#399 | Step Back From That Ledge, My Friend

We were already recording this episode when unexpected news broke: Sony is shuttering Texas-based first-party remake and port specialist studio Bluepoint. Equally shocking -- when taking into context the many first and second party failures, flubs, and misalignments in recent years -- is PlayStation Studios lead Hermen Hulst still somehow having a job. Bluepoint has an exceptional pedigree alongside untapped potential, but that's been squandered by the same machinery that allowed them to make a multiplayer game in the first place. Who is responsible for all of this first party buffonery? What's with this obsession with established teams all chasing the same exact thing? And how lucky is Sony that the going is so good for PlayStation 5 that none of this really seems to matter? Here's hoping the bloodletting begins and ends here, but we're skeptical. Other news this week includes rumors of PlayStation 6's delayed timeline, when we might expect to see Santa Monica Studios' unannounced title, McFarlane Toys picking up the Sony toy license, and more. Then, we wrap things up with listener inquiries. On the back of Silent Hill: Townfall's PS5 console exclusivity, why does Sony bother chasing these deals these days? Does Fairgame$ have an icecube's chance in hell of succeeding? Will God of War's remake be one compilation or three separate games? Is Dustin ready for his fatherly snot-sucking duties? Sign up for your $1 per month trial period at ⁠https://www.shopify.com/sacred⁠ Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:29:05 - Sacred Symbol ruining lives0:32:14 - Snot sucker0:37:01 - Chris Chan sighting0:43:49 - Baby's first console0:58:13 - RIP Shuntaro Iida1:00:54 - RIP Hideki Sato1:08:46 - Bluepoint shutdown1:44:05 - Will Sony delay PlayStation 6 due to RAM shortages?2:04:44 - Shawn Layden says PS6 won’t be able to be all digital2:18:30 - Santa Monica's next game2:30:45 - New Helldivers and God of War toys2:37:35 - Tencent funded Highguard2:53:39 - Todd Howard on Starfield's return2:55:23 - Konami removes MGS4 and Peace Walker HD from PS32:58:02 - What We’re Playing (God of War: Sons of Sparta, Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined)3:25:33 - Silent Hill Townfall's exclusivity to PS53:31:08 - God of War Remake release format3:34:18 - The state of Fairgames3:39:45 - Where to start with Castlevania3:41:34 - Are we tastemakers?3:47:46 - Where are the demos? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices