#417 | It's Not Far Down to Paradise

With Grand Theft Auto VI finally launching this November, we've been left without a key piece of information: Its price. Conjecture and prognostication has run rampant, but now we have confirmation that GTA6's base cost is $80 in the United States, with a $100 version offering players some perks and unlocks. With our long-awaited trip down to Leonida drawing closer on the horizon, we've much to discuss, including our hype level, whether we'll buy the base or special edition, the lack of a real physical version, and -- perhaps most intriguingly -- no new trailer or gameplay videos to help sell a product that (let's be honest) probably doesn't need much help to begin with. Other news this week includes significant layoffs at Sony-owned Bungie, indications that God of War: Laufey may launch as early as Q1 2027, more delisted shovelware tripe removed from PlayStation Store, executive-level issues at FromSoft, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! What's with Steam Machine's absurd price? Should Sony look to invest in any of Xbox's distressed assets? Why did PlayStation even bother publishing Midnight Murder Club if they were only going to ignore it? Will Chris and Colin one day have their shared ex-psychiatrist on the show to discuss our many mental ailments? Timestamps: Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00 - Intro22:50 - Happy Birthday nerd35:46 - Trophy hunting37:10 - Chris has a new voice47:15 - Release the files55:38 - The Green Reaper57:31 - GTA VI "plays best" on PlayStation 51:46:15 - Bungie lays of hundreds2:11:09 - Bungie pitched a Destiny dating game2:15:35 - God of War: Laufey might launch in Q1 20272:17:02 - Deborah Ann Woll claims Laufey was pitched in 20182:25:06 - PlayStation Store shovelware developer bites the dust2:30:53 - Kadokawa says Fromsoft is being mismanaged2:39:21 - Tencent exits from several game studio investments2:43:47 - What We're Playing (Pragmata, LEGO Batman, Luna Abyss, GTA: San Andreas)3:05:33 - Steam Machine pricing3:26:19 - Could Sony invest in XBOX?3:31:15 - What's next for Sony?3:40:03 - Midnight Murder Club received its final update3:46:05 - Is gambling software okay?3:54:55 - Should Sony stick to its existing IP catalog? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices