This week on The Andy Bee Show, we cover the massive announcement from the people that make "The Halo", our credit-rolling achievement in Ball x Pit, what's next for Battlefield 6 (stealth drop Battle Royale?), and we help you find out whether you are a Call of Duty Zoomer or a BattleDad.
There's more games than we'll ever have time for, but join us right now to find out which games made the cut into this week's show!
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CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS
0:00:00 - Halo Campaign Evolved Announcement
0:00:49 - Welcome & Episode Intro
0:01:56 - Ball x Pit Completion & Live Stream Reaction
0:04:28 - Ball x Pit Sales Success & Switch 2 Version
0:05:00 - Battlefield 6 & Weekend Family Update
0:11:00 - Battlefield Season 1 Content Revealed
0:12:27 - Patreon & Gaming 4-1-1 Newsletter
0:14:39 - News Roundup Begins
0:15:00 - Bounty Star Game Pass Launch
0:16:47 - IGN Galaxies Showcase Highlights
0:17:00 - Denshattack Reveal
0:18:52 - Warhammer 40K Bolt Gun 2
0:20:00 - PlayStation Network Lowest Price Feature
0:21:11 - Game Pass October Lineup
0:23:01 - Switch 2 Announcements
0:23:34 - Luigi's Mansion Returns
0:24:54 - Factorio Coming to Switch 2
0:25:03 - Assassin's Creed Shadows Switch 2
0:26:04 - Marvel's Cosmic Invasion Release Date
0:27:29 - Whisper Flow Sponsor Message
0:31:00 - Halo Campaign Evolved Deep Dive
0:33:00 - Battlefield vs Call of Duty Gameplay Philosophy
0:40:22 - Xbox Layoffs & Studio Closures Discussion
0:43:41 - Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake
0:45:25 - I Should Really Get Back to That Game Segment
0:49:03 - Community Spotlight - Congo Listeners
0:51:16 - Community Feedback & Closing
GAMES DISCUSSED
We bought Battlefield 6 so you don't have to break your EA protest. Let's talk about the first few campaign missions, whether military fetishism in games is over, and what you all think about the game in Community Spotlight.
Don't forget that Ball X Pit is coming out this week, and we cover a ton of other new and classic games coming to Xbox and Playstation subscription services this week. Let's go!
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Games Discussed
Yes, the Hades II rogue-like runs continue, and we also get deep into the changes that Microsoft made to Xbox Game Pass, and my take on the value of the new tiers may surprise you! Plus, since we are in the middle of Gamepocalypse, I've developed a new segment to help us all keep track of games that we really want to get back to. Let's go!
Chapter Timestamps:
00:26 - Episode 20 Introduction & Welcome
01:51 - Hades 2 Deep Dive: Why I Can't Stop Playing
08:03 - How to Handle Spoilers: The "Can't Wait" Method
10:50 - October Gamepocalypse: The Full Release List
13:01 - Shovel Knight & Retro Graphics Discussion
14:01 - Control Ultimate Edition Update with Kojima Content
16:00 - A Plague Tale: Resonance Announcement
19:05 - Threads of Time: New Chrono Trigger-Style JRPG
21:08 - EA's $55 Billion Buyout by Saudi Fund
28:06 - Xbox Game Pass Price Increases Explained
35:04 - The $15 Tier Everyone's Missing
42:16 - NEW SEGMENT: I Should Really Get Back to That Game
48:00 - Community Shoutouts & Closing Thoughts
GAMES DISCUSSED:
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#hades #xbox #gaming #podcast
Hades 2 (or II, for you purists) is so good we buy another dock and power supply for the Switch 2, PlayStation finds more ways to sell us t-shirts for beating their games, and we discover that Ninja Gaiden 4 has a new easy mode. Don't go anywhere else for these gaming opinions, hit play now!
Games Discussed
Hades 2
Hades (original)
Diablo (1, 2, 3, 4)
Bastion
Pyre
Transistor
Destiny 2
Ghost of Tsushima
Ghost of Yotei
God of War
Ninja Gaiden (original Xbox)
Ninja Gaiden 4
Battlefield 6
Call of Duty
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We've got new rules for what classifies as a new IP in video games, and I'm here to make the case! Complainers, get ready - I've got a top 10 list that will make you mad. Also, my kid beats another boss in Astro Bot, I preorder Battlefield 6, and we talk about Dispatch, a new game for people who loved Tales from the Borderlands.
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Chapter Timestamps
0:00 - Hollow Knight Success & Astro Bot Victory
1:04 - Show Introduction & Welcome
1:34 - "Get Good" Advice Works for 8-Year-Old
6:04 - New IP Definition & The Andy Bee Rule
11:07 - Top 10 New IPs List Begins
12:14 - Split Fiction & Kingdom Come Deliverance 2
14:25 - Death Stranding 2 & Monster Hunter Wilds
15:17 - Overcooked Games Discussion
16:12 - Helldivers 2 & Ghost of Yotei
18:16 - Clair Obscur Expedition 33 & Donkey Kong
19:31 - Hollow Knight Silksong Analysis
23:04 - Gaming News & Switch 2 Releases
26:22 - Battlefield 6 & Dispatch Game Reveal
30:00 - Travel Plans & Show Wrap-up
Games Discussed
Hollow Knight, Astro Bot, Elden Ring, Loco Roco, It Takes Two, A Way Out, Split Fiction, Kingdom Come Deliverance, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, Death Stranding, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Monster Hunter Wilds, Overcooked, Overcooked 2, Plate Up, Helldivers, Helldivers 2, Ghost of Tsushima, Ghost of Yotei, Clair Obscur Expedition 33, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, Super Mario Odyssey, Hollow Knight Silksong, Hades, Hades 2, Visions of Mana, Deep Rock Galactic Survivor, Frostpunk 2, Modern Warfare 3, Call of Duty, Peppa Pig World Adventures, Battlefield 6, Octopath Traveler Zero, Metroid Prime, Dispatch, Tales from the Borderlands, NFL Blitz, Madden
#dispatch #hollowknight #gaming #podcast
In this episode of The Andy Bee Show, I dive deep into the week's biggest gaming news, starting with Hollow Knight: Silksong's controversial difficulty and the upcoming patch that will nerf early bosses. I break down the massive Nintendo Direct from Friday, highlighting exciting announcements like Yoshi and the Mysterious Book's beautiful painterly art style, and the long-awaited arrival of Super Mario Galaxy 1 & 2 on Switch.
We explore PlayStation's new parental controls app, Battlefield 6's console-first development approach, and get hyped about The Expanse: Osiris Reborn's Mass Effect 2 inspirations. I also share thoughts on Ghost of Yotay's meditative 10-minute trailer and the exciting news that Hades 2 finally has a release date.
The episode features a meaningful community spotlight discussion about gaming accessibility, sparked by viewers sharing their experiences with fine motor control challenges in difficult games like Silksong. I advocate for tourism/story modes that would allow more players to experience these incredible worlds regardless of skill level.
Plus, I share my ongoing progress in Hollow Knight, upcoming Helldivers sessions, and thoughts on the incredible rush of amazing games hitting in October 2025.
Chapter Timestamps
0:00 - Introduction & Hollow Knight Silksong Patch News
8:42 - Nintendo Direct Highlights - Yoshi and the Mysterious Book
13:09 - PlayStation Parental Controls App
19:31 - Battlefield 6 Console-First Development
23:01 - The Expanse: Osiris Reborn Game Details
26:58 - Ghost of Yotei Meditative Trailer
32:33 - Super Mario Galaxy 1 & 2 Coming to Switch
35:00 - Hades 2 Release Date & Upcoming Game Rush
39:00 - Community Spotlight & Accessibility Discussion
47:07 - Wrap-up & Gaming Plans
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Games Discussed
Hollow Knight
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Yoshi and the Mysterious Book
Super Mario Galaxy
Super Mario Galaxy 2
Battlefield 6
The Expanse: Osiris Reborn
Ghost of Yotei
Hades 2
Digimon Story Time Stranger
Mass Effect 2
Helldivers
Donkey Kong Bonanza
Ninja Gaiden
Metroid Prime 4
Death Stranding 2
#yoshi #hollowknight #gaming #podcast
In this episode of The Andy Bee Show, Andrew discusses his ongoing journey through Hollow Knight as he prepares for the recently released Silksong. He explores the debate around boss run-backs being a design feature versus artificial difficulty padding, sharing his poll results showing 62% of players find Silksong legitimately harder than the original.
