Dense Pixels

We’re going absolutely bananas over Donkey Kong Bananza! We kick things off by gushing over Nintendo’s latest generational game and why we can't put it down. Valve has begun removing certain adult games from the Steam marketplace due to pressure from payment processors. We discuss how this sets a dangerous precedent for video game censorship and why it’s a slippery slope that players and creators alike should be watching closely. Ubisoft is back in the headlines for all the wrong reasons as Charlie Guillemot—yes, the CEO’s son—is appointed to lead their new Tencent-backed subsidiary. Generative AI continues its concerning rise in game development. Steam is reporting an 800% year-over-year increase in games disclosing GenAI usage. We also highlight the tragic irony of recently laid-off King developers who unknowingly trained the very tools that replaced them. In this week’s Post Office, what games do we wish we could delete from existence?

Brad shares why Patapon 1+2 Replay stirs nostalgia for a bygone era of creative, experimental gaming from AAA publishers and why the industry may be worse off without it. We explore Roblox's massive influence on the modern gaming landscape, from platform dominance to its role in shaping young gamers’ habits and expectations. The Subnautica 2 controversy takes center stage as we break down how publisher Krafton appears to have delayed early access to dodge a $250 million payout to Unknown Worlds. We discuss the looming threat of Buy Now, Pay Later services entering the gaming space and how they will likely exploit the players most vulnerable to predatory monetization and microtransaction spending. In the Post Office, we debate whether the world actually needs a Superman video game and why WWE may be sabotaging their own momentum by not properly capitalizing on their current success.

Even amid widespread tech layoffs, Microsoft managed to surprise the industry by cutting over 9,000 employees last week—its fourth major layoff in just 18 months. We explore the impact on Xbox, why AAA game development keeps fueling these cycles, and what the Xbox brand might represent going forward. Helldivers 2 is heading to Xbox. Is Sony starting a new trend? EA appears to be setting up the next Battlefield title to fail—and possibly on purpose. 11bitstudios is under fire for using undisclosed generative AI in The Alters. We explain why this story is a new concern for folks who are opposed to the use of these tools in games. Borderlands 4 may win back long-time fans thanks to a crucial design change from Gearbox. Brad shares why Foundation might be his “just right” city builder in a crowded genre. In the Post Office, we dive into Street Fighter movie casting rumors and debate whether this upcoming trainwreck could still be worth watching.

It’s a community show this week, but first we dive into the games we’ve been playing.Terrence shares his love-hate relationship with REMATCH, calling it both his most beloved and most infuriating game of the year. He also gives quick takes on FBC Firebreak and Lost in Random: The Eternal Die.Brad compares two action-packed brawlers—Midnight Fight Express and Dead as Disco—before digging into strategy with a breakdown of Age of Wonders: Planetfall versus Age of Wonders 4 to determine which entry speaks to him most.Carrie finally got her hands on Mario Kart World and is returning to Pokémon Scarlet, now running much smoother thanks to the Switch 2.Then we dive into listener questions from the Post Office, talking albums that peak early, the creepiest video game villains, and why Gen Z gravitates toward sandbox experiences.

Terrence has been diving into the new base-building game The Alters and shares his early impressions, along with his thoughts on Metaphor: ReFantazio, Dense Pixels' 2024 Game of the Year. Brad is working through his backlog and enjoying both Manor Lords and Shapez 2, with plenty of praise to go around.In news, we cover the massive launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, the end of the SAG-AFTRA strike against major game publishers, and Embracer Group’s Lars Wingefors conveniently stepping into a new role that still gives him influence—likely not for the better.Then, in the Post Office, we go deep on the current WWE product and explore why recent portrayals of Black wrestlers may not be as progressive as they seem.

We’ve all finally gotten our hands on the Nintendo Switch 2 — even Micah — and we share our first impressions of the new console, along with thoughts on Mario Kart World and whether now is the right time to buy one.Summer Game Fest just wrapped, and we start by breaking down the one presentation that stood out for all the wrong reasons, plus what it says about the current state of the AAA gaming industry.We also highlight all of the games that grabbed our attention, including 007: First Light, The Outer Worlds 2, Persona 4 Revival, Clockwork Revolution, LUMINES Arise, Ratatan, The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, Resident Evil Requiem, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, and many more.

