From Software Currently Isn’t Considering Elden Ring 2 - Kinda Funny Games Daily 12.03.24

Summary

Kinda Funny Games Daily: Video Games News Podcast – December 3, 2024

Hosts: Greg “GameOverGreggy” Miller, Tim Gettys, and Blessing Adeoye Jr.

---

Episode Overview

In this episode of Kinda Funny Games Daily, the hosts delve into several pivotal news stories shaping the gaming landscape. From FromSoftware's surprising stance on an Elden Ring sequel to the success of PlayStation's latest ventures, and emerging details about the Nintendo Switch 2, the discussion offers in-depth analysis and lively banter. Additionally, the podcast highlights the impressive revenue generated by the Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket, ensuring listeners are well-informed on the latest industry trends.

---

1. FromSoftware Not Considering Elden Ring 2

Timestamp: [00:02] – [18:58]

The episode kicks off with a major announcement from FromSoftware: the studio is not currently considering an Elden Ring sequel. This revelation comes directly from Hidetaka Miyazaki, FromSoftware’s president and the creative force behind iconic titles like Dark Souls and Bloodborne.

Key Points:

• Miyazaki discussed future projects during the PlayStation Partner Awards 2024, emphasizing a focus on diverse genres rather than expanding the Elden Ring universe.
• Despite ruling out an immediate sequel, FromSoftware remains open to developing the Elden Ring IP in other forms, such as movies or TV shows.
• The podcast hosts explore the implications of this decision, considering the tremendous success of Elden Ring and the potential business motivations behind exploring new projects.

Notable Quotes:

• Tim Gettys [11:32]: "The success of Elden Ring was such a hurdle to get over for how big the game is. How it took the Souls franchise and made it a much bigger open RPG and found success with that."
• Snowbike Mike [16:23]: "But then you got to put a new name on the box. You have to have the logo there. And then they would go, oh, I’ve trusted that name. I’m going to go for that. Is that as appealing as just slapping two on this and going forth with it?"

Discussion Highlights:

• The hosts debate whether FromSoftware should capitalize on the Elden Ring brand with a sequel or diversify their portfolio to sustain long-term creativity and market presence.
• They reflect on FromSoftware’s history of evolving their game genres and speculate on potential new directions the studio might take.

---

2. Success of PlayStation Portal and Astrobot

Timestamp: [11:30] – [38:11]

Next, the podcast shifts focus to PlayStation’s recent successes, notably the PlayStation Portal and the game Astrobot. Both products have received positive reception, marking significant achievements for PlayStation amid a year of both highs and lows.

Key Points:

• PlayStation Portal: Originally a device for streaming games from the PS5, it is now expanding to include a beta program for direct cloud streaming, enhancing its versatility.
• Astrobot: Celebrated as a surprise hit, Astrobot has resonated well with players, contrasting with the failure of the Concord shooter game.
• PlayStation executives emphasize the importance of balancing AI integration with the preservation of human creativity in game development.

Notable Quotes:

• Snowbike Mike [14:48]: "I think a lot of the audience quickly jumps to the big three in my mind, which is the follow-up to Armored Core, the follow-up to Sekiro, and the follow-up to Bloodborne."
• Tim Gettys [17:48]: "If I was FromSoftware, I don't want to be exclusive. You want to be multi-platform. You want to be in as many places as possible because you want your game to sell like hotcakes."

Discussion Highlights:

• The contrast between the successful Astrobot and the unsuccessful Concord highlights the importance of aligning game development with player expectations and the PlayStation brand.
• The hosts discuss the potential future of PlayStation’s hardware and software offerings, praising the innovative direction while acknowledging areas for improvement.

---

3. Leaks of Nintendo Switch 2 Accessories

Timestamp: [38:11] – [43:47]

The conversation then turns to Nintendo, where accessories for the highly anticipated Switch 2 have reportedly leaked through Chinese vendors. These leaks suggest significant upgrades, including a larger screen and more substantial console dimensions.

Key Points:

• Accessories such as cases and screen protectors indicate a chunkier design compared to the current Switch models.
• While these leaks are treated with skepticism, the hosts agree that accessory production ahead of an official release is standard practice in the tech industry.
• The discussion touches on the importance of portability and versatility in modern gaming consoles, drawing parallels with the success of the Nintendo Switch.

Notable Quotes:

• Tim Gettys [40:27]: "Another great example is Legos kind of spoiling moments from upcoming movies because sets and they've essentially had to come up with like weird things that aren't even in the movie just to kind of get around it and be more themed in vibes."
• Snowbike Mike [43:20]: "As a casual fan, I know that they're making a Switch 2. I'm at the point we know that's reality. Just show me it and then we'll, once it becomes real, then I’m ready to buy."

Discussion Highlights:

• The hosts express excitement about the potential features of the Switch 2, emphasizing the demand for handheld gaming and cloud streaming capabilities.
• They speculate on Nintendo’s strategic plans and how the Switch 2 could compete with other handheld consoles like the Steam Deck.

---

4. Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket's Revenue Surge

Timestamp: [43:47] – [50:02]

The podcast highlights the impressive financial performance of Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket, which reportedly surpassed $200 million in revenue within its first month.

Key Points:

• The mobile adaptation achieved an average of 6.5 million in daily player spending, peaking at 8.4 million during a major event.
• Week three saw the game reach its highest weekly earnings at $51.1 million, slightly declining to $49.7 million in week four.
• The success is attributed to effective monetization strategies, nostalgic appeal, and engaging gameplay mechanics.

Notable Quotes:

• Tim Gettys [45:18]: "What it comes down to is when they first announced this at Pokemon Day earlier this year in February, the moment that we saw it, it's like, oh, it's their Marvel snapping Pokemon Trading Card Game. That inherently makes sense."
• Snowbike Mike [48:35]: "There has to be something to get people excited or battle and get more cards similar to the Venusaur and Lapras event. Make me PvP battle for that card of the week."

Discussion Highlights:

• The hosts discuss the balance between collecting and battling mechanics, suggesting enhancements to keep players engaged and incentivized to spend.
• They compare the game's strategies to other successful trading card games like Magic: The Gathering Arena and Marvel Snap, debating potential improvements to sustain long-term growth.

---

5. Additional News Briefs

Timestamp: [50:02] – [62:43]

Beyond the main stories, the podcast touches on several smaller yet noteworthy updates:

• Xbox Game Pass: New additions include titles like Crash Team Racing Nitro Fueled, Forza Motorsport Standard Hanti, EA Sports WRC, and upcoming releases like Indiana Jones Circle 1210 and Carry On.

• Tetris and Gex Trilogy: Tetris: The Grandmaster 4 Absolute Eye is launching on Steam in March 2025, while the Gex Trilogy faces delays until 2025.

• Collector’s Editions and Unboxings: The hosts showcase the Indiana Jones Great Circle Collector’s Edition, highlighting its elaborate packaging and exclusive items.

• Audio Reactions: Greg Miller and Mike engage in a lively unboxing segment, providing humorous commentary on the collector’s items.

Notable Quotes:

• Greg Miller [54:08]: "For your next adventure, Marion." (Referring to the adventure journal included in the collector’s edition.)
• Snowbike Mike [56:31]: "It's tough to get the second layer of hype a year and a half later to be like Tim, now you got to buy it, now is your turn."

---

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The episode wraps up with the hosts reflecting on the day's discussions, emphasizing the dynamic nature of the gaming industry and the continuous evolution of player expectations. They encourage listeners to stay engaged with Kinda Funny Games Daily for ongoing coverage and analysis of the latest gaming news.

Final Quote:

• Tim Gettys [62:29]: "Nothing. We're perfect. Me and you Mike. Fantastic people."

---

Notable Quotes Summary

• Tim Gettys [11:32]: "The success of Elden Ring was such a hurdle to get over for how big the game is."
• Snowbike Mike [16:23]: "But then you got to put a new name on the box. Is that as appealing as just slapping two on this and going forth with it?"
• Snowbike Mike [14:48]: "I think a lot of the audience quickly jumps to the big three in my mind..."
• Tim Gettys [17:48]: "If I was FromSoftware, I don’t want to be exclusive. You want to be multi-platform."
• Tim Gettys [40:27]: "Another great example is Legos kind of spoiling moments from upcoming movies..."
• Snowbike Mike [43:20]: "As a casual fan, I know that they're making a Switch 2..."
• Tim Gettys [45:18]: "What it comes down to is when they first announced this at Pokemon Day..."
• Snowbike Mike [48:35]: "There has to be something to get people excited or battle and get more cards..."

---

Final Note

For a comprehensive and entertaining dive into the latest in gaming news, be sure to listen to this episode of Kinda Funny Games Daily. Whether you're a dedicated fan of FromSoftware titles, a PlayStation enthusiast, or eagerly awaiting the next Nintendo release, this podcast episode offers valuable insights and engaging discussions to keep you informed and entertained.

---

Stay Connected:

• YouTube: Kinda Funny YouTube Channel
• Patreon: Support the show and access exclusive content here.

