Game Scoop! 833: Full Steam Ahead

Date: November 13, 2025
Host: Daemon Hatfield (IGN)
Co-hosts: Sam Claiborne, Justin Davis, Mark Medina

Main Theme & Overview

This week, the Game Scoop crew dives into Valve’s renewed push for living room gaming, discussing the new Steam Machine, controller, and VR headset. They also give deep impressions of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, break down the implications of the GTA 6 delay, marvel at the $60 price of a retro-styled Terminator game, and share thoughts on the latest in gaming and pop culture. As always, there are plenty of retro throwbacks, sharp debates, and a challenging round of Video Game 20 Questions.

1. Valve Goes Full Steam Ahead—Again

(00:47–24:13)

Key Points:

• Valve’s Steam Machine Returns:
  Valve is making another attempt at conquering the living room, buoyed by the modest success of the Steam Deck. The new Steam Machine, controller, and VR headset (“Steam Frame”) aim to marry PC gaming power with console convenience.

• Steam Machine History:
  Recap of the failed 2015 Steam Machine initiative – "It didn't exactly set the world on fire" (Daemon, 08:01). The main issues were a confusing vendor approach and poor controller design.

• What’s Different This Time?

  • New hardware is designed and made by Valve, no third parties muddling the waters.
  • Steam Big Picture Mode is much improved, offering true plug-and-play for TV gaming.
  • Controller design mimics Steam Deck’s input, with added touchpads aiming to bridge controller and mouse/keyboard experiences.
  • Estimated price is around $800–$1200; not ultra high-end, but aiming for an accessible balance.
  • SteamOS and integration aim for simplicity and instant access to your PC library.
  • Instant access to the massive Steam back-catalog at unbeatable prices.

• New Steam VR Headset (“Steam Frame”):

  • Standalone headset that can play both native VR titles and traditional PC games in a virtual environment (a la Apple Vision Pro).
  • The crew expresses skepticism and notes the challenge of VR adoption and price.

Notable Quotes:

“They want… to make another run at the living room and they’ve got a new Steam Machine…emboldened by its hardware success with the Steam Deck, which I love and play every day.”
—Daemon (09:35)

“This is what’s different… now Valve is making it, and it has custom internals designed for this. As of this show, we don’t have the price... but people guess a thousand to twelve hundred bucks.”
—Justin (11:04–11:46)

“But you can get every Hitman and Assassin’s Creed … for like $6. You really can’t replicate that on consoles.”
—Sam (17:56)

“Usually Valve will make a game to accommodate their hardware… If they said, ‘We’re making Half-Life or Portal’…that would be really exciting.”
—Sam (16:25)

Memorable Moments:

• Crew jokes that the new controller looks “like a little guy that’s sobbing” (Sam, 10:23).
• Lots of nostalgia and laughter recalling the original Steam Machine’s demo sessions in the IGN office.

2. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7—Campaign Gone Trippy

(25:20–35:03)

Key Points:

• Mark’s Deep-Dive Impressions:
  Mark played over 40 hours, completing the campaign and digging into all content.
• Campaign:
  • The narrative is a full-blown psychedelic, “drug trip” experience with shifting landscapes, hallucinations, and a parade of over-the-top setpieces.
  • Features skyscraper-sized Michael Rooker, building-sized swords, floating cars, and wild visuals.
  • “The entire campaign is just like, it’s a drug trip. It’s basically a fantasy campaign.” (Mark, 27:10)
• ‘Endgame’ Mode:
  • An extraction-style open-world mode unlocks after the campaign.
  • Strong PvE focus—“no PvP, just guild enemies and stuff.”
  • Fill your map with objectives and risk losing progress if you don’t ‘exfil’ in time. Both Mark and Justin compare it favorably to other extraction shooters.
• Multiplayer:
  • Mark personally prefers Battlefield for multiplayer but praises Call of Duty’s campaign innovation.
• Zombies Mode:
  • Continues to expand—including wild bosses like the “Z-Rex” (giant zombie T-Rex) and Liberty Prime from Fallout.

Notable Quotes:

“I give it a COD out of 10. I’m not reviewing it, so whatever, they’ll figure it out.”
—Mark (26:03)

“I’m losing my mind. I’m seeing things I shouldn’t be seeing…they’re floating, it’s weird.”
—Mark (27:10)

“I can’t wait for people to check it out.”
—Mark (33:38)

Memorable Moments:

• The team marveling at the scale and weirdness of the campaign.
• Mark admits: “I played 40 hours of this game.” (30:08)
• Sam jokes, “We’re all rooting for you, tiny Activision. Get your little game off the ground…” (35:04)

3. Grand Theft Auto 6 Delay: The Wait Continues

(37:44–42:44)

Key Points:

• Another Delay:
  GTA 6, once expected to have already launched, is now pushed to November 19, 2026.
• Industry Impact:
  • The delay leaves a "gigantic vacuum" in the release calendar; developers are reshuffling launches to avoid GTA’s orbit.
  • Speculation over economic and cultural impact—millions will likely take time off work, and global internet infrastructure will be tested on launch day.
• Potential Causes:
  • The team discusses the possible connection between recent Rockstar layoffs (including reports of potential union-busting) and the delay.

Notable Quotes:

“If you live in the United States and work in games, you’re going to have a busy Thanksgiving next year.”
—Sam (37:59)

“There’s big games, there’s gigantic games, and then there’s GTA…”
—Justin (39:31)

Memorable Moments:

• Jokes about Star Wars movies fleeing the GTA 6 launch window.
• Justin likens GTA’s launch day to “when the last Harry Potter book came out,” with everyone’s lives on pause.

4. Terminator 2D: No Fate—Retro Boldness, Steep Price

(42:45–45:41)

Key Points:

• Retro-Style, Modern Price:

  • Upcoming 2D pixel art Terminator: Judgment Day run-and-gun—heavily ‘Contra’-inspired.
  • The team is shocked at the $60 price: “Red Dead 2 was a $60 game. Silksong was $20.”
  • Daemon: “I could not believe it when I learned this was $60.” (45:31)

• Niche but Appealing:

  • License targets older fans; “they know the audience…must have people pushes price up.”
  • Most of the crew thinks Bitmap Bureau’s play is overconfident but hope the game is great.

Memorable Moments:

• Discussion of mothers saying, “We have Contra at home!” about the $60 price (Sam, 45:27).
• Group laughter at the game’s surprising amount of pixel nudity during a trailer (45:41).

5. Retro, News & Pop Culture Segment

(47:47–57:25)

Highlights:

• Predator: Badly Dance

  • Both Daemon and Mark recommend it—“the first Predator movie with the Predator as the protagonist.”
  • Mark: “Elle Fanning’s comedic timing…is not lost on me at all. The movie is laugh out loud funny.” (49:25)
  • Crew notes the film is PG-13, heavy on quips, and successful at the box office.

• Pluribus

  • Daemon praises the new Vince Gilligan show as his “new Severance”—high concept sci-fi, reminiscent of X-Files.

• Frankenstein (Netflix)

  • Mark and Sam both loved Guillermo Del Toro’s adaptation: “Some of the best sets…Oscar Isaac kills it as Frankenstein.” (56:35–57:21)

• Gremlins News

  • New movie coming November 19, 2027, with Chris Columbus returning.

6. Video Game 20 Questions: Stumper!

(62:09–81:18)

• The game: Titanfall (original, Xbox exclusive).
• The crew struggles, hilariously circling around but not hitting the correct answer until Mark’s late breakthrough.
• Key clue: Apex Legends is in the same universe and lives on modern platforms.
• Notable moment: “Nice. Because Apex is the … thing that Apex Legends is available on modern consoles.”
  —Sam/Mark (81:18)

7. Other Noteworthy Discussions & Timestamps

• Steam Deck Sales Stats (24:14): "A little over 4 million sold—a modest success."
• Valve Hardware Nostalgia Tangents (7:00–9:24): Memories of old controller demos and phantom hardware like the “Phantom” console.
• Mortal Kombat Documentary (20:04–20:50): Sam is working through the games and found the documentary outstanding.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Bring E3 back, show it at E3, and then put [Elder Scrolls 6] out six months later.”
  —Daemon (06:17)

• “What I want from Elder Scrolls 6—just don’t talk about it again, and then show it.”
  —Mark (06:07)

• “It’s literally just a console you plug into your TV and play PC games. My dream of the 90s.”
  —Daemon (13:08)

• “I think you have to be over 30 to think Terminator is cool.”
  —Daemon (44:50)

• “We have Contra at home!”
  —Sam (45:27)

Summary Takeaways

• Valve is making a serious, coordinated push back into PC-living-room territory, with lessons learned from the past and some cautious optimism from the hosts.
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 7’s campaign is wild, weird, and ambitious, winning back the crew with its trippy fantasy approach and a meaty new extraction endgame.
• GTA 6’s latest delay reshapes the entire game release calendar and will likely become a global cultural moment.
• Retro gaming nostalgia is alive but faces modern pricing dilemmas, as with the new $60 Terminator 2D game.
• The pop culture catch-up and TV/movie recommendations are as lively as ever, keeping the tone conversational and fun.
• Video Game 20 Questions remains a highlight, with the crew’s banter and close calls bringing laughs and relatable frustration.

For New Listeners…

This episode is a perfect encapsulation of Game Scoop’s trademark: equal parts expert analysis, nostalgic tangents, and gaming camaraderie. Whether you crave hardware talk, want blockbuster impressions, or just need a dose of gaming culture, Scoop Nation always delivers.

End of Summary