The Training Stage

EVO 2022 returned to Las Vegas with one of the best fighting game tournaments in years. John, our resident FGC expert, breaks down all of the biggest announcements from the event. In addition, we discuss Nintendo's latest announcements for Bayonetta 3, Splatoon 3, and Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, and discuss why the Nintendo Switch still has a vibrant future ahead of it. All of this and much, much more on this packed episode of the Training Stage Podcast! Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permission.TIMESTAMPS04:00 - Thank you for the warm welcome back, guesses for the *SECRET PROJECT*09:23 - Tyler watched a documentary on Woodstock '99. You are, in fact, listening to a video game podcast, not Decibel Boost. 13:53 - Whatcha Been Playing, Tyler? (Dark Souls Remastered, Xenoblade Chronicles 3)42:35 - Watcha Been Playing, John? (Chess, Pokemon SoulSilver Version, Slime Rancher)59:57 - News Lightning Round - Gamescom Opening Night Live, Marvel's Midnight Suns delay, Tactics Ogre: Reborn, and more.1:09:20 - The big EVO 2022 recap and news roundup from DashFight.2:01:20 - Bayonetta 3 launches on October 28th for Nintendo Switch. PlatinumGames has huge ambitions for its future, boasting several unannounced projects. 2:14:21 - New information on Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet. The Paldea region, rideable legendaries, new creatures and characters, and more were revealed during the latest Pokemon Presents broadcast. 2:24:33 - Recap of the recent Splatoon 3 Direct. 2:33:19 - Aspyr Media's remake of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is allegedly in deep trouble according to Bloomberg's Jason Schreier. 2:36:31 - Ubisoft has delayed Massive Entertainment's Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora into their 2023-2024 fiscal year, which runs from April 2023 to the end of March 2024.

After a year hiatus, The Training Stage returns with a packed two and a half hour episode. Your hosts, Tyler and John, discuss the games they've been playing recently, this year's Summer Game Fest events, Square Enix's stacked lineup of titles, and the game release calendar for the rest of 2022 and early 2023. We even tease something new coming in the future. We are sincerely excited to be back to produce a fun, bi-weekly show for your enjoyment. Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permission.TIMESTAMPS00:50 - State of the Stage, New Project Tease 12:26 - Whatcha Been Playing, John? (Online Chess, Minecraft, The Messenger, Disco Elysium)57:19 - Whatcha Been Playing, Tyler? (Xenoblade Chronicles, Omori, Dragon Quest Builders)1:13:15 - Our thoughts on Summer Game Fest 20221:37:45 - The game release calendar for the rest of 20221:53:58 - Publisher Spotlight: Square Enix2:09:30 - What games are coming in 2023? Could it be a better year than 2022?

The madness that is Blue Box's Abandoned continues, though could there be another marketing stunt happening at the same time? We investigate. We also offer updated information on the Activision-Blizzard lawsuit and other legal news in the video game industry. On the news front, Nintendo has set record-breaking numbers for Nintendo Switch hardware and software, and recently streamed an eventful Indie World showcase. It's also being reported that Rockstar Games is remastering the PlayStation 2 titles in the Grand Theft Auto series.Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permission.TIMESTAMPS01:47 - What happened with that last episode? Describing a "nightmare edit."03:50 - John played DOOM on Hard Drive (yes, the satire website). Why?? 08:58 - [John] Final Fantasy XIV, Dicey Dungeons, and coffee?!32:38 - [Tyler] Grand Theft Auto V, Axiom Verge 2, and more.49:38 - The latest from the Activision-Blizzard lawsuit; several major departures from the company in recent weeks. 56:19 - Quantic Dream was sending death threats to whistleblowers, according to the French union suing the company.58:34 - U.S. Democrats are advising game publishers to avoid predatory loot box designs in their games.1:01:02 - The latest regarding the Blue Box Game Studios and Abandoned situation. Is there a second ARG tied to this madness? 1:16:40 - Pokemon Presents will air on August 18th with new footage of both Pokemon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl and Pokemon Legends: Arceus.1:19:26 - Microsoft is hosting an Xbox showcase for Gamescom 2021 on August 24th at 1pm EST.1:21:21 - Rockstar Dundee is reportedly porting the PS2 Grand Theft Auto trilogy to modern platforms later this year.1:23:34 - The official schedule for QuakeCon 2021 has accidentally alluded to a new Quake project from Machine Games and id Software.1:25:37 - Nintendo Switch hardware sales have surpassed 89 million units worldwide; software sale updates.1:37:50 - A brief recap of the Indie World broadcast for August 2021.1:42:48 - Dotemu (Streets of Rage 4, Metal Slug Tactics) has been acquired by Focus Home Interactive.1:44:00 - Life is Strange Remastered Collection delayed into early 2022; True Colors still on track for launch on September 30th.1:44:56 - A new "3D" South Park game is currently being developed within a new internal group at South Park Studios.

As the end of summer draws near, we took some much needed time to discuss the biggest games of the summer, including Final Fantasy XIV. We also discuss our thoughts on Valve's Steam Deck console, the recent Annapurna Interactive Showcase, and the latest in Ubisoft's Tom Clancy franchise. Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permission.TIMESTAMPS04:33 - [John] Final Fantasy XIV 29:10 - [Tyler] Skyward Sword HD, Chicory: A Colorful Tale1:07:10 - Congrats to Kojima Productions on shipping over 5 million copies of Death Stranding.1:08:03 - Ghost of Tsushima's Iki Island expansion detailed.1:10:33 - Our thoughts on Valve's Steam Deck, a new handheld gaming PC capable of running high fidelity games.1:21:20 - Annapurna Interactive Showcase recap (Stray, Solar Ash, Neon White, The Outer Wilds, and more).1:32:47 - Ubisoft announces Tom Clancy's XDefiant, a free-to-play 6v6 arena shooter.1:35:58 - Sumo Digital purchased by Tencent in a $1.27bn deal.1:38:06 - Kena: Bridge of Spirits delayed to September 21st, 2021.1:39:22 - Horizon: Forbidden West allegedly delayed into 2022 according to multiple sources.1:41:00 - PlayStation 5 sold 10 million units since launch, despite shortages across the entire tech industry.

The State of California has filed a lawsuit against publisher Activision-Blizzard over widespread sexual harassment and discrimination towards female employees of the company. We discuss this issue in great detail, including how we as a game-playing community can support those being abused within the game development community. And it's only fitting that we invited Angie, a moderator of the Competitive Overwatch Discord server, to add her thoughts on the matter. If this situation is too upsetting for you to hear more about, we completely understand. We have timestamps below so that you can skip that conversation entirely. The same applies for those who only want to hear about the serious matter and avoid the more trivial topics of conversation.Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permission. Thumbnail photograph: David McNew/AFPTIMESTAMPS01:24 - Opening and discussing Tyler's trip to the Zoo.13:27 - #ActiBlizzWalkout1:26:47 - EA Play recap (Dead Space from EA Motive, GRID, Battlefield Portal, and more).

The monkey's paw curls as Nintendo announces the Nintendo Switch (OLED Model) for release later this year. It has a new OLED screen and some nifty new features for an extra $50, though lacks any new internal components or performance enhancements. What do we think? And what happened with all those insider scoops about a 4K Switch? We also discuss the recent PlayStation State of Play broadcast, the delay of Ghostwire: Tokyo, and Atlus' plans for celebrating the 25th anniversary of Persona. Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permission.TIMESTAMPS02:38 - Favorite school lunches?14:20 - [John] Dicey Dungeons, reading manga, and more.32:19 - [Tyler] Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, Luigi's Mansion (3DS).40:15 - Nintendo Switch (OLED Model) announced; no new chipset upgrade from the current models. 51:41 - PlayStation State of Play - July 2021 (Moss Book II, Sifu, Jett: The Far Shore, Death Stranding, Deathloop, and more). 1:14:50 - Ghostwire: Tokyo delayed into early 2022.1:15:54 - Ubisoft announces the future of the Assassin's Creed franchise, codenamed “Infinity.”1:22:03 - Lost Judgement may be the last game in the series, due to a dispute between Sega and Takuya Kimura's talent agency.1:23:40 - Xbox heads Phil Spencer and Matt Booty reassure players that narrative-driven, non-live-service titles are still being developed within Xbox Game Studios.1:24:49 - Atlus teases seven new Persona announcements to celebrate the franchise's 25th anniversary, starting this Fall.1:28:06 - Warner Bros. Games denies rumors that they are selling NetherRealm Studios and TT Games.1:28:38 - DICE LA officially rebranded as Ripple Effect. 1:29:21 - Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl announced, a new "platform fighting game" featuring Nicktoons characters.

Well, we finally did it: one hundred numbered episodes of The Training Stage have been released! Between two iterations of the show running over the last 5 years, we have achieved triple digits. To help celebrate the occasion, we invited Angie (@angdacat) to join us for an extended games talk segment and to discuss the latest news, including new PlayStation acquisitions and the future of the Silent Hill franchise. Thanks for sticking with us for all this time. We hope you stick around for many more years to come!Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permissionTIMESTAMPS11:27 - Show announcements!16:24 - Tyler has finished playing Octopath Traveler.26:36 - What John has been playing: Pokemon Platinum, Overwatch, and more.44:38 - What Angie has been playing: Final Fantasy XIV, DOOM Eternal, and more.1:09:29 - Sony has acquired two new studios: Housemarque and Nixxes.1:33:06 - Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut arrives on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 on August 20th, which will include the brand new “Iki Island” expansion.1:35:35 - Remedy and 505 Games partner to develop a new multiplayer game set in the Control universe.1:41:59 - Konami and Bloober Team announce a “strategic cooperation agreement” to develop new games.1:58:19 - Lightning Round (EA Play news, new studios, AI: The Somnium Files sequel, JP Games, The Elder Scrolls VI)1:15:43 - NetherRealm Studios officially ends development on Mortal Kombat 11 and now focusning on a new project.

This time of the summer is usually fairly quiet, so we spend some time catching up on what games we've been playing. John has been playing his usual vices of Overwatch and Trials Fusion, while Tyler has become determined to finish Octopath Traveler. On the news front, rumors have suggested that EA Motive is currently developing a Dead Space reboot. Are they up to the job, or are they simply an imposter amogus? Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permission.

E3 2021 has concluded and we discuss our favorite announcements and biggest disappointments. We also review our predictions and cover the latest regarding Blue Box Game Studios and their supposed relationship to Hideo Kojima and the Silent Hill franchise.Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permission.

E3 2021 is officially over, but there's still one last event for us to discuss: the Nintendo Direct broadcast. Safe to say, Nintendo stole the show with exciting new projects like Metroid Dread and WarioWare: Get it Together, and a brand new look at the highly anticipated sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Joining us to discuss the Nintendo Direct and the future of the Nintendo Switch, we invited Sketch from the Toonami Faithful Podcast and Nick from the DAM Podcast! It's a another packed show, so grab a snack and enjoy the discussion!Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permission. Follow Sketch on Twitter: @Sketch1984Check out the Toonami Faithful Podcast on Soundcloud!https://soundcloud.com/toonamifaithfulpodcastCheck out the Dallas Anime Meetup channel on YouTube!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG3HtpJF36M0hYezPI8KEgw

After a day of fairly lackluster showcases, Tyler and John needed backup to help them work through the emotions. So, we arranged a well-rounded panel, with Kory and Jhamar from the DAM Podcast joining to discuss all of the biggest announcements from the Microsoft and Bethesda Games Showcase, Square Enix Presents, and the PC Gaming Show. Starfield, Redfall, Halo Infinite, Guardians of the Galaxy, Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin, and much, much more are discussed in detail on this episode. And it wouldn't be an evening E3 discussion episode without a train visit, cats, and plenty of jokes. Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permission. Follow Kory on Twitter: @aceofwar20 Follow Jhamar on Twitter: @JhamarHCheck out the DAM Podcast on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OAkOGdPjUc

It's the third day of our E3 2021 coverage, and we have two big showcases to discuss: Ubisoft Forward and Devolver Digital. Ubisoft shared new information on Rainbow Six Extraction and Rider's Republic, while announcing Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. Devolver introduced several new titles, including a brand new IP from Flying Wild Hog. Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permission.

In recent years, the video game industry has rapidly extended its presence into film, television, and music. Today, as part of the E3 2021 season, Netflix highlighted a number of upcoming video game adaptations and anime titles coming to their platform. To help us work through these announcements, we invited Alex from PodcastONA to discuss The Cuphead Show, Castlevania, the new Shaman King, Godzilla: Singular Point, and much more! We also discuss the delay of Rune Factory 5 and the announcement of Doki Doki Literature Club Plus. For a day without much news, we still managed to record an hour of discussion. That fits the spirit of E3 season, right?Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permission. Follow Alex on Twitter: @auraofazureCheck out PodcastONA on Surreal Resolution! https://www.podcastona.surrealresolution.com/

E3 2021 (unofficially) kicked off today with Geoff Keighley's Summer Game Fest, and he brought some great appetizers. Elden Ring, Death Stranding: Director's Cut, Tiny Tina's Wonderlands, Metal Slug Tactics, Sable, a new PlayStation partner studio, and so much more revealed. Join us as we discuss every high and every low of the event. And be sure to stay tuned throughout E3 2021 for additional content, as we cover each day's major news in the world of video games!Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permission.

After skipping last year due to obvious reasons, E3 is back in action! And that means it's also time for our E3 predictions. What do we think Nintendo, Microsoft, Square Enix, and other publishers have planned for the event? And before we get to those predictions, we discuss the latest gaming news, including the recent interview between Sid Shuman and Hermen Hulst. Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permission. TIMESTAMPS05:12 - Guerrilla Collective stream highlights, courtesy of John who actually watched it.08:38 - Did you know that DC Super Hero Girls: Teen Power was produced by Nintendo EPD? Apparently they didn't either!16:01 - The next God of War has been officially delayed into 2022; also coming to PS4.19:12 - Gran Turismo 7 will also launching on PS4 in 2022. 21:51 - Bend Studio is officially working a new AAA open-world IP.27:13 - Hulst on Horizon Forbidden West launch timing.28:23 - Team Asobi has been officially introduced as PlayStation Studios' premiere Japanese development team. 31:13 - Nintendo has confirmed their Nintendo Direct broadcast for E3, which will air on Tuesday, June 15th at 12pm EST.34:47 - Square Enix has announced their E3 2021 showcase plans, which will air on June 13th at 3:15pm EST. 37:54 - Devolver Digital will stream their showcase on June 12th.40:27 - A rundown of the E3 2021 schedule.43:30 - RUMOR: 2K Games' E3 2021 lineup will include a new Borderlands spin-off title, a Marvel-themed XCOM game, and a new IP from Hangar 13.46:43 - Shin Megami Tensei V release date leaked by Atlus website.47:48 - E3 2021 Predictions!

The pre-E3 news cycle has ramped up with several key gaming events. Dragon Quest 35th anniversary stream, Sonic Central, and a State of Play focused on Horizon Forbidden West all brought exciting information on upcoming games. Nintendo has revealed release dates for two upcoming Pokémon releases. Virtua Fighter is finally back! Plus, Microsoft and Bethesda have detailed their joint E3 2021 plans, and Geoff Keighley has announced kick-off plans for Summer Game Fest 2021. Oh, and Macarena disc launchers in Far Cry 6! A packed episode for it being two weeks before E3.Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permission. This week's outro song is Kirin J. Callinan's "Screaming Cowboy" bit. TIMESTAMPS04:20 - Returnal and the brilliance of rogue-likes24:13 - Getting nostalgic about Pokemon38:02 - Xbox and Bethesda will host their first combined Games Showcase for E3 2021 on Sunday, June 13th.50:23 - Geoff Keighley has announced a kickoff live event for Summer Game Fest, set to stream everywhere on Thursday, June 10th.56:55 - Pokemon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl and Pokemon Legends: Arceus release dates.1:02:57 - Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown announced by Sega, releasing exclusively on PS4 on June 1st. 1:08:30 - RUMOR: Square Enix will announce Final Fantasy Origin during its E3 2021 showcase, a souls-like action RPG developed by Team Ninja.1:13:00 - Dragon Quest 35th Anniversary stream recap (Dragon Quest III 2D-HD Remake, Dragon Quest XII, and more).1:21:38 - Sonic Central stream recap (Sonic Colors Ultimate, Sonic Origins, new Sonic Team title, and more).1:32:04 - First gameplay footage of Horizon: Forbidden West revealed.1:37:48 - Dying Light 2 Stay Human launches on December 7th, 2021.1:38:55 - Far Cry 6 launches on October 7th, 2021; first gameplay revealed.1:42:05 - Electronic Arts is building a new studio to produce open world action-adventure games.

This week's podcast is all about PlayStation and the recent controversies surrounding the brand. Store shutdowns, acquisitions and partnerships, and mismanagement of studios. What happened over the last couple of months? And what does it mean for the future of PlayStation 5 on the first-party front? We cover the good, bad, and everything in between. But of course, that's not all, as we begin with a healthy dose of personal life updates, COVID vaccine talk, and some Resident Evil Village thoughts. Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageAll music by Rukunetsu and used with permission. TIMESTAMPS06:55 - Talking about COVID vaccines.15:24 - Resident Evil Village20:40 - Famicom Detective Club28:25 - John got a Fitbit and new IEM headphones.40:02 - PlayStation partners with Haven, a new studio headed by Jade Raymond, to work on an original IP for PlayStation Studios.46:05 - First images released of the next-generation PlayStation VR controllers.50:01 - Sony fully purchases EVO in partnership with new esports venture RTS. 54:24 - TheGamer first reports that Sony will permanently close the PS3, PSP, and Vita storefronts.57:30 - MLB The Show 21 announced to be launching on Xbox Game Pass on launch day.58:45 - VentureBeat reports that Microsoft has been in talks with Kojima Productions.1:03:36 - Schreier details some recent on-goings with PlayStation Studios, mostly revolving around studios Naughty Dog and Sony Bend.1:19:12 - Sony London Studio posts new job listings with references to a “brand new, next-gen IP” for PlayStation 5.1:20:40 - Sony reverses their decision to close the PS3 and Vita storefronts.1:24:27 - PlayStation partners with Firewalk Studios to publish a new multiplayer IP.1:27:41 - Speaking to Wired, PlayStation Studios head Hermen Hulst claims that there are over 25 first-party titles in development for PlayStation 5.

We are back at it again after another patented podcast hiatus. We discuss what's been going on in our lives (moving, work, family, COVID vaccines, so much!). We also cover a few news topics, including our expectations for E3 2021 and release dates for some highly anticipated JRPGs. Look, sometimes one has to take a two month nap, alright? Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permission.

We start this week by discussing the wonderful game of life for the first 30 minutes. Tyler is packing up and moving to a new place, so John will be receiving the hosting chair for the entirety of March. But there is a bunch of gaming news to cover before then. Tons of PlayStation news, including official confirmation of a next generation PSVR unit and a new State of Play. Nintendo finally broadcasted a general Direct and The Pokémon Company announced two new mainline Pokémon RPG titles.Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permission.TIMESTAMPS06:27 - Tyler is moving into a new place!16:18 - What this all means for the show (TL;DR John will be hosting for March)23:50 - Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart launches on June 11th, 2021.29:25 - Gran Turismo 7 has been delayed to 2022.36:11 - Sony officially confirms a next generation of PlayStation VR is being developed for PS5.38:47 - VGC: SIE Japan Studio is downsizing and winding down original game development, except for Team Asobi which will continue to operate as a standalone studio. 45:17 - Highlights from the February 25th broadcast of State of Play (Oddworld, Kena, Final Fantasy VII Intergrade, and more). 1:07:45 - Footage from an unreleased trailer of FromSoftware’s upcoming action RPG Elden Ring has leaked online.1:11:48 - Nintendo Direct - February 17th, 2021 (Mario Golf: Super Rush, Skyward Sword HD, Splatoon 3, Triangle Strategy, and more).1:52:54 - Pokémon Presents for February 26th, 2021 (Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, Legends: Arceus)2:00:26 - Some details on projects cancelled by Google, including an episodic horror game by Kojima Productions.2:03:50 - BioWare has cancelled work on Anthem Next, shifting focus to the next Dragon Age and Mass Effect titles.2:06:36 - Forever Entertainment (Panzer Dragoon Remake) has announced plans to produce multiple remake projects for a Square Enix IP.

On this special solo episode, John runs down all of the big news from BlizzConline 2021. Overwatch 2, Diablo IV and Diablo II Resurrected, and the latest from World of Warcraft and Hearthstone.Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permission.

I bet you never expected us to talk about the stock market, but here we are. Resident Evil Village has a release date and a very tall lady, ESA plans a digital E3 for 2021, tons of financial details from big gaming companies, and Google killing off its internal gaming developers. Sounds like another day in paradise, right? Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permission.TIMESTAMPS02:18 - PlayStation in 2020 Stats07:21 - Tyler is collecting boxed DS games. Things are getting real.27:38 - $GME STONKS32:35 - Resident Evil Village launches on May 7th for current and last-generation hardware.37:21 - VGC: ESA plans for a digital E3 2021 event; Geoff Keighley plans a shorter Summer Game Fest for 2021.42:52 - The latest from PlayStation and Sony (Returnal delay, MLB The Show 21 announced, Kadokawa investment)47:57 - Xbox Live Gold turns 18 years old and received a price increase. Microsoft quickly went back to the original price.50:31 - Google has closed all of its internal, first-party Stadia development studios.57:30 - Nintendo has released their Q3 FY21 results, which indicates incredible sales for Nintendo Switch hardware and software over the 2020 holiday season.1:03:09 - Nintendo of Japan's president Furukawa comments on Nintendo Switch "Pro" rumors. 1:08:49 - Electronic Arts news (Battlefield 2021, Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, Full Circle studio).1:17:39 - Activision Blizzard news (Vicarious Visions, Call of Duty 2021, Diablo IV and Overwatch 2).1:30:07 - Hideki Kamiya says we should forget about Bayonetta 3.1:32:12 - Silent Hill composer says his next project will be revealed in the summer. “I think it’s the one you’re hoping to hear about,” the composer teased. 1:34:30 - Tomonobu Itagaki, creator of Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden series, establishes a new studio called Itagaki Games.1:36:03 - Tencent has purchased a minority stake in French developer Dontnod Entertainment.1:38:33 - A new CGI Sonic series, Sonic PRIME, will begin streaming on Netflix in 2022.1:40:12 - Upcoming releases for February 2021 (Mario 3D World, Bravely Default II, Persona 5 Strikers, and more!)

On the first news episode of 2021, Tyler and John cover 2020's final controversies in the gaming industry, including Nintendo's takedown of Smash and Splatoon tournaments and CDPR's Cyberpunk 2077 launch blunder. As for 2021 news, we cover that, too! Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, New Pokemon Snap, Indiana Jones from Machine Games, and the gaming salvation of Star Wars.Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permission.

We love to pick on him, but we finally invited our old pal Rob to record a games talk episode. Rob and Tyler discuss Persona 5 Royal, Atlus, and a slew of other JRPGs. Could you possibly think of a better way to start the new year of 2021?Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permission.

Tyler and John get ready for The Game Awards 2020 by predicting who will take awards back home this year. Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permission.

PlayStation 5 is finally here! Tyler and Kory (long-time friend of the show) both got their hands on the new hardware, controller, and games. After about two days with the console, we discuss our first impressions of the hardware itself, the user interface, and digital store experience. As for games, we give our first thoughts on Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Bugsnax, Demon's Souls, and Astro's Playroom. We also look forward to the future and share what we are most excited about in 2021.Follow us on Twitter: @TTSpMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permission.

In the midst of the plague, Steve joins the battle in Smash! John and Tyler argue about watching The Simpsons in widescreen, Tyler discusses the wonders of Picross, and John's prayers of a new Virtua Fighter may actually come true. Maybe. Also, Super Mario Sunshine is not THAT difficult. Come on, guys. Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permissionTIMESTAMPS03:53 - Super Mario 3D All-Stars18:27 - Picross DS27:45 - Steve and Minecraft content coming to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.45:24 - Pokemon SWSH The Crown Tundra release date announced.50:02 - Teslagrad 2 is now in development at Rain Games.53:23 - Genshin Impact is now available on PS4, PC, and mobile.56:31 - The Pathless will release alongside PlayStation 5 on November 12th.58:28 - Capcom and Netflix officially announce Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness, a CG series featuring Leon and Claire.1:04:33 - VentureBeat: Mass Effect: Legendary Edition coming early next year.1:09:37 - Konami brings Metal Gear, Castlevania, and Contra titles to GOG.1:12:04 - Sega teases a new Virtua Fighter eSports project.1:14:49 - Nier: Replicant and Nier: Reincarnation details from Tokyo Game Show.

In the midst of the plague, Steve joins the battle in Smash! John and Tyler argue about watching The Simpsons in widescreen, Tyler discusses the wonders of Picross, and John's prayers of a new Virtua Fighter may actually come true. Maybe. Also, Super Mario Sunshine is not THAT difficult. Come on, guys. Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permissionTIMESTAMPS03:53 - Super Mario 3D All-Stars18:27 - Picross DS27:45 - Steve and Minecraft content coming to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.45:24 - Pokemon SWSH The Crown Tundra release date announced.50:02 - Teslagrad 2 is now in development at Rain Games.53:23 - Genshin Impact is now available on PS4, PC, and mobile.56:31 - The Pathless will release alongside PlayStation 5 on November 12th.58:28 - Capcom and Netflix officially announce Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness, a CG series featuring Leon and Claire.1:04:33 - VentureBeat: Mass Effect: Legendary Edition coming early next year.1:09:37 - Konami brings Metal Gear, Castlevania, and Contra titles to GOG.1:12:04 - Sega teases a new Virtua Fighter eSports project.1:14:49 - Nier: Replicant and Nier: Reincarnation details from Tokyo Game Show.

In an industry-shaking move, Microsoft has announced plans to purchase Zenimax Media, the parent company of Bethesda. What does this acquisition mean for the future of Bethesda's IP? For the future of Xbox's first-party? On the first half of this episode, we discuss those questions and more. Then, on a solo segment, John discusses the impact of this year's Summer Game Fest, and whether it should continue beyond 2020. Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permission.TIMESTAMPS 01:21 - Microsoft announces their plans to acquire Zenimax Media, parent company of Bethesda.34:57 - The aftermath of Summer Game Fest.

In an industry-shaking move, Microsoft has announced plans to purchase Zenimax Media, the parent company of Bethesda. What does this acquisition mean for the future of Bethesda's IP? For the future of Xbox's first-party? On the first half of this episode, we discuss those questions and more. Then, on a solo segment, John discusses the impact of this year's Summer Game Fest, and whether it should continue beyond 2020. Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permission.TIMESTAMPS 01:21 - Microsoft announces their plans to acquire Zenimax Media, parent company of Bethesda.34:57 - The aftermath of Summer Game Fest.

Sony has finally revealed the launch date, launch games, and price for PlayStation 5, alongside a slew of new game announcements. Final Fantasy XVI, Hogwarts Legacy, and a new God of War title. Nintendo also had a lot to say this week, announcing two new exclusive Monster Hunter titles from Capcom, a new mainline Disgaea from NIS, and more. Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permission.TIMESTAMPS03:03 - PlayStation 5 launches on November 12th, 2020, starting at $399 USD for the digital-only edition. The standard PS5 model, with a 4K UHD Blu-ray drive, will sell for $499 USD. 08:51 - Launch titles from PlayStation Studios.15:09 - PS5 titles will now retail for up to $69.99, starting with Demon’s Souls and Destruction All-Stars.24:06 - PlayStation Plus Collection.31:34 - Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Horizon: Forbidden West, and Sackboy are all coming to PS4.40:31 - Final Fantasy XVI (Square Enix, PS5 Console Exclusive)50:56 - Hogwarts Legacy (WB Games Avalanche)1:03:01 - Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition (Capcom)1:04:49 - God of War sequel (Sony Santa Monica) - SPOILER WARNING FOR GOD OF WAR 2018!1:10:10 - What other games did we like from the PS5 Showcase?1:18:06 - Kena: Bridge of Spirits, the debut title from studio Ember Lab, delayed to Q1 2021.1:19:21 - General thoughts on the Nintendo Direct Mini - Partner Showcase | September 20201:20:04 - Monster Hunter Rise (Capcom, Switch Exclusive)1:22:51 - Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin (Capcom, Switch Exclusive)1:25:55 - Ori and the Will of the Wisps is available now on Nintendo Switch. 1:27:07 - Fitness Boxing 2: Rhythm & Exercise (Imagineer, published by Nintendo)1:28:29 - Balan Wonderworld from Square Enix launches on March 26th, 2021.1:30:46 - Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny (NIS, Switch Console Exclusive)1:31:44 - Rune Factory 5 (Marvelous)1:34:05 - Production and manufacturing of the Nintendo 3DS family of systems has ended worldwide.1:39:45 - Michel Ancel, creator of Rayman and Beyond Good and Evil, is leaving the video game industry.

Sony has finally revealed the launch date, launch games, and price for PlayStation 5, alongside a slew of new game announcements. Final Fantasy XVI, Hogwarts Legacy, and a new God of War title. Nintendo also had a lot to say this week, announcing two new exclusive Monster Hunter titles from Capcom, a new mainline Disgaea from NIS, and more. Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permission.TIMESTAMPS03:03 - PlayStation 5 launches on November 12th, 2020, starting at $399 USD for the digital-only edition. The standard PS5 model, with a 4K UHD Blu-ray drive, will sell for $499 USD. 08:51 - Launch titles from PlayStation Studios.15:09 - PS5 titles will now retail for up to $69.99, starting with Demon’s Souls and Destruction All-Stars.24:06 - PlayStation Plus Collection.31:34 - Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Horizon: Forbidden West, and Sackboy are all coming to PS4.40:31 - Final Fantasy XVI (Square Enix, PS5 Console Exclusive)50:56 - Hogwarts Legacy (WB Games Avalanche)1:03:01 - Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition (Capcom)1:04:49 - God of War sequel (Sony Santa Monica) - SPOILER WARNING FOR GOD OF WAR 2018!1:10:10 - What other games did we like from the PS5 Showcase?1:18:06 - Kena: Bridge of Spirits, the debut title from studio Ember Lab, delayed to Q1 2021.1:19:21 - General thoughts on the Nintendo Direct Mini - Partner Showcase | September 20201:20:04 - Monster Hunter Rise (Capcom, Switch Exclusive)1:22:51 - Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin (Capcom, Switch Exclusive)1:25:55 - Ori and the Will of the Wisps is available now on Nintendo Switch. 1:27:07 - Fitness Boxing 2: Rhythm & Exercise (Imagineer, published by Nintendo)1:28:29 - Balan Wonderworld from Square Enix launches on March 26th, 2021.1:30:46 - Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny (NIS, Switch Console Exclusive)1:31:44 - Rune Factory 5 (Marvelous)1:34:05 - Production and manufacturing of the Nintendo 3DS family of systems has ended worldwide.1:39:45 - Michel Ancel, creator of Rayman and Beyond Good and Evil, is leaving the video game industry.

After months of speculation, Microsoft has officially revealed the Xbox Series S, along with pricing for both Seires X and S consoles. Nintendo has revealed a brand new Zelda game for the holidays and Ubisoft revealed a Zelda-like experience of their own. Also, for you PC players, NIVIDIA has revealed their next-generation of GPUs.Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permission.TIMESTAMPS04:47 - What did John think of the Super Mario 35th Anniversary Direct?19:43 - A quick review of Marvel's Avengers from Crystal Dynamics.32:40 - Xbox Series X and Series S launch on November 10th for $499.99 and $299.99 USD, respectively.56:11 - Nintendo and Koei Tecmo announce Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity for Nintendo Switch.1:00:39 - Immortals: Fenyx Rising, formerly known as Gods & Monsters, launches on December 3rd, 2020.1:07:22 - Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake announced.1:11:32 - Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World: The Game - Complete Edition launches later this year.1:14:24 - Riders Republic, a new sports IP from Ubisoft, will launch on February 25th, 2021.1:20:12 - NVIDIA announces their next-generation of GPUs, the GeForce RTX 30 Series.1:27:36 - Bloomberg: AT&T is no longer looking to sell Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.1:28:44 - Bloomberg: Nintendo is beginning to ask developers to make their Nintendo Switch software 4K-ready.1:33:49 - Sega is planning to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Sonic the Hedgehog in 2021 with new games and more.1:37:11 - Amazon Australia has listed five upcoming first-party PS5 titles with new box art and screenshots.1:40:37 - No More Heroes III has been delayed into 2021.

After months of speculation, Microsoft has officially revealed the Xbox Series S, along with pricing for both Seires X and S consoles. Nintendo has revealed a brand new Zelda game for the holidays and Ubisoft revealed a Zelda-like experience of their own. Also, for you PC players, NIVIDIA has revealed their next-generation of GPUs.Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permission.TIMESTAMPS04:47 - What did John think of the Super Mario 35th Anniversary Direct?19:43 - A quick review of Marvel's Avengers from Crystal Dynamics.32:40 - Xbox Series X and Series S launch on November 10th for $499.99 and $299.99 USD, respectively.56:11 - Nintendo and Koei Tecmo announce Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity for Nintendo Switch.1:00:39 - Immortals: Fenyx Rising, formerly known as Gods & Monsters, launches on December 3rd, 2020.1:07:22 - Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake announced.1:11:32 - Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World: The Game - Complete Edition launches later this year.1:14:24 - Riders Republic, a new sports IP from Ubisoft, will launch on February 25th, 2021.1:20:12 - NVIDIA announces their next-generation of GPUs, the GeForce RTX 30 Series.1:27:36 - Bloomberg: AT&T is no longer looking to sell Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.1:28:44 - Bloomberg: Nintendo is beginning to ask developers to make their Nintendo Switch software 4K-ready.1:33:49 - Sega is planning to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Sonic the Hedgehog in 2021 with new games and more.1:37:11 - Amazon Australia has listed five upcoming first-party PS5 titles with new box art and screenshots.1:40:37 - No More Heroes III has been delayed into 2021.

It's-a-Me, Mario! On this solo episode, Tyler discusses all of the big announcements from Nintendo's recent Super Mario Bros. 35th Anniversary Direct presentation. Tune in for deep dives into each of the major game announcements and learn about the development, publishing, and specifications for each product. Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permission.TIMESTAMPS06:52 - Super Mario 3D All-Stars18:51 - Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit24:39 - Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros.26:33 - Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury30:00 - Super Mario Bros. 3532:25 - Super Mario All-Stars 33:40 - Upcoming Super Mario Events (in-game events and official merchandise)35:56 - Upcoming Super Mario Products (non-gaming)

It's-a-Me, Mario! On this solo episode, Tyler discusses all of the big announcements from Nintendo's recent Super Mario Bros. 35th Anniversary Direct presentation. Tune in for deep dives into each of the major game announcements and learn about the development, publishing, and specifications for each product. Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permission.TIMESTAMPS06:52 - Super Mario 3D All-Stars18:51 - Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit24:39 - Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros.26:33 - Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury30:00 - Super Mario Bros. 3532:25 - Super Mario All-Stars 33:40 - Upcoming Super Mario Events (in-game events and official merchandise)35:56 - Upcoming Super Mario Products (non-gaming)

After years of speculation, we finally know about the projects being developed at WB Montreal and Rocksteady Studios. Were they both worth the wait? The latest Nintendo Direct Mini aired without any first-party announcements, and Gamescom ONL proved to demonstrate questionable reasoning for its existence. We dig into these events and other news topics on this packed episode of The Training Stage! Follows us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permission.TIMESTAMPS02:11 - Whoa! John actually played something new! 12:40 - Let's talk about the brilliance of BioShock.21:21 - Nintendo Direct Mini Partner Showcase | August 202034:49 - Bloomberg: Nintendo is planning to release an upgraded Switch model in 2021, alongside a slate of major first-party releases.45:00 - Gamescom Opening Night Live 20201:15:56 - Gotham Knights from WB Montreal revealed, a co-op action-adventure title. Planned for release in 2021.1:22:10 - Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League from Rocksteady Studios revealed with a teaser trailer.1:27:37 - Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War’s very confusing pricing across current- and next-generation hardware.1:32:29 - Sony opens registration with PSN ID to be randomly selected for PlayStation 5 pre-orders.1:38:22 - Bloomberg: Microsoft brings back Joseph Staten, to help Halo Infinite.1:39:53 - Lightning Round (Dragon Ball FighterZ, Retro Studios, Capcom, The Last Campfire, and more).

After years of speculation, we finally know about the projects being developed at WB Montreal and Rocksteady Studios. Were they both worth the wait? The latest Nintendo Direct Mini aired without any first-party announcements, and Gamescom ONL proved to demonstrate questionable reasoning for its existence. We dig into these events and other news topics on this packed episode of The Training Stage! Follows us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permission.TIMESTAMPS02:11 - Whoa! John actually played something new! 12:40 - Let's talk about the brilliance of BioShock.21:21 - Nintendo Direct Mini Partner Showcase | August 202034:49 - Bloomberg: Nintendo is planning to release an upgraded Switch model in 2021, alongside a slate of major first-party releases.45:00 - Gamescom Opening Night Live 20201:15:56 - Gotham Knights from WB Montreal revealed, a co-op action-adventure title. Planned for release in 2021.1:22:10 - Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League from Rocksteady Studios revealed with a teaser trailer.1:27:37 - Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War’s very confusing pricing across current- and next-generation hardware.1:32:29 - Sony opens registration with PSN ID to be randomly selected for PlayStation 5 pre-orders.1:38:22 - Bloomberg: Microsoft brings back Joseph Staten, to help Halo Infinite.1:39:53 - Lightning Round (Dragon Ball FighterZ, Retro Studios, Capcom, The Last Campfire, and more).

Nintendo presented their second Indie World stream of the year, highlighting several indie titles coming to Switch. Sucker Punch surprises everyone with a new Ghost of Tsushuima multiplayer mode. Activison is finally talking about this year's Call of Duty, and Bethesda has delayed Deathloop into next year. These stories and more discussed on this episode! Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permissionTIMESTAMPS04:18 - Panda Express treats the customer right.10:17 - Do we really understand all of the Epic Games legal stuff? Nope!13:46 - Microsoft Flight Simulator absolutely won over the critics.20:16 - Hades from Supergiant Games22:09 - Untitled Goose Game receiving a free co-op update.24:16 - Raji: An Ancient Epic from Nodding Heads Games.30:19 - Spiritfarer from Thunder Lotus.32:04 - A Short Hike from Adam Robinson-Yu.34:43 - Takeshi and Hiroshi from Oink Games Inc.36:32 - Manifold Garden from William Chyr Studio LLC.38:35 - Card Shark and INMOST.43:10 - Ghost of Tsushima: Legends, a free multiplayer update for owners of the base game, will launch on PS4 this fall. 49:18 - Activision has officially revealed Treyarch’s Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War.53:44 - Arkane Lyon’s Deathloop delayed to Q2 2021. 1:00:15 - Was a Prince of Persia Remake for PS4 and Switch leaked?1:05:12 - Thurrott: “A Closer Look at Halo Infinite’s Turbulent Journey” 1:21:10 - Lazlow Jones has left Rockstar after nearly 20 years of employment at the studio.1:24:46 - EA Access and Origin Access are to be renamed as EA Play.

Nintendo presented their second Indie World stream of the year, highlighting several indie titles coming to Switch. Sucker Punch surprises everyone with a new Ghost of Tsushuima multiplayer mode. Activison is finally talking about this year's Call of Duty, and Bethesda has delayed Deathloop into next year. These stories and more discussed on this episode! Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permissionTIMESTAMPS04:18 - Panda Express treats the customer right.10:17 - Do we really understand all of the Epic Games legal stuff? Nope!13:46 - Microsoft Flight Simulator absolutely won over the critics.20:16 - Hades from Supergiant Games22:09 - Untitled Goose Game receiving a free co-op update.24:16 - Raji: An Ancient Epic from Nodding Heads Games.30:19 - Spiritfarer from Thunder Lotus.32:04 - A Short Hike from Adam Robinson-Yu.34:43 - Takeshi and Hiroshi from Oink Games Inc.36:32 - Manifold Garden from William Chyr Studio LLC.38:35 - Card Shark and INMOST.43:10 - Ghost of Tsushima: Legends, a free multiplayer update for owners of the base game, will launch on PS4 this fall. 49:18 - Activision has officially revealed Treyarch’s Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War.53:44 - Arkane Lyon’s Deathloop delayed to Q2 2021. 1:00:15 - Was a Prince of Persia Remake for PS4 and Switch leaked?1:05:12 - Thurrott: “A Closer Look at Halo Infinite’s Turbulent Journey” 1:21:10 - Lazlow Jones has left Rockstar after nearly 20 years of employment at the studio.1:24:46 - EA Access and Origin Access are to be renamed as EA Play.

Xbox Series X will launch in November, but with a huge caveat: its marquee launch title, Halo Infinite, has been delayed into 2021. In addition, a digital-only Xbox console, the Series S, has been leaked via new controller packaging. What does this mean for the Xbox ecosystem this holiday season and beyond? We also cover some of the summer's biggest games, set expectations for DC FanDome, and discuss Yoshinori Ono's departure from Capcom.Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permission.TIMESTAMPS 02:15 - When will the COVID-19 madness end? When people start wearing masks!!05:41 - What's up with Tyler and Sonic Drive-In?10:34 - Xbox Series X launches in November 2020; Halo Infinite delayed to 2021.19:55 - Xbox Series S hardware leaked via packaging for Microsoft's next-generation Xbox controller.30:32 - The Verge: Fortnite delisted from Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. Epic Games files lawsuits against both companies.39:35 - Review Rundown (Destroy All Humans!, Paper Mario, Fall Guys, Ghost of Tsushima, The Last of Us Part II, and much more).1:00:57 - Rocksteady confirms that they’re working on a Suicide Squad game, with first details being shared at DC FanDome on August 22nd.1:04:40 - So, what do we exactly expect from DC FanDome in terms of video game announcements? Injustice 3 incoming?1:10:09 - Yoshinori Ono, executive producer of Capcom’s Street Fighter franchise, is leaving Capcom after 30 years.1:15:25 - Embracer Group (parent company of Deep Silver and THQ Nordic) has acquires including Metro developer 4A Games.1:17:09 - Ars Technica: Electronic Arts’ shareholders have refused to increase compensation for its executive team.1:20:00 - Lightning Round (Oceanhorn 2, Shin Megami Tensei III, Control, and more).

Xbox Series X will launch in November, but with a huge caveat: its marquee launch title, Halo Infinite, has been delayed into 2021. In addition, a digital-only Xbox console, the Series S, has been leaked via new controller packaging. What does this mean for the Xbox ecosystem this holiday season and beyond? We also cover some of the summer's biggest games, set expectations for DC FanDome, and discuss Yoshinori Ono's departure from Capcom.Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permission.TIMESTAMPS 02:15 - When will the COVID-19 madness end? When people start wearing masks!!05:41 - What's up with Tyler and Sonic Drive-In?10:34 - Xbox Series X launches in November 2020; Halo Infinite delayed to 2021.19:55 - Xbox Series S hardware leaked via packaging for Microsoft's next-generation Xbox controller.30:32 - The Verge: Fortnite delisted from Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. Epic Games files lawsuits against both companies.39:35 - Review Rundown (Destroy All Humans!, Paper Mario, Fall Guys, Ghost of Tsushima, The Last of Us Part II, and much more).1:00:57 - Rocksteady confirms that they’re working on a Suicide Squad game, with first details being shared at DC FanDome on August 22nd.1:04:40 - So, what do we exactly expect from DC FanDome in terms of video game announcements? Injustice 3 incoming?1:10:09 - Yoshinori Ono, executive producer of Capcom’s Street Fighter franchise, is leaving Capcom after 30 years.1:15:25 - Embracer Group (parent company of Deep Silver and THQ Nordic) has acquires including Metro developer 4A Games.1:17:09 - Ars Technica: Electronic Arts’ shareholders have refused to increase compensation for its executive team.1:20:00 - Lightning Round (Oceanhorn 2, Shin Megami Tensei III, Control, and more).

After several months, PlayStation's State of Play series returned with a new episode covering upcoming PS4, PS5, and PSVR titles. Without first-party titles backing the show, did Sony have enough interesting content to succeed with this presentation? Nintendo finally slates a first-party release for this fall with Pikmin 3 Deluxe. Japanese fighting game developers shared new information about their upcoming plans, and according to a trusted Capcom insider, Street Fighter VI may be having some development troubles. These news stories and much more covered on this packed episode of The Training Stage! Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permissionTIMESTAMPS01:26 - Tyler finished Paper Mario: The Origami King and Ghost of Tsushima. Also, Fall Guys is awesome!12:15 - General thoughts on the August 6th edition of PlayStation State of Play14:58 - Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time.21:30 - Hitman trilogy is coming to PlayStation VR in January 2021. 22:44 - Braid Anniversary Edition announced.25:03 - The Pathless from Giant Squid (Abzu).32:25 - Spelunky 2 launching September 15th, 2020 for PS4.34:09 - Genshin Impact, Aeon Must Die, and Anno Mutationem.39:00 - First gameplay footage of Young Horse's (Octodad) Bugsnax.41:17 - Star Wars: Vader Immortal, Control Expansion 2 - AWE, Auto Chess, and The Pedestrian.44:47 - Hood: Outlaws and Legends, a new game from Focus Home Entertainment and Sumo Digital.45:33 - Temtem arrives on PS5 in 2021.47:40 - Godfall.53:38 - Final thoughts regarding the State of Play presentation.1:05:03 - Pikmin 3 Deluxe announced for Nintendo Switch. Launching October 30th, 2020 with brand new single-player content. 1:13:50 - Japan Fighting Game Publishers Roundtable recap (Soulcalibur VI, Tekken 7, and more)1:28:44 - Dan, Rose, Oro, and Akira Kazama will be joining the Street Fighter V roster. A fifth fighter is coming next fall.1:35:00 - What is going on at Capcom in regards to Street Fighter VI? A Capcom insider may have some answers.1:43:15 - Spider-Man in the upcoming Marvel’s Avengers game will be exclusive to PlayStation consoles.1:46:28 - Sony confirms that DualShock 4 controllers will not work with native PlayStation 5 titles.1:49:58 - Lightning Round (Splinter Cell series, People Can Fly, Moon Studios, Battletoads, Persona 5 Scramble, and more)

