Welcome to the long-awaited return of The NPCs, where we’re back to discuss video game news, video game insights, provide commentary, and oh so much more.

In our absence, a lot of things have happened in the video game universe: Roguelike’s have taken over the Steam charts, Elden Ring got a multiplayer game, Fortnite still exists, and we still don’t have Grand Theft Auto 6…

But one thing has been on our minds for at least half of the year: have we finally reached the end of the console wars? Microsoft has doubled down on a marketing campaign where “Everything is an Xbox,” making it so phones, TVs, even your smart fridge can play Xbox games without needing an Xbox at all. In tandem, we also saw bridges built with core first-party titles like Forza, Gears of War, and even Halo showing up on the PlayStation 5. With the possibility of Nintendo also receiving similar treatment, has Microsoft finally bowed out of the console race? Do we even need consoles anymore given more of a transition to PC-based architecture? Let’s talk about it in our great return episode: The Console Wars Concludes…



Intro: Run by J+1

Post-Break Intro: Getaway by J+1

Outro: Haunt by J+1

The NPCs Discuss - The Console Wars Concludes...

Welcome to another episode of Fireside Magic, where Kyle & Travis play Magic The Gathering, talk cards, video games, and everything else in the world. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-npcs-podcast/support

The NPCs Present - Fireside Magic #3

The NPCs Present - Fireside Magic #2

#MagicTheGathering #MTG Welcome to a new entry in The NPCs world - Magic the Gathering! Join Kyle & Travis as they explore MTG, talk about what’s going on, and more! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-npcs-podcast/support

The NPCs Present - Fireside Magic #1

#Palworld #HaloInfinite #Xbox

In this week’s news:

 * Palworld devs called out for potential AI use in character creation [https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/palworld-embroiled-in-ai-and-pokemon-plagiarism-controversy/]

 * 343 is done with seasons in Halo Infinite [https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/343-says-halo-infinite-is-done-with-seasons-as-it-shifts-approach/]

 * Xbox Developer Direct recap [https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2024/01/18/xbox-developer-direct-2024-recap/]

 * Ubisoft thinks gamers will be comfortable not owning games [https://kotaku.com/ubisoft-prince-of-persia-the-lost-crown-subscription-1851167602]

 * Gamestop stops supporting NFTs, and everyone rejoiced. [https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/gamestop-is-closing-its-nft-marketplace-after-18-months/]

 * Call of Duty not at the top of sales charts for 2023, first time in 14 years [https://www.engadget.com/call-of-duty-didnt-top-the-yearly-sales-charts-for-one-of-the-first-times-since-2009-191641232.html]


Intro: Getaway by J+1

Outro: Run by J+1

Pick up their tracks on Bandcamp today @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jplusone.bandcamp.com

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-npcs-podcast/support

Palworld AI Controversy, No More Seasons in Halo Infinite, Ubisoft and Game Ownership - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - Week of January 20th

#CES #Switch2 #Overwatch

In this week’s news:

 * CES 2024 - the gaming roundup: Gamesradar Best of CES 2024 [https://www.gamesradar.com/best-of-ces-2024-this-years-top-gaming-tech/], Inverse Best Gaming Hardware @ CES [https://www.inverse.com/tech/best-gaming-hardware-ces-2024], Nvidia announces RTX 40 Super series [https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/8/24028636/nvidia-rtx-4080-super-4070-ti-specs-release-date-pricing], AMD announces new CPUs, GPU [https://www.extremetech.com/gaming/ces-2024-amd-announces-8000g-apus-x3d-am4-cpu-and-16gb-radeon-rx-7600-xt]

 * Game Shark is coming back, and it may have leaked the Switch 2 release [https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/audio-firm-publishes-pr-claiming-switch-2-will-release-in-september-later-claims-it-guessed/]

 * Valve will now require disclosure of AI-generated content in games on Steam [https://store.steampowered.com/news/group/4145017/view/3862463747997849618?l=english]

 * Overwatch 2 Season 9 will add passive healing for DPS & Tanks [https://kotaku.com/overwatch-2-season-9-self-healing-passive-tank-damage-1851163814]

 * 13-year-old becomes the first gamer to beat Tetris by reaching the “Kill Screen” [https://apnews.com/article/tetris-win-kill-screen-blue-scuti-willis-gibson-df9325c62d42292e854cadb54d8f4cb3]

 * The latest Xbox Series S uses physical format…. Bread [https://www.polygon.com/deals/24025070/xbox-series-s-toaster-buy-walmart]

Intro: Getaway by J+1

Outro: Run by J+1

Pick up their tracks on Bandcamp today @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jplusone.bandcamp.com

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-npcs-podcast/support

CES 2024, Game Shark & Switch 2, Valve + AI - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - Week of January 13th

#GTAV #NintendoNetwork #ActivisionBlizzard

In this week's news:

 * GTA V Source Code leaks, Reveals previously planned DLC [https://kotaku.com/grand-theft-auto-5-leak-single-player-scrapped-dlc-1851124303]

 * Wii U & 3DS online services shut down months ahead of schedule [https://www.engadget.com/nintendo-starts-shutting-down-online-play-for-wii-u-and-3ds-months-ahead-of-schedule-191720412.html]

 * Bobby Kotick leaves Activision Blizzard, and employees speak out [https://www.pcgamesn.com/overwatch-2/activision-blizzard-employees-bobby-kotick-resign]

