This week on the M2 Podcast, we break down one of the biggest weeks in gaming as Summer Game Fest, Xbox Showcase, and Nintendo Direct all brought major heat. We dive into Xbox’s stacked lineup featuring Persona 6, Spyro: A Realm Beyond, Gears of War: E-Day, and a first look at Modern Warfare 4’s DMZ mode, while Nintendo shocked fans with the long-rumored Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake, Kingdom Hearts 4, and a loaded Switch 2 roadmap. We also recap Summer Game Fest’s biggest reveals, from Resident Evil Veronica and Final Fantasy VII Revelation to TMNT: The Last Ronin, Guild Wars 3, and the surprise return of Cuphead. With nonstop reveals and major franchises making a comeback, we ask the big question: are we entering gaming’s next golden era?

0:00 Intro

0:37 Update

12:18 Everything Announced at Summer Game Fest 2026 https://tinyurl.com/2tw8k3xj

34:51 Everything Announced at Nintendo Direct June 2026 https://tinyurl.com/mra3d36j

53:38 Everything Announced at Xbox Games Showcase 2026 https://tinyurl.com/mr3buu3k

01:03:50 Outro

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PODCAST ►► https://anchor.fm/m2podcast

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This week on the podcast, we dive into Embracer Group’s redemption arc—or at least its attempt at one—as CEO Phil Rogers asks gamers and developers to trust the company again after years of studio closures, layoffs, and controversial acquisitions, while still leaving the door open for future buyouts. We also break down the growing movement inside the Destiny 2 community as players rally to shatter concurrent player records in a last-ditch message to Sony and Bungie following news that major support for the game is ending. Plus, we unpack the biggest reveals from PlayStation’s June State of Play, including God of War: Laufey, Marvel’s Wolverine, and surprise sequels, before looking ahead to the packed Summer Game Fest 2026 schedule and the announcements that could define the next year of gaming.

0:00 Intro

1:07 Updates

13:09 CEO Wants You All To Trust Embracer https://tinyurl.com/2wym47s9

21:14 ‘Destiny 2’ Players Try To Break Playercount https://tinyurl.com/mr2bp6dc

32:48 PlayStation's State of Play June 2026 https://tinyurl.com/yrfzcc92

1:05:30 Summer Game Fest Complete 2026 guide https://tinyurl.com/bbb63xr7

1:17:21 Outro

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This week on the podcast, we break down one of the biggest surprises in gaming as The Witcher 3 gets a brand-new expansion, Songs of the Past, a full 11 years after launch—raising questions about what it means for The Witcher 4 timeline and CD Projekt Red’s long-term strategy. We also dive into Valve’s controversial Steam Deck price hike, discussing whether the beloved handheld is pricing itself out of its sweet spot and what it could mean for the future of the rumored Steam Machine. Then, we explore Warhorse Studios’ ambitious open-world Lord of the Rings RPG, why Kingdom Come: Deliverance fans should be excited, and whether this could finally be the immersive Middle-earth game fans have always wanted. Finally, we close with 007: First Light, the highest-rated James Bond game in nearly three decades, and whether IO Interactive may have just built the future of Bond gaming.

0:00 Intro

0:41 Update

15:08 ‘The Witcher 3’ Revealed Expansion https://tinyurl.com/27ntd8tu

25:55 Steam Deck Price Increase Announced by Valve https://tinyurl.com/4m2apnmf

38:53 Lord of the Rings Open World RPG https://tinyurl.com/3h935kf8

47:21 007: First Light is the Highest-Rated James Bond Game in 30 Years https://tinyurl.com/fw3tssd6

55:18 Outro

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In this episode, we break down Bungie’s ambitious long-term roadmap for Marathon as the studio attempts to reverse declining player numbers with new PvE modes, casual-friendly experiences, and major progression overhauls aimed at broadening the game’s audience. We also dive into Ubisoft turning Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced into a real-world $500,000 pirate treasure hunt, Rockstar fans speculating about an imminent GTA 6 trailer after Best Buy’s pre-order leak, and Blizzard officially bringing Overwatch heroes into Fortnite in one of the biggest crossover events of the year. From extraction shooters evolving under pressure to gaming’s growing obsession with live-service engagement and blockbuster marketing spectacles, this episode covers the biggest shifts shaping the industry right now.

0:00 Intro

1:08 Update

8:28 Marathon Reveals Blueprint https://tinyurl.com/cyrej3up

17:39 Black Flag Resynced Has a Real-Life Treasure Hunt https://tinyurl.com/4mc76zbf

32:18 GTA 6 pre-orders next week https://tinyurl.com/3ppm4u4f

40:16 Overwatch is officially coming to Fortnite https://tinyurl.com/nhdtx42z

50:46 Outro

LEAVE A LIKE and a comment, thanks for watching/listening!

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MadMikeWillEatU Socials:

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This week’s episode dives into a massive shakeup across the gaming industry, from Microsoft rolling out a new controller-focused “Xbox Mode” for Windows 11 while simultaneously shutting down Copilot AI development on Xbox in an effort to refocus the brand. We also break down Valve’s chaotic Steam Controller launch, the new anti-scalper reservation system, and why demand for PC gaming hardware is exploding again. On the culture side, Twitch unexpectedly changes its rules to allow randomized video chat games like Omoggle, igniting a bizarre new era of livestream “mogging” competitions and viral creator moments. The episode explores how platform holders are scrambling to redefine gaming ecosystems, community engagement, and hardware strategy in 2026’s rapidly shifting industry landscape.

