The Computer Game Show

This week: Meta shuts down three internal studios, Nintendo’s share price has dropped 33% in the last five months in Japan, Sega announces Sonic 35th anniversary plans to ‘celebrate Sonic’s legacy’, Amazon has greenlit a Fallout reality show where contestants live in a vault for a ‘huge cash prize’, and Anthem’s executive producer has released a nearly four-hour post-mortem video. Also: face down baths, ‘after dark’ games, big life events, and more. Games Discussed: Big Hops, Planet Zoo, Vital Shell, ARC Raiders, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Black Myth Wukong. SUPPORT Patreon CONTACT WebsiteDiscordBlueskyThreadsInstagramFacebook FOLLOW TCGS on BlueskyDavid on BlueskySean on BlueskyMat on BlueskyJames on Bluesky WATCH TwitchYouTube LISTEN SpotifyApple PodcastsPocket Casts CREDITS

After three long weeks away, we’re back for our first pod of 2026! This week: January’s Xbox Developer Direct will feature a secret fourth game, Awesome Games Done Quick 2026 closes with £1.8m raised for Prevent Cancer Foundation, CWA Canada says it will "pursue every legal recourse" to protect unionised Ubisoft Halifax workers, a new Life is Strange game has just been rated in Europe, and Anthem finally shuts down. Also: we reveal whose 2025 gaming predictions came true, we make new predictions for this year, and we reveal who won our Fantasy Critic league. Games Discussed: PowerWash Simulator 2, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, ARC Raiders, Astro Bot, Super Metroid, Kirby Air Riders, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Return of the Obra Dinn, Big Hops, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. SUPPORT Patreon CONTACT WebsiteDiscordBlueskyThreadsInstagramFacebook FOLLOW TCGS on BlueskyDavid on BlueskySean on BlueskyMat on BlueskyJames on Bluesky WATCH TwitchYouTube LISTEN SpotifyApple PodcastsPocket Casts CREDITS

Here. We. Go. It’s time to decide the TCGS Game of the Year for 2025. Strap in. Games discussed: 67 by Limmy, and Roger, ARC Raiders, Baby Steps, Battlefield 6, Blue Prince, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, Dispatch, Donkey Kong Bananza, Ghost of Yōtei, Hades II, Keep Driving, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, Lumines Arise, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Promise Mascot Agency, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, Split Fiction, The Séance of Blake Manor. SUPPORT Patreon CONTACT WebsiteDiscordBlueskyThreadsInstagramFacebook FOLLOW TCGS on BlueskyDavid on BlueskySean on BlueskyMat on BlueskyJames on Bluesky WATCH TwitchYouTube LISTEN SpotifyApple PodcastsPocket Casts CREDITS

Here we go; it's the start of Game of the Year season at TCGS. First order of business is choosing our GOTY Draft picks, and our Wildcard choices. Also: everything announced at The Game Awards 2025, Rockstar again disputes staff were fired for unionising, staff at Doom maker Id Software vote to unionise, and more! GAMES DISCUSSED: Skate Story, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Terminator 2D: No Fate, Karma: The Dark World, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Battlefield 6. SUPPORT Patreon CONTACT WebsiteDiscordBlueskyThreadsInstagramFacebook FOLLOW TCGS on BlueskyDavid on BlueskySean on BlueskyMat on BlueskyJames on Bluesky WATCH TwitchYouTube LISTEN SpotifyApple PodcastsPocket Casts CREDITS

PS5 dominated Black Friday console sales in the UK, Meta planning massive cuts to Reality Labs metaverse division, and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond's $30 Amiibo sparks exclusive bike radio backlash. Also: The Jesus and Mary Chain, Games of the Decade, Mixtape genres, and more! GAMES DISCUSSED: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Marvel Cosmic Invasion, Terminator: Resistance, Schildmaid MX. SUPPORT Patreon CONTACT WebsiteDiscordBlueskyThreadsInstagramFacebook FOLLOW TCGS on BlueskyDavid on BlueskySean on BlueskyMat on BlueskyJames on Bluesky WATCH TwitchYouTube LISTEN SpotifyApple PodcastsPocket Casts CREDITS

