Sacred Symbols, Episode 153: Generational Divide (Patreon)

It appears PlayStation no longer believes in generations, a quick reversal from its insistence only last year that PS4 and PS5 would be separated by games, and what one console can do that the other cannot. Yet, we now know that PS5's three biggest upcoming exclusives (Horizon: Forbidden West, God of War: Ragnarok, and Gran Turismo 7) are all coming to PS4, too. Not one or two of them. All three. In fact, we don't know about a single PlayStation first party PS5 exclusive after Ratchet & Clank launches (Ratchet & Clank being its only internal exclusive so far!), and that's... well... strange. What is Sony's strategy, and why has it so markedly altered course when not only when compared to its previous behavior in older generations, but its obvious and stated intent as of months ago? Plus, we get into other news. Sony teams Bend and Asobi spring to life, Platinum's lost PS4 exclusive Babylon's Fall may be reemerging imminently, Far Cry 6 is somehow both political and not, EA makes a play for Call of Duty-level success, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Does the success of Netflix's Castlevania series give Konami the perfect opening to release a new game? Is there any way to be a modern gamer while avoiding giving money to Chinese interests? Should developers be forced to release demos for their projects? Will Colin ever play "That Communist Game?"

Timestamps:

0:00:16 - Intro

0:10:07 - Intro questions, corrections, and smaller pieces of news.

0:19:21 - What have we been playing?

0:38:26 - Herman Hulst had a lot of disappointing things to say about upcoming PlayStation first party exclusives.

1:26:48 - We’ve got updated, but confusing, information on how teams working with PlayStation studios are branded.

1:35:53 - Sony intends to continue bringing games to PC.

1:47:11 - Bend Studio is working on a new IP.

1:57:33 - Team Asobi is officially a PlayStation Studio.

2:04:54 - Far Cry 6 has a release date - and drama to go along with it.

2:10:23 - PlayStation 3 has received a new firmware update…

2:11:04 - Crysis 2 & 3 are being remastered.

2:13:48 - Babylon’s Fall may be coming back into the limelight.

2:16:13 - EA has been making some personnel changes to help with Battlefield.

2:17:45 - Five Need for Speed games have been delisted from digital storefronts

2:20:02 - Dark Horse comics is jumping into the video game world.

2:22:08 - June’s PlayStation Now additions have been revealed.

2:23:05 - News Wrap-Up

2:25:11 - Why do we collect things?

2:29:58 - Should developers be required to make a public demo before release?

2:32:39 - Is it too late for Factions to release?

2:34:13 - What’s the best way to protest Chinese money in video games?

2:39:56 - Trails of Cold Steel fans are annoying.

2:48:45 - What do we think of the Castlevania show?