Sacred Symbols, Episode 23: The Censorship Conundrum (Patreon)

Should video games be censored, or should anything go? The PlayStation ecosystem has recently found itself having to answer this important question, one framed around a peculiar (and often distasteful) grouping of fan service-heavy games. Some niche devs are claiming that they're being stymied, the consumers of those games aren't happy about it, and Sony itself has admitted that the rules are shifting. So, let's chat about where to go from here. Plus: December's PS+ games have arrived, GameStop posts a major financial loss, the FTC has its eyes on lootboxes, Fallout 76's drama continues, Rocksteady isn't making a Superman game, WayForward joins the Bloodstained team, and much more, enveloped -- as always -- by your questions, comments, and concerns. Oh, and it's Chris' birthday, so Colin got him a very appropriate gift. More details within.

Timestamps:

0:00:17 - Intro.
0:01:15 - Colin gives Chris a birthday present.
0:03:15 - A reminder on our December recording schedule (episodes will be released on schedule).
0:03:56 - What do we hope to see at The Game Awards?
0:07:04 - Stories about getting games for birthdays/Christmas.
0:10:18 - Kingdom Hearts III fans rebel.
0:12:08 - How are we going to deal with PlayStation 5 rumors moving forward?
0:12:54 - A Blockbuster Video-related correction.
0:13:52 - An unnecessary clarification on what the hell YoRHA means.
0:14:34 - What could PSVR do as it is right now on a hypothetical PS5?
0:16:24 - A new patent gets Vita fans unnecessarily excited.
0:17:08 - What games have we been playing?
0:24:25 - It seems Sony really is censoring (particularly niche) games.
0:30:43 - December 2018's free PS+ games are...
0:31:47 - GameStop posts a major financial loss.
0:33:11 - The FTC may get involved in regulating lootboxes in the US.
0:35:19 - The Fallout 76 drama continues (plus Q's).
0:41:33 - Japanese devs are beginning to confirm work on "next-gen" consoles.
0:42:22 - Starbreeze Studios is in financial trouble.
0:43:46 - Fortnite hits a new player milestone.
0:44:34 - Rocksteady Games confirms it's not working on a Superman game (plus Q's).
0:47:43 - WayForward joins the team behind Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night (plus Q's).
0:50:40 - Minor game announcements and release date information.
0:53:38 - This week's new releases for PS4, PS Vita, and PSVR.
1:07:14 - We talk about studios' importance, but what about the actual people?
1:10:47 - Did Sony botch the PlayStation Classic?
1:21:36 - When publishers quickly drop game prices, does that screw gamers?
1:26:14 - Outro.