The PC Gaming Weekspot – Details, episodes & analysis

This week, you get the second ever Spotty Awards as we look at our game of the year 2021 (so far) picks, it’s time for the last ever Mystery Steam Reviews, and we’ve got a load of Burning Questions to get through. The PC Gaming Weekspot was the only PC video games podcast you needed in your life if you were looking for some lovely PC gaming news and some wonderful PC gameplay. Thanks for listening and watching.   After countless Xbox Game Pass plugs, a lot of Dooming, and the arrival and subsequent disappearance of Greta Surname, The PC Gaming Weekspot is coming to an end. But, before we go, there's time to highlight some of our favourite games of 2021.   While our very fancy awards show makes up the majority of this final episode, it would be a shame not to include Huw Edwards. This week's Headlines & Hot Takes focuses on all the rumours surrounding some Konami comebacks. Silent Hill, Metal Gear, and Castlevania are all slated to be returning, so we chat about that for a bit. And then we talk about being used... Tech Corner really is a haven for hardware news.   Because we won't be around at year's end, the second ever Spotty Awards has been brought forward a few months. So, listen to us chat about some of our favourites from the last nine or ten months.   This week's Mystery Steam Reviews focuses on video games that were released in 2021. And we round out the show by opening The Weekspot mailbag to answer your Burning Questions on loads of stuff. But it's mainly you lovely listeners and viewers saying nice things.   One final note: if you did happen to listen or watch any episodes of our little podcast, thank you very much. It's been a pleasure to record over the last year. Go raibh maith agat agus slán go fóill.   00:00 Intro 06:46 Information Snacks For Your News Gobs 19:02 Silent Hill, Metal Gear Solid, Castlevania rumours 36:33 Game Of The Year 2021 (The Spotty Awards 2021) 1:13:51 Mystery Steam Reviews 1:35:13 Burning Questions   🌐 Check out our lovely website: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com    📺 Watch the video version of this episode: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/pc-gaming-weekspot-podcast-056-game-of-the-year-2021   🔴 Subscribe to the RPS YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/rockpapershot?sub_confirmation=1   🐦 Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rockpapershot / https://twitter.com/Colm_Ahern / https://twitter.com/mrbasil_pesto   💬 Join the RPS Discord: https://discord.gg/rockpapershotgun   🛒 Buy some RPS merch: https://store.reedpop.com/collections/rock-paper-shotgun Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So, the main point of discussion on this week's podcast is the Outer Wilds: Echoes Of The Eye DLC. Talking about it is tricky, because saying pretty much anything about it feels spoiler-y. Christ, I'm trying to be careful writing this blurb in case I say something that I shouldn't. But, somehow, I think we managed to talk about it, without talking about it. Know what I mean?   We're thankful for the Outer Wilds DLC, because it sure was a quiet news week. There's a bit of chatter on the Deathloop stuttering issues, and whether Titanfall 3 will be a thing or not, but it's all a bit muted until the Donkey Konga bongos are brought up, really.   So, Matthew's put a decent few hours into the Echoes Of The Eye DLC, and as already referenced, is able to tell me what he thought of it without telling me much about the game. In return, I tell him about my time with the very stylish Sable.   This week's Mystery Steam Reviews focuses on video game spinoffs. And we round out the show by opening The Weekspot mailbag to answer your Burning Questions on microtransactions, critically acclaimed games we don’t like, and the best biscuits.   00:00 Intro 07:01 Information Snacks For Your News Gobs 24:48 Outer Wilds: Echoes Of The Eye Review 42:56 Sable Review 52:03 Mystery Steam Reviews 1:12:53 Burning Questions   🌐 Check out our lovely website: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com    📧 Email us your Burning Questions: weekspot@rockpapershotgun.com    📺 Watch the video version of this episode: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/pc-gaming-weekspot-podcast-055-outer-wilds-echoes-of-the-eye    🔴 Subscribe to the RPS YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/rockpapershot?sub_confirmation=1   🐦 Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rockpapershot / https://twitter.com/Colm_Ahern / https://twitter.com/mrbasil_pesto   💬 Join the RPS Discord: https://discord.gg/rockpapershotgun   🛒 Buy some RPS merch: https://store.reedpop.com/collections/rock-paper-shotgun  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I can picture it now: cruising down Vice Point, behind the wheel of a Cheetah, giving off big divorced dad energy as W.A.S.P. bellows from the car stereo. How brilliant would it be to head back to Rockstar's Miami? If you believe what's been said over the past few days, we'll all get the chance to revisit one of video game's great locations in a few years time.   Headline & Hot Takes is full of chat on Grand Theft Auto VI: Vice City. Nothing's set in stone – expect confirmation of what GTA VI actually is somewhere between now and whenever – so listen to this to hear some juicy, totally unfounded speculation. One thing we can be a little more sure on is Assassin's Creed Infinity. Well... we can talk with a little more confidence when it comes to Ubi's live-service stabbing, because we know it's actually happening. But, in truth, we also don't know what that is. Everyone enjoys a bit of conjecture!   