Sacred Symbols, Episode 165: Mark Your Calendars
Added 2021-08-27 16:00:10 +0000 UTCIt's true: Things have been pretty slow in the world of PlayStation. Returnal and Ratchet have kept us busy enough, and we're looking forward to Deathloop, but what we really crave are some announcements, a tease of what's to come. Thankfully, some more announcements have finally arrived. For starters, Horizon: Forbidden West has a firm launch date, a new Saints Row is launching on both PS4 and PS5, Destiny 2 is getting its fresh expansion, and that long-rumored XCOM Marvel game is en route, too. The bad news? They all come out within weeks of each other. Go figure. We also discuss yet more rumors of the cancellation of PS4-exclusive vaporware Wild, the six-month delay of the next WWE game, a fresh release window for the oft-delayed LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, and more, before taking listener inquiries on our game of the year (so far), sticking lootboxes behind an M rating, et cetera, before diving deep into the ideal ambient temperature for our respective homes, which is itself a vital topic.
Note: The post mentioned in the episode with more information about the picnic meetup will be up shortly!
Timestamps:
0:00:00 - Intro
0:06:35 - Corrections and concerns.
0:10:52 - Is a game in development for The Mandalorian?
0:17:29 - People who worked at 38 Studios will receive a portion of their final paycheck.
0:18:59 - A few smaller news items.
0:26:59 - Are Call of Duty file sizes large intentionally?
0:32:00 - What would make Dustin and Chris start trophy hunting?
0:35:59 - Where do we set our thermostats?
0:39:52 - What have we been playing?
1:01:18 - Horizon Forbidden West will be released on February 18, 2022.
1:07:58 - Saints Row is coming back.
1:17:03 - Marvel’s Midnight Suns is headed for consoles in 2022.
1:27:14 - Destiny 2’s The Witch Queen will be available February 22, 2022.
1:40:50 - Wild is officially no more.
1:47:33 - WWE 2K22 has been delayed until March of 2022.
1:54:19 - Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga still doesn’t have a release date.
1:57:51 - King of Fighters 15 has set a release date of February 17, 2022.
2:00:18 - News Wrap-Up
2:02:01 - What will be the first PS5 special edition?
2:08:33 - Why are so many game protagonists white?
2:20:09 - Should Sony seek out more remasters and remakes?
2:26:49 - Does the inclusion of loot boxes automatically merit that a game should be rated M?
2:38:07 - Why aren’t we seeing more PlayStation showcases?
2:47:49 - What are our 2021 GOTY choices so far?
Comments
I'm so glad that you brought up the performance of the PS3 Store... Some people might say that it's a conspiracy theory, but I swear to God that Sony intentionally throttles the PSN storefront once the current console approaches the end of its lifecycle. It's even happening now with the PS4 Store -- that thing was always snappy as hell, and then magically in the last 6 Months leading up to the PS5 launch it just started running like molasses -- like some sort of smartphone tactic to get people to upgrade. Strange times out here...
Kevin Cooper
2021-09-07 20:11:42 +0000 UTCEh. Dying light 2 GOTY easily
Tyler Cumerford
2021-09-04 22:00:17 +0000 UTCTrue. Very good game(s).
Colin Moriarty
2021-09-04 21:13:45 +0000 UTCLOL.
Colin Moriarty
2021-09-04 21:13:37 +0000 UTCPretty wanting list compared to most years, especially on PlayStation.
Colin Moriarty
2021-09-04 21:13:30 +0000 UTCRoger that!
Colin Moriarty
2021-09-04 21:13:11 +0000 UTCI'm excited to try it out with Micah this fall.
Colin Moriarty
2021-09-04 21:13:01 +0000 UTCTelltales the walking dead was a great game with black lead characters, Lee and Clementine
José Carvalho
2021-09-03 07:55:42 +0000 UTCChris has this amazing way of always making me think "what the fuck are you even talking about?" when he starts his points and then by the end I'm always like "wow that's a genuinely great point." lol
Tyler Cumerford
2021-09-02 23:50:07 +0000 UTCHorrible take that this year has been bad for games… 1. Returnal [PS5] 2. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart [PS5] 3. It Takes Two [PS5] 4. Resident Evil: Village [PS5] 5. Psychonauts 2 [Xbox Cloud] 6. Chicory [PS5] 7. Hitman III [PS5] 8. Little Nightmares II [PS5] 9. 12 Minutes [Xbox Cloud] 10. Bowser’s Fury [Switch] 11. Dodgeball Academia [PS4] 12. Trigger Witch [PS4] 13. Oddworld: Soulstorm [PS5] 14. Mario Golf: Super Rush [Switch] 15. Where the Heart Leads [PS4] Also… 1. Disco Elysium: The Final Cut 2. Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut 3. FF7R INTERGRADE w/ INTERmission Coming Soon… * WarioWare: Get it Together [9.10] * Tales of Arise [9.10] * Deathloop [9.14] * Kena: Bridge of Spirits [9.21] * Lost Judgement [9.24] * Death Stranding: Directors Cut [9.24] * Outer Wilds: Echoes of the Eye [9.28] * Jett: The Far Shore [10.05] * FarCry 6 [10.07] * Metroid Dread [10.08] * Dark Pictures: House of Ashes [10.22] * Solar Ash [10.26] * Call of Duty: Vanguard [11.5] * Dying Light 2 [12.07]
The Eclectic Gamer
2021-09-02 20:32:47 +0000 UTCSounds like we will find out next week, which makes it a bit strange to me that they announced the date for Horizon when they had a show planned for only a few weeks later.
