Wrap Up

If you wanna check out our newsletter, you can do so here: https://friendspersecond.substack.com/

Listen to the Friends Per Second Podcast on your favourite podcast platform: https://linktr.ee/friendspersecond

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/friendspersecond

Let's meet our hosts!

- Jake Baldino (aka the Before You Buy Guy) is pretty much the most watched reviewer on YouTube across both Gameranx and his personal channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/JakeBaldino). If you're obsessed with Delorians, The Mummy and Pizza you can discuss that stuff with him directly over on Twitter: @JakeBaldino

- Lucy James was a Senior Producer at Gamespot for more than a decade before striking out on her own, founding https://lookingfor.game/, a newsletter and games discovery platform that serves cool suggestions (and demo codes) directly to your inbox. She also co-hosts the annual Summer Games Showcase alongside Geoff Keighly.

- Skill Up used to work at McDonalds but he got fired for skimming too many chicken nuggets. He says he regrets it since he hasn't had a better job since.

Xbox is abandoning some of its most talented studios (again) | This Week in Videogames Jun 19, 2026

Show notes

They can't harm you, if they can't find you! Use code SKILLUP at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/skillup

The honeymoon is officially over.

Support independent games coverage by signing up to https://www.thisweekinvideogames.com. It's 100% ad-free and you can sign up for free to get access to our news, reviews and previews, as well as a weekly newsletter. Become a Supporter to get access to our op-ed features, expert columns, a bonus newsletter and an ad-free version of this very show.

#thisweekinvideogames #Xbox #GTA6

If you want to check out Burn-9 or any of our other radar shout outs, you can find them on our Steam curator page: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/28625128/

If you want to check out the Friends Per Second Podcast, you can find all the links to it here:

https://linktr.ee/friendspersecond

Thanks for taking the time to watch the video. If you'd like to support the channel even more, the best way is by becoming a supporter on our website: https://www.thisweekinvideogames.com.

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skillup.bsky.social

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skillupyt/?hl=en

All the biggest news and reveals from Summer Games, Xbox & Nintendo | This Week in Videogames Jun 12, 2026

Show notes

Thanks to Nvidia and Gigabyte Aorus for sponsoring the video. Learn more about how Nvidia hardware can take games like '007 First Light' to the next level here: https://www.nvidia.com/en-au/geforce/campaigns/007-first-light-geforce-rtx-50-series-bundle/

Nice job, Geoff.

#thisweekinvideogames #summergamesfest #nintendodirect

If you want to check out Junkster or any of our other radar shout outs, you can find them on our Steam curator page: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/28625128/

If you want to check out the Friends Per Second Podcast, you can find all the links to it here:

https://linktr.ee/friendspersecond

Thanks for taking the time to watch the video. If you'd like to support the channel even more, the best way is by becoming a supporter on our website: https://www.thisweekinvideogames.com.

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skillup.bsky.social

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skillupyt/?hl=en

We asked the God of War Laufey Game Director about that cube.... | Friends Per Second #96 Jun 10, 2026

Show notes

Head to https://buyraycon.com/friendsOPEN to get up to 15% off Raycon audio products this holiday season. Thanks to Raycon for sponsoring FPS!

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro / Housekeeping

07:50 Sony State of Play

34:14 Raycon (ad)

35:50 Interview with God of War: Laufey Director Ariel Lawrence

1:04:41 Summer Game Fest Showcase

1:37:17 Interview with That's No Moon, CCO Taylor Kurosaki and Game Director Jacob Minkoff

2:13:04 Xbox Showcase

2:29:05 Wrap Up

If you wanna check out our newsletter, you can do so here: https://friendspersecond.substack.com/

Listen to the Friends Per Second Podcast on your favourite podcast platform: https://linktr.ee/friendspersecond

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/friendspersecond

Let's meet our hosts!

- Lucy James is a Senior Producer at Gamespot. She's actually, like, experienced and credentialed and has real life skills and stuff, while the rest of the gang would be funemployed if the YT algorithm didn't kiss them for random, inexplicable reasons.

- Skill Up used to work at McDonalds but he got fired for skimming too many chicken nuggets. He says he regrets it since he hasn't had a better job since.

