Destin Legarie Podcast | Save State Plus

The conversation around Mixtape has spiraled fast, but I don’t think this is really about Mixtape. It’s about a growing trust gap between players and critics.When outlets hand out top scores, while gameplay is limited or absent, and other recent games with lower review scores end up being loved by players, frustration builds. Mixtape feels less like it's caught up in the middle and being used as the latest flashpoint in a much bigger conversation about trust, reviews, expectations, and who game coverage is actually serving.Let’s talk about it.

Xbox just showed a recap of the Project Helix GDC talk. This is their next-generation vision for Xbox hardware, but the bigger story might be the identity crisis surrounding the entire brand. New Xbox leadership says frustrated players are right, Asha Sharma is promising change, and Microsoft clearly knows something has to shift. But can Project Helix actually solve Xbox’s biggest problems? Can team Xbox? They NEED to.Today I discuss the Project Helix conference recap, Xbox’s new strategy, player frustration, and why they need to figure it out.

Sony’s latest PlayStation earnings call was packed.

PS5 hardware sales are slowing, but PlayStation as a business is still making serious money through software, subscriptions, and the broader ecosystem. Meanwhile, Bungie continues to look like a rough investment for Sony as questions around performance and future projects keep piling up.

In this video, we break down the biggest PlayStation earnings call takeaways, what Sony said about the future, and why Bungie remains one of the most interesting parts of the conversation.

Path of Exile 2 is taking another massive step forward with Return of the Ancients and I sat down with Jonathan Rogers to talk about the future of the game, the redesigned endgame, new bosses, build planner tools, ocean exploration, uniques, cosmetics, and the road to 1.0. We also discuss how player feedback is shaping development, why Grinding Gear Games felt the endgame needed major changes, and what still needs to happen before full release. This update genuinely feels like Path of Exile 2 becoming a complete experience.
(00:00) Introduction
(01:14) Endgame Decisions
(03:37) Atlas Debate
(06:39) Ocean Exploration
(07:35) Build Planner
(10:14) What He's Been Playing
(11:17) The ARPG Council at GDC
(12:21) Are ARPGs Healthy?
(14:21) Favorite Bosses
(15:14) That One Boss' Design
(17:05) Who To Tame First
(17:57) Monk Build
(18:50) 1.0 Update
(21:07) What's left to get to 1.0
(23:02) Reaction Prediction
(23:49) Runic Ward
(24:46) Market Pricing
(25:49) Group Questions

I sat down with the developers behind Mixtape to talk about the game’s heavy music influences, why High Fidelity and Dazed & Confused inspired the storytelling, and how the team designed the entire experience like an actual mixtape. We also talked about Devo, Xbox Game Pass, emotional gameplay moments, and why “being into stuff” is one of the game’s core themes.