David Taylor
2021-09-02 16:15:30 +0000 UTCNot sure if it's been stated above but Horizon Zero Dawn is not in the PS+ Collection. It was however made free outside of PS+ earlier this year for a time. Just an FYI!
Mark ?️
2021-09-01 20:11:13 +0000 UTCGlad to see It Takes Two getting some love. One of the best games I’ve played in years.
Joe Hammonds
2021-09-01 19:19:14 +0000 UTCI will say this: The longer they go without saying anything, the more potentially exciting everything will be.
Colin Moriarty
2021-09-01 00:13:50 +0000 UTCI am glad that Sony is holding off on doing big shows until they can talk about something of substance. I am a big fan of the Xbox brand but that Gamescom show was pretty embarrassing. I really think an Age of Empires 4 trailer would have played better than a 10 minute lecture on trebuchets. I tune in to Simon Whistler for that kind of content, not Xbox.
David Taylor
2021-08-31 21:21:55 +0000 UTCI agree with you on AEW, I got out of wrestling for over a decade and AEW brought me back.
David Taylor
2021-08-31 20:52:54 +0000 UTCAEW is a new wrestling promotion that started in 2019 which is owned by billionaire Tony Khan. A lot of major talent has been leaving WWE the last couple of years to join AEW instead as they offer wrestlers more creative freedom and better treatment. As a longtime wrestling fan I think AEW has been putting WWE to shame on a weekly basis for the last few months. With all the wrestlers that have switched companies recently and many more to come I actually think the AEW game wil end up having a superior roster. The AEW game also plans to offer more of an arcade type gameplay experience which fans have long wanted to return while WWE 2K22 will be more simulation based.
Sumojoe118
2021-08-31 19:54:24 +0000 UTCI don't necessarily hate the M rating idea myself. I just don't know if a blanket rule is the best course of action.
Colin Moriarty
2021-08-30 22:37:23 +0000 UTCA lot of people are skeptical! We'll see if it's real.
Colin Moriarty
2021-08-30 22:36:56 +0000 UTCIt seems weird. I'll play it when it comes to PS4.
Colin Moriarty
2021-08-30 22:36:48 +0000 UTCFair enough.
Colin Moriarty
2021-08-30 22:36:35 +0000 UTCI bought it, but time has yet to present itself.
Colin Moriarty
2021-08-30 22:36:25 +0000 UTCAs an American (most important quality with what I’m about to say next), I’m a Puerto Rican, Mexican, and white cat who could give a s*%+ less if a character is certain race/gender/nationality similar to my own. If the story fits for what the character is and gameplay/story is great, I’m all about it. I hate when stuff gets shoved down folks throat to be “woke.” I don’t need to be represented in media to feel good about myself.
Samuel Zamora
2021-08-30 18:38:12 +0000 UTCJust play Disco Elysium…great essay posted today on Kotaku as well. https://kotaku.com/a-year-later-i-still-cant-stop-thinking-about-disco-el-1847585413
The Eclectic Gamer
2021-08-30 15:01:20 +0000 UTCI enjoyed 12 minutes but I understand Chris' frustration and I can see why someone like Kojima loves it, its pretty unique, weird and very interesting. The big narrative moment is where a lot of people's issues also are and although I wasn't enamoured with it, it didn't ruin my experience, I was completely engrossed for near 4 hours. I do think they could have written something more palatable but still shocking tbh. I would say try it, but don't hesitate to use a non spoiler guide if needed or even step away completely if the frustration with the loops becomes too much. Very interesting and understandably divisive game that should be experienced for better or worse IMO.
