Save State Plus

Destin Legarie
  • 5.0 (4)
  • 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. 2H AGO

    Breaking: New Xbox CEO Breaks Her Silence on Xbox’s Future. "Nothing Is Off the Table"

    Breaking news. Xbox’s new CEO, Asha Sharma, has given her first major interview, and her message is clear. Nothing is off the table. In a wide-ranging conversation, Sharma discusses Xbox’s future, leadership changes, console commitment, and how the company is reassessing its strategy after months of uncertainty. She addresses fan concerns, the idea of a “return to Xbox,” and whether anything is truly off limits as Microsoft looks ahead. This interview offers the clearest signal yet of where Xbox may be heading next, and why major changes are still on the table. Source: Windows Central exclusive interview. https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/exclusive-talking-to-new-xbox-ceo-asha-sharma-and-cco-matt-booty

    22 min

  2. 16H AGO

    Xbox Is Being “Sunsetted" Claims Xbox Founder Seamus Blackley

    Former Xbox creator Seamus Blackley is sounding the alarm, claiming Xbox is being quietly “sunsetted” inside Microsoft. In a new interview, Blackley argues that Microsoft’s leadership priorities have shifted away from traditional console gaming and toward AI, cloud infrastructure, and enterprise services — with Xbox increasingly treated as a legacy business rather than a growth pillar. He points to recent executive changes, including the appointment of AI-focused leadership, as evidence that Xbox’s long-term identity may be changing. Is Xbox being deprioritized. Or is this a strategic evolution toward a platform-agnostic future built around Game Pass, cloud streaming, and services. In this video, I break down exactly what Blackley said, the broader context around Microsoft Gaming’s recent restructuring, and what this could realistically mean for Xbox players, developers, and the future of the brand.

    24 min

  3. 1D AGO

    Bombshell: Why Xbox Pushed Sarah Bond Out - “Tough to Work With” Insiders Claim

    A bombshell report from Tom Warren at the Verge suggests Sarah Bond was pushed out of Xbox following internal tension, leadership friction, and concerns from people familiar with the situation. Insiders describe her as “tough to work with,” raising bigger questions about Xbox’s culture, recent leadership changes, and the broader shakeup happening inside Microsoft Gaming.In this video, I break down what’s being claimed, and what this means for Xbox’s future strategy as it navigates restructuring, studio pressure, and executive turnover.What do you think is really happening inside Xbox?#xbox #sarahbond #xboxnews #microsoftgaming #gamingindustrySource: https://www.theverge.com/tech/883015/microsoft-xbox-new-ceo-shakeup-notepad?view_token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJpZCI6IkpYeERHeWF6NUwiLCJwIjoiL3RlY2gvODgzMDE1L21pY3Jvc29mdC14Ym94LW5ldy1jZW8tc2hha2V1cC1ub3RlcGFkIiwiZXhwIjoxNzcyMjkwNjAwLCJpYXQiOjE3NzE4NTg2MDB9.getJ-3kspePX7CrVmely9uWHy0nEaJuj6YCKKbJMCfU&utm_medium=gift-link

    16 min

  4. 1D AGO

    Huge Xbox Shakeup: Phil Spencer is Retiring & Sarah Bond is Also Moving On

    Phil Spencer is officially retiring after more than a decade leading Xbox, marking the end of one of the most influential eras in Microsoft Gaming history. Microsoft confirmed Spencer will remain in an advisory role through the transition as new leadership takes over.At the same time, Sarah Bond is also departing Microsoft, closing the chapter on a leadership team that helped shape Xbox’s platform strategy, Game Pass expansion, cloud gaming push, and major acquisitions. Microsoft has named Asha Sharma as the new CEO of Microsoft Gaming, with Matt Booty elevated to Chief Content Officer.This video breaks down what Phil Spencer’s retirement really means for Xbox, why Sarah Bond is moving on, how Microsoft is restructuring its gaming division, and what these changes signal for the future of Xbox consoles, studios, and strategy.

    15 min

  5. 2D AGO

    Stephen Totilo on the Future of Gaming Journalism, Parenting, and Roblox

    Veteran games journalist Stephen Totilo from GameFile.news joined me for a conversation about the evolution of gaming journalism, parenting in a digital gaming world, and the rise of platforms like Roblox. Totilo and I discussed what was and the rise of publications like GameFile, and why modern games media is more fragmented than ever. The discussion covers online safety for kids, how social media reshaped news consumption, why court cases matter for uncovering industry truths, and why video is becoming essential for journalists going forward. This episode explores the realities of running a media business, balancing quality reporting with sustainability, and how journalism adapts in an industry driven by platforms, algorithms, and player behavior. See more Stephen at https://www.gamefile.news/ Subscribe Here! https://www.youtube.com/c/thedestinchannel?sub_confirmation=1 Become a member to support this channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgUOWrjLEhmHE9tqYtoeS_g/join 00:00 Introduction to Stephen Totilo's Career 02:49 Unique Interview Techniques in Gaming Journalism 06:00 Parenting and Gaming: Balancing Exposure and Experience 08:47 Concerns with Online Gaming: A Parent's Perspective 12:05 The Roblox Phenomenon: Opportunities and Risks 15:04 The State of Gaming Journalism and Media 17:51 Building Gamefile: A New Era in Gaming Journalism 21:05 The Future of Video Content in Gaming Journalism 27:42 The Evolution of Gaming Journalism 32:32 The Impact of Social Media on News Consumption 37:01 The Importance of Court Cases in Gaming 48:50 Analyzing the Fallout of High Guard's Launch 54:51 The Passion Behind Journalism

    58 min

  6. FEB 15

    The Games Industry Has a Funding Problem. And We're Watching the Reset

    I sat down with Andrew Eiche, studio head at Owlchemy Labs, to talk about why the games industry is struggling right now and what this moment of contraction actually means.We discuss how funding expectations have warped game development, why investors chase only massive breakout hits, and how that pressure stifles innovation across both VR and traditional games. Andrew explains why this downturn feels less like a collapse and more like a reset, similar to past industry corrections, and what tends to emerge on the other side.The conversation also covers Meta’s influence on VR studios, the risks of being locked to a single platform, how generative AI hype is already cooling investor confidence in games, and why discovery and sustainability matter more than ever. Andrew shares insight into how studios survive these cycles, why mid-sized and niche games often endure, and what developers are quietly preparing for as the market recalibrates.This is a candid, developer-led look at the financial realities shaping the future of games and why the industry may need this reset to move forward.

    36 min

  7. FEB 14

    VR Gaming is at a Crossroads: Here's what Comes Next

    I sat down with Devin Reimer, co-founder of Astrobeam and former Owlchemy Labs co-founder, to talk candidly about where VR gaming stands today and what developers believe comes next. We discuss why Devin left Owlchemy to start Astrobeam, the importance of VR-native controls, and why the industry feels stuck in a holding pattern right now. Devin also shares his three-year outlook for VR, thoughts on Meta’s recent pullback, wearables, fitness-driven VR, and what developers often get wrong when designing immersive experiences. The conversation touches on Stellar Cafe, startup runway and sustainability, LLM-powered NPCs, ethical AI use in games, and what still gives developers reason to be optimistic about VR’s future. This is an honest, developer-focused discussion about VR’s growing pains, its missed opportunities, and what it will take for the medium to truly break through.

    30 min

  8. JAN 22

    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
See All (48)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

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
    48
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Destin Legarie
  • Show Website
    Save State Plus

You Might Also Like