When it comes to the evolving gaming market, there's a lot for Sony to keep an eye on in the years and decades to come. To keep PlayStation the vibrant brand it is today, the company needs to spread the field, and two newly-announced projects -- an all-new co-op multiplayer game from the director of Left 4 Dead and a mobile port of mega-popular baseball franchise MLB: The Show -- fit the bill nicely. It's true that Sony has had more than its fair share of false starts (and even outright failures) in both the mobile and games-as-a-service space. Yet, there's gold in them there hills. Lots of it. Can Sony finally slay some off-platform and off-genre demons and reap some rewards? We discuss. Plus: Nixxes helps reduce Helldivers 2's PC file size by an astounding 85%, Bungie has apparently solved its dispute with the artist it purportedly stole Marathon-related art from, Shovel Knight developer Yacht Club Games finds itself in self-inflicted financial duress, Amazon has already renewed the God of War TV show for a second season, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Has leaking culture gone too far? Will Micron's exit from the consumer RAM business affect console manufacturing? How can people find likeminded gaming friends online? Can we please do away with adult gift-giving once and for all? Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:52:36 - Juices flowing0:54:56 - YouTube Recap1:08:13 - Colin dying1:11:02 - Switching to no presents1:21:02 - PlayStation partners with Bad Robot1:35:15 - The Show: Mobile releases1:46:06 - Helldivers 2 PC install sized down1:53:26 - Helldivers 2 movie has a director2:03:31 - Amazon orders two seasons of God of War2:08:14 - Bungie settles with artist over stolen art2:11:45 - Yacht Club Games may be in trouble2:27:26 - Saudi PIF will own 93.4% of EA2:31:22 - IO confirms Hitman 42:36:53 - Splinter Cell Remake director returns2:40:15 - Tomba 2 gets a release date2:43:10 - November's top PSN downloads2:45:16 - What We’re Playing (Ball x Pit, Metal. Eden, TMNT: Cowabunga Collection, Metal Gear Solid Delta, Red Dead Redemption)3:09:22 - Arc Raiders introduces gamers to socializing3:25:28 - Games that age well3:31:54 - Disdain for leakers3:41:44 - Micron leaves the consumer market3:49:29 - Meeting new people to play games3:56:53 - Can criticism go too far? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
