Kinda Funny Games Daily: Video Games News Podcast Episode: Respawn Cancels Mysterious FPS Game - Kinda Funny Games Daily LIVE 03.07.25
Release Date: March 7, 2025
Hosts: Greg “GameOverGreggy” Miller, Tim Gettys, and Blessing Adeoye Jr.

1. Respawn Cancels Mysterious FPS Game

Timestamp: [09:43] – [15:10]

Overview:
Respawn Entertainment, renowned for titles like Apex Legends and Titanfall, has abruptly canceled a secretive first-person shooter (FPS) project even before its official announcement. This cancellation marks Respawn’s second unannounced project termination within a year, following the scrapping of a Star Wars-themed FPS in January 2024.

Key Details:

• Project Background:
  Respawn had been expanding its IP incubation team, specifically seeking talent experienced in designing multiplayer FPS games. The canceled project remains unnamed, sparking curiosity and concern within the gaming community.

• Official Statement:
  Former executive assistant Emily Evans revealed on LinkedIn that the unannounced project, which she had been involved with for the past year, has been canceled.

  "The unannounced incubation project I was a part of for the last year has been canceled."
  – Emily Evans, Former Executive Assistant
  [09:52]

• Industry Impact:
  This move follows similar actions by EA, which had previously canceled a Star Wars FPS and shut down Ridgeline Games, the studio developing a single-player Battlefield campaign.

Discussion Highlights:

• Tim Gettys’ Insights:
  Tim emphasized that project cancellations are not uncommon in the industry and don’t necessarily indicate mismanagement by Respawn. He remarked:

  "I think Respawn are one of the few devs that have the luxury and... it's healthy."
  [13:08]

• Roger P.’s Perspective:
  Roger expressed optimism about Respawn’s future projects, noting their successful releases and strong financial performance:

  "They have Apex, they have Jedi, I know they have a new thing... I have full faith in this."
  [15:10]

• Community Sentiment:
  While some fans express worry about Respawn’s direction, the hosts agree that Respawn’s strategic cancellations allow them to focus on quality projects like Apex Legends and Jedi Survivor.

2. Former Xbox Boss Reflects on Console Wars

Timestamp: [18:11] – [22:57]

Overview:
Peter Moore, former Xbox executive, shared his thoughts on the evolution of console competition during an interview with Danny Pena. Moore reminisced about the early 2000s, describing how "console wars" fueled industry growth and public engagement.

Key Details:

• Early 2000s Console Wars:
  Moore highlighted how the rivalry between Xbox and PlayStation kept both brands in the spotlight, aiding the industry’s acceptance as a serious entertainment medium.

  "The early 2000s was a phenomenal platform for us to get off the back pages and get to the front pages..."
  – Peter Moore
  [19:33]

• PR Stunts and Marketing:
  He discussed memorable marketing tactics, such as Moore sporting tattoos of game logos like Halo 2 and GTA 4 during key announcements at events like E3.

  "He was notorious for appearing at shows like E3 with game tattoos... that was synonymous."
  – Roger P.
  [20:02]

• Current Industry Climate:
  Moore noted a shift in the gaming landscape, especially after Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, reducing the "feistiness" traditionally seen in console rivalries.

  "This is bigger than an economic sense... it has lost a bit of a spiciness that the industry fed upon and grew upon."
  – Peter Moore
  [21:15]

Discussion Highlights:

• Tim Gettys’ Analysis:
  Tim interpreted Moore’s comments as a natural progression of the industry, suggesting that while console wars were beneficial in the past, the current environment requires a different approach.

  "Respawn are not strangers to that kind of concept... they're putting all their eggs in that basket."
  [16:13]

• Roger P.’s Take:
  Roger agreed, emphasizing the growth and increased revenue in the gaming sector compared to Moore’s era.

  "Video games make so much more money than they did even back then... GTA 5 is just on a different level."
  [23:00]

• Future of Xbox Consoles:
  The hosts debated whether Microsoft would continue producing hardware or pivot entirely to content delivery platforms like streaming services.

  "They focus on cloud streaming and everything. If they could just stop making consoles and everybody wouldn't be mad at us..."
  – Roger P.
  [25:12]

3. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 Remakes Announced

Timestamp: [27:27] – [41:21]

Overview:
Iron Galaxy is developing a combined remake of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 and 4, slated for a July release. The remakes aim to preserve beloved levels, songs, skaters, and tricks while introducing significant changes to the career mode, potentially altering the gameplay experience.

Key Details:

• Remake Features:
  The remastered titles will retain classic elements but will modify THPS4’s career mode. Instead of an open-world approach, each level will present specific challenges to complete within two minutes.

  "Instead of... players were free to skate around, explore and collect money. Now, each level features a list of challenges to complete in a two-minute run."
  – Kinda Funny Hosts
  [29:23]

• Community Reaction:
  The announcement sparked intense reactions on forums and social media, with some fans lamenting the removal of the original career mode’s open exploration and narrative elements.

  "They won't be able to complete level challenges in that mode... this is really just a remake of THPS 3 with levels from THPS 4 added in as a bonus."
  – Hosts Discussing Player Feedback
  [31:59]

Discussion Highlights:

• Tim Gettys’ Perspective:
  Tim expressed a nuanced view, acknowledging fans’ frustrations but also supporting the creative direction, believing that the overhaul of the career mode could rejuvenate the franchise.

  "I don't think that's bad news at all though... I have full faith in this."
  [37:10]

• Roger P.’s Enthusiasm:
  Roger shared his excitement for experiencing the remakes, recognizing the potential for both preservation and innovation within the games.

  "I am excited for this. It's going to be awesome."
  [40:45]

• Future of the Franchise:
  The hosts speculated that successful remakes could pave the way for future titles, including the much-anticipated Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater remake.

  "If this game crushes and kills and as good as I hope that it is... I think that it all but guarantees a Thug remake."
  – Tim Gettys
  [49:40]

4. Bethesda Announces Upcoming Starfield Updates

Timestamp: [44:15] – [48:23]

Overview:
Bethesda Game Studios has hinted at significant updates for Starfield in 2025, including potential DLC releases and a complete edition aimed at revitalizing interest in the game following its rocky launch.

Key Details:

• Developer Statement:
  Responding to community demand, Bethesda announced:

  "We have a lot of exciting things planned for the game this year and we can't wait to talk about them when the time is right."
  – Bethesda Game Studios
  [45:05]

• Starfield DLC:
  The upcoming Starfield DLC, rumored to be named Starborn, is expected to bring new content and enhancements to the game.

  "Starborn DLC is coming out on PlayStation, right? That's the big news."
  – Tim Gettys
  [46:50]

• Potential Complete Edition:
  Discussions hinted at the possibility of a Starfield Complete Edition, bundling all existing and forthcoming content to attract new and returning players.

Discussion Highlights:

• Roger P.’s Insights:
  Roger emphasized the importance of timing and cross-platform availability for the DLC to ensure its success.

  "If we can get it... that would be very solid... Just to give people a reason to jump back in."
  [47:00]

• Tim Gettys’ Analysis:
  Tim drew parallels to other successful game relaunches, suggesting that strategic updates could lead to Starfield's resurgence.

  "I think there's still room for Starfield to have a third resurgence of like, people loving it."
  – Tim Gettys
  [48:23]

5. Robocop Rogue City Expands with Unfinished Business DLC

Timestamp: [53:03] – [58:14]

Overview:
Following the successful launch of Robocop Rogue City, Teyon is set to release a standalone expansion titled Robocop Rogue City Unfinished Business. This DLC introduces new missions, weapons, and the ability to play as Alex Murphy before his transformation into Robocop.

Key Details:

• Expansion Features:
  Players will navigate Omni Tower, now overtaken by elite mercenaries, utilizing new brutal finishing moves and accessing previously unexplored backstory elements.

  "Robocop will have access to new weapons, brutal finishing moves, and special missions..."
  – Alessio Palumbo, WCCFtech
  [53:03]

• Release Information:
  Scheduled for a summer release, Unfinished Business aims to build upon the base game's success by offering deeper narrative and enhanced gameplay mechanics.

Discussion Highlights:

• Kevin Coelho’s Excitement:
  Kevin shared his enthusiasm, mentioning multiple playthroughs of the original game and anticipation for the new content.

  "I'm excited for this... we ended up just playing it a bunch of times on stream."
  – Kevin Coelho
  [53:09]

• Roger P. and Tim Gettys’ Enthusiasm:
  Both hosts expressed eagerness to explore the new DLC, highlighting its potential to expand the Robocop universe.

  "This looks sick. I'm excited."
  – Roger P. & Tim Gettys
  [54:01]

6. Additional News and Announcements

Timestamp: [56:19] – [67:04]

Overview:
The episode also covered a range of other gaming news, including the return of the stealth game Sticks, announcements for Cthulhu-themed games, updates to Splinter Cell, new Nintendo online titles, and upcoming releases on platforms like Jackbox for smart TVs.

Key Highlights:

• Sticks Reimagined:
  Cyanide Studio unveiled a new Sticks game, a fantasy stealth adventure featuring the titular goblin.

  "It's a solid, like, fantasy stealth game... it's got cheeky humor."
  – Nick Scarpino
  [57:49]

• Cthulhu Games:
  Announcements revealed two new games inspired by H.P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu, though hosts expressed mixed feelings about the name's pronunciation and branding.

  "We just don't like that mouth feel, though. Cthulhu."
  – Tim Gettys
  [65:39]

• Nintendo Online Updates:
  New titles like Mario's Picross and Donkey Kong for the Game Boy were announced for March 2025, with Roger humorously lamenting his nostalgia.

  "Donkey Kong 94, baby. One of the best Game Boy games of all time."
  – Tim Gettys
  [59:10]

• Jackbox Games for Smart TVs:
  Jackbox announced the launch of their games on smart TVs with a free version supported by ads and a future subscription model.

  "Just play some quip lash."
  – Tim Gettys
  [60:25]

• World Video Game Hall of Fame 2025:
  Finalists include iconic titles such as Age of Empires, Angry Birds, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Frogger, GoldenEye, Harvest Moon, Quake, NBA 2K, and Tamagotchi.

  "Everybody go vote for Golden Tea."
  – Nick Scarpino
  [63:45]

Community Engagement: Throughout the episode, the hosts interacted with Super Chats from listeners, addressing questions and comments related to the topics discussed, further enriching the conversation and providing diverse viewpoints.

Conclusion:
In this episode of Kinda Funny Games Daily, the hosts tackled significant industry news, including Respawn Entertainment’s project cancellation, reflections on the legacy of console wars by Peter Moore, and the highly anticipated remakes of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4. Additionally, updates on Starfield, Robocop Rogue City expansions, and various other gaming announcements provided a comprehensive look at the current state and future directions of the gaming world. The discussion balanced critical analysis with enthusiasm, offering listeners both insights and entertainment.

Notable Quotes:

• "Your data is like gold to hackers. They'll sell it to the highest bidder. Are you protected?"
  – Greg Miller [00:30] (Skipped as part of advertisements)

• "The early 2000s was a phenomenal platform for us to get off the back pages and get to the front pages..."
  – Peter Moore [19:33]

• "This is really just a remake of THPS 3 with levels from THPS 4 added in as a bonus."
  – Hosts Discussing Player Feedback [31:59]

• "I have full faith in this. I think that this is going to be an unpopular opinion. Like I don't care. This is my favorite franchise and I'm happy with this..."
  – Tim Gettys [37:10]

• "Everybody go vote for Golden Tea."
  – Nick Scarpino [63:45]

Note: Timestamps correspond to the podcast transcript and are provided to highlight where notable discussions and quotes occur within the episode.