Valid complaints about power levels and development strain be damned, the Xbox Series S was the best value in console gaming. That experiment has now utterly failed: https://www.respec.net/feature/135-the-xbox-series-s-was-best-value-in-consogaming-that-experiment-has-now-utterly-failed

Metal Gear Solid-inspired brilliant sci-fi shoot 'em up Birdcage from Polygon Bird is now available on GOG with a launch discount following its Steam debut: https://www.respec.net/news/139-metal-gear-solid-inspired-shmup-birdcage-now-available-on-gog-launch-discount

Pokemon Pokopia Expansion Pass Part 1: Bubbly Basin is now available on Nintendo Switch 2 with a major free 2.0.0 update for all players: https://www.respec.net/news/138-pokemon-pokopia-bubby-basin-download-patch-2-0-0-update-notes-full

Valid complaints about power levels and development strain be damned, the Xbox Series S was the best value in console gaming. That experiment has now utterly failed: https://www.respec.net/feature/135-the-xbox-series-s-was-best-value-in-consogaming-that-experiment-has-now-utterly-failed

Following the Direct, Nintendo has shared 21 new screenshots from Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave on Nintendo Switch 2: https://www.respec.net/news/136-fire-emblem-fortunes-weave-new-screenshots-nintendo-direct-gameplay

With Beast of Reincarnation, the development team behind much of Pokemon has somehow created one of the most thrilling character action RPGs since Nier Automata. Our review: https://www.respec.net/review/134-beast-reincarnation-review

They might be winning the high-end console war, but PlayStation is hitting turbulence - Is PlayStation too big to fail? https://www.respec.net/feature/50-they-might-be-winning-high-end-console-war-but-playstation-hitting-turbulence

Big Walk is a fascinating take on a social game that I can see becoming a good way to shoot the shit with friends. It is truly special so far: https://www.respec.net/feature/132-big-walk-review-ps5-pro-nintendo-switch-2-steam-deck-pc

Street Fighter 6 Year 4 has now begun. Yasmine joins in today with a big update: https://www.respec.net/news/133-street-fighter-6-yasmine-update-patch-notes-full-season-4

On this week's podcast we chat Final Fantasy, more layoffs, & Tom's expensive holiday coffee. Plus, Breens talks Palworld 1.0 & how it's secretly like a cookie clicker: https://www.respec.net/podcast/131-ff14-fanfest-recap-even-more-layoffs-why-palworld-secretly-cookie-clicker-game-respec-ramblings

Super Mario Sunshine for GameCube NSO launches on August 13. Zero Racers & D-Hopper, previously unreleased Virtual Boy games, launch on August 4 with new screen color customization options: https://www.respec.net/feature/128-super-mario-sunshine-switch-2-release-date-new-virtual-boy-unreleased-games

Watching this loving tribute to 90s PC classic Lego Island sent me hurtling back in time in the best way https://www.respec.net/news/130-watching-this-loving-tribute-to-90s-pc-classic-lego-island-sent-me-hurtling-back-in-time-in-best-way

Watching this loving tribute to 90s PC classic Lego Island sent me hurtling back in time in the best way | Respec

The kind of joyful tribute only a true classic can inspire - and the sort that makes me wish I had more time and space.

respec.net

Watching this loving tribute to 90s PC classic Lego Island sent me hurtling back in time in the best way https://www.respec.net/news/130-watching-this-loving-tribute-to-90s-pc-classic-lego-island-sent-me-hurtling-back-in-time-in-best-way

Watching this loving tribute to 90s PC classic Lego Island sent me hurtling back in time in the best way | Respec

The kind of joyful tribute only a true classic can inspire - and the sort that makes me wish I had more time and space.

respec.net

A new Marvel's Spider-Man 2 update out now adds Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Marvel Tokon-inspired suits for Peter. It also brings in enhanced PSSR support for PS5 Pro: https://www.respec.net/news/127-spider-man-2-ps5-pc-update-new-suits-marvel-tokon-brand-new-day-movie

Stalker 2: Cost of Hope, the game's first major expansion, launches on August 20 with Update 2.0 for Xbox Series, PC, and PS5: https://www.respec.net/news/126-stalker-2-cost-of-hope-dlc-release-date-xbox-ps5-pc

This week on the Respec Ramblings podcast, reviews of Halo & Splatoon Raiders, chatter on Xbox BC and ad-supported streaming, & pondering the worst Mario Kart. Patreon backers also learn Tom's surprising history as a grass, and hear Alex rant about E3 freebies: www.respec.net/podcast/124-...

Update: The Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls Open Beta is now live on PS5 and PC platforms. It is currently unplayable on Steam Deck: https://www.respec.net/news/122-marvel-tokon-open-beta-steam-deck-unplayable-anti-cheat-psn-account-pc-ps5

You can pre-download the Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls beta now on PS5, Steam, and Epic: https://www.respec.net/news/122-marvel-tokon-beta-download-preload-ps5-pc-steam-epic

Halo: Campaign Evolved early access is now available for Premium Edition owners ahead of its full launch on July 28 for Xbox, PC, and PS5: https://www.respec.net/news/121-halo-campaign-evolved-premium-edition-unlock-now-live-early-access-xbox-steam-pc-ps5-pro

Phoenix Cyclops has been revealed as first Year 1 DLC character for Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls: https://www.respec.net/news/120-marvel-tokon-fighting-souls-opening-movie-year-1-dlc-character-trailer

Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls' opening movie has been produced by animation studio Sanzigen and is directed by Daisuke Suzuki. The theme song 'Stronger as One' has been composed and arranged by MEGMETAL: https://www.respec.net/news/120-marvel-tokon-fighting-souls-opening-movie-theme-song-video

It was great to be playing Halo again with Campaign Evolved (when the frame rate wasn’t tanking), but it’s hard not to feel like the franchise has been severely let down in recent years. Our review: https://www.respec.net/review/117-halo-campaign-evolved-review

007 First Light is now Steam Deck Verified. Valve has updated the rating from Playable to Verified today: https://www.respec.net/news/119-007-first-light-steam-deck-verified-update-rating-valve

"Without Rollback netcode, I believe the game would not have lasted as long" - Ken Miyauchi on 5 years of Guilty Gear Strive, Anime Expo, & much more: https://www.respec.net/interview/107-without-rollback-netcode-i-believe-game-would-not-have-lasted-as-long-ken-miyauchi-on-5-years-guilty-gear-strive

Nintendo has added nine songs from the Splatoon Raiders soundtrack to Nintendo Music as a Special Release album to celebrate the game's launch: https://www.respec.net/news/118-splatoon-raiders-soundtrack-nintendo-music-now-available-special-release

Konami has revealed the Metal Gear Solid 4 and Peace Walker HD resolution and frame rate targets for PS5, Xbox Series, Switch 2, Switch, and PC in the Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol 2: https://www.respec.net/news/116-metal-gear-solid-4-resolution-frame-rate-switch-2-ps5-pro-xbox-steam-pc

Tsunku declined offers for working on similar games with others because he always believed a new Rhythm Heaven game with Nintendo would happen. He discusses the last 11 years & more in a new post: https://www.respec.net/news/115-rhythm-heaven-groove-tsunku-behind-the-scenes-journey-new-game-11-years

He had his doubts about Splatoon Raiders and thought it was just another looter shooter, but Tom's got ink all over his face now. Nintendo's Splatoon Raiders is perfect for handheld play. Our review: https://www.respec.net/review/113-splatoon-raiders-review

Activision has detailed the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Beta dates and content alongside confirming that the open beta will also be available on Nintendo Switch 2: https://www.respec.net/news/114-call-of-duty-modern-warfare-4-beta-switch-2-date-time-pre-order-ps5-xbox-pc

The gloriously earnest old-school sports sim PBA Pro Bowling is now in Game Pass - you should make time for it https://www.respec.net/feature/110-the-gloriously-earnest-old-school-sports-sim-pba-pro-bowling-now-in-game-pass-you-should-make-time-for-it

The gloriously earnest old-school sports sim PBA Pro Bowling is now in Game Pass - you should make time for it | Respec

PBA Pro Bowling 2026 is one of my favourite games of the last year, and I’m not joking. It’s now in Xbox Game Pass.

respec.net