All the biggest news and reveals from the 2026 Sony State of Play | This Week in Videogames Jun 04, 2026

Show notes

Thanks to Squarespace for sponsoring the video. If you want to set up your own website (and get a discount while doing it), hit this link for more info: http://www.squarespace.com/skillup. --'Your mother is at peace now, Atreus'. --Support independent games coverage by signing up to https://www.thisweekinvideogames.com. It's 100% ad-free and you can sign up for free to get access to our news, reviews and previews, as well as a weekly newsletter. Become a Supporter to get access to our op-ed features, expert columns, a bonus newsletter and an ad-free version of this very show. --#thisweekinvideogames #StateofPlay #GodofWarLaufey If you want to check out Beastro or any of our other radar shout outs, you can find them on our Steam curator page: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/28625128/--If you want to check out the Friends Per Second Podcast, you can find all the links to it here: https://linktr.ee/friendspersecond--Thanks for taking the time to watch the video. If you'd like to support the channel even more, the best way is by becoming a supporter on our website: https://www.thisweekinvideogames.com. --Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skillup.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skillupyt/?hl=en

Austin strongly recommends: Lego Batman - Legacy of the Dark Knight (Review) Jun 02, 2026

Show notes

Thanks to Squarespace for sponsoring the video. If you want to set up your own website (and get a discount while doing it), hit this link for more info: http://www.squarespace.com/skillup. --Lego Batman - Legacy of the Dark Knight is basically all the batman movies, TV shows and comics rolled up into a package that's basically Rocksteady's Arkham games but for kids (and big kids). What's not to love?#Review #LegoBatman #Lego--Visit our website https://www.thisweekinvideogames.com for ad-free, ai-free, clickbait-free games coverage. Sign up for free, or become a supporter for access to exclusive content like features, expert columns, newsletters and an ad-free version of the weekly news show. Thanks for supporting the work we do. --You can find all the Skill Up content (reviews, previews, This Week in Videogames & The Friends Per Second Podcast over on Spotify, where you can listen ad-free if you're a Spotify premium subscriber: https://open.spotify.com/show/2w3Injyqj2VoxOxQg6ESbl?si=b651261f52c24e58--BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/skillup.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skillupyt/?hl=en--Check out my curator page on steam: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/28625128-Skill-Up-Curates.../--Recent vids:007 First Light review:https://youtu.be/v_jXOcIwZAYForza Horizon 6 review: https://youtu.be/QSKy5VqhBK8Pragmata review:https://youtu.be/6n84HC57zEUCrimson Desert review: https://youtu.be/SHyO4W76b6EResident Evil Requiem review: https://youtu.be/klmkwsoC46I?si=AE532L0G_N4aXneG Highguard impressions: https://youtu.be/s6pzJzJUEbgArc Raiders review: https://youtu.be/wXB9flDrIXsDispatch review: https://youtu.be/TyWU33qspwEThe Outer Worlds 2 review: https://youtu.be/PzcPyEYlyA0Hades II review:https://youtu.be/L2BGd3x5gP4 Silent Hill f review: https://youtu.be/PBW3NH7OaXMDonkey Kong Bananza Review: https://youtu.be/0E2T-Ne9N5QDeath Stranding 2 review: https://youtu.be/UxMJ5WAp1gYClair Obscur Expedition 33 - The Making of a Masterpiecehttps://youtu.be/mXLOLgC2V2QDoom: The Dark Ages review: https://youtu.be/6CNivLBwLkMAssassin's Creed Shadows review: https://youtu.be/gdWyGurnSbUSplit Fiction review:https://youtu.be/hajChij56XoKingdom Come Deliverance II review: https://youtu.be/_wFHtqKYMaMAvowed review:https://youtu.be/yxnyOmJzg_0The best games of 2024https://youtu.be/ShInfDuzl7ADragon Age: The Veilguard review:https://youtu.be/QF-Kd2BBpx8Silent Hill 2 review: https://youtu.be/dBoU9SNFw9wWarhammer 40,000 Space Marine 2 review:https://youtu.be/OZ6ur9NOkpEAstrobot review: https://youtu.be/JVAEWreFU0IStar Wars Outlaws review: https://youtu.be/sKo1owZzYcsConcord review (RIP): https://youtu.be/vRrWp_MVAxUElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree review: https://youtu.be/d1FQ3BiL-L8Final Fantasy VII Rebirth review: https://youtu.be/_LaI5Knv4wMHelldivers 2 review: https://youtu.be/5j4TsO8vngASkull and Bones review: https://youtu.be/z_BKf5cdV_wSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice League review: https://youtu.be/reQKHNg0jh8The Day Before - A Scam To Remember: https://youtu.be/tdQXfXm8rjgCyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty review: https://youtu.be/QNKS3vkGAagFinal Fantasy XVI review: https://youtu.be/PzfUardkloYThe Lord of the Rings: Gollum review:https://youtu.be/E21qSEyRa88The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom review: https://youtu.be/BQFImTqvW8ERedfall review: https://youtu.be/YTpFvYbDuqAResident Evil 4 Remake Review: https://youtu.be/iIXQ3sospSoCalisto Protocol review: https://youtu.be/mm8pxfU9c6EGod of War Ragnarok review: https://youtu.be/QdqMpAV1A1sSaints Row review: https://youtu.be/T-hsMkWHMLUElden Ring review: https://youtu.be/gfcJv3oZNcc

