Unofficial Controller Podcast

Unofficial Controller

Your number one weekly gaming podcast for all the latest Sony Playstation , Microsoft Xbox , Nintendo Switch and PC News. Retrospectives , Readers Mail and Industry Chat.

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    PlayStation Charges Players More, Xbox Struggles To Make Money

    Send us Fan Mail Refurbished PS5 consoles just got $100 more expensive, and that single move says a lot about where console gaming is headed. We (Georgie and RGT) kick things off with what we’ve been playing, including Infamous Second Son not quite clicking, a surprisingly addictive budget zombie driving game, FIFA career mode obsession, and a first hour with Coral Island on PS Plus. If you’ve ever tried a new cozy farm and life sim and immediately felt the gravitational pull back to Stardew Valley, you’re not alone. From there we dig into the big consumer story: rising PlayStation 5 prices and what it means when even “refurbished” stops being the affordable option. We talk digital vs physical games, how cloud saves and instant downloads change buying habits, and why these price jumps can push more players toward PC gaming and Steam libraries. We also hit two headlines that capture the extremes of the industry. Final Fantasy VII’s director says he’s already completed over 40 full playthroughs of the third game, which is equal parts reassuring and slightly unhinged. Meanwhile, Microsoft says Xbox is recommitting to core fans as revenue falls, and we debate whether that’s real momentum, narrative management, or the start of a long rebuild. If you enjoy gaming news with real talk, chaotic banter, and practical takes on price, value, and what to play next, subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review. What’s your line in the sand: would you pay today’s prices for a refurbished PS5 or are you done? Support the show Join our fantastic discord https://discord.gg/v7RFSUcG If link has expired then message us at questions@unofficialcontrollerpodcast.com or DM us on instagram or X and we'll send you an invite. Cheers gamers! Subscription Tiers $3 Name read out on every show Access to unglorious chat section of discord Quarterly Zoom meet up $5 Name read out on every show Access to unglorious chat section of discord Quarterly Zoom meet up A single item of yearly limited art merch $8 Name read out on every show Access to unglorious chat section of discord Quarterly Zoom meet up A single item of yearly limited art merch Yearly art merch mug $10  Name read out on every show Access to unglorious chat section of discord Quarterly Zoom meet up A single item of yearly limited art merch Yearly art merch mug Yearly art merch t-shirt Thanks to all who subscribe, it means the world to us and really helps us keep the shows going.

    1hr 41min
  2. 26 APR

    Switch 2 already getting left behind

    Send us Fan Mail Xbox rarely says the quiet part out loud, but this week they come close. George and RGT unpack a massive leadership statement that admits real pain points, from pricing fatigue to a fragmented console experience, plus a sharper focus on PC, cloud gaming, and what “daily active players” means for the future of the Xbox platform and Game Pass. We talk about what sounds like genuine course correction, what still feels like corporate fog, and what we actually want to see if Xbox is serious about rebuilding trust.  Then we zoom back in to the games themselves, because the best way to judge any platform is how it feels in your hands. We dig into Switch 2 boost mode and how it can make older Nintendo Switch games feel newly playable, including Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag through the Rebel Collection. We also react to Ubisoft’s Black Flag Resync plans for 2026, the surprise confirmation that the original release will not be delisted, and the trade-offs of losing multiplayer and DLC in favor of a pure story-driven adventure.  To round it out, we do what we do best: swap honest “what we’ve been playing” notes and surface a proper hidden gem. RGT brings The Good Old Days, a retro Metroidvania with Goonies energy, quick restarts, and multiple endings. Along the way we hit Infamous Second Son impressions, a PS3 throwback with Turning Point, and a bit of Sega Universe speculation about reviving classics like OutRun and Streets of Rage.  If you like gaming podcasts that mix real-world platform strategy with grounded game talk, subscribe, leave a review, and share the show with a friend who still has a soft spot for the classics. Support the show Join our fantastic discord https://discord.gg/v7RFSUcG If link has expired then message us at questions@unofficialcontrollerpodcast.com or DM us on instagram or X and we'll send you an invite. Cheers gamers! Subscription Tiers $3 Name read out on every show Access to unglorious chat section of discord Quarterly Zoom meet up $5 Name read out on every show Access to unglorious chat section of discord Quarterly Zoom meet up A single item of yearly limited art merch $8 Name read out on every show Access to unglorious chat section of discord Quarterly Zoom meet up A single item of yearly limited art merch Yearly art merch mug $10  Name read out on every show Access to unglorious chat section of discord Quarterly Zoom meet up A single item of yearly limited art merch Yearly art merch mug Yearly art merch t-shirt Thanks to all who subscribe, it means the world to us and really helps us keep the shows going.

    1hr 39min
  3. 19 APR

    Lana del Ney ! - 007 First Light theme reveal

    Send us Fan Mail OLL 26 in Norwich hits that rare sweet spot where a retro gaming event feels both exciting and genuinely comfortable. We talk about why the Epic Studios venue gave off a GamesMaster-style studio vibe, how John and the team kept everything running smoothly, and what it’s like when listeners travel in just to hang out, talk games, and share a pint. We also break down the setups that drew the biggest crowds, including a live Challenge Accepted station built around Final Fantasy IX on a PS1 CRT, plus the on-stage Console Wars showdown and where you can watch the filmed version. Then we get back to what we’re actually playing, bouncing between PS3, PS2, and modern oddities. RGT finishes Infamous 2 and explains why it’s a stronger sequel, then raves about Thank Goodness You’re Here as a sharply written British comedy game with Yorkshire flavor. George confesses to a Game Dev Story relapse, checks in on Clair Expedition 33, and falls hard for Midnight Club 3 Dub Edition after a bargain pickup, before giving a brutally honest update on the chaotic curiosity that is Seven Sins. The news gets spicy: we unpack Samson’s roadmap and its 2026 console release window, debate the Neo Geo Plus AES and the red flags around preorders and value comparisons, and react to Lana Del Rey releasing the official theme for 007 First Light. If you care about retro gaming, gaming community, PS2 and PS3 recommendations, and consumer skepticism, you’ll feel right at home. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves retro, and leave a review with the strangest game you’ve ever bought. Support the show Join our fantastic discord https://discord.gg/v7RFSUcG If link has expired then message us at questions@unofficialcontrollerpodcast.com or DM us on instagram or X and we'll send you an invite. Cheers gamers! Subscription Tiers $3 Name read out on every show Access to unglorious chat section of discord Quarterly Zoom meet up $5 Name read out on every show Access to unglorious chat section of discord Quarterly Zoom meet up A single item of yearly limited art merch $8 Name read out on every show Access to unglorious chat section of discord Quarterly Zoom meet up A single item of yearly limited art merch Yearly art merch mug $10  Name read out on every show Access to unglorious chat section of discord Quarterly Zoom meet up A single item of yearly limited art merch Yearly art merch mug Yearly art merch t-shirt Thanks to all who subscribe, it means the world to us and really helps us keep the shows going.

    1hr 48min
  4. 12 APR

    Xbox Tweaks Achievements And Suddenly PlayStation Fans Want Trophy Love

    Send us Fan Mail PS5 trophy hunters are getting restless, Nintendo fans are debating an $80 Elden Ring on Switch 2, and Xbox is suddenly racking up “micro wins” that feel bigger than they should. We sit down and talk through the stories behind the headlines, then pull them back to the real question: what changes actually improve your day-to-day gaming, not just the marketing bullet points? We also catch up on what we’re playing right now, starting with a proper love letter to Infamous 2 on PS3 and why that era of open world design still hits when the movement is smooth and the game feels like a “toy” you want to keep picking up. From there we slide into Switch 2 comfort gaming with Easy Delivery Co, where the best strategy is not speed, but savoring the routes, the vibes, and the small wins. And yes, we get into Clair Obscure: Expedition 33 and the moment you realize the combat asks for more timing and precision than you expected from a turn-based RPG. On the news side, we break down what Xbox is changing with achievements, why a dedicated fan feedback team matters, and how that’s already nudging PlayStation fans to ask for PS5 trophy upgrades like 100% highlights and pinned trophies. Then we tackle Elden Ring Tarnished Edition on Nintendo Switch 2, the $79.99 game key card listing, and what “new to the system” should mean for pricing in 2026. Listen now, then come tell us what you think: should Sony revamp trophies, is $80 fair for Elden Ring on Switch 2, and what small feature would you add to your console profile? Subscribe, share the show, and leave a review if you want to help us keep it rolling. Support the show Join our fantastic discord https://discord.gg/v7RFSUcG If link has expired then message us at questions@unofficialcontrollerpodcast.com or DM us on instagram or X and we'll send you an invite. Cheers gamers! Subscription Tiers $3 Name read out on every show Access to unglorious chat section of discord Quarterly Zoom meet up $5 Name read out on every show Access to unglorious chat section of discord Quarterly Zoom meet up A single item of yearly limited art merch $8 Name read out on every show Access to unglorious chat section of discord Quarterly Zoom meet up A single item of yearly limited art merch Yearly art merch mug $10  Name read out on every show Access to unglorious chat section of discord Quarterly Zoom meet up A single item of yearly limited art merch Yearly art merch mug Yearly art merch t-shirt Thanks to all who subscribe, it means the world to us and really helps us keep the shows going.

    1hr 49min
  5. 5 APR

    Nintendo drops Mario for who ?

    Send us Fan Mail Easter week starts with a simple message that immediately goes off the rails: share the egg. From there, we settle into what we’ve been playing across console, Switch, PS Portal, and PC handheld life, and the list is wonderfully weird. RGT finishes Bang Average Football and explains why it’s such a tight, satisfying indie sports game, then introduces Nutmeg, a retro football management sim staged inside a 1980s office complete with green-screen finance screens and a card-based way of playing match highlights. He also jumps into BeamNG.drive, the physics-forward driving sandbox where realistic car damage and mods turn every session into a new experiment. On my side, I’m still stubbornly wrestling with Ken, a punishing climbing loop that makes pride the real difficulty setting. I also dip back into Farming Simulator on PS5 through PS Portal cloud streaming and get a surprisingly smooth experience with saves and mods. Then we talk Easy Delivery Co, the kind of cozy management game that feels relaxing once you learn it, even if the menus and fuel economy can fight you early on. The news gets spicy: Sony confirms a TCL joint venture that effectively spins off the iconic Bravia TV business, which raises the bigger question of whether Sony is steadily marching toward a pure entertainment and content future. We also dig into Xbox leadership optics through Asha Sharma’s gamer tag activity and why “not being a hardcore gamer” might actually be fine if the strategy is right. Then Nintendo enters the chat with Miyamoto’s mission to put Pikmin everywhere, including upcoming media. If you want more of this energy, come join the Discord, hit us with questions, and if you’re near Norwich, grab OLL tickets and come say hi. Subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find us. Support the show Join our fantastic discord https://discord.gg/v7RFSUcG If link has expired then message us at questions@unofficialcontrollerpodcast.com or DM us on instagram or X and we'll send you an invite. Cheers gamers! Subscription Tiers $3 Name read out on every show Access to unglorious chat section of discord Quarterly Zoom meet up $5 Name read out on every show Access to unglorious chat section of discord Quarterly Zoom meet up A single item of yearly limited art merch $8 Name read out on every show Access to unglorious chat section of discord Quarterly Zoom meet up A single item of yearly limited art merch Yearly art merch mug $10  Name read out on every show Access to unglorious chat section of discord Quarterly Zoom meet up A single item of yearly limited art merch Yearly art merch mug Yearly art merch t-shirt Thanks to all who subscribe, it means the world to us and really helps us keep the shows going.

    1hr 41min
  6. 29 MAR

    PS5 Prices Rise Again And We Ask Why

    Send us Fan Mail PS5 prices going up this late in the generation feels wrong, and we don’t sugarcoat it. George and RGT dig into Sony’s newly announced PS5, PS5 Pro, and PS Portal price increases, what’s being blamed (tariffs, supply pressure, RAM demand), and why it lands so badly when players already feel the squeeze. If you’ve been waiting to buy a PlayStation 5 or wondering whether a PS5 Pro is still worth it, this one is for you. On the gear side, RGT brings the week’s most practical upgrade: the Lenovo Legion Go S, a SteamOS handheld gaming PC aimed at entry-level buyers who want Steam without the Windows hassle. We talk screen feel, controls, ergonomics, fan noise, battery life, charging speed, and why a simple login-and-play experience matters. Then it’s back to what we’re actually playing, from Bang Average Football to the strangely addictive Easy Delivery Company, a PS1 style delivery sim with real survival management tension. We also hit the wider platform mood: Xbox retiring the “This Is An Xbox” marketing campaign, what that says about brand confusion, and how cloud gaming should fit around consoles, not replace them. Finally, Hades 2 news brings some joy with bonus content and quality of life improvements on the horizon, plus we share details on meeting up at OLL in Norwich. Subscribe on YouTube, share the show with a gaming friend, and leave a review if you want more weekly chatter like this. What’s the one gaming purchase you’d make before prices jump? Support the show Join our fantastic discord https://discord.gg/v7RFSUcG If link has expired then message us at questions@unofficialcontrollerpodcast.com or DM us on instagram or X and we'll send you an invite. Cheers gamers! Subscription Tiers $3 Name read out on every show Access to unglorious chat section of discord Quarterly Zoom meet up $5 Name read out on every show Access to unglorious chat section of discord Quarterly Zoom meet up A single item of yearly limited art merch $8 Name read out on every show Access to unglorious chat section of discord Quarterly Zoom meet up A single item of yearly limited art merch Yearly art merch mug $10  Name read out on every show Access to unglorious chat section of discord Quarterly Zoom meet up A single item of yearly limited art merch Yearly art merch mug Yearly art merch t-shirt Thanks to all who subscribe, it means the world to us and really helps us keep the shows going.

    1hr 55min
  7. 22 MAR

    Shenmue 3 Costs Two Hundred Bucks And Still Might Need A Patch

    Send us Fan Mail A game called Bang Average Football has no right to be this addictive, and yet it completely derails our week. We talk through the exact moment it clicks: the Stardew-style town loop, the light RPG quests that drip-feed stat upgrades, and the surprisingly satisfying matches that feel like a modern take on Sensible Soccer. If you’ve been craving a cozy indie that still delivers that competitive “one more game” rush, our play-by-play will tell you whether it’s your next obsession. Then we jump into the kind of news we love: weird, specific, and full of personality. Easy Delivery Co looks like a lost PS1 title, mixing foggy horror mood with delivery driving and small vehicle upgrades, and we’re fully bought in on the vibe. We also debate Shenmue 3 Enhanced landing on Switch 2 with loud promises about being fully on cartridge, plus the bigger question that never goes away: what do physical editions actually need to offer before the price becomes nonsense? To round it out, we dig into platform updates and what they signal. Xbox finally rolls out long-requested dashboard features like custom colors and the ability to disable Quick Resume per game. We share impressions of Switch 2 boost mode, talk PS5 Pro’s PSSR2 update and why “pro” upgrades can feel half-finished, and get real about PlayStation Portal streaming depending more on your home Wi‑Fi than the marketing. Subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review, then tell us what indie game has surprised you lately. Support the show Join our fantastic discord https://discord.gg/v7RFSUcG If link has expired then message us at questions@unofficialcontrollerpodcast.com or DM us on instagram or X and we'll send you an invite. Cheers gamers! Subscription Tiers $3 Name read out on every show Access to unglorious chat section of discord Quarterly Zoom meet up $5 Name read out on every show Access to unglorious chat section of discord Quarterly Zoom meet up A single item of yearly limited art merch $8 Name read out on every show Access to unglorious chat section of discord Quarterly Zoom meet up A single item of yearly limited art merch Yearly art merch mug $10  Name read out on every show Access to unglorious chat section of discord Quarterly Zoom meet up A single item of yearly limited art merch Yearly art merch mug Yearly art merch t-shirt Thanks to all who subscribe, it means the world to us and really helps us keep the shows going.

    1hr 47min
  8. 15 MAR

    If The Next Xbox Is A PC What Is A Console

    Send us Fan Mail A game can look like a glitchy mess to everyone watching and still feel amazing in your hands and Cairn is our proof. We break down why its limb-by-limb climbing, stamina management, and piton “mini-saves” create real tension and real relief, the kind of accomplishment most modern games chase but rarely earn. If you’ve been hunting for a new PS5 game that feels different, or you just love design talk that goes deeper than graphics, this one gets into the details. Then we jump across generations with the kind of playlist only a weekly gaming podcast can justify: RGT wraps up Remember Me and explains why its memory-driven sci-fi story still works, even when the difficulty spikes feel out of nowhere. We swap party-night memories from Jackass on PS2, talk Metroid Prime 4 on Switch 2 including performance options and that classic Metroid backtracking sting, and revisit Ratchet and Clank as a reminder that tight controls and strong art direction never go out of style. RGT also shares Bristol pickups and the oddly satisfying logic of trading piles of “shelf filler” into something you actually want to keep. On the news side, we dig into The Seventh Guest remake landing on PS5 without VR and what that signals about PSVR2 support, marketing, and why VR only truly shines when the physical setup matches what your brain expects. We also unpack Xbox Project Helix and the bigger question it raises: if Microsoft leans harder into Windows, Steam, and a cross-device “Xbox mode,” what even counts as a console anymore? If you enjoy gaming industry news with real player perspective, hit play, then subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave us a review. What’s the one game you’re obsessed with right now? Support the show Join our fantastic discord https://discord.gg/v7RFSUcG If link has expired then message us at questions@unofficialcontrollerpodcast.com or DM us on instagram or X and we'll send you an invite. Cheers gamers! Subscription Tiers $3 Name read out on every show Access to unglorious chat section of discord Quarterly Zoom meet up $5 Name read out on every show Access to unglorious chat section of discord Quarterly Zoom meet up A single item of yearly limited art merch $8 Name read out on every show Access to unglorious chat section of discord Quarterly Zoom meet up A single item of yearly limited art merch Yearly art merch mug $10  Name read out on every show Access to unglorious chat section of discord Quarterly Zoom meet up A single item of yearly limited art merch Yearly art merch mug Yearly art merch t-shirt Thanks to all who subscribe, it means the world to us and really helps us keep the shows going.

    2h 2m

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Your number one weekly gaming podcast for all the latest Sony Playstation , Microsoft Xbox , Nintendo Switch and PC News. Retrospectives , Readers Mail and Industry Chat.

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