Arcade Couch
Arcade Couch — News, reviews & spicy takes on the week in games. Arcade Couch is the Explosion Network’s premiere video games podcast featuring discussions on the latest games, tech, industry news and more. Available every Monday at 6 AM AEST/AEDT.
Episodes
We discuss God of War: Laufey's release date and the future of Kratos, and Dylan shares his impressions of Splatoon Raiders.
SHOW DOT POINTS
- Dylan enjoys playing Splatoon Raiders, appreciating its narrative elements.
- The game features a mix of single-player and multiplayer modes.
- Players can upgrade weapons and abilities throughout the game.
- The bond meter with AI companions adds a new layer to gameplay.
- Dy...
We discuss Bethesda's plans for the future of Fallout, The Elder Scrolls and more, as well as the devastating news for the upcoming God of War TV series.
SHOW DOT POINTS
- The gaming industry is experiencing a shift with fewer new titles being released.
- Bethesda is focusing on expanding its existing franchises, such as Fallout and Starfield.
- Remasters of classic games are becoming more common as studios seek ...
We react to the Instagram comments about Ciaran's comments on last week's episode, discuss the Xbox layoffs and talk about AC: Black Flag.
SHOW DOT POINTS
- Dylan returns after a two-week break, sparking banter.
- The gaming industry is facing more negative news.
- Social media reactions to Kieran's comments are intense.
- Consumers are upset about corporate control in gaming.
- Companies prioritise profit over consu...
Sony dropped a grenade on the video games industry with the announcement that they will cease making physical discs at the start of 2028. Is this a monumental shift in gaming as we know it or just an overblown bump in an evolving medium?
SHOW DOT POINTS
- Sony is ending physical disc production in 2028
- Impact of digital-only releases on consumers and preservation
Grand Theft Auto VI Pre-Orders went live this week with the reveal of the game’s higher-than-average price and the news that it will not be coming out on physical discs. Ashley and Ciaran question if this is a turning point for the industry before discussing the Bungie layoffs, Steam Machine pricing and July 2026 Game releases.
SHOW DOT POINTS
- GTA 6 pricing and digital release strategy
We discuss Xbox reportedly closing several of its studios, and what it did wrong to get to this point.
SHOW DOT POINTS
- Xbox's recent studio closures reflect a troubling trend in the gaming industry.
- Xbox's acquisition strategy has led to significant studio instability.
- GTA VI's cover reveal demonstrates the game's cultural significance.
- The gaming community is often left disappointed by corporate decisions. ...
We discuss the Xbox Games Showcase and the Nintendo Direct that were part of Summer Game Fest 2026 week.
SHOW DOT POINTS
- Summer Game Fest has replaced E3 as the main gaming showcase.
- September is packed with game releases, making it a busy month for gamers.
- The hosts express mixed feelings about the Wolverine game being more linear.
- Kieran shares excitement for the game Dawn of the Bloodwalker.
- The gaming c...
We recap Summer Game Fest and the PlayStation State of Play.
YOUR HOSTS 🎙️ Dylan Blight 🎙️ Ashley Hobley
EPISODE TIMECODES00:00:00 - Intro
00:01:25 - Summer Games Fest Recap
00:58:20 - PlayStation State of Play Recap
01:33:11 - Outro
RESOURCESWe give our annual Summer Game Fest predictions and also give first impressions of 007: First Light.
YOUR HOSTS 🎙️ Dylan Blight 🎙️ Ashley Hobley 🎙️ Ciaran Marchant
CREDITS- 🎵 Music: Dylan Blight
- 🎵 Sound Effect by floraphonic from Pixabay
- 🎨 Artwork: Cherie Henriques
- 📝 Show notes powered by Riverside.FM ...
We discuss Destiny's future, GTA VI release date, and Ciaran has impressions of Forza Horizon 6.
SHOW DOT POINTS
- Destiny 2 is ending support, marking a significant moment for the franchise.
- Bungie's future projects may focus on new IPs under PlayStation's ownership.
- The PlayStation State of Play event is set to showcase major upcoming titles.
- Forza Horizon 6 offers a rich exploration of Japanese culture and...
Join Ashley and Ciaran as they share their initial impressions of Mixtape, Subnautica 2 and Wax Head, as well as Ashley’s thoughts on the video game movie Mortal Kombat II.
YOUR HOSTS 🎙️ Ashley Hobley 🎙️ Ciaran Marchant
EPISODE TIMECODES00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:51 - Mortal Kombat II Movie Impressions 00:06:00 - Mixtape Impressions 00:18:58 - Subnautica 2 Impressions 00:23:11 - Wax Heads Impressions 00:25:14 - Cozy Game Re...
We discuss the latest gaming news, focusing on the marketing strategy for GTA 6 and its emphasis on console releases over PC. We also delve into the upcoming game 'Stranger Than Heaven,' highlighting its narrative depth, celebrity cameos, and unique gameplay mechanics that involve sound recording and music composition.
YOUR HOSTS 🎙️ Dylan Blight 🎙️ Ashley Hobley
RESOURCESDylan shares his impressions of Saros so far and discusses the latest gaming news and upcoming releases for May 2026 with Ashley.
SHOW DOT POINTS
- Saros is a follow-up to Returnal with new gameplay mechanics.
- The game features a mix of story and exploration.
- Boss fights in Saros have multiple stages that increase in complexity.
- Read more
We discuss the Assassin’s Creed Black Flag remake, Tides of Tomorrow, and Vampire Crawlers.
- SHOW DOT POINTS The remake of Assassin's Creed Black Flag is highly anticipated.
- Black Flag was a turning point for the Assassin's Creed franchise.
- Shuhei Yoshida's departure reflects a shift in PlayStation's direction.
- Read more
We debate whether video game remakes/remasters are killing the industry and holding it back from bigger things.
SHOW DOT POINTS
- Nostalgia can hinder innovation in gaming.
- Remakes are often more financially viable for publishers.
- There are still many original games being released.
- The gaming industry is risk-averse, favouring known properties.
- Development timelines have become excessively long.
- Creative dire...
Dylan and Ashley discuss the news surrounding Disney and Epic Games teaming up for a new crossover, in addition to the current Fortnite one.
Plus, Dylan dives into Pokémon Champions, gives his wrap-up thoughts on Resident Evil Requiem, and talks to Ashley about the latest idea from PlayStation—adding scans of real people to their games.
SHOW DOT POINTS
- Dylan expresses frustration over being call...
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is already proving to be a big success at the box office, but its quality is splitting the internet. Embracer may have 2 prominent studios working on The Lord of the Rings games, and Ciaran shares his impressions of Screamer
YOUR HOSTS 🎙️ Ashley Hobley 🎙️ Ciaran Marchant
CONTENT MENTIONEDThe Super Mario Galaxy Movie - Starts Better & Then Ends Worse | Animated Wonders
EPISODE TIMECODES00:00:0...
We discuss Life is Strange: Reunion, impressions, and its lack of marketing, go over the recent PlayStation console price increase, and break down the Xbox Partner Preview.
SHOW DOT POINTS
- PlayStation has increased the prices of its consoles due to global economic pressures.
- Early adopters of gaming consoles benefit from price increases for new buyers.
- Nintendo's pricing strategy for digital vs physical gam...
We discuss DLSS 5 and how it's adding to the AI slopness of the game industry.
SHOW DOT POINTS
- The introduction of DLSS5 has sparked significant backlash from gamers.
- AI technology in gaming can alter the original artistic intent of games.
- NVIDIA's DLSS5 aims to enhance graphics but raises concerns about photorealism.
- The gaming industry is experiencing a wave of layoffs and restructuring.
- Ubisoft's Red Sto...
We discuss the future of Xbox with their upcoming hybrid PC/Console and what that means for their games.
YOUR HOSTS 🎙️ Dylan Blight 🎙️ Ashley Hobley
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