Kinda Funny Games Daily – August 26, 2025

Episode: “PlayStation's Making Big Changes Because of Concord Failure”

Hosts: Andy Cortez & SnowBikeMike

Episode Overview

Today’s episode dives into the aftermath of PlayStation’s live-service missteps—specifically the failure of Concord. Andy and Mike analyze how failure has prompted sweeping changes at Sony, discuss early access excitement for Skate, Nintendo’s Switch 2 developer kit struggles, and highlight some delightful sidebars about Pokémon Nuzlockes and demo kiosk nostalgia. As always, their banter mixes industry insights with the team’s trademark humor and camaraderie.

Key Discussion Points

1. PlayStation Overhauls Testing After Concord Failure (09:04–26:28)

• Main Story: PlayStation CEO Hermen Hulst revealed to the Financial Times that Sony is now enforcing “much more rigorous and more frequent testing” for in-development games after the high-profile $250M flop of Concord, which shut down weeks after launch, contrasting with Astro Bot’s runaway success (2.3M copies sold).

  • Quote:
    “I don't want teams to always play it safe, but I would like for us, when we fail, to fail early and cheaply.”
    — Hermen Hulst, [10:50]

• New Strategies:

  • More group testing and communication between internal studios.
  • Closer executive-studio relationships.
  • Emphasis on building large, enduring IP (like Astro Bot, The Last of Us, Uncharted).
  • Avoiding big, late-stage failures by failing “early and cheaply.”

• Andy’s Perspective:

  • Surprised at the seeming lack of earlier oversight: “What do you mean no one was overseeing this? Nobody saw Concord and said, ‘I don't see a marketplace for this’?” [13:31]
  • Warns that not all creative risks should require huge teams and budgets; calls for greenlighting experiments at a smaller scale.

• Mike’s Take:

  • Draws parallels with Xbox’s Redfall debacle; questions how billion-dollar studios still miss warning signs so late.
  • On live services: “You'd like to make sure everyone probably has a say before it begins.” [14:46]

• Industry Context:

  • The constant tension between following proven franchises and taking new risks.
  • Worries that after expensive failures, companies might become creatively timid.

• On Astro Bot as a Success Model:

  • Andy: “I think the Astro Bot playbook is hard to replicate... that’s such a specific scenario.” [17:44]
  • “Astro Bot is a mega hit...you’re going to see that continue on.” — Mike [22:14]

2. PlayStation Improves Refund Process (29:36–32:34)

• New Feature:
  Refunds can now be directly requested via the PlayStation Store, replacing the prior cumbersome chatbot method.

  • Eligibility: within 14 days and unopened, unless the product is faulty.

• Comic Sidebar:
  The hosts bemoan the infamous “three dots” menu on PS Store:
  “Those damn three dots, man. Anytime you try to look for a demo… you gotta hit three dots!” — Andy [29:36]

3. Skate Early Access Launch and the Risks of Games-as-a-Service (32:34–42:36)

• Announcement:
  Skate Early Access begins September 16, 2025—the first mainline release in 15 years.

• Mike’s Reaction:

  • Enormous personal anticipation but deep worry:
    “The failure risk is through the roof … because Skate now is an early access, games-as-a-service game when really I think just the player base wanted Skate 4.” [33:24]
  • Predicts content shortages at launch: “There will be seven missions to do when you want 37 on a full product.” [37:26]
  • Cites the fortunes of indie extreme sports games and the monopoly EA holds on AAA entries.

• Andy’s Curiosity:

  • Asks about the game loop; learns about open-world skate challenges, celebrity missions, and a new emphasis on real-time user-created content.
  • Draws comparisons to Fortnite/Roblox and concerns about persistent world creation vs temporary sessions.

• Broader Implications:

  • If Skate flops, could have repercussions at EA and across AAA sports/extreme games.

4. Nintendo Switch 2 Dev Kit Shortages and Backwards Compatibility Focus (46:01–50:14)

• Situation:
  Many studios still don’t have Switch 2 dev kits; Nintendo is reportedly encouraging them to launch on Switch 1 with hopes of backwards compatibility.

• Reaction:

  • Andy: “Not a great situation … a lot of devs are looking at this going, well, we know we can make a Switch 1 version, but it sucks...” [48:03]
  • Mike: “Is this Switch 2 where all the Nintendo games are great and everything else is booty? Like, what are we doing here?” [49:16]

• Concerns:

  • Third-party and indie titles may struggle to take advantage of improved hardware.
  • Possible bottlenecks for studios hoping to target Switch 2 at launch.

5. Indie Release Shifts: Silksong Moves Dominoes (50:19–54:03)

• Summary:
  Baby Steps (literal walking sim) delays launch to avoid clashing with Hollow Knight: Silksong’s surprise September release—one of several indies “moving out of the way”.

• Notable Quote:
  “This is the GTA6 of indie games ... move, get out of the way right now.” — Mike [51:56]

6. Side Banter & Memorable Moments

• Pokémon Nuzlocke & Challenge Talk:
  Mike is deep in another hardcore Nuzlocke run, comparing himself to Michael Jordan’s self-motivation.
  “Had to prove the doubters wrong… When I beat it this time, this is it. I'm gonna be able to say, I've been to the top.” — Mike [05:39]

• Nostalgia for Demo Kiosks:
  Laughs over how 90s/00s demo stations were set up for neck pain:
  “The controller would be at your chest level, but then [the screen was] so cranked up that your neck would have to look up to the sky.” — Andy [24:02]

• Technical Difficulties:
  YouTube stream dropping mid-show; resolved live, with fun banter about mesh networks and behind-the-scenes tech.

7. “Wee News” and Required Reading (~56:10–58:00)

• Quick Headlines:
  • Acclaim Showcase announced for September 10
  • Luminesce Arise launches November 11, demo now live
  • Kirby and the Forgotten Land OST now available
  • IGN Union’s Instagram post highlighting struggles with layoffs and overwork: “Required reading.”

8. Super Chats and Follow-up Discussion (60:04–66:42)

• Live corrections and “You’re Wrong” segment:
  • Skate franchise uses the right thumbstick for tricks vs. Tony Hawk’s face buttons.
  • More chat banter on golf game control schemes and upcoming fantasy draft picks.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I don't want teams to always play it safe, but I would like for us, when we fail, to fail early and cheaply.” — Hermen Hulst on Sony's new strategy [10:50]
• “What do you mean no one was overseeing this? ... Nobody saw Concord and said, ‘I don’t see a marketplace for this’?” — Andy [13:31]
• “Astro Bot’s a mega hit. It is now the new franchise on the Sony block. You’re going to see that continue on, right? That’s a win.” — Mike [22:14]
• “Skate now is a early access games as a service game when really I think just the player base wanted Skate 4...the failure risk is through the roof.” — Mike [33:24]
• “Is this gonna be the Switch 2 where it’s just Switch 1 where all the Nintendo games are great and everything else is booty?” — Mike [49:16]
• “This is the GTA6 of indie games...move, get out of the way right now.” — Mike on Silksong effect [51:56]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• PlayStation’s Testing & IP Strategy: 09:04–26:28
• Refund Process Upgrade: 29:36–32:34
• Skate Early Access Discussed: 32:34–42:36
• Nintendo Switch 2 Dev Kit Shortage: 46:01–50:14
• Indie Release Dominoes / Silksong Effect: 50:19–54:03
• Required Reading & Miscellaneous News: 56:10–58:00
• Super Chats and Wrap-up: 60:04–66:42

Conclusion: Episode Tone & Takeaway

PlayStation’s new guardrails on game development signal increased caution after high-profile missteps—will it result in more consistent hits, or stifle risk-taking creativity? Meanwhile, fans are watching EA’s Skate revival with anticipation and anxiety, while Nintendo’s next-gen rollout looks rocky for outsiders. The Kinda Funny crew, through it all, keeps the news lively, honest, and embedded in their own gamer journeys.

For those who missed the show, this summary serves as a comprehensive guide to both the industry discussions and the spirit of fun that defines Kinda Funny Games Daily.