True Avatars - A Queer Video Game Podcast

I said I wasn’t gonna record a new episode this week, and then the Life is Strange: Reunion leak was just far too juicy to ignore. So I took the opportunity to also cover some older news stories I missed during December. This week is a little shorter because it’s just me and it’s only the headlines. Other news includes Netflix buying Warner Bros and significantly undervaluing its games division, Fortnite is collaborating with She Who Must Not Be Named to offer Harry Potter cosmetics, more video game adaptations are coming to the big and small screens, and Sims 4 might have a new expansion coming soon. PLUS, if you somehow missed it, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – remember that indie darling? – got DISQUALIFIED from winning one of its many Game of the Year awards (and that same awards show snubbed most of its queer nominees).   00:00:00 - Intro 00:05:42 - News   SPOILERS for the ending of Life is Strange and mild spoilers for ending of Life is Strange: Double Exposure   This episode was recorded on January 10 2026.   Follow True Avatars: Official website: https://trueavatarspodcast.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueAvatars Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/trueavatars.bsky.social Twitter: https://x.com/TrueAvatars Threads: https://www.threads.com/@trueavatars/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@true.avatars Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trueavatars/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569951551559   Sources: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/a-rating-has-leaked-an-unannounced-life-is-strange-sequel-with-strong-language-and-drug-use/ https://www.gematsu.com/2017/09/esrb-rates-grand-theft-auto-liberty-city-stories-vice-city-stories-max-payne-2-midnight-club-3-ps4 https://www.reddit.com/r/Games/s/FiwgBXORSD https://x.com/NateTheHate2/status/2009691766191165501 https://larian.com/news/divinity-original-sin-2-is-now-available-on-switch-2-ps5-and-xbox-series-x-s_147 https://productionlist.com/filming-may-frederick-e-o-toye-direct-upcoming-series-fallout-season-3-santa-clarita-ca-united-states/ https://www.inverse.com/gaming/fallout-season-2-jonathan-nolan-interview-phil-spencer-xbox https://screenrant.com/fallout-season-2-filming-wrap-ella-purnell-bts-photo/ https://variety.com/2025/film/news/sonic-spinoff-movie-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-live-action-film-2028-release-dates-1236596459/ https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/helldivers-movie-justin-lin-sony-1236438370/ https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2026/01/toby-fox-shares-development-update-on-deltarune-chapter-5 https://twistedvoxel.com/stardew-valley-shadow-drops-on-switch-2-with-free-upgrade/ https://x.com/concernedape/status/2006079498849247743 https://x.com/ConcernedApe/status/2006086790311272546 https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/12/fortnite-dragged-for-collaboration-with-jk-rowling-after-canceling-pride-celebration/ https://kotaku.com/netflix-warner-bros-games-batman-harry-potter-deal-2000651695 https://www.indiegameawards.gg/ https://insider-gaming.com/indie-game-awards-disqualifies-clair-obscur-expedition-33-gen-ai/ https://www.reddit.com/r/expedition33/comments/1prr5f6/sandfall_clarifications_about_their_use_of_genai/ (post was removed a day after I double checked it, but the paywalled source from the reddit user is the next URL) https://english.elpais.com/culture/2025-07-19/the-low-cost-creative-revolution-how-technology-is-making-art-accessible-to-everyone.html https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/battlefield-head-infinity-ward-co-founder-and-respawn-ceo-vince-zampella-has-died/ https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/01/08/xbox-developer-direct-2026/ https://simstime.net/2026/01/04/confirmado-the-sims-4-legado-realeza-e-a-proxima-expansao/