Sony, you're making a huge mistake | This Week in Videogames May 30, 2026

Show notes

They can't harm you, if they can't find you! Use code SKILLUP at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/skillup

Guardians make their own fate.

00:00 D2 Crash Out

15:05 TWIV

#thisweekinvideogames #Destiny2 #Bungie

If you want to check out Map Map or any of our other radar shout outs, you can find them on our Steam curator page: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/28625128/

If you want to check out the Friends Per Second Podcast, you can find all the links to it here:

https://linktr.ee/friendspersecond

Thanks for taking the time to watch the video. If you'd like to support the channel even more, the best way is by becoming a supporter on our website: https://www.thisweekinvideogames.com.

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skillup.bsky.social

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skillupyt/?hl=en

Even more ambitious than we thought - Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced (Hands-On Impressions) May 25, 2026

Show notes

Thanks to MANSCAPED for sponsoring today’s video! Get 15% OFF + Free Shipping on The Lawn Mower® 5.0 Ultra in colorway Desert Sand with code “SKILLUP” at https://www.manscaped.com

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious videogame remakes ever.

Note: Ubisoft offered to pay for my flights and accommodation for this trip to Singapore but I declined, choosing instead to cover my own costs to guarantee you truly independent coverage. If you value that sort of editorial independence, considering signing up and supporting us over at https://www.thisweekinvideogames.com

#assassinscreed #BlackFlag #Resynced

Visit our website https://www.thisweekinvideogames.com for ad-free, ai-free, clickbait-free games coverage. Sign up for free, or become a supporter for access to exclusive content like features, expert columns, newsletters and an ad-free version of the weekly news show. Thanks for supporting the work we do.

You can find all the Skill Up content (reviews, previews, This Week in Videogames & The Friends Per Second Podcast over on Spotify, where you can listen ad-free if you're a Spotify premium subscriber: https://open.spotify.com/show/2w3Injyqj2VoxOxQg6ESbl?si=b651261f52c24e58

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/skillup.bsky.social

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skillupyt/?hl=en

Check out my curator page on steam:

https://store.steampowered.com/curator/28625128-Skill-Up-Curates.../

Recent vids:

Forza Horizon 6 review:

https://youtu.be/QSKy5VqhBK8

Saros review:

https://youtu.be/o1umIJJgKuk

Pragmata review:

https://youtu.be/6n84HC57zEU

Crimson Desert review:

https://youtu.be/SHyO4W76b6E

Resident Evil Requiem review:

https://youtu.be/klmkwsoC46I?si=AE532L0G_N4aXneG

Highguard impressions:

https://youtu.be/s6pzJzJUEbg

Arc Raiders review:

https://youtu.be/wXB9flDrIXs

Dispatch review:

https://youtu.be/TyWU33qspwE

The Outer Worlds 2 review:

https://youtu.be/PzcPyEYlyA0

Hades II review:

https://youtu.be/L2BGd3x5gP4

Silent Hill f review:

https://youtu.be/PBW3NH7OaXM

Donkey Kong Bananza Review:

https://youtu.be/0E2T-Ne9N5Q

Death Stranding 2 review:

https://youtu.be/UxMJ5WAp1gY

Clair Obscur Expedition 33 - The Making of a Masterpiece

https://youtu.be/mXLOLgC2V2Q

Doom: The Dark Ages review:

