Real Time Strategy

Phil Spencer says Xbox is working on prototypes for a handheld console. Kaitlyn and Sam discuss how it can compete in a landscape dominated by phones, Nintendo, and the Steam Deck. Then they break down why Take-Two sold its indie-focused publishing division Private Division and how the Nintendo DS changed gaming in honor of its 20th anniversary.

Timecodes: 

00:00:00 – Intro

00:07:38 – Phil Spencer Says Xbox Is Planning a Handheld...

Sean Murrin, CEO of gaming creative agency Waypoint, joins Kaitlyn and Sam to discuss the relationship between creative activations and PR. They highlight Waypoint’s work with physical goods, mailers, stunts, events, and more (including the Elden Ring Pot Boy puppet at the 2021 Game Awards), and how that work can drive word-of-mouth and media coverage.

Timecodes: 

00:00:00 – Intro

00:06:44 – What is Waypoint?

00:27:39 – Influence...

Ubisoft has disbanded Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown’s development team, so does that make the game a failure? Kaitlyn and Sam discuss the game’s launch and what may have affected its sales, including its PC release strategy, January release date, and the state of the Prince of Persia franchise. Then they dissect the reception to Amazon’s Like A Dragon: Yakuza and discuss the awesome new showrunner for the God of War series.

Ti...

Former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden recently said AA games are gone, but what does that mean for the industry? Kaitlyn and Sam explain the state of mid-market games on this week’s episode and then dig into two of Amazon’s upcoming gaming shows, God of War and Secret Level.

Timecodes: 

00:00:00 – Intro

00:09:13 – The State of AA Gaming

00:30:42 – Amazon’s God of War Show Changing Creative Team

00:41:43 – Why We’re Excited for Ama...

Why did Annapurna Interactive’s staff resign? Kaitlyn and Sam dig into that question on this week’s episode. Then the pair breaks down GamesIndustry.biz’s great post-pandemic analysis of the games industry before concluding with a new segment about the hype for Nintendo’s next console.

Timecodes: 

00:00:00 – Intro

00:07:17 – Annapurna Interactive Staff Resigns

00:23:05 – Read of the Week: GamesIndustry.biz on “How the games indus...

PlayStation dominated headlines this week with the surprise shutdown of Concord, critical acclaim for Astro Bot, and the announcement of the $700 PS5 Pro. Kaitlyn and Sam dissect this rollercoaster week by discussing why Concord failed, why people are loving Astro Bot, and whether the backlash against the PS5 Pro’s price is deserved.

Timecodes: 

00:00:00 – Intro

00:04:16 – PlayStation Shuts Down Concord. Why Did It Fail?

00:30:49...

Game Informer closed earlier this month, but its legacy will live on. Former online content director Brian Shea and video editor Alex Van Aken join Sam to discuss what they learned from their time at Game Informer, the state of games media, and what they have planned next, including Alex’s game documentaries at Viewport and Brian’s All Things Nintendo podcast.

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00:00:00 – Intro

00:02:43 – Brian and Alex’s Favorite Game...

Borderlands and Deadpool & Wolverine are two of this summer’s biggest movie blockbusters, but they had wildly different outcomes. Kaitlyn and Sam discuss whether Borderlands’ poor performance means anything for gaming’s future in Hollywood and what other adaptations can learn from Deadpool & Wolverine’s hugely successful marketing campaign. Other topics include Krafton acquiring Hi-Fi Rush developer Tango Gameworks and the ...

GameStop shut down Game Informer last week, laying off its staff and unceremoniously ending the best-known gaming magazine in the U.S. Sam and Kaitlyn discuss what the publication’s closure means for games media, why it happened, and how games PR should react. Then they discuss another gutting layoff story—Bungie cutting its staff by 17%—before ending on a positive note with a discussion about Polygon’s music-focused FM column and ...

SAG-AFTRA video game performers are on strike, and Roblox reportedly has a child safety problem. Sam and Kaitlyn break down these stories, then interview entertainment journalist Collier “CJ” Jennings about covering San Diego Comic-Con.

