Video Games 2 The Max

PlayStation has had an interesting year, where its smaller output in terms of first-party releases has not hurt it at all in terms of console sales. The gaming giant has made several future-facing announcements, one of which includes the existence of PlayStation 6 not that far down the line. Sean and Marc look into PlayStation's year from its games to its other media endeavors and what things look like heading into the looming 2026. An interesting take from Strauss Zelnick that we are headed to a PC future may mean that Xbox is right? But will it be the leader on that end? As two different anecdotal reports state that the recently announced Steam Machine may not be as price-friendly as many were hoping it would be. Could it be compounded by this ongoing memory shortage? Also, Xbox had its Partner Preview event, which included an interesting list of games. Not to mention, its weird announcement of Xbox Crocs that came out today as well. Marc has spent some time with Once Upon a Katamari, Call of Duty: Black O

In a week full of news, Valve perhaps delivered the most shocking one with the announcement of a Steam controller, a VR headset, the Steam Frame, and the return of the Steam Machine. Can the new, more powerful, and proprietary versions of these devices finally spark a living room movement for PCs? Could this actually be in retail stores? And how much does this hurt Xbox being beaten to the space? The Game Awards 2025 Nominations are out, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 leads the way with 12 nominations, including for Game of the Year and both of the Indie GOTY awards as well. They are also nominated for Indie Game of the Year at the Indie Awards. So, is it really an indie? And what about the rest of the lineup? Were there some major snubs? Plus, Sean tried the Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 campaign, and he was not happy with it being always online. Red Dead Redemption is finally appearing on current consoles, Pokemon Pokeopia gets a release date, but also a reveal that its a Game Key Card. Ubisoft canceled a Spli

In just one week, both officially and unofficially, Sony may have signaled that they, too, are looking towards the future with the PlayStation 6, and they've done so by fully unlocking Cloud Streaming on the PlayStation Portal as well. Is the PlayStation Portal now the best value in all of gaming? Plus, could Sony truly be exploring Cross-Buy with their PC Games? Or even introducing a PlayStation PC Storefront? Sean and Marc discuss what this could mean for PS6. We are also doing a special segment this week discussing the 10 Games That Define Us. How many RPGs are going to show up on Sean's list? Will Marc have a Sonic game on his? And which Resident Evil is Randy going to choose? Definitely worth checking out for sure.Plus, Rockstar has delayed Grand Theft Auto VI until November 19, 2025, a report from Bloomberg also alleges Rockstar may have fired over 30 employees for union busting. Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch 1 keep hitting milestones, more game delays, more layoffs, Overcooked getting a reality show, an

It feels like it just never ends with Xbox in the news, as hot off the heels of the major announcement of HALO going to PlayStation 5 with HALO: Campaign Evolved, comes some news that a Halo 2 and Halo 3 version of the same may also be in development. Plus, some news on the canceled HALO MMO that never was, and how is Don Mattrick involved? Sean and Marc discuss, plus Sean has some highlights from the latest ID @ Xbox showcase, and is gaming competing with movies and TikTok?Nintendo, of course, has been all in the news, whether it is great news about Pokémon Z-A sales or others complaining about the game, some may have lost track that Nintendo just keeps delivering the hits. Add on another potential big seller with the revival of Animal Crossing: New Horizons getting a big free update and a Nintendo Switch Edition. Is Marc ready to go back to his island? Plus, more on PowerWash Simulator 2, Dan Houser revealed why Agent was never released, another person who says Grand Theft Auto VI should be $100, Rockstar c

A big announcement was expected during the HALO Championship Series, and it certainly delivered, as one of the worst-kept secrets in gaming finally became real: the HALO Combat Evolved remake has evolved into HALO Campaign Evolved. Where all of the story levels are remade in Unreal Engine, a new set of prequel levels is added with Sgt Johnson and Master Chief, and it is also coming to PlayStation 5. Set to make its series debut on the console at some point in 2026. Does Sean feel anything for this? Also, Sarah Bond echoes the sentiments of console exclusives being old hat, but Sony and Nintendo would beg to differ, as they continue to pump them out for their consoles. But will it really make a difference for the "Premium" console/hybrid that Microsoft is planning as the next and perhaps final "Xbox"? Marc certainly has some thoughts here. Plus, Marc has been playing PowerWash Simulator 2 and Wreckreation, Sean has spent more time in Ivalice with Final Fantasy Tactics. Shawn Layden says Free-to-Play are "not r

The future of the Xbox platform is real, as the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X are out in the wild and the reviews are all over the place. And while Sean and Marc have not been able to use it themselves, there is a discussion to be had about the various impressions from others about the device and if it could ever get to a point of delivering the true PC/Console Hybrid experience. Sean also played the newest release from Xbox and Double Fine Studios in Keeper. Marc is playing some Redacted games, but is also playing more Hades 2 as well. Plus, a major departure from the Assassin's Creed franchise, the end of Windows 10 support, Sarah Bond confirms next-gen is happening, Quantic Dream is working on a multiplayer game, Battlefield 6 sells well, and more! You can also watch this episode in video form on the W2M Network Youtube Channel, please give us a like, comment on the episode, and give the channel a subscribe and follow as well: https://youtube.com/live/kT0v67OcTX8

Next-gen console rumors are certainly simmering, as both PlayStation and Xbox have had news emerge regarding their potential console or console-like device, potentially releasing as early as 2027. This may mean we get more compelling real news even in 2026. But is it too early for next-gen? Or does it just seem that way? Do we even need Next-Gen as soon as 2027? Sean and Marc discuss this and more. Compound this with news from Circana about the number of games the majority of gamers buy, and it is yet another telling story about why things may be the way they are for AAA gaming. Does this concern the duo? Or is it just kind of how it's always been, and we just didn't have all these datapoints before? Plus, Marc has more thoughts on Hades 2, Sean's been playing Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, and Little Nightmares 3. Is Xbox done at Target and Walmart too? Ubisoft's canceled Assassin's Creed Civil War game, Nintendo Switch 2 keeps selling, and much more! You can also watch this episode in video

The inevitable has occurred for Xbox gamers, as now the "Best Deal in Gaming" Xbox Game Pass Ultimate skyrockets up in price by 50% to $30 a month in the United States, and even more in other regions. PC Game Pass went up to $16.50 as well. The question now is, is it still worth it? Well, the rush to cancel Game Pass was big enough to crash the cancellation page. Is this the sign of the end? Or is it once again a lot of grandstanding to wind up returning? Sean and Marc discuss their thoughts on the situation, and could Call of Duty be the biggest reason for this change? The dooming did not end there as another rumor quickly began to spread that Microsoft would be introducing a free ad tier of Xbox Cloud and even be done with hardware entirely, which Microsoft actually came out and refuted. Will Xbox actually have a console in 2027/2028? Or are we just waiting for more bad news down the line? Plus, aside from all of the Xbox stuff, the PS5 Dualsense may get a replaceable battery, Rock Band 4 is delisted from d

Just when you think it may be a great week to celebrate games, here comes a huge gaming business deal that has the potential to change the fortunes of a major gaming publisher. Announced on Monday, EA was taken private for $55 billion by the Saudi Arabia Private Investment Fund and two other private investment firms. Sean and Marc discuss what this could mean for EA, its employees, and could some of EA's big franchises could go down in the wake of this. There was a major gaming convention this weekend in the Tokyo Game Show, which featured a State of Play from PlayStation, a TGS Showcase from Xbox, Annapurna Interactive having a mini showcase, a PC Gaming showcase, and much more. The duo discusses their favorite announcements from some of the shows. Plus, Sean and Marc have both been playing Hades 2, Marc's been playing Silent Hill F, the Xbox ROG Ally & Xbox ROG Ally X have official prices and already sold out in many places, Doug Bowser is retiring at Nintendo, and another developer talks Game Key Cards

It feels like deja vu has hit all over again, with Microsoft announcing yet another price increase on Xbox consoles. Is it really all about macroeconomic conditions? Should we be concerned about what the next-gen Xbox console will actually become? Do Sean and Marc have concerns that there could even be one at this rate? And why haven't Microsoft revealed the price of the ROG Xbox handhelds yet, with less than a month to go now before they go on sale? At least there's some positive news about Xbox Game Pass for once, maybe? On the Sony side of things, Tencent has fired back that Horizon devs at one point expressed concerns about the game being very similar to another gaming series. Are they right? Or is Tencent just grasping at straws? How hyped or not hyped are we for Ghost of Yotei as we inch ever closer to its release? And will we ever get that Bloodborne remake? Plus, an instant reaction to the first trailer to Palworld Devs new game, Palfarm. Borderlands has sold well despite all the performance controver

Nintendo surprised with an announcement of a 60-minute Nintendo Direct that happened on Friday, and boy did they have some things to announce, including the title of the next Mario Movie being Super Mario Galaxy, a new Fire Emblem game, the release date for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, and a heck of a lot more. Sean and Marc discuss their favorite things from the Big Direct. Was it Fire? Or was it a bit of a smokescreen? Also, Nintendo was awarded a patent in the United States for summoning a monster to battle for you and there's concern this could lead to more patenting of concepts in gaming, but will this be something Nintendo actually uses against other game developers to prevent their games from releasing? Plus, Sean played the demo of Digimon Story: Time Stranger and beat Mafia: The Old Country, Marc is stuck on farming sims, Wolverine could release in 2026, a new report from Newzoo suggests that there's an optimal time to release from early access, and more on this edition of Video Games 2 the MAX! You can

After years of waiting and anticipation building for its ultimate release, Hollow Knight Silksong is FINALLY out, and Sean has played at least the first few areas. How is this game for newcomers to the series? Does it make it easy to get into the flow of things? And how long does it take to get difficult? (Not very long). Once again, Xbox Game Pass is under fire this time from former Xbox executives who are concerned about its effects on first-party developers and what it means for returns for the actual game makers compared to what they would receive in the traditional model, where gamers would buy the games instead. Is this the true killer of gaming? Or is it actually something else that gets brought up less (Free-to-Play Games, maybe? Also, Marc has more on WWE 2K25, MachineGames says the New Wolfenstein is meant to be a trilogy, Nintendo wins yet another lawsuit against Emulation, Ubisoft brings a unique perspective to the Game Keycard debate, PlayStation 6 is getting a detachable drive at launch, Life is

Apologies for being a day late, as the Labor Day holiday delayed the episode. But at least there's plenty to discuss on this episode, mainly PlayStation, as a leak has surfaced from the reliable Moore's Law is Dead, stating that the PlayStation 6 Portable could be available at the launch of the console and will be presented as its own unique SKU, and not tied to the console like the PS Portal. Is this forward-thinking by Sony? Or could this become another Series S-type situation? Sean and Marc discuss it all. Also, does the departure of the Fairgames Creative Director count as catching failure early or late in the process? Hermen Hulst gave an interview discussing the failure of Concord and how they want to avoid that at all costs in the future. Plus, Marc has finished Donkey Kong Bananza, Sean keeps moseying along in Mafia: The Old Country, Xbox also has its own news with a Call of Duty movie in the works at Paramount, layoff fears at Candy Crush maker King, and Take-Two almost saved Perfect Dark, Nintendo b

Post Gamescom 2025, there are even more games coming soon, whether it be this holiday season or beyond into 2026. Perhaps the most anticipated title of all, Hollow Knight Silksong FINALLY has a release date and its soon on September 4. Is this giving Sean and Marc the itch to play the first one again? Are they excited about the game? And will it deliver on all the hype? Sean's also been playing Mafia: The Old Country, and Marc's also been checking out Donkey Kong Bananza, WWE 2K25, and has his first thoughts on the Nintendo Switch 2 as well. Plus, Pete Parsons leaves Bungie, more news on the Xbox ROG Ally, what could be in the rumored September Nintendo Direct, and more on this edition of Video Games 2 the MAX! You can also watch this episode in video form on the W2M Network Youtube Channel, please give us a like, comment on the episode, and give the channel a subscribe and follow as well: https://youtube.com/live/Kn8Bgyo_1sI

On a day we don't normally do an episode, Sean and Marc discuss the Gamescom Opening Night Live event and which announcements they are excited about from the show. But also, was it something you really need to go out of your way to see? Plus, PlayStation 5 price increases in the USA, Shawn Layden says prices should already be $80 because they should have increased with each console generation, The Kirby Air Riders Direct, Helldivers 2 and HALO ODST are getting a collab, and much more on this shortened episode of Video Games 2 the MAXYou can also watch this episode in video form on the W2M Network Youtube Channel, please give us a like, comment on the episode, and give the channel a subscribe and follow as well: https://youtube.com/live/fwN_bu7XTg4

Well, it was an interesting week for gaming with Nintendo unveiling their latest Indie World and the prize of that showcase was assuredly Mina the Hollower, and the best part was that a demo was availabe immediately, so Sean gave the game a whirl and he's defintely excited for October 31 to get here quickly. Also, Sony has fantastic PS5 sales, essentially putting them right in line with PS4 numbers, while their CFO makes some interesting statements regarding live service games and a "movement away from hardware and towards creation" that got hardcore gamers all kinds of nervous. Plus, Embracer brings back RedOctane. Are Guitar Rhythm games about to make a comeback? Microsoft cancels yet another game with Contraband getting the axe, and more! You can also watch this episode in video form on the W2M Network Youtube Channel, please give us a like, comment on the episode, and give the channel a subscribe and follow as well: https://youtube.com/live/lZjwATkwAcs

The beginning of a new month brings with it a sense of excitement about what lies ahead, while also putting the previous month's issues in the rear view. However, for Nintendo, there's one thing that seemingly will not go away, and that's the controversy regarding Game Key Cards. Physical game collectors like Marc are not happy about the half-measure that allows third-party publishers to save money, while somewhat providing a physical version of the game. Sean wonders if it really is as big a deal as everyone's making it out to be. Also, the duo also discusses the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase, which seemingly lit a fire under the issue, as well as bringing another one about the lack of Switch 2 devkits too. Sean also played two demos from that direct the Adventures of Elliot and Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, along with Ninja Gaiden Ragebound, while Marc finally got to check out Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.Plus, more Xbox games are coming to PlayStation amid good news regarding Xbox Game Pass and i

In a week full of news, there are standouts from each of the big three. A job listing includes Sony, multiplatform, and both Xbox and Nintendo? What's this all about, and does it really mean Sony is going to join Microsoft in bringing more of its games to more places? Or is this really just an extension of the live service initiative? Sean and Marc discuss the possibilities and do PlayStation fans need to get ready for the console wars to truly be meaningless? On the Xbox side of things, a major about-face comes as a surprise as the push towards $80 games is no more, at least for the time being, with the announcement that Outerworlds 2, Ninja Gaiden 4, and the rest of Xbox's holiday slate will go back to being $70. Will this spur a big batch of preorders for these games? Or should Microsoft have stuck to the original plan? Nintendo also got a major sales data boon as the Nintendo Switch 2 sold 1.6 million in the United States alone. Mario Kart World also performed super well, and even third-party titles like

It's safe to say that Sean has gone Bananas for Donkey Kong Bananza as he has impressions of the first weekend with the game. How fun is all the destruction? Do the transformations make it even better? And does it deserve the Game of the Year hype it is already getting? There are plenty of other things, mainly from the Xbox and Ubisoft side. Xbox adds games and features, along with perhaps even greenlighting Fallout 5 already? But did it come at a high cost? Sean and Marc discuss. Ubisoft also finally made it official with their first "Creative House" that puts their biggest franchises in a different company, while pretty much everything else stays with Ubisoft. What does it all mean? And does it really make a difference in the long run? Nintendo also cast its two leads for the 2027 Legend of Zelda live-action movie, the Mortal Kombat II Trailer dropped, Ubisoft has greenlit the Assassin's Creed live-action Netflix series, the saga continues for Subnautica 2, and much more on this episode of Video Games 2 the

After the shock of last week, the fallout from the major Xbox layoffs continues in a figurative and literal sense. It's come to light, thanks to Video Games Chronicle, that there are multiple Fallout Games in Development from Bethesda. But even with this report, can we have any faith in Microsoft and Xbox that these games will even come out? Why sales data for the last few months may cement the direction Xbox takes.Also, the Ghost of Yotei State of Play showcased how the game differs from Ghost of Tsushima, while it also retains many similarities to the game that preceded it. Is there too much focus on sequels needing to innovate or be different than the first game? Is it bad that a game is just "more of that?"Plus, a Donkey Kong movie could be one of the several film projects Nintendo has coming up, and does it diminish Sean's hype for the game that it was initially created for Switch 1? More concerning developments in Subnautica 2 development, and more!You can also watch this episode in video form on the W2