The Nextlander Podcast

For this week's show we're joined by Remap Radio's Patrick Klepek to discuss D-Topia, Denshattack!, the latest on Xbox's rapid downsizing, and the singular experience of bringing your kid to their first R-rated movie.
CHAPTERS:

(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:09) Intro
(00:00:46) What's new with Patrick Klepek
(00:01:06) The Backrooms and a kid's first R-rated movie
(00:07:16) What is influencing this generation of creatives?
(00:13:53) How did the experience at the theater go?
(00:25:05) Our first horror movies
(00:34:58) Other horror movies for the youth
(00:38:04) Watching the commentary before the movie
(00:42:48) First Break
(00:42:49) The Video Games
(00:43:03) D-topia | [Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S] | Jul 14, 2026
(00:58:23) Denshattack! | [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2] | Jul 15, 2026
(01:02:17) 007 First Light | [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S] | May 27, 2026
(01:19:17) Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced | [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S] | Jul 09, 2026
(01:35:19) Mio: Memories in Orbit | [PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch] | Jan 20, 2026
(01:37:53) Donkey Kong 64 | [Nintendo 64] | Nov 22, 1999
(01:39:13) Hyperfist | [PC (Microsoft Windows)] | Jul 10, 2026
(01:40:36) Penguin Lifter | [PC (Microsoft Windows)] | Jul 13, 2026
(01:43:16) Second Break
(01:43:17) More from the Xbox and Microsoft news
(02:03:04) Asha Sharma added to Jobs and Productivity Task Force?
(02:07:51) Strikes and Layoffs at Ubisoft Barcelona
(02:20:13) Glen Schofield is retiring
(02:27:09) Emails
(02:49:47) Wrapping up
(02:51:12) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts
(02:53:31) See ya!

We're joined by friend of the pod Lex Luddy to break down the avalanche of grim Xbox news, the fraught state of digital ownership, and a couple of old video games made new again in Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced and Star Fox.
CHAPTERS:
(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:10) | Intro
(00:05:21) | Xbox Games Begins Major Restructuring
(00:59:11) | First Break
(01:04:34) | PlayStation is dumping physical discs
(01:21:52) | Sony pulling movies from accounts
(01:38:15) | IO Interactive says they are continuing Project Fantasy
(01:43:21) | Mario Kart Tour is going offline
(01:49:05) | How much does this affect perception of the brands?
(01:57:45) | Second Break
(01:57:46) | Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced | [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S] | Jul 09, 2026
(02:12:57) | Rhythm Heaven Groove | [Nintendo Switch] | Jul 02, 2026
(02:16:17) | Star Fox | [Nintendo Switch 2] | Jun 25, 2026
(02:22:43) | Mio: Memories in Orbit | [PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch] | Jan 20, 2026
(02:29:48) | Dimhaven: The Lost Source | [Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows)] | Jun 23, 2026
(02:31:29) | Orbitals | [Nintendo Switch 2] | Sep 03, 2026
(02:38:15) | The SuperStation FPGA
(02:49:08) | Emails
(02:54:17) | Wrapping up
(02:56:35) | Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts
(02:59:48) | See ya!

While we're out this week we'd like to share this NBBP gem featuring Dan Ryckert and Abby Russell from a simpler time!
CHAPTERS
(00:01:15) Intro
(00:01:56) Dan explains the labelling of Johnny Walkers
(00:03:51) Hopefully, you can find this shot in the show notes on Patreon
(00:05:49) Dan is very upset about his driveway lights
(00:08:31) Traveling with pets by air or by foot
(00:12:19) Guessing your age by where you used to be able to smoke
(00:15:31) The "No Eating Cigarettes" section
(00:21:46) The state of John Wick
(00:23:14) Puss and Boots
(00:24:36) First Break
(00:24:38) Kids and horror movies
(00:31:12) Horror books as well!
(00:35:09) Kids love the movies they love!
(00:37:58) Everyone loves those Mario Bros.
(00:44:39) Second Break
(00:44:40) Dan is Mr. Internet
(00:48:48) I enjoy my YouTube movies
(00:53:34) Being the cool parents and adults
(00:56:24) The most honest salesman is Dan
(00:58:15) Are people still getting magazines?
(01:01:25) We almost made it without talking about pooping
(01:07:40) Wrapping up and thanks
(01:08:56) See ya!

Brad is still out on personal leave, but his podcasting cohort Will Smith is here to chat with Vinny and Alex about the Steam Machine, GTA's discless future, and a variety of video games and demos.
CHAPTERS
(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:10) Intro
(00:00:31) Will Smith is here to set us right
(00:02:29) This is the year of Linux... for real this time!
(00:09:35) Celebrating the end of Middle School
(00:17:58) Memories of Gym Class...
(00:21:44) The Video Games
(00:21:57) Heave Ho 2 | [Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC (Microsoft Windows)] | Jul 16, 2026
(00:24:39) The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu | [Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S] | Jul 15, 2026
(00:30:49) First Break
(00:30:50) Subnautica 2 (Early Access) | [PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox Series X|S] | May 14, 2026
(00:39:16) Cost to develop games
(00:49:10) Librarian: Tidy Up the Arcane Library! | [PC (Microsoft Windows)] | Apr 30, 2026
(00:51:39) Dimhaven: The Lost Source | [Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows)] | Jun 23, 2026
(00:55:52) Helldivers 2 | [PlayStation 5, PC (Microsoft Windows)] | Feb 08, 2024
(01:02:16) Managing Live Service Games
(01:08:01) Dragon Ball: Xenoverse 3 | [PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5] | 2027
(01:16:05) Second Break
(01:16:06) The Steam Machine pricing what it could mean
(02:08:02) Tencent might be scaling back investments
(02:21:19) Sega to change how it markets some games
(02:27:59) Grand Theft Auto 6 gets pricing and release details
(02:45:05) Email(s)
(02:49:08) Wrapping up
(02:51:35) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts
(02:52:56) Check out more from Will
(02:57:11) Nextlander Content Updates
(02:58:05) See ya!

Brad unfortunately had to duck out for this week's show, but Vinny and Alex keep the conversation going with more Summer Game Fest updates, ample discussion on Microsoft and the larger industry's current fortunes, and even a bit of speculation on what our level of survivability would be when pitted up against any X-Man, but mostly one X-Man in particular. The one with knives in his hands.
CHAPTERS

(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:10) Intro
(00:02:00) Rant 001: The U.S. Healthcare Grift
(00:09:59) Rant 002: The U.S. Mint Grift
(00:21:42) Retro Rewind: Video Store Simulator | [PC (Microsoft Windows)] | Mar 17, 2026
(00:25:35) Clutch | [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S] | Q1 2027
(00:36:28) First Break
(00:36:29) Stuntman: Hollywood | [PlayStation 5, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox Series X|S] | TBD
(00:42:12) Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival | [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S] | Oct 08, 2026
(01:03:51) Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis | [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2] | Feb 12, 2027
(01:08:49) Generative AI was also on display at SGF
(01:13:16) Replaced | [PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox Series X|S] | Apr 14, 2026
(01:16:19) 007 First Light | [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S] | May 27, 2026
(01:23:04) Crushed in Time | [PC (Microsoft Windows)] | Jun 10, 2026
(01:26:32) Second Break
(01:26:33) Finding out what Xbox's reset might look like...
(01:47:21) Don't Nod might run out of money
(01:49:56) Are we seeing a video game crash?
(02:05:17) Official PS5 SSDs are comically expensive
(02:13:09) Sony wants to sell you soft and rock hard buttons
(02:17:29) Commodore is making a mobile phone?
(02:23:18) Emails
(02:38:37) Nextlander schedule updates
(02:40:20) Washington Prime | [PC (Microsoft Windows)] | TBD
(02:41:00) Wrapping up and thanks
(02:41:34) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts
(02:43:15) See ya!