Cleo and Lloyd are back, and together we break down all the queer games scheduled for 2026! There’s tons of indies and AAAs, plus a whole bunch of non-queer games we’re excited for too! But we don’t know everything that’s coming out next year; we also make some bold predictions for games (and where the industry might be heading). Let’s find out what queer gaming is going to look like in 2026!   00:00:00 - Intro 00:09:23 - Looking Ahead to 2026   SPOILERS for Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis (and the original Tomb Raider)   This episode was recorded on December 18 2025.   Follow True Avatars: Official website: https://trueavatarspodcast.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueAvatars Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/trueavatars.bsky.social Twitter: https://x.com/TrueAvatars Threads: https://www.threads.com/@trueavatars/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@true.avatars Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trueavatars/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569951551559   Guests: Cleo: https://www.instagram.com/cleostrophobia/ Lloyd: https://www.twitch.tv/lloyd_lloydster   Queer indies highlighted: Usual June: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2702430/Usual_June/ Interplanetary Love Guide: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3390210/_Interplanetary_love_guide/ Hedgehog’s Dilemma: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3192120/Hedgehogs_Dilemma/ Monster Gal’s Voyage: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3743860/Monster_Gals__Voyage/ BrokenLore: Unfollow: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2133830/BrokenLore_UNFOLLOW/ Steel Century Groove: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1858950/Steel_Century_Groove/ Laugh Track: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3765430/Laugh_Track/ Scarlet Hollow Episode 5: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1609230/Scarlet_Hollow/ Key Fairy: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2878580/Key_Fairy/ Dead in Antares: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2511800/Dead_in_Antares/ Coffee Talk Tokyo: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3161220/Coffee_Talk_Tokyo/ The Wide Open Sky is Running Out of Catfish: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3172760/The_Wide_Open_Sky_is_Running_out_of_Catfish/ Lap of the Gods: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3138230/Lap_of_the_Gods_A_Visual_Novel/ Building Relationships: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2666920/Building_Relationships/ Frame of mind: a game of thoughts.: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2515480/Frame_of_Mind__A_game_of_thoughts/ Hungry Horrors: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3048840/Hungry_Horrors/ Find this Pixel Anomaly: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3290400/Find_This_Pixel_Anomaly/ Feline Forensics and the Meowseum Mystery: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2945150/Feline_Forensics_and_the_Meowseum_Mystery/ High Times - Dating/Cooking Sim: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2251220/High_Times__DatingCooking_Sim/ Neo Junk City: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2378230/Neo_Junk_City/ Messy Hearts: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3892820/Messy_Hearts/ Paralives: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1118520/Paralives/ Sucks To Be In The Sticks: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3665100/Sucks_To_Be_In_The_Sticks/ Neverway: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2318330/Neverway/ Fear Effect 2: Retro Helix (technically not indie): https://store.steampowered.com/app/3509140/Fear_Effect_2_Retro_Helix/ IKUMA: The Frozen Compass: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1728620/IKUMA__The_Frozen_Compass/ Scott Pilgrim EX: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2640950/Scott_Pilgrim_EX/ Dosa Divas: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2950710/Dosa_Divas/ Cyber Paradise: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2431790/Cyber_Paradise/ WILL: Follow the Light: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3144860/WILL_Follow_The_Light/ Banned Together: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3551960/Banned_Together/ Love in the Time of Spellphage: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3825300/Love_in_the_Time_of_Spellphage/ Virtue and a Sledgehammer: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3743260/Virtue_and_a_Sledgehammer/ Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3256150/Moomintroll_Winters_Warmth/   Sources: https://www.ign.com/articles/after-a-relatively-quiet-the-game-awards-microsoft-says-it-has-a-packed-xbox-developer-direct-coming-in-january-2026 https://bsky.app/profile/anniemay.bsky.social/post/3ma6wi5kfvc2g https://bsky.app/profile/unburntwitch.com/post/3ma4ozsue5c22 https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/hardware-sales-and-physical-game-spending-in-the-us-just-had-the-worst-november-in-30-years/ https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/global-games-revenue-in-2025-is-expected-to-grow-7-5-compared-to-last-year-analysis-suggests/ https://bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-12-18/sony-s-naughty-dog-studio-orders-employee-overtime-on-intergalactic?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTc2NjA4NTY0MSwiZXhwIjoxNzY2NjkwNDQxLCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJUN0hDRFNLR0lGUEUwMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiJCMUVBQkI5NjQ2QUM0REZFQTJBRkI4MjI1MzgyQTJFQSJ9.jGluGdyZVa1EEBKJKLlY2aRo0tCwewmOk2TBd_9y2Iw

2025 is almost over and I’ve invited Zoe, Ekamy, and Lloyd on to discuss our favourite moments from the year, as well as the many scandals. This is also a much more conversational and laid back discussion than most episodes, a kind-of “party” vibe, so join us for a laugh or two!   00:00:00 - Intro 00:12:57 - 2025 Year in Review   This episode was recorded on December 16 2025.   Follow True Avatars: Official website: https://trueavatarspodcast.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueAvatars Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/trueavatars.bsky.social Twitter: https://x.com/TrueAvatars Threads: https://www.threads.com/@trueavatars/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@true.avatars Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trueavatars/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569951551559   Guests: Zoe: https://bsky.app/profile/zoeleet.bsky.social Ekamy: https://www.twitch.tv/ekamy Lloyd: https://www.twitch.tv/lloyd_lloydster   Sources: Pixel art video Zoe mentioned: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bC-8y2R6IxI https://x.com/LenteGameDev/status/1991473653771599957?s=20 The many podcasts we recorded throughout this year! :)

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 cleaned up at the Game Awards and a certain queer actor took home Best Performance (while mentioning her girlfriend in the acceptance speech to boot). Several other awards went to queer games and there was a nice handful of queer and queer-adjacent game announcements.   00:00:00 - Intro 00:03:51 - The Gayme Awards 2025   CONTENT WARNING: Harry Potter/Hogwarts Legacy/JK Rowling discussion   This episode was recorded on December 14 2025.   Follow True Avatars: Official website: https://trueavatarspodcast.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueAvatars Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/trueavatars.bsky.social Twitter: https://x.com/TrueAvatars Threads: https://www.threads.com/@trueavatars/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@true.avatars Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trueavatars/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569951551559   Guests: Ekamy: https://www.twitch.tv/ekamy   Sources: https://x.com/discussingfilm/status/1999329463142605208?s=46&t=sVUrhNeL5EXDMRDpzdemfQ https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1903340/view/491585297311596633 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nCX95t5cWY https://store.steampowered.com/app/3743260/Virtue_and_a_Sledgehammer/ https://store.steampowered.com/app/3839300/Dogpile/ https://folly.studio/ https://store.steampowered.com/app/3256150/Moomintroll_Winters_Warmth/ https://x.com/CaseyDHudson/status/1999652683972489385 https://www.archetype-entertainment.com/en-US https://www.reddit.com/r/OutOfTheLoop/comments/1k15opn/whats_the_deal_with_people_being_annoyed_at/ https://www.linkedin.com/posts/girls-make-games_girls-make-games-scholarship-fund-activity-6998343842693275648-7WsN/ https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Misc-/The-Super-Mario-Galaxy-Movie-2915226.html?srsltid=AfmBOor5wf4IJIZ-O1CyTslhMRxtW3fYTMxQKJ5ZeB_9lC735RG_cKhN https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-BDeU3R5ic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYwGSLM8lsQ

This week I’m taking a break from news and other current events to interview Elana and Nat from Unquiet Games! Back in Episode 53, I spoke about a demo I played for a game called “Banned Together,” a first person 3D puzzle game (a “Metroidbrainia”) about queer books that are quite literally disappearing from the shelves of a library. Elana and Nat are the two lovely humans behind this exciting and timely game, and we talk about the development, their inspirations, as well as the impact the payment processor situation could have on the game’s release.   00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:34 - Interview with Unquiet Games   The intro was recorded on December 3 2025. The interview was recorded on December 2 2025.   Follow True Avatars: Official website: https://trueavatarspodcast.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueAvatars Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/trueavatars.bsky.social Twitter: https://x.com/TrueAvatars Threads: https://www.threads.com/@trueavatars/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@true.avatars Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trueavatars/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569951551559   Guests: Banned Together on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3551960/Banned_Together/ Unquiet Games on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/unquietgames.bsky.social Unquiet Games Official Website: https://unquietgames.com/