The Midnight Release

Chase, Austin, & Friends
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Video Games

 A nostalgic, late-night rewind through the golden age of gaming, pop culture, and friendship. Join Chase and Austin every week as they relive GameStop midnight launches, classic console wars, and the games and nostalgia that shaped us. 

  1. 4d ago

    Episode 39 - Cheat Codes & Urban Legends | The Secrets We Swore Were Real

    Before YouTube walkthroughs, Reddit guides, and dataminers revealing everything on day one, gaming knowledge spread through playground rumors, handwritten notebooks, gaming magazines, and that one friend who claimed his cousin worked at Nintendo. This week on Midnight Release, we're diving into the golden age of cheat codes, hidden secrets, GameSharks, and gaming urban legends. From the legendary Konami Code and GTA cheat sheets stuffed into game cases, to Halo skull hunts, GoldenEye unlockables, Doom god mode, and The Sims' infamous motherlode, we're revisiting the era when discovering secrets felt like uncovering forbidden knowledge. We're also taking a trip through some of gaming's greatest myths and rumors, including Mew under the truck, Luigi in Mario 64, Nude Raider, Bigfoot in San Andreas, the Triforce in Ocarina of Time, and countless others that consumed school cafeterias and message boards for years. Plus, during Power Cycle, we revisit the gaming rumors we actually believed, and Disc of the Day focuses on one of the most influential franchises of all time: Grand Theft Auto. Sometimes the best memories weren't the games themselves—they were the stories we told about them. Episode Highlights  The origins of gaming cheat codes  The Konami Code and gaming's secret language  GTA cheat books, notebooks, and schoolyard legends  GoldenEye unlockables and Halo skull hunts  Game Genie, GameShark, and Action Replay memories  Hidden secrets from Mario, Zelda, Sonic, Resident Evil, and Mortal Kombat  Gaming's biggest urban legends and myths  Why modern gaming rarely has true mysteries anymore  Grand Theft Auto retrospective

  2. Jul 21

    Episode 38 - The Hall of Fame Argument | Settling the GOAT Debates

    What happens when you try to settle decades of arguments in a single episode? This week on The Midnight Release, we're putting everything on the table for our biggest debate yet. From gaming, movies, television, anime, and music, we're attempting the impossible: choosing the greatest of all time. What's the best console ever made? The greatest FPS? The most important game in history? Which movie trilogy deserves the crown? What's the greatest anime arc ever created? Which soundtrack defined a generation? And what piece of entertainment has left the biggest impact on culture as a whole? There are no official criteria, no review scores, and no committee decisions. Just personal experience, nostalgia, impact, innovation, legacy, and a room full of strong opinions. Expect passionate arguments, controversial picks, unexpected agreements, and plenty of moments where one of us tries to convince the others that they're completely wrong. Whether you're a gamer, movie fan, anime enthusiast, music lover, or all of the above, this episode is guaranteed to spark a few debates of your own. The question isn't whether you'll agree with us. It's whether you'll forgive us.

  3. Jul 14

    Episode 37 - Three Perfect Chapters | The Art of the Movie Trilogy

    Some movies tell a great story. Others need three films to become legendary. This week on The Midnight Release, we're diving into some of the most iconic movie trilogies ever created—from Middle-earth and Gotham City to a galaxy far, far away. We revisit the films that defined generations, shaped pop culture, and gave us unforgettable characters, moments, and quotes that still hold up decades later. From The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and The Dark Knight Trilogy to Back to the Future, Spider-Man, The Matrix, Rush Hour, Clerks, and more, we're discussing what makes a trilogy truly stand the test of time. Along the way, we tackle a Keep 3, Cut 3 challenge and look ahead at future episodes during another edition of Patch Notes. Three films. One story. Endless nostalgia. Press Start.

  4. Jul 7

    Episode 36 - One More Quarter...or Swipe | From Arcades to Barcades

    There was a time when a pocket full of quarters meant an entire afternoon of adventure. This week on The Midnight Release, we're stepping back into the golden age of arcades—from local favorites like Aladdin's Castle, Tek World, Skate World, and Robin's Roost to today's Dave & Buster's, Main Event, barcades, claw machine destinations, and modern entertainment centers. We explore what made arcades feel magical, why earning tickets was almost as exciting as winning, and how gaming spaces have evolved from neighborhood hangouts into family entertainment venues and adult social experiences. Along the way we revisit legendary light gun games like Time Crisis, discuss the evolution from quarters to reloadable swipe cards, and even examine the surprising similarities between arcade reward systems, casinos, gacha mechanics, and today's gaming landscape. Whether you remember carrying rolls of quarters, competing for high scores, or hearing the unmistakable click of a Time Crisis pedal, this episode is a celebration of the places that introduced many of us to competitive gaming—and perhaps our first taste of chasing "just one more game." Next week, we're tackling one of our biggest movie discussions yet as we debate the greatest film trilogies ever made, from Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings to Back to the Future, The Dark Knight, and beyond.

  5. Jul 5

    Midnight Reflections - When a Number Becomes a Story | The Meaning We Give to Coincidence

    For as long as I can remember, one number has quietly followed me through life: 724. It has shown up on clocks, receipts, license plates, addresses, hotel rooms, random moments, and some of the biggest milestones I've ever experienced. Over the years, it stopped feeling like just another number and became something much more—a thread woven through memories, laughter, heartbreak, hope, and the moments that shaped who I am. In this episode of Midnight Reflections, I share the stories behind 724, why it has stayed with me for more than two decades, and how something as ordinary as a sequence of numbers can become deeply personal. Whether it's coincidence, pattern recognition, or simply the way our minds connect memories, this isn't about finding answers—it's about appreciating the stories we collect along the way. Because sometimes... a number becomes part of your story. Have you ever had a number, song, place, or seemingly random thing that keeps appearing throughout your life? I'd love to hear your story.

  6. Jun 30

    Episode 35 - Previously On... | The Shows we Planned Our Week Around

    There was something special about television before streaming. We didn't binge entire seasons in a weekend—we planned our week around them. This week on The Midnight Release, we're taking a nostalgic journey through the television shows that defined generations. From shows we watched with parents and grandparents like Cheers, Knight Rider, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air to 24, Smallville, Lost, Breaking Bad, The Last of Us, and everything in between, we revisit the series that shaped pop culture, sparked conversations at school and work, and kept us counting down until the next episode. Along the way we compare the evolution of television—from recording shows on VHS and waiting for DVD box sets to today's streaming services, binge culture, and the surprising return of weekly releases. We also revisit our rating segment, Midnight Meter, where we share our personal ratings and impressions on recent games and television, including Daredevil, House of the Dragon, The Last of Us, Fallout, The Pitt, and more. Whether you grew up waiting for Thursday night sitcoms, spent weekends watching MTV, or you're discovering today's prestige television, this episode is a celebration of the stories that kept us coming back week after week. Next week, we're heading back into gaming as we relive the sights, sounds, and unforgettable memories of classic arcades, modern entertainment centers, laser tag, ticket counters, and why arcades may have accidentally prepared an entire generation for casinos.

  7. Jun 23

    Episode 34 - You Had to Be There | General 90s & 00s Nostalgia

    Some memories aren't tied to major events. They're tied to the little things. The sounds, commercials, furniture, gadgets, and everyday experiences that quietly disappeared without anyone noticing. In this episode, we're revisiting the forgotten pieces of childhood and growing up in the 90s and early 2000s. From CRT televisions, TV Guide channels, dial-up internet, VHS rewinders, and giant entertainment centers to iconic commercials like Crossfire, Super Soakers, FreeCreditReport.com, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Toonami, and countless others, we're diving into the things that instantly transport us back. Along the way we discuss the sounds that defined an era, from AOL's "You've Got Mail" to DVD menu loops, THX intros, Weather Channel music, MovieFone, and more. For side quests, we share some deep-cut memories and compare how advertising, music videos, and major media moments have evolved from then to now. Not the big moments. The little ones. The things that disappeared so slowly we never realized they were gone. You had to be there.

  8. Jun 22

    Midnight Reflections - Paternal Passions | Finding What We Love and Passing It On

    Happy Father's Day. In this episode of Midnight Reflections, Chase looks back on growing up without a father figure to introduce him to gaming, movies, anime, music, and many of the hobbies that would eventually shape who he became. From discovering Nintendo with his Papaw and PlayStation with friends, to finding Dragon Ball, Metal Gear Solid, and countless other passions along the way, this reflection explores how we often find ourselves through the people who step into our lives when we need them most. Now a father himself, Chase reflects on the unique fatherhood journey of raising a non-verbal autistic son, the traditions and hobbies he hopes to share one day, and the realization that legacy isn't always about what we inherit—sometimes it's about what we choose to pass on and how millennial dad's do it differently. Because sometimes the things that shape us aren't handed down at all. Sometimes we find them ourselves.

See All (45)

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

 A nostalgic, late-night rewind through the golden age of gaming, pop culture, and friendship. Join Chase and Austin every week as they relive GameStop midnight launches, classic console wars, and the games and nostalgia that shaped us. 

Information

  • Creator
    Chase, Austin, & Friends
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    45
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Midnight Release
  • Show Website
    The Midnight Release