Intro: Getaway by J+1

Outro: Run by J+1

Pick up their tracks on Bandcamp today @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jplusone.bandcamp.com [https://jplusone.bandcamp.com/]

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-npcs-podcast/support

GTA V Source Code, Wii U & 3DS Online Go Bye-Bye, Bobby Kotick is Gone - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - Week of December 30th

#GameAwards #Bungie #GTAVI

In this week’s news:

 * Bungie layoffs attributed to potential Sony takeover [https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/bungies-position-as-an-independent-sony-subsidiary-is-reportedly-under-threat/]
 * GTA VI trailer drops, internet obviously goes wild [https://www.theverge.com/23987993/gta-6-news-trailers-rockstar-games]
 * Twitch leaving Korean market due to rising costs; [https://www.engadget.com/twitch-to-cease-operations-in-south-korea-over-prohibitively-expensive-network-fees-163041382.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAHju6TWebcUmxef7foK3bgIdrtsF7sHTMEBsC1yOpr48HZS4GB0W1Ur7fv3qgXegfghlJ1z291xnE8P7r0QMOQCpCSaK1YSgltee0wiz2I8OAQSDowOMn1KQ75DVc7sU8hiuJPda6Dq4CnptDLI7zEzRHDmI1Jev8AkjxXvor8p6]Twitch usage stats for Korean market [https://sullygnome.com/longtermstats?language=ko] via SullyGnome
 * The Game Awards 2023 Winners [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Game_Awards_2023] & Game Awards Announcements [https://www.theverge.com/23981532/the-game-awards-2023-biggest-news-trailers-announcements]
 * Australia up next to get 18+ Only Switch Online app [https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/now-australia-is-getting-the-adults-only-n64-switch-app/]
 * After unexplained bans, PlayStation users report their accounts have been restored [https://www.theverge.com/2023/12/4/23988621/sony-playstation-account-ps5-bans-permanent-suspension]
 * Nintendo Live 2024 Tokyo has been canceled [https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2023/12/nintendo-live-2024-tokyo-has-been-cancelled]

Intro: Getaway by J+1

Outro: Run by J+1

Pick up their tracks on Bandcamp today @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jplusone.bandcamp.com [https://jplusone.bandcamp.com/]


--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-npcs-podcast/support

Bungie Revenue Turmoil, GTA VI Trailer, Game Awards Recap - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - Week of December 8th

Welcome everyone to a special episode of The NPCs Discuss! In this episode, we will be talking about our predictions for 20 of the 31 categories for the Game Awards 2023!

Intro: Getaway by J+1

Outro: Run by J+1

Pick up their tracks on Bandcamp today @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jplusone.bandcamp.com/ [https://jplusone.bandcamp.com/]

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-npcs-podcast/support

The NPCs Discuss - Game Awards 2023 Predictions

#Playstation #N64 #AssassinsCreed

In this week’s news:

 * Sony set to face $7.9 billion class action lawsuit over PlayStation Store prices [https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/sony-set-to-face-5-billion-class-action-lawsuit-over-playstation-store-prices/]
 * Nintendo is launching an 18+ n64  Switch Online App in Japan [https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2023/11/nintendo-is-launching-an-18plus-n64-switch-online-app-in-japan]
 * Ubisoft blames “technical error” for showing pop-up ads in Assassin’s Creed [https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/24/23974420/ubisoft-assassins-creed-odyssey-pop-up-ad-xbox-playstation-technical-error]
 * Dave the Diver comes under the Game Awards nomination controversy and Geoff Keighley weighs in [https://kotaku.com/tgas-dave-the-diver-indie-game-geoff-keighley-debate-1851049334#:~:text=The%20action%20management%20sim%20has,game%2C%20despite%20looking%20like%20one.]
 * Embracer CEO confirms Free Radical is facing closure [https://insider-gaming.com/free-radical-facing-closure-december-2023/]
 * Netflix lands the Grand Theft Auto Trilogy [https://www.polygon.com/23980880/netflix-play-grand-theft-auto-3-vice-city-trilogy-app-release]
 * Level 5 Vision announcements at the November Showcase [https://www.nintendolife.com/features/round-up-everything-announced-at-the-level-5-vision-2023-november-showcase]
 * New Sonic Movie 3 teaser reveals Shadow the Hedgehog’s shoes [https://www.pcgamer.com/shadow-the-hedgehog-is-in-the-next-sonic-movie-and-all-i-can-think-about-now-is-which-hollywood-tough-guy-will-voice-him/]
 * Resident Evil 4 Remake PSVR2 coming next week [https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/resident-evil-4-remakes-vr-mode-has-been-given-a-december-release-date/]
 * New Tribes game announced [https://www.eurogamer.net/new-tribes-game-seen-in-first-gameplay-footage]

Intro: Getaway by J+1

Outro: Run by J+1

Pick up their tracks on Bandcamp today @ ⁠⁠⁠https://jplusone.bandcamp.com/ [https://jplusone.bandcamp.com/]


--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-npcs-podcast/support

Sony PS Store Lawsuit, N64 18+ App, Ubisoft Pop Up Ads - NPCs Weekly News Roundup - Week of December 1st

The NPCs - Two terrible gamers talking about video games, video game life, and more! Join Kyle & Travis weekly as they talk about the games they're playing, the gaming news that's making headlines, and their elusive quest to find out if G-Man is really Gordon Freeman's dad! Well... Maybe not that part, but who knows! Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-npcs-podcast/support

Travis Sherman

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