Must Play Games are the rare title you'd encourage anyone to check out. A game that defines its generation, or perhaps even goes past that and could be classified as genre-defining or maybe even an all-timer? These are the sort of labels that Astrobot has garnered over the last week and Sean's been playing it. So he of course has some impressions. Does it live up to that crazy level of hype? Does it deserve all the accolades? Should you go out and buy it for your PlayStation 5 right now? (the answer is yes!)

Sony is all but set to reveal the PS5 Pro at a just-announced Tech presentation headed by Mark Cerny. Will all the rumors come true? Could the PS5 Pro actually be released without a disc drive too?

Plus, Marc's been playing more Star Wars Outlaws and Star Trucker, the PlayStation 2 receives a big honor in Japan, Amazon's Secret Level will still air the Concord episode, Destiny 2 may change its expansion strategy, Ubisoft keeps going in the wrong direction, and more!

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The fall release season is officially upon us as starting from last week up to December there's a steady stream of major video games releasing for everyone to discuss, preview, review, or whatever. Sean and Marc kick off the fall season with impressions of Visions of Mana, the first brand-new game to hit consoles in the series in nearly two decades. How does it stack up? Should you pick it up if you are a Mana fan? Do you have to play the others to play this one? Marc's also been playing Star Wars Outlaws and he has some major thoughts.

Also, the bad news cycle continues for Xbox as another game is being delayed due to issues with the company. Certification issues are causing problems for the developers of Enotria: The Last Song, and thus the Xbox version won't be released at launch until this is resolved. Meanwhile, according to various reports, Sony helped with funding the port of Black Myth Wukong for PlayStation 5, which may be why the Xbox version has been delayed. But at least it isn't all bad news, as Capcom did announce that the two recently announced Fighting Game Collections will be coming to Xbox after all.

Plus, Sony announced it will take Concord Offline on September 6, details on the PS5 Pro design, Sony raised the price of PS5 in Japan leading many to worry about it bleeding into the PS5 Pro price structure. Our favorite announcements from the Nintendo Indie World and Partner Showcase, Gamestop opening up Retro Stores, could we ever get another Dino Crisis game, and more!

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Apologies, we've been having issues with our feed, so this is why this is just now being posted. * This was originally recorded on 07/01/2024 *

It is yet another week in Video Games and the summer of Elden Ring continues as Marc has been playing more of the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. However, this week he's also been playing the Director's Cut version of another game he enjoyed very much, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance.

In other news, Nintendo has a stocking plan to stop the potential of resellers and bots from buying up preorders of the Switch 2. Will this actually work? Is most of this just inevitable at this point with the way technology is? Or do they have a point that there is no longer an inhibitor to ensuring enough Switch 2's to go around?

Also more of the usual gambit of stuff that's been the norm for gaming as more remakes have been announced or confirmed to be coming in the form of Dead Rising and an abundance of Assassin's Creed remakes. Not to mention, Ubisoft also added to the layoff tally as well. Xbox adds another device to its Cloud Gaming portfolio, One Piece Netflix Season 2 casting and release details, and more! On this episode of Video Games 2 the MAX.

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Sony and Microsoft are in a now second week of the war of potshots and statements. Microsoft alleges Sony makes deals that effectively block big third-party games from appearing on Xbox Game Pass. While Microsoft proves just how unprofitable it would be to keep COD off Sony's platform. This will certainly have Sean, Marc, and Daniel in their feelings.

Game Delays continue as now Hogwarts Legacy is the next big game that moves its release date to 2023. Some other smaller games also have to take the hit and head into 2023 as well.

There are some major game-related events on the horizon with a recently announced Disney + Marvel showcase and Gamescom's Opening Night Live too.

All of this, plus Marc has some thoughts on PlayStation maybe having their own PC game launcher too.

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It is certainly a mixed bag of a week in gaming with yet another major third-party release seeing a delay, this time it is Marvel's Midnight Suns. While the EVO Live event possibly teased Tekken 8 and the first Fatal Fury game in 23 years. Plus, is Marvel doing too much content between their films and TV Shows?

Sean, Marc, and Daniel give their thoughts on that, plus Xbox may be rolling out a new feature for Cloud Gaming Soon, an Xbox Game Pass Family Plan is actually being tested, and Ubisoft is in the news again and it involves Tencent. Also, one of its games, Beyond Good & Evil 2, actually has good news for once.

Sean has more thoughts on Xenoblade Chronicles 3 as he approaches the 40-hour mark with the game and also finally gets to talk about all the announcements in the Pokemon Direct too.

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On our latest episode, so is Call of Duty "nothing special?" or is it "indescribable?" These are the statements put out by Microsoft and Sony concerning whether or not it would be ok for Call of Duty to be owned by Xbox.

Sean and Marc debate on who's right considering some other factors at play involving the franchise as well. Is it a good idea to have them skip a year? And is there really no way to have a COD competitor?

Warner Bros. Discovery has apparently shelved Batgirl and it may be due to monetary reasons. Why not just release it on HBO Max instead? And was there any interest in this film? Does it further the negative narrative about DC Films?

Also, it is finally here, Sean has initial impressions of Xenoblade Chronicles 3, the game he's been waiting for all year. Does it live up to the hype and all of the praise from critics? What about the story, the characters, and how is the battle system?

Plus, the duo have their say on the reports that Grand Theft Auto VI is set in Miami and will feature a Latina main character. Sean is obviously a lot more excited, but Marc has some concerns for sure.

The next Tomb Raider game's plot may have leaked, EVO is going to have a press conference type event called EVO Live, will there be some big announcements? Also, rumors are swelling about a huge D23 for Marvel Disney Plus shows. What are the guys excited about from the big slate?

You can also check out the podcast a little earlier by watching over on our Youtube Channel, W2M Network, by going here: https://youtu.be/rzGsdb2VoEk

Timestamps:

00:00:30 Intro & Housekeeping

Special Entertainment Topic

00:03:10 Batgirl Movie Canceled, Could HBO Max be canned too? And What Marvel stuff could be announced at D23 Expo 2022

What's in the Gaming News

00:32:30 Sony's Concerns Over Xbox Owning Call of Duty and Microsoft's response to it, Will the acquisition actually go through?

00:48:10 Grand Theft Auto VI Set in Miami And Feature a Latina Lead

00:59:15 PS Plus & Xbox Game Pass Games
01:05:30 Next Tomb Raider Game's Plot Possibly Leaked
01:09:40 Warhammer 40K Dark Tide Gets Delayed Again
01:12:35 EA Pays for Naming Rights for Spain's La Liga
01:13:55 Could Mortal Kombat 12 Be Announced at EVO Live 2022?
01:18:10 AEW Fight Forever Gets Some New Info

Games We Are Playing

01:20:45 Bloodborne & Remnant from the Ashes - (Marc)
01:25:50 Xenoblade Chronicles 3 - (Sean)

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This episode was originally recorded on July 27. Apologies for taking a little long to get it out to you all. We also do the podcast in video form on our Youtube channel and it gets out much quicker there: https://youtu.be/tpY5ZXpYmxo

On this episode, there's quite a lot going on between the KOTOR remake having major issues to Ubisoft continuing to have delays and cancelations.

VR also is a big fixture this week with Meta announcing a price hike and PSVR 2 getting another info drop as well.

SDCC just happened too. Sean and Marc discuss some of their favorite announcements from the big convention. Plus, there's also a Black Panther open-world game in the works too.

Sean's excitement for Xenoblade Chronicles 3 reaches a fever pitch as it's only a few days away. While Marc is playing Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak.

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This episode was originally recorded on July 20. Apologies for taking so long to get it out for audio listeners. We also do the podcast on our Youtube channel and it gets out much quicker there: https://youtu.be/rzGsdb2VoEk

On this episode, is a double dose of impressions from Sean regarding Stray and As Dusk Falls, two games currently on PlayStation Plus and Xbox Game Pass respectively. Sean enjoys both games, one for being a great cat simulator, and the other for telling a terrific suspense tale with narrative game aspects.

In the news, Bayonetta 3 finally gets a release date, Sony finishes their acquisition of Bungie and then acquires Repeat.gg, as the guys discuss what PlayStation's strategy could be for making so many varied acquisitions in a short span of time. Plus, what are some Konami franchises that could use a revival?

Could Nintendo be doing more with CG in their games and maybe even push into TV series after buying a Japanese company Dynamo? What are some shows that work in this type of vein?

Marc has some thoughts on the decision to not make Final Fantasy XVI turn-based and how the young generation has something to do. He's also not to fond of what's going on with the Assassin's Creed franchise too.

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Sean, Marc, and Daniel discuss the announcement of Kirby's Dream Buffet, Sean has initial thoughts on Bright Memory Infinite, as he's reviewing the game.

Plus, God of War Ragnarok has a release date, Forspoken is Delayed Again, Supermassive Games getting acquired, Haven being fully acquired by Sony, should Last of Us Part 1 Remake cost $70, Rockstar confirming GTA 6 development is the priority, and much more.

Due to some news items involving Ubisoft and Assassin's Creed Liberation HD and Sony, the guys also debate the merits of buying physical media versus digital media, does it really make a difference at this point? And what is everyone's preference now?

You can watch the podcast in video form on the W2M Network Youtube Channel here:  https://youtu.be/i49QNAV9l_k

Timestamps:

Intro & Games We Are Playing -

(00:01:10) Fire Emblem: Three Hopes - Marc
(00:05:25) Bright Memory Infinite First Impressions - Sean
* A Digital Code was Provided For Review by the PR Company *

What’s in the News -

(00:10:45) Forspoken Delayed, God of War: Ragnarok Release Date, Skull & Bones Gameplay & Release Date Reveal
(00:20:05) Kirby’s Dream Buffet Announced
(00:25:20) Lollipop Chainsaw is Getting a Remake
(00:26:45) Ubisoft starts up the Physical vs Digital Debate Again
(00:39:10) Xbox Series Consoles Double Xbox One Sales in Japan

(00:45:45) Sony Completes Purchase of Haven Studios & SuperMassive Acquired By Nordisk. Could increased global Inflation cause fewer studios to be purchased and more companies selectively buy known IP instead?

(00:55:30) Should The Last of Us Part 1 Remake cost $70? Will there be a Last of Us Part 3?

(01:01:45) PlayStation 5 gets an official Third Party SSD Drive and Is Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Really Only on PS5 Because of its SSD?

(01:08:35) Grand Theft Auto IV and Red Dead Redemption Remasters shelved to focus on GTA 6.
(01:15:55) E3 is Back Thanks to ReedPop, Could it Succeed?
(01:19:10) Xbox 360 Games Ending Soon on Games For Gold
(01:23:10) Which do you think does better a Terminator game or a Robocop Game?
(01:29:00) Sean laments Kazuki Takahashi, Creator of Yu-Gi-Oh’s sad passing

(01:31:20) Ending: Upcoming Games & TV Talk

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Now that the first six months have passed in 2022 it serves as a great halfway point to examine how things have been up to this point in the gaming year. Sean, Marc, and Daniel give out their Best Games of 2022 So Far with each person dishing out their Top 5. You’d obviously expect major games such as Elden Ring and Horizon Forbidden West to be on there, but what surprises could be there for some games to check out this summer.

Sean also checked out some games this week, namely the newly released DLC Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course, the Live a Live Demo, and Neon White as well. Sean discusses why he absolutely loves Neon White. How the Live a Live Demo gets you hyped for the remaster’s release in a few weeks. Plus, Marc also has a lot more thoughts on Fire Emblem: Three Hopes as well.

In the news, Sucker Punch finally quells rumors of a new Sly Cooper or InFamous game, Nintendo opens up a monthly subscription warranty program for the Switch, HALO Infinite Co-op Campaign progression and why it is a good thing for more games.

There’s also discussion on gamer hate affecting both God of War Ragnarok and Return to Monkey Island. The death of the Intellivision Amico patent, could an NFT console actually happen? And what are some Nintendo franchises we’d like to see make a return?

You can also watch the show on the W2M Network Youtube channel here:

https://youtu.be/HQF7AdY9JX8

Timestamps:

(00:00:30) - Intro: 4th of July Celebrations
Games We Played -
(00:02:40) - Fire Emblem: Three Hopes - Marc
(00:09:40) - Marc completes his SNES Physical Collection
(00:12:45) - Neon White - Sean
(00:17:55) - Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course - Sean
(00:21:00) - Live a Live Demo & Card Shark Demo - Sean
What’s Going on in the News -
(00:23:50) - Nintendo Wide Care Launches in Japan - A Monthly Warranty Subscription
(00:29:30) - Nintendo Franchises We’d Like to See Get Sequels
(00:40:40) - Sucker Punch Definitively Says There Are NO Sly Cooper or InFamous games in development.
(00:45:00) - HALO Co-op Campaign Has Progress For All Players
(00:49:30) - Mary DeMarle joins Mass Effect 4 Writing Team
(00:55:10) - EA Knocks Singleplayer Games Going for a Twitter Trend
(00:58:30) - Ubisoft Ends Multiplayer Servers for Some Old Games
(01:00:50) - Blizzard Purchases Spellbreak Studio Proletariat
(01:04:00) - God of War Release Date Circus and Gamer Hate Towards Ron Gilbert and Sony Santa Monica Employees
(01:16:45) - The First NFT Game Console is a Scam and Intellivision Amico Patent Dead
(01:22:10) - Sony Files Patent That Includes Many PS3 Accessories
(01:25:50) - Good Klonoa Remaster Sales Could Lead to More For Series
Main Topic -
(01:28:30) - Top 5 Games of 2022 So Far
Ending -
(01:31:40) - Games Coming Out This Week & TV Show Talk

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On the latest episode, Sean, Marc, and Daniel discuss early thoughts on Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes and a little more on TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge in the Games Being Played.

The trio also goes through the highlights of the latest Nintendo Direct Mini which featured Persona 3, 4, and 5 finally being announced as coming to the Switch. Sean is excited, but Marc thinks Persona 3 Portable was not the right version to bring over. Of course, Sean has plenty of indies he wants to check out now including the cute puzzle game Blanc, RPG Time: The Legend of Wright, Return to Monkey Island, and more.

Marc also isn’t impressed by the footage of Sonic Frontiers and is now turned off by the game entirely, here is why he feels this way and how this sort of has something to do with Sonic Origins. But at least there’s the awesome announcement of a Megaman Battle Network Legacy Collection.

Marc and Daniel also have a pretty interesting conversation about how to save World of Warcraft in light of the newest expansion Dragonflight getting special edition details.

Also on this show: Sean goes through what he liked from the Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Direct and the Expansion Pass, Final Fantasy XVI’s unique take on easy mode, and initial thoughts on the Horizon 2074 show.

Around 1 hour and 14-minute mark, the Entertainment talk begins with final thoughts on the Star Wars Kenobi series now that it's hit the finale and The Orville Season 3 too.

This episode was originally recorded on 06/21/22. Apologies for taking long to edit it and get it out to you all.

It certainly was one heck of a celebration week for both Final Fantasy VII and Dragon’s Dogma. Square-Enix and Capcom respectively showed off new games in both of these franchises. Dragon’s Dogma 2 is certainly really in development. And not only are known games such as Ever Crisis getting a beta. But also there’s a remaster of Crisis Core coming and also the second game in the Remake series, Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth was shown off as well.

Sean, Marc, and Daniel discuss their thoughts on all these reveals and also if Square-Enix’s heavy reliance on Final Fantasy will pay off or end up backfiring instead.

Also, Sean and Daniel played some TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge and they loved the game. Is it even going to be Game of the Year contender?

Plus, the Gran Turismo movie gets a synopsis, is God of War: Ragnarok actually coming out in November 2022? Marc’s despair over the shelving of Tony Hawk 3 & 4 Remaster, and Skull & Bones gets ratings around the globe. Could it actually finally release?

There’s also discussion on episodes 4 & 5 of Kenobi and where the Star Wars film universe stands as a whole.

Originally Recorded on 06/15/22. Sorry for taking a little too long to get this edited and out.

On this episode, Sean, Marc, and Daniel give their thoughts both positive and negative on the Summer Games Fest Opening, Capcom Showcase, and Xbox + Bethesda Showcase, (and Extended too).

This includes looking at each showcase in general, the big games like Resident Evil 4 Remake, Redfall, Starfield, Last of Us Remake, and a lot more. Sean also has thoughts on some standout games from the smaller indie showcases too.

They also discuss some of the games they are looking forward to for the rest of the year as well.

Apologies, we've been having issues with our feed, so this is why this is just now being posted. * This was originally recorded on 06/24/2024 *

It is finally here the long-awaited DLC for the smash hit Elden Ring called Shadow of the Erdtree has arrived for everyone to buy, download, and play. Marc has put some hours into it and he has some thoughts. Is this the new defacto game of the year? Is this perhaps the best DLC ever? Is the criticism of some of the bosses being too hard fair?

Also, Nintendo had one that could quite possibly be its final Nintendo Direct of the Switch era, and it certainly delivered on many fronts. So many unexpected announcements with new games from its core franchises along with remasters, remakes, ports, and other games. Sean and Marc give some of the games they are most looking forward to, what the deal is with the Marvel Fighting game collection skipping Xbox, Nintendo once again not wanting to reveal the developer of the newest Mario & Luigi title and more!

Plus, physical gaming has been dealt another blow in the UK, and in a special topic, our Top 5 Games of 2024 So Far!

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This episode was originally recorded on 06/07/22. Apologies for taking so long to edit it and get it out.

On this episode, Daniel has played quite a bit of Diablo Immortal. He discusses the game itself, how Diablo Immortal's Pay to Win strategy is a total detriment to gaining good vibes with gamers and it actually makes Sean and Marc not want to play it at all. Will this prove to be a winner for Blizzard? And could any of this bleed into Diablo IV as well?

Marc also laments Jeff Gertsmann leaving Giant Bomb, his legacy in gaming, and what he could do next. (Turns out he's doing his own thing including a Solo podcast called the Jeff Gertsmann Show.)

They also go through the highlights of the most recent PlayStation State of Play which featured the surprise of Final Fantasy XVI and even included a release window of Summer 2023. The Resident Evil 4 Remake also got show time too. Could this be the best State of Play ever?

Also on this show: The latest Pokemon Scarlet & Violet trailer, the SEGA Mega Drive 2 announcement, Street Fighter VI leaks, and thoughts on the first three episodes of Star Wars Kenobi as well.

This episode was originally recorded on 05/31/22. Apologies on taking so long to edit it and get it out.

On this episode of Video Games 2 the MAX, Sean, Marc, and Daniel discuss playing V Rising, Warcraft 3 Reforged supposed roadmap and the overall picture of Blizzard heading into the release of Diablo Immortal.

PlayStation also seems to be on this big turn to changing how many think of them. Moving away from only being known as a place for the big tent pole AAA games and doing more in the PC, VR, and games as service spaces. Will this wind up as a major win for Sony?

Other things discussed on the show: The reveal of the Jedi Fallen Order sequel, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. The Marvel MMO that never was. Horizon Zero Dawn getting a Netflix show, and more.

This episode was originally Recorded on 05/24/22. Apologies that it took so long to edit and come out.

On this episode of Video Games 2 the MAX, Sean, Marc, and Daniel discuss whether the sentiment that Xbox Game Pass is not living up to its billing of delivering on the AAA titles is truly warranted. Do gamers just need to be playing more indies? Or do gamers have a point? Is it time to start unsubscribing from the service?

There's also discussion on how EA's deal to merge with NBC Universal falling through is a major statement about where the state of AAA gaming is at? And should we worry for other big publishers like Ubisoft and Square-Enix as well?

Also on the episode: Would the Spider-Man games be as big a deal if they were an Xbox exclusive? Norman Reedus sort of confirming the existence of Death Stranding 2. Thoughts on the HALO TV Show and more.

The show goes through a little bit of a reboot to introduce a third co-host with Daniel Anderson making his return and Marc Morrison takes the reigns as host, with Sean not being on this one.

In this episode, Marc and Daniel discuss the announcement of the first classic titles heading to the PlayStation Plus Premium service, the tiers, and the outlook of the service as a whole as it heads into launch.

There’s also discussion on what’s happening at Blizzard, Activision putting on a front about Call of Duty Vanguard’s lack of sales, the EA and FIFA split, the possibility of several Silent Hill titles in the works, Square-Enix selling off much of their western studios, the WATA lawsuit, and much more.

After an unintended long layoff, Video Games 2 the MAX has returned with Sean and Marc joined by Jens Dietrich to talk about, you guessed it, more Elden Ring. Marc also has final thoughts on Horizon Forbidden West as he's beaten the game. Sean's also been playing some games too, with Tunic and Strangers of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin being the two main ones.

There are quite a few things to discuss since the last episode, as CD Projekt has announced a new saga of The Witcher series is in development. Although scarce details are available as they are basically in the beginning stages. At least it is being made with Unreal Engine this time.

Moon Studios is hugely toxic according to many former employees. We discuss some of the aspects of why this is so concerning and how it played a role in why Microsoft did not push to acquire them.

Sony had not one, but two State of Plays since our last episode, and they've also acquired yet another studio in Haven. Supermassive has a new game, Gotham Knights is actually coming out, and much more.

Well, there certainly have been a lot of big games that have come along lately to keep everyone busy, as Triangle Strategy now joins the list of yet another game someone on the podcast is playing. Sean discusses his very brief time with the game so far and also more on A Musical Story as well. Marc continues trekking through the huge open worlds in Elden Ring, Horizon Forbidden West, and Lost Ark.

As the War in Ukraine has intensified over the last week, gaming companies have done everything from donating money and game sale proceeds to even stopping their games and products from being sold in Russia too. EA even made sure to remove Russian teams from NHL 22 and FIFA 22 as well.

New Pokemon games are coming THIS YEAR and it is in fact generation nine of the series as Pokemon Scarlet and Violet were revealed in a Pokemon Presents last week. Is Sean excited for more Pokemon? Or is there some Pokemon fatigue possibly setting in?

Plus, Forspoken has been delayed into the fall, Switch Online subscribers get a semblance of a reward system, Halo Infinite gets more bad news, more TV shows are coming for Sony, and more.

We are joined by The Outerhaven.net's Head Man and EIC Keith Mitchell and Jens Dietrich to discuss their spoiler-free thoughts on Elden Ring. Keith reviewed the game for The Outerhaven and is pretty far in the game, while Jens is still early on in his adventure. Being two major Soulsborne lovers will their ideas match? Marc is also playing the game too. Will there be a big difference of opinion? Plus, Marc also has more thoughts on Horizon Forbidden West as well.

There's also discussion on the latest rumors surrounding Project Spartacus, the price tiers, and what they could offer. Is this worth it? Will there be changes to what's there? Or is this all a bunch of nothing that won't even happen?

Not to mention, Street Fighter 6 has officially been announced, the PSVR 2 has some real images, Call of Duty skipping a year in 2023, Bethesda closes their launcher, another Western developed game doesn't sell well enough for Square-Enix, and more.

Another one of 2022's most anticipated games is finally out in the wild and Marc's had a chance to play it. He gives his first thoughts on the game in a review-in-progress style. Sean has plenty of questions since this is on everyone's minds this week. Marc also is further into Lost Ark and he beat Demon's Souls as well. Sean played a little Edge of Eternity and Kingdom of the Dead too.

Nintendo once again causes controversy by announcing that as of March 2023 gamers will no longer be able to make digital purchases on the Wii U and 3DS E-Shops. Will this wind up being a permanent move? Or could Nintendo change course as Sony did with the PS3 and Vita storefronts?

Plus, there's a chance another Fire Emblem game comes out in 2022, Street Fighter 6 was officially announced post podcast, but Marc gave plenty of thoughts on what needs to be changed from Street Fighter V. Ubisoft hints they could entertain an acquisition, a ton of video game TV and Movie news including a Sonic 3 already being greenlit, and much more.

After a very much unintended delay, Sean and Marc are back and have plenty to discuss on this jam-packed episode of Video Games 2 the MAX.

Sean finally gets to talk about his adventures in Pokemon Legends Arceus, while Marc has been spending a lot of time with Lost Ark.

There's also a big Nintendo Direct to talk about as the Big N revealed additions to their 2022 slate of games, some we already knew about like Kirby And The Forgotten Land and Advance Wars 1 & 2: Reboot Camp, while others such as Xenoblade Chronicles 3 were a total surprise. Sean gushes about all the awesome stuff revealed in this Direct, while Marc will probably have a few less enthused thoughts.
There are also the latest NPD numbers, and some major stories the guys haven't discussed yet like Sony acquiring Bungie news, World of Warcraft going Mobile, Grand Theft Auto 6 is actually real, and a lot more!

Originally Recorded January 27, 2022. Apologies that it is being posted now. Sean had been going through some personal issues that made this one very late, but also be sure to check out the new episode that was posted as well. The original description continues as follows...

Sean talks about playing Nobody Saves the World, the indie RPG Paladin Dream, the mobile game Beat Star, and Marc beats Chorus too.

In a calm before the storm of sorts before the big game releases start rolling in for the year, EA announces that Respawn is making not one, not two, but three Star Wars games at the studio. And while it looks like only one is coming relatively soon in Jedi Fallen Order 2, the others are farther away

Hot off the big acquisition news of last week, Call of Duty will remain on PlayStation for at least three more years and there's even a Warzone 2 in the works. Blizzard also announces their own Survival game as well. Plus, more news on Overwatch 2, Diablo IV, and other franchises are on the way.

All of that and there's also Crysis 4, the QA team at Raven unionizing, and more.

Apologies, we've been having issues with our feed, so this is why this is just now being posted. * This was originally recorded on 06/17/2024 *

Just ahead of a looming Nintendo Direct comes this week's edition of Video Games 2 the MAX where Sean and Marc discuss some older games that may finally be coming out like Final Fantasy Tactics Remaster, A Quiet Place game, and the Beyond Good & Evil 20th Anniversary Edition.

Also, would Astrobot be just as awesome without all of the PlayStation nostalgia? Todd Howard says he's in no rush with Fallout 5 and Starfield is getting more Story DLC and possibly even annually.

Sadly there are also more studio closures, layoffs, and folks leaving studios as well.

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Some huge news dropped on Tuesday morning that shook everybody in gaming. Microsoft announced that they are set to acquire Activision Blizzard King for a whopping $68.7 Billion.

We spend the first 23 minutes of the podcast discussing what this means for Xbox, for Xbox Game Pass, Sony, and the rest of the gaming industry. Of course, between Marc, Sean, Randy Isbelle, and Jens Dietrich we also cover the workplace issues and the topic of exclusivity as well.

The rest of the episode is dedicated to our Fantasy Critic Draft. Each host will have to pick seven games that they think will score the best on the website opencritic.com and do it in snake draft style. This should certainly be a fun podcast for sure.

You can watch the podcast on video here: https://youtu.be/i5ydfBlNyBs



You can see our draft picks for the Video Games 2 the MAX League over at Fantasy Critic: https://www.fantasycritic.games/league/d838bf27-5d30-4b52-a907-22cf1bfc36ba/2022

Sean's written thoughts on Microsoft Acquiring Activision Blizzard: https://lastwordongaming.com/2022/01/18/microsoft-to-acquire-activision-blizzard-for-a-reported-68-billion/

Follow Sean on Twitter: https://twitter.com/W2MSean

Follow Marc on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HumanityPlague

(0:00) Microsoft set to acquire Activision Blizzard King

(23:00) Our Fantasy Critic Video Game Draft

In the first episode of 2022, Sean gives out the reason why that is (hint, he and the family got COVID-19.) Marc also discusses his trip to Atlanta that was supposed to involve seeing the Final Fantasy VII Remake Orchestra concert, but COVID-19 canceled that too.

After that, the guys discuss playing Gravity Chase, Heaven Dust 2, Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth, and The Anacrusis.

Topics include: PlayStation deciding to keep making PS4's for another year.

Discussing PSVR 2 Features and how much it will cost, PS NOW cards being removed from retail in the United States and the UK, what it means for Spartacus, and what could Spartacus actually include in its service.

Plus, Sean asks Marc the golden question of when PlayStation exclusives should come to PC?

They also discuss Days Gone not getting a sequel, E3 canceled as an in-person event, Take-Two purchasing Zynga, and the latest with NFT's in gaming involving Troy Baker and Square-Enix both saying agreeing to them, while SEGA reverses course and cancels their interest.

Make sure to tune in to the next episode which will be available on Thursday, January 20 where Sean and Marc are joined by Jens, Randy, and Daniel to do the first-ever Video Games 2 the MAX Fantasy Critic Draft.

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https://www.fantasycritic.games/league/d838bf27-5d30-4b52-a907-22cf1bfc36ba/2022

Marc's Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth Review: https://w2mnet.com/record-of-lodoss-war-deedlit-in-wonder-labyrinth/

It is that time again to decide what games make up Our 25 Best Games. For the 2021 edition Sean and Marc are joined by Randy Isbelle to debate, order, and finally, decide on the ultimate choices. Each person also gives out their personal Top 10 Games of 2021 and takes a look back at the year that was during this special episode as well.

In a year that was rife with great Indie titles will this be the year that a game like Death's Door, It Takes Two, or Kena: Bridge of Spirits takes the crown?

Will it be a PlayStation exclusive like Returnal or Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart? Or perhaps something from an Xbox studio such as Psychonauts 2, Deathloop, Halo Infinite, or Forza Horizon 5? Don't forget Nintendo also had a huge stalwart in Metroid Dread to consider as well.

Plus, there are the third parties bringing their own major games to the table such as Resident Evil Village, Monster Hunter Rise, Scarlet Nexus, Tales of Arise, Riders Republic, and so many others.

2021 was another terrific year for games. Picking just 25 is certainly an unenviable task for sure.

You can watch the show on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/GExSEQX9LrI

It is games, games, and more games to discuss in this episode. Between Sean and Marc, the guys have been playing quite a lot. Sean delved deeper into the Halo Infinite Campaign, although all of the side stuff is kind of derailing the story portion of it. He discusses why this is both a good and bad thing for the series.

He's also played an even more recent game in Dungeon Munchies, which was one of the four games that released the day of the most recent Indie World event. Of course, they discuss the showcase, and some of their favorite games from the show too.

Also on the list to be discussed today: No Longer Home, Moonglow Bay, The Gunk, The Forgotten City, and a bunch of Game Awards and Indie World Demos too.

In the news, the development team behind S.T,A,L,K.E.R. felt the blow of being on the wrong end of the NFT debate. Final Fantasy XIV is so popular that it has been taken down from storefronts to help curb the long queue times for veteran players excited for the Endwalker expansion. A new Splinter Cell game has finally been announced in the most non-exciting way possible, PlayStation 5 finally gets the long awaited cover plates, and more.

Oh, and if you didn't have enough games in this episode, get ready for Our Most Anticipated Games of 2022 as well.

The Game Awards 2021 has finished and there certainly were a lot of announcements, advertisements, and I guess some awards given out at the show. Certainly, there is a lot to discuss about the event itself.

Sean and Marc give their feelings on the show in general, the lack of showing awards, could it use being a little bit shorter, and of course their favorite announcements and not-so-favorite things from the show as well. Not to mention, their thoughts on the actual award winners. Especially with It Takes Two GOTY.

Randy Isbelle joins Sean and Marc to dish out early thoughts on the Halo Infinite Campaign.

Since this is coming out before the actual 2021 Game Awards, the guys give out their games that will probably just barely be off their eventual Top 10 Best Games of 2021 and also discuss some games they've either recently finished playing or are still playing such as Resident Evil Village, Resident Evil 7, Unpacking, The Artful Escape, Persona 5 Strikers, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, Demon's Souls, and Kena: Bridge of Spirits.


