Arcade Couch

Sony dropped a grenade on the video games industry with the announcement that they will cease making physical discs at the start of 2028. Is this a monumental shift in gaming as we know it or just an overblown bump in an evolving medium? SHOW DOT POINTS Sony is ending physical disc production in 2028 Impact of digital-only releases on consumers and preservation Industry layoffs and studio closures...

Grand Theft Auto VI Pre-Orders went live this week with the reveal of the game’s higher-than-average price and the news that it will not be coming out on physical discs. Ashley and Ciaran question if this is a turning point for the industry before discussing the Bungie layoffs, Steam Machine pricing and July 2026 Game releases. SHOW DOT POINTS GTA 6 pricing and digital release strategy The decline...

We discuss Xbox reportedly closing several of its studios, and what it did wrong to get to this point. SHOW DOT POINTS Xbox's recent studio closures reflect a troubling trend in the gaming industry. Xbox's acquisition strategy has led to significant studio instability. GTA VI's cover reveal demonstrates the game's cultural significance. The gaming community is often left disappointed by corporate...

We discuss the Xbox Games Showcase and the Nintendo Direct that were part of Summer Game Fest 2026 week. SHOW DOT POINTS Summer Game Fest has replaced E3 as the main gaming showcase. September is packed with game releases, making it a busy month for gamers. The hosts express mixed feelings about the Wolverine game being more linear. Kieran shares excitement for the game Dawn of the Bloodwalker. Th...

We recap Summer Game Fest and the PlayStation State of Play. YOUR HOSTS 🎙️ Dylan Blight 🎙️ Ashley Hobley EPISODE TIMECODES 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:25 - Summer Games Fest Recap 00:58:20 - PlayStation State of Play Recap 01:33:11 - Outro RESOURCES Everything Announced At Summer Game Fest 2026 - Explosion Network   Everything Announced During PlayStation’s Massive June 2026 State Of Play - Explosion N...

We give our annual Summer Game Fest predictions and also give first impressions of 007: First Light. YOUR HOSTS 🎙️ Dylan Blight 🎙️ Ashley Hobley 🎙️ Ciaran Marchant CREDITS 🎵 Music: Dylan Blight 🎵 Sound Effect by floraphonic from Pixabay 🎨 Artwork: Cherie Henriques 📝 Show notes powered by Riverside. FM 👉 DISCOVER MORE ARCADE COUCH & EXPLOSION NETWORK Listen to every episode // Check out th...

We discuss Destiny's future, GTA VI release date, and Ciaran has impressions of Forza Horizon 6. SHOW DOT POINTS Destiny 2 is ending support, marking a significant moment for the franchise. Bungie's future projects may focus on new IPs under PlayStation's ownership. The PlayStation State of Play event is set to showcase major upcoming titles. Forza Horizon 6 offers a rich exploration of Japanese c...

Join Ashley and Ciaran as they share their initial impressions of Mixtape, Subnautica 2 and Wax Head, as well as Ashley’s thoughts on the video game movie Mortal Kombat II. YOUR HOSTS 🎙️ Ashley Hobley 🎙️ Ciaran Marchant EPISODE TIMECODES 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:51 - Mortal Kombat II Movie Impressions 00:06:00 - Mixtape Impressions 00:18:58 - Subnautica 2 Impressions 00:23:11 - Wax Heads Impressions...

We discuss the latest gaming news, focusing on the marketing strategy for GTA 6 and its emphasis on console releases over PC. We also delve into the upcoming game 'Stranger Than Heaven,' highlighting its narrative depth, celebrity cameos, and unique gameplay mechanics that involve sound recording and music composition. YOUR HOSTS 🎙️ Dylan Blight 🎙️ Ashley Hobley RESOURCES GTA 6 lands PlayStation 5...

Dylan shares his impressions of Saros so far and discusses the latest gaming news and upcoming releases for May 2026 with Ashley. SHOW DOT POINTS Saros is a follow-up to Returnal with new gameplay mechanics. The game features a mix of story and exploration. Boss fights in Saros have multiple stages that increase in complexity. The pacing of Saros allows for breaks and upgrades between runs. Compar...

We discuss the Assassin’s Creed Black Flag remake, Tides of Tomorrow, and Vampire Crawlers. SHOW DOT POINTS The remake of Assassin's Creed Black Flag is highly anticipated. Black Flag was a turning point for the Assassin's Creed franchise. Shuhei Yoshida's departure reflects a shift in PlayStation's direction. Xbox Game Pass is undergoing significant changes, including a price drop. Nintendo is ad...

We debate whether video game remakes/remasters are killing the industry and holding it back from bigger things. SHOW DOT POINTS Nostalgia can hinder innovation in gaming. Remakes are often more financially viable for publishers. There are still many original games being released. The gaming industry is risk-averse, favouring known properties. Development timelines have become excessively long. Cre...

Dylan and Ashley discuss the news surrounding Disney and Epic Games teaming up for a new crossover, in addition to the current Fortnite one.  Plus, Dylan dives into Pokémon Champions, gives his wrap-up thoughts on Resident Evil Requiem, and talks to Ashley about the latest idea from PlayStation—adding scans of real people to their games. SHOW DOT POINTS Dylan expresses frustration over being calle...

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is already proving to be a big success at the box office, but its quality is splitting the internet. Embracer may have 2 prominent studios working on The Lord of the Rings games, and Ciaran shares his impressions of Screamer YOUR HOSTS 🎙️ Ashley Hobley 🎙️ Ciaran Marchant CONTENT MENTIONED The Super Mario Galaxy Movie - Starts Better & Then Ends Worse | Animated Won...

We discuss Life is Strange: Reunion, impressions, and its lack of marketing, go over the recent PlayStation console price increase, and break down the Xbox Partner Preview. SHOW DOT POINTS PlayStation has increased the prices of its consoles due to global economic pressures. Early adopters of gaming consoles benefit from price increases for new buyers. Nintendo's pricing strategy for digital vs ph...

We discuss DLSS 5 and how it's adding to the AI slopness of the game industry. SHOW DOT POINTS The introduction of DLSS5 has sparked significant backlash from gamers. AI technology in gaming can alter the original artistic intent of games. NVIDIA's DLSS5 aims to enhance graphics but raises concerns about photorealism. The gaming industry is experiencing a wave of layoffs and restructuring. Ubisoft...

We discuss the future of Xbox with their upcoming hybrid PC/Console and what that means for their games. YOUR HOSTS 🎙️ Dylan Blight 🎙️ Ashley Hobley RESOURCES The First Xbox Project Helix Details Have Been Revealed And Xbox Mode Is Coming To All PCs Yoshi And The Mysterious Book's Release Date Has Been Revealed Alongside A Gorgeous New Trailer South of Midnight debuts on PS5 and Switch 2 later thi...

We discuss the Nintendo Indie World for March 2026 and dive into the wonderful world ready to explore in Pokémon Pokopia. SHOW DOT POINTS The Indie World Showcase featured a variety of new indie games. Dylan expressed excitement for the game Densha Attack. The game My Little Puppy has a unique premise involving dogs and heaven. Heave Ho 2 was announced, continuing the multiplayer co-op experience....

We talk about everything from the 2026 Pokémon Day, Pokémon Presents, including the reveal of Pokémon Wind & Waves.  Also on the show, we give our impressions on both Resident Evil: Requiem, as well as Marathon, after jumping into the server slam.  SHOW DOT POINTS The Pokémon Presents event celebrated the 30th anniversary of the franchise. New game features and updates were announced, includin...

We discuss the huge shakeup with the Xbox leadership team and the closure of Bluepoint Games. SHOW DOT POINTS Phil Spencer's retirement marks a significant shift for Xbox. Asha Sharma's appointment raises questions about Xbox's future direction. Xbox's current position is precarious, with many uncertainties. The gaming industry is shifting towards live service models. Sony's closure of Blue Point...

We break down the first State of Play for 2026, which brought plenty of surprises and new game trailers. SHOW DOT POINTS The PlayStation Showcase featured a variety of new game announcements. Wolverine was included in the showcase, albeit not in the expected format. Kenna: Bridge of Spirits sequel shows significant development. Ghost of Yotai Legends is set to return with multiplayer features. Dea...

HBO and Craig Mazin are working on an HBO series, but Larian Studio aren't involved! Let's talk about it. We also discuss the Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase, the first for 2026, as well as Dylan's time with Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined. SHOW DOT POINTS The Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase received mixed reactions from fans. Many players were disappointed with the lack of major surprises in the...

For the first episode of 2026, we catch up on what's been happening in the year so far and then draft our picks for the 2026 game. SHOW DOT POINTS The gaming industry is experiencing significant changes with physical media declining. Life is Strange Reunion aims to conclude the Max and Chloe story arc. Ubisoft's cancellation of games reflects the challenges in the gaming market. Highguard's launch...

We break down all the big announcements and the winners from The Game Awards 2025. This is also the last episode of Arcade Couch for 2025, so we shall see you all in the New Year! YOUR HOSTS 🎙️ Dylan Blight 🎙️ Ashley Hobley 🎙️ Ciaran Marchant CREDITS 🎵 Music: Dylan Blight 🎵 Sound Effect by floraphonic from Pixabay 🎨 Artwork: Cherie Henriques 📝 Show notes powered by Riverside. FM 👉 DISCOVER MO...

We drop six predictions each for what games, reveals, trailers, etc, could be seen at this year's The Game Awards show. YOUR HOSTS 🎙️ Dylan Blight 🎙️ Ashley Hobley 🎙️ Ciaran Marchant CREDITS 🎵 Music: Dylan Blight 🎵 Sound Effect by floraphonic from Pixabay 🎨 Artwork: Cherie Henriques 📝 Show notes powered by Riverside. FM 👉 DISCOVER MORE ARCADE COUCH & EXPLOSION NETWORK Listen to every epis...