Kinda Funny Gamescast: PlayStation State of Play Review

Date: September 24, 2025
Hosts: Tim Gettys, Greg Miller, Blessing Adeoye Jr., Andy Cortez, Snowbike Mike
Main Theme:
A full panel breakdown and review of Sony’s September 2025 PlayStation State of Play, featuring first-party reveals like Wolverine and Soros, third-party highlights, indie spotlights, hardware announcements, and industry trends.

Episode Overview

This episode delivers a segment-by-segment recap and critical analysis of the latest PlayStation State of Play. The hosts share their enthusiasm and critiques, debate the pacing of reveals, the significance of big title announcements, their personal highlights, and how this event stacks up historically. The tone is lively, candid, and regularly punctuated by in-jokes and camaraderie.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. General Impressions of the State of Play (03:13–13:38)

• Panelists largely enjoyed the showcase, but consensus was it peaked at the beginning and end.
• Blessing:

  "I thought that was really good…Wolverine really did a good job of actually coming through and saving the state of play" (03:17).

• The middle section was less exciting for some, with previously announced or smaller titles taking up space.
• Mike:

  “Dates, dates, dates…this is one of the few times I’ve walked away from one of these going wow, that is a lot of dates thrown at me.” (04:19)

• Greg:

  “Should this have been an email? That kind of garbage comment…there were a lot of things that didn’t speak to me” (06:14).
  He rates it between 5.5 to 6/10 overall.

• Andy:

  “Started off 10 out of 10. Ended 10 out of 10. The middle was probably around a 6 or so. So that averages, you know…” (08:03)

• Tim:

  “I feel like this is about as good as a state of play can be. When the state of play brings the heavy hitter PlayStation Studio titles…whatever you do around it, you know our eyes are here for the big things and if you deliver on that, like I’m going to be okay.” (09:57)

Notable Quote

• Greg:

  “I’d have been on my phone for a lot of it” (07:53)

2. The “Show vs. Showcase” Branding Debate (11:50–13:38)

• The hosts discuss whether State of Play has now absorbed the hype and function previously exclusive to the “showcase” branding.
• Andy:

  “It’s getting harder and harder to distinguish what a showcase is and what a State of Play is…” (11:50)

• Tim:

  “I feel like the showcase brand is dead for now.” (12:34)

3. Deep Dive: Soros – Opening Showstopper (14:07–21:28)

• New title from Housemarque, described as intensely similar to Returnal but in a positive, “arcadey” way.
• Tim:

  “So fucking cool. March 20, 2026. I think that to me is the big takeaway. We got a date.” (14:07)

• Storytelling elements, accessibility upgrades, and permanent progression systems highlighted.
• Blessing:

  “All the elements that I love about that game (Returnal) seem like they’re feeding into this game. Even the particle effects and dodging everything…” (15:21)

• Greg reads from the PlayStation Blog:

  “These systems include the ability to upgrade your Soltari Advanced combat suit and abilities...permanent progression system...” (18:54)

• Anticipation for a possible co-op announcement in the future.
• Concerns and hopes for a greater variety of environments, visual clarity, and storytelling.

Notable Quotes

• Greg:

  “It might as well be a reskinned version of Returnal. And I'm so happy about it.” (14:25)

• Mike:

  “I can't wait to go hands on the sticks with this one… I had a time of a lifetime with Andy playing, you know, Returnal Co Op. Like, that was so much fun.” (19:44)

4. Third-Party & Indie Highlights (21:55–36:07)

Zero Parades for Dead Spies (21:55)

• Highly reminiscent of Disco Elysium’s art and design.
• Blessing:

  “They’re restoring the feeling... the feeling is coming back here” (22:06)

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 (23:23)

• PSVR2 support announced, cross-platform excitement.
• Mike:

  “Take to the…one of the best around out there.”

Battlefield 6 Campaign Reveal (24:10)

• Emphasis on a full campaign after multiplayer previews.
• Raises stakes for return to story-driven gameplay (25:13).
• Hosts wonder if it’ll match Call of Duty’s recent campaign successes.

Deus Ex Remastered (26:47)

• Mixed reactions to graphical updates and accessibility on console.
• Greg:

  “The new one also looks like dog shit… but I understand you’re just remastering an old game.” (06:45)

Halloween (Ilphonic) (31:02)

• Return to the team’s roots with a strong, horror multiplayer experience reminiscent of Friday the 13th.
• Greg:

  “We were big Friday 13th fans here... This is, I think, Ilphonic getting back to doing what they do best and doing it with an IP they can actually work with that isn’t just bogged down in lawsuits galore.” (31:20)

• Light-hearted confusion about the difference between Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees, plus reflections on the franchise.

Last Epoch, Seven Deadly Sins, Chronoscript, and Other Indies

• Last Epoch finally gets a console release—huge among ARPG fans (35:04).
• Seven Deadly Sins Origin, Sonic Racing Cross Worlds (Mega Man reveal), and Chronoscript spark fun, but little passionate discussion.
• Chronoscript gets praise for concept, but skepticism for visual clarity (46:32).

5. Hardware Surprise: Pulse Desktop Speakers (50:41–53:31)

• PlayStation Pulse Elevate wireless speakers for desktop/gaming with audiophile tech.
• Immediate excitement from the crew, with questions about price, Bluetooth capabilities, and compatibility.
• Blessing:

  “I kind of like it… when they work and I have it connected to my Bluetooth and I'm listening to my game and my music at the same time, I kind of fuck with it because one, all my shit has the same aesthetic, but then, two, they are fairly quality…” (51:36)

• Tim highlights Sony’s Audeze acquisition and optimism for high-quality audio.

6. Subscription and Controller Announcements (53:31–54:34)

• Alan Wake II, Cocoon, and Goat Simulator 3 coming to PS Plus.
• Last of Us Part II Remastered hits PS Plus catalog September 26.
• Gran Turismo celebrates 100 million units; God of War 20th Anniversary controller launches mid-October.

7. Main Event: Wolverine Reveal (54:38–59:58)

• Massive hype for Insomniac’s Wolverine. Footage confirms a mature rating, violence, and major X-Men villains like Omega Red and Mystique.
• Liam McIntyre confirmed as Wolverine (54:49).
• Speculation on whether this will get its own deep-dive state of play before release.

  “That gives me hope that we might see X-Men, we might see the Mansion, we might see that type of stuff. That would be very... cool.” – Tim (57:05)

• Pondering how many X-Men will cameo, concerns about spoiler-y trailers.
• Greg:

  “I think in terms of the X Men you see in this game in like an actual capacity, one, maybe two—storm...” (59:09)

• Begs for a Wolverine vs. Hulk set piece; expectation that’s “a sequel thing” (59:45).
• Blessing:

  “You just started the road to Wolverine. You need to be very active in your marketing for this game… I would lean more towards show as much as you can.” (56:18)

Notable Quotes & Fun Moments

• “If I was home watching this, I would have been on my phone for a lot of it.” – Greg (07:53)
• “It’s getting harder and harder to distinguish what a showcase is and what a State of Play is…” – Andy (11:50)
• “Started off 10 out of 10. Ended 10 out of 10. The middle was probably around a 6 or so.” – Andy (08:03)
• “All the elements that I love about [Returnal] seem like they're feeding into this game.” – Blessing (15:21)
• “I can't wait to go hands on the sticks with this one…hoping for co-op!” – Mike (19:44)
• “We're just two claws guys. We use them to tear up Tim. Right? Say something mean about Tim.” – Greg (36:42)
• [Joking about confusion between Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees]

  “For my whole life, hooked me up.” – Andy (32:46)

• “Audi’s nuts.” – Tim (53:31), joking on the name Audeze.

Timestamps of Key Segments

• Opening Thoughts & State of Play Structure: 03:13–13:38
• Showcase vs. State of Play Branding: 11:50–13:38
• Soros Deep Dive: 14:07–21:28
• Zero Parades / Disco Elysium Successor: 21:55
• Battlefield 6 Campaign Reactions: 24:10–25:53
• Halloween (Ilphonic) & Multiplayer Horror: 31:02–34:46
• Last Epoch & ARPG Discussion: 35:04–36:41
• Chronoscript “Weird Eyesore” Praise: 46:32–47:18
• Crimson Desert (Highly Ambitious RPG): 47:23–50:41
• Pulse Speakers Hardware Reveal: 50:41–53:31
• Wolverine Major Reveal: 54:38–59:58
• Closing Thoughts: 60:06–60:35

Final Thoughts & Closing Remarks (60:06–60:35)

• Summary sentiment: PlayStation fans have much to look forward to; Soros and Wolverine anchored a mostly satisfying State of Play, even if the middle sagged.
• The crew looks ahead to tomorrow’s Ghost of Yotei review and more content.

Useful for fans who missed the showcase or episode, this discussion summarizes that September’s State of Play delivered two tentpole exclusives, a roadmap packed with confirmed release dates, a surprise hardware tease, and plenty of third-party/indie flavor—solid, if uneven, with the hype sustained by Housemarque and Insomniac’s latest.