Sacred Symbols, Episode 106: Epic Moves (Patreon)

Until Fortnite, the primary fuel that made Epic Games run was Unreal Engine, its ubiquitous and flexible framework on which hundreds of notable, successful, and popular titles have run for more than two decades. But these days, Epic's many initiatives have the North Carolina-based company accelerating at light speed, and now, Sony owns a sliver of 'em. We discuss what this modest acquisition means, and why owning just a little bit of Epic can go a very long way. Then: A tension is growing in the industry concerning next-gen game pricing, and we've gotta jump back into the fray. Also: Horizon's writer has left Guerrilla, Kingdoms of Amalur is getting new DLC 8+ years after launch, Mafia: Definitive Edition gets delayed, Infamous may be coming back, and more. Plus: Listener inquires! Could episodic releases help adjust rising game dev costs? Are some gamers being completely over-the-top in their reactions to The Last of Us: Part II? Should Sony attempt to acquire WB Interactive? Does Long Island have the world's best pizza? (The answer to the last question is a simple and emphatic "yes".)

Timestamps:

0:00:17 - Intro.
0:03:19 - Thanks for the outpouring of support on Patreon!
0:06:45 - Upcoming Sacred Symbols+ plans.
0:11:24 - Our thoughts on the newly-revealed PS5 game case.
0:14:21 - We'll have news on Ubisoft's showcase next episode.
0:15:53 - The Deodorant Buttcrack Saga: Part III.
0:19:54 - One fan doesn't like drinking beers in the shower.
0:22:13 - Yes: Ketchup goes on eggs (etc).
0:26:53 - Is a sloppy joe actually a burger?
0:29:20 - Thoughts on Long Island pizza.
0:32:40 - What have we been playing?
0:37:59 - Are swans actually tough?
0:39:47 - Sony buys 1.4% of Epic Games.
0:53:44 - Tension is mounting over next-gen's game price increase.
1:32:00 - Horizon's writer leaves Guerrilla.
1:43:20 - Is Sony about to bring Infamous back?
1:49:47 - Yet another Sony patent suggests deep backwards compatibility is possible.
1:53:05 - Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning is getting new DLC; gets delayed.
1:57:47 - The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope has a release date.
2:01:21 - Mafia: Definitive Edition has been delayed.
2:04:38 - The team behind LA Noire: The VR Case Files is hiring for a new Rockstar project.
2:07:25 - EVO's co-founder falls to sexual impropriety allegations.
2:12:08 - PS Now has a few new notable entries.
2:18:58 - Sony has revealed the top downloaded games on PSN for June 2020.
2:20:10 - Minor game announcements and release date information.
2:22:41 - Should Sony consider buying WB Games?
2:29:37 - Why are some gamers treating Naughty Dog so poorly?
2:35:19 - Should critics take more seriously the environment in which they review games
2:39:09 - Could episodic releases help bend rising game dev costs?
2:46:53 - What's with the recent resurgence of live-action video games?
2:50:52 - What are our thoughts on Xbox's upcoming games showcase?