Welcome to The PlayStation Effect, a gaming podcast that discusses the past, present, and future of PlayStation. Each week, we explore the games, news, and moves shaping PlayStation — whether it's PS6 rumors, handheld leaks, State of Play showcase reactions, or the latest PS5 Pro enhancements. Plus, we look back on PlayStation's earliest days with nostalgia-fueled takes on the PS1, PS2, and more. From memory cards to adaptive triggers, we have real PlayStation fans covered.
Progress report time! We're giving PlayStation a mid-year grade. From their first-party lineup to their biggest headlines, we'll break down PlayStation's year so far. Plus, we'll give our raw reactions to Sony's CFO doubling down on ending physical discs in 2028. What should the community do about it? We'll share our thoughts. Timestamps: 00:01:01 – What we are playing (007, Halo, Mortal Shell II) 00:17:01 – Sony doubles down on ending physical discs 00:29:13 – PlayStation's mid-year review
Hi, Chief. Halo has finally arrived on PlayStation... but does any of this feel right? We'll discuss how this impacts XBOX, PlayStation, and longtime Halo fans. Plus, God of War Laufey got a release date, but where's the hype? And better yet, is this enough to turn around PlayStation's negative reputation? Timestamps: 00:01:06 – Trying Gamefly in 2026 00:04:46 – Resident Evil movie backlash 00:13:57 – The impact of Halo on PlayStation 00:33:52 – Where's the God of War Laufey hype?
It's getting ugly. Sony isn't backing down from the death of physical discs — instead choosing to flood social media with bots praising their digital-only future. We'll unpack this new low for PlayStation with our unfiltered takes. Then, we'll reflect on happier times and share our personal Mt. Rushmores for all things PlayStation. Timestamps: 00:00:56 – The physical disc scandal just got worse 00:15:00 – Mt. Rushmore of PlayStation hardware 00:23:17 – Mt. Rushmore of first-party franchises 00:30:54 – Mt. Rushmore of protagonists 00:38:20 – Mt. Rushmore of villains
It's about to get spicy. We compiled some your hottest takes about PlayStation to decide whether you're right, wrong, or clinically insane. Plus, we'll share our honest thoughts on Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced. Is this remake the shot in the arm that Assassin's Creed needed? Timestamps: 00:01:05 – Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced 00:10:16 – Dungeon Crawler Carl 00:12:54 – Your wildest takes about PlayStation 00:22:13 – Your hot takes about Sony's first-party games
Sony has done the unthinkable. Physical discs are officially dying, and PlayStation fans have gone nuclear. So, it's time to give our brutally honest reactions to this shocking news. Then, we'll discuss Asha Sharma's XBOX reset — the layoffs, studio spinoffs, and strategic shifts that are shaping XBOX going forward. Timestamps: 00:01:12 – Sony kills physical discs 00:33:05 – XBOX's layoffs and studio spinoffs
It's time for our mid-year GOTY conversation! We'll reveal our top 5 games of 2026... so far. But, what's a year in gaming without disappointments? So, that's why we'll also reveal which games let us down the most in 2026. Plus, PlayStation apparently isn't anywhere near done making live service games — so we'll try to unpack why they haven't learned their lesson. Timestamps: 00:01:29 – Sony's live service strategy isn't dead 00:15:55 – Game of the year (so far) 00:36:01 – Biggest disappointments 00:41:03 – Most anticipated games left in 2026
Press X to pay respects. XBOX is planning to close down several studios as part of their brand reset, so we'll break down exactly what's happening and why. Plus, the Steam Machine's price has been revealed... and it's not pretty. We'll reveal our brutally honest reactions to Valve's new console and if PlayStation should be worried. Timestamps: 00:01:11 – Steam Machine price reactions 00:13:49 – XBOX studio closures 00:41:45 – Is PlayStation killing Bungie?
We thought XBOX put a Halo ring on it, but their relationship with PlayStation took a big hit. We'll unpack the news about Halo's scrapped State of Play plans and how it affected Sony's showcase. Plus, we'll explore why PlayStation's first-party titles are selling poorly on PS5, along with sharing our Nintendo Direct reactions — including The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake, the new Xenoblade, Kingdom Hearts IV, and more. Timestamps: 00:01:05 – PlayStation's games aren't selling? 00:06:29 – Nintendo Direct reactions 00:21:57 – State of Play aftermath 00:24:26 – Did XBOX screw PlayStation?
Is XBOX back? From the return of exclusives to the big trailers for Gears of War: E-Day, Halo, and Clockwork Revolution, we're giving our honest reactions about the XBOX Games Showcase. Plus, we're breaking down Geoff Keighley's Summer Games Fest — including Resident Evil Veronica, Final Fantasy VII: Revelation, and... Tupac? Timestamps: 00:01:15 – Xbox exclusives are back 00:10:00 – Xbox first-party announcements 00:19:12 – Xbox third-party announcements 00:27:26 - Xbox showcase final grades 00:30:12 – Summer Games Fest reactions 00:51:11 - SGF showcase final grades
It's showcase time! From Marvel's Wolverine to another God of War, we're here to give our brutally honest reactions about the highs and lows of PlayStation's most pivotal showcase yet. Plus, we'll also discuss the biggest third-party games at the show — including Tomb Raider, Onimusha, Silent Hill, and much more. Timestamps: 00:01:01 – God of War: Laufey 00:05:07 – Marvel's Wolverine 00:09:07 – More first-party announcements 00:14:51 – Third-party announcements 00:30:24 – Top 3 games of the show 00:33:28 – Final grades
It's happening! A big State of Play showcase is coming June 2nd and its time to make some predictions. What will they show besides Marvel's Wolverine? We have some hunches. Also, how much pressure is on PlayStation to deliver the goods? We will answer that question with a dash of tough love. And of course, we'll address the elephant in the room: Grand Theft Auto VI. Timestamps: 00:00:56 – Is PlayStation under pressure? 00:04:06 – First-party predictions 00:18:28 – Will GTA VI be there? 00:20:58 – Third-party predictions 00:33:13 – Megaton predictions 00:39:34 - FYI for our reactions episode
"Market conditions," they said. But, we say BS. Time for a brutally honest conversation about the PS Plus price increase and Sony's anti-consumer moves. Also, ouch... Saros isn't selling and it's time to talk about what went wrong. Then, we'll discuss PlayStation's "no PC ports" strategy and FromSoftware's rumored follow-up to Elden Ring. Timestamps: 00:02:40 – PS Plus price hike reactions 00:15:38 – Nobody bought Saros 00:26:33 – PlayStation is done with PC ports (for real) 00:35:41 – FromSoftware's next game leaked?
Another day, another remake. From God of War to Star Fox, it's time to ask: why so many? Plus, Sony revealed the truth about the PS6 and Bungie’s worth, and it's time to unpack it. Then, we'll weigh in on the Mixtape backlash: is it a masterpiece, an industry plant, or just plain overrated? Timestamps: 00:02:09 – Mixed feelings about Saros 00:09:15 – Mixtape controversy 00:20:04 – Are you sick of remakes? 00:29:46 – No PS6?! 00:36:13 – Sony admits Bungie failed
Overrated or fairly rated? Saros is here, so let's discuss whether it's a real GOTY contender or a pretender. Did Housemarque cook? After that, it's time to discuss Xbox CEO Asha Sharma's new "We Are Xbox" movement and what that means for the PlayStation ecosystem. Plus, the Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 3 is further along than we thought — so, what does Square-Enix need to do to make sure it sticks the landing? Timestamps: 00:01:32 – Why we will NEVER do sponsored ads 00:02:57 – The truth about Saros 00:16:47 – Xbox re-evaluating PS5 ports 00:27:32 – FFVII Remake Part 3 must-haves
We love PlayStation, but that doesn't mean they're perfect. So, this week's episode discusses how we would fix some of the PS5's biggest problems — whether it's live service woes, PS Plus drops, price hikes, or the glaring lack of The Last of Us Part III. Then, we will share our personal wishlists for the PS6 while the leaks about its price, power, and handheld keep pouring in. Timestamps: 00:01:19 – How to "fix" PlayStation 00:22:46 – PS6 must-haves
In this episode, two new GOTY contenders enter the conversation with Pragmata and Replaced. Can they dethrone Resident Evil Requiem? Plus, Metro 2039's announcement at the Xbox showcase has gamers asking "did I miss the boat on Metro?" and we have the answer. Then, we'll reveal the PlayStation games that define us for a trip down memory card lane. And yes, one of them is Metal Gear Solid. We’re not idiots. Timestamps: 00:01:01 – New podcast name! 00:02:53 – Pragmata = GOTY? 00:11:18 – Replaced Shocked Us 00:18:50 – Metro 2039 is Insane 00:24:24 – A Nintendo skeptic got a Switch 2 00:30:09 – PlayStation games that define us
A new State of Play is looming, so we're sharing our thoughts on PlayStation's next showcase. Will there be any surprises from God of War, The Last of Us, Intergalactic, or Horizon? Will Sony show more Saros and Marvel's Wolverine on PS5? Lots of questions, and lots of hopes... and that's not even counting third-party showings from Resident Evil Requiem (DLC), Onimusha, and Grand Theft Auto VI. Yes, we went there with GTA 6. Plus, we will give our unbiased review of Cyberpunk 2077's PS5 Pro update. Has PSSR been good to Night City, or is it a gonk update? Then, we'll also discuss the Metal Gear Solid movie and the shattered state of Starfield on PS5. The makers of Fallout and The Elder Scrolls have some explaining to do. Timestamps: 00:01:09 – NieR: Automata in 2026 00:04:33 – Metal Gear Solid movie 00:07:50 – Cyberpunk 2077 PS5 Pro review 00:11:04 – Starfield is a mess on PS5? 00:14:44 – State of Play predictions
In this episode, we handpicked PlayStation's best franchises from the PS1, PS2, and PS3 that deserve a revival in 2026. Plus, we'll also explore the latest behind-the-scenes news about what went wrong with The Last of Us: Factions 2. Timestamps: 00:02:01 – Which PlayStation classics should Sony revive? 00:20:03 – Which PlayStation franchises should stay dead? 00:29:39 – Inside the Factions 2 failure
Join us as we evaluate the current state of PlayStation after another shocking studio closure and price hike. We'll also reveal where we stand on Xbox and Nintendo lately — with zero console warrior nonsense. Timestamps: 00:01:04 – Crimson Desert is a fever dream 00:07:29 – The Marathon hate train 00:11:35 – PlayStation closes another studio 00:20:13 – PS5's price hike 00:30:25 – The state of Nintendo 00:41:03 – The state of Xbox
In this episode, we open the case file on the curious case of Crimson Desert and what it signals to us about game reviews. Plus, the verdict on PlayStation's PSSR 2.0 update and the bizarre lack of hype for Saros. Timestamps: 00:01:17 – The curious case of Crimson Desert 00:14:23 – Where's the Saros hype? 00:23:24 – PSSR 2.0 review
