PS This is Awesome: Episode 358

Fred’s been juggling G.I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra, Darkest Dungeon 2, and nearing the finish line in Metro Awakening, while Jake took a nostalgic dive back into Sound Shapes on the PS Vita.

This episode, we’re wrapping up the year with our 2024 Games of the Year picks! Fred’s favorites include the chaotic brilliance of Helldivers 2, the brutal challenge of Darkest Dungeon 2, and the charm of Astrobot. Space Marine 2, Resident Evil 4 in VR, Metro Awakening, and the atmospheric Dead Space Remake also made his list. Jake’s lineup features the epic Final Fantasy Rebirth, the intriguing Animal Well, the highly anticipated Stellar Blade, and the imaginative Metaphor: Refantazio.

Looking ahead to 2025, we’re hyped for titles like Ghost of Yotei, Little Nightmares III, and Death Stranding 2. Split Fiction, Doom: The Dark Ages, and The Outerworlds 2 have our attention as well. Honorable mentions? Mafia: The Old Country, Hell is Us, Crimson Desert, Lunar Remastered Collection, and Metal Gear Solid Delta.

It’s been an incredible year for gaming, and next year’s lineup is already looking stacked. Tune in as we break it all down!

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Please, if you enjoyed the content or even if you didn’t quite enjoy this one, we encourage you to come back. We try to offer something for everybody. Please share with your friends and help us spread the show as we try to build a bigger community here!

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Fred’s nearing the end of Metro Awakening (Chapter 10!) and wrapping up his journey with Darkest Dungeon 2, finally tackling the last confession. Jake? He’s still deep into Indiana Jones and the Great Circle—on Game Pass, naturally.

This week, we’re diving into our PlayStation Wrapped for 2024! Fred and Jake both played 35 games this year, with Fred’s journey starting with Final Fantasy XVI and ending with Darkest Dungeon 2. His top games include 90 hours in Darkest Dungeon 2, 39 hours in Helldivers 2, and 34 hours in FFXVI. Jake’s list is, well, under wraps for now, but we know his 512 hours of gaming outpaced Fred’s 285.

Fred’s role-playing gaming style saw him snag 263 trophies this year, with A Fine Hound from FFXVI as his first and The Last Confession trophy in DD2 closing out the year. No Platinums for Fred, but 8 Golds aren’t too shabby.

In the news, CD Projekt Red confirmed that Ciri will take center stage in The Witcher 4, though specifics about platform support remain under wraps. Mark Cerny hinted at a continued partnership with AMD for the PS6, and Amazon’s Secret Level series has been renewed for a second season.

It’s a look back at an incredible year in gaming—join us for the full breakdown!

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Custom Die-Cut Vinyl Sticker: Receive an exclusive custom die-cut vinyl sticker featuring our podcast's unique design. Showcase your support with this limited-edition collectible.

Your support goes a long way in helping us continue to create the content you love. It's a simple and direct way to show your appreciation for our podcast.

To become a patron and unlock these exciting benefits, visit www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome today. Your support keeps us going and ensures that we can keep delivering top-notch PlayStation content.

Please, if you enjoyed the content or even if you didn’t quite enjoy this one, we encourage you to come back. We try to offer something for everybody. Please share with your friends and help us spread the show as we try to build a bigger community here!

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PS This is Awesome: Episode 356

Fred’s nearing the end of Metro Awakening (now on Chapter 10), revisiting TLOU Part II on PS5, and still deep into Darkest Dungeon 2. Meanwhile, Jake’s checking out Indiana Jones and the Great Circle—but on Game Pass (we forgive him).

This week’s show is all about The Game Awards 2024, and there’s plenty to unpack! Astro Bot took home Game of the Year, which feels like a well-deserved win. Naughty Dog dropped jaws with Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, and Helldivers 2 got a big update—“Omens of Tyranny”—complete with a DualSense tie-in and a fresh surge in player numbers.

We also saw trailers for some massive games: The Witcher 4, Elden Ring: Nightreign (a co-op spinoff coming in 2025), and Outer Worlds 2 (confirmed for PS5!). Mafia: The Old Country takes us to Sicily in the 1900s, Midnight Murder Club brings suspenseful 6-player shooter vibes, and Hazelight’s Split Fiction blends co-op sci-fi and fantasy in a mind-bending way. Capcom surprised us with Onimusha: Way of the Sword, and Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is officially happening.