***CLAIR OBSCUR: EXPEDITION 33 SPOILER WARNING***With news being light this week, we dive deep into Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. We explore the elements that make it stand out, what lessons we hope other developers learn from it, and give a full breakdown of the game's characters. Of course, we also unpack the ending and examine the major themes that run throughout this compelling title.

Terrence shares his quick impressions of Doom: The Dark Ages and makes a surprise return to Dragon Age: Inquisition. Did he finally make it out of The Hinterlands this time? We dive into the controversy surrounding Bungie, as the studio is once again caught plagiarizing art. With morale reportedly low and Marathon in a precarious state, we discuss what the future might look like for Bungie moving forward. In the Post Office, we reflect on how we've changed as gamers over the years and share the narrative tropes in media that instantly ruin the experience for us.

It’s a light news week, so we open the floodgates for a massive edition of the Post Office. We dig into our favorite independent media outlets, whether Jacob Fatu is officially invited to the cookout, and the most overrated bands in music history. Brad has found another hidden gem with Drop Duchy—a puzzle game dressed up as a Tetris-inspired roguelite that deserves more attention. We share our excitement about the resurrection of Giant Bomb as a worker-owned, independent games media outlet, and what that means for the future of games journalism. PalWorld is quietly scaling back its more obvious Pokémon inspirations—exactly the ending we all expected in its looming legal standoff with Nintendo.

Brad has reached the endgame in Last Epoch and confirms it has the juice for ARPG fans. Terrence gives his full review of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 now that he's beaten it, and explains why he’s diving back into Avowed. Grand Theft Auto VI has been delayed to next year—but does anyone on the panel actually care? Microsoft raises prices across the board for Xbox hardware and first-party games. We discuss what this means for the future of console pricing and why Microsoft may have jumped ahead of Sony. A brutal week in games media sees the effective end of both Polygon and Giant Bomb. We reflect on the corporate failures in the media and games industries, and how independent creators continue to lead by example.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion remaster arrived unexpectedly, and Carrie and Terrence share their thoughts on how well it holds up today. Micah, Brad, and Terrence have all jumped into Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Is the game living up to the buzz and lofty expectations? We also offer our impressions of Promise Mascot Agency and Last Epoch, and how each stacks up in their respective genres. Finally, we recap WrestleMania 41—which matches delivered, which disappointed, and what the outcomes could mean for WWE's future direction.

Brad shares his impressions of Blue Prince, diving into what makes the game engaging for him while explaining why it might not be a must-play for everyone—even with Game of the Year buzz. Terrence wraps up South of Midnight, and he and Micah discuss how the game stands out as a powerful and positive representation of Black culture in gaming. Tariff relief might be on the horizon for the U.S., but game consoles are notably excluded. We examine what this means for the Switch 2 preorder landscape and how Sony is adjusting its pricing strategy globally, including PlayStation 5 price hikes in some markets to offset U.S. losses. We also preview WrestleMania weekend and share why it’s looking like one of the weaker cards in recent memory.

Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders have been delayed in the US and Canada due to new tariffs, throwing a wrench in the planned release schedule. Nintendo claims that the $449 launch price for the Switch 2 did not factor in the potential impact of tariffs, raising questions about future price stability. We give our early impressions of South of Midnight and Atomfall and how they're shaping up ahead of release. Brad reviews the math-meets-madness chaos of Nubby's Number Factory. Micah gives his full review of Assassin’s Creed Shadows—what’s working, what isn’t, and how it stacks up to past entries. Ubisoft has quietly formed a new subsidiary with Tencent to handle the business side of their most profitable franchises.

