Strictly Classified - #299

Live from the Collapse of the Games Industry - #302

In this massive episode of the Vookcast, Ollie, Luke, Angelo, and Michael are back to discuss all of the nonsense going on in the games industry in the year 2026. We discuss the upcoming revision for the Switch 2 in Europe, Mario Karts of various natures, and the future of Takashi Tezuka at Nintendo — thankfully, he's sticking around. We also discuss EB Games and its completely bonkers "strategy" surrounding the 30th Anniversary Pokémon TCG product, as well as major bad news out of PlayStation and Xbox and what it means for Nintendo and the industry at large. There's no 20 Questions this time, but be sure to tune in next time, too, for Luke's undoubtedly impossible game. Relevant stories Batteries: https://www.vooks.net/nintendo-announces-revised-switch-2-and-accessories-with-user-replaceable-batteries-for-europe/ MK Tour: https://www.vooks.net/mario-kart-tour-coming-to-an-end-on-september-30th/ MK World: https://www.vooks.net/mario-kart-worlds-latest-update-adds-more-knockout-tour-routes-many-more-changes/ Takashi Tezuka: https://www.vooks.net/takashi-tezuka-reflects-on-career-will-remain-producer-at-nintendo/ The Crew: https://www.vooks.net/the-crew-motorfest-races-onto-switch-2-on-october-8/ Onimusha: https://www.vooks.net/onimusha-way-of-the-sword-release-date-moved-up-to-avoid-september-bloodbath/ Oblivion: https://www.vooks.net/the-elder-scrolls-iv-oblivion-remastered-on-switch-2-hits-august-full-game-on-card/ Lego: https://www.vooks.net/new-lego-pokemon-sets-announced-including-first-minifigure-pokemon/ NSO: https://www.vooks.net/wario-land-sword-of-hope-and-puzzle-league-join-nintendo-classics/ EB weirdness: https://www.vooks.net/eb-games-not-offering-online-preorders-for-fire-emblem-fortunes-weave-and-other-nintendo-titles/ More EB weirdness: https://www.vooks.net/eb-games-says-doubled-30th-anniversary-pokemon-tcg-pricing-was-a-planned-tactic-to-weed-out-scalpers/ PlayStation: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/07/01/physical-disc-production-ending-in-january-2028-for-new-games-releasing-on-playstation-consoles/ Xbox: https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/07/06/resetting-xbox/ Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/7770/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/vooksdotnet] Socials * Ollie:  @chocobalt [https://bsky.app/profile/chocobalt.bsky.social] on Bluesky  * Luke: @renderman7 [https://bsky.app/profile/renderman7.bsky.social] on Bluesky * Angelo: @manjell0 [https://bsky.app/profile/manjello.bsky.social] on Bluesky * Michael: @subelement [https://bsky.app/profile/subelement.bsky.social] on Bluesky Find Vooks on social media [https://linktr.ee/vooksdotnet], support the show and buy merch. As always please leave us a review if you enjoy the show on your favourite place to get podcasts.

