
Next-Gen Console Watch
Since the early days of gaming, players have debated which console reigns supreme and how to build the ultimate high-performance gaming PC. Each week, Next Gen Console Watch breaks down the biggest advancements in video game hardware—covering PlayStation, Xbox, and PC upgrades—all in under 20 minutes. From console power comparisons to must-have gaming PC upgrades, we help you decide where to invest your time and money. If you're wondering which platform delivers the best experience for the next big game, Next Gen Console Watch is the podcast for you. Next Gen Console Watch is a part of the Geek Media Podcast Network, an IGN Entertainment Brand.
Episodes

PlayStation’s Physical Game Problem Isn’t Going Away - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This Daemon is joined by Ryan McCaffrey from Podcast Unlocked, and Brian Altano from Beyond! to discuss the continued criticism they've faced since announcing the end of physical game media production. The fans have been letting them know how they feel in the comments of every YouTube video and social media post made since the announcement. But despite the a

Can This Console Generation Be Saved? - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week Daemon, Max, and Ryan assess the dumpster fire that is this current generation of gaming consoles. With the 1-2 gut punch of PlayStation not supporting physical media in a couple of years, and Xbox CEO Asha Sharma announcing yet another round of layoffs that will stretch into next year, things have never truly looked so bleak for the games industry

Only Nintendo Can Save Physical Games - Next-Gen Console Watch
This week we got the surprise announcement from Sony that it is ending production of PlayStation discs in early 2028. So in 18 months, going forward PlayStation will be an all-digital ecosystem. Your existing discs will work in your PS5 if it has a disc drive, but the PlayStation 6 will presumably not play discs at all. We expect Xbox's Project Helix to go the same way. And so, it falls to Nintend

PS5 vs Xbox vs Switch 2: Who Had the Best Showcase? - Next-Gen Console Watch
All three platforms have held their big summer showcases. They’ve laid out their plans for the rest of the year and into 2027. So it’s time to survey the results. Who had the best showcase? Who has the best game lineup? On this epsiode of Next-Gen Console Watch, we dive into the Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo showcases. Which one did you like the best?
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Forget UE5: Huge Franchises Likely Using Unreal Engine 6 - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week Epic Games unveiled the sixth generation of Unreal, appropriately titled Unreal Engine 6. Rocket League will be the first game to get the UE6 makeover, but certainly not the last. Daemon, Ryan, and Max take a look at some of the biggest franchises that will very likely make the jump to UE6—even if many games haven't taken full advantage of Unreal E

PS5 + Xbox + Nintendo Summer Show Predictions 2026 - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week, Daemon and Max are joined by Nintendo Voice Chat's Logan Plant and Podcast Unlocked's Miranda Sanchez to give their predictions on the summer's big gaming showcases. Both Xbox and PlayStation have showcases in June, and Nintendo can't be too far behind with a new Nintendo Direct. So what do we think will be there? Some real Wolverine gameplay? A c

Nintendo Investors Want You to Pay More for Switch 2 - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week we dive into recent reports saying Nintendo's shareholders want the company to raise the Switch 2 price. It's no secret that Nintendo's stock price has plunged in the year since they've released the Switch 2, despite their new console having a stellar launch and strong, if slow, holiday sales numbers. Current economic conditions have made the Switc

Holy Sh!t, Something Actually Got Cheaper - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! Xbox's new CEO is already making moves to course-correct the company's direction. Last week's leaked memo from CEO Asha Sharma has been proven true, with Xbox dropping the price of the Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass plans. Daemon, Ryan, and Max go over what's different with the new plans, what led the company to this decision, and what changes could be

Xbox Agrees Game Pass Is Too Expensive, Now What? - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week we discuss the leaked memo from Xbox CEO Asha Sharma regarding Game Pass' price. She agrees that Game Pass has become too expensive and Xbox must find some way to make it a real value for players. But what does that mean? Take away features? Plus we have last week's poll results and a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com and Spotify.
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2026’s Biggest Unannounced Games from Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week Ryan is joined by IGN's Community Lead, Jada Griffin, and the host of Nintendo Voice Chat, Logan Plant. The crew looks ahead to the rest of 2026 to see if there are any more surprises left from the big three console makers. Recent rumors and leaks about a Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake and a new Star Fox game have given us pause to think that there'

Rising Prices Mean We’re Stuck with PS5, Series X - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week Daemon, Max, and Ryan peer into the future of gaming, only to see the same consoles we're playing today being used possibly years from now. With all models of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox having received several price hikes over the years, and with world events and economic factors keeping the prices of nearly all goods high, it looks like true next

Switch 2's First Year Was Strong, But Where's Nintendo's Mascots? - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week Ryan and Max are joined by Logan Plant, host of IGN's Nintendo Voice Chat podcast to talk about the Nintendo Switch 2's Year 1, and what we're expecting for Year 2. The Switch 2 has become not only Nintendo's fastest-selling console, but the fastest-selling console of all-time, with more than 17 million units sold in less than a year. Mario Kart Wo

DLSS 5: Are Faces Fixed or F*****? - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week Daemon, Max, and Ryan are joined by IGN's senior tech manager, Bo Moore, to discuss Nvidia's reveal of their controversial DLSS 5 update. The footage caused a stir on the internet as the tech clearly is doing more than just enhancing performance relative to resolution, with many accusing Nvidia of using the equivalent of "AI TikTok filters" on char

6 Burning Questions We Have About the Next Xbox - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! Microsoft is getting a head start on next-gen by officialling announcing the next Xbox, codenamed Project Helix. Of course, we have a ton of questions, but we've pared it down to six burning questions ranging from price of games to whether or not it will ship with a disc drive. Plus, we have last week's poll results, and a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.

PlayStation Having Second Thoughts About Sharing Its Games - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! On this week's episode, the crew discusses a recent report that Sony might be rethinking PC ports in the future. Specifically, first-party single-player games like Ghost of Yōtei, Marvel's Wolverine, and others might not see PC versions. Multiplayer titles like Bungie's Marathon—published by Sony—will still see multiplatform releases. The report cites low sa

5 Changes Xbox’s New CEO Can Make to Win Over Fans - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! After last week's bombshell news story about Xbox's leadership shaek-up—an exclusive from our very own Ryan McCaffrey—we take this opportunity to put together five tips that might be able to win back wayward Xbox fans. The Xbox brand isn't what it used to be, but all hope is not lost, and hopefully incoming CEO Asha Sharma can right the ship.
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Which of These Upcoming Games Can Run On Switch 2? - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week we take a look at a few games that might have a chance of coming to the Nintendo Switch 2. It's the fastest-selling console of all time with almost 20 million units sold globally in less than a year, and other triple-A titles are already coming to the platform such as Resident Evil: Requiem and 007 First Light. Upcoming games like Marvel Tokon: Fig

Where Are These 13 PS5 & Xbox Games? - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week we take a look at 13 supposed PS5 and Xbox Series games that we should have already been playing. Games like Judas, Knights of the Old Republic remake, Little Devil Inside, and Beyond Good & Evil 2 have had rocky development paths, but at this point, we're wondering if we'll even get these games at all, despite developers and publishers assuring us

The Pros & Cons of Holding Back the PS6 - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week Daemon, Max, and Ryan look at the possible ups and downs of a delay of the PlayStation 6. With PS5 software sales holding strong, and with prices for gaming components like RAM skyrocketing, there's a real possibility Sony will wait another few years before debuting the PS6. This could make the current generation the longest console cycle so far, w

Xbox’s Dev Direct Was Great — Even for PS5 - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch. This week Daemon, Max, and Ryan take a look at the latest Xbox Developer_Direct. Microsoft Game Studios showcased Playground Games' Forza Horizon 6 and the Fable reboot, plus Kiln from Double Fine, and Beast of Reincarnation of Game Freak. While it's shaping up to be a good year for Xbox (in terms of games), this showcase was also great news for PlayStation

AI Is Already Ruining the PS6 - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch. This week we take a look at how the recent RAM shortage will affect the next generation of console games. With AI data centers demanding more and more RAM, manufacturers have pivoted to providing this growing industry with pretty much whatever it needs, thus forcing the cost of consumer RAM through the roof. What does this mean for the PlayStation 6 and next

12 Games That Will Push PS5, Xbox to the Limit in 2026 - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch. This week we take a look at 12 games we think will push the current generation of consoles to their limits. Games like Marvel's Wolverine, Control: Resonant, Resident Evil: Requiem, Gears of War: E-Day, and more are going to be amazing showcases for what the PlayStation 5 (and PS5 Pro) and the Xbox Series X (and the underpowered but still capable Series S) c

The Most Next-Gen Games of 2025 - 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

Which Game Awards Reveals Are PS6/XBox? - Next-Gen Console Watch
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.

Nintendo Switch 2 Launch Window Report Card - Next-Gen Console Watch
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 th

This Is a PC - Next-Gen Console Watch
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

Valve Just Entered the Console Wars - Next-Gen Console Watch
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

GTA 6 Just Blew Up Fall 2026 - Next-Gen Console Watch
Grand Theft Auto 6 has been delayed again, this time to November 2026. That will cause problems for all sorts of fall 2026 games, such as Halo: Campaign Evolved, Gears of War: E-day, Fable, Wolverine, and more. Let's dig in on this week's Next-Gen Console Watch.
This weeks show is Daemon Hatfield, Max Scoville, Ryan McCaffrey and is produced by Nick Maillet
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Xbox Surrenders the Console War - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch. This week Daemon, Max, Logan, and Ryan discuss Halo coming to PlayStation and what seems to be the end of Xbox having any notable exclusives going forward. When you combine this with Microsoft’s current messaging that everything is an Xbox, the fact they let someone else make the first Xbox handheld, and heavy hints from leadership that the next Xbox console

Is the ROG Xbox Ally X for You? - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch. This week Daemon and Ryan are joined by producer Nick Maillet to talk about the ROG Xbox Ally X, which Nick had quite a bit of hands-on time with lately. The handheld PC has just launched, and though it's powerful, the $1000 price tag could be too high of a barrier to entry for most people. But is it worth the price? And who would really benefit from a handh

Why Xbox Can’t Give Up on Hardware - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week Daemon, Max, and Ryan take a look at Microsoft's recent comments committing itself to another generation of gaming console hardware. The Xbox brand had a pretty rough week recently, when they announced a price hike on their Game Pass Ultimated service, on top of the already-announced hardware price hike. Fan response was, as expected, not great, wi

At What Point Is Game Pass Not a Good Deal Anymore? - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! The gaming world is reeling from yet another Microsoft price hike, this one hitting Game Pass and raising the price from $19.99 to $29.99 a month for the Ultimate plan. It's a signifiant jump of 50% — the largest single increase in the service's history. While the Ultimate plan still gives subscribers access to hundreds of games and some major first-party ti

5 Years In, This Gen Just Got a Lot More Exciting (Finally) - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week Daemon, Max, and Ryan take a look at this week's big reveals, starting with the Sony State of Play that dropped on Wednesday. We have a first real look at the (very M-rated) Wolverine game, gameplay of Housemarque's Saros, and more. On the Xbox front, there's a brand new trailer for Hideo Kojima's OD starring a very scared Sophia Lillis, and a teas

Nintendo Switch 2’s First 100 Days Report Card - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week Daemon, Logan, Max, and Ryan look back at the Nintendo Switch 2's first hundred days. The system is Nintendo's fastest-selling to date, with strong third-party support and a slate of upcoming first-party titles that should sustain the console's momentum through the holidays. But Nintendo has raised eyebrows with their game pricing strategy ($80 for

Maybe Nintendo Switch 2 Can Keep Up with PS5/Xbox After All - Next-Gen Console Watch
Star Wars Outlaws has arrived on Nintendo Switch 2 and it’s a fantastic port. Which makes the rough shape that Elden Ring is in on Nintendo’s new console all the more confusing. We’ll dig into that plus look into some more current-gen ports on their way to the Switch 2.
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PS6: The Return of the PSP? - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week Daemon, Max, and Ryan discuss the latest PlayStation 6 rumors, which predict Sony's next gaming hardware to be a handheld like the Switch 2. Nintendo's Switch changed the gaming landscape, ushering in a wave of handheld competitors like the Valve Steam Deck, ROG Ally, and more. Now with Xbox officially jumping into the ring with the ROG Xbox Ally X

Did Sony Just Nerf Its PS5 Lifetime Sales? - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome to a special gamescom edition of Next-Gen Console Watch, our show following everything happening with the latest gaming hardware. I’m Daemon Hatfield and I’m joined by Max Scoville and Jada Griffin from Podcast Beyond. And there’s been a lot of news this week as it relates to this very show. We have the release date for the Xbox ROG Ally X handheld. It’s less than two months away but they

Did Nintendo Just Lose Its Chance to Beat the PS2? - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week Max and Daemon are joined by Nintendo Voice Chat's Logan Plant to discuss Nintendo's recent price hikes on Switch 1 hardware and some accessories. They also look at the sales race between the Switch 1 and the PlayStation 2, for the title of Most Units Sold. The PS2 currently sits at just over 160 million consoles sold over its lifetime, with the Sw

No GTA, No Problem: Fall 2025 Is Secretly Stacked - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! With Grand Theft Auto 6 now coming sometime in 2026, the gang takes a look at what else is coming this Fall, and it's still a surprisingly deep release window. Sony's Ghost of Yōtei, Activision's Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Nintendo's Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, and more headline a stacked schedule. Plus we have last week's poll results, and a new poll for you t

Donkey Kong Bananza Is Switch 2’s Killer App - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week the team discuss IGN's first 10 out of 10 game of the year: Donkey Kong Bananza. Nintendo Voice Chat's Logan Plant, who reviewed the game, stops by to elaborate on his glowing score. We also look on the PS5 and Xbox side to see what would be those consoles' definitive "killer app" titles. Plus we have last week's poll results, and a new poll for yo

Game Pass Isn't Hurting Xbox Sales, So Is AI To Blame For Layoffs? - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week Ryan and Max try and make sense of the latest round of layoffs fro Microsoft, which saw the company dismiss over 9,000 staff across multiple subsidiaries. Arkane Studios founder Raphael Collantonio recently blamed Game Pass for the megapublisher's financial belt tightening, but recent sales data suggests Game Pass isn't hurting game sales; in fact,

Comparing the ACTUAL Exclusives of PS5, Xbox, and Switch 2 - Next Gen Console Watch
This week on Next-Gen Console watch, we take a look at the state of games exclusive to one console, . Between Sony’s expansion into the PC gaming space, and Microsoft putting more and more Xbox Game Studios games topping the charts on competitors’ platforms, it seems like Nintendo is the only console maker keeping its games in one place, and Donkey Kong Bananza is shaping up to be one of the Switc

First PS6, Xbox Next Details Analyzed – Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week, Daemon, Ryan, and Max analyze Xbox's recent announcement that they're partnering with AMD on multiple pieces of hardware, including the third-party ASUS ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X handhelds, and the likely successor console to the Series X and S. What does this mean for Xbox's hardware future? How does this connect to their push for cloud gamin

Nintendo Switch 2 Launch Wins and Losses - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! After a week off because of IGN Live, Daemon, Max, and Ryan take a look at the Nintendo Switch 2's launch and dive into what worked, and what didn't. Nintendo is touting the launch as their most succesful, outselling the original Switch over the same four-day period. Some analysts are already hailing the Switch 2 as the fastest-selling console of all time, w

Nintendo Switch 2: Our Hopes and Fears - Next-Gen Console Watch
IGN Live is nearly here and we have a limited number of complimentary tickets for it! Head here and use the code "NGCWGUEST" to get a complimentary GA ticket for Saturday or Sunday: www.ign.com/live .
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week, Logan is on a very special assignment, so it's just Daemon, Max, and Ryan. The topic: their biggest hopes and deepest fears for the Nintendo Switch

Our PS5, Nintendo, Xbox Summer Show Predictions - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! We have a full squad this week, with Max Scoville, Logan Plant, and Ryan McCaffrey going over their predictions for each major console's upcoming summer showcases. Nintendo already gave us a showcase when they full unveiled the Switch 2 along with the launch window lineup, but of course Sony and Xbox need to have their time in the sun, too. PS5 has a couple

Nintendo Says Physical Games Are Still Key (Cards) - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week we speak with Nintendo Voice Chat host Logan Plant about visiting the new Nintendo Store in San Francisco, and interviewing Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser. In that interview, Bowser explained the benefit of having game-key cards that don't actually have the game on them, and we discuss how Nintendo is setting up the Switch 2 for success

GTA 6: Why PS5 Pro Should Be the Best Way To Play - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week Daemon is joined by Podcast Unlocked's Ryan McCaffrey and IGN's Executive Tech Editor, Bo Moore, to talk GTA 6's influence on the PS5 Pro. Will Sony's latest Pro console get a bump in sales because of GTA 6, considering it'll be the best way to play the game until the inevitable PC release? And we take a look at Microsoft's new pricing strategy for

Console Pre-orders Are Still a Disaster - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! The Nintendo Switch 2 officially went up for preorder in the United States last week, and it went about as well as one might expect considering it's the follow-up to one of the best-selling gaming consoles of all time. Websites crasheds, credit card charges were declined, launch day deliveries were missed—it was chaos. Although many prevailed in securing a S

10 Games That Deserve the Oblivion Remaster Treatment - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! In this week's episode, Daemon is joined by Beyond's Max Scoville, Unlocked's Ryan McCaffrey, and IGN's Community Lead, Jada Griffin. The topic: what's the difference between a remake and a remaster? And what games do we think deserve the same remastered treatment that The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion got? We also have last episode's poll results, and a new po

What Does Switch 2 Mean for PS6, Xbox? - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! Ryan and Max are back as they discuss what the Nintendo Switch 2 Pricing means for the eventual PlayStation 6 and next Xbox. Can any console going forward reach the same success as the original Switch? And for handheld gaming PC's and the Xbox handheld, can we expect those to cost $450+, just like the Switch 2? Plus we have last week's poll results, and a ne

Nintendo Switch 2 Looks Awesome & Pricey - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week we have Jada Griffin, Sam Claiborn, and Bo Moore joining Daemon as they take a look at the Nintendo Switch 2. It's more powerful, can run more games, and will cost you more money. Is the new hybrid console worth $450 for the base model? And will the new Mario Kart World be worth a whopping $80 alone? Plus we have a new poll for you to vote on at IG

The PS6 Games We Already Know About - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch. This week Daemon is joined by IGN's Community Lead, Jada Griffin, and regular Game Scoop co-host Mark Medina to look ahead to the PlayStation 6. There have been tons of games announced during this generation that still haven't seen the light of day, and the chances of them being PS6 titles grows greater with each passing financial quarter. Games like the Spl

Our Final Nintendo Switch 2 Predictions - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week, Game Scoop's Sam Claiborn joins to to peer into the future with our predictions for the Nintendo Switch 2. The big reveal for Nintendo's new hybrid console is coming up on April 2nd, and we give our best guesses on price, release date, games at launch, and more. Plus we have last week's poll results, and a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com.
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Next-Gen Xbox: Windows Into the Future - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch. This week, Daemon is joined by Unlocked's Ryan McCaffrey—in person!—and IGN's executive tech editor, Bo Moore, to talk about Xbox's supposed leaked next-gen plans. Microsoft has reportedly greenlit a brand new next-gen Xbox console and not one but two handhelds, one of which will be made by a third party. Plus we have last week's poll results and a new poll

Our Most-Wanted MIA PS5, Xbox Games - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week Daemon is joined by Unlocked's Ryan McCaffrey and IGN's Community Lead, Jada Griffin, to answer the very important question of, "What ever happened to...?" Like, what ever happened to Hollow Knight: Silksong? Or that Wolverine game? Or a bunch of other titles that we haven't heard a peep from in years. Plus, we have last week's poll results (a clos

Seven Upcoming Open-World Games That Could Break New Ground - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This Daemon, Max, and Ryan take a look at some upcoming open-world RPGs that could be adding something new to the genre. Last-gen games like Hogwarts Legacy and Cyberpunk 2077 added incredible levels of immersion to their franchises, and now that we have new(ish) hardware like the PS5 Pro, open-world games could be entering a new era. Ghost of Yōtei, Death S

Xbox Wants Out of the Console War - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week Daemon, Max, and Ryan analyze recent comments from Xbox's Phil Spencer, and it sounds like Xbox is kind of done with the console wars. What does this mean for Xbox's future, and how does this affect PlayStation? And of course, there's Nintendo who goes by the beat of their own drum. Plus we have last week's poll results and a new poll for you to vo

Sony vs Xbox vs Nintendo: Who Had the Best Early 2025 Show? - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week, Daemon, Max, and Ryan look back at the three major showcases from the three major console manufacturers. Sony recently had their State of Play, showing off a few high-profile titles like the Housemarque's Saros and Tides of Annihilation. Xbox also aired the recent edition of Developer Direct, highlighting first-party games South of Midnight, Clair

Switch 2 Could Be the Last Console with Physical Media - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch. This week Daemon and Ryan are joined by IGN's publisher and gaming industry veteran John Davison to talk about the future of physical media. With gamers overwhelmingly preferring digital copies, and with cloud streaming technology making console-quality gaming accesible from nearly every device with an internet connection, will the PlayStation 6 or next Xbox

Could AI Make PS6/Xbox Cheaper? - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch. This week the usual crew of Daemon, Ryan, and Max are joined by Bo Moore, IGN's executive tech editor. With the Nvidia RTX 50-series cards now available (allegedly, since they're sold out now), we dive into the world of artificial intelligence to see if it's possible these new advancements will mean cheaper gaming hardware in the future. And the gang discuss

Will GTA 6 Be Worth $100? - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week Daemon is joined by Ryan McCaffrey of Podcast Unlocked, and Jada Griffin from Nintendo Voice Chat. The topic: could, and will, Grand Theft Auto 6 be priced at $80 or more? Is a $100 base price for that game reasonable considering inflation rates and the rising cost of game development? Should hours a player will spend in the game determine how much

Nintendo Switch 2: What We Do and Still DON'T Know - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This is a very big week for next-gen gaming—after seemingly countless leaks over the past few months, the Nintendo Switch 2 has officially been revealed. Daemon, Ryan, and Game Scoop's Sam Claiborn take stock of what we know about the Switch, and what we DON'T know (which is admittedly a lot). Plus we have last week's poll results and a new poll for you to v

The Big Nintendo Switch 2 Rumors Episode - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week NVC's Brian Altano is joined by Beyond's Max Scoville and Unlocked's Ryan McCaffrey as they discuss the deluge of Nintendo Switch 2 leaks. The rumored hybrid console has seen its alleged motherboard, kickstand, and Joycon controllers leak in recent weeks, and accessory maker Genki even showed off a mock-up at their CES 2025 booth (which they later

How Xbox Could Benefit From Sony's New Game Graphics Initiative - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week IGN's Executive Tech Editor, Bo Moore, stops by to talk Sony's new graphics initiative. The company has announced a partnership with AMD that could be beneficial not just to Sony, but Xbox as well. What could this mean for the PlayStation 6 and Microsoft's follow-up to the Xbox Series X?
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The Most Next-Gen Games of 2024 - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch. This week Daemon, Max, and Ryan look back at 2024 and pick their favorite "next-gen" games of the year. These are the titles that really show off what the PS5 and Xbox Series X can do, like Hellblade 2's realistic facial animation, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle's immersive lighting, Astro Bot's water effects and DualSense controller features, Star Wars

