Kinda Funny Games Daily: EA Lays Off Hundreds, Cancels Titanfall Game - Episode Summary

Release Date: April 30, 2025
Hosts: Greg “GameOverGreggy” Miller, Blessing Adeoye Jr., and Guest C.

1. Introduction and Personal Updates

The episode begins with the hosts sharing personal anecdotes, particularly Greg Miller discussing his experiences with his son, Ben. Greg humorously recounts a recent interaction where Ben misunderstood a movie outing, highlighting the challenges and joys of parenting a young child.

• Greg Miller [02:06]: “This three-year-old is an adult yesterday.”

2. Electronic Arts (EA) Layoffs and Titanfall Cancellation

The primary focus of the episode revolves around significant developments at Electronic Arts (EA). The hosts delve into EA's recent decision to lay off between 300 to 400 employees, including about 100 from Respawn Entertainment, and the cancellation of a new Titanfall project.

• Jason Schreier at Bloomberg Report: EA is cutting hundreds of positions and terminating the development of a Titanfall extraction shooter project, codenamed R7, which was not nearing release. Justin Higgs, EA spokesperson, stated, “As part of our continued focus on our long-term strategic priorities, we've made select changes within our organization that more effectively align teams and allocate resources in service of driving future growth.” ([Timestamp: 11:00])

Discussion Highlights:

• Blessing Adeoye Jr.: Expresses concern over EA's handling of the Titanfall franchise, questioning whether it's the most canceled video game franchise.

  “Is Titanfall the most canceled franchise out of any video game? It's a tough one to try to figure out.” ([Timestamp: 12:46])

• Greg Miller: Reflects on the potential reasons behind the cancellation, suggesting EA may be struggling to find a new "pillar" to support its vast workforce and maintain shareholder value.

  “I think it's them battening down the hatches... Maybe it's about Respawn continuing to make Star Wars and iterating on Apex.” ([Timestamp: 16:27])

• Community Reaction: Listeners express frustration, with comments highlighting the disappointment in EA's inability to sustain the Titanfall series despite its initial success.

  “Respawn has to be one of the most respected studios in the industry, and EA squanders them at every turn.” ([Timestamp: 22:33])

3. Nintendo Switch's New Virtual Game Card System

The hosts discuss Nintendo's recent firmware update (version 20) for the Switch consoles, which introduces a "virtual game card" system. This change impacts how digital games are shared and played across multiple consoles.

• Key Changes:

  • Digital games are now treated like physical cartridges, allowing virtual loading and ejecting between consoles.
  • Prevents two users from playing the same digital game online simultaneously on different consoles, a feature previously possible.

• Blessing Adeoye Jr.: Criticizes the restrictive nature of the new system, contrasting it with PlayStation's more flexible game sharing.

  “At Video Games Chronicle, the latest update to Switch has reportedly removed the ability for two accounts to play a single purchased digital game on two different consoles at the same damn time.” ([Timestamp: 45:03])

• Greg Miller: Highlights the inconvenience for families and friends who wish to share digital games without purchasing multiple copies.

  “Everyone has to grapple with digital ownership and what that actually means.” ([Timestamp: 51:17])

4. Lost Soul Aside Delay

Another significant news piece covers the delay of Lost Soul Aside, a highly anticipated action RPG.

• Details:

  • Lost Soul Aside has been rescheduled from its original May 30th release to August 29th.
  • The delay ensures a more polished experience, allowing the developers additional time to refine the game.

• Blessing Adeoye Jr.: Expresses relief over the delay, hoping for a better quality release.

  “I'm glad they delayed it. I hope when it comes out, it's fantastic because it looks really cool.” ([Timestamp: 51:18])

5. Gearbox Denies Borderlands 4 Date Change Due to GTA 6

The hosts address rumors surrounding Gearbox's decision to move the release date of Borderlands 4.

• Randy Pitchford's Statement: Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford asserts that the date change is solely based on the game's development progress and not influenced by Rockstar's GTA 6 release plans.