Andrew covers his gaming adventures across multiple save files on different platforms due to the lack of cross-save support, and his decision to restart on PlayStation 5 to capture gameplay footage. He dives into the boss fight strategies he's discovered, including a revelation about the monarch wings boss where jumping guaranteed defeat.
The episode also features gaming news including Battlefield 6 battle royale leaks, upcoming Sonic Racing Cross Worlds demo, new Game Pass additions, and his thoughts on the new 007 First Light gameplay. Andrew reflects on his trophy hunting goals, particularly considering returning to complete the God of War (2018) platinum trophy.
The show concludes with community spotlight feedback on his Helldivers 2 underground missions discussion, where listeners shared loadout strategies and gameplay tips for the challenging cave environments.
Chapter Timestamps
00:00:00 - Opening & Boss Run-Back Philosophy
00:00:58 - Hollow Knight Journey Begins
00:01:55 - Silksong Release & Readiness
00:19:58 - Void Crew Discovery
00:22:20 - Helldivers 2 Crew Reunion
00:28:42 - Battlefield 6 News Updates
00:32:13 - Sonic Racing Cross Worlds Demo
00:45:06 - 007 First Light Gameplay
00:46:52 - Bond Gaming Legacy
00:52:44 - Community Spotlight
00:53:20 - Helldivers Strategy Discussion
00:57:09 - Show Support & Newsletter
00:58:05 - Closing & Next Week Preview
Games Discussed
Hollow Knight
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Void Crew
Helldivers 2
Battlefield 6
Sonic Racing Cross Worlds
007 First Light
God of War (2018)
Spider-Man (PS4)
Astro Bot
Lies of P
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This week's podcast kicks off with a cross-platform Helldivers 2 session which showcases the game's consumer-friendly live service model and upcoming "Into the Unjust" underground update, plus hands-on with the Constitution parade rifle. Discussion of Battlefield 2042's free Battle Pass grinding toward Battlefield 6, Call of Duty Black Ops 7's cosmetic reset strategy, and why platform continuity matters for annual franchises. Quick takes on Luminous Arise's VR-ready demo, Hollow Knight push before Silksong's release, No Man's Sky's Voyager update, September PlayStation Plus games, Blood of Dawnwalker's time-as-currency mechanic, and upcoming gaming events. Community spotlight on adult-friendly multiplayer design and the ongoing demand for Titanfall-style inclusive gameplay.
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Chapters
00:00:00 Cold open: Helldivers 2 consumer-friendly monetization
00:00:19 Intro: Cross-play gaming session setup
00:01:34 Cross-play mechanics: friend codes and rejoin features
00:02:52 Warbonds system: Super Credits and grind economics
00:05:07 Constitution rifle: medium armor penetration testing
00:10:59 Difficulty scaling: tanks appear, wrong loadout
00:16:05 Into the Unjust: underground missions, limited stratagems
00:18:19 Helldivers recruit training philosophy
00:18:35 Battlefield 2042: grinding toward Battlefield 6
00:20:52 CoD Black Ops 7: cosmetic reset and platform issues
00:24:33 Platform continuity: annual franchises vs carry-forward
00:28:47 Luminous Arise: VR-ready demo impressions
00:33:12 Luminous mechanics: sweep-line timing system
00:33:29 Hollow Knight: boss difficulty and Silksong prep
00:37:49 No Man's Sky Voyager: customizable ships
00:39:40 PlayStation Plus September lineup
00:41:36 Blood of Dawnwalker: time-as-currency mechanic
00:47:21 Gaming events: Nintendo Direct, TGS, 007 State of Play
00:49:21 Community spotlight: UK listeners and podcast philosophy
00:51:54 Community responses: multiplayer accessibility discussion
00:58:06 Wrap-up: upcoming games and Patreon content
Games Discussed
Helldivers 2
Battlefield 2042
Battlefield 6 (upcoming)
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 (upcoming)
Warzone (referenced)
Modern Warfare 2 (original)
Luminous Arise (demo)
Tetris Effect (comparison)
Dr. Mario (comparison)
Hollow Knight
Hollow Knight: Silksong (upcoming)
No Man's Sky
Starfield (comparison)
Psychonauts 2
Stardew Valley
Viewfinder
Blood of Dawnwalker (upcoming)
Dead Rising
Metroid Prime 4 (rumored)
007 First Light (upcoming)
Titanfall 2
Apex Legends (reference)
A packed week for adult gamers as we find ourselves jumping back into Call of Duty: Warzone (and its massive 191 GB install), reflecting on why single-player more commonly fits busy lives, lining up Helldivers 2’s Xbox launch and Halo crossover, and celebrating surprise drops like The Rogue Prince of Persia and Sword of the Sea via subscriptions.
Plus quick-hit reactions to Gamescom-adjacent reveals (Battlestar Galactica: Shattered Hopes, Wizordum, Bounty Star), a milestone for indie hit Peak, and a victory over Hollow Knight’s Mantis Lords, and inviting the community to own the “gamer” label.
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Chapters
00:00:00 – Cold open and a 191 GB confession
00:01:04 – Single-player vs. multiplayer for busy adults
00:01:49 – Battlefield 6 beta impressions and launch window thoughts
00:03:05 – Battle royale highs and lows in Warzone
00:06:02 – Warzone session: Verdansk returns, feels the same (comfortable mechanics)
00:06:47 – Training/bot playlists and why mixed-lobbies can feel great (Titanfall praise)
00:08:34 – Call for Titanfall 3 and Titanfall 2’s lasting appeal
00:09:14 – Warzone takeaways: long loads, monetization avalanche, still a solid free entry
00:10:30 – Helldivers 2 on Xbox this week, Halo crossover Warbond; cross-platform planning
00:12:05 – Helldivers 2 gameplay loop refresher: bots, bugs, Illuminate saved for Tuesday
00:13:17 – Programming note: second early-access podcast episode this week; Patreon and Gaming 4-1-1 newsletter
00:15:22 – Gamescom Opening Night Live
00:16:10 – Kirby Air Riders Direct: looks like “Mario Kart but simpler and different”
00:19:29 – Subscriptions vs. $70 decisions; Sword of the Sea lands on PS Plus Extra
00:20:00 – Surprise drop: The Rogue Prince of Persia by the Dead Cells folks
00:25:41 – Battlestar Galactica: Shattered Hopes (FTL-inspired, tactical pause RTS vibes)
00:28:37 – Wizordum console date (Sept 23), retro wizard FPS energy
00:30:11 – Game Pass Games "Coming Soon"
00:31:59 – Bounty Star: “Titanfall retires to homesteading” mech RPG
00:33:50 – “Gaming is not boring”
00:34:19 – Indie climber Peak hits 10M sold; Roblox cloning saga context
00:35:42 – What I’ve been playing: Sword of the Sea
00:39:55 – ONL note: Silksong dated Sept 4; Hollow Knight backlog race begins
00:41:23 – Subscription save pitfalls; restarting Hades/Hollow Knight on other platforms
00:43:51 – Hollow Knight pacing: target times, realistic expectations
00:43:59 – Beating the Mantis Lords: pattern mastery and Souls-like tension
00:45:29 – Post-victory respect from Mantises
00:46:19 – Community spotlight: embracing the “gamer” identity
00:47:57 – Stardew/Portal/Indies to Hollow Knight superfan: you are a gamer
00:50:50 – Comments, critiques, and “bad games” people still love to play
00:52:26 – Global listeners shoutout; 2.2% in Japan (Domo arigato!)
00:53:11 – Wrap: Warzone size, Helldivers 2, Kirby, Game Pass dates, surprise drops, Peak 10M, Hollow Knight goals
Games Mentioned
Call of Duty: Warzone
Battlefield 6 (beta)
Fortnite
DayZ
Titanfall
Titanfall 2
Helldivers 2
Halo (crossover content context)
Kirby Air Riders
Mario Kart (comparison)
Sword of the Sea
The Rogue Prince of Persia
Dead Cells
Battlestar Galactica: Shattered Hopes
FTL: Faster Than Light (inspiration)
Wizordum
Gears of War Reloaded
Voidbreaker
Hurdling
Dragon Age: The Veilguard
Bounty Star: The Morose Tale of Graveyard Clem
Peak
Roblox (clone discussion context)
Darksiders (1–3 mention)
Destiny 2
World of Warcraft
Hollow Knight
Silksong
Death Stranding / Death Stranding 2 (brief context)
Andy dives into Battlefield 6’s second beta weekend and weighs whether it’s worth $70 for adult gamers who can’t always commit to long multiplayer sessions. A standout 10-minute close-quarters match with a fully mic’d squad shows the series at its best, though uncertainty remains around single-player and a rumored free-to-play battle royale.
He previews Gamescom Opening Night Live’s confirmed lineup, breaks down a big August drop for PlayStation Plus (including Spider-Man Remastered and day-one Sword of the Sea), and celebrates Nintendo’s growing GameCube classics with Chibi-Robo on Switch 2. Smaller, intriguing titles get attention: Echoes of the End, a Gothic remake with a demo, and the satirical city-builder Car Park Capital; along with hands-on impressions of Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden.
Andy also finishes 150 Picross puzzles with zero assists, reflects on accessibility and difficulty in Souls-likes like Lies of P, and talks parenting, safety, and play styles—from Louisiana’s lawsuit against Roblox to why kids sometimes just want to vibe (Arcade Paradise’s laundry loop, Minecraft’s creative mode).
Community shoutouts include Threads creator cockadoodle.gg for gems like Roboquest and Hexblast, plus a quick look at show rebrand learnings from a podcast audit.
Chapters
00:00 Opening: Adult gaming realities, multiplayer you can’t pause
00:01:25 Why BF6 might need a strong single-player; BR rumors and F2P speculation
00:03:31 Close-quarters mode, 10-minute match, squad comms magic on PS5
00:07:13 Being an adult gamer: family time vs. squad time
00:08:12 Today’s agenda rundown
00:10:11 Newsletter plug: Gaming 4-1-1 (what it includes, how it helps)
00:11:40 Gamescom Opening Night Live: confirmed games preview
00:13:35 PlayStation Plus August: MK1, Spider-Man Remastered, Sword of the Sea, more
00:16:52 Old games, new access: Nintendo’s GameCube classics and Chibi-Robo on Switch 2
00:19:24 Echoes of the End: small team, new IP, combat-forward first look
00:22:29 Gothic remake: demo impressions and 2026 release window, remasters noted
00:25:24 Car Park Capital: parking-lot city-builder satire
00:27:00 Rumors: Black Ops 7 timing on Switch 2, parity promises context
00:31:05 Louisiana v. Roblox: lawsuit, safety claims, controls and parenting thoughts
00:37:27 What I’ve been playing: Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden (story-first vibe)
00:42:22 Picross milestone: 150 puzzles, zero assists
00:44:05 Lies of P and difficulty: accessibility, community support
00:45:13 Playing with kids: Minecraft creative, productivity vs. play
00:47:46 Arcade Paradise: why kids love doing the laundry
00:52:25 Community Spotlight: Ireland listeners; creator shoutout cockadoodle.gg
00:53:32 Finds: Roboquest (co-op roguelite FPS) and Hexblast (deckbuilder puzzle roguelike)
00:55:20 Something useful: podcast audit and rebrand tweaks
00:58:04 Wrap-up and what’s next
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Every Game Mentioned
Battlefield 6
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
Resident Evil Requiem
Ghost of Yotay
Ninja Gaiden 4
The Outer Worlds 2
Silent Hill F
World of Warcraft (Midnight)
Black Myth: Wukong
Lords of the Fallen 2
Mortal Kombat 1
Unicorn Overlord
Atelier Ryza 3
Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered
Sword of the Sea
Death Stranding 2 (trial mentioned; still playing DS1)
Harold Halibut
Coral Island
Resident Evil 2 (classic catalog)
Resident Evil 3 (classic catalog)
Chibi-Robo (GameCube classic on Switch 2)
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (GameCube classic)
Mario Strikers (GameCube classic)
Viewtiful Joe (hoped-for GameCube classic)
Echoes of the End
Gothic (Remake; plus Gothic, Gothic 2 remasters noted)
Car Park Capital
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden
Picross S: Genesis & Master System
Lies of P
Fall Guys
Fortnite
Minecraft
Arcade Paradise
Roboquest
Hexblast
Welcome to another episode of The Andy Bee Show! This week, Andrew dives deep into the gaming world with his fresh take on the Battlefield 6 multiplayer beta, the exciting Nintendo Indie World showcase, highlighting standout games like Ball Pit and Misha from the Shovel Knight creators.
The episode tackles some serious industry issues, including game cloning controversies affecting indie darlings like Peak and the classic Threes vs 2048 debate, plus Sony's lawsuit against Tencent over the Horizon Zero Dawn lookalike. Andrew celebrates Digital Foundry going independent and shares his personal gaming journey through Hades, the atmospheric Transistor (which he's streaming on YouTube as a full first-time playthrough!), and his breakthrough with Lies of P after turning down the difficulty - sparking great community discussion about accessibility in gaming.
