The Training Stage: Recent Episodes
TheTrainingStage
The Training Stage is a video game podcast that provides in-depth conversations on the latest industry news and rumors. New episodes every Saturday!
EVO 2022 returned to Las Vegas with one of the best fighting game tournaments in years. John, our resident FGC expert, breaks down all of the biggest announcements from the event. In addition, we discuss Nintendo's latest announcements for Bayonetta 3, Splatoon 3, and Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, and discuss why the Nintendo Switch still has a vibrant future ahead of it. All of this and much, much more on this packed episode of the Training Stage Podcast!
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Music by Rukunetsu and used with permission.
TIMESTAMPS
04:00 - Thank you for the warm welcome back, guesses for the SECRET PROJECT
09:23 - Tyler watched a documentary on Woodstock '99. You are, in fact, listening to a video game podcast, not Decibel Boost.
13:53 - Whatcha Been Playing, Tyler? (Dark Souls Remastered, Xenoblade Chronicles 3)
42:35 - Watcha Been Playing, John? (Chess, Pokemon SoulSilver Version, Slime Rancher)
59:57 - News Lightning Round - Gamescom Opening Night Live, Marvel's Midnight Suns delay, Tactics Ogre: Reborn, and more.
1:09:20 - The big EVO 2022 recap and news roundup from DashFight.
2:01:20 - Bayonetta 3 launches on October 28th for Nintendo Switch. PlatinumGames has huge ambitions for its future, boasting several unannounced projects.
2:14:21 - New information on Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet. The Paldea region, rideable legendaries, new creatures and characters, and more were revealed during the latest Pokemon Presents broadcast.
2:24:33 - Recap of the recent Splatoon 3 Direct.
2:33:19 - Aspyr Media’s remake of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is allegedly in deep trouble according to Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier.
2:36:31 - Ubisoft has delayed Massive Entertainment’s Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora into their 2023-2024 fiscal year, which runs from April 2023 to the end of March 2024.
After a year hiatus, The Training Stage returns with a packed two and a half hour episode. Your hosts, Tyler and John, discuss the games they've been playing recently, this year's Summer Game Fest events, Square Enix's stacked lineup of titles, and the game release calendar for the rest of 2022 and early 2023. We even tease something new coming in the future.
We are sincerely excited to be back to produce a fun, bi-weekly show for your enjoyment.
Follow us on Twitter: @TTStage
Music by Rukunetsu and used with permission.
TIMESTAMPS
00:50 - State of the Stage, New Project Tease
12:26 - Whatcha Been Playing, John? (Online Chess, Minecraft, The Messenger, Disco Elysium)
57:19 - Whatcha Been Playing, Tyler? (Xenoblade Chronicles, Omori, Dragon Quest Builders)
1:13:15 - Our thoughts on Summer Game Fest 2022
1:37:45 - The game release calendar for the rest of 2022
1:53:58 - Publisher Spotlight: Square Enix
2:09:30 - What games are coming in 2023? Could it be a better year than 2022?
The madness that is Blue Box's Abandoned continues, though could there be another marketing stunt happening at the same time? We investigate. We also offer updated information on the Activision-Blizzard lawsuit and other legal news in the video game industry. On the news front, Nintendo has set record-breaking numbers for Nintendo Switch hardware and software, and recently streamed an eventful Indie World showcase. It's also being reported that Rockstar Games is remastering the PlayStation 2 titles in the Grand Theft Auto series.
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Music by Rukunetsu and used with permission.
TIMESTAMPS
01:47 - What happened with that last episode? Describing a "nightmare edit."
03:50 - John played DOOM on Hard Drive (yes, the satire website). Why??
08:58 - [John] Final Fantasy XIV, Dicey Dungeons, and coffee?!
32:38 - [Tyler] Grand Theft Auto V, Axiom Verge 2, and more.
49:38 - The latest from the Activision-Blizzard lawsuit; several major departures from the company in recent weeks.
56:19 - Quantic Dream was sending death threats to whistleblowers, according to the French union suing the company.
58:34 - U.S. Democrats are advising game publishers to avoid predatory loot box designs in their games.
1:01:02 - The latest regarding the Blue Box Game Studios and Abandoned situation. Is there a second ARG tied to this madness?
1:16:40 - Pokemon Presents will air on August 18th with new footage of both Pokemon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl and Pokemon Legends: Arceus.
1:19:26 - Microsoft is hosting an Xbox showcase for Gamescom 2021 on August 24th at 1pm EST.
1:21:21 - Rockstar Dundee is reportedly porting the PS2 Grand Theft Auto trilogy to modern platforms later this year.
1:23:34 - The official schedule for QuakeCon 2021 has accidentally alluded to a new Quake project from Machine Games and id Software.
1:25:37 - Nintendo Switch hardware sales have surpassed 89 million units worldwide; software sale updates.
1:37:50 - A brief recap of the Indie World broadcast for August 2021.
1:42:48 - Dotemu (Streets of Rage 4, Metal Slug Tactics) has been acquired by Focus Home Interactive.
1:44:00 - Life is Strange Remastered Collection delayed into early 2022; True Colors still on track for launch on September 30th.
1:44:56 - A new "3D" South Park game is currently being developed within a new internal group at South Park Studios.
As the end of summer draws near, we took some much needed time to discuss the biggest games of the summer, including Final Fantasy XIV. We also discuss our thoughts on Valve's Steam Deck console, the recent Annapurna Interactive Showcase, and the latest in Ubisoft's Tom Clancy franchise.
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Music by Rukunetsu and used with permission.
TIMESTAMPS
04:33 - [John] Final Fantasy XIV
29:10 - [Tyler] Skyward Sword HD, Chicory: A Colorful Tale
1:07:10 - Congrats to Kojima Productions on shipping over 5 million copies of Death Stranding.
1:08:03 - Ghost of Tsushima's Iki Island expansion detailed.
1:10:33 - Our thoughts on Valve's Steam Deck, a new handheld gaming PC capable of running high fidelity games.
1:21:20 - Annapurna Interactive Showcase recap (Stray, Solar Ash, Neon White, The Outer Wilds, and more).
1:32:47 - Ubisoft announces Tom Clancy’s XDefiant, a free-to-play 6v6 arena shooter.
1:35:58 - Sumo Digital purchased by Tencent in a $1.27bn deal.
1:38:06 - Kena: Bridge of Spirits delayed to September 21st, 2021.
1:39:22 - Horizon: Forbidden West allegedly delayed into 2022 according to multiple sources.
1:41:00 - PlayStation 5 sold 10 million units since launch, despite shortages across the entire tech industry.
The State of California has filed a lawsuit against publisher Activision-Blizzard over widespread sexual harassment and discrimination towards female employees of the company. We discuss this issue in great detail, including how we as a game-playing community can support those being abused within the game development community. And it's only fitting that we invited Angie, a moderator of the Competitive Overwatch Discord server, to add her thoughts on the matter.
If this situation is too upsetting for you to hear more about, we completely understand. We have timestamps below so that you can skip that conversation entirely. The same applies for those who only want to hear about the serious matter and avoid the more trivial topics of conversation.
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Music by Rukunetsu and used with permission.
Thumbnail photograph: David McNew/AFP
TIMESTAMPS
01:24 - Opening and discussing Tyler's trip to the Zoo.
13:27 - #ActiBlizzWalkout
1:26:47 - EA Play recap (Dead Space from EA Motive, GRID, Battlefield Portal, and more).
The monkey's paw curls as Nintendo announces the Nintendo Switch (OLED Model) for release later this year. It has a new OLED screen and some nifty new features for an extra $50, though lacks any new internal components or performance enhancements. What do we think? And what happened with all those insider scoops about a 4K Switch? We also discuss the recent PlayStation State of Play broadcast, the delay of Ghostwire: Tokyo, and Atlus' plans for celebrating the 25th anniversary of Persona.
Follow us on Twitter: @TTStage
Music by Rukunetsu and used with permission.
TIMESTAMPS
02:38 - Favorite school lunches?
14:20 - [John] Dicey Dungeons, reading manga, and more.
32:19 - [Tyler] Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, Luigi's Mansion (3DS).
40:15 - Nintendo Switch (OLED Model) announced; no new chipset upgrade from the current models.
51:41 - PlayStation State of Play - July 2021 (Moss Book II, Sifu, Jett: The Far Shore, Death Stranding, Deathloop, and more).
1:14:50 - Ghostwire: Tokyo delayed into early 2022.
1:15:54 - Ubisoft announces the future of the Assassin’s Creed franchise, codenamed “Infinity.”
1:22:03 - Lost Judgement may be the last game in the series, due to a dispute between Sega and Takuya Kimura’s talent agency.
1:23:40 - Xbox heads Phil Spencer and Matt Booty reassure players that narrative-driven, non-live-service titles are still being developed within Xbox Game Studios.
1:24:49 - Atlus teases seven new Persona announcements to celebrate the franchise’s 25th anniversary, starting this Fall.
1:28:06 - Warner Bros. Games denies rumors that they are selling NetherRealm Studios and TT Games.
1:28:38 - DICE LA officially rebranded as Ripple Effect.
1:29:21 - Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl announced, a new "platform fighting game" featuring Nicktoons characters.
Well, we finally did it: one hundred numbered episodes of The Training Stage have been released! Between two iterations of the show running over the last 5 years, we have achieved triple digits. To help celebrate the occasion, we invited Angie (@angdacat) to join us for an extended games talk segment and to discuss the latest news, including new PlayStation acquisitions and the future of the Silent Hill franchise.
Thanks for sticking with us for all this time. We hope you stick around for many more years to come!
Follow us on Twitter: @TTStage
Music by Rukunetsu and used with permission
TIMESTAMPS
11:27 - Show announcements!
16:24 - Tyler has finished playing Octopath Traveler.
26:36 - What John has been playing: Pokemon Platinum, Overwatch, and more.
44:38 - What Angie has been playing: Final Fantasy XIV, DOOM Eternal, and more.
1:09:29 - Sony has acquired two new studios: Housemarque and Nixxes.
1:33:06 - Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut arrives on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 on August 20th, which will include the brand new “Iki Island” expansion.
1:35:35 - Remedy and 505 Games partner to develop a new multiplayer game set in the Control universe.
1:41:59 - Konami and Bloober Team announce a “strategic cooperation agreement” to develop new games.
1:58:19 - Lightning Round (EA Play news, new studios, AI: The Somnium Files sequel, JP Games, The Elder Scrolls VI)
1:15:43 - NetherRealm Studios officially ends development on Mortal Kombat 11 and now focusning on a new project.
This time of the summer is usually fairly quiet, so we spend some time catching up on what games we've been playing. John has been playing his usual vices of Overwatch and Trials Fusion, while Tyler has become determined to finish Octopath Traveler. On the news front, rumors have suggested that EA Motive is currently developing a Dead Space reboot. Are they up to the job, or are they simply an imposter amogus?
Follow us on Twitter: @TTStage
Music by Rukunetsu and used with permission.
E3 2021 has concluded and we discuss our favorite announcements and biggest disappointments. We also review our predictions and cover the latest regarding Blue Box Game Studios and their supposed relationship to Hideo Kojima and the Silent Hill franchise.
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Music by Rukunetsu and used with permission.
E3 2021 is officially over, but there's still one last event for us to discuss: the Nintendo Direct broadcast. Safe to say, Nintendo stole the show with exciting new projects like Metroid Dread and WarioWare: Get it Together, and a brand new look at the highly anticipated sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Joining us to discuss the Nintendo Direct and the future of the Nintendo Switch, we invited Sketch from the Toonami Faithful Podcast and Nick from the DAM Podcast! It's a another packed show, so grab a snack and enjoy the discussion!
Follow us on Twitter: @TTStage
Music by Rukunetsu and used with permission.
Follow Sketch on Twitter: @Sketch1984
Check out the Toonami Faithful Podcast on Soundcloud!
https://soundcloud.com/toonamifaithfulpodcast
Check out the Dallas Anime Meetup channel on YouTube!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG3HtpJF36M0hYezPI8KEgw
After a day of fairly lackluster showcases, Tyler and John needed backup to help them work through the emotions. So, we arranged a well-rounded panel, with Kory and Jhamar from the DAM Podcast joining to discuss all of the biggest announcements from the Microsoft and Bethesda Games Showcase, Square Enix Presents, and the PC Gaming Show.
Starfield, Redfall, Halo Infinite, Guardians of the Galaxy, Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin, and much, much more are discussed in detail on this episode. And it wouldn't be an evening E3 discussion episode without a train visit, cats, and plenty of jokes.
Follow us on Twitter: @TTStage
Music by Rukunetsu and used with permission.
Follow Kory on Twitter: @aceofwar20
Follow Jhamar on Twitter: @JhamarH
Check out the DAM Podcast on YouTube!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OAkOGdPjUc
It's the third day of our E3 2021 coverage, and we have two big showcases to discuss: Ubisoft Forward and Devolver Digital. Ubisoft shared new information on Rainbow Six Extraction and Rider's Republic, while announcing Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. Devolver introduced several new titles, including a brand new IP from Flying Wild Hog.
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Music by Rukunetsu and used with permission.
In recent years, the video game industry has rapidly extended its presence into film, television, and music. Today, as part of the E3 2021 season, Netflix highlighted a number of upcoming video game adaptations and anime titles coming to their platform. To help us work through these announcements, we invited Alex from PodcastONA to discuss The Cuphead Show, Castlevania, the new Shaman King, Godzilla: Singular Point, and much more! We also discuss the delay of Rune Factory 5 and the announcement of Doki Doki Literature Club Plus. For a day without much news, we still managed to record an hour of discussion. That fits the spirit of E3 season, right?
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Music by Rukunetsu and used with permission.
Follow Alex on Twitter: @auraofazure
Check out PodcastONA on Surreal Resolution!
https://www.podcastona.surrealresolution.com/
E3 2021 (unofficially) kicked off today with Geoff Keighley's Summer Game Fest, and he brought some great appetizers. Elden Ring, Death Stranding: Director's Cut, Tiny Tina's Wonderlands, Metal Slug Tactics, Sable, a new PlayStation partner studio, and so much more revealed. Join us as we discuss every high and every low of the event. And be sure to stay tuned throughout E3 2021 for additional content, as we cover each day's major news in the world of video games!
Follow us on Twitter: @TTStage
Music by Rukunetsu and used with permission.
After skipping last year due to obvious reasons, E3 is back in action! And that means it's also time for our E3 predictions. What do we think Nintendo, Microsoft, Square Enix, and other publishers have planned for the event? And before we get to those predictions, we discuss the latest gaming news, including the recent interview between Sid Shuman and Hermen Hulst.
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Music by Rukunetsu and used with permission.
TIMESTAMPS
05:12 - Guerrilla Collective stream highlights, courtesy of John who actually watched it.
08:38 - Did you know that DC Super Hero Girls: Teen Power was produced by Nintendo EPD? Apparently they didn't either!
16:01 - The next God of War has been officially delayed into 2022; also coming to PS4.
19:12 - Gran Turismo 7 will also launching on PS4 in 2022.
21:51 - Bend Studio is officially working a new AAA open-world IP.
27:13 - Hulst on Horizon Forbidden West launch timing.
28:23 - Team Asobi has been officially introduced as PlayStation Studios' premiere Japanese development team.
31:13 - Nintendo has confirmed their Nintendo Direct broadcast for E3, which will air on Tuesday, June 15th at 12pm EST.
34:47 - Square Enix has announced their E3 2021 showcase plans, which will air on June 13th at 3:15pm EST.
37:54 - Devolver Digital will stream their showcase on June 12th.
40:27 - A rundown of the E3 2021 schedule.
43:30 - RUMOR: 2K Games’ E3 2021 lineup will include a new Borderlands spin-off title, a Marvel-themed XCOM game, and a new IP from Hangar 13.
46:43 - Shin Megami Tensei V release date leaked by Atlus website.
47:48 - E3 2021 Predictions!
The pre-E3 news cycle has ramped up with several key gaming events. Dragon Quest 35th anniversary stream, Sonic Central, and a State of Play focused on Horizon Forbidden West all brought exciting information on upcoming games. Nintendo has revealed release dates for two upcoming Pokémon releases. Virtua Fighter is finally back! Plus, Microsoft and Bethesda have detailed their joint E3 2021 plans, and Geoff Keighley has announced kick-off plans for Summer Game Fest 2021. Oh, and Macarena disc launchers in Far Cry 6! A packed episode for it being two weeks before E3.
Follow us on Twitter: @TTStage
Music by Rukunetsu and used with permission. This week's outro song is Kirin J. Callinan's "Screaming Cowboy" bit.
TIMESTAMPS
04:20 - Returnal and the brilliance of rogue-likes
24:13 - Getting nostalgic about Pokemon
38:02 - Xbox and Bethesda will host their first combined Games Showcase for E3 2021 on Sunday, June 13th.
50:23 - Geoff Keighley has announced a kickoff live event for Summer Game Fest, set to stream everywhere on Thursday, June 10th.
56:55 - Pokemon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl and Pokemon Legends: Arceus release dates.
1:02:57 - Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown announced by Sega, releasing exclusively on PS4 on June 1st.
1:08:30 - RUMOR: Square Enix will announce Final Fantasy Origin during its E3 2021 showcase, a souls-like action RPG developed by Team Ninja.
1:13:00 - Dragon Quest 35th Anniversary stream recap (Dragon Quest III 2D-HD Remake, Dragon Quest XII, and more).
1:21:38 - Sonic Central stream recap (Sonic Colors Ultimate, Sonic Origins, new Sonic Team title, and more).
1:32:04 - First gameplay footage of Horizon: Forbidden West revealed.
1:37:48 - Dying Light 2 Stay Human launches on December 7th, 2021.
1:38:55 - Far Cry 6 launches on October 7th, 2021; first gameplay revealed.
1:42:05 - Electronic Arts is building a new studio to produce open world action-adventure games.
This week's podcast is all about PlayStation and the recent controversies surrounding the brand. Store shutdowns, acquisitions and partnerships, and mismanagement of studios. What happened over the last couple of months? And what does it mean for the future of PlayStation 5 on the first-party front? We cover the good, bad, and everything in between. But of course, that's not all, as we begin with a healthy dose of personal life updates, COVID vaccine talk, and some Resident Evil Village thoughts.
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All music by Rukunetsu and used with permission.
TIMESTAMPS
06:55 - Talking about COVID vaccines.
15:24 - Resident Evil Village
20:40 - Famicom Detective Club
28:25 - John got a Fitbit and new IEM headphones.
40:02 - PlayStation partners with Haven, a new studio headed by Jade Raymond, to work on an original IP for PlayStation Studios.
46:05 - First images released of the next-generation PlayStation VR controllers.
50:01 - Sony fully purchases EVO in partnership with new esports venture RTS.
54:24 - TheGamer first reports that Sony will permanently close the PS3, PSP, and Vita storefronts.
57:30 - MLB The Show 21 announced to be launching on Xbox Game Pass on launch day.
58:45 - VentureBeat reports that Microsoft has been in talks with Kojima Productions.
1:03:36 - Schreier details some recent on-goings with PlayStation Studios, mostly revolving around studios Naughty Dog and Sony Bend.
1:19:12 - Sony London Studio posts new job listings with references to a “brand new, next-gen IP” for PlayStation 5.
1:20:40 - Sony reverses their decision to close the PS3 and Vita storefronts.
1:24:27 - PlayStation partners with Firewalk Studios to publish a new multiplayer IP.
1:27:41 - Speaking to Wired, PlayStation Studios head Hermen Hulst claims that there are over 25 first-party titles in development for PlayStation 5.
We are back at it again after another patented podcast hiatus. We discuss what's been going on in our lives (moving, work, family, COVID vaccines, so much!). We also cover a few news topics, including our expectations for E3 2021 and release dates for some highly anticipated JRPGs. Look, sometimes one has to take a two month nap, alright?
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Music by Rukunetsu and used with permission.
We start this week by discussing the wonderful game of life for the first 30 minutes. Tyler is packing up and moving to a new place, so John will be receiving the hosting chair for the entirety of March. But there is a bunch of gaming news to cover before then. Tons of PlayStation news, including official confirmation of a next generation PSVR unit and a new State of Play. Nintendo finally broadcasted a general Direct and The Pokémon Company announced two new mainline Pokémon RPG titles.
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Music by Rukunetsu and used with permission.
TIMESTAMPS
06:27 - Tyler is moving into a new place!
16:18 - What this all means for the show (TL;DR John will be hosting for March)
23:50 - Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart launches on June 11th, 2021.
29:25 - Gran Turismo 7 has been delayed to 2022.
36:11 - Sony officially confirms a next generation of PlayStation VR is being developed for PS5.
38:47 - VGC: SIE Japan Studio is downsizing and winding down original game development, except for Team Asobi which will continue to operate as a standalone studio.
45:17 - Highlights from the February 25th broadcast of State of Play (Oddworld, Kena, Final Fantasy VII Intergrade, and more).
1:07:45 - Footage from an unreleased trailer of FromSoftware’s upcoming action RPG Elden Ring has leaked online.
1:11:48 - Nintendo Direct - February 17th, 2021 (Mario Golf: Super Rush, Skyward Sword HD, Splatoon 3, Triangle Strategy, and more).
1:52:54 - Pokémon Presents for February 26th, 2021 (Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, Legends: Arceus)
2:00:26 - Some details on projects cancelled by Google, including an episodic horror game by Kojima Productions.
2:03:50 - BioWare has cancelled work on Anthem Next, shifting focus to the next Dragon Age and Mass Effect titles.
2:06:36 - Forever Entertainment (Panzer Dragoon Remake) has announced plans to produce multiple remake projects for a Square Enix IP.
On this special solo episode, John runs down all of the big news from BlizzConline 2021. Overwatch 2, Diablo IV and Diablo II Resurrected, and the latest from World of Warcraft and Hearthstone.
Follow us on Twitter: @TTStage
Music by Rukunetsu and used with permission.
I bet you never expected us to talk about the stock market, but here we are. Resident Evil Village has a release date and a very tall lady, ESA plans a digital E3 for 2021, tons of financial details from big gaming companies, and Google killing off its internal gaming developers. Sounds like another day in paradise, right?
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Music by Rukunetsu and used with permission.
TIMESTAMPS
02:18 - PlayStation in 2020 Stats
07:21 - Tyler is collecting boxed DS games. Things are getting real.
27:38 - $GME STONKS
32:35 - Resident Evil Village launches on May 7th for current and last-generation hardware.
37:21 - VGC: ESA plans for a digital E3 2021 event; Geoff Keighley plans a shorter Summer
Game Fest for 2021.
42:52 - The latest from PlayStation and Sony (Returnal delay, MLB The Show 21 announced,
Kadokawa investment)
47:57 - Xbox Live Gold turns 18 years old and received a price increase. Microsoft quickly
went back to the original price.
50:31 - Google has closed all of its internal, first-party Stadia development studios.
57:30 - Nintendo has released their Q3 FY21 results, which indicates incredible sales for
Nintendo Switch hardware and software over the 2020 holiday season.
1:03:09 - Nintendo of Japan's president Furukawa comments on Nintendo Switch "Pro" rumors.
1:08:49 - Electronic Arts news (Battlefield 2021, Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, Full
Circle studio).
1:17:39 - Activision Blizzard news (Vicarious Visions, Call of Duty 2021, Diablo IV and
Overwatch 2).
1:30:07 - Hideki Kamiya says we should forget about Bayonetta 3.
1:32:12 - Silent Hill composer says his next project will be revealed in the summer. “I
think it’s the one you’re hoping to hear about,” the composer teased.
1:34:30 - Tomonobu Itagaki, creator of Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden series, establishes a
new studio called Itagaki Games.
1:36:03 - Tencent has purchased a minority stake in French developer Dontnod Entertainment.
1:38:33 - A new CGI Sonic series, Sonic PRIME, will begin streaming on Netflix in 2022.
1:40:12 - Upcoming releases for February 2021 (Mario 3D World, Bravely Default II, Persona
5 Strikers, and more!)
On the first news episode of 2021, Tyler and John cover 2020's final controversies in the gaming industry, including Nintendo's takedown of Smash and Splatoon tournaments and CDPR's Cyberpunk 2077 launch blunder. As for 2021 news, we cover that, too! Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, New Pokemon Snap, Indiana Jones from Machine Games, and the gaming salvation of Star Wars.
Follow us on Twitter: @TTStage
Music by Rukunetsu and used with permission.
We love to pick on him, but we finally invited our old pal Rob to record a games talk episode. Rob and Tyler discuss Persona 5 Royal, Atlus, and a slew of other JRPGs. Could you possibly think of a better way to start the new year of 2021?
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Music by Rukunetsu and used with permission.
Tyler and John get ready for The Game Awards 2020 by predicting who will take awards back home this year.
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Music by Rukunetsu and used with permission.
PlayStation 5 is finally here! Tyler and Kory (long-time friend of the show) both got their hands on the new hardware, controller, and games. After about two days with the console, we discuss our first impressions of the hardware itself, the user interface, and digital store experience. As for games, we give our first thoughts on Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Bugsnax, Demon's Souls, and Astro's Playroom. We also look forward to the future and share what we are most excited about in 2021.
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Music by Rukunetsu and used with permission.
In the midst of the plague, Steve joins the battle in Smash! John and Tyler argue about watching The Simpsons in widescreen, Tyler discusses the wonders of Picross, and John's prayers of a new Virtua Fighter may actually come true. Maybe. Also, Super Mario Sunshine is not THAT difficult. Come on, guys.
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Music by Rukunetsu and used with permission
TIMESTAMPS
03:53 - Super Mario 3D All-Stars
18:27 - Picross DS
27:45 - Steve and Minecraft content coming to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
45:24 - Pokemon SWSH The Crown Tundra release date announced.
50:02 - Teslagrad 2 is now in development at Rain Games.
53:23 - Genshin Impact is now available on PS4, PC, and mobile.
56:31 - The Pathless will release alongside PlayStation 5 on November 12th.
58:28 - Capcom and Netflix officially announce Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness, a CG series featuring Leon and Claire.
1:04:33 - VentureBeat: Mass Effect: Legendary Edition coming early next year.
1:09:37 - Konami brings Metal Gear, Castlevania, and Contra titles to GOG.
1:12:04 - Sega teases a new Virtua Fighter eSports project.
1:14:49 - Nier: Replicant and Nier: Reincarnation details from Tokyo Game Show.
In an industry-shaking move, Microsoft has announced plans to purchase Zenimax Media, the parent company of Bethesda. What does this acquisition mean for the future of Bethesda's IP? For the future of Xbox's first-party? On the first half of this episode, we discuss those questions and more. Then, on a solo segment, John discusses the impact of this year's Summer Game Fest, and whether it should continue beyond 2020.
Follow us on Twitter: @TTStage
Music by Rukunetsu and used with permission.
TIMESTAMPS
01:21 - Microsoft announces their plans to acquire Zenimax Media, parent company of Bethesda.
34:57 - The aftermath of Summer Game Fest.
Sony has finally revealed the launch date, launch games, and price for PlayStation 5, alongside a slew of new game announcements. Final Fantasy XVI, Hogwarts Legacy, and a new God of War title. Nintendo also had a lot to say this week, announcing two new exclusive Monster Hunter titles from Capcom, a new mainline Disgaea from NIS, and more.
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Music by Rukunetsu and used with permission.
TIMESTAMPS
03:03 - PlayStation 5 launches on November 12th, 2020, starting at $399 USD for the digital-only edition. The standard PS5 model, with a 4K UHD Blu-ray drive, will sell for $499 USD.
08:51 - Launch titles from PlayStation Studios.
15:09 - PS5 titles will now retail for up to $69.99, starting with Demon’s Souls and Destruction All-Stars.
24:06 - PlayStation Plus Collection.
31:34 - Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Horizon: Forbidden West, and Sackboy are all coming to PS4.
40:31 - Final Fantasy XVI (Square Enix, PS5 Console Exclusive)
50:56 - Hogwarts Legacy (WB Games Avalanche)
1:03:01 - Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition (Capcom)
1:04:49 - God of War sequel (Sony Santa Monica) - SPOILER WARNING FOR GOD OF WAR 2018!
1:10:10 - What other games did we like from the PS5 Showcase?
1:18:06 - Kena: Bridge of Spirits, the debut title from studio Ember Lab, delayed to Q1 2021.
1:19:21 - General thoughts on the Nintendo Direct Mini - Partner Showcase | September 2020
1:20:04 - Monster Hunter Rise (Capcom, Switch Exclusive)
1:22:51 - Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin (Capcom, Switch Exclusive)
1:25:55 - Ori and the Will of the Wisps is available now on Nintendo Switch.
1:27:07 - Fitness Boxing 2: Rhythm & Exercise (Imagineer, published by Nintendo)
1:28:29 - Balan Wonderworld from Square Enix launches on March 26th, 2021.
1:30:46 - Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny (NIS, Switch Console Exclusive)
1:31:44 - Rune Factory 5 (Marvelous)
1:34:05 - Production and manufacturing of the Nintendo 3DS family of systems has ended worldwide.
1:39:45 - Michel Ancel, creator of Rayman and Beyond Good and Evil, is leaving the video game industry.
After months of speculation, Microsoft has officially revealed the Xbox Series S, along with pricing for both Seires X and S consoles. Nintendo has revealed a brand new Zelda game for the holidays and Ubisoft revealed a Zelda-like experience of their own. Also, for you PC players, NIVIDIA has revealed their next-generation of GPUs.
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Music by Rukunetsu and used with permission.
TIMESTAMPS
04:47 - What did John think of the Super Mario 35th Anniversary Direct?
19:43 - A quick review of Marvel's Avengers from Crystal Dynamics.
32:40 - Xbox Series X and Series S launch on November 10th for $499.99 and $299.99 USD, respectively.
56:11 - Nintendo and Koei Tecmo announce Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity for Nintendo Switch.
1:00:39 - Immortals: Fenyx Rising, formerly known as Gods & Monsters, launches on December 3rd, 2020.
1:07:22 - Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake announced.
1:11:32 - Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World: The Game - Complete Edition launches later this year.
1:14:24 - Riders Republic, a new sports IP from Ubisoft, will launch on February 25th, 2021.
1:20:12 - NVIDIA announces their next-generation of GPUs, the GeForce RTX 30 Series.
1:27:36 - Bloomberg: AT&T is no longer looking to sell Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.
1:28:44 - Bloomberg: Nintendo is beginning to ask developers to make their Nintendo Switch software 4K-ready.
1:33:49 - Sega is planning to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Sonic the Hedgehog in 2021 with new games and more.
1:37:11 - Amazon Australia has listed five upcoming first-party PS5 titles with new box art and screenshots.
1:40:37 - No More Heroes III has been delayed into 2021.
It's-a-Me, Mario! On this solo episode, Tyler discusses all of the big announcements from Nintendo's recent Super Mario Bros. 35th Anniversary Direct presentation. Tune in for deep dives into each of the major game announcements and learn about the development, publishing, and specifications for each product.
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Music by Rukunetsu and used with permission.
TIMESTAMPS
06:52 - Super Mario 3D All-Stars
18:51 - Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit
24:39 - Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros.
26:33 - Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury
30:00 - Super Mario Bros. 35
32:25 - Super Mario All-Stars
33:40 - Upcoming Super Mario Events (in-game events and official merchandise)
35:56 - Upcoming Super Mario Products (non-gaming)
After years of speculation, we finally know about the projects being developed at WB Montreal and Rocksteady Studios. Were they both worth the wait? The latest Nintendo Direct Mini aired without any first-party announcements, and Gamescom ONL proved to demonstrate questionable reasoning for its existence. We dig into these events and other news topics on this packed episode of The Training Stage!
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Music by Rukunetsu and used with permission.
TIMESTAMPS
02:11 - Whoa! John actually played something new!
12:40 - Let's talk about the brilliance of BioShock.
21:21 - Nintendo Direct Mini Partner Showcase | August 2020
34:49 - Bloomberg: Nintendo is planning to release an upgraded Switch model in 2021, alongside a slate of major first-party releases.
45:00 - Gamescom Opening Night Live 2020
1:15:56 - Gotham Knights from WB Montreal revealed, a co-op action-adventure title. Planned for release in 2021.
1:22:10 - Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League from Rocksteady Studios revealed with a teaser trailer.
1:27:37 - Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War’s very confusing pricing across current- and next-generation hardware.
1:32:29 - Sony opens registration with PSN ID to be randomly selected for PlayStation 5 pre-orders.
1:38:22 - Bloomberg: Microsoft brings back Joseph Staten, to help Halo Infinite.
1:39:53 - Lightning Round (Dragon Ball FighterZ, Retro Studios, Capcom, The Last Campfire, and more).
Nintendo presented their second Indie World stream of the year, highlighting several indie titles coming to Switch. Sucker Punch surprises everyone with a new Ghost of Tsushuima multiplayer mode. Activison is finally talking about this year's Call of Duty, and Bethesda has delayed Deathloop into next year. These stories and more discussed on this episode!
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Music by Rukunetsu and used with permission
TIMESTAMPS
04:18 - Panda Express treats the customer right.
10:17 - Do we really understand all of the Epic Games legal stuff? Nope!
13:46 - Microsoft Flight Simulator absolutely won over the critics.
20:16 - Hades from Supergiant Games
22:09 - Untitled Goose Game receiving a free co-op update.
24:16 - Raji: An Ancient Epic from Nodding Heads Games.
30:19 - Spiritfarer from Thunder Lotus.
32:04 - A Short Hike from Adam Robinson-Yu.
34:43 - Takeshi and Hiroshi from Oink Games Inc.
36:32 - Manifold Garden from William Chyr Studio LLC.
38:35 - Card Shark and INMOST.
43:10 - Ghost of Tsushima: Legends, a free multiplayer update for owners of the base game, will launch on PS4 this fall.
49:18 - Activision has officially revealed Treyarch’s Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War.
53:44 - Arkane Lyon’s Deathloop delayed to Q2 2021.
1:00:15 - Was a Prince of Persia Remake for PS4 and Switch leaked?
1:05:12 - Thurrott: “A Closer Look at Halo Infinite’s Turbulent Journey”
1:21:10 - Lazlow Jones has left Rockstar after nearly 20 years of employment at the studio.
1:24:46 - EA Access and Origin Access are to be renamed as EA Play.
Xbox Series X will launch in November, but with a huge caveat: its marquee launch title, Halo Infinite, has been delayed into 2021. In addition, a digital-only Xbox console, the Series S, has been leaked via new controller packaging. What does this mean for the Xbox ecosystem this holiday season and beyond? We also cover some of the summer's biggest games, set expectations for DC FanDome, and discuss Yoshinori Ono's departure from Capcom.
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Music by Rukunetsu and used with permission.
TIMESTAMPS
02:15 - When will the COVID-19 madness end? When people start wearing masks!!
05:41 - What's up with Tyler and Sonic Drive-In?
10:34 - Xbox Series X launches in November 2020; Halo Infinite delayed to 2021.
19:55 - Xbox Series S hardware leaked via packaging for Microsoft's next-generation Xbox controller.
30:32 - The Verge: Fortnite delisted from Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. Epic Games files lawsuits against both companies.
39:35 - Review Rundown (Destroy All Humans!, Paper Mario, Fall Guys, Ghost of Tsushima, The Last of Us Part II, and much more).
1:00:57 - Rocksteady confirms that they’re working on a Suicide Squad game, with first details being shared at DC FanDome on August 22nd.
1:04:40 - So, what do we exactly expect from DC FanDome in terms of video game announcements? Injustice 3 incoming?
1:10:09 - Yoshinori Ono, executive producer of Capcom’s Street Fighter franchise, is
leaving Capcom after 30 years.
1:15:25 - Embracer Group (parent company of Deep Silver and THQ Nordic) has acquires including Metro developer 4A Games.
1:17:09 - Ars Technica: Electronic Arts’ shareholders have refused to increase compensation for its executive team.
1:20:00 - Lightning Round (Oceanhorn 2, Shin Megami Tensei III, Control, and more).
After several months, PlayStation's State of Play series returned with a new episode covering upcoming PS4, PS5, and PSVR titles. Without first-party titles backing the show, did Sony have enough interesting content to succeed with this presentation? Nintendo finally slates a first-party release for this fall with Pikmin 3 Deluxe. Japanese fighting game developers shared new information about their upcoming plans, and according to a trusted Capcom insider, Street Fighter VI may be having some development troubles. These news stories and much more covered on this packed episode of The Training Stage!
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Music by Rukunetsu and used with permission
TIMESTAMPS
01:26 - Tyler finished Paper Mario: The Origami King and Ghost of Tsushima. Also, Fall Guys is awesome!
12:15 - General thoughts on the August 6th edition of PlayStation State of Play
14:58 - Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time.
21:30 - Hitman trilogy is coming to PlayStation VR in January 2021.
22:44 - Braid Anniversary Edition announced.
25:03 - The Pathless from Giant Squid (Abzu).
32:25 - Spelunky 2 launching September 15th, 2020 for PS4.
34:09 - Genshin Impact, Aeon Must Die, and Anno Mutationem.
39:00 - First gameplay footage of Young Horse's (Octodad) Bugsnax.
41:17 - Star Wars: Vader Immortal, Control Expansion 2 - AWE, Auto Chess, and The Pedestrian.
44:47 - Hood: Outlaws and Legends, a new game from Focus Home Entertainment and Sumo Digital.
45:33 - Temtem arrives on PS5 in 2021.
47:40 - Godfall.
53:38 - Final thoughts regarding the State of Play presentation.
1:05:03 - Pikmin 3 Deluxe announced for Nintendo Switch. Launching October 30th, 2020 with brand new single-player content.
1:13:50 - Japan Fighting Game Publishers Roundtable recap (Soulcalibur VI, Tekken 7, and more)
1:28:44 - Dan, Rose, Oro, and Akira Kazama will be joining the Street Fighter V roster. A fifth fighter is coming next fall.
1:35:00 - What is going on at Capcom in regards to Street Fighter VI? A Capcom insider may have some answers.
1:43:15 - Spider-Man in the upcoming Marvel’s Avengers game will be exclusive to PlayStation consoles.
1:46:28 - Sony confirms that DualShock 4 controllers will not work with native PlayStation 5 titles.
1:49:58 - Lightning Round (Splinter Cell series, People Can Fly, Moon Studios, Battletoads, Persona 5 Scramble, and more)
Tyler shares his predictions and expectations for the PlayStation State of Play broadcast airing on August 6th, 2020. Babylon's Fall, Crash Bandicoot 4, Bugsnax, and much more discussed!
John delves into the current state of Blizzard's popular multiplayer shooter, Overwatch. After four years of support, how does the community feel about the game? What is the current development philosophy of Overwatch, and has the game retained its unique identity over the course of its many updates? And what does the upcoming sequel, Overwatch 2, suggest about the future of the series? John tackles these questions and more on this solo recording!
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Music by Rukunetsu and used with permission.
After their lackluster event in May, Microsoft finally returns with their Xbox Games Showcase featuring Series X's major launch title: Halo Infinite. How did Xbox do? Did they communicate the strengths of their studios? And how did this event compare to Sony's PlayStation 5 event? On this episode, we attempt to answer those questions as we delve into Xbox's most important show in years.
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Music by Rukunetsu and used with permission.
TIMESTAMPS
06:22 - Yuji Naka announces Balan Wonderworld, a new 3D platformer published by Square Enix and Naka's new "Balan Company" umbrella.
14:56 - General thoughts on the Xbox Games Showcase (July 2020)
22:47 - Halo Infinite
34:22 - State of Decay 3
38:45 - Forza Motorsport
41:39 - Everwild
45:00 - Tell Me Why (Xbox Games Publishing x DONTNOD)
48:48 - Xbox Games Studio titles receiving Series X enhancements (Ori, Gears, and more)
51:18 - Obsidian Entertainment (The Outer Worlds, Grounded, and Avowed)
56:52 - As Dusk Falls (Xbox Games Publishing x Interior/Night)
58:41 - Ninja Theory and Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
1:00:35 - Psychonauts 2
1:03:33 - Third party segment (Destiny 2, Crossfire X, The Medium, and much more)
1:10:46 - Fable from Playground Games
1:15:25 - Final thoughts about the Xbox Games Showcase
1:40:21 - Lightning Round (Dragon Quest XI, PS4 sales data, Fallout TV, and more)
For the first time in our show's history, we have produced a hybrid episode. On the first segment, Angie joins us once again to discuss the disturbing Ubisoft allegations that have surfaced in recent weeks. Then, for the rest of the episode, buckle in for a deep dive into Xbox Game Studios with Tyler. Which studios will show games during the Xbox Games Showcase on July 23rd? What about third parties? And how about Microsoft acquiring some more studios, possibly even WB Interactive?
Follow us on Twitter: @TTStage
Follow our guest Angie on Twitter: @angdacat
Music by Rukunetsu and used with permission.
TIMESTAMPS
00:08 - Opening message for this episode. What's up with the structure?
05:56 - A candid discussion about the recent Ubisoft allegations.
23:39 - What to expect from third-parties during the Xbox Games Showcase.
28:12 - A deep dive into Xbox Game Studios and their current projects.
54:46 - Future Xbox Game Studios acquistions and WB Interactive rumors.
EA's online showcase was a massive flop, so why do they continue to do their own event? We discuss all of the announcements from EA Play 2020 and attempt to find that elusive answer. On other fronts, Cyberpunk 2077 is getting an anime series, The Pokemon Company has revealed a slate of new Pokemon titles, and Crash Bandicoot is finally receiving a brand new installment. These stories and much, much more discussed on this episode!
Follow us on Twitter: @TTStage
Music by Rukunetsu and used with permission.
TIMESTAMPS
04:43 - What did we think of EA Play Live 2020?
13:41 - Apex Legends is coming to Steam and Nintendo Switch this fall with cross-play.
16:47 - The Sims 4 is coming to Steam.
23:13 - Command & Conquer: Remastered available now on Steam.
24:45 - 7 EA titles are coming to Nintendo Switch within the next year.
27:06 - EA Originals (Lost in Random, It Takes Two, Rocket Arena)
33:04 - Star Wars: Squadrons from EA Motive launches on October 2nd, 2020.
37:11 - Next-generation teasers for EA Sports, the next Dragon Age, Need for Speed, and Battlefield installments, and a new IP from Motive.
40:17 - Stake is coming back for a new console installment.
47:23 - Cyberpunk 2077 news roundup (delayed to November, Edgerunner anime from Studio TRIGGER)
56:48 - “Pokemon Presents” announcements from 6/17 and 6/24 (New Pokemon Snap, Cafe Mix, Pokemon Unite from Tencent)
1:09:28 - Bloomberg: Nintendo plans to retreat from the mobile market.
1:15:28 - CNBC: AT&T is looking into selling its gaming division, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.
1:21:43 - Mixer is shutting down; Microsoft to partner with Facebook Gaming.
1:25:39 - Facebook has acquired studio Ready at Dawn (The Order 1886, Lone Echo).
1:28:05 - Persona 4 Golden is available now on Steam.
1:32:35 - Ys IX: Monstrum Nox will be released in the west in 2021 for PS4, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
1:34:06 - Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory revealed, a new action-rhythm title coming in 2020.
1:36:16 - Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time revealed, a followup to the original Crash trilogy.
1:39:17 - Min Min from ARMS added to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as a playable fighter.
1:45:11 - Lightning Round (13 Sentinels, Horizon: Forbidden West, Animal Crossing, TWEWY, Tales of Arise, and more).
On this unscripted episode of The Training Stage, John and Tyler discuss the latest happenings in their lives, including the games they've been playing. The Last of Us Part II, Perfect Dark, Dead or Alive, Battle for Bikini Bottom, Pokemon, and much more!
Follow us on Twitter: @TTStage
Music by Rukunetsu and used with permission.
TIMESTAMPS
05:11 - Where y'all been since the PS5 games reveal?!
07:15 - RIP Tyler's PlayStation 3. Sony bricked it suspecting CFW.
29:24 - Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna - The Golden Country (Switch)
34:42 - Perfect Dark (Xbox 360)
48:16 - Castlevania (NES)
51:50 - The Last of Us Part II (PS4)
1:10:55 - SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated (PS4)
1:19:57 - John's idea for a Pokemon game.
1:39:35 - Life update from John.
1:46:50 - Dead or Alive 5 Plus (Vita)
1:56:52 - John officially gives up on repairing his Vita. RIP.
It has finally arrived: the big blowout event for the PlayStation 5. We discuss all of the big titles coming to the console, including new Spider-Man, Horizon, and Ratchet & Clank titles. We also consider how Microsoft should respond with their Series X first-party event in July.
Twitter: @TTStage
Music by Rukunetsu and used with permission.
TIMESTAMPS
01:22 - Our general thoughts on the PlayStation 5 - The Future of Gaming event.
06:01 - Grand Theft Auto V (Rockstar Games)
12:47 - Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales (Insomniac Games)
17:34 - Gran Turismo 7 (Polyphony Digital)
22:37 - Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (Insomniac Games)
27:08 - Project Athia (Luminous Productions/Square Enix)
32:28 - Stray (BlueTwelve Studio/Annapurna Interactive)
35:54 - Returnal (Housemarque)
39:37 - Sackboy: A Big Adventure (Sumo Digital)
44:05 - Destruction All Stars (Lucid Games)
47:29 - Kena: Bridge of Spirits (Ember Lab)
50:49 - Goodbye Volcano High (KO_OP)
52:30 - Oddworld: Soulstorm (Oddworld Inhabitants)
56:45 - Ghostwire: Tokyo (Tango Gameworks/Bethesda)
1:03:00 - Jett: The Far Shore (Superbrothers)
1:04:12 - Godfall (Counterplay Games/Gearbox)
1:06:30 - Solar Ash (Heart Machine/Annapurna Interactive)
1:08:31 - Hitman III (IO Interactive)
1:11:49 - Astro’s Playroom (SIE Japan Studio and Asobi Team)
1:13:39 - Little Devil Inside (Neostream)
1:15:52 - NBA 2K21 (Take-Two)
1:19:07 - Bugsnax (Young Horses)
1:20:39 - Demon’s Souls (Bluepoint Games and SIE Japan Studio)
1:24:39 - Deathloop (Arkane Lyon/Bethesda)
1:28:59 - Resident Evil Village (Capcom)
1:31:41 - Pragmata (Capcom)
1:36:06 - Horizon: Forbidden West (Guerrilla Games)
1:40:18 - PlayStation 5 hardware design and suite of accessories.
We stand in solidarity with the Black community and actively support the activists and protesters who walk the streets fighting for justice against a system of oppression that has plagued our country for too long. The first half of this episode has been devoted to having genuine dialogue about the Black Lives Matter movement and why we must demand change in our society and law enforcement.
Twitter: @TTStage
TIMESTAMPS
01:55 - A candid discussion about the Black Lives Matter movement.
26:31 - How has the video game industry responded to the BLM movement? We discuss.
49:30 - Helltaker
1:00:09 - PlayStation Vita and PC updates from John.
1:06:08 - John's Humble Choice crisis and new pickups.
1:10:06 - Tyler has been reading some manga.
1:13:45 - HBO Max and Aqua Teen Hunger Force nostalgia.
1:26:22 - Astral Chain
1:33:57 - Maneater
1:41:55 - Daemon X Machina
The summer is here and with it comes the heat. We mean heat both literally and by the amount of spicy video game news being released into the ether. Nintendo has announced a new Paper Mario, Ghost of Tsushima receives a gameplay blowout, BlizzCon is cancelled, several new gaming presentations have been announced, and Anthem remains a mess. These stories and more discussed on this episode; and all under two hours!
Twitter: @TTStage
Music by Rukunetsu and used with permission.
TIMESTAMPS
01:48 - Paper Mario: The Origami King announced for Nintendo Switch.
08:38 - A brief recap of the Ghost of Tsushima-focused State of Play presentation.
16:36 - The next State of Play will focus entirely on he Last of Us Part II.
19:31 - VGC interview with Platinum Games. What's up with Bayonetta 3?
27:46 - BlizzCon 2020 has been cancelled; company hopes to hold an event early next year.
32:38 - Several major Japanese publishers come together to produce a seven-hour streamed presentation called “New Game+ Expo.”
35:38 - The Mix and Kinda Funny present the “Guerilla Collective,” a multi-day event that promising indie game announcements.
38:55 - Summer Games Fest will present two “Days of the Devs” events on June 22nd and July 20th, highlighting upcoming independent games.
41:33 - YouTube channel Wholesome Games will host “Wholesome Direct 2020,” which will showcase a lineup of “cute, cozy, and heartfelt games.”
44:55 - PlayStation 5 news, you say? Sony says it plans to announce a “compelling lineup” of PS5 software “soon.”
52:33 - Next Level Racing, an official partner for PlayStation racing accessories, published an image on Instagram which featured a logo for Gran Turismo 7.
58:52 - Take Two plans to release 93 titles before the end of 2025.
1:01:36 - BioWare’s major overhaul of Anthem is still in the prototyping stage.
1:08:59 - Respawn Entertainment announces a second studio in Vancouver, focusing entirely on Apex Legends.
1:11:01 - Respawn boss Vince Zampella suggests that DICE LA’s original project will be a first-person shooter title.
1:13:37 - Lightning Round (Chex Quest, Serious Sam 4, Silent Hill, Pac-Man Live Studio, and more).
On his first solo episode, John discusses the legacy of EVO (Evolution Championship Series), EVO Online 2020, and the future of this beloved fighting game event.
Twitter: @TTStage
Music by Rukunetsu and used with permission.
Microsoft has lifted the lid on Xbox Series X news, which started with a "gameplay" stream focusing on third-party titles. Epic announces Unreal Engine 5 alongside an impressive tech demo for PS5. Tony Hawk Pro Staker returns this fall, several publishers reveal plans for this summer, and lots of Sony news.
Twitter: @TTStage
Music by Rukunetsu, used with permission.
TIMESTAMPS
01:13 - Coronavirus Updates
09:50 - Games Talk with John (Overwatch)
18:57 - Games Talk with Tyler (Final Fantasy VII Remake, Ori and the Will of the Wisps)
27:44 - EA Play 2020 goes digital on June 11th, promising world premieres.
34:54 - ‘Ubisoft Forward' airs on July 12th, featuring game news and reveals.
42:07 - Bloomberg: Square Enix won’t hold an online event, instead titles will be revealed on an individual basis.
46:47 - Devolver Direct 2020 is still happening.
48:25 - A recap of the Xbox Series X “gameplay” focused Inside Xbox stream.
1:14:43 - Xbox 20/20; An event in July will focus entirely on Xbox Game Studios projects.
1:18:14 - Unreal Engine 5 revealed, alongside a real-time tech demo running on PS5.
1:25:40 - PlayStation 5 is still on track for launch this holiday, according to Sony.
1:27:29 - 'PlayStation Studios' established as a new umbrella brand for first-party PlayStation titles.
1:30:17 - Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 will release on September 4th for PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
1:34:04 - EVO Online 2020 revealed; five weekends of tournaments with special content for the original lineup.
1:40:36 - Lightning Round (Iron Man VR, Cyberpunk 2077, Dragon Quest: Dai, Robocop in Mortal Kombat, and more).
Tyler shares his initial thoughts on the first trailer of Paper Mario: The Origami King, which launches July 17th, as well as Nintendo's 2020 release strategy.
Ubisoft starts the season of next-generation announcements with a big title: Assassin's Creed Valhalla. We speculate what Microsoft intends to show during their first Xbox Series X stream, and we consider the potential impact of Geoff Keighley's replacement for E3 2020. And for current-gen gaming, Sony firmly dates The Last of Us Part II and Ghost of Tsushima for PS4. These stories and more discussed on this episode!
Twitter: @TTStage
Music by Rukunetsu, used with permission.
04:41 - Review Rundown (Predator, Trials of Mana, Gears Tactics, Streets of Rage 4, and more)
21:40 - Assassin’s Creed Valhalla announced as a cross-generation title for Holiday 2020.
32:00 - Microsoft will host a new Inside Xbox event on May 7th, focusing entirely on Xbox Series X gameplay from third parties.
47:04 - VentureBeat: Nintendo is not planning a Nintendo Direct presentation for June.
57:18 - Geoff Keighley announces “Summer Game Fest,” a multiple month celebration of video games.
1:11:58 - Updated release dates for The Last of Us Part II and Ghost of Tsushima.
1:21:59 - EVO 2020 is cancelled due to COVID-19.
1:31:16 - Jason Schreier leaves Kotaku for Bloomberg News.
1:33:38 - Crysis Remastered coming to PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC this summer.
1:38:22 - Google's latest “Stadia Connect” presentation for 2020 announces EA titles, Octopath Traveler, and PUBG for Stadia.
1:45:02 - According to a former designer of The Initiative, the team is working on a game with “weapons, gadgets, and a camera surveillance system." Could this be Perfect Dark?
1:52:09 - Release dates announced for Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated and Destroy All Humans!.
1:54:35 - Lightning Round (Death Stranding, Mario Maker 2, Kirby, Gamescom, Final Fantasy VII, and more).
Join the host of The Training Stage, Tyler, for a solo-episode, around 30 minutes in length, of Animal Crossing: New Horizons discussion, focusing on the experience after the first month of playing.
Twitter: @TTStage
Music by Rukunetsu, used with permission.
On another extra long edition of the show, we are joined by a special guest: Angie from the competitive Overwatch community! We discuss MMOs, Valorant, the DualSense controller, Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 8 rumors, E3 2021, and much, much more.
Follow Angie on Twitter @angdacat!
Twitter: @TTStage
Music by Rukunetsu, used with permission.
TIMESTAMPS
04:15 - Games Talk with our guest, Angie! (Darkest Dungeon, Final Fantasy XIV, and more).
33:38 - Games Talk with John (Valorant, Overwatch, Minecraft)
1:07:20 - Some brief thoughts on Final Fantasy VII Remake.
1:12:27 - First images of the PlayStation 5’s controller, DualSense.
1:24:05 - Review Rundown (Cooking Mama, Call of Duty, Final Fantasy VII Remake).
1:42:40 - VGC Report: M-Two is working on a full remake of Resident Evil 4.
1:46:30 - Rumor: Resident Evil 8 is planned for release in early 2021 for current- and next-generation hardware.
1:53:23 - Rumor: PlayStation backs reboot of Konami’s Silent Hill franchise.
2:02:08 - The ESA has officially announced E3 2021,but there will not be a digital replacement event for E3 2020.
2:13:02 - News about ratings boards across the globe.
2:18:45 - A “Bonus Stage” announced for the Platinum4 initiative.
2:20:22 - Google is offering two months of Stadia Pro for free.
2:25:50 - Lightning Round (XCOM, Grounded, Chex Quest, Ys, and more).
PS5 and Xbox Series X specs have been detailed. Nintendo Direct Mini gives new details on upcoming Nintendo Switch titles. Reports suggest that a slate of 3D Mario titles are coming to Switch. E3 2020 is cancelled. Can you tell there was a lot to discuss on this episode? If you love our news discussions, this one is for you.
Twitter: @TTStage
Music by Rukunetsu, used with permission.
TIMESTAMPS
01:31 - A quick note regarding Kojima Productions.
04:17 - Review Rundown (Panzer Dragoon, Bleeding Edge, Resident Evil 3, and more).
22:52 - The Last of Us Part II and Marvel’s Iron Man VR have been delayed indefinitely.
38:29 - Mark Cerny reveals the official specs for PlayStation 5.
57:32 - Microsoft details new information regarding Xbox Series X, including expandable storage.
1:07:35 - A brief recap of the Nintendo Direct Mini from March 2020.
1:09:10 - Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition launches on May 29th. Includes a new epilogue chapter that can be accessed immediately.
1:10:24 - Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics slated for release on June 5th.
1:16:49 - Bravely Default II is still slated for 2020; first gameplay footage and demo available now.
1:19:04 - The next DLC fighter for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is from ARMS and will be revealed and released in June.
1:27:33 - Smaller stuff and a bunch of third party games coming to Nintendo Switch, including BioShock and Borderlands.
1:36:38 - VGC: Nintendo is planning a special remastered collection of 3D Mario titles, in addition to a deluxe version of Super Mario 3D World and a brand new Paper Mario.
1:52:58 - E3 2020 is officially cancelled over coronavirus concerns. Publishers respond.
2:09:36 - GameStop closes all U.S. locations over fears of spreading the coronavirus; shifts to a curbside pickup system.
2:13:24 - The final announcement of Platinum’s “Platinum4” initiative is...an April Fools joke.
2:15:47 - Epic Games Publishing announces a multiplatform partnership to release the next major titles from Remedy Entertainment, Playdead, and genDesign.
2:18:52 - VGC: Former PlatinumGames CEO is involved with M-Two Inc. and is allegedly working on a large-scale remake project for Capcom.
2:23:00 - NieR: Replicant is being remastered for PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
2:25:56 - Lightning Round (Overwatch, Borderlands drama, GDC, Modern Warfare 2 Remastered, Shantae, and more).
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is here and Tyler has lots to say about it. A crazy lineup of early 2020 games makes us excited for what's coming next. What will the next big game be?
Twitter: @TTStage
Music by Rukunetsu, used with permission.
TIMESTAMPS
05:57 - Games Talk with John (Mega Man Legends)
19:10 - Games Talk with Tyler (Tales of Zestiria, Animal Crossing: New Horizons)
47:51 - Review Rundown - (DOOM Eternal, Ori, Half-Life: Alyx, Animal Crossing, Persona 5 Royal)
1:17:05 - What games are next to reach this level of quality in 2020?
1:28:10 - Wait, that's it for this episode?! To be continued on Episode 66...
Ghost of Tsushima finally has a release date and we discuss how it may be 2020's unexpected hit. Sony is bringing Horizon: Zero Dawn to PC and Microsoft reveals the official specs for their upcoming Xbox Series X. Additionally, we discuss the possibility of a new Tony Hawk game and the future of GameStop.
Twitter: @TTStage
Music by Rukunetsu, used with permission.
TIMESTAMPS
03:43 - "Vita Land" with John (Mega Man Legends, Final Fantasy VII Demo)
18:36 - Games Talk with Tyler (Smash Ultimate, DOOM, Ring Fit Adventure, Tales of Zestiria)
30:29 - Ghost of Tsushima launches on June 26th, 2020 for PS4.
37:51 - Horizon: Zero Dawn is coming to PC this summer, published by Sony.
42:54 - Former Sony Santa Monica head, Shanon Studstill, to head new Stadia studio in Playa Vista.
47:20 - Xbox Series X official specs revealed by Microsoft.
56:03 - Reggie Fils-Aime joins GameStop’s Board of Directors.
59:41 - Updates on PlatinumGames’ “Platinum 4” initiative, including The Wonderful 101 Remastered and Project G.G.
1:04:31 - Square Enix is not planning to release next-generation exclusives until “somewhat further down the road.”
1:07:49 - An unannounced Star Wars game, Project Maverick, has leaked onto the PlayStation Store.
1:10:00 - The NFL and 2K announce a new partnership to produce multiple “non-simulation” football games.
1:14:01 - According to an American punk rock band, a new Tony Hawk game is planned for release in 2020.
1:18:46 - Riot Games reveals Valorant, their new 5v5 character-based tactical shooter.
1:23:15 - Adult Swim Games announce Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time.
1:27:04 - Lightning Round (DuckTales, Death Stranding on PC, The Last of Us HBO, Spawn in MK11, and more).
On this special recording, we discuss the effects of the coronavirus on the video games industry. From convention cancellations and product delays, we discuss the impact that the virus has had across the industry.
Twitter: @TTStage
Music by Rukunetsu, used with permission.
TIMESTAMPS
01:34 - A general note about the severity of the coronavirus.
06:11 - SXSW cancelled over concerns of coronavirus in the city of Austin, Texas.
14:34 - GDC postponed after several exhibitors dropped over concerns of spreading the coronavirus.
18:26 - Gamescom in Germany announces the first wave of exhibitors planning to attend their show in August.
21:34 - There are currently no plans to cancel or postpone EVO 2020. However, an event for MK11 was cancelled on the day before it was supposed to start.
30:26 - Nintendo, Microsoft, and Destiny developer Bungie are allowing employees to work from home.
32:15 - Konami has delayed the release of their upcoming TurboGrafx-16 Mini console due to the coronavirus outbreak.
34:11 - Are we prepared to see the next generation of console gaming delayed?
43:42 - What is going to happen with E3 2020?
The coronavirus reeks havoc across the globe, which has in turn affected the operations of the gaming industry. Should we be concerned about a next-gen delay? E3 2020 loses a major attendee and big publishers across the industry share plans for the future.
Twitter: @TTStage
Music by Rukunetsu, used with permission.
This podcast is available on iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker, and YouTube. Limited availability on SoundCloud, shortly after release.
TIMESTAMPS
06:39 - Coronavirus reeks havoc across the industry. Could next-gen be delayed?
15:10 - Geoff Keighley to skip E3 2020. What does it mean for the show?
22:28 - GTA co-writer Dan Houser leaves Rockstar Games.
27:27 - Schreier: Sources indicate that EA cancelled another Star Wars game, early last year.
36:31 - Need for Speed is heading back to Criterion.
38:44 - BioWare is redesigning Anthem, while also supporting the current version.
43:00 - Ubisoft plans to release five AAA games in fiscal year 2020-21.
49:40 - Activision outlines its plans for 2020, which includes a new Call of Duty.
52:54 - 2K Silicon Valley studio branded as 31st Union, with work underway on a new AAA IP.
55:14 - An update on The Wonderful 101 Remastered.
57:38 - A brief recap of the Animal Crossing: New Horizons Direct.
1:04:49 - EVO 2020 lineup revealed.
1:12:20 - Smash Ultimate's second Fighters Pass is planned to be the last round of DLC.
1:18:14 - Lightning Round (Half-Life: Alyx, Outriders, Nioh 2, Biomutant, Temtem, and more).
Platinum Games launches a new initiative, "Platinum4," starting with a crowdfunding campaign for The Wonderful 101 Remastered. Some updates on the Xbox Series X and a new project from Ninja Theory. Pokemon Home details and launch. An amazing new trailer for Final Fantasy VII Remake. All these topics and more discussed on this episode!
01:21 - When are we expecting PS5/Xbox Series X news and a Nintendo Direct?
06:38 - Tyler's thoughts on Days Gone, Bloodstained, and Indivisble.
21:23 - John's Vita update, Mega Man Legends, and the ongoing Warcraft controversy.
49:04 - Nintendo’s nine months financial briefing for FY20. Nintendo IR
58:52 - NIKKEI: Pokemon developer Game Freak appears to be moving near new Nintendo building in Tokyo.
1:04:50 - Pokemon Home launch and pricing details.
1:15:28 - Ninja Theory announces Project MARA for Xbox and PC.
1:21:40 - Brad Sams: Leaked images of the Xbox Series X are legitimate.
1:27:10 - Electronic Arts hopes to publish 14 titles over the next fiscal year.
1:30:53 - “Platinum 4” and The Wonderful 101 Remastered.
1:38:03 - Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 producer leaves Capcom.
1:39:19 - New trailer for Final Fantasy VII Remake.
1:43:31 - Lightning Round (Ori, Granblue Versus, Patapon 2, Animal Crossing, and more updates)
Final Fantasy VII Remake, Cyberpunk 2077, and more delayed in a firestorm of delays. PlayStation skips E3 2020 and Xbox confirms they are still coming to the show. Smash fans are salty over Byleth joining the roster. And could Paper Mario and Metroid be making their grand returns this year? We discuss these topics and more on this packed episode of The Training Stage!
02:40 - Vita storytime with John.
13:31 - Tyler's thoughts on Days Gone.
26:02 - Two big delays from Square Enix: Final Fantasy VII Remake and Marvel’s Avengers from Crystal Dynamics.
31:32 - Dying Light 2 delayed from its Spring 2020 window to an unspecified time.
33:49 - Cyberpunk 2077 delayed from April to September 2020.
37:38 - Any other possible game delays for early 2020?
40:57 - PlayStation is not participating in E3 2020
43:38 - Phil Spencer confirms that Xbox will be at E3 2020.
47:25 - Byleth from Fire Emblem: Three Houses is the next fighter coming to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
55:41 - Fighters Pass Vol. 2 for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
59:43 - RUMOR: Insiders are claiming a new 2D Metroid and a traditional Paper Mario are coming to Switch in 2020.
The first news episode for 2020! Nintendo streams a Pokemon Direct and announces plans for the franchise in 2020. Sony breaks records with their PS5 logo reveal. Microsoft says that Series X won't have any first-party exclusives of its own at launch. Should we be worried that Platinum is receiving money from Chinese company Tencent? Can EA turn things around for next-generation? And how will Capcom handle the launch of their next Street Fighter game? These topics/questions and much more discussed on this episode!
Follow us on Twitter @TTStage!
For episode archives and written posts, visit us on Tumblr.
https://thetrainingstage.tumblr.com/
Your hosts are Tyler (@KokiriKid3) and John (@K1NG_IC3). Music used, with permission, by Rukunetsu.
TIMESTAMPS
02:29 - Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Rescue Team DX announced for Switch.
06:01 - Game Freak details DLC plans for Pokemon Sword and Shield: “The Isle of Armor” and “The Crown of Tundra."
14:07 - Pokemon Home is set for launch in February 2020.
16:58 - Sony reveals the finalized logo for PlayStation 5.
21:03 - Jim Ryan speaks about the upcoming reveal and launch of PS5.
23:06 - No first-party exclusive releases for Xbox Series X at launch.
29:21 - Platinum Games is receiving investment from Tencent to begin self-publishing games.
34:30 - Respawn CEO, Vince Zampella, to lead EA's DICE LA and produce new, original games.
38:35 - Fan fixes Street Fighter V netcode in just two days.
Our predictions for video games in 2020 and a recap of the industry in 2019!
Follow us on Twitter @TTStage!
For episode archives and written posts, visit us on Tumblr.
https://thetrainingstage.tumblr.com/
Your hosts are Tyler (@KokiriKid3) and John (@K1NG_IC3). Music used, with permission, by Rukunetsu.
TIMESTAMPS
03:51 - A review of our 2019 predictions.
20:21 - A brief review of 2019 in gaming and Tyler's favorite games of the year.
35:46 - General media predictions for 2020.
40:19 - Tyler's overarching predictions for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
48:37 - Our ten big video game predictions for 2020.
1:09:49 - Two BOLD, unrealistic gaming predictions for 2020.
1:13:56 - Extra predictions for video games in 2020.