Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week Ryan and Max try and make sense of the latest round of layoffs fro Microsoft, which saw the company dismiss over 9,000 staff across multiple subsidiaries. Arkane Studios founder Raphael Collantonio recently blamed Game Pass for the megapublisher's financial belt tightening, but recent sales data suggests Game Pass isn't hurting game sales; in fact, five of the top seven best-selling games of May 2025 were Microsoft-published titles, and all available on Game Pass. This suggests that those games are selling very well on other platforms, like PlayStation. So what's really to blame?

This week on Next-Gen Console watch, we take a look at the state of games exclusive to one console, . Between Sony’s expansion into the PC gaming space, and Microsoft putting more and more Xbox Game Studios games topping the charts on competitors’ platforms, it seems like Nintendo is the only console maker keeping its games in one place, and Donkey Kong Bananza is shaping up to be one of the Switch 2’s first killer (gorilla) apps. This week’s show is Max Scoville, Ryan McCaffrey, Logan Plant, and is produced by Nick Maillet

Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week, Daemon, Ryan, and Max analyze Xbox's recent announcement that they're partnering with AMD on multiple pieces of hardware, including the third-party ASUS ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X handhelds, and the likely successor console to the Series X and S. What does this mean for Xbox's hardware future? How does this connect to their push for cloud gaming? And how does this affect Sony's future with the PlayStation 6? Plus we go over last week's poll results and we have a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com.

Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! After a week off because of IGN Live, Daemon, Max, and Ryan take a look at the Nintendo Switch 2's launch and dive into what worked, and what didn't. Nintendo is touting the launch as their most succesful, outselling the original Switch over the same four-day period. Some analysts are already hailing the Switch 2 as the fastest-selling console of all time, which is great, but the common criticism, is there's not exactly a "killer app" akin to Breath of the Wild for the Switch 1. We also have last episode's poll results, and a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com.

IGN Live is nearly here and we have a limited number of complimentary tickets for it! Head here and use the code "NGCWGUEST" to get a complimentary GA ticket for Saturday or Sunday: www.ign.com/live . Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week, Logan is on a very special assignment, so it's just Daemon, Max, and Ryan. The topic: their biggest hopes and deepest fears for the Nintendo Switch 2. We're hoping the Switch 2 can maintain momentum with third-parties, especially considering the Switch 2 is closer in parity to the other current-gen consoles, than the Switch 1 was to the PS4 and Xbox One. And we're all worried that everyone Switch owners biggest fear could return: Joy-Con drift. We also ahve last week's poll results, and a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com. And don't forget to buy tickets to IGN Live happening in Downtown Los Angeles next week, June 7-8. Go to https://www.ign.com/live/ for the full schedule, and use promo code NGCWGUEST for one free ticket!

Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! We have a full squad this week, with Max Scoville, Logan Plant, and Ryan McCaffrey going over their predictions for each major console's upcoming summer showcases. Nintendo already gave us a showcase when they full unveiled the Switch 2 along with the launch window lineup, but of course Sony and Xbox need to have their time in the sun, too. PS5 has a couple of high-profile games still slated for this year, including Ghost of Yōtei and Marathon. Xbox needs to show off the next project from Double Fine, along with deeper dives on the upcoming Ninja Gaiden 4, the Gears of War remaster, and more. What are you hoping to see from this summer's showcases? Let us know in the comments. And it's not too late to get tickets for IGN Live! Head over to ign.com/Live and use promo code NGCW for a discount.

Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week we speak with Nintendo Voice Chat host Logan Plant about visiting the new Nintendo Store in San Francisco, and interviewing Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser. In that interview, Bowser explained the benefit of having game-key cards that don't actually have the game on them, and we discuss how Nintendo is setting up the Switch 2 for success in its first year. Plus we have last week's poll results. And don't forget to secure your tickets to IGN Live, our second annual in-person event being held in downtown Los Angeles next month. Get tickets at ign.com/live and use promo code NGCW for a discount.

Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week Daemon is joined by Podcast Unlocked's Ryan McCaffrey and IGN's Executive Tech Editor, Bo Moore, to talk GTA 6's influence on the PS5 Pro. Will Sony's latest Pro console get a bump in sales because of GTA 6, considering it'll be the best way to play the game until the inevitable PC release? And we take a look at Microsoft's new pricing strategy for the Xbox Series X and S and all the accessories. The strategy: everything costs more now. And, will PlayStation follow suit and raise prices on their hardware? They've done it in other markets, will the U.S. be next? Plus we have last week's poll results, and a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com. And don't forget to join us for IGN's second annual IGN Live, a huge in-person event held in Downtown Los Angeles. You can get tickets at IGN.com/Live and use promo code NGCW for a discount.

Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! The Nintendo Switch 2 officially went up for preorder in the United States last week, and it went about as well as one might expect considering it's the follow-up to one of the best-selling gaming consoles of all time. Websites crasheds, credit card charges were declined, launch day deliveries were missed—it was chaos. Although many prevailed in securing a Switch 2 preorder, it wasn't easy; why hasn't the games industry learned from this? Why aren't retailers like Best Buy and Walmart better prepared for big consumer-focused moments? Should console manufacturers just bypass third-party retailers and sell directly to consumers? Plus we have last week's poll and a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com. And don't forget to secure your tickets to IGN Live! Our big in-person event is returning to Los Angeles June 7-8, after a major turnout last year. Visit IGN.com/Live for details and tickets.

Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! In this week's episode, Daemon is joined by Beyond's Max Scoville, Unlocked's Ryan McCaffrey, and IGN's Community Lead, Jada Griffin. The topic: what's the difference between a remake and a remaster? And what games do we think deserve the same remastered treatment that The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion got? We also have last episode's poll results, and a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com.

Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! Ryan and Max are back as they discuss what the Nintendo Switch 2 Pricing means for the eventual PlayStation 6 and next Xbox. Can any console going forward reach the same success as the original Switch? And for handheld gaming PC's and the Xbox handheld, can we expect those to cost $450+, just like the Switch 2? Plus we have last week's poll results, and a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com. And if you're in Los Angeles the weekend of June 7-8, join us as IGN Live makes its return! We had a great time putting on a multi-day live show for all the fans last year, so we're doing it again. Special Early Bird ticket pricing is available: $15 for single-day general admisson, and $30 for single-day VIP. Check out IGN.com/Live for details.

Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week we have Jada Griffin, Sam Claiborn, and Bo Moore joining Daemon as they take a look at the Nintendo Switch 2. It's more powerful, can run more games, and will cost you more money. Is the new hybrid console worth $450 for the base model? And will the new Mario Kart World be worth a whopping $80 alone? Plus we have a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com. This episode of Next-Gen Console Watch was produced by Daemon Hatfield and Jobert Atienza. Technical direction is by Jobert Atienza, with technical production by Marhyan Franzen and Amir Rakib. Audio engineering is handled by Amir Rakib. Post-production editing is by Jobert Atienza, and graphic design is by Justin Vachon.  Next-Gen Console Watch is an IGN production and part of the Geek Media Network.

Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch. This week Daemon is joined by IGN's Community Lead, Jada Griffin, and regular Game Scoop co-host Mark Medina to look ahead to the PlayStation 6. There have been tons of games announced during this generation that still haven't seen the light of day, and the chances of them being PS6 titles grows greater with each passing financial quarter. Games like the Splinter Cell remake, Star Wars Eclipse, The Elder Scrolls 6, and more have a good chance of missing the PS5 completely. Plus we have last week's poll results.

Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week, Game Scoop's Sam Claiborn joins to to peer into the future with our predictions for the Nintendo Switch 2. The big reveal for Nintendo's new hybrid console is coming up on April 2nd, and we give our best guesses on price, release date, games at launch, and more. Plus we have last week's poll results, and a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com.

Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch. This week, Daemon is joined by Unlocked's Ryan McCaffrey—in person!—and IGN's executive tech editor, Bo Moore, to talk about Xbox's supposed leaked next-gen plans. Microsoft has reportedly greenlit a brand new next-gen Xbox console and not one but two handhelds, one of which will be made by a third party. Plus we have last week's poll results and a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com. Eat smart with Factor. Get started at factormeals.com/FACTORPODCAST and use code FACTORPODCAST to get 50% off your first box plus free shipping.

Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week Daemon is joined by Unlocked's Ryan McCaffrey and IGN's Community Lead, Jada Griffin, to answer the very important question of, "What ever happened to...?" Like, what ever happened to Hollow Knight: Silksong? Or that Wolverine game? Or a bunch of other titles that we haven't heard a peep from in years. Plus, we have last week's poll results (a close one this week!), and a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com. Eat smart with Factor. Get started at factormeals.com/FACTORPODCAST and use code FACTORPODCAST to get 50% off your first box plus free shipping.

Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This Daemon, Max, and Ryan take a look at some upcoming open-world RPGs that could be adding something new to the genre. Last-gen games like Hogwarts Legacy and Cyberpunk 2077 added incredible levels of immersion to their franchises, and now that we have new(ish) hardware like the PS5 Pro, open-world games could be entering a new era. Ghost of Yōtei, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, The Witcher 4, and yes, Grand Theft Auto 6 could be breaking new ground in the genre. Plus we have last week's poll results, and a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com.

Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week Daemon, Max, and Ryan analyze recent comments from Xbox's Phil Spencer, and it sounds like Xbox is kind of done with the console wars. What does this mean for Xbox's future, and how does this affect PlayStation? And of course, there's Nintendo who goes by the beat of their own drum. Plus we have last week's poll results and a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com.

Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week, Daemon, Max, and Ryan look back at the three major showcases from the three major console manufacturers. Sony recently had their State of Play, showing off a few high-profile titles like the Housemarque's Saros and Tides of Annihilation. Xbox also aired the recent edition of Developer Direct, highlighting first-party games South of Midnight, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Doom: The Dark Ages, and the surprise Ninja Gaiden 4. Of course, Nintendo had to get in on the action with the first official reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2. What made the bigger splash? Plus we have last week's poll results, and a new poll for you to go over at IGN.com.

Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch. This week Daemon and Ryan are joined by IGN's publisher and gaming industry veteran John Davison to talk about the future of physical media. With gamers overwhelmingly preferring digital copies, and with cloud streaming technology making console-quality gaming accesible from nearly every device with an internet connection, will the PlayStation 6 or next Xbox feature a disc drive? And what does that mean for Nintendo, whose first-party games sell very well in physical form? Plus we have last week's poll results, and a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com.