For Show and Tell, Matthew's brought King's Bounty 2. While he was expecting something more Witcher-y, he was relatively pleased with it after a limited time with the game. Meanwhile, I played that first-person flinger, Boomerang X. It's a pretty enjoyable, throwaway (and catch again) fun.   This week's Mystery Steam Reviews is all about video games that have one word titles. And we round out the show by opening The Weekspot mailbag to answer your Burning Questions on Bounty bars, the first game we finished, and sounds.   00:00 Intro 02:56 Information Snacks For Your News Gobs 08:11 GTA 6 reportedly set in Vice City and a few years away 23:27 Assassin’s Creed Infinity is apparently launching in 2024 43:21 King’s Bounty 2 gameplay and preview 55:59 Boomerang X gameplay and review 1:03:54 Mystery Steam Reviews 1:21:19 Burning Questions    🌐 Check out our lovely website: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com    📧 Email us your Burning Questions: weekspot@rockpapershotgun.com    📺 Watch the video version of this episode: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/pc-gaming-weekspot-podcast-046-gta-6-vice-city   🔴 Subscribe to the RPS YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/rockpapershot?sub_confirmation=1   🐦 Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rockpapershot / https://twitter.com/Colm_Ahern / https://twitter.com/mrbasil_pesto   💬 Join the RPS Discord: https://discord.gg/rockpapershotgun   🛒 Buy some RPS merch: https://store.reedpop.com/collections/rock-paper-shotgun  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I don't think many were betting on Control getting a co-op spin-off. Some Remedy fans might be a bit put off by the studio focusing on a multiplayer game, but we're a little more positive.   It's more of a Headline & Hot Take this week as we focus the majority of our news chat on the upcoming four-player PvE game. All we've had so far is a bit of concept art for the game that's codenamed Condor, but that doesn't stop us speculating on what we can expect. We also talk about painting during Tech Corner.   Matthew brings one of his most anticipated games of 2021 to Show and Tell, this week, as he's had the chance to play a bit of The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles. It's not the final verdict, but he's liked what he's played so far. And I've played Doki Doki Literature Club Plus over the last seven days, and while it loses a bit of its lustre if you played the original, it is still a quality game.   This week's Mystery Steam Reviews is all about video games that have been adapted for movies. And we round out the show by opening The Weekspot mailbag to answer your Burning Questions on what we wanted to be when we were older, Stadia, and overrated chocolate bars.   00:00 Intro 02:50 Information Snacks For Your News Gobs 08:48 Control co-op spin-off on the way (and Control 2) 26:02 Blue Screen Of Death Is Gonna Become The Black Screen Of Death 30:59 The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles preview 30:59 Doki Doki Literature Club Plus review 59:29 Mystery Steam Reviews 1:19:54 Burning Questions    🌐 Check out our lovely website: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com    📧 Email us your Burning Questions: weekspot@rockpapershotgun.com    📺 Watch the video version of this episode: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/pc-gaming-weekspot-podcast-045-control-co-op   🔴 Subscribe to the RPS YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/rockpapershot?sub_confirmation=1   🐦 Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rockpapershot / https://twitter.com/Colm_Ahern / https://twitter.com/mrbasil_pesto   💬 Join the RPS Discord: https://discord.gg/rockpapershotgun   🛒 Buy some RPS merch: https://store.reedpop.com/collections/rock-paper-shotgun  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After eight years on the shelf, many are saying the smart money is on EA announcing a new Dead Space game at the upcoming EA Play in July. Given the fact that EA have gone back to Mirror's Edge and they're in the process of reviving Skate, it's not a bad shout.   So, obviously enough, this week's Headlines & Hot Takes contains some chatter on whether we'll see a new Dead Space pop up at EA's notE3 event. We also get into our thoughts on what a new Dead Space looks like in 2021. We also discuss the rumblings around WB Games Montreal making a new game (that might be Superman-related). And, of course, we give our in-depth analysis on that Windows 11 livestream during Tech Corner.   Scarlet Nexus gets the once over in Show and Tell. While the combat is really good fun, I wasn't that gone on the story. Meanwhile, Matthew's had a chance to play a bit of Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One. Young Holmes looks very One Direction.   This week's Mystery Steam Reviews is all about video games that explain what you do in their name. And we round out the show by opening The Weekspot mailbag to answer your Burning Questions on whether we cheat, our favourite comedies, and what we do to de-stress.   