---

Disclaimer: The information presented in this summary is based on the provided transcript and may not cover all details discussed in the podcast.

Transcript

[Tim Gettys]

Europe. Today's stories include from software saying they're not currently considering an Elden Ring sequel. Portal and Astrobot are successes, according to PlayStation and Switch. Two accessories are seemingly already leaking. We'll have all this more because this is kind of funny. Games Daily Snowbike. Mike, it's Christmas, and I was a little distracted for that cold open because I just saw a news story.

[Snowbike Mike]

Okay.

[Tim Gettys]

That Alamo Drafthouse is opening two more theaters in San Francisco, and that shouldn't upset me as much as it does.

[Snowbike Mike]

That's. That's two. Two many.

[Tim Gettys]

One is enough. Yeah. We have one. I appreciate the Alamo experience. We need some more premium freaking theaters. We don't need this. I'm so upset about this.

[Snowbike Mike]

That's insane. Tim, I'm glad to hear that you were a little distracted because I didn't know if you remembered that or if you were distracted because Kevin was like, intro out. And then I was like, huh, here comes the cold open. I wonder if we're on that. And so it felt like we were just all over the place.

[Tim Gettys]

We were. You know, it's fine.

[Snowbike Mike]

It was the Alamo's fault.

[Tim Gettys]

It's. I. I blame the Alamo. I always blame the Alamo, everybody. Mike, how you doing?

[Snowbike Mike]

Tim? I'm doing great. Good morning to you. It's great to be on the show with you. A lot of fun news stories to talk about. I'm feeling good, looking good. Like I told Blessing yesterday, I got my PPL and Microsoft flight sim. Took a lot of effort to get my private pilot's license. Oh, that was pretty.

[Tim Gettys]

Now you can take out.

[Snowbike Mike]

Yes. And then, of course, most importantly, I did jump on the new season of Fortnite last night.

[Tim Gettys]

Okay.

[Snowbike Mike]

And got to see the very highly anticipated Godzilla skin in the story on.

[Tim Gettys]

This, because I've seen it two ways. I've seen Godzilla as a skin wearing Jordans, but then I've also seen a giant Godzilla with the wrong roar stomping through.

[Snowbike Mike]

I haven't seen that Godzilla yet. I've only seen the Godzilla in the storefront that will be unlockable later on in the season. I think it looks good. A lot of people aren't pleased because, of course, it's tough to put Godzilla into a human body shape. We've seen that with a number of Fortnite characters and how you have to change them up. But I think the texture of the actual skin itself and how it looks like Godzilla looks really good, in my opinion. I like it a lot.

[Tim Gettys]

Yeah.

[Snowbike Mike]

I think some people are a little mixed on it.

[Tim Gettys]

So what. What's the point of this season? Is it Godzilla, or is there, like. Is Godzilla just a feature?

[Snowbike Mike]

No, I think it's like samurais and upgrading the movement tech. So, Tim, what you'll see in this one is a lot, a really cool piece of movement here. You're bouncing off of walls, you're rolling off of higher drops with fall damage and stuff like that. It just feels like they're in. They're elevating the movement slightly to make it faster, more fluid. And I like that. It, like, I like the look of it. I. I like the feel of it. There are some complaints that I have. But, you know, day one with the boys playing Fortnite, it was pretty cool to jump in.

[Tim Gettys]

So, I mean, you. I don't really associate as a Fortnite guy.

[Snowbike Mike]

I'm not. Yeah. Yeah.

[Tim Gettys]

And so do you just jump in new seasons every time, and every time.

[Snowbike Mike]

The new season drops, I'll play for a day.

[Tim Gettys]

And do they ever click with you more than others, or is it always just like. It's a fun night.

[Snowbike Mike]

When they had the Spider man hands and those gauntlets where I could really move around the map. I love that right now they have this cool ninja sword where you really move with the sword. I like that a lot. They have these different oni masks, so you can throw fireballs or you can throw one that teleports you across the map. And that was pretty cool to really play with the movement and how you can be on the map in different areas. I love that. So, yeah, every season I try, it never brings me fully in.

[Tim Gettys]

Why do you think that is? Because I feel. I think of Snow Bike Mike and I think of a guy, a jolly guy that just wants to hang out and play games with friends. And it seems like there's so many friends out there that just want to play Fortnite with you.

[Snowbike Mike]

I know it's. You know what it is, Tim? I'm just not good. It's the Apex Legend situation. It's Fortnite. That's why when I always bring up the big Three, I'm on the Call of Duty side, is because I figured out Call of Duty. I've gotten good at it. Apex and Fortnite. I've just fallen off and I'm not good anymore. And so it's either devote a bunch of time to get better or just fall off and not be part of it. And that's me, unfortunately. It's fun, Tim, right? You jump into Fortnite and you were hit with just so much. Right. Everybody's wearing different cool Fortnite skins. We're singing Hot to Go. Sabrina Carpenter. We're hitting the gritty. It's a blast. I love that.

[Tim Gettys]

Right?

[Snowbike Mike]

What a dog in there. Ice Spice. It's a blast. But I just. When we get to it and it's finally time to battle real players, I am two steps behind. It's not even a half step, Tim. We're like, oh, I could have got that guy. It's like, no, I never had a chance against that person.

[Tim Gettys]

Big Cap Dog. Welcome back to Kind of Funny Games Daily. You are now a father, which is probably going to change your gaming habits quite a bit, I would imagine. But you're also one of the bigger Fortnite fans I know. Are you planning to top in here with Big, Big G Zilla?

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

I don't think so. And it's a bummer.

[Tim Gettys]

Yeah.

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

Yeah. Because I want to. I just don't like. Especially game like Fortnite, you. You know, where you can't hit pause.

[Tim Gettys]

Yeah.

[Snowbike Mike]

Tough time.

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

I don't. I don't know if I can join. Hey, I gotta go feed this kid. I'll be back in 15, maybe 30 minutes. Keep me alive.

[Tim Gettys]

Kevin will return.

[Snowbike Mike]

Before we leave Fortnite, I do want to get to Snowbike Mike's Fortnite Big three.

[Tim Gettys]

Yeah.

[Snowbike Mike]

I have three big questions I'd like to put out there to the Fortnite audience and to the epic team out there to please school me on. And it's just like, here's some questions that I got. Question number one, Tim. The small pots, aka the small shields that heal you for 25%. And put shields on for 25%. It's been so long. Why do we still stick at 50%? Why can't it just heal me to 100%? Why is that rule still there? It's been seven plus years of Fortnite.

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

Look for more shields.

[Snowbike Mike]

I get it. But, like, I'm just. I'm throwing it out there. Why? How come we've never moved past that? Lay it on me chat. Let me know. Number two, when will we do away with the extended glider animations and just drop? Fortnite has a thing where you drop for about 65% and then the rest of the time we have to slowly drop with our gliders. And I know the reason why. Microtransactions. Of course I want to sell. I mean, it has to be right. Like, I need to. If you're gonna buy a glider for me for $10. I need you to see it for an extended period of time.

[Tim Gettys]

Okay.

[Snowbike Mike]

Instead of just flying down, dropping it real quick, and then never seeing it again. So probably that, but, like, we got to do away with that because the time it takes to glide down and then slowly circle and wait to get into it is just painfully slow.

[Tim Gettys]

Okay.

[Snowbike Mike]

It hurts. So what's up with that? Mike's top two. Okay.

[Tim Gettys]

Me with number three.

[Snowbike Mike]

Number three, the stamina bar. What are we doing with that? Can we take it away or can we double it?

[Tim Gettys]

So it sounds like you just want this game to be a lot faster in every way.

[Snowbike Mike]

There are some fast moments in this game, but then there's moments where you get hit where you're like, why is this not faster? Why are we improving the movement? And we're putting weapons and objects in the game to elevate the movement, but when it comes down to just running and walking, it is slow. And they've added this stamina bar. I don't know. It's been some time, Tim. I don't know if you saw it right, but there's a stamina bar now, and you kind of sprint, and then it just quickly depletes, and then you have to wait for it to build up, and it never feels quite right. Where it's like, I could have got probably 15 more steps out of that and would have felt better. But every time, it depletes. You're like, now I'm just slow walking, and this doesn't feel good. In Fortnite, it's an odd blend.

[Tim Gettys]

The chat seems to be on your side. Yeah, these are for some of these complaints here.

[Snowbike Mike]

I don't. I don't feel like I'm off on these. I would like to know, because it's been a long time in Fortnite, right? Things have evolved. Things have changed, and these are just, like, some of the small things. I'm like, after all these years, we almost get to 10 years now. How come this hasn't changed? The small pots still 25% only to 50.

[Tim Gettys]

Come on.

[Snowbike Mike]

We haven't talked about that. Come on, now.

[Tim Gettys]

Talk about it, people.

[Snowbike Mike]

Let me know, everybody. That's just a. After my, you know, day of Fortnite, I'll probably never go back like I usually do. Let me know what you think on the Fortnite stuff. I need to know.

