What we assumed would ultimately happen has come to pass: Machinegames' upcoming Indiana Jones title is indeed coming to PlayStation 5. Between Minecraft, Call of Duty, and Bethesda -- not to mention Xbox Studios itself -- Microsoft has quickly become one of Sony's biggest third party partners, and we suspect things are still just getting started. Other news this week includes the announcement of Borderlands 4, new Mafia and Dying Light games, word of Sea of Thieves' meteoric success on PS5, impressive Silent Hill 2 Remake gameplay footage, tons of Astro Bot spoilers, pricing details for Until Dawn Remake, and more. As usual, listener inquiries help us round things out. How come rank-and-file developers never get the blame for bad games? Can Chris guide a new Destiny 2 player through the trials and tribulations of figuring things out? Which upcoming PlayStation-aligned game-as-a-service has the most potential? Has Colin yet again offended the sensibilities of the Irish? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're getting into the late summer now, and it's no surprise that the news is beginning to pick up, starting with word of more Xbox games migrating to PlayStation. By our next episode, we should have at least one more Microsoft-centric title lined-up for PlayStation 5, a sign of the times as -- ultimately -- much of that catalog finds itself elsewhere. Meanwhile, problems are brewing in Sony's games-as-a-service initiative. On one hand, Concord's release is imminent, and the excitement level is precariously low. It's unclear whether Firewalk can really pull this thing off. On the other hand, we have second party title Helldivers 2, which has been tinkered with to such a degree that players are being rebuffed en masse. Can Arrowhead turn it around and keep a good thing going? Other news this week includes Dragon Age: The Veilguard's release date, the revival of Tango Gameworks, Final Fantasy VII Remake: Part III's potential move to Unreal Engine 5, and more. Then: Listener inquiries. How bad can the Borderlands film actually be? What kind of power does Fortnite wield these days? Is controller drift caused by faulty hardware or aggressive players? Did Chris really think he could win a breakdancing gold medal at the Paris Olympics? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

t's getting crazy out there. Fresh off of E3 Lite comes a slew of new game announcements, more than we could possibly cover, nonetheless play. And this brings up a good point, one we burrow down on: Who's gonna be able to buy and play all of this stuff in an ecosystem dominated by vacuum-like powerhouses that leave little room for competition? Are we nearing a breaking point, where there are simply too many games seeking too few players spending too few dollars, even as the industry grows? Well, we're about to find out. The news this week is otherwise copious: Horizon LEGO Adventures is coming to PS5 and PC... and Nintendo Switch?! Mark Cerny gives a rare interview and provides some insight into PlayStation's thought processes. Black Ops 6, Slitterhead, Civilization VII, The Thing Remastered, Doom: The Dark Ages, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and so much more were announced. Sea of Thieves dominates the PlayStation Network, foretelling an obvious continuing migration of Xbox games to PS5. And much more! Then: Listener inquiries. Is Astro's Playroom teasing upcoming PlayStation announcements? How come publishers and developers are keeping specific release dates so close to their vests? Could anything get us excited about Assassin's Creed Shadows? Is Colin accidentally inhaling mind-altering chemicals while he cleans the shower? This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/symbols and get on your way to being your best self Get a free gift with your Journey Pack at https://www.tryfum.com/sacred and use code SACRED A Better Paradise is available on all podcasting platforms. Listen now!  Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro 0:11:23 - Cleaning in the shower 0:19:03 - Shoes in the house 0:26:15 - Happy Birthday Cyprus 0:31:35 - Sony acquires Alamo Draft House 0:41:34 - Xbox showcase reflections 1:31:41 - COD: Black Ops 6 1:38:32 - Slitterhead 1:46:36 - Valorant 1:52:12 - Civilization VII 1:59:06 - Metal Gear Solid Delta 2:11:25 - Prince of Persia: Sands of Time remake 2:15:23 - Life is Strange: Double Exposure 2:19:36 - The Thing Remaster 2:24:41 - Visions of Mana release date 2:26:27 - Game sales 2:43:20 - New trophies for classics on PSN 2:44:59 - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 2:52:05 - Wolfhound 2:54:06 - PlayStation Stars downtime 3:00:12 - FF Tactics is happening 3:03:46 - What we've been playing 3:33:23 - Lego Horizon Adventures 4:12:18 - Epic Game Store leak 4:17:46 - Mark Cerny interview 4:31:48 - Doom: The Dark Ages 4:39:02 - Dragon Age The Veilguard 4:47:40 - New PS Plus Games 4:51:27 - What would get us to play Assassin's Creed Shadows? 4:57:11 - Pixel art more expensive? 5:01:18 - New Xbox console strategy 5:08:35 - Astro teases a showcase? 5:12:11 - Missing dates in 2024 5:15:37 - Are we real hardcore gamers? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Life is full of choices. And a fundamental choice is what you do for a living and who you work for. So it was disappointing to see Shawn Layden -- a champion of PlayStation's first party games for a run of very good years -- choosing to sign with Tencent as a Special Advisor. As an ex-Fortune 500 executive, Layden is already set for life, and with a reputation and track record like his, he can work anywhere and do anything. He's chosen to be used to help normalize and strengthen Tencent's western operation, and in our humble opinion, he has some explaining to do. Plus: We further assess the catastrophic Grand Theft Auto VI leak (as well as Rockstar's response to it), EA's new Iron Man game (and its potential to be the next Spider-Man), rumors circulating about a new PS5 model (with a detachable disc drive), and much more. Then: Listener inquiries. What's the economic strategy behind Square Enix's coming avalanche of releases? Is there a firm line in game emulation that simply shouldn't be crossed? In an industry so mired in negative news, what's a glaring positive we've identified? Where the hell has Chris gone off to? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Just when you thought mega-publisher Ubisoft finally 'got it' when it came to Assassin's Creed, they went ahead and simultaneously announced three brand-new AC games for console. This is of course a change from their more recent strategy of treating this particular franchise with more care; they now seem fine with potentially running it back into the ground. What's going on at Ubisoft? And what does the future of Assassin's Creed hold? Plus: Trouble may be brewing at Sony second party studio Deviation, Team Ninja's Rise of the Ronin surprises at State of Play, the Yakuza franchise is turning over a new leaf, Babylon's Fall goes bye-bye, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Are we excited about under-the-radar third-person shooter Evil West? How long will AAA games stay at $70 before the price goes up once more? Is the drama around Forspoken's dialogue a sign of rote political and social discourse? Why does Chris keep talking about a clown wearing his father's clothes? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's clear: PlayStation's problems with Microsoft's in-motion purchase of Activision-Blizzard run deep. The financial implications are enormous, of course, but in going public with his dismay in potentially losing Call of Duty on PlayStation platforms beginning in 2028, CEO Jim Ryan illustrates Sony's concern is material enough that it's willing to take a PR beating to make its point. Our theory? They're simply trying to buy time as they continue to sort out their strategy and make sense of a growing consensus that doesn't necessarily cater to what they do best. Nonetheless, we discuss the wide-ranging, ongoing situation between Microsoft, Sony, Activision-Blizzard, and various global economic regulators that will make or break the deal. Other news this week includes the announcement of PSVR2 game Firewall: Ultra, Tencent's growing acquisition of Ubisoft, the mostly-missed confirmation that Returnal is indeed coming to PC, the reveal of Cyberpunk 2077's DLC, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Can Sony gleam anything from Microsoft's mismanagement of Halo and 343? With Spider-Man 2 rumors percolating, what are we most looking forward to in the sequel? Have we reached a point of irreversible open-world fatigue? Did someone really try to make the case that 'Chicago-style' pizza is the 'real' pizza? Note: After Ubisoft's underwhelming presentation, we decided to keep this episode as is with no pickup. We'll be covering the Ubisoft news on episode 220. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sony's procurement of its first-ever mobile studio isn't something to get excited about, and we're not even gonna pretend to try. However, the acquisition of Savage Game Studios does suggest a new strategy for PlayStation, one that seeks to protect its various flanks even if it's not yet necessarily begun to fight on said front. Mobile gaming is a good example: They've said they've wanted to do something, and they have, but they don't acknowledge or pay attention to anything that results. It's as if it's not very important, but clearly, that's all about to change. We discuss. Plus: Sony acquires 14% of FromSoftware, SNK says there's interest in both sides for a Capcom vs. SNK revival, Quantic Dream gets scooped up by a Chinese firm, Mafia IV is early in development, and more news, followed (as always) by listener inquiries. Should we embrace the term "I" and "Triple I" when it comes to indies? Is there such a thing as "too much accessibility" when it comes to gaming? Why are console-exclusive pre-order bonuses so darn persistent? Is Colin fearful of Dustin's growing podcasting power? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For the first time in the history of the gaming industry, a major piece of hardware is getting a price increase across virtually the entire world. PlayStation 5, launched in 2020 at $500 or your local equivalent, will still cost that much (with a disc drive) here in the States. But virtually everywhere else in the world -- from the UK and Europe to Australia, Japan, and beyond -- PS5's price is about to go up modestly, but noticeably. Sony no doubt isn't taking this PR catastrophe lightly -- you have to imagine there's a need here -- and, indeed, this highly-controversial will help them make an additional half-a-billion bucks this year alone. But with market conditions as they are, inflation running rampant, and production as trying as ever, the only question is whether any of their competitors follow-suit, and whether Sony itself is done upping the ante. Other news includes the reveal of PlayStation's long-awaited Elite-style controller called DualSense Edge, confirmation that PSVR2 will launch in early 2023, release dates for Dead Island 2, Sonic Frontiers, and more. and so on. Then, we wrap things up (as we always do) with listener inquiries. What's with some outlets slamming Saints Row, then accepting money to promote it anyway? Is it becoming increasingly difficult to avoid the industry's inherent negativity? Will Sony ever begin caring about their PlayStation Mobile initiative? Should one listener's public bathroom encounter have left him as scared as it has? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There may not be very many games coming out right now, but there sure is a lot of news to get through. For starters, enterprising internet detectives have conclusively uncovered an unannounced second party PlayStation game from a British studio called Ballistic Moon. Staffed by ex-Supermassive personnel, some are wondering whether their title -- codenamed Project Bates -- is a horror game in the vein of 2015's Until Dawn. We discuss. Plus: Sony-owned Japanese dev Team Asobi speaks out about its present and future plans, compelling evidence of a PlayStation PC launcher has been uncovered, Embracer continues to mindlessly gobble up whatever it can find, the KOTOR Remake for PS5 is apparently alive and well, and much more. Then: Listener inquiries! Should Sony remake the original God of War trilogy? How do we feel about Death Stranding coming to PC Game Pass? Why is Sony actively making the PlayStation Store worse? Is it time for Colin to be considered a man of color because of his Italian heritage? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What was supposed to be a routine exchange between corporations and an economic regulatory body in Brazil has turned into the hottest news in gaming over the last week. That's because both Sony and Microsoft have launched soft salvos at each other, picking apart each other's strategies on the market and their intentions to squeeze the other guy out. Buried within both of their arguments are interesting tidbits, though, particularly in regard to how Xbox and PlayStation see both themselves and each other, and we couldn't help but delve in head-first to pick it all apart. Plus: Square Enix is either priming to sell or buy more studios (potentially both), Call of Duty's beta is inbound to Sony platforms in September, PS+'s new offerings are surprisingly solid, and more news. Then: Listener inquiries! Are we tempted to go-in on the Backbone One controller? Can a game be so good that it ruins every other game you play? Is keeping old hardware less important in an era of digital software and backwards compatibility? What lessons has Colin drawn from living to his advanced age? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is PlayStation missing an element of 'fun' that used to be present in its ecosystem? One listener wrote in with such a thought, revolving his argument around one key figure from yore: Kevin Butler. The long-lost fictional Sony executive represented a different time for PlayStation. The question is, do we want to go back? News items this week include a peculiar missive from Sony in Brazil about Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, an analysis of Sony's first quarter fiscal report, Tencent's pursuit of Ubisoft, and more. Other listener inquiries include ones on the potential of an $80 game, the value-versus-length argument, subscriptions acting as modes of curation, and Dustin's peculiar pronunciation of a northwestern American state. If only we could have done more to protect him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

An industry source was kind enough to leak to me (Colin) what purports to be a script being circulated for the upcoming Tomb Raider game. It's codenamed Project Jawbreaker, the two-scene script is for actors trying out for various parts, and I forced Chris and Dustin to read through the entire thing for your amusement... with Chris as an apparently lesbian Lara Croft. Plus: More news! An ex-studio head indicates Sony is indeed interested in purchasing Square Enix, Rockstar has some players nervous about Grand Theft Auto VI's apparently 'woke' transformation, PS5's timed-exclusive KOTOR remake has been binned, EA is apparently working on a Black Panther game, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Is PlayStation losing its identity under Jim Ryan's stewardship? Could edutainment games ever make a comeback? Should developers nurture 'farm systems' of lesser devs? Are Colin's handwritten notes more sinister than you think? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There can be no doubt, now, that Sony wants to be a major player in the esports space. This was first evidenced by left-field acquisitions like EVO, moving into branding decisions like INZONE. Now, with the purchase of esports tournament operator Repeat, the writing's obviously on the wall. Can PlayStation discover success in the games-as-a-service and competitive spaces, where they've traditionally found little to write home about (outside of Gran Turismo)? Plus: Spider-Man's PC port gets detailed, mega-toy company Spin Master gets in bed with Sony, Bungie and PlayStation are official, and more news, followed by listener questions galore. What would we want to see in a Bloodborne 2? How, exactly, does the publisher-developer relationship function? Is it time to get video games more heavily integrated into our schools? Will Chris dedicate his entire life to a $20,000 Halo 2-related bounty? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

fter a flurry of activity, we find ourselves in a bit of a lull. And frankly, that's good. We could all use a little bit of a rest. Doing so allows us to catch up, refresh, and anticipate what lies behind the next undoubtedly-busy corner. With E3's multi-pronged replacement readying a barrage of announcements and other newsworthy bits, let's clear what's on our plate at present. Firewalk's divisive Concord has been given a (compelling?) price, PSVR2 is receiving its long-rumored PC adapter, WB loses $200 million on Rocksteady's Suicide Squad game, the original Halo is rumored for release on PS5, and much more. Listener inquiries wrap things up, per usual. Does Astro Bot have the potential to be PlayStation's next big IP? Do Chinese games deserve more respect? Why doesn't PlayStation Network allow you to buy digital titles for your friends? Is Colin a psychopath for embracing the 'sock-shoe, sock-shoe' lifestyle? Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro 0:18:57 - Dustin’s baby’s name 0:30:56 - Dusty 0:34:35 - Colin’s Body Pillow 0:40:04 - Ranch 0:42:59 - sock, shoe, sock, shoe 0:49:24 - Slitter’s Return 0:52:50 - Dagan’s IMDB page 0:54:46 - Puff puff 0:58:48 - Tomba: Special Edition dated 1:10:26 - PSVR PC Adapter 1:23:56 - Multiple projects confirmed at Naughty Dog 1:32:55 - Concord price and beta details 1:55:34 - PS5 8K box change 2:10:11 - Is The Last of Us Part 2 PC port done? 2:14:04 - Octopath Traveler is out on PlayStation 2:19:20 - Suicide Squad bombs 2:25:41 - Silent Hill 2 gameplay 2:32:16 - Dragon Age has a new name 2:33:31 - YouTube Leaks 2:34:29 - Amazon’s Yakuza show 2:43:24 - What We’ve Been Playing 3:00:39 - Astro Bot’s potential 3:08:10 - Do we miss E3? 3:15:25 - Game selling regret 3:22:16 - Battle Pass objectives 3:25:02 - Chinese Games 3:29:21 - PSN buying for a friend Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Last of Us: Part I has officially gone gold, interesting news considering it doesn't launch for some seven weeks. Yet, the upcoming PS5 remake's very existence has proven mighty contentious. Some claim it doesn't need to exist at all; many others insist it's a "cash grab" of the highest order. But some folks who worked on the game have come out staunchly in its defense, not only in terms of its sky-high quality, but also in terms of the shockingly-healthy circumstances under which it was made. We try to make sense of the hullabaloo surrounding Naughty Dog's latest before moving onto news surrounding freshly-purchased first party team Haven. A recent extensive interview seems to paint a picture of Haven as both a developer of games and of technologies and workflows, which fits in well with recent acquisitions like Nixxes, Bluepoint, Valkyrie, and even Bungie. After we get through all of that news (and more), we go into listener inquiries, including thoughts on PlayStation Plus' gravitational pull, the current JRPG renaissance we're living through, predictions for first and second party PS5 games in 2023, and one especially strange tale of a man who left a poop stain on a woman's couch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's always fun to receive a letter, unless that letter happens to be very sad. Sony-owned developer Sucker Punch penned one such melancholy note to its audience in recent days, and it relayed sorrowful news indeed: The team isn't working on Infamous or Sly Cooper games now, they won't be in the foreseeable future, and -- perhaps most surprising -- no other studio is, either. Is the abandonment of Sucker Punch's history... well... a sucker punch of its own? We discuss. Plus: God of War: Ragnarok finally gets a release date, Forspoken is delayed into 2023, Rockstar abandons plans for a Grand Theft Auto IV remaster, and more news. Then: Listener inquiries! What are our expectations for Dragon Quest XII? Is there a future for digital game rentals? Will we ever 'retire' from playing games? Why does Colin hate phone calls so damn much? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's a relatively slow week in the world of PlayStation, but there are still matters to discuss. Yes: We're all curious about when God of War: Ragnarok's release date will be revealed, and we have some things to say about this strange new line of Sony electronics under the INZONE brand. But really, we'd rather get into the weeds with smaller stories and lots of listener inquiries. Topics range from Horizon's TV debut and the potential of Persona live-action media to the return of Star Ocean and Final Fantasy XVI's British-style English. Speaking of Final Fantasy XVI, we also get into just what's happening with Square Enix and its relationship with PlayStation. Is Sony courting the publisher, particularly with so much money heaped at it for timed exclusivity and marketing? Plus: Do we care about speedruns? Are live service games ruining our gaming cadences? Should Sony have allowed its studios to speak out on Roe vs. Wade? All of that and more on the other side of the play button. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The news can be painful sometimes, and, well... get the medicine. It appears Activision, in its infinite wisdom, halted its developer Vicarious Visions (now Blizzard Albany) from remaking PlayStation 2-native titles Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 and 4 in a similar fashion it remade the PSone THPS games for PS4 in 2020. This leaves us crestfallen, wondering why such a money-hungry entity would leave such obvious cash on the table. We also get into copious news surrounding Final Fantasy XVI, DICE's stubbornness when it comes to Battlefield 2042, Creative Assembly's questionable FPS HYENAS, John Garvin's new Web3 game, various PlayStation Plus updates, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Are we being too harsh on The Last of Us: Part I? What's our gut tell us about God of War: Ragnarok's release date and review scores? Why do Xbox fans seem particularly agitated at us? Will Chris create the most successful OnlyFans in history? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is a week tailor-made for Final Fantasy fans, particularly on the back of Final Fantasy XVI's re-reveal. That's because... well... wait! There's more! During a brief live stream celebrating Final Fantasy VII's 25th anniversary, publisher-slash-developer Square Enix made two big announcements: The 2007 PSP Final Fantasy VII prequel Crisis Core is coming to PS4 and PS5, and the second part of the now-confirmed-three part Final Fantasy VII Remake launches the following winter, only on PlayStation 5. Thus, we have much to digest in the land of role-playing. This jam-packed episode has much more to work over, too, including the leak of an in-production, high-end Elite-style controller for PS5, the long-in-coming confirmation of Dragon's Dogma 2, reliable information concerning God of War: Ragnarok's release month, the arrival of Persona 3 and 4 on PS4, and so on and so forth. Then: Listener inquiries. What game dev jobs would Chris and Dustin want to undertake? Is the audience being too hard on The Last of Us: Part I? Could the incoming economic recession have a negative effect on the games industry? Will Dustin bend the knee and finally kiss Jim Ryan's ring? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joel and Ellie are set to return to PlayStation, and a lot sooner than you might think. The long-rumored The Last of Us: Part I is real -- it's a ground-up remake of the 2013 PS3 original, slated for PS5 and later PC -- and it comes out in just a few months. But that's not all: Naughty Dog has also opened-up about not only its upcoming TLoU multiplayer game, which it describes as their biggest game yet, but even hint at a PlayStation 5 project beyond that. This means we've much to talk about when it comes to Sony's crown jewel team. But there's a lot more news than just that. There's conflicting word about the release status of God of War: Ragnarok, with some claiming it's been pushed to 2023 while others state it's simply not so. Meanwhile, PlayStation 5 has surpassed 20 million units, with Sony both severely supply-constrained and without any truly meaningful exclusive launches to date. Plus: Street Fighter 6's roster leaks, Bend is working on a multiplayer game, Overdose may be Hideo Kojima's next game, and more. Then: Listener inquires! Is Snowrunner a low-key Chris game? What kind of 'value' would Sony have to add to get us to subscribe to higher tiers of PlayStation Plus? Does Colin hate too much on the PlayStation 3 XMB? Who would win in a fight: Knack or a hundred Sackboys? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's good to keep your expectations low. That way, surprises could be around every corner. With the PlayStation ecosystem so vacant in recent months, it's clear that Sony and its many partners have a lot to say. It's just that we didn't think a State of Play presentation that Sony seemed to actively and repeatedly lower expectations for would be the venue. Well, consider us surprised, indeed! During a tight 30 minute showcase, we got to see 15 different games (including three from first party), spanning PS4, PS5, and PSVR2. Horizon: Call of the Mountain looks great, and -- believe it or not -- 2018's Spider-Man is PC-bound, where it looks to add to its and Miles Morales' stunning 33 million copies sold. Resident Evil 4 Remake is real (and it's glorious), Stray finally has a release date (and will be a 'free' title for PS+ Premium and Deluxe), Callisto Protocol wears its Dead Space inspiration on its sleeve (and preempts Dead Space Remake on the calendar), and Final Fantasy XVI -- due out in Summer 2023! -- looks incredible. We have a lot to gush about. There's other news this week, too, which makes this episode officially jam-packed. Dragon Age's return draws near, Killzone may be en route to PSVR2, Sonic Frontiers looks questionable, and more. Plus: Listener inquiries! Are we being too hard on Forspoken? Why, exactly, does Colin hate multiplayer gaming? Can print strategy guides ever experience a resurgence? Has Dustin underestimated the selling power of the Slitterhead Shuffle? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When PlayStation 4 Pro launched in 2016, it was fairly divisive. Why did we need two iterations of the same console? Isn't it a waste of money? Wouldn't developers have more work to do? It all ended up being needless worry, and so it should come as no surprise that -- if indications are correct -- PlayStation 5 Pro is en route for 2023 or 2024. What's the potential of the machine? Do we even need it? And how will potential consumers respond to a higher-end console when they can't even find the base version? We discuss. This news-thick episode also touches on lots of other issues, from God of War: Ragnarok's release date and Death Stranding 2's seeming leak, to lots of PlayStation Plus drama and new nuggets about PlayStation's PC and acquisitions strategies. Our lengthy podcast ends, as always, with listener inquiries. Why do people insist on scapegoating video games for societal violence? Will Square Enix ever re-package and re-release the Final Fantasy XIII trilogy? Can The Callisto Protocol earn the survival horror crown? Did one listener's car accident bring a deer within striking distance of this very podcast?! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the coming weeks, the all-new PlayStation Plus will begin rolling out, and we've finally learned more about what we can expect, especially when it comes to games. First and second party are well-represented across PSone, PS2, PS3, and PSP, and of course PS4 and PS5 will have plenty of fodder for you, too. And yes: PSone games can have Trophies! Apart from talking deeply about PS+ and its evolution, however, we also get into other news. Rumors indicate The Last of Us Remake -- still unannounced! -- might be PlayStation 5-bound sooner than we thought, while Final Fantasy VII Remake: Part II and Final Fantasy XVI may also receive much-desired updates. Oh, and even more Silent Hill rumors, if you can stomach them. Then: Listener inquiries! Are the Mafia games overrated? What's with the paranoia surrounding Naughty Dog's output? Will we predict the next 'water cooler' game? Can Chris and Dustin steer the ship while Colin goes to take a call? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sony's annual financial report brings with it good news for the brand. PlayStation, as usual, is the most important vertical in its corporate family in Japan, pulling in the most revenue and raking in the highest profit (even more than Sony Pictures, currently in a renaissance of its own). Yet, with PlayStation 5 doing well, Sony has a serious issue: It still can't manufacture enough PS5s to satiate demand. Not even close, in fact. Such a situation isn't only allowing its competitor to catch up; it's also creating doubt regarding if they can even fix the problem at all. Yet, they're hoping to right the ship over the next year, where they essentially intend to double their sales. Will they succeed? Only time will tell. Elsewhere in the industry, Electronic Arts has pulled the plug on its 30-year FIFA franchise, opting -- as rumors indicated -- to go it alone. But FIFA is ready to fight back, and with eFootball in the mix, too, things should get quite interesting in the soccer space in the years to come. Plus: Elden Ring sells huge, Gotham Knights is cancelled on PS4, Outriders was a financial dud, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Should cloud saving be free? When should Sony have a games showcase? What ever happened to Army of Two? Will Colin sell Last Stand Media to the communists? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

During Sony's fiscal recent reporting, the company promised that it would further outline its respective situations and plans with each of its internal silos. When it comes to PlayStation, the result was an informative, information-rich PDF and an earnings call-like presentation that gives us a lot of extra insight into the brand. Here's what's clear: PlayStation is economically vibrant, growing, and reaching more than a hundred million people each month. Its generational revenue and profits are at all-time highs. People are spending more on the console than ever, purchasing more content, engaging with more products, and hanging around longer than ever. So, uh... maybe all of that chatter of an industry-wide console decline was a little premature? Sony (and Nintendo) is doing much better than just fine. Other news this week includes details on all 14 games shown during Sony's State of Play stream, including our first look at first party products like Firewalk's Concord and Asobi's all-new AstroBot game, rumors of the next Doom coming to PS5 day-and-date, the mystery behind Dragon Warrior III HD's long-time disappearance and recent return, controversy surrounding the misquoting of Neil Druckmann by Sony's own PR, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! When we say an executive has a fiduciary obligation, what do we mean? Should Sony be worried about Call of Duty going to Xbox Game Pass day one? Why is Activision being sued by the Uvalde shooting parents? Does Colin have any advice for a new Boston Terrier owner? Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro 0:18:09 - Texas Tornado 0:22:23 - Boston Terrier advice 0:26:02 - Listening in the shower 0:38:16 - Two rapid questions 0:49:31 - New Doom on PS5 1:11:53 - PSVR2 PC adapter 1:21:50 - Neil Druckmann misquoted 1:45:43 - Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 announced 1:50:48 - Dragon Quest III HD update 1:57:28 - Dragon's Dogma 2 sells three million 1:59:14 - What are we playing? 2:34:27 - State of Play 3:21:54 - Sony investors meeting 4:09:34 - Days of Play 2024 4:21:07 - Resident Evil rumors 4:31:00 - Circana's April data 4:39:21 - JRPG lingo ranking 4:43:55 - Rebuilding a lost collection 4:51:30 - Will people switch to Xbox for COD on Gamepass? 4:59:54 - What are fiduciary obligations? 5:01:36 - Class Action lawsuit against games 5:14:35 - Was Destiny successful? Get a free gift with your Journey Pack at https://www.tryfum.com/sacred and use code SACRED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Embracer Group's appetite for developers cannot be satiated. The never-ending expansion of what is rapidly becoming gaming's largest publishing entity has gobbled up three more studios from rival Square Enix (as well as a bunch of IP) for cash money. Does this say anything about Embracer? Probably not. It seems like they'll buy just about anything, and $300 million is a small price to pay for more than 1,000 heads and 50 licenses, including Tomb Raider. This deal does, however, say something about Square Enix. Potentially many things, in fact. Refocused on western second party relationships and Japanese internal development, some think Square Enix is trimming the fat to be purchased itself. But does that make sense? We discuss this deal extensively. Other news this week include rumblings of a takeover at Ubisoft, the leak of some of PlayStation Plus' upcoming retro games, the surprising lawsuit that potentially puts Yuji Naka's epic failure Balan Wonderworld in context, and more. As always, we touch on plenty of listener inquiries too, including ones about Reggie Fils-Aime, a potential sequel to Death Stranding, the likelihood a Punisher game might someday appear, and so on. We're back in the saddle after a very successful 200th episode, and we hope you enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's a celebration! Our PlayStation podcast-that-could has reached its 200th week of existence, which of course means its 200th core episode is here. To commemorate this auspicious occasion, we decided to do thing proper-like, renting out a famous theater in Richmond, Virginia entertainers much more talented than us typically play, and recording live in front of 400+ fans. The topic? PlayStation 4's 25 best games -- ranked! -- based on a combination of our individual lists, as well as the audience's. The results are going to be controversial, of course, but we were wise enough to mathematically split things up in such a way that you have yourselves to blame just as much as us. Such is the way of life with Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast. Thank you for your support. Here's to the next 200. (While this episode can be enjoyed as an audio experience, it is meant to be viewed. We hope that, if given the choice, you will watch Sacred 200 as opposed to listen to it. But how you proceed is up to you.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Where is Kratos? Belief that we'd see God of War: Ragnarok by now has left us dismayed, particularly in light of a rather odd video from Santa Monica Studio that gives us little information about a game originally slated to launch in 2021. But without a release date (outside of year) and no confirmation it's even incoming by year's end (except for from a random Tweet from a dev), PlayStation fans are left wondering if their faith in getting something timely from Santa Monica Studio was ill-founded. Other news this week includes the return of Amy Hennig to the Star Wars universe, endless rumors about a new Uncharted game and The Last of Us' remake, the arrival of the NFL on PSVR, the increasing perils of in-game advertising, and more. We wrap up with listener questions galore, as usual, including inquiries on what Netflix's fall in fortune means for gaming subscription services, circumventing old-school punishment with save states, the bad design around level caps, and so much more. Would we do it with an alien? We talk about that, too. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The recent 20th anniversary celebration for Kingdom Hearts came with a major surprise: The announcement of Kingdom Hearts IV. While leaked in unintentional (and obviously completely accurate) GeForce documents last year, the new Square Enix-Disney collaboration is the talk of the industry, and obviously, we dedicate plenty of time to it. We also touch on the week's other news, including Ghost of Tsushima's film project procuring its writer, CD Projekt taking the Witcher III PS5 port from Saber Interactive due to their Russian ties, PlayStation's fresh investment into Epic, Bungie's dedication to work-from-home, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! What's the most-aesthetically pleasing PlayStation console? Why hasn't Star Trek made the jump to AAA games? Are we reaching a breaking point when comparing physical and digital game prices? How young can we indoctrinate children to ensure they become Sacred Symbols superfans? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The studio behind Alan Wake, Remedy, has certainly come into its own in recent years, particularly on the back of its surprise-hit third-person shooter Control. Now, they've decided to go back to the near-beginning, remaking both the original Max Payne and its sequel on behalf of publisher Rockstar. Thing is, this spreads the team to at least five projects helmed by four publishers, so a big question needs to be asked: Is Remedy overextending itself, particularly on the back of its ill-received supplement to Crossfire X? We discuss. Then: A new Tomb Raider is PS5-bound, and is being built on Unreal Engine 5, Capcom raises salaries across the company by an average of 30%, SNK is officially owned by a murderer, and more. Plus: Listener inquiries galore. How are we going to take advantage of the upcoming slow release schedule? Is IGN's poor freelance pay indicative of a wider industry trend? Are fighting games perfect for the free-to-play model? Will Chris and Colin ever settle their bad blood over the quality (or lack thereof) of Home Improvement? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As long-rumored, PlayStation Plus is receiving its first major refresh since the subscription service launched in 2010. Beginning in June, the PS+ will split into three, with its base form being the PS+ we're all familiar with. Atop that will be two more tiers, however, giving players access to hundreds of PSone, PS2, PS3, and PSP games, and more. But there are, of course, many catches. We spend a great deal of time delving into the ins-and-outs of PlayStation Plus Essential, Extra, and Premium, and deliver the rest of the week's news, too, including information on April's free PS+ games, details surrounding a possible Knack revival, Gran Turismo 7's ongoing microtransaction saga, Firesprites trio of in-development games, and more. We also focus-in on our experiences with Ghostwire: Tokyo on PS5, which we like a lot. Then: Listener inquiries! Has Elden Ring permanently altered players' expectations for open worlds? How useful are spoilercasts to our audience? What license should get the Hogwarts Legacy treatment? Can we help one listener find love at work? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In recent years, Sony's first party family has grown mightily, with sensical additions like Housemarque, Insomniac, Bluepoint, and others filling obvious roles. That's why the outright purchase of fledgling, game-less second party partner Haven is a little confusing. Yet, through the lens of the modern industry -- which is crunched by worker shortages, high budgets, and even higher expectations -- perhaps this acquisition can be justified from personnel, creative, and even geographic perspectives. Either way, let's welcome Haven to the family with a candid discussion about what Sony's turn in strategy may mean. Plus: Gran Turismo 7 is a complete mess, The Witcher IV has been officially acknowledged, Rocksteady's Suicide Squad game has been delayed, NFL football is coming to PSVR, and much more. Then: Listener inquiries! Do we believe in the 'metaverse'? Are we tired of crafting systems? Does Hogwarts Legacy have any chance of being treated fairly by the media? What happens to Sacred Symbols when Colin dies? All of this (and more!) on the other side of play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After much waiting, we've finally been treated to a deep-dive into Hogwarts Legacy, the controversial Harry Potter-aligned game slated to launch on PS4 and PS5 later this year. Developed by one-time Disney outfit Avalanche, Hogwarts Legacy is -- in a word -- ambitious. Like, really ambitious. And it looks awesome. So let's discuss. Plus: News! The very Supermassive-2K title we told you was coming on this show a month or two ago, The Quarry, has been announced, while FromSoft's Elden Ring is absolutely obliterating the sales chart. Konami keeps hinting at Silent Hill's comeback, while Dead Space Remake gets a release window, Moss 2 is right around the corner on PSVR, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Is the in-process failure of Microsoft's studio The Initiative a sign of Xbox's inability to manage their teams? Is Square Enix's Tetsuya Nomura overrated? How do we find the recent GTA-related rumors about where the new game may take place? Are we going to institute a No Fly Zone over the Keebler Elves' forest? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

God of War is a big PlayStation franchise, and word is it's about to make the leap to the small screen. As in, a TV show, apparently on Amazon Prime, led by the same minds that helped The Expanse and The Wheel of Time make the leap from page to moving image. But can God of War actually work as a serial? We discuss. Plus: Gaming news galore! Returnal is getting free DLC that adds co-op and an endless mode, while Capcom unveiled a Dino Crisis-like game called Exoprimal that's... well... primed to delight. Square Enix revealed PlayStation console-exclusive action-RPG Valkyrie Elysium, as well, along with a RTS called DioField Chronicles and an unfortunate delay for Luminous' upcoming PlayStation 5 console-exclusive Forspoken. Oh, and did you know there's a TMNT 8/16-bit collection en route? There is! We end every episode of Sacred Symbols with listener inquiries, as you know, and this episode is no different. Should Sony's approach with State of Play be rethought? What in God's name was Platinum thinking with Babylon's Fall? Will PlayStation fail to survive the next decade? Why is Colin eating ramen for dessert? All of that -- and much more -- on the other side of play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The eyes of the world are on Eastern Europe, where the Russian invasion of Ukraine has unsettled the post-World War II order. Perhaps not surprisingly, external forces in the west are bringing their economic might to bear to help halt the senseless violence. While Ukrainian politicians ask the gaming industry to do more, some have already started to do what they can. EA, for instance, has removed the Russian national teams and associated clubs from their FIFA and NHL games, while developers like CD Projekt have halted game sales in Russia, full-stop. Is this the right answer? Will it do any good? Or is the industry contributing to the demonization of a society that doesn't support its government and didn't ask for these actions? We discuss. Plus: Ghostwire gets a visual novel prequel, Twisted Metal's TV show is greenlit by Peacock, Trails From Zero receives a western release date, Capcom's renaissance continues unabated, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Is PlayStation 5 officially a must-buy? With Infamous and Sly Cooper rumors circulating, which teams would be appropriate to tackle both? What's Epic's intent in buying Bandcamp? Should the boys go to a fan's wedding? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We talk about 'first parties' and 'third parties' all the time, and we all fundamentally understand the terms. But what about the mysterious 'second party' game? Where do those fit in? Well, PS5 has recently been the recipient of two key second party exclusives -- Arrowhead's Helldivers 2 and Shift Up's Stellar Blade -- and both have been wildly successful, surpassing the respective expectations surrounding each product. In years past with different studios (think Naughty Dog, Guerrilla, Sucker Punch, Insomniac, Housemarque, and others), this level of accomplishment in the second party (where publishers own the game and/or its publishing rights, but not the team making it) often meant acquisition. But things seem awfully different now. There's no doubt Sony's interested in Arrowhead and Shift Up, but is it mutual? Other news includes hints surrounding PlayStation's bubbling mobile initiative, Ghost of Tsushima's amazing performance on PC, Death Stranding 2 entering its final phases of development, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Why are we so obsessed with PlayStation 3 games coming to PS4 and PS5? Have we ever kept a journal to chronicle our experience with a game? With LEGO Horizon rumors amok, what other Sony IP would make sense in that aesthetic? Has Dishwasher Gate officially broken the collective spirit of the Last Stand community? Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro 0:29:32 - Last week's unhinged start 0:42:42 - Sacred encouragement 0:45:28 - Southern man epidemic 0:50:15 - "I don't know" 0:59:39 - The Division 3 is coming 1:00:33 - Financial reporting correction 1:02:09 - Trophy completion data 1:05:26 - Where is the time to play games? 1:10:03 - Goodbye London Studio 1:16:10 - Death Stranding releasing in 2025 1:21:52 - Ghost of Tsushima is PlayStation biggest single player PC launch 1:32:27 - Strauss Zelnick is confident in GTA6's release date 1:41:38 - IGN buys everyone 1:55:57 - Rolling Stone revives its gaming coverage with Saudi money 2:15:00 - What we’ve been playing 3:06:28 - Changes at Arrowhead 3:26:11 - Shift Up's future plans 3:39:00 - PlayStation mobile job listings 3:48:50 - Why do we want PS3 emulation? 3:59:28 - Trophy addiction 4:07:15 - Video game journaling 4:12:13 - Dualsense Edging 4:18:22 - Other Lego PlayStation games 4:22:17 - Exclusives shouldn't exist? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's been five years since Horizon: Zero Dawn launched, and finally, we have its sequel. Forbidden West has arrived on PS5 and PS4, and it's awesome. We have a lot to say about it, so we dedicate over an hour to talking about Guerrilla's new open-world action-RPG in spoiler-free terms. But of course, we can't ignore the news. Fresh Project Spartacus rumors suggest a three-tiered subscription that will include hundreds of digital games, classic access, and more. Yet, the upcoming day-and-date release of Shadow Warrior 3 on PlayStation Now seems to conflict with potential timing. What gives? After that, we get into rumors about Call of Duty's new release schedule, the unexpected success of the Uncharted film, Electronic Arts' daring move away from the FIFA brand, Street Fighter 6's underwhelming reveal, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Were David Jaffe's recent comments truly unsavory, or just taken out of context? Why doesn't the games press care more about Japanese RPGs? Can a dying studio ever truly recover its lost reputation? Will Colin ever be able to escape the shadowy specter of Sonic the Hedgehog? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It seems like PlayStation has taken some body blows recently, but stark reality paints a different picture. Sales data shows PlayStation 5 is steadily outselling Xbox Series X|S, while games like the original Horizon and Miles Morales are doing Nintendo first party-level numbers, something its primary competition could only dream of. Heck, with Cyberpunk 2077 sneakily arriving on PlayStation 5 in the shadow of Horizon: Forbidden West's launch, there's much to be excited about. Of course, it isn't all good news. Sony second-party partner Haven has already lost its COO and co-founder -- a bad sign, indeed -- while PlayStation seems to be unnecessarily screwing around with cross-gen pricing. And what's up with Platinum Games' recent desperation and the censoring of horror game Martha Is Dead? We discuss. We then end, as we usually do, with a smattering of listener inquiries. Does the upcoming closure of Wii U's and 3DS' digital storefronts portend bad things for PS3 and Vita? Is Sony Pictures on the verge of taking full advantage of the Destiny IP? What's with all the anti-"gamer" hate in the industry? Will Chris ever return to New York? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Microsoft's pending purchase of Activision has turned the industry upside down for weeks, but now we're not so sure it deserves too much worry, at least not for the PlayStation fanbase. In anticipation of regulatory concerns, Microsoft has explicitly and repeatedly ensured that PlayStation (and Nintendo?!) will receive plenty of Activision-Blizzard games well after already-inked deals have lapsed. In other words: Call of Duty, Diablo, Overwatch, and the like will be on PlayStation forevermore, with new IP likely to forego Sony's platforms. We discuss. Then: Rockstar finally acknowledges Grand Theft Auto VI (or whatever it'll be called), we're grateful to learn more about Haven and their mysterious PlayStation 5 project (though not very much), Chrono Cross is coming to PlayStation 4 in a brand-new edition, Platinum Games' new direction may spell trouble, and more. Plus: Listener inquiries! What do we think of FromSoftware's pre-Demon's Souls output? Should Sony make a move for the Lord of the Rings games license? What should Bungie make when it's done with Destiny 2? Is Colin secretly illiterate? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When it comes to mergers and acquisitions, it appears Sony is willing to play along: It's $3.6 billion acquisition of Bungie is proof. Thing is, this marriage is a bit different for the brand. Bungie will remain outside of PlayStation Studios' publishing hierarchy and remain both independent and multiplatform. However, Sony isn't done yet. Far from it. It's as ominous as it sounds, and we dedicate plenty of time to get all of our thoughts out. Then: Other news! Sony has released fresh financials indicating a very healthy company, but one severely supply-constrained and unable to meet demand, MLB: The Show 22 has a release date on PS4 and PS5, Ghostwire: Tokyo is coming way sooner than you may have thought, Yacht Club's newest game is a Zelda-inspired romp, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Will we ever see Destiny 3? Could Fat Princess ever return? Are games becoming too ideological? Where's Dustin getting all of his recent bravado? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Disney couldn't care less whether or not you want more Star Wars, because you are, nevertheless, getting more. In our realm, three new Star Wars games have been revealed -- one we kinda knew about, two we certainly didn't -- but what makes things interesting is that they're all coming from the same source: EA-owned Respawn, the team behind Titanfall and Apex Legends. What's with this massive investment into Star Wars? Do we really, honest-to-god need more of this series? We discuss. Plus: Horizon 2 is gold, as is Elden Ring, Call of Duty will remain on PlayStation through at least 2023, PlayStation Plus' February offerings leave much to be desired, Sony invests even more into first and second party teams, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Is it the right time to revive MotorStorm? Will Spartacus ultimately disappoint us? How do analysts draw their sales conclusions? Will you join us in Richmond, Virginia for Episode 200 live?! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Microsoft -- as it's wont to do -- just went and spent a bunch of money on a publisher. But this is no ordinary publisher or forgettable amount of money: By buying Activision-Blizzard for a record $68.7 billion, Xbox now controls some of the industry's most vital IP and studios, including the king of them all, Call of Duty, and its constellation of developers, including Infinity Ward and Treyarch. Yet, Microsoft's bullish move will likely set off an even-further damaging series of mergers and acquisitions that remove risk for certainty and eliminates creativity for volume. It amounts to a very stupid arms race that everyone else will be compelled to compete in, whether they want to or not, and there's only one entity to blame. Then: Release dates for Ghostwire Tokyo, LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, and WWE 2K22 have emerged, God of War does big numbers on PC, Sony renews trademarks related to defunct first party team Psygnosis, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! What's our temperature on Horizon: Forbidden West less than a month away from launch? Are we not keeping an open enough mind when it comes to the possibilities of gaming NFTs? Will Sony botch the little things that could make Project Spartacus shine? Is David Jaffe more attractive than Colin Moriarty? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First party rumors are growing. With a Twisted Metal revival unannounced (but very much in-development) comes word that it's now an internal project under the control of Firesprite. Meanwhile, the candor ex-Bend Studio leads displayed in a conversation with David Jaffe continue to reverberate, bringing to light the possibility of a Resistance revival, or something new in the world of Syphon Filter. Meanwhile, word out of the UK is that PlayStation Now cards will stop being sold in physical stores, a near-certain sign that Sony's GamePass competitor is nearing. There's more news to discuss, too, including Dying Light 2's hour-count misstep, the continuing manufacture of PlayStation 4, tantalizing details surrounding a possible Armored Core revival, and indications that a second Quantic Dream game may be in development. We then interrupt tradition by forgoing our mailbag-centric ending for something grander: Our Game of the Year awards. We each pick our top three games of 2021, and give away five random awards, as well. So hit play! There's much to discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week's episode of Sacred Symbols is full of acronym soup. Let's start with the biggest news: PSVR2. While Sony revealed PlayStation VR's successor last year, we finally have new information, though -- frustratingly -- we still lack a release date or price. Along with fresh PSVR2 details comes a new game, too, something from the first party. It's called Horizon: Call of the Mountain, and we're eager to talk about it. Then: NFTs. Japanese publishers Square Enix and Konami are the latest to signal their intentions to enter the goofy world of the non-fungible token. What does it all mean for we gamers? We discuss. And how about TLoU? That stands for The Last of Us, of course, and compelling new rumors indicate a ground-up PS5 remake of the classic PS3 game is near. Plus: New details surrounding God of War: Ragnarok's release date, sales data for both Ghost of Tsushima and Days Gone, a delayed reveal for Final Fantasy XVI, Tencent's further expansion, and more, all capping off with listener inquiries. Are we underestimating Tom Holland's value to Sony? What's the deal with silent protagonists? Which 2022 release has the potential to be most disappointing? Is it okay to use your hand instead of a tissue when blowing your nose? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's time for us to gather 'round the digital fire and talk about what's to come. We -- the three Sacred Symbols Boys -- each selected five games, confirmed for 2022 release on PlayStation 4 and/or PlayStation 5, that we're most excited to get our hands on. We round out our choices with your own, of course, giving us more than two dozen exciting titles to opine about as we wait for them to arrive in the next calendar year. The only thing we can hope for, then, is that delays are minimal... or perhaps even non-existent! But perhaps that's wishful thinking... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The last 12 months have been contentious in the real world, and here in our digital escape, you could say that things have been equally rocky, albeit for wildly different reasons. While perhaps not the strongest year for new releases, 2021 still easily contends as one of the most interesting years in recent memory when it comes to the gaming industry itself, and PlayStation in particular. From PSVR2's promise and Sony going all-in on PC gaming to the sudden ending (and equally-sudden revival) of PS3's and Vita's storefronts and the mystery surrounding Blue Box, we have much to remember. And then there's the madness in the third party realm, from the major GeForce leak and troubling activity at Activision to GTA's disastrous reemergence and the reappearance of Six Days in Fallujah. We've much to talk about, so hit play and let's get to it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jim Ryan's tenure leading PlayStation is officially over (as is Hiroki Totoki's stewardship), and he'll be replaced by a co-CEO format moving forward. Sony veterans Hermen Hulst and Hideaki Nashino hope to divide and conquer, turning an ever-growing brand -- and Sony's flagship -- into an efficient gaming powerhouse. But can they deliver? Good question. We discuss. Other news this week revolves around Sony's jam-packed fiscal year financials, Square Enix's abandonment of their by-platform strategy, release dates and timing for the likes of Grand Theft Auto VI, Assassin's Creed: Shadows, and EA NCAA Football 25, a rumored LEGO Horizon game, the cancellation of The Division: Heartland, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Could Helldivers be turned into a mockumentary-style TV show? Would Sony consider stepping in to save Tango Gameworks? Are Chris and Dustin excited about Destiny 2's upcoming The Final Shape expansion? Will we ever stop unintentionally convincing audience members to get divorced? Get a free gift with your journey pack at https://www.tryfum.com/sacred and use code SACRED This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/symbols to get on your way to being your best self Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro 0:32:19 - Happy Birthday Ethan 0:34:00 - Vampire Robot YouTube channel 0:44:52 - Sacred ending marriages 0:49:37 - Mid Year review 0:52:52 - The next generation of Kingdom Hearts fans 0:58:20 - Sony capitulating 1:00:33 - No new Sony games this year 1:02:07 - The Last of Us Season 2 First look 1:06:15 - Bungie's CTO joins PlayStation 1:11:41 - LEGO Horizon? 1:25:53 - Ghost of Tsushima's PC port Legends mode crossplay is in beta 1:35:25 - Ragnarok rumored to be the next PC port 1:46:17 - Xbox's initiative to bring more games to PlayStation 2:03:22 - PS2 games coming to PS5 2:11:08 - Ubisoft cancels The Division: Heartland 2:25:30 - Adult Swim games reverting ownership to devs 2:27:23 - Tomb Raider TV series coming to Amazon 2:34:28 - What We’re Playing 3:11:45 - GTA VI is launching Fall 2025 3:14:40 - PlayStation has announced two new CEOs 3:29:12 - Sony earnings report 3:50:01 - Square Enix's shift to 3rd party 4:08:49 - Assassin's Creed: Shadows announced 4:26:42 - New PS Plus Games Catalog titles 4:29:38 - Helldivers TV adaptation pitch 4:34:05 - LSM Showcase live reaction? 4:40:23 - Could Sony scoop up what remains of Tango? 4:42:46 - Final Shape gut check 4:46:41 - RNG woes 4:52:38 - Uncharted 5 tease Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What's that there? In the dark? That familiar setup can only mean one thing: Splinter Cell is returning. In the form of a remake of the 2002 original, in fact. Questions remain, however. Is Ubisoft Toronto the studio that should be undertaking this project? Should a Splinter Cell remake be undertaken at all? We discuss. Even more Chris-centric news occurred this week, too, as rumors of Bully 2 from Rockstar persist, while Sony quietly made a first party purchase in the form of Valkyrie Entertainment, though it's nothing to be over-the-moon about. Also: Babylon's Fall gets a release date, all indications are Persona 3 is getting a current-gen console release, new DualSense (and console) colors arrive for PlayStation 5, and more. Then: Listener questions! What's a good way for a non-creative to work in the gaming industry? Is the use of the word 'biome' out of control? Are we making too much out of upgrade pricing? Has Colin become a communist? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have the Game Awards officially lost their charm? For as likable as Geoff Keighley is, this year's offering was a gratuitously advertisorial affair, and we simply have to call it like it is. What's the purpose of holding an audience captive for three hours, only to bombard them with commercial after commercial... other than bean-counting, of course? Still, through it all, it was still cool to see Quantic Dream's Star Wars: Eclipse, hear about Monolith's Wonder Woman game, get an official reveal of Alan Wake II, receive a release date for PS5 console-exclusive Forspoken, and more. Plus, there's everything else we need to talk about unrelated to the gala. Uncharted 4 and Lost Legacy finally have a release date on PS5, but buying them may be a more complicated situation than you may have anticipated, while a new Bill has been cast in HBO's The Last of Us, and it may not be who you expect. Plus: Ubisoft launches an NFT program, GTA Online gets story DLC, Activision-Blizzard continues to play with fire, and more. Then: Listener questions, ranging on issues like the use of social media in the industry, the advantages and disadvantages of using fake languages in fiction, the endless potential of a LEGO PlayStation game, and the fact that Chris accidentally outed Santa as being fake to a listener's kid. C'est la vie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is a big episode of Sacred Symbols, so big that we've done the unprecedented: We've gone back and edited a half-day old podcast to incorporate some smashing news: Sony is indeed planning a rival to Xbox's Game Pass. It's codenamed Spartacus, and details are scarce, but we've obviously got to discuss what we know so far. Likewise, we have brand-new information about the upcoming BioShock game to chat about, including the 'anatomy' of how such a story is chased in the first place, and why rumors and speculation sometimes falls incomplete. Anyway, you'll want to bring your jacket. Plus: Battlefield has a new future, Godfall on PlayStation Plus is an insult, Dying Light 2 is gold, and more. Then: Are award shows (and awarded products) becoming too homogenized? What game mechanics truly shined in 2021? Will auteurs come to rule the industry landscape? Will Dustin ever appreciate the complexity and versatility of applesauce? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices