Save State Plus

Destin Legarie
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  • VIDEO GAMES
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Save State Plus is a weekly show dedicated to having conversations about the state of the video game industry. Join us as we have people from all over the industry join to discuss the industry, coverage about the industry, and what the future holds at this specific Save Point in time.

  1. 22 JAN

    Denis Dyack Wants to Build a Game That Can’t Be Killed

    In this interview, Denis Dyack explains why innovation disappeared from AAA games and why he’s trying to build something that can outlive servers, platforms, and shifting business models.We talk about Deadhaus Sonata, player ownership, live-service shutdowns, why modern games feel disposable, and how AAA development became risk-averse despite unlimited resources. Dyack also reflects on Silicon Knights, Legacy of Kain, game engines, moderation, Gamergate, and what kind of legacy he can still leave behind.This is a long, honest conversation about where he believes games lost their way and what comes next.(00:00) Intro(01:36) Deadhaus Sonata Explained(03:48) Legacy of Kain Inspirations & Comparisons(07:02) The Tarot System & Why It’s Different(08:50) Deadhaus Sonata’s Story & Worldbuilding(15:50) Who You Play As in Deadhaus(19:40) How Player Choices Shape Outcomes(23:00) Community-Created Stories(24:38) Community Marketplace & Compensation(26:00) Denis Dyack on Legacy & Mortality(32:23) Why AAA Games Look Better but Play Worse(34:10) What’s Broken in AAA Development(38:15) Legacy, Memory & What Games Leave Behind(44:30) NFTs, Ownership & Misused Technology(47:00) When “Gamers” Became a Dirty Word(49:30) Casual vs Hardcore Design(50:50) Gamergate, Ethics & What Changed(54:03) Moderation in 2026(56:10) The State of Online Conversation(58:45) Who Should You Hire Today?(01:03:10) Staffing, Team Size & Industry Issues(01:05:38) Nintendo’s Treehouse Philosophy(01:20:00) Working With Hideo Kojima

    1h 34m

  2. 22 JAN

    How Anthem Died and Almost Took BioWare With It

    Anthem is now offline forever. In this exclusive postmortem, BioWare Executive Producer Mark Darrah explains what really happened to Anthem, what Anthem NEXT was supposed to be, and how the game’s failure reshaped Dragon Age Veilguard Mass Effect 5 and the future of BioWare.This Anthem retrospective covers the internal fallout from BioWare’s live-service experiment, why Anthem NEXT was canceled, and how its collapse changed the studio’s future RPGs. Featuring candid insight from BioWare insider Mark Darrah, this interview connects the dots between Anthem, Dragon Age, and Mass Effect in a way that has never been publicly explained.If you’ve ever wondered why BioWare feels different after Anthem, this is the real story of how Anthem died and what it left behind.(00:00) Intro(01:56) How Mark feels Now That it's Gone(03:00) Will EA Bring Anthem Back?(04:26) No One Played It Before Launch?(07:40) What Would Have Saved Anthem?(09:00) Secrets Ruined Anthem(12:05) The Flight Problem(13:45) Was Jason Schreier Right?(15:15) Casey's Vision was Unrealistic(18:55) Why Not Call Casey?(19:28) Threatened by Leadership(23:25) Who Was Really in Charge(24:20) BioWare Leverage Lost(28:05) Anthem NEXT (29:45) Was Anthem Profitable?(31:20) What was Anthem NEXT?(32:15) Dedicated vs P2P Servers Killed Anthem(33:55) Anthem Affect on Dragon Age(35:55) Will Anthem Hurt Mass Effect 5?(37:40) Setting the Record Straight

    41 min

  3. 2 JAN

    High on Life 2 Interview "It's Hard to Take Big Risks" | Save State Plus

    I sat down with Mikey Spano, Chief Creative Officer at Squanch Games, to talk about High on Life 2, launching February 13. We dig into the realities of finishing a comedy-driven game, why humor is one of the hardest things to pull off in games, and how Squanch balances creative ambition with the risks facing modern studios.We also talk about funny games that actually work, why big studios struggle to take risks, how indie games break through via virality, and what players should expect from High on Life 2’s guns, humor, and final act. If you’re curious about comedy in games, indie versus AAA development, or where the industry is headed, this conversation goes deeper than most.

    26 min

  4. 09/12/2025

    Netflix’s WB Games Buyout Faces a Challenge: Paramount

    Netflix’s planned buyout of WB Games has taken a surprising turn, with Paramount now emerging as a potential challenger to the deal, adding new pressure to one of the biggest gaming acquisitions in years. This comes alongside major industry shifts across Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, and PC: Microsoft is expanding Xbox manufacturing with Foxconn ahead of GTA 6, Sony has partnered with Bad Robot Games and posted massive Black Friday wins, Death Stranding 2 has appeared on PC listings, Obsidian updated its Avowed roadmap, and Eidos Montréal’s move toward Japan is fueling new Kojima speculation. With EA’s potential buyout by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and fresh updates from Helldivers 2, Marathon, and Nintendo’s latest announcements, today’s news shows how quickly the entire industry is evolving across every platform.

    1 hr

  5. 04/12/2025

    Path of Exile 2 Dev on AAA: “That’s Not Where the Action Is”

    I sat down with Path of Exile 2 Game Director Jonathan Rogers to talk about everything coming in the next major update, including the long-awaited Druid class, the design challenges behind Wolf, Bear, and Wyvern forms, and how 0.4 moves POE2 closer to full release. Jonathan also explains how the team is improving performance, expanding endgame goals, and preparing players for what comes next. We also dig deeper into GGG’s design philosophy, why the studio has “always been against dark patterns,” and how their approach to monetization and player trust shapes the future of the game. Jonathan shares why he personally wrote the gameplay code for the new league, how POE2 compares to POE1, and why he feels AAA studios “aren’t where the action is” anymore as indie hits gain momentum. Whether you're excited for the Druid, curious about the release timeline, interested in ARPG development, or just want more insight into Grinding Gear Games’ approach, this conversation is packed with new info, behind-the-scenes stories, and a few surprises straight from the source. (00:00) Intro (00:36) GGG Favorite New Addition (01:32) Druid's Evolution (04:02) Endgame Grind (05:50) Important (06:25) POE1 vs POE2 SteamDB Figures (09:00) POE1 vs POE2 Satisfaction (11:05) Steam Deck Performance (12:39) Is AAA Innovation Dead? (14:11) Dark Patterns (19:17) Navigating Community Criticism (20:17) GOTY (21:23) Map Inspirations? (23:35) Script Writing (24:20) Consultants (25:35) Proud Accomplishments (27:19) Wyvern Inspirations (27:40) Top Class (30:30) Time Mechanic (31:50) Cosmetics That Didn't Sell (32:30) Excited Topics (32:54) POE2 Release Date (34:38) Class Equiptment (35:09) Druid Beast Forms (35:51) Messing with Streamers (36:09) Flesh Surgeon (36:49) Maps Repeat Q (37:57) Lightning Arrow Buffs (38:29) Endgame (40:29) Druid Hurdles (42:36) Performance Buffs (44:24) Performance Causes (45:17) Wyvern Inspirations (46:16) Druids Uniques (46:45) Druid Skins

    48 min

  6. 25/11/2025

    "It’s kind of like The Hunger Games out There" | Dean Hall (Kitten Space Agency)

    I sat down with Dean Hall, CEO of RocketWerkz, to talk about Kitten Space Agency, its surprising public pre-alpha launch, and the tech powering it. We get into the Brutal framework, KSP comparisons, monetization, fundraising, platform strategy, AI in development, the Steam Machine reveal, and the broader shift happening across the games industry. Check out Kitten Space Agency https://ahwoo.com/store/KPbAA1Au/kitten-space-agency (00:00) Intro(00:26) KSA Launch(02:23) Kerbal Reaction(03:23) KSA Tech(05:36) Distribution Strategy(10:06) Fundraising Success(13:00) Monetization(15:10) The Future of Game Dev(17:54) Steam Machine Thoughts(19:58) Platforms Targeted(22:09) Tech in KSA(28:00) AI Thoughts(34:58) Feedback so Far(38:10) GOTY for Dean?(40:18) Shifting Studio Habits

    43 min

  7. 24/11/2025

    Valve, Xbox, and PlayStation Are Eyeing the Next-Gen Hardware | Save State Plus

    The next generation of gaming hardware is starting to take shape — and Valve might be the one pushing everyone forward.With the Steam Machine revealing early pricing expectations, anti-cheat updates, the 8GB VRAM debate, and AMD’s new FSR Redstone announcement, the industry is already shifting. Xbox and PlayStation aren’t far behind as both companies prepare their own next-gen strategies.In this episode of Save State Plus, we break down what Valve’s latest moves mean for the future of console and PC hardware, how devs are reacting, and where Xbox and PlayStation fit into the picture.Plus.• Fallout Season 2 trailer shows New Vegas, Lucy, The Ghoul, and major lore drops.• Elder Scrolls 6 remains years away, according to Todd Howard.• New Xbox updates including open publishing documentation for all devs.• Halo Operation Infinite preview.• PlayStation updates — PS Portal usage, Ghost of Yotei sales, Destiny 2 performance, Concord servers coming back online.• Early reactions to The Game Awards nominations.Let’s get into it.Subscribe Here! https://www.youtube.com/c/thedestinchannel?sub_confirmation=1Become a member to support this channel!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgUOWrjLEhmHE9tqYtoeS_g/join(00:00) Show Starts(01:11) PC News(10:30) Xbox News(36:26) PlayStation News(45:28) Nintendo News(49:57) Industry News

    1h 5m

  8. 17/11/2025

    Should Xbox Be Worried Right Now? | Save State Plus

    Valve’s new Steam Machine dropped and instantly set off alarm bells. Between the 8GB VRAM debate, developer concerns, early reactions, and what this means for the PC and console market, the question is simple.Should Xbox be worried right now?In this episode of Save State Plus, we break down the Steam Machine reveal, the industry response, and where Xbox fits into the picture. Plus.• Fallout Season 2 trailer shows New Vegas, Lucy, The Ghoul and major lore drops.• Elder Scrolls 6 is still years away according to Todd Howard.• New Xbox changes including opened publishing documentation for all devs.• Halo Operation Infinite preview.• Big PlayStation updates — PS Portal usage, Ghost of Yotei sales, D2 performance, Concord servers returning.• And early reactions to The Game Awards nominations.It was a wild week. Let’s break it all down.(00:00) Show Starts(00:15) Steam vs Xbox(26:04) Xbox News(30:22) PlayStation News(53:21) Nintendo News(56:15) All Other News

    1h 1m
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About

Save State Plus is a weekly show dedicated to having conversations about the state of the video game industry. Join us as we have people from all over the industry join to discuss the industry, coverage about the industry, and what the future holds at this specific Save Point in time.

Information

  • Creator
    Destin Legarie
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    41
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Destin Legarie
  • Show Website
    Save State Plus

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