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Sacred Symbols, Episode 434: The Thread (Patreon)

Published:
2026-10-21 19:00:05
Imported:
2026-10

Content

Hi!

Submit your questions, comments, concerns, thoughts, and ideas for this week's episode of Sacred Symbols in this thread.

As always, please keep your inquiries well-written and pithy. Novels, poorly-written posts, etc. are politely ignored.

You have until Thursday, October 22nd at noon ET to submit.

Talk to you soon!

Comments

Raisin

Recent hardware leaks surrounding the PS6 indicate that RAM and NAND flash storage alone cost more than $680. This is before accounting for the APU, cooling system, power supply, and more. Add to that recent speculation that Xbox's Project Helix is projected to cost anywhere from $1,200 to $1,800 without subsidies, and I have to ask: at what point do the PS6 and the next Xbox become so prohibitively expensive that they simply don't make sense anymore, even with price-insensitive early adopters? Combine this with news from Micron that memory and storage supplies will likely be much tighter in 2027 and 2028 than they were in 2026, and I fail to see a world in which the PS6 and the next Xbox cost anything less than $1,000. At that point, I ask: what is even the point? Enthusiasts are already satiated. Casuals are more than happy staying on PS5 and Series X with GTA VI. Earnestly, who is this for?

Best Start Believing in Gay Stories, You're in one

Hey Gents, I wouldn't normally put in a request for content, but before Chris leaves could we get a sacred stream of the three of you playing Shrek 2 remastered? A PS2 gen co-op brawler seems like a good way to celebrate Chris, and Colin's lack of Shrek knowledge will really give it a "divorced dad trying to cheer up his boys" feel. Don't know if it will work out but I had to at least put the idea out there. Thanks for the great content.

Brent Lindquist (edited)

Comment edits

2026-10-22 14:00 Hey fellas, BioWare is no more. It’s probably for the best, and the studio’s closure has made me more nostalgic than sad considering their more recent offerings. In that spirit, what’s your favorite BioWare game? While my favorites are certainly somewhere in the KotOR/Mass Effect realms, I’d also send some love toward Jade Empire, their original-Xbox gem that sometimes gets forgotten. As always, thanks for the show.
2026-10-21 19:00 Hey fellas, BioWare is no more. It’s probably for the best, and the studio’s closure has made me more nostalgic than sad considering its more recent offerings. In that spirit, what’s your favorite BioWare game? While my favorites are certainly somewhere in the KotOR/Mass Effect realms, I’d also send some love toward Jade Empire, their original-Xbox gem that sometimes gets forgotten. As always, thanks for the show.

Hey fellas, BioWare is no more. It’s probably for the best, and the studio’s closure has made me more nostalgic than sad considering its more recent offerings. In that spirit, what’s your favorite BioWare game? While my favorites are certainly somewhere in the KotOR/Mass Effect realms, I’d also send some love toward Jade Empire, their original-Xbox gem that sometimes gets forgotten. As always, thanks for the show.

Tyler T

Hey Sacred Crew, Everyone is buzzing about the recent reports on next-gen component costs, as it seems almost indisputable that $1k is the floor for new systems - barring an AI bubble burst. This places PS6 firmly into enthusiast-only territory. So I got to thinking, does it really matter? Sony nixed the idea of generations about two seconds after Jim Ryan said “we believe in generations,” and we have had six years to accept the reality of extended cross-gen periods. Lines of demarcation are less prominent in many other markets - like phones and TVs - where upgrades are nice but not immediately necessary. Why can’t that happen for consoles? The top enthusiasts can get the PS6 and enjoy titles at their full might, while others who are satisfied with their current units can hang around and continue to enjoy all the SAME software. With lengthy game devlopment showing no signs of quickening, it seems to me that it will be many years before a piece of software demands the power of a PS6. As long as the PS Store is roaring, what does it matter anymore? Cheers.

Cody Frost

Hey guys, Update from a couple weeks ago: I did not listen to Colin’s “you gotta stop” and immediately played your guys’ response to the comment for her. It made her week. My daughter is now convinced she is “famous.”, due to her story making the show. As a longtime patron and listener, please just keep being yourselves, and know that I appreciate your unwavering commitment to your release schedule.

Unemployable troon

BioWare on their death bed: At least we owned the chuds

Cameron

Colin, With your son leaving the show soon to do gay porn full time, have you ever considered doing the same thing in the past? Is that the real reason you left kinda funny?

Aggamemnons Erection

Gentlemen, have any of you given any thought to the idea that the PlayStation 6 is ONLY a handheld? With a dock that upscales the visuals. Or perhaps they are going to lead with the handheld to prolong the PlayStation 5 life cycle before launching a home console later? Keep shooting those ropey loads over your paltry. Alex from England

Jay McGraw

Hey Guys, I'm going to the store, do you need me to get anything while I'm out?

ZW

C-Men and the Big D, With Konami going through what seems like a resurgence, I was wondering if you thought it was likely that the company will acquire the developers it has been working with to develop their recent games. Or do you think it’s more likely that they will remain an IP farm for the foreseeable future? Thanks, Zach

Harrison Zlomke

BIOWARE IS DEAD. This is a sad day, not because of what BioWare is today but because of a legacy of quality that hasn’t been seen in more than a decade. Are we actually surprised, or just relieved that the sick dog has finally been put out of its misery and we can stop hoping that Mass Effect 5 would’ve been good?

BMJ614

Hello to the Weilders Of The Sacred Symbols There have been a handful of games I chose not to Platinum/100% over the years but gladly still play. For either reason that there is that one Trophy/Achievement that involves RNG or a speed run of the whole freaking game that would stop me from not getting that ever elusive Platinum. So what say you Weilders Of The Sacred Symbols, can y'all rattle off some games that y'all would refuse to Platinum but still beat for whatever reason? Your Friendly Neighborhood Gamer and take care My Skillful Chicken Chasers 🙏🏾✌🏾🐔 🏃‍♂️

Shard_of_Odium

Good day gents, I was watching Dustin’s stream last week for Valor Mortis and it got me thinking, is there a mechanic or feature in a game you used to love but you now hate? For example multi-staged bosses used to be something special but they’re so over done now that I can’t stand them. Thanks, have a great weekend guys.

Zachary Douglas

Quick story, I’m walking thru the merch store at Metallica at the sphere wearing my OG Sacred Symbols shirt talking to my sister in law. Another dude having a separate conversation, interrupts it to say “yo, sacred symbols, hell ya.” Being stoned and in conversation I just kinda smiled and nodded at the dude. So, shout out to the random homie at Metallica who knew my shirt.

Michael Welter

Such a damn shame about Bioware. I know everyone will say they haven't made a good game in awhile and while they may not have been to your taste thats just not true. Nothing reached the highs of Mass Effect 2 and 3 but damn I believe they still had potential. Completely unrelated but I had a great question earlier today. Didnt write it down so I'll just kill myself.

Screwed Mcfucked

Something about bioware or something Idk never played em

rokuterra

Whew, almost had to record the show without any big news this week. That was a close one.

Angel

Hello Sacreds. FFFFUUUUUCCCCCKKKK REMEDY!!. After the delay for the physical edition of control resonant I foolishly thought there wouldnt be an issue with my steelbook edition preorder, because with the extra time, there should be no issue with them having enough made. Well, fuck me in the ass with a chainsaw, cuz mine like many others, was delayed then canceled. With so many games to play, I dont need to now give them all that sweet digital money they want, and will wait till its half off or less to buy. Have a great weekend.

Arqum

Hey Sacred Team! Bioware just announced that the next Mass Effect game is cancelled and all staff laid off. This is obviously because of the massive debt EA acquired due to buy out. I honestly hope EA goes bankrupt and are forced to sell all their IP. That way we can actually get games from franchise like Mass Effect and Dead Space but that’s probably a pipe dream. What do you guy think will happen to EA and Bioware next? What do you want to happen? I wish you all well and have a great day!

Ari Levi

Hey Sacred Gents! Like many in this community, I’m counting down the days until GTA VI. It’s hard to believe we’re only a month away. Given the attention that GTA has attracted leading up to launch, coupled with Sony’s/this game’s history of cyberattacks, are you concerned about PSN being targeted or overwhelmed on release day? Do we think Sony is even prepared for that? How damaging would it be for PlayStation if PSN went down while Xbox remained operational? It would certainly make the “Plays Best on PS5” marketing look unfortunate. I also wonder whether an outage of that magnitude, especially with the national attention GTA commands with some jokingly calling this, “the most requested day off in history”, could reignite the physical vs. digital debate on a larger stage. I can only imagine the outrage at potentially hundreds of thousands of people taking the day off to play GTA only to find PSN down with no way of downloading if they weren’t in the know about preloading. All I can say is, Sony….dont get caught lackin’! For all of our sake… Curious to hear everyone’s thoughts! As always, appreciate the hard work, and we’ll miss you Chris :)

Hashim Barakat

Good day my sacred friends. With EA beginning the purge of their studios, do you think it’s good for them to license their IP to other companies similar to how Konami is doing? I think it can be beneficial for the IPs that they don’t trust, like giving dead space to blooper or Capcom. Plus, this path could help them financially with their massive post-purchase debt. Thank you for the great content, and I wish you all an amazing week.

Chris Raygun’s Boyfriend

Hello Sacred Psychos, I’m going in for surgery to have a benign tumor removed and didn’t want to miss my chance to glaze Chris if I died in the OR (I’ll be fine but they do have to open my skull). I’ll try to make this short. Dear Silly Chris, I didn’t know who you were when you started. Just some high pitched guy talking about video games. (Your voice is so much higher at the beginning). Over these years you’ve brought an undeniable identity to this show and shaped what it is. You seemingly entered Colin’s life at a pivotal moment, bringing him back into something us long time fans thought may be gone forever. Thank you for helping create the best PlayStation and video game podcast, for informing the audience of games we may not have heard of, for unique analysis, and for being fucking hilarious (you actually coined my usual name “Kenneth Bridge of Spirits”). Thoughts and prayers on the Raygun Revival. Many of us will be supporting with great interest. Sorry for the para social write in, but much love to you, Chris, and everyone at last stand. “Take care guys” - Ken P.S. Dustin I hope the lamb blanket is holding up!

Evan Williams

Hey CDC, Longtime listener, first-time inquirer. I wanted to share an unfortunate story from this past Friday. I was out of town visiting family when my roommate called to tell me the back door to our apartment had been pried open and someone had broken in. At first, everything seemed untouched — until he noticed a large outline of dust on the TV stand where his original PS5 used to sit. My heart immediately sank. I asked him to check my bedroom, where I’d spent countless nights gaming with friends and playing couch co-op with my girlfriend. And sure enough, it was gone. Luckily, my work laptop was spared, but the burglar had emptied my gym bag and managed to walk away with my base disc PS5, two controllers, a Pulse 3D wireless headset, my Switch 2 Joy-Cons, a Switch Pro Controller, and ALL my physical games. Some cosmic force must have compelled me to bring my Switch 2 with me that day, or that too would’ve been snatched. We’ve heard plenty of discussion about Sony’s lack of reliable online security infrastructure and account support, but it never occurred to me that a chunk of my personal PlayStation ecosystem could be taken from me the old-fashioned way. And with hardware prices continuing to climb, part of me is now wondering whether I’d rather just stream a fully digital library of games running in some cold, faraway data center than refresh Best Buy’s PS6 preorder page all night, only to later have my console stolen and resold to me for twice the price on Facebook Marketplace. So I ask: what would you guys do if your entire collection of consoles, accessories, collectors items, and physical media disappeared overnight? Would you start over from scratch or throw in the towel and put on the Steam hat? Or would you drop the hobby altogether and reshape your life, like become a Buddhist monk or develop a crippling gambling addiction? I wish you, Chris, all the best on your next endeavors. In the meantime, I’ll go back to caressing my still-in-possession PS Vita. My burglar clearly doesn’t know game. (Apologize for the long comment but an extra tidbit: I logged out of all devices, changed my password, already have two step verification, and I deactivated all my consoles. But two days later through the mobile app I saw Madden 26 appear on my account’s recent activity and PlayStation Support has been utterly useless. Maybe a coincidence, but still has me paranoid.)

Nicky Thicky

Hey there Gents, I haven't looked into it a lot, but can you talk about the IGN layoffs? Looks like some big names got layed off.

nevernosam

Now then fellas I have been wondering something for a little while and I wondered if you might have any insight. What engine(s) do Sony's teams use. We know generally speaking they use proprietary stuff that they develop themselves, because it was notable that Bend Studio used Unreal for Days Gone. We know that Naughty Dog were the home for ICE, so, did it work? Is God of War 2018 made on the same engine as the Last of us Part 2? Is Wolverine made on the same engine as Ghost of Yotei? Are they all on individual engines that each need their own upkeep? Surely not as that would be far more expensive and time consuming. I realise we might have an answer, but maybe we do and I'm just stupid as hell

Shaun Sannerude

Hey guys. Just seen the news about Bioware. The Saudis took one look at the developer and said "fuck that shit, we can't monetise Mass Effect, get rid!" Such a huge shame but not surprising. At least we will always have the Mass Effect trilogy, and hopefully Exodus can recreate the magic from those games!

EasyModeAdam

Hey Colin, Chris, and Dustin, Writing in about the news that BioWare is officially shutting its doors, along with the cancellation of the next Mass Effect. On one hand, given the studio's decade-long struggle to recapture its Golden Era magic and EA's historical track record with legendary studios (Visceral, Westwood, Pandemic, Bullfrog, the list goes on), it feels like the writing was on the wall. But on the other hand, seeing a absolute juggernaut of Western RPG history completely dissolved is still a massive gut punch. My question for the boys: do you think EA will actually do anything meaningful with BioWare's legacy IP moving forward? Could we see Mass Effect or Dragon Age handed off to other EA studios or external partners, or do you expect these iconic franchises to just sit in the vault indefinitely?

Kevin W

Hi Sacred Crew, have you guys ever checked out any game jams to find more interesting and unique gameplay experiences? If so, which ones were worth your time? For Spooky season, I was thinking of trying some games from the Scream Jam to supplement my Halloween horror content.

