Videogame Roundtable

Episode 423: Microsoft and Epic Tag Team

This week has Microsoft backing Epic against Apple, Nintendo telling people they don't have controller drift and apologizing for controller drift, and some new games. The news includes:
Level-5 has reportedly halted nearly all operations in North America
Microsoft sides with Epic in its fight with Apple
Nintendo is reducing the price of Switch Joycons in Japan
Torchlight 3 leaves Early Access
Let us know what you think.

Episode 422: Waiting For 2100

Nintendo has finally given a launch window for their next console, while TJ is slightly distracted by the Chiefs. This week's news includes:
Titanfall 3 is in development at Respawn
As 2020 ends, so does FarmVille
Among Us 2 cancelled in favor of ongoing work on the current game
Amazon is also warning Xbox Series X preorder customers that their consoles might show up late
Spider-Man PS4 owners can’t upgrade to the PS5 version for free
Nintendo's Switch successor will release before 2100
Let us know what you think.

Episode 421: Microsoft Buys ZeniMax

So, a day before the Xbox Series X preorder launch (which after the podcast was a complete shitshow), Microsoft drops the mic by announcing they just essentially purchased The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Prey, DOOM, and other major properties. Not much else to talk about, really. The game news includes:
Microsoft purchases ZeniMax for $7.5B
Bethesda's overhauling its engine for Starfield and The Elder Scrolls 6
Former Skullgirls developers have launched a new studio called Future Club
Hades has sold 1m copies
Blizzard confirms BlizzCon 2021 dates
Let us know what you think.

Episode 420: Ubisoft Forward

This week the gang reacts to Ubisoft's pseudo-E3 presentation showing off their upcoming games, including Watch Dogs Legion, Immortals Fenyx Rising, Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World: The Game: The Remaster, and Riders Republic, and Yves Guillemot's strange pre-show video. Other news items include:
Bungie emphatically denies Microsoft buyout rumor
Former Witcher 3 devs are launching a sci-fi novel-inspired game
Let us know what you think.

Episode 417: More #MeToo

Depressingly, sexual harassment in a development studio is once again the lead news item this week, and from a studio most gamers would never think it could happen. That, and major seismic shifting in the power structure of the digital storefront landscape.The news includes:
Multiple employees resign over Skullgirls studio head's behavior
Microsoft sides with Epic in legal battle with Apple
Another intimidating obelisk has been found in Microsoft Flight Simulator
Let us know what you think.

Episode 416: #MeToo in Videogames

The latest sexual harassment scandal rocks, and things are not steady with the developer. Bad puns aside, the industry continues to have to grow up from dude-bro heaven to actual places of business.All that, as well as the following news items:
Batman: Arkham studio accused of failing to prevent sexual harassment
Spelunky 2 is now on Steam with an updated release window
Nintendo's next Switch indie presentation tomorrow
7.5 million players claimed a free copy of Total War Saga: Troy
Let us know what you think.

Episode 415: Is the Lockhart Real?

Well, yes, it is real, just unannounced. The Xbox Series S is probably the worst kept secret at this point. In addition to the rumors, there's some other interesting stuff going on pre-Gamescom. The news includes:
EA Access page is now live on Steam
Injustice 3, featuring the Watchmen, has been seemingly teased
Xbox Series S name pops up on Microsoft's next-gen controller packaging
Let us know what you think.

Episode 414: Double Stuffed Episode

This week's episode is almost two hours long thanks to the ID@Xbox Showcase and the Microsoft Xbox Series X stream. There was also news, which includes:
Hideo Kojima in talks with Junji Ito bbout a new project
Mysterious white next-gen Xbox controller appears online
Fall Guys was the top game on Twitch during its beta weekend
Let us know what you think.