Episodes

  • Ubisoft Responds to AC: Black Flag Resynced Microtransactions Backlash

    Ubisoft Responds to AC: Black Flag Resynced Microtransactions Backlash
    Jul 10 2026
    It's a Fanelli Friday to close out a week of Game Mike Mornings, as Mike & Jason walk you through (surprise!) more Xbox news, Ubisoft responding to the Black Flag Resynced microtransactions backlash, and more!

    Support us directly and get new episodes ad-free by signing up for Giant Bomb Premium at https://www.giantbomb.com/join

    Timestamps (note, timestamps on this free version may vary greatly depending on how many ads you receive):
    00:00 Intro
    04:38 Xbox CEO Asha Sharma named as adviser to US Federal Reserve on ‘Jobs and Productivity’
    07:44 Ubisoft Responds to Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Microtransactions Backlash, as $60 Game Arrives With $85 of DLC
    17:13 John Carmack responds to Id Software layoffs, admits Microsoft stewardship claim aging badly
    24:15 Layoffs Hit GameSpot Again
    29:04 Bethesda Union Workers Will Hold Rallies Next Week Protesting Mass Layoffs
    34:25 Mewtwo takes over Times Square as Pokémon recreates original Pokémon Go trailer
    40:19 'This Is a Deeply Odd State of Affairs' — Tech Experts Slam Activision's 'Low Effort' Call of Duty: Black Ops PS5 Port
    45:51 Poll results
    47:56 The Bomb 12
    52:16 Outro
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    53 mins
  • Report: At Least Half of id Software Laid Off By Xbox

    Report: At Least Half of id Software Laid Off By Xbox
    Jul 9 2026
    Mike Minotti is joined by Lex Luddy to talk about further layoffs from Xbox, further layoffs from Ubisoft, further concern about Bethesda RPGs, and more.

    Support us directly and get new episodes ad-free by signing up for Giant Bomb Premium at https://www.giantbomb.com/join

    Timestamps (note, timestamps on this free version may vary greatly depending on how many ads you receive):
    00:00 Intro
    05:06 Big questions for Microsoft’s intentions for id Software
    18:36 Obsidian ‘cancels Avowed 2 to focus on new Fallout’
    26:34 The Elder Scrolls 6 Will Suffer Because of Xbox Layoffs, Bethesda Staff Say, Fearing Delays, Crunch, and Generational Talent Being Replaced by Contractors
    31:30 Fired Marathon director says he’s settled a lawsuit with Sony and been inserted into the credits
    33:00 Ubisoft Barcelona Celebrates Successful Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Launch With Layoffs
    40:08 You can now try one of Nintendo’s best Switch 2 games for free
    42:39 Persona 4 Revival Producer Confirms Some Noteworthy Character Changes Are Coming
    45:41 Former VG247 editors launch new publication, Respec
    46:48 Polls & outro
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    52 mins
  • Mario Kart Tour Shutting Down With No Offline Version

    Mario Kart Tour Shutting Down With No Offline Version
    Jul 8 2026
    Giant Bomb's father & son duo of Mike and Jeff Bakalar break down news of Mario Kart Tour shut down with no offline version planned, Xbox Game Pass reportedly losing millions of users since 2024, and more!

    Support us directly and get new episodes ad-free by signing up for Giant Bomb Premium at https://www.giantbomb.com/join

    Timestamps (note, timestamps on this free version may vary greatly depending on how many ads you receive):
    00:00 Intro
    03:46 Mario Kart Tour is being shut down and no offline version is planned
    09:56 Xbox Game Pass has reportedly lost millions of users since 2024
    16:24 College Football 27 Is Pissing Everyone Off
    24:33 Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced reviews
    35:25 Toys for Bob still wants to work on Banjo-Kazooie: ‘We’re huge fans’
    39:21 Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis to end service on October 7
    43:17 Nintendo Expands Switch Online's Game Boy & GBA Library With Four More Titles
    49:35 Polls & outro
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    55 mins
  • Xbox is Cutting 3,200 Jobs

    Xbox is Cutting 3,200 Jobs
    Jul 6 2026
    Mike Minotti and Jan Ochoa start your week with trying to make sense of the growing situation of the massive layoffs happening at Xbox, Nintendo to stop selling the original Switch 1 in Europe by 2027, Cyberpunk 2077 hitting a massive sales milestone, and more for your Monday!

    00:00 - Intro
    4:00 - Xbox to reduce staff by approximately 3,200 throughout FY27
    29:00 - BREAK
    29:14 - Nintendo will stop selling the Nintendo Switch in 2027
    32:27 - WayForward announces next Shantae game at Anime Expo with 2027 release window
    34:25 - Cyberpunk 2077 Just Hit Another Massive Sales Milestone
    37:50 - Halo: Campaign Evolved’s boxed version will come with physical discs so that players can ‘have tangible items to add to your collection’
    43:40 - Hideo Kojima ‘really sad’ about PlayStation killing discs, ‘frightened’ for future of ownership
    47:00 - More traditional Final Fantasy remakes could happen, as Square Enix says it'll follow what "truly resonates" with fans, even if that's not open-world action
    55:26 - Summer Games Done Quick 2026 is happening this week
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Several XBOX Studios May Be Facing Closure

    Several XBOX Studios May Be Facing Closure
    Jul 2 2026
    Jan Ochoa joins Grubb before the Holiday weekend in the states to try and understand what's happening at XBOX and clarify what's happening with some of its internal studios. We also get into the mess also happening over at PlayStation, Nintendo continuing to operate on their own accord, a potential NEW Metroid game, Onimusha moving up its release date, and more!

    00:00 - Intro
    4:35 - Obsidian Entertainment among Xbox studios negotiating to avoid closure
    16:12 - Everyone disliked that, Sony
    26:00 - PlayStation ditching physical games ‘unlikely to influence Nintendo’s plans’, says analyst
    29:00 - Xbox is reportedly planning a way for players to convert their discs into digital copies
    36:32 - BREAK
    37:00 - Unannounced Metroid Ravenous rated in Brazil
    41:00 - Onimusha: Way of the Sword release date moved forward in a crowded September
    43:28 - Star Fox opens No. 1 in Japan
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    55 mins
  • PlayStation Ending Physical Disc Production in 2028

    PlayStation Ending Physical Disc Production in 2028
    Jul 1 2026
    Jeff Grubb is joined by Lex Luddy to chat about Rhythm Heaven Groove reviews, a new Switch 2 model being spotted in the wild, and the status of Kojima's horror game for the XBOX. We then buckle up to dive into a whole grip of PlayStation related news such as the company ending physical disc production, Sony closing the PlayStation store on the PS3 and VITA, and more!

    00:00 - Intro
    5:40 - Rhythm Heaven Groove reviews
    13:50 - New Switch 2 model spotted in the wild with updated screen
    19:15 - Physical disc production ending in January 2028 for new games releasing on PlayStation consoles
    25:55 - PlayStation 6 ‘almost guaranteed’ for 2028 after digital-only news, analyst says
    35:55 - BREAK
    37:00 - Sony is closing the PlayStation Store on PS3 and Vita
    44:25 - Hideo Kojima’s Xbox exclusive horror game reportedly safe from Microsoft cuts
    48:55 - US bill requiring paid games to be playable after they shut down has failed to pass a Senate vote
    55:55 - Rockstar accused of ignoring pay inequity, mandating crunch, and weaponizing bonuses
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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Class Action Lawsuit Accueses Manufacturers of Collusion

    Class Action Lawsuit Accueses Manufacturers of Collusion
    Jun 29 2026
    Jeff Grubb is joined by Jason Fanelli to start your week with an EVO roundup, a Splatoon Raiders Direct coming this week, Star Fox selling very well, and a class action lawsuit accusing the big three RAM manufacturers of colluding to drive up prices.

    00:00 - Intro
    3:40 - EVO roundup here:
    14:55 - Splatoon Raiders Direct tomorrow followed by Treehouse
    20:30 - Some stores are apparently selling out of copies of Star Fox
    21:20 - Star Fox is No.1 in the U.K. and sold double the sales of Star Fox Zero on Wii U
    25:50 - break
    26:07 - Class Action Lawsuit Accuses The Three Largest RAM Manufacturers Of Colluding To Drive Up Prices
    32:00 - Donkey Kong 64: Recompiled for PC coming in next few months
    33:46 - GTA 6 has no plans for a post-launch physical release, "not at launch, and not months later", insists new report
    42:08 - Xbox disputes reports of PS5 crushing GTA 6 preorder demand
    44:00 - PS5 ‘captures 75-80% of AAA single-player launch sales’ versus Xbox
    46:30 - Xbox reportedly pausing new third-party Game Pass deals, developers say
    50:40 - Sony says it doesn’t plan to ‘sell hardware at significant losses’ but is ‘monitoring the market’ with PS6 in mind
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    1 hr
  • XBOX Console Prices Going UP

    XBOX Console Prices Going UP
    Jun 26 2026
    Jeff Grubb is joined by Jon Martin to end the week chatting about the May 2026 Circana report on the video game market, XBOX prices increasing significantly, layoffs at Bungie, GTA 6 listings on Amazon, Star Fox plushies coming to North America, and more!
    00:00 - Intro
    3:42 - May 2026 U.S. Video Game Market Highlights
    15:46 - Microsoft Announces Significant Price Rises for Xbox
    29:10 - BREAK
    29:20 - Bungie layoffs revealed to have affected nearly 300 jobs at Destiny 2 maker
    32:25 - Amazon GTA 6 listing mentions unannounced features including ‘Larger map’ and ‘NPC routines’
    38:20 - Retiring Mario and Zelda director Takashi Tezuka clarifies he’ll still be involved at Nintendo
    42:00 - Bandai Namco Announces TEKKEN! CARTOON With First Teaser Trailer and Staff Reveal
    44:00 - The Star Fox plushies are coming to North America
    45:50 - Dragon’s Dogma II: Dark Arisen preview
    48:00 - Nintendo Raises base salary for employees
    50:55 - Poll
    56:00 - B12
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    59 mins