YoVG # 556 So, Is AI Good Now?
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No. It's still a mixed bag. But it's nice to see the dirtbags in tech suddenly realize they've opened Pandora's box for themselves too. Decompiling is going to be basically impossible to prosecute with any consistency. Matt is still staunchly anti-AI, but he's come around to my thinking: AI is great for drudge-work. Do I think that is what tech is hoping to kill with it? No. Is it as powerful as they claim? No. Is it ever going to be as profitable as it needs to be, in order to justify the money they've spent to date? No. But there is cool stuff that it does and decompiling is a perfect...
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YoVG # 555 Paramount WB Merger - Anything Good?
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We cover a few things this episode. Asha soft confirming Xbox Portable. Gamestop price gouging their customers on PS5pro. The main topic, though, is the Paramount WB merger into SKYDANCE. Will anything good come of this? It's possible, but as we saw with Activision being acquired by Microsoft - it doesn't mean beloved IP making a return, and almost definitely means a lot of devs losing their jobs. It's hard not to be cynical and downer about it, but we do try to name possible good things.
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YoVG # 544 Incoming Ad-pocalypse!
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Microsoft filed a patent for in-game advertising. Examples include: before or after a multiplayer match, after a major boss fight or story beat, or as a way to earn game time on cloud services. Suffice to say Xbox will not be recovering its reputation any time soon. And if this idea makes them money? Sony will follow soon after. In this one instance though, we may have a hero... Nintendo. Let's talk about why.
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YoVG # 553 Xbox Sundowning Continues
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Technically the term is "sunsetting" but sundowning seems more appropriate given the confusion, anxiety, and madness of Xbox's behavior. In this week's episode we talk Capcom, PS5 cultural relevance and the biggest topic is Xbox's recent layoffs and consolidations. Consolidations that seem to point at Microsoft gearing up to sell or close Xbox game studios. As an aside, in the episode we are talking about Onimusha and I mention that I am doing the issikai maneuver (spelling?). I played some more after recording - and that is definitely not what I am doing the most of. Mostly I dodge - but for...
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YoVG # 552 Irresponsible Hype (Blizzcon 2026)
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For the third week in a row, I have been caught unawares. As with every Blizzcon - I have to acknowledge most of this is not for me. WoW, Overwatch, even Diablo are all games I enjoy here and there, but I am by no means a major fan. So, maybe it's not a surprise that I didn't see a StarCraft FPS coming. The trailer was HYPE. And then it shows the release... 2030? And probably late 2030... So, 4 years from now? Why do companies do this? Announcing something so early is a surefire way to wear out the audience's enthusiasm by release time. Is it job security? A way to keep the execs off their...
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YoVG # 551 Nintendo Is a Solid B!
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We got a two-parter Nintendo Direct for the first time ever. One part dedicated entirely to Zelda 40 year anniversary and a second more traditional direct the very next day. Put together, we feel it's a solid direct. A couple surprises in Metroid Revenant and Kirby Forgotten World and a whole load of anticipated ports.
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YoVG # 550 Sony Gets A D!
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Playstation's State of Play Fall 2026 is in the books. Sony has been a bit mired in consumer hate lately and really needed a big win here. Did they get it? Matt says no. For him this is a D minus show that it's hard to even care about. Personally, I thought there were a couple fun, dare I say, even exciting updates. But I'd still probably give this show a C, C-. One thing that the show did solidify for me is that Japanese developers have something their western kindred sorely lack right now: whimsy. How do we get more whimsy in western games? I think gritty, realistic, apocalyptic and piss...
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YoVG # 549: Gamescom 2026
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We are rolling toward the holiday shopping season and that means Gamescom is here with one last pop of surprises (hopefully). Every year, Gamescom takes me by surprise. I have no idea why, but for some reason the end of summer sneaks up on me and the show catches me off guard. This year is no different. We had updates on exciting games I had forgotten about, and surprises for a beloved game of the past. In this episode we talk about our personal highlights, confusions and disappointments. Also, I learn maybe the most shocking, downright disgusting, out right insane detail about Matt. He...
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YoVG # 548 Rockstar Hactivism
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Rockstar got hacked again, and GTA6 gameplay got leaked. But this time? The hacker has an activist agenda. They want to punish Rockstar for not having a physical release. Will it work? Will this change the way the industry is moving? No. Probably not. Will we see more hactivism like this? Is there any type of activism that will change industry behavior? Maybe.
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YoVG # 547 How To Avoid Brand Rot
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Have you thought about Halo lately? About where it started and where it's at now? Is it indicative of a brand that has been left to rot, or worse, beaten to death and then propped up to rot while shambling onward? How do we avoid brand rot? Is it expanding the media, like with a TV show, or books, or theme parks? Maybe. But then, those things have to be GOOD to avoid the rot. Is there a secret? Or do we just need people with savoir faire? Maybe this is a "you can't necessarily learn it, but you gotta know it" kinda thing. What's a brand you wish hadn't been left to rot, but clearly IS rotting?...
info_outlineSony kicked off gaming summer with an hour long State of Play. Naturally, expectations were high. Did they deliver? I'd argue, yes. They bookended the SoP by opening with extended Wolverine gameplay and then ended with 20 minutes of God of War: Laufey cinematic gameplay. In between was a mix of promising titles, and a couple small surprises, like Kemuri.
It felt very safe. Even the release dates: all of them pointedly avoiding GTA6 release.
That's not really a mark against Sony in my opinion, but it does mean nothing will absolutely melt your face or blow your mind.
Still, this was a solid State of Play!