0:00 Intro

1:25 Updates

14:56 Valve commits to restocking its Steam Controller https://tinyurl.com/5cp6ztbs

24:38 Steam Machine Price Reportedly Leaked https://tinyurl.com/muc26aub

36:49 Streamers Can Mog Each Other https://tinyurl.com/4pz3ydhw

58:44 Microsoft ends Copilot AI https://tinyurl.com/5nje5rz4

1:12:15 Outro

LEAVE A LIKE and a comment, thanks for watching/listening!

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AMAZON Music ► https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/091902c3-b83b-487c-8fe7-4c96787434fe/M2-Podcast

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KyleHeath Socials:

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MadMikeWillEatU Socials:

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YOUTUBE ►► https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1MoIvzyMDvH_5Ta

This episode explores how platform boundaries continue to blur as Microsoft rolls out Xbox Mode to Windows 11, pushing a more console-like experience onto PC ecosystems and tightening the integration with Game Pass. Meanwhile, Valve re-enters the hardware space with a redesigned Steam Controller, signaling continued investment in hybrid PC-console playstyles despite broader hardware supply challenges. On the peripherals front, Turtle Beach experiments with bold (and controversial) design choices in high-end gaming mice, raising questions about usability versus innovation. Finally, we look at how gaming IP continues to expand beyond traditional formats, with the upcoming The Legend of Zelda movie drawing from multiple entries in the franchise—highlighting a broader trend of games evolving into cross-media entertainment ecosystems.

0:00 Intro

1:11 Updates

14:29 Xbox Mode on Windows 11 PCs https://tinyurl.com/upe9jnmtc

25:37 Valve's Steam Machine might be delayed https://tinyurl.com/ms6x99ap

39:42 Turtle Beach's new mouse is giving the ick https://tinyurl.com/4y73vame

49:29 The Zelda Movie Is Pulling From Many Games https://tinyurl.com/h9hkp7xa

1:03:02 Outro

LEAVE A LIKE and a comment, thanks for watching/listening!

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KyleHeath Socials:

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MadMikeWillEatU Socials:

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YOUTUBE ►► https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1MoIvzyMDvH_5Ta

This episode dives into the evolving priorities shaping the gaming industry, from Bungie shifting more developers to Marathon as Destiny 2 struggles with declining content, to Microsoft adjusting its Game Pass strategy with price cuts and a more flexible release model. We also cover the growing hype—and leaks—around Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, showing how legacy IP continues to anchor the market, alongside controversy in competitive gaming as The Pokémon Company stands firm on a disputed esports ruling. Altogether, the episode explores how studios are balancing player expectations, monetization strategies, and long-term sustainability in an increasingly volatile landscape.

0:00 Intro

1:06 Update

10:20 Xbox Game Pass price cuts https://tinyurl.com/yxthwvhn

26:46 Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced worldwide reveal announced https://tinyurl.com/2f9h7f7r

39:10 Pokémon Pro Player Penalties are weird https://tinyurl.com/3nr6dupc

52:00 More Bungie Devs On ‘Marathon’ Than ‘Destiny 2’ Now https://tinyurl.com/479tuxfj

1:07:19 Outro

LEAVE A LIKE and a comment, thanks for watching/listening!

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AMAZON Music ► https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/091902c3-b83b-487c-8fe7-4c96787434fe/M2-Podcast

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GOOGLE ► https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy8zNTYwNWZiMC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==

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#podcast

JOIN THE DISCORD! ►► https://discord.gg/Kp5Gre6

KyleHeath Socials:

TIKTOK ►► https://www.tiktok.com/@mrjkheath

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MadMikeWillEatU Socials:

TIKTOK ►► https://www.tiktok.com/@madmikewilleatu

TWITCH ►► https://www.twitch.tv/madmikewilleatu/about

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YOUTUBE ►► https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1MoIvzyMDvH_5Ta

This episode unpacks the growing instability across the gaming industry, from the sharp 80% player decline of ARC Raiders to internal shakeups at Epic Games following massive layoffs and executive turnover. We explore how even high-performing live-service titles can struggle to maintain engagement, while broader workforce trends show nearly half of industry professionals considering leaving altogether amid job insecurity and rapid change. On the content side, excitement around rumored releases like Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag Resynced highlights the industry’s increasing reliance on proven IP to stabilize revenue and player interest. The episode ties it all together with a critical look at sustainability—both for games trying to retain players and for the people building them.

0:00 Intro

1:39 Updates

18:01 Why ARC Raiders’ Player Count Is Down 80% https://tinyurl.com/2eabbkyw

27:39 Epic’s Head Of HR Is Out https://tinyurl.com/ry25c8ss

35:55 44% of games industry professionals have considered leaving the industry https://tinyurl.com/5eeucnwd

46:09 Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag Remake https://tinyurl.com/ye3e74d2

53:06 Outro

LEAVE A LIKE and a comment, thanks for watching/listening!

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PODCAST ►► https://anchor.fm/m2podcast

AMAZON Music ► https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/091902c3-b83b-487c-8fe7-4c96787434fe/M2-Podcast

APPLE ► https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1531832410

BREAKER ► https://www.breaker.audio/m2-podcast-2

CASTRO ► https://castro.fm/podcast/6f69d373-d879-46d9-9f1c-bcf7c4bf1741

GOOGLE ► https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy8zNTYwNWZiMC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==

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RADIOPUBLIC ► https://radiopublic.com/m2-podcast-GMZkY4

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#podcast

JOIN THE DISCORD! ►► https://discord.gg/Kp5Gre6

KyleHeath Socials:

TIKTOK ►► https://www.tiktok.com/@mrjkheath

TWITCH ►► https://www.twitch.tv/kyleheath

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MadMikeWillEatU Socials:

TIKTOK ►► https://www.tiktok.com/@madmikewilleatu

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YOUTUBE ►► https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1MoIvzyMDvH_5Ta