Dufus Shinra

Hi guys, Colin, please give us 30 to 40 minutes on the ship of Theseus. Thank you

Squint Eastwood

Hey guys, In a LinkedIn post, Gavin Goslin, a developer of the original Black Ops 1 and 2, claimed that none of the original team are receiving royalties or additional bonuses from the staggering success of the PlayStation 4 and 5 ports. To quote Goslin directly, they "[haven't seen] a dime of it." How can this be? I understand that most devs, especially AAA devs, are salaried employees who receive wages in a very different manner than the film or music industry, but Activision seriously hasn't shared any of that revenue with the people who actually made the game? What do you guys think? Should developers be entitled to additional royalties or bonuses for sales of rereleases and ports? Is Activision being a miserly mook? As always, thanks for all the hours of entertainment. While I won't be cancelling my sub, Chris, you'll be truly missed. No one can ever replace you; only succeed you.

Arqum

Oh man, i only read Bioware’s post and must have completely missed that part. I guess i’ll edit my comment

Towers

Fellas, in memoriam of Mass Effect, can we get a few words on your favorite characters and romance options? My picks are Thane and my beloved Tali, respectively. RIP in Peace.

Colin’s Refrigerated Cereal

Hi C,c and D, First time long time. With the announcement of BioWare closing, what does this mean long-term for the much loved IP the studio had brought us in the past? Could we see other studios given their chance to have their take on much loved franchises like Mass effect, Dragon age etc. What would most like to see given to another team in the future? Thanks guys

Drew

Sup Boys, Colin, with Xbox getting closer to 3rd party/selling off and Punching Up not having much to talk about for a weekly show you should combine the 2 shows and let Brad Cog Matty do a weekly video game show about games in general. Brad can turn Summon Sign into something else.

Conor Campbell

Hey CDC, BioWare has become another victim of the increasingly unstable and financially disastrous industry, and although we knew it could happen, it still sucks all the same. There has been no better time to be a gamer in terms of releases, but there has been no worse time to be working in the industry. At some point these realities have to come to a head. Either things improve for devs, or the releases begin to suffer in some way. Do you think this is a bump in the road, or part of the painful shift to more live-service titles, fewer AAA releases, and possibly the rise of AA and indie games? Keep doing what you do and fucking that chicken, Conor

Simon Dixon

Hey guys, I saw Kinda Funny did their company's top 100 games this week. Spoiler: TLOU was #1. Did any of you see this countdown and have any thoughts? Would love to see something similar from the Last Stand team, albeit now slightly derivative (but what isn't?). Keep loving those mothers.

NeoSapian

Hey gents, With the the death of BioWare, ship of Theseus or otherwise, who are your dream picks to take their properties? I'm sure EA won't let them go, but in an ideal world, where would you have them land? For example, OwlCat might be a nice place for Mass Effect to get reborn.

Isaiah Sommers

Howdy Fellers , Kojima calling us broke because we can’t formulate our own opinions and sadly, I agree with him. I read through the recent Gizmodo interview between Hideo Kojima and Alejandro Iñárritu, Director of 'Digger'. They discuss their respective bodies of work against the backdrop of today’s social media landscape and how certain “forces” can shape our opinions before we even experience a work of art or engage with an idea ourselves. We see this in politics and, especially, entertainment. A streamer, reviewer, or charismatic personality can prejudge an entire work, setting an echo chamber of opinions in motion before people have even experienced it for themselves. And who’s to say these same personalities aren’t simply echoing the talking points pushed by those very “forces”? It’s a pretty Black-Pilled interview, but it left me with a question: Whether these “forces” are AI-driven, algorithmic, or something else entirely, how do we fight back against them in gaming and the other spaces we care about? How do we encourage people to think critically, form their own opinions, and experience art for themselves rather than letting someone else tell them what to think? Are we just too lazy?

Mysterious Narrator

If you can save $4 a day today until Jan 2028 you'll have $1,860 . Surely you spend $4 dollars on forgettable things daily.

Ed H

Hey CDC, Your thoughts last week on the lack of impact of the PSN Blackout got me thinking. Colin suggested that the only way to send a message was to stop spending on PlayStation entirely. I agree, but I don't think people will be doing that *now*. Sony knows that it has its most hardcore fans by the balls given the digital libraries they'll have built up, trophies, etc. But that's also a risk, because when fans start to feel more like hostages than customers, sure, some will get Stockholme syndrome, but lots will also be patiently waiting for the first chance to bolt. All the best, Ed H

crosstriangleOsquare

Im sure the higher ups at Sony have deeply considered this. It would be an absolute tragedy and financial hit to Sony if something like that happened.

NeoSapian

On the question of why is Chris refered to as son, I always assumed because it rhymes with gun...

aGuinPig

Rest in peace, Bioware. Is it fair to say the Mass Effect trilogy is amongst the best in video game science fiction? So much so that it has been rumored to eventually turn into series (Amazon).

Juan_Jitsu

Hey boys, I’ve started seeing more and more pirating posts concerning the PS5 and people having full access to EVERY game on the console for free. With the recent news that the PS5 was rapidly jailbroken following their latest update, and Sony launching an an announced update patch for the console. Do you think this affects any future sales for the company? This along with the PS Profiles being hacked has to be a high priority for the company and affects how future business will be accomplished don’t you think? I’ll hang up and listen now. Thanks!

OKayCool91

Greeting Sacred fellas, I’m wondering what yall think Konami should do with Castlevania moving forward. Now that we have what I think is a awesome entry in the franchise with Belmonts Curse, to me SoTN is the best of the franchise so I was thinking could Konami explore either a Sequel where Alucard returns to the franchise or could you see a remake to SoTN the way they did with MGS Delta? Or maybe even leave the Legend of SoTN alone to see Leon Belmonts adventures after the events of Lament of Innocence to expand the lore further. Love to hear from all three of you, and Chris thank you for service at LSM you will be missed.

currypowder84

Hello Sacred Boys. I almost never write in but last week Colin did people to explain it (Xbox exclusives) First I want to say that I don't believe it will happen, but if Microsoft's goal is to be competitive in the CONSOLE market, then why doesn't it make sense to take exclusives off PlayStation and Nintendo? The "people will just play on PC" argument, is an argument made by people in our gaming enthusiast bubble. Players like us are not the primary drivers in the market anymore.The ball and gun gamers who buys every Madden, NBA 2K, COD and spends his V-bucks on skins will never buy a PC, it's a platform that's not even in their orbit. PC is an enthusiast platform, majority of console players are not interested in it. Chris and Dustin might not buy an Xbox but my co-worker who's asking about what console to get their kid so he can play Minecraft might, Xbox needs that mindshare back. Xbox sees a pool of around 100 million console players at any given time and those are the potential new Xbox users. Releasing on PC is not an issue, the real issue will be Helix's price. Much apologies for the long write-in. But I had to challenge Colin on this. Keep up the great work.

boogersupreme

Hello gentlefish (and goodbye Chris), In the least shocking news of all time, BioWare is no more. As talked about multiple times on this show, EA has a lot of debt. Do you think EA will close more teams with layoffs to DICE or even some of the sports teams? Do you think they will begin auctioning off IP? It's clear they aren't going to do anything with Dead Space, Mass Effect, Burnout, or the several other dormant IP they own, why not sell these to someone else? They aren't even interested in doing native ports or remasters. What do you think is the future for EA and what IP would you like to see them focus on? Do you think they should lease some of these franchises out much like Konami? Thanks as always guys.

The Shadow gave me aids

Hello boys, I have written in with shame for myself. I recently lost my composure and broke one of my PS5 controllers in a fit of rage. I’m sure most, if not all, the members of LSM have experienced similar scenarios where tempers get the better of us. I had not broken a controller in over ten years, yet while playing Belmont’s Curse, I ripped the touch pad off the dual sense trying to clear a traversal puzzle. This is my plea for penance as I have to purchase another controller. A reminder for all that are listening; if the temper is rising from playing a game, just step away for a bit and don’t break your shit. Stay saucy boys

Mysterious Narrator

Good moment Sacred Symbols, I had a thoughtful and pithy comment or question inspired from listening to last week's episode. However that thought has evaded my memory. Now I'm pondering how much we forget in a lifetime and what's the point of a memory if we inevitably forget it anyway? Oh well. Remind Chris "we do things a little differently 'round here"

Ryan Guldner

Hey Gents, While usually i can get behind the screw EA banter for the decisions they made like the decision post Dead Space remake, but i can already see a section of people claiming boogeyman corporate shutters Bioware talk. Bioware has now put out 3 massive financial and to me critical bombs in a row with anthem, andromeda, Veilguard with Veilguard being by far one of the worst games of the generation. It sucks to see people lose their jobs but will there ever be some kind of holding devs accountable for their decision making.

Shinobi-san

Colin, I simply have to ask, will we ever get the real story behind your "firing" from Lillymo? You were the only reason many of us ever bought the games in the first place. Berry is advertising St. Slayer physicals editions. P.S. if I buy a Habroxia from your store, does any of it go to Berry? If it doesn't, I'll take more of them. He wont be getting anymore of my money otherwise.

Mikey Eightslices

Hey guys, Well this has been a shitty week. Got laid off from my job on Monday and almost simultaneously came down with a very severe stomach bug. Now I did hate my job and wanted to leave for a long time but it still sucks when it’s not on your terms and always scary when I’m looking at losing health insurance and a paycheck (especially since I’m SICK) That being said - your content always put a smile on my face and lets me get lost for a few hours a week which is super helpful right now. Many thanks to you all

Tabes

Any chance of getting Chris Chan as the third chair on Sacred Symbols? Maybe Mike Tomlin? Perhaps Alex Jones? Few good options to pick from out there right now. But in all seriousness, would love to get Lockmort more involved. He's very well spoken, articulate and nice to listen to. Long Live Lockmort.

Card Captor Corey

Hi Colin, If PlayStation is no longer about "us" the hardcore gamers. Then why should we continue caring about the news you report on this show?

Retlaw

Hey guys, we have one VERY important question to answer regarding BioWare. Is it RIP in Peace or RIP BOZO? Please weigh the scales of BioWares life and come to a unanimous decision. Thank you. I’ll hang up and listen

Jay Castillo

Greetings comrades of the PSSR, Long time, first time. Is there a reason why the industry seems to insist that consoles have 7 year generations? It just seems like interest in the PS6 is tepid at best yet Sony insists on releasing a new console, even though there hasn't been a big technological leap to justify it. With game development cycles stretching to 5-7+ years (with some big studios not even getting a chance to release a full title on PS5), component costs through the roof, and an economy that leaves folks with little disposable income, wouldn't it make sense to increase the time between consoles? Engagement is the goal since they don't really make much on the sale of the console itself, so why not wait and potentially release the PS6 into a better environment so it can be adopted by a broader audience? Thanks for all the great content and good luck to Chris on his future endeavors.

Raisin

You're right, Mysterious Narrator! Groceries are forgettable things. Fuck the gallon of milk I need to buy.

DJ

Hi guys, BioWare’s closure was announced earlier today. Expectantly, many people are pointing at the dialogue from the last Dragon Age as the reason. I suppose that’s worth a conversation but that’s missing the bigger issue. Rather, a foreign entity used money it didn’t have to strip and worsen a great American company. This outcome was entirely predictable and will continue. This foreign entity leverage buyout simply should not have been allowed; and it shouldn’t be allowed to happen again. Am I over-reacting? What say you all?

SlayedByJay

Hi Sacred team, I've been wondering this for a while, but the news of BioWare closing its doors has brought the question back up for me. Why do gamers form such strong attachments to studios like BioWare, Blizzard, and many others, treating them almost like beloved bands, when in reality most of the original developers have left or retired, making them a ship of Theseus at this point? Movie studios go through the same turnover, but nobody gets nostalgic for Paramount, Warner Bros., or even more niche outfits like Orion Pictures the way people do for old BioWare, Blizzard, or plenty of others. Even Naughty Dog is a far cry from the studio that Jason Rubin, Andy Gavin, and Evan Wells built. Treating the studio itself as the creative force behind these games, rather than the people, will inevitably lead to disappointment. Why do you think gamers treat studios this way, and how do you think we even got to this point?

SpaceOddity

Oh hi fellas! Colin told us he’s too stupid for it, but Jonathan Blow’s latest game Order of the Sinking Star is absolutely fantastic. I haven’t experienced something like it since he released The Witness. Somehow recreating the unique experience of generating “holy shit!” epiphanies is something he has down to a science, and the new game has it in spades. The game looks and runs great on PS5, and has already surpassed Blow’s last release in launch week sales, selling ~150K units, despite the launch being thus far ignored by IGN and other major outlets. A bonafide success while seemingly being actively protested by some press, speaks volumes about its audience reception.

Roush

Hey sexist Nazi Colin, woke snowflake Chris, and evangelical cultist Dustin, I know you've been following the PS5 emulation explosion thanks to LLMs. You can now practically "download" a semi-working PS5 onto your PC. With console and PC hardware becoming increasingly similar, we seem to be heading toward translation layers (like Valve's Proton for the Steam Deck) for all consoles. We might even have GTA 6 running on PC at 60 FPS within weeks, if not days, of its launch... Are console manufacturers cooked? (Could the rumored $1,200+ next-gen prices be the straw that breaks the camel's back?) Will all console games have to be always online? And most importantly, does Chris get partial custody of the chicken, or will Colin pull double duty?

Ottochops

Sacred Symbros, It's spooky season, so naturally I decided to play through a spooky game I have yet to play and this years choice was Silent Hill 2 Remake. I'd never played the original Silent Hill 2 and it was part of my PlayStation Plus Premium account. Making my decision a no-brainer. Fast forward to Oct. 20th, anticipating finding the final coin and finally getting the fuck out of the Wood Side Apartments, I turned on my PS5 Pro, launched the game, and was met with "Can't use this content. Your license has expired. To use this content, purchase it." Talk about a dick to the butt. Sony removed my spooky game 20 days into spooky season. To add insult to dickbutt, the damn game was full priced in the store! Xbox Game pass would have given me a discount on said game. Can't Sony do anything right? Sony, I hope you get a splinter in your hand when you get on your next hayride and it hurts for a while. I started S.O.M.A. afterwards, so far so good. Take care.

Breaking Bot’s Weld Jr played by Robot John MIDI

Fellas, Is the phrase, “Take your time” ever uttered by you sincerely? Or do you, like me, tend to use it sarcastically in public when someone is woefully unaware (or uncaring) of how in the way they are? (e.g. at the grocery store) Thanks.

Ryan

Hello boys, The greatest vehicular sandbox game of all time, and 10+ million copy seller on Steam, BeamNG.drive has made its way onto PlayStation. This is huge news to all of us car people, and people that enjoy smashing shit into other shit, and then doing it all over again but this time in slow motion. Best yet it’s only $25. I have over 4000 hours on the steam version I bought over a decade ago for $15. Thanks and be well

Eugene Ahka

Hello, fine gentlemen. When I shower, I set my towel near the shower/bath so when I am done, I can dry myself off in the shower. Recently, I called my girlfriend out for showering and then hopping out onto the bath mat, or whatever the fuck it's called, and walking over to her towel. I think her way makes an unnecessary "mess" of water, and she thinks I'm being an ass for asking her to keep her towel nearby. Who's in the wrong here? Ill hang up my towel and listen.

Andrew Dickins

Afternoon Chris, Dustin and Colin, Hope you are all doing well! I just wanted your opinion on the latest piece of news that EA has shut BioWare as well as the loss of 400 jobs across the division. BioWare was a special developer and ME1 remains my favourite game of all time, but this was all too predictable with Anthem, DA: V and Mass Effect being six years of early development. The fact that this was predictable for years has really pissed me off and all eyes are now on Exodus. Have a great weekend, Andrew

BlueMoose

Hey Super Sacred Studs, With the not so surprising shutdown of BioWare and EA seemingly doubling down on its biggest monetizable franchises like Madden, along with the return of Fight Night, do you think we could see them revisit some of their other dormant IPs? Specifically, I would love to see SSX make a comeback! With Activision finding success reviving Tony Hawk, I think there’s an opportunity to bring back arcade style snowboarding and introduce the franchise to a whole new generation. Love all the amazing content and stay sexy my friends!

NUTSO JIMBO

Hey Colin, I recently got into Football (Raiders) and then a few weeks later discovered my natural ability for Basketball lol As a 40, nearly 41 year old man from England, I had never really played any basketball. Until a few weeks ago when an old friend suggested I come “shoot some hoops with him”. I had a great time and have since gone to my local court every morning for an hour to practice dribbling and shooting. With the NBA season starting tonight I wondered what your stance on Basketball is? I know you like Hockey and Football - how does your love of basketball fare in comparison? Go Raptors NUTSO JIMBO

The G Bat

Hello Sacred crew, as a Bioware fan, I mourned the studio’s death in 2019 with the release of Anthem. As an Albertan, I mourn the death of our premiere gaming studio announcing it’s closure 2 days after the province voted its intentions to stay Canadian. The studio closure sadly isn’t particularly shocking as it was for-told by Colin in the eve of Saudi Arabia’s consumption of EA. Was there ever really a chance Mass Effect 5 could have happened? Is the only thing of consequence that EA has another tombstone in their game studio graveyard and Arcanaut has 50 new résumé’s coming their way? Do you think EA might ever sell the IP? Who do you think would be good stewards of such a property? Was does our favourite PlayStation podcast on the citadel have to say on such matters?

Ofortuna

Hello Sacred Sirs, I'm writing in today due to the conversation last week about microtransactions and EA. Earlier this month I came across this post from r/gatchaGaming showing a monthly revenue report from August to September (https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.redd.it%2Fj5zqnx55nush1.png). The full list of this image is sourced from here: https://revenue.ennead.cc/revenue. This report is generated ONLY by mobile data (Chinese android data is extrapolated) and doesn't include console or PC data, so some of these numbers are higher in reality. Over 6 HUNDRED MILLION US DOLLARS was spent on the games being tracked here. Games like Monopoly Go and Clash of Clans are not capture in this list, so I think it's a safe assumption to say that close to 3 quarters of a Billion US Dollars on just mobile devices. The data here is clearly why EA and every other developer/studio has introduced microtransactions in games. So my questions for the group are: For Chris, since you stated (sarcastically) that Colin talking about sales data is what pushed you away from the show, does this information become your 14th reason why? For Dustin, which of the weeb games seem to be slacking in the rankings in your opinion and which are tarnishing the reputation of the Land of the Rising Sun? For Colin, looking at these numbers what gut reaction/feeling did you get from this information and do you think certain actions(recent or older) of Sony have been influenced by this? Thanks as always and remember, always buy the biggest bundle of gems for your gacha games.

Conor McIntosh

Hey gents, You recently complained about IGN handing out too many 10s. With so many games being made, we’re also seeing more small developers push the boundaries of what the medium can be. To me, Mixtape is a masterpiece that fuses cinema and games. Doesn’t it make sense that there’d be more 10s?

Dixon Cider

Good afternoon, the big story of the day and possibly the week is the closure of BioWare. Colin, you said numerous times that they should close the studio as it’s really not the same studio that made Mass Effect 1-3. My question is do you think EA will sell off the IP or do you see them just throwing it in the closet with Dead Space, The Sims, Command and Conquer and so forth. If you do think they would sell it, is there a studio that would like to reset the franchise and make the game new and fresh again? Thanks and Chris we will miss you! As a listener from way back, I appreciate all you have done for the show all these years!

Cedric S

Howdy guys, Have you seen how AI is being used to decompile old games and get them running on modern PC hardware? With PS4, PS5, and Switch 2 titles being cracked wide open, and even the Steam Next Fest flooded with AI slop, do you think Sony, Valve, Microsoft and Nintendo will finally crack down on AI made games? Thanks, and I'll listen to your answers while crying in the shower!

Who Loc

Hey Boys, With the recent news about EA shutting down BioWare, Do you think other companies will take this as a learning lesson, on maybe keeping the gender studies bullshit out of their game? Sad to see the company go but it isn’t the same company we once loved. Who knows maybe money bags Xbox will come in to save the day like usual. Thanks for all that you guys do , and to Chris, I’m sad to see you leave man you gave me plenty of laughs throughout the years. Anyway I’ll fuck off and listen now, thanks

Wheat-Thin

Greetings CDC, Would it be a mistake for Sony to market this next console as the “PlayStation 6”? In the traditional console generation format, new base models have historically been positioned as relatively affordable and mass market. With the rumored price approaching $1000+, it could be an uphill battle to take the same approach. Especially when traditional console generations mean as little as ever. Could it make sense to position this device as a sort of “PlayStation Ultra”, while continuing to sell base PS5 for the masses? After all, unprecedented times call for unprecedented brand strategy. Thank you for all that you do, and best of luck to Chris on this new chapter!

The Diddler

Hey CDC, Unofficial PC ports are becoming more common in the gaming space. So much so that it is causing Japanese and Western fighting game players to clash over the unofficial PC port of Tekken 6. Japanese players call it piracy and disrespecting the IP holder. Western players argue that the game is 17 years old, and requires the 360 disc, so “who cares?”The debate has turned into a clash over rules, respect, protecting IP, and hypocrisy. For instance, Japan has a huge resale market, yet the publishers put a “not for resale tag” on every physical game. Respect the publisher’s wishes? Other people are also comparing this to sex**l assault. (I dont get it) What’s more concerning is the growing racism in Japanese comments, which reflects the wider anti-immigrant sentiment gaining ground here in Japan. Where do you stand on the unofficial PC ports that require the original disc? (Blue Dragon also got, or is getting, one of these ports)

Lindsay Clancy's Rainbow Six

Is there any truth to the idea that developers in the east have a better working model than the west? When it comes to design, development time and cost, we can compare Dragon Age Veilguard with Crimson Desert or Black Myth Wukong with Wolverine. But is this just cherry picking? As we say goodbye to Bioware, maybe we should reconcile developers being chained to their desks to get a game in less than half a decade.

CombatSneeze

You need a gallon of milk everyday?🫪

Raisin

No, CombatSneeze. But you already knew that. I live in a household with three adults, myself included. Between cooking, baking, cereal, etc., we most definitely go through more than one gallon a week. I brought milk up because I'm literally almost out of it. After sales tax, a gallon of milk is about $3.20 where I'm at. That leaves $0.80. But that's far from the point. The point is that hardware is so inexplicably expensive. According to Bankrate, the median monthly mortgage payment for U.S. homebuyers is $2,134. At over a grand for a PS6, it's ridiculous to ask people to spend what is basically half a mortgage payment on a video game console. That is what we should be talking about. We shouldn't be talking about how, if I save $4 every day until 2028, I'll have enough. That's so obviously missing the point.

BigDumbStupidIdiot

Hey "Big head" Colin; "Body of a large, small child" Chris and "Everyone's mom thinks is handsome" Dustin; Something something BioWare is a Ship of Theseus. Here's what these dumb dumb executives don't get, Ship of Theseus isn't about replicating the ship; it's about honoring those whom first sailed it. It's clear to everyone current BioWare had no shot of creating the magic of Mass Effect or Dragon Age. Why do you think the decision makers rather devalue loved IP than try to make something new? Have a great day!

KYisLife

Alright Colin, I platinumed Uncharted 4 and the trophy list was bad! How does Naught Dog make masterpieces but then drops the ball for plats so consistently!?

Dante B

Good day my kings, Colin - completely agree with your assessment of Belmont's Curse from Monday. It isn't a bad game, it just isn't a great Castlevania game. People are quick to point out that Castlevania has gone through many radical evolutions over the years and that is true. But the problem here is that it isn't an evolution so much as it is derivative of 100 other modern Metroidvania games. Just constant fast paced platforming challenge rooms with mechanics that are quite literally lifted wholesale out of other games like Guacamelee, Ori and Hollow Knight - all games I love, mind you. But this just feels like yet another one of those games, with a Castlevania skin on top. As a long time fan, I was hoping for a lot more.

Cooper Smith

Hey CDC, With the news of biowares closure, who would each of you choose to Shepard (pun intended) mass effect and dragon age if EA were to sell off the IP? Also do you think the Saudi wealth fund would be willing to do something like that or will these IP go dormant?

Keenan Horrell

​Hello fellas, ​As a Braid and The Witness fan, I have been passively following Jonathan Blow's latest game, Order of the Sinking Star, for a few years now. It released on October 8th with little to no fanfare. Hell, I didn't even realize it launched until I was looking for a puzzle game for an upcoming trip. ​This game was in development for over 10 years; it's one of the largest puzzle games ever created, yet barely any of the major outlets bothered to cover it. Jonathan Blow could be considered one of the founding fathers of the indie movement, yet his new release only has 16 critics' reviews on Metacritic, and of those, I only recognize two (GameSpot and DualShockers). ​This seems very weird to me, like the whole industry decided to cut Blow off just because he has some differing views. What are your thoughts on the situation? Do you think the industry shut him out, or do you think this game simply fell through the cracks in a loaded October?

Trevor Cannon

Hey Fellas, I've been listening to the show for years, and every time a listener would write in about losing a pet, I'd feel for them, of course, but then move on with my day. Sadly, this past Monday, it happened to me. I had to put my cat down, and it was easily one of the hardest things I've ever done in my adult life. I've lost grandparents and been through some difficult life situations, but nothing prepared me for saying goodbye to a friend who had been by my side for more than 14 years. So, with a little more perspective, I want to give a shout-out to every LSM listener who has lost a pet. It fucking sucks. It's okay to be sad, it's okay to be angry, and I have so much empathy for anyone who's had to go through it. And Colin, consider this a reminder to everyone to look into pet insurance as you have mentioned. Getting that bill at the end of an already terrible day was another gut punch I wasn't prepared for. Give your pets a little extra love today. Thanks Trevor Cannon

Alex Affonso

Hello gents. As broadcasted through social media, Brian Altano, Max Scoville and Seth Macy from Ign were laid off. I think that leaves just Ryan Mccaffrey and Daemon Hatfield from the old days around (and God know for how long). Do you intend to reach out or even invite Brian mage for a sacred plus, not akin to how you did the rounds at gamespot with Danny O Dwyer when you left IGN to start kinda funny? Is there room for all those voices? Anyway, I'll leave you here. Have a good rest of the day.

Cameron Hill

Hey guys, first time write-in. With the report coming in from Fortune about the extremely high cost of the next gen Xbox ($1,200 to $1,800), what will Xbox leadership consider a “win” with console sales. 2 million? 5 million? With such a small market share, is this just to finally justify to the hardcore Xbox fan that being a 3rd party is the only way. As a diehard Xbox fan, I really don’t care. I want Helix, but I really care about the games first. If they come to PlayStation, that just helps fund many of my favorite studios and IP (Fallout, Elder Scrolls, Halo), and keeps devs from more layoffs. Love you guys, Godspeed to you Chris. And Collin leave the cereal out the damn fridge.

Gage Cline

What’s up guys! First of all, Chris, love ya man, loved watching you all these years and can’t wait to see what you do next. My question is regarding Belmont’s Curse. I know you’re playing it Colin and I’m wondering if it took you a minute to get used to not having I frames with the dodge in the game as well as no contact damage from enemies. You can be up their ass and if it’s not their attack that hits you, you’re safe. It threw me at first and struck me as weird for this type of game. Anyways I’m having a ball playing and hope you’re liking it as well. Keep it up guys!

Kazden Risk

Hey CDC, this one is for Chris. Chris, I see you bought Red Rising. Enjoy the most epic run of sci-fi books this side of the Milky Way. The first trilogy is incredible and the second half of the saga is even better. Enjoy! Take care.

