Podcast Beyond

Arise, once again, Tarnished! FromSoftware’s long-awaited DLC expansion to Elden Ring, Shadow of the Erdtree is almost upon us and Mitchell Saltzman joins us to give his spoiler-free thoughts on why it’s yet another 10 out of 10 review score for IGN. Obviously, FromSoft games are challenging from the jump, but it should be no surprise that an expansion for people who know their way around The Lands Between packs a punch for even the highest level players. Plus, we run down a couple games from the various Summer events that caught our eye, including Kunitsi-Gami: Path of the Goddess, which takes a novel approach to tower defense with an aesthetic somewhat reminiscent of Okami, as well as Starship Troopers: Extermination, which takes a more conventional approach to tower-defense, but with 16-player co-op in first-person, which should be more than enough to set it apart from Helldivers 2. Mixtape looks like a gorgeous whimsical indie adventure to let us relive our mischievous teenage glory days to the tune of a

Welcome to another very special episode of IGN's weekly PlayStation show. Today we’re taking a look back at our past coverage of Horizon Forbidden West, including a review discussion plus a spoiler-filled breakdown with some of the developers from Guerrilla Games. So, if you haven’t finished the game, this might ruin the ending, and if you haven’t played the game at all, it probably won’t make any sense. You have been warned! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This year’s Ubisoft Forward didn’t have much in the way of surprises, but it did have a ton of gameplay of two games that we’ll actually get to play in just a few months, Star Wars Outlaws and Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Outlaws in particular looks like a game we’ve been waiting our whole lives for, an open-world sandbox that lets us explore the grimiest corners of the most wretched hives of scum and villainy. It’s a premise we almost got in Star Wars 1313 and Amy Hennig and Visceral’s Project Ragtag, but both those got canceled. Unlike some past Ubisoft gameplay demonstrations, what we’ve seen of Outlaws seems like it’ll actually be representative of the game that’s coming out in August, so here’s hoping it delivers. Meanwhile, another much-demanded project is Assassin’s Creed Shadows, which takes Ubi’s flagship stealth adventure series to Japan, and in addition to the awesome setting, it looks like it’s introducing a number of ambitious gameplay systems and mechanics. We got a few updates on what’s coming soo

Join us for "Beyond Battle Royale: Clash of PlayStation Titans," at IGN Live, where we dive into an epic debate to determine the ultimate PlayStation character. Hosted by Max Scoville, this special edition of Beyond brings together Max, Brian Altano, Jada Griffin, Akeem Lawanson, and you, the fans, to help the Beyond squad decide once and for all who reigns supreme in the PlayStation universe. Watch as characters like Kratos, Aloy, and Nathan Drake are pitted against each other in a showdown. Let’s crown the king or queen of the PlayStation All-Stars! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to a very special episode of IGN's weekly PlayStation show. Today we’re taking a look back at our past coverage of Ghost of Tsushima. Today’s discussion is a breakdown of Ghost of Tsushima’s opening moments, which is spoiler-free - but you’re probably going to get more out of it if you’ve played the game - plus, the game rules, so get on that. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After weeks of rumors and speculation and a couple leaks, Sony finally kicked off the summer gaming event season with a State of Play presentation, and while it didn’t exactly feel on par with some of the full-blown Showcases of years past, there was some cool stuff shown off. Join Akeem, Jada, Nick and Daemon as they unpack what was revealed. For starters, we got our first look at Firewalk’s FPS Concord, which is a 5v5 multiplayer FPS that leans heavily on a narrative that unfolds week after week. It’s got plenty of charm, but it’s hard to ignore how much of it resembles a Guardians of the Galaxy-flavored Overwatch-like. Meanwhile, we’re actually getting an officially licensed Marvel-flavored third-person Overwatch-like with Marvel Rivals, which is coming to PlayStation 5, starting with a closed beta in July. Until Dawn is getting a full remake for PS5 and PC this fall, and God of War Ragnarok will also be hitting Steam in September. We got a good look at some other games where you hit big epic monsters with

Hello and welcome to a very special episode of Beyond! Today, we’re taking a look back at some of our past coverage of God of War: Ragnarök. For starters, a spoiler-filled deep-dive on the game with director Eric Williams, followed by some 1-on-1 interviews with the cast, including Kratos himself, Christopher Judge. Spoilers ahead, so if you haven’t played Ragnarök… get on that. Otherwise, enjoy! EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/pobeyond Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s the time of year when Sony usually holds its big Summer Showcase presentation, giving us a look ahead at what’s coming to PlayStation in the coming months. As of this recording, there’s no official word on if or when such a showcase will be happening, but we figured it’s worth running down what we definitely expect to see and what we don’t think will make an appearance. Assuming they’re still slated for 2024 releases, we’re due for a closer look at the Snake Eater remake, Metal Gear Solid Delta, and a release date for Bloober Team’s Silent HIll 2 remake. On the first-party front, an actual reveal of the PVP multiplayer first-person shooter Concord would be nice, and maybe a release window for Death Stranding 2. Will PSVR 2 get any kind of love at all? We’re skeptical. As much as we’d love to see more of Grand Theft Auto 6 or Insomniac’s Wolverine game, or get word of a Bloodborne remaster, those seem extremely unlikely, but hey… we’ve been wrong before. This week’s Beyond cast is Max Scoville, Jada Griff

Join us as we explore how Naughty Dog created the terrifying Rat King and revisit an interview with director Neil Druckmann and narrative lead Halley Gross. EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/pobeyond Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Once upon a time, video game consoles were defined by their exclusive game lineups… these days, that seems like less of a sure thing, and with the rising cost of game development, it’s not hard to see why. Between a simultaneous PC release making Helldivers 2 PlayStation’s fastest-selling game ever, to Square-Enix aggressively exploring a multi-platform strategy, to Xbox Game Studios games like Sea of Thieves topping PS5 sales charts, it sure looks like more publishers are ditching the idea of keeping their games on just one platform or device. On a semi-related note, back in our day, video game controllers were small enough for little kids to play them, and now they’re too darn big! But really, maybe Nintendo’s on to something by offering teeny-tiny Joycon, but also a Switch Pro Controller. Meanwhile, the DualSense is practically twice the size of the first three generations of DualShock controllers, could there be a market for a smaller controller? Animal Well is, well, a game about animals at the bottom of

Helldivers 2 is a hit, and thanks to its simultaneous PlayStation 5 and PC release, and not only is it the best-selling game of 2024, it’s Sony’s 7th most profitable game in dollar sales, just a couple months since it launched. So, what could go wrong? Well, with Arrowhead Studios’ shooter riding high, some powers-that-be at Sony decided to make the announcement that playing Helldivers 2 on Steam would soon require a PlayStation Network account. Unsurprisingly, the community was not happy about this news, and once again mobilized against a common enemy, though this time, it was unfortunately the game’s Steam reviews. Following this backlash, and the revelation that Helldivers 2 was now made unavailable in 177 territories where PSN isn’t supported, Sony reversed its decision. Live-service games are high risk endeavors to begin with, and Helldivers 2 managed to stake its claim to the time and money of gamers amidst some steep competition. Why mess with it? In other news, Elden Ring is still very good, but you m

This episode, we’re chatting about Sand Land, the open-world (“sandbox”) action RPG based on the late and great Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama’s manga. While it’s got exploration and melee combat and sidequests, at its core Sand Land is all about its vehicles, which are playable and heavily customizable versions of some of Toriyama’s coolest creations. We reflect on the toyetic kitbashed aspect of the game as well as the charm of cel-shading compared to realistic graphics. Plus, Stellar Blade’s new game plus patch and Fallout 4’s next gen update both dropped, the former jam-packed with bonus costumes and added content, the latter with technical hiccups and confusing issues for PlayStation Plus subscribers. A couple other recent games caught our attention, Another Crab’s Treasure, which swaps the grim and gloomy trappings of your usual soulslike for colorful undersea fun, while still maintaining a solid challenge. Then there’s Botany Manor, which feels like a game full of Resident Evil puzzles without any

Stellar Blade is finally upon us! The verdict? The long-awaited and surprisingly controversial PS5 exclusive from Shift Up solidly delivers on its promise of a visually stunning action game, though it falls short of greatness in a few other areas. IGN’s reviewer Mitchell Saltzman joins us to have a nice spoiler-free chat about what he loved about the game, and what didn’t blow him away. We break down what makes the combat so satisfying, the awesome boss fights, the many collectibles and costumes, but also some of the frustrations, like wonky platforming, convoluted backtracking, and a nothing-burger cast of characters. This week podcast Beyond is Max Scoville, Brian Altano, Jada Griffin and Mitchell Saltzman. EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/pobeyond Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Tales of Kenzera: ZAU creative director, Surgent Studios founder and former assassin Abubakar Salim joins us to discuss his upcoming Metroidvania, and the journey from starring in a video game to developing one. Meanwhile, more PS5 Pro details leak, including its cool codename, “Project Trinity,” continuing the Matrix-esque naming convention started with PSVR’s “Project Morpheus.” Video game monsters are rarely rooted in practical effects, but Stellar Blade’s Naytibas began as clay sculptures from Hee-Cheol Jang, whose previous work includes Bong Joon Ho’s creature features The Host and Okja. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth sales aren’t anywhere near its predecessor’s, which isn’t that surprising when you dig into the different circumstances they released under. If demo downloads are any indication of sales, Stellar Blade should do well, Ratchet & Clank’s Bouncer weapon has been added to the 2016 game in honor of its 8th anniversary. Finally, some cool games are hitting PS+ this month, including Dave The D

We just got a brand new trailer for Star Wars Outlaws, Ubisoft’s open-world action adventure set in the beloved galaxy far, far away. Specifically, it’s set in the grimy criminal underworld between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, hitting some similar beats to 1996’s beloved (but no longer canon) Shadows of The Empire. As much as we’d love revolutionary leaps and bounds in game design, we’re totally fine if this is one of Ubisoft’s patented “climb the tower, clear the outpost” Assassin’s Creed Far Cry Watch Dogs-likes, since the subject matter does a lot of heavy lifting. In other news, Bloodborne Kart is now Nightmare Kart and it’s out at the end of next month (but only on PC) and the most-played PlayStation games of 2023 were mostly from a few years earlier, people just kept playing them. Helldivers 2 gets yet another war bond this week, Democratic Detonation, just in time for those no-good Automatons striking back with a vengeance. This week, Beyond is Max Scoville, Jada Griffin, Brian Altan

We would love Sony to make a successor to the PlayStation Portable and PS Vita, but does it make sense? On the one hand, portable consoles are all the rage, between Nintendo Switch’s record-breaking success and a Switch 2 (or whatever it’s called) waiting in the wings, Valve’s surprise entry into the gaming hardware race with the Steam Deck and now, Xbox head Phil Spencer talking about how he’d love a dedicated way to take Xbox on the go. So, there’s demand for new dedicated portable PlayStation device, but there’s also a lot of competition. Does it make sense for Sony to hop on the bandwagon, or rest on the PS5’s laurels and stick to home consoles, plus the occasional weirdo accessory. The PlayStation Portal was sort of portable, and it was technically a PSP, was Sony testing the waters? Hmm. In other news, a new feature in the PS App is being beta-tested that would let you take in-game lore on the go, letting you access stuff like journal entries, character databases, and that sort of thing through your pho

This week, we’re eatin’ good! Two massive sprawling open-world action RPGs just dropped, Dragon’s Dogma II and Rise of the Ronin but… which one is worth your time? Join Brian Altano, Jada Griffin and Mitchell Saltzman as they compare and contrast Capcom and Koei Tecmo’s latest contributions to the run-around-and-fight-stuff genre. Ultimately, both games are packed with tons of great gameplay, mechanics, systems, features, moments, all that good stuff you’d expect from an open-world game, but they both offer dramatically different experiences, so it’s really just a matter of taste. Meanwhile, Jada checked out a bunch of cool games at the annual Game Developers Conference in San Francisco last week, including Tales of Kenzara: Zau, Hyper Light Breaker, Little Kitty Big City, Luna Abyss, The Sinking City 2, Dungeons of Hinterburg, Angerfoot, and South Park Snow Day, and she also got to try out some unconventional means of interacting with games at the ALT.CTRL.GDC exhibit, which showcases unusual game controller

There’s plenty to talk about this week! The leaked PlayStation 5 Pro specs have Max and Brian speculating about who exactly needs a mid-century modern mid-generation refresh, aside from people who want the best possible console experience for Grand Theft Auto 6. Mostly, though, the thing we’re most excited to talk about is Dragon’s Dogma 2. Reviews are out, and the consensus is this new chapter improves upon what made the first game great, but what does that mean for people who didn’t play the original when it came out in 2012? Capcom’s long-awaited sequel to the cult-classic action RPG might have a lot in common with FromSoftware’s Dark Souls and Elden Ring games, but the moment-to-moment gameplay is extremely different, largely in part to more more of an emphasis on unpredictable emergent moments, chaotic battles, and wacky antics thanks to the unique pawn system. Meanwhile, Brian played through Alone In The Dark, the reimagining of the survival-horror classic, and while it falls short of the experience pro

Helldivers 2 kicks ass. This isn’t news, obviously. You probably know that already and you’re probably one of the millions of players spreading democracy throughout the galaxy at this very moment. That said, WHY is this game such a hit? Join Max Scoville, Brian Altano, Jada Griffin and Akeem Lawanson as they unpack the many charms of Arrowhead’s cooperative bug-zapper bot-blaster hit that seems to be Sony’s secret weapon in the ongoing war of live-service games that seems to dominate the gaming space more and more every year. But, there are other games to talk about! Unicorn Overlord is Vanillaware’s answer to Nintendo’s Fire Emblem for non-tendo players, and it applies the studio’s trademark painterly aesthetic to the turn-based tactical strategy genre that seems to have plenty of Ogre Battle DNA. Speaking of Unicorns, because we were, Brian gives an impromptu review of Unicorn Princess, which probably wasn’t designed with any of us in mind, but that still doesn’t mean children should have to play a game abo

What’s happening in the video game industry? The BEYOND crew discuss the recent layoffs happening in the games industry, including Sony announcing a significant amount of layoffs hitting PlayStation. The #PlayStation layoffs affected 900 staff members, with Jim Ryan issuing a statement about the situation - but what does it all mean? Max, Brian and Akeem break it all down, plus touching upon the EA Games layoffs that hit 670 workers. This also led to EA sunsetting a few games, and announcing it’ll be moving away from future licensed IP. The BEYOND crew also dive into the updates heading to Insomniac’s Spider-Man 2 on the #PlayStation5 with the addition of New Games Plus content on the #PS5, as well as exploring the rumored PS5 Pro. Not to mention the potential of PSVR2 having PC compatibility - what will it mean for PlayStation in the VR space moving forward? Plus, Respawn’s canceled Star Wars FPS was rumored to be about a Mandalorian bounty hunter, much like Lucasarts’ Star Wars 1313. Sadly, it seems like ga