Shortsighted Sony and Mismanaged Microsoft Gametalk

Episode 159

In a one-two punch of terrible first party news, today we discuss both the baffling choice by Sony to require a PSN account on PC to play Helldivers II and the heartbreakingly infuriating decision Microsoft made to close four of its first party studios. In the wake of workforce reductions and studios shuttering, we observe the landscape of the present Xbox ecosystem - and it is not a pretty picture. As always, we conclude with the games we are playing (Dave the Diver, Sea of Thieves, Songs of Syx). This episode was recorded in May 2024. Royalty free music from BenSound.

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Timestamps:
0:00 - Sony and the Helldivers II PC Situation
21:24 - Tangent on Nintendo's Success and Helldivers Controversy Aftermath
25:06 - Microsoft Studio Closures and Future Outlook
45:35 - Xbox Leadership on Studio Closures
52:39 - Dave the Diver
58:14 - Sea of Thieves
1:02:21 - Songs of Syx
1:06:15 - Briefly Discussing Hades II, Stellar Blade, Monster Hunter World, and Fallout 4