Ps This Is Awesome!

Episode 396  – Battlefield 6In today’s episode of PS This Is Awesome! A listener breaks down Borderlands 4’s new reactive level scaling system while Fred defends his “flawless” Mekadragon run in Cyber Shadow—despite some questionable criticism from a fellow gamer. Fred’s been juggling Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden and Battlefield 6, while Jake continues exploring Ghost of Yotei. Fred also grabbed Valiant Hearts for his backlog.On the news front, Sony’s reportedly gearing up PS6 production for early 2027, hinting at a possible late-2027 or early-2028 launch. Meanwhile, Battlefield 6 storms the UK charts with a dominant PS5 debut, and Sucker Punch confirms it’s focusing on one project at a time—so don’t expect inFAMOUS remasters anytime soon. Remedy’s FBC: Firebreak faces financial struggles, highlighting fatigue in the live-service market.Looking ahead, Blood West and The Cabin Factory drop October 16th, followed by Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, Ninja Gaiden 4, Painkiller, and Jurassic World Evo

Fred is still plunging  into Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden, Jake takes on Ghost of Yotei, and we share some awesome listener feedback about self-care and making sure we’re not burning the candle at both ends. Thanks to everyone for understanding our short break! In news, Battlefield 6 physical copies have leaked ahead of release, which is surprising for two reasons — hardly anyone buys physical games anymore, and most don’t actually contain the game on the disc. This one does, though online is still required even for the campaign. October’s PS Plus Essential lineup features Alan Wake 2, Goat Simulator 3, and Cocoon. Rumors are swirling that Xbox might not release a next-gen console at all, which could leave PlayStation unmatched when the PS6 eventually launches. There’s also talk of a new DualSense controller with a removable battery, and reports that EA may be going private amid a potential $50 billion buyout. Short, spooky, and full of PlayStation talk. We also dive into the State of Play that we didn'

Episode 394 – Skate is Back & Silent Hill NewsIn this week’s episode, Fred and Jake dig into the latest PlayStation news. Sony is bringing more classic Tomb Raider adventures back to PS5 and PS4 with trophy support, while the September PS Plus lineup delivers a mix of new and retro titles for subscribers. We talk about our time with Skate, Banishers: Ghosts of New Edan, and Borderlands 4.  We also cover the latest PS5 firmware update, which improves power-saving features and DualSense pairing. Plus, we highlight the upcoming Arc Raiders stress test and preview a busy release schedule, including Baby Steps, Silent Hill F, EA Sports FC 26, and more.By joining our Patreon community for ONLY $1.00 per month, you'll also enjoy these exclusive benefits:Early Access: Be the first to listen to our episodes as soon as they're ready. Get ahead of the game and dive into the latest news, reviews, and discussions.Personalized Shoutout: As a token of our gratitude for your support, we'll give you a special shout o

On this week’s episode of PS This Is Awesome, Fred shares that he finally finished Death Stranding 2 while Jake has some Borderlands 4 woes. We dive into a heavy news week for PlayStation fans. Rumors are swirling about a possible PS5 Showcase next week, Sony is doubling down on single-player gaming, and the September PS Plus lineup is here. On top of that, GTA 6 is shaping up to be the biggest launch in history, whispers about a detachable disc drive for PS6 have started, and Sony quietly cut storage space on new PS5 models. Naughty Dog teased their most ambitious project yet, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. Plus, we look at this week’s full slate of new PS5 and PS4 releases.By joining our Patreon community for ONLY $1.00 per month, you'll also enjoy these exclusive benefits:Early Access: Be the first to listen to our episodes as soon as they're ready. Get ahead of the game and dive into the latest news, reviews, and discussions.Personalized Shoutout: As a token of our gratitude for your support, we'll g

