Friends Per Second

Alec Newman, actor who voiced Cliff in Crimson Desert, briefly reflects on recording the role. Alex Jordan, voice performer from the game, shares his performance capture experiences. They react to the game's reception, discuss patches and player reactions. Conversations touch on combat spectacle, narrative and technical ambition, and how voice work fit into the production.

They unpack hands-on impressions of Crimson Desert and whether its ambition matches the hype. Conversations cover GDC highlights, inventive indie demos, and nostalgia-rich mixtape picks. Multiplayer design, tech talk about Xbox next-gen hints, and reactions to Resident Evil Requiem performance capture also pop up.

Susie Hunter (TheSphereHunter), Resident Evil-focused YouTuber, joins to share spoiler-free impressions of Resident Evil Requiem. They praise the game’s production and confident tone. Conversations cover Grace’s tense survival play versus Leon’s action focus. They also discuss narrative payoffs, fan-service balance, and whether to play RE2/4 remakes first.

Edmund McMillen, indie designer of Binding of Isaac and Super Meat Boy, talks Mewgenics' long development, cat-breeding themes, and massive item/ability scope. Oliver Merlöv, CEO of Tarsier Studios, explains Re-Animal’s design, co-op choices, and companion AI challenges. Multiple short conversations cover launch plans, studio size, and post-release creative roadmaps.

Chris Plante, journalist and podcaster (co-founder of Polygon and host of Post Games), joins to talk games and industry trends. They dive into hands-on impressions of Resident Evil Requiem, debate Xbox Dev Direct highlights like Forza and Fable, and unpack live-service woes around High Guard. Short takes on indie gems and arcade nostalgia round out the chat.

Level up your game and get 10% off @TurtleBeach with code FPS at http://turtlebeach.com/FPS #turtlebeachpod -- The Pets Table at https://thepetstable.com with code fps55 to get 55% off your first box PLUS 10% off your next two. Thanks to The Pets Table for sponsoring FPS! -- Head to https://raycon.com/friendsOPEN to get up to 20% off Raycon products sitewide. Thanks to Raycon for sponsoring FPS! -- Try HelloFresh at https://www.hellofresh.com/fps10fm with code fps10fm to get 10 free meals + a FREE Zwilling Knife (a $144.99 value) on your third box. Thanks to HelloFresh for sponsoring FPS! -- Timestamps: 00:00 Intro & Catch Up 15:36 Jake's Been Playing the Avatar Frontiers of Pandora DLC 17:15 Jake's Been Playing Hytale 25:48 Ralph's Been Playing Hollow Knight Silksong 37:26 Raycon (ad) 40:28 Hello Fresh (ad) 43:42 Movie and Book Recommendations 54:36 Lucy's Been Playing Demos from the Steam Detective Fest 01:00:49 Games We're Excited for in 2026 01:36:39 Turtle Beach (ad) 01:39:22 The Pets Table (ad) 01:41:29 Show and Tell 01:58:19 Wrap Up -- If you wanna check out our newsletter, you can do so here: https://friendspersecond.substack.com/ Listen to the Friends Per Second Podcast on your favourite podcast platform: https://linktr.ee/friendspersecond Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/friendspersecond -- Let's meet our hosts! - Jake Baldino (aka the Before You Buy Guy) is pretty much the most watched reviewer on YouTube across both Gameranx and his personal channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/JakeBaldino). If you're obsessed with Delorians, The Mummy and Pizza you can discuss that stuff with him directly over on Twitter: @JakeBaldino - Lucy James is a Senior Producer at Gamespot. She's actually, like, experienced and credentialed and has real life skills and stuff, while the rest of the gang would be funemployed if the YT algorithm didn't kiss them for random, inexplicable reasons. - Skill Up used to work at McDonalds but he got fired for skimming too many chicken nuggets. He says he regrets it since he hasn't had a better job since. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The hosts dive deep into the Game Awards, celebrating its big winners and exploring the hot debate over what qualifies as an indie game. They discuss exciting game trailers, including insights on Resident Evil 9 and the revival of Tomb Raider. A thought-provoking debate unfolds around the impact of generative AI in the gaming industry, touching on ethics, job displacement, and developer concerns. As they wrap up, each shares what they've been playing lately, adding a personal touch to the tech and gaming discussions.

Join Paul Conway, art director and co-founder of Spooky Doorway, as he dives into the visual intricacies of 'The Seance of Blake Manor.' He discusses the unique comic-shaded aesthetic designed to evoke emotion while remaining budget-friendly. The conversation also explores the shift from linear to non-linear storytelling, enriched by Irish folklore. Additionally, there’s a gripping debate on the banned game 'Horses,' highlighting its controversial themes, the perplexity of content moderation, and the lack of transparency from major storefronts.

This conversation features Lawrence Yang, a Valve engineer, and Pierre-Loup Griffais, a designer and engineer, who dive into the company's latest hardware strides. They dissect the design innovation behind the new Steam Controller, emphasizing important features like trackpads. The duo also discusses lessons learned from previous iterations like the Steam Machine, and the advancements in streaming technology that benefit the entire Steam ecosystem. Tune in for insights about Valve's direction and the future of gaming hardware!

The hosts dive into the latest news about GTA VI's release delay and the controversy surrounding Rockstar's staff firings linked to union discussions. They also explore Jake's experience transforming his ROG Ally X into a Steam Deck and discuss exciting game impressions, including Outer Worlds 2's expansive RPG mechanics. There's a lively chat about nostalgic analog music, standout horror novels, and the tension in new films. Fun listener questions add an interactive twist, making for an engaging and diverse discussion!