The April downpour of games continues into May as we dig into Forbidden Solitaire, Windrose, and Dead as Disco, plus more Saros and Retro Rewind (and one last time with Pragmata). Also, is there going to be a new Mortal Kombat? How many Street Fighter tattoos are there in the world? Reggie Fils-Aime said what about Amazon? How do you hide a secret track on a record? These questions and many more, pondered!

CHAPTERS

(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:10) Intro
(00:05:13) Pragmata  |  [Nintendo Switch 2, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Apr 17, 2026
(00:05:35) [SPOILERS] We talk all about the story and ending of the game.
(00:25:14) First Break
(00:27:54) Forbidden Solitaire  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Apr 30, 2026
(00:42:17) Dead as Disco (Early Access) |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  May 05, 2026
(00:47:08) Saros  |  [PlayStation 5]  |  Apr 30, 2026
(01:02:26) Retro Rewind: Video Store Simulator  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Mar 17, 2026
(01:06:45) Windrose (Early Access) |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Apr 14, 2026
(01:08:42) Second Break
(01:08:43) Exclusives still sell consoles, just not as much
(01:17:20) NetherRealm and the future of MK
(01:27:57) First-person or third-person? The data is here.
(01:36:14) Reggie Fils-Aime calls out Amazon
(01:45:34) Paste Games is ending coverage
(01:48:43) Emails
(01:58:26) Wrapping up and thanks
(02:02:27) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts
(02:06:34) Nextlander Content Updates
(02:07:11) See ya!

On the historic 246th episode of this podcast, we dig into the space madness of Saros, the match-three madness of Titanium Court, and the madness madness of Ultimate Drummer (plus the end of Pragmata). Also, Microsoft Gaming's... sorry, Xbox's new-ish direction, the AC: Black Flag remake, which developers' names have the best mouthfeel, what to do when your Legos get peed on, and more.

CHAPTERS

(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:10) Intro
(00:03:10) A bit of current state of affairs pressure relief
(00:08:55) Saros  |  [PlayStation 5]  |  Apr 30, 2026
(00:44:40) First Break
(00:44:41) Pragmata  |  [Nintendo Switch 2, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Apr 17, 2026
(00:55:18) Titanium Court  |  [Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Apr 23, 2026
(01:01:54) Ultimate Drummer  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Apr 22, 2026
(01:09:18) Snap & Grab  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Apr 24, 2026
(01:12:02) All Will Fall  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Apr 03, 2026
(01:16:28) Some other releases that we still want to play...
(01:17:02) Second Break
(01:17:03) Asha and Xbox's late title card
(02:01:08) Black Flag Resynced is coming
(02:07:42) Assassin's Creed Hexe loses game director
(02:13:29) Maybe some RE9 content coming soon?
(02:15:47) Emails
(02:38:02) Wrapping up and thanks
(02:43:21) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts
(02:44:54) See Ya!

It's a video game podcast! Featuring such video games as Pragmata, Vampire Crawlers, Last Flag, Mouse: P.I. For Hire, and Tomodachi Life: Living the dream! Also featuring video game news like a cheaper and maybe soon a la carte Game Pass, and a (sort of) new Neo Geo! Also also, featuring a lot of talk about Olive Garden for some reason!

CHAPTERS

(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:10) Intro
(00:09:31) Pragmata  |  [Nintendo Switch 2, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Apr 17, 2026
(00:09:49) [SPOILER WARNING] We try to avoid anything narrative, but we do talk about weapons and levels.
(00:37:46) First Break
(00:37:47) Vampire Crawlers: The Turbo Wildcard from Vampire Survivors  |  [Nintendo Switch, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Apr 21, 2026
(00:45:50) Last Flag  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Apr 14, 2026
(00:50:37) Mouse: P.I. For Hire  |  [Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Apr 16, 2026
(00:53:02) Slay the Spire  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Linux]  |  Jan 23, 2019
(00:53:42) Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream  |  [Nintendo Switch]  |  Apr 16, 2026
(00:57:20) Second Break
(00:57:21) Choose Your Own Game Pass?
(01:13:33) Splatoon Raiders gets a release date
(01:25:24) The Neo NeoGeo?
(01:48:18) Iron Galaxy is reducing its size
(01:53:50) The summer of video games
(01:58:02) Emails
(02:09:46) Wrapping up and thanks
(02:14:43) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts
(02:16:34) See ya!

Many beautiful video games are blooming along with the Spring flowers this month, including Pragmata, Final Sentence, Dosa Divas, and Replaced, all of which we play and discuss! In the news, Epic's Disney's extraction shooter, pricing changes (maybe) coming to Game Pass, a Bloodborne movie is on the way, and more. Plus, your emails!

CHAPTERS

(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:10) Intro
(00:11:53) Pragmata  |  [Nintendo Switch 2, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Apr 17, 2026
(00:50:46) First Break
(00:50:51) Final Sentence  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Apr 09, 2026
(00:58:04) Dosa Divas  |  [PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Apr 14, 2026
(01:03:35) Replaced  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Apr 14, 2026
(01:11:56) Retro Rewind: Video Store Simulator  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Mar 17, 2026
(01:18:48) Second Break
(01:18:53) Apparently, Game Pass IS too expensive
(01:36:58) Will Fable get pushed to next year...?
(01:41:55) Epic and Disney want to make an extraction shooter
(01:52:24) Physint has apparently started casting
(01:58:36) Remember that Metal Gear Solid movie pitch?
(02:05:21) Bloodborne is getting a film as well?
(02:16:24) Emails
(02:26:50) Wrapping up and thanks
(02:31:05) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts
(02:32:44) See ya!

Brad's back to talk about the lumpy ending of Resident Evil Requiem and the future of the RE series, nostalgic Retro Rewind modding, State of Decay 3's recent proof-of-life moves, the passing of Double Dragon's creator, defunct studios and publishers we miss, and a bunch more!

(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:10) Intro
(00:09:27) Resident Evil Requiem  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2]  |  Feb 27, 2026
(00:09:56) [SPOILERS] We're talking about all of RE9 thing here.
(00:42:52) First Break
(00:45:24) Retro Rewind: Video Store Simulator  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Mar 17, 2026
(01:06:18) Slay the Spire  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PC (Microsoft Windows), Linux, Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Linux, Mac, Mac]  |  Jan 23, 2019
(01:13:33) Pokémon Pokopia  |  [Nintendo Switch 2]  |  Mar 05, 2026
(01:16:46) Marvel MaXimum Collection  |  [Nintendo Switch, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Mar 27, 2026
(01:17:26) Second Break
(01:17:30) State of Decay 3 still exists!
(01:25:32) Creator of Double Dragon passes
(01:28:15) Someone is making an Impossible Mission 3 game for the C64
(01:35:10) Emails
(01:51:29) Nextlander content updates
(01:53:44) Wrapping up and thanks
(01:54:11) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts
(01:56:36) See ya!

Brad's on the mend this week, so Giant Bomb's in-house counsel Jeff Bakalar is filling the rotating chair this week as we discuss PAX East, recent video game releases, and the gambling industry's ongoing contribution to the degeneration of society.

