Friends Per Second

In this engaging discussion, Jordan Middler from Video Games Chronicle shares insights into Xbox's identity crisis and its struggle to produce standout AAA titles despite multiple acquisitions. The conversation dives into the need for innovative leadership to revitalize the brand and the challenges of balancing smaller titles with major franchises. They also delve into the intriguing advancements in 'Death Stranding 2', analyzing its gameplay evolution and emotional depth. The podcast wraps up with whimsical takes on new gaming features and personalized gaming experiences.

Timestamps: 00:00 Intro and SGF Wrap Up 13:41 Switch 2 Discussion 36:35 Interview with Brendan Greene (PlayerUnknown) 01:14:42 User Questions 1&2 01:37:50 What We've Been Playing 02:20:32 Show and Tell 02:32:05 Wrap Up -- If you wanna check out our brand new 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 Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date: https://friendspersecond.substack.com/ 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 and a Creative Producer at Giant Bomb. 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

Tamoor Hussain, a seasoned video game journalist known for his insightful critiques, joins the discussion to explore the thrilling announcements from Summer Game Fest 2025. Highlights include the revival of the Thief franchise and the eagerly awaited Silent Hill F. The hosts dive into intriguing gameplay mechanics of new titles like Metal Gear Solid 3 and discuss nostalgic connections to beloved games. They also reflect on their quirky LA hotel experiences and share humorous anecdotes about their interactions with industry personalities.

Head to https://buyraycon.com/friends to get up to 15% off the best-selling Everyday Earbuds. Thanks to Raycon for sponsoring FPS! -- Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 03:30 Video Game Movie Adaptation Discussion 14:35 Randy Pitchford and the Price of Games 24:54 Marathon Discussion 42:03 Raycon (ad) 43:56 FBC Firebreak Interview with Mike Kayatta (Game Director) and Anssi Hyytiäinen (Lead Designer) 01:10:33 FBC Firebreak Impressions 01:37:48 User Question 1 01:44:34 User Question 2 01:49:48 What We've Been Playing 02:28:22 Show and Tell 02:40:50 Wrap Up -- If you wanna check out our brand new 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 Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date: https://friendspersecond.substack.com/ 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 and a Creative Producer at Giant Bomb. 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

Excitement buzzes as the team eagerly dissects the new GTA 6 trailer, exploring its innovative gameplay features and bold storytelling choices. Ralph shares his thrilling visit to Kojima Productions and the team's reflections on gaming experiences, from Doom's latest installment to beloved indie titles. They ponder the rising costs of consoles and the ongoing impact on gamers, while also diving into the emotional depths of video game narratives. Plus, a sneak peek into what they’ve all been playing adds a personal touch to this vibrant discussion.

Head to https://buyraycon.com/friends to get up to 15% off the best-selling Everyday Earbuds. Thanks to Raycon for sponsoring FPS! -- Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 06:19 Oblivion Remastered Discussion with Guest Host MrMattyPlays 28:34 Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Discussion 53:17 Interview with Andy Serkis 01:01:43 Raycon (ad) 01:04:08 User Question 1 01:11:57 Video Game Adaptations Chat with The Weekly Planet 01:59:20 User Question 2 02:09:54 What We've Been Playing 02:22:00 Show and Tell 02:34:23 Wrap Up -- If you wanna check out our brand new 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 Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date: https://friendspersecond.substack.com/ 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 and a Creative Producer at Giant Bomb. 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

Alana Pierce, a passionate gamer and creative mind, joins the conversation to dissect the latest in gaming news. They dive into the exciting prospects of the Nintendo Switch 2, exploring new game lineups and features that are turning heads. The discussion also tackles the rising prices of Nintendo games, which have gamers feeling 'sticker shock.' Amidst laughs about movie snacks and nostalgic gaming experiences, they reflect on the evolving landscape of children's cinema and the delight of capturing that childlike joy in modern films.

Head to https://buyraycon.com/friends to get up to 20% off the best-selling Everyday Earbuds. Thanks to Raycon for sponsoring FPS!--Timestamps:00:00 Marathon Discussion and Impressions Part 1 13:42 Interview with Game Director Joe Ziegler38:01 Raycon (ad)40:24 Marathon Discussion and Impressions Part 201:34:32 Wrap Up--If you wanna check out our brand new 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/friendspersecondSubscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date: https://friendspersecond.substack.com/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 and a Creative Producer at Giant Bomb. 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

Try Factor at https://www.factor75.com/pages/podcast and get 50% off your first box plus free shipping. Thanks to Factor for sponsoring FPS!--Timestamps:00:00 Intro02:10 GDC Wrap Up12:56 Ubisoft News and AC Shadows Thoughts51:47 Factor (ad)54:03 User Question 101:03:40 Interview with Alex Van Aken About the Rebirth of Game Informer01:28:59 What We've Been Playing02:02:16 Show and Tell02:17:29 Wrap Up--If you wanna check out our brand new 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/friendspersecondSubscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date: https://friendspersecond.substack.com/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 and a Creative Producer at Giant Bomb. 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

Joseph Fares, the game director behind the acclaimed co-op adventure It Takes Two and the newly released Split Fiction, shares his insights on the evolution of gaming and the importance of storytelling. He humorously discusses the challenges of balancing creativity with commercial pressures in game development. Fares emphasizes the unique cooperative elements of Split Fiction, which encourages players to collaborate across genres, and reflects on the joy of creating memorable gaming experiences that resonate with players.