Plus, there's also been some news this week as well. Could it be that a Chrono Cross Remake is actually happening? There are now two sources kinda sorta making Sean get really excited about it. Should gamers actually be upset about Spider-Man outfits not coming to PS4 and The Uncharted 4 and Lost Legacy Collection having a $10 upgrade for PS5?


Also, according to Bloomberg, Sony may actually have a true competitor to Xbox Game Pass in the offing. What do the guys think about the rumored "three tier system?" Does it have to actually include day-one first-party titles? And will we see Sony pay for exclusives and add perks too?

After an unintended week off, it is back to gaming for Sean and Marc.


Games discussed in this episode include: Sean took his first steps in the world of Pokemon Brilliant Diamond, discussing his choice for starter, where he's at, and what it feels like to go back in time with the Pocket Monsters. He also played and beat Life is Strange: True Colors, is almost at the end of Resident Evil Village, and also got some time in with Deathloop and Persona 5 Strikers too. Marc takes his turn with Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy does he feel differently than Sean has? Plus, he's had a lot more time with Shin Megami Tensei V too.


Amazon is apparently close to making it official for a Mass Effect TV Show, Bobby Kotick keeps making a mess of things over at Activision-Blizzard including even hinting at resigning if things don't turn around quickly. Will he actually do it? Sean has major mixed feelings about Epic Games buying Harmonix. There's a possible Marvel MMO in the works, Phil Spencer wants legal emulation in the future, and a whole lot more.


Also, some movie talk on this episode as Sean went saw Resident Evil: Welcome to Racoon City and liked it a lot even with its low budget. Marc also liked Ghostbusters: Afterlife too.

Microsoft had their 20th Anniversary event stream and had quite a few announcements to share from it. Sean and Marc discuss the big ones including the final backwards compatibility additions, Halo Infinite Multiplayer releasing early as a Beta, and a big documentary series too.

Right before the guys started recording the Game Awards 2021 Nominees were announced. So they go through the game-related ones and give their early predictions for who is going to take the crown and who they would like to see win.

Marc also gives his first thoughts on Shin Megami Tensei V. Sean finally beat Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy and also played a lot more of Eastward as well.

There are also thoughts on the GTA Trilogy Definitive Edition mess, the NPD for October 2021, Elder Scrolls VI being an exclusive for Xbox and PC, Gamepass was once a rental service and more.

Games discussed on this episode of Video Games 2 the MAX include: Sean spending a little bit of time with Forza Horizon 5, along with some indie titles in The Legend of Tianding and Tunche. Marc also gets to play some Deathloop too!


In the news, rumors abound that a Donkey Kong movie could be up next for Nintendo after the Mario film. They also promise more for Switch Online and Switch Online expansion as well.


Also, Xbox has some games leak, Phil Spencer talks about wanting more social and casual games as part of their portfolio, could it lead to the return of 1 vs 100? Sadly delays are also a topic of conversation once again, but hey, at least there's more news on Sonic Frontiers, right?


Finally, there's also a look at the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles as they both have been out on the market for one year. Who's done more in that time? And what about those games?

Games discussed on this week's Video Games 2 the MAX include: Sean has hit about the halfway mark on Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy so he has some thoughts on the game and why it is one you may want to pick up. Marc has spent some time with Far Cry 6. He gives you plenty of reasons why he did not enjoy it much. So you get two big games covered on the show.

This wasn't the biggest news week, but the guys discuss the kinda recent Sony State of Play, more on the Warner Bros Smash Clone leak, SEGA's big partnership with Microsoft's cloud service, Amy Hennig making a Marvel game, Assassin's Creed Infinity costing money, and more!

Apologies, we've been having issues with our feed, so this is why this is just now being posted. * This was originally recorded on 06/10/2024 *

Well, the Summer Game Fest weekend of showcases has officially come and gone. And they certainly were a mixed bag of goodness.

Geoff Keighley kicked things off and delivered some interesting games, but wound up being much more indie-focused than it has been in years past. Did this wind up being a better show because of it? Or is it a big reflection on the industry itself this year? Also, do the encouraging changes give us hope for the Game Awards?

Day of the Devs certainly had some really cool games and indie marvels to be excited about.

Could Xbox may have possibly had its best showcase ever? What about Ubisoft? Did the guys watch any of the other showcases? We will get into all of that and more on this episode of Video Games 2 the MAX.

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Just wanted to note that this show was recorded on Tuesday Morning 10/26/21.

Games played this week include Marc beating Metroid Dread, more Alan Wake Remastered, and Lost Judgment. Sean has dabbled in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy and beat Echo Generation as well.

Lots of old games saw some new light this week with the Grand Theft Auto Trilogy Remasters finally getting a release date and some Xbox Game Pass announcements too.


Plus, there's a rumor that a new Splinter Cell game is in development. Could it actually be happening? Is Sam Fisher really coming back inside the franchise that created him?


Sean is excited for the Halo Infinite Campaign after the overview trailer released. Speaking of trailers, Marc also has plenty to say about the Uncharted movie trailer too.


And goodness me, now Warner Bros. wants to make a Smash Bros clone too? This early lineup of characters is certainly an interesting one, and much more.

Metroid Dread, Tales of Arise, Echo Generation, Alan Wake Remastered are the major games discussed by Sean Garmer and Marc Morrison on this one.


The Nintendo Switch Online Expansion adds $30 a year to the regular Switch Online price and $45 a year for families is it worth the price for Nintendo 64 and SEGA Genesis games, along with the Animal Crossing DLC? Could some of the licensing costs be avoided entirely? Is there a price on nostalgia?


FIFA and EA are at the breaking point with FIFA already declaring they are open to working with other developers and EA has trademarked a new name and continued making deals with FIFPro and others to keep things status quo. Who actually wins out in the end? Do they find a way to make peace?


Plus, the Xbox Series X Mini Fridge is a thing, the PlayStation 5 finally unseats the Nintendo Switch for one month in the sales dept, Google is the latest to take aim at Epic Games and more.

After an unintended delay, Video Games 2 the MAX is back with Sean Garmer and Marc Morrison discussing a lot of Tales of Arise now that Sean is close to the end and Marc beat the game completely. Marc has also been playing the Castlevania Advance Collection, Diablo II: Resurrected, and Lost Judgment. Sean has also delved back into the sports realm for the first time in a long time with FIFA 22 as well.


Aside from the games, the final Super Smash Bros Ultimate character was revealed as the most requested of them all in Sora from Kingdom Hearts. How exciting is it to have the beloved Square-Enix & Disney character included in the game?