2024’s Next-Gen No Shows - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch. This week Daemon, Ryan, and Max discuss the games we should have been playing already, namely games like Avowed, Assassin's Creed Shadows, Metal Gear Solid Delta, and more. What caused the delays and when are they actually coming out? We also have last week's poll results, and a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com.
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Will the Next Console War Be Handheld? - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week Daemon is joined by Beyond's Max Scoville and Unlocked's Destin Legarie to discuss the next front in the console war: handhelds. A recent Bloomberg report claims that Sony is working on their next PlayStation handheld that is meant to go toe-to-toe with the Nintendo Switch. Not to be outdone, Microsoft also has a handheld coming, and both Sony's an

Should Xbox Fast Track Its Next Console? - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week Daemon is joined by Ryan McCaffrey from IGN's Xbox podcast, Unlocked, and Max Scoville from IGN's PlayStation show, Beyond! The topic: should Microsoft fast-track a new Xbox console since they won't be doing a mid-gen refresh? The PS5 Pro is now the most powerful game console you can buy, and since PS5's are outselling the Xbox 2:1, it might be bet

PS5 & Xbox Series Four-Year Report Card
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This month marks the four-year anniversary of both the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X|S, so of course we're taking a look back at the past four years and grading how well both consoles did. Joining Daemon this week are Max Scoville from IGN's Beyond! podcast, and Stella Chung from Podcast Unlocked. We also have last week's poll results, plus a new poll

PS5 Pro: Powerful But Unessential - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch. This week Daemon is joined by Beyond's Max Scoville, and Michael Higham, IGN's tech reviews editor. He reviewed the PS5 Pro, and he joins us today to talk about his review, how the PS5 Pro makes console games a little more like their PC counterparts, and whether or not Microsoft needs to release an Xbox Series X Pro soon. Plus we have last week's poll result

PS5 vs Xbox: Who Has the Best Fall 2024 Lineup? - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch. This week Daemon is joined by Unlocked's Ryan McCaffrey and Beyond's Max Scoville to compare the PS5 and Xbox's lineup for the rest of the year. Sony is launching its mid-gen refresh in the PS5 Pro, but doesn't really have a major exclusive this Fall that shows off that extra horsepower. Meanwhile, the Xbox Series X and S consoles are being outsold by Sony,

10 Games That Need a Current-Gen Remaster (Besides Bloodborne) - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch. This week, Daemon is joined by Podcast Beyond's Max Scoville and Jada Griffin to talk about remasters. They're all the rage these days with games coming out a generation ago already getting the remaster treatment (looking at you, Horizon Zero Dawn). But there are plenty of older games that could use a fresh coat of paint, like Metal Gear Solid 4, Dino Crisis

Should PlayStation & Xbox Get the Analogue Treatment? - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch. This week Daemon is joined by Ryan McCaffrey from IGN's Xbox podcast, Podcast Unlocked, and Max Scoville from Beyond, IGN's PlayStation show. This week, retro enthusiast hardware company Analogue revealed the Analogue 3D, their take on the Nintendo 64. As great as it is that a company is making original retro games playable on new TVs and gaming setups, shou

Why You Should Expect Halo 7 on PS5 - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch. This week Daemon is joined by Podcast Beyond's Max Scoville and Unlocked's Ryan McCaffrey to discuss the major shift happening over at Halo devleoper 343 Industries...oops we mean't Halo Studios. And does the franchise's move to Unreal Engine 5 mean a likely PS5 port of any of the existing or future games? Plus we have last week's poll results and a new poll

These Terrifying Horror Games Really Show Off Next-Gen - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch. This week Ryan is in the driver's seat, and he's joined by Beyond's Max Scoville and Podcast Unlocked's Destin Legarie. The topic is a timely one for the beginning of the spooky season: notable—and scary—horror games that really show off the PS5 and the Xbox Series X. And when did horror games become the new way to show off new gaming hardware? Plus we have

Welcome to Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome to Next-Gen Console Watch, your one-stop shop for everything Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5. Join Game Scoop's! Daemon Hatfield; Ryan McCaffrey, host of IGN’s Xbox podcast Podcast Unlocked; Max Scoville, host of IGN's PlayStation podcast Podcast Beyond; and Bo Moore, IGN’s Executive Tech Editor, every Friday at 6AM Pacific, 9AM Eastern for the latest and greatest in PS5 and Xbox Series X
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