In-Game Chat (2025)

In-Game Chat is the brain child of a group of friends who, whenever we would get together on whatever occasion, would ultimately turn the discussion to video games. We thought other people would like to hear that discussion and probably join in.

11/07/2025

A quick update as we head into the weekend. We're taking another weekend off as I'm still recovering and doubt I have the vocal strength to do a two hour show. We hope to be back next weekend, however.

Thanks for your patience, your understanding, and the oh so many well wishes I've gotten over the past two weeks. I really appreciate it.

-S

29/06/2025

It’s hard to shake off the pull of something successful. I mean, it can be easy if you’re outright against it or don’t have the means to obtain it or whatever. Basically, there’s exceptions, right?

But I’m speaking in the sense, as almost always I do here, in terms of video games. A successful console may be a pull but the price may be the wall too high to get over. So, there’s that. But when it’s a game itself, you may pause to give it some thought.

Death Stranding 2 is out and the scores for this thing are far higher than I was expecting. Not that I felt it wouldn’t do well, but maybe on par with the first game. Except it has far outshined in scores upon release. And it makes one curious what all the fuss is about. I own the first one but I never played it. I might decide to give it a go here soon.

We’re not doing a show next week and the week after that is a bit up in the air for now, but keep an eye on our socials. Bluesky, Discord, Twitter, and Facebook. We’ll be sure to let you know what's going on.

So that’s it for this show post. No clever connection to talk about Splinter Cell, but the count up continues. Ubisoft, it has been 4,332 days since a new Splinter Cell game (non-animated series or guest spot in another game franchise, remake, BBC radio drama, or VR exclusive) was released.

Also, there’s been 2,422 job losses in the gaming industry since January 1, 2025.

11/05/2025

We might be done for a while talking about the Switch 2 (but not for very long), but in its place we now have GTA 6.

Just swapping one evil for another. And no, they aren’t really evil, but those prices sure are. Oddly enough, prior to like a month ago, GTA 6 was the one we thought might usher in the higher priced games or at least be the standout who could get away with it. Then Nintendo kicked down the door and did it first - oddly something else I did not see coming.

Now Microsoft has increased their pricing and Sony probably isn't very far behind. I don't know how long this pricing is going to last but usually when things go up and people buy them they rarely come back down. Because once you've broken through that barrier and people accept it, they buy into it, you don't usually back track on that. Sales will come and go, sure, but it's only up from here.

Where Microsoft is concerned their first party titles will be going up in price, but as we all know their first party titles end up day one on GamePass. Now I'm not sure if game price increases will increase subscribers to game subscription services, but it absolutely is a selling point that Sony and Nintendo just don't have. Microsoft says our games are $80 but our Game Pass subscription will let you play all of these games as soon as they release without you having to buy them. So, buy our console, buy our subscription service and play all these games.

I guess my point is… our hobby is not getting any easier to keep up with - financially. Thankfully there's independent studios, there are smaller titles with just as big of ambitions - it'll be these creators and these developers that keep a lot of us coming back to our hobby. Sure new console releases, big AAA titles will be out - but now that you're spending $80 to $100 per game it's not like you’re picking up three or four within 6 months much less however many get released in a year. Of course, that brings me back to game subscription services - Microsoft has them, EA has them, and Ubisoft has them. Full on pay ever how much a month and our library is yours to play as you please.

I don't know that I'll own a new Splinter Cell game but I'm pretty sure I'll subscribe to play one. Ubisoft, it has been 4,283 days since a new Splinter Cell game (non-animated series or guest spot in another game franchise, remake, BBC radio drama, or VR exclusive) was released.

Also, there’s been 2,140 job losses in the gaming industry since January 1, 2025.

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