Episode 251

Open World games, once a rare treat, have now saturated the gaming landscape - some people can't get enough, and some feel they have overstayed their welcome. Today, we discuss how we feel about the open world genre, and explore "modern" open world design and how we feel it improves the genre. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Crimson Desert, Pokémon Scarlet, Battlefield 6, Slay The Spire 2). This episode was recorded in April 2026. Intro and outro music composed for Gametalk by Dylan Chase.

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Timestamps:

0:00 - Opening Banter

3:26 - Thoughts On Open Worlds

30:21 - "Modern" Open World Design

51:10 - Crimson Desert

1:06:47 - Pokémon Scarlet

1:13:30 - Battlefield 6

1:18:40 - Slay The Spire 2

Episode 250

AI (in the video game space and otherwise) continues to be shoved down our throats. With the rise of AI journalism and the much-maligned DLSS 5, where is the games industry currently with AI and will this pushback amount to anything? Today, we talk about AI in gaming as it stands right now and give our take on DLSS 5. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Timberborn, Pokémon Scarlet, Pokémon Legends Arceus, From Glory To Goo). This episode was recorded in March 2026. Intro and outro music composed for Gametalk by Dylan Chase.

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Timestamps:

0:00 - Opening Banter

5:19 - AI Journalism

18:17 - DLSS 5

36:02 - Timberborn

41:10 - Pokémon Scarlet

46:38 - Pokémon Legends Arceus

53:06 - From Glory To Goo

Episode 249

Today, we talk about two games we're absolutely enamored with - Resident Evil Requiem and Pokémon Pokopia. For Resident Evil, we talk about our playthrough in both spoiler-free and spoilery contexts. Then, we discuss how we're enjoying the undeniable charm of Pokopia. This episode was recorded in March 2026. Intro and outro music composed for Gametalk by Dylan Chase.

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Timestamps:

0:00 - Resident Evil Requiem Spoiler-Free Thoughts

19:48 - Resident Evil Requiem Spoiler Discussion

42:42 - Pokémon Pokopia

Episode 248

We at Gametalk (more accurately 2/3 of us) are massive fans of Monster Hunter, and today we have an opportunity to gush about the series. We talk about the current state of Monster Hunter Wilds, and more specifically predict what we'll see in Master Rank. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Resident Evil Village, Super Mario Sunshine). This episode was recorded in February 2026. Intro and outro music composed for Gametalk by Dylan Chase.

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Timestamps:

0:00 - Opening Banter

5:31 - Predicting Master Rank for Monster Hunter Wilds

36:35 - Monster Hunter Wilds Performance Improvements

43:34 - Games We're Playing

47:16 - Resident Evil Village

59:59 - Super Mario Sunshine

Episode 247

Massive news has dropped on multiple fronts! In a frustrating move, Sony has closed Bluepoint Games in another seemingly misguided sacrifice on the altar of live service. When will it be enough, and are they finally turning the PlayStation faithful away? And on the other side, Microsoft has ousted the existing Xbox leadership. Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond are gone, and Asha Sharma is now in charge of Xbox. We discuss how this critical turning point could affect the future of Xbox. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, Mewgenics). This episode was recorded in February 2026. Intro and outro music composed for Gametalk by Dylan Chase.

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Timestamps:

0:00 - Opening Banter

4:00 - Sony Kills Bluepoint

32:02 - Xbox Leadership Shakeup

1:00:04 - Resident Evil 4

1:09:14 - Resident Evil 7: Biohazard

1:22:26 - Mewgenics

Episode 246

Recently, Bloomberg's Jason Schreier put out an article called "Video Games Need to Be Cheaper to Buy". Today, we talk about his article and points where we agree and disagree, and discuss the broader landscape of video game pricing in 2026. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (God of War Sons of Sparta, Resident Evil 2). This episode was recorded in February 2026. Intro and outro music composed for Gametalk by Dylan Chase.

Chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn

Or email us at [email protected]

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Timestamps:

0:00 - Opening Banter

9:39 - Are Video Games Too Expensive?

