Show Notes
When it comes to the evolving gaming market, there's a lot for Sony to keep an eye on in the years and decades to come. To keep PlayStation the vibrant brand it is today, the company needs to spread the field, and two newly-announced projects -- an all-new co-op multiplayer game from the director of Left 4 Dead and a mobile port of mega-popular baseball franchise MLB: The Show -- fit the bill nicely. It's true that Sony has had more than its fair share of false starts (and even outright failures) in both the mobile and games-as-a-service space. Yet, there's gold in them there hills. Lots of it. Can Sony finally slay some off-platform and off-genre demons and reap some rewards? We discuss. Plus: Nixxes helps reduce Helldivers 2's PC file size by an astounding 85%, Bungie has apparently solved its dispute with the artist it purportedly stole Marathon-related art from, Shovel Knight developer Yacht Club Games finds itself in self-inflicted financial duress, Amazon has already renewed the God of War TV show for a second season, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Has leaking culture gone too far? Will Micron's exit from the consumer RAM business affect console manufacturing? How can people find likeminded gaming friends online? Can we please do away with adult gift-giving once and for all?
Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.
0:00:00 - Intro0:52:36 - Juices flowing0:54:56 - YouTube Recap1:08:13 - Colin dying1:11:02 - Switching to no presents1:21:02 - PlayStation partners with Bad Robot1:35:15 - The Show: Mobile releases1:46:06 - Helldivers 2 PC install sized down1:53:26 - Helldivers 2 movie has a director2:03:31 - Amazon orders two seasons of God of War2:08:14 - Bungie settles with artist over stolen art2:11:45 - Yacht Club Games may be in trouble2:27:26 - Saudi PIF will own 93.4% of EA2:31:22 - IO confirms Hitman 42:36:53 - Splinter Cell Remake director returns2:40:15 - Tomba 2 gets a release date2:43:10 - November's top PSN downloads2:45:16 - What We’re Playing (Ball x Pit, Metal. Eden, TMNT: Cowabunga Collection, Metal Gear Solid Delta, Red Dead Redemption)3:09:22 - Arc Raiders introduces gamers to socializing3:25:28 - Games that age well3:31:54 - Disdain for leakers3:41:44 - Micron leaves the consumer market3:49:29 - Meeting new people to play games3:56:53 - Can criticism go too far? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
More from Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast
Recent data analysis indicates what was already fairly obvious: The online pushback to Sony's discless announcement this past summer was at least partially astroturfed. It's not to say that no one had authentic grievances, or that real people didn't try their hardest to make their voices heard. Rather, it's that a tangible amount of the seemingly-earnest feedback that was plastered underneath everything PlayStation posted for months is demonstrably fake. This revelation brings us back to the original point, which is consumers' unwillingness to hit Sony where it really hurts -- in its wallet -- meaning that PlayStation can continue to merely wait this thing out, sans consequences. Why won't angry consumers do the hard work of removing themselves from the ecosystem entirely? The ramifications of such a move would speak in a language no company can ignore. Other news this week includes the reveal of a 30th anniversary Gran Turismo DualSense, a God of War: Laufey collector's edition that doesn't come with the actual game, trouble percolating over the extreme cost of licenses associated with EA's College Football, and more. Then: Listener inquiries. Was PlayStation 3's brief foray into 3D gaming a waste of time, or a promising technology that was too early to market? Should Sony prepare to lose access to Xbox's catalog of games in the PlayStation 6 era? Why don't animators and artists change the aesthetic of actors during motion capture? Did you know we're now further away from BioShock's release date than BioShock's release date was from the decade of the 1980s?
A common complaint during the PlayStation 5 generation has been that the core fanbase has is being ignored. There's obvious truth to this statement, as Sony pivots more and more towards the free-to-play and games-as-a-service audiences that now sustain the brand. But perhaps they're still listening, after all. Recent rumors indicate a new Ape Escape is in development at an external second party team, joining People Can Fly's alleged Killzone project as yet another look backwards into PlayStation's extensive well of dormant IP. The real question now is: What else would we want to see? We discuss. Plus: Sony sells hundreds of PSVR-related patents to Meta, a new Portal model with an OLED screen may be incoming, Forza Horizon 6 gets a PS5 release date, Warhorse's CEO thinks games should obviously cost more, Alan Wake 3 may be early in development at Remedy, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Is 'hybrid gaming' the future of the industry? How do we deal with latent DLC for games we're no longer familiar with? Should Sacred Symbols be focused on attracting more female listeners? Which host has earned the title of Emeritus?
