Spectator Mode Gaming Podcast

Send us Fan Mail On Spectator Mode Podcast Ep. 235, we dive into several discussions around how games are released, bought, and preserved. We talk about why some genuinely good games still launch in rough states, the risks surrounding PlayStation emulation and jailbreaking, and whether Steam should finally add a “Buy Now” button. We also share our thoughts on Dynasty Warriors 3 and Star Wars: Gala...

Send us Fan Mail On Spectator Mode Podcast Episode 234, we tackle another round of XBOX restructuring and layoffs, including the changes affecting studios such as Turn 10, Obsidian, Rare, and Halo. We also discuss the latest IGN layoffs, what they say about the current state of gaming media, and why seeing longtime personalities shown the door hits differently. Then we turn our attention to Bungie...

Send us Fan Mail We’re back after a two-week hiatus, and after tackling PAX West 2026, we have plenty to discuss on Spectator Mode Podcast Episode 233. This week, we break down why PAX West 2026 was a disappointment from a media and convention standpoint, including empty show floors, missing hardware vendors, outdated demos, limited media access, and a growing tabletop presence that continues to p...

Send us Fan Mail On Spectator Mode Podcast Ep. 232, we’re talking about Twitch’s new AI training opt-out dilemma, what it means for creators, and why the whole situation has us asking questions. We also get into the end of 2XKO , with Riot Games winding down development by the end of 2026 after the fighter struggled to find its audience. Elsewhere, Mortal Shell II is doing quite well following its...

Send us Fan Mail EA has officially changed hands , with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund taking control of one of gaming’s biggest publishers. We dig into what that could mean for EA, while also trying to understand Netflix’s bizarre six-hour GTA VI trailer exclusivity stunt. We also talk Marvel Tōkon hype, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, new Fire Emblem, Warrior Cats, and why people seriously nee...

Send us Fan Mail On Spectator Mode Podcast Episode 230, we share our Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls beta impressions and discuss the recent Xbox and PlayStation outages. We also cover Double Fine’s layoffs, the return of Wuchang: Fallen Feathers , and EA’s latest controversy. Timestamps: 0:00 – Into 1:08 – Games played discussion 15:54 – Xbox Double Fine layoffs 27:04 – Marvel Tokon: Fight Souls Ope...

Send us Fan Mail On Spectator Mode Podcast Episode 228, we discuss why Echoes of Aincrad has become such a polarizing game and whether the criticism surrounding it is justified. We also examine Lenovo’s rumored C700 cloud gaming handheld and question whether dedicated cloud-streaming devices still have a place in the market. Topics discussed include: 00:00 - Podcast intro and welcome 00:45 - Recen...

Send us Fan Mail Xbox had a rough couple of weeks, and honestly, "rough" might be underselling it. On this week's episode, Scott and Keith, break down the fallout from Microsoft's latest round of cuts , a gut-punch that cost an enormous number of people their jobs, sent four studios packing from the Xbox family, and left id Software a shell of what it used to be. We get into wh...

Send us Fan Mail PlayStation’s future will not include physical games, with Sony reportedly ending physical game production in 2028. But what does that mean for gamers, collectors, consumers, and the industry? Will games become more expensive? Will the second-hand market disappear? Are players losing more control over the games they buy? We discuss all of that and more in this episode of Spectator...

Send us Fan Mail Nine months after Xbox raised the prices on its Xbox Series X|S consoles, the console maker has revealed that prices are going up again. As of August 1, 2026, all Xbox consoles will see a massive price hike, to where it's going to be harder to justify purchasing an Xbox, while  frustrating its fans. What is going on? #xbox #gaming  Check out our website for more great content...

Send us Fan Mail This week on The Spectator Mode Podcast, we kick things off with what we’ve been playing before diving back into the rest of our Summer Game Fest 2026 coverage. That includes the stuff we couldn’t talk about last time, such as Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3, Star Wars: Galactic Racer, and more. We also discuss Sega’s recent financials, Bungie revealing Marathon’s new Vault Breaker PvE mo...

Send us Fan Mail Spectator Mode Podcast returns with a packed episode as we talk about the games we’ve been playing, Epic Games revealing Unreal Engine 6, Bungie adding PvE modes for Marathon, our impressions of Forza Horizon 6, and why PlayStation’s PC strategy continues to frustrate players. We also get into why exclusives still matter in today’s gaming landscape and break down the latest Echoes...

Send us Fan Mail Keith and Scott attended Summer Game Fest 2026, and got to check out some of amazing upcoming titles, and play a number of them. However, due to embargos we had to delay this episode of the show until we could talk about certain things. This one is a bit late due being in LA and some of the stuff we discussed was still under NDA/embargo at the time. So, enjoy our Summer Game Fest...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Spectator Mode, we discuss a packed week of gaming and tech news, including Valve finally giving the new Steam Controller a release date, while still leaving everyone wondering what is going on with the long-rumored Steam Machine. We also talk about Xbox Game Pass changes, Xbox reportedly looking at adjustments to its exclusivity deals, recent PlayStation DRM co...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to the Spectator Mode Podcast. In this episode, we get into the buzz around the amazing Super Mario Galaxy movie, the growing frustration surrounding Marathon, and why gaming is starting to feel more expensive than ever as Nintendo and PlayStation raise prices. There’s a lot to unpack here, and honestly, it feels like the conversation around gaming is shifting in a bi...

Send us Fan Mail In Episode 215 of Spectator Mode Podcast, we get into a rough week for the gaming industry, starting with Epic Games and how former employees were handled, and why that situation doesn’t sit right. We also break down the recent PS5 price changes and why this trend could be bad news for gamers long-term, along with Xbox quietly backing away from its “Everything is an Xbox” push. On...

Send us Fan Mail In Spectator Mode Podcast Episode 214, we talk about what we’ve been playing, break down Crimson Desert and its approach to diversity, and discuss the current state of the PC gaming market. We also dive into Jeff Kaplan’s comments about Blizzard and game development, before wrapping things up with our reactions to the Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailer. If you’re into gaming, indus...

Send us Fan Mail Spectator Mode Episode 213 is here! After talking about what we've been playing, we dive into new details on Microsoft's Project Helix, Ben Diskin's decision to walk away from Mega Man: Override over Capcom's refusal to offer a union contract, and Nagoshi Studio facing a funding crisis that could kill Gang of Dragon before it launches. 00:00 - Intro 01:35 - Wha...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Spectator Mode Podcast Episode 212, we’re joined by Jeff Young from Analog Stick Gaming to discuss some of the biggest topics in gaming right now. We talk about Valve’s latest update on the Steam Machine, Xbox’s newly revealed Project Helix gaming device, and whether PlayStation might be walking back its push into PC gaming. We also get into the growing issue of AI-wr...

Send us Fan Mail On Spectator Mode Podcast episode 211, we discuss major Xbox shakeup as Phil Spencer retires, Sarah Bond exits, and Microsoft appoints a former AI executive to lead the brand. We also dive into the controversy surrounding North America’s biggest fighting game tournament now being owned by Saudi investors, and why much of the FGC is pushing back. On top of that, we discuss Sony shu...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Spectator Mode 210, we break down Microsoft’s reported plans to merge PC Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass as part of its 2026 strategy, and what that could mean for players. We also dive into Discord’s global age-verification rollout and the privacy concerns surrounding it. On the gaming side, we debate whether Nioh 3 can stand on its own or if comparisons to Elden...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Spectator Mode Podcast! In episode 209 we dig into big shifts across the gaming industry, including reports that the Game Developers Conference may be seeing a drop in international attendance and what that means for developers worldwide. We also break down the latest Xbox Developer Direct, react to the Dragon Ball 40th Anniversary announcements, and revisit Highgu...

Send us Fan Mail In Episode 208 of Spectator Mode Podcast, the crew dives into what they’ve been playing lately before shifting gears into industry talk and firsthand event coverage. Keith shares his experience attending CES 2026, including the tech, gaming hardware, and trends that caught his attention on the show floor. From there, the discussion turns to Highguard and whether anyone is truly hy...

Send us Fan Mail We’re back! After taking a month-long break to recharge and deal with the holidays, the crew returns to break down a few topics that matter in the gaming world. In Episode 207, we recap 2025, talk about what we’re looking forward to in 2026, discuss the rising prices of PC RAM and GPUs and how it impacts PC gaming, and cover GameStop closing even more stores. Plus, we hit a few ot...

Send us Fan Mail Valve has officially revealed the new Steam Machine, and The Outerhaven breaks down everything you need to know in this bite-sized holiday episode of the Spectator Mode Podcast. Is it a PC? Is it a console? We dig into why the community is split, what Valve’s goal might be, how this fits into the growing SteamOS ecosystem, and whether this mini-PC could shake up living-room gaming...