True Avatars - A Queer Video Game Podcast

For the news segment, it’s just me: Zoey. It’s a lighter news week (ish). Metal Gear Solid Delta remake got a free update, Animal Crossing: New Horizons has some exciting news related to the Nintendo Switch 2 and… Lego(?!), Queer– I mean, Fear Effect 2 is getting a remaster like the first game, and Amazon has laid off tons of staff and canceled 2 MMOs.
Also, two strange pieces of news regarding Kojima and a certain sitting US president…
In the second half, Zoe Straw is back to talk about her time playing Borderlands 4! We discuss the story, the performance, and the Randy Pitchford drama of it all. Plus, at the end, we talk about, well, the end (of the game)!
 
00:00:00 - Intro
00:04:38 - News
00:25:31 - Borderlands 4
01:05:00 - Borderlands 4 Spoiler Talk
 
SPOILER WARNING: Borderlands 4 ending spoilers at the 1 hour and 5 minute mark until the end of the podcast.
 
The news was recorded on November 2 2025, and the Borderlands 4 segment was recorded on October 28 2025.
 
Follow True Avatars:
Official website: https://trueavatarspodcast.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueAvatars
Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/trueavatars.bsky.social
Twitter: https://x.com/TrueAvatars
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@trueavatars/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@true.avatars
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trueavatars/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569951551559
 
Guests:
Zoe Straw: https://bsky.app/profile/zoeleet.bsky.social
 
Sources:
https://youtu.be/QK5Ow9zHA4U?t=1180
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0252431/
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/animal-crossing-new-horizons-is-getting-a-nintendo-switch-2-edition-and-a-free-update/
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/animal-crossing-new-horizons-free-update-will-add-lego-furniture-and-playable-nes-and-game-boy-games/
https://www.reddit.com/r/StopKillingGames/s/ZH3NoRfnMu
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/playstation-the-concert-woes-continue-as-at-least-17-us-dates-cancelled-and-webpage-offline/
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/amazon-making-significant-cuts-to-games-business-moving-away-from-mmos/
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/new-world-is-officially-ending-development-following-huge-amazon-layoffs/
https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/amazon-have-reportedly-cancelled-their-lord-of-the-rings-mmo-again
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-10-31/-grand-theft-auto-studio-accused-of-union-busting-after-firings
https://www.reddit.com/r/GamingLeaksAndRumours/comments/1ol535e/jason_schreier_grand_theft_auto_studio_accused_of/?share_id=jD4aca9IotIqoUFjuB4D9&utm_content=1&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_source=share&utm_term=1
https://x.com/gamestop/status/1982213786221109263
https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1982587953676247375
https://x.com/gamestop/status/1982619455797821810
https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/gamestop-stock-jumps-after-white-house-reposts-console-wars-declaration-4310262
https://youtu.be/c46xM5-wScg
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/fox-hunt-the-online-multiplayer-mode-for-metal-gear-sold-delta-snake-eater-is-available-now/
https://www.timeextension.com/news/2025/10/no-one-ever-told-me-such-a-conversation-had-taken-place-kojima-wasnt-aware-of-the-wachowskis-matrix-game-offer

Please forgive the audio quality this week! There was an issue with the recording service we use that created a very challenging sync error. To help with a bandage, the service gave me a lower quality cloud backup to use (while they try to fix the issue… much too slowly, unfortunately).
But this week Cleo joins me to talk about the news and a horror game that’s steeped in sapphic vibes!
For the news: Sims players are planning a boycott, EA has a weird commitment to AI, Kirby Air Riders is surprisingly accessible (for a Nintendo game), more layoffs, and 5 different queer games got release date updates… plus a whole lot more!
In the second half, Cleo and I are diving into our discussion on 2024’s Fear the Spotlight, a PS1 style horror game that plays like Resident Evil but with lesbians! It’s not a game that advertises its queerness, but this game is so scary and beautiful and well designed, it almost caught us off-guard.
 
00:00:00 - Intro
00:07:31 - News
00:50:13 - Fear the Spotlight
 
SPOILER WARNING: In explaining how Fear the Spotlight is similar to Life is Strange in some aspects, we inadvertently spoil a major twist in the original Life is Strange game.
 
This episode was recorded on October 25 2025.
 