[Tim Gettys]

Let Mike know, everybody, because this is kind of funny. Games daily, each and every weekday, we run you through all the video game news that you need to know about live on YouTube, Twitch, and podcast services around The Globe. If you love what we do, please support us with the kind of funny membership on Patreon or YouTube to get all of our shows ad free, watch us record them live and get a daily exclusive show. For a chance to be part of this show, you could super chat in. So if you have thoughts on things that you don't like about Fortnite, please let us know and we'll see what Mike has to say about that. We got a couple super chats already. One from memo saying, I love this duo so much. Just to remind y'all, it's my senior recital this Saturday at San Jose State University and be awesome if y'all can come.

[Snowbike Mike]

Will I be there?

[Tim Gettys]

Will you be there?

[Snowbike Mike]

Get ready there. I got a 85% chance. I've, I've actually circled back to the email going, am I about to be here? Get ready. I might go.

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

I, I'm sorry, I feel bad. I saw the email, you know, the kid. Like I want to respond. I, I'm not going to be there. I'm sorry. I just going to be honest with you. And like certain people on the stage, even Andy's possible.

[Snowbike Mike]

Even Andy Impossible is like very big out of Andy. So you never know. We could be there.

[Tim Gettys]

Then we got Chris Rock 90 saying, what the. Why is Tricycle Michael here? That's real good.

[Snowbike Mike]

Yeah, you know, shaved the mustache, shaved the beard in all of honor of Xanth of course came on the podcast. You were there, Tim, for Path of Exile too. And yeah, we just had a little bet. So I've lost it and we're here now. Yeah, we're not going to talk about it.

[Tim Gettys]

We're just going to live. I appreciate it. It'll be back soon enough. Everybody. Remember we are an 11 person business all about live talk shows. Today after Games Daily you're going to get an epic kind of funny games cast all about Andy's Japan Journey and Monster Hunter Wild preview. So that's very, very cool. The stream after that will be us hanging out with Persona 3 Batman and Street Fighter voice actor Alex Lee. That's pretty damn sweet.

[Snowbike Mike]

Cool.

[Tim Gettys]

And then if you're a kind of funny member, you can get today's Greg Way, of course, our daily exclusive show and we're sending out a holiday card to our premium collectors item tier supporters on Patreon. It's festive, it's exclusive and it smells like holiday cheers. Thank you to our Patreon producers Delaney Twining and Carl Jacobs. Today we're brought to you by Shady Raisin or Frames, but we'll tell you about that later. For now, let's begin with what is and forever will be the Roper Report. There we go. Time for some News. We got five stories today. Story number one, FromSoftware is, quote, not really considering Elden Ring 2 development. This comes from Tom Ivan at VGC. FromSoftware has said it's not currently considering making an Elden Ring sequel. Elden Ring director and FROM Software president Hidetaka Miyazaki discussed the studio's future projects during an appearance at the PlayStation Partner Awards 2024, where the game's Shadow of the Erdtree expansion received the grand award. We're not really considering developments such as an elden ring 2, Miyazaki said, as reported by IG in Japan and translated by Automaton. However, he. He said the studio wasn't ruling out the possibility of the Elden Ring IP developing in some form in the future. Miyazaki, who is also the director behind Demon Souls, Dark Souls and Bloodborne, said From Software is currently working on several projects which are diverse in terms of genre. Mike Interesting.

[Snowbike Mike]

That's the exciting one there.

[Tim Gettys]

He's directing some of them while others are being helmed by colleagues. In an interview published in May, Miyazaki ruled out making a second Elden Ring expansion, but left the door open for a potential sequel. He said the company would rather release one major expansion than split additional content into several parts, which would reduce the freedom of exploration and sense of adventure the game offers. Then, Mike, you. You had some follow ups here.

[Snowbike Mike]

Yeah, just some talking points for us to talk about in that story. So I remembered. But yeah, this is, I guess from afar when you first hear this, you go, really? You're not going to make a sequel to this beloved, highly selling game? That's an odd choice right there. So I guess that's like the fun intro to it. All right. I think we can go a little bit deeper of. Well, they have a lot of other projects. They got a lot of titles that have kind of been left there. Will they go back to them? What are the new genres? So yeah, I'm interested to have this conversation with you.

[Tim Gettys]

Yeah, I mean there's a lot. Obviously you brought up the sales. Like we cannot question the success of Elden Ring from a sales perspective. We cannot question Elden Ring from a critical perspective. We cannot question Elder Elder Ring from a community perspective. It is kind of the trifecta of it's got it all and From Software earned it with every ounce of their being. I feel like this is a. Elden Ring is such an example of years and years, a decade of growth, of building towards greatness after greatness after greatness to lead to something that is, like, bigger than, like. I feel like the success of Elden Ring was such a hurdle to get over for how big the game is. How it took the. The Souls franchise and made it a much bigger open RPG and found success with that. I feel like it kind of gives FromSoftware the freedom to do whatever they want where there is an inherent trust in them. Now, I feel like when we look at the Souls games, clearly, we look at Sekiro, we look at Bloodborne, Elden Ring, Armored Core. Like, I feel like the. The success of Armored Core, granted, not nearly on the same levels of some of the aforementioned games, but to take a franchise that, like, I would have considered niche and on life support to some extent, right. And they brought it back and it was a critical success. It sold surprisingly well. And I think at this point we just kind of expect that, because when the from software logo pops up, we're expecting greatness.

[Snowbike Mike]

Yeah, it's fun that you bring that up. And I think that's the fun part of the conversation that we could have is like, well, now you've created that in the general audience, right? Like, you've now made this massive hit that's transcended just, oh, the Dark Souls. Souls Born audience loves this. It's like general audience knows this name and loves this game now. And it's like, well, wouldn't you follow that up with an Elden Ring too? So everybody would be like, oh, I go from one to two. I stay with that. Now you got to put a new name on the box. You got to have the logo there. And then they would go, oh, I've trusted that name. I'm going to go for that. Is that as appealing as just slapping two on this and going forth with it? But I, I agree with you, Tim. I. I totally think they've earned that and they're beyond that now. People know this. They've made their own genre, which is just adventure action adventure games. It's Souls Born now. And we talk about Souls Born games as its own genre, but it's really, you know, just that. But it's exciting. And yet, Tim, where do they go next? If you don't go Elden Ring two.

[Tim Gettys]

Going with what you're saying of just like, is Elden Ring two the right answer? I mean, I feel like in terms of sales, yes, like sequels, it's a proven entity Even more so, I feel like Elden Ring is a brand, is an IP to itself that has the. The panache to. To be able to. To bring people in. But then there's also lofty expectations and there's also the more to an extent, starting from square one of figuring out what does a sequel to Elden Ring look like when they've already put out such an amazing expansion in the form of Shadow of the Erdtree that nominated at the game awards for Game of the Year. Like, that's how substantial and well received that project was. So them being hot off of that, I'm not surprised that they're not jumping right into Elden Ring two from a creative perspective, but from a financial perspective, it's kind of a wild decision to make.

[Snowbike Mike]

Yeah, that's. That's where my, My, my mind goes on the business side of things. Right. The business side of me would go, well, yeah, we'll go in Elden Ring too. Right. Figure out how to expand the story. No matter where you've left the story, complete or not complete, you figure it out. Okay. Hey, what do we got to do? Make a giant open world again? Let's go. Turn and burn this. Because it's too good. It's too great to miss out on. But then, yeah, like you said, Tim.

[Tim Gettys]

Right.

[Snowbike Mike]

The team has clearly said, hey, we can put a pause on this. Let's look at something else. And that's where I'm excited now to talk to you about. It's like, that's what I've put in the follow up of, like, where do we go?

[Tim Gettys]

Right.

[Snowbike Mike]

I think a lot of the audience quickly jumps to the big three in my mind, which is the follow up to Armored Core, the follow up to Sekiro, and the follow up to Bloodborne.

[Tim Gettys]

Right.

[Snowbike Mike]

Like one of those three, I think Armored Core, I think they're going forward with that.

[Tim Gettys]

Right.

[Snowbike Mike]

But then the other two over here. Do we return to a SEO? Do we go back to a Bloodborne and kind of keep those things rolling and get them back in the mainstream again? Do you dare? Or do we go something completely new?

[Tim Gettys]

Completely new. And so that I think is what's. What's really interesting about where they're at right now is, is. And I. I'm being pretty optimistic with some of the words I'm about to use here, but I feel like with the creativity and trust that FromSoftware has earned, that they are in a position that Elden Ring 2 needs to be amazing. It can't just be good and I. That's why I'm like there. While it would be slapping a sequel to Elden Ring out there, it's going to bring in a bunch of cash. I feel like they know the smarter move for themselves in the industry, an industry that in many ways they are. This might be exaggerating just a bit, redefining what success can look like as both a single player game publisher, but also having the co op and multiplayer elements to it. Right. I feel like they are in a. In a place right now where they have proven that they can try different things and find success with that and then they can put their all their eggs into the basket of a giant ambitious project like Elden Ring and knock it out of the park. Take your time with Elden Ring 2. We will get a sequel to Elden Ring. Like we just will. I feel like there's not a chance.

[Snowbike Mike]

Really. Okay. There's not a chance.

[Tim Gettys]

We don't. I feel like it's too big of a brand, there's too much lore, there's too much world there that they're going to want to continue. And you know, some of the wording here that they have of like the Elden Ring IP developing in some form in the future, a movie, a TV show, something like that. I do think that, yes, there's probably going to be some form of that somewhere. I think we're going to get AN ELDEN RING 2 video game at some point. I don't think it's going to be soon. I don't think it needs to be soon because to your point, they have other projects they can go back to. I remember when they first announced Shadows Die twice. Right. We get that teaser. I think it was at game Awards and everyone's like trying to figure out, oh, it's Bloodborne 2 or oh, it's. It ended up being a new thing, SEO. I feel like the highest likelihood right now is that's what we're about to get. We're about to get another new thing or a return to something different. Like was it 10 shoe that people were even expecting from Shadow side? I don't know. I think that there's like a lot of options for them to. To go back and have more building blocks, armored core level successes while working on a bigger project in the background. But we got to talk about Bloodborne too.

[Snowbike Mike]

Oh, Bloodborne too. Okay. Yeah, that's interesting. Your mind goes to Bloodborne too, because. Yeah. Do you go back to that? Right. Where do you stand with Sony there? Where do you stand with that? Title in that franchise. Is this a Bloodborne where you hey, we just. We build off a bloodborne and now we go from demon souls to dark souls bloodborne into something new which becomes a trilogy. Or is it just a follow up to Bloodborne 2? Is that what Sony wants? Is that what they want to do? Is this going to be an exclusive? Right? You've seen such success with multiplatform, right, With Elden Ring. Are we really going to just say hey, we're making this exclusive to PlayStation? Are they backing up the money truck for that?

[Tim Gettys]

I mean that's, that is I think the biggest real point of line of questioning that we're at right now. Last week, two weeks ago there was all those reports of potentially Sony acquiring the company. That also includes from software that would be a then game changer. So clearly conversations we know are happening at this point. Apparently we're going to find out the results of that of if it actually comes to fruition in the coming weeks. That would be the biggest game changer. Right where all of a sudden I feel like a lot of questions in the air of what exclusivity looks like, what IP makes the most sense to work on next. I think that PlayStation wants a Bloodborne 2. I think they desperately want a Bloodborne 2.

[Snowbike Mike]

Then they should rematch to the first one. Give the people what we want.

[Tim Gettys]

Yeah, I know. And that, that is an interesting, interesting place. I feel like that things get caught up there in a weird way. But they clearly care about. They clearly understand the love for Bloodborne, why they aren't doing anything about it and why they haven't remastered it, put out a 60fps patch like something like that. Yeah, it's a little bewildering at this point. But there has to be a reason why. You get what I'm saying?

[Snowbike Mike]

There has to.

[Tim Gettys]

Because they clearly freaking know the 30th anniversary PlayStation thing yesterday ends on Bloodborne.

[Snowbike Mike]

It's crazy. Like that was crazy.

[Tim Gettys]

They fucking know.

[Snowbike Mike]

Yeah, you wonder Tim. They're one of the biggest game developers in the world. They are the hottest right now on the scene. Everybody wants a piece of that, right? And yeah, my, my mind goes to. Well you got to back up the Brinks truck. You got to make a great deal to justify them not going multiplat. Because we just saw this was like one of the best selling games of last year. This year, the DLC selling numbers. Like why would I go exclusive when I'm making so much there Unless we make a big deal or someone purchases me. But you have to think that's going to be an insane war of oh, I want to buy them. Well, everybody else wants to buy them too because that's crazy.

[Tim Gettys]

But they're already, they already have some stake in it. Like they are there, there's like. I feel like it's not a. Oh, somebody else is trying to. I think it's like it's. It's theirs if they have the capital and if they have the desire. And again, we're not talking about PlayStation, we're talking about Sony here and we're talking about things way above from software. But that includes from software which I think is such an interesting wrinkle in all this. If I was from software. I don't want to be exclusive. You want to be multiplied. You want to be in as many places as possible because you want your game to sell like hotcakes. And they've proven they got the ability to do that on every single console that they're on. Right. From Elden Ring sells well everywhere that it is. So I don't. I think that to them would be the reason for them not to do a bloodborne too because that would be exclusive and that would require a dump truck of money. At what point though is the dump trunk of money just simply not worth it? Because they could just make more being multi platform and if you get acquired, you don't get that decision. Someone above you does. Right. But I feel like that's kind of where we're at. And then you look at Square Enix right now and the blunders of having Final Fantasy 16 and 7 Remake exclusive on PS5 like it affected the sales of two amazing video games. And I think that a lot of companies are looking around and looking at that and Square's going full multi platform. Like they're full like hey, we need to figure this out going forward. What does that mean for 7 remake 3? I don't know. It's probably locked in as part of the deal anyways. But yeah, a lot of moving parts here, Mike.

[Snowbike Mike]

It's exciting. It's a fun story here because we also talk about different genres, right? We talk about fromsoft almost creating their own genre called the you know, Souls Born like games. Right. Then are they going to step out of that? Right? Would they ever. Where would they go next? Right. And I think that's a fun one of like now the audience can get excited. Right? Would they make a tactics game? Would they make a turn based game? I'm tempted, I'm interested to see would they step out of just the Souls Born like game and really dive into something new right now after all these games and what they're known for. Would you make something different and would it be great? Could it be great? That's the exciting part to me.

[Tim Gettys]

I think it can and I think Garmin Core is proof of it.

[Snowbike Mike]

Exactly. And I'm excited because we've seen them try with the multiplayer to elevate that. Right. And I think we've also seen the audience say every single time these games come out, hey, this is too hard for me. Or hey, what about a difficulty setting? What can you do? How can you change this up? I would love to pitch, hey, what if we made Dragon's Dogma 2 but with four people make it have those big boss fights, but a little bit on the easier side. But four players in this crazy Miyazaki world. I'm all about that. I'm interested in things that we could do. Or Roguelite. Right. People in the chat have gone over on that as well. Like it's interesting to think of different genres that this team could branch out and do. That's not just the Souls Born like games.

[Tim Gettys]

Yeah. Interesting stuff, man. We got a super chat here from Charlie Nugget saying good morning Tim and Mike. Do you feel like Fromsoft has hit the point that studios like Blizzard once had where a person would buy the game just because their name's on it? I actually think that Blizzard is an amazing company to bring up there where I do think that from software has a, a market dominance now in a way that Blizzard did in the 90s and 2000s with Starcraft and Warcraft and all of the crafts, you know what I mean? But they had them all and I do feel like there is that level of trust and again it's that trifecta that is so yearn for of critical reception, sales and community reception. So yeah, I definitely think so.

[Snowbike Mike]

Yeah, we're buying, we're buying anything with the name on the box right now at this moment, whatever they put out next, everybody's going to flock to and try and if it's their thing, if it, if it hits like an Elden ring, then we're on. Right. If it's that mass appeal, everyone's into it. That's awesome. If it's a smaller, smaller side of things, it'll be interesting to see what they do next. Right. The follow up of. Oh well, that was big but not big, not big enough. Where do we go from there to fix that kind of trend? That will be the interesting one.

[Tim Gettys]

Real interesting. And we're going to cover all of it as it breaks over the next Forever everyone, Because this is Kind of Funny. Games Daily. You can get this show ad free if you get the kind of funny membership. But for everyone else, here's a word from our sponsors.

[Greg Miller]

Isn't it funny how the people we love the most are often the hardest to shop for? Luckily, there's one gift that everyone on your list is sure to enjoy. An Aura Digital Picture Frame. Aura frames make it incredibly easy to share unlimited photos and videos directly from your phone to the frame. When you give an Aura Frame as a gift, you can personalize it and preload it with a thoughtful message and photos using the Aura app, making it an ideal present for long distance loved ones. I have one on my desk, I sent one to my mom and I'm sending this bad boy to my dad for Christmas. Seriously, uploading photos via the app is so easy and such a nice way to share Ben's childhood with my parents even though we're in San Francisco and they're in Chicago. Save on the perfect gift by visiting Oraframes.com to get $35 off or as best selling Carver Matte frames by using promo code Kinda funny at checkout. That's a U R A frames.com promo code kindafunny. This deal is exclusive to you, our best friends. So get yours now in time for the holidays. Terms and conditions apply.

[Tim Gettys]

This episode is brought to you by Shady Rays. Get ready for this holiday season ahead with quality shades built to last. Our friends at Shady Rays have all of your gifts giving needs covered with premium polarized shades that won't break the bank, durable frames and world class optics for all outdoor adventures. With an extensive array of styles and colors, you're bound to find the perfect pair of Shady Ray sunglasses. Y'all know I've been outside in the sun a lot playing Pokemon Go and it's always such a great experience wearing Shady Rays when I'm out and about looking dope. Every pair of sunglasses is backed by lost or broken replacements. If you lose or break your pair even on day one, they told us they will send you a brand new pair, no questions asked exclusively for you. Listening. Right now, Shady Rays is giving out their best deal. Head to shady rays.com and use code kind of funny for 50% off two or more pairs of shades. Try for yourself the shades rated five stars by over 300,000 people. Shady rays.com use code kind of funny for 50% off two or more pairs of Shades. We got a Super chat from BAM25:5019 saying I don't know about Final Fantasy not being multiple platform. Sorry, I don't think Final Fantasy not being multiplatform. Heard it as bad people are saying it did. Look at Final Fantasy 16 sales on PC it's under half a million. But I think a big part of that though is the marketing push. It doesn't get that second big marketing push when it comes out a year later or whatever on the PC. It's if it was day and date multiplatform then it's the fervor as people are talking about it and like it's being reviewed and more people have the game accessible as there's commercials on TV for the project and sides buses and trains and all that stuff like that's I think where you get that real swell. We see it over and over. Like even with the big PlayStation games, try as they might to put out God of War on Steam years later, it's not going to like crush and change the world. You know what I mean?

[Snowbike Mike]

Yeah, it's that first impression we always talk about.

[Tim Gettys]

Right.

[Snowbike Mike]

It's, it's tough to get the second layer of hype a year and a half later to be like Tim, now you got to buy it, now is your turn when you're like, well it already came out on this other console. I watched Twitch streamers play it already or I watched the YouTube of it or I got a thousand other games. It's too late now. I can't go back or I'm a die hard fan. I'm going to buy it and I'm part of that small number there just it doesn't quite work. And we're seeing a strategy now of a lot of game publishers and developers are we got to put it everywhere. We want to be there day one so more people will buy it and be a part of it.

[Tim Gettys]

Yeah, absolutely. Story number two, Herman Holt speaks on AI Portal success and Astrobot. This comes from Tom Gerkin at BBC. Herman Holst and his co CEO Hideaki Nishino spoke to the BBC as Sony celebrates their 30th anniversary of the consoles being launched. The company had a year marked by highs and lows with the phenomenal success of its PlayStation 5 console and games offset by big job losses. In a pattern repeated across the industry, Game developers have been hit by slow slowing demand after the pandemic. But some are also concerned about the impact of AI on jobs. Advances in the technology have the potential to allow many of the mundane parts of game development to become automated. But it has also caused deep unease that AI systems will also take over the creative process, with voice actors in the US striking over fears the tech could be used to replace them. Mr. Hulst acknowledged AI was changing gaming, but said there would always be a future for human developers. I suspect there will be a dual demand in gaming, one for AI driven innovative experiences and another for handcrafted, thoughtful content, he told the BBC. Striking the right balance between leveraging AI and preserving the human touch will be crucial. Since taking over in June, the two bosses have faced a number of difficult moments. The much anticipated shooting game Concord turned into a high profile failure, with players who bought it being refunded and the studio closed. Which is still insane to me Mike. Yes, still insane. Certain aspects of Concord were exceptional, but others did not land with enough players and as a result we took the game offline, hul said at the time. We can achieve greater focus in our respective areas and then come together to develop the best experiences for the PlayStation community, said Mr. Nishino. They point to the example of surprise hit Astro Bots. I cannot express how happy we are with the reception of astrobot Pulse said. Mr. Nino said the way players play games is changing and pointed to a tan held PlayStation portal across between a controller and a screen, which he said has been a huge success. And while previously it exclusively allowed players to stream games from PS5 they already own, that's about to change. Quote recently we just announced a beta program allowing cloud streaming directly to the handhelds. We're always exploring various options for how players can play games. BBC article has a lot more information if you want to check that out as well. Lots here. Mike, what do you want to start?

[Snowbike Mike]

I mean we should just go bullet by bullet, just go right down the list. Him addressing AI of course, he is the head. He is the big dog, right? You have to be the leader to let the people know that are working for you. Hey, I'm trying to set you at ease. We're looking at AI. Let's figure out how this is going to work. Of course we want that human touch. We need you, we want you. We're not just going to let a bunch of AI bots all of a sudden run the company, right? So it's going to be a tough tightrope for him to balance because we look to him to say you're setting the tone, you're going to make us feel at ease, that our jobs are safe. How do you find that blend? How do you find that balance? I don't. I haven't seen a story yet where we're there at this moment where thousands upon thousands of people are let go because AI has now taken over all game development. But it seems to be looming and looming. Where's he at? Where does he stand?

[Tim Gettys]

Yeah, and that's the biggest problem is in a world where that might not have happened yet, but the layoffs are happening anyway, of course, and it is almost in preparation for the AI takeover. And I feel like he even says it here. But the real issue with the AI stuff, because when we're talking about where tech is these days, it's AI is there. That is the conversation dominating every tech field that there. There is video games being a tech field. They're. They're talking here about needing the. The combination between people and this and having the different audiences for that. I do think that there is truth there, but I also think the reality is there's going. I don't think the majority are ever going to accept AI taking over creative fields. I think the creative is the. And the generation of things. That's where there is a sour taste in people's mouth that I don't think you can ever dissuade because I think that it does come from a place of, this is bad, you know, And I feel like when it comes to a lot of other AI tech, there is good there. There's. We've been. I don't need to explain this, done it a million times, but everything he's saying here is kind of nothing. It's kind of just like things being asked a question, so you have to answer it. But we know what the realities are. These companies are using AI. It's just happening. And they're using generative AI. They're. They're very much testing this and talking about immersive experiences and stuff. It's like, yeah, we'll see. We'll see if that works, you know, or if it is just a dream for, you know, billionaires to make billions more for less, you know. Of course.

[Snowbike Mike]

Yeah, you said it. Well, Tim, he got asked the question. He has to answer that. Has to walk that tightrope. But we'll see in the months and years to come. That's really where we're at right now. The next one, Astro Bot.

[Tim Gettys]

Awesome. Really fucking awesome. I mean, like, them saying here, I can't express how happy we are with the reception of Astrobot. Like, I don't think that that's been a surprise to us. Like, the reception I mean we, we know how much we love it. We expect it to win multiple game of the years. Maybe not game awards game of the year, but maybe I think I, at this point I think, I think it's going to win but I feel like what I want to know about is the sales. I want to know about the sales now for Astrobot and long term of does this thing have legs? Does Astrobot have the ability to kind of be this ever present PlayStation brand or is the reception just hey, we made a great game that the people that played love which is, you know, good on both sides. It is a smaller title all things considered. So I don't think it needs to sell 20 million for it to be like oh it's a success. But like I want to know more than what we're getting.

[Snowbike Mike]

I like that you want to know more on the business side of things because yeah, I think on the reception side it's great you celebrate that win. That is a great way to cap off the year for PlayStation with a high, especially coming off of Concord that they highlighted earlier. We barely get to talk about hell divers anymore because we kind of forgot about that. But that was a massive win earlier in the year. So two nice big wins there that I can think about quickly for the year of PlayStation. But yeah, let's celebrate that. I'm of the notion of yeah, you went back to what the audience wants. That's the correct game in the PlayStation portfolio that you should have. And yes, when you bring that up and you make a good game, it's going to resonate with that audience. Unlike Concord, which that wasn't the right game for this portfolio in that audience. They didn't want that. They weren't looking for a PvP shooter stick inside your area and that's what they've done with that.

[Tim Gettys]

I mean like I, I love what you're saying here but I mean their area like Astrobot very much not their area in modern times. Right?

[Snowbike Mike]

That's true and I love it.

[Tim Gettys]

But I love that they did it. Like I, I, I'm so happy that we got a full fledged Astrobot game. Like that felt like a literal dream project of blessed mind a couple of years ago. Right. Like because it starting as the first two games being VR and then being a PS5 tech demo experience, like the fact that PlayStation saw value in backing Team Asobi's project there and that again they pulled it off and it resonated with people is great. But we need more than just people liking the game. It needs to sell for them to make an Astrobot to.

[Snowbike Mike]

You don't think we'll get Natural Bot too?

[Tim Gettys]

I don't. I don't know. I'm just saying, like. Yeah, I'm bummed that we're not hearing that. It's like crushing. You know what I mean? Because then we move on to PlayStation Portal, which.

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

Wait, real quick. Astrobot or Vice City, which is a better game. If you were to. Oh, all right.

[Tim Gettys]

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. I gave astro about a 10. Okay.

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

You didn't give Vice City a 10.

[Tim Gettys]

At the time, I probably would have.

[Snowbike Mike]

Yeah.

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

Makes sense with the list from yesterday then. Never mind.

[Tim Gettys]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Snowbike Mike]

Make sure to check out a Snowbike Mike and Blessing out of OA Jr react to IGN's top 100 PlayStation games of all Time list. I think it's a really good stream. It was a really good discussion. It's a very interesting list, Mike. Oh, yeah, Kevin. Kevin was there. And you know what? A lot of people were excited that Kevin was back. He brought a great energy to it. We had a lot of fun with Kevin. And then he had a great podcast about being a dad.

[Tim Gettys]

Yep. Big day for Kev yesterday. You can check out all that content on our YouTube channel. But jumping over to the portal here, them saying that it's a huge success and this isn't the first time we've heard this now they've talked multiple times about seeing the Portal as a success that I think is up there with Hell divers too, in the sense of products coming out that I think that the. The. The journalists and media would look at and be like, that's going to be inconsequential and it being a mega hit. Different scales, different levels. But I do think they're both surprise hits. Especially when the portal was. The more we learned about it, it felt like it felt more and more pointless. Yeah, but they clearly have tapped into the audience that they have.

[Snowbike Mike]

I agree with that, Tim. I. I come at it of different minds. Right at the beginning, I was like, I don't know about that. I'm not really using streaming that way of just directly tapping into my PlayStation off of WI Fi only. I want the cloud streaming where I can be anywhere. Because I think I'm like any gamer that I want my games everywhere I go. Especially with the Switch and what the Switch has done for the gaming audience of I can have my games anywhere. I can have it at home on the tv, I can pick it up and I can go with it. That is the dream. And I think PlayStation has done the handheld before. It is cool to see that. The proof in this is, hey, people still want that and we want that to grow in that market to get better. With the Steam Deck and other handhelds now in our life, it's proving that Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, third party, everywhere, people want their games wherever they are. Make something that can make that happen. And yeah, I like that.

[Tim Gettys]

Yeah, I mean, I love my Portal. I've been saying that a lot, but I just, I'm happy that it's doing well. I'm happy that PlayStation sees it as a huge success again, though different wording there. Huge success for Portal. We're happy with the reception of Astrobot, you get what I'm saying? So the number, I think, yeah, I think success shows there's numbers to back it up. I think that we're happy with the reception shows it's a little bit more of a critical darling, but interesting. But again, I hope I'm wrong because I really hope that Astrobot is the best selling game of every year. You know what I mean? Give my little guy the props that he deserves. And a makeover story number three, Switch two accessories are seemingly already on sale via Chinese vendors. This comes from Ollie Reynolds at Nintendo Life. Nintendo isn't likely to reveal the highly anticipated switch 2 before the end of this year, but that apparently hasn't stopped Chinese vendors from selling accessories for the console via wholesale platform Alibaba. As spotted on family boards and reported by our friends over at Eurogamer, the accessories can be purchased in bulk and appear to have been produced based on accurate specifications for the upcoming Switch successor. Naturally, both the case and the screen protector indicate that we're in for a much chunkier console than the current Switch family of systems. Backing a previous report that the console would boast a much larger screen. The dimensions for the case are. Yeah, they're. They're dimensions. I don't need to read these off. These millimeters don't mean to you.

[Snowbike Mike]

Okay, well, now we see. Thank you, Kevin, for bringing it up. We see the screen there. Is this to be trusted, Tim?

[Tim Gettys]

I mean, let's see, let's go through this here real quick. So because there's some more details I want to get to. While it's not possible to determine the exact dimensions of the console itself, it's clear it's going to be much bigger than the Switch or Switch oled. It contains two spaces in which to fit the console's shoulder buttons and triggers. If that's not proof enough, an image of a supposed Switch two screen protector was also shown demonstrating a significant increase in size over the same product for the standard Switch. A small cutout for the light sensor on the Switch has also seemingly been removed for the successor. It's standard practice for accessory manufacturers to be given prior notice of a console specifications in order to create products in time for the console's launch. That said, be sure to treat this latest nugget of information with as much skepticism as anything we know about Switch 2 so far. We won't know until Nintendo officially gets into it. So. Interesting, right?

[Snowbike Mike]

Tell me about it, Tim. Yeah, it is interesting, right? Because of course, yeah, there are teams that have to be making accessories and products for this new product that you're coming out with ahead of time. So they're ready to hit the market. They can't do it after you've already gone live and they have to catch back up. So there's going to be things out there. Is it real? Is it true? I would assume, yeah. Right.

[Tim Gettys]

So I will say that in the history of iPhones, I feel like the make and look of an iPhone has been leaked ahead of time maybe 9 out of 10 times because of things like this, because of the accessories and cases and those things being built based off of information that they got prior to manufacturing or prior to announcement of the new product. So this type of thing is common in tech and is common to kind of reveal information that's not ready to be out there yet. I think another great example is Legos kind of spoiling moments from upcoming movies because sets and they've. They've essentially had to like come up with like weird things that aren't even in the movie just to like kind of get around it and be more themed in vibes as. Instead of like spoiling characters in movies or like the, the big finale or whatever. But when it comes to this, I'm at the point with the Switch 2 stuff that like I truly. People want their like weird 5 seconds of fame of like putting something out there and like being. Being the guy that like revealed all this stuff. Like, I feel like the Nintendo League culture has a lot of toxicity and a lot of like, like pick me, pick me vibes that get in the way of understanding what's the truth. So while if this was not Nintendo, if this, if this was not the Switch two and this was something else, I'd lean more towards like I believe it here. I'm a little more skeptical that this is real. Having said that, I think that everything that it represents is accurate. I think that it's, we've heard it's going to be the 7 inch screen. We've heard that it's the, the joy cons are going to be a little bit bigger. So I'm like, I don't, I think that whether or not this actual thing is real, I think that this is going to be representative of what the Switch 2 is.

[Snowbike Mike]

Yeah. As the casual fan, it's like, I know that they're making a Switch two. I'm, I'm at the point we know that's reality. It's going to happen. Just show me it and then we'll, once it becomes real, then we go from there. But yeah, I already assume that things are being made for it. Right. As a casual audience, it's like, yeah, of course they're going to start making controllers for this. They've probably already made the screens and all that. It's probably live somewhere in a warehouse right now and they're ready to rock and roll. But once it's fully revealed to me, then I'm, I'm ready to buy.

[Tim Gettys]

Yeah, I mean that's the big question too is like, when is this happening? Where is it happening? Switch to? Obviously we've talked about a million times at this point. Doubt it's this year. There is the other side though, where it's like, I don't know necessarily that Nintendo cares about these third party having the accessories out when it's ready because of how Nintendo thinks about their rollouts of their systems and the secrecy that they have and their history of having their own accessory lines and like launching with those and then partnering with like Horry and partnering with like some of the bigger name like third party accessory developers out there, manufacturers. So yeah, we'll have to stay tuned for this. But I'm very excited for the Switch too. No one's surprised about that. And what I'm seeing here, I'm, I'm stoked about that, Tim. Good. We'll See story number four. Pokemon trading card game pocket reportedly surpassed over $200 million in its first month. Whoa. Sophie McAvoy reports@games industry.biz. pokemon trading card game pocket has reportedly reached $208 million in revenue. As reported by Pocket Gamer, the mobile hit average 6.5 million in daily player spending with a peak of 8.4 million on November 22 following an event this reportedly boosted daily revenue by 20%. As a result, Pokemon Trading Card Game reached its highest weekly earnings in week three at 51.1 million and declined by 3% during its fourth week to 49.7 million.

[Snowbike Mike]

Big money.

[Tim Gettys]

Big money.

[Snowbike Mike]

Did you think it was going to be this big?

[Tim Gettys]

Yes.

[Snowbike Mike]

I mean, yeah, When I see this number, I'm not surprised.

[Tim Gettys]

Right.

[Snowbike Mike]

It's Pokemon, it's mobile, it's on my phone. You're buying card packs. Yeah. It was going to make a bunch of money. It just seemed like the logical. Like that was an easy layup win.

[Tim Gettys]

Yeah. I mean, what it comes down to is when they first announced this at Pokemon Day earlier this year in February, the moment that we saw it, it's like, oh, it's. It's their Marvel snapping Pokemon trading card game. That inherently makes sense. Right. And the game is good, the gameplay is good, it is fun. Then you add all this other stuff. Of course you're going to hit people in nostalgia. Of course you're going to have the secret mew for when you collect all 150 Kanto Pokemon. Like, they just knew exactly what they were doing there. Um, and I feel like. I mean, I know for a fact I've still. I've opened it every single day since the game came out. I open every single booster that I get the opportunity to. I'm having a great time collecting. I will say I'm at a point right now that I'm like, I haven't battled in weeks.

[Snowbike Mike]

Okay.

[Tim Gettys]

And I have no need to.

[Snowbike Mike]

You're not jumping on the new Venus or event. That's just you versus the, you know, npc.

[Tim Gettys]

So. I already did that. I already did that.

[Snowbike Mike]

Okay. Sorry.

[Tim Gettys]

Yeah. They need more events, though.

[Snowbike Mike]

Yes.

[Tim Gettys]

There needs to be some more things happening that actually make me want to battle. Because when I first played, I was like, I'm just going to collect.

[Snowbike Mike]

Of course. Course.

[Tim Gettys]

And then we all started battling and it's like, oh, there's something here. This game is good.

[Snowbike Mike]

This is fun.

[Tim Gettys]

And I just. I just feel like we need a little bit more carrots. We need more meats.

[Snowbike Mike]

They should have an event all the time. Right. And it should probably be happening on PvE and PvP because. Yes, Tim, what got us really excited was that 45 wins that Lapras events, the Venusaur, that's happening right now. It's like, you got to keep those going because I told you and Blessing when this first came out, it's like I'm. You need to keep the carrot on the end of the stick at all times for me to want to jump into this, because I think Marvel Snap did it so well. Like, it was all about the battling. Sure, there was card collecting, but like you were playing to get the snap and play this one very much. Feels like I could skip it for a day. I don't need the battle. I don't want to battle. Yeah, it's like, no, you. You gotta stay in there. Give me a reason to battle now. I want more cards or. Oh, man, he had that wiggly tough. I need that card. I gotta open up these packs because that's. I need that card desperately. Or. Oh, man, I still don't have that. Maybe I give them 20, you know what I mean? Maybe I get 10 more packs today.

[Tim Gettys]

So.

[Snowbike Mike]

Yeah, it is something of you got to keep me energized on that. And they haven't done a good job at that yet.

[Tim Gettys]

Yeah, I don't think they have either, because, like, on the collection side, they've done a great job giving me two to three boosters a day. I'm like, all right, I'm here for it. And, like, I get excited every day and haven't been hitting much lucky packs recently, but I'm still having a good time with it. But I want them because you get the. The. The bonuses for, like, logging in, for opening packs, for getting. Getting something from the store, even your free daily thing. Give me something daily to battle. You know what I mean? Let me play in the game.

[Snowbike Mike]

Trenton Williams in the chat brings up a good one of, like, that 15 XP is not enough. What you need to tie it to is maybe you can stick with 15, but if I earn 100 that day, I get a free pack. It's got to be somewhere where it's like, you battle four times, we give you a free pack no matter what. You battle 20 times, we give you three free packs. Like, just add. Add the packs in the battling to make me want to do that. Because the level doesn't matter.

[Tim Gettys]

Right?

[Snowbike Mike]

Like, my level going up with the little 15 XP in my mind hasn't had really any major effect on my life. That makes me want to do more. It has to come down to I want more packs. I get packs by battling. Figure that out. Make it happen.

[Tim Gettys]

Yeah, I'm right there with you, man. And yeah, I. Since that one streamer did, I've not put another penny in unless they're charging me for the premium pass, if that's all right.

[Snowbike Mike]

Yeah, I think they started that.

[Tim Gettys]

That would be the one thing. But I have not spent any more on gold itself or anything like that.

[Snowbike Mike]

Yeah, I'm having a tough time now because I'm definitely on the 999 season pass. Get the three packs now because I think we've moved past the two week free bundle or whatever. And so yeah, now I'm at the point of I'd have so many cards now. I'm similar to what you were like on that stream where it's like I have 14 cards. I'm missing the opportunity me to get those 14 cards are very difficult. Right. And of course I still have the big holographics, the full arts. I'm not getting those at a rapid pace, right. Like I'm. I'm opening up three packs a day with that and I'm getting nothing sometimes most of the time actually like three days out of the week it's like I'll open them, get nothing. I'll be like. And that hurts.

[Tim Gettys]

Right?

[Snowbike Mike]

You gotta find something to get people excited or battle and get more cards similar to the Venusaur and Lapras event. Make me PvP battle for that card of the week. It's got to be something because I need that card. I need that satisfaction of I earned something.

[Tim Gettys]

Totally. Oh, Mike. These are big numbers for Pokemon trading card game.

[Snowbike Mike]

You think they hit a billion? Oh yeah, of course.

[Tim Gettys]

Oh yeah, yeah. I think it's going to be way bigger than that. But if I want to know about something smaller, so much smaller. Where would I look?

[Snowbike Mike]

Tim, I take you to our last news story, the WE News channel where we cover all the small news items you need to know about.

[Tim Gettys]

That's damn right. Xbox game pass games have been revealed. We got Crash Team Racing, Nitro Fueled Forza Motorsport, Standard Hanti, Standard humanity coming to standard cool. Then on December 5th we got EA Sports WRC and overthrown on December 9th, Indiana Jones Circle 1210 we got Wild Frost 1. January 2nd we have Carry On. And January 7th we have Road 96.

[Snowbike Mike]

That Carry on game's crazy. Yeah, played that a while back. That. That's a freaky wild game.

[Tim Gettys]

Okay.

[Snowbike Mike]

Yeah, okay.

[Tim Gettys]

Crash your Macy Nitro fueled. Obviously love the game, highly recommend it, Amazing Kart Racer. But it's interesting to see Activision start to drip feed.

[Snowbike Mike]

We're starting to get a little bit right.

[Tim Gettys]

It's just a little bit here, a little bit there.

[Snowbike Mike]

We never got the full. The floodgates are open in every title stand. I think that's probably a business decision of like slow it down. Let's. Let's drip feed this. Keep people wanting like Tim of like I haven't signed up for game pass a long time. Oh that gets me excited for a month or hey, I don't sign up for Game Pass that often because I don't feel like I get that. Well now if we start slowly drift feeding it, it just elevates and boosts the reason why you should be paying them $20 a month or whatever.

[Tim Gettys]

I totally, I get it. It's just going to be very interesting to look at these Game Pass updates and how different they're going to be going forward than how they used to be.

[Snowbike Mike]

Yes.

[Tim Gettys]

I predict that we're going to get a lot less of the like big third party like whoa, didn't expect to see that type deals really. Because I think they can now just have their first party which does seem like we're going to get a lot more first party releases and then drip feed the back catalog of the Activision Blizzard stuff.

[Snowbike Mike]

I like that Tim. And I can agree with you in some parts. Right. I think the back catalog is exciting to some but I think most of it is. And especially in Game Pass's lifespan it has been carried by those big O Snap. You got that third party game and they have to continue that because right now the first party games have not proven to be the ones to hold you. It is the O Snap. They got all three Personas. That's nuts. They got Yakuza like a dragon. That's crazy. Right? Like those third party games are what is carrying Game Pass still to this day I would argue. So when is that blend? Slow down. When does first party finally show up? Because they're not at the map booty. Once a month, once a quarter. They haven't hit that yet. So we're still kind of buying our time. And it's a lot of money. 20 bucks for game Pass ultimate to justify that. I mean you got to give me Clouds Cloud gaming with all of my games that I own. That's the next big step you got to hit with the first party. Bring the Activision titles somehow get WOW involved. I'm surprised we still haven't hit wow involved. That's crazy.

[Tim Gettys]

It is.

[Snowbike Mike]

Figure that out. Especially with how high and hot WOW is with WOW Classic and everything that they're doing with the War Within. Got to hit that. And then yeah, I, I still think the third party games have to compliment but they've done well with like EA play and having 10 hour free trials. They got that sweet deal. They've hooked up with Ubisoft before. But I think the third party still got to be there.

[Tim Gettys]

Let's see. And I. No pizza bed or anything. Yeah. But like let's stay on this Mike, me and you.

[Snowbike Mike]

I want I want to.

[Tim Gettys]

I want to keep keep on this because I want to. I want to see because I I truly feel like those days are over. Like I feel like the Liza Peas and the the Akuza. Like I think those days are over.

[Snowbike Mike]

Tim, let me fill you in with the two things the Snowbike might keep an eye on for 2025 because I'm going to add this to our third my Snowbike Mike to keep an eye on with blessing have been Call of Duty, Black Ops 6 sales numbers and Marvel Rivals. Where will it stand engagement wise? Three months and six months now. Now I'm going to add Xbox Game Pass third party titles.

[Tim Gettys]

Love that. Thank you Mike. Tetris is coming to Nintendo switch online on December 12th. Tetris the Grandmaster 4 Absolute Eye is coming to Steam in March 2025. Gex Trilogy unfortunately has been delayed to 2025. Splatoon 2's OST is now on Nintendo Music. Hell yeah. Great stuff there.

[Snowbike Mike]

Love that.

[Tim Gettys]

Anton Blast gets a review roundup here. Metacritic of 86 an open critic of 86. Oscar at Gamesradar gave it four out of five stars, saying, Anton Blast explosively reinvents the destructive energy of Wario Land, delivering high energy action that has you demolishing levels at speed while also record rewarding, precise play with a serious sense of momentum. Boss fights slow the pace a bit, but this is a front to back thrill ride that you'll keep coming back to master. Dual shockers gave it 85 and the gamer gave it a 4.5 out of 5. I am about 4 hours into this game and I love it. I can't get enough. I've been playing on my Steam deck. Beautiful, amazing vibe. It is such a weird, unique thing where I can compare it to so many different things and it does not do it justice because it might take an element of you know, Crash Bandicoot style from the 90s and Cartoon Network, like comedy style from the early 2000s and just that like like loud flash game kind of just so many colors that shouldn't go together but they kind of do. Like it's just if you took this sound, turned it into a video game, it's Anton Blast.

[Snowbike Mike]

Okay.

[Tim Gettys]

There's an energy to it. Like I like that kind of energy. It's really good. So I highly recommend it. I think it got delayed on Switch, but keep your eye out. If you only have a Switch and otherwise get it on Steam, this should this shit kicks ass. Can't wait to keep playing and I hope to talk about it more as I beat the game. So, yeah, good stuff there. And that's it for we news. That's it for news. Got another two super chats here, Michael. Okay, dear. Six says thought I had. Does the economy the last few years affect sales numbers? Because more people than ever are waiting for sales instead of full price to make their money stretch further. I think the economy always is affecting sales of entertainment things like movie or TV games. Like all of that stuff. Clearly having said that, when we look at the market and we see that there are games having ridiculous success, I think that kind of does point to. While there is some effect. I don't think that I. When we're comparing the apples to apples. The apples are here.

[Snowbike Mike]

Well said.

[Tim Gettys]

Oh, my freaking God. Yeah. Scared the hell out of me.

[Snowbike Mike]

Room with the biggest box I've ever seen. Look at that, Tim.

[Greg Miller]

Indiana Jones great circle collector's edition. Just shoot up.

[Tim Gettys]

It's not a circle, it's a rectangle.

[Snowbike Mike]

Tell him what's in the box, Greg.

[Tim Gettys]

Oh, there's a circle in there.

[Snowbike Mike]

You get a globe.

[Greg Miller]

I don't know. The eyes ain't as good as they used to be. You get it. You get the jumbo steelbook display case. The great circle globe with hidden storage. The all maker relic replica with the digital game code on it. A new adventure journal. I call that.

[Tim Gettys]

It looks like the globe opens up. What's in there?

[Snowbike Mike]

It's got storage. I'm really excited to see what the jumbo steel book looks like. What's a jumbo steelbook? I'm very excited.

[Greg Miller]

It's bigger than a normal steelbook.

[Snowbike Mike]

Let's find out what's inside of the Indiana Jones collector's edition.

[Greg Miller]

Oh, it wasn't a bigger steelbook. It was a thick voice.

[Snowbike Mike]

It was thick with two Cs. Y'all. Very thick. Very thick.

[Greg Miller]

Okay, here you go.

[Snowbike Mike]

It's showing you the relic piece right here. Special relic piece on the back.

[Greg Miller]

There's the thing.

[Tim Gettys]

Look at that.

[Snowbike Mike]

Yeah. Okay.

[Greg Miller]

That's the relic. Yeah, I guess we'll understand. We play the game.

[Snowbike Mike]

Yeah.

[Greg Miller]

Do that. Like here's this thing. I don't know the hell. Here's this piece of braille.

[Snowbike Mike]

Okay, so check that out. Thick. Tim. Tim, take a look at that one. It's thick.

[Tim Gettys]

That's really thick.

[Snowbike Mike]

It is surprisingly thick. I thought it would be tall, but no. Oh, don't forget about your keychain. Nice. I like a good big box for a collector's edition, especially one that can house tim. Tim is 6ft tall and we have covered him with a box. Here, get inside of that. Get inside of that Styrofoam. Let it. Let it just rock. Oh, yeah.

[Tim Gettys]

There you go.

[Snowbike Mike]

Audio listeners. He's diving into the Styrofoam collector's addiction. It's a globe, ladies and gentlemen.

[Tim Gettys]

It opens the globe.

[Snowbike Mike]

Opens the real globe with the. With the circle with the great circle on it.

[Greg Miller]

Oh, yeah.

[Snowbike Mike]

Showing you all the cool places that maybe Indy will go.

[Tim Gettys]

Who knows?

[Snowbike Mike]

Oh, no. Oh, there's a circle. Okay. Didn't see it on the other side of the globe.

[Tim Gettys]

If it doesn't open, I'm gonna be very upset.

[Snowbike Mike]

Pop that thing open. It opens. It's got a hinge. Okay. It's got a hinge. Yeah, we see that. Holy. Okay, I think there might have been a collapse.

[Tim Gettys]

Rapid.

[Snowbike Mike]

Okay.

[Greg Miller]

It's a Greg Miller unboxing.

[Snowbike Mike]

So inside of the globe, the journal.

[Greg Miller]

That's where they kept the secret journal.

[Snowbike Mike]

Yeah. How much room do you got? Okay, you could put some stuff in.

[Tim Gettys]

Here that's a solution in the game somewhere.

[Snowbike Mike]

I could put some cool stuff in that opening.

[Tim Gettys]

The globe.

[Greg Miller]

You got the little.

[Snowbike Mike]

Oh, it's the airplane.

[Greg Miller]

The airplane. So you can do, like, in the thing.

[Snowbike Mike]

Yeah. That's great. So this is what you get inside the collector's edition right here. Check it. Take a look.

[Tim Gettys]

Boom.

[Snowbike Mike]

Yeah, I think you broke the latch. That's cool. And all this is magnetic. Yeah, this is magnetic. We're gonna open up the gaming journal. Greg's done a great job journaling some of his games in the past. Of course. His dragon age journal.

[Greg Miller]

Oh, it says, for your next adventure, Marion. Just blank pages. I like that. Sometimes they would do that thing where they branded all Indiana Jones all over the. But I'm glad. It's like I'm keeping that.

[Snowbike Mike]

He's keeping the journal.

[Tim Gettys]

Use it. Everybody guys outro you.

[Greg Miller]

Guys outro the show. Try to fix the globe.

[Snowbike Mike]

Tim, outro the show.

[Tim Gettys]

Don't. You're gonna break.

[Snowbike Mike]

It works.

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

I'll fix it.

[Snowbike Mike]

This is the piece of lab. We're gonna fix it.

[Tim Gettys]

We got Charlie Nugget saying question mostly for Mike, but maybe Tim as well. Do you think it would be behooved Pokemon trading card game pocket to take notes from trading card games like Badger the Gathering arena and Marvel Snap.

[Snowbike Mike]

I mean, you would have the Marvel Snap side over.

[Tim Gettys]

Say no from Marvel Snaps.

[Snowbike Mike]

Okay.

[Tim Gettys]

Marvel Snap to me. I mean, again, I haven't played for a while. There was just. There was too many. Too many modes.

[Greg Miller]

You know, for the record, every apologies yeah. It says first thing opening your globe.

[Snowbike Mike]

Yeah.

[Greg Miller]

It didn't say script rip it apart.

[Tim Gettys]

Yeah.

[Snowbike Mike]

We're learning. Yeah. It will be interesting to see because Magic the Gathering has decades of magic already built into it with different card sets and the game and deck building.

[Greg Miller]

Step number two to access the globes hidden storage. Attach the plane magnet to the correct point of interest and trigger the opening mechanism. Well, well what can I say everybody? I've watched a million Indiana Jones. I've played the uncharted thing and I'm just like why wouldn't you just tear the shit open?

[Snowbike Mike]

And that's what I did.

[Greg Miller]

Nice try. Great circle. You couldn't stop Greg Miller. Now we got an Audrey too. Hello Seymour.

[Tim Gettys]

Why was that so hard to get off?

[Snowbike Mike]

Yeah that was a big one.

[Tim Gettys]

But. But yeah. I feel like from a gameplay perspective I just want more. More things to do battle wise events. I just want more rewards for battling. That's it.

[Snowbike Mike]

Battling is fun.

[Tim Gettys]

Otherwise they got the right amount of things.

[Snowbike Mike]

I'm deck building. It's perfect. Just give me a reason to 15x Brian Murphy says.

[Tim Gettys]

What do you guys think of Sony's 30th anniversary video? I freaking loved it man. Mike, you give me a emotional song, a bunch of nostalgic clips and some text on a screen. I'm happy.

[Snowbike Mike]

It was fantastic. It was very very good. Tim loved it. It was a lot of fun.

[Tim Gettys]

Did we get anything wrong today? Let me check. You're wrong and see.

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

Greg refused to read the instructions and broke that thing. Seems like he wronged someone.

[Snowbike Mike]

I appreciate that. He just goes in for it. You know what I mean? 100. 100.

[Tim Gettys]

That's it everyone. Nothing.

[Snowbike Mike]

Nice.

[Tim Gettys]

We're perfect. Me and you Mike. Fantastic people.

[Snowbike Mike]

Great show. Leave comments down below. What do you want to see from some from software. Very excited to see what they do next. Like that is going to be the all eyes in the world is on you. It's like rockstar levels of like big type big stuff man. Guys. Yeah and it's pretty cool. It's really cool.

[Tim Gettys]

Exciting times everybody stay tuned for an amazing kind of funny games cast where we are talking about Andy's trip to Japan and his time playing Monster Hunter Wilds. I'm sure you're going to want to hear that. But until next time I love you all. Goodbye.