With upcoming releases like Sword of the Sea, Iron Man (??) games in development, and Power Rangers hitting Fortnite, there's plenty to be excited about in the gaming landscape. Andrew also gives updates on his Gaming 4-1-1 newsletter and upcoming Patreon giveaways.
Chapter timestamps
0:00 - Introduction & Battlefield 6 Beta Impressions
9:34 - Gaming 4-1-1 Newsletter & Patreon Updates
12:05 - Gaming News Roundup Begins
13:10 - Sword of the Sea & Upcoming PlayStation Games
15:50 - Xbox Game Pass "Coming Soon" Games
17:00 - Nintendo Indie World Showcase Highlights
20:19 - Ball Pit - The Birthday Game!
22:01 - Game Cloning Controversy: Peak vs Roblox Ripoffs
28:00 - Sony vs Tencent Horizon Lawsuit
30:20 - Power Rangers in Fortnite
32:40 - Call of Duty Black Ops 7 Gamescom Reveal
34:20 - Console Sales: PlayStation vs Xbox Numbers
37:30 - Digital Foundry Goes Independent
42:20 - Death Stranding 2 Photo Mode Tutorial
45:36 - Gaming This Week: What Andrew Played
46:30 - Hades Replay Discussion
48:35 - Endless Dungeon on PlayStation Plus
56:00 - Transistor Live Stream Playthrough
57:37 - Picross Progress & Voxelgram 3D
59:04 - Lies of P Journey & Difficulty Settings
1:03:04 - Community Spotlight & Feedback
1:08:30 - Closing Thoughts & Next Week Preview
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This week on The Andy Bee Show, I've sifted through a ton of gaming news and curated the best stuff just for you. We're talking Nintendo finally letting us use the Joy-Con as a mouse on classics like Mario Paint and, more importantly, Super Mario Picross. We'll get into the Silksong demo that's been confirmed for Gamescom (it's really happening?), and I watched just enough of the four-hour Battlefield 6 multiplayer reveal to have an opinion, Limp Bizkit and all.
Plus, we're asking the big questions: Why is Microsoft suddenly dwarfing Sony on the PlayStation sales charts? How small is too small for a game, and what would Goldilocks think of the upcoming Mafia: The Old Country?
I'm also sharing what I've been playing, from the intense climbing survival of Cairn to figuring out if I can finally "get good" at a Souls-like with Lies of P coming to Playstation Plus this week, and getting all my required dopamine from the "likes" in Death Stranding.
It's a packed show, from big directs to indie deep dives, plus movie talk and YOUR community feedback.
Chapter Timestamps
00:00:00 - Intro and Mario Picross/Joy-Con Mouse Controls
00:04:02 - Silksong Demo at Gamescom
00:06:00 - Mario Paint and Joy-Con Mouse Features
00:12:18 - Battlefield 6 Multiplayer Reveal Analysis
00:21:14 - Microsoft as Publisher and Sales Data
00:24:00 - Nintendo Partner Direct Game Announcements
00:27:42 - Adventures of Elliot and New Demos
00:32:05 - Nintendo Switch Pricing and Tariff Impact
00:38:40 - Pull Up Entertainment Development Philosophy
00:41:43 - Games I've Been Playing (Karn, Lies of P, Death Stranding)
01:00:01 - Movie News and Community Spotlight
01:14:46 - Battlefield vs Call of Duty Community Stories
01:16:55 - Show Wrap
Games Discussed
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Get the Gaming 4-1-1 Newsletter FREE
Your host Andy Bee kicks things off by talking about cozy spaces in Donkey Kong Bonanza - those optional peaceful areas where you can decorate, listen to music, and take a break from the main gameplay.
Then it’s all about the challenges facing modern multiplayer shooters, examining Battlefield 6's upcoming release and why the franchise struggles against Call of Duty's dominance. Andy discusses Splitgate 2's decision to "un-launch" and rework the game, comparing it to Multiversus's similar strategy - but maybe Splitgate 2 survives?
A major focus is the ongoing console wars - from childhood Sega vs Nintendo debates to today's Sony vs Microsoft competition. The episode covers Sony's investment in Bandai Namco, Microsoft's multi-platform strategy, and rumors of a new Steam Machine that could blur the lines between PC and console gaming.
Andy also shares his breakfast conversation about Old School RuneScape, a 20+ year old MMO that maintains 200,000+ active players who prefer the classic 2007 version over modern updates.
We’ve also launched the new Gaming 4-1-1 newsletter, delivering curated gaming news weekly to Patreon subscribers (free! see the link at the bottom of these show notes).
The episode concludes with the show's first listener voicemail about favorite games of all time.
00:00:00 - Grandpa Gamer & Opening
00:00:36 - Welcome to The Andy B Show
00:00:59 - Donkey Kong Bonanza Cozy Spaces Discovery
00:06:59 - Gaming 411 Newsletter Launch
00:09:45 - Battlefield 6 Announcement & Analysis
00:25:09 - Splitgate 2 Going Back to Beta
00:32:24 - Borderlands 4 Coming to Switch 2
00:36:06 - Outer Worlds 2 Price Drop to $69.99
00:38:25 - Lego Game Boy Set Announcement
00:41:00 - Console Wars Discussion
00:46:32 - Sony's Bandai Namco Investment
00:48:21 - PlayStation Multi-Platform Strategy
00:54:09 - Steam Machine Rumors
00:59:30 - What We've Been Playing
01:01:12 - Old School RuneScape Deep Dive
01:05:44 - First Listener Voicemail & Response
01:12:32 - Show Wrap-up & Next Week
Main Focus Games:
Games Mentioned:
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In this week’s episode of The Andy Bee Show, Andy kicks things off with some hilarious thoughts on Donkey Kong–for everyone! He shares his excitement over the return of Game Informer magazine, reminisces about the glory days of game magazines, and explores the pitfalls of digital vs. physical media. Andy also dives deep into early impressions of Donkey Kong Bonanza for Nintendo Switch 2, talks about backlogs and gaming guilt, and breaks down the latest trends in PlayStation Plus, Xbox Game Pass, and Nintendo’s evolving subscription models.
Andy gives quick reactions to new game releases and trailers like Mandrake, Fallen London, Risk of Rain 2, and more, with commentary on meta progression in roguelikes and community favorite game-length resources like HowLongToBeat. Later, he reviews the new James Gunn Superman movie (no major spoilers!) and highlights community feedback about why we play video games, featuring stories from TikTok and beyond.
Don’t miss listener mail info, Andy’s upcoming plans, and his take on speedrunning spoilers! Subscribe for more video game vibes, nostalgia, and thoughtful gaming talk every week.
Chapters
00:00 Welcome / Donkey Kong is for everyone — Intro to the episode, lighthearted chat, and why Donkey Kong brings people together.
00:10:29 Game Informer Returns — Reviewing the closure, revival, and personal nostalgia around Game Informer magazine.
00:12:25 Donkey Kong Bonanza — First impressions, accessibility, game loop, and required Switch 2 hardware.
00:19:17 Nintendo Direct Rumors — Predicting the imminent Nintendo Direct after Donkey Kong Bonanza’s release.
00:21:03 Game backlogs — Why having a video game backlog is normal and tips on managing and enjoying it.
00:22:37 HowLongToBeat.com — Using community-driven timing to estimate how long major games (like Donkey Kong Bonanza) take to complete.
00:27:19 Fallout 5 & Bethesda — Report that Fallout 5 is greenlit, at the cost of a canceled MMORPG at Zenimax.
00:29:55 Microsoft Game Pass vs PlayStation Plus — Observations and complaints about how Xbox and PlayStation differently announce and rotate free games.
00:38:49 Zelda Movie Cast — Announcing the newly revealed live-action Legend of Zelda movie cast.
00:40:01 Harry Potter HBO — Reactions to the new Harry Potter TV reboot casting and timeline expectations.
00:41:56 Microsoft Stops TV/Movie Sales — Microsoft no longer lets users buy new movies or shows on Xbox; discussion about digital vs. physical media ownership.
00:48:04 Community & Podcast Voicemail — New way for listeners to interact by leaving voice messages; info on how to participate via Patreon.
00:48:28 Mandrake — Highlighting the new game "Mandrake" and why the developer’s history is promising.
00:50:52 Fallen London — Exploring the text-based browser game "Fallen London" and its narrative design.
00:55:21 Risk of Rain 2 — Review and thoughts on the rogue-like shooter Risk of Rain 2.
00:59:07 Superman Movie — Thoughts and spoiler-free review on James Gunn's recent Superman film.
01:03:08 Community Mailbag & TikTok — Announcing audience participation via voicemails, plus reading and reacting to TikTok comments.
01:06:02 Why We Play Video Games — Sharing community answers for why people love playing games and what they get from it.
01:10:11 Recap & Outro — Summary of episode topics, closing remarks, and preview for next week.
Games discussed in this episode:
Donkey Kong Bonanza, Mario Kart World, Portal 2, Cyberpunk 2077, Risk of Rain 2, Mandrake, Fallen London, Sunless Skies, Sunless Seas, Ghost of Tsushima, Ghost of Yote, Horizon Zero Dawn, Super Mario World, Mario Odyssey, World of Warcraft, Fallout, Elder Scrolls Online, and more!
Don't forget to join the FREE Patreon at patreon.com/theandybeeshow to never miss an episode, get exclusive early access episodes, send your voicemail from your lips to Andy's ears, and more!
Not even the Ghost of Yotei can keep this episode of The Andy Bee Show from you! Let's talk about exactly what is Hyrule Warriors, figure out whether anime is for normal people now, and finally answer the question, why do people play videogames?
Chapters
00:00 Welcome to the Andy B Show
01:01 Exploring Hyrule Warriors
05:01 The Switch 2 and Game Upgrades
10:33 Nintendo Game Pricing and Fan Corrections
13:33 Switch 2 News and Game Boy Advance Classics
16:38 Steam Deck vs. Switch 2 Debate
22:11 PlayStation Plus and Cyberpunk 2077
27:03 Ghost of Yotai State of Play Review
35:44 Why Do People Play Video Games?
39:13 The Shift in Sports and Health Perspectives
42:42 The Multifaceted Benefits of Video Games
50:17 Video Games as a Form of Entertainment
59:03 The Rise of Anime in Popular Culture
01:05:43 Navigating the Gaming Purchase Landscape
Episode 7 of The Andy Bee Show, a Videogame Podcast is here! You aren't going to believe this, but we talk about the Switch 2, my parents buying a Switch 2, Helldivers 2, Microsoft's shocking (?) layoffs and what those might mean for the gaming industry, an unavoidable discussion about HD-DVDs, and plenty more gaming talk on this week's episode.
In this episode of the Andy Bee Show, Andrew discusses the latest in video games, including the highly praised Death Stranding 2, the emotional journey of Spiritfarer, and the relaunch of Game Informer magazine. He also addresses the ongoing layoffs at Xbox, the anticipation surrounding the Nintendo Switch 2, and the future of PSVR. Additionally, Andrew shares insights on real-time translation tools for gaming and invites listeners to engage in a community discussion about cozy spaces in games.
In this episode of The Andy Bee Show, Andrew discusses the hottest topics in the gaming world, including a giveaway for Nintendo Switch Online membership, his experiences traveling with the new Switch 2, and a review of its offical case. He dives into Microsoft's plans for the next generation Xbox, Bungie's delay of Marathon, and the implications for the VR market with Beat Saber ending support on PlayStation. The episode also covers the upcoming Death Stranding adaptations, the excitement around Donkey Kong Bonanza, and a humorous analysis of gaming affordability based on the famous outside-of-the-gas-station salaries at Buc-ees. Finally, Andrew shares his thoughts on the latest Mission Impossible movie and offers advice for busy gamers.
Why every videogame needs a chill out space like Mario Kart World, Destiny 2, and even Squeakross - a new Nonogram/Picross game on Steam and Switch. Andy Bee covers the Xbox Showcase, the ROG Ally, Silksong, Clockwork Revolution, how the Switch 2 really feels, and even how to get the most out of the summer movie season.
Andy Bee is your host for this episode and we cover the three trends in gaming after Summer Game Fest - why are games so grim-dark lately, anyway? He blitzes through Summer Game Fest’s biggest reveals before sizing up the industry’s hot-button issues—Switch 2 scalpers, $70 price tags, and that jaw-dropping Witcher 4 Unreal demo. He then puts controller to hand with the Blades of Fire PS5 demo, checks in on his Dead Cells run, and cools down with some Sega Picross puzzling—all in under an hour. Tune in for rapid-fire highlights, sharp analysis, and a hint of what’s coming next.
