Gaming feels like it's at a crossroads.

This week, we react to another difficult week for the industry as Xbox announces more than 3,000 layoffs in what it calls a "reset". What does this mean for the future of gaming? Are publishers chasing impossible growth, and is the industry heading towards a wider correction?

Then we ask ourselves a very different question… If we could start our gaming lives all over again, what would we do differently?

Would we still buy games on day one? Would we build enormous backlogs? Would trophies, FOMO and social media still shape the way we play?

Joining Liam this week while Scott enjoys paternity leave is Alex from The Mimic's Veil, bringing another perspective to one of our most personal discussions yet.

In this episode:

• Final Fantasy VII Remake finally clicks
• Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced impressions
• PlayStation's reported move away from physical media
• Main topic: Gaming Reset… what we’d do differently
• Xbox layoffs and the future of the platform
• July's Pixel Replay reminder. Burnout 3: Takedown

GET BONUS SHOWS AND MORE BY JOINING OUR ALWAYS FREE PATREON (www.patreon.com/pixelparents)

CHAPTERS

00:00 Gaming Has Hit Reset

00:48 Welcome Alex Back

03:39 LEGO & Middle-earth Chat

07:38 Housekeeping

08:33 What We've Been Playing

08:45 Final Fantasy VII Remake

09:36 The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales

15:12 Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced

20:14 PlayStation & The End Of Physical Games?

29:30 Xbox Layoffs & Industry Reset

39:35 Main Topic. If We Started Gaming Again...

40:57 Would We Still Buy Games Day One?

46:41 Would We Build A Backlog?

50:31 Online Opinions & Reviews

55:18 Do We Replay Enough Games?

59:33 Trophies & Achievements

01:00:37 Would We Buy Less Hardware?

01:03:24 Game Pass & Subscription Fatigue

01:06:16 The Biggest Lesson We've Learned

01:12:09 Pixel Replay. Burnout 3 Returns

01:14:21 Closing Thoughts

Write to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.comFollow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.social
Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com

New episodes every Friday.

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This week on the Pixel Parents Podcast, we're preparing for a huge life event. No, not GTA 6.

Scott has become a father for the second time.

Before he disappears into a haze of nappies, sleepless nights and questionable gaming decisions, we're sitting down for one final check in.

In this episode:

• Preparing for baby number two
• The games secretly piling up in the backlog
• What gaming looks like during the newborn stage
• The biggest misconceptions about gaming and parenthood
• Expectations versus reality
• Liam's Balatro addiction continues
• Tetris Effect Pixel Replay review
• July's Pixel Replay game is revealed

GET BONUS SHOWS AND MORE BY JOINING OUR ALWAYS FREE PATREON (www.patreon.com/pixelparents)

CHAPTERS

00:00 Preparing For Baby Number Two

00:42 Welcome Back

04:52 What Will Scott Be Playing Last?

06:37 Balatro Returns

09:33 Life Before Kids

13:39 Gaming With Your Children

21:34 Main Topic. The Paternity Backlog

22:54 Scott's Secret Gaming Stockpile

27:30 Which Game Is He Most Excited For?

29:29 The Games He'll Never Finish

30:32 Expectations Vs Reality

39:17 Biggest Gaming Misconceptions About Parenthood

45:39 Dad Advice Corner

54:22 The Games That Got Us Through

58:08 Paternity Leave Predictions

01:00:00 Pixel Replay Returns

01:00:57 Tetris Effect Review

01:07:17 July Pixel Replay Reveal

01:07:25 Burnout 3 Selected

01:09:27 Scott's Farewell

01:11:22 Final Thoughts

Write to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.com
Follow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.social
Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com

New episodes every Friday.

🎧 Listen on Spotify

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🍎 Listen on Apple Podcasts

[https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/pixel-parents-video-game-podcast/id1740836394]

💖 Join the FREE Patreon

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[pixelparentspodcast@gmail.com](mailto:pixelparentspodcast@gmail.com)

This week on the Pixel Parents Podcast, we're asking a question that felt impossible just a few years ago… Has gaming become too expensive?

Following the announcement of the Steam Machine and its eye-watering price tag, we're discussing whether gaming hardware has finally crossed a line. Are we entering a future where new consoles and premium hardware are becoming inaccessible for average players?

In this episode:

• Steam Machine pricing shock
• Have consoles become too expensive?
• Are we entering our backlog era?
• The growing divide between gamers and gaming influencers
• What this means for PS6, Project Helix, and the future of gaming
• GTA 6 hype reaches new levels
• Liam returns to GTA V and Watch Dogs Legion
• Scott revisits Twilight Princess and dives into Hell Is Us
• Steam Next Fest discoveries

GET BONUS SHOWS AND MORE BY JOINING OUR ALWAYS FREE PATREON (www.patreon.com/pixelparents)

CHAPTERS

00:00 Has Gaming Become Too Expensive?

01:05 Welcome Back

07:58 GTA VI Hype Check-In

18:16 Liam Returns To Watch Dogs Legion

21:37 What Scott Has Been Playing

22:03 Wind Waker On Switch 2

24:17 Twilight Princess Obsession

25:00 Blood Dungeon Preview

28:28 Hell Is Us Impressions

33:10 Main Topic. Backlog Era

34:12 Steam Machine Price Reaction

39:32 Why Buy A Steam Machine?

43:16 Are We Entering The Backlog Era?

45:47 The Two Class Gamer Problem

52:12 Hardware Vs Software Spending

57:24 How Much Would We Pay For PS6?

01:03:35 Has Console Pricing Gone Too Far?

01:07:24 Project Helix & The Future Of Xbox

01:14:11 Who Is The Steam Machine Actually For?

01:20:08 Pixel Replay Reminder

01:21:28 Scott's Karaoke Story

01:24:24 Final Thoughts

Write to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.com
Follow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.social
Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com

New episodes every Friday.

🎧 Listen on Spotify

[https://open.spotify.com/show/2JE8TeviD5XXuiqVYxj63Q?_reload_cause=banner-auto-reload]

🍎 Listen on Apple Podcasts

[https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/pixel-parents-video-game-podcast/id1740836394]

💖 Join the FREE Patreon

[https://www.patreon.com/pixelparents]

🦋 Follow us on Bluesky

[https://bsky.app/profile/pixelparents.bsky.social]

📺 Subscribe on YouTube

[https://www.youtube.com/@PixelParentsPodcast/S]

✉️ Email the show

[pixelparentspodcast@gmail.com](mailto:pixelparentspodcast@gmail.com)