There's simply no denying that Naughty Dog's absence this generation is deeply felt. Apart from a couple of ports and a defunct, half-made multiplayer project, Sony's crown jewel studio hasn't contributed much of anything to PS5. Thankfully, that's on the verge of changing, not only as we get late in this cycle, but ever-closer to PlayStation 6. Three important pieces of news emerged: Intergalactic will be shown-off next year, a new Uncharted is indeed in development and will come to market following Intergalactic, and two The Last of Us projects are being incubated as well (one presumably The Last of Us: Part III). For the first time in ages, we have a clearer and more robust view into what Sony's most important team is planning for the next half-decade and well beyond. Is it time to celebrate? Or will the proof be in the pudding? Plus: Sony is skipping CES for the first time since 1967, a new look at God of War: Laufey's combat shows something decidedly DMC, AI upscaling comes to base PlayStation 5, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Why do so many "spiritual successors" fail to live up to the original? What's with all of the 10s IGN gives out these days? Should players embrace 'the grind' in video games, or seek ways around it? Who has the audacity to schedule a wedding on Christmas Eve?
When it comes to Bungie, Sony's long been at a crossroads. Either PlayStation needs to invest heavily into keeping the studio afloat so it can support existing products and spin-up new ones, or it needs to pull the plug before more good money went after bad. Well, Sony's made a decision, and it's seemingly very much the former choice. With a new wind at its back, can Bungie turn Marathon around, revive Destiny, and survive and even thrive within the first party family? Or is it simply too little, too late? Plus: More information emerges on the Physint-Kojima situation, ex-Naughty Dog director Bruce Straley tells some hard truths about modern AAA gaming, SEGA got oh-so-close to binning Sonic the Hedgehog entirely, Square Enix intends on letting Final Fantasy VII Revelation players controversially auto-level their characters, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! What are our thoughts on Xbox's recent consolidative efforts? Are we sometimes too cavalier when openly spoiling older games? In what fashion should Crash Bandicoot's 30th anniversary be properly celebrated? How many listeners in total has Dustin gotten into Iron Maiden?
A player-organized "PlayStation Blackout" recently asked Sony's hardcore customers to stay off of PSN for a mere week. It was a no doubt modest ask -- one that wasn't going to break the brand -- and it's always nice to see people try and do something when they deem it necessary. But if data from reliable US industry tracking firm Circana is any indication, the PlayStation Blackout had no discernable effect on their data whatsoever. When does initiative end and performance begin? If something is clearly not working, should one's tactics change? Perhaps most importantly, does a movement, no matter how laudable, need actually likable leadership to be effective? One thing's for sure: The blackout was a dud, something its most ardent champions cannot (or perhaps will not) square. Other news this week includes rumors surrounding Media Molecule's next game, an altered update approach for Bungie's Marathon, the reported closure of MindsEye studio Build A Rocket Boy, the trademarked sequel to 2023's beloved Lies of P, and much more. Then: Listener inquiries! Are Sony games victimized by over-focus testing? Should we be worried about Housemarque's future? Why don't more scary games launch in October? Does Colin need to remind everyone what about the true definition of "pithy"?Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.0:00:00 - Intro0:22:49 - Colin's "nachos"0:36:21 - Can Mitch McConnell beat Wolverine?0:37:22 - Define pithy0:46:02 - Resident Evil movie is good?0:50:05 - PlayStation blackout had no effect1:06:52 - Details about Media Molecule's next game1:21:33 - Marathon development update1:41:44 - Marvel Tokon's director on the PC launch1:47:18 - Build A Rocket Boy is no more1:58:11 - Lies of P Sequel trademarked2:09:01 - New PlayStation headsets2:20:53 - Powerwash Simulator 2's next DLC2:24:48 - Level 5's AI drama2:29:28 - Wardogs is a hit2:35:38 - Dragon Quest sells over 100 million2:38:48 - Terranigma releases January 14th2:44:28 - What We’re Playing (The Blood of Dawnwalker, Onimusha: Way of the Sword)2:45:15 - PlayStation's side of the Kojima divorce3:00:40 - Is focus testing ruining games?3:19:16 - Bloat and personnel in gaming3:27:25 - Porting trophies to Xbox3:35:03 - Housemarque's future3:39:33 - Horror games in October Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices