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Steam joins the console race, Game Awards nominees, State of Play breakdown

·1 hr 31 min·5 clips

Travis bets Half-Life 3 will release next year, syncing perfectly with Valve's new Steam Machine.

Host Dylan Moss and guest Travis discuss recent video game industry news, including The Game Awards nominees and new hardware announcements. They share their initial reactions to the nomination lists, having not yet seen them in full. The Game of the Year nominees are Claire Obscure, Expedition 33, Death Stranding 2, Hades 2, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. The hosts note the prevalence of sequels on the list and express surprise at the absence of Ghost of Yotai. They compare this year's list to 2023's stacked lineup, which included Alan Wake 2 and Baldur's Gate 3. Travis mentions he has only played two of the nominated games this year, while Dylan has downloaded Alan Wake 2. They speculate Claire Obscure is the current hype pick to win the top award. The Best Audio Design category includes Battlefield 6, Claire Obscure, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Ghost of Yotai, and Silent Hill F. The hosts observe a pattern where the same core group of games appears across multiple categories, which Dylan finds lacking in variety. They note the inclusion of Silent Hill F as a standout for a horror game in a major category. A surprising claim is that the fan vote for The Game Awards constitutes 10% of the final tally, and Dylan participates in it. Travis jokes that Dylan's gaming experience might account for 75% of the panel's knowledge on certain titles. An interesting insight is their discussion on sequel quality, comparing Ghost of Yotai to Spider-Man 2 as iterative sequels that may not garner the same passionate votes as more radical follow-ups like Death Stranding 2. They find it notable that Death Stranding 2 is nominated despite the first game's divisive nature, suggesting this sequel may be more action-oriented. A memorable moment is their struggle to load The Game Awards website due to high traffic, which they attribute to a record number of votes. They also highlight the Best Performance category, which features three actors from Claire Obscure and Troy Baker for Indiana Jones, noting the perceived snub of Lea Seydoux for Death Stranding 2. The tone is casual and conversational, featuring two friends sharing their immediate, unfiltered reactions to the news. The style is analytical yet humorous, with the hosts frequently referencing their own gaming backlogs and personal preferences. Listeners who enjoy timely, opinionated discussions about industry awards and major game releases will love this episode. Those seeking deep, researched analysis or who dislike speculation based on incomplete information might want to skip it.

As heard by us

Weekly game chatter, old favorites, and quick reactions from two hosts who are clearly playing along.

The episode moves briskly through the week's game talk. The Game Awards nominees get quick reactions, Steam's new hardware draws some surprise, and the new State of Play gives the hosts plenty to work with.

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Why you'd press play

For game news with actual player brain turned on.

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