PlayNation Podcast: Recent Episodes
PlayNation Podcast
PlayNation Podcast is a PlayStation podcast created by two fans of PlayStation, Joe Quinn and Micah Magruder. We answer big questions, tough questions, silly questions and have fun with this podcast cause that's what gaming is supposed to be about.
Those guys are back? We never left! Welcome to Episode 36, where we talk about all things PlayStation. In this episode we cover:
PlayStation PC is an official Sony brand. With Days Gone, Horizon: Zero Dawn having gone to PC, and soon to be joined by God of War and Uncharted, what does this mean for beloved Sony franchises coming to PC.
Sony had another State of Play in October and we break down our reactions and what we are looking forward to the most.
Finally, the end of the year is coming and with that comes the accolades for the Game of the Year. We think Returnal is a strong contender, but what other games are in the running? We break it down.
As always, you can find the podcast on Twitter or reach out to us through email for any questions or comments.
Welcome back to the PlayNation Podcast. We never went anywhere, just been enjoying the summer and we hope you were too. In this episode we talk about:
The PlayStation Showcase. Did it live up to the hype or leave you wanting more? We want to know what you thought but we’ll break down our first impressions and what’s got us excited.
2021 is looking a little bleak when it comes to game releases, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing. We talk out what Joe and Micah are most interested in.
Lastly, we talk about Sony shooting themselves in the foot(again) about their upgrade fees. Why are fans upset about this and why did Sony backtrack?
As always, you can find the podcast on Twitter or reach out to us through email for any questions or comments.
We are back from vacation and both well rested and ready to get back to recording. In this episode we discuss the rumors, confirmed by a few journalists, that Horizon Forbidden West is delayed til 2022. What does this mean? Is it true if it’s not confirmed by Sony?
It’s official for Sony – PS5 has sold 10 million units. Big news for Sony, but why does it seem like it’s such a scarce resource? Will it eventually hit 100 million units?
Finally, we break down this interview GamesIndustry.biz had with Shawn Layden. So much to unpack from this interview and we break it all down.
As always, you can find the podcast on Twitter or reach out to us through email for any questions or comments.
Episode 33 starts off with a disappointing story about workplace harassment at Activision Blizzard. We break down the complaint, Activision’s response and our thoughts on where this can and should go next.
We also learn that Netflix is interested in video games for the first time. What are their plans and what could the future look like?
Finally, Joe breaks down his review over Scarlet Nexus. Should you get this game now or wait for a sell?
As always, you can find the podcast on Twitter or reach out to us through email for any questions or comments.
Episode 32 is out and while it’s a fairly slow PlayStation news week, that doesn’t mean the rest of the game industry is sleeping. As always, we review three different topics and look at it through the lens of PlayStation and more importantly, gamers.
Nintendo has announced the Nintendo Switch OLED, the successor to the Nintendo Switch. Is it all it’s cracked up to be? Should you upgrade?
Steam has also announced a new entry into the handheld market, the SteamDeck. Is it a gaming computer? Is it a handheld? We break it down.
Lastly, we talk about a Twitter kerfuffle happening where some game journalists review games on easy and won’t review it on hard. Do you care about this? Does it matter and how much power do gaming journalists have in the face of new media personalities?
As always, you can find the podcast on Twitter or reach out to us through email for any questions or comments.
Episode 31 is our LONGEST episode yet. Joe and Micah break down the latest State of Play, which includes several indie titles and the upcoming Deathloop.
We also talk about the July PS Plus Games: A Plague Tale Innocence, Call of Duty Black Ops 4 and WWE 2K Battlegrounds.
Lastly, we talk about Ubisoft’s plans for Assassin’s Creed with their current project called Infinity, a “live service” game. We break down what this means for the franchise and how good or bad this could be.
As always, you can find the podcast on Twitter or reach out to us through email for any questions or comments.
In this episode, Joe and Micah celebrate and welcome Housemarque into the Sony family. We break down what this means and how it happened.
We talk about our predictions for the next state of play. Will Sony clap back to all the positive news at E3?
Finally, we go down a path we haven’t before and talk about game emulation – the ethics, legality and what we think about it.
As always, you can find the podcast on Twitter or reach out to us through email for any questions or comments.
Welcome to the 29th episode of the PlayNation Podcast. In this episode, while Micah is away, Joe is hard at work making sure we keep our weekly episode streak going. Joining him in the studio is the queen of PlayStation (no connection to the king of PlayStation), the arcade girl herself, Erica Quinn.
Joe & Erica also review Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart and Joe’s final thoughts on this game.
Finally, Joe & Erica talk about women in gaming.
As always, you can find the podcast on Twitter or reach out to us through email for any questions or comments.
In this episode, Joe and Micah break down our reactions to E3 and our analysis of the overall show. We then break down how Xbox and Nintendo did in topic 2 and 3.
As always, you can find the podcast on Twitter or reach out to us through email for any questions or comments.
In this episode, Joe and Micah preview three upcoming gaming events. The first topic is an interdimensional rift is appearing across PlayStation 5 consoles everywhere as Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart is released on June 11. We break down the recent review embargo being lifted and what are thoughts are.
The E3 schedule and lineup has been finalized. What are we looking forward to most and what kind of surprises will be in store for us?
Finally, we talk the Summer GameFest and how this all relates to E3. Summer 2021 is looking to be a very good season for gamers as we get new releases and have more to look forward to.
As always, you can find the podcast on Twitter or reach out to us through email for any questions or comments.
In episode 26, we break down the latest in PlayStation news and it pains us to even have to talk about the first topic. Guerrilla Games has made our favorite character Aloy look like…Aloy? We break down what this face/body double standard is all about.
More painful but in the long run good news – Ragnarok is delayed. Head of Sony Studios Herman Hulst has said that quality and employee sanity will come first as they bring games to us. Will Horizon Forbidden West make the holiday season timeline they have planned for?
Finally, we talk June PS Plus games – Operation: Tango, Star Wars: Squadrons and Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate Showdown
As always, you can find the podcast on Twitter or reach out to us through email for any questions or comments.
Happy 25th Episodeversary to us. Big milestone for our podcast as we reach the big TWO FIVE. In this episode, we break down three topics as always:
Horizon Forbidden West Gameplay Demo. If you haven’t checked it out, make sure you watch it in all it’s 4K glory. We break down our initial thoughts and what we hope to see in the future.
Sony’s Investor Relations Day laid out Sony’s strategy for all its businesses and we got a taste of where they see the PlayStation brand going in the future.
Finally, we talk about difficulty in gaming. How hard is too hard and at one point do you just quit on a game?
As always, you can find the podcast on Twitter or reach out to us through email for any questions or comments.
In episode 24, we break down what we know about this year’s E3 which is scheduled from June 12 – June 15. Who will be there, what will be announced? We know who but we can only guess as to what we will see.
We break down the latest news from Head of PlayStation Studios Herman Hulst that over 25 PlayStation exclusives are in development at this time. Will they be big blockbuster smashes, new IPs, what can fans of the franchise expect to see?
Finally, we talk the new DualSense colors being released – Cosmic Red and Midnight Black. Is Sony opening up to new customization? Is this part of their future strategy?
As always, you can find the podcast on Twitter or reach out to us through email for any questions or comments.
In episode 23, Joe and Micah break down the Epic v Apple court case and we discuss some of the juicy bits of info that have been leaked to the public regarding Sony and a few others in the industry.
May PS Plus games include Battlefield V, Wreckfest and Stranded Deep. We talk about the value of these games and which ones we’ll be giving a try.
Finally, we revisit the global chip shortage that’s affecting every industry, but notably gamers. PS5 will continue to be a difficult item to get but compared to the last console cycle, is it really that difficult?
As always, you can find the podcast on Twitter or reach out to us through email for any questions or comments.
In this week’s episode of the PlayNation Podcast, Micah and Joe review the long awaited Returnal, released on April 30. What do we think of the game, what does the community think of the game? All answered and more.
We talk the Ratchet & Clank State of Play. Rift Apart comes out June 11 and it looks to be utilizing every aspect of the PlayStation 5 that it can.
Finally, we talk the big news of Sony integrating Discord within the PlayStation ecosystem. What will this mean for gamers and what would these possible integrations look like?
As always, you can find the podcast on Twitter or reach out to us through email for any questions or comments.
It’s a celebration as the PlayNation Podcast has hit 21 episodes. That’s 2100% more episodes, 7 x 3 episodes, ready to party for a little bit as we head into the weekend with the biggest PS5 title to be released so far.
We talk Returnal and all the reviews coming in are getting us…pretty excited. We break it down and let you know how hyped we are. What is your current hype level about Returnal? Will you be buying day 1?
We talk Firewalk Studios being formed to create a new AAA multiplayer game exclusive for PS5. Firewalk has many veterans who have worked on AAA games, including Destiny. What will we see from this new IP?
Finally, we talk the trademark of PlayStation Home being renewed. Is this a strategic move to protect their brand or does Sony have some tricks up their sleeve?
As always, you can find the podcast on Twitter or reach out to us through email for any questions or comments.
Here we are at the big TWO OH, Episode 20. Another incremented number, no more special than the previous number, but special just because it exists. In this episode, we rejoice with Vita Island that Sony has reversed their decision to close the PS3 and PS Vita stores this summer. The PSP store will take its last breath, as scheduled. We break down what this means and why Sony took so long to reverse their decision.
We take a sneak peak at the Returnal Trophy list and try to keep spoilers as free as possible. Is this an “EASY” trophy list, a “GOOD” trophy list and does it help us determine what kind of game we’ll be playing soon?
Finally, we look at some recent data from gamesindustry.biz that shows that US game spending is still UP over the past few months. Are we in a game spending bubble? Will this crash at some point and will the rise of subscription services like PS Now or Game Pass contribute to the decline?
As always, you can find the podcast on Twitter or reach out to us through email for any questions or comments.
Here we are at episode 19, 1 more episode away from the big two oh, but no less important. In this episode we talk out the recent Jason Schreier article about Days Gone 2 being rejected and how Sony is swinging for the fences on every new game.
We talk out PS Plus Games, which are worth it, and will this make up for Xbox Game Pass snagging MLB The Show 21?
Finally, we talk out lootboxes. Recent studies in the UK state that teens have a difficult time gauging and remembering how much money they spend on lootboxes. Are lootboxes gambling? Do they require regulation? We talk it out.
As always, you can find the podcast on Twitter or reach out to us through email for any questions or comments.
Welcome to Episode 18 and in this episode, we gotta be honest – Sony has had a very bad couple weeks of press coverage. Between Vita store closings, Xbox Game Pass hitting home runs and E3 returning without Sony, it is making us wonder what’s going on for our beloved console. As always we dig into three topics and for this episode we talk about:
MLB The Show ’21 is now a cross platform game being produced by Sony first party AND it is available day one on Xbox Game Pass. How could Sony have let this happen, could they have even stopped this and what are fans thinking about this move?
We dig deeper into Microsoft’s big play with Game Pass and Sony’s response, or lack of. We know that Jim Ryan has said there is a Game Pass answer coming and they are not ready to reveal it but will Xbox be making big strides while Sony is left behind?
Finally, we talk about E3 returning with Microsoft, Nintendo and others sponsoring, but who is conspicuously absent? Our beloved franchise, Sony. Is Sony skipping out on E3 again? Will they be hosting their own event to give fans what they crave?
We break it all down and more. As always, you can reach out to us on Twitter or through the podcast email. We always look forward to hearing from our listeners their thoughts on the episode and would love to entertain listener questions.
In this episode, we have a long time fan of the show joining us as a special guest. She is known by many names, but for Joe she is his partner for life and co-op madness. Erica Quinn joins us in the studio to help us review “It Takes Two”.
We also talk the Ghost of Tsushima film adaptation that is planned. How does Sony keep producing IPs that have crossover appeal to new media formats?
And finally, we talk some unfortunate news about the global chip shortage continuing and what that will mean for you in trying to get a PS5.
Welcome to Episode 16, in this exciting episode we break down the unfortunate and unconfirmed rumors that Sony is planning to shut down the PS3, PSP and PS Vita stores this summer. Why hasn’t Sony responded? Is there truth in the rumor and if so, what does this mean for Sony fans?
Sony also gave us a sneak peak at the PSVR2 controllers. We break down their design and imagine about what functionality they might have in a future game.
Finally, Sony surprised some by their purchase of the e-sports company Evo. What will this mean for the future of Evo, e-sports and this evolving scene?
As always, contact us on the Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Discord or directly via show@playnationpod.com. We always look forward to hearing from you.
Welcome to Episode 15, now with 1500% more Joe & Micah. In this episode, we break down Jade Raymond’s newly created and independent Haven Studios and the deal with Sony to create a new IP. What would a new IP from a Jade Raymond owned studio look like?
Microsoft’s acquisition of Bethesda is done thanks to EU regulators. What does this mean? We break it down and what we’re looking out for in the future.
Finally, a nostalgia trip in the announcement of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge – a classic, action packed beat-em-up brawler that will remind all the 80s/90s kids of quarters spent in the arcade.
To the nation, as always, thank you for listening and be sure to hit us up on all our socials to let us know what you think of this episode.
Welcome to Episode 14. In this episode, we discuss WB Games’ Troy Leavitt leaving Hogwarts Legacy, seemingly over comments and videos made on his YouTube channel. We discuss March PS Plus Games and which ones we’ll be playing. Finally, we talk some of the rumors about the Nintendo Switch Pro and why it is we care about this so much.
Welcome to episode 13 of the PlayNation Podcast. In this episode, Joe and Micah discuss the latest PlayStation State of Play and our reactions to the games shown and how excited we are. We also go in depth to talk about Persona 5 Strikers and finally we discuss the closure and consolidation of the iconic Sony Studios Japan development team.
Welcome to episode 12 of the PlayNation Podcast. In this episode, we discuss the upcoming tactical shooter “Six Days In Fallujah” and mostly the controversy around this title. We also discuss the upcoming Nintendo Direct and wonder what are Sony’s plans to response. Lastly, we talk about the PlayStation Play At Home announcement, as well as breaking news while we are recording that the State of Play will be on Thursday February 25. We are looking forward to that and reacting in our next episode along with you.
Welcome to Episode 11, 1100% more episodes in total. In this episode we talk:
Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart release date announced, a PS5 exclusive.
MLB The Show 21 available on PS4, PS5…and Xbox???
Joel and Ellie cast for The Last of Us series on HBO
PlayNation nation we have made the big TEN OH episodes with the release of Episode 10. 1000% more episodes and it’s a doozy. We’ve got:
CJ Chris Johnston sits down with Joe and Micah and we talk about his career in games journalism and Second Player.
We talk February’s amazing PS Plus games and which ones we’ll be playing.
Finally, we talk official PS5 sales numbers as they are finally released.
Make sure to send those comments or questions in to show@playnationpodcast.com so we can always keep our pulse on what it is you want to hear.
Surprise drop! Episode 9 is here and we could not wait til Wednesday to publish. In this episode we talk about the big news of the week:
GameStop and stock trading. What does this speak to for gamers and everyday people in general? Joe and Micah talk out this wild story that’s starting out the year 2021.
We also talk about the upcoming Returnal being delayed six weeks til April 30. Is this a cause for concern or expected in these pandemic times?
Lastly, we talk refund policies for digital content and how this leads to consumer confidence in a product. How does PlayStation compare to others?
Welcome to Episode 8 and within this episode we’ve got a great rundown of the big news starting with the Resident Evil Showcase, showing off Resident Evil 8 and Resident Evil Re:Verse.
Our second topic is regarding Game Services like PS Plus, PS Now and how our friends at Microsoft really bungled Xbox Live by trying to increase pricing.
Finally, we break down our top 3 picks for PS Now. What games do you like playing from this fantastic service?
As always, you can reach us at show@playnationpodcast.com.
In this episode, Joe and Micah discuss the big gaming news of the week that just so happens to be related to successful, beloved movie franchises.
In our first topic, we talk about Massive Entertainment, an Ubisoft studio, producing a Star Wars game. This marks a departure from the EA license agreement and as the developer is well known for their Division series of games, what kind of game will this be? Is this a reflection on EA’s handling of the Star Wars IP?
Lucasfilm Games and Bethesda announce an Indiana Jones game to be developed by MachineGames. MachineGames is known for their hit series Wolfenstein and sequels.
Finally, the first casualty of delays for 2021 is Hogwarts Legacy. What does this mean for the game? Should there be concern for a delay til 2022? If you have any questions you want to write in, please do so through show@playnationpodcast.com or reach us on Twitter through our handle PlayNationPod.
In episode 6, Joe and Micah talk about our most anticipated games of 2021. What are your most anticipated games?
We talk about the PS4 Pro being discontinued in Japan and will this lead to more availability for the PlayStation 5?
Lastly, we talk about nostalgia. Every gamer gets to a point in their life when they long for the past. What makes you nostalgic?
Special shoutout to Second Player for giving us a listen and a feature on their website. If you’re looking for new content to consume, they are your source to listen out for episode synopses and finding that content.
Welcome to the 5th episode and the New Year episode. In this episode we discuss:
Holiday Gaming Habits – What holiday inspired gaming habits have you picked up over the years?
Our favorite games of 2020 – what stood out, was this the year of the PS4 or the PS5 or both?
What will 2021 look like for the PlayNation Podcast. We talk about our plans for this podcast and what we hope to be able to do for the future as we keep growing this audience.
As always, you can reach us through the website or directly at show@playnationpodcast.com. Be sure to engage with us on Twitter or Facebook and until next time, keep gaming.
Welcome to the exciting episode four of PlayNation Podcast. In this episode we go over the results of last week’s game awards and discuss some of the big announcents. We discuss toxicity in gaming, particularly around The Last of Us Part II and the reception that game has received despite being a Game of the Year contender. We also dive into some of the Cyberpunk 2077 reviews and try to analyze what went right and what went wrong with CD Projekt Red’s latest launch.
Be sure to write in any questions to show@playnationpodcast.
In this episode, Joe and Micah discuss and review the smash hit Sackboy: A Big Adventure, released on November 12 for PS4 and PS5. We discuss the upcoming Game Awards, a celebration of gaming achievement and make our predictions in the top categories. We also discuss the internal leak on Sony’s big push for single player gaming, as reported by Vice, and how the Activities UI became a cornerstone of the PS5 UI.
If you would like to contribute to the show with your question, please reach out on our website or email us at show@playnationpodcast.com. We would LOVE to hear from you.
Special Thanks:
Art by Erica Flannery
Intro by MokBeatz
Edited by Micah Magruder
Produced by Joe Quinn
Welcome to Episode 2 of the PlayNation Podcast. In this episode, we review Marvel’s Spiderman: Miles Morales and ask the question – how important is ethnic, cultural and skin color representation in games?
We take a deep look at PlayStation Now vs Xbox Game Pass. Both services offer a great showcase, but which is the better value? How important is backwards compatibility to you in your gaming experience?
Finally, we take a look at trophy hunting and shout out to trophy hunters everywhere.
Special Thanks:
Art by Erica Flannery
Intro by MokBeatz
Edited by Micah Magruder
Produced by Joe Quinn
Welcome to the maiden voyage of the PlayNation Podcast. Joe and Micah are excited you decided to take a listen. In this episode, we give introductions to who we are, review the PlayStation 5, discuss the launch lineup and answer the big question: are the console wars back?
Send questions to show@playnationpodcast.com or check us out on our website.
Credits:
Art by Erica Flannery
Intro by MokBeatz
Edited by Micah Magruder
Produced by Joe Quinn