This week’s podcast dives into the unfortunate collapse of Firewalk Studios, the team behind the ill-fated Dragon Age Veilguard, which many are calling a complete trainwreck. Host Brett Deister expresses his frustrations with the gaming industry, particularly how it has strayed from meritocracy, leading to projects that fail to resonate with audiences. Alongside this, he discusses the rise of AMD's 9800X3D CPU, which is shaping up to be a formidable competitor against Intel. The episode critiques the current trends in gaming, including a focus on identity politics that Deister believes detracts from engaging storytelling. Tune in as he unpacks these pressing issues and shares his candid thoughts on the state of gaming today.

Takeaways:

• The closure of Firewalk Studios highlights the consequences of ignoring meritocracy in game development.
• Dragon Age Veilguard has become a source of frustration for fans due to its disappointing direction.
• AMD's 9800X3D CPU may provide better value than Intel's recent offerings in the gaming market.
• Focusing on gender identity over storytelling can alienate the core gaming audience altogether.
• Bioware’s current leadership choices reflect a troubling trend that could lead to further decline.
• The gaming industry's obsession with social issues might lead to a loss of traditional players.

Companies mentioned in this episode:

• Sony
• AMD
• Bioware
• EA
• Nvidia
• Intel
• Firewalk Studios
• Polygon