The Nextlander Podcast

Brad's back to talk about the lumpy ending of Resident Evil Requiem and the future of the RE series, nostalgic Retro Rewind modding, State of Decay 3's recent proof-of-life moves, the passing of Double Dragon's creator, defunct studios and publishers we miss, and a bunch more!(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.(00:00:10) Intro(00:09:27) Resident Evil Requiem  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2]  |  Feb 27, 2026(00:09:56) [SPOILERS] We're talking about all of RE9 thing here.(00:42:52) First Break(00:45:24) Retro Rewind: Video Store Simulator  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Mar 17, 2026(01:06:18) Slay the Spire  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PC (Microsoft Windows), Linux, Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Linux, Mac, Mac]  |  Jan 23, 2019(01:13:33) Pokémon Pokopia  |  [Nintendo Switch 2]  |  Mar 05, 2026(01:16:46) Marvel MaXimum Collection  |  [Nintendo Switch, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Mar 27, 2026(01:17:26) Second Break(01:17:30) State of Decay 3 still exists!(01:25:32) Creator of Double Dragon passes(01:28:15) Someone is making an Impossible Mission 3 game for the C64(01:35:10) Emails(01:51:29) Nextlander content updates(01:53:44) Wrapping up and thanks(01:54:11) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts(01:56:36) See ya!

Brad's on the mend this week, so Giant Bomb's in-house counsel Jeff Bakalar is filling the rotating chair this week as we discuss PAX East, recent video game releases, and the gambling industry's ongoing contribution to the degeneration of society.CHAPTERS(00:00:00) | NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.(00:00:10) | Intro(00:01:29) | Welcome back Jeff Bakalar(00:09:54) | What a fun PAX East this year(00:15:13) | Oh, you want to buy some dice? They've got dice.(00:20:55) | Slay the Spire (The board game)(00:22:10) | Slay the Spire | [PC (Microsoft Windows), Linux, Mac] | Jan 23, 2019(00:31:41) | Jocks and nerds living together. It can happen.(00:34:13) | First Break(00:36:40) | Screamer | [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S] | Mar 26, 2026(00:43:08) | Raccoin: Coin Pusher Roguelike | [PC (Microsoft Windows)] | Mar 31, 2026(00:50:10) | Bakalar and Alex are (still) not happy with sports betting(01:08:04) | Marvel MaXimum Collection | [Nintendo Switch, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S] | Mar 27, 2026(01:13:31) | Resident Evil Requiem | [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2] | Feb 27, 2026(01:17:45) | Second Break(01:17:50) | PlayStation price increases(01:27:20) | Nintendo confirms price differences between digital and physical releases(01:29:14) | Time for Star Fox to shine(01:36:49) | Does Disney want to own Epic Games?(01:48:21) | Shinji Mikami's new(ish) studio is bought(01:50:38) | Eidos-Montreal has more layoffs(01:51:49) | Konami increases salaries for employees(01:53:28) | MindsEye continues to be a concern(02:00:17) | Some game announcements(02:00:34) | Hunter: The Reckoning - Deathwish | [PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Microsoft Windows)] | Q3 2027(02:00:49) | Hades II | [Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5] | Apr 14, 2026(02:00:56) | The Eternal Life of Goldman | [Nintendo Switch, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S] | 2026(02:01:27) | Boxroom (Early Access) | [PC (Microsoft Windows)] | Q2 2026(02:03:11) | Emails(02:22:17) | Wrapping up and thanks(02:25:53) | Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts(02:27:13) | See ya!

Start Menu's Lex Luddy drops by to chop it up with us about Pokemon Pokopia, the "joy" of reviewing Crimson Desert, the actual joy of RE Requiem with unlimited ammo, the state of Marathon's Cryo Archives and late game, some more unfortunate industry-downturn news, another installment in the great FMV game debate, and more!CHAPTERS(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.(00:00:10) Intro(00:00:41) Welcome back Lex!(00:03:23) Pokémon Pokopia  |  [Nintendo Switch 2]  |  Mar 05, 2026(00:27:21) First Break(00:27:26) Crimson Desert  |  [PlayStation 5, Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox Series X|S]  |  Mar 19, 2026(00:53:37) Marathon  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Mar 05, 2026(01:11:22) Resident Evil Requiem  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2]  |  Feb 27, 2026(01:23:40) Dirt 3  |  [PlayStation 3, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 3, Xbox 360]  |  May 24, 2011(01:26:39) Second Break(01:26:44) Epic Games lays off over 1,000 people(01:42:00) Nintendo Switch 2 production to slow down(01:48:10) Sony closes Dark Outlaw Games(01:50:55) Marathon sales numbers(01:57:24) UK game development(02:08:13) Let's all just live in Minecraft World(02:16:41) Email(02:27:07) Wrapping up and thanks(02:31:04) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts(02:32:36) Thanks again to Lex Luddy!(02:33:59) See ya!

Austin Walker, writer and games commentator, and Jeff Bakalar, media personality and longtime pop-culture raconteur, trade stories about studio life, tech running amok, and the internet’s golden window. They debate AI, data ethics, and cyberpunk realities. Then they detour into comics talk—Farside, Heathcliff, and nostalgic strips—and celebrate electronic drum kits and midlife hobby thrills.

Deep spoiler-y talk about Resident Evil Requiem’s stealth sections, combat choices, and New Game+ goals. First impressions of Bungie’s Marathon and its loot, pacing, and extraction tension. Heated takes on WWE 2K26’s monetization and edition confusion. Indie praise for Esoteric Ebb. News chatter on Microsoft’s Project Helix, Valve hardware timing, Sony’s dynamic pricing tests, and funding troubles for Nagoshi Studio.

They debate new Resident Evil releases, contrasting Grace’s tense horror with Leon’s action and dissecting inventory, pacing, and controls. A lively Steam Next Fest roundup covers demos like Vampire Crawlers, Replaced, Reanimal, and Forbidden Solitaire. Industry talk digs into Sony’s reported PC-port strategy, the near-Bloodborne remake, studio shutdowns and layoffs, and a first look at the live-action God of War.

They unpack Phil Spencer leaving Xbox and the implications of Asha Sharma taking charge. Sony's surprising closure of Bluepoint Games gets a sharp reaction. Conversations cover studio health, Game Pass strategy, acquisitions and possible reorgs. There is also a deep dive into the new Star Trek: Voyager management game and a nostalgic FMV Mount Rushmore debate.

They unpack Sony's State of Play reveals, including God of War Trilogy Remake and new PS5 releases. A big Konami block sparks excitement about Castlevania, Silent Hill Townfall, and a Metal Gear collection. Short takes on Avowed, Control Resonant, Species: Unknown, and indie highlights keep the conversation lively.

They riff on quirky FMV runners, Suda-style action games, and a celebrity-packed revenge tale. There is enthusiasm for clever parkour heists, tactile climbing design, and Phasmophobia-meets-Alien co-op terror. They debate DRAM supply crunches affecting Valve, Sony, and Nintendo, and react to a new live-service Horizon project and a Yakuza casting controversy.

They talk about new and reimagined games like Dragon Quest VII and Cairn, plus multiple-run grind and spoiler-heavy bits in Silent Hill f. Reporting on Epstein-related files and their links to industry figures comes up. Big industry trends get covered: mass layoffs, Sony AI podcast patents, and the Switch hitting a major sales milestone. Nostalgia for pre-Internet gaming culture and oddities like Labo VR and Virtual Boy emulation round things out.