00:00 Intro 02:50 Information Snacks For Your News Gobs 08:48 New Dead Space rumoured to be revealed at EA Play 2021 21:07 WB Games working on new IP and people want a Superman game 26:02 Windows 11 is real and it’s out at the end of this year 30:59 Scarlet Nexus gameplay and review 46:20 Sherlock Holmes Chapter One gameplay and impressions 59:29 Mystery Steam Reviews 1:19:54 Burning Questions    🌐 Check out our lovely website: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com    📧 Email us your Burning Questions: weekspot@rockpapershotgun.com    📺 Watch the video version of this episode: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/pc-gaming-weekspot-podcast-043-steam-next-fest    🔴 Subscribe to the RPS YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/rockpapershot?sub_confirmation=1   🐦 Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rockpapershot / https://twitter.com/Colm_Ahern / https://twitter.com/mrbasil_pesto   💬 Join the RPS Discord: https://discord.gg/rockpapershotgun   🛒 Buy some RPS merch: https://store.reedpop.com/collections/rock-paper-shotgun Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alright, all the big budget AAA games had their day with E3. Thanks to Steam Next Fest, it's now time to have a look at what indie games we'll be playing in the future. It's not just Sable.   To be fair... we do talk about some of those big budget AAA releases in this week's Headlines & Hot Takes. Now that The Weekspot has someone that's shown a bit of interest in Elden Ring, it'd be a shame not to chat about those interviews Miyazaki did after E3. We also discuss the recent rumours around Everwild and why it wasn't present at Microsoft's big show. And, of course, Tech Corner returns so that we can chat about windows.   But, getting back to what I was saying... THE FUTURE OF INDEPENDENT VIDEO GAMES. Matthew had a look at the Steam Next Fest demos, and came away with a few to stick on the wishlist. So, keep these four on your radar: The Plane Effect, Thief’s Roulette, Grime, and The Rewinder. Meanwhile, I have been splashing paint about the place in the absolutely smashing Chicory: A Colorful Tale.   This week's Mystery Steam Reviews is all about video games that launched out of Steam Early Access. And we round out the show by opening The Weekspot mailbag to answer your Burning Questions on games that terrified us as children, our approach to E3, and rocket cars.    🌐 Check out our lovely website: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com    📧 Email us your Burning Questions: weekspot@rockpapershotgun.com    📺 Watch the video version of this episode: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/pc-gaming-weekspot-podcast-043-steam-next-fest    🔴 Subscribe to the RPS YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/rockpapershot?sub_confirmation=1   🐦 Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rockpapershot / https://twitter.com/Colm_Ahern / https://twitter.com/mrbasil_pesto   💬 Join the RPS Discord: https://discord.gg/rockpapershotgun   🛒 Buy some RPS merch: https://store.reedpop.com/collections/rock-paper-shotgun  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was a weird E3. A lot of video games we already knew about, and more CG trailers than we might like, but there were still some notable announcements and gameplay reveals. While Kevin Hart didn't seem too pleased with his involvement in the festivities, those watching at home had an alright time.   Rather than breakdown every livestream for this week's Headlines & Hot Takes, we've decided to pluck out the things we liked the look of, and have a nice chat about them. The Elden Ring trailer has made a believer out of Matthew, which is something no one was expecting. And even if it went on a little long during Square's chaos-filled showcase, I quite liked the look of Guardians of the Galaxy. We also dedicate some time to that Forza Horizon 5 gameplay, the Redfall announcement, and whether we really need 77 different shows   We've actually played some games, too. Matthew’s brought Overboard to this week’s Show and Tell. He compares it to Hitman, so I know I'll be playing it as soon as possible. One thing I likely won't be playing again is Backbone. That gets the old skip stamp, kids.   This week's Mystery Steam Reviews is all about video games that were announced at past E3 press conferences. And we round out the show by opening The Weekspot mailbag to answer your Burning Questions on podcast games and hugging developers.   🌐 Check out our lovely website: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com    📧 Email us your Burning Questions: weekspot@rockpapershotgun.com    📺 Watch the video version of this episode: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/pc-gaming-weekspot-podcast-042-e3-2021-review   🔴 Subscribe to the RPS YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/rockpapershot?sub_confirmation=1   🐦 Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rockpapershot / https://twitter.com/Colm_Ahern / https://twitter.com/mrbasil_pesto   💬 Join the RPS Discord: https://discord.gg/rockpapershotgun   🛒 Buy some RPS merch: https://teespring.com/en-GB/stores/rockpapershotgun  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yes, it’s that time of the year when everyone speculates wildly about what kind of products companies will peddle to potential customers during livestreams rife with forced banter and lols. E3 is exciting, isn’t it?   We’re only a few days from the beginning of the festivities, so of course E3 2021 dominates this week’s edition of Headlines & Hot Takes. We break down all of the scheduled press conferences / media briefings / snazzy advertisements and what we might see at each of them. Microsoft need to go big with Halo Infinite to wash away the memory of Craig, it’d be lovely to get some gameplay of Starfield, Eidos is apparently set to reveal a Guardians of The Galaxy game: there’s a lot discussed on this week’s show, so get it listened.   This week's Mystery Steam Reviews is all about games set on spaceships, space stations, space bases and all sorts of space buildings. And we round out the show by opening The Weekspot mailbag to answer your Burning Questions on Resident Evil Village’s funniness and the origins of usernames.   🌐 Check out our lovely website: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com    📧 Email us your Burning Questions: weekspot@rockpapershotgun.com    📺 Watch the video version of this episode: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/pc-gaming-weekspot-podcast-041-e3-2021-predictions   🔴 Subscribe to the RPS YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/rockpapershot?sub_confirmation=1   🐦 Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rockpapershot / https://twitter.com/Colm_Ahern / https://twitter.com/mrbasil_pesto   💬 Join the RPS Discord: https://discord.gg/rockpapershotgun   🛒 Buy some RPS merch: https://teespring.com/en-GB/stores/rockpapershotgun  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many have tried to muscle in on the Nintendo-controlled market of video games, but smaller. And, if the rumours are to be believed, Valve are gearing up to be the latest to give it a go.   As we enter E3 season, Headlines & Hot Takes gets beefier and beefier. But, yes, we start off discussing the recent rumblings that there's a Switch-like handheld called Steampal coming from Valve. We also discuss last week's reintroduction of Dying Light 2, during the brilliantly named Dying 2 Know presentation. And we chat a bit about Final Fantasy Origin, the FF spinoff that's supposedly in the works at Team Ninja.   We recorded this a little ahead of time, because of the UK bank holiday, so neither of us had loads of time to play games for Show and Tell. But, I gave Erica – the FMV game that first launched on PlayStation in 2019 – a go, I and wasn't overly impressed. I have a fondness for FMV games, but this one didn't hit the mark. Meanwhile, Matthew played through the beautifully grim point-and-click adventure game Strangeland.   This week's Mystery Steam Reviews is all about games RPS awarded with a Bestest Best. And we round out the show by opening The Weekspot mailbag to answer your Burning Questions on interviewees, rage-quitting and summer plans.   🌐 Check out our lovely website: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com    📧 Email us your Burning Questions: weekspot@rockpapershotgun.com    📺 Watch the video version of this episode: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/pc-gaming-weekspot-podcast-040-steampal   🔴 Subscribe to the RPS YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/rockpapershot?sub_confirmation=1   🐦 Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rockpapershot / https://twitter.com/Colm_Ahern / https://twitter.com/mrbasil_pesto   💬 Join the RPS Discord: https://discord.gg/rockpapershotgun   🛒 Buy some RPS merch: https://teespring.com/en-GB/stores/rockpapershotgun  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I was really looking forward to being a furry little animal in Biomutant. Running around a gorgeous world, shooting and slashing everything that moved sounded like a delightful time. And while it can sometimes be fun, the game often finds a way of bringing everything to a screeching halt, sadly.   But, before we broach the topic of this week’s Big Game, we’ve got some news to talk about in Headlines & Hot Takes. On this episode, the conversation is dominated by Timesplitters. Yes, Timesplitters. Deep Silver are getting the band back together to work on a new entry in the beloved FPS series. We also talk about what Gearbox could be up to, and whether or not it’ll be something wildly different to Borderlands. And, of course, we stop by Tech Corner to chat about the Gamecube.   As already mentioned, Biomutant leads our Show and Tell discussion, this week. It’s been a long time coming, which is maybe why it feels like a more old-fashioned open-world game. Jumping about a very pretty environment, unleashing your Super Wung Fu skills is occasionally enjoyable, but everything around that is a bit of a slog. A game that delivers on its promise – its promise being frivolous fun – is Knockout City. Whether or not it’ll have legs remains to be seen, but it’s worth a go if you have Xbox Game Pass For PC. Meanwhile, Matthew’s been playing the weird and wonderful Mind Scanners.   This week's Mystery Steam Reviews is all about games that are set in Japan. And we round out the show by opening The Weekspot mailbag to answer your Burning Questions on big life decisions, the perfect PC and console hybrid and abandonware.   🌐 Check out our lovely website: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com    📧 Email us your Burning Questions: weekspot@rockpapershotgun.com    📺 Watch the video version of this episode: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/pc-gaming-weekspot-podcast-039-biomutant   🔴 Subscribe to the RPS YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/rockpapershot?sub_confirmation=1   🐦 Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rockpapershot / https://twitter.com/Colm_Ahern / https://twitter.com/mrbasil_pesto   💬 Join the RPS Discord: https://discord.gg/rockpapershotgun   🛒 Buy some RPS merch: https://teespring.com/en-GB/stores/rockpapershotgun  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices