Game Mess Mornings

It's a Fanelli Friday to close out a week of Game Mike Mornings, as Mike & Jason walk you through (surprise!) more Xbox news, Ubisoft responding to the Black Flag Resynced microtransactions backlash, and more!

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Timestamps (note, timestamps on this free version may vary greatly depending on how many ads you receive):
00:00 Intro
04:38 Xbox CEO Asha Sharma named as adviser to US Federal Reserve on ‘Jobs and Productivity’
07:44 Ubisoft Responds to Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Microtransactions Backlash, as $60 Game Arrives With $85 of DLC
17:13 John Carmack responds to Id Software layoffs, admits Microsoft stewardship claim aging badly
24:15 Layoffs Hit GameSpot Again
29:04 Bethesda Union Workers Will Hold Rallies Next Week Protesting Mass Layoffs
34:25 Mewtwo takes over Times Square as Pokémon recreates original Pokémon Go trailer
40:19 'This Is a Deeply Odd State of Affairs' — Tech Experts Slam Activision's 'Low Effort' Call of Duty: Black Ops PS5 Port
45:51 Poll results
47:56 The Bomb 12
52:16 Outro

Mike Minotti is joined by Lex Luddy to talk about further layoffs from Xbox, further layoffs from Ubisoft, further concern about Bethesda RPGs, and more.

Support us directly and get new episodes ad-free by signing up for Giant Bomb Premium at https://www.giantbomb.com/join

Timestamps (note, timestamps on this free version may vary greatly depending on how many ads you receive):
00:00 Intro
05:06 Big questions for Microsoft’s intentions for id Software
18:36 Obsidian ‘cancels Avowed 2 to focus on new Fallout’
26:34 The Elder Scrolls 6 Will Suffer Because of Xbox Layoffs, Bethesda Staff Say, Fearing Delays, Crunch, and Generational Talent Being Replaced by Contractors
31:30 Fired Marathon director says he’s settled a lawsuit with Sony and been inserted into the credits
33:00 Ubisoft Barcelona Celebrates Successful Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Launch With Layoffs
40:08 You can now try one of Nintendo’s best Switch 2 games for free
42:39 Persona 4 Revival Producer Confirms Some Noteworthy Character Changes Are Coming
45:41 Former VG247 editors launch new publication, Respec
46:48 Polls & outro

Giant Bomb's father & son duo of Mike and Jeff Bakalar break down news of Mario Kart Tour shut down with no offline version planned, Xbox Game Pass reportedly losing millions of users since 2024, and more!

Support us directly and get new episodes ad-free by signing up for Giant Bomb Premium at https://www.giantbomb.com/join

Timestamps (note, timestamps on this free version may vary greatly depending on how many ads you receive):
00:00 Intro
03:46 Mario Kart Tour is being shut down and no offline version is planned
09:56 Xbox Game Pass has reportedly lost millions of users since 2024
16:24 College Football 27 Is Pissing Everyone Off
24:33 Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced reviews
35:25 Toys for Bob still wants to work on Banjo-Kazooie: ‘We’re huge fans’
39:21 Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis to end service on October 7
43:17 Nintendo Expands Switch Online's Game Boy & GBA Library With Four More Titles
49:35 Polls & outro

Mike Minotti and Jan Ochoa start your week with trying to make sense of the growing situation of the massive layoffs happening at Xbox, Nintendo to stop selling the original Switch 1 in Europe by 2027, Cyberpunk 2077 hitting a massive sales milestone, and more for your Monday! 

00:00 - Intro
4:00 - Xbox to reduce staff by approximately 3,200 throughout FY27
29:00 - BREAK
29:14 - Nintendo will stop selling the Nintendo Switch in 2027
32:27 - WayForward announces next Shantae game at Anime Expo with 2027 release window
34:25 - Cyberpunk 2077 Just Hit Another Massive Sales Milestone
37:50 - Halo: Campaign Evolved’s boxed version will come with physical discs so that players can ‘have tangible items to add to your collection’
43:40 - Hideo Kojima ‘really sad’ about PlayStation killing discs, ‘frightened’ for future of ownership
47:00 - More traditional Final Fantasy remakes could happen, as Square Enix says it'll follow what "truly resonates" with fans, even if that's not open-world action
55:26 - Summer Games Done Quick 2026 is happening this week

Jan Ochoa joins Grubb before the Holiday weekend in the states to try and understand what's happening at XBOX and clarify what's happening with some of its internal studios. We also get into the mess also happening over at PlayStation, Nintendo continuing to operate on their own accord, a potential NEW Metroid game, Onimusha moving up its release date, and more! 

00:00 - Intro
4:35 - Obsidian Entertainment among Xbox studios negotiating to avoid closure
16:12 - Everyone disliked that, Sony
26:00 - PlayStation ditching physical games ‘unlikely to influence Nintendo’s plans’, says analyst
29:00 - Xbox is reportedly planning a way for players to convert their discs into digital copies
36:32 - BREAK
37:00 - Unannounced Metroid Ravenous rated in Brazil
41:00 - Onimusha: Way of the Sword release date moved forward in a crowded September
43:28 - Star Fox opens No. 1 in Japan