High Ping Basterds
by High Ping Basterds
“We, to tell the actual absolute truth, don’t live in society, actually.” In the history of humans, for the first time after the glorious 18th Century have we had The 21st Century. If one strains their ears, one can gather echoes traveling back to us from a dismal future, hankering for the nostalgic and innocent and simpler times of The 21st Century. The 21st Century where we actually don’t live in a society. We live more in tubes, in simulations, in hypotheticals and in conspiracies. We live in line graphs, in word vomits, in feeds and filters, in videos and in games, and in video games. The Basterds navigate this terrain of solipsistic confabulations. “Two weeks to two minutes” Exclaimed Cyrus West Field—an American entrepreneur and financier, pointedly not an inventor, actually—when the telegraph line laid across Atlantic finally worked in 1866. Now in place of these obsolete thick copper cable lay nets upon nets of fiber optics where we
Episodes
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105 S&P Game Report, Xbox Conslidation, Nintendo Lawsuit, Halo, Helldivers Adaptation
Global game content revenue forecast to rise 2.3% to $229.1bn in 2030, supported by PC and Asia-Pacific market | GamesIndustry.biz Xbox Game Studios Is Quickly Disappearing - Kotaku Amid mass Xbox layoffs, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella says the "streamlining" is "great to see" Nintendo wins $4.5...
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104 Activision Cheat Hunter, GTA 6 Netflix Hit, Valve Data Leak, Game Pass Changes, Youtube Rules Update
Activision Just Served A Notorious Call Of Duty Cheat Maker ‘GTA 6’ Hits No. 1 On Netflix And Catapults Streamer’s Web Viewership 125% 12 TB of Valve Data Leaked, Possibly Including Half-Life 2 Episode 3 PlayStation Wants To Prove In Court That You Don't Own Your Digital Games Microsoft announces...
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103 RAMpocolypse, Star Citizen, Mattel, Twitch AI
Memory capacity for all of 2027 has reportedly been booked and sold, with no more DRAM or HBM available US hires over 2,000 video gamers as air traffic controllers Star Citizen Developer Stream Goes Horribly Off the Rails, Creating Further Distrust Among Players Barbie and Hot Wheels owner Mattel...
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102 GTA6 Leaker, Microsoft Layoffs, Steam Economy
GTA 6 Leaker Threatens To Give Build to 'Millions of Gamers Around the Globe' - Insider Gaming We didn't have layoffs before, and now all of a sudden we have yearly layoffs': Bethesda artist says 'something has changed' under Microsoft | PC Gamer The Witcher 4 Confirmed for 2028 Release in…
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101 EA Acquisition, Steam AI Disclosure, Game Pass Reflection, Bathesda
On our 101st episode, we discussed the following topics: EA's Acquisition by Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia Officially Approved by EU Commission "Steam’s required AI disclosure is the right move": Devs say gen AI should be called out in games and support Valve's store mandate |…
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100 PS Discless, Xbox, RAM Oligopoly
On our 100th episode, we discussed the following topics: Sony is killing all physical PlayStation game discs | The Verge Resetting XBOX - XBOX Wire RAM manufacturers have been sued for allegedly fixing prices and supply, leading to increased costs | VGC Sony faces Dutch lawsuit over "artificially...
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99 XBox continues downsizing, EU on Video Games, EA Ads, SuperPC
On our 99th episode, we talked about the following topics: Xbox Game Studios boss Craig Duncan steps downStudios in Microsoft’s Xbox Division Brace for Closures - Bloomberg EU rules out mandate to keep video games playable, seeks voluntary code La Commission dialoguera avec l'industrie à la suite...
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98 XBox News, Valve Monopoly, Ocarina of Time Remake, FIFA 2K
On our 98th episode, we discussed the following topics: Xbox Will 'Try and Do More' Exclusives Once the 'Business is Healthy', Says Asha Sharma The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time – Nintendo Direct 6.9.2026 "Scammers have adapted": Valve confirms that physical Steam Gift Cards are dead. Once the...
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97 PS AI, CWA on EA Buyout, GTA Pricing Debate, Gamestop Ebay
On our 97th episode, we discussed the following topics: PlayStation Shares Plans to Use AI to Increase Content Output and Diversity CWA Canada president calls on government to scrutinize EA buyout Rockstar should raise GTA 6’s price for good of ‘the entire industry’, says Bank of America | VGC...
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96 Rockstar Hacked Again, Zelda Movie, PlayStation First Party Strat, Game Pass Subscription, Windrose, NZXT
On our 96th episode, we discussed the following topics GTA 6 Developer Rockstar Reportedly Hacked, Data Being Ransomed Filming has wrapped on The Legend of Zelda (UPDATE) | GoNintendo Shuhei Yoshida Shares Why Releasing First-Party Games On PC Day One Is A Bad Strategy For PlayStation Microsoft…
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95 Marathon, Gunzilla Games, Pokemon Go Champion, Playstation's Biggest Fan, Build a Rocket Boy
On our 95th episode, we discussed the following topics: Checking In On ‘Marathon’ A Month After Launch Off the Grid maker and Game Informer owner Gunzilla Games accused of missing staff salary payments | GamesIndustry.biz Pokemon Go champion stripped of title for celebrating his win - Dexerto…
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94 Sony Removes AI Slop, Rockstar Gets Fined Minimally, EPIC laysoff, US Patent Revokes Nintendo Applications
On our 94th episode, we talked about the following subject: Sony Removes Over 1,000 Low-Quality Games From PlayStation Store Rockstar Games Illegally Underpaid Staff at GTA 6 Studio, UK Government Confirms - RockstarINTEL Fortnite Maker Epic Games Cuts About 1,000 Jobs Across Company - Bloomberg...
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93. Sony shuts Bluepoint, Xbox New Head, PEGI Changes, Valve v NYC, EA Layoffs
On our 93rd episode, we talked about the following topics: Sony Shuts Down Video-Game Studio Bluepoint Former Xbox President's direction reportedly "offended" employees Human brain cells on a chip learned to play Doom in a week | New Scientist Video game PEGI age-ratings are changing in Europe…
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92 DRAM, BG3 Adaptation, Iron Lung
On our 92nd episode, we discussed the following topics: DRAM prices expected to nearly double in Q1 • The Register Baldur's Gate is getting an HBO TV series set after Baldur's Gate 3 | TechSpot MindsEye Boss Legally Threatens YouTuber After Epstein Video Indie game film adaptation Iron Lung earns...
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91 Valve Monopoly Lawsuit, Ubisoft Strike, CDPR Mod DMCA, Video Game Developers' Conference
On our 91st episode, we talked about the following subject Why is Valve’s Steam facing a $900 million UK lawsuit over anti-competitive practices? One-Third of U.S. Video Game Industry Workers Were Laid Off Over the Last Two Years, GDC Study Reveals Ubisoft unions in France call for international...
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90 Paramount v WBD, GoW Casting, Meta VR, Lara Croft, New World Closing, Ubisoft Layoffs The Division
On our 90th episode, we talked about the following topics: Paramount Escalates WBD Fight, Sues Over Netflix Deal and Aims to Install Friendly Directors at Warner Shareholder Meeting Ryan Hurst Cast As Kratos In Prime Video’s 'God of War' Meta is closing down three VR studios as part of its...
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89 Thai Esports Scandal, Gamestop Store Closure, Ubisoft Halifax, NY Gov vs Roblox, Rainbow Six
On our 89th episode, we return to discuss the following topics: Disgraced Thai e-sports queen denies cheating but faces lifetime ban Report: GameStop closing hundreds of stores in the United States | GamesIndustry.biz CWA Canada says it will "pursue every legal recourse" to protect unionised...
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88 Game Awards & Trailers, PS5, Steam Deck, Post EA FIFA
On 88th episode, we discussed the following topics: PS5 reigns supreme over Black Friday, accounting for a staggering 62% of all console sales | Eurogamer.net Steam Deck LCD production is ending — Valve's budget handheld gaming PC will no longer be available once stock is gone Video Game Physical...
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87 Epic, Xbox, AI, Rockstar, EA Sale, Warner Bros, Skybound
On our 87th episode, we discussed the following topics: Epic's Sweeney says platforms should stop tagging games made with AI | GamesIndustry.biz Xbox Cloud Gaming Expands to More Countries, Is Increasingly Popular Among Game Pass Users Rockstar insider reveals Discord messages that reportedly...
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86 Krafton, Black Ops 7, Battlefield 6, Tencent Ubisoft Deal, Xbox price increase, F126
On our 86th episode we discussed the following topics: Krafton launches voluntary resignation program for employees as it transforms into an “AI first company” - AUTOMATON WEST Black Ops 7 Is The Worst User-Reviewed Call Of Duty, Dropping Below Modern Warfare 3 Subnautica 2 publisher Krafton...
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85 Nintendo Patents & Adaptations, Rockstar, Square Enix, Borderlands 4, Marvel& Insomniac
On our 85th episode, we discussed the following video game news: Nintendo says it plans a ‘consistent release’ of new films following the Super Mario Galaxy and Zelda movies | VGC Protests erupt at Rockstar Games offices accusing GTA 6 developers of “Union Busting” - Dexerto GTA 6' Release…
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84 EA AI, YouTube Policy, Amazon Studios, Rockstar, CoD Movie, IOC v Saudi Arabia Esports, Microsoft
On our 84th episode, we discussed the following topics: EA's AI Game Development Tools Are Apparently So Bad That It's Costing More Money To Fix Their Mistakes YouTube's strengthened approach to online gambling and graphic violence in gaming After Massive Layoffs, Amazon Studios Announces That…
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83 Pokemon Leak follow up, Next Gen Consoles, CS2 Rugpull, Remedy, Warner Games, AWS Blackout, FIFA.mp3
On our 83rd episode, we discussed the following topics: Massive Pokemon leak purportedly covers next-gen games, scrapped ideas, and more PS6 and next Xbox console are both aiming for 2027 release, separate reports claim | VGC CS2 skin update ‘rug pulls’ collectors as $1 billion wiped from market...
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82 EA Privatization, XBox Gamepass Price Hike
On our 82nd episode, we discussed the following topics: Doug Bowser to Retire as Nintendo of America President, Devon Pritchard Named Successor Videogame Giant Electronic Arts Nears Roughly $50 Billion Deal to Go Private $2.6 Million Kickstarter Cozy Game Wipes Its Websites, Ghosts Its Backers…
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81 Borderlands 4, Nintendo v Palworld, Krafton, Xbox Prices, Mass Effect TV Show, Tencent v Sony
On our 81st episode, we discussed the following topics: Borderlands 4 is a premium game made for premium gamers' is Randy Pitchford's tone deaf retort to the performance backlash: 'If you're trying to drive a monster truck with a leaf blower's motor, you're going to be disappointed' Nintendo…
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80 Nintendo Shenanigans, Borderlands 4, Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Far Cry
On our 80th episode, we discussed the following topics: Last week, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company received a U.S. patent on summoning a character and letting it fight another – games fray Borderlands 4 Launches To Mostly Negative Steam Reviews Over Performance Issues And Crashing The Super…
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79 CoD movie, Hollow Knight, Esports, MindsEye, 007
On our 79th episode, we discussed the following topics: ‘Call of Duty’ Coming to Theaters as Paramount, Activision Strike Major Film Deal "Legality Is Not The Defining Factor": Steam Censorship Campaign Details It Seeks Removal Of Games Whether Legal Or Not Saudi Arabia Now Co-Owns Biggest Street...
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78 Gaming Market Report, Wuchang, Valve, Roblox, Sony Russia, Neo Berlin 2087
On our 78th episode, we discussed the following topics: Gaming Market Report: Aream & Co Q2 2025 | GAM3S.GG Wuchang: Fallen Feathers Has Made Certain Bosses And NPCs Unkillable Following Backlash In China NSFW content row continues as Valve confirms PayPal no longer supports Steam purchases in…
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77 Digital Foundry, Horizon Knock-Off, Sony Live Service, RE Adaptation, Voice Actors, Battlefield 6 Beta
On our 77th episode, we talked about the following subject: Digital Foundry goes independent | GamesIndustry.biz After Sony’s 'Horizon' Knock-Off Lawsuit Against Tencent, Light of Motiram Dev Scrubs Store Page, Changing Game Description, Images, and Key Art After Concord's flop, Sony admits its...
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76 Steam Visa Mastercard, Itch.io, Epic, Google, EA, Warner Bros, Reality Labs, God of War Adaptations
On our 76th episode, we discussed the following topics: Mastercard Denies Pressuring Steam To Censor 'NSFW' Games [Update: Valve Responds] Itch.io are seeking out new payment processors who are more comfortable with adult material | Rock Paper Shotgun Epic just won its Google lawsuit again, and...
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75 Candy Crush, Splitgate 2, Krafton, Virtuos, Valve, Rainbow Six Siege, Nintendo
On our 75th episode, we discussed the following topics: Candy Crush Developers Set To Be Laid Off By Microsoft Are Reportedly Being Replaced By The AI Tools They Were Told To Build Splitgate 2 Reportedly Shelled Out $400K For Streamers Krafton Extends $25 Million Bonus Period For Subnautica 2…
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74 VA Union Deal, Krafton v Unknown Worlds, Nintendo, Naughty Dogs, Epic Games v Samsung, EA, Canceled Games
On our 74th episode, we discussed the following topics: Video Game Actors Contract Ratified: SAG-AFTRA Leaders Talk Gaming Execs’ Reckoning With Hollywood’s AI Standards, 11-Month Strike’s Turning Point Krafton Delays ‘Subnautica 2’ Game Ahead of $250 Million Payout - Bloomberg Subnautica 2...
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73 Microsoft Layoffs, Stop Killing Games, Helldivers 2 XBox, Ubisoft, Nintendo
On our 73rd episode, we discussed the following topics Microsoft is closing down Xbox studio The Initiative, with Perfect Dark killed as well — joining Everwild and ZeniMax's new IP, and other unannounced projects After Microsoft laid off 9000 employees, Xbox producer Matt Turnbull suggested...
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72 Microsoft XBox Layoffs, Epic Fines, Sony Tax, SteamOS, Esports Gambling, Stop Killing Games
On our 72nd Episode, we talked about the following episodes: Report: Microsoft is planning another round of major Xbox layoffs ‘Fortnite’ Players to Receive More Than $126 Million in Refunds From FTC Epic Store Reportedly Redirecting Users to Malicious Third-Party Websites Sony faces Dutch…
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71 MindsEye, Xbox Handheld Canceled, SAG AFTRA Strike Ends, Nexus Mod, Take Two, Intel
On our 71st episode, we discussed the following topics MindsEye launches with myriad of glitches and issues, as developer promises performance update | Eurogamer.net Microsoft Reportedly Cancels Its In-House Xbox Handheld as Focus Shifts to New Software Ecosystem People Are Less Willing to Pay':...
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70 Nintendo Switch 2, Activision, MindsEye, XDefiant, Tencent, Summer Game Fest
On our 70th Episode, we talked about the following topics: Fans drive huge Nintendo Switch 2 launch; others play the waiting game : NPR Don’t take off the Switch 2’s screen protector | The Verge Activision says gross Call of Duty loadout screen ads were only a test that was added “in error”, but…
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69 EA Black Panther, Activision Ads, ZeniMax QA Union, Cyberpunk 2, Kojima Adaptation, Elden Ring Nightreign
On our 69th episode, we discussed the following news topics: EA Cancels Black Panther Game, Closes Cliffhanger Games - IGN Activision Quietly Force Adverts into Call of Duty Black Ops 6 and Warzone Loadouts and Players Absolutely Hate It: 'At This Point It Really Feels Like Opening Up a Mobile...
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68 AI Voice, Ubisoft, Bungie, Marathon, Elden Ring Adaptation, FTC v Microsoft
On our 68th episode, we discussed the following topics: SAG-AFTRA Statement on Fortnite’s Use of A.I. Darth Vader Voice and ULP Filing French trade union says Ubisoft CEO will be summoned at harassment trial of three former execs | VGC Ex-Bungie Dev Says Marathon Leadership Was "Extremely Toxic…
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67 WB Games Finance, AbleGamers, Ubisoft, SteamOS, Darth Vader AI, Bionicle, GTA6
On our 67th episode, we discussed the following topics: After Suicide Squad's $200 million flop and a massacre of studios, Warner Bros acknowledges it has "no releases" out, it's spending 66% less on game content, and the Hogwarts Legacy boom is wearing off Former Employees, Community Members...
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66 FTC v Microsoft, Diablo 4, Nintendo, Pocketpair, EA, Apex Legend, Codemasters
On our 66th episode, we discussed the following topics: FTC loses appeal on Activision Blizzard deal - XboxEra The new Diablo 4 Berserk crossover skins will cost you up to $150 Nintendo reserves the right to brick your console following "unauthorised use", in bid to prevent piracy | Eurogamer.net...
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65 World of Tanks, GTA 6 Release Date, Epic v Apple, Microsoft, EA, Polygon, Nintendo v Genki
On our 65th episode, we discussed the following topics: Russia moves to seize World of Tanks developer over Ukraine support | VGC US court slams Apple for 'obvious cover-up' in major Epic victory that could see Fortnite return to iOS soon | PC Gamer Microsoft Raises the Price of All Xbox Series...
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64 Video Game Price Increase, Sony Multiplayer Patent, Ubisoft Data Privacy, Ziff Davis v. OpenAI, Devolver, Nintendo, Discord
On our 64th episode, we discussed the following topics: Retro game console maker Anbernic suspends US shipments due to tariffs | GamesIndustry.biz Sony's Absurd New Way to Make MP Games "Fair" Could Hurt Competitive Integrity Ubisoft Game Faces £79m Fine as Privacy Experts Uncover Hidden Data...
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63 Video Game Prices, Discord, Pocketpair, Nintendo, Niantic, Rebellion
On our 63rd episode, we discussed the following topics: Former PlayStation CEO Says Companies Should Have "Baked In" $5 Price Hike in Every Generation to Acclimate Gamers Eugh: Discord is scanning some users' faces and IDs to 'experiment' with age verification features | PC Gamer 10-year-old girl...
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62 Japanese Game Stocks, Nintendo, Ubisoft, The Crew, Valve, Devil May Cry, David Fincher
On 62nd episode, we discussed the following topics: Japanese Gaming Companies' Shares Tank Due to US Tariffs Nintendo confirms: Switch 2 Joy-Cons won’t feature Hall Effect sticks | VGC Nintendo Steps on PR Minefield as Exec Tells People They Can Buy the Switch If They Can't Afford the Switch 2...
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61 Tariffs, Switch 2, FromSoftware, Monster Hunter Wilds, Ubisoft, Minecraft Movie
On our 61st episode, we discussed the following subjects: ESA Responds to Trump Tariffs: ‘If We Think It’s Just the Switch 2, Then We Aren’t Taking it Seriously’ - IGN First-party Switch 2 games—including re-releases—all run either $70 or $80 - Ars Technica FromSoftware's focus hasn't shifted to...
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60 Ubisoft Tencent, Netflix Games, Nintendo, Game Informer, Unannounced Hogwarts Legacy DLC
On our 60th episode, we discussed the following topics: Ubisoft and Tencent unveil new subsidiary for Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry and Rainbow Six | VGC Netflix games boss says ‘8-Year-olds aren’t dreaming of PlayStation 6’ | VGC Nintendo just carried out a major test of its reach in a post-Twitter...
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59 AC Shadows, Star Wars Hunters, Skate, GOT, Discord, VG Union, Niantic Sale
On our 59th episode, we discussed the following topics: Assassin’s Creed Shadows Hits 2 Million Players, Beating Origins And Odyssey Launches | GameLuster Star Wars Hunters Announces Shut Down Just 9 Months After Launch, Steam Release Appears Scrapped - IGN EA Adds Microtransactions To Skate's...
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58 Epic Games, Until Dawn, Nintendo, Bazaar, DA Veilguard, Discord, Killing Floor 3
On our 58th episode, we discussed the following topics: Epic Games Is Being Sued Over "Fake Sales with Made-Up Expiration Times" Until Dawn remake studio reportedly "effectively closed", with all developers gone French Supreme Court rules in favour of Nintendo against site hosting pirated copies…
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57 Monster Hunter Wilds, Twitch, WB Games, Pokemon TCG, Activision, Apex Leg VA
On our 57th episode, we talked about the following topics: Monster Hunter Wilds' massive launch is being dampened by "Mixed" Steam reviews, as hunters report "atrocious" performance issues in the action RPG Twitch CEO reveals 2025 plans: collaboration, mobile, and more monetisation Warner Bros....
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56 PS5 PRO Sales, MUSE, Batman Beyond, Ubisoft, Amazon, Steam, TF2, Niantic, Nintendo, Unity layoff
On our 56th episode, we talked about the following topics: [13:46] PS5 Pro sales ‘have fallen behind PS4 Pro in the US’ | VGC [23:03] A massive, massive moment of wow.' Microsoft CEO predicts AI-generated games are a 'CGI moment' for the industry | PC Gamer [29:54] Rumour: Rocksteady's Next...
About this show
“We, to tell the actual absolute truth, don’t live in society, actually.”
In the history of humans, for the first time after the glorious 18th Century have we had The 21st Century. If one strains their ears, one can gather echoes traveling back to us from a dismal future, hankering for the nostalgic and innocent and simpler times of The 21st Century.
The 21st Century where we actually don’t live in a society. We live more in tubes, in simulations, in hypotheticals and in conspiracies. We live in line graphs, in word vomits, in feeds and filters, in videos and in games, and in video games.
The Basterds navigate this terrain of solipsistic confabulations.
“Two weeks to two minutes” Exclaimed Cyrus West Field—an American entrepreneur and financier, pointedly not an inventor, actually—when the telegraph line laid across Atlantic finally worked in 1866. Now in place of these obsolete thick copper cable lay nets upon nets of fiber optics where we
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