After several months, PlayStation's State of Play series returned with a new episode covering upcoming PS4, PS5, and PSVR titles. Without first-party titles backing the show, did Sony have enough interesting content to succeed with this presentation? Nintendo finally slates a first-party release for this fall with Pikmin 3 Deluxe. Japanese fighting game developers shared new information about their upcoming plans, and according to a trusted Capcom insider, Street Fighter VI may be having some development troubles. These news stories and much more covered on this packed episode of The Training Stage! Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permissionTIMESTAMPS01:26 - Tyler finished Paper Mario: The Origami King and Ghost of Tsushima. Also, Fall Guys is awesome!12:15 - General thoughts on the August 6th edition of PlayStation State of Play14:58 - Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time.21:30 - Hitman trilogy is coming to PlayStation VR in January 2021. 22:44 - Braid Anniversary Edition announced.25:03 - The Pathless from Giant Squid (Abzu).32:25 - Spelunky 2 launching September 15th, 2020 for PS4.34:09 - Genshin Impact, Aeon Must Die, and Anno Mutationem.39:00 - First gameplay footage of Young Horse's (Octodad) Bugsnax.41:17 - Star Wars: Vader Immortal, Control Expansion 2 - AWE, Auto Chess, and The Pedestrian.44:47 - Hood: Outlaws and Legends, a new game from Focus Home Entertainment and Sumo Digital.45:33 - Temtem arrives on PS5 in 2021.47:40 - Godfall.53:38 - Final thoughts regarding the State of Play presentation.1:05:03 - Pikmin 3 Deluxe announced for Nintendo Switch. Launching October 30th, 2020 with brand new single-player content. 1:13:50 - Japan Fighting Game Publishers Roundtable recap (Soulcalibur VI, Tekken 7, and more)1:28:44 - Dan, Rose, Oro, and Akira Kazama will be joining the Street Fighter V roster. A fifth fighter is coming next fall.1:35:00 - What is going on at Capcom in regards to Street Fighter VI? A Capcom insider may have some answers.1:43:15 - Spider-Man in the upcoming Marvel’s Avengers game will be exclusive to PlayStation consoles.1:46:28 - Sony confirms that DualShock 4 controllers will not work with native PlayStation 5 titles.1:49:58 - Lightning Round (Splinter Cell series, People Can Fly, Moon Studios, Battletoads, Persona 5 Scramble, and more)

Tyler shares his predictions and expectations for the PlayStation State of Play broadcast airing on August 6th, 2020. Babylon's Fall, Crash Bandicoot 4, Bugsnax, and much more discussed!

Tyler shares his predictions and expectations for the PlayStation State of Play broadcast airing on August 6th, 2020. Babylon's Fall, Crash Bandicoot 4, Bugsnax, and much more discussed!

John delves into the current state of Blizzard's popular multiplayer shooter, Overwatch. After four years of support, how does the community feel about the game? What is the current development philosophy of Overwatch, and has the game retained its unique identity over the course of its many updates? And what does the upcoming sequel, Overwatch 2, suggest about the future of the series? John tackles these questions and more on this solo recording! Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permission.

John delves into the current state of Blizzard's popular multiplayer shooter, Overwatch. After four years of support, how does the community feel about the game? What is the current development philosophy of Overwatch, and has the game retained its unique identity over the course of its many updates? And what does the upcoming sequel, Overwatch 2, suggest about the future of the series? John tackles these questions and more on this solo recording! Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permission.

After their lackluster event in May, Microsoft finally returns with their Xbox Games Showcase featuring Series X's major launch title: Halo Infinite. How did Xbox do? Did they communicate the strengths of their studios? And how did this event compare to Sony's PlayStation 5 event? On this episode, we attempt to answer those questions as we delve into Xbox's most important show in years.Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permission.TIMESTAMPS06:22 - Yuji Naka announces Balan Wonderworld, a new 3D platformer published by Square Enix and Naka's new "Balan Company" umbrella.14:56 - General thoughts on the Xbox Games Showcase (July 2020)22:47 - Halo Infinite 34:22 - State of Decay 3 38:45 - Forza Motorsport41:39 - Everwild45:00 - Tell Me Why (Xbox Games Publishing x DONTNOD)48:48 - Xbox Games Studio titles receiving Series X enhancements (Ori, Gears, and more)51:18 - Obsidian Entertainment (The Outer Worlds, Grounded, and Avowed)56:52 - As Dusk Falls (Xbox Games Publishing x Interior/Night)58:41 - Ninja Theory and Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II 1:00:35 - Psychonauts 21:03:33 - Third party segment (Destiny 2, Crossfire X, The Medium, and much more)1:10:46 - Fable from Playground Games1:15:25 - Final thoughts about the Xbox Games Showcase1:40:21 - Lightning Round (Dragon Quest XI, PS4 sales data, Fallout TV, and more)

After their lackluster event in May, Microsoft finally returns with their Xbox Games Showcase featuring Series X's major launch title: Halo Infinite. How did Xbox do? Did they communicate the strengths of their studios? And how did this event compare to Sony's PlayStation 5 event? On this episode, we attempt to answer those questions as we delve into Xbox's most important show in years.Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permission.TIMESTAMPS06:22 - Yuji Naka announces Balan Wonderworld, a new 3D platformer published by Square Enix and Naka's new "Balan Company" umbrella.14:56 - General thoughts on the Xbox Games Showcase (July 2020)22:47 - Halo Infinite 34:22 - State of Decay 3 38:45 - Forza Motorsport41:39 - Everwild45:00 - Tell Me Why (Xbox Games Publishing x DONTNOD)48:48 - Xbox Games Studio titles receiving Series X enhancements (Ori, Gears, and more)51:18 - Obsidian Entertainment (The Outer Worlds, Grounded, and Avowed)56:52 - As Dusk Falls (Xbox Games Publishing x Interior/Night)58:41 - Ninja Theory and Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II 1:00:35 - Psychonauts 21:03:33 - Third party segment (Destiny 2, Crossfire X, The Medium, and much more)1:10:46 - Fable from Playground Games1:15:25 - Final thoughts about the Xbox Games Showcase1:40:21 - Lightning Round (Dragon Quest XI, PS4 sales data, Fallout TV, and more)

For the first time in our show's history, we have produced a hybrid episode. On the first segment, Angie joins us once again to discuss the disturbing Ubisoft allegations that have surfaced in recent weeks. Then, for the rest of the episode, buckle in for a deep dive into Xbox Game Studios with Tyler. Which studios will show games during the Xbox Games Showcase on July 23rd? What about third parties? And how about Microsoft acquiring some more studios, possibly even WB Interactive?Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageFollow our guest Angie on Twitter: @angdacatMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permission.TIMESTAMPS 00:08 - Opening message for this episode. What's up with the structure?05:56 - A candid discussion about the recent Ubisoft allegations.23:39 - What to expect from third-parties during the Xbox Games Showcase.28:12 - A deep dive into Xbox Game Studios and their current projects.54:46 - Future Xbox Game Studios acquistions and WB Interactive rumors.

For the first time in our show's history, we have produced a hybrid episode. On the first segment, Angie joins us once again to discuss the disturbing Ubisoft allegations that have surfaced in recent weeks. Then, for the rest of the episode, buckle in for a deep dive into Xbox Game Studios with Tyler. Which studios will show games during the Xbox Games Showcase on July 23rd? What about third parties? And how about Microsoft acquiring some more studios, possibly even WB Interactive?Follow us on Twitter: @TTStageFollow our guest Angie on Twitter: @angdacatMusic by Rukunetsu and used with permission.TIMESTAMPS 00:08 - Opening message for this episode. What's up with the structure?05:56 - A candid discussion about the recent Ubisoft allegations.23:39 - What to expect from third-parties during the Xbox Games Showcase.28:12 - A deep dive into Xbox Game Studios and their current projects.54:46 - Future Xbox Game Studios acquistions and WB Interactive rumors.