47:59 - God of War Sons of Sparta

1:01:38 - Resident Evil 2

Episode 245

PlayStation's most recent State of Play paints a strong picture for game releases in 2026. Not only do we have quality games coming, it seems like Konami is back and firing on all cylinders! In addition, Xbox brought out the big guns with Fable and Forza 6, and Nintendo showed an impressive variety of third party games coming to Switch 2. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Monster Hunter Wilds). This episode was recorded in February 2026. Intro and outro music composed for Gametalk by Dylan Chase.

Chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn

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Timestamps:

0:00 - Opening Banter

9:18 - PlayStation State of Play

49:39 - Konami's Comeback

1:08:12 - Nintendo Partner Direct

1:13:58 - Xbox Developer Direct

1:26:40 - Monster Hunter Wilds

Episode 244

The Nintendo Wii, regardless of how a lot of enthusiasts feel about the direction of Nintendo at the time, was a hugely influential and successful console that shaped the trajectory of the industry in the late 2000s/early 2010s. Today, we take a look back and each go through our top 5 Wii games. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Cairn, Hitman: World of Assassination). This episode was recorded in February 2026. Intro and outro music composed for Gametalk by Dylan Chase.

Chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn

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Timestamps:

0:00 - Opening Banter

12:56 - Remembering the Nintendo Wii

20:11 - Honorable Mentions

31:52 - Number 5

37:26 - Number 4

50:03 - Number 3

1:07:20 - Number 2

1:19:24 - Number 1

1:39:54 - Cairn

1:46:16 - Hitman: World of Assassination

Episode 243

Ubisoft has announced several cancellations and a complete company-wide restructuring amid cratering stock prices and dwindling mindshare. Is this move the life-saving measure the company needs, or a final death-knell separating the company into digestible chunks for potential buyers? Today, we dissect the current state of Ubisoft and offer our thoughts on their numerous IP. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined, Persona 3: Reload). This episode was recorded in January 2026. Intro and outro music composed for Gametalk by Dylan Chase.

Chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn

Or email us at [email protected]

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/369MuzfFy8RB6vFULVY7Zy?si=26cb1639927c4cc8

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Timestamps:

0:00 - Opening Banter

13:33 - Ubisoft Production Issues

19:41 - Ubisoft's Restructuring and IP Discussion

56:28 - Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined

1:07:29 - Persona 3: Reload and Persona Live 2026: Awakenings

Episode 242

2026 is looking to be an eventful year - between increasing hardware prices, the upcoming Steam hardware, and the ever-looming GTA VI, there's something to consider for just about everybody! Today, we take stock of the games industry in early 2026 and make some predictions for how the year will go. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Palworld, Monster Hunter Portable 3rd, Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak). This episode was recorded in January 2026. Intro and outro music composed for Gametalk by Dylan Chase.

Chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn

Or email us at [email protected]

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Timestamps:

0:00 - Opening Banter

6:41 - Hardware Inflation

16:21 - Increasing Domination of Free to Play Games

24:03 - VR's Dwindling Mindshare

35:10 - Nintendo's 2026

45:05 - Xbox's 2026

54:44 - PlayStation's 2026, GTAVI, and Other Upcoming Games

1:11:22 - Palworld

1:24:53 - Monster Hunter Portable 3rd

1:32:36 - Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak

Episode 241

In late 2025, Netflix announced that they were purchasing Warner Bros Discovery for 80 billion dollars. Though the story of the purchase is ongoing with fresh drama unfolding even still, it looks likely that Netflix will end up acquiring WB - and most interestingly to us, their game studios. Today we discuss how this purchase could shift the gaming and streaming landscape. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Hitman: World of Assassination, Palworld, Monster Hunter). This episode was recorded in January 2026. Intro and outro music composed for Gametalk by Dylan Chase.

Chat us up in Discord - discord.gg/JZCj5Qn

Or email us at [email protected]

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/369MuzfFy8RB6vFULVY7Zy?si=26cb1639927c4cc8

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Timestamps:

0:00 - Opening Banter

15:37 - Netflix Purchases Warner Bros Discovery

25:57 - Movie Theater Tangent

36:42 - Speculating on a Netflix Game Pass Competitor

44:36 - Thoughts on the "Streaming Wars"

57:39 - Hitman: World of Assassination

1:07:40 - Palworld

1:18:04 - Monster Hunter