

The Nextlander Podcast
The Nextlander Podcast
Longtime friends and games media colleagues Vinny Caravella, Brad Shoemaker, and Alex Navarro share their combined decades of knowledge, expertise, and passion for games with weekly discussions about what they're playing, what's happening in the industry, and whatever else they're up to.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 7, 2024 • 2h 15min
141: Whip Out Your CHAD Device
Games! FF7 Rebirth, Skull & Bones, Helskate, Balatro, Helldivers and more. News! The Nintendo/Yuzu settlement, Respawn's Star Wars cancellation, the Halo composer's congressional run, and a hypothetical Chrono Trigger remake (??). Also fleas! And humidity! It's a podcast!Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Audioboom, or support us on Patreon!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(00:01:11) I would own an elaborate sword display and I'm ok with that(00:04:23) We need more month rhymes before the corpos get them(00:06:21) Live while I'm alive sleep when my body (or cat) lets me(00:08:42) Show rundown(00:09:02) Final Fantasy VII Rebirth [PlayStation 5] on Feb 29, 2024(00:45:25) Helskate [PC (Microsoft Windows)] on Feb 15, 2024(00:51:35) Skull and Bones [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S] on Feb 16, 2024(01:01:04) Helldivers 2 [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5] on Feb 08, 2024(01:05:52) Balatro [PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox One] on Feb 20, 2024(01:09:07) Nintendo and Yuzu Settle for $2.4M(01:21:04) EA layoffs and cancellations(01:26:33) Embracer looking to sell Saber and Gearbox?(01:31:22) Toys for Bob leaving Microsoft(01:35:33) Composer for Halo running for office?(01:39:35) Exosuits (mechs) coming to Helldivers 2 soon(01:43:57) What's in your Chrono Trigger remake?(01:50:44) Capcom giving some raises?(01:58:58) Emails(02:07:35) Nextlander Content Updates(02:12:07) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts(02:13:05) Wrapping up and thanks(02:13:24) Come join us at PAX East(02:14:31) See ya!

Feb 29, 2024 • 2h 21min
140: Black Mold From Space
Brad has played an astonishing amount of Final Fantasy this week, and it's time to talk for like an hour about Remake, Rebirth, Crisis Core, and a bunch of other stuff. Plus: updates on Pacific Drive, Balatro, Infinite Wealth's Animal Crossing thing, PlayStation layoffs and the closure of London Studio, and more.Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Audioboom, or support us on Patreon!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(00:01:07) Prepare for the Final Fantasy talk(00:01:59) First, let's talk about bonding with our pets(00:05:44) [Spoiler Warning] Final Fantasy 7 and Remake talk(00:06:31) Brad, let's talk about Final Fantasy 7(00:34:02) Final Fantasy VII Rebirth [PlayStation 5] on Feb 29, 2024(01:08:54) Balatro [PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch] on Feb 20, 2024(01:12:05) Pacific Drive [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5] on Feb 22, 2024(01:17:53) Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S] on Jan 26, 2024(01:23:41) News(01:23:55) Sony to layoff 900 people and closes London Studio(01:26:49) How do we make this a healthy and profitable industry?(01:46:51) Remedy buys Control rights back from 505 Games(01:49:54) Helldivers 2 servers seem to be working(01:53:58) Nintendo sues open-source Switch emulator Yuzu(02:00:32) PSVR 2 coming to a PC near you?(02:05:28) Emails(02:09:14) Come join us for a heroic Watchcast(02:10:52) Wrapping up and thanks(02:11:24) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts(02:12:36) Nextlander content updates(02:18:47) Come join us at PAX East!(02:20:18) See Ya!

Feb 22, 2024 • 2h 38min
139: No Law at the Port Authority
This week we discuss at great length: our strategically tactically strategic Helldivers play, like four different versions of Final Fantasy VII, the full release of Balatro, Enshrouded, the newest details on multiplatform Xbox games (and maybe a new Xbox?!), the rules and requirements for eating a whole pizza, and a bunch more!Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Audioboom, or support us on Patreon!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(00:01:06) How's Zeke doing?(00:02:44) Finally, sharing the Port Authority fun with friends(00:06:48) Checking in with Brad's flapping cable(00:08:58) Helldivers 2 [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5] on Feb 08, 2024(00:47:57) Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Rebirth [Demo](01:13:55) Balatro [PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch] on Feb 20, 2024(01:19:21) Enshrouded [PC (Microsoft Windows)] on Jan 24, 2024 [Early Access](01:28:50) News(01:29:05) Brad Shoemaker is breaking original FF7 news!(01:30:26) Nintendo Switch 2 is releasing in 2025?(01:36:27) Biggest news from the Nintendo Direct?(01:37:34) The first wave of those Xbox games coming to other platforms(01:43:47) Future Xbox hardware(01:57:25) Sony's stock goes down after lower margins(02:08:55) Elden Ring: Shadows of the Erdtree Trailer(02:15:16) Bandai Namco reveals some cancellations(02:16:02) Ebracer has also cancelled a lot of projects(02:18:34) Post Malone is curating a WWE soundtrack?(02:24:00) Emails(02:29:31) Nextlander content updates(02:31:40) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts(02:33:00) Coming up this week(02:34:29) We're going to PAX East!(02:36:36) Wrapping up and thanks(02:36:51) See ya!

Feb 15, 2024 • 2h 19min
138: Booing the Boo-er
Helldivers 2 is so good that it was tough not to stop this podcast and go play more of it, but we also managed to talk about demos for FF7 Rebirth and some Steam Next Fest fare like Balatro and Normal Fishing, Disney's $1.5 billion deal with Epic, the future of both PlayStation and Xbox, and more!Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Audioboom, or support us on Patreon!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(00:03:38) You're only as clever as your last idiotic move(00:05:47) Helldivers 2 [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5] on Feb 08, 2024(00:42:33) Palworld [PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S] on Jan 19, 2024(00:51:25) The Steam Next Fest Demos(00:52:55) Pacific Drive [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5] on Feb 22, 2024(00:54:27) Indika [PC (Microsoft Windows)] Q1 2024(00:55:24) Normal Fishing [PC (Microsoft Windows)] Q4 2024(00:56:49) Balatro [PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch] on Feb 20, 2024(01:00:01) Dystopika [PC (Microsoft Windows)] 2024(01:00:25) Final Fantasy 7 Remake / Rebirth (demo)(01:20:58) Reports and speculation about Microsoft's next business moves(01:39:35) Disney invest 1.5 billion with Epic(01:49:47) Sony says no 'existing major franchise' games before April 2025(02:01:48) Emails(02:11:20) Nextlander content updates(02:15:13) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts(02:16:15) Thanks and wrapping up(02:16:54) Nextlander upcoming content(02:18:15) See ya!

Feb 8, 2024 • 2h 30min
137: Phil Spencer Did Not See His Shadow
Microsoft might (might!) go multiplatform, Death Stranding 2 looks relatively bananas, Kojima is making a new espionage action game (!), Suicide Squad finally came out and isn't all bad, and all of it is discussed right here on this week's podcast.Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Audioboom, or support us on Patreon!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(00:05:40) Life, death, taxes, and changing your primary care physician(00:15:57) Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S] on Feb 02, 2024(00:44:01) Silent Hill: The Short Message [PlayStation 5] on Jan 31, 2024(00:56:32) [Easter Egg Spoilers?] Sea of Stars [Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S] on Aug 29, 2023(00:59:31) Indika [PC (Microsoft Windows)] in Q1 2024(01:05:55) Tekken 8 [PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S] on Jan 26, 2024(01:08:22) Final Fantasy 7: Remake and Rebirth(01:09:56) The end of the Xbox console?!(01:11:27) Ohhh, listen to that mic bump.(01:36:06) Sony's State of Play(02:06:52) When will we see The Last of Us Part 3?(02:12:15) Emails(02:22:23) Corrections?(02:23:44) Nextlander Content Updates(02:26:16) Wrapping up and thanks(02:26:51) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts(02:28:26) Things are always moving and shaking at NXL(02:29:34) See ya!

Feb 1, 2024 • 2h 48min
136: Secret Swifties
Will Smith (of game development and Fortnite-streaming fame) joins us this week to unpack the mass Xbox/Activision/Blizzard layoffs and the general state of the games business, plus Tekken 8, more with Prince of Persia and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, the secret language of grade schoolers, Taylor Swift's nation-state status, and more.
Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Audioboom, or support us on Patreon!
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
(00:00:56) Welcome Will Smith to the show!
(00:03:09) What is Taylor's Version?
(00:13:37) Tekken 8 [PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S] on Jan 26, 2024
(00:34:33) Fortnite and Lego Fortnite
(00:39:43) Tunic [Xbox Series X|S, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Xbox One] on Mar 16, 2022
(00:44:07) Rounds [PC (Microsoft Windows)] on Apr 01, 2021
(00:48:20) Palworld [PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S] on Jan 19, 2024
(00:59:37) Sea of Stars [Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S] on Aug 29, 2023
(01:02:49) Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S] on Jan 26, 2024
(01:07:05) [SPOILERS] Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown [PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5] on Jan 18, 2024
(01:25:18) The state of video games
(01:25:50) Microsoft layoffs and cancellations
(02:05:50) Is the end near for physical releases?
(02:12:02) Eidos layoffs and cancellations
(02:12:50) Sega also has layoffs
(02:17:54) Suicide Squad giving in-game currency to early access players
(02:25:26) Switch 2 updates
(02:39:37) Emails
(02:43:27) Wrapping up and thanks
(02:44:24) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts
(02:46:04) Thanks Will Smith!
(02:47:37) See ya!

Jan 25, 2024 • 2h 33min
135: He Who Smelted It
This week, the early hours of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, deeper into POP: The Lost Crown, plus Home Safety Hotline, all the goings on with Palworld, our thoughts on Xbox games like Indiana Jones and Avowed, replacing your anode rod, and plenty more.Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Audioboom, or support us on Patreon!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.(00:00:58) Alex's ladder drama(00:02:56) Not the bees!(00:11:50) If you're on the same calendar as I am, check your anode rod.(00:17:53) Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S] on Jan 26, 2024(00:55:19) Home Safety Hotline [PC (Microsoft Windows)] on Jan 16, 2024(01:01:36) Sea of Stars [Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S] on Aug 29, 2023(01:03:06) [SPOILERS] Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown [PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5] on Jan 18, 2024(01:26:53) Xbox Developer_Direct(01:48:18) Palworld blew up(02:01:53) 2024 might be tougher than 2023 for game development(02:12:39) The top selling games of 2023(02:21:47) Emails(02:25:44) Nextlander content updates(02:29:03) Wrapping up and thanks(02:32:17) See ya!

Jan 18, 2024 • 2h 4min
134: No Stars Upon Rs
They mixed some Metroid into the new Prince of Persia and it turns out we're all quite down with that. Plus: Brad digs into the new Last of Us Part II rogue-like mode, Rockstar and Remedy in a logo dust-up, Harmonix is finally ceasing Rock Band 4 DLC, and more.Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Audioboom, or support us on Patreon!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(00:01:49) Good times at the Garden State Robotics League(00:08:26) Did you say Yogic... and also flying?(00:10:54) Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown [PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5] on Jan 18, 2024(00:31:52) War Hospital [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S] on Jan 11, 2024(00:35:37) The Last of Us Part II: Remastered [PlayStation 5] on Jan 19, 2024(00:52:29) Sea of Stars [Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S] on Aug 29, 2023(00:56:01) Looking at games in February(00:58:29) Ubisoft and maybe you be subscribing soon?(01:16:12) More notable layoffs blamed on "over-investment"(01:20:31) Remedy and Take-Two are (R?) having logo disputes(01:25:08) Harmonix will end Rock Band DLC(01:39:27) We pick the winners for the GDC Awards(01:49:14) Emails(01:59:02) Nextlander content updates(02:01:49) Wrapping up and thanks(02:02:10) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts(02:03:52) See ya!

Jan 11, 2024 • 1h 55min
133: The Other Dr. Dré
In this second week of 2024: The Finals, Among Us in Vampire Survivors, more Sea of Stars, Xbox maybe going multiplatform, layoffs at Twitch and Unity, another excuse to say "Switch 2," wrestlers acting badly, Twin Peaks merch we didn't know we wanted, and more.Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Audioboom, or support us on Patreon!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(00:01:12) The water wants to get into your house(00:05:06) The pros and cons of Mars living and which Dre should go(00:09:59) The video games(00:11:17) Sea of Stars [Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S] on Aug 29, 2023(00:35:17) The Finals [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S] on Dec 08, 2023(00:50:06) Vampire Survivors: Emergency Meeting [PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S] on Dec 18, 2023(00:53:55) Hitman World of Assassination [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation VR] on Jan 26, 2023(01:00:38) Will more Xbox games come to other platforms?(01:16:55) Xbox's upcoming Developer_Direct(01:22:40) Big layoffs at Unity Software(01:23:40) Big layoffs at Twitch(01:27:52) Will we get a new Switch this year?(01:35:25) Emails(01:50:12) Wrapping up and thanks(01:51:42) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts(01:53:24) Nextlander content updates(01:54:46) See ya!

Jan 4, 2024 • 2h 15min
132: Finding a Pea While Eating Poop
We've got plenty to catch up on in our first podcast of 2024 (not a real year), from holiday gaming with small children to basement cleaning strategies, some Game Awards highlights, the wild world of competitive NES Tetris, predictions for the Internet of 2034, and a bunch more!A great explainer about the Tetris story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuJ5UuknsHU Brendan Sinclair's 2023 roundup: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/tearing-up-the-pea-patch-this-year-in-business Advertise on The Nextlander Podcast at Audioboom, or support us on Patreon!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(00:00:42) Happy 2024(00:07:35) The joy of gifting video games(00:13:23) Brad's List of Games to Share with Children(00:33:21) What did Alex do doing break?(00:41:22) Vinny's Break Time Fun(00:41:31) Beat Saber [PlayStation VR2] on May 24, 2023(00:45:23) Dave the Diver [Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows)] on Jun 28, 2023(00:47:55) Sea of Stars [Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S] on Aug 29, 2023(00:52:13) Should probably mention I think it's also on Game Pass(00:56:32) Let the Battling of Bots begin!(00:58:21) Brad and Alex's thoughts on the Game Awards(01:18:35) Godus is being removed from steam(01:22:18) Voice of Max Payne, James McCaffrey has passed(01:24:06) Jack Black joins the cast of the live action Minecraft movie(01:29:27) Nintendo already shutting down some 3DS and WiiU services(01:31:45) Publisher Versus Evil has been shut down(01:32:54) Bobby Kotick is officially gone... for now?(01:35:03) Go read Brendan Sinclair's 'This Year in Business' story at GamesIndustry.biz(01:37:43) Baldur's Gate coming to Game Pass?(01:39:00) This is kid is REALLY good at Tetris(01:50:36) Emails(02:09:48) Wrapping up and thanks(02:11:09) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts(02:13:52) Nextlander content updates(02:14:27) See ya!


