Best Last Stand Media & Studio71 Podcasts (2024)

1
#321 | Stolen Treasure 4:44:26

7h ago4:44:26

4:44:26

What we assumed would ultimately happen has come to pass: Machinegames' upcoming Indiana Jones title is indeed coming to PlayStation 5. Between Minecraft, Call of Duty, and Bethesda -- not to mention Xbox Studios itself -- Microsoft has quickly become one of Sony's biggest third party partners, and we suspect things are still just getting started. …

1
#190 | We Played A TON Of Xbox Games Early (And In-Person) 2:20:41

17h ago2:20:41

2:20:41

For the first time ever, the Dukes are gathering in person to record an episode! What a time for it to happen too as we have plenty to discuss. For starters, we’re got our hands on a plethora of upcoming Xbox titles. Avowed, Ara History Untold, Towerborne, Atomfall, Metaphor Re Fantazio, and plenty more! As we were on site, we even had a chance to …

1
#320 | Closing Walls and Ticking Clocks 4:04:09

1h ago4:04:09

4:04:09

We're getting into the late summer now, and it's no surprise that the news is beginning to pick up, starting with word of more Xbox games migrating to PlayStation. By our next episode, we should have at least one more Microsoft-centric title lined-up for PlayStation 5, a sign of the times as -- ultimately -- much of that catalog finds itself elsewh…

1
#189 | Xbox Did WHAT?! - Hi Fi Rush & Tango Gameworks Are BACK! 2:24:32

6h ago2:24:32

2:24:32

In a year chockful of layoffs and studio closures, we needed a W like this. What was originally considered one of the biggest losses amidst these changes was Xbox's closure of Tango Gameworks. Originally known for survival horror titles, Tango stormed out the gate last year with the beloved action rhythm game, Hi Fi Rush, to critical acclaim. Kraft…

1
#319 | Just A Taste of All That Might Come to Be 4:10:48

9d ago4:10:48

4:10:48

We're pleased to present to you a decidedly old-school-coded episode of Sacred Symbols, recorded in the traditional 1v1 fashion. And we've plenty to keep us busy, starting with Sony's quarterly financials showing a thriving games division hampered by slowing console sales. But with PS5 Pro around the corner (and the inevitable first true price cut …

1
#188 | Avowed Just Got DELAYED... - What's Next? 3:13:05

5d ago3:13:05

3:13:05

Avowed is getting moved back to February 18, 2025 out of respect for our backlogs. How kind of Xbox to do such a thing! Avowed was a subject of much debate for the Dukes. While the game looked solid coming out of the January Developer Direct, it clearly needed more time. Come June, Avowed looked to be in much better shape and has now found itself a…

1
#318 | Hey Man, Wake Up and Smell the Concrete 3:58:39

16d ago3:58:39

3:58:39

While Sony may have purchased Bungie with specific end-goals in mind, it's clear -- some two years later -- that the deal hasn't improved PlayStation whatsoever. In fact, it's becoming increasingly nebulous why the acquisition was made at all, with Bungie hemorrhaging money, laying off hundreds, shedding high-end talent, and churning through funds …

1
#187 | The Numbers Are IN... - Is Xbox Hardware Dying? 3:18:11

26d ago3:18:11

3:18:11

The results for Microsoft Gaming's FY24 Q4 is in and it's mighty telling of where the company is at. On one hand, Xbox is making more money than ever before, but it's come at the loss of hardware sales which are down a staggering 42% YOY. Can Xbox afford to keep this trend up in a world not yet ready for digital only? According to Microsoft CFO Amy…

1
#317 | Cater to the Hollow 4:03:07

1M ago4:03:07

4:03:07

Anything can happen, but it seems likely that Firewalk's upcoming hero shooter Concord is essentially dead-on-arrival upon launch in late August. But with less than a month to go until release, what more can really be done? Making it free-to-play in the pre-release environment is an admittance of defeat and a sacrifice of what paying customers you …

1
#186 | The Games Industry Is Deteriorating 3:23:07

16d ago3:23:07

3:23:07

AI, layoffs, restructuring, and so on. Indeed, we're in the midst of interesting times for our beloved industry, but the clash between creator and executive has never been greater. Jobs are being lost to AI as we expected, but it's happening now. Not later, but now. Every publishing label is claiming that times are tough, but no adjustments on spen…