Craig Mcguire
2021-08-30 13:43:50 +0000 UTCI love Star Wars Bounty Hunter so I'm glad the Mandalorian is getting a game
FluffyNeko
2021-08-30 05:18:52 +0000 UTCGlad to hear the M rated idea for loot boxes come up. This has been my solution for years. I agree that people need to take personal responsibility. However I also think it should be categorized as what it is. Which currently it is not. To me it’s gambling or at the very least triggering similar things in the brain that gambling does. That’s really all I’ve wanted for years is for the industry to admit and properly acknowledge what it is. The idea that the fifa franchise is rated e for everyone is nonsense. Should be rated mature if they wanna sell ultimate team packs. Also to Chris. SO many games still have loot boxes. All sports games, overwatch, hearthstone, forza horizon, Apex legends, league of legends, just to name a few. Many games have also adopted things that are lootbox like esque to avoid the negative relationship that many have with them. Cheers boys, awesome episode
PapaFlow
2021-08-30 01:20:17 +0000 UTCI hope it's great!
Colin Moriarty
2021-08-29 19:09:34 +0000 UTCI don't even care about the characters, since you're just making your own avatar anyway.
Colin Moriarty
2021-08-29 19:09:29 +0000 UTCIt's not even his look; Kratos just 'sounds' black to me, just his regular talking voice. That's because he is. So it's an interesting thing... does he count?
Colin Moriarty
2021-08-29 19:09:17 +0000 UTCHe plays a lot of games, so maybe he will!
Colin Moriarty
2021-08-29 19:08:47 +0000 UTCI don't know that it hurts to just re-release shit, so long as it's not wasting the resources of a team that could be doing something else.
Colin Moriarty
2021-08-29 19:08:40 +0000 UTCYes? The game had both a release year and window.
Colin Moriarty
2021-08-29 19:08:05 +0000 UTCI think we will. =)
Colin Moriarty
2021-08-29 19:07:49 +0000 UTCGlad you got that sorted out.
Colin Moriarty
2021-08-29 19:07:43 +0000 UTCI'm glad you found your way to the metagame. =)
Colin Moriarty
2021-08-29 19:07:37 +0000 UTCAs a person who loves strategy games, I'm so looking forward to playing Crusader kings III on Console
Zack Fair
2021-08-29 09:04:57 +0000 UTCThe new Saint’s Row doesn’t vibe with me. Gameplay looks ok but the characters seem lame and it’s not over the top anymore. Pretty disappointed as it was once 1 of my favorite series. This seems more like a play off of Watch Dogs 2 than anything Saint’s Row related. Hell, the main color isn’t even purple anymore.
NeO JD
2021-08-29 00:36:08 +0000 UTCIt’s been clarified that 270 gigs was both last-gen and current gen on Xbox combined. Series X stand-alone is 95 gigs and PS5 seems to be 133 gigs. Plus, you can choose to only download whatever parts you need so it shouldn’t be so bad. As far as engines, I think they all run on the new engine they switched over to with Modern Warfare.
NeO JD
2021-08-29 00:34:18 +0000 UTCAs a hispanic I dont really care about seeing diverse protagonists in video games. When it happens it's cool, but I never watched or played something wishing that the characters looked like me. As long as the story is good and is authentic to the setting of the story being told then use the characters that are gonna make the story it's best. BTW I always thought Kevin Garnetts face looked like Kratos Colin lol.
Michael Buffill
2021-08-28 22:41:39 +0000 UTCI would recommend that Dustin gives the full XCOM 2 (with War of the Chosen) a shot as it shakes up the gameplay a little and you can make some fundamental changes to the gameplay like extending the mission timers slightly - which makes it infinitely more enjoyable.
Abe Sampson
2021-08-28 20:01:50 +0000 UTCI hate remakes and remastered games with a passion. Unless a game's is really old it's a money grab pure and simple. Games like demon souls is ok to remake. But remastering lou1 is a joke I would rather have resources put to new IPs or sequels Like with sykrim and gtav being put onto the ps5 is a joke.
Wayde
2021-08-28 06:45:09 +0000 UTCMy theory of to why call of duty vanguard is so big is that's running 3 different engines. The vanguard one for camping and multiplayer. The zombies one made by treyarch and the warzone engine infinity ward.
Eric Hawksley
2021-08-28 04:54:12 +0000 UTCIs a game truly delayed as a lot of people say horizon forbidden west is when there was no concrete release date to begin with
Wayde
2021-08-28 00:53:07 +0000 UTCIt Takes Two is so amazing. I hope you and Micah try it, Colin. The wife and I loved it.
Jeremy Craves
2021-08-27 23:48:18 +0000 UTCI had the same experience with Cloning Clyde as Chris. I had to rent a copy of Civilization Revolution to even out my gamer score.
Justin O'Reilly
2021-08-27 23:10:38 +0000 UTCJust like you, I never really cared for trophies or achievements either. My trophy love started when Nintendo had that awful E3 press conference where they announced Star Fox Zero, Metroid Prime: Federation Force & Animal Crossing: Amiibo Festival. I was just done with the Wii U. I then just played my PS4 mostly and played less Nintendo games. Still love Nintendo, but they definitely lost me on that fateful day.
Brandon Soto
2021-08-27 22:29:07 +0000 UTCI don't recall making that argument, but it's possible.
Colin Moriarty
2021-08-27 21:29:31 +0000 UTCLOL.
Colin Moriarty
2021-08-27 21:29:12 +0000 UTCIt seems to encapsulate why adventure gaming just isn't fun for me.
Colin Moriarty
2021-08-27 21:29:02 +0000 UTCLooking forward to it.
Colin Moriarty
2021-08-27 21:28:48 +0000 UTCWe'll do 'em both.
Colin Moriarty
2021-08-27 21:28:42 +0000 UTCSucks!
Colin Moriarty
2021-08-27 21:28:34 +0000 UTCI think it's all relative.
Colin Moriarty
2021-08-27 21:28:22 +0000 UTCDoesn't sound particularly fun.
Colin Moriarty
2021-08-27 21:27:53 +0000 UTCI'm looking forward to seeing Hades for myself.
Colin Moriarty
2021-08-27 21:27:37 +0000 UTCAwesome. That was greatly needed, as I recall.
Colin Moriarty
2021-08-27 21:27:22 +0000 UTCColin, didn't you originally want Disney to build a portfolio of studios like Warner Bros did to work on their own IP? Granted, this process of building would take time, so licensing the IP is the right move, but I hope this doesn't mean the top tier studios outside the big three console makers are working exclusively on Disney IP. Square Enix comes to mind, since their western studios have seemingly succumbed to this fate.
Stephen Forgione
2021-08-27 20:00:40 +0000 UTCThe first two Saints Row are really good. But this reboot just looks like the Watch Dogs 2 that people were lukewarm on. The gameplay looks great as they have released more gameplay footage but the idea that this gang is taking on other gangs to pay off student loans is so corny
Kenneth Oms
2021-08-27 19:54:10 +0000 UTC100% agreed with Chris on 12 minutes. I played along with it for like 2 hours, then I got frustrated and gave up so I just looked at a guide. I was interested enough on the story but didn’t want to deal with trying to figure it out myself.
Jeff Caseres
2021-08-27 19:48:45 +0000 UTCThe Frozen Wilds expansion was excellent, I actually preferred it to the main game, I found it very engaging. Cheers
The Late Nate
2021-08-27 19:44:10 +0000 UTCI told you that Metal Gear plays much better on the PS3 than it does on the Vita Colin, although I do like the Vita versions as well. I can't wait for the Knockback episode, and your thoughts on MGS3 when you get around to that as well.
TROTMAC96
2021-08-27 19:13:04 +0000 UTCI’m glad AEW got mentioned. They brought my love of wrestling back. Also I think they delayed the wwe game cause WWE released like over 20 people within the last year. So they’re going to have to get rid of all the wrestlers in the game which is gonna take time.
Shawn Kelvey Jr
2021-08-27 18:51:28 +0000 UTCLiving in AZ. We keep it 78, but let it get up to 85 during peak hours. People think we are nuts. We save a new AAA video game's-worth of money every month. Better for the environment. HVAC lasts way longer. We bring it down to 72 or lower for guests. We genuinely don't mind it. Maybe that's why we do well here in AZ ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
James McGivern
2021-08-27 18:50:19 +0000 UTCTwelve minutes was definitely an experience I’ll say that. It has some really great mechanics and the story once you piece it all together is serviceable, but it’s like Chris said.. well for one it’s actually very difficult because the game gives you zero idea on what you are supposed to be doing and it becomes more and more involved the further you get but the real problem is you have such a short amount of time to decide what to do that you’ll fail over and over and over because the game pretty much asks you to try everything and fail to find the right solution path therefore you keep repeating the same dialogue over and over and that becomes redundant real fast. I hope if they make another game in the same vein that they can figure out how to give better direction rather than forcing you to fail to find success. I always find that mechanic of you have to lose to win annoying in games.
Adam
2021-08-27 18:30:52 +0000 UTCGhost of tsushima iki island is my game of the year. Started from the beginning to replay ghost and ended up liking it more than my original playthrough. As a third person action adventure fanatic its funny that dlc has been my favorite content in back to back years. I thought it would be hades but that game was a pretty big let down considering the hype.
Big titty drinker
2021-08-27 18:26:08 +0000 UTCI just wanna post this hear but GoT added a lock on option finally! I don’t feel like this was talked about anywhere. But maybe I haven’t listened to much. So thankful this was added!
kevin berger
2021-08-27 18:14:33 +0000 UTC<3
Colin Moriarty
2021-08-27 17:43:17 +0000 UTCVery pleased to hear the Rift Apart on PS3 topic covered by Sacred Symbols. Thanks for the show
Jordan Avery
2021-08-27 17:36:37 +0000 UTC