CHAPTERS

(00:00:00) | NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:10) | Intro
(00:01:29) | Welcome back Jeff Bakalar
(00:09:54) | What a fun PAX East this year
(00:15:13) | Oh, you want to buy some dice? They've got dice.
(00:20:55) | Slay the Spire (The board game)
(00:22:10) | Slay the Spire | [PC (Microsoft Windows), Linux, Mac] | Jan 23, 2019
(00:31:41) | Jocks and nerds living together. It can happen.
(00:34:13) | First Break
(00:36:40) | Screamer | [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S] | Mar 26, 2026
(00:43:08) | Raccoin: Coin Pusher Roguelike | [PC (Microsoft Windows)] | Mar 31, 2026
(00:50:10) | Bakalar and Alex are (still) not happy with sports betting
(01:08:04) | Marvel MaXimum Collection | [Nintendo Switch, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S] | Mar 27, 2026
(01:13:31) | Resident Evil Requiem | [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2] | Feb 27, 2026
(01:17:45) | Second Break
(01:17:50) | PlayStation price increases
(01:27:20) | Nintendo confirms price differences between digital and physical releases
(01:29:14) | Time for Star Fox to shine
(01:36:49) | Does Disney want to own Epic Games?
(01:48:21) | Shinji Mikami's new(ish) studio is bought
(01:50:38) | Eidos-Montreal has more layoffs
(01:51:49) | Konami increases salaries for employees
(01:53:28) | MindsEye continues to be a concern
(02:00:17) | Some game announcements
(02:00:34) | Hunter: The Reckoning - Deathwish | [PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Microsoft Windows)] | Q3 2027
(02:00:49) | Hades II | [Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5] | Apr 14, 2026
(02:00:56) | The Eternal Life of Goldman | [Nintendo Switch, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S] | 2026
(02:01:27) | Boxroom (Early Access) | [PC (Microsoft Windows)] | Q2 2026
(02:03:11) | Emails
(02:22:17) | Wrapping up and thanks
(02:25:53) | Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts
(02:27:13) | See ya!

Start Menu's Lex Luddy drops by to chop it up with us about Pokemon Pokopia, the "joy" of reviewing Crimson Desert, the actual joy of RE Requiem with unlimited ammo, the state of Marathon's Cryo Archives and late game, some more unfortunate industry-downturn news, another installment in the great FMV game debate, and more!

CHAPTERS

(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:10) Intro
(00:00:41) Welcome back Lex!
(00:03:23) Pokémon Pokopia  |  [Nintendo Switch 2]  |  Mar 05, 2026
(00:27:21) First Break
(00:27:26) Crimson Desert  |  [PlayStation 5, Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox Series X|S]  |  Mar 19, 2026
(00:53:37) Marathon  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Mar 05, 2026
(01:11:22) Resident Evil Requiem  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2]  |  Feb 27, 2026
(01:23:40) Dirt 3  |  [PlayStation 3, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 3, Xbox 360]  |  May 24, 2011
(01:26:39) Second Break
(01:26:44) Epic Games lays off over 1,000 people
(01:42:00) Nintendo Switch 2 production to slow down
(01:48:10) Sony closes Dark Outlaw Games
(01:50:55) Marathon sales numbers
(01:57:24) UK game development
(02:08:13) Let's all just live in Minecraft World
(02:16:41) Email
(02:27:07) Wrapping up and thanks
(02:31:04) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts
(02:32:36) Thanks again to Lex Luddy!
(02:33:59) See ya!

We're out this week, so the Nextlander Podcast will return in its normal slot next week, but for now we bring you another NBABP classic, in which Jeff Bakalar and Austin Walker join us to talk about the funny pages, technology running amok, and electronic drum kits?

CHAPTERS

(00:01:07) Intro
(00:02:31) Sah-caucus vs Sea-caucus
(00:03:21) All the good podcast memories are Beastcast related
(00:05:56) The internal politics of carving out studio spaces
(00:08:14) "I'm a human and I don't work there anymore"
(00:23:56) First Break
(00:24:05) Do we live in Cyberpunk Version 3.0?
(00:27:14) Why do giant tech companies always seem evil?
(00:31:46) The Coleco Chameleon and the Intellivision Amico
(00:32:36) Tommy Tallarico
(00:34:39) The last 10 years of the internet have been good
(00:39:01) Don't mess with whatever hope people have of a retirement
(00:41:50) Masterful transition into the funny pages
(00:47:22) Second Break
(00:47:35) How is Gary Larson?
(00:52:50) Getting deep into Heathcliff
(01:01:43) Bakalar had a comic strip?
(01:07:15) And he bought an electronic drum kit?!
(01:21:51) Wrapping up and thanks!
(01:22:14) See ya!

It's a very full show this week, with discussion of Marathon, late-game Resident Evil Requiem, WWE 2K26, and Esoteric Ebb, plus chatter in the news about Microsoft's Project Helix, PlayStation surge pricing, Nagoshi Studio's loss of funding for Gang of Dragon, and the final round of Mario Galaxy movie casting, plus another stack of FMV emails and more!

CHAPTERS

(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:10) Intro
(00:02:35) Resident Evil Requiem  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2]  |  Feb 27, 2026
(00:02:53) [SPOILER WARNING] Some open and spoiler-ish RE9 talk ensues!
(00:05:35) We get a little deeper into actual spoiler territory
(00:43:07) First Break
(00:43:11) Marathon  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Mar 05, 2026
(01:00:11) WWE 2K26  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Mar 13, 2026
(01:18:13) Esoteric Ebb  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Mar 03, 2026
(01:19:36) Second Break
(01:27:01) Welcome to Project Helix
(01:37:14) Valve still plans to keep to its 2026 hardware date
(01:50:01) Sony's stab at dynamic pricing?
(01:56:53) NetEase to stop funding Gang of Dragon
(02:05:44) Make way for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
(02:16:31) Emails
(02:32:21) Wrapping up and thanks
(02:35:12) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts
(02:38:43) Nextlander content updates
(02:39:44) See ya!

This week we discuss the hottest Resident Evil releases, like Outbreak and 6 (and also Requiem), Reanimal, Steam Next Fest demos like Vampire Crawlers, Awaysis, and Forbidden Solitaire, Sony's reported decision to stop porting its first-party games to PC, the Bloodborne remaster that almost was, RedOctane's new guitar game, the God of War live action show, and a bunch of other stuff!

CHAPTERS

(00:00:10) Intro
(00:02:20) No power, (almost) no problem!
(00:12:50) Resident Evil Requiem  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2]  |  Feb 27, 2026
(00:56:37) First Break
(00:59:12) Reanimal  |  [Nintendo Switch 2, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Feb 13, 2026
(01:02:43) Steam Next Fest Demos
(01:03:34) Vampire Crawlers: The Turbo Wildcard from Vampire Survivors  |  [Xbox Series X|S, Android, iOS, PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5]  |  2026
(01:11:45) Replaced  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Apr 14, 2026
(01:14:00) Awaysis  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  TBD
(01:16:19) Titanium Court  |  [Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  TBD
(01:21:09) The Ratline  |  [Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Mar 17, 2026
(01:23:09) Forbidden Solitaire  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Q1 2026
(01:29:51) Second Break
(01:29:55) The news
(01:30:35) Sony wants you to buy console games, not PC games
(01:47:54) Almost everyone wanted a Bloodborne remake!
(01:56:48) Stage Tour is the newest plastic instrument game!
(02:07:10) Highguard is officially going offline
(02:20:23) Breaking Build a Rocket Boy news
(02:21:25) First look at the live-action God of War
(02:31:59) Emails
(02:37:39) Wrapping up and thanks
(02:39:46) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts
(02:42:47) Nextlander content updates
(02:43:58) See ya!

There's a lot going on: Phil Spencer's time at Xbox is coming to an end, Microsoft is appointing former AI exec Asha Sharma to replace him, Sony is shuttering Bluepoint Games, and more. We dig into all that, plus Alex and Brad nerd out over the new Star Trek: Voyager game, Vinny names his FMV Mount Rushmore, and other stuff on this week's show!

CHAPTERS

(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:10) Intro
(00:01:16) The Next Era of Xbox
(00:46:17) First Break
(00:46:22) More about the future of Xbox
(01:26:04) Sony shutters Bluepoint Games
(01:35:43) Bungie to institute permanent bans for Marathon cheaters
(01:38:00) Nacon files for insolvency
(01:40:49) Everything changes, all at once
(01:44:46) Second Break
(01:44:51) Some video games we played
(01:45:01) Star Trek: Voyager - Across the Unknown  |  [Nintendo Switch 2, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Feb 18, 2026
(02:02:56) God of War Sons of Sparta  |  [PlayStation 5]  |  Feb 12, 2026
(02:04:38) Heart of the Forest  |  [Android, iOS, Mac, Nintendo Switch, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One]  |  Feb 12, 2026
(02:05:19) Emails
(02:25:38) Wrapping up and thanks
(02:29:04) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts
(02:30:48) Nextlander schedule updates
(02:31:54) See ya!