1
#316 | Days Pass, and This Emptiness Fills My Heart 3:55:34

23d ago3:55:34

3:55:34

We're truly in the doldrums of summer when it comes to console gaming, at least when considering news, releases, and other notable happenings. But we have a show to do nonetheless, and there are still a series of interesting tidbits worth discussing. Nexon's Bungie-inspired shooter The First Descendant has found itself in some controversy around in…

1
#185 | The Game Pass Aftermath 3:25:37

1M ago3:25:37

3:25:37

A rather peaceful July continues on as we dig through the aftermath of Xbox's major changes to Game Pass. For starters, we now have clarity on the wait for Day 1 games in the service at the standard tier and those who remain will be seemingly waiting a long time for their shiny games to arrive. Furthermore, Xbox is potentially pulling out of region…

1
#315 | Beta Energy 3:44:44

2M ago3:44:44

3:44:44

The next PlayStation Studios game in the pipeline is Concord, and we're all interested to see how it pans out. But by opening up its imminent beta weekend to all PS+ subscribers instead of those who pre-ordered the game, it's obvious that the pre-release energy for this title simply isn't there. Will a mass of people going hands-on change its traje…

1
#184 | The Xbox Game Pass Squeeze FINALLY Happened... 3:31:33

1M ago3:31:33

3:31:33

After years of conversation on the topic, Xbox has finally made long anticipated adjustments to its popular subscription service. Day one Game Pass games are gone from its standard tier and all have seen a price hike. The conversation naturally navigates itself to the "why" in this situation. All subscription services go up whether it's Netflix, Di…

1
#314 | Bend, But Don't Break 3:12:36

2M ago3:12:36

3:12:36

Days Gone came to PlayStation 4 more than five years ago, and though it sold very well, a sequel hasn't been greenlit, and will almost certainly never be. So why are we still talking about it? Because the civil war that fractured Bend Studio after Days Gone's release has left a sour taste in some folks' mouths. Fair enough. But ultimately, we've al…

1
#183 | Wowed By Avowed 3:04:03

1M ago3:04:03

3:04:03

It's finally a slow news week which means we get to settle into some stories that we'd typically breeze over! Leading the charge this week is Avowed which continues to sound amazing! With new details from director Carrie Patel, the Dukes settle into a discuss about character building, choice and consequence, and the oft-debated romance. Alongside t…

1
#313 | I Ain't No Mathematician, But I Can Count 4:39:17

2M ago4:39:17

4:39:17

Good news emanates from South Korea, where developer Shift Up announced that PS5-exclusive release Stellar Blade has surpassed a million copies sold. To the rational thinking person, this is obviously a great accomplishment for a niche and provocative release on a single platform, and yet there are know-nothings debating its success. Thus, we corre…

1
#182 | Todd Howard Tells All On Bethesda's Future... 3:21:04

2M ago3:21:04

3:21:04

In a relatively slow week, we're able to settle into a major interview conducted by Variety with the one and only, Matt Booty. Sitting as Xbox Game Content and Studios President, Matt Booty was a major factor behind Xbox's decision to shut down four Bethesda studios. In the brand's third attempt to answer the deeper reasoning behind these closures,…

1
#312 | Draggin' Quest 4:43:53

2M ago4:43:53

4:43:53

Nintendo and Microsoft both had rock-solid presentations during this faux-E3 time of year, and it has some PlayStation fans on their back foot. Why does it seem like Sony is dragging its feet when its competitors are going full steam ahead? Isn't there anything to say? And while many (including some of us on this show) make the argument that its la…

1
#181 | Todd Howard Tells All On Bethesda's Future... 3:06:37

2M ago3:06:37

3:06:37

Well, this is a first. Matty had the opportunity to sit down with Bethesda Game Studios lead Todd Howard to discuss everything from Starfield and Elder Scrolls VI to Fallout and the company's shifting design philosophies! In an otherwise slow news week, the Dukes sink into all Todd had to share with Matty. What's going on with Fallout ports or New …

51
#311 | You Can't Stop Entropy, So Why Even Try? 5:32:03

2M ago5:32:03

5:32:03

t's getting crazy out there. Fresh off of E3 Lite comes a slew of new game announcements, more than we could possibly cover, nonetheless play. And this brings up a good point, one we burrow down on: Who's gonna be able to buy and play all of this stuff in an ecosystem dominated by vacuum-like powerhouses that leave little room for competition? Are …

51
#180 | Xbox Is STACKED For 2024 - What's Next?! 3:37:00

2M ago3:37:00

3:37:00

If there's one thing that the Xbox Showcase taught us, it's that Xbox has a lot ready to release soon. Perhaps, even, too many! As Cog aptly puts it, Xbox has an abundance of riches and we're keen on seeing how they spread the wealth. Will Xbox go all in with a line up of Shattered Space, Black Ops 6, Avowed, Indy, and Starfield DLC? It's hard to t…

1
#285 | Ex Machina 2:06:08

3M ago2:06:08

2:06:08

When a movie invokes our obscure hometown of Brookhaven, Long Island, you know we have to give that film the proper KnockBack treatment. Dagan's been smitten with Alex Garland's 2015 directorial debut Ex Machina recently, and in a strange twist-of-fate, I (Colin) have actually seen this flick, a relative rarity. Dag and I both sat down to watch it …

51
#179 | That Was STELLAR - Our Reaction To Xbox's 2024 Showcase 2:39:22

2M ago2:39:22

2:39:22

After months of dooming, Xbos fans needed a big win. In the humble opinion of the Dukes, Xbox absolutely delivered on all levels. Missing games finally received needed updates with Perfect Dark and State Of Decay 3. The Coalition finally gets the spotlight in a shocking Gears announcement: a prequel set during E-Day! Furthermore, tons of third part…

1
#310 | The Waves Keep on Crashing on Me For Some Reason 3:48:14

2M ago3:48:14

3:48:14

fter a flurry of activity, we find ourselves in a bit of a lull. And frankly, that's good. We could all use a little bit of a rest. Doing so allows us to catch up, refresh, and anticipate what lies behind the next undoubtedly-busy corner. With E3's multi-pronged replacement readying a barrage of announcements and other newsworthy bits, let's clear …

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Last Stand Media & Studio71 Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

1
Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast

Last Stand Media & Studio71

1
Defining Duke: An Xbox Podcast

Last Stand Media & Studio71

1
KnockBack: The Retro and Nostalgia Podcast

Last Stand Media & Studio71

1
#321 | Stolen Treasure 4:44:26

1
#190 | We Played A TON Of Xbox Games Early (And In-Person) 2:20:41

1
#320 | Closing Walls and Ticking Clocks 4:04:09

1
#189 | Xbox Did WHAT?! - Hi Fi Rush & Tango Gameworks Are BACK! 2:24:32

1
#319 | Just A Taste of All That Might Come to Be 4:10:48

1
#188 | Avowed Just Got DELAYED... - What's Next? 3:13:05

1
#318 | Hey Man, Wake Up and Smell the Concrete 3:58:39

1
#187 | The Numbers Are IN... - Is Xbox Hardware Dying? 3:18:11

1
#317 | Cater to the Hollow 4:03:07

1
#186 | The Games Industry Is Deteriorating 3:23:07

1
#316 | Days Pass, and This Emptiness Fills My Heart 3:55:34

1
#185 | The Game Pass Aftermath 3:25:37

1
#315 | Beta Energy 3:44:44

1
#184 | The Xbox Game Pass Squeeze FINALLY Happened... 3:31:33

1
#314 | Bend, But Don't Break 3:12:36

1
#183 | Wowed By Avowed 3:04:03

1
#313 | I Ain't No Mathematician, But I Can Count 4:39:17

1
#182 | Todd Howard Tells All On Bethesda's Future... 3:21:04

1
#312 | Draggin' Quest 4:43:53

1
#181 | Todd Howard Tells All On Bethesda's Future... 3:06:37

51
#311 | You Can't Stop Entropy, So Why Even Try? 5:32:03

51
#180 | Xbox Is STACKED For 2024 - What's Next?! 3:37:00

1
#285 | Ex Machina 2:06:08

51
#179 | That Was STELLAR - Our Reaction To Xbox's 2024 Showcase 2:39:22

1
#310 | The Waves Keep on Crashing on Me For Some Reason 3:48:14

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