Longtime friends and games media colleagues Vinny Caravella, Brad Shoemaker, and Alex Navarro share their combined decades of knowledge, expertise, and passion for games with weekly discussions about what they're playing, what's happening in the industry, and whatever else they're up to.
What a chockablock episode this week, touching on games like Dragon Quest VII Reimagined, Cairn, and Vinny's Silent Hill f ending extravaganza, plus how the Epstein files intersect with gaming, alarming layoff stats in game development, Switch sales' major new milestone, things we miss from the pre-Internet gaming era, and the AI-powered Parappa the Rapper podcast coming soon to a PlayStation near you.
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
(00:05:00) That video is fantastic and you should watch the whole thing!
(00:05:36) There's even more of that terrible Captain America movie?
(00:13:16) Cairn | [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5] | Jan 29, 2026
(00:23:52) First Break
(00:23:57) Dragon Quest VII Reimagined | [Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox Series X|S] | Feb 05, 2026
(00:50:08) Earth Must Die | [PC (Microsoft Windows)] | Jan 27, 2026
(00:53:26) Absolum | [Nintendo Switch, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5] | Oct 09, 2025
(00:56:22) TR-49 | [PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac] | Jan 21, 2026
(00:57:05) Silent Hill f | [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S] | Sep 25, 2025
(00:58:14) [SPOILERS] Ok, we are going to talk about SOME Silent Hill f narrative stuff
(01:16:29) Second Break
(01:16:33) The Epstein Files and Gaming
(01:30:47) Sony patents AI podcasts?
(01:39:34) Over a quarter of game developers have lost their jobs
(01:47:13) Obsidian not working on Outer Worlds 3...
(01:51:03) The Switch is Nintendo's biggest seller! Ever!
(01:54:41) Finally, a use for you Labo VR!
(01:59:51) Apex Legends shutting down on Switch
(02:01:14) Grand Theft Auto 6 may indeed have a physical release at launch!
(02:02:16) Highguard gets a five versus five mode!
(02:05:22) Emails
(02:27:38) Wrapping up and thanks
(02:29:57) Mysterious Benefactor Tier Shoutouts
(02:30:58) Nextlander Content Updates
(02:33:14) See ya!
On the show this week: Highguard is out, Brad finished Silent Hill f (once), Grand Theft Auto VI might not get a physical release at launch, Double Fine announced a pottery-brawling online game, Battlefield 6 did extremely well, Nintendo has strong feelings about Dispatch, and a series of truly shocking revelations about the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
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.
(00:00:09) Intro
(00:05:35) The Best 80s Cartoon Intros
(00:11:45) Highguard | [PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Microsoft Windows)] | Jan 26, 2026
(00:39:39) First Break
(00:39:43) TR-49 | [PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac] | Jan 21, 2026
(00:45:11) Absolum | [Nintendo Switch, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5] | Oct 09, 2025
(00:46:42) [SPOILERS] Silent Hill f ending and story spoilers!
(00:47:17) Silent Hill f | [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S] | Sep 25, 2025
(01:12:58) Second Break
(01:13:03) Yes it's true, this game has no disc (maybe)
(01:29:34) Xbox Developer_Direct
(01:30:52) Kiln | [Xbox Series X|S, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5] | Q2 2026
(01:37:10) Battlefield vs Call of Duty in terms of sales
(01:40:53) Not of all Congress seems OK with the EA sale
(01:46:58) Dispatch on the Switch might be a bit... blurrier
(01:52:36) Emails
(02:13:25) Wrapping up and thanks
(02:18:16) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts
(02:21:16) See ya!
Ubisoft is doing a big old reorg, delaying and canceling games, and talking about "billionaire brands," Marathon gets a release date, Highguard is out next Monday, Life Is Strange is getting an unexpected sequel, some consoles get ranked from prettiest to ugliest, and we spent time with games like Hack and Climb, Whiskerwood, and Silent Hill f's new game plus mode. All that and more 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
(00:02:04) Do you want a missile or a mansion?
(00:05:33) Getting ready for the snow?
(00:11:25) Are website ads as thumbnails new to YouTube?
