This week, Tales of Kenzera: ZAU creative director, Surgent Studios founder and former assassin Abubakar Salim joins us to discuss his upcoming Metroidvania, and the journey from starring in a video game to developing one. Meanwhile, more PS5 Pro details leak, including its cool codename, ?Project Trinity,? continuing the Matrix-esque naming convention started with PSVR?s ?Project Morpheus.? Video game monsters are rarely rooted in practical effects, but Stellar Blade?s Naytibas began as clay sculptures from Hee-Cheol Jang, whose previous work includes Bong Joon Ho?s creature features The Host and Okja. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth sales aren?t anywhere near its predecessor?s, which isn?t that surprising when you dig into the different circumstances they released under. If demo downloads are any indication of sales, Stellar Blade should do well, Ratchet & Clank?s Bouncer weapon has been added to the 2016 game in honor of its 8th anniversary. Finally, some cool games are hitting PS+ this month, including Dave The Diver, Animal Well, Nour and Misma Chronicles. Podcast Beyond is Max Scoville, Brian Altano, Jada Griffin and this week features special guests Abubakar Salim and Max?s disruptive epoxy-stealing toddler. EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ? https://nordvpn.com/pobeyond Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We just got a brand new trailer for Star Wars Outlaws, Ubisoft?s open-world action adventure set in the beloved galaxy far, far away. Specifically, it?s set in the grimy criminal underworld between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, hitting some similar beats to 1996?s beloved (but no longer canon) Shadows of The Empire. As much as we?d love revolutionary leaps and bounds in game design, we?re totally fine if this is one of Ubisoft?s patented ?climb the tower, clear the outpost? Assassin?s Creed Far Cry Watch Dogs-likes, since the subject matter does a lot of heavy lifting. In other news, Bloodborne Kart is now Nightmare Kart and it?s out at the end of next month (but only on PC) and the most-played PlayStation games of 2023 were mostly from a few years earlier, people just kept playing them. Helldivers 2 gets yet another war bond this week, Democratic Detonation, just in time for those no-good Automatons striking back with a vengeance. This week, Beyond is Max Scoville, Jada Griffin, Brian Altano and Matt Kim. We had fun, we hope you did too. EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ? https://nordvpn.com/pobeyond Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We would love Sony to make a successor to the PlayStation Portable and PS Vita, but does it make sense? On the one hand, portable consoles are all the rage, between Nintendo Switch?s record-breaking success and a Switch 2 (or whatever it?s called) waiting in the wings, Valve?s surprise entry into the gaming hardware race with the Steam Deck and now, Xbox head Phil Spencer talking about how he?d love a dedicated way to take Xbox on the go. So, there?s demand for new dedicated portable PlayStation device, but there?s also a lot of competition. Does it make sense for Sony to hop on the bandwagon, or rest on the PS5?s laurels and stick to home consoles, plus the occasional weirdo accessory. The PlayStation Portal was sort of portable, and it was technically a PSP, was Sony testing the waters? Hmm. In other news, a new feature in the PS App is being beta-tested that would let you take in-game lore on the go, letting you access stuff like journal entries, character databases, and that sort of thing through your phone or mobile device. Not something we were demanding, but cool nonetheless, and definitely a fun way to supplement games we?re playing when we?re not actually playing them. Helldivers 2 got a patch that adds blizzards, sandstorms, and makes fire hurt more. Stellar Blade?s demo just dropped, and it?s undeniably a good-looking game, but the discourse around its protagonist?s appearance makes it hard to be remotely critical of any other aspects like the story, creature design, mechanics or combat. Still, that won?t stop us from stumbling across this week?s most explosive minefield. In other news, Suicide Squad Kill The Justice League?s first DLC is here, and Jada and Akeem have strong feelings, good and bad, about how it handles DC?s clown prince of crime: Captain Boomerang. Just kidding, it?s about? The Joker. Ha Ha Ha Why So Serious? Hey if you read all this, thanks for sticking around. How do you feel about little neckties? EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ? https://nordvpn.com/pobeyond Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we?re eatin? good! Two massive sprawling open-world action RPGs just dropped, Dragon?s Dogma II and Rise of the Ronin but? which one is worth your time? Join Brian Altano, Jada Griffin and Mitchell Saltzman as they compare and contrast Capcom and Koei Tecmo?s latest contributions to the run-around-and-fight-stuff genre. Ultimately, both games are packed with tons of great gameplay, mechanics, systems, features, moments, all that good stuff you?d expect from an open-world game, but they both offer dramatically different experiences, so it?s really just a matter of taste. Meanwhile, Jada checked out a bunch of cool games at the annual Game Developers Conference in San Francisco last week, including Tales of Kenzara: Zau, Hyper Light Breaker, Little Kitty Big City, Luna Abyss, The Sinking City 2, Dungeons of Hinterburg, Angerfoot, and South Park Snow Day, and she also got to try out some unconventional means of interacting with games at the ALT.CTRL.GDC exhibit, which showcases unusual game controllers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There?s plenty to talk about this week! The leaked PlayStation 5 Pro specs have Max and Brian speculating about who exactly needs a mid-century modern mid-generation refresh, aside from people who want the best possible console experience for Grand Theft Auto 6. Mostly, though, the thing we?re most excited to talk about is Dragon?s Dogma 2. Reviews are out, and the consensus is this new chapter improves upon what made the first game great, but what does that mean for people who didn?t play the original when it came out in 2012? Capcom?s long-awaited sequel to the cult-classic action RPG might have a lot in common with FromSoftware?s Dark Souls and Elden Ring games, but the moment-to-moment gameplay is extremely different, largely in part to more more of an emphasis on unpredictable emergent moments, chaotic battles, and wacky antics thanks to the unique pawn system. Meanwhile, Brian played through Alone In The Dark, the reimagining of the survival-horror classic, and while it falls short of the experience provided by Capcom?s excellent Resident Evil remakes, it?s still a good time for anyone who prefers puzzle solving in a spooky house to just shooting monsters in the head. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Helldivers 2 kicks ass. This isn?t news, obviously. You probably know that already and you?re probably one of the millions of players spreading democracy throughout the galaxy at this very moment. That said, WHY is this game such a hit? Join Max Scoville, Brian Altano, Jada Griffin and Akeem Lawanson as they unpack the many charms of Arrowhead?s cooperative bug-zapper bot-blaster hit that seems to be Sony?s secret weapon in the ongoing war of live-service games that seems to dominate the gaming space more and more every year. But, there are other games to talk about! Unicorn Overlord is Vanillaware?s answer to Nintendo?s Fire Emblem for non-tendo players, and it applies the studio?s trademark painterly aesthetic to the turn-based tactical strategy genre that seems to have plenty of Ogre Battle DNA. Speaking of Unicorns, because we were, Brian gives an impromptu review of Unicorn Princess, which probably wasn?t designed with any of us in mind, but that still doesn?t mean children should have to play a game about picking up garbage in order to appease Unica the Unicorn or whatever. Because the uphill battles of adulthood and parenting aren?t enough, Max has been playing Expeditions: A Mudrunner game, which is a game about making clunky old slow trucks drive slowly up little hills so you can look for rocks, and if it sounds tedious, that?s because it is, but in a way that?s oddly soothing and enjoyable. Are you still reading this? Does anybody read these? Do you think the truck game sounds like fun, or would you rather just zap the space bugs and mean robots? It?s nice that we have so many options when it comes to video games. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What?s happening in the video game industry? The BEYOND crew discuss the recent layoffs happening in the games industry, including Sony announcing a significant amount of layoffs hitting PlayStation. The #PlayStation layoffs affected 900 staff members, with Jim Ryan issuing a statement about the situation - but what does it all mean? Max, Brian and Akeem break it all down, plus touching upon the EA Games layoffs that hit 670 workers. This also led to EA sunsetting a few games, and announcing it?ll be moving away from future licensed IP. The BEYOND crew also dive into the updates heading to Insomniac?s Spider-Man 2 on the #PlayStation5 with the addition of New Games Plus content on the #PS5, as well as exploring the rumored PS5 Pro. Not to mention the potential of PSVR2 having PC compatibility - what will it mean for PlayStation in the VR space moving forward? Plus, Respawn?s canceled Star Wars FPS was rumored to be about a Mandalorian bounty hunter, much like Lucasarts? Star Wars 1313. Sadly, it seems like games about intergalactic bounty hunters have a hard time getting made, even beyond Star Wars: Metroid Prime 4 is in development hell, the original Prey 2 was shelved, and High on Life came out, but not without its share of controversy. Is the genre cursed? All this and more in this episode of BEYOND! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is almost here, and the reviews are in! Michael Higham joins us to discuss his thoughts on the game (which he scored a 9 out of 10, something we totally forgot to mention on the show) and there?s a lot to say about this massive installment in such a beloved series - which we?ll do while steering clear of story spoilers as much as possible. We discuss new additions to combat, like Synergy Abilities, and how the expanded roster shakes up the experience when swapping between Cloud, Tifa, Barrett, Aerith, Yuffie, Red XIII and the rest of the game. Mostly, though, we praise Rebirth for turning us loose in a mostly open-world Gaia that feels leaps and bounds more ambitious than Remake?s Midgar. While there are plenty of fun minigames, they?re not all winners, which is ultimately a minor nitpick - especially considering how much fun Queen?s Blood is - it?s safe to say this is one of the biggest games of the year, and one we?ll be thinking and talking about for quite some time. Podcast beyond is Max Scoville, Nick Limon and Jada Griffin with special guest Michael Higham. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Beyond, we dive deep into the thrilling possibility of Xbox games launching on PlayStation platforms, marking a potential shift in the console wars as we know them. With rumors swirling about Hi-Fi Rush, Pentiment, Sea of Thieves, Starfield, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle making their way to the PS5, we unpack what this could mean for gamers everywhere. Phil Spencer's recent comments hint at an exciting future for Xbox, and we're here to analyze every detail ahead of the planned business update event. Plus, we discuss the unique case of Bethesda's PS5 exclusives prior to the Xbox acquisition, exploring the implications for future cross-platform releases. We also shine a spotlight on Helldivers 2, delving into the game's 'unspoken' co-op etiquette and what it adds to the gaming experience. Additionally, get our first impressions of Skull & Bones as Travis takes the helm for its review, and join Brian as he navigates the world of Yakuza. Don't miss our preview of Fanfest 2024, where we tease what to expect from the full days of trailers, exclusive reveals, and interviews. It's an episode packed with insights, speculation, and excitement for the future of gaming across consoles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sony?s second State of Play of 2024 was a feast of details on the next chapter of Square Enix?s Final Fantasy VII revival, not the least of which was the confirmation of the game's demo (which you can download now!) From games at the Gold Saucer, dolphin racing, polygonal recreations of the characters? PS1 models, and of course, changes to the familiar story of the original, Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth looks to be one of the most exciting games of the year. It?s a good thing it looks like there?s so much to do, because there will be plenty JRPGs that'll be competing for attention in 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first PlayStation State of Play of 2024 is the topic of discussion in this episode of BEYOND! Akeem, Max, Brian and Jada break down what we saw, from titles like Helldivers 2, Stellar Blade, Sonic x Shadow Generations, Silent Hill: The Short Message, Silent Hill 2 Remake, Judas from the creator of BioShock, Metro Awakening VR for PSVR2, the PSVR 2 title, Legendary Tales, Dragon?s Dogma 2, Rise of the Ronin from Team Ninja, Until Dawn, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, a new action espionage game by Kojima, and so much more in this episode of BEYOND! #PS5 #StateofPlay Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The entire Beyond crew is finally back together again and this time, we talk about Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth and how much of a breath of fresh air it is. As if the year hasn't already gotten off to a good start, we also find that Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is exactly what we're looking for in a quality Metroidvania and we tell you why it's worth diving into. We also dip into more Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League's plans for the future and what exactly is the deal with Dragon's Dogma 2's lack of fast travel. Join Max Scoville, Jada Griffin, Akeem Lawanson, and Brian Altano in this jam packed episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Metal Gear Solid has no shortage of memorable boss fights, but which boss is the best boss of all? Is it The Boss, or is that too obvious? This week, your regularly scheduled PlayStation discussion takes a back seat in favor of something much more esoteric and absurd, so if you?re not a Metal Gear fan, you may want to sit this one out. Join tactical espionage fanboys Max Scoville, Nick Limon and Nick Maillet as they debate this hallowed series? iconic rogue?s gallery using the newly revamped Face-Offs function on IGN.com. Our esteemed judges will be reaching decisions by weighing a variety of extremely scientific criteria, such as how cool each boss looks, how many weird ways they can be killed, and most importantly, the age-old playground debate of who would beat whom in a fight. From infamous showdowns like Psycho Mantis and Metal Gear Rex to absurd encounters like Fatman and The Pain, this series has plenty of great bad guys, many of whom become recurring characters between games, like Revolver Ocelot, Vamp, and Liquid Snake (in one form or another) so there?s a lot to talk about, and if nothing else, this?ll help Kojima fans pass another hour or so until we get more news on Metal Gear Solid 3 Delta Triangle: Snake Eater, Death Stranding 2, and Overdose.  Check out the Metal Gear Solid boss face-off right here: https://www.ign.com/faceoffs-new/face-off-best-metal-gear-solid-bosses Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SPOILER WARNING! We absolutely spoil stuff that happens in The Last of Us Parts 1 and 2, so if you haven?t played either of those games? Go do that before watching/listening to this week?s show. Anyway, in addition to fiercely debating the seemingly simple hypothetical question of who?d win in a fight, Leon S. Kennedy from Resident Evil, or Joel Miller from The Last of Us. Speaking of The Last of Us, the HBO series has found Season 2?s Abby Anderson in Kaitlyn Dever, and we also got a faint glimpse of the Gravity Rush movie, plus non-updates on Prime Video?s God of War series and Netflix?s live-action Horizon prequel show. Meanwhile, Sony and Honda showed off some new features of the AFEELA electric vehicle, which can be driven with a DualSense controller. Ya know, on stage at CES 2024 for tech demo purposes, but also later this year when the EV comes to Gran Turismo 7. Speaking of first-party PlayStation studios games, there aren?t man first-party exclusives coming out in 2024 that we?re aware of, but there are still a bunch of huge third-party PS5 console exclusives, and we?re gonna be eating good for the next few months at least. Finally, Jada flexes about the mountain of Platinum Trophies she racked up in the final weeks, days, and hours of 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy New Year! In this week?s Beyond, which we pre-recorded two weeks ago, we discuss how there?s a ton of potential for A24 and Kojima Productions? upcoming Death Stranding live-action feature film adaptation to capture a lot of the game?s best qualities while leaving out some of the stuff that turned people off of playing it. In other news, we take a look back at Sony?s 2023, and discuss what PlayStation did right, and what left us scratching (or shaking) our heads in confusion and dismay. Aside from Insomniac and Marvel?s Spider-Man 2, the most exciting stuff happening on or around PlayStation this year was either third-party, multi-platform, or not a game at all. PlayStation Productions? big push into movies and TV was a lot more exciting than PlayStation Studios? offerings, which is especially frustrating when you factor in that Sony basically shipped a new console this year with the PlayStation VR2. It?s a cool high-tech hat, but even its most staunch defenders have to admit that the company that made it isn?t doing much to support it these days (or really at any point this year.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Last of Us Online is officially not happening, according to a disappointing but unsurprising announcement from Naughty Dog. We reflect on how this call is ultimately probably for the best, but still a bummer, and one that is symptomatic of a larger problem in how big and ambitious multiplayer games have become since The Last of Us? original Factions mode was released. In other news: Insomniac announced that Marvel?s Spider-Man 2 is getting some much-requested updates next year and the gang?s all been playing Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. A Far Cry game reskinned to look like Avatar seemed like the easiest win possible, but it either plays it too safe, or doesn?t get creative enough, depending who you?re asking. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There were a ton of incredible games to play on PlayStation in 2023, so join us as we highlight a few of our favorites from this massive year. In March, Resident Evil 4 Remake was one of the first games of the year we really got excited about, and it?s only gotten more updates since launch. Star Wars Jedi Survivor continued Cal Kestis? journey and harkened back to some classics Lucasarts adventures while also forging its own path - and unfortunately, battling some rough technical issues at launch. Street Fighter 6 proved that Capcom still knew how to let players have a great time, and Final Fantasy XVI showed that the team behind FF14 could jam just as much epic fantasy into a single player experience. Baldur?s Gate 3 captured the fun of an analog pen-and-paper game of Dungeons & Dragons, and the hearts of both die-hard RPG nerds and first-time adventurers alike. Marvel?s Spider-Man 2 was yet another astounding technical feat from the team at Insomniac and Alan Wake 2 is just a flat out amazing example of games as a narrative and artistic medium, while also being fun and scary as hell. Really, this year had so many great games, what was your favorite? Also! Hot on the heels of last week?s GTA 6 trailer leak and subsequent reveal, this week we?ve got some more substantial news to talk about - though it?s not exactly fun. For starters, the ESA has officially pulled the plug on E3, which has been on varying degrees of life support for a while now. It?s not a huge surprise but it?s still a major loss for the games industry. Meanwhile, hackers breached Insomniac Games and allegedly stole a bunch of data, including info on the upcoming Wolverine PS5 game, as well as a bunch of developers? personal information, which isn?t a very nice thing to do. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You?ve probably heard by now that Grand Theft Auto VI has been revealed, first unofficially (again) and then officially, by way of an incredibly slick trailer courtesy of Rockstar Games. It?s been a decade and change since GTA V was first released, so hype is understandably through the roof, but it?s worth discussing exactly HOW monumental the excitement around this trailer is. In under 24 hours, its views on YouTube alone eclipsed the combined lifetime views of trailers Red Dead Redemption 2, Cyberpunk 2077, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - and it?s very possible the reveal trailer for GTA 6 will have gotten more views in a day than GTA 5 got in twelve years. Considering the last game was the fastest-selling entertainment of all time, raking in a billion dollars just a few days after it launched, it?s safe to assume that GTA VI will be a milestone event when it drops in 2025. In a world where Rockstar didn?t have anything to announce this week, The Game Awards would?ve been what everyone was talking about. There?ll still be plenty to see, and hopefully some surprises, but it?s hard to even imagine an announcement that would come close to one-upping a sequel to one of the most popular games ever that?s been under wraps for ten solid years. Anyway, Tom Marks joins us to discuss a game that?ll be playable (well, it already is, mostly) very soon, The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered on PS5 - specifically, the all new roguelike mode, No Return. It doesn?t sound like it?s going to take the roguelike world by storm, but it sounds like a phenomenal way to get a little more mileage out of Naughty Dog?s subtly complex combat system, and maybe unlock a few new shirts for Ellie and Abbie along the way. Finally, we have the winners for last week?s first annual Beyondcé awards. Did Bluey win ?Bluest Video Game Character of 2023?? Yes, yes she did. But it was a three way tie with two other blue people/animals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Beyond, we unpack the long-rumored official reveal of The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, which might cost a few extra bucks, but seems to actually have more going for it than good looks. The roguelike ?No Return? mode looks like a blast for anyone who enjoys the tense brutal combat, while the new guitar free play mode will likely be fun for, well, people who liked playing guitar in the PS4 version. Meanwhile, getting developer commentary on cut content and lost levels is a neat peek behind the curtain, and over on the Spider-Man 2 front, Tony Todd continues to make public statements that may or may not tease what Insomniac has planned. Anyway, the real meat of this episode is our first annual Beyond Game Of The Year Awards That Nobody Else Is Doing, AKA ?The Beyondcés? (unless that?s a legal minefield in which case we?re sorry.) Like all awards shows, this is all completely meaningless and made-up, but in this case, especially so - but, it?s an excuse to reflect back on some of the little details from our favorite games of the year, and some general absurdity from 2023?s big wet blue greasy smorgasbord of video games, many of which had sand in them. Like all good awards shows, Baldur?s Gate 3 is nominated for almost every category, but we?re also taking time to celebrate Street Fighter 6 and Mortal Kombat 1 for reasons the fighting game community couldn?t care less about and reflect on whether or not Spider-Man 2?s slime made up for its lackluster puddle graphics last gen? Is Gollum?s hair a liquid? Is grease a liquid? And hey, how about those Star Wars Jedi Survivor chickens? We go into all of this, and more, but we?d love your input as well, dear listener/viewer/reader! Hop on over to our poll and make your voice heard. If our nominations suck, throw some of your own into the proverbial hat and we?ll announce the winners next week. Cast your vote with this legally binding Google Form! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1e-wue5y021mMtugwPedAMBRL5ZyiR_4d3wtD5zf-8z8/viewform?edit_requested=true#responses Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In honor of the PlayStation Portal, the latest addition to Sony?s ever-growing menagerie of bizarre ways to play games, we decided to hold a little tournament to pick the one true best controller. Y?know, from the dozen arbitrarily selected contestants that were randomly pitted against one another in a confusingly designed bracket. How does the DualShock 4 stack up against the original non-DualShock PS1 controller? How does that yogurt covered pretzel-lookin? PlayStation VR Aim zapper fare against the PlayStation Portal, a brand new device that none of us have physically touched? What about that whackadoo prototype PS3 controller that looked like a banana or a boomerang? We had fun debating all of these things, so hopefully you enjoy listening. This week?s Beyond features Max Scoville, Brian Altano and Jada Griffin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After much discussion of PlayStation Portal, Sony?s dedicated remote play device for PlayStation 5, the reviews are in, and according to IGN?s reviewer Seth Macy, it sounds like a surprisingly well-designed accessory aside from a few odd shortcomings. Seth joins Max Scoville and Jada Griffin to talk about how Sony?s next-gen PSP is a lot more impressive if you think of it as a specialized controller rather than an attempt at a handheld device. Meanwhile, The Game Awards nominees have been announced and the Game of the Year competition is stiff, with Baldur?s Gate 3, Alan Wake 2, Marvel?s Spider-Man 2, Resident Evil 4 Remake in the running - plus a couple other games that don?t work on PS5. One of these games is not like the other: should remakes be allowed to win GOTY, or should there be a separate category entirely? We discuss. Meanwhile, a lot of people have their issues with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, but Seth and his Beef Lords clan are having a blast with multiplayer, in part thanks to COD?s pivot to basically being M-Rated Fortnite. Do Snoop Dogg, Nicki Minaj, Spawn and Skeletor make sense in a realistic military shooter? Not really, but when?s the last time COD multiplayer was about realism? Finally, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth?s ESRB rating promises a healthy amount of violence, drinking, swearwords, and ?Deep Cleavage,? plus some dialogue that (in conjunction with the announcement of swimming) suggests there might be some bawdy beach party bikini antics. Beyond! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Beyond, there?s plenty to talk about! We?ve got a laundry-list of missing gameplay features in Marvel?s Spider-Man 2 that were present in previous games that Insomniac hopefully patches. Okay, maybe stealing The Vulture?s wallet wasn?t a feature. There are rumors of a potential Bloodborne movie in the works as well as a release date for the very unofficial fan-made Bloodborne Kart racing game, and we have strong feelings about both of these things, since they relate to Bloodborne, even though we?d love to hear about an official remaster or sequel. We?ve been playing some of the many games recently released, including Alan Wake 2, which is undeniably gorgeous, smart, and incredibly well-made, as well as Robocop: Rogue City, which is debatably none of the above, but still a ton of gruesome hilarious fun. Thirsty Suitors is the Scott Pilgrim game we didn?t know we wanted, and Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Own Name has erased Max?s brief bout of Yakuza franchise-fatigue. This week?s Beyond crew is Max Scoville, Jada Griffin and Brian Altano. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We invade Kinda Funny's studio for a special Beyond and P.S. I Love You XOXO crossover featuring Greg Miller and Blessing Adeoye Jr. in our lead up to IGN vs. Kinda Funny Charity event! What's the greatest PlayStation 5 game so far? We've got a bracket of 32 games including: Astro's Playroom, God of War: Ragnarok, Marvel's Spider-Man 2, Elden Ring, Resident Evil 4 Remake, Sifu, Ghostwire: Tokyo, The Last of Us: Part 1, Demon's Souls, Balder's Gate III, Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade and so many more! Which game will come out on top in this ultimate PS5 game smackdown? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SPOILER ALERT!!! On this week?s episode of Podcast Beyond, Insomniac?s Creative Director Bryan Intihar stopped by to discuss everything Spider-Man 2. We explore the reveals we saw coming, the twists that caught us off-guard, the stuff that was planned for this sequel since day one and the ideas that got left on the cutting room floor. We also touch on how Insomniac Games teased the return of a major villain and how the studio approaches MCU-style crossovers with other projects like Beyond The Spider-Verse and Insomniac?s upcoming Wolverine video game. We also dig into the creative choices that veer from comic book lore, discover the suit that almost made the cut, and get the lowdown on why MJ?s role in the game packs a punch - but again, SPOILERS ahead, so if you haven?t finished this massive PS5 game, go do that! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Podcast Beyond crew joins Simon Cardy with a deep dive into our Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Review. There's so much to unpack here from the good, the bad, and the ugly with Spider-Man 2's technical achievements, how it differs from previous Spider-Man entries, and things we wish Insomniac improved on. This has been one of the most anticipated PS5 games of the year, and it's finally here! Could it be the best superhero game of all time, or does it just fall short? Strap in, true believers!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The PlayStation 5 Slim has finally been revealed and... it definitely looks like a PS5. We've got some words about the PS5 Slim's higher price point, too! But with the announcement also comes PS2's 23rd anniversary and we dive into another Memory Card episode, thinking back to our fondest and most fun moments with the console, and our favorite games on it as well as what you, the community, have to say! Lastly, we top the episode off with 3 of our favorite underappreciated and underrated Playstation games ever. 00:00:00 - Intro & PlayStation 5 Slim Revealed! 00:11:42 - Movies Coming to PlayStation Plus 00:15:02 - Community Memory Card: PS2 Memories 00:35:52 - IGN Icons Leaderboard 00:44:29 - Underrated Open-World Games & Outro   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Max Scoville, Jada Griffin, Brian Altano, and Akeem Lawanson as we delve into another packed episode of Podcast BEYOND! We kick things off with the seismic news of Jim Ryan's upcoming retirement from Sony, examining his legacy with the PS5 and more. The conversation then shifts to Naughty Dog's troubling halt on The Last of Us multiplayer project amid some concerning layoffs. We wrap up with some lighter fare: the Adidas and Spider-Man 2 collaboration that's got everyone talking.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Podcast Beyond, we  discuss Sony's recent investigation following claims of a breach by a ransomware group and what this could mean for the company's systems. Next, we venture into the neon-lit streets of Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty as we examine how the game has evolved over the past three years. Join us as we explore the gritty, futuristic landscapes inspired by classic cyberpunk literature and films. And if that's not enough, we also take a look at the Resident Evil 4 Remake DLC: Separate Ways and discuss what sets it apart from the original.00:00:00 - Intro & Sony Hit with Ransomware Hack? 00:04:12 - Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty Rules 00:38:30 - 6 Things To Check Out After Phantom Liberty 00:43:50 - Resident Evil 4: Separate Ways Also Rules 00:50:40 - Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Insomniac?s Spider-Man 2 preview took place recently, and we jump in and break down Spider-Man gameplay, combat, city traversal and more. Akeem and our guest, IGN?s very own Benjamin Watts, share their Spider-Man 2 first impressions, what it?s like controlling the symbiote and utilizing Miles? venom blasts and new abilities. We dive into what we could possibly expect next from #PlayStation; will we get another State of Play this year? What?s next for the #PS5? Max shares his experience with Baldur?s Gate 3, as he shares his romantic co-op experience with his wife. Baldur?s Date, anyone? Ben goes head first into Mortal Kombat One, some PlayStation Portal talk, and so much more this episode of BEYOND!   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The State of Play had a number of new trailers starring some familiar upcoming games and the Podcast Beyond crew dives in! Foamstars continues to be something that looks better and better the more we see of it, and Spider-Man 2 has us more hyped than ever! Plus, we have so much to say about the new trailers for Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth and Resident Evil 4 Remake DLC. What was your favorite game of the show?   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's no secret that Lies of P has a lot of  FromSoftware DNA, specifically that of the beloved PlayStation-exclusive Bloodborne. This week Beyond's resident Bloodborne fanboys Max Scoville and Brian Altano are joined by Travis "Tie Guy" Northup, who reviewed the new Pinocchio-inspired action-RPG for IGN, and they break down what this game gets right (a lot) and what it does differently from the gothic horror soulsborne classic. We dive into the gameplay, boss fights, systems, weapon customization and general lore, keeping things spoiler-free. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Podcast Beyond, brace yourselves, PlayStation Plus subscribers, because a price hike is on the horizon! Is there any silver lining in these cost adjustments, or are we in for the same old story with this month's "free" games? And since we're talking about big numbers, what's up with treating yourself to 19 inches of Venom?  Also, Jada brings back exciting tidbits from PAX! From the gripping fun of 30XX to the timelessly fantastic Prince of Persia, and the engaging Dragon Quest: Adventures of Dai - we?re covering it all. But wait, Foamstars might just be the unexpected gem of the show??? Let's dive in with your host Max Scoville and show regulars Jada Griffin, Brian Altano, and Akeem Lawanson!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a very special post-gamescom 2023 episode of Beyond, we discuss some of the coolest games (and other stuff) we saw at the world?s largest gaming convention. While we were very happy to get new details on games like Little Nightmares 3, Neill Blomkamp?s Off The Grid, Wayfinder, Where Winds Meet, The Thaumaturge and Cyberpunk 2077's upcoming 2.0 update and Phantom Liberty expansion, PlayStation?s absence was extremely noticeable. Xbox had an awesome booth showcasing new games, but also giving some love to games that are already out. Nintendo, on the other hand, had literally nothing new to show, but still gave fans a place to congregate and get hands-on, take pictures, and generally have a good time.  If Sony had nothing to show, this might make sense, but not only is Spider-Man 2 out next month, while gamescom was taking place, the Project Q was given an official price and title in a blog post. This week?s episode features Max Scoville and Brian Altano, as well as their dear friends Stella Chung and Seth Macy, who you can catch regularly on IGN?s Xbox and Nintendo shows, Podcast Unlocked and Nintendo Voice Chat. This week?s episode description was written 36,000 feet above Canada on very slow $27 wifi.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With half the Beyond crew off to gamescom 2023 in Germany, Akeem Lawanson and Jada Griffin hold down the fort with very special guests Kat Bailey and Parris Lilly, talking about the biggest reveals coming out of gamescom Opening Night Live! Join us for some big reveals and deep dive interviews with the devs of Tekken 8, The First Descendant, Warhaven, and reacting to a brand new trailer from Lords of the Fallen! It's an EXTRA long special gamescom bonus episode of Beyond, so you won't wanna miss this! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

00:00:10 - Intro & the PS5 Slim Was Leaked?  00:21:10 - We've Played Lords of the Fallen  00:36:18 - What Are the Stupidest Things You've Done in Baldur's Gate 3?  00:50:54 - Mitchell Competed at EVO 2023!  01:02:05 - Gran Turismo Movie Impressions & Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rockstar?s recently announced re-release of Red Dead Redemption has a lot of fans feeling seriously disappointed, with good reason. Some of the backlash is a result of high expectations, but this latest port doesn?t do Rockstar?s legacy justice. That said, what other older Rockstar games need to be playable on modern consoles while we?re waiting around for GTA 6? Max, Jada and special guest MrMidasGames share their picks. In other news, Baldur?s Gate III is shaping up to be one of the densest RPGs in ages, and its deep systems might be a bit daunting to newcomers unfamiliar with D&D rules. Despite so many traditionally turn-based games making the shift to real time combat, we?re happy Larian Studios didn?t try to reinvent the wheel (or the D20) for this long-anticipated sequel. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder?s Revenge was a fitting successor to the original TMNT Arcade Game, so we wax nostalgic about which beloved 80s and 90s cartoons are deserving of modern throwback video games. Plus, some amusing features have been introduced in the PS5?s latest update beta, and a discussion of usefulness of the Sony?s upcoming cloud handheld slash glorified controller, the Project Q. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

00;01;03;29 Twisted Metal 00;19;25;15 Lords of the Fallen 00;30;06;17 Remnant II 00;47;30;06 All Hail Glorbo 00;53;21;25 More News 01;04;21;14 Capcom stuff 01;13;51;00 Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get ready for a supercharged San Diego Comic-Con edition of IGN's Beyond! Join us, Max Scoville, along with Brian Altano, Akeem Lawanson, and the awesome Lisa Wallen - a stand-up comedian, Twitch streamer, and fellow weeb! We learned more about Spider-Man 2, Venom, and touch on fan-buzz regarding reused animations in the game. Then, we'll jump to the galaxy far, far away with Star Wars Outlaws - exciting new updates await! We also take a trip to Sand Land and discuss Mortal Kombat 1's Bad Superhero DLC, including Homelander, Peacemaker, and Omni-Man. We've got al our favorite highlights wrapped up in this episode, so you don't wanna miss this!   00:00:10 - Intro & New Updates on Spider-Man 2 + Venom! 00:10:23 - Star Wars: Outlaws is an Open World Game 00:19:43 - Akeem Played Sand Land! 00:29:58 - Mortal Kombat 1 Revealed Their Bad Superheroes DLC 00:40:04 - Our SDCC Highlights & Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're busy with SDCC this week, so we wanted to resurface this deep dive look at Star Wars Jedi: Survivor with game director Stig Asmussen. With everything from why we couldn't change Cal's hair color to the crazy [REDACTED] with [REDACTED], there's a lot of surprising new info we have in store for you! Join Max Scoville, Jada Griffin, and Josh Du as they dig into what made Star Wars Jedi: survivor such a hit with its audience.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's show, we'll dive into EA's highly anticipated Black Panther game and explore its potential to stand out among other superhero games. We'll also discuss future Marvel games, sharing our wishlist and realistic expectations for characters like Blade, Ghost Rider, and the Fantastic 4. But that's not all! We'll delve into the delightfully weird Baldur's Gate 3, a game that captures the comedic essence of Dungeons & Dragons. We'll also take a look at "The Last Hope - Dead Zone Survival," a hilarious ripoff that puts a unique spin on "The Last of Us" on Switch.  00:00:10 - Intro & Video Game of the Year w/ Jordan Minor 00:11:02 - EA Announces a New Black Panther Game 00:19:18 - What Will the Next Marvel Game Look Like? 00:28:00 - Baldur's Gate III Lets You Seduce Bears 00:40:38 - The Story Behind Street Shark's Mandella Effect 00:44:48 - "The Last Hope" is "The Last of Us at Home" & Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jump into the world of Final Fantasy XVI with us as we pull back the curtain on what makes this game tick. From the insane boss battles to the incredibly well-realized characters and their relationships that, believe it or not, pack more punch than the actual story ? we've got the scoop. And hey, if you're new to Final Fantasy or character action games, FF16 might just be your perfect starting point. It's accessible without being too hand-holdy for the seasoned players. Ever wondered if Final Fantasy XVI could bring in a new wave of fans? Or if it?s the most on-point Final Fantasy we've seen in over a decade? We sure did. After all, it's been a wild ride with the FF series, from the mixed bag that was FFXIII, the near-miss cancellation of FF14, to FF15's incomplete run, and the long wait for the rest of the FF7 Remake. But FF16? It's been different, in a good way ? announced with the PS5, steady updates, and a launch just under 3 years later that's been met with a whole lot of love from fans and critics alike. But that's not all. We've got some juicy PlayStation gossip fresh from the Xbox Activision trial, and a rundown of 2023's best games so far (yes, "Final Fantasy XVI" makes the cut). So grab your controller, and let's dive in! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

But also: does it even matter? This week join Max Scoville along with IGN?s Kat Bailey and Ben Watts, plus special guest Kahlief Adams from the podcast SpawnOnMe. We frantically recap some of the highlights of the vaguely E3-shaped blob of showcases, presentations and virtual events, including: Mortal Kombat 1 striking a balance between being charmingly cartoony and disgustingly realistic, while also appealing to both hardcore and casual fighting game fans. Sidenote, which is grosser: a man being cleaved in half by a hat made out of a razor-sharp saw blade, or casually blowing a snot rocket in polite company? Star Wars Outlaws looks awesome, and we could probably prattle on about that until we?re blue in the face, but why do that when we can have a serious discussion about how successful Foamstars will be in the already crowded service game space? On a less enthusiastic note, we reflect on Sony?s recent PlayStation Showcase, which effectively kicked off the summer event season, but paled in comparison to some of the big reveals that followed. Does it matter? There are plenty of new games coming out, PlayStation 5 is selling well.  Sure, PSVR 2 owners are being woefully neglected, and the Project Q is something nobody asked for, but it?d be nice if Sony was as willing to put on a show like some of the competition. In other news, Diablo 4 is a massive game in a year full of massive games, and we reflect upon how it?s hooking new and old players alike. As IGN?s resident Armored Core fan, Kat has strong feelings about the rapidly approaching Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon. It seems to be taking a few cues from FromSoftware?s recent games, but it?s staying faithful to the original games, not trying to be a mecha-flavored Soulsborne. As IGN?s resident Yakuza (er, Like a Dragon) fan, Max has some strong feelings about the reveal trailer for Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, and feels it is easily the best video game trailer featuring a nude man on a beach since Death Stranding?s debut. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special IGN Summer of Gaming and Capcom Showcase post-show, the Podcast Beyond team dives into their favorite game reveals of the week! From tons of surprise announcements including Star Wars Outlaws, Path of the Goddess, and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth as well as a number of disappointments to talk about, so you're not gonna wanna miss out with Max Scoville, Jada Griffin, Matt Kim, and Akeem Lawanson! #IGNSummerOfGaming Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this spoiler-filled episode of Podcast Beyond, we have Star Wars Jedi: Survivor's game director Stig Asmussen along with us on a deep dive on how the game came together. With everything from why we couldn't change Cal's hair color to the crazy [REDACTED] with [REDACTED], there's a lot of surprising new info we have in store for you! Join Max Scoville, Jada Griffin, and Josh Du as they dig into what made Star Wars Jedi: survivor such a hit with its audience.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sony's PlayStation May Showcase had some excellent reveals like Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater Remake, and Spider-man 2, but it left us with a lot more questions about the other first party Sony studios. Did the showcase live up to the hype of other showcases or was it a glorified State of Play? Can the Snake Eater Remake succeed without Hideo Kojima? Who is the target audience for Project Q? Why didn't we at least get a tease from other studios like Bluepoint, Housemarque, or Bend Studios? Join Jada Griffin, Taylor Lyles, Benny Watts, and Jeffrey Vega for their thoughts about the Playstation Showcase after giving it a second look.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sony's PlayStation Showcase was packed full of exciting new trailers, we're here to talk about some of our favorite reveals! We saw everything from a new gameplay trailer for Dragon's Dogma II (FINALLY!!!!!! - Red, the Producer) to tons of new Spider-Man 2 gameplay, a Metal Gear Solid 3 surprise reveal, as well as a remake of Bungie's classic franchise, Marathon! There's just so much to talk about, you won't want to miss this. Join Max Scoville, Brian Altano, Jada Griffin, and Akeem Lawanson for their PlayStation Showcase reactions!00:00:00 - Intro & the Best New Trailers! 00:16:40 - Our favorite 3rd Party Trailers   00:35:00 - Is the PSVR 2 Worth Getting Yet?   00:41:55 - Project Q and New PlayStation Hardware 00:46:50 - Grading the PlayStation Showcase   00:56:52 - Metal Gear Solid 3 Delta Trailer Breakdown & Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode of Podcast Beyond, we check out a fun new game from Rez Infinite developer, Enhance!  Humanity is the latest PS5 release that puts you in control of a dog made of light, guiding a stream of humans along a variety of challenging levels. It reminds us of old-school Lemmings mixed with... Snake, Katamari, and Intelligent Qube! Yeah, you have to see it yourselves. We also dive into some Zelda alternatives for PlayStation now that the gaming world is now deep into Tears of the Kingdom fever since last weekend. Can't jump into Hyrule?  Check out these other Zelda-likes that are also worth checking out! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

?Welcome to EPISODE 800 of Podcast Beyond?! From the days of PS1 to the latest PS5, from "Play B3yond" to "Play Has No Limits," we've journeyed through the entire evolution of PlayStation. We've seen the birth, rise, and sometimes fall of beloved games, consoles, and even some quirky slogans. Join Max, Brian, and Jada as they reminisce about their personal stories from back when Beyond Episode 1 premiered.  We also take a trip down memory lane, revisiting the evolution of PlayStation with its varying consoles and slogans over the years. Join us as we get nostalgic about PlayStation classics like GTA IV, BioShock, Mass Effect, and more. We also debate the best gaming years ? was it Jada's 2017 with Nier Automata and HZD, Brian's 2020 featuring The Last of Us Part 2 and Doom Eternal, or Max's 2015 that gave us Bloodborne and The Witcher 3?  Join us for Episode 800 packed with more PlayStation memories than you can shake a PSVR Move Controller at.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, join Max Scoville, Jada Griffin, Josh Du and Mitchell Saltzman as they chat Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, which is an excellent game despite its widespread technical issues and bugs at launch. We debate which lightsaber stance is superior, Crossguard or Dual Wield? What hairstyle is least stupid? Plus, Cal Kestis doesn?t exactly follow the Jedi Code, but maybe Survivor?s lack of morality system is why it?s so much fun. In other news, Mitchell interviewed FromSoftware devs about Armored Core 6, and we ponder how it?ll resonate with Dark Souls and Elden Ring fans. If you need a giant robot/mech game to keep you busy until Fires of Rubicon release date (August 25th) also recommend a pile of other giant mech games to help pass the time till Fires of Rubicon?s release date, like Titanfall 2. Jada and Mitchell went hands-on with Street Fighter 6 and have a lot of great things to say about the new beat-?em-up, story-based World Tour mode. Is it a Streetroidvania? Finally, we asked an AI to design Bloodborne 2?s boxart and tell us what it?s about, and it definitely sounds? interesting?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Sony?s acquisition of Firewalk Studios, the Beyond crew breaks down the long list of AAA-games the 20+ game studios have under its belts. Xbox and PlayStation are neck and neck in regards to the amount of studios each own, and the crew goes over the top 5 studios from each and some of each?s top video game titles. Horizon Forbidden West?s DLC is out now, so the topic is: Is Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores too hot to handle? And with a Horizon 3 game somewhere on the horizon, what?re some of the improvements gamers would like to see in the sequel? A retrospective look at the God of War game release, Star Wars Jedi Survivor?s file size is massive, and the crew reminiscences on the classic PlayStation memory card screens. This and more on Beyond! - with Jada Griffin, Akeem Lawanson, and Mark Madina rounding out the episode.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices