Aftermath Hours

On this week’s episode, Nathan, Chris, and Riley discuss the recent revelation (via Bloomberg) that Microsoft has been seeking a 30 percent profit margin from its gaming division since 2023. This borders on ludicrous compared to what the rest of the industry typically achieves and fully clears that bar in the case of Xbox, which managed a 12 percent profit margin in 2022. Now here we are in 2025, following multiple rounds of mass layoffs and project cancellations, because while Xbox was profitable, it wasn’t profitable enough. We once again repeat what has become a common refrain: What is Microsoft thinking, especially as both the industry and the global economy enter increasingly uncertain times? And if it continues to pump out pricey hardware while laying off developers and shutting down studios, where will the money come from? Then we talk about TwitchCon, which Nathan attended, and the security woes that became the story of this year’s event. While the claim that TwitchCon had no security is definitively untrue, misogyny and sociopathic clip farming intrinsic to the modern platform ecosystem still managed to spill over into real life. How does Twitch handle that? At what point does TwitchCon become so much of a reputational risk that Twitch would be better off pulling the plug? Finally, we talk about both Mario (the video game character) and Luigi (Mangione).Credits- Hosts: Nathan Grayson, Chris Person, & Riley MacLeod- Podcast Production & Ads: Multitude- Subscribe to Aftermath!About The ShowAftermath Hours is the flagship podcast of Aftermath, a worker-owned, subscription-based website covering video games, the internet, and everything that comes after from journalists who previously worked at Kotaku, Vice, and The Washington Post. Each week, games journalism veterans Luke Plunkett, Nathan Grayson, Chris Person, Riley MacLeod, and Gita Jackson – though not always all at once, because that’s too many people for a podcast – break down video game news, Remember Some Games, and learn about Chris’ frankly incredible number of special interests. Sometimes we even bring on guests from both inside and outside the video game industry! I don’t know what else to tell you; it’s a great time. Simply by reading this description, you’re already wasting time that you could be spending listening to the show. Head to aftermath.site for more info.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this week’s episode, Gita and Luke are joined by Matt Leone, formerly of Polygon and now of Design Room, a site dedicated to sharing the oral histories behind some of the biggest and most important video games of all time. We chat about Matt’s work detailing the stories behind the creation of games like Street Fighter II and Shadow Of The Colossus, how he managed to find the time and space to get that work done while at a commercial site like Polygon, and how his works, created as acts of journalism, are also becoming works of history as well. We then move onto chatting about Town To City, a relaxing city-builder that Gita and Luke simply cannot stop playing, before pondering what our favourite 5/10 video games are.Credits- Hosts: Gita Jackson, Luke Plunkett, & special guest Matt Leone- Podcast Production & Ads: Multitude- Subscribe to Aftermath!About The ShowAftermath Hours is the flagship podcast of Aftermath, a worker-owned, subscription-based website covering video games, the internet, and everything that comes after from journalists who previously worked at Kotaku, Vice, and The Washington Post. Each week, games journalism veterans Luke Plunkett, Nathan Grayson, Chris Person, Riley MacLeod, and Gita Jackson – though not always all at once, because that’s too many people for a podcast – break down video game news, Remember Some Games, and learn about Chris’ frankly incredible number of special interests. Sometimes we even bring on guests from both inside and outside the video game industry! I don’t know what else to tell you; it’s a great time. Simply by reading this description, you’re already wasting time that you could be spending listening to the show. Head to aftermath.site for more info. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this week’s episode, Nathan and Luke are joined by Cameron Kunzelman of the Ranged Touch podcast network who has a book about Assassin’s Creed, Everything Is Permitted, coming out next month. We discuss how the series has evolved over the years, with each sequel and spinoff essentially functioning as an argument in favor of the series’ continued existence. Highlights include: why Brotherhood was weird and kinda bad, how Ubisoft portrayed itself in its own book about Assassin’s Creed’s legacy, and the origin of the series’ entire Assassins vs Templars conflict (the first chunk of just one book). Then we move on to modern Assassin’s Creed-related matters: This week, news broke that Ubisoft canceled a Reconstruction-era AC game that would’ve starred a freed slave, citing the current political climate and backlash to Yasuke, a Black samurai in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. This after Ubisoft reportedly accepted funding from Saudi Arabia to develop a new DLC for Assassin’s Creed Mirage. Says a lot about where the company’s priorities lie! Finally, we adapt the Bible’s Old Testament into a WarioWare-like minigame collection. Credits- Hosts: Nathan Grayson, Luke Plunkett, & special guest Cameron Kunzelman- Podcast Production & Ads: Multitude- Subscribe to Aftermath!About The ShowAftermath Hours is the flagship podcast of Aftermath, a worker-owned, subscription-based website covering video games, the internet, and everything that comes after from journalists who previously worked at Kotaku, Vice, and The Washington Post. Each week, games journalism veterans Luke Plunkett, Nathan Grayson, Chris Person, Riley MacLeod, and Gita Jackson – though not always all at once, because that’s too many people for a podcast – break down video game news, Remember Some Games, and learn about Chris’ frankly incredible number of special interests. Sometimes we even bring on guests from both inside and outside the video game industry! I don’t know what else to tell you; it’s a great time. Simply by reading this description, you’re already wasting time that you could be spending listening to the show. Head to aftermath.site for more info. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this week’s episode, Nathan, Chris, and Gita talk about the two latest signs that the video game industry is being chopped up and sold for parts: EA’s $55 billion sale to a consortium that includes Saudi Arabia and Microsoft’s decision to up Game Pass’ price by 50 percent – the latter of which follows multiple rounds of layoffs and studio closures almost certainly intended to help pay for the company’s own $68.7 billion purchase of Activision Blizzard. Who benefits from any of this, aside from executives and, now, a government that seeks to sportswash human rights abuses via not just sports themselves, but also some of the biggest video games about those sports? And what, really, is left of these once-unshakable juggernauts even before they really go through the most vicious iteration yet of the profit-ravenous meat grinder? Then we discuss Baby Steps, a literal walking simulator about masculinity that Chris absolutely adores. Finally, we invent new candy bars, including, unfortunately, Dubai Twix.Credits- Hosts: Nathan Grayson, Chris Person, & Gita Jackson- Podcast Production & Ads: Multitude- Subscribe to Aftermath!About The ShowAftermath Hours is the flagship podcast of Aftermath, a worker-owned, subscription-based website covering video games, the internet, and everything that comes after from journalists who previously worked at Kotaku, Vice, and The Washington Post. Each week, games journalism veterans Luke Plunkett, Nathan Grayson, Chris Person, Riley MacLeod, and Gita Jackson – though not always all at once, because that’s too many people for a podcast – break down video game news, Remember Some Games, and learn about Chris’ frankly incredible number of special interests. Sometimes we even bring on guests from both inside and outside the video game industry! I don’t know what else to tell you; it’s a great time. Simply by reading this description, you’re already wasting time that you could be spending listening to the show. Head to aftermath.site for more info. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this week’s episode, Chris and Riley are joined by Aftermath contributor Isaiah. First, Chris can’t resist talking more Silksong, and then he tells us a bit about Silent Hill f. Then we move on to Sony’s State of Play presentation this week: Does Insomniac’s Wolverine need all that blood? Do we need a Deus Ex remaster when it basically makes a game from 2000 look like a game from 2004? Also, Chris is really into those speakers.After that, we talk about the continued fallout from Charlie Kirk’s assassination, with some game devs losing their jobs over their comments about it, though not as many as in other fields. We also talk about what’s known about the shooter at a Dallas ICE facility this week, and how it feels like meme culture has taken on the role that video games once played in being blamed for violence. We also discuss Microsoft no longer letting the Israeli military use its tech for surveillance of Palestinians, on the back of protest movements and reporting by The Guardian; it’s not enough, but it’s a start.Chris then praises his new AirPods before we get to this week’s mailbag, where we give horror anime recommendations and discuss our favorite bridges.Credits- Hosts: Chris Person, Riley MacLeod, & Isaiah Colbert- Podcast Production & Ads: Multitude- Subscribe to Aftermath!About The ShowAftermath Hours is the flagship podcast of Aftermath, a worker-owned, subscription-based website covering video games, the internet, and everything that comes after from journalists who previously worked at Kotaku, Vice, and The Washington Post. Each week, games journalism veterans Luke Plunkett, Nathan Grayson, Chris Person, Riley MacLeod, and Gita Jackson – though not always all at once, because that’s too many people for a podcast – break down video game news, Remember Some Games, and learn about Chris’ frankly incredible number of special interests. Sometimes we even bring on guests from both inside and outside the video game industry! I don’t know what else to tell you; it’s a great time. Simply by reading this description, you’re already wasting time that you could be spending listening to the show. Head to aftermath.site for more info. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Morgan Sung, a producer and host at KQED’s Close All Tabs, dives into the darker side of internet culture. She discusses the disturbing trend of treating real-life shootings as memes, linking them to nihilism prevalent among today's youth. The conversation shifts to the media's struggles with covering this generational shift and the decline of internet-savvy reporters in legacy media. Meanwhile, they touch on how independent media may bridge the gap left behind. Plus, they explore the gaming community's reactions to the hype surrounding Silksong!

