Derek and Finn sing the praises of Capcom's latest release, the incredibly experimental Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess. Why more people aren't playing it we don't know, because it's like if Nintendo bought Clover Studios and let them make whatever they wanted. Kunitsu-Gami? More like Kunitsu-GOTY. This game was reviewed on PC with a code provide…

Bethesda Game Studios and the World of Warcraft team at Blizzard unionize in partnership with the CWA, and the actor's guild SAG-AFTRA authorizes a strike in the gaming industry over lack of protections against AI. Can you smell that? In the air? It smells like another Hot Labor Summer. Catch SDGC Live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitc…

John and Derek discuss a recent email from a Microsoft employee about the company's failure to commit to its DEI practices, and how all corporate DEI initiatives are in placative at best. "The master's tools will not dismantle the master's house." But let's be real, this is going up Monday, y'all probably have a million political podcasts to check …

We return after a multi-week break to laugh at John's misfortune, laugh at Derek's adventures in Kingdom Hearts, and mull over the recently announced (and possibly inevitable) changes to Xbox Game Pass. Catch SDGC Live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/officialsdgc Join the community Discord for a cool, inclusive, protected space f…

We're joined by Cam Hawkins to talk about that absolute banger of a Nintendo Direct. You've got to give it to 'em, Nintendo knows how to put on a show. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/officialsdgc Join the community Discord for a cool, inclusive, protected space for all kinds of folks to talk nerdy -…

We're joined by journalist and friend of the show Sarah LeBoeuf to talk about Summer Game Fest as both an event for journalists and a presentation, as well as the game showcase that may have saved Xbox. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/officialsdgc Join the community Discord for a cool, inclusive, pro…

In the space right before a bunch of big reveal shows (including the now-concluded Summer Game Fest and Xbox Games Showcase) the crew talks about some of their fondest memories of E3s past and eventually gets sidetracked talking about the upcoming charity event. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/offici…

We're joined by frequent friend of the show Josh Fagundes aka Anoriand to talk about the State of Play presentation from Playstation only hours before, kicking off the summer reveal season. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/officialsdgc Join the community Discord for a cool, inclusive, protected space …

We're joined by HuggableHipster to talk about the upcoming storm of gaming presentations and reveals, and stake claim on our predictions and our wildest hopes. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/officialsdgc Join the community Discord for a cool, inclusive, protected space for all kinds of folks to talk…

We're joined by Sam Tolbert to discuss the week's disastrous run of news from Xbox, centered around the closing of studios like Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks. We put the news in the context of Microsoft's decade-long struggle to manage development teams and publish software. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time -…

We're joined this week by Kotaku's Alyssa Mercante to recap the timeline of the recent escalation of harassment against marginalized people who work in the gaming industry, dismantle the bad faith arguments and justifications by those harassing, and generally grapple with the state of Being Online These Days. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday …

We discuss some creative ways games like Fortnite have tried to resolve toxicity and player discomfort in online multiplayer games, and the need for the work to continue. Also, we think up the best and worst combinations of branding exercises that our tortured minds can spit out. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time …

We're joined by Mat Piscatella to revisit the goofs and gags of the olden days and talk about the changing trends of the industry that everyone needs to get comfortable with. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/officialsdgc Join the community Discord for a cool, inclusive, protected space for all kinds o…

Derek and Jeff have seen the light and they're here to explain why Dragon's Dogma 2 may (or may not, I guess) be the game for you. This game was reviewed on PC with a code provided by the publisher. Thanks to Capcom for providing us the opportunity to cover this game. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/…

Finn's on his own today to talk about Pepper Grinder, a lovely, kinetic, frenetic little action platformer that drills (get it) into your skull and refuses to leave. This game was reviewed on Nintendo Switch with a code provided by the publisher. Thanks to Devolver Digital for providing us the opportunity to cover this game. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALL…

We're joined by voice actor Austin Lee Matthews in an episode that quickly goes off the rails from a traditional interview show into an hour and a half show of good natured goofing and gagging. It's no news this week, only vibes. As dudes are wont to say, "we needed this". Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitc…

We're joined this week by award-winning journalist and former cast member Reb Valentine to talk about some big recent RPGs, highlight our favorite indie titles we saw at GDC and PAX East, and last but not least some gosh-danged MEDIA UNIONS. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/officialsdgc Join the commu…

We talk about the sudden drastic increase in harassment and threats against women, people of color, and queer folks who work in the gaming space (including one of the cast and at least one personal friend). Plus, freelance journalist Ryan Easby talks about how many people misunderstand the hustle it takes to work in media. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY …

Brit is joined by Derek and Justin to talk about the game everyone is playing, the hit game of the summer, the only thing your teens are talking about: Balatro. This game was reviewed on PC with a code provided by the publisher. Thanks to Playstack for providing us the opportunity to cover this game. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at…

Finn is here to talk about the breakout new RPG The Thaumaturge, developed in Poland and set in a dark urban-horror-fantasy take on Warsaw. How does this game compare to its CRPG inspirations and its modern contemporaries? This game was reviewed on Nintendo Switch with a code provided by the publisher. Thanks to 11 Bit Studios for providing us the …

We quickly and immediately shut down giving any oxygen to the harassment campaign against narrative and DEI consultation in gaming, move on to talk about the tricky grey area around emulation in the wake of Yuzu and Citra shutting down, then get caught off guard live by the death of acclaimed artist and creator Akira Toriyama. Catch SDGC Live ACTUA…

We're joined by regular friend of the show Josh aka Anoriand to discuss the uncertain state of games releases and the health of industry after this quickly-coming March. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/officialsdgc Join the community Discord for a cool, inclusive, protected space for all kinds of fol…

John and Derek sift through this remastered collection of the original PS1 Tomb Raider trilogy and discuss what value these games hold to the current zeitgeist. It's a worthy endeavor to keep these iconic pieces of gaming history accessible and available, but for who? This game was reviewed on Nintendo Switch with a code provided by the publisher. …

John, Derek, and Justin discuss the timeline of rumors and reports that eventually led to one of the most toxic fanbases in gaming losing every ounce of sanity they had left. No, Xbox is not dead. Everybody take a breath. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/officialsdgc Join the community Discord for a c…

Better late than never, it's our 2023 Game of the Year show! Every member of the cast ends up appearing to talk about their favorite games of 2023, as well as runners up and honorable mentions. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/officialsdgc Join the community Discord for a cool, inclusive, protected sp…

We're joined by former cast member and award-winning journalist Reb Valentine to talk about the biggest stories of the games industry in 2023. Unfortunately the mass layoffs, which have only intensified this January, have proven to be THE defining story of the last year. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.…

Capcom is back with another Ace Attorney collection, featuring new remastered versions of the fourth, fifth, and sixth entries in the main series. John and Derek break down the strengths and weaknesses of the collection, as well as who exactly it's for (spoiler warning, probably NOT for people who skipped the original Phoenix Wright trilogy). This …

Xbox's Developer Direct feels like a breath of fresh air for the way it celebrates the people who actually make our games. Also, we talk about what Microsoft's strategy should be for releasing the games they publish on Nintendo and Sony platforms. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/officialsdgc Join the…

We try to talk about the fun stuff for as long as possible before diving into a grab bag of AI related news topics that have come to the forefront in the last week, including two separate stories where an AI tech company might have earned the wrath of Nintendo. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/officia…

Prince of Persia is back with a surprise 2D metroidvania style, and our boys CJ and Finn have both put hands on it. Is this out-of-left-field franchise revival the right direction for the series, or just a refreshing early entry in publisher Ubisoft's 2024 lineup? This game was reviewed on Nintendo Switch with a code provided by the publisher. Than…

We kick off the new year with long-time former cast member Gabe, all the way from Brazil, for the first time in years! It's all good vibes this week as we talk about the games we missed in a stacked 2023, and some predictions for the coming year. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/officialsdgc Join the …

We're joined again by friend of the show Sam Tolbert to discuss Bobby Kotick's last day at Activision Blizzard, and what may be next for the company's leadership under Microsoft. Also, China's new regulations around the gaming industry are surprisingly good, but launch a weirdly nuanced conversation from this panel of dweebs. Bye bye 2023, we won't…

We're joined by Sam Tolbert to talk about the best announcements of The Game Awards and also the many ways in which the show (and its organizer/frontman Geoff Keighley) failed the very people it claims to celebrate. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/officialsdgc Join the community Discord for a cool, i…

The bulk of this episode is comprised of our lengthy interview with Dave Jones, the actor who portrays Halsin in Baldur's Gate 3. Dave talks about his newfound popularity, his history with video games, and positive examples of masculinity in media. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/officialsdgc Join th…

We're joined by Brenden Groom from Pass The Controller to talk about Microsoft partnering with an AI firm to bring AI-generated content to their games. Also, extended goofing about the recently announced live action Legend of Zelda movie, with some inspired and not-so-inspired casting choices. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at 9pm Ea…

A remake of one of the best RPGs of the PS1 generation has released, so you know John is on the scene. Who is this HD2D inspired remake for, and is there any reason to go back to the original release (or its PSP update) at this point? Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/officialsdgc Join the community Di…

Derek had the opportunity to play The Invincible, a first person narrative-driven adventure game based on a classic 1960s sci fi novel and made with obvious love and devotion for 60s futurist aesthetics. Does this stack up with the best of the genre or did it need a bit more time in the oven? Thanks to 11 Bit Studios for providing us with a review …

It's just Derek, Jeff, and John this week as the crew is still recovering from our massive in-person charity event. We have a lot of games we've been playing that are worth talking about... and of course, there's the Bungie layoffs, because we can't go a week without major industry layoffs. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at 9pm Easte…

Derek, CJ, and Brit (in spirit) discuss the fascinatingly creepy indie visual novel Slay the Princess. You all have no idea how hard it is to talk about this game while spoiling as little as possible, but we think you can hear our impressions and still go into the game basically ignorant of what's to come. Thanks to Black Tabby Games for providing …

Now that this astonishingly unique indie horror game has finally left early access, Derek and John sort through their opinions on the game (even reminiscing about playing a demo for the game back at PAX East 2019!). World of Horror won't be for everyone, but if you look at those screenshots and the sentence "2-bit semi-roguelike horror adventure ga…

Finn and Justin have played Ghostrunner 2, the followup to Socky award winner Ghostrunner. Is this just more of a good thing, or does Ghostrunner 2 find ways to make itself stand out from the exceptional original? Thanks to 505 Games for providing us with a review code. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.t…

We're joined by one man dev team Eric of The Matte Black Studio to talk about his adventures in game development and his upcoming indie "celestoidvania" action platformer, Lucid. We also get to dream about where famed rockstar game designers Shinji Mikami and Hideki Kamiya might end up once their non-compete agreements are over. Catch SDGC Live ACT…

SDGC's resident Dragon Quest correspondent CJ is joined by Brit to discuss this Dragon Quest spinoff action RPG, based on an anime, based in turn on an original Dragon Quest manga. Does Infinity Strash live up to the series' long standard of quality spinoffs, or would you be better off with the anime/manga? Thank you to Square Enix for the review c…

Multiple former Ubisoft executives arrested for their part in long lasting and widespread sexual abuse and assault at the French gaming publisher. To lighten things up, we also talk about what gaming franchises deserve a second chance at life. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/officialsdgc Join the com…

We bemoan another huge wave of layoffs at multiple companies, including Epic Games, Sega, and Ubisoft. Later in the show, we're joined by Ash Parrish from The Verge for an extended interview with Samantha Béart, who portrays fan-favorite Karlach in Baldur's Gate 3. Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live- Thursday nights at 9pm Eastern US time - twitch.tv/of…

Embracer lays off a buttload more people they couldn't afford to keep after their acquisition spree, and Microsoft accidentally leaks a bunch of their own sensitive info through the process of a court case about their latest acquisition spree. Is there a pattern here? Can we make there be a pattern? Catch SDGC Live ACTUALLY live Thursday nights at …

We're joined this week by voice actor Cissy Jones to talk about the roles that uplifted her career, the art of voice acting, and the need to protect the people who perform that art for a living from predatory forces in various industries. We also touch on Unity's disastrous policy changes resulting in unprecedented backlash from developers of all s…

The crew unites and celebrates as reputable journalists and news outlets report on Nintendo's top secret upcoming Switch successor, which was shown off to development partners at Gamescom. What do the details of this report mean for Nintendo's next console? We also talk about the trend of games releasing early for players willing to pay premium pri…

The long-awaited new entry in the cult favorite Armored Core franchise comes to us via a very different FromSoftware than the one that oversaw the last game 10 years ago. Derek, Jeff, and Justin break down this fast-paced giant mecha action game and how it breaks the mold from what FromSoftware fans old and new might be expecting from it. NOTE: Sho…

We're joined by a couple friends this week to talk about what we've been playing (spoilers, a LOT of Sea of Stars and some Armored Core 6), layoffs at Embracer Group owned developers, and Sony cranking up the price of their online service.