(00:12:46) [Spoilers] Silent Hill f
(00:13:29) Silent Hill f | [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S] | Sep 25, 2025
(00:33:23) First Break
(00:33:28) Hack and Climb | [PC (Microsoft Windows)] | Jan 20, 2026
(00:42:22) Whiskerwood (Early Access) | [PC (Microsoft Windows)] | Nov 06, 2025
(00:49:38) Absolum | [Nintendo Switch, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5] | Oct 09, 2025
(00:50:59) Road to Empress | [PC (Microsoft Windows)] | Sep 08, 2025
(00:56:55) Second Break
(00:57:00) Ubisoft makes some moves for 2026
(01:13:48) Marathon gets a release date and new trailer
(01:20:20) Highguard still has a lot of question marks around it
(01:27:18) A new Life is Strange game has been announced
(01:35:46) Hitman is getting cross-progression!
(01:51:21) Emails
(02:08:47) Wrapping up and thanks
(02:11:42) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts
(02:14:04) Nextlander content updates
(02:15:14) See ya!
This week's show features everything from zombie screening in Quarantine Zone to modding your Switch 2 Joy-cons, making video game documentaries from primary research, our hopes for a third Wolfenstein game (and maybe a StarCraft shooter?), a sad farewell to Twisted Pixel, a long-ish deep dive on sequels in film and video games, and a bunch more.
The VGHF's NES documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJvpRGibFhg
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
(00:02:07) How expensive is the noise your house is making?
(00:05:48) People walking around on your property
(00:14:39) The Untold Story of the Nintendo Entertainment System
(00:24:58) Mosa Lina | [Linux, Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows)] | Oct 17, 2023
(00:29:01) First Break
(00:29:05) Quarantine Zone: The Last Check | [PC (Microsoft Windows)] | Jan 12, 2026
(00:41:20) Absolum | [Nintendo Switch, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5] | Oct 09, 2025
(00:46:48) The Séance of Blake Manor | [Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows)] | Oct 27, 2025
(00:48:51) Tetris 99 and replacing Switch 2 d-pads
(00:56:44) Silent Hill f | [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S] | Sep 25, 2025
(00:59:44) Second Break
(00:59:50) Sounds like we'll get a Wolfenstein 3
(01:09:48) Avowed is getting a PS5 release
(01:13:17) They are taking another stab at a StarCraft shooter?
(01:18:22) Oh Meta, do you deserve such ire? Almost certainly.
(01:38:54) Emails
(02:01:27) Wrapping up and thanks
(02:03:05) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts
(02:04:51) Nextlander Content Updates
(02:09:37) See Ya!
Let's start 2026 by chatting about games we played over the break, including Miles Morales, Civ 7, Absolum, and Vinny's... feelings about Metroid Prime 4. We also round up the the news over the holiday, like the tragic passing of Vince Zampella, next-gen consoles maybe getting delayed, possible new DLC for The Witcher 3, changes in GOG's ownership, 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
(00:03:00) 2026 and the business of video games
(00:06:10) Some purchases during our break
(00:13:38) Professor Layton still rules
(00:18:15) What the heck are the kids reading these days?
(00:19:18) No more generations, except Generation Remix
(00:21:47) Metroid Prime 4: Beyond | [Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2] | Dec 04, 2025
(00:32:52) First Break
(00:35:13) More of the games we played during break
(00:35:46) Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales | [PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5] | Nov 12, 2020
(00:42:12) Death Stranding 2: On The Beach | [PlayStation 5] | Jun 26, 2025
(00:45:43) Sid Meier's Civilization VII | [Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows), Linux, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch] | Feb 11, 2025
(00:51:51) Absolum | [Nintendo Switch, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5] | Oct 09, 2025
(00:58:35) Second Break
(00:58:40) Vince Zampella's death
(01:05:55) RAM prices and next gen planning
(01:13:56) The Witcher 3 is getting more DLC?
(01:16:52) GOG is being sold... sort of?
(01:19:52) Yoji Shinkawa designs some real gear!
(01:27:02) Alex has some breaking news
(01:28:55) Emails
(01:40:32) Wrapping up and thanks
(01:44:07) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts
(01:46:32) See ya!