On this week’s episode, Nathan and Riley are joined by two popular political streamers, MikeFromPA and Denims, to discuss how the far-right social media landscape created and ultimately destroyed Charlie Kirk. How do content creation ecosystems on the right and left differ, and why does the political right uplift – and fund – extreme voices like Kirk while the political left distances itself from outspokenly leftist figures like Hasan Piker, despite their success? Why is mainstream media trying to convince us that we should feel bad that someone who spent their life regularly advocating for violence against marginalized groups met a violent end? And how, generally, can we combat a right-wing online apparatus rooted in bad faith, that will condemn violence out of one side of its mouth and then cry for vengeance from the other? And finally, the most important (listener-submitted) question: Should the United States break up?Credits- Hosts: Nathan Grayson, Riley MacLeod, & special guests MikeFromPA and Denims- Podcast Production & Ads: Multitude- Subscribe to Aftermath!About The ShowAftermath Hours is the flagship podcast of Aftermath, a worker-owned, subscription-based website covering video games, the internet, and everything that comes after from journalists who previously worked at Kotaku, Vice, and The Washington Post. Each week, games journalism veterans Luke Plunkett, Nathan Grayson, Chris Person, Riley MacLeod, and Gita Jackson – though not always all at once, because that’s too many people for a podcast – break down video game news, Remember Some Games, and learn about Chris’ frankly incredible number of special interests. Sometimes we even bring on guests from both inside and outside the video game industry! I don’t know what else to tell you; it’s a great time. Simply by reading this description, you’re already wasting time that you could be spending listening to the show. Head to aftermath.site for more info. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this week’s episode, Nathan and Chris are joined by former Polygon writers Ryan Gilliam and Cass Marshall, who just launched a new worker-owned video game website, Rogue. It’s like Aftermath, but Polygonier. We ask them how the project came together, how things are going so far, and what their pie-in-the-sky goals are for the future. Then, after extolling the virtues of structures that don’t force us to always heap attention on the big game of the week, we heap attention on the big game of the week: Silksong. It’s finally out, and as expected, it’s more Hollow Knight! In other words, it’s good, but also very reminiscent of the first game in structure and feel. This puts it somewhat at odds with other Event Releases like Elden Ring, which garnered similar attention to curious non-fans at launch, but managed to offer them something legitimately new compared to Dark Souls. Will the un-Knighted masses bounce off this one, or will they find something to love despite a lack of attachment to the original? And as the video game industry continues to fragment, how many more all-consuming launches like this do we have in us? Finally, we invent a cool uncle who plays Warframe (Warfruncle).  Credits- Hosts: Nathan Grayson, Chris Person, & special guests Ryan Gilliam and Cass Marshall- Podcast Production & Ads: Multitude- Subscribe to Aftermath!About The ShowAftermath Hours is the flagship podcast of Aftermath, a worker-owned, subscription-based website covering video games, the internet, and everything that comes after from journalists who previously worked at Kotaku, Vice, and The Washington Post. Each week, games journalism veterans Luke Plunkett, Nathan Grayson, Chris Person, Riley MacLeod, and Gita Jackson – though not always all at once, because that’s too many people for a podcast – break down video game news, Remember Some Games, and learn about Chris’ frankly incredible number of special interests. Sometimes we even bring on guests from both inside and outside the video game industry! I don’t know what else to tell you; it’s a great time. Simply by reading this description, you’re already wasting time that you could be spending listening to the show. Head to aftermath.site for more info. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Brandon Sheffield, creative director at Necrosoft Games and founder of Insert Credit, joins for a lively chat. They dive into the delay of Demonschool due to Silksong's surprise drop, questioning if smaller games are overreacting to competition. Unionization topics steal the spotlight, with Diablo's new union pushing for better working conditions and employee protections. The conversation also touches on the challenges of indie game marketing and the impact of pre-orders on sales performance, all while reminiscing about their community-building experiences.

On this week’s episode, Nathan, Chris, and Riley discuss Hollow Knight: Silksong, a game that is finally, actually, really real after years of anticipation (and Geoff Keighley showcase disappointments). It looks like… more Hollow Knight. Cool! Also, the developers have said they will not be sending out pre-release review code, citing concern that it would be “unfair” to Kickstarter backers and regular players. But perhaps that approach is better for interesting writing about the game – and games in general – in the long run? We’re left with another question, as well: Now that Silksong is just around the corner, what games remain in the Painfully Long-Awaited Pantheon? What will be the next Silksong? Then we talk about other cool games that have received a Gamescom spotlight: Ninja Gaiden 4, Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines 2, Resident Evil Requiem, and of course, Denshattack, which looks way better than all those other games. Lastly, we discuss the impact of Trump’s tariffs on video games – for the first time in maybe ever, console prices are going up toward the end of a generation, not down – and how they represent a stealth tax on GTA VI (which will probably be very expensive in its own right). Oh, and Chris decides to just make his own PlayStation 5, until he realizes that it’d probably land him in jail.   Credits- Hosts: Nathan Grayson, Chris Person, & Riley MacLeod- Podcast Production & Ads: Multitude- Subscribe to Aftermath!About The ShowAftermath Hours is the flagship podcast of Aftermath, a worker-owned, subscription-based website covering video games, the internet, and everything that comes after from journalists who previously worked at Kotaku, Vice, and The Washington Post. Each week, games journalism veterans Luke Plunkett, Nathan Grayson, Chris Person, Riley MacLeod, and Gita Jackson – though not always all at once, because that’s too many people for a podcast – break down video game news, Remember Some Games, and learn about Chris’ frankly incredible number of special interests. Sometimes we even bring on guests from both inside and outside the video game industry! I don’t know what else to tell you; it’s a great time. Simply by reading this description, you’re already wasting time that you could be spending listening to the show. Head to aftermath.site for more info. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.