Video Games 2 The Max

After the shock of last week, the fallout from the major Xbox layoffs continues in a figurative and literal sense. It's come to light, thanks to Video Games Chronicle, that there are multiple Fallout Games in Development from Bethesda. But even with this report, can we have any faith in Microsoft and Xbox that these games will even come out? Why sales data for the last few months may cement the direction Xbox takes.Also, the Ghost of Yotei State of Play showcased how the game differs from Ghost of Tsushima, while it also retains many similarities to the game that preceded it. Is there too much focus on sequels needing to innovate or be different than the first game? Is it bad that a game is just "more of that?"Plus, a Donkey Kong movie could be one of the several film projects Nintendo has coming up, and does it diminish Sean's hype for the game that it was initially created for Switch 1? More concerning developments in Subnautica 2 development, and more!You can also watch this episode in video form on the W2

The warning was given by many last week, we discussed it, and on Wednesday, it happened. Microsoft 9,100 employees were laid off across all departments, with a sizeable chunk coming from the Xbox division. Sean and Marc discuss the fallout of it all, which includes the cancellation of Rare's Everwild, the closure of The Initiative studio, and the subsequent cancellation of its game, the Perfect Dark Reboot. There's even more, including the incredible downsizing of the Forza Motorsport studio, Turn-10 as well. Is Game Pass to blame? Is it the push towards AI? Is it mismanagement from executives? Has the Activision-Blizzard-King merger's spending come back to generate some revenue? We examine it all and try to make any sense of this, and will this ever reach a stopping point for Xbox? On another front, Sony's prize live service game, Helldivers 2, is headed to Xbox on August 26. Is this a sign of Sony following in Xbox's footsteps? Or is this a one-off case where a multiplayer game needs more players to keep th

We are officially at the halfway point of 2025, so of course, this means we need to take a look at the year so far and discuss our Best Games of 2025 So Far, with Sean, Marc, and Randy Isbelle coming back on for this episode. Perhaps the biggest reason for having Randy on this week is that the sequel to one of his favorite games, Death Stranding 2, has been released, and Randy gives the lowdown on what's new and if it is even better than the first game. Is this Hideo Kojima's new masterpiece? Also, is Xbox Dead as far as the console? Will their next console follow in the same vein as the ROG Xbox Ally? Or are statements by former Microsoft employees just showcasing their dislike for Xbox's current strategy? Plus, does Sony have the best subscription service in its current form? Are we excited by the return of an EA Sports College Basketball game? Is Randy excited by what was shown for Resident Evil Requiem at the Capcom Showcase? All of this and more on this episode of Video Games 2 the MAX. You can also wat

In one of the more jam-packed weeks of news in recent memory, between PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo, there is a lot for Sean and Marc to get through in this episode of Video Games 2 the MAX. This includes Sony reportedly being interested in acquiring not only HBO Max and the major Warner Bros IP, such as DC, Harry Potter, but also the gaming assets like Mortal Kombat, the Batman games, and much more. Could this finally give Sony its chance to have an even greater influence in so many industries, and does it really make sense for this to happen? Microsoft also made a major announcement that they've once again partnered with AMD to not only continue the current line of things, but also to make future consoles, handhelds, cloud devices, and more. Does this mean we could once again get future consoles? And what does this mean for the idea of a platform-agnostic future? Does this include Xbox backwards compatibility? Plus, Sean has thoughts on Sloclap's Soccer Multiplayer game, Rematch. Nintendo puts out big new

In a week where neither Sean nor Marc has a lot going on the gaming front, they look towards the current to try to examine the future. PlayStation, Nintendo, and Xbox are all having success in their own ways, but which one is the ultimate winning strategy? Could it in fact be PlayStation? Sean and Marc discuss it. Also, aside from PlayStation's business summit news, there's also major news on Nintendo Switch 2 sales, along with announcements for the next Nintendo Direct, and an update to Splatoon 3. Plus, Borderlands 4 will be $70, Sony Bend suffers layoffs, FBC Firebreak will have free updates throughout the year and beyond, and more! You can also watch this episode in video form on the W2M Network Youtube Channel, please give us a like, comment on the episode, and give the channel a subscribe and follow as well: https://youtube.com/live/b2jNuD9bG2g

We are back once again as Summer Game Fest winds down with perhaps the biggest one of them all, the Xbox Games Showcase 2025. Did it take the crown as the best showcase of the entire event for the third year running? Or did it come crashing down with a wimper? Sean and Marc discuss the games and if the unveiling of the Xbox ROG Ally and Xbox ROG Ally X can provide enough to convince gamers to buy it? The duo also discusses their favorite games of SGF, and Marc talks about his time playing the Suikoden 1 & 2 HD Remaster. You can also watch this episode in video form on the W2M Network Youtube Channel, please give us a like, comment on the episode, and give the channel a subscribe and follow as well: https://youtube.com/live/UuMyo3moexI

The Summer gaming showcase season has arrived in full force with a full slate of video games and streams to go through and discuss. There's also the unique situation of an entire new console launching during the same week, and both Sean and Marc do have a Nintendo Switch 2 as well. The guys go through their early experiences with the system. How is Mario Kart World? Is it good or bad that there's been a lot of comparisons to the Switch 2 being a Switch Pro? Does the system deliver on what they wanted? Also, is there any improvements with existing games? Also, the duo go through the surprise Sony State of Play showcase and if there's anything there to get hyped about. Also, was the Summer Game Fest showcase the worst one in a while? And does it say anything about the industry at large? Additionally, Sean discusses some of the smaller events, such as Day of the Devs, and the Latin American Games showcase.You can also watch this episode in video form on the W2M Network Youtube Channel, please give us a like, com

This is it, the release of the Nintendo Switch 2 happens on Thursday! Some people already have the console, while the majority (including Sean and Marc) are awaiting June 5 to see if the console will arrive. In the meantime, the guys have their crystal ball predictions for the console. Will it equal the Switch 1 in terms of staying power and sales? Which Nintendo franchise will be the most talked about with this console? Will we still be playing Switch 2 in eight years? Additionally, EA cancels yet another game and closes another studio, with this time's cancellation including the untitled Black Panther game from Cliffhanger Games. What does this mean for the Iron Man game at Motive? And what about their reliance on four core franchises going forward? Plus, Summer Game Fest kicks off on Friday with over 60 partners, including Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox. The next Pokémon Presents and Pokémon Z-A get dates, Sean talks the Indie Quest 2025 Indie JRPG Showcase, Elden Ring Nightreign sells well amid tepid rev

We are merely two weeks away from the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, and as the date grows ever closer, the shining light of the Switch 1 as Nintendo's premier console grows dimmer. So, in celebration of over eight years of handheld to TV excellence, Sean and Marc give out their Top 10 (and maybe more) Best Nintendo Switch 1 Games. Also, the Elden Ring A24 Movie is real, PlayStation ditches its Stars, Xbox teams up with Ant Arcade for Retro Classics, everyone is having a June gaming showcase, Marc's beaten Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Sean's been playing Nice Day For Fishing, and more on this episode!You can also watch this episode in video form on the W2M Network Youtube Channel, please give us a like, comment on the episode, and give the channel a subscribe and follow as well: https://youtube.com/live/EjnxBjae4PQ

One of the biggest releases of the year, DOOM The Dark Ages, is out, and Sean's been playing it, but best of all, we have a guest, Krafty1111 from the Video Game Happy Hour podcast, on to discuss his thoughts on the game as a big DOOM fan. He's also been playing Clair Obscur Expedition 33, and he joins Sean and Marc to discuss his thoughts on that game, too. Also, after an impressive full fiscal year financial report put things in great light for Sony and PlayStation, came more dower news in regards to their live service efforts with the scandal involving Bungie and art plagiarism from a former employee, taking art from another artist and putting it into assets for the game. Jade Raymond also left Haven Studios (a studio she founded) with no details from Sony. Does this put Fairgames in jeopardy of being canceled? Plus, more information on which Switch 2 games are getting free updates at launch, Krafty' s gaming journey, Riders Republic is getting a movie, Ubisoft delays some big games, Square-Enix cancels th

As is per usual with recording on Mondays, big things tend to happen the day right after recording. Such was the case with Rockstar putting out their second trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI after announcing their over one-year delay of the game to May 26, 2026. Sean and Marc discuss their hype levels for the game after what was shown and the subsequent information drop on the characters as well. Plus, will it come out on that date next year? Or does it get delayed again? Also, Nintendo adjusted its user agreement in preparation for the Switch 2 launch with language that now seems to indicate they could essentially make your console unusable if you play pirated games on it. Do we think Nintendo would actually go through with it? Or is it more of a heavy-handed threat? Plus, Sean and Marc have more on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Tony Hawk says he's going to push hard for remasters of Tony Hawk's Underground next, the FTC loses its appeal in court for the Microsoft ABK purchase. Sony introduces Team LFG to the w

A week that at first seemed a bit lacking in the news dept suddenly skyrocketed with a mixed bag of announcements from Microsoft including everything going up in price from consoles, accessories, and games to a positive quarterly earnings, and even Gears of War 1 Reloaded taking the series to PlayStation for the very first time. Then came the (not so) shocking news that Grand Theft Auto VI would be delayed to May 26, 2026 (and even this date is tentative) as one of the major pillars of "Survive to 2025" is now gone. Will the imminent launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 be enough? Sean and Marc take a look at all of this and question what's left out there that we know of for 2025. Plus, even more bad news: a double dose of layoffs at EA studios Respawn and Codemasters, with canceled games in tow as well. Marc beat Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, so he gives his final thoughts on the game. He also started Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, so the duo gets to continue talking about their journeys with the game, and Ma

In a week where two massive RPGs dropped on all consoles and PC (bar Switch), one of them being the much-leaked Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered and the other, the much hyped indie title Clair Obscur Expedition 33, although both have received their fair share of praise, it is the game from Sandfall Interactive's 30-person team that has garnered the major discussion with critics and users giving the highest scores we've seen this year. Could it wind up being the Game of the Year? Sean's been playing it, and he has some thoughts that may indeed echo that sentiment. There's also some gaming news to get through as more rumors of a Fallout 3 Remastered surface, Ghost of Yotei has a release date and so does the Remedyverse multiplayer title FBC: Firebreak. Palworld Dev speaks on Xbox Game Pass working for indies. Blizzard working with Nexon on Overwatch 3? And will the Switch 2 be the biggest console launch ever? You can also watch this episode in video form on the W2M Network Youtube Channel, please give us a

Nintendo Switch 2 Pre-Orders are back on for the United States and Canada with pre-orders going live in the USA on April 24 at varying times depending on the retail store. Now with the Mario Kart World direct done, are Sean and Marc preparing to stay up and get the Switch 2 at launch? There's also more news on the Switch 2 Key Card carts, a price raise for Switch 2 accessories, and the guys discuss whether Shuhei Yoshida is right. Has Nintendo lost its identity? Or is this just a case of they had to do Switch 2? Sean has been playing the Lunar 1: Silver Star Story Remastered, making it the first time he's playing the series. Marc has finished Assassin's Creed Shadows, he's been playing Indiana Jones on PS5, and also has thoughts on Capcom Fighting Collection 2. Plus, Bethesda is FINALLY revealing the Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remake, Mario Kart World Direct shows off the game, Sean talks his favorite games from the Galaxies Showcase and much more! You can also watch this episode in video form on the W2M Netw

Bungie revealed quite a few things about their next game, Marathon, on Saturday as promised. They showcased some gameplay, cover art, gave some creators hands-on time with the game, and even gave us a release date of September 23. Considering everything that's on the line for Bungie and Sony with this, it feels like they are doing their best to make this Extraction Shooter stand out. However, there's a looming decision that hasn't been made, one of cost to consumers, although rumors suggest the premium pricing will be $40. Is this too much for a live service game? Or is this fair considering the name attached to it? Did anything from the gameplay reveal entice Sean and Marc? Also, there's more news concerning Nintendo Switch 2, including info on the Game Key Cards, pricing for Switch 2 edition,s and what some include and don't include, gaming devices not being included in tariff exemptions, and what it could mean for Nintendo. Plus, Sean has finished South of Midnight, Marc keeps trucking along in Assassin's

Politics has thrust Nintendo in a difficult situation when it comes to releasing the Nintendo Switch 2 in the United States, as pre-orders will no longer go live on April 9 in the USA and instead due to the ongoing issues surrounding tariffs which affect the production of the Switch 2, we have no idea when pre-orders will occur for the US side of things, as Nintendo intends to stick with the June 5 release date for now. At least there's more news in the form of Treehouse lives and other interviews Nintendo has done concerning the system. So Sean and Marc discuss all of that. Sean's also been playing the newest major Xbox studios release in Compulsion games South of Midnight. This was a game Sean's been anticipating since the year started, does it stack up to expectations? Marc has been playing More Assassin's Creed Shadows. Plus, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion remake could drop at any moment, the Minecraft movie breaks video game film box office records, Marathon is getting a gameplay showcase, and more!You c

It finally happened we received all of the big information for the Nintendo Switch 2 including the price, the price of some of the games, the launch lineup, and some of the launch window games including a new 3D Donkey Kong game. Sean and Marc are joined by Randy Isbelle for this special episode where the trio talk all things Switch 2. Will they actually use the C (chat) button on the system? Are the specs and mouse controls enticing? What about running games at 120 FPS? What about the games that were shown? Are they getting the system at launch or going after the preorder on April 9? They discuss all of this and more!You can also watch this episode in video form on the W2M Network Youtube Channel, please give us a like, comment on the episode, and give the channel a subscribe and follow as well: https://youtube.com/live/JnoUfO1pqdQListen as a podcast and give us a review on these platforms... Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ag/podcast/video-games-2-the-max/id886092740Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/

Finally, after a three-week break, Sean and Marc have returned with some video games to discuss, including Assassin's Creed Shadows, Split Fiction, and Xenoblade Chronicles X are the major ones. There's also a lot of news to get through as the guys sift through the major notes of the weeks they missed on the eve of the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct. They have thoughts on the Xbox Project Kennan info and could this truly be the trojan horse that gets their console to matter again? Plus a whole lot of other things too.You can also watch this episode in video form on the W2M Network Youtube Channel, please give us a like, comment on the episode, and give the channel a subscribe and follow as well: https://youtube.com/live/qErY1mz_QNAListen as a podcast and give us a review on these platforms... Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ag/podcast/video-games-2-the-max/id886092740Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wjd0u3xO7TdAm4gKRM44LAmazon: https://www.audible.com/pd/Video-Games-2-the-MAX-Podcast/B08JJPTZTWPodchaser: h

Warner Bros gaming division continues delivering terrible news as of late, and this week was perhaps the worst of them all, as the decision was made to close down three of its studios, Player First studios, and WB San Diego, both leading and helping on the soon-to-be delisted Multiversus. They also continued by announcing the cancellation of the recently rebooted Wonder Woman game, and with it came the shutdown of Monolith Productions. Who's to blame? And where does the bleeding end for the AAA gaming space? Microsoft also made a much quieter announcement with the newest head of Xbox, Craig Duncan, stating that the highly anticipated Fable reboot would now release in 2026, effectively delaying the game completely out of this year. Although no particular reason was given, many speculations lay ahead, is this the right time to delay the game? Or could there be something concerning afoot? Speaking of Microsoft, Sean finally got some hands on time with Avowed and he also talks about beating Like a Dragon: Pirate

As one of the year's first major AAA releases inches ever closer with Monster Hunter Wilds, Sean and Marc delve a bit into the indie space as they discuss the latest ID @ Xbox showcase and the Annapurna Interactive showcase as well. Were there any games that stood out? Any that got them super excited for their eventual release? Sean certainly has quite a few from both. Could Neowiz be hinting that Lies of P: Overture is co-op? Also, in a quiet week for gaming news, Microsoft made some waves by introducing their A.I. gaming tech called Muse which featured a demo using a rather maligned Ninja Theory game Bleeding Edge. Is there a worry about this leading to job losses? Or is this more of a positive as a way to bring back older games and keep them available on modern consoles? Plus, NetEase makes some weird decisions after announcing great news for Marvel Rivals, a former Nintendo Sales employee says the Summer is when we see Switch 2, Ubisoft suffers another blow with Assassin's Creed Shadows, Sean has more to