Some Things Have Happened - #301

In this massive episode of the Vookcast, Ollie, Luke, Angelo, and Michael are back to discuss all of the news, announcements, and release dates for absolutely everything announced for Switch 2 during the fake-E3 season. We're talking random (dumb) Square Enix announcements, Call of Duty coming to Switch 2, a bunch of Atari reveals, some belated ports, a bunch of Summer Game Fest announcements, and of course, the big one, the June Nintendo Direct. Naturally, there's a bunch of side quests along the way too. It is the Vookcast, after all. It's all capped off with an incredible game of Nintendo 20 Questions. Did you guess Angelo's game? Relevant stories: Everything in the Direct: https://www.vooks.net/everything-in-the-nintendo-direct-june-2026/ [https://www.vooks.net/everything-in-the-nintendo-direct-june-2026/] DQ12: https://www.vooks.net/dragon-quest-xii-restarted-development-now-subtitled-beyond-dreams/ [https://www.vooks.net/dragon-quest-xii-restarted-development-now-subtitled-beyond-dreams/] DQ11: https://www.vooks.net/dragon-quest-xi-s-comes-to-the-switch-2-on-september-24th/ [https://www.vooks.net/dragon-quest-xi-s-comes-to-the-switch-2-on-september-24th/] FF: https://www.vooks.net/final-fantasy-x-x-2-hd-remaster-is-getting-a-switch-2-version/ [https://www.vooks.net/final-fantasy-x-x-2-hd-remaster-is-getting-a-switch-2-version/] CoD: https://www.vooks.net/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-4-announced-coming-to-switch-2-same-day-as-everyone-else/ [https://www.vooks.net/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-4-announced-coming-to-switch-2-same-day-as-everyone-else/] Toy Story: https://www.vooks.net/toy-story-retro-roundup-toy-story-3-complete-edition-set-to-launch-on-switch-switch-2/ [https://www.vooks.net/toy-story-retro-roundup-toy-story-3-complete-edition-set-to-launch-on-switch-switch-2/] Godzilla: https://www.vooks.net/godzilla-destroy-all-monsters-melee-returns-remastered-on-the-switch-2/ [https://www.vooks.net/godzilla-destroy-all-monsters-melee-returns-remastered-on-the-switch-2/] Barbie: https://www.vooks.net/barbie-rewind-collection-set-for-november-12th-release-on-switch-switch-2/ [https://www.vooks.net/barbie-rewind-collection-set-for-november-12th-release-on-switch-switch-2/] Thief: https://www.maxi-geek.com/con/thief-the-dark-project-remastered-is-sneaking-back-to-pc-and-consoles [https://www.maxi-geek.com/con/thief-the-dark-project-remastered-is-sneaking-back-to-pc-and-consoles] Rayman: https://www.vooks.net/rayman-legends-retold-coming-to-switch-2-on-october-1st/ [https://www.vooks.net/rayman-legends-retold-coming-to-switch-2-on-october-1st/] Tomb Raider: https://www.vooks.net/tomb-raider-legacy-of-atlantis-coming-to-the-switch-2/ [https://www.vooks.net/tomb-raider-legacy-of-atlantis-coming-to-the-switch-2/] Veronica: https://www.vooks.net/resident-evil-veronica-a-remake-of-code-veronica-comes-to-switch-2-in-2027/ [https://www.vooks.net/resident-evil-veronica-a-remake-of-code-veronica-comes-to-switch-2-in-2027/] FF7R: https://www.vooks.net/final-fantasy-vii-revelation-launching-day-and-date-on-switch-2/ [https://www.vooks.net/final-fantasy-vii-revelation-launching-day-and-date-on-switch-2/] Alien: https://www.vooks.net/alien-isolation-2-coming-to-the-switch-2/ [https://www.vooks.net/alien-isolation-2-coming-to-the-switch-2/] Hot Wheels: https://www.vooks.net/hot-wheels-infinite-rush-speeds-onto-switch-2/ [https://www.vooks.net/hot-wheels-infinite-rush-speeds-onto-switch-2/] Star Trek: https://www.vooks.net/star-trek-shadow-frontier-set-to-spook-switch-2-in-2027/ [https://www.vooks.net/star-trek-shadow-frontier-set-to-spook-switch-2-in-2027/] Spyro: https://www.vooks.net/spyro-a-realm-beyond-announced-for-switch-2/ [https://www.vooks.net/spyro-a-realm-beyond-announced-for-switch-2/] Crazy Taxi: https://www.vooks.net/crazy-taxi-world-tour-coming-to-switch-2-next-year/ [https://www.vooks.net/crazy-taxi-world-tour-coming-to-switch-2-next-year/] Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/7770/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/vooksdotnet] Socials * Ollie:  @chocobalt [https://bsky.app/profile/chocobalt.bsky.social] on Bluesky  * Luke: @renderman7 [https://bsky.app/profile/renderman7.bsky.social] on Bluesky * Angelo: @manjell0 [https://bsky.app/profile/manjello.bsky.social] on Bluesky * Michael: @subelement [https://bsky.app/profile/subelement.bsky.social] on Bluesky Find Vooks on social media [https://linktr.ee/vooksdotnet], support the show and buy merch. As always please leave us a review if you enjoy the show on your favourite place to get podcasts.

Vookcast #300: We're Just Getting Started

In this episode of the Vookcast, Ollie, Luke, Angelo, and Michael are back to celebrate 300 episodes (and a few specials) of the Vookcast by... doing what they always do: get distracted. They discuss the latest Nintendo financial results, the retirement of a key architect of the Super Mario and Zelda franchises, a brand-new mobile game from Nintendo, and so much more. They also dive deep into the recently announced Switch 2 price increase, as well as the announcement of a brand-new Star Fox game and its seed-eating shortcomings. It's all capped off with an incredible game of Nintendo 20 Questions. Did you guess Michael's game? We also want to thank every single listener of the Vookcast over the years. It means a lot to everyone that you continue to watch and/or listen to each and every episode, and your patronage drives us to keep going as we celebrate the Vookcast's 20th year. There's also a surprise for our loyal listeners in the episode — and it's so surprising that even we don't really know what it is. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/7770/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/vooksdotnet] Socials * Ollie:  @chocobalt [https://bsky.app/profile/chocobalt.bsky.social] on Bluesky  * Luke: @renderman7 [https://bsky.app/profile/renderman7.bsky.social] on Bluesky * Angelo: @manjell0 [https://bsky.app/profile/manjello.bsky.social] on Bluesky * Michael: @subelement [https://bsky.app/profile/subelement.bsky.social] on Bluesky Find Vooks on social media [https://linktr.ee/vooksdotnet], support the show and buy merch. As always please leave us a review if you enjoy the show on your favourite place to get podcasts.

Strictly Classified - #299

In this episode of the Vookcast, Ollie, Luke, and Michael are back to chat about a host of recently classified but totally unannounced games for Switch 2. They also dive deep into new announcements for upcoming Switch 2 games, like Splatoon Raiders, Orbitals, and Final Fantasy 14, and lament the messy world of HDR content. It's all capped off with an incredible game of Nintendo 20 Questions. Did you guess Ollie's game? Relevant stories: Splatoon: https://www.vooks.net/splatoon-raiders-set-to-release-on-july-23rd/ [https://www.vooks.net/splatoon-raiders-set-to-release-on-july-23rd/] FF14: https://www.vooks.net/final-fantasy-xiv-online-is-coming-to-nintendo-switch-2-this-august/ [https://www.vooks.net/final-fantasy-xiv-online-is-coming-to-nintendo-switch-2-this-august/] Orbitals: https://www.vooks.net/new-orbitals-trailer-breaks-orbit-still-due-in-2026/ [https://www.vooks.net/new-orbitals-trailer-breaks-orbit-still-due-in-2026/] Annapurna: https://www.vooks.net/annapurna-reveals-a-handful-of-switch-2-titles-two-out-today/ [https://www.vooks.net/annapurna-reveals-a-handful-of-switch-2-titles-two-out-today/] MK: https://www.vooks.net/mortal-kombat-legacy-kollection-adds-cross-play-and-vrr-support/ [https://www.vooks.net/mortal-kombat-legacy-kollection-adds-cross-play-and-vrr-support/] Lego: https://www.vooks.net/lego-animal-crossing-returns-with-new-timmy-tommy-set/ [https://www.vooks.net/lego-animal-crossing-returns-with-new-timmy-tommy-set/] Classifications: https://www.vooks.net/were-still-waiting-for-these-classified-but-unannounced-switch-2-games/ [https://www.vooks.net/were-still-waiting-for-these-classified-but-unannounced-switch-2-games/] Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/7770/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/vooksdotnet] Socials * Ollie:  @chocobalt [https://bsky.app/profile/chocobalt.bsky.social] on Bluesky  * Luke: @renderman7 [https://bsky.app/profile/renderman7.bsky.social] on Bluesky * Angelo: @manjell0 [https://bsky.app/profile/manjello.bsky.social] on Bluesky * Michael: @subelement [https://bsky.app/profile/subelement.bsky.social] on Bluesky Find Vooks on social media [https://linktr.ee/vooksdotnet], support the show and buy merch. As always please leave us a review if you enjoy the show on your favourite place to get podcasts.

An Excellent Vintage - #298

In this episode of the Vookcast, Ollie, Angelo, Luke, and Michael are back to chat about a new Bluey game (made in Brisbane!), the future of Mario Kart World, some wonky Switch 2 updates, and more. They also talk about the past, present, and future of Nintendo Directs — are they going away, and does it matter if they do? It's all capped off with an incredible game of Nintendo 20 Questions. Did you guess Luke's game? Relevant stories: Bluey: https://www.vooks.net/bluey-happy-snaps-coming-to-switch-switch-2-later-this-year/ [https://www.vooks.net/bluey-happy-snaps-coming-to-switch-switch-2-later-this-year/] Mario Kart: https://www.vooks.net/mario-kart-world-1-6-0-update-adds-bob-omb-blast-battle-mode/ [https://www.vooks.net/mario-kart-world-1-6-0-update-adds-bob-omb-blast-battle-mode/] Yooka-Replaylee: https://www.vooks.net/yooka-replaylee-on-switch-2-gains-performance-mode-up-to-60-fps-support/ [https://www.vooks.net/yooka-replaylee-on-switch-2-gains-performance-mode-up-to-60-fps-support/] Level-5: https://www.vooks.net/level-5-offers-updates-on-layton-snack-world-remake-and-more-in-vision-showcase/ [https://www.vooks.net/level-5-offers-updates-on-layton-snack-world-remake-and-more-in-vision-showcase/] Groovin: https://www.vooks.net/rhythm-heaven-groove-set-for-july-2nd-release/ [https://www.vooks.net/rhythm-heaven-groove-set-for-july-2nd-release/] Overwatch: https://www.vooks.net/overwatch-launches-on-nintendo-switch-2-this-week/ [https://www.vooks.net/overwatch-launches-on-nintendo-switch-2-this-week/] 007: https://www.vooks.net/switch-2-version-of-007-first-light-delayed/ [https://www.vooks.net/switch-2-version-of-007-first-light-delayed/] Warhammer: https://www.maxi-geek.com/con/warhammer-survivors-reveals-the-platforms-the-game-is-coming-to [https://www.maxi-geek.com/con/warhammer-survivors-reveals-the-platforms-the-game-is-coming-to] THQ: https://www.maxi-geek.com/con/thq-nordic-are-bringing-a-trio-of-titles-to-switch-2-and-one-to-switch [https://www.maxi-geek.com/con/thq-nordic-are-bringing-a-trio-of-titles-to-switch-2-and-one-to-switch] NES: https://www.vooks.net/nes-pac-man-mendel-palace-and-tower-of-druaga-added-to-nintendo-classics-lineup/ [https://www.vooks.net/nes-pac-man-mendel-palace-and-tower-of-druaga-added-to-nintendo-classics-lineup/] Featured: https://www.vooks.net/is-the-era-of-the-big-nintendo-direct-over/ [https://www.vooks.net/is-the-era-of-the-big-nintendo-direct-over/] Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/7770/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/vooksdotnet] Socials * Ollie:  @chocobalt [https://bsky.app/profile/chocobalt.bsky.social] on Bluesky  * Luke: @renderman7 [https://bsky.app/profile/renderman7.bsky.social] on Bluesky * Angelo: @manjell0 [https://bsky.app/profile/manjello.bsky.social] on Bluesky * Michael: @subelement [https://bsky.app/profile/subelement.bsky.social] on Bluesky Find Vooks on social media [https://linktr.ee/vooksdotnet], support the show and buy merch. As always please leave us a review if you enjoy the show on your favourite place to get podcasts.