Xbox Layoffs, Sony Kills Physical Games + Our Top 5 Most Anticipated Games

Xbox Layoffs, Sony Kills Physical Games + Our Top 5 Most Anticipated Games

Westen, David, and Andrew once again FEARLESSLY dive into the all of the hot button issues that gamers are dealing with right now. With Xbox studio layoffs now more finalized, the crew discusses what the best path forward might be for all of the studios that are now facing new futures. They also discuss Sony ending physical games. Obviously, it's not good news, but are the doomsday predictions for the industry overhyped? Finally, the crew gives their top 5 most anticipated games for the rest of 2026. Timestamps 0:00 Intro 3:39 Double Fine and Compulsion 17:00 Undead Labs/State of Decay 3 And Ninja Theory/Senua 22:15 Arkane and Blade 28:38 Obsidian and id Software 41:28 Sony Killing Physical Games 1:07:33 Top 5 Anticipated Games for 2026 1:22:11 Outro Articles and Videos Referenced: Westen's 2026 Most Anticipated https://bignerdgaming.com/2026/07/01/my-14-most-anticipated-games-for-the-rest-of-2026/ [https://bignerdgaming.com/2026/07/01/my-14-most-anticipated-games-for-the-rest-of-2026/] Jason Schreier on team retention https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PiIggQ3aAo [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PiIggQ3aAo] Jason Schreier on physical games https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sESfDf0My84&t=1043s [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sESfDf0My84&t=1043s] Westen https://bignerdgaming.com/ [https://bignerdgaming.com/] https://bsky.app/profile/bignerdgaming.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/bignerdgaming.bsky.social] https://x.com/BigNerdGaming [https://x.com/BigNerdGaming] https://www.threads.com/@bignerdgaming [https://www.threads.com/@bignerdgaming] https://www.facebook.com/people/Big-Nerd-Gaming/61555495498714/ [https://www.facebook.com/people/Big-Nerd-Gaming/61555495498714/] David https://bsky.app/profile/dsundy.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/dsundy.bsky.social] https://x.com/david_dsundy [https://x.com/david_dsundy] Andrew https://bsky.app/profile/themcmr.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/themcmr.bsky.social] https://x.com/TheMCMR [https://x.com/TheMCMR]

The Future of Video Games, GTA at $80 + Our Top 5 Games We Played In June

BNG Podcast Episode 9: Westen, David, and Paul from Boss Fights talk about all of the layoffs and price increases that have hit gaming in recent weeks. They discuss where gaming might be going from here. From there, Paul rants about Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, Westen rants about 13 Sentinels, and then everyone gives their top 5 games they played in June. Apologies for the lack of videos this week, our podcast editing software updated and broke bunch of things. Hopefully back to normal next podcast -David Timestamps 1:58 What is wrong with the games industry 16:11 AA Games and Nintendo 21:06 $80 Games, Steam Machine, Xbox Price Increase, Paying for Early Access 33:58 Paul Rants About Final Fantasy Chronicles 37:41 Westen Hates Japanese Game Devs 41:49 Our Top 5 Games of the Months 56:12 Final Fantasy and Lufia 1 vs 2 Articles and Videos Referenced: Hana's amazing article you should read yourself because David did a horrible job talking about it https://www.deargamers.net/blog/dear-gamers-are-we-being-priced-out [https://www.deargamers.net/blog/dear-gamers-are-we-being-priced-out] Jason Schreier https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvhmBqRjtBQ&t=14s [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvhmBqRjtBQ&t=14s] Video Links: MIO Memories in Orbit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cafPCloPgtc [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cafPCloPgtc] Westen https://bignerdgaming.com/ [https://bignerdgaming.com/] https://bsky.app/profile/bignerdgaming.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/bignerdgaming.bsky.social] https://x.com/BigNerdGaming [https://x.com/BigNerdGaming] https://www.threads.com/@bignerdgaming [https://www.threads.com/@bignerdgaming] https://www.facebook.com/people/Big-Nerd-Gaming/61555495498714/ [https://www.facebook.com/people/Big-Nerd-Gaming/61555495498714/] David https://bsky.app/profile/dsundy.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/dsundy.bsky.social] https://x.com/david_dsundy [https://x.com/david_dsundy] Paul https://bsky.app/profile/paulwall.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/paulwall.bsky.social] https://bossfights.substack.com/ [https://bossfights.substack.com/]

Overlooked Summer Game Fest Games and Early Game Awards Predictions

Westen, David, and Andrew each give out one big takeaway from Summer Game Fest Week. From there, they have a few early debates centered around the 2026 Game Awards. Finally, they each give their top 5 most overlooked games from Summer Game Fest week. Timestamps: 2:22 Summer Games Fest Takeaways 12:03 GOTY Predictions 24:53 GTA VI and The Game Awards 35:01 September Releases 37:24 New The Game Awards Category? 41:05 Mixtape and TGA 45:02 Darkhorse GOTY Winner? 48:40 Top 5 Overlooked SGF Games Video Links: Mixtape https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQoEd5rnxiQ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQoEd5rnxiQ] Control Resonant https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXRxroxfPJ8 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXRxroxfPJ8] ReVamp https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRCAWL2mKMk [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRCAWL2mKMk] Toada Brava https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6adtv6q0mqk [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6adtv6q0mqk] Arcane Eats https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sclG5mUD4g [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sclG5mUD4g] Apple Crumble https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hStzapj3ono [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hStzapj3ono] Alarial's Blessing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E6Z5b4fAoo [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E6Z5b4fAoo] Magicians: The Devil's Deal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8b2Jd-2y54 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8b2Jd-2y54] Castlevania: Belmont's Curse https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1YYTbciSD8 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1YYTbciSD8] Kemuri https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWMwRfJj8So [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWMwRfJj8So] End of Abyss https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sytee6i3M9E [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sytee6i3M9E] Ninjala 2: The Uncharted Planet https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9gIZwxCm-4 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9gIZwxCm-4] Gundam Rogue Orbit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J0_2eMtFQM [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J0_2eMtFQM] Threads of Time https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PzQIM1DMeQ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PzQIM1DMeQ] Stuntman Hollywood https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7NZpeAmdxk [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7NZpeAmdxk] DOOM The Dark Ages Revelations DLC https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nL_JF1ZNllI [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nL_JF1ZNllI]

Our Top 5 Games We Played in May + Forza Horizon 6, 007 First Light, and Lego Batman

Westen, David and Andrew break down their thoughts from Forza Horizon 6, 007 First Light, and Lego Batman. From there, they each give the top 5 games they played in May, and argue about Kingdom Hearts and KCD2 for fun. Timestamps: 1:33 Forza Horizon 6 18:25 007 First Light 39:02 Lego Batman 41:50 David's Top 5 55:45 Andrew's Top 5 1:05:19 Westen's Top 5 Articles Referenced: David's Way Too Early Predictions: https://medium.com/@dsundy/the-way-way-way-too-early-2026-game-of-the-year-award-nominee-predictions-a565bde52b41 [https://medium.com/@dsundy/the-way-way-way-too-early-2026-game-of-the-year-award-nominee-predictions-a565bde52b41] Westen's Way Too Early Predictions: https://bignerdgaming.com/2026/01/17/my-way-way-too-early-2026-game-awards-nominee-predictions/ [https://bignerdgaming.com/2026/01/17/my-way-way-too-early-2026-game-awards-nominee-predictions/] Westen's Replaced Review: https://bignerdgaming.com/2026/05/22/replaced-game-review-2026/ [https://bignerdgaming.com/2026/05/22/replaced-game-review-2026/] Terrible James Bond Take: https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/hear-me-out-what-if-james-bond-just-shouldnt-be-in-videogames/ [https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/hear-me-out-what-if-james-bond-just-shouldnt-be-in-videogames/] Westen: https://bignerdgaming.com/ [https://bignerdgaming.com/] https://bsky.app/profile/bignerdgaming.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/bignerdgaming.bsky.social] https://x.com/BigNerdGaming [https://x.com/BigNerdGaming] https://www.threads.com/@bignerdgaming [https://www.threads.com/@bignerdgaming] https://www.facebook.com/people/Big-Nerd-Gaming/61555495498714/ [https://www.facebook.com/people/Big-Nerd-Gaming/61555495498714/] David: https://bsky.app/profile/dsundy.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/dsundy.bsky.social] https://x.com/david_dsundy [https://x.com/david_dsundy] Andrew: https://bsky.app/profile/themcmr.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/themcmr.bsky.social] https://x.com/TheMCMR [https://x.com/TheMCMR]

The Epic Return of the Big Nerd Gaming Podcast

The Big Nerd Gaming Podcast makes its EPIC return with a new look and a new crew. Westen starts off by introducing the new permanent crew of the show, Andrew and David. From there, the guys talk about Mixtape, MOUSE: PI For Hire, Vampire Crawlers, Replaced and Librarian: Tidy Up the Arcane Librarian. They also rank their top 5 games from the 2020s that will age the worst. 0:00 Intro 06:22 Mixtape 26:00 MOUSE P.I. For Hire 33:55 Vampire Crawlers 44:30 REPLACED 49:45 Librarian: Tidy Up the Arcane Library! 55:28 Games of the 2020s That Will Age the Worst Video Links: Mixtape: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQoEd5rnxiQ MOUSE P.I. For Hire: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5aA150iHkw Vampire Crawlers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mfFLQL3lVk&t=1s REPLACED: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YheMqHoeHVc Librarian: Tidy Up the Arcane Library!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dh81e2oVZbM Articles Referenced: https://bignerdgaming.com/2026/05/08/indie-gaming-roundup-mouse-pi-for-hire-vampire-crawlers-and-tombwater/ https://bignerdgaming.com/2026/05/05/the-top-10-games-of-the-2020s-that-will-age-the-worst/ Westen: https://bignerdgaming.com/ [https://bignerdgaming.com/] https://bsky.app/profile/bignerdgaming.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/bignerdgaming.bsky.social] https://x.com/BigNerdGaming [https://x.com/BigNerdGaming] https://www.threads.com/@bignerdgaming [https://www.threads.com/@bignerdgaming] https://www.facebook.com/people/Big-Nerd-Gaming/61555495498714/ [https://www.facebook.com/people/Big-Nerd-Gaming/61555495498714/] David: https://bsky.app/profile/dsundy.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/dsundy.bsky.social] https://x.com/david_dsundy [https://x.com/david_dsundy] Andrew: https://bsky.app/profile/themcmr.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/themcmr.bsky.social] https://x.com/TheMCMR [https://x.com/TheMCMR]