Next-Gen Console Watch

Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch. On the last NGCW of the year, we look back at 2025 and pick what we think were the "most next-gen games" of the year. We're probably past the 'halfway point' for this generation so we should be seeing some of the best-looking games the PS5 and Xbox Series X can run, and we weren't disappointed. Battlefield 6 and Death Stranding 2 showcased what photorealism can look like on current consoles, while games like Keeper and Ghost of Yōtei were highlights in creative art direction. What do you think were some of the best-looking games of the year? Let us know in the comments. And we also have last week's poll results and a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! It's the day after The Game Awards and along with Sandfall's Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 winning big, we received a mountain of new announcements. We're at an interesting time in this generation where any newly-announced game might just end up on the PlayStation 6 or next Xbox, so we break down what titles we think will end up on gaming's next-gen consoles. Could we see Tomb Raider: Catalyst debut on the PS6? Or maybe Larian's Divinity? Plus we go over last week's poll results and we have a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week Daemon, Max, Ryan, and Logan grade the Nintendo Switch 2's launch window. The Switch 2 broke Nintendo—and industry—records by becoming the fastest-selling console of all time. But how did it fare against the Switch 1's first six months? Did the Switch 2's lineup of Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond hold up agains the Switch 1's legendary 1-2-3 punch of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Mario Odyssey, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild? And what can we expect next year? Plus we have last episode's poll results and a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com. 00:00:21 Grading the Switch 2's launch window 00:01:13 Logan's grade 00:03:44 Ryan's grade 00:07:57 Max's grade 00:10:44 Looking ahead to 2026 00:14:27 Poll results 00:15:02 Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week Max, Ryan, and Daemon dive into Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick's comments about PC gaming. Zelnick says that gaming as an industry is moving more towards PC, even with the ongoing popularity of the PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2. Valve's recent Steam, Machine announcement makes it very clear that the company is making a play for living rooms—traditionally the domain of gaming consoles—as the next frontier for PC games. What does that mean for Sony and Microsoft? And is it too late for the next Xbox, which promises to be a hybrid console/PC like the Steam Machine? Plus we have poll results from the past two weeks, and a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! It's a big week for hardware news, as Valve has announced their new hardware initiative, led by the revamped Steam Machine, a new Steam controller, and a new VR headset, the Steam Frame. IGN's hardware and tech editors Michael Higham and Jackie Thomas join us this week to talk about their hands-on time with the new hardware. What does this mean for PC gaming, now that Valve is making another push to get PC games in your living room? And what does this mean for console gaming, with both Xbox and PlayStation not even requiring a dedicated console to play games anymore? Plus we have a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com. 00:00:11 Valve reveals new Steam Machine 00:08:06 What do we think it'll cost? 00:12:48 Valve's new VR headset 00:17:19 Who is this new hardware for? 00:22:16 This week's poll and outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices