The Midnight Release

In this episode of Midnight Release , we crack open the binders and relive the heartbreak. From Pokémon, Magic, Dragon Ball Z, and Naruto trading cards to modern TCGs like Fusion World, Gundam, and Riftbound, we dive headfirst into the world of trading cards — the ones we loved, the ones we ruined, and the collections we absolutely should not have sold . We talk OG card shop culture, Toys “R” Us m...

In this special .5 collaboration episode of The Midnight Release , Chase sits down with Morgan from The Gaming Caffe to revisit one of gaming’s most defining eras: The Console Wars . From heated playground debates to unforgettable midnight launches, we dive deep into the rivalries that shaped us — PlayStation vs Xbox vs Nintendo — and the games and consoles that defined entire generations. Morgan...

 A nostalgic deep dive into the early internet — before algorithms, feeds, and infinite scroll. From Newgrounds to old YouTube, MySpace to Limewire, we explore how browsing used to feel… and what’s changed.  In Episode 13 of The Midnight Release , we dive headfirst into The Lost Art of Browsing : a time when the internet felt wild, personal, and endlessly discoverable. From Newgrounds animations a...

Retro is back — and it’s everywhere. In Episode 12 of The Midnight Release , Chase and Austin dig into Retro Resurrections , exploring why old-school games, hardware, music, and tech are making such a massive comeback in 2026. From TikTok Shop emulation devices and retro mini consoles to vinyl records, remasters, and reboots, nostalgia is having a moment — but does it actually hold up? The guys br...

Chase from The Midnight Release sits down with Tim from The Small Time Arcade for a special Episode 1.5 video discussion, spinning off from our original episode “Midnight at GameStop.” Together, we dive into midnight launch memories, GameStop culture, and what it was really like being part of those late-night releases that felt bigger than just buying a game. Tim shares his personal experiences, f...

 From trade-ins and promo cards to midnight launches and penny-out merch, this week we dive headfirst into the used-game economy and the GameStop culture that shaped a generation. Nostalgia, chaos, and a little emotional damage included.  In Episode 11 of The Midnight Release , Chase and Austin go full GameStop nostalgia mode with “Used and Sometimes Abused.” This week’s Story Mode focuses on the...

 The way we consume movies, games, and media has fundamentally changed. In this episode of The Midnight Release , we dive into the end of physical media and the rise of digital , unpacking what we gained, what we lost, and why nostalgia still hits harder when something can sit on a shelf.  From VHS tapes and DVD binders to digital storefronts and streaming libraries, media has gone through a massi...

 Growing up doesn’t mean putting the controller down.  In Episode 9 of The Midnight Release , we reflect on what adulthood looks like through a gamer’s lens — the memories that shaped us, the media that stayed with us, and how we balance nostalgia with real-life responsibilities as we close out 2025 and look ahead to 2026.  This week, Chase and Austin take a step back to talk about what growing up...

 We rewind to mall culture at its peak — food courts, arcades, forgotten stores, and the era when the mall was the place to be.  This week on The Midnight Release , Chase and Austin take a nostalgic walk through one of the most iconic parts of growing up in the 90s and 2000s with Episode 8: “Meet Me at the Mall.” From Jefferson Mall’s golden days to arcades like Aladdin’s Castle, fountains full of...

 From Game Boy and PSP to Switch and Steam Deck, we rewind through handheld gaming history. Plus: Game Awards reactions, reveals we loved (and hated), and a handheld-themed quiz.  This week on The Midnight Release , Chase and Austin jump back into gaming with Episode 7: “Pocket Power” , a full rewind through the history of handheld gaming — from the original Game Boy all the way to modern handheld...

 Blockbuster nights, VHS nostalgia, Netflix’s mail-in era, midnight movie releases, and the rise (and fall) of physical media. Plus: GOTY predictions, upcoming movie hype, and deep-pull memories from the video rental days.  This week on The Midnight Release , Chase and Austin jump out of the gaming lane and back into another core part of 90s–2000s childhood: Friday nights at Blockbuster . From VHS...

Before Xbox Live and Discord, there were basements full of CRTs, ethernet cables running like spiderwebs, and hands covered in Dorito dust. This week, Chase and Austin are joined by Wayne and Howie to relive the glory days of LAN parties, couch co-op, early multiplayer memories, and the snacks that fueled them.  Grab your controllers, fire up the ethernet hub, and keep your hands clean (or don’t)...

 We’re heading back behind the counter at GameStop for a collection of wild, weird, and unforgettable stories from the trade-in trenches. From cockroaches in consoles to Black Friday chaos, join Austin and Chase as they relive the retail madness that shaped a generation of gamers.  Grab your Edge Card, dust off your old trade-ins, and step behind the counter — because this week, we’re diving headf...

 This week, Chase and Austin hit rewind on the Saturday morning era, weekly show blocks, cartoons, toys, and the shows that shaped a generation. From Toonami and TMNT to Limewire nostalgia and cereal-fueled memories, it’s pure retro comfort.  Grab your cereal and your comfiest blanket — this week, we’re rewinding to an era when Saturday mornings meant something . In “Saturday Morning Saved Us,” Ch...

 The Console Wars defined a generation — and for those of us behind the counter at GameStop, and even for the launches where we weren't behind the counter, it was more than just competition; it was a culture.  In this episode, Chase and Austin boot up Story Mode to revisit the epic clash between PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo through the 2000s — from the PS2 and Xbox launch madness to the un...

 We’re kicking off The Midnight Release by rewinding to those legendary GameStop midnight launches — chaos, nostalgia, caffeine, and the golden age of gaming culture.  In our official kickoff episode, Chase and Austin press start on The Midnight Release and take you back to a time when gamers lined up outside GameStop for the biggest launches of the 2000s. From Halo 2 to Modern Warfare 2 and every...

Welcome to The Midnight Release;  a nostalgic, late-night dive into gaming culture, retro memories, and the friendships that formed behind the counter and beyond the screen. In this special pre-release teaser, Chase gives a quick preview of what’s to come:  🎮 Stories from the golden era of working at GameStop  💾 Deep dives into the Console Wars, midnight launches, and lost classics  🔥 Thoughtfu...