In this episode, Fred dives back into Death Stranding 2 while Jake shares his latest impressions after beating Shinobi: Art of Vengeance. We kick off listener feedback with @bigbox1431 challenging Jake’s “graphics matter” stance, pointing out Nintendo’s massive success with the new Zelda games. In the news segment, we discuss the 007: First Light State of Play, growing tensions around Xbox Game Pass, Sony allowing beta footage sharing for Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, and rumors about Wolverine on PS5 and a detachable disc drive for the next-gen PS6. We also highlight upcoming releases, including Firefighting Simulator: Ignite, Dead Reset, Borderlands 4, and Gloomy Eyes.By joining our Patreon community for ONLY $1.00 per month, you'll also enjoy these exclusive benefits:Early Access: Be the first to listen to our episodes as soon as they're ready. Get ahead of the game and dive into the latest news, reviews, and discussions.Personalized Shoutout: As a token of our gratitude for your support, we'll give you a

In this week’s episode, we break down September’s PlayStation Plus Essential lineup, featuring Psychonauts 2, Stardew Valley, and Viewfinder, now available to redeem. We also dive into the latest shake-up at Haven Studio, as Fairgames loses its game director to WB Games Montreal, raising new doubts about Sony’s live-service strategy. Plus, a fresh State of Play is on the calendar for September 3, with a spotlight on 007: First Light, and rumors are swirling about a dockable PS6 handheld. We wrap things up with franchise news on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and a packed slate of new releases, including Hollow Knight: Silksong and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Order of Giants.By joining our Patreon community for ONLY $1.00 per month, you'll also enjoy these exclusive benefits:Early Access: Be the first to listen to our episodes as soon as they're ready. Get ahead of the game and dive into the latest news, reviews, and discussions.Personalized Shoutout: As a token of our gratitude for your support, we'l

Episode 390 - Gamescom, He-Man, and PS5 Price HikeIn Episode 390, we dive into the latest news from the gaming world. Capcom is going all-in for TGS 2025, bringing playable demos of Resident Evil Requiem, Street Fighter 6, Pragmata, and more, while EA is gearing up to reveal the Early Access date for the free-to-play Skate reboot. We also cover retro nostalgia with Masters of the Universe: Dragon Pearl of Destruction, Sony’s increasing control over Bungie following Pete Parsons’ departure, and a new Halloween multiplayer game from IllFonic. On the hardware side, Sony raises PS5 prices in the U.S. by $50. Finally, we highlight the biggest PlayStation announcements from Gamescom 2025, including Ghost of Yōtei, Hollow Knight: Silksong, LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, and a host of indie titles, plus a quick look at upcoming releases like Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater and Lost Soul Aside.By joining our Patreon community for ONLY $1.00 per month, you'll also enjoy

This week, we dig into analyst Michael Pachter’s harsh critique of Sony’s leadership and what it means for PlayStation’s future. We also cover the social media firestorm Sony sparked by acknowledging Helldivers 2’s Xbox release, plus rumors of a late September State of Play that could deliver big holiday news. Finally, we break down Nexon’s AI ad controversy with The First Descendant and why it’s raising serious questions about ethics in gaming marketing.By joining our Patreon community for ONLY $1.00 per month, you'll also enjoy these exclusive benefits:Early Access: Be the first to listen to our episodes as soon as they're ready. Get ahead of the game and dive into the latest news, reviews, and discussions.Personalized Shoutout: As a token of our gratitude for your support, we'll give you a special shout out during one of our podcast episodes, acknowledging your contribution and dedication to our show.Custom Die-Cut Vinyl Sticker: Receive an exclusive custom die-cut vinyl sticker featuring our podcast's uni

Episode 388 - Ready or Not August is HereIn this episode, Fred is deep into Death Stranding 2, having just hit Chapter 9 and surpassed 70 hours of gameplay. Jake joins in with listener feedback and some sharp takes on the latest PlayStation news. We dive into Sony’s August PS Plus Essential lineup, where Lies of P shines as a dark, Pinocchio-inspired Souls-like standout, while DayZ and My Hero One’s Justice 2 offer more mixed receptions. Battlefield 6 finally hits a smooth 60 FPS Performance Mode on PS5, promising better responsiveness and visuals. We also highlight the surprising console success of Ready or Not, which has already sold over 2 million copies in under a week. Plus, THQ Nordic brings the classic Gothic trilogy to PlayStation, feeding the retro revival trend. Lastly, Sony confirms it will skip Gamescom 2025 for the sixth year in a row—setting the stage for more digital-first showcases.On the new releases front, we cover a variety of PlayStation games dropping this week—from the cooperative physic

Fred’s neck-deep in Death Stranding 2, Jake’s still playing Doom The Dark Ages. In the news: Neil Druckmann is stepping away from The Last of Us Season 3 to focus on Naughty Dog, but he’s still playing games—Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 blew his mind, and it might be a GOTY dark horse.Also: Forza Motorsport may have stalled out for good as Turn 10 gets gutted and GT7 keeps cruising. Helldivers 2 jumping to Xbox has the PS5 crowd split, and a new Mafia: The Old Country gameplay drop has serious Uncharted energy. Plus, over a million gamers want to stop the industry from killing off old games, but publishers aren’t exactly on board.By joining our Patreon community for ONLY $1.00 per month, you'll also enjoy these exclusive benefits:Early Access: Be the first to listen to our episodes as soon as they're ready. Get ahead of the game and dive into the latest news, reviews, and discussions.Personalized Shoutout: As a token of our gratitude for your support, we'll give you a special shout out during one of our podcas

383 - PS6 is Coming, What We Know and What We Want. We're back after a short break—thanks for hanging in there with us! In Episode 383, we unpack Sony’s surprise PS6 confirmation and talk about what machine learning and local power could mean for the next generation of PlayStation. Fred shares his thoughts on Car Mechanic Simulator and dives into Death Stranding 2, which he is absolutely ALL IN on, while Jake’s used his Steam Deck while in Italy and played Super Mario World. We also break down this month’s PS Plus lineup, System Shock 2’s incoming remaster, new life in Red Dead Online, and what’s dropping on PS5 this week. No listener feedback this time, but we’ve got a packed episode full of the good stuff.By joining our Patreon community for ONLY $1.00 per month, you'll also enjoy these exclusive benefits:Early Access: Be the first to listen to our episodes as soon as they're ready. Get ahead of the game and dive into the latest news, reviews, and discussions.Personalized Shoutout: As a token of our gr

Episode 382: Witcher 4 Shines, Gears Lands on PS5, and MindsEye Crashes HardFred wraps up The Lakehouse DLC for Alan Wake II and dives into the high-voltage chaos of Evil West, while Jake continues his trek with Doom The Dark Ages and also playing lots of different things on his Steam Deck, including the Hell is Us demoop[pop[p. We kick things off by thanking a longtime listener for a surprise gift, then dive into a wild week of PlayStation news.CD Projekt RED stuns with a Witcher 4 tech demo running at 60fps on PS5—but not everything is as it seems. Gears of War officially makes its PlayStation debut with Reloaded running smooth on PS5 Pro, while MindsEye hits the console like a flaming meteor, prompting Sony to issue rare refunds just days after launch.We also discuss the upcoming Silent Hill remake, the record-shattering launch of Switch 2 in Japan, SAG-AFTRA’s tentative victory over AI in game voiceovers, and a stacked lineup of new PS5 releases—plus some very weird dating sims. It's a packed episode fill

Episode 381 – Summer Game Fest Things, Night Springs, and Big SwingsFred’s back in the spooky saddle after diving into the Alan Wake II DLCs—he’s completed Night Springs and has just cracked open The Lakehouse. Meanwhile, Jake rolled credits on Expedition 33 and while the ending didn’t totally land for him, the journey was strong enough to make it one of his recent favorites. He also dipped into Doom: The Dark Ages, because of course he did.This week, we take a deep breath and unpack Summer Game Fest 2025. From the hype around sequels like Resident Evil: Requiem and Atomic Heart 2, to the weirdly compelling ILL and Reddit darling Stranger Than Heaven, the show had a little something for everyone—or maybe too much of everything. We talk about the odd bait-and-switch with Capcom’s teaser, how ILL might be more tech demo than game, and whether Atomic Heart really needed a multiplayer spin-off called The Cube.We also take stock of upcoming DLCs (Lies of P: Overture, 007: First Light), roster updates (Street Fight

Episode 380 – “Gandalf, Game Fest, and Getting to the End”Fred finally put a bow on Octopath Traveler II, clocking in at a hefty 76 hours. He’s now stuck in that post-game limbo, unsure what to dive into next—and somewhere along the way, he saw Gandalf, which we’ll unpack. Jake, meanwhile, is still going strong in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, now 31 hours deep and not letting up.Listener feedback this week was short but sweet. Big Box gave us props for our thumbnail game, and 1blktalon chimed in with a time-stamped shoutout for Jake’s "Amen" moment from Episode 378, also weighing in on Jade Raymond. Appreciate the love—and the laughs.As for the news, Summer Game Fest 2025 is right around the corner. Geoff Keighley will host on June 6th, and PlayStation is officially on board as a partner. Expect big reveals, including WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers, and a post-show indie showcase from Day of the Devs. Meanwhile, IO Interactive is gearing up to unveil 007 First Light during their own showcase the same day, teasing B

***AUDIO ISSUES IN THIS EPISODE*** We apologize in advance. Our recording software messed up. Listen to our other episodes to hear the quality we typically bring. This is not a representative episode. Apologies to our listener. Episode 379 – “Final Boss Breakdown”Fred’s well over 70 hours into Octopath Traveler II and stuck on the true final boss—his patience is wearing thin, and if this boss doesn’t go down soon, he’s threatening to leap off a cliff. Meanwhile, Jake’s still deep in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and holding off on DOOM: The Dark Ages until he wraps up that beautifully strange ride.We did get some listener feedback this week, mostly someone roasting us for using AI. (Fair enough—we're still humans with mics, we promise.)In the news, the June PS Plus titles were announced and it’s a stacked lineup: NBA 2K25, Alone in the Dark, Bomb Rush Cyberfunk, and Destiny 2: The Final Shape (dropping May 28). Also this week, the FTC officially dropped its long-standing challenge against Microsoft’s acquisitio

EPISODE 378: Bungie in Crisis, Kojima’s Legacy, and a Ton of Games!Fred is 68 hours into Octopath Traveler II with just two storylines left to go, while Jake is still exploring Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. No listener feedback this week, but the news is pretty loaded.Bungie is facing some serious trouble with their upcoming game Marathon. They discovered plagiarized art assets in the alpha build, which led to scrapping the planned gameplay reveal. The team morale is tanking, and now there’s a big question mark over whether they’ll make their September release. On the Sony side, Jade Raymond recently left Haven Studios, the team behind Fairgames. This came after some internal concerns and delays pushed Fairgames into a 2026 release. It definitely adds to the uncertainty around Sony’s live-service plans, which have had a rough ride lately.Over at SNK, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves didn’t hit the mark, and their CEO has stepped down. Meanwhile, Hideo Kojima is thinking long term—he’s given his assistant a USB s

Fred’s now 63 hours into Octopath Traveler II, and Jake’s diving into Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. No listener feedback this week—but plenty of PlayStation news to break down:Helldivers II continues to crush it with new content—this time, it's a full-on war against the Illuminate.Guilty Gear Strive grand finals at EVO Japan were derailed by an overheating PS5—hardware reliability in question.Fallout Season 2 hits Amazon this December, heading to the Mojave with major New Vegas vibes. Season 3 already confirmed.A former Rockstar dev says GTA VI didn’t enter full production until 2018. We also break down Trailer 2—and yes, Rockstar insists it’s running on a stock PS5.Naughty Dog’s new game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, stars Tati Gabrielle as a bounty hunter on a cursed planet. Big themes, big reactions—both good and bad.DOOM: The Dark Ages ships with just 85MB on disc—another hit to physical game preservation.Death Stranding 2 has officially gone gold.Mafia: The Old Country looks gritty and cinematic—ne