December 20th, 2024 Podcast Recap

From impressive Call of Duty sales to intriguing updates on The Witcher 4 and Borderlands 4, this week's episode of Good Playing With You is packed with gaming headlines, hot takes, and even a fun holiday trivia game. Here’s a breakdown of what we covered.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: A Divisive Adventure

The recently released Indiana Jones and the Great Circle sparked heated reactions from the team. While the game garnered stellar reviews with an 86 Metacritic score and some fans calling it a potential Game of the Year, the podcast hosts had mixed opinions:

Maulding: “This is one of the least fun games I’ve ever played. Nostalgia is clouding people’s judgment.”

While Maulding criticized its slow pacing, lack of urgency, and inaccurate comparisons to such classic games as Hitman and Dishonored, Dan found redeeming qualities, especially after getting past the frustrating opening hours.

Dan: “It’s overhyped, but it’s not as bad as Maulding says. The puzzles and mysteries are enjoyable once you get into the second area.”

The hosts agreed on one point: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a better fit for Game Pass than a full-price purchase.

Lord: “It’s a decent Game Pass game, but it’s far from the masterpiece some people are claiming.”

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 – A Sales Juggernaut

The latest Call of Duty installment, Black Ops 6, continues its reign, becoming the second-best-selling game of 2024, only trailing EA Sports College Football 25. Despite launching day one on Xbox Game Pass, sales remain robust, suggesting the majority of purchases may still come from PlayStation users.

Dan: “It's fascinating to see how Call of Duty can dominate sales while also boosting Game Pass subscriptions.”

However, Xbox’s strategy of focusing on Game Pass may be hurting their hardware sales, with PlayStation leading in overall console revenue for the year.

Nintendo Switch Surpasses PS2 in Lifetime Sales

The Nintendo Switch has officially overtaken the PS2 to become the second-best-selling console of all time, trailing only the Nintendo DS. The panel debated how affordability and innovation helped the Switch achieve this milestone and questioned whether the rumored Switch 2 could replicate its success.

Lord: “Nintendo has always nailed the gimmick. The Switch’s portability and Joy-Con design made it stand out.”

Dan: “But Switch 2 needs something fresh—otherwise, it risks a Wii U situation.”

Borderlands 4: A Shift Away from Toilet Humor?

IGN reported that the narrative director of Borderlands 4 hinted at a reduction in the series’ trademark toilet humor. The team expressed mixed feelings about this shift, noting it could alienate fans who appreciate the franchise’s irreverent tone.

Maulding: “We already have so many serious games. Borderlands is supposed to be over-the-top and ridiculous. I hope they don’t lose that.”

Dan: “Tone is important, but what I need is better writing and fewer tedious fetch quests.”

The Witcher 4 Teases and Gwent Goes Tabletop

The Witcher 4 developers teased the return of Gwent within the game, exciting fans like Dan, who enjoy in-game mini-games. Meanwhile, a physical tabletop version of Gwent is set to release in 2025, featuring 400 cards and customizable rules.

Dan: “I loved Gwent in the game, but there’s no way I’m playing the physical version. I don’t do math.”

Other Highlights

• Fun Holiday Game: The hosts played a trivia game testing their knowledge of 2024 game release dates. Matt Lord emerged victorious, earning extra credit and putting the nail in Dan’s coffin by correctly identifying the order of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Dragon Age: The Veil Guard, and Stalker 2 release dates.

• Listener Question: The group discussed game features that added value, including the Nintendo 64 controller, sleep mode on consoles and Steam Deck, and the rise of Battle Passes.

Final Thoughts

As the year wraps up, the team reflected on the dominance of live-service games, the evolution of beloved franchises, and the importance of unique gameplay innovations. Stay tuned for their upcoming year-end awards, where they’ll crown their favorite games of 2024.