Plugged Podcast

(Ep. 71) - Oblivion Redemption Arc, CS Skins Boom, and Snack Wrap Supremacy

Plugged 71 kicks off with something truly rare—gamers are happy. No, seriously.Oblivion Remastered might actually be good. With a solid $49.99 price tag on Steam, full DLC included on Game Pass, and glowing reviews all around, Bethesda may have pulled off the impossible—earning gamer goodwill in 2025. Plus, the modding community is already flooding the gates with over 70 new creations.Meanwhile, Counter-Strike 2 skins are mooning. The CS skin economy has officially ballooned to $4.5 billion, making them more stable than some cryptocurrencies. We talk bubbles, AK prices, and whether you should diversify your portfolio into… pixels.Switch 2 hype is real, with over 2.2 million Japanese buyers already committed. Demand is so high it’s exceeding Nintendo’s projections before we even have a release date.YouTube turns 20, and we look back on the legendary first upload—and the Easter eggs hidden across the site.Snack Wraps are back, and McDonald’s just confirmed the long-lost McChicken Strips are returning too. Slummy was right all along.It’s a week of comebacks, collectibles, and chicken-based prophecies. Let’s plug in.MarkstromTwitch -   / markstrom   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa01PVFVPMVZTdDkwRVlGR081X1dDaGRGQTR1UXxBQ3Jtc0tsRVFyUnlpcUtKRm92UjNSR2tRMjlKVVEwdU9oSGgzbV9qMnhYUnRQSU4wMmVpcmV5cWRvZ3VKQVZxc0ZhaFhBdWtncUx5MDNIQ3hYM3BsWElFSUlSZ3ZGN205YURxZnlsaFJXSmhrcVBnYTNQWk9ITQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.twitch.tv%2Fmarkstrom&v=ncW5q6lderk] Instagram - MarkstromTVTikTok - MarkstromTVSlum / Domhttps://www.lts.media [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa2wwcF9RdVRaTzNfOTd1OURTTkp5TFlOZmdkd3xBQ3Jtc0tsTDUtMGp4R19NUy1OSmUyV3NzYWZXVWpGNEJ2ZEk3UnZEUERxOVV5X3Z5X19lSlM5OUhxbC1BMDBCVklHclRMcnI1MEJoTGQwamwwTkdobTNhMVE5ZExtZVVieHlYOHRZbHFEUmNNeTRlV3N5REwxSQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lts.media%2F&v=ncW5q6lderk]Instagram - Dom.Fillari

(Ep. 70) - Marathon Mayhem, Oblivion Returns, and Katy Perry Goes to Space

In this week’s episode of Plugged, we recap our Gamer’s Outreach experience before diving into the chaos and curiosity dominating the gaming world:Bungie’s Marathon reveal has the internet completely split—will it be the next big thing or another Concord-tier flop? Mark weighs in on the mixed signals, lore questions, and those… not-so-real “keys.”Bethesda’s out here shaking the change jar, quietly dropping an Oblivion remaster next week. Is this the cash grab of the year, or are we heading back to Cyrodiil in style?In possibly the most unhinged story of the week, Ligma might become an actual disease after an H3 caller gets diagnosed with a real, unnamed condition.Fast Food Corner is back with the return of the Snack Wrap at McDonald’s and… KFC chicken-flavored toothpaste (which is, of course, already sold out).And in space news, Katy Perry is now technically an astronaut, launching into orbit with an all-female Blue Origin crew. We break down what this means for the future of civilian space travel—and pop music in zero gravity.It’s chaos, co-op, and chicken wraps. Plug in.MarkstromTwitch -   / markstrom   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbUZmTU9nXzM0ZFVuUE9mNHc2N3drWG1jckJBd3xBQ3Jtc0tueXJ6TlFYQklWQVU0ZEhkbDQ2bkJlZ0oyblBTS25jeWZYTFB3cEVIYm4xZUljYS1NbVIyYy04a0cwZFZUNFkzeUdVZHVoOWZ0NGlkYzQwa3haWDJxVl9ReGdlMTl0UzZld1FyUFR0clc2VUJkbTYzdw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.twitch.tv%2Fmarkstrom&v=kr-wJihs9-M] Instagram - MarkstromTVTikTok - MarkstromTVSlum / Domhttps://www.lts.media [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbXVLcVFWLXhuMGMwTExYejZiQWVBT05TTmxRQXxBQ3Jtc0ttekxSSjFLQTV2WldMV0hDQTd4REdTaF93OGZkNXh4YzhXMDlYYl9vZlpYVGdqTVI5Z2lsY2tpN21KYzVfeXVGOTlnZFZKWkdHc1FQTHowazZ4MFJIRWV3ZTdWRE1WNXVCejdKdTYtMW1rc195UGlTSQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lts.media%2F&v=kr-wJihs9-M]Instagram - Dom.Fillari

(Ep. 69) - Games That Taste Bad, Streamers Get Paid, and Indie Devs Sued for Being Too Good

This week on Plugged, Mark kicks things off by basking in the glory of winning a Natty—go Gators! Then we dive into the latest in gaming news and madness:An indie dev made a game so good it’s being sued. We’re talking about Schedule 1, the solo-developed drug-dealing sim that’s currently under legal fire—possibly for outshining its competitors.The Nintendo Switch 2 might be getting a powerful new feature: game cartridges that taste like regret.The Minecraft Movie absolutely dominates the box office, viral chicken jockeys and all.Twitch is caught in yet another mess, this time for paying out permanently banned streamers, sparking a wave of refunded subscriptions and confused creators.And in our latest Keepin’ Tabs update, that one wild company trying to revive the Tasmanian Tiger? Yeah, they may have just bred actual dire wolves.MarkstromTwitch -  markstrom   Instagram - MarkstromTVTikTok - MarkstromTVSlum / Dom⁠https://www.lts.media⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa2I1ODBsZGQ0ZjRvMjViREhCVDJES3J4aWdPd3xBQ3Jtc0tsMmVsTlRaUUlRc3lnYzN2RTU4RGNRNEU5SmNJVmtfVGlLaHRmWG9KbWtxS3h5dG55YkNmSHg0ZUc4aXctYUVGUkpNS1JnWGN4S1N0TzR6NXdUdEx6bFVvRnUtUS13SzZSZjV4LVJ3dElDTFkyT3ZzOA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lts.media%2F&v=0tzsExpwr8I]Instagram - Dom.Fillari

(Ep. 68) - Unions, Pyramids, and the Resurrection of Napster

Gamers, regulators, and even the EU are heated this week—so let’s dive in. The Swedish Consumers Association just went after Star Stable Online, kicking off a coordinated EU enforcement action over manipulative in-game currency practices targeting children. Time-limited offers, unclear pricing, and influencer abuse? The EU is finally fed up—and in-game currency might never be the same.In better union news, the Communications Workers of America just launched United Video Game Workers, a brand-new industry-wide union for U.S. and Canadian devs. As layoffs hit an all-time high, this could be the biggest shift in game labor rights we’ve seen in years.Over in Nintendo Land, we break down the latest Nintendo Direct announcements and what they mean for the Switch 2 and beyond. Spoiler alert: it’s a mixed bag.Meanwhile… Napster’s back? Yep, the zombie music platform just sold for $207 million to a metaverse company trying to create 3D concert hangouts. Did they buy nostalgia, or do they know something we don’t?Also: Bezos is trying to buy TikTok to prevent another ban (because why not), and beneath the pyramids of Giza, new underground structures have been found that have conspiracy theorists (and honestly, us) asking one question: Are the aliens already here?This episode is loaded with ancient mysteries, digital resurrections, labor power moves, and corporate chaos. Plug in.MarkstromTwitch -  markstrom   Instagram - MarkstromTVTikTok - MarkstromTVSlum / Dom⁠https://www.lts.media⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa2I1ODBsZGQ0ZjRvMjViREhCVDJES3J4aWdPd3xBQ3Jtc0tsMmVsTlRaUUlRc3lnYzN2RTU4RGNRNEU5SmNJVmtfVGlLaHRmWG9KbWtxS3h5dG55YkNmSHg0ZUc4aXctYUVGUkpNS1JnWGN4S1N0TzR6NXdUdEx6bFVvRnUtUS13SzZSZjV4LVJ3dElDTFkyT3ZzOA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lts.media%2F&v=0tzsExpwr8I]Instagram - Dom.Fillari

(Ep. 63) - No Man’s Redemption, Assassin’s Creed’s Greed, and Nvidia’s Next Move

In this episode of Plugged, we take a look at game studios on both ends of the spectrum—those who redeem themselves and those who keep dropping the ball—along with major tech and food industry shakeups:No Man’s Sky Keeps Delivering: After a disastrous launch, No Man’s Sky continues its long road to redemption with yet another massive update. Can live service games actually get it right in the long run?Ubisoft… Just Why? Assassin’s Creed: Shadows is delayed yet again, but don’t worry—their first DLC is already in the works before the base game even launches. Why do AAA studios keep pulling this?Nvidia 5000 Series Benchmarks Are In: Are these new GPUs a true upgrade over the 4080/4090, or just marketing hype? The early numbers spark a debate.Ring’s Home Security Drone: Would you trust a flying security drone to patrol your home when you’re not there? It’s not sci-fi—it’s real.Beer Can Chicken Pringles?! Pringles and Miller Lite team up for one of the weirdest snack flavors yet. Will it be a game-changer or a disaster?China’s ‘Artificial Sun’ Breaks a Record: The latest breakthrough in nuclear fusion keeps plasma burning for over 1,000 seconds. Is unlimited clean energy closer than we think?Join us as we break down the latest in gaming, tech, and bizarre food collabs!MarkstromTwitch -  / markstrom   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbGtEbVF0dU9vUjFYeGJFYWR3S1p0MFM4cnVJd3xBQ3Jtc0trUDNneVJFbnFtdGVFZm5hcS1xQ2VsWGJQai1SSXNwQ3RURFZwUEZBZUFqd1FzZHMwcklxRkExZzJoY0lVZHpIRUx4RXRZN25aaUtoakhVSXpHc012OXk1SHo3OGpPZ01GZG42Qk9vMEV5WE5oRVlzWQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.twitch.tv%2Fmarkstrom&v=YG6m2OKW5rA] Instagram - MarkstromTVTikTok - MarkstromTVSlum / Dom