Welcome back, Roommates! This week the boys are talking about all the latest head-turning happenings in gaming news. From SquareEnix selling their Western IPs to invest in NFTs, the FTC investigating Sony, and Bungie standing up for human rights in the face of gamer nerds—this episode details that between corporate greed, litigations, and rights issues there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes for the games we play.


In support of Bungie’s statement around pro choice, human autonomy, and opposition to Roe V. Wade being overturned—please consider visiting the website for URGE (Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equity) to read up on their mission and make a donation if you can at : https://urge.org/

Daniel Ezzo's Album

Episode 130: SquareEnix Sells Their Western IP to Embrace Crypto Chaos

The Save Room proper is out of hibernation and back with our longest news episode to date. It’s two months into the year so naturally we had to catch you all up on our thoughts on news and what we’ve been playing. (Consider this the infinite wealth of podcasts for those who like our show).

Our big news topic is around the sweeping gaming industry layoffs. It’s a long winding conversation that we come at at every angle. Two full months into the year we’ve already seen well over 8,100 game dev layoffs across Sony, Microsoft, EA, Embracer, Remedy, and many other studios. There is no one theme as studios are letting talented devs go in their name of “right-sizing” due to Covid over-hiring, merges, consolidations, forced RTO mandates, and studio closures. It’s a dire time for those in the industry and even for those wanting to break into it with no clear end in sight. We also talk the new Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree DLC trailer, Borderlands the movie, and Switch 2 rumors.

At the back half, we talk what we’ve been playing: from spreading democracy in Helldivers 2 to charting eldritch horrors in Pacific Drive with two massive JRPGs at the end, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. Both titles have been long anticipated for your Save Room boys. We’ve logged over 100 hours respectively in Infinite Wealth and have a lot to say. Our FF7 Rebirth conversation covers up through chapter 4 and is impressions-only (don’t worry, we’ll have a massive spoiler cast coming soon), but the TLDR is that we’re loving it so far. 

Time codes below for the uninitiated. Thanks for listening!

——————————————

Time codes:

-Intro - 0:00
-Kevin saying “time code” - 11:04
-Main topic: Games industry hit with over 8,100 layoffs - 14:40
-Xbox business update conversation - 1:30:24 
-Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree DLC - 1:46:23
-Borderlands movie trailer - 1:54:04 
-Pokémon Direct - 2:00:43 
-Switch 2 Rumors - 2:06:00 
-Remedy buys rights to Control - 2:10:55
-Rockstar RTO - 2:14:04
-Helldivers 2 - 2:16:15
-Pacific Drive - 2:42:11 
-Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - 2:55:54
-Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth - 3:27:31

Episode 136: No Country for Game Dev

We talk Final Fantasy XV impressions, video game sequels, Nintendo theme park rides, and Resident Evil 7. (Released to Patreon Supporters 12.02.16)

GamesCast

Final Fantasy XV and Resident Evil 7 - Kinda Funny Gamescast Ep. 97

Join Greg, Colin, Tim, David Jaffe, and Shuhei Yoshida for an episode of PS I Love You XOXO recorded in front of thousands at PSX 2016. (Released 12.06.16)

PS I Love You XOXO Live at PSX 2016

Greg and Colin delve into what The Last of Us Part II might be about and how much they don't want to know what it's about. (Released 12.13.16)

The Last of Us Part II Theories - PS I Love You XOXO Ep. 65

We review Super Mario Run, questions if there are too many open world games, the quality of PlayStation Plus, and gaming in 2017.(Released to Patreon Supporters 01.06.16)

Super Mario Run Review and Too Many Open World Games - Kinda Funny Gamescast Ep. 102

Lampshade

Hey Save Roommates, gather around the campfire for another weekly episode of The Save Room. This week we get all sorts of spooky as we dish on getting lost in the new Netflix series Haunting of Hill House and fight our way back through the Baker Estate in Resident Evil 7. Kevin is also hanging dong in the Order 1886 while Daniel talks on Playstation Now and confesses his unholiest confession of never having played a Rockstar game before this week.

Also: Shuhei is letting us change our PSN names, Skybound wants to employ former Telltale employers to finish TWD, Red Dead 2 is releasing on two discs, Days Gone is delayed, and Gooigi is actually a thing! 

We also decided to flip the script a little this week by making our news pieces shorter and rearing up for a bigger topic. If you didn't know, the gaming industry was set afire last week following an interview that Rockstar's founder Dan Houser had with Vulture. The interview comes on the heels of the highly anticipated release of Red Dead Redemption 2 with Houser's statement about 100-hour work weeks spawning numerous conversations about the nature of work "crunch" and how working conditions are across Rockstar's many studios. Rockstar has known to be private in the past and following this story, we've had countless behind-the-scenes accounts emerging that shed light on what's actually going on. 

While the story is still ongoing and being investigated further by Kotaku's Jason Schreir, we put our spurs to the topic and heavily discuss what we know so far, how we feel regarding excessive overtime across the gaming industry and what needs to change. While we're no experts on the topic, we wanted to present the subject in its fullest details while giving Rockstar the benefit of the doubt until the whole story comes out. 

So strap on your boots and get your saddles ready--this one is going to be a wild ride.
-----------------------------------------

---Cuts----
0:00:00--Intro/What We've Been Playing
0:27:20--Quick Hits (or "Next Level News")
1:14:18--Topic: Rockstar and the Problem of Crunch in the Industry
----------------------------

Episode 43: The Good, the Bad and the Crunch

It's really "The Last of Us" - for Reggie and Harold. That's because the two wrap up their seven-episode fundraising podcast with a PlayStation Special. Please donate now at to help underserved communities at https://nygamecritics.com/reggie/. First up, Naughty Dog's game director Neil Druckmann speaks about the making of and release of The Last of Us Part II - and offers donors a signed Last of U Part II PlayStation Pro Bundle! Then, Media Molecule's studio director Siobhan Reddy speaks about the creation of Dreams and LittleBigPlanet.

Neil Druckmann And Siobhan Reddy Join Talking Games With Reggie And Harold

The Save Room is your safe haven for gaming news and discussion! If you're looking for critical and well-informed opinions on the video game industry from two highly regarded experts... Let us know when you find that. That show sounds awesome.

Instead, crack open a cold one and listen to us rant about games, gaming culture, and Reggie Fils-Aimé's skull collection. When you listen to The Save Room, you're practically a roommate! Because we like you (and you owe us rent).

Hosted by Kevin Pape and Daniel.

New episodes on every Friday.

Episode 136: No Country for Game Dev

The Save Room

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