Sacred Symbols, Episode 139: Salvo (Patreon)

The PlayStation world is in absolute overdrive right now, at least on the news front (not so much on the games front). Such is typically the case when a new State of Play stream occurs. The new one gave us some interesting items to consider -- fresh looks at Returnal and Deathloop, for instance -- but learning about Final Fantasy VII Remake's PlayStation 5-exclusive DLC definitely takes the cake. Yet, we have to ask: Are States of Play all-too-transparent marketing gimmicks dressed up as fan events? Let's discuss. Plus: News galore! Sony has officially announced PSVR2 (though it's unclear why), Days Gone is going to PC (with more first party games behind it), EA has officially pulled the plug on Anthem (perhaps a year or more too late), Gran Turismo 7 has been pushed out of 2021 (but only into 2022), and much more. As always, we round things out with listener inquiries, this week ranging in topics from the hypothetical value of Square Enix on the open market and the usefulness of games as a coping tool to the perfect devs to take on Castlevania and Metal Gear Solid and Chris' peculiar New York dialect.

Timestamps:

0:00:16 - Intro

0:05:02 - We have merch! The best merch!

0:09:10 - We don’t want your Hall Monitor money.

0:19:02 - Sony continues their Play At Home initiative.

0:19:42 - An Illinois state representative is attempting to ban violent games.

0:22:42 - Yeah, no. No, yeah.

0:24:20 - What have we been playing?

0:31:25 - The February 25th State of Play.

1:15:09 - Something is happening with Japan Studio.

1:22:51 - Sony has announced “PSVR 2.”

1:42:48 - Gran Turismo 7 has been delayed.

1:52:33 - Anthem NEXT has been cancelled.

1:58:40 - Days Gone is coming to PC and more first party PS games will follow.

2:12:10 - Cyberpunk 2077’s Patch 1.2 has been delayed.

2:21:41 - Destiny 2’s “The Witch Queen” has been delayed.

2:25:33 - Diablo 2 Resurrected is coming to PS4 and PS5.

2:34:14 - Some Eastern market exclusive Yakuza games may be making their way to the West.

2:38:06 - A Saudi public investment fund has purchased stakes in several American video game companies.

2:40:52 - A live action Twisted Metal TV series is in development.

2:46:12 - Did Henry Cavill accidentally leak a Mass Effect series?

2:51:20 - Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 is seemingly a mess.

2:54:02 - A Star Wars: Republic Commando re-release is coming to PlayStation

2:56:33 - News Wrap-Up

3:01:04 - Do games help us in times of grief?

3:06:02 - Is Square Enix worth more or less than Bethesda?

3:10:12 - Are we excited for NieR Replicant? More importantly, should Edwin be ostracized from society?

3:14:15 - Who should work on Silent Hill and Metal Gear?

3:19:09 - Is the video game industry becoming overly “moralistic?”

3:33:44 - 1 in 4 PS5 owners didn’t own a PS4.