There was even a soccer game, Rematch, from the studio behind Sifu—because why not? And Dispatch, a narrative-driven game starring Aaron Paul, looks like a 2025 sleeper hit. Oh, and Hideo Kojima’s back with rumors swirling about Gas Snake. Classic Kojima.

It’s a jam-packed breakdown of all the highlights, so grab a seat, and let’s dive into everything Game Awards!

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Your support goes a long way in helping us continue to create the content you love. It's a simple and direct way to show your appreciation for our podcast.

To become a patron and unlock these exciting benefits, visit www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome today. Your support keeps us going and ensures that we can keep delivering top-notch PlayStation content.

Please, if you enjoyed the content or even if you didn’t quite enjoy this one, we encourage you to come back. We try to offer something for everybody. Please share with your friends and help us spread the show as we try to build a bigger community here!

As always you can support our show at our Patreon Page. Thanks for listening.

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PS This is Awesome: Episode 355

This week, Fred’s diving deeper into Metro Awakening (now on Chapter 8), revisiting TLOU Part II on PS5, and exploring the depths of Darkest Dungeon 2. Jake finally conquered COD Black Ops 6 but is still spending quality time with Metaphor: ReFantazio and Half-Life: Alyx.

We’ve also put together a PlayStation gift guide just in time for the holidays. From consoles to accessories, PS Plus subscriptions, and even merch, we share plenty of ideas to make the gamers in your life smile—without breaking the bank.

In other news, Indiana Jones and The Great Circle is getting fantastic early buzz, though PS5 players will have to wait a bit. We also speculate on what surprises might be in store at the Game Awards next week and share some thoughts on Black Ops 6 multiplayer going free for a week. Plus, Sony’s hinting at hand tracking for PSVR2, and there’s a free Gran Turismo 7 game that’s definitely worth checking out. Ubisoft, on the other hand, is shuttering XDefiant and processing refunds—a tough end for the game and its development team.

It’s a packed episode, so let’s get into it!

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Early Access: Be the first to listen to our episodes as soon as they're ready. Get ahead of the game and dive into the latest news, reviews, and discussions.

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Your support goes a long way in helping us continue to create the content you love. It's a simple and direct way to show your appreciation for our podcast.

To become a patron and unlock these exciting benefits, visit www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome today. Your support keeps us going and ensures that we can keep delivering top-notch PlayStation content.

Please, if you enjoyed the content or even if you didn’t quite enjoy this one, we encourage you to come back. We try to offer something for everybody. Please share with your friends and help us spread the show as we try to build a bigger community here!

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0:00 - INTRO

22:45 - PLAYSTATION GIFT GUIDE

44:00 - INDIANA JONES GETS GOOD REVIEWS

45:30 - VIDEO GAME AWARDS 2024 PREDICTIONS

1:01:10- BLACK OPS 6 IS FREE FOR A WEEK

1:02:40 - MY FIRST GRAN TURISMO

1:04:16 - XDEFIANT SHUTS DOWN

1:11:42 - PSVR2 HAND TRACKING AND APPLE

1:15:22 - CLOSING

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PS This is Awesome: Episode 354

Fred is working through Metro Awakening (Chapter 6), The Last of Us Part II PS5 version, and Darkest Dungeon 2. Jake continues Metaphor: Refantazio, COD Black Ops 6, and Half-Life: Alyx.

This week, we talk about the animated anthology series Secret Level, inspired by games like SIFU, Pac-Man, and Armored Core, arriving on Amazon in December. Plus, the GTA 6 second trailer is teased, and December’s PS Plus games include It Takes Two and Aliens: Dark Descent.

Shuhei Yoshida has resigned after 31 years with PlayStation, leaving behind an incredible legacy of creativity. We also cover Space Marines 2's December update, Cyberpunk 2077's incredible 30M sales milestone, and The Witcher 4 entering full production.

Naughty Dog’s Troy Baker is starring in a new untitled PS5 game. Join us for all this and more!

By joining our Patreon community for ONLY $1.00 per month, you'll also enjoy these exclusive benefits:

Early Access: Be the first to listen to our episodes as soon as they're ready. Get ahead of the game and dive into the latest news, reviews, and discussions.

Personalized Shoutout: As a token of our gratitude for your support, we'll give you a special shout out during one of our podcast episodes, acknowledging your contribution and dedication to our show.

Custom Die-Cut Vinyl Sticker: Receive an exclusive custom die-cut vinyl sticker featuring our podcast's unique design. Showcase your support with this limited-edition collectible.

Your support goes a long way in helping us continue to create the content you love. It's a simple and direct way to show your appreciation for our podcast.

To become a patron and unlock these exciting benefits, visit www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome today. Your support keeps us going and ensures that we can keep delivering top-notch PlayStation content.

Please, if you enjoyed the content or even if you didn’t quite enjoy this one, we encourage you to come back. We try to offer something for everybody. Please share with your friends and help us spread the show as we try to build a bigger community here!

As always you can support our show at our Patreon Page. Thanks for listening.

http://www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome

0:00 - INTRO

18:20 - GAMES WE’RE PLAYING

36:04 - SECRET LEVEL

40:10 - PS PLUS GAMES FOR DECEMBER 2024

43:00 - WHEN IS THE NEXT GTA TRAILER?

44:40 - SHUHEI YOSHIDA LEAVES PLAYSTATION

49:00 - WARHAMMER 40K SPACE MARINES 2 PATCH

51:10 - PSVR2 COMMERCIAL AND 30TH ANNIVERSARY COMMERCIALS

54:40 - CYBERPUNK TEAMS UP WITH NETFLIX FOR ROUND 2

59:10 - WITCHER 4 IN FULL DEVELOPMENT

1:04:30 - TROY BAKER IS BACK ON ASSIGNMENT AT NAUGHTY DOG

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PS This is Awesome: Episode 353 Summary

Fred is playing Metro Awakening, the PS5 version of The Last of Us Part II, and gave Bloodborne a try through PlayStation Stars, while Jake sticks with Metaphor: Refantazio.

This week’s news includes Black Friday PlayStation deals like PSVR2 bundles for $349, Elden Ring for $19.99, and a 2TB SSD for $159.99. Sony is rumored to be working on a new handheld inspired by the PS Portal's success.

IO Interactive is removing all Conor McGregor content from Hitman 3 following his conviction. Meanwhile, Sony may buy Kadokawa, potentially gaining a majority stake in FromSoftware along with Chunsoft and Acquire (Danganronpa, Octopath Traveler).

Tune in for our thoughts on these stories and more!

By joining our Patreon community for ONLY $1.00 per month, you'll also enjoy these exclusive benefits:

Early Access: Be the first to listen to our episodes as soon as they're ready. Get ahead of the game and dive into the latest news, reviews, and discussions.

Personalized Shoutout: As a token of our gratitude for your support, we'll give you a special shout out during one of our podcast episodes, acknowledging your contribution and dedication to our show.

Custom Die-Cut Vinyl Sticker: Receive an exclusive custom die-cut vinyl sticker featuring our podcast's unique design. Showcase your support with this limited-edition collectible.

Your support goes a long way in helping us continue to create the content you love. It's a simple and direct way to show your appreciation for our podcast.

To become a patron and unlock these exciting benefits, visit www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome today. Your support keeps us going and ensures that we can keep delivering top-notch PlayStation content.

Please, if you enjoyed the content or even if you didn’t quite enjoy this one, we encourage you to come back. We try to offer something for everybody. Please share with your friends and help us spread the show as we try to build a bigger community here!

As always you can support our show at our Patreon Page. Thanks for listening.

http://www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome

0:00 - INTRO

22:13 - GAME OF THE YEAR DISCUSSION

27:20 - BLACK FRIDAY DEALS

34:50 - HUMANOID ORIGIN CLOSURE

37:00 - SONY ON HANDHELD

45:15 - IO REMOVING CONOR MCGREGOR

49:31 - PLAYSTATION QUIZ

56:33 - DYNASTY WARRIORS DEMO

57:40 - SONY LOOKING TO BUY KADAKAWA

1:05:00 - CLOSING

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In Episode 352, Fred has wrapped up Dead Space Remake but hasn’t yet returned to Metro Awakening, while Jake continues to explore the depths of Metaphor: Refantazio.

On the news front, we’re seeing good traffic from YouTube Shorts but struggling to convert viewers into subscribers. We discuss the strategy moving forward and whether it’s worth doubling down on Shorts. PlayStation Plus Premium is adding Resistance: Fall of Man and Resistance 2 for streaming, much to the delight of fans of the iconic series.

In Horizon-related news, Tim Russ, best known as Tuvok from Star Trek: Voyager, will voice Sylens in LEGO adaptations—a touching continuation of the late Lance Reddick’s work. We also take a look at the gameplay loop for ARC Raiders and dive into the controversy surrounding the Game Awards, which has allowed DLCs and remasters like Elden Ring’s DLC to compete for Game of the Year nominations.

Tune in for thoughts on these topics, our gaming impressions, and more! Don’t forget to subscribe and join the conversation.

By joining our Patreon community for ONLY $1.00 per month, you'll also enjoy these exclusive benefits:

Early Access: Be the first to listen to our episodes as soon as they're ready. Get ahead of the game and dive into the latest news, reviews, and discussions.

Personalized Shoutout: As a token of our gratitude for your support, we'll give you a special shout out during one of our podcast episodes, acknowledging your contribution and dedication to our show.

Custom Die-Cut Vinyl Sticker: Receive an exclusive custom die-cut vinyl sticker featuring our podcast's unique design. Showcase your support with this limited-edition collectible.

Your support goes a long way in helping us continue to create the content you love. It's a simple and direct way to show your appreciation for our podcast.

To become a patron and unlock these exciting benefits, visit www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome today. Your support keeps us going and ensures that we can keep delivering top-notch PlayStation content.

Please, if you enjoyed the content or even if you didn’t quite enjoy this one, we encourage you to come back. We try to offer something for everybody. Please share with your friends and help us spread the show as we try to build a bigger community here!

As always you can support our show at our Patreon Page. Thanks for listening.

http://www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome

0:00 - INTRO

34:30- GAMES WE’RE PLAYING

48:45 - RESISTANCE COMING TO PS PLUS PREMIUM

56:00 - SYLENS VOICED BY TIM RUSS IN LEGO HORIZON

57:45 - ARC RAIDERS GAMEPLAY

1:03:33 - VIDEO GAME AWARDS NOMINEES

1:18:40 - CLOSING

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PS This is Awesome: Episode 351 Summary

This week, Fred has Dead Space Remake on hold while diving into Metro Awakening, Astro Bot, Tetris Effect, and he just finished TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge! Jake is still deeply engaged with Metaphor: Refantazio.

In the news, we discuss Sony’s latest reflection on project timelines and quality control for titles like Concord, which PlayStation President Hiroki Totoki recently acknowledged could’ve benefited from earlier testing gates. We’re also celebrating the Grammys adding a category for Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games, with Spider-Man 2 and GOW Valhalla among the nominees. Plus, Sony will end production of the PS4 Camera Adapter for PS5 on November 26th.

Finally, we reflect on the recent Death Stranding release for Xbox Series X/S on its fifth anniversary and consider the seamless wave of PS5 Pro patches. Could Sony have prepared for this update well in advance?

New and longtime listeners, don’t miss this episode full of insights and game impressions!

By joining our Patreon community for ONLY $1.00 per month, you'll also enjoy these exclusive benefits:

Early Access: Be the first to listen to our episodes as soon as they're ready. Get ahead of the game and dive into the latest news, reviews, and discussions.

Personalized Shoutout: As a token of our gratitude for your support, we'll give you a special shout out during one of our podcast episodes, acknowledging your contribution and dedication to our show.

Custom Die-Cut Vinyl Sticker: Receive an exclusive custom die-cut vinyl sticker featuring our podcast's unique design. Showcase your support with this limited-edition collectible.

Your support goes a long way in helping us continue to create the content you love. It's a simple and direct way to show your appreciation for our podcast.

To become a patron and unlock these exciting benefits, visit www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome today. Your support keeps us going and ensures that we can keep delivering top-notch PlayStation content.

Please, if you enjoyed the content or even if you didn’t quite enjoy this one, we encourage you to come back. We try to offer something for everybody. Please share with your friends and help us spread the show as we try to build a bigger community here!

As always you can support our show at our Patreon Page. Thanks for listening.

http://www.patreon.com/psthisisawesome

0:00 - INTRO

12:52 - GAMES WE’RE PLAYING

43:10 - GRAMMY AWARDS FOR GAME SCORES

46:50 - WE TAKE A PLAYSTATION QUIZ

53:36 - RIP CAMERA ADAPTER FOR PS5

55:40 - PLAYSTATION COMMENTS ON CONCORD

1:03:20 - DEATH STRANDING ON XBOX NOW

1:05:06 - PATCHING PS5 GAMES FOR PS5 PRO IS IT EASY?

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