Destin Legarie Podcast | Save State Plus

Final Fantasy Resonance caught me completely off guard. I recently had the chance to play the game with Square Enix, and now that the surprisingly substantial demo is available, I've gone back and played through the opening for myself.What I found is a fantastic blend of classic 2D Final Fantasy and modern RPG design. You've got turn-based combat, exploration, tents and save points, Espers, Visions based on iconic Final Fantasy characters, Resonance attacks, fully voiced NPCs, and some beautiful cinematic moments layered over that nostalgic pixel-art presentation.After spending a few hours with it, Final Fantasy Resonance feels like the kind of Final Fantasy game I didn't know I was missing.

I got to check out Sega’s new Crazy Taxi and came away really impressed. It still has that fast, chaotic energy you’d expect from Crazy Taxi, but with a modern approach that makes the whole thing feel much bigger.Here are my early impressions after getting some hands-on time with the game, what surprised me, and why I’m feeling much better about Crazy Taxi’s return.

Xbox’s new Disc to Digital feature lets players turn eligible physical Xbox games into digital licenses, so I decided to try it myself.In this video, I walk through the process, show how it works, what you need to do, and some of the limitations you should know about before trying it.If you’ve got a collection of physical Xbox games, this is one of my favorite features, and I hope more companies follow suit.

I got to play Exodus during a preview event in Austin, and as a longtime Mass Effect fan, this one is hitting a lot of the right notes for me. I played through a full mission featuring combat, companion abilities, dialogue choices, exploration, upgrades, the Recycler weapon system, and the Gauntlet abilities that play a major role both in combat and traversal. There are definitely some familiar Mass Effect vibes here, especially when commanding companions and deciding how to handle major story moments, but Exodus is also introducing some really interesting ideas of its own. Time dilation in particular could have huge consequences for the choices you make throughout the story. After playing the mission twice to see different outcomes, I came away wanting to know a lot more about these characters, this world, and how my decisions will come back to affect me later. Exodus is currently planned for 2027.

I got to sit down with Exodus Narrative Director @DrewKarpyshyn. He's one of my favorite writers because of his work on Mass Effect. We talked about what he's bringing to Exodus, and a little bit about Mass Effect.Can't wait to see what's in store

The GTA 6 Cyberleek saga may finally be coming to an end.After weeks of leaked GTA V footage, a meme coin and increasingly bizarre claims, blockchain researchers have traced the money behind the operation. Cyberleek appears to have pulled roughly $270,000 in trading fees from the project and started moving those funds through multiple wallets and crypto services.But the bigger story may be where the trail leads. Researchers say funding connected to the Cyberleek operation can be traced back to KuCoin, a centralized exchange that uses identity verification, potentially giving investigators a path toward whoever is actually behind the leaks.In this video, I break down what Vice Cit and other researchers found, whether Cyberleek really cashed out, and why the GTA 6 leaker may have made a major mistake.

A rumor exploded online claiming Sony is reconsidering its plans for physical PlayStation games because Microsoft is supposedly pitching its next Xbox as "100% physical." There's just one problem: when you trace the story back, the claims are still completely unverified.The reports appear to originate from Gamescom chatter discussed on Eurogamer Spain's podcast before being amplified across gaming sites and social media. Sony hasn't announced any change to its physical game plans, Microsoft hasn't announced Project Helix as a "100% physical" console, and other outlets are now questioning whether the story makes sense at all.So let's break down what was actually said, where this rumor came from, and why I'm extremely skeptical of this Sony story.

Asha Sharma has revealed more about the future of Xbox and its next-generation hardware, Project Helix, in a new BBC interview.The Xbox CEO described Helix as a "family of devices," reiterated Microsoft's plans to bring both console and PC games to its next-generation Xbox hardware, and discussed the need to focus on performance, affordability and efficiency as hardware costs continue to rise.Let's break down what she said and what it could tell us about Microsoft's next generation of Xbox.

Xbox has announced a major new Xbox disc to digital feature that will allow players to claim digital entitlements for supported physical Xbox games. Starting with thousands of Xbox One and Xbox Series X titles, players will be able to insert a disc and add a digital entitlement to their library, potentially unlocking Xbox Play Anywhere and Xbox Cloud Gaming support where available. This could be a huge development for physical game preservation and the future of Xbox ownership. Let's talk about how it works, what Microsoft has announced, and why I think this is such an interesting move.

I got to play a portion of the Gears of War: E-Day campaign, and I came away extremely excited about what The Coalition is building.In this preview, I talk about the campaign gameplay, combat, environments, enemies and the ways E-Day feels familiar while bringing Gears forward.Gears of War: E-Day launches October 6, 2026 for Xbox Series X|S and PC.

I finally got to play The Duskbloods, and I came away incredibly excited about what FromSoftware is building.I break down how matches work, the Bloodsworn characters I played, combat, leveling, bosses, alliances, PvP and PvE elements, the Blood-Drenched Moon phases, traversal, weapons and more. Unfortunately I can't show my own gameplay footage, but there's a lot to talk about after getting hands-on.The Duskbloods is coming exclusively to Nintendo Switch 2.

Marvel’s Wolverine has officially gone gold ahead of its September 15 release on PS5, meaning Insomniac Games has hit one of the final major milestones before launch.At the same time, Insomniac has been giving us a much better look at some of the suits and claw customizations available in the game, including several costumes from the Digital Deluxe Edition. Let’s take a look at the latest Wolverine news, the suits we’ve now seen in action, and what it all means as we get closer to release.

The GTA 6 Cyberleek story has gotten much bigger since my last video. More alleged gameplay has appeared online, the person or group behind the leaks appears to have had access to some form of playable GTA 6 build, and the campaign is now tied to a manifesto criticizing the games industry and a cryptocurrency called $CYBERLEEK.At the same time, things are getting extremely messy. Multiple accounts have claimed connections to Cyberleek, some supposed leaks have been accused of being fake, and a viral claim that the leaker threatened to distribute the full GTA 6 build was reportedly based on a fabricated image.Meanwhile, Take-Two is still attempting to identify people involved in distributing the leaked material, with Microsoft and Discord subpoenaed for account records. So let's go through what we actually know, what's still unverified, and how bizarre this GTA 6 leak situation has become.

Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 reviews are here, and it sounds like Konami may have delivered exactly what Metal Gear fans were hoping for. The collection brings Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Peace Walker and Ghost Babel to modern platforms, with MGS4 finally escaping the PS3 and running at up to 4K and 60 FPS.I didn't receive a review code, but after seeing what reviewers are saying, I'll absolutely be jumping in when Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 launches August 27.Let's talk about the reviews, what has been improved and whether this collection looks worth picking up.

Take-Two is escalating its hunt for the people behind the massive GTA 6 leaks. The company has subpoenaed Microsoft and Discord for records connected to accounts accused of spreading unreleased GTA 6 gameplay, potentially exposing identifying information including emails, IP addresses, linked Xbox accounts and more.With GTA 6 approaching its November launch, it looks like Take-Two wants to find out exactly who is responsible.

Sony still isn’t ready to commit to a PS6 release date, with component shortages and rising hardware costs potentially impacting when the next PlayStation arrives. We break down what Sony said and whether 2027 or 2028 now looks more realistic.Plus, Xbox may have a surprise waiting for Gamescom 2026. New rumors claim Microsoft is preparing to reveal an unannounced sequel from an externally developed Xbox project.

PlayStation is reportedly making major changes to Horizon Hunters Gathering after negative feedback from private playtests. According to Bloomberg, Guerrilla Games has been reworking the project since June, removing its live-service structure and shifting toward a smaller, more traditional cooperative game with a story mode.The project reportedly has until the end of the year to impress PlayStation executives, while some developers are being reassigned elsewhere. We break down what happened, what this means for Horizon Hunters Gathering, and what it says about Sony’s struggling live-service strategy.

Marvel's Wolverine has a lot going on beyond the story. In this video, I break down how combat works, including Rage, Techniques, Adaptations, healing, Last Stand, enhanced senses and team-up attacks.I also go through the customization we've seen so far, including Wolverine's unlockable suits and customizable claws. The preview build shows 27 suit slots and 20 claw slots, with costumes inspired by several different eras of Wolverine and multiple claw styles including bone, metal, gold and more.There are also crafting materials hidden throughout missions that can be used to unlock some of these cosmetics, giving you another reason to explore along the way.

Microsoft has reportedly explored bringing Activision and Call of Duty developer Sledgehammer Games into the Halo franchise.According to a new report from Rebs Gaming, Activision began testing an early prototype for a Halo multiplayer pitch in June 2026, with Sledgehammer Games potentially assisting development. The prototype reportedly only reached an early blockout phase, testing basic mechanics such as player movement, before Activision canceled it in early July.That apparently doesn't mean the idea is dead. The report claims Microsoft is still exploring the possibility of Activision helping develop future Halo games, although nothing has been greenlit.This comes as Xbox increasingly utilizes studios and outside development partners across its biggest franchises, and raises a huge question: would a Call of Duty studio be a good fit for Halo multiplayer?

After digging through Marvel's Wolverine preview footage, interviews, gameplay and hands-on impressions, there's a lot more going on here than I expected.In this video I'm breaking down the opening story involving Logan, Nathaniel Essex and Team X, the battle against Trask, the Sentinel encounter, Madripoor and the Princess Bar, Nightmare Doors, Wolverine's Rage system, Adaptations, Techniques, collectibles and the massive amount of customization we've now seen.There appear to be 27 suit slots and 20 claw customization slots in the preview build, along with unlockable costumes, crafting materials, whiskey bottle collectibles and more. We also got new looks at Mystique, Sabretooth, Jean Grey, Sasquatch and teases involving Omega Red.Marvel's Wolverine launches September 15, 2026 on PS5.

A new app called Asobi: Remote Play is bringing PlayStation streaming to Steam Deck, SteamOS, Linux, and Windows.The independent app can connect directly to your own PS4 or PS5, but it also advertises optional PlayStation Plus Premium cloud-streaming compatibility, potentially letting players access supported PS5 games without owning a PS5 or PlayStation Portal. The Steam listing promises controller support, adaptive streaming, HDR, 1080p/60fps and other premium features. It is currently in playtesting and listed as coming soon.This is another interesting step toward PlayStation games becoming less tied to traditional PlayStation hardware.

Blizzard is reportedly now the top-performing studio inside Xbox.According to internal emails verified by Windows Central, Blizzard finished Microsoft’s FY26 as the top-performing studio in Xbox’s studios division and recorded its third-highest fiscal year ever for revenue. Diablo and Overwatch helped drive the growth, with Overwatch reportedly delivering its strongest quarter since 2022.That comes as Xbox overall finished the fiscal year down 11%, making Blizzard one of Microsoft Gaming’s biggest bright spots heading into BlizzCon 2026.

I got more hands-on time with Onimusha: Way of the Sword, and after playing through several sections of Capcom's upcoming action game, I'm starting to get a much clearer picture of what the final game could be.The combat is fast, aggressive and satisfying once you find its rhythm, but I'm still struggling with the timing of the parry and dodge mechanics. I've also played enough of the opening hours now that I'm wondering how much deeper the combat, exploration and overall structure will become.Right now, Onimusha feels good. I'm just not convinced it's going to reach the same heights as some of Capcom's other recent games.I also got hands-on time with the Nintendo Switch 2 version, and came away very impressed with how well it played.These are my latest impressions after spending several hours with Onimusha: Way of the Sword.

Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls is finally here, and while the fighting game itself has a lot going for it, the PC version is having a rough launch.Players are reporting performance problems, stuttering, high hardware usage and other issues, helping push the game’s Steam user rating down to just 44% shortly after launch. Arc System Works has acknowledged the complaints and says the team is actively investigating PC performance issues.

Rockstar Games just dropped a teaser for Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look, and the way they’re releasing it is pretty unprecedented.

Huge Xbox news today from Xbox CEO Asha Sharma. Platinum Trophies! Xbox is rolling out several long-requested console improvements, including party and game chat audio in captures, better achievement sorting, cloud-save restoration, and larger wishlists. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma also teased a new achievement reward similar to PlayStation’s Platinum Trophy for later this year.Meanwhile, reports claim Microsoft’s next Xbox could support games across all five generations, although that backward-compatibility detail remains unconfirmed. Xbox also surprised players with Quake: Dawn of the Machine, a free new episode created by MachineGames and released for existing Quake owners.After years of criticism, is Xbox finally listening to its core audience and rebuilding the console experience?

Beast of Reincarnation is finally here, and Game Freak’s new action RPG is unlike anything the Pokémon developer has made before. After spending time exploring its post-apocalyptic Japan, fighting alongside Koo, and learning its parry-focused combat system, I’m sharing my early review thoughts with Sarthe.The game combines fast katana combat with command-based abilities from your canine companion, creating something that feels inspired by games like Sekiro, NieR: Automata, and Stellar Blade while still trying to establish an identity of its own.Here’s what I think works, what still concerns me, and whether Beast of Reincarnation is worth playing.Beast of Reincarnation launched August 4, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC. It is also available through Xbox Game Pass.

Xbox is developing a new Disc-to-Digital program designed to let players use physical Xbox One and Xbox Series game discs across the wider Xbox ecosystem, including devices without disc drives.According to information sent to ID@Xbox publishers, players insert an eligible disc into an Xbox One or Xbox Series X console with an optical drive. Xbox then grants a digital license connected to both the player’s account and the physical disc. That game can subsequently follow the player to other supported Xbox devices.

Xbox is testing a new ad-supported way to play games through Xbox Cloud Gaming without paying for a Game Pass subscription. I tried the experience with Gears of War to see how the ads work, how well the game performs through the cloud, and whether this could become a legitimate alternative to buying an Xbox console.The current Xbox Insider test allows players to stream select games they already own in one-hour sessions. Ads appear before the session rather than interrupting gameplay, but the actual experience still depends heavily on streaming quality, latency, image clarity, and your internet connection.In this video, I break down what worked, what didn’t, and whether Xbox’s free ad-supported streaming model feels like the future of gaming or another compromise.

Xbox and PlayStation outages are offering an unsettling look at gaming’s increasingly all-digital future. During a recent Xbox network outage, some players reported being unable to launch digital games and even certain disc-based games. Microsoft says physical games should not have been affected and blamed a licensing issue that failed to recognize locally stored entitlements. A permanent fix is reportedly being developed. That incident came shortly after a PlayStation Network outage disrupted access to PSN and the Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls open beta. Meanwhile, Sony is moving forward with plans to stop producing physical discs for new PlayStation releases beginning in January 2028, despite the backlash. New games released after that date will instead be sold digitally through the PlayStation Store and retailers, potentially through download codes sold in boxes. In this video, I discuss why these outages expose the risks of an all-digital gaming industry, why buying a game should guarantee meaningful long-term access, and why consumer-protection legislation may now be necessary.

Xbox has revealed its plans for Gamescom 2026, including 25 games across 140 demo stations, two live broadcasts, and major appearances from Gears of War: E-Day, Fable, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, Forza Horizon 6, Alien: Isolation 2, Halo: Campaign Evolved and more. It should be an exciting moment for Xbox, but while talking about the company’s history and its 25th anniversary, I discovered that my original Xbox 360 may finally be broken. That console represents an important period of my life and career, and the realization hit me harder than expected. Xbox’s Gamescom broadcasts are scheduled for August 26 and August 27 at 7 a.m. PT.

SPOILER FREE Spider-Man: Brand New Day is finally here, bringing Tom Holland back as Peter Parker for his fourth solo Spider-Man movie. In this spoiler-free review, I discuss the story, action, performances, new characters, and whether Brand New Day delivers the fresh start promised after Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has revealed the company’s new plan following major layoffs, falling gaming revenue, studio changes, and what Microsoft has described as a reset for the business. Xbox now says it will return to player and revenue growth by the end of fiscal year 2027, improve profitability, strengthen its console platform, turn its games into larger global franchises, expand Minecraft as a creator platform, and bring its biggest properties into film, television, merchandise, sponsorships, and live experiences.

Windows Central has raised an excellent question about Xbox Project Helix: Can Microsoft build an affordable next-generation Xbox that also gives players access to PC games and competing storefronts like Steam?Traditional consoles can be sold at lower prices because platform holders make money when players purchase games through their stores. But if Xbox Helix owners immediately move over to Steam, Microsoft could lose the software revenue that normally helps subsidize the hardware. That could leave Microsoft with an extremely expensive Xbox, a restricted version of Windows, or some kind of compromise between the two. I love the premise behind Xbox Helix and the idea of combining console simplicity with PC freedom, but I have some thoughts about the assumptions being made, the importance of Steam, and whether Microsoft actually needs Helix to function like a completely open gaming PC.

God of War Laufey at SDCC Revealed some cool new details. Like the release date! God of War Laufey officially releases on February 16, 2027, but that date puts Sony’s next major PS5 exclusive directly into one of the most crowded release windows we’ve seen.Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, Persona 4 Revival, Fable, Metro 2039, and now God of War Laufey are all targeting February 2027. Somebody is eventually going to move, right?

Marvel’s Wolverine just had its biggest reveal yet at San Diego Comic-Con 2026. Insomniac Games debuted a new story trailer featuring Logan, Jean Grey, Sabretooth, Mystique, Team X, Bolivar Trask, Deathstrike and The Hand.

Halo Campaign Evolved modernizes the original Halo with completely rebuilt visuals, redesigned environments, new missions, additional weapons, and major quality-of-life improvements.The improved lighting and visual direction make confusing levels like The Library much easier to navigate, while 42 hidden Skulls and 13 Terminals add plenty of replayability. However, technical issues, crashes, and controversial changes to Master Chief and Cortana keep the remake from being perfect.

Xbox just launched Backward Compatibility on PC, bringing four original Xbox classics to Windows PCs and handhelds for the first time. But after speaking with Xbox ahead of today's announcement, it sounds like these four games are only the beginning.

Former Burnout and Need for Speed developers are building Wreckreation 2, an arcade racing game focused on speed, destruction, aggressive driving, and the kind of chaotic gameplay AAA publishers have largely abandoned.

Bethesda has revealed a massive roadmap for the future of Fallout, The Elder Scrolls and Starfield. The Elder Scrolls VI is now Bethesda Game Studios’ primary focus. Fallout 5 has entered pre-production, and Obsidian is officially returning to the Fallout universe with a new project. Bethesda also confirmed plans for Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas remakes, continued Starfield support and a new version of its technology called Creation Engine 3.

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has generated plenty of conversation surrounding its casting, sound mix and decision to adapt the classic story again. After seeing the film, I think most of that controversy distracts from what actually makes it special.

Xbox and PlayStation have both experienced major layoffs, studio closures and restructuring, but the way those stories are covered often feels very different.When Xbox cuts jobs, it is frequently presented as evidence that the entire brand is collapsing. When PlayStation closes studios, cuts staff or restructures Bungie, the coverage often moves on much faster or treats each story as an isolated problem.

Bethesda Game Studios has revealed its long-term roadmap for Fallout, The Elder Scrolls and Starfield. The biggest announcements include confirmation that Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas remasters are in development, Obsidian Entertainment is partnering with Bethesda on a new Fallout project, and The Elder Scrolls VI is now the studio’s primary development focus.

Path of Exile 1 is getting another major expansion, and I sat down with game director Mark Roberts and designer Octavian Morosan to talk about the future of the game. We discuss Grinding Gear Games’ surprisingly small and efficient development team, major changes designed to help new players, systems being brought over from Path of Exile 2, how the studio reuses assets across both games, its proprietary engine, secret content, datamining bait and why developers keep hiding bananas throughout Path of Exile. We also talk about the possibility of a Path of Exile movie or card game, favorite bosses, lessons from past leagues and how the team plans to keep growing Path of Exile 1 alongside Path of Exile 2.

Xbox’s latest round of layoffs has resulted in a major leadership shakeup at ZeniMax Online Studios, the developer of The Elder Scrolls Online.According to Game File, studio head Joe Burba is departing alongside ESO executive producer Susan Kath, studio game director Rich Lambert and production director Ala Diaz. Their positions were included among 379 ZeniMax jobs eliminated in Maryland, with more than 200 cuts reportedly hitting ZeniMax Online Studios alone.

The console market could be heading for a massive decline. New estimates from S&P Global Market Intelligence Kagan predict global console shipments will fall 19.5% in 2026, dropping from 42.1 million units to just 33.9 million. Shipments could fall even further in 2027 as the RAM and storage crisis pushes hardware prices higher. The forecast estimates Nintendo will ship 17.1 million Switch 2 consoles in 2026, while Sony ships 13.2 million PS5s and Microsoft ships only 2.5 million Xbox Series X|S consoles.Analysts also believe PS6 and the next Xbox may launch at prices between $600 and $800 if component costs do not improve. So even with GTA 6 approaching, the console business may be entering one of its most difficult periods yet.Let’s break down what these estimates mean for PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo and the future of console gaming.

I played nearly two hours of Beast of Reincarnation, Game Freak’s ambitious new action RPG, and came away feeling like I had only scratched the surface.Beast of Reincarnation combines fast, demanding real-time combat with a more traditional command-based RPG system. You control Emma directly while issuing abilities to her canine companion, Koo, allowing you to attack, apply buffs, weaken enemies and change the pace of battle without completely stopping the action.In this hands-on preview, I break down the combat, progression, world, story setup and what surprised me most about Game Freak’s major departure from Pokémon.Beast of Reincarnation launches August 4, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. It will also be available through Xbox Game Pass on day one and supports Xbox Play Anywhere.Thanks to Fictions and Game Freak for inviting me to preview the game.

Xbox has teased that a major delayed console update should finally reach Insiders next week, and speculation is growing that it could be the reveal of Microsoft’s rumored disc-to-digital program.

Reports initially suggested Xbox’s layoffs had reduced id Software to little more than a support studio. Now, new information indicates the remaining core team is roughly the same size as the group that shipped DOOM in 2016.

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced brings Edward Kenway’s pirate adventure back in a way that reminds you why this game became one of Ubisoft’s most beloved entries.