  “Our decision is literally zero percent about any other product's actual or theoretical launch date.” ([Timestamp: 53:40])

• Discussion:

  • Greg Miller: Questions the timing and sincerity of Pitchford's denial, citing past controversies involving the CEO.

    “This is an interesting one... Always debating whether to trust EA's commitment.” ([Timestamp: 27:12])

  • Community Feedback: Listeners express skepticism, bringing up previous incidents involving Pitchford to question his credibility.

    “Do you believe any magician... Their entire career is about tricking you.” ([Timestamp: 54:00])

6. WE News Segment

The hosts provide brief updates on various other gaming news items:

• Hiroshi Kawaguchi Retires: Legendary composer of classic Sega titles like OutRun retires after 41 years at SEGA.

• PlayStation Plus Essentials for May 2025: Announced games include Balatro, Warhammer 40K titles, Arc Survival Ascended, and more.

• Nintendo and Other Updates:

  • Sonic Rumble's global launch delayed.
  • PC Gaming Showcase scheduled for June 8th.
  • Returnal now supports PS5 Pro.
  • Hypercharge Unboxed and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Splinter Fate have upcoming releases.

• Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 +4 Celebration: An event on May 8th in LA featuring interviews, performances by bands like Danny Brown and Lupe Fiasco, and game details revealed live on Twitch.

7. Community Engagement and Super Chats

Throughout the episode, the hosts interact with listener comments, addressing various topics ranging from game preferences to technical issues with Blueprints.

• Notable Super Chats:
  • Ebols22ebols: Praises Tiny Tina's.
  • 9sif: Asks about the viability of games adopting a Cyberpunk 2077-style update model.
  • Barista Brand: Expresses continued support for Respawn despite EA’s handling of Titanfall.

8. Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks

The episode wraps up with the hosts encouraging listeners to support the podcast through memberships on Patreon and YouTube. They also tease upcoming shows and live reactions, maintaining a light-hearted and engaging tone despite the heavy news topics discussed.

• Greg Miller: Highlights the importance of listener support for ad-free content and exclusive shows.

  “If you love what we do, support us with the kinda funny membership on Patreon, YouTube and now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts to get all of our shows ad free.” ([Timestamp: 25:20])

• Blessing Adeoye Jr.: Encourages continued engagement and participation in live streams and exclusive content.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Greg Miller [12:11]: “Well, I'm sure Skate Free to Play is going to fix all this.”

• Blessing Adeoye Jr. [16:27]: “Do you think this is the beginning of the end? Do you think this is the beginning of like, Respawn is just going to be that studio that is part of EA...”

• Greg Miller [27:12]: “When you look at a company that has 13,700 employees, that's a bigger problem to grapple with.”

• Blessing Adeoye Jr. [20:00]: “Apex 2, colon titans. Right. Apex colon Titanfall... that is a vision for the future of Apex.”

• Greg Miller [30:50]: “Is Skate going to catch fire to the level that EA wants it to. To finance 14,000... no, I don't think that's possible.”

• Blessing Adeoye Jr. [45:46]: “I didn't even know that.” (Regarding PlayStation's game sharing)

• Greg Miller [51:16]: “When you have shit to work with and you have like that room for risk, I feel like that's when you bring Skate back.”

Conclusion

This episode of Kinda Funny Games Daily provides an in-depth analysis of EA's recent layoffs and Titanfall cancellation, shedding light on broader industry trends affecting large gaming corporations. The discussion extends to Nintendo's new digital game sharing policies, the delayed release of Lost Soul Aside, and Gearbox's handling of Borderlands 4 amidst GTA 6 rumors. Through personal stories, community feedback, and expert insights, the hosts offer a comprehensive view of the current state of the gaming industry, balancing serious news with engaging banter and listener interaction.

For those who missed the episode, this summary encapsulates the critical moments and discussions, offering both the facts and the nuanced opinions of the hosts and their audience.