CORE - Core Gaming for Core Gamers

Nerdtacular 26 tickets, bags, and CORE swag. Sony raising PS5 prices. Stormgate losing multiplayer after server partner pivots to AI. Super Mario Galaxy Movie reviews are bad. Classic Resident Evil games on Steam, go GOG instead. Scott and Jon played Resident Evil Requiem together (Tuesdays 1pm). Scott in WoW and Dragon Quest Builders 2. Jon hooked on Crimson Desert. Beau wrapped Pirate Yakuza, more multiplayer Slay the Spire 2. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nintendo's surprising decision to make physical Switch 2 games more expensive than digital versions. EverQuest is relaunching in a format designed for time-strapped adults and old farts like us, Capcom is patching out some “accidentally” written incest from Street Fighter 6, Clair Obscur's devs confirm there's no canon ending, new gameplay footage dropped for both Exodus and The Expanse: Osiris Reborn. And loads more on top of that!

Scott
- Crimson Desert
- Dragon Quest Builders 2
- WoW Midnight

Jon
- Crimson Desert

Beau
- Crimson Desert
- Slay the Spire 2
- Diablo 4
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Crimson Desert launched today, reviews are mixed as expected, amazing open world, minimal story, no traditional leveling, open-world jank. John is at Disneyland! DLSS 5 announced by Nvidia, AI-yassifies characters without permission from devs like Capcom. Listener indie game Garden and a Goat announced, wishlistable on Steam. WoW Midnight discussion, level boosts are hard without knowing your class…but maybe no more? Pinball FX Williams Collection recommended, Pinball Map app finds nearby machines. Evoker alt class tried and abandoned. And loads more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nerdtacular 2026 tickets holding at early bird pricing, plus a swag bag-only option now available at frogpants.com.


News:

- NetEase pulls funding for Gang of Dragon — future of the game unknown

- Valve still targeting 2026 for Steam Machines despite RAM shortages; rumored to be a factor in Sony/Xbox strategy shifts

- EA lays off Battlefield staff post record-breaking launch

- Jeff Kaplan on his Blizzard exit — plus his one Overwatch regret: making it too team-focused when players want to shine individually

- Fortnite raising V-Buck prices

- Timberborn hits 1.0

- Xbox pushing "everything is an Xbox" / Project Helix, leaning into Windows 11

- Valve reports 6,000+ games made over $100k on Steam last year


Shared Play: Slay the Spire 2 — all three played it, early GOTY contender

Scott: WoW: Midnight (great time, nearly max level, campaign a little cheesy), Thysiastery (turn-based dungeon crawler, very positive on Steam).

Also: The Instance now posting Fridays at frogpants.com/instance.

Jon: Finished and 100%'d Resident Evil Requiem

Beau: Slay the Spire 2, more Star Trek Voyageur, dipped into new Diablo IV season (may have bought the Doom skin)

Feedback: Listener thinks he catches Scott being simultaneously terrified by AI and delighted by one-button AI rotations in WoW. And he is wrong about it.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Looks like Sony is officially getting out of the port business and going all Nintendo on us again. Assassin’s Creed Black Flag remake is indeed happening. Highguard is officially leaving in just a few days. MetaCritic got weird with AI over the last few days. The games we played, a lake correction, Zillow and WoW, and some Diablo 2 stuff!

GAMES PLAYED
Scott
- World of Warcraft Midnight
- RoadCraft

Jon
- Resident Evil: Requiem

Beau
- Legend of Grimrock
- Star Trek: Voyager
- The Killing Stone
- Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon
- Overwatch
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.