The Nextlander Podcast

We're out this week, so the Nextlander Podcast will return in its normal slot next week, but for now we bring you another NBABP classic, in which Jeff Bakalar and Austin Walker join us to talk about the funny pages, technology running amok, and electronic drum kits?
CHAPTERS

(00:01:07) Intro
(00:02:31) Sah-caucus vs Sea-caucus
(00:03:21) All the good podcast memories are Beastcast related
(00:05:56) The internal politics of carving out studio spaces
(00:08:14) "I'm a human and I don't work there anymore"
(00:23:56) First Break
(00:24:05) Do we live in Cyberpunk Version 3.0?
(00:27:14) Why do giant tech companies always seem evil?
(00:31:46) The Coleco Chameleon and the Intellivision Amico
(00:32:36) Tommy Tallarico
(00:34:39) The last 10 years of the internet have been good
(00:39:01) Don't mess with whatever hope people have of a retirement
(00:41:50) Masterful transition into the funny pages
(00:47:22) Second Break
(00:47:35) How is Gary Larson?
(00:52:50) Getting deep into Heathcliff
(01:01:43) Bakalar had a comic strip?
(01:07:15) And he bought an electronic drum kit?!
(01:21:51) Wrapping up and thanks!
(01:22:14) See ya!

It's a very full show this week, with discussion of Marathon, late-game Resident Evil Requiem, WWE 2K26, and Esoteric Ebb, plus chatter in the news about Microsoft's Project Helix, PlayStation surge pricing, Nagoshi Studio's loss of funding for Gang of Dragon, and the final round of Mario Galaxy movie casting, plus another stack of FMV emails and more!
CHAPTERS

(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:10) Intro
(00:02:35) Resident Evil Requiem  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2]  |  Feb 27, 2026
(00:02:53) [SPOILER WARNING] Some open and spoiler-ish RE9 talk ensues!
(00:05:35) We get a little deeper into actual spoiler territory
(00:43:07) First Break
(00:43:11) Marathon  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Mar 05, 2026
(01:00:11) WWE 2K26  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Mar 13, 2026
(01:18:13) Esoteric Ebb  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Mar 03, 2026
(01:19:36) Second Break
(01:27:01) Welcome to Project Helix
(01:37:14) Valve still plans to keep to its 2026 hardware date
(01:50:01) Sony's stab at dynamic pricing?
(01:56:53) NetEase to stop funding Gang of Dragon
(02:05:44) Make way for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
(02:16:31) Emails
(02:32:21) Wrapping up and thanks
(02:35:12) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts
(02:38:43) Nextlander content updates
(02:39:44) See ya!

This week we discuss the hottest Resident Evil releases, like Outbreak and 6 (and also Requiem), Reanimal, Steam Next Fest demos like Vampire Crawlers, Awaysis, and Forbidden Solitaire, Sony's reported decision to stop porting its first-party games to PC, the Bloodborne remaster that almost was, RedOctane's new guitar game, the God of War live action show, and a bunch of other stuff!
CHAPTERS
(00:00:10) Intro
(00:02:20) No power, (almost) no problem!
(00:12:50) Resident Evil Requiem  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2]  |  Feb 27, 2026
(00:56:37) First Break
(00:59:12) Reanimal  |  [Nintendo Switch 2, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Feb 13, 2026
(01:02:43) Steam Next Fest Demos
(01:03:34) Vampire Crawlers: The Turbo Wildcard from Vampire Survivors  |  [Xbox Series X|S, Android, iOS, PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5]  |  2026
(01:11:45) Replaced  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Apr 14, 2026
(01:14:00) Awaysis  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  TBD
(01:16:19) Titanium Court  |  [Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  TBD
(01:21:09) The Ratline  |  [Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Mar 17, 2026
(01:23:09) Forbidden Solitaire  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Q1 2026
(01:29:51) Second Break
(01:29:55) The news
(01:30:35) Sony wants you to buy console games, not PC games
(01:47:54) Almost everyone wanted a Bloodborne remake!
(01:56:48) Stage Tour is the newest plastic instrument game!
(02:07:10) Highguard is officially going offline
(02:20:23) Breaking Build a Rocket Boy news
(02:21:25) First look at the live-action God of War
(02:31:59) Emails
(02:37:39) Wrapping up and thanks
(02:39:46) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts
(02:42:47) Nextlander content updates
(02:43:58) See ya!

There's a lot going on: Phil Spencer's time at Xbox is coming to an end, Microsoft is appointing former AI exec Asha Sharma to replace him, Sony is shuttering Bluepoint Games, and more. We dig into all that, plus Alex and Brad nerd out over the new Star Trek: Voyager game, Vinny names his FMV Mount Rushmore, and other stuff on this week's show!
CHAPTERS

(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:10) Intro
(00:01:16) The Next Era of Xbox
(00:46:17) First Break
(00:46:22) More about the future of Xbox
(01:26:04) Sony shutters Bluepoint Games
(01:35:43) Bungie to institute permanent bans for Marathon cheaters
(01:38:00) Nacon files for insolvency
(01:40:49) Everything changes, all at once
(01:44:46) Second Break
(01:44:51) Some video games we played
(01:45:01) Star Trek: Voyager - Across the Unknown  |  [Nintendo Switch 2, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Feb 18, 2026
(02:02:56) God of War Sons of Sparta  |  [PlayStation 5]  |  Feb 12, 2026
(02:04:38) Heart of the Forest  |  [Android, iOS, Mac, Nintendo Switch, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One]  |  Feb 12, 2026
(02:05:19) Emails
(02:25:38) Wrapping up and thanks
(02:29:04) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts
(02:30:48) Nextlander schedule updates
(02:31:54) See ya!

Sony ran an all-timer of a State of Play last week, so we spend a bunch of time digging into a bunch of news and demos about God of War Trilogy Remake, Control Resonant, and Konami's impressive bundle of Castlevania, Silent Hill, and Metal Gear games. Also, games like God of War: Sons of Sparta, Menace, Heart of the Forest, and Avowed on PS5. Also, Vinny's questionable encounter at the Outback Steakhouse. Sounds like a podcast, alright!
CHAPTERS

(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:10) Intro
(00:00:56) A touch of "comedy" at the Outback?
(00:09:55) Other, non-Outback food options
(00:12:09) God of War Sons of Sparta  |  [PlayStation 5]  |  Feb 12, 2026
(00:21:50) First Break
(00:24:14) Heart of the Forest  |  [Android, iOS, Mac, Nintendo Switch, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One]  |  Feb 12, 2026
(00:31:57) Menace (Early Access) |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Feb 05, 2026
(00:38:41) Avowed  |  [PlayStation 5]  |  Feb 17, 2026
(00:50:34) Species: Unknown (Early Access) |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Oct 23, 2025
(00:58:47) Silent Hill f  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Sep 25, 2025
(01:00:46) Second Break
(01:00:50) Sony's latest State of Play
(01:04:09) Castlevania: Belmont's Curse  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch]  |  2026
(01:09:48) Silent Hill: Townfall  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5]  |  2026
(01:15:46) Metal Gear Solid Master Collection: Volume 2  |  [Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Aug 27, 2026
(01:23:41) The rest of Konami
(01:24:18) God of War Trilogy Remake  |  [PlayStation 5]  |  TBD
(01:31:43) Kena: Scars of Kosmora  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5]  |  2026
(01:32:58) Untitled John Wick Game  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5]  |  TBD
(01:37:18) Saros  |  [PlayStation 5]  |  Apr 30, 2026
(01:37:59) Control Resonant  |  [Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Q2 2026
(01:39:33) 007 First Light  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2]  |  May 27, 2026
(01:40:54) Star Wars: Galactic Racer  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  2026
(01:41:56) Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5]  |  Aug 06, 2026
(01:42:15) Neva: Prologue  |  [PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Feb 19, 2026
(01:42:55) Pragmata  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2]  |  Apr 24, 2026
(01:44:43) Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch]  |  Feb 13, 2026
(01:45:14) Project Windless  |  [PlayStation 5]  |  TBD
(01:46:29) Yakoh: Shinobi Ops  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5]  |  2027
(01:46:59) Death Stranding 2: On the Beach  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Mar 19, 2026
(01:48:09) Marathon  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Mar 05, 2026
(01:50:11) Steam Deck shortages are here
(01:52:39) A bit more on that future Resident Evil movie
(01:57:45) Emails
(02:09:03) Wrapping up and thanks
(02:11:30) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts