Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast

#419 | Don't Break the Silence, Don't Let Me Win

We're more than a week removed from the controversial decision to scrap new physical releases for PlayStation hardware beginning in early 2028, and even with a robust outpouring of rage from a portion of its hardcore audience, Sony doesn't seem like it's going to budge. This has come to surprise some people; yet, the longer Sony continues its silence on the topic, the more unlikely it'll be that anything will change. Will the Japanese megacorporation's wait-and-see approach pay off? Is there still time to turn the ship around? Are physical buyers vastly overestimating their power and positioning? There's much more to discuss surrounding the worst period of PR for the PlayStation brand since 2011. Other news this week includes furor over language in the European PSN's terms of service, drama surrounding Marvel Tokon's release on Steam, significant layoffs at Xbox that deeply affect PlayStation-aligned developers like id and Obsidian, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Is it weird that Sony executives sold more than $10 million in stock after their infamous physical games announcement? What's going on with EA's insane monetization policies in College Football 27? Why couldn't Bluepoint spin-out from Sony like Microsoft is allowing some of its teams to do? Does Dustin have similarly arcane powers as Brad, just pointed in the opposite direction? Timestamps: Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00 - Intro 22:12 - Yet another Sacred baby 24:04 - The Blue Reaper 32:32 - Enough of the Euroslander 34:18 - Wet wipes are a game changer 39:07 - Infamous 2 UGC servers shutting down 42:05 - Christopher Barrett settled his lawsuit with Bungie and Sony 55:04 - Sony won’t reverse course on physical media 1:06:22 - Sony starts repurposing its factories 2:24:40 - European fans freak out about account deletion 2:29:22 - Marvel Tokon on PC won’t launch in 132 countries 2:34:41 - Microsoft guts id Software 3:10:33 - Obsidian returns to Fallout 3:25:55 - Undead Labs spins-out from Xbox 3:32:42 - IO Interactive reclaims its cancelled Xbox second party game 3:34:45 - June 2026’s top downloads on PSN 3:35:50 - What We're Playing (GTA V, GTA SA, Mercenaries 2, PURE) 3:51:27 - Microsoft is good while Sony is evil? 3:56:26 - What's stopping Bluepoint from staying together? 4:00:53 - Sony CEO sells 50% of his stock? 4:06:45 - Crash Team Racing tips and tricks 4:09:37 - EA Sports College Football 27 uproar 4:17:39 - Bethesda's lay-off memorial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

#418 | Nevermind, These Are Horrid Times

It seems that no matter where one looks in the gaming industry, there's bad news on the horizon. Such is certainly the case with Sony, as the Japanese company announced two pieces of bad news concurrent to one another: That beginning in 2028, PlayStation hardware will no longer receive disc-based releases, and that by next summer, you will no longer be able to buy digital PS3 and Vita games. All things considered, the latter is a more understandable decision (after all, Sony tried to do this back in 2021 before pulling back), but the former situation has set the PlayStation fanbase alight in a way we've not seen since perhaps 2011, if not 2006, both extremely ominous years in the brand's history. We discuss both topics in great detail, incorporate a ton of your inquiries, and try to make sense of what's happening from every conceivable angle. There's other news this week, too, including Sony's stance on hardware subsidies, PlayStation's continuing commitment to the games-as-a-service sector, new roster additions for Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Is Exodus' scrapping of its in-game character creator a sign of things to come? Why are some publishers and developers so secretive with sales figures? What potential ideas could emulate the interplay between EVE Online and Dust-514? Did Dustin answer the Dustin-signal that Colin sent into the atmospheric ether? This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at https://www.betterhelp.com/symbols [https://www.betterhelp.com/symbols] Download Cash App Today: https://capl.onelink.me/vFut/ty57yree [https://capl.onelink.me/vFut/ty57yree] #CashAppPod Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. Cash App Visa® Debit Flex Cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC, and The Bancorp Bank, N.A., pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. See terms and conditions for the Sutton prepaid card [https://cash.app/legal/us/en-us/card-agreement], Sutton debit flex card [https://cash.app/legal/us/en-us/debit-flex-card-agreement-sutton], and Bancorp debit flex card [https://cash.app/legal/us/en-us/debit-flex-card-agreement-bancorp].  Discounts and promotions provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit cash.app/legal/podcast [http://cash.app/legal/podcast] for full disclosures. Timestamps: Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00 - Intro 20:52 - Welcome Lily 24:01 - Loud neighbors 39:11 – Colin's plan of succession 42:13 – The return of the King 46:23 – Starting in 2028, PlayStation consoles will no longer receive new games on disc 1:17:23 – Sony’s strategy 1:39:54 – Why is Sony removing this option? 1:52:50 – The passive income of disc production 1:57:49 – What’s this mean for pricing? 2:03:19 – Improving the storefront 2:09:10 – Should the ownership paradigm shift? 2:18:48 – Codes at stores again? 2:25:58 – Multiple storefronts, buying outside of PSN 2:30:07 – Does “pro-consumerism” even work? 2:32:04 – Have the people spoken? 2:33:47 – The never-ending rural problem 2:37:00 – Lillymo 2:42:32 – PS3 and Vita’s digital storefronts will go offline forever in one year 3:15:53 – Sony won’t subsidize its hardware beyond a certain point 3:19:29 – PS5 has its worst May on the US market since the late PSone era 3:24:44 – Sony says it has to (and will) keep investing in games-as-a-service 3:31:59 – Sony pulls Studio Canal films from the PSN backend 3:35:24 – Shaun Layden says Sony is making a mistake by stopping its PC support 3:43:11 – Blade, Loki, and Deadpool revealed for Marvel Tokon 3:46:37 – Capcom moves Onimusha’s date up 3:47:46 – July’s PS+ Essential games 3:49:40 – Persona is getting a live action TV series 3:51:54 – What We're Playing (Luna Abyss, GTA V, GTA: San Andreas) 4:07:45 – When will consumers vote with their wallet? 4:14:11 – Exodus will no longer feature a full character creator 4:19:04 – Why are companies so reluctant to share sales data? 4:22:24 – Does end game DLC generate more revenue? 4:27:35 – Why won't the PS6 be delayed? 4:30:40 – What franchises could benefit from a Dust-like shared world? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

#417 | It's Not Far Down to Paradise

With Grand Theft Auto VI finally launching this November, we've been left without a key piece of information: Its price. Conjecture and prognostication has run rampant, but now we have confirmation that GTA6's base cost is $80 in the United States, with a $100 version offering players some perks and unlocks. With our long-awaited trip down to Leonida drawing closer on the horizon, we've much to discuss, including our hype level, whether we'll buy the base or special edition, the lack of a real physical version, and -- perhaps most intriguingly -- no new trailer or gameplay videos to help sell a product that (let's be honest) probably doesn't need much help to begin with. Other news this week includes significant layoffs at Sony-owned Bungie, indications that God of War: Laufey may launch as early as Q1 2027, more delisted shovelware tripe removed from PlayStation Store, executive-level issues at FromSoft, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! What's with Steam Machine's absurd price? Should Sony look to invest in any of Xbox's distressed assets? Why did PlayStation even bother publishing Midnight Murder Club if they were only going to ignore it? Will Chris and Colin one day have their shared ex-psychiatrist on the show to discuss our many mental ailments? Timestamps: Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00 - Intro 22:50 - Happy Birthday nerd 35:46 - Trophy hunting 37:10 - Chris has a new voice 47:15 - Release the files 55:38 - The Green Reaper 57:31 - GTA VI "plays best" on PlayStation 5 1:46:15 - Bungie lays of hundreds 2:11:09 - Bungie pitched a Destiny dating game 2:15:35 - God of War: Laufey might launch in Q1 2027 2:17:02 - Deborah Ann Woll claims Laufey was pitched in 2018 2:25:06 - PlayStation Store shovelware developer bites the dust 2:30:53 - Kadokawa says Fromsoft is being mismanaged 2:39:21 - Tencent exits from several game studio investments 2:43:47 - What We're Playing (Pragmata, LEGO Batman, Luna Abyss, GTA: San Andreas) 3:05:33 - Steam Machine pricing 3:26:19 - Could Sony invest in XBOX? 3:31:15 - What's next for Sony? 3:40:03 - Midnight Murder Club received its final update 3:46:05 - Is gambling software okay? 3:54:55 - Should Sony stick to its existing IP catalog? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

#416 | Stare Straight Ahead, Ignore the Responsibility

PlayStation Network has once again been targeted by nefarious actors, this time exposing flaws in Sony's online infrastructure that we never even considered. If you've noticed weird games popping-up in your recently played list, titles that don't belong in your library, cluttered PSN widgets, and other oddities, you were affected. And while Sony seems to have begun to mend the issue, it feels like they're unable to accept their solemn corporate obligation to protect their customers. Will they ever even publicly admit their problems, nonetheless solve all of them? We discuss. Plus: Other news! Grand Theft Auto VI's pre-orders are imminent, rumors are circulating about a potential delay of PlayStation 6, Housemarque talks about its post-Saros future, Halo: Campaign Evolved's Trophies have been surreally revealed, Mark Hamill is set to appear in Twisted Metal's third season on Peacock, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Is PlayStation at risk of losing its hard-earned prestige? Why aren't more at-risk studios sold instead of shuttered? Should Capcom get more credit for their runaway success with RE Engine? Will Dustin ever return to the show, or will Sacred forever move forward as a duo? Timestamps: Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00 - Intro 37:04 - Leon the Great 38:35 - Dustin's weeb degeneracy 45:27 - Colin adopts Joshua's wife 52:17 - Long Island history 55:40 - LSM's extra content 58:35 - GTA VI pre-orders 1:09:05 - PS4 got a new firmware update 1:13:39 - Yet another PSN security issue 1:37:16 - Will PS6 be delayed? 1:52:02 - Housemarque's future 2:07:50 - Halo's first trophy list 2:13:29 - Mark Hamill joins Twisted Metal 2:18:25 - Black Ops 1 & 2 are coming to Playstation 2:23:53 - EA reveals EA Advertising 2:32:16 - Rockstar retires PS4 players 2:33:20 - Sony patents DualSense with button hardness 2:41:21 - Unreal Engine 6 releases in 2027 2:54:54 - Capcom disempowers its authors 3:04:38 - Devil May Cry 5 sold more copies in 2025 3:06:03 - Sony speaks on PC cancellations 3:08:49 - What We're Playing (007 First Light, Pragmata, Crazy Taxi 2) 3:14:03 - Has Playstation lost its riz? 3:20:25 - Could Sony relocate? 3:25:58 - Why are studios shut down? 3:33:26 - Should Playstation exit the A and AA space? 3:43:51 - RE Engine praise 3:51:36 - Grifting doesn't earn much Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

#415 | What's Real and What's For Sale?

We're coming off of our Summer Game Fest-related high, toting a bunch of news from publisher-driven events that occurred after we published our last episode. For starters, the Xbox Showcase... showcased... 28 games in total, of which 24 are coming to PlayStation 5, including State of Decay 3, Senua, and Spyro: A Realm Beyond (not to mention release dates for Halo: Combat Evolved and Fable). But Xbox's peculiar, wishy-washy, and inconsistent behavior likewise makes us wonder what the future might hold for Microsoft releases on Sony's hardware, especially because Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution -- both internally slated to migrate to PlayStation 5 until very recently -- won't appear at all. Meanwhile, Nintendo's newest Direct also had some interesting fodder, including a surprise look at Kingdom Hearts IV, a brand new 2D-HD game in the form of Final Fantasy Resonance, and more. Other news this week revolves around Persona 4 Revival and Persona 6, a new Crazy Taxi adventure in the form of World Tour, a promising magic shooter called Magicians: The Devil's Deal, a fall release date for Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, and extremely strong sales figures for Yacht Club's Mina the Hollower. We wrap things up (as always) with listener inquiries! Now that everything has settled, what are our three most-anticipated games, respectively? Should Sony bite the bullet and greenlight Destiny 3? Where's Naughty Dog hiding? Is Colin falling prey to Big Plumber and Big Sewer propaganda by refusing to flush wipes? * Sign up for your $1 per month trial at https://www.shopify.com/sacred [https://www.shopify.com/sacred] * Download Cash App Today: https://capl.onelink.me/vFut/ty57yree [https://capl.onelink.me/vFut/ty57yree] #CashAppPod Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. Cash App Visa® Debit Flex Cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC, and The Bancorp Bank, N.A., pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. See terms and conditions for the Sutton prepaid card [https://cash.app/legal/us/en-us/card-agreement], Sutton debit flex card [https://cash.app/legal/us/en-us/debit-flex-card-agreement-sutton], and Bancorp debit flex card [https://cash.app/legal/us/en-us/debit-flex-card-agreement-bancorp].  Discounts and promotions provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit cash.app/legal/podcast [http://cash.app/legal/podcast] for full disclosures. Timestamps: Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 00:00 - Intro 08:01 - Letters for Dustin 14:59 - From the PO Box 27:49 - LSM's big week 29:08 - When she likes Sacred... 33:03 - World Cup 48:26 - Going to a water park alone 56:50 - Flushing the poo wipes 1:00:39 - Halo: Campaign Evolved launches July 28 1:22:01 - Persona 4 Revival + Persona 6 1:39:09 - Kingdom Hearts Collection + IV 1:53:15 - Fable 4 Release Date 2:01:34 - State of Decay 3 2:10:37 - Senua 2:15:49 - Crazy Taxi: World Tour 2:23:36 - Join Us 2:26:41 - Final Fantasy Resonance 2:30:25 - Magicians: The Devils Deal 2:34:39 - Castlevania: Belmont's Curse 2:36:33 - Spyro: A Realm Beyond 2:42:53 - Thief remaster 2:45:18 - Muramasa 2:47:25 - Tales of Eternia Remastered 2:49:05 - Mina the Hollower surpasses 500,000 copies sold 2:49:53 - New PS+ Game Catalog titles 2:52:52 - What We're Playing 3:10:23 - Top moments of SGF season 3:16:48 - Xbox and exclusivity 3:55:41 - The Order 1886 Comeback? 4:04:12 - Destiny frustration 4:22:55 - Beating ritual 4:27:37 - Where is Naughty Dog? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]