True Avatars - A Queer Video Game Podcast

I took a week off from recording and during that time, there were so many queer game announcements that it’s gonna take me an hour to get through them all! We’ve got Final Fantasy, Diablo, Overwatch, Horizon, Hollow Knight, Oblivion, Fallout, and… Thomas the Tank Engine…?!

In the second half, Cleo joins me for our long overdue discussion of the off-the-wall rhythm game UNBEATABLE. Was the game actually beatable after all? Cleo gives us all the details (including a dose of spoilers in the last 10 minutes)!

 

00:00:00 - Intro

00:10:51 - News

01:02:41 - UNBEATABLE

01:28:34 - SPOILERS for UNBEATABLE

 

The news segment was recorded on Feb 16 2026. The UNBEATABLE segment was recorded on January 28 2026.

 

Follow True Avatars:

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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/

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569951551559

 

Guests:

Cleo: https://www.instagram.com/cleostrophobia

 

Sources:

https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/den-of-wolves-studio-10-chambers-confirms-large-number-of-layoffs-including-several-co-founders/

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/alex-graner-a37262114_alex-graners-resume-activity-7427480816940892161-hmDh/

https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/designer-claims-most-of-highguards-dev-team-have-been-laid-off-weeks-after-launch/

https://www.polygon.com/ubisoft-strike-workers-france-italy/

https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/overwatch-is-dropping-the-2-adding-10-new-heroes-and-coming-to-switch-2-in-major-revamp/

https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/we-agree-that-she-can-be-even-better-overwatch-director-vows-to-redesign-anran-following-player-and-voice-actor-backlash/

https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/france-gives-28-clair-obscur-developers-a-knighthood-and-says-video-games-have-reached-a-new-level-of-recognition/

https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/clair-obscur-expedition-33-wins-five-awards-at-the-d-i-c-e-awards-2026-including-game-of-the-year/

https://deadline.com/2026/02/baldurs-gate-3-tv-show-craig-mazin-hbo-1236710583/

https://deadline.com/2026/02/jason-momoa-helldivers-release-date-1236715868/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JubgL46Xkmk

https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/playstation-and-guerrilla-announce-tactical-co-op-horizon-game-horizon-hunters-gathering/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88Ym9SCKFpc

https://www.teamcherry.com.au/blog/hollowknightupgraded

https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Games/Nintendo-Switch-2-games/Granblue-Fantasy-Relink-Endless-Ragnarok-3017587.html?srsltid=AfmBOorhQ3-uZMqM7eIViFQbSYBIcz5otAFbrhK6pxKj9UoBleVhUWBe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tnOYh_jIZ0

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3839790/Granblue_Fantasy_Relink__Endless_Ragnarok_Upgrade_Kit_Standard_Edition/

https://x.com/Borderlands/status/1970609156936868102

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGdFBim7nYY

https://www.konami.com/games/darwins_paradox/

https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/fromsoftware-owner-reiterates-duskbloods-is-still-coming-this-year-exclusive-to-nintendo-switch-2/

https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2026/01/psa-apex-legends-switch-version-shutting-down-this-august

Diablo 30th Anniversary Stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnAsWN-6hvw

https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/diablo-2-gets-its-first-new-class-in-25-years-as-diablo-4-director-promises-players-will-freak-out-at-whats-coming/

https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/valve-confirms-steam-machine-price-and-release-details-have-been-delayed-by-exploding-component-prices/

Valve release date schedule (Valve time): https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Valve_Time

https://www.wondersofsodor.com/gb

https://x.com/cartycinema/status/1880062136766067108?s=20

Nintendo fulfilled its promise to include same-sex relationships in Tomodachi Life, but they didn’t stop there! Just how queer is the new Nintendo wacky life-sim? We’ve got all the big gay details!

Lloyd joins me for this episode in which we also discuss the first steps into our Celeste journeys, plus the news, and finally a discussion about generative AI in video games.

Headlines include game developers reportedly *maybe* skipping the Game Developer Conference, a bold industry response to the Ubisoft layoffs/restructuring, and Scott Pilgrim EX has a release date.

Please note that our connection was a bit weaker than usual so there is a bit of a delay between some of mine and Lloyd’s discussion. Sorry about that, True Avatars!

 

00:00:00 - Intro

00:04:06 - What We’ve Been Playing

00:38:18 - News (incl. Tomodachi Life)

01:15:49 - Generative AI in Video Games

 

This episode was recorded on January 30 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

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569951551559

 

Guests:

Lloyd: https://www.twitch.tv/lloyd_lloydster

 

Sources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_0kl1WiSPg

https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/71317/

https://gamerant.com/gdc-2026-ice-concerns-us-safety-fears-dev-comments/

https://www.gamesindustry.biz/gdc-organiser-says-it-hasnt-seen-cancellations-from-overseas-visitors-attendance-tracking-in-line-with-expectations

https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/ubisoft-proposes-to-cut-18-of-workforce-at-france-headquarters-as-part-of-major-reset-plan/

https://insider-gaming.com/ubisoft-employee-suspension/

https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/-it-s-time-for-real-accountability-ubisoft-unions-call-international-strike?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=bluesky

https://bsky.app/profile/wario64.bsky.social/post/3mdgfmwvhtf2y

https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2026/01/scott-pilgrim-ex-brings-more-beat-em-up-action-to-switch-in-march

https://www.polygon.com/gaming/604420/scott-pilgrim-ex-new-game-release/

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/simoncarless_interestingly-pc-video-game-platform-steam-activity-7417944215675908096-OGNg/

https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/valve-has-significantly-rewritten-steams-rules-for-how-developers-much-disclose-ai-use/

https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/google-rolls-out-prototype-of-project-genie-an-ai-tool-which-generates-playable-worlds/

https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/data-centers-and-water-consumption

https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/artificial-intelligence-types

https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/computer-vision

Hosting solo again and covering a big week of queer game reveals: Life is Strange: Reunion, 1348 Ex Voto, and possibly even Fable.

There was a bunch of Mario news (including trans reps in the new movie), Warframe is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 very soon, the PS6 might be delayed, Ubisoft is laying off even more people, and so much more!

 

00:00:00 - Intro and What We’ve Been Playing

00:03:17 - What I’ve Been Playing

00:10:41 - News

 

Mild spoilers for the ending of Life is Strange: Double Exposure

 

This episode was recorded on January 25 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://youtu.be/b2eHeCKYHJc?t=1806

https://www.youtube.com/live/hXn6bvU1Kh4

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/fables-evil-landlords-wont-grow-devil-horns-as-reboot-ditches-classic-character-morphing-due-to-a-lack-of-belief-in-objective-arseholery

https://1348exvoto.com/

https://x.com/1348ExVoto/status/2014714742108024903?s=20

https://www.gematsu.com/2026/01/1348-ex-voto-launches-march-12-for-ps5-and-pc-xbox-series-version-canceled

https://www.ign.com/articles/ubisoft-cancels-6-projects-including-prince-of-persia-sands-of-time-remake-closes-2-studios-and-confirms-further-layoffs-in-major-company-restructure

https://www.linkedin.com/company/ubisoft-stockholm/

https://www.reddit.com/r/PS5/comments/1qk6qd6/rumor_sandstoneinsights_analysis_sony_expects_the/?share_id=jwMnzRpiBdD8gCbT0PdXG&utm_content=1&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_source=share&utm_term=1

https://www.digitalextremes.com/news/january-warframe-devstream-highlights

https://www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/free-update-for-mario-kart-world-lets-you-race-as-a-team-in-knockout-tour/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVB3hZoOF0A

https://youtu.be/yP5RGz_CRFM

https://x.com/USJ_Official/status/2014203076266348758

Ekamy and I dive into the strange queer game phenomenon: the Lesbian Plot Twist™. Isn’t it a little odd that so many gaymes prefer a mid-game “she’s actually a lesbian” surprise? Spoilers abound (see below).

We also discuss the news (including updates on the Life is Strange 5 and Sims 4 leaks, some queer games are being delisted, layoffs, and anniversaries), what we’ve been playing, and Queer Game of the Week!

 

00:00:00 - Intro

00:12:06 - What We’ve Been Playing

00:16:40 - News

00:47:37 - The Lesbian Plot Twist

01:23:58 - Queer Game of the Week: Of the Devil

 

SPOILER WARNING: Gone Home, Unpacking, This Bed We Made, The Last of Us Part I - Left Behind DLC, Life is Strange 1, Lock & Key, A Normal Lost Phone, Another Lost Phone, Tacoma

 

This episode was recorded on January 18 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

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569951551559

 

Guests:

Ekamy: https://www.twitch.tv/ekamy

 

Sources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2eHeCKYHJc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Rsi1cN3O48

https://www.ea.com/games/the-sims/the-sims-4/news/the-values-that-shape-the-sims

https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/the-sims-studio-says-its-values-are-unchanged-including-inclusivity-as-eas-saudi-takeover-progresses/

https://x.com/accidentalq/status/1998069196224385420

https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/meta-has-closed-several-studios-including-splosion-man-studio-twisted-pixel-and-asgard-wraths-sanzaru-games/

https://aftermath.site/meta-layoffs-camouflaj-batman-arkham-shadow/

https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/ubisoft-hits-the-division-and-avatar-studio-massive-entertainment-with-layoffs/

https://www.gamesindustry.biz/ubisoft-shuttering-freshly-unionised-halifax-studio-71-jobs-affected

https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/nintendos-share-price-has-dropped-33-in-the-last-five-months-in-japan/

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj4le852wgeo

https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/sega-announces-sonic-35th-anniversary-plans-to-celebrate-sonics-legacy/

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/