Follow True Avatars:
Official website: https://trueavatarspodcast.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueAvatars
Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/trueavatars.bsky.social
Twitter: https://x.com/TrueAvatars
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@trueavatars/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@true.avatars
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trueavatars/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569951551559
 
Guests:
Cleo: https://www.instagram.com/cleostrophobia/
 
Sources:
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/final-fantasy-14-director-yoshi-p-says-hell-keep-working-on-the-game-for-at-least-a-good-while/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZHYjYHHiBM
https://gaymingmag.com/2025/10/ive-lost-my-safe-space-lgbtqia-the-sims-players-boycott-game-over-potential-conservative-acquisition/
https://www.tweaktown.com/news/108403/report-eas-internal-ai-is-causing-issues-with-games-development/index.html
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/10/ea-is-diving-headfirst-into-generative-ai-with-new-partnership
https://www.outsports.com/2025/10/14/24119785/lgbtq-sports-execs-coaches-athletes-outsports-power-100/
https://www.ign.com/articles/mortal-kombat-2-release-date-changes-once-again-but-this-time-its-good-news
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/rovio-is-laying-off-36-staff-says-angry-birds-dream-blast-has-not-been-performing-as-expected/
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/thegamer-website-suffers-widespread-editorial-layoffs/
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/ubisoft-is-asking-staff-at-the-division-studio-massive-entertainment-to-volunteer-to-be-laid-off/
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/10/elden-ring-delayed-on-switch-2-to-allow-time-for-performance-adjustments
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/assassins-creed-shadows-has-finally-been-officially-confirmed-for-nintendo-switch-2/
https://bethesda.net/en/article/N00XVTawnzBBH7HNwv0hN/fallout-4-anniversary-edition-announced
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRpy9SYCxuk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57Dj9vrW20g
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/after-numerous-delays-sonic-rumble-finally-has-a-release-date/
https://bsky.app/profile/blacktabbygames.com/post/3m3uuxpdzf22p
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1609230/Scarlet_Hollow/
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/were-seeing-people-evolve-way-past-that-xboxs-sarah-bond-says-the-idea-of-exclusives-is-outdated/
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/confirmed-halo-is-coming-to-ps5/

This week, it’s just me – Zoey – for the news. Headlines include the Horizon movie getting a possible release date, the PS6 and Xbox 720/Two/Series Y&T (whatever they're calling it) getting a possible release date, and Nintendo reassures us they didn’t get hacked and your user data was not stolen. Additionally, there were no layoffs this week and the industry has even started to fight back on two fronts, which gives me some cautious optimism.
In the second half, some familiar guests are back: Amy-Lynn, Juno, and Nicole! And we’re talking all about the new Pokémon game: Legends Zed to Eh. Zee, Ay. Zeyay. Anyway, it turns out the game is actually surprisingly quite queer, but as is tradition, Game Freak may be a few steps short of perfect queer representation.
 
00:00:00 - Intro
00:03:42 - News
00:28:04 - Pokémon Legends Z-A Discussion
 
Spoiler warning for Pokémon Legends Z-A: we talk about everything up to the first Vinnie battle, and we spoil one unrevealed Mega Evolution from later in the game (a Pokémon with a silly design that has gone viral – you’ve probably already seen it).
 
This episode was recorded on October 19 2025.
 
Follow True Avatars:
Official website: https://trueavatarspodcast.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueAvatars
Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/trueavatars.bsky.social
Twitter: https://x.com/TrueAvatars
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@trueavatars/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@true.avatars
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trueavatars/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569951551559
 
Guests:
Amy-Lynn: https://www.instagram.com/amethystlylac
Juno: https://twitter.com/ThatTransNPC
Nicole: https://www.instagram.com/nicoletyngs/
 
Sources:
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/ps6-and-next-xbox-console-are-both-aiming-for-2027-release-separate-reports-claim/
https://thegamepost.com/sony-horizon-zero-dawn-movie-filming-release/
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/mindseye-studio-build-a-rocket-boy-is-being-sued-by-union-members-over-alleged-mishandling-of-layoffs/
https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/saudi-arabias-acquisition-of-electronic-arts-faces-pushback-from-game-developers-petition-calls-on-ftc-to-scrutinize-this-deal-closely/
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/quantic-dreams-first-multiplayer-game-is-spellcasters-chronicles-a-3v3-strategy-action-game/
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/10/nintendo-responds-to-reported-crimson-collective-hack-with-official-statement
https://x.com/pinapberi/status/1979116389941043478
https://x.com/Keisaraynja_/status/1979228043580207106

It’s that time of the season, and Steam Next Fest has returned! Ekamy, Cleo, Lloyd and I played 7 gayme demos (and it was hard to pick, there were so many amazing queer games)!
 
00:00:00 - Intro
00:03:27 - Steam Next Fest - October 2025
 
This episode was recorded on October 16 2025.
 
Follow True Avatars:
Official website: https://trueavatarspodcast.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueAvatars
Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/trueavatars.bsky.social
Twitter: https://x.com/TrueAvatars
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@trueavatars/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@true.avatars
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trueavatars/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569951551559
 
Guests:
Ekamy: https://www.twitch.tv/ekamy
Cleo: https://www.instagram.com/cleostrophobia/
Lloyd: https://www.twitch.tv/lloyd_lloydster
 
Games:
Steel Century Groove: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1858950/Steel_Century_Groove/
Laugh Track: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3765430/Laugh_Track/
Killer Chat - Original Edition: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3476730/Killer_Chat__Original_Edition/
Winter Burrow: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3008740/Winter_Burrow/
Lap of the Gods: A Visual Novel: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3138230/Lap_of_the_Gods_A_Visual_Novel/
Messy Hearts: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3892820/Messy_Hearts/
Dead Pets Unleashed: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1851720/Dead_Pets_Unleashed/

This week it’s just me for the first half: I talk about what I’ve been playing (Three Days to Chicago, a visual novel by Chris Schroyer, as well as the news! Headlines include a character from the Fallout TV series coming to Fallout 76, A Minecraft Movie is getting a sequel, there were more layoffs, and Fortnite has officially skipped its Pride event this year.
For the second half, remember the game I mentioned I played this week? Three Days to Chicago? Well Chris Schroyer, the game’s creator, joins me for an interview! Chris has had a long and exciting career working at Telltale and other studios, and his gameography includes The Wolf Among Us, Tales from the Borderlands, and more! He discusses his time at Telltale and his approach to what he calls “attainable fantasy” in Three Days to Chicago.
 
00:00:00 - Intro
00:03:37 - What I’ve Been Playing
00:21:29 - News
00:36:08 - Interview with Chris Schroyer
 
Note: I mentioned Super Mario Galaxy might run at 120fps on Switch 2, but a quick search after recording indicates
 
This first half was recorded on October 11 2025. The interview was recorded on October 10 2025.
 
Follow True Avatars:
Official website: https://trueavatarspodcast.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueAvatars
Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/trueavatars.bsky.social
Twitter: https://x.com/TrueAvatars
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@trueavatars/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@true.avatars
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trueavatars/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569951551559
 
Guests:
Chris Schroyer: https://bsky.app/profile/schroyer.bsky.social
 
Three Days to Chicago: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2495380/Three_Days_to_Chicago/
 
Sources:
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/fortnite-skipped-pride-this-year/1100-6535186/
https://deadline.com/2025/10/minecraft-2-release-date-1236574896/
https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/1o2ckvv/minecraft_sequel_announced_official_teaser_poster/
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/we-are-all-hurting-metal-hellsinger-studio-closed-as-part-of-funcom-cuts/
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/development-ends-on-hyper-light-breaker-as-studio-heart-machine-says-its-making-layoffs/
https://www.ign.com/articles/world-of-warcrafts-long-awaited-housing-releases-in-december
https://x.com/discussingfilm/status/1973388284895072318?s=46&t=sVUrhNeL5EXDMRDpzdemfQ
https://bethesda.net/it/article/2nqh2JMnLeJnjpxwUUi5n6/inside-the-vault-burning-springs-public-test-server-release-notes
https://gaymingmag.com/2023/08/three-days-to-chicago-is-midboss-first-third-party-game/

For the first half of the show, Cleo and Lloyd are back to discuss yet another piece of hot gossip: EA has been purchased by Jared Kushner and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund for $55 billion, which is the second largest video game company purchase of all time. What does this mean for the queer games at EA, namely Mass Effect, Dragon Age, and The Sims?
Of course, we also talk about what we’ve been playing along with a bunch of other headlines (Kojima has cast a trans woman as a lead in his new PT-inspired horror game, and we’re pretty excited)! Plus lots of other queer game news, including indies and AAAs.
In the second half, it’s me and a new guest: Juno! Juno and I have played the first chunk of Ghost of Yotei, which features genderfluid actor Erika Ishii as the player character Atsu. We discuss minor spoilers for the early sections of the game and our experiences with it.
 
00:00:00 - Intro
00:04:01 - What We’ve Been Playing
00:25:35 - News
00:59:00 - EA Gaymes in Danger?
01:13:55 - Ghost of Yotei Discussion
 
***Minor spoilers for early section of Ghost of Yotei***
 
The news segment was recorded on Oct 3 2025, and the Ghost of Yotei segment was recorded on Oct 5 2025.
 
Follow True Avatars:
Official website: https://trueavatarspodcast.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueAvatars
Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/trueavatars.bsky.social
Twitter: https://x.com/TrueAvatars
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@trueavatars/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@true.avatars
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trueavatars/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569951551559
 
Guests:
Cleo: https://www.instagram.com/cleostrophobia/
Lloyd: https://www.twitch.tv/lloyd_lloydster
 
Sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHCqxLtwy5g
https://www.ign.com/articles/hideo-kojima-reveals-debut-poster-for-playstation-exclusive-physint-first-cast-announcement
https://insider-gaming.com/konami-asked-fans-which-metal-gear-remade/
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/09/classic-mech-anime-and-tactical-card-combat-collide-in-battle-chef-brigade-devs-new-rpg
https://battlesuitaces.com/
https://bsky.app/profile/tanatb.housefuckinggame.com/post/3m2aub7jc6s27
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/days-before-release-borderlands-4-is-indefinitely-delayed-on-switch-2/
https://www.theverge.com/games/784264/pokemon-legends-z-a-hands-on-fashion-nintendo-switch-2
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/avalanche-is-closing-its-liverpool-studio-following-contrabands-cancellation/
https://www.ign.com/articles/just-one-month-after-xboxs-contraband-cancelation-developer-avalanche-announces-layoffs-and-uk-studio-closure-plans
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/starbreeze-has-cancelled-its-dungeons-dragons-game-and-is-laying-off-44-staff-as-it-focuses-on-payday/
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/dune-awakening-developer-funcom-announces-redundancies
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/xbox-game-pass-is-increasing-in-price-by-50/
https://x.com/lbabinz/status/1973394895017845236?s=46&t=sVUrhNeL5EXDMRDpzdemfQ
https://x.com/lbabinz/status/1973395627183935628?s=46&t=sVUrhNeL5EXDMRDpzdemfQ
https://www.theverge.com/2024/7/9/24195312/microsoft-xbox-game-pass-ultimate-price-increase-standard-subscription
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/ea-confirms-that-it-will-be-acquired-for-55-billion-by-investors-including-saudi-arabias-pif/
https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/eas-new-owners-are-leaning-heavily-on-ai-to-make-some-money-and-its-huge-debt-go-away-which-seems-like-one-helluva-gamble-to-me/
https://insider-gaming.com/bioware-staff-worried-about-studios-future/
https://www.reddit.com/r/gaymers/comments/1nuzffk/are_we_screwed_for_the_simsbioware_games/?share_id=_1xwZ04x__KFgmQKnGdzj&utm_content=1&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_source=share&utm_term=1
Petition: https://www.change.org/p/protect-the-sims-from-censorship-and-political-control

Did you know there’s an entire conference focused entirely on queer games? Neither did I! So I took the train to Montreal to check it out for myself… and IT WAS SO COOL!
The Queerness and Games Conference (QGCon) is an annual 3-day conference for queer developers and queer gamers, featuring all types of games! They had board games, card games, TTRPGs… but of course, I went for the video games.
Not only did I attend a bunch of the panels, but I met a lot of amazing queer video game devs and played tons of demos for recently released and upcoming games! Some of them we’ve even talked about on the podcast before…!
Oh, and did I mention I even did some on-the-fly interviews at the conference, too?
You can see (or hear) all about it in this very special episode of True Avatars!
 
00:00:00 - Intro + QGCon Primer
00:12:04 - Day 1 - Friday Sept 26
00:12:51 - Yurivania series
00:17:04 - Three Days to Chicago
00:20:15 - Redjackets
00:25:41 - Day 2 - Sat Sept 27
00:31:10 - Rocket Adrift
00:33:16 - A Night for Flesh and Roses (+Interview)
00:53:47 - Love in the Time of Spellphage (+Interview)
01:06:09 - Neov*gina Dilation Simulator
01:07:35 - Queen Boat (+Interview)
01:16:15 - Fundamental and Incontrovertible Reality (+Interview)
01:23:51 - Banned Together
01:34:05 - Physical Queer Games
01:36:27 - Overall Thoughts + Montreal Experience
 
CONTENT WARNING: Suicide mentioned during the Queen Boat segment.
 
The interviews were recorded on September 27 2025 and the main episode was recorded on September 28 2025.
 
Follow True Avatars:
Official website: https://trueavatarspodcast.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueAvatars
Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/trueavatars.bsky.social
Twitter: https://x.com/TrueAvatars
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@trueavatars/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@true.avatars
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trueavatars/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569951551559
 
Guests:
Elliot Rex White: https://necropocene.itch.io/
Kylie Szymesko: https://bsky.app/profile/kymira.ca
Ahmed Khalifa: https://amidos2006.itch.io/
Chelsea Brtis: https://bakiara.itch.io/
 
Games:
Yurivania series: https://mxashlynn.itch.io/yurivania-3
Three Days to Chicago: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2495380/Three_Days_to_Chicago/
Redjackets: https://annacwebs.itch.io/redjackets
Psychroma: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1879950/Psychroma/
Dead Finger Dice: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3512300/Dead_Finger_Dice/
A Night for Flesh and Roses: https://necropocene.itch.io/a-night-for-flesh-and-roses
Love in the Time of Spellphage: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3825300/Love_in_the_Time_of_Spellphage/
Neov*gina Dilation Simulator: https://gamedevbrook.itch.io/dilation-simulation
Queen Boat: https://amidos2006.itch.io/queen-boat
Fundamental and Incontrovertible Reality (not available online): https://bakiara.itch.io/
Banned Together: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3551960/Banned_Together/
Slasher U: An 18+ Horror Movie Dating Sim: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2655620/Slasher_U_An_18_Horror_Movie_Dating_Sim_Act_1/
Lucah: Born of a Dream: https://store.steampowered.com/app/896460/Lucah_Born_of_a_Dream/
 
Sources:
https://www.qgcon.org/
https://www.qgcon.org/2025/arcade
https://annacwebster.com/

It has been exactly one year since the first episode of this podcast launched, and this episode is the biggest one we’ve ever recorded!
For the first third of the show, it’s just me, Zoey, your host and producer! I talk about the podcast’s birthday, what I’ve been playing, and the news!
In terms of news, there were a lot of gay happenings in the gayming space: Witcher season 4 has a release date and one of the trailers of all time, Randy Pitchford *really* doesn’t want to fix Borderlands 4 on PC, a queer indie game has been brought back from the dead, Mass Effect’s tv show had a casting leak, and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment has a little bonus for you!
For the main segment, Ekamy and Lloyd are back! And we are ranking the biggest queer games based on how gay they are! S tier is “unquestionably gay,” and D tier is “basically a headcanon.” Are we right? Are we wrong? Get those torches and pitchforks ready, True Avatars, because we ranked a whopping 75 gaymes!!
To wrap up this massive episode, Ekamy brings a new Queer Game of the Week!
 
00:00:00 - Intro and Anniversary Chat
00:18:20 - What I’ve Been Playing
00:25:37 - News
00:46:11 - Tier List: How gay are the gayest gaymes?
02:18:45 - Queer Game of the Week: Cross the Moon
 
This episode was recorded on September 20 2025.
 
Follow True Avatars:
Official website: https://trueavatarspodcast.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueAvatars
Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/trueavatars.bsky.social
Twitter: https://x.com/TrueAvatars
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@trueavatars/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@true.avatars
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trueavatars/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569951551559
 
Guests:
Ekamy: https://www.twitch.tv/ekamy
Lloyd: https://www.twitch.tv/lloyd_lloydster
 
Sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQGshAJmdBU
https://www.eurogamer.net/netflixs-splinter-cell-animated-series-arrives-next-month-but-theres-no-sign-of-a-new-game
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1343626-why-was-the-witcher-recast-from-henry-cavill-to-liam-hemsworth
https://movieweb.com/the-witcher-season-4-vesemir-recast-peter-mullan/
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/09/borderlands-4-goes-down-well-with-critics-as-gearbox-acknowledges-fov-issue
https://www.eurogamer.net/randy-pitchford-advises-borderlands-4-players-to-get-a-refund-if-theyre-not-happy-with-it-as-social-media-tirade-defending-pc-performance-continues
 
https://www.eurogamer.net/mass-effect-tv-series-casting-calls-leak-sparking-speculation-male-shepard-is-canon
https://support.xbox.com/en-US/help/hardware-network/console/may-2025-pricing-updates
https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/tariffs-bite-xbox-fans-even-harder-as-microsoft-once-again-increases-xbox-series-x-s-prices
https://gaymingmag.com/2025/09/exclusive-akupara-games-brings-dead-pets-unleashed-back-to-life/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNLN3VBSTzs
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1851720/Dead_Pets_Unleashed/
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/disco-elysium-spin-off-studio-renames-game-and-pivots-away-from-isometric-gameplay/
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/that-claim-is-startling-tencent-fires-back-at-sonys-lawsuit-accusing-it-of-cloning-horizon-with-light-of-motiram/
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/09/hyrule-warriors-age-of-imprisonment-gets-new-trailer-revealing-some-save-data-surprises

I know I write this into every episode description, but this week’s episode is not-hyperbolically jam packed full of news and content!
First up, Amy-Lynn and I discuss the headlines and the surprisingly long Nintendo Direct, which had new trailers for lots of queer games!
In the second half, Ekamy, Lloyd, and I are joined by Endellion, one half of the Zorkie Studios dev team who is back to talk about the release of Quality Dreams, Reasonably Priced. Known as QDRP for short, the adorable yet grim visual novel is about Jin, a psychline whose job it is to approve life-changing body modifications. Jin also has to make money to save their dying rabbit Nibbles, but will you be able to make enough money while also making the right choices for who should be approved for their body mods?
Endellion was previously a guest on True Avatars back in Ep. 28, so I recommend going back to listen to that episode as well!
 
NOTE: At one point, Endellion mentions that a 2-4 hours visual novel has a typical word count of 400K-800K words, but they actually meant 40K-80K words.
 
SPOILER WARNING: The discussion is spoiler-free until the very end of the episode (please see the timecodes below).
 
00:00:00 - Intro
00:03:00 - News
00:10:06 - Nintendo Direct
00:56:43 - Quality Dreams, Reasonably Priced Discussion feat. Endellion
01:44:48 - Quality Dreams, Reasonably Priced SPOILERS
 
CONTENT WARNING: Some ableist language was muted throughout the episode.
 
The Nintendo Direct discussion was recorded on September 12 2025. The conversation with Endellion was recorded on September 4 2025.
 
Quality Dreams, Reasonably Priced: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3164710/Quality_Dreams_Reasonably_Priced/
 
Sources:
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/sonic-racing-crossworlds-is-getting-a-single-player-demo-next-week/
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/elden-ring-nightreign-gets-a-free-high-difficulty-mode-called-deep-of-night/
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/bafta-games-in-concert/
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/borderlands-4-launches-to-mostly-negative-reviews-on-steam-thanks-to-widespread-performance-problems-and-crashes/
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/09/warframe-devs-on-switch-2-version-thanks-to-our-friends-at-nintendo-we-are-on-it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWIEv_aksvo
https://x.com/finalfantasyvii/status/1966514225117118813?s=46&t=sVUrhNeL5EXDMRDpzdemfQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22oUOztp-88
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/pokemon-legends-z-as-mega-chesnaught-mega-delphox-and-mega-greninja-can-only-be-obtained-via-online-ranked-battles/

Zorkie Studios has generously supplied the podcast with a review copy of this exciting visual novel!
We have previously discussed QDRP (for short) at length on the podcast, so come hear my thoughts on the final product!
Spoiler alert: the game is incredible.