Unofficial Controller Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Xbox rarely says the quiet part out loud, but this week they come close. George and RGT unpack a massive leadership statement that admits real pain points, from pricing fatigue to a fragmented console experience, plus a sharper focus on PC, cloud gaming, and what “daily active players” means for the future of the Xbox platform and Game Pass. We talk about what sounds like genuine...

Send us Fan Mail OLL 26 in Norwich hits that rare sweet spot where a retro gaming event feels both exciting and genuinely comfortable. We talk about why the Epic Studios venue gave off a GamesMaster-style studio vibe, how John and the team kept everything running smoothly, and what it’s like when listeners travel in just to hang out, talk games, and share a pint. We also break down the setups that...

Send us Fan Mail PS5 trophy hunters are getting restless, Nintendo fans are debating an $80 Elden Ring on Switch 2, and Xbox is suddenly racking up “micro wins” that feel bigger than they should. We sit down and talk through the stories behind the headlines, then pull them back to the real question: what changes actually improve your day-to-day gaming, not just the marketing bullet points? We also...

Send us Fan Mail Easter week starts with a simple message that immediately goes off the rails: share the egg. From there, we settle into what we’ve been playing across console, Switch, PS Portal, and PC handheld life, and the list is wonderfully weird. RGT finishes Bang Average Football and explains why it’s such a tight, satisfying indie sports game, then introduces Nutmeg, a retro football manag...

Send us Fan Mail PS5 prices going up this late in the generation feels wrong, and we don’t sugarcoat it. George and RGT dig into Sony’s newly announced PS5, PS5 Pro, and PS Portal price increases, what’s being blamed (tariffs, supply pressure, RAM demand), and why it lands so badly when players already feel the squeeze. If you’ve been waiting to buy a PlayStation 5 or wondering whether a PS5 Pro i...

Send us Fan Mail A game called Bang Average Football has no right to be this addictive, and yet it completely derails our week. We talk through the exact moment it clicks: the Stardew-style town loop, the light RPG quests that drip-feed stat upgrades, and the surprisingly satisfying matches that feel like a modern take on Sensible Soccer. If you’ve been craving a cozy indie that still delivers tha...

Send us Fan Mail A game can look like a glitchy mess to everyone watching and still feel amazing in your hands and Cairn is our proof. We break down why its limb-by-limb climbing, stamina management, and piton “mini-saves” create real tension and real relief, the kind of accomplishment most modern games chase but rarely earn. If you’ve been hunting for a new PS5 game that feels different, or you j...

Send us Fan Mail A horror game that makes you pause, breathe, and come back braver. A port on Switch 2 that shouldn’t look this good. And a platform holder that might be quietly ending the PC honeymoon. This week we dive into Resident Evil Requiem’s two‑minded design—high‑octane third‑person set pieces with Leon and nerve‑tightening first‑person sequences with a heroine who turns every hallway int...

Send us Fan Mail A cat-breeding tactics roguelike that plays like Fire Emblem meets house management, a physics-forward indie platformer channeling N64 energy, and a survival-strategy Star Trek game that’s equal parts engrossing and maddening—this week’s journey is a snapshot of where gaming stands in 2026. We start with the indie crown: why Big Hops feels like a smart, compact alternative to the...

Send us Fan Mail A PS3 classic gets its flowers, a remake titan goes dark, and space RPG promises meet reality. We kick off with Infamous, celebrating the late-game difficulty, clever traversal design, and that unforgettable twist that still shocks. It’s a perfect reminder that bold storytelling and tight systems can outlast any hardware cycle—and why Gen 7 games deserve more love in 2026. From th...

Send us Fan Mail If you’ve been waiting for a PlayStation showcase that actually lands, this is the one. We kick off with what we’ve been playing—FF7 Rebirth, Art of Rally’s glorious adaptive triggers, and a guilty fling with Need for Speed: The Run—then dive into a State of Play that surprised us with real momentum and almost no fluff. Our rule of thumb is simple: does it feel good in the hands?...

Send us Fan Mail What if the games we finish fastest tell us the most about what we love? That question runs through this week’s ride as we finish Sleeping Dogs, return to Infamous on PS3, and unearth a shockingly good £2 ARPG on PSP. We dig into why “GTA clones” can still hit hard—when combat feels right, pacing stays lean, and the city serves the story instead of stealing the spotlight. Sleeping...

Send us Fan Mail A cozy fishing sim, a classic turned modern, and a debate that might change how you buy games this year. We kick off with Cast and Chill on Switch—the prettiest pixel art water you’ll see—then jump straight into Final Fantasy I Pixel Remaster, where party roles, fast saves, and auto-battle make retro feel fresh. From there, the stakes rise: Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 quietly teach...

Send us Fan Mail The suits were sharp, the jokes were chaotic, and the wings were hot—perfect conditions for the Ponsies, our annual Game of the Year awards engineered by Seb’s “committee” of number-crunchers. We opened the books on four very different gaming diets and found a story that spanned cozy farms, roguelike obsessions, comeback ports, and a JRPG that might define a generation. Our Switch...

Send us Fan Mail Final Fantasy VII Rebirth grabbed us by the scruff and reminded us how an open world can feel alive without drowning you in chores. We dig into why the new exploration loop works—think the curiosity of Breath of the Wild, the gathering rhythm of Horizon, and a dash of Xenoblade’s scale—then point to the quiet magic of Kalm, a bustling town that feels worth lingering in. Streamline...

Send us Fan Mail Three hundred episodes in and we still can’t shut up about games, community, and the wild lore that got us here. We kick off with the triumphant return of OG Tom, celebrate the 300th with heartfelt thanks, and then dive into a stacked “what we’re playing” that spans razor-sharp indies, comfort food cozies, and big-budget nostalgia. Silksong delivers a perfect late-game skill check...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wish a new release felt like the best parts of the 16-bit era without the grind or the guesswork? That’s the spark behind our deep dive into Terminator 2D: No Fate—an affectionate, modern-built throwback that marries beat-em-up grit, run-and-gun pacing, and side-scrolling driving with clever movie nods and genuinely meaningful branching paths. It’s the rare licensed game that...

Send us Fan Mail Hades 2 feels like the rare sequel that actually earns its extra systems. We dig into the above world’s health-drain tension, smart spellcrafting, and why a simple fishing rod supports progression without padding the grind. Then we pivot into Red Dead Redemption’s PS5 upgrade and make the case for “gentle touch-ups” over full remasters—60 fps and cleaner presentation that keep the...

Send us Fan Mail Ever have a week where you just want a straight hit of games, news, and honest opinions without the fluff? That’s the energy today. I kick things off with Hades 2 on Switch 2 and why its small, thoughtful touches—like audio cues that swell into boss fights—make it the perfect half-hour loop when life is busy. The Switch 2 port holds steady in handheld and docked, and those fast ru...

Send us Fan Mail This week George and the infamous RGT get stuck in with your latest weekly dose of the worlds favourite gaming podcast. They touch on what they’ve been playing with RGT struggling with a burgeoning Hades 2 addiction and George being George and he’s playing a broken simulator from 5 years ago that no one played even then. The boys bring you the latest news such as Switch 2 going he...

Send us Fan Mail A shooter can live or die by how it feels in your hands. That’s where we start: unpacking why Halo’s air control and sticky mid-jump chaos still feel unmatched, while Resistance 2’s heavier, cover-first design delivers a different kind of tension. From checkpoint pain to flow states, we break down how movement, framerate, and responsiveness shape the stories we remember long after...

Send us Fan Mail What if the best gaming experiences aren’t the biggest, but the most focused? We kick off with Resistance 2 and talk through how creepier enemies, smarter encounters, and a tighter campaign deliver more satisfaction than bloated epics. It’s a reminder that balance matters, and 12–15 hour games still hit a sweet spot when your schedule doesn’t. That idea comes alive when we return...

Send us Fan Mail A real-time Pokémon that actually feels dangerous, a breakout-bullet-hell roguelike we can’t put down, and a PlayStation handheld that just became useful overnight—this week goes hard on design, value, and where gaming is headed next. We start with Pokémon Legends Z-A, which swaps turn-based comfort for dodge-rolls, boss-scale Mega encounters, and a day-night cadence that pushes e...

Send us Fan Mail Sometimes it’s best just to talk it out , Seb and George get stuck into some of gaming most interesting topics - why is George still not on steam deck , what’s happening with the current gaming subscriptions ?  Support the show Join our fantastic discord https://discord.gg/v7RFSUcG If link has expired then message us at questions@unofficialcontrollerpodcast.com or DM us on instagr...

Send us Fan Mail Big year. Bigger questions. We kick things off with that familiar tug between what we used to play and what actually fits life now — and it turns out single-player indies are meeting the moment. Expedition 33 becomes our touchstone: a sharp blend of turn-based planning and real-time timing that rewards mastery without punishing those who prefer defense builds. Its countdown mythos...