Timecodes: 

00:00:00 – Intro

00:01:42 – What Does the SAG-AFTRA Gaming Strike Mean for the Industry?

00:21:59 – Roblox’s Child Safety Problem

00:38:30 – Collier “CJ” Jennings on Covering San Diego...

Microsoft is raising the price of Xbox Game Pass…again. Join Kaitlyn and Sam as they discuss Microsoft’s decision to hike Xbox Game Pass prices, the changes in tier options, and what Microsoft’s long-term strategy may be. 

Then, in the show’s new “Read of the Week” segment, Sam and Kaitlyn discuss Polygon’s Spicy Take Week story about Roger Ebert’s famous quote that “Video games can never be art” and whether or not video games sh...

2024 is expected to be the last year before Nintendo’s next console, so is the Nintendo Switch going out with a bang? Logan Plant, host of IGN’s Nintendo Voice Chat and database manager for IGN Playlist, joins Sam to answer that question. They break down the latest Nintendo Direct, their favorite reveals, and when they expect to hear from Nintendo next.

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00:00:00 – Intro

00:01:48 – Logan’s Favorite Non-Switch Nintendo ...

Freelance games writer Jason Fanelli joins Kaitlyn and Sam to share his impressions from Summer Game Fest Play Days 2024 and break down what makes a good preview experience for press. Topics include Jason’s favorite SGF demos, if the event can eventually replicate E3, and the most memorable preview events from his career.

Timecodes: 

00:00:00 – Intro

00:06:24 – Jason’s Most Anticipated Upcoming Games

00:26:18 – SGF Play Days Impr...

A new Doom game, Perfect Dark is back, and too many exciting indie games to count… summer showcase season is here. Kaitlyn and Sam break down Summer Game Fest and the Xbox Games Showcase, their favorite games shown, what makes a good showcase trailer, and why Geoff tempered expectations this year.

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00:00:00 – Intro

00:02:15 – Is Summer Game Fest Close to E3 2.0?

00:11:48 – Summer Game Fest 2024 Review

00:23:35 – Compar...

Andy Lunique wears many hats as a cook, author, and influencer marketing expert in the games industry, and he combined those skills to write “The Ultimate Gamers Cookbook” and “Diablo: The Official Cookbook.” Andy joins Kaitlyn and Sam to discuss how he crafts gaming-friendly recipes, how influencers (including himself) find their brand, and how to reach people without losing authenticity.

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00:00:00 – Intro

00:02:18 – ...

Microsoft is betting big on Game Pass by adding Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 to the service at launch. Kaitlyn and Sam discuss what this means for Microsoft’s publishing strategy, Xbox’s upcoming showcase, and the price of Game Pass. Then they break down how IGN Entertainment’s acquisition of Gamer Network affects games media.

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00:00:00 – Intro

00:03:37 – Assassin’s Creed Shadows Announced

00:06:40 – Call of Duty: Black O...

Joost van Dreunen knows the games industry. He literally wrote the book on the business of video games (One Up: Creativity, Competition, and the Global Business of Video Games), and with his next book on the horizon, he joins Kaitlyn and Sam to discuss how gaming has changed since One Up was published in 2020, why so many layoffs are happening, and why the industry is pivoting to “games as a platform.”

Timecodes: 

00:00:00 – Intr...

Microsoft closed a number of Bethesda studios, including Redfall maker Arkane Austin and Hi-Fi Rush developer Tango Gameworks. Kaitlyn and Sam discuss the implications behind the closures, why these ones were a shock even amongst many closures and layoffs, and what the upcoming Xbox Showcase will look like. The duo also touch on the Nintendo Switch 2 update from Nintendo as well as a spoiler discussion on the finale of Prime Video’...

TikTok is facing a U.S. ban, so what does that mean for influencers, marketers, gaming fans, and the future of short-form video? Kaitlyn and Sam answer that question, as well as explain Escape From Tarkov’s bad week and their thoughts on Fallout’s fifth episode and Fallout 4’s next-gen update.

Timecodes:

00:00:00 – Intro

00:03:19 – What’s the Future of TikTok With the U.S. Ban Looming?

00:15:10 – Potential Effects of the Ban

00:2...