Welcome back to the Press Start Select Podcast in 2025! 🎮✨ After a holiday break filled with technical challenges, we're back with brand-new topics and fresh energy! In this episode, we dive deep into:
Marvel Rivals: A roster-packed launch that's redefining multiplayer gaming! 🚀
MK1 and Conan the Barbarian: Ed Boon's bucket list or just chaos in gaming?
Live-service letdowns: What's behind Sony's cancellations, including the Horizon MMO and God of War live-service experiments?
Nintendo Switch 2: Will it live up to the hype, and what games are we hoping for?
And much more, including the latest on Xbox's shift to third-party strategies, the state of Warner Bros., and the industry's ongoing search for innovation in gaming. 🎙️
Time Stamps:
00:00 - The Press Start Select Podcast Returns for 2025!
4:07 - Marvel Rivals’ 33-Character Roster: Genius or Overkill?
7:02 - MK1 Adds Conan the Barbarian: Ed Boon’s Bucket List?
10:00 - Warner Bros. Cancellations: What Happens to Legacy IPs?
12:30 - What’s Next for WB Games After Suicide Squad’s Cancellation?
16:00 - Sony’s Cancelled Games: God of War and Horizon MMO Failures
20:00 - Could Spider-Man: The Great Web Have Been Sony’s Best Live Service Game?
21:45 - Horizon Zero Dawn MMO: A Cancelled Opportunity or Bullet Dodged?
23:30 - Why Aloy’s World Struggles to Connect With Fans
32:15 - Xbox’s Identity Crisis: Are They Just a Third-Party Publisher Now?
35:45 - Why Xbox Players Feel Betrayed by Microsoft’s Latest Moves
37:30 - Can Xbox Stay Competitive Without Exclusive Games?
39:15 - Game Pass: Is It Sustainable for Microsoft’s Future?
41:00 - Why Microsoft’s Vision for Gaming May Be a Double-Edged Sword
46:28 - Is PC Gaming Too Complicated for the Average Person?
47:28 - PC vs Console: The Accessibility Debate
48:31 - Why Consoles Make Sense for Families with Kids
50:22 - Why Microsoft Struggles with Branding and Presence
52:08 - Why Sony & Microsoft Are Behind Nintendo's Innovation
54:07 - Nintendo Switch 2: Is It Just a Bigger, More Powerful Switch?
54:47 - ‘Super Nintendo Switch’ Would’ve Been a Better Name
Nintendo Switch 2 Accessories: Are Gimmicks the Future? - 56:08
56:56 - Are Graphics at Their Peak? How the Switch 2 Might Challenge the Status Quo
58:05 - Goodbye Switch 1: Why I’m Ready for the Switch 2's Performance Boost
58:36 - Will the Switch 2 Compete with the Steam Deck?
59:43 - Nintendo’s Long-Term Gamble: Will the Switch 2 Survive Without Top-Tier Performance?
1:02:04 - Nintendo's Secret Weapon: Could a F-Zero’s Open World Destroy the Competition?
1:03:05 - Will Nintendo Revive Lost Franchises for the Switch 2?
1:06:00 - Big Game Publishers Are Struggling
1:14:20 – Marvel Rivals: A Marvel Game That Feels Like Overwatch?
1:15:31 – Marvel Rivals vs. Avengers: Why It’s the Game We Always Wanted
1:16:32 – Marvel Rivals' Free-to-Play Success: What Makes It Stand Out?
1:17:56 – How Marvel Rivals Is Changing the Future of Comic Game Design
1:19:04 – Wolverine’s Realistic Approach: Will It Compete with Marvel Rivals?
1:23:14 – Marvel Rivals: Can Monthly Character Drops Keep Players Coming Back?
1:24:00 – Fixing Marvel Rivals: How the Game Needs to Balance Tanks, Duelists, and Healers
1:25:29 - The Truth About Balancing Choices in Video Games: Why You Can't Have It All
1:32:06 - The Western Gaming Struggle: Why Big Teams Fail While Smaller Ones Thrive
1:34:06 - The Power of Player Choice: Why Games Like Mass Effect Got It Right
1:35:17 - How Miyazaki's Storytelling Philosophy Revolutionized Gaming
1:36:00 - Phantom Blade Zero: A Solo Developer's Triple-A Dream
1:37:06 - East vs West in Gaming: Why Asia Dominates with Focused Vision
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