Kinda Funny Games Daily 12.12.25

Episode Title: Game Awards: Every Announcement, Where Was Xbox?!
Date: December 12, 2025
Hosts: Blessing Adeoye Jr. & Snowbike Mike

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into everything announced at The Game Awards 2025, with Blessing and Snowbike Mike recapping every major reveal, winners, memorable moments, and offering their hot takes. The show also addresses the conspicuous absence of major Xbox news at the ceremony, discusses the record-breaking sweep by Claire Obscure: Expedition 33, and takes community questions with spirited banter and insight.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Host Reactions to The Game Awards 2025

[02:18–04:47]

• Hosts exude post-event excitement while also joking about their outfits during the watchalong.
• Both express gratitude for the positive community reaction and online memes about their facial expressions from the event.
• They reflect on having the night to process the show before breaking down the news.

Notable Moment:
Blessing: “A little tired, but, you know, excited to talk more about video games. …It’s nice to have the night to kind of decompress, process information, come back and we get to talk about it more.” [03:59]

2. The Game Awards 2025 – All Announcements Recap

[09:01–18:54]

• Blessing reads a rundown of all major reveals sourced from Video Games Chronicle and Chris Scullion.
• Big reveals include:
  • Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic (directed by Casey Hudson)
  • New Divinity game by Larian Studios
  • Coven of the Chicken Foot from Bruce Straley’s new studio
  • Resident Evil Requiem starring Leon Kennedy
  • Exodus with Matthew McConaughey
  • Control Resident (Control sequel)
  • Gang of Dragon by Toshihiro Nagoshi
  • Two Tomb Raider games: Legacy of Atlantis (remake) and Catalyst (sequel)
  • 007: First Light featuring Lenny Kravitz as a villain
  • Major releases and expansions for Mega Man, Diablo, and others
  • Unique new projects: Bradley the Badger; anime-inspired racers; co-op shooters

Panel Reactions:

• Snowbike Mike highlights Star Wars, Larian Studios' Divinity, Control sequel, and Tomb Raider.
• Both praise the celebrity involvement (Lenny Kravitz, Matthew McConaughey).
• Bradley the Badger is cited as a personal highlight for Blessing due to its 3D platforming creativity and humor.

Quote:
Snowbike Mike: “That Divinity trailer…that cinematic trailer was awesome. That was up there with the Blizzard cinematics where you’re like, I can’t get enough of this.” [22:27]

3. Memorable Show Moments & Discussion

[15:53–16:57]

• The musical segments, especially “Flute Guy,” are a favorite.
• Praise for the show’s pacing, celebrity cameos, and sheer quantity of announcements.

Quote:
Snowbike Mike: "Flute Guy went crazy. I know you and Greg were telling Flute Guy, maybe it's time to take out the limelight..." [16:22]

4. Game Awards 2025 - Record-Breaking Claire Obscure Sweep

[34:45–39:27]

• Claire Obscure Expedition 33 wins 9 of its 13 nominated categories, breaking the record for most wins in a night (previously held by The Last of Us Part II with 7).
• Awards: Game of the Year, Best Game Direction, Best Narrative, Best Art Direction, Best Score & Music, Best Performance, Best Independent Game, Best Debut Indie, Best RPG.

Hot Takes:

• Both hosts praise the game's cultural impact, especially its handling of themes like grief.
• Recognize merit in other nominations but emphasize the dominance and quality of Claire Obscure.

Quote:
Snowbike Mike: “Claire Obscure Expedition 33 was head and shoulders above the rest. Yeah, that's how good this game is.” [36:56]

5. Where Was Xbox at The Game Awards?

[40:32–46:53]

• Xbox’s presence at the awards was limited; key announcements (Halo, Gears, Fable, etc.) held back for January’s Dev Direct.
• Microsoft’s Matt Booty suggests January’s Dev Direct is packed with more content than can fit in one show.
• Some fans/viewers disappointed with minimal Xbox news “on the biggest stage.”
• Discussion of Xbox’s evolving marketing timeline and strategy (using their own shows, not industry events).

Blessing: “I didn’t expect Xbox here. I think they put themselves in a weird place having their dev directs in January. We know that they’re every January now and we know that they really come out and talk about the big news...” [43:54]

Snowbike Mike: “They also had a nice award as well. South of Midnight winning an award was a big deal... But on the announcement side, yes, when we did our predictions episode, I did think that Xbox would show up to this.” [42:01]

6. Community Q&A & Super Chat Hot Takes

(Scattered throughout, see eg. [18:54–29:27], [52:41–58:53])

• Questions include:
  • Is it still worth releasing games on PS4? (Hosts say yes—massive user base)
  • Opinions on CGI trailers vs. gameplay reveals (“Games take longer; CGI is for the hype, not gameplay expectations”)
  • Willingness to recommend turn-based games to those new to the genre
  • Reactions to the return of classics (e.g. Total War: Warhammer, Ace Combat)
• The community hypes up memes, Flute Guy, and announces favorite show moments.

7. Industry Awards & Games Media Recognition

[49:11–51:04]

• Kind of Funny introduces their own awards for games journalism, with categories for Reporter of the Year and Site of the Year.
• Shoutouts to Jason Schreier, Jeff Grubb, Giant Bomb, and more.

8. “Wii News” Mini Segment

[51:16–52:34]

• Notable tidbit: Grant Kirkhope (Banjo-Kazooie, Mario + Rabbids) is composing for Bradley the Badger—major excitement from Blessing.

Quote:
Blessing: “Grant Kirko is one of my favorite composers…this game is leading up to have the sauce.” [52:28]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (w/ Timestamps)

• Blessing: "I'm balancing it...I get so into [gaming] during review season...all of a sudden I was like, I don't want to play video games anymore. So I gotta manage that better. Maybe I'll make that my New Year's resolution." [06:02]
• Snowbike Mike: "Gosh darn it, that’s a lot going on there. ...All of it is so awesome." [11:17]
• Blessing on Bradley the Badger: “Bradley the Badger is going to be my whole personality when that comes out.” [14:18]
• Snowbike Mike on Xbox's absence: “You have a thousand other video games to play right now. You have plenty of time to burn until it’s time.” [28:57]
• Blessing (playfully controversial): “We need a video game Thanos. We need somebody to come in, snap half of video games away from existence. We got too many of them.” [62:16]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:18] – Start of Game Awards Recap
• [09:01] – Blessing’s full rapid-fire list of TGA announcements
• [15:53] – Reactions to show highlights: Flute Guy, musical performances
• [34:45] – Claire Obscure Expedition 33’s award sweep discussed
• [40:32] – Where was Xbox? Dev Direct January plans
• [49:11] – Kinda Funny launches journalism industry awards
• [51:16] – Wii News: Bradley the Badger soundtrack announcement
• [52:41] – Super chats: community Q&A/Hot takes/discussion continues

Overall Tone

• Highly enthusiastic, celebratory, and comedic; full of inside jokes, community references, and lively banter
• Hosts treat audience and each other as peers and friends, fostering a lighthearted, passionate discussion
• Constructive but mostly positive about industry strategies and award choices, even where surprising or controversial

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This episode is a jam-packed rundown of one of gaming’s biggest nights, dissected by two of Kinda Funny’s most energetic personalities. If you want a detailed account of what was announced at The Game Awards 2025, impressions on all the buzziest reveals, a sense of community reactions, and strong opinions about where the industry’s heading (especially regarding Xbox), this episode is for you. The Claire Obscure sweep and the debate about CGI/gameplay trailers are highlights, and there's plenty of humor and warmth throughout.

Skip the ads and intros for a pure, in-depth roundtable about gaming’s current landscape and biggest event reveals.