PS This is Awesome! A PlayStation Podcast

Episode 396 – Battlefield 6 In today’s episode of PS This Is Awesome! A listener breaks down Borderlands 4’s new reactive level scaling system while Fred defends his “flawless” Mekadragon run in Cyber Shadow—despite some questionable criticism from a fellow gamer. Fred’s been juggling Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden and Battlefield 6, while Jake continues exploring Ghost of Yotei. Fred also grabbed Valiant Hearts for his backlog. On the news front, Sony’s reportedly gearing up PS6 production for early 2027, hinting at a possible late-2027 or early-2028 launch. Meanwhile, Battlefield 6 storms the UK charts with a dominant PS5 debut, and Sucker Punch confirms it’s focusing on one project at a time—so don’t expect inFAMOUS remasters anytime soon. Remedy’s FBC: Firebreak faces financial struggles, highlighting fatigue in the live-service market. Looking ahead, Blood West and The Cabin Factory drop October 16th, followed by Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, Ninja Gaiden 4, Painkiller, and Jurassic World Evolution 3 arriving October 21st. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fred is still plunging into Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden, Jake takes on Ghost of Yotei, and we share some awesome listener feedback about self-care and making sure we’re not burning the candle at both ends. Thanks to everyone for understanding our short break! In news, Battlefield 6 physical copies have leaked ahead of release, which is surprising for two reasons — hardly anyone buys physical games anymore, and most don’t actually contain the game on the disc. This one does, though online is still required even for the campaign. October’s PS Plus Essential lineup features Alan Wake 2, Goat Simulator 3, and Cocoon. Rumors are swirling that Xbox might not release a next-gen console at all, which could leave PlayStation unmatched when the PS6 eventually launches. There’s also talk of a new DualSense controller with a removable battery, and reports that EA may be going private amid a potential $50 billion buyout. Short, spooky, and full of PlayStation talk. We also dive into the State of Play that we didn't get a chance to discuss last week. — it’s good to be back! By joining our Patreon community for ONLY $1.00 per month, you'll also enjoy these exclusive benefits: Early Access: Be the first to listen to our episodes as soon as they're ready. Get ahead of the game and dive into the latest news, reviews, and discussions. Personalized Shoutout: As a token of our gratitude for your support, we'll give you a special shout out during one of our podcast episodes, acknowledging your contribution and dedication to our show. Custom Die-Cut Vinyl Sticker: Receive an exclusive custom die-cut vinyl sticker featuring our podcast's unique design. Showcase your support with this limited-edition collectible. Your support goes a long way in helping us continue to create the content you love. It's a simple and direct way to show your appreciation for our podcast. To become a patron and unlock these exciting benefits, visit www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome today. Your support keeps us going and ensures that we can keep delivering top-notch PlayStation content. Please, if you enjoyed the content or even if you didn’t quite enjoy this one, we encourage you to come back. We try to offer something for everybody. Please share with your friends and help us spread the show as we try to build a bigger community here! As always you can support our show at our Patreon Page. Thanks for listening. http://www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 394 – Skate is Back & Silent Hill News In this week’s episode, Fred and Jake dig into the latest PlayStation news. Sony is bringing more classic Tomb Raider adventures back to PS5 and PS4 with trophy support, while the September PS Plus lineup delivers a mix of new and retro titles for subscribers. We talk about our time with Skate, Banishers: Ghosts of New Edan, and Borderlands 4. We also cover the latest PS5 firmware update, which improves power-saving features and DualSense pairing. Plus, we highlight the upcoming Arc Raiders stress test and preview a busy release schedule, including Baby Steps, Silent Hill F, EA Sports FC 26, and more. By joining our Patreon community for ONLY $1.00 per month, you'll also enjoy these exclusive benefits: Early Access: Be the first to listen to our episodes as soon as they're ready. Get ahead of the game and dive into the latest news, reviews, and discussions. Personalized Shoutout: As a token of our gratitude for your support, we'll give you a special shout out during one of our podcast episodes, acknowledging your contribution and dedication to our show. Custom Die-Cut Vinyl Sticker: Receive an exclusive custom die-cut vinyl sticker featuring our podcast's unique design. Showcase your support with this limited-edition collectible. Your support goes a long way in helping us continue to create the content you love. It's a simple and direct way to show your appreciation for our podcast. To become a patron and unlock these exciting benefits, visit www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome today. Your support keeps us going and ensures that we can keep delivering top-notch PlayStation content. Please, if you enjoyed the content or even if you didn’t quite enjoy this one, we encourage you to come back. We try to offer something for everybody. Please share with your friends and help us spread the show as we try to build a bigger community here! As always you can support our show at our Patreon Page. Thanks for listening. http://www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s episode of PS This Is Awesome, Fred shares that he finally finished Death Stranding 2 while Jake has some Borderlands 4 woes. We dive into a heavy news week for PlayStation fans. Rumors are swirling about a possible PS5 Showcase next week, Sony is doubling down on single-player gaming, and the September PS Plus lineup is here. On top of that, GTA 6 is shaping up to be the biggest launch in history, whispers about a detachable disc drive for PS6 have started, and Sony quietly cut storage space on new PS5 models. Naughty Dog teased their most ambitious project yet, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. Plus, we look at this week’s full slate of new PS5 and PS4 releases. By joining our Patreon community for ONLY $1.00 per month, you'll also enjoy these exclusive benefits: Early Access: Be the first to listen to our episodes as soon as they're ready. Get ahead of the game and dive into the latest news, reviews, and discussions. Personalized Shoutout: As a token of our gratitude for your support, we'll give you a special shout out during one of our podcast episodes, acknowledging your contribution and dedication to our show. Custom Die-Cut Vinyl Sticker: Receive an exclusive custom die-cut vinyl sticker featuring our podcast's unique design. Showcase your support with this limited-edition collectible. Your support goes a long way in helping us continue to create the content you love. It's a simple and direct way to show your appreciation for our podcast. To become a patron and unlock these exciting benefits, visit www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome today. Your support keeps us going and ensures that we can keep delivering top-notch PlayStation content. Please, if you enjoyed the content or even if you didn’t quite enjoy this one, we encourage you to come back. We try to offer something for everybody. Please share with your friends and help us spread the show as we try to build a bigger community here! As always you can support our show at our Patreon Page. Thanks for listening. http://www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Fred dives back into Death Stranding 2 while Jake shares his latest impressions after beating Shinobi: Art of Vengeance. We kick off listener feedback with @bigbox1431 challenging Jake’s “graphics matter” stance, pointing out Nintendo’s massive success with the new Zelda games. In the news segment, we discuss the 007: First Light State of Play, growing tensions around Xbox Game Pass, Sony allowing beta footage sharing for Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, and rumors about Wolverine on PS5 and a detachable disc drive for the next-gen PS6. We also highlight upcoming releases, including Firefighting Simulator: Ignite, Dead Reset, Borderlands 4, and Gloomy Eyes. By joining our Patreon community for ONLY $1.00 per month, you'll also enjoy these exclusive benefits: Early Access: Be the first to listen to our episodes as soon as they're ready. Get ahead of the game and dive into the latest news, reviews, and discussions. Personalized Shoutout: As a token of our gratitude for your support, we'll give you a special shout out during one of our podcast episodes, acknowledging your contribution and dedication to our show. Custom Die-Cut Vinyl Sticker: Receive an exclusive custom die-cut vinyl sticker featuring our podcast's unique design. Showcase your support with this limited-edition collectible. Your support goes a long way in helping us continue to create the content you love. It's a simple and direct way to show your appreciation for our podcast. To become a patron and unlock these exciting benefits, visit www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome today. Your support keeps us going and ensures that we can keep delivering top-notch PlayStation content. Please, if you enjoyed the content or even if you didn’t quite enjoy this one, we encourage you to come back. We try to offer something for everybody. Please share with your friends and help us spread the show as we try to build a bigger community here! As always you can support our show at our Patreon Page. Thanks for listening. http://www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s episode, we break down September’s PlayStation Plus Essential lineup, featuring Psychonauts 2, Stardew Valley, and Viewfinder, now available to redeem. We also dive into the latest shake-up at Haven Studio, as Fairgames loses its game director to WB Games Montreal, raising new doubts about Sony’s live-service strategy. Plus, a fresh State of Play is on the calendar for September 3, with a spotlight on 007: First Light, and rumors are swirling about a dockable PS6 handheld. We wrap things up with franchise news on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and a packed slate of new releases, including Hollow Knight: Silksong and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Order of Giants. By joining our Patreon community for ONLY $1.00 per month, you'll also enjoy these exclusive benefits: Early Access: Be the first to listen to our episodes as soon as they're ready. Get ahead of the game and dive into the latest news, reviews, and discussions. Personalized Shoutout: As a token of our gratitude for your support, we'll give you a special shout out during one of our podcast episodes, acknowledging your contribution and dedication to our show. Custom Die-Cut Vinyl Sticker: Receive an exclusive custom die-cut vinyl sticker featuring our podcast's unique design. Showcase your support with this limited-edition collectible. Your support goes a long way in helping us continue to create the content you love. It's a simple and direct way to show your appreciation for our podcast. To become a patron and unlock these exciting benefits, visit www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome today. Your support keeps us going and ensures that we can keep delivering top-notch PlayStation content. Please, if you enjoyed the content or even if you didn’t quite enjoy this one, we encourage you to come back. We try to offer something for everybody. Please share with your friends and help us spread the show as we try to build a bigger community here! As always you can support our show at our Patreon Page. Thanks for listening. http://www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 390 - Gamescom, He-Man, and PS5 Price Hike In Episode 390, we dive into the latest news from the gaming world. Capcom is going all-in for TGS 2025, bringing playable demos of Resident Evil Requiem, Street Fighter 6, Pragmata, and more, while EA is gearing up to reveal the Early Access date for the free-to-play Skate reboot. We also cover retro nostalgia with Masters of the Universe: Dragon Pearl of Destruction, Sony’s increasing control over Bungie following Pete Parsons’ departure, and a new Halloween multiplayer game from IllFonic. On the hardware side, Sony raises PS5 prices in the U.S. by $50. Finally, we highlight the biggest PlayStation announcements from Gamescom 2025, including Ghost of Yōtei, Hollow Knight: Silksong, LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, and a host of indie titles, plus a quick look at upcoming releases like Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater and Lost Soul Aside. By joining our Patreon community for ONLY $1.00 per month, you'll also enjoy these exclusive benefits: Early Access: Be the first to listen to our episodes as soon as they're ready. Get ahead of the game and dive into the latest news, reviews, and discussions. Personalized Shoutout: As a token of our gratitude for your support, we'll give you a special shout out during one of our podcast episodes, acknowledging your contribution and dedication to our show. Custom Die-Cut Vinyl Sticker: Receive an exclusive custom die-cut vinyl sticker featuring our podcast's unique design. Showcase your support with this limited-edition collectible. Your support goes a long way in helping us continue to create the content you love. It's a simple and direct way to show your appreciation for our podcast. To become a patron and unlock these exciting benefits, visit www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome today. Your support keeps us going and ensures that we can keep delivering top-notch PlayStation content. Please, if you enjoyed the content or even if you didn’t quite enjoy this one, we encourage you to come back. We try to offer something for everybody. Please share with your friends and help us spread the show as we try to build a bigger community here! As always you can support our show at our Patreon Page. Thanks for listening. http://www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we dig into analyst Michael Pachter’s harsh critique of Sony’s leadership and what it means for PlayStation’s future. We also cover the social media firestorm Sony sparked by acknowledging Helldivers 2’s Xbox release, plus rumors of a late September State of Play that could deliver big holiday news. Finally, we break down Nexon’s AI ad controversy with The First Descendant and why it’s raising serious questions about ethics in gaming marketing. By joining our Patreon community for ONLY $1.00 per month, you'll also enjoy these exclusive benefits: Early Access: Be the first to listen to our episodes as soon as they're ready. Get ahead of the game and dive into the latest news, reviews, and discussions. Personalized Shoutout: As a token of our gratitude for your support, we'll give you a special shout out during one of our podcast episodes, acknowledging your contribution and dedication to our show. Custom Die-Cut Vinyl Sticker: Receive an exclusive custom die-cut vinyl sticker featuring our podcast's unique design. Showcase your support with this limited-edition collectible. Your support goes a long way in helping us continue to create the content you love. It's a simple and direct way to show your appreciation for our podcast. To become a patron and unlock these exciting benefits, visit www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome today. Your support keeps us going and ensures that we can keep delivering top-notch PlayStation content. Please, if you enjoyed the content or even if you didn’t quite enjoy this one, we encourage you to come back. We try to offer something for everybody. Please share with your friends and help us spread the show as we try to build a bigger community here! As always you can support our show at our Patreon Page. Thanks for listening. http://www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 388 - Ready or Not August is Here In this episode, Fred is deep into Death Stranding 2, having just hit Chapter 9 and surpassed 70 hours of gameplay. Jake joins in with listener feedback and some sharp takes on the latest PlayStation news. We dive into Sony’s August PS Plus Essential lineup, where Lies of P shines as a dark, Pinocchio-inspired Souls-like standout, while DayZ and My Hero One’s Justice 2 offer more mixed receptions. Battlefield 6 finally hits a smooth 60 FPS Performance Mode on PS5, promising better responsiveness and visuals. We also highlight the surprising console success of Ready or Not, which has already sold over 2 million copies in under a week. Plus, THQ Nordic brings the classic Gothic trilogy to PlayStation, feeding the retro revival trend. Lastly, Sony confirms it will skip Gamescom 2025 for the sixth year in a row—setting the stage for more digital-first showcases. On the new releases front, we cover a variety of PlayStation games dropping this week—from the cooperative physics-puzzler Biped 2, to the anime-fighting sequel Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles 2, the cozy Hello Kitty Island Adventure, the retro shoot-’em-up collection Gradius Origins, and the gritty Mafia prequel Mafia: The Old Country. Whether you’re into deep story-driven epics, casual island life, or retro arcade action, this week has something to talk about. By joining our Patreon community for ONLY $1.00 per month, you'll also enjoy these exclusive benefits: Early Access: Be the first to listen to our episodes as soon as they're ready. Get ahead of the game and dive into the latest news, reviews, and discussions. Personalized Shoutout: As a token of our gratitude for your support, we'll give you a special shout out during one of our podcast episodes, acknowledging your contribution and dedication to our show. Custom Die-Cut Vinyl Sticker: Receive an exclusive custom die-cut vinyl sticker featuring our podcast's unique design. Showcase your support with this limited-edition collectible. Your support goes a long way in helping us continue to create the content you love. It's a simple and direct way to show your appreciation for our podcast. To become a patron and unlock these exciting benefits, visit www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome today. Your support keeps us going and ensures that we can keep delivering top-notch PlayStation content. Please, if you enjoyed the content or even if you didn’t quite enjoy this one, we encourage you to come back. We try to offer something for everybody. Please share with your friends and help us spread the show as we try to build a bigger community here! As always you can support our show at our Patreon Page. Thanks for listening. http://www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🎮 EPISODE 387: Horizon: The Clone Wars In Episode 387, Fred dives deeper into Death Stranding 2 with many hours logged, while Jake shares what’s on his playlist. We kick off with your listener feedback, then jump into the biggest PlayStation news this week: Sony’s reveal of the innovative FlexStrike Wireless Fight Stick—wireless, low-latency, and loaded with features for fighters everywhere. Plus, we unpack Sony’s legal battle against Tencent over a shameless Horizon Zero Dawn clone, explore rumors of a new free-to-play Battle Royale mode in Battlefield 6, and discuss the fallout from MindsEye’s Agent 47 mission delay amid developer layoffs. Finally, we break down Sony’s massive investment in Bandai Namco and what it could mean for the future of gaming and anime IP collaborations. Tune in for all this and more! By joining our Patreon community for ONLY $1.00 per month, you'll also enjoy these exclusive benefits: Early Access: Be the first to listen to our episodes as soon as they're ready. Get ahead of the game and dive into the latest news, reviews, and discussions. Personalized Shoutout: As a token of our gratitude for your support, we'll give you a special shout out during one of our podcast episodes, acknowledging your contribution and dedication to our show. Custom Die-Cut Vinyl Sticker: Receive an exclusive custom die-cut vinyl sticker featuring our podcast's unique design. Showcase your support with this limited-edition collectible. Your support goes a long way in helping us continue to create the content you love. It's a simple and direct way to show your appreciation for our podcast. To become a patron and unlock these exciting benefits, visit www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome today. Your support keeps us going and ensures that we can keep delivering top-notch PlayStation content. Please, if you enjoyed the content or even if you didn’t quite enjoy this one, we encourage you to come back. We try to offer something for everybody. Please share with your friends and help us spread the show as we try to build a bigger community here! As always you can support our show at our Patreon Page. Thanks for listening. http://www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🎮 EPISODE 386: PS5 Pro Now With More K This week on PS This Is Awesome, Fred’s still deep in the package life with Death Stranding 2 (62 hours and counting!), while Jake’s playing Lies of P. In the news: Ubisoft is bringing Ghost Recon into first-person territory, Moon Studios ditches Xbox for PS5, and PS5 Pro hits a milestone with its first native 8K/60fps game. We also dig into a nostalgic boost for Atari 50, and a sneaky PS5 firmware update you probably already downloaded. Plus, we preview the week’s new releases—Luto, Monument Valley III, Killing Floor III, and more. No listener feedback this time, but the news and conversation more than carries the weight! By joining our Patreon community for ONLY $1.00 per month, you'll also enjoy these exclusive benefits: Early Access: Be the first to listen to our episodes as soon as they're ready. Get ahead of the game and dive into the latest news, reviews, and discussions. Personalized Shoutout: As a token of our gratitude for your support, we'll give you a special shout out during one of our podcast episodes, acknowledging your contribution and dedication to our show. Custom Die-Cut Vinyl Sticker: Receive an exclusive custom die-cut vinyl sticker featuring our podcast's unique design. Showcase your support with this limited-edition collectible. Your support goes a long way in helping us continue to create the content you love. It's a simple and direct way to show your appreciation for our podcast. To become a patron and unlock these exciting benefits, visit www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome today. Your support keeps us going and ensures that we can keep delivering top-notch PlayStation content. Please, if you enjoyed the content or even if you didn’t quite enjoy this one, we encourage you to come back. We try to offer something for everybody. Please share with your friends and help us spread the show as we try to build a bigger community here! As always you can support our show at our Patreon Page. Thanks for listening. http://www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🎮 EPISODE 385 – Ghost of Yōtei Hype and the Future of PS Plus Fred’s 40 hours deep into Death Stranding 2, Jake’s has finally ripped through Doom: The Dark Ages, Bought Death Stranding 2 and started Lies of P and we’re back with a fully loaded episode. We break down the biggest PlayStation stories of the week — starting with speculation around Cory Barlog’s next project. Is it more God of War or something entirely different? We also tee up the Ghost of Yōtei gameplay reveal and talk expectations for Sucker Punch’s next samurai epic. Then we celebrate 15 years of PlayStation Plus and debate what Sony needs to do to keep the service feeling fresh — especially as Cyberpunk 2077 drops into the Game Catalog. We also talk about Sony’s confirmed shift away from PS4 support on PS Plus in 2026. Plus, we run through this week’s new PSN drops, including Ready or Not, Neon Needles, and Neverwinter Nights 2: Enhanced Edition. By joining our Patreon community for ONLY $1.00 per month, you'll also enjoy these exclusive benefits: Early Access: Be the first to listen to our episodes as soon as they're ready. Get ahead of the game and dive into the latest news, reviews, and discussions. Personalized Shoutout: As a token of our gratitude for your support, we'll give you a special shout out during one of our podcast episodes, acknowledging your contribution and dedication to our show. Custom Die-Cut Vinyl Sticker: Receive an exclusive custom die-cut vinyl sticker featuring our podcast's unique design. Showcase your support with this limited-edition collectible. Your support goes a long way in helping us continue to create the content you love. It's a simple and direct way to show your appreciation for our podcast. To become a patron and unlock these exciting benefits, visit www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome today. Your support keeps us going and ensures that we can keep delivering top-notch PlayStation content. Please, if you enjoyed the content or even if you didn’t quite enjoy this one, we encourage you to come back. We try to offer something for everybody. Please share with your friends and help us spread the show as we try to build a bigger community here! As always you can support our show at our Patreon Page. Thanks for listening. http://www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fred’s neck-deep in Death Stranding 2, Jake’s still playing Doom The Dark Ages. In the news: Neil Druckmann is stepping away from The Last of Us Season 3 to focus on Naughty Dog, but he’s still playing games—Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 blew his mind, and it might be a GOTY dark horse. Also: Forza Motorsport may have stalled out for good as Turn 10 gets gutted and GT7 keeps cruising. Helldivers 2 jumping to Xbox has the PS5 crowd split, and a new Mafia: The Old Country gameplay drop has serious Uncharted energy. Plus, over a million gamers want to stop the industry from killing off old games, but publishers aren’t exactly on board. By joining our Patreon community for ONLY $1.00 per month, you'll also enjoy these exclusive benefits: Early Access: Be the first to listen to our episodes as soon as they're ready. Get ahead of the game and dive into the latest news, reviews, and discussions. Personalized Shoutout: As a token of our gratitude for your support, we'll give you a special shout out during one of our podcast episodes, acknowledging your contribution and dedication to our show. Custom Die-Cut Vinyl Sticker: Receive an exclusive custom die-cut vinyl sticker featuring our podcast's unique design. Showcase your support with this limited-edition collectible. Your support goes a long way in helping us continue to create the content you love. It's a simple and direct way to show your appreciation for our podcast. To become a patron and unlock these exciting benefits, visit www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome today. Your support keeps us going and ensures that we can keep delivering top-notch PlayStation content. Please, if you enjoyed the content or even if you didn’t quite enjoy this one, we encourage you to come back. We try to offer something for everybody. Please share with your friends and help us spread the show as we try to build a bigger community here! As always you can support our show at our Patreon Page. Thanks for listening. http://www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

383 - PS6 is Coming, What We Know and What We Want. We're back after a short break—thanks for hanging in there with us! In Episode 383, we unpack Sony’s surprise PS6 confirmation and talk about what machine learning and local power could mean for the next generation of PlayStation. Fred shares his thoughts on Car Mechanic Simulator and dives into Death Stranding 2, which he is absolutely ALL IN on, while Jake’s used his Steam Deck while in Italy and played Super Mario World. We also break down this month’s PS Plus lineup, System Shock 2’s incoming remaster, new life in Red Dead Online, and what’s dropping on PS5 this week. No listener feedback this time, but we’ve got a packed episode full of the good stuff. By joining our Patreon community for ONLY $1.00 per month, you'll also enjoy these exclusive benefits: Early Access: Be the first to listen to our episodes as soon as they're ready. Get ahead of the game and dive into the latest news, reviews, and discussions. Personalized Shoutout: As a token of our gratitude for your support, we'll give you a special shout out during one of our podcast episodes, acknowledging your contribution and dedication to our show. Custom Die-Cut Vinyl Sticker: Receive an exclusive custom die-cut vinyl sticker featuring our podcast's unique design. Showcase your support with this limited-edition collectible. Your support goes a long way in helping us continue to create the content you love. It's a simple and direct way to show your appreciation for our podcast. To become a patron and unlock these exciting benefits, visit www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome today. Your support keeps us going and ensures that we can keep delivering top-notch PlayStation content. Please, if you enjoyed the content or even if you didn’t quite enjoy this one, we encourage you to come back. We try to offer something for everybody. Please share with your friends and help us spread the show as we try to build a bigger community here! As always you can support our show at our Patreon Page. Thanks for listening. http://www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 382: Witcher 4 Shines, Gears Lands on PS5, and MindsEye Crashes Hard Fred wraps up The Lakehouse DLC for Alan Wake II and dives into the high-voltage chaos of Evil West, while Jake continues his trek with Doom The Dark Ages and also playing lots of different things on his Steam Deck, including the Hell is Us demoop[pop[p. We kick things off by thanking a longtime listener for a surprise gift, then dive into a wild week of PlayStation news. CD Projekt RED stuns with a Witcher 4 tech demo running at 60fps on PS5—but not everything is as it seems. Gears of War officially makes its PlayStation debut with Reloaded running smooth on PS5 Pro, while MindsEye hits the console like a flaming meteor, prompting Sony to issue rare refunds just days after launch. We also discuss the upcoming Silent Hill remake, the record-shattering launch of Switch 2 in Japan, SAG-AFTRA’s tentative victory over AI in game voiceovers, and a stacked lineup of new PS5 releases—plus some very weird dating sims. It's a packed episode filled with big shifts, bigger surprises, and the usual dose of sarcasm and insight. Let’s Dive In! By joining our Patreon community for ONLY $1.00 per month, you'll also enjoy these exclusive benefits: Early Access: Be the first to listen to our episodes as soon as they're ready. Get ahead of the game and dive into the latest news, reviews, and discussions. Personalized Shoutout: As a token of our gratitude for your support, we'll give you a special shout out during one of our podcast episodes, acknowledging your contribution and dedication to our show. Custom Die-Cut Vinyl Sticker: Receive an exclusive custom die-cut vinyl sticker featuring our podcast's unique design. Showcase your support with this limited-edition collectible. Your support goes a long way in helping us continue to create the content you love. It's a simple and direct way to show your appreciation for our podcast. To become a patron and unlock these exciting benefits, visit www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome today. Your support keeps us going and ensures that we can keep delivering top-notch PlayStation content. Please, if you enjoyed the content or even if you didn’t quite enjoy this one, we encourage you to come back. We try to offer something for everybody. Please share with your friends and help us spread the show as we try to build a bigger community here! As always you can support our show at our Patreon Page. Thanks for listening. http://www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 381 – Summer Game Fest Things, Night Springs, and Big Swings Fred’s back in the spooky saddle after diving into the Alan Wake II DLCs—he’s completed Night Springs and has just cracked open The Lakehouse. Meanwhile, Jake rolled credits on Expedition 33 and while the ending didn’t totally land for him, the journey was strong enough to make it one of his recent favorites. He also dipped into Doom: The Dark Ages, because of course he did. This week, we take a deep breath and unpack Summer Game Fest 2025. From the hype around sequels like Resident Evil: Requiem and Atomic Heart 2, to the weirdly compelling ILL and Reddit darling Stranger Than Heaven, the show had a little something for everyone—or maybe too much of everything. We talk about the odd bait-and-switch with Capcom’s teaser, how ILL might be more tech demo than game, and whether Atomic Heart really needed a multiplayer spin-off called The Cube. We also take stock of upcoming DLCs (Lies of P: Overture, 007: First Light), roster updates (Street Fighter 6), and stylish indies like Mixtape, Blighted, End of Abyss, and Scott Pilgrim EX. Some reveals had us curious—like Onimusha Way of the Sword and Jurassic World Evolution 3—while others, like Sonic Racing: Crosswinds and the Marvel DLC, barely got a shrug. Then it’s on to the PS5 flood that came from the Xbox Showcase of all places—Persona 4 Remake, The Outer Worlds 2, Gears of War Reloaded, Ninja Gaiden 4, Final Fantasy Tactics Remaster, Metal Gear Solid Delta, and 007 First Light all made strong showings. Sprinkle in Astro Bot, Thief VR, and a few curveballs like PAC-MAN in Hot Shots Golf and you’ve got a showcase that left us wondering if Xbox accidentally threw a better PS event than Sony’s recent State of Play (Which we also discuss) We wrap things up with the latest releases, including the Alien Hominid double drop, MindsEye finally hitting shelves, and newcomers like The Alters, Wizard of Legend 2, and Zombie Army VR shaking things up. Whether you’re into body horror, magical roguelites, or cloning alternate versions of yourself to survive, it’s a packed week. Let’s get into it. By joining our Patreon community for ONLY $1.00 per month, you'll also enjoy these exclusive benefits: Early Access: Be the first to listen to our episodes as soon as they're ready. Get ahead of the game and dive into the latest news, reviews, and discussions. Personalized Shoutout: As a token of our gratitude for your support, we'll give you a special shout out during one of our podcast episodes, acknowledging your contribution and dedication to our show. Custom Die-Cut Vinyl Sticker: Receive an exclusive custom die-cut vinyl sticker featuring our podcast's unique design. Showcase your support with this limited-edition collectible. Your support goes a long way in helping us continue to create the content you love. It's a simple and direct way to show your appreciation for our podcast. To become a patron and unlock these exciting benefits, visit www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome today. Your support keeps us going and ensures that we can keep delivering top-notch PlayStation content. Please, if you enjoyed the content or even if you didn’t quite enjoy this one, we encourage you to come back. We try to offer something for everybody. Please share with your friends and help us spread the show as we try to build a bigger community here! As always you can support our show at our Patreon Page. Thanks for listening. http://www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 380 – “Gandalf, Game Fest, and Getting to the End” Fred finally put a bow on Octopath Traveler II, clocking in at a hefty 76 hours. He’s now stuck in that post-game limbo, unsure what to dive into next—and somewhere along the way, he saw Gandalf, which we’ll unpack. Jake, meanwhile, is still going strong in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, now 31 hours deep and not letting up. Listener feedback this week was short but sweet. Big Box gave us props for our thumbnail game, and 1blktalon chimed in with a time-stamped shoutout for Jake’s "Amen" moment from Episode 378, also weighing in on Jade Raymond. Appreciate the love—and the laughs. As for the news, Summer Game Fest 2025 is right around the corner. Geoff Keighley will host on June 6th, and PlayStation is officially on board as a partner. Expect big reveals, including WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers, and a post-show indie showcase from Day of the Devs. Meanwhile, IO Interactive is gearing up to unveil 007 First Light during their own showcase the same day, teasing Bond’s origin story with the tagline "Earn the number." CD Projekt Red is offering a first look at the tech behind The Witcher 4 at the State of Unreal on June 3rd, showing off what Unreal Engine 5 will bring to the franchise. Tango Gameworks is back in action too—thanks to KRAFTON—and already hiring for a new action project following their reboot. Kojima’s Death Stranding 2: On the Beach will get the spotlight during a June 8th live event hosted by Keighley, with a gameplay demo and surprise guests promised. In less celebratory news, Borderlands 4 found itself in hot water after Randy Pitchford suggested that “real fans” would pay $80 for the game. After backlash, he walked the statement back with a public apology. Also this week, we learned that The Order 1886 was originally meant to be a trilogy—plans for The Order 1891 and 1899 were scrapped after poor reviews and the eventual closure of Ready at Dawn. A small nod lives on in Astro Bot, where Sir Galahad appears as a collectible. And finally, MindsEye continues to stir controversy. Developer Mark Gerhard blames targeted attacks and bots for the game’s rocky reception. Whether that’s true or not, the game launches June 10th, so we’ll see for ourselves soon enough. Let’s get into it. Your support goes a long way in helping us continue to create the content you love. It's a simple and direct way to show your appreciation for our podcast. To become a patron and unlock these exciting benefits, visit www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome today. Your support keeps us going and ensures that we can keep delivering top-notch PlayStation content. Please, if you enjoyed the content or even if you didn’t quite enjoy this one, we encourage you to come back. We try to offer something for everybody. Please share with your friends and help us spread the show as we try to build a bigger community here! As always you can support our show at our Patreon Page. Thanks for listening. http://www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome Support PS This is Awesome! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

***AUDIO ISSUES IN THIS EPISODE*** We apologize in advance. Our recording software messed up. Listen to our other episodes to hear the quality we typically bring. This is not a representative episode. Apologies to our listener. Episode 379 – “Final Boss Breakdown” Fred’s well over 70 hours into Octopath Traveler II and stuck on the true final boss—his patience is wearing thin, and if this boss doesn’t go down soon, he’s threatening to leap off a cliff. Meanwhile, Jake’s still deep in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and holding off on DOOM: The Dark Ages until he wraps up that beautifully strange ride. We did get some listener feedback this week, mostly someone roasting us for using AI. (Fair enough—we're still humans with mics, we promise.) In the news, the June PS Plus titles were announced and it’s a stacked lineup: NBA 2K25, Alone in the Dark, Bomb Rush Cyberfunk, and Destiny 2: The Final Shape (dropping May 28). Also this week, the FTC officially dropped its long-standing challenge against Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Microsoft is calling it a win for players and, in a timely coincidence, Hellblade 2 has been confirmed for a PS5 release. There’s talk of a State of Play hitting in June, though insiders say it’ll be smaller in scale and likely follow Summer Game Fest. Sony also announced it’s shutting down the PlayStation Stars rewards program, which honestly never really took off. New signups are done, and it’ll fully close in November 2026. Elsewhere, Cyberpunk 2077’s sequel—codenamed Orion—will return to Night City and introduce a gritty new setting described as “Chicago gone wrong.” And in weird news, Clair Obscur has somehow sold 3.3 million copies in 33 days. Is this real life? Lastly, if you’re hardware shopping, Sony is dropping $50 off the PS5 Pro through June 11th via PlayStation Direct. Good time to jump in. By joining our Patreon community for ONLY $1.00 per month, you'll also enjoy these exclusive benefits: Early Access: Be the first to listen to our episodes as soon as they're ready. Get ahead of the game and dive into the latest news, reviews, and discussions. Personalized Shoutout: As a token of our gratitude for your support, we'll give you a special shout out during one of our podcast episodes, acknowledging your contribution and dedication to our show. Custom Die-Cut Vinyl Sticker: Receive an exclusive custom die-cut vinyl sticker featuring our podcast's unique design. Showcase your support with this limited-edition collectible. Your support goes a long way in helping us continue to create the content you love. It's a simple and direct way to show your appreciation for our podcast. To become a patron and unlock these exciting benefits, visit www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome today. Your support keeps us going and ensures that we can keep delivering top-notch PlayStation content. Please, if you enjoyed the content or even if you didn’t quite enjoy this one, we encourage you to come back. We try to offer something for everybody. Please share with your friends and help us spread the show as we try to build a bigger community here! As always you can support our show at our Patreon Page. Thanks for listening. http://www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome Support PS This is Awesome! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EPISODE 378: Bungie in Crisis, Kojima’s Legacy, and a Ton of Games! Fred is 68 hours into Octopath Traveler II with just two storylines left to go, while Jake is still exploring Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. No listener feedback this week, but the news is pretty loaded. Bungie is facing some serious trouble with their upcoming game Marathon. They discovered plagiarized art assets in the alpha build, which led to scrapping the planned gameplay reveal. The team morale is tanking, and now there’s a big question mark over whether they’ll make their September release. On the Sony side, Jade Raymond recently left Haven Studios, the team behind Fairgames. This came after some internal concerns and delays pushed Fairgames into a 2026 release. It definitely adds to the uncertainty around Sony’s live-service plans, which have had a rough ride lately. Over at SNK, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves didn’t hit the mark, and their CEO has stepped down. Meanwhile, Hideo Kojima is thinking long term—he’s given his assistant a USB stick full of creative ideas, almost like a will, to keep Kojima Productions going strong when he’s no longer around. Kojima’s also pleased that Death Stranding 2 is scoring higher in internal reviews than the first game, though he admits he prefers more divisive feedback. He’s all about bold storytelling and isn’t interested in playing it safe. And get ready for a huge wave of new games dropping this week. There’s RoadCraft, a disaster recovery sim from the makers of MudRunner; the classic S.T.A.L.K.E.R. trilogy finally coming to PS5; and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate, a rogue-like ninja adventure. If you’re into quirky stuff, Duck Detective has two new cases where you play as a down-on-his-luck duck detective solving mysteries. There’s also a mix of retro platformers, deckbuilders, action RPGs, VR zombie shooters, samurai remasters, and even a dark fantasy open-world RPG called Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon. It’s quite a lineup! By joining our Patreon community for ONLY $1.00 per month, you'll also enjoy these exclusive benefits: Early Access: Be the first to listen to our episodes as soon as they're ready. Get ahead of the game and dive into the latest news, reviews, and discussions. Personalized Shoutout: As a token of our gratitude for your support, we'll give you a special shout out during one of our podcast episodes, acknowledging your contribution and dedication to our show. Custom Die-Cut Vinyl Sticker: Receive an exclusive custom die-cut vinyl sticker featuring our podcast's unique design. Showcase your support with this limited-edition collectible. Your support goes a long way in helping us continue to create the content you love. It's a simple and direct way to show your appreciation for our podcast. To become a patron and unlock these exciting benefits, visit www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome today. Your support keeps us going and ensures that we can keep delivering top-notch PlayStation content. Please, if you enjoyed the content or even if you didn’t quite enjoy this one, we encourage you to come back. We try to offer something for everybody. Please share with your friends and help us spread the show as we try to build a bigger community here! As always you can support our show at our Patreon Page. Thanks for listening. http://www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome Support PS This is Awesome! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fred’s now 63 hours into Octopath Traveler II, and Jake’s diving into Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. No listener feedback this week—but plenty of PlayStation news to break down: By joining our Patreon community for ONLY $1.00 per month, you'll also enjoy these exclusive benefits: Early Access: Be the first to listen to our episodes as soon as they're ready. Get ahead of the game and dive into the latest news, reviews, and discussions. Personalized Shoutout: As a token of our gratitude for your support, we'll give you a special shout out during one of our podcast episodes, acknowledging your contribution and dedication to our show. Custom Die-Cut Vinyl Sticker: Receive an exclusive custom die-cut vinyl sticker featuring our podcast's unique design. Showcase your support with this limited-edition collectible. Your support goes a long way in helping us continue to create the content you love. It's a simple and direct way to show your appreciation for our podcast. To become a patron and unlock these exciting benefits, visit www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome today. Your support keeps us going and ensures that we can keep delivering top-notch PlayStation content. Please, if you enjoyed the content or even if you didn’t quite enjoy this one, we encourage you to come back. We try to offer something for everybody. Please share with your friends and help us spread the show as we try to build a bigger community here! As always you can support our show at our Patreon Page. Thanks for listening. http://www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome Support PS This is Awesome! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.