DLC

Gareth Damien Martin, the solo indie game developer acclaimed for Citizen Sleeper and its sequel, dives into the intricacies of game development. He shares insights on the unique challenges of working independently and the vital role of emotional storytelling in games. The conversation also covers the potential impact of the interactive innovation conference and the difficulties faced by AAA companies like Warner Bros. Plus, discussions on nostalgic titles like Marvel vs Capcom and Monster Hunter Wilds add to the mix, highlighting the evolving landscape of gaming.

Jeff and Christian welcome Jan Ochoa from Giant Bomb back to the show this week to discuss WB shutting down Multiversus for good, Microsoft bringing Forza Horizon 5 to Playstation, the uncertain future at Bioware, and more! The Playlist: Jan: Marvel Rivals, Motor Town: Behind the Wheel Christian: Citizen Sleeper 2, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 on PC, streaming with Apollo and Artemis Jeff: Orcs Must Die: Deathtrap, Coridden, IDUN Frontline Survival VR Talk: Jeff: Arken Age Parting Gifts!

Jeff and Christian welcome Luke Lohr from Xbox Expansion Pass back to the show this week to discuss the huge Xbox Developer Direct, showcasing Ninja Gaiden 4, South of Midnight, Doom The Dark Ages, and Clair Obscur, plus news that the next game from Celeste deveopers has been canceled, as well as NCSoft's Horizon MMO. The Playlist: Luke: Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Marvel Rivals, Arkham Christian: Eternal Strands demo, Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, Tokyo Xtreme Racer Jeff: Eternal Strands, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black VR Talk: Luke: Arkham Shadow, Iron Man VR, Arizona Sunshine Remake Jeff: Human Within Parting Gifts!

Jeff and Christian welcome Associate Art Director at Riot Games, Lana Bachynski back to the main show this week to discuss Nintendo finally announcing Switch 2, Sony canceling a God of War liver service game, a new Witcher-like, and more! The Playlist: Lana: Thank Goodness You’re Here, Astro Bot, Cat Quest III, Harold Halibut Christian: Star Wars Outlaws, Bluey the Video Game Jeff: First Berzerker Khazan demo, Dynasty Warriors Origins Parting Gifts!

Bailey Meyers, a gaming journalist known for Giantbomb and Honest Game Trailers, joins to dive deep into recent gaming news. They discuss the delay of Assassin's Creed Shadows, reflecting on community feedback's impact. The conversation moves to the exciting advancements in NVIDIA's 50 series GPUs and the effects of new handheld devices. There’s also chatter about the evolving landscape of video game adaptations into film, with both humor and caution. Finally, they uncover the charm of Tactical Breach Wizards and roguelites like The Rangers in the South.

In this engaging discussion, Shawn Kittelsen, SVP of Creative at Skydance Interactive, shares his journey in the gaming industry and his influence on titles like Behemoth. He explores the future of VR gaming, including expansive environments and the technical hurdles of 360-degree rendering. The conversation delves into balancing game mechanics post-launch, overcoming player motion sickness, and the unique design philosophy that drives Behemoth. Kittelsen emphasizes the importance of community feedback and emotional connections within the development team.

Kahlief Adams, a gaming expert and host from Spawn on Me, dives into the lucrative predictions for GTA 6's pre-orders and the buzz around the Nintendo Switch 2's advanced upscaling features. He reflects on the original creator of Minecraft returning for a sequel, highlighting the challenges creators face in balancing legacy and innovation. The conversation also explores his experiences with new gaming titles like Marvels Rivals and the vibrant gameplay of Redacted, offering insights into the evolving landscape of immersive gaming.

12-31 - UPDATE: Lana's audio issues have been corrected. You may need to delete and re-download the episode to get the corrected audio. Jeff and Christian celebrate their 11th full year of DLC, and kick off their 12th in style, by bringing Lana Bachynski back for the annual predictions episode! Together, they look back at their predictions from last year, RECKONING with the results, and then look forward to all the big games they hope are coming in 2025, including Grand Theft Auto VI, Monster Hunter Wilds, Civilization 7, Metroid Prime 4, Avowed, Ghost of Yotei, and more! They end the episode by stepping back out on the limb for their BOLD and COOL RANCH Predictions for 2025!

As is the yearly tradition, Jeff and Christian welcome their friend Anthony Taormina from Gamerant.com to the show to talk through the biggest news stories of the year that was, and then share their personal Top 5 List of Favorites, plus 5 more Diamonds in the Rough. What will be the Official DLC Game of 2024?

Jeff and Christian sit down with Ryan Payton, Studio Head at Camoflaj and Game Director on Batman Arkham Shadow for a wide-ranging discussion about the making of the game.