Unofficial Controller Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Nostalgia just got teeth. We’re launching Flashback, a brand-new channel dedicated to jumping into specific months of gaming history—magazine covers, previews that never shipped, weird accessories, and those console wars that lit up schoolyards. Think time capsules you can listen to: March ’94 one week, 2006 the next, maybe 1979 after that. The main show stays free, and Sundays no...

Send us Fan Mail Retro joy met modern surprise the moment we put Star Wars Outlaws on Switch 2 and saw a handheld punch way above its weight. We share what actually happened in docked and handheld tests, why performance felt close to PS5 at a glance, and where the cracks showed—two crashes tied to online checks that reminded us this era still leans on servers even when you’re playing solo. From th...

Send us Fan Mail A sleeper train, a leather PS1 bag with lockable carabiners, and a Switch 2 that refuses to leave handheld mode—this week we go full travel-nerd and full game-nerd at once. We start with a surprisingly great wired “travel dock” setup and land on the big takeaway: on a café table, inches from your eyes, the Switch 2 screen is a tiny theater. From there we dive into Grand Bazaar and...

Send us Fan Mail Scott takes the helm solo, sharing his current gaming obsessions while providing a Nintendo-heavy update on the latest releases and announcements. Without the usual supervision of his co-hosts, he embraces the opportunity to dive deep into his gaming passions and personal stories. • Dead by Daylight dominates Scott's gaming time with its new Thai folklore update featuring an...

Send us Fan Mail Flying solo this week, I take you on a journey through the strange territory of being a "gaming widower" – that peculiar state where your console has been commandeered by a loved one. With my wife happily immersed in Persona 5's stylish world and my daughter off to university, I've found myself reconnecting with forgotten corners of my gaming collection. My No...

Send us Fan Mail When your gaming partner discovers Persona, what's a dedicated gamer to do? This week, George flies solo on the Unofficial Controller Podcast as he navigates life as a "gaming widower" while his partner Rachel completes her Persona 4 journey. Rediscovery becomes the theme as George dusts off forgotten hardware – from his trusty PlayStation Vita to experimenting with...

Send us Fan Mail Switch 2's surprising power, the truth behind game key cards, and the subscription model debate take center stage in this week's gaming deep dive. Gaming's technological frontiers are expanding before our eyes, and nowhere is this more evident than with Nintendo's Switch 2. We explore why games like Star Wars Outlaws and Cyberpunk 2077 running on this pocket-si...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a gaming podcast host is left to his own devices? You get a delightfully chaotic journey through the gaming universe! In this solo adventure, George takes listeners on a meandering exploration of his current gaming obsessions, industry news, and the bizarre thoughts that populate a gamer's mind when there's no co-host to rein them in. The journey begins...

Send us Fan Mail Fresh from wedding bells and honeymoon bliss, George makes his triumphant return to the Unofficial Controller Podcast, reuniting with Scott for episode 282. The reunion sparkles with their trademark banter as Scott reveals his complete obsession with Harvestella – a game he can't stop praising for its beautiful music, compelling storylines, and perfect balance of farming simu...

Send us Fan Mail The gaming gauntlet has been thrown down! In our first-ever subscriber quiz special, Digital Monkery challenges five UCP community members to prove their gaming knowledge through 30 brain-teasing questions that span decades of video game history. From counting buttons on a PS1 controller to naming the ghosts in Pac-Man, our contestants battle through increasingly difficult trivia....

Send us Fan Mail Step into the heart of gaming culture with Timeless 25, Liverpool's premier gaming convention that tears down the barriers between fans and their heroes. In this in-depth conversation with event organizer Maggs, we explore how this beloved community gathering has evolved into the ultimate celebration of gaming passion. Maggs reveals the exciting new venue spanning multiple co...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Scott and RGT are joined by returning guest Seb to dive into a week filled with gaming disappointments and surprising industry moves. We kick things off with Scott's adventures at the Nottingham Video Games Expo, where he not only scored a boxed Sega Game Gear carry case but also connected face-to-face with a valued member of our Discord community – proving o...

Send us Fan Mail Step into the world of gaming with Scott and RGT as they hold down the fort while George enjoys his honeymoon! This week's episode is bursting with unexpected gaming gems and headline-making industry news that will have you reaching for your wallet. Ever wondered what it would be like if Red Dead Redemption and Stardew Valley had a baby? Look no further than Cattle Country, a...

Send us Fan Mail What if the most compelling gaming experiences aren't coming from $80 blockbusters, but from the thoughtfully crafted $30-50 titles that fly under the radar? This week, we're thrilled to welcome back Seb (Triple S) who immediately challenges our assumptions about where gaming's greatest joys can be found. Seb introduces us to "The Altars," a mind-bending s...

Send us Fan Mail Dive into the latest gaming landscape as Scott navigates through an ocean of gaming experiences, industry updates, and hidden gems you might have missed. From survival adventures on deserted islands to spine-chilling PS2 horror classics that continue to haunt players years later, this episode covers the full spectrum of gaming nostalgia and innovation. Scott kicks things off with...

Send us Fan Mail Gaming's landscape shifts dramatically as we witness the stark contrast between Nintendo's soaring success and Microsoft's painful restructuring. The Switch 2 has shattered records with 3.5 million units sold in just four days, while Xbox undergoes its fourth round of layoffs in 18 months, shuttering studios and cancelling anticipated titles like Everwild and Perfec...

Send us Fan Mail Gaming's past meets its uncertain future as Marathon Gaming and RGT reconnect for a gaming catch-up that spans nostalgic treasures and industry upheavals. Marathon shares his adventures in Mario Kart World's challenging knockout mode before revealing how he's rediscovered Grand Theft Auto 4's raw brilliance years after its release. His fresh perspective on Libe...

Send us Fan Mail In a triumphant return after his world tour, Marathon Gaming emerges as "Corporate Marathon Gaming," sunglasses on and energy drink in hand, ready to share his transformative experience with the Nintendo Switch 2. What begins as casual banter quickly evolves into a passionate exploration of how Nintendo's new console has completely changed his gaming perspective. Th...

Send us Fan Mail The gaming landscape is experiencing a seismic shift as Nintendo's Switch 2 breaks all-time US hardware sales records while Sony and Microsoft grapple with their own gaming futures.  This episode dives deep into what's working and what's not in today's gaming market. RGT shares his completion of GTA 4, marveling at how a 17-year-old game still delivers unmatche...

Send us Fan Mail Step into the future of hybrid gaming as we deliver our comprehensive hands-on review of the Nintendo Switch 2! After extensive testing, we're thrilled to share our genuine reactions to Nintendo's newest console – and spoiler alert: this isn't just an incremental update. The hardware improvements are immediately noticeable. From the larger, brighter 8-inch LCD scree...

Send us Fan Mail Step into the ring with The Unofficial Controller Podcast as George welcomes back Scotty (Marathon Gaming) for an episode that blends wrestling theatrics with passionate gaming discussion. Donning a crown and championship belt, Scotty transforms the podcast into an "Attitude Era" spectacle that's equal parts hilarious and informative. The duo's chemistry shines...

Send us Fan Mail What makes a game truly stand the test of time? In this episode, George and RGT dive deep into the enduring appeal of Grand Theft Auto IV, a game that's potentially better than its successor in ways that matter most. Liberty City comes alive again as RGT shares his experience revisiting Rockstar's masterpiece on PlayStation 3. Though the driving mechanics and camera init...

Send us Fan Mail Remember when games came complete right out of the box? When stunning single-player experiences ruled the day? When you could pick up nearly any title and be blown away by its creativity? We're taking a deliberate step back from today's gaming landscape to revisit what many consider the golden era of console gaming – the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 generation. After findi...

Send us Fan Mail The relationship between player and game is a complex dance of commitment, nostalgia, and evolving technology – themes that weave through this episode's varied gaming discussions. RGT shares his complicated relationship with Xenoblade Chronicles X after 80 hours of gameplay. Despite the game's incredibly deep systems for probes, mining, upgrades, and gear customization,...

Send us Fan Mail Step into our time machine and journey back to June 1992, where Mega Drives rule the living room, Game Boys hide in backpacks, and batteries never last quite long enough. Welcome to Flashback – a nostalgic gaming adventure where we don't just talk about retro games, we become retro gamers. In this pilot episode, we've meticulously recreated the gaming landscape of mid-19...