We finally have all the details on the Nintendo Switch 2, and we break down everything from the Switch 2 Direct. We discuss the specs, price, and whether it's a day 1 purchase for any of us. We give our impressions of the games revealed during the presentation, including Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, The Duskbloods, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, and many more. We also dive into last week’s Nintendo Direct, where the original Switch is getting its final big games—like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.

We're still deep in the Forbidden Lands of Monster Hunter Wilds, grinding our way through the latest hunts. Reports suggest an Xbox handheld could be coming this year. We discuss what it might look like and whether it could shake up the current gaming hardware landscape. SAG-AFTRA continues its fight against AI in the voice acting industry, raising concerns about the future of human talent in games. Many developers are skipping GDC due to the U.S.'s treatment of foreign visitors, potentially impacting one of the biggest networking events in gaming. In the Post Office, we dive into the best—and most insane—video game advertisements we've ever seen.

Brad and Carrie are fully immersed in Monster Hunter Wilds, and even Micah is feeling the Monster Hunter FOMO… but is he finally hooked? Brad has discovered Two-Point Museum and regrets to inform everyone that he has a new obsession that will consume dozens of hours. Terrence has realized that Game Pass is actually a great value for him and shares his impressions of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black and Diablo IV. We also dive into several tangents in the Post Office, including our thoughts on the John Cena heel turn and the absolute worst MLB caps we’ve ever seen.

The James Bond franchise now creatively resides with Amazon, and Micah and Brad have some thoughts on what this could mean for the series.Carrie has been playing the Warsong update in Hades 2 and is mighty impressed with the new content.Carrie also gives her impressions of the demo for Promise Mascot Agency and what makes it stand out.Brad may have discovered another hidden Capcom gem in Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess.Microsoft made waves with the announcement of its generative-AI model Muse, but will it actually have a meaningful impact on game development?Sony held a State of Play presentation, and we share our thoughts on Saros, Borderlands 4, Digimon Story Time Stranger, and more.Rumors suggest NetEase may be making a heavy divestiture from some notable studios.Niantic may be selling Pokémon Go and Monster Hunter Now to the Saudi government, raising concerns about the future of these mobile juggernauts.We discuss the worst gaming peripherals we’ve ever owned.

Brad played a ton of Sid Meier's Civilization VII and explains why he’s loving the new additions to the gameplay. He also breaks down why this might be the best entry point for new Civ players.PlayStation Network was mysteriously down for almost a whole day, and Sony isn’t explaining why.Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick might be the most unexpected person to make a fantastic point about AI and its role in gaming.Football Manager 25 has been canceled, and surprisingly, it’s for a pro-consumer reason.The ESA has announced the "iicon" conference—though we discuss whether anyone really needs to care.

Terrence is back on the show and shares his shift to the mini PC space for gaming, along with the slew of roguelikes he's been playing. Brad is feeling a bit ambivalent about the run-based tower defense game Dome Keeper. Micah might not be teaching the best lessons as he shows his son how to play Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit. Carrie is working on a video game soundtrack.Bioware seems to be on its last legs as EA lays off and transfers a large chunk of the studio. Will we actually see a new Mass Effect, and if we do, will it live up to expectations? Dr Disrespect’s game studio has shut down, but unsurprisingly, he’ll land on his feet on YouTube. Multiversus is shutting down for good this time.Any lingering belief in Xbox exclusivity has died with the announcement that Forza Horizon 5 is coming to PlayStation. The founder of God is a Geek fooled around and found out. We share our impressions of the Royal Rumble and talk about ways we destress in these stressful times.

Carrie is back from an unforgettable MAGfest and brings a hardware review of the MAGfest Swadge. Coincidentally, Brad also has a hardware review, sharing his excitement over the Playdate console. Unfortunately, we're once again discussing industry layoffs, this time at Ubisoft and Phoenix Labs. Sony has pulled the plug on live service projects from Bend Studios and Bluepoint. Microsoft's developer showcase delivered big surprises, including the unexpected reveal of Ninja Gaiden 4. Meanwhile, Marvel Snap found itself caught in the crossfire of TikTok's performative compliance efforts. We close things out with our Royal Rumble predictions.