Epic’s Tim Sweeney says it ‘makes no sense’ for game stores to flag when AI has been used in development, Valve dev counters calls to scrap Steam AI disclosures, Gears Tactics developer Splash Damage puts entire studio at risk of redundancy, Phil Spencer says Xbox's Game Pass cloud hours are up 45% YoY, and a leaker says that Destiny 3 in “Extremely Early Development” at Bungie! Also: Farley pants, baby recommendations, sequel recommendations and more! GAMES DISCUSSED: Detective Instinct: Farewell, My Beloved, Battlefield 6, ARC Raiders, Walkabout Mini Golf, Baby Steps. SUPPORT Patreon CONTACT WebsiteDiscordBlueskyThreadsInstagramFacebook FOLLOW TCGS on BlueskyDavid on BlueskySean on BlueskyMat on BlueskyJames on Bluesky WATCH TwitchYouTube LISTEN SpotifyApple PodcastsPocket Casts CREDITS

Interplay co-founder Rebecca Heineman dies aged 62, Xbox Partner Preview, Steam Machines, the internet thinks Half-Life 3 is being announced this month, and Xbox is reportedly warning of yet another potential price increase. Also: Switch mouse controls, Perfect For Portal, Goated sauce, Outer Worlds 2, Steam Deck, mechanical keyboards, and more! GAMES DISCUSSED: This Bed We Made, Sektori, Battlefield 6, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, PowerWash Simulator 2, Dispatch, ARC Raiders SUPPORT Patreon CONTACT WebsiteDiscordBlueskyThreadsInstagramFacebook FOLLOW TCGS on BlueskyDavid on BlueskySean on BlueskyMat on BlueskyJames on Bluesky WATCH TwitchYouTube LISTEN SpotifyApple PodcastsPocket Casts CREDITS

Over 200 Rockstar North staff sign letter demanding "immediate reinstatement" of fired colleagues, Valve announces a new Steam ‘console’ and controller and VR headset, everything announced in last week’s PlayStation State of Play, everything announced in the Super Mario Galaxy Movie Nintendo Direct, Activision confirms Black Ops 7 uses gen-AI tools for assets, and more! GAMES DISCUSSED: Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Lumines Arise, Dispatch, Kingdom Come Deliverance II, ARC Raiders, Vampire Survivors But It’s In Virtual Reality. SUPPORT Patreon CONTACT WebsiteDiscordBlueskyThreadsInstagramFacebook FOLLOW TCGS on BlueskyDavid on BlueskySean on BlueskyMat on BlueskyJames on Bluesky WATCH TwitchYouTube LISTEN SpotifyApple PodcastsPocket Casts CREDITS

Workers affected by Rockstar layoffs protest outside offices in London and Edinburgh, GTA 6 has been delayed again to the end of 2026, cloud streaming officially arrives on PlayStation Portal, Halo Infinite development finishes, and Bioware moves to reassure fans that a new Mass Effect is definitely still in development. Also: hacking Alarmos, Hades fights, national dress, physical media, school fibs, and more! GAMES DISCUSSED: Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, ARC Raiders, RV There Yet?, Kirby Air Riders, The Séance of Blake Manor, Ghost of Yōtei, Dispatch. SUPPORT Patreon CONTACT WebsiteDiscordBlueskyThreadsInstagramFacebook FOLLOW TCGS on BlueskyDavid on BlueskySean on BlueskyMat on BlueskyJames on Bluesky WATCH TwitchYouTube LISTEN SpotifyApple PodcastsPocket Casts CREDITS

Amazon reportedly "gutting" its video game division as part of 14,000 company wide job cuts, Rockstar accused of union-busting after it fires dozens of developers, Xbox Q1 hardware sales down 29% while third-party content experiences "better-than-expected performance", US government says it’ll keep making video game memes, as Halo co-creator says ICE ad makes him ‘sick’, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons springs back to life next year with huge updates and more. Also: ideal button layouts, host orders, game levels IRL, TV show teams, Marathon (the game) and more! GAMES DISCUSSED: Mortal Kombat Legacy Kollection, Dispatch, Absolum, RV There Yet?, Escape Simulator 2, Halls of Torment, Atari 2600+, Battlefield 6. SUPPORT Patreon CONTACT WebsiteDiscordBlueskyThreadsInstagramFacebook FOLLOW TCGS on BlueskyDavid on BlueskySean on BlueskyMat on BlueskyJames on Bluesky WATCH TwitchYouTube LISTEN SpotifyApple PodcastsPocket Casts CREDITS

Microsoft's push for high Xbox profit margins behind job cuts, publishing on PlayStation, and cancellation of projects like Perfect Dark, a Next-gen Xbox confirmed in development, Halo is coming to PS5, With PS6 Sony "cannot do the same thing they have been doing" says Shuhei Yoshida, and Starfield is a "good game" says former designer. Also: perfect games, hats, being financially irresponsible, favourite gaming eras, Barack Obama, non-lethal misfortune, and more! GAMES DISCUSSED: The Séance of Blake Manor, Dispatch, Ghost of Yōtei, Absolum, BALL x PIT, PowerWash Simulator 2. SUPPORT Patreon CONTACT WebsiteDiscordBlueskyThreadsInstagramFacebook FOLLOW TCGS on BlueskyDavid on BlueskySean on BlueskyMat on BlueskyJames on Bluesky WATCH TwitchYouTube LISTEN SpotifyApple PodcastsPocket Casts CREDITS

This week: a former Call of Duty lead "immensely worried" about series under Microsoft, Nintendo is reportedly increasing Switch 2 production as it expects record-breaking first year sales exceeding its own estimates, Xbox Ally and Ally X reviews are here, Tomonobu Itakagi has sadly passed away, Quantic Dream has revealed its first-ever free-to-play multiplayer game, and more! GAMES DISCUSSED: Keeper, Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Battlefield 6, BALL x PIT, Hades II, Ghost of Yōtei, Absolum SUPPORT Patreon CONTACT WebsiteDiscordBlueskyThreadsInstagramFacebook FOLLOW TCGS on BlueskyDavid on BlueskySean on BlueskyMat on BlueskyJames on Bluesky WATCH TwitchYouTube LISTEN SpotifyApple PodcastsPocket Casts CREDITS

Sean returns! This week: Ubisoft reportedly cancelled an Assassin’s Creed game partly due to ‘political concerns’, MindsEye developers sign damning open letter against studio execs over "longstanding disrespect and mistreatment" following game's disastrous launch, A Minecraft Movie gets inevitable sequel after grossing almost $1bn, and Battlefield 6 players face extensive queues this weekend as servers immediately reach capacity. Also: crisp sandwiches, game delays, complex button combos, trainers, and more! GAMES DISCUSSED: Battlefield 6, Ghost of Yōtei, Hades II, Baby Steps. SUPPORT Patreon CONTACT WebsiteDiscordBlueskyThreadsInstagramFacebook FOLLOW TCGS on BlueskyDavid on BlueskySean on BlueskyMat on BlueskyJames on Bluesky WATCH TwitchYouTube LISTEN SpotifyApple PodcastsPocket Casts CREDITS

Sean's away, so this week we're joined by Iain Lee! This week: Microsoft increases price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass reportedly led to $300 million in lost sales of Black Ops 6, Xbox's next gen console hardware plans aren't cancelled (yet), a ‘deep dive’ on the future of Halo will be held next month, and FIFA lives on in a mascot-focused five-a-side football game. Also: first completed games, what ARE Microsoft doing, elephants, and more. GAMES DISCUSSED: Ghost of Yōtei, Baby Steps, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, Death Stranding 2, Borderlands 4, Chess SUPPORT Patreon CONTACT WebsiteDiscordBlueskyThreadsInstagramFacebook FOLLOW TCGS on BlueskyDavid on BlueskySean on BlueskyMat on BlueskyJames on Bluesky WATCH TwitchYouTube LISTEN SpotifyApple PodcastsPocket Casts CREDITS

This week: PlayStation State of Play, Xbox at Tokyo Game Show, Microsoft "ceases and disables" some of its services to Israel Ministry of Defence, investors including Saudi 's PIF are reportedly in "advanced talks" for a $50bn leveraged buyout of EA, ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X prices have been confirmed, and Doug Bowser is retiring. Also: Pikmin abilities, electronic brain chips, stag do’s and more. GAMES DISCUSSED: Hades II, Baby Steps, FC26, Blippo+, Lego Voyagers, Fortnite SUPPORT Patreon CONTACT WebsiteDiscordBlueskyThreadsInstagramFacebook FOLLOW TCGS on BlueskyDavid on BlueskySean on BlueskyMat on BlueskyJames on Bluesky WATCH TwitchYouTube LISTEN SpotifyApple PodcastsPocket Casts CREDITS

This week: US Xbox fans hit with another hardware price hike just four months after the last increase, Sucker Punch studio head comments on firing a developer who joked about Charlie Kirk’s death, Tencent responds to Sony lawsuit against Horizon clone, and scientists have worked out why some people invert video game controls. Also: TV adverts, serious games, funeral music, Mario sports crossovers, the dark web, being cool, and more. GAMES DISCUSSED: LEGO Voyagers, Not Sure About That, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Fortnite SUPPORT Patreon CONTACT WebsiteDiscordBlueskyThreadsInstagramFacebook FOLLOW TCGS on BlueskyDavid on BlueskySean on BlueskyMat on BlueskyJames on Bluesky WATCH TwitchYouTube LISTEN SpotifyApple PodcastsPocket Casts CREDITS

This week: Everything announced in last week’s Nintendo Direct, Nintendo’s patenting stuff again, Sony launches new PlayStation parental control app, and Randy Pitchford doing Randy Pitchford things. Also: Cyberpunk mods, airplane seats, going back in time, couples gaming habits, plants, new dads, and more. Games discussed: Hollow Knight: Silksong, SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance, Is This Seat Taken?, Fortnite, Not Sure About That Support Patreon Contact WebsiteDiscordBlueskyThreadsInstagramFacebook Follow TCGS on BlueskyDavid on BlueskySean on BlueskyMat on BlueskyJames on Bluesky Watch TwitchYouTube Listen SpotifyApple PodcastsPocket Casts Credits

James Farley returns! This week: Hollow Knight: Silksong is here (and it took down global game storefronts), Take-Two was reportedly in talks to fund and publish Perfect Dark reboot, PS5 Digital Edition consoles are reportedly getting a quiet storage downgrade, and a Call of Duty movie and a Life is Strange TV show are both happening. Also: Shepherd’s pie, Games Master, stinky games, and uninterrupted gaming. Games discussed: Hollow Knight: Silksong, Donkey Kong Bananza, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance. Support Patreon Contact WebsiteDiscordBlueskyThreadsInstagramFacebook Follow TCGS on BlueskyDavid on BlueskySean on BlueskyMat on BlueskyJames on Bluesky Watch TwitchYouTube Listen SpotifyApple PodcastsPocket Casts Credits

Steam begins age verification for UK customers, Hermen Hulst wants first-party PlayStation studios to fail “cheaply and early”, and King layoffs sound bad. Also: perfect games, vinegar pills, gigs, Sunday best, and more. Games discussed: SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance, Destiny: Rising, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Mina the Hollower, Skate., Helldivers 2. Support Patreon Contact WebsiteDiscordBlueskyThreadsInstagramFacebook Follow TCGS on BlueskyDavid on BlueskySean on BlueskyMat on BlueskyJames on Bluesky Watch TwitchYouTube Listen SpotifyApple PodcastsPocket Casts Credits

Everything announced at Opening Night Live, ex-Deck Nine developer claims a Life is Strange: Double Exposure sequel is still in the works, Hollow Knight Silksong finally gets a release date, Elden Ring runs like shit on Switch 2, and Sony raises the price of the PS5 again. Also: Dad behaviours, musical memories, Lamborghini’s, game spellings, and more. Games discussed: Sword of the Sea, Herdling, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Support Patreon Contact WebsiteDiscordBlueskyThreadsInstagramFacebook Follow TCGS on BlueskyDavid on BlueskySean on BlueskyMat on BlueskyJames on Bluesky Watch TwitchYouTube Listen SpotifyApple PodcastsPocket Casts Credits