The Game Adventure

Gamescom 2026 is over, and I watched hours of showcases to find the games, technology, and stories worth keeping on your radar. This week, we explore how accessible tools are opening game development to new kinds of artists, and the trap indie games fall for (just like AAA).
We also look at the artistic use of ray tracing in *Gears of War: E-Day*, the digital preservation work happening in *Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024*, Xbox’s new disc-to-digital program, and a *Tomb Raider* remake that wants to preserve the feeling of the original rather than merely reproduce it.
Then it is time for a packed Game List featuring *Fable*, *Minecraft Dungeons II*, *Star Wars: Galactic Racer*, *GravHounds*, *Dumpster Gang*, *Kingdom III: Rising Realms*, *Deep Dish Dungeon*, and many more.
**Join The Game Adventure Community!**  Visit https://thegameadventure.com and join the free email list. Subscribers get early access to the video edition of the podcast and an invitation to our Discord server when it launches.

A rare win for Double Fine, a possible $1,000 future for consoles, and a simple argument for why video games still need demos. We also revisit the leadership of Satoru Iwata, explore the magic of physical games, and update the Game List with the releases and trials worth watching.
- **[00:00] — Cold Open**- **[00:14] — Welcome to The Game Adventure**- **[01:09] — Industry Update**- **[10:15] — Tech Update**- **[18:02] — Retro Rerun**- **[29:00] — The Soapbox: Video Games Still Need Demos**- **[34:04] — The Game List**- **[47:51] — Outro**
**Join The Game Adventure Community!**  
Head over to https://thegameadventure.com and join our free email list. Subscribers get early access to the video edition of the podcast!

Is digital ownership really a monopoly, or are we just angry about renting? This week on The Game Adventure, we dive into the massive Stop Killing Games lawsuit against PlayStation and what it means for the future of digital games. Plus, we discuss EA's massive buyout of BioWare, the recent Xbox layoffs, and why the new Google Pixel 11 might not be the best choice for mobile gamers.
Later in the show, we step up on the soapbox to address the growing risk of the "entitled gamer" and why we need to focus on finding the good and keeping video games fun! Finally, we look at the games you need to keep on your radar, including Hogwarts Legacy 2 and Star Wars Galactic Racer.
Join the Community! Want early access to the video edition of the podcast and an exclusive invite to our upcoming Discord server? Join the free email list at: thegameadventure.com

This week on The Game Adventure, we try to rediscover the excitement of the next generation of gaming. We dive into the rumors that Xbox might actually preserve physical discs, review the incredibly priced Anbernic and AYANEO retro handhelds, and discuss how a simple glitch became one of Mario's many iconic mechanics!
Chapter Markers:
[00:00] - Cold Open & Intro
[01:49] - Industry News: Xbox Keeping Discs, EA's Saudi Buyout, & Roblox Safety
[11:43] - Tech Update: The AI RAM Crisis & Xbox 360 Games Emulated on PC
[19:36] - Retro Rerun: Incredible Budget Handhelds & Mario's Best Glitch
[24:26] - My Point of View (Soapbox): Bringing the Dream Back to Next-Gen Gaming
[27:45] - The Game List: Fire Emblem, Fields of Mistria, & Splatoon Raiders
[37:25] - Mailbag & Outro: VR's Future & DIY Physical Media
Join The Game Adventure Community! Head over to thegameadventure.com and join our free email list. Subscribers get early access to the video edition of the podcast and an exclusive invitation to our Discord server later in Fall 2026!

This week on The Game Adventure, Xbox comes out swinging with an incredibly ambitious strategy to hit 1 billion users by 2030, but how will they pull it off while Game Pass revenue drops? Meanwhile, Halo: Campaign Evolved is finally here, and ironically, it plays best on the PS5 Pro!
In the Tech Update, we discuss the rising costs of GPUs and highlight the best budget cards for your next build, while celebrating Valve fulfilling the Steam Machine reservations.
For the Retro Rerun, we are looking at Super Mario Sunshine dropping on Nintendo Switch Online, the DIY physical media movement for PC gamers, and a massive roundup of the hottest retro handhelds (ModRetro M64, Retroid Pocket Nova, and the Anbernic RG35XXSP).
Finally, in this week's Soapbox, I address a growing argument on the internet: If buying isn't owning, is piracy still stealing? We unpack the ethics of intellectual property and why voting with your wallet is always better than digital theft. Plus, The Game List and your thoughts in the Mailbag!
Join the Adventure! Want early access to the video version of the podcast and an exclusive invite to our upcoming Discord server? Sign up for the free email list at thegameadventure.com!
Send your thoughts, questions, or hot takes for the Mailbag to: thisisthegameadventure@gmail.com.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Welcome to The Game Adventure!
02:05 - Industry News: Xbox's 1 Billion User Goal & Halo on PS5
07:43 - Tech Update: GPU Prices Rising & The Steam Machine
11:15 - Retro Rerun: Mario Sunshine, Custom PC Discs, & Retro Handhelds
20:17 - The Soapbox: Is Piracy a Valid Protest?
26:54 - The Game List: New Releases & Subscription Updates
33:00 - The Mailbag: The Physical Media Debate Continues

In this week’s episode of the Game Adventure Podcast, we talk about the Halo Remake, and a GBA SP remake (of sorts)! We cover the surprising indie developer backlash against generative AI, the drop in Steam Deck sales, and the specs for Valve's upcoming "Steam Frame" VR headset. Later, we time warp back 30 years to celebrate the Game Boy Pocket, debate CRT shaders vs. raw upscaling in our Soapbox segment, and run through the biggest games hitting Game Pass and PS Plus soon!
Watch the new Video Podcast early by subscribing to the email list at https://thegameadventure.com!
00:00 - Intro & What I'm Playing (Forza Horizon 6)01:37 - Industry News: The End of Physical Media 04:55 - Is Xbox Game Pass Viable? (Ad-Supported Tier)07:25 - EA Acquired by Saudi Arabia08:12 - GameStop Tries to Buy eBay (Again)09:05 - Indie Studios Reject Generative AI11:44 - Tech Update: Steam Deck Sales Drop 82%12:51 - Valve's "Steam Frame" VR Headset Specs15:00 - Halo: Campaign Evolved (UE5 Remake)17:34 - Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced18:55 - Retro Rerun: Preserving Gaming History20:04 - Happy 30th Birthday, Game Boy Pocket!21:16 - Anbernic RG SP: The Perfect Clamshell22:56 - Playable Lego Donkey Kong Arcade Set24:06 - Native Xbox Backwards Compatibility on PC26:12 - Soapbox: CRT Shaders vs. Upscaling Retro Games31:06 - The Beauty of Emulation & RetroAchievements32:30 - The Game List: Splatoon Raiders33:32 - Star Wars: KOTOR Remake Updates34:57 - Xbox Game Pass Updates (Planet Crafter, Beast of Reincarnation)36:45 - Leaving Game Pass: Celeste & Rain World37:50 - PlayStation Plus: CoD MW3, CrossCode38:25 - Xbox Free Play Days & Outro

This week, we discuss the brutal reality of how Xbox Game Pass metrics might be quietly killing some of our favorite game sequels, using Avowed 2 as the prime example. Plus we'll take a look at the price jump expected for the Meta Quest 4, and dive into why the PS1 beat the N64 at courting developers!
Chapter Markers:
[00:00] - Cold Open Hook
[00:32] - Welcome to The Game Adventure
[01:21] - Industry News: PlayStation & Physical Media
[03:21] - Industry News: Xbox Restructuring & Layoffs
[04:21] - Industry News: Obsidian Shelves Avowed 2
[05:11] - Industry News: Microsoft Account Hack
[07:38] - Tech Update: Meta Quest 4 Rumors
[08:59] - Tech Update: NVIDIA RTX 5080 Slimline
[11:03] - Tech Update: Switch 2 Backwards Compatible Docks
[12:10] - Retro Rerun: New Handhelds & "Konkr"
[14:16] - Retro Rerun: PS1 vs N64 Capabilities
[16:30] - Retro Rerun: The 20-Year Retro Rule
[17:53] - Retro Rerun: Xbox Summer Sale & Sims 4 Autosaves
[19:36] - Dan's Cutscene Soapbox: Game Pass & Sequel Greenlights
[24:16] - The Game List: AAA Games (Halo, Star Wars, MGS)
[26:12] - The Game List: Subscription Additions (Game Pass & PS Plus)
[28:48] - The Game List: The Indie Minute (Big Walk)
[30:05] - The Game List: Family Games (Power Rangers)
[30:47] - The Game List: Parental Advisory (Dispatch)
[31:49] - The Game List: Castlevania Belmont's Curse Update
[32:18] - Outro & CTA
Join The Game Adventure Community! Head over to thegameadventure.com and join our free email list. Subscribers get early access to the video edition of the podcast and an exclusive invitation to our Discord server where the conversation continues!

This week on The Game Adventure, we tackle a brutal week for the industry, diving into the Xbox restructure and the human cost behind it. I also call out Ubisoft for their lazy Day-One DLC in the Assassin's Creed Black Flag remake, celebrate Sega's "Resurrect the Catalog" initiative, and get on my soapbox to explain why Sony's decision to kill physical discs by 2028 isn't the apocalypse everyone thinks it is. Plus, a massive catch-up on all the July subscription games you might have missed!
Chapters:
[00:00] - Cold Open & Intro
[01:21] - Channel Updates: Video Podcast & Discord Coming Soon
[04:06] - Industry News: Xbox's Brutal Layoffs & Studio Spin-offs
[10:47] - Tech Update: Assassin's Creed's Lazy Day-One DLC
[15:21] - Retro Rerun: Sega's 'Resurrect the Catalog' Initiative & NSO Drop
[20:41] - Dan's Cutscene Soapbox: Why the Death of Physical Games is Actually Okay
[33:12] - The Game List: July Subscription Updates & Family Games
[38:43] - Outro & Community CTA
Join The Game Adventure Community! Head over to thegameadventure.com and join our free email list. Subscribers get early access to the video edition of the podcast when it releases in August, and an exclusive invitation to our Discord server later this Fall!

This week, we'll talk about the Xbox price hikes, Bungie's collapse, and why Valve's new $1,049 Steam Machine is actually not a terrible price. Plus, we dive deep into the retro scene with a look at the Retroid Pocket Nova, the elusive AYANEO micro-run, and a few thoughts on why technical limitations are exactly what the gaming industry needs to find its soul again.
Have thoughts on the show? Requests? Complaints?
Write me at thisisthegameadventure@gmail.com

This week on The Game Adventure, we’re joining the conversation surrounding the recent Xbox studio closures to talk about the problem with real business sustainability of the Game Pass era. Plus, we’re discussing the EU’s new battery mandates, the mystery of the $3 million Mario cartridge, and how your next favorite game might be a genre you've previously dismissed.
Keep up to date on this week's gaming news in a nice tidy under-an-hour episode every Saturday!
Links:
Starfox Game Boy Color De-make
Email me at thisisthegameadventure@gmail.com
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