Arcade Couch

HBO and Craig Mazin are working on an HBO series, but Larian Studio aren't involved! Let's talk about it.

We also discuss the Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase, the first for 2026, as well as Dylan's time with Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined.

SHOW DOT POINTS

• The Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase received mixed reactions from fans.
• Many players were disappointed with the lack of major surprises in the showcase.
• ...

For the first episode of 2026, we catch up on what's been happening in the year so far and then draft our picks for the 2026 game.

SHOW DOT POINTS

• The gaming industry is experiencing significant changes with physical media declining.
• Life is Strange Reunion aims to conclude the Max and Chloe story arc.
• Ubisoft's cancellation of games reflects the challenges in the gaming market.
• Highguard's launch faced bac...

We break down all the big announcements and the winners from The Game Awards 2025.

This is also the last episode of Arcade Couch for 2025, so we shall see you all in the New Year!

YOUR HOSTS 🎙️ Dylan Blight 🎙️ Ashley Hobley 🎙️ Ciaran Marchant

• 🎵 Music: Dylan Blight
• 🎵 Sound Effect by floraphonic from Pixabay
• 🎨 Artwork: Cheri...

We drop six predictions each for what games, reveals, trailers, etc, could be seen at this year's The Game Awards show.

YOUR HOSTS 🎙️ Dylan Blight 🎙️ Ashley Hobley 🎙️ Ciaran Marchant

• 🎵 Music: Dylan Blight
• 🎵 Sound Effect by floraphonic from Pixabay
• 🎨 Artwork: Cherie Henriques
• 📝 Show notes power...

We discuss Fortnite's big 'Endgame'-like finale and what games are releasing in December.

SHOW DOT POINTS

• Fortnite's events draw massive audiences and feature pop culture icons.
• The collaboration between Fortnite and Kill Bill is unprecedented.
• AI's role in game development is a contentious topic.
• Transparency about AI usage in games is essential for consumer trust.
• December is a slow month for game releases...

We discuss the Xbox Partner Preview showcase and rumours of Half-Life 3 being announced before the end of the year.

Also on the show, Dylan has played Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment and Kirby Air Riders and gives his thoughts on both of the games so far.

SHOW DOT POINTS

• The Xbox Partner Preview showcased a variety of new games and trailers.
• The hosts expressed excitement about the diversity of game ge...

On this week’s episode of Arcade Couch, we give our impressions of the first trailer for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Discuss Valve’s announcement of new hardware, share the most interesting reveals from the Playstation State of Play Japan showcase and give our final thoughts on Dispatch now that all the episodes are out.

YOUR HOSTS 🎙️ Ashley Hobley 🎙️ Ciaran Marchant

00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:58 - The Super Mario...

We discuss Grand Theft Auto VI's delay, the release of League of Legends: Riftbound, Pokémon Legends: Z-A DLC, and the news that the Mass Effect TV series will be set after the events of the third game.

SHOW DOT POINTS

• The gaming community is buzzing with excitement over current events.
• League of Legends and Overwatch are still popular among gamers.
• The release of Pokémon Legends: ZAH has generated signific...

We discuss how the Xbox Boss has said TikTok is their biggest challenge and competition now, not other consoles, as well as the latest gaming headlines from the week.

SHOW DOT POINTS

• The gaming industry is facing a November slump with little news.
• Xbox sees competition beyond consoles, focusing on overall entertainment.
• Attention spans are shorter, leading to a demand for simpler content.
• Consumerism in gam...

We discuss the first two episodes of Dispatch, a new superhero adventure game from AdHoc Studio, a new team made up of former Telltale Developers, plus dive into the big news of the week, which includes Halo coming to PlayStation.

SHOW DOT POINTS

• The hosts express excitement about reconnecting after a long time.
• Fallout 4 Anniversary Edition is set to release soon.
• Remedy Entertainment is facing challenges w...

Dylan discusses his time with Pokémon Legends: Z-A and his thoughts on the game after about ten hours. 

Catching up with Ashley, he also goes over a bunch of stuff he played at PAX AUS 2025 last week that hasn't been discussed yet, and the two talk about their Hades 2 runs.

YOUR HOSTS 🎙️ Dylan Blight 🎙️ Ashley Hobley

• https://explosionnetwork.com/paxaus2025/

We wrap up PAX AUS 2025 and Melbourne International Games Week from our hotel room on Monday morning before packing up and making our trek back home. 

• We discuss the big highlights from the event for us this year • There are some interview snippets here as well from  - Justin Vazquez, Creative Director on Grounded 2 at Eidos-Montréal + Miles Winzler, Producer on Grounded 2  - Rob Davis, Campaign Director at Sucker Punch Productio...

We've all been playing Hades II and discussing our early thoughts on the game, a sequel to one of our collective favourites.

Show Dot Points

• Hades 2 introduces new gameplay mechanics that enhance strategy.
• The art style and music continue to impress players.
• Progression feels rewarding, regardless of the success of the run.
• The game features a complex system of collectibles and upgrades.
• Character relationsh...

We discuss the PAX AUS 2025 exhibitor list and the panels you should check out each day.

Show Dot Points

• Hades 2 is highly anticipated and set to release soon.
• The podcast will take a break after the next episode.
• Episodic game releases are gaining popularity, allowing for quicker engagement.
• The Australian Game Developer Awards showcase a variety of talented games.
• Nintendo's presence at PAX Australia is ex...

We discuss the September 2025 Nintendo Direct & Ciaran also gives his impressions on Borderlands 4.

Show Dot Points

• The Nintendo Direct showcased exciting new titles and updates.
• The Super Mario Galaxy movie is set to release in April 2026.
• Mario Tennis Fever aims to address past complaints with new features.
• Super Mario Wonder will receive additional content for the Switch 2.
• Yoshi's new adventure promises a unique storyb...

Hollow Knight: Silksong is now available, and the reaction has been overwhelmingly positive, aside from some amusing Google Reviews.

Show Dot Points

• Hollow Knight: Silksong's launch caused significant storefront issues due to high demand.
• The anticipation for Hollow Knight: Silksong has been building for years, leading to a successful launch.
• Sales figures for Hollow Knight: Silksong are expected to surpass ...

There are rumours of the PlayStation 6 behind a handheld/hybrid console. Are we really ready to start talking about the next generation of consoles already?

Show Dot Points

• September is shaping up to be a big month for gaming.
• The PlayStation 6 portable is rumoured to be more powerful than the PS5.
• There is a perceived lack of standout titles for the PS5 generation.
• Game development timelines have stretched ...

We discuss our first impressions of Mafia: The Old Country, the fourth entry in the series; we also take a look at everything that was announced during Gamescom - Opening Night Live 2025.

Show Dot Points

• The hosts express excitement about the upcoming release of Hollow Knight: Silksong.
• Gamescom showcased a variety of new games and trailers, generating buzz among fans.
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 aims to inno...

Battlefield 6 took over the gaming world with huge numbers on Steam, but does Ciaran think it will outperform this year’s Call of Duty? Additionally, we preview Opening Night Live and discuss our growing anticipation for PAX AUS 2025.

Hosts: Ashley Hobley: https://bsky.app/profile/ashleyhobley.bsky.social Ciaran Marchant: https://bsky.app/profile/en-ringo.bsky.social  

Episode Timecodes 00:00:00 - Hello 00:00:37 - Battlefield 6 Be...