Plus news on Far Cry 7 being more online-focused and perhaps multiplayer focused, Yakuza losing a very important figure, Capcom doing more with PC, Konami making a comeback into the AAA gaming space, Netflix acquiring Night School Studio, and much more.

Nintendo delivered a ton to talk about with their latest Nintendo Direct from Bayonetta 3 finally getting its time to shine and Monster Hunter Rise getting a new expansion. Not to mention, a new Kirby game was announced too and it is in full 3D!

However, it also created some joyous moments with the announcement of Nintendo 64 and SEGA Genesis games coming to the Nintendo Switch Online service. This is not without its controversy as well, since this also means a price increase too. Where do Sean Garmer and Marc Morrison fall on that line? Should there be a price increase for old games? Or is this just another case of Nintendo doing it because they can?

Sean also played a little Kena: Bridge of Spirits, while Marc tried his hand at Tales of Arise, WRC 10, and Diablo II: Resurrected.

Plus there is a lot of other classic games talk from the Direct and outside of it with other collections being confirmed and even a rumored Klonoa one that has Sean very excited as well.

Something old, something new, and quite a few leaked games too. Certainly not the biggest of news weeks, but still quite a few things to discuss for Sean Garmer and Marc Morrison on Video Games 2 the MAX.


The main games for Sean are the much anticipated JRPG Tales of Arise as he’s made it to the second town in the game and is enjoying it quite a bit. He’s also been loving the indie Earthbound-inspired game Eastward. Marc got into the beta for Call of Duty Vanguard and tries out the Super Gameboy 2.


There's also some news to get to with Wipeout Rush announced, God of War ending the Norse mythology with God of War: Ragnarok. NVIDIA's GeForce Now leaking a bunch of possibly real games. Twisted Metal and Driver are getting TV shows, Battlefield 2042 delayed, and much more.

The PlayStation Showcase is top of mind with major games like God of War: Ragnarok and Spider-Man 2. Surprises like Wolverine and Project EVE. Plus, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remake, Alan Wake Remaster, and much more round out the lineup. Sean Garmer and Marc Morrison give their thoughts on these PlayStation Showcase reveals and on the entire thing as well.

The guys have also played some games as well. Marc gives final thoughts on Psychonauts 2 after beating it. He also does the same on Resident Evil Village as well. Sean barely starting a few games with Lake, The Artful Escape, and Tales of Arise too.

Other things discussed on the podcast: The ruling in the Apple versus Epic case and how it effects both sides. Sony making a decision to charge $10 for future PS4 to PS5 upgrades after they created a controversy with Horizon: Forbidden West. Also, the statement by John Gibson that caused him to stepdown at Tripwire Interactive.

Gamescom took over this week with some major announcements including the Halo Infinite release date, the Horizon Forbidden West release date, the true reveal of a Saints Row Reboot, the surprise of Dokev, and much more.

Sean Garmer and Marc Morrison both played Psychonauts 2. Marc got a lot farther than Sean and he has plenty to say about the game.

Activision-Blizzard are now being accused of not preserving documents needed for the lawsuit from the Department of Fair Employment and Housing. Netherrealm go on making a Mortal Kombat 12 instead of an Injustice 3 due to uncertainty around Warner Bros involvement in video games. Not to mention, thoughts on removing the McCree name and much more.

Also, due to an investigation it has been uncovered that WATA a game grading company and Heritage Auction have been colluding to raise retro game prices. Marc being an avid collector of games has plenty to say here on the subject.

Sorry about missing the last few weeks, but the show has returned. Sean Garmer and Marc Morrison discuss playing Sailor Zombie, Boyfriend Dungeon, Twelve Minutes, the Back 4 Blood Beta, The Forgotten City, and The Tales of Arise demo.
In the news, they go through the latest on the Activision-Blizzard lawsuit since a lot has happened since the last show. There’s also discussion on GTA 3, Vice City, and San Andreas getting ports to the Nintendo Switch. Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim getting an Anniversary edition for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is possibly a thing and so is a Saints Row Reboot as well.
They end the show with thoughts on Halo having no co-op campaign at launch, Pokemon Presents, and of course they look ahead to a big week of releases next week too.

There's no video version this week because of some problems with Sean's camera and mic cutting out which are not an issue on this audio version.

The gaming week has once again been dominated by more fallout from the Activision Blizzard debacle, which includes a large walkout, more heinous stories coming out and now J Allen Brack leaving the company. The one positive about this, Ubisoft employees also stood in solidarity and made their own demands as well. Although we don't talk much about this on the show this week, I did want to note what's been happening and that we still stand with all of those employees going through so much right now.

However, if you want to look at just the gaming side of things and ignore reality, Annapurna Interactive had a tremendous showcase highlighting what having a host of interesting games, funny personalities, and some surprises do to one's enjoyment. Seriously! Outerwilds is getting an expansion y'all!

This was also a week for Business stuff and there will be some discussions about that. Sadly, there are also some delays and store removals too. Horizon: Forbidden West seemingly is the next big game pushed into 2022, while Kena: Bridge of Spirits also gets a one-month delay as well. Forza Motorsport 7 is being removed from the Microsoft Store entirely starting in September too.

Finally, things look positive for the Playdate, Team ASOBI is making a new game, and there's also a discussion on Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 and the systems as a whole. Plus, the whole overblown thing about the PS5 SSD versus the Xbox Memory Card.

Don't forget, there are some games to discuss as Sean keeps pushing through Death's Door and Cris Tales, while Marc tries out The Forgotten City and has continued the journey through Ys IX: Monstrum Nox too.

Timestamps:

(0:00) Start

(2:30) Marc goes to another used store

(7:30) Games We Are Playing: (Ys IX, The Forgotten City, Cris Tales, Death’s Door)

(28:15) Horizon Forbidden West and Kena: Bridge of Spirits Delayed, Could Halo: Infinite Multiplayer release by itself?

(47:35) Team ASOBI making a new game, could it possibly be a full Astrobot title?

(52:00) PlayStation 5 and is the $70 price making some rethink buying at release?

(1:02:15) Quick Hits of News

(1:16:40) Annapurna Interactive Showcase Thoughts

(1:25:00) What’s there to love about the PS5 and Xbox Series X 9 Months Later

(1:49:05) Upcoming Games

In a week that's felt like it has gone on forever, there have been some great game releases such as Death's Door, Cris Tales, and The Last Stop, some exciting news like a Pokemon live-action series in development at Netflix, and then the absolutely horrifying news involving Activision Blizzard and the lawsuit from the State of California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing.

All of this will be discussed on this episode along with big announcements from the EA Play Live event including the official reveal of the long-rumored Dead Space remake, GRID Legends being the first Codemasters game under the EA banner, EA Originals getting a major spotlight, and what's going on with Battlefield 2042 as well.

Plus, could Konami start a new trend with eFootball in making sports games fully embrace the "games as a service" and forgo the yearly model? Or is this Konami just doing something different to compete with EA's FIFA series?

Sean discusses playing all three of the games mentioned above and more Scarlet Nexus. All while Marc has final thoughts on Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart and he starts playing Ys IX: Monstrum Nox, and more.

Time Stamps:

Games We Are Playing: Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Ys IX: Monstrum Nox, Death's Door, Cris Tales, The Last Stop (2:50)

EA Play Live Thoughts: GRID Legends, EA Originals, Dead Space Remake (28:00)

Quick Hits of News (38:30)

Major Topic: Activision Blizzard Lawsuit Discussion (50:00)

Major Topic 2: Konami Makes eFootball (PES) Free to Play (1:22:35)

Upcoming Games (1:36:30)
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Sean's Chicory: A Colorful Tale Review: https://www.theouterhaven.net/2021/07/chicory-a-colorful-tale-review-playstation-5/

Apologies, we've been having issues with our feed, so this is why this is just now being posted. * This was originally recorded on 06/03/2024 *

In the calm before the storm week, Sean and Marc discuss the PlayStation State of Play that occurred last Thursday and how it is a mixed bag once again. The big game we discussed in the previous episode was announced in the form of the PlayStation 5 Astro Bot title, but the rest had varying degrees of excitement. 

Also, PlayStation reiterated some of its strategies right before the State of Play in terms of PS4, Playstation games on PC, and Stellar Blade even topped the charts in April as well.

Plus, more news from Take-Two on Private Division, two big game delays, Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown finally getting a solid release date, the Summer Game Fest showcase schedule, and much more!

You can also watch this episode in video form on the W2M Network Youtube Channel, please give us a like, comment on the episode, and give the channel a subscribe and follow as well: https://youtube.com/live/6xSxw3ozl4E

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Ubisoft announces their new game XDefiant, a 6 vs 6 multiplayer shooter with factions from various Tom Clancy games. Nintendo actually acknowledges rumors only to shoot them down. Could they be serious about no other Switch models? Yeah... about that.

Also, the Steam Deck is seriously a thing and it has gotten everyone riled up about everything from emulation to portable PCs to even being a "Switch Killer." Don't really think that the last one is going to happen, but preorders did drop for it and a few of the SKU's have already been delayed.

Speaking of delays, there have been a few of those. But there's also been the announcement of Company of Heroes 3, the purchase of Sumo by Tencent, possible proof that the Metroid Prime Trilogy is ready for Switch, Netflix getting into gaming, the NPD numbers for June 2021, and much more.

Also, Marc Morrison finally beat Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne and It Takes Two. He got to play some Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart as well and he talks about why it didn't quite jive with him. Sean Garmer had a week off from games pretty much, as he's been trying to knock out some written reviews.

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Sean Garmer and Marc Morrison bring you another edition of Video Games 2 the MAX as they discuss games they are playing like Sean finishing Chicory: A Colorful Tale and starting up Scarlet Nexus. Marc also got into It Takes Two and more Timespinner as well.

They also wonder if the recent news about SEGA and the agency in charge of the lead actor Takuya Kimura having a standoff about a PC version of Judgment could spell the end for the series. Should they just go on with another actor? And what does this say about SEGA's push for PC?

A huge announcement made much earlier in the week from Bloomberg looks to put the next Assassin's Creed code-named Infinity into the live service realm. Marc is a major fan of the franchise and has reviewed all three of the most recent games, as well as many of the older ones as well and he has plenty to say on where the franchise could be headed, if it is a good idea or not, and if it means we see smaller scale AC settings again too.

Double Fine wades into the difficulty debate by adding an Invincibility Mode for Psychonauts 2. Where do Sean and Marc stand on having things like this in video games?

Plus, EA becomes the latest publisher to test gamer's wallets if you want to do an upgrade from last-gen to current-gen, Thoughts on Sony's latest State of Play, Square-Enix sells out of Final Fantasy XIV digitally, and more.

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We actually recorded our latest episode before the Switch OLED announcement, so we didn't have the same problem two weeks in a row, we recorded a special short talking all things Nintendo Switch OLED model. Then our regular episode follows when that ends at about 25 mins in.

Well, it has finally happened. The next iteration of the Nintendo Switch has been announced, but is it everything everyone hoped it would be? Sean Garmer and Marc Morrison discuss the expectations versus what was actually revealed. Are we disappointed? Are we upset? What is there to feel anymore. Also, stay tuned afterward for our regular episode # 279 about 24 minutes into this. The episode description is as follows...

Remember you can now watch us on Youtube as well on the W2M Network Youtube channel. Hit subscribe, ring the bell for notifications, or just get our VG2M Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiXUuWeG84WI36B5iarq-HRUvp1AcFbyG

On this episode of Video Games 2 the MAX hosts Sean Garmer and Marc Morrison cover a PlayStation heavy show with some acquisitions, some losses, and pushing for some change from the big gaming brand.

Of course, we are referring to bringing Housemarque, Nixxes, and possibly even Bluepoint too. Are all of these expected? What do we expect to see next? And is this better than making a bigger splash purchase? Plus, the official end of Sony Japan Studio as well.

Also, a lot of controversy abounds over the decision of charging for the PlayStation 5 upgrade of the Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut. Is the $10 charge justified? Is this greed? Or does it make sense considering what's added? Are either of the guys interested in the Director's Cut at all?

The guys also get into a discussion on whether or not Sony needs to do more with PlayStation NOW. Is it fine the way it is? Do is it need Day 1 games like Xbox Game Pass? Or are more quality of life changes what's in order? How about just putting a little hype behind it?

Finally, the guys talk about Nintendo wanting to do more with Donkey Kong, the rumored remake of Dead Space, and also with the reveal of EA Play Spotlights ahead of the July 22 event. The major topic for this show centers around bringing back dormant EA Sports franchises and which ones could work today.

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Our friend from The Outerhaven, Keith Mitchell's, PS Now Article: https://www.theouterhaven.net/2021/07/why-isnt-anyone-talking-about-playstation-now/