https://youtu.be/6CNivLBwLkM

Assassin's Creed Shadows review:

https://youtu.be/gdWyGurnSbU

Split Fiction review:

https://youtu.be/hajChij56Xo

Kingdom Come Deliverance II review:

https://youtu.be/_wFHtqKYMaM

Avowed review:

https://youtu.be/yxnyOmJzg_0

The best games of 2024

https://youtu.be/ShInfDuzl7A

Dragon Age: The Veilguard review:

https://youtu.be/QF-Kd2BBpx8

Silent Hill 2 review:

https://youtu.be/dBoU9SNFw9w

Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine 2 review:

https://youtu.be/OZ6ur9NOkpE

Astrobot review:

https://youtu.be/JVAEWreFU0I

Star Wars Outlaws review:

https://youtu.be/sKo1owZzYcs

Concord review (RIP):

https://youtu.be/vRrWp_MVAxU

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree review:

https://youtu.be/d1FQ3BiL-L8

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth review:

https://youtu.be/_LaI5Knv4wM

Helldivers 2 review:

https://youtu.be/5j4TsO8vngA

Skull and Bones review:

https://youtu.be/z_BKf5cdV_w

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League review:

https://youtu.be/reQKHNg0jh8

The Day Before - A Scam To Remember:

https://youtu.be/tdQXfXm8rjg

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty review:

https://youtu.be/QNKS3vkGAag

Final Fantasy XVI review:

https://youtu.be/PzfUardkloY

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum review:

https://youtu.be/E21qSEyRa88

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom review:

https://youtu.be/BQFImTqvW8E

Redfall review:

https://youtu.be/YTpFvYbDuqA

Resident Evil 4 Remake Review:

https://youtu.be/iIXQ3sospSo

Calisto Protocol review:

https://youtu.be/mm8pxfU9c6E

God of War Ragnarok review:

https://youtu.be/QdqMpAV1A1s

Saints Row review:

https://youtu.be/T-hsMkWHMLU

Elden Ring review:

https://youtu.be/gfcJv3oZNcc

Sony is back in the exclusives business - will Xbox follow next? | Friends Per Second #95 May 24, 2026

Show notes

Try Factor at https://www.factormeals.com/fps50off with code fps50off to get 50% off and free daily greens per box. Thanks to Factor for sponsoring FPS!

NOTE: We recorded this before the Bungie/Destiny 2 news broke.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

04:21 PlayStation

10:16 Ralph's played a preview of Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced

28:45 Factor (ad)

31:34 Lucy's been playing Zero Parades: For Dead Spies

42:40 Jake's been playing Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight

55:56 Ralph and Jake have been playing Forza Horizon 6

01:08:29 Ralph's been playing Deep Rock Galactic Survivor

01:12:10 User Question

01:24:08 Show and Tell

01:38:42 Wrap Up

If you wanna check out our newsletter, you can do so here: https://friendspersecond.substack.com/

Listen to the Friends Per Second Podcast on your favourite podcast platform: https://linktr.ee/friendspersecond

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/friendspersecond

Let's meet our hosts!

- Skill Up used to work at McDonalds but he got fired for skimming too many chicken nuggets. He says he regrets it since he hasn't had a better job since.

The end of Destiny 2 + Warhorse announces Lord of the Rings RPG | This Week in Videogames May 22, 2026

Show notes

Thank you Displate for Sponsoring! Click here https://displate.com/l/skillup or use code SKILLUP to get some of the biggest discount of the year: 1-2 Displates for 31% off, 3 Displates for 36% off and 4+ Displates for 41% off! (*Not applicable on Limited Edition).

Sigh.

00:00 Displate (Ad)

01:07 TWIV

#thisweekinvideogames #Destiny2 #Bungie

If you want to check out Map Map or any of our other radar shout outs, you can find them on our Steam curator page: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/28625128/

If you want to check out the Friends Per Second Podcast, you can find all the links to it here:

https://linktr.ee/friendspersecond

Thanks for taking the time to watch the video. If you'd like to support the channel even more, the best way is by becoming a supporter on our website: https://www.thisweekinvideogames.com.

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skillup.bsky.social

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skillupyt/?hl=en

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