Dense Pixels TNP Studios

This week on Dense Pixels: Micah gives his impressions after some time spent in Like a Dragon: Shin. Sony has stirred up controversy by claiming that Microsoft may release a version of Call of Duty on PlayStation which will contain bugs and errors that only emerge in the game's final level or after later updates. Meanwhile, the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has expressed concerns over the Nintendo Switch's capability to run Call of Duty in an Xbox deal. The Microsoft-Activision deal is likely to pass EU regulators, despite initial doubts. Fans of DC comics have been eagerly awaiting the release of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, but a recent preview and delay announcement has cast doubt on the game's potential. Finally, Square Enix looks set to replace its NFT-loving CEO, while fans of Elden Ring have something to look forward to with the announcement of an expansion DLC called Shadow of Erdtree.

We've been teasing it, and it's finally here. This week, we hold the Tournament of Controllers as we argue to decide the single best first-party controller of all time the only true way you can - a single elimination tournament! 

Carrie asked and begged and pleaded, but finally...her prayers have been answered. Golden Sun will be on the Nintendo Switch. We talk about that and much more from the Nintendo Direct last week including what we could see in Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and the sudden drop of Metroid Prime: Remastered. Nintendo happened to buck one of the negative trends we've seen in the game industry lately. Tape to Tape is the hockey rougelike (yes, you heard me correctly) that he never knew he needed. We also get way too nerdy when discussing the greatest era of video game music. 

There was a leak of alpha footage for the upcoming Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, so Micah needed to give his thoughts on what he saw and the apparent direction the gameplay for the denouement of the series is going. We discuss Activision-Blizzard paying $35 million to the SEC out of the goodness of their hearts (according to them), the live service bloodletting that occurred in the game industry last week, the Grammy Awards finally catching up to the times, and we weigh in on the controversy that is the release of Hogwarts Legacy.

We are still shook from the Royal Rumble and we can't restrain ourselves from talking about it right up top. Is The Bloodline storyline the greatest wrestling storyline...ever? We get a Hi-Fi Rush from the surprising stealth drop the Microsoft hit us with. Republicans set their fake outrage onto Xbox, and what are our comfort food games?

Marvel's Avengers arrives at its inevitable fate. We discuss who's to blame and why this example in particular was such a waste. It was generally a brutal week in the game industry as we review the frustrating nature of the layoffs that befell many notable gaming organizations. We also ponder what 343 Studios' involvement should be in the Halo franchise going forward. Blizzard continues to show poor management, and one manager took a stand. Also what is the worst candy?