Pramod Ramesh

Hey sacred cowboys, maybe Sony should actually look to Valve for first party development wisdom. The general perception is that Valve does not really need to make new games or doesn’t make games anymore, but that is not quite true. It has evergreen games that continue to generate enormous revenue year after year. Isn’t that exactly what Sony is trying to build but failing? Valve’s own games reportedly generated ~ $2 billion in 2025, compared with ~ $3.5 billion from Steam platform fees. That means their first party games were equivalent to more than half of its Steam platform fee revenue, and roughly 35% of those revenue streams combined. Counter Strike alone has been estimated at around $1 billion annually! This is the live service dream Sony has been chasing, a handful of relatively lean evergreen games producing huge recurring revenue alongside a dominant platform for a decade. So, what say you boys? Should Gabe Newell run Sony for a couple years to lead them to the promised land ? 😆

Wall bouncing in WW1

Hey if we’re lucky maybe we’ll get a mass effect themed stage in Battlefield 6 like Deadspace.

Jonathan

Good day Gentle Boys, If you were King Sony how much would you pay to purchase the IP only of either Mass Effect, Dragon Age, or Dead Space. Alternatively how about the bundle of all three? Does throwing in a lost and forgotten Immortals of Aveum grease the wheels of commerce? I’ll shut up and listen have a great day! Jonathan

Blue

What’s Up you miserable little piles of sacred secrets, I’ve been playing Belmont’s Curse and I gotta say…I’m disappointed. It’s like Dead Cells x Castlevania, but also not as good as either. Anyway I’m now looking forward to Bloodstained the Scarlett Engagement even more. But enough talk…Have at you!

Nicholas Renaud

Trio of the sacred 3. Ps6 is supposedly going to be “well over $1,000” according to some new analyst reports. My thing is, if it has a handheld portion and can continue the legacy of 10 + years of crossover and legacy content, isn’t that worth it? Not even mentioning the inflation and sudden catch up of prices on boutique goods. Later!

Kris Hendricks

Now put that same daily $4 into a high-yield savings account and you might be able to afford a launch title.

Kris Hendricks

Hey fellas: are any of you fans of e-sports or is it completely pointless in your opinion?

Devon!

Gents, Who the fuck is leading EA?!?! Have a great show, - Devon

Nathan Densley

Hello gentlemen, Weird day. I thought I'd share. At lunch I saw Jason Schrier's video about the Bioware closure and the knock-on-effect of the inevitable job layoffs. A couple hours later I was laid off myself from my pipe fitting job, installing fire suppressant sprinkler systems. At lunch, I was thinking about Bioware and it's name being synonymous with my favourite games of all time, and how now it's heat-death type attrition over the last decade and a half have led me to feel more of late - "Bio-Who-Cares". Then it happens to me personally. Boss comes in to the back of the shop where I'm sorting sprinkler heads and tells me the projects they had lined up are all delayed and they couldn't keep me around just sweeping the shop. So they'd have to let me go, telling me there is work coming down the pipe for sure and I'd have a job waiting for me - but "No hard feelings if I had to get another job." Thirty minutes later, I got another job. Better pay. Probably better atmosphere. Now, in that thirty minutes, no, I was not all of a sudden hit with an ironic sense of guilt about my feelings in Bioware's degradation and painstakingly long eventual dismissal. I just got another job. That's life. Most of these people will get another job, that is, if Casey Hudson hasn't already poached most of the talent for his company, Arcanaut Studios, up here in Edmonton. And those that can't get a job in the industry, are we really sad they are gone? I mean really? Because I platinumed Veilguard, I don't think the people that made that game like games anyways. Saudi Princes, Jared Kushner's 1.1%, late stage capitalist leverage buyouts, and double mastectomy scar character creation aside. Can we grow up a little? Life is hard. No question. Read Dostoevsky. But come on, Bioware has been dead for years and plenty of the people who worked there at all levels played some part in it. They ate from the bones of a dead giant and got fat. And fat loves to be trimmed, as I found out today. But maybe by getting another job at a higher wage and better benefits I can prove that they cut stronger, more necessary stuff, muscle and bone. Thus, I would challenge any Bioware staff to do the same, prove us all wrong and go make something great under a different roof and logo. Am I wrong? (And even though Chris is going to dismiss my position with pointed flippancy, I will miss you Chris and wish you all the best and continued success in every creative endeavour you pour yourself into. Kick some serious ass!) Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Josh Gamez

Hey guys, I recently played through the Order: 1886 and was blown away by how well the visuals of a game that's nearly 12 years old have held up. So that begs the question: has visual fidelity in games truly reached a point where they're not actually going to conceivably get any better? And if so, what is truly the next step forward for the medium? My apologies in advance for a potentially long-winded write-in. Thanks in advance guys and keep on, keepin' on.

Castillo7640

Hey CDC, Longtime listener ( 2018) and 39-year-old gamer here. I’ve been playing since the original PlayStation era, and something about the current state of gaming has really been on my mind. With massive franchises like God of war continuing to dominate the conversation, while PlayStation also promotes ambitious titles like Phantom Blade Zero , I wonder whether the industry is approaching a creative crossroads. As development costs rise and publishers become increasingly dependent on established franchises, are we reaching a point where genuinely original AAA experiences are becoming too financially risky? I think about creators like Hideo Kojima, who built their reputations on unconventional storytelling and taking risks that weren’t always commercially predictable. My question is this: If Sony had to choose between funding three experimental, creatively ambitious games or one guaranteed blockbuster sequel, which decision would actually be healthier for PlayStation’s long-term future? And do you believe today’s PlayStation would take the same creative chances it did during the PS1 and Keep up the great work!

Lou Sassle

Hey you absolute men, Did you guys hear the rumors that GTA6’s PC version might be coming as early as Q1 2027? If this is the case, how underhanded and despicable of a “play” would this be from Take Two? I know THEY don’t care and I know THEY can get away with it, but… it is “DBS,” as Colin would say, no? Thanks for everything. We love you Chris!

Hans Pubis

Boys of the symbols that are sacred, Every year like clockwork, whenever Apple announces a new device, there's no shortage of people saying that no one will buy it. And every year, these devices manage to sell in droves. Part of that stems from Apple's rather expansive payment plans, wherein consumers can "pay as little as $50" a month for the new iPhone 18 Pro. They've clearly found a workaround for couching high prices in a way that "makes sense" for most consumers. With that in mind, and with PlayStation 6 looking like it'll cross the $1000-plus threshold, should Sony, if it isn't already, begin looking into a similar offering? Right now, Sony's own "PlayStation Visa" is just a 0% APR for 6 months.

Swagglerock

Hello Sacred Gentlemen We are nearing the holidays, and I feel I need to begin the airing of grievances. Not to totally dox myself, but my name is Dallas. As a fan of football this has been pretty damn annoying. So often I have been hit with “Oh so you’re a cowboys fan?”. I am not. Please find a new joke. Thank you for your time and have a good day.

astronomica

Hello Gent(s), PlayStation's OS and software platform has been getting cracked open with accelerating speed recently, and they've been struggling to protect themselves in any way. There's a chance GTA6 may be accessible via these methods soon after release, and so on. What are your thoughts on where this might lead the industry in the future? Should we expect more of the software getting shifted to online processing etc. so that the game files contain little to no information on the contents themselves? Is streaming perhaps the only way to remedy this? Bonus (can ignore if you want): I've noticed a lot of people on socials grandstanding trying to moralize the act of using software they have not paid for arguing that because prices are increasing or the game sucks their actions are moral. My opinion is that there are so many different games you can enjoy and support for affordable prices so why pirate? Also, if you're saying a game is so bad and yet you're playing it you should pay, no?

(Alex)ander the great

Hey sacred crew, Did Sega have it right years ago? With the cost of gaming only going one way did sega with incremental upgrades (mega CD + 32X) to the Genesis/mega drive have the right idea for todays console gaming world? Imagine adding to your current ps5 for a couple hundred dollars to give it more performance instead of needing to shell out over $1000 to get a ps6.

Sam Ward

Hey CDC, We usually hear the boring term of "where are the games?" And while I know that's mainly aimed at Sony 1st party I do have to ask, are there too many games? I keep thinking back to Geoff Keighley talking about how there were over 10'000 games on Steam by July and now there's apparently over 19'000 and we still have 2 months of the year left. Are we at a point of severe oversaturation, or is this the way things are going to be from now on? I'll hang up while wondering how I'm going to have time for all these games

The Wizard of Loneliness

Dustin, Please give us 15 minutes on You Can See Everything and convince Colin to watch it. Thanks and shout out J-Squad!

Envydiel

Sacred Gents, Is there a point activist games journos should shoulder a share of the accountability for the state of the industry? They run defense of real customer criticisms for their friends in the industry, gaslight executives into believing consumers want American left wing politics in all their products, and when those games inevitably fail in the global market, they hold struggle sessions and eulogies for the studios they lead down the primrose path. Thanks blokes.

Liam Neild

Hello Sacred gents, With the release of Final Fantasy Resonance and The Adventures of Elliot earlier this year, I was just wondering what your opinion is on the HD-2D art style? I know I’m in the minority but, while I’d go as far as saying the style is objectively beautiful (if that’s even possible) - something always feels a bit, well, off. From the excessive bloom and depth of field effects, to the overly detailed textures - something just doesn’t sit quite right in my brain. I’d love to hear your opinion on this artistic approach and your thoughts on its popularity with devs in the JRPG space and beyond. All the best and thank you for all that you do!

Rando Calrisian Came First

Greetings Sacred Slitterus, I hope you are keeping well! With Chris sadly getting sentenced to life in Guantanamo Bay. I've been wondering, Colin after all these years of content creation and being in the space, what is the one thing you still haven't checked off your resume? Maybe someone you never got to meet or a studio you never got to visit. Thanks for all you do guys and have a "well.. back to the mines boys" kind of day.

Paul S

Hey boys. Order of the Sinking Star came out recently and seems like the newest victim in the “too many games” era we are in now. This is Johnathan Blows new game and if anyone is looking for a fun/challenging puzzle game they should take a look. But how do you think games like this can try and stand out in this absolutely landslide of good/excellent releases? In a world where being excellent might not be good enough to catch onto the public, does everyone need to become Marvels: Order of the Sinking Star? Thanks. And RIP BioWare. Tali forever.

Dick Whiskey

Gents, With the big devs cornering the sports simulator lane, do you think making games like the new Tape to Tape is the way for smaller devs to goif they want to make more unserous sports game? I, for one, miss the NHL Hitz and NFL Blitz days because I always enjoyed both styles. P.S. Chris, before your announcement to leave, did you ever consider getting up during the middle of an episode, saying you needed to run to the store to get some smokes, and just never coming back to the pod? Would've been pretty sweet, just saying. We'll miss you, bud Stay frosty

Elijah Miller

Hey CDC, BioWare's closing brings up many points made on this show that unfortunately were true. BioWare being nothing but a name, with no one taking over the creative mantle once the founders left, ala Neil at Naughty Dog. However I think a bigger one that doesn’t get brought up as often is trend-chasing. Something old heads in executive management positions do that we can see everywhere since Fortnite and Apex Legends changed the landscaping we love so much. There are no games that have made it anywhere close to those two and there been plenty of time. Anthem and Dragon Age’s gaas attempt that they scrapped after four years of development when Jedi Fallen Order sold incredibly well proving that people still buy single player games. Something anyone who actually plays games could have known. So my question becomes “how does someone in the trenches stop this from happening?” It’s clear devs at Sony were heavily incentivized to make gaas games so everyone tried and Bluepoint suffered as a result. What could these studios do when executives who don’t know games make their studios chase a trend that is impossible to replicate? Sorry for the length (pause) but I had this on my mind and was curious what y’all thought of it. I’ll hang up and listen.

Cristian Colța

Before the pornographic trio breaks up, can you please acknowledge that your family name initials spell out MMF. And somehow, in however many years, nobody ever acknowledged this?

Raisin

😂 Probably not, Kris Hendricks! Games will probably be $80 by then. Between $80 games and $1,000 consoles, next-gen is about to be hella expensive.

The Diddler

Hey CDC, Unofficial PC ports are becoming more common in the gaming space. So much so that it is causing Japanese and Western fighting game players to clash over the unofficial PC port of Tekken 6. Japanese players call it piracy and disrespecting the IP holder. Western players argue that the game is 17 years old, and requires the 360 disc, so “who cares?”The debate has turned into a clash over rules, respect, protecting IP, and hypocrisy. For instance, Japan has a huge resale market, yet the publishers put a “not for resale tag” on every physical game. Respect the publisher’s wishes? Other people are also comparing this to sex**l assault. (I dont get it) What’s more concerning is the growing racism in Japanese comments, which reflects the wider anti-immigrant sentiment gaining ground here in Japan. Where do you stand on the unofficial PC ports that require the original disc? (Blue Dragon also got, or is getting, one of these ports)

Austin from Rochester

Hey CDC, allow me to pull a bharv for doubting Colin. It's becoming increasingly clear that Colin is right about the nature of long standing studios. After Bioware pulled a full Ship of Gayseus, I think I have fully come around to Colin's idea that studios should make games with temporary teams. Is there any developer you'd like to see dissolved so that it's dormant IP can be picked up by new one off teams? Keep up the great show. RIP Bozo Bioware and RIP in peace Chris' tenure as regular cohost.

Jeff G.

Morning Sacred gents, I am one of the late 1900s born gamers who started on NES and like Colin, have very fond memories of Castlevania 2 Simon's Quest. Needless to say I'm playing Belmont's Curse and have looked a few things up online and thus have shifted my social media algorithm to include retro Castlevania content. Scrolling YouTube I came across this SuperGuitarBros medley of Castlevania 2 (https://youtu.be/Nj3dXVIBDKo?is=nOcheHitsGxhn_bF) and it gave me all the feels of my early gaming days which got me thinking about the games that I grew up on that shaped what I love today. Final Fantasy, Dragon Warrior, Castle Quest (fuck that game), and Castlevania 2 Simon's Quest. What are your foundational and core memory games that shaped what games you play and love today? Thanks!

Dave Ramos

Hey guys, With the news of Bioware shutting down, do we think the Mass Effect franchise is truly dead? Accordng to IGN the Mass Effect show is still in development. If the show is successful do you think EA would bring the franchise back but possibly have other studies like the Exodus team revive it?