Kinda Funny Games Daily – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Microsoft Teases EXPENSIVE Next-Gen Xbox?!
Date: October 22, 2025
Hosts: Andy Cortez & Blessing Adeoye Jr.
Main Theme: The podcast dives into the biggest stories in gaming, with a major focus on Microsoft’s hints at an “expensive,” premium next-gen Xbox, layoffs and turbulence at Ubisoft, the Remedy CEO exit, notable layoffs in games media, and a rapid-fire batch of smaller news and indie shout-outs.

Overview

This episode centers on the brewing anticipation and confusion around Microsoft’s next hardware, which is positioned to be uniquely “premium” and costly—potentially shifting the console landscape. The hosts also break down shifting tides at Ubisoft (including new layoffs and project woes), discuss the shakeup at Remedy, and touch on the broader industry contraction with layoffs at TheGamer and elsewhere. The tone alternates between playful banter and deep industry analysis, with a strong throughline of uncertainty about the future for consoles and game companies alike.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Microsoft Teases a Premium, Expensive Next-Gen Xbox

(Start at 09:48)

• Xbox President Sarah Bond reveals the next Xbox will be a “very premium, high end curated experience.”
  • Quote (Sarah Bond via Mashable):

    "...the next gen console is going to be a very premium, very high end curated experience... You’re starting to see some of the thinking that we have in this handheld [Rog Ally], but I don’t want to give it all away." (12:29)

• The hosts discuss rumored hybrid Xbox/PC console hardware, referencing Bond’s repeated interviews this week and the public messaging “tour” she’s been on.
• Comparison is drawn between Xbox’s former “cheap and approachable” Series S and this new high-cost, high-power direction.
• Both hosts express skepticism about whether going ultra-premium is wise for Xbox, given historical struggles with third place in the console race.
  • Blessing (13:47):

    "I don't really know what that looks like. I'm excited, but also I think there's a high chance that this ends up being just so messy for everybody involved."

  • Andy (17:41):

    "I'm excited in kind of a nervous way. Because I, I, I want the future of Xbox to be bright… But if you… talk about your product being the most premium thing ever, that could win a lot of people over… but are you then kind of going for the masses after that?"

• They question who this console would appeal to: the “masses” or a core, high-budget enthusiast crowd?
• Extended analogies are made to past shifts in technology (e.g., cable TV upgrades) and how the "familiarity" factor is key in broad consumer acceptance.
  • Andy (21:08):

    "...I feel like if Xbox could try to emulate what the others are doing, what people are used to doing... You keep iterating on that software. You keep showing people. Yes, we could have all of your games and all your library in this one spot. And it looks familiar, it's friendly."

Timestamps for Xbox Segment:

• Microsoft teases premium Xbox intro: 09:48
• Hosts’ reactions and business model debate: 12:17–22:49
• Community Q&A about Xbox’s future: 27:18, 31:17, 32:33

2. Ubisoft in Turmoil: Layoffs & Leadership Shakeups

(35:40–49:43)

• Massive Entertainment (Ubisoft) Layoffs:
  • Ubisoft’s studio behind The Division and Star Wars Outlaws undergoes a “voluntary career transition program”—a soft way of describing layoffs.
  • Andy (37:02):

    “It’s like when they go, hey, what if you don’t? We have a really packed flight. We overbooked. Anybody want to put… give us a number and we’ll…”

• Splinter Cell Remake Loses Another Director:
  • Ubisoft Toronto is once again hiring for a game director, raising concerns about the troubled project:

    "That’s being an NFL player… and being like, on LinkedIn. Looking for a coach." (39:19)

• RedLynx Layoffs, Studio Focus Shift:
  • Up to 60 more staff cut, with the Trials studio pivoting from multi-platform development to mobile/small screen experiences.
  • Hosts are dismayed by another beloved console/PC studio being repositioned for mobile:
    • Blessing (42:18):

      “I hate this so much. …the reframing of this studio to be focused on small, small screens because I assume it’s just a weird way to say mobile. Like, what are we doing here?”

• The hosts lament Ubisoft’s confusion, trend-chasing, and inability to maintain consistent creative direction.
  • They predict further downsizing and question Ubisoft’s future in the Euro-dev ecosystem if a buyout were to happen.

    "It really does seem like just throwing everything at the wall and just hoping that maybe you stumble into a success…" (43:26)

Timestamps for Ubisoft Section:

• Massive Entertainment layoffs: 35:40
• Splinter Cell remake director search: 38:30
• RedLynx layoffs / mobile pivot: 40:45
• Hosts’ analysis & broader implications: 42:20–49:43

3. Remedy CEO Tero Virtala Steps Down

(49:43–54:26)

• After 9 years, Virtala resigns as CEO; Remedy co-founder Markus Mäki steps in as interim.
• Departure happens as Remedy recognizes a significant (14.9 million euros) financial hit due to underperformance of FBC Firebreak, their multiplayer title.
  • Quote (Summary from Article):

    "Last week Remedy announced it would be addressing its financial outlook for 2025 following weak sales of its first multiplayer title…"

• Hosts debate why FBC Firebreak failed, suggesting its style may have been out of step with player expectations and too different from what Control fans wanted.
  • Blessing (52:56):

    "…you change Control enough and then give it back to your audience and they're going to be like, yeah, but that's not Control. …that's not why I show up for Remedy games, you know?"

4. Widespread Editorial Layoffs at The Gamer

(54:48–57:15)

• Another wave of media layoffs, with The Gamer’s staff “decimated.”
• Blessing calls out the worrying trend of media contraction, the negative impact of Google and AI on journalism, and how this continues waves of 2025 layoffs across Vox, Polygon, and Valnet.
  • Blessing (57:15):

    "It… is rough out there both I think because of how the landscape has evolved, but then also how AI is taken over and how Google's homepage is I think really bad for a lot of people…"

5. Rapid-Fire “We News” – Smaller Headlines & Indie Shout-outs

(58:12–65:02)

• Marvel Cosmic Invasion launches Dec 1st, Phoenix and Iron Man revealed.
• Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 3 will be “more concise” due to feedback about previous entries’ length.
• Pocket Pair (PalWorld Studio): Affirms it will not publish AI or Web3/NFT games.
  • Quote (Pocket Pair):

    “We don't believe in it… If you're big on AI stuff or stuff or your game is web3 or uses NFTs… we're not the right partner for that.” (60:40)

• Luigi’s Mansion coming to Nintendo Switch Online Oct 30.
• Pikmin 4 Update: November 2025 (photo mode, new activities).
• Game Pass Announcements: PowerWash Simulator 2, Bounty Star, Super Fantasy Kingdom, Halls of Torment, The Outer Worlds 2, Football Manager 26, and more roll out late October/early November.
• Indie Shout-outs:
  • It’s Not You, It’s Me: 10-minute narrative game about long COVID by a listener (64:33).
  • Katanaut: Metroidvania-action roguelite, overlooked at launch, 52K wishlists but only ~11 peak players.

    “Just wanted to give a shout out to Katanaut … this game looks awesome.” (65:15)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Microsoft’s “Premium” Xbox:
  • Andy:

    "I'm excited in kind of a nervous way… I want the future of Xbox to be bright." (17:41)

  • Blessing:

    "If you're going to make your next box a $1,000 thing … is it going to be the Xbox PC, or is it going to be … a fucking beefy, powerful ass PC?" (34:01)

• On Ubisoft’s Voluntary Layoffs:
  • Andy:

    “It’s like when they go, hey, what if you don’t? We have a really packed flight…” (37:02)

• On Industry Layoffs:
  • Blessing:

    "Another one as far as where video games media is at… it's been very bad for a lot of the space." (57:15)

• On Pocket Pair and AI stance:
  • Blessing (joking):

    "If we're gonna copy something, we're gonna do it with our bare hands." (61:02)

• On nostalgia for old TV channel guides:
  • Both: Extensive riffing on childhood TV channel line-ups, and how discoverability sometimes came down to a channel’s position. (24:21–27:20)

Additional Timestamps

• Listener Superchats & “You’re Wrong” corrections: 66:07–end
• Indie dev stories & shout-outs: 64:07–66:02
• End-of-show silliness (sports banter, upcoming games, final plugs): 70:09–end

For Those Who Haven’t Listened: What’s Essential?

• The next Xbox will be “premium” and expensive, potentially a major departure from previous (affordable) console strategies, and might blur the line further with PC gaming.
• Ubisoft is restructuring repeatedly, with layoffs at Massive & RedLynx and creative leadership churn, sparking real worry for their stability and Europe’s dev scene.
• Remedy’s CEO resigns amidst financial struggles and flop of their multiplayer title, raising questions about the fate of Control 2.
• Another major batch of media layoffs underscores ongoing volatility across the games industry.
• The episode is shot through with industry skepticism, anxiety for devs/journalists facing contraction/layoffs, but also moments of levity and hope for indie games and creativity.

In the Hosts’ Own Words:

Blessing:

"I'm excited, but also I think there's a high chance that this ends up being just so messy for everybody involved." (13:47)
Andy:
"Let us know what you all think in the comments below and super chats, but also make sure you click the like button. It's free." (35:02)

Summary by: Kinda Funny Games Daily Listener’s Guild.
Full episode available on YouTube and podcast platforms.