This week, Sony shocked us all with the announcement that its support of physical games for PlayStation will be coming to an end in January 2028. Any games that are released physically before then are safe, but after that, new releases will be digital only. Sony points to “consumer trends” as the rationale behind such a radical decision.
After skipping May, Gaming Check-In is back for the month of June! This time I’m giving some light thoughts on Final Fantasy XV, talking about the fun and artificiality of Forza Horizon 6, and saying goodbye to Destiny 2!
Timestamps:
1:12 – Final Fantasy XV
9:26 – Forza Horizon 6
20:41 – Destiny 2
Surprise! Kingdom Hearts IV finally got a new trailer during the latest Nintendo Direct, and while it was very short, it was awesome! Character reveals, actual gameplay, a brand new Keyblade, story implications; this trailer had it all! Let’s dive in and break it all down!
Exclusivity has been one of the biggest talking points for Xbox this generation. Whether it was the hubbub around titles like The Elder Scrolls and Starfield after Zenimax was acquired by Microsoft in 2021, the never-ending discussion surrounding Call of Duty following Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard in 2023, or the way Microsoft has slowly abandoned exclusivity over the past two years by putting basically all of Xbox’s first-party titles on PlayStation and Nintendo consoles. Frankly, it’s been a wild and often confusing ride. Just as it seemed things were starting to gain clarity, the topic has only become more confusing.
Final Fantasy VII Revelation has finally been announced, and it looks fantastic! Let’s talk about what we saw, most notably, the new job system coming to the game!
Yesterday, Sony kicked off the summer gaming showcase season with an awesome PlayStation State of Play! Between gameplay for Marvel’s Wolverine, the reveal of God of War Laufey, and more, there was a lot to get excited about! Let’s go over my highlights from the show!
There’s no question that everything about Saros is a response to Housemarque’s last game, Returnal. Did you feel like Returnal’s story was a bit too vague? Saros takes the exact opposite approach with its narrative. Perhaps you never got to experience Returnal’s story because of its difficulty. Well, while Saros is no walk in the park, Housemarque has deliberately eased up on the punishment. In many ways, Saros is a better (and arguably more fun) game than Returnal. But in sanding down the edges that made its predecessor so beloved, Saros ends up being the lesser of the two.
It’s time for another installment of Gaming Check-In! This month we’re talking about Capcom’s great new IP, Pragmata, the adrenaline rush that is Tamashika, and my final thoughts on Death Stranding 2 now that I’ve finished the game. Let’s dive in!
Timestamps:
1:15 – Pragmata
18:38 – Tamashika
30:30 – Death Stranding 2
This is Gaming Check-In, the series where I talk about the games that I’m playing in a casual, freeform manner! This month, we’re going over my time with Marathon during its server slam at the beginning of March, and the dozens of hours I’ve sunk into Death Stranding 2 since last month. Let’s chat!
Timestamps:
00:46 – Marathon
18:08 – Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has announced Project Helix, the codename for Microsoft’s next-generation gaming console, and also confirmed it will be a hybrid console that merges console gaming with PC gaming. I’m excited to formally start discussions about the next-generation Xbox, but it’s important to remember some key concerns with this new system. Let’s talk about it!
TheComfySpot 