The PlayStation Effect

Overrated or fairly rated? Saros is here, so let's discuss whether it's a real GOTY contender or a pretender. Did Housemarque cook? After that, it's time to discuss Xbox CEO Asha Sharma's new "We Are Xbox" movement and what that means for the PlayStation ecosystem. Plus, the Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 3 is further along than we thought — so, what does Square-Enix need to do to make sure it sticks the landing? Timestamps: 00:01:32 – Why we will NEVER do sponsored ads 00:02:57 – The truth about Saros 00:16:47 – Xbox re-evaluating PS5 ports 00:27:32 – FFVII Remake Part 3 must-haves

We love PlayStation, but that doesn't mean they're perfect. So, this week's episode discusses how we would fix some of the PS5's biggest problems — whether it's live service woes, PS Plus drops, price hikes, or the glaring lack of The Last of Us Part III. Then, we will share our personal wishlists for the PS6 while the leaks about its price, power, and handheld keep pouring in.  Timestamps: 00:01:19 – How to "fix" PlayStation 00:22:46 – PS6 must-haves

In this episode, two new GOTY contenders enter the conversation with Pragmata and Replaced. Can they dethrone Resident Evil Requiem? Plus, Metro 2039's announcement at the Xbox showcase has gamers asking "did I miss the boat on Metro?" and we have the answer. Then, we'll reveal the PlayStation games that define us for a trip down memory card lane. And yes, one of them is Metal Gear Solid. We’re not idiots. Timestamps: 00:01:01 – New podcast name! 00:02:53 – Pragmata = GOTY? 00:11:18 – Replaced Shocked Us 00:18:50 – Metro 2039 is Insane 00:24:24 – A Nintendo skeptic got a Switch 2 00:30:09 – PlayStation games that define us

A new State of Play is looming, so we're sharing our thoughts on PlayStation's next showcase. Will there be any surprises from God of War, The Last of Us, Intergalactic, or Horizon? Will Sony show more Saros and Marvel's Wolverine on PS5? Lots of questions, and lots of hopes... and that's not even counting third-party showings from Resident Evil Requiem (DLC), Onimusha, and Grand Theft Auto VI. Yes, we went there with GTA 6.  Plus, we will give our unbiased review of Cyberpunk 2077's PS5 Pro update. Has PSSR been good to Night City, or is it a gonk update? Then, we'll also discuss the Metal Gear Solid movie and the shattered state of Starfield on PS5. The makers of Fallout and The Elder Scrolls have some explaining to do. Timestamps: 00:01:09 – NieR: Automata in 2026 00:04:33 – Metal Gear Solid movie 00:07:50 – Cyberpunk 2077 PS5 Pro review 00:11:04 – Starfield is a mess on PS5? 00:14:44 – State of Play predictions

In this episode, we handpicked PlayStation's best franchises from the PS1, PS2, and PS3 that deserve a revival in 2026. Plus, we'll also explore the latest behind-the-scenes news about what went wrong with The Last of Us: Factions 2. Timestamps: 00:02:01 – Which PlayStation classics should Sony revive? 00:20:03 – Which PlayStation franchises should stay dead? 00:29:39 – Inside the Factions 2 failure

Join us as we evaluate the current state of PlayStation after another shocking studio closure and price hike. We'll also reveal where we stand on Xbox and Nintendo lately — with zero console warrior nonsense. Timestamps: 00:01:04 – Crimson Desert is a fever dream 00:07:29 – The Marathon hate train 00:11:35 – PlayStation closes another studio 00:20:13 – PS5's price hike 00:30:25 – The state of Nintendo 00:41:03 – The state of Xbox

In this episode, we open the case file on the curious case of Crimson Desert and what it signals to us about game reviews. Plus, the verdict on PlayStation's PSSR 2.0 update and the bizarre lack of hype for Saros. Timestamps: 00:01:17 – The curious case of Crimson Desert 00:14:23 – Where's the Saros hype? 00:23:24 – PSSR 2.0 review

In this episode, we open the case file on the games of 2026 — Grand Theft Auto VI, Fable, Wolverine, Crimson Desert and more — predicting Metacritic scores and exploring their impact on PlayStation.

In this episode, we open the case file on the launch of Marathon, the closure of Highguard, the arrival of Xbox's Project Helix, and the future of PlayStation's PC and PS5 strategy — with zero "Sony Pony" nonsense. Timestamps: 00:02:40 – Marathon 00:18:10 – Highguard's closure 00:32:58 – PlayStation's PC Pivot 00:45:13 – Xbox's Project Helix

In this debut episode, The PlayStation Effect opens up with our podcast's mission, where PlayStation stands in 2026, and a spoiler-free breakdown of Resident Evil: Requiem. Timestamps: 00:01:28 – This is not a "Sony Pony" podcast 00:10:47 – The state of PlayStation in 2026 00:49:27 – Resident Evil Requiem