Unofficial Controller Podcast

Hosted by Unofficial Controller

Technology Leisure

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Episodes

333

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Your number one weekly gaming podcast for all the latest Sony Playstation , Microsoft Xbox , Nintendo Switch and PC News. Retrospectives , Readers Mail and Industry Chat.

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August 16, 2026Episode 3321 hr 17 min

Nintendo Switch 2 GameCube Drops Sunshine Plus More Big Gaming News

Send us Fan MailMario Sunshine popping up on Switch 2’s GameCube service should be simple news, but it turns into a bigger question we can’t stop poking at: why do some gaming subscriptions feel like a treat, while others feel like an endless shelf you never actually touch? We talk through Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, the thrill of seeing new retro drops, and why having GameCube games portable can be more valuable than chasing original hardware, rising disc prices, and controller chaos. If you’re craving retro Nintendo, this one hits that nostalgic nerve in a practical way.From there we jump to PlayStation and one of the juiciest tech claims of the week: Insomniac says Marvel’s Wolverine aims for 60 FPS with ray tracing enabled on the base PS5, with performance mode as the default. We break down why that matters, how it compares to the usual performance vs fidelity trade-off, and whether late-generation “wizardry” still delivers the kind of leap we remember from past console cycles. If smooth gameplay is your love language, you’ll have opinions here.Then we get to the true wildcard for handheld performance: Crimson Desert on Switch 2. The developer says the port is already playable at a foundational level and is targeting the first half of 2027, but it still needs serious optimization to preserve the open world action adventure experience. We debate what an “impossible port” really means in 2026, what compromises show up first (pop-in, resolution, battery, frame rate), and why this could become the benchmark port everyone compares against.If you enjoyed the conversation, subscribe for more weekly gaming talk, share the show with a friend who needs a fresh podcast, and leave a review so more players can find us. What’s the one game you’d pay anything to see running on Switch 2?Support the showJoin our fantastic discordhttps://discord.gg/v7RFSUcGIf link has expired then message us at questions@unofficialcontrollerpodcast.comor DM us on instagram or X and we'll send you an invite.Cheers gamers!Subscription Tiers$3Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet up$5Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet upA single item of yearly limited art merch$8Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet upA single item of yearly limited art merchYearly art merch mug$10 Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet upA single item of yearly limited art merchYearly art merch mugYearly art merch t-shirtThanks to all who subscribe, it means the world to us and really helps us keep the shows going.

August 9, 2026Episode 3311 hr 36 min

Switch 2 Becomes The Comfort Console

Send us Fan MailGTA 6 preorders are reportedly “exceptional,” Halo is back in the headlines for all the wrong reasons, and Nintendo is quietly building the coziest escape hatch in modern gaming. We’re George and RGT, and we spend this week juggling two truths at once: we love this hobby, and we’re tired of how exhausting the industry conversation can feel. So we start where it actually matters, with the games in our hands, not the outrage on our feeds. RGT runs through a packed playlist, from Death on the Nile’s satisfying mystery solving to Farlands, a Stardew Valley style farming sim set in space where fuel, travel time, and a ship you can sleep in turn cozy routines into real planning. We also shout out Rogue Flight, a slick on-rails shooter that scratches that Star Fox itch with modern speed and buttery controls. On George’s side, Donkey Kong Bonanza brings chaotic destruction and big Nintendo energy, while Starfield on PS5 delivers incredible sound and story potential but also raises real questions about loading screens, menus, and how “space exploration” should feel minute to minute. Then we hit the big news: what it means when GTA 6 marketing ties into a Netflix gameplay reveal, why “external contractor shifts” can be a convenient phrase after Halo Campaign Evolved ships, and why the Switch 2 third-party lineup feels like a rare bright spot. We’re not pretending compromises don’t exist, but we are saying this: portability plus strong ports might be the most honest value in gaming right now, and it’s making us want to play more, not argue more. If you’re burned out on negativity but still want smart takes, game recommendations, and a reason to stay excited, press play. Subscribe, share the show with a friend who needs a gaming reset, and leave us a review with the one platform that still feels fun to you right now.Support the showJoin our fantastic discordhttps://discord.gg/v7RFSUcGIf link has expired then message us at questions@unofficialcontrollerpodcast.comor DM us on instagram or X and we'll send you an invite.Cheers gamers!Subscription Tiers$3Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet up$5Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet upA single item of yearly limited art merch$8Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet upA single item of yearly limited art merchYearly art merch mug$10 Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet upA single item of yearly limited art merchYearly art merch mugYearly art merch t-shirtThanks to all who subscribe, it means the world to us and really helps us keep the shows going.

August 2, 2026Episode 3301 hr 46 min

Tom Holland Picks His Favorite Game And Xbox Bets On Four C’s

Send us Fan MailTom Holland just dropped a gaming take that genuinely made us stop and go, wait, what. He says The Last of Us Part 2 is his favorite video game of all time, and he’s avoided the HBO series because he loves the game that much. We unpack why that actually makes sense for a performance-driven, narrative-heavy game, and we ask the bigger question: when a story hits you perfectly in game form, do you even want an adaptation messing with your headcanon?From there we get into Xbox’s post-reset strategy, breaking down the “four C’s” priorities and what they could mean for console, Game Pass, and the push to stretch big IP across film, television, mobile, and live experiences. We translate the corporate language into gamer reality, including the parts that sound exciting and the parts that sound like the road to more monetization and more spin-offs.Then we go straight into the messy stuff everyone’s feeling: physical vs digital games, the fear of losing access, and why storefront clarity matters if the industry expects us to go all-in on downloads. We also talk about rising console prices and the pressure AI chip demand puts on hardware supply, before ending on a more comforting note with Nintendo and the Ocarina of Time Switch 2 rating rumor. If you’ve got thoughts on ownership, subscriptions, or where console gaming goes next, subscribe, share the show, and leave a review so more people can find us.Support the showJoin our fantastic discordhttps://discord.gg/v7RFSUcGIf link has expired then message us at questions@unofficialcontrollerpodcast.comor DM us on instagram or X and we'll send you an invite.Cheers gamers!Subscription Tiers$3Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet up$5Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet upA single item of yearly limited art merch$8Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet upA single item of yearly limited art merchYearly art merch mug$10 Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet upA single item of yearly limited art merchYearly art merch mugYearly art merch t-shirtThanks to all who subscribe, it means the world to us and really helps us keep the shows going.

July 26, 2026Episode 32957 min

Find out why this retro console is back !

Send us Fan MailSony’s relationship with physical media is getting rockier, Xbox is experimenting with ad-supported cloud streaming, and the whole industry feels like it’s testing how much friction players will tolerate before they push back. I’m flying solo for Episode 329, so we move fast and cover a wider mix of stories, including a couple of retro detours that hit the nostalgia sweet spot without ignoring the messy realities of modern gaming.I also kick things off with what I’ve been playing, finishing Xenoblade Chronicles on the Switch 2 version and sharing why it’s such an easy recommendation for JRPG fans and open-world adventure lovers alike. I’m a few hours into Futures Connected, and I talk about why this DLC is the rare one that actually keeps me invested. Then I pivot to our community Gen 7 playthrough pick, Heavenly Sword, plus a very real PS Vita problem while trying to play Jak 3 when the rear touchpad keeps triggering first-person mode.On the news side, we dig into reports of Sony tightening social media rules for staff while staying silent on the disc backlash, and we unpack what that silence does to trust. We also break down Xbox’s test that puts ads before cloud streaming sessions and why “it won’t interrupt gameplay” might not calm anyone down. To round it out, we highlight Monolith Soft quietly helping Nintendo ship big titles, check in on Hyperkin’s Superboy SNES handheld revival, and react to Hasbro’s first wave of Legend of Zelda action figures and the collector chaos that can follow.If you enjoy smart gaming talk that spans PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, retro hardware, and collector culture, subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review. What do you think about ads in gaming and the shift away from discs?Support the showJoin our fantastic discordhttps://discord.gg/v7RFSUcGIf link has expired then message us at questions@unofficialcontrollerpodcast.comor DM us on instagram or X and we'll send you an invite.Cheers gamers!Subscription Tiers$3Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet up$5Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet upA single item of yearly limited art merch$8Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet upA single item of yearly limited art merchYearly art merch mug$10 Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet upA single item of yearly limited art merchYearly art merch mugYearly art merch t-shirtThanks to all who subscribe, it means the world to us and really helps us keep the shows going.

July 19, 2026Episode 3281 hr 21 min

We Break Down The PlayStation Boycott And What It Means For Everyone

Send us Fan MailPlayStation fans are so furious about the move away from physical discs that some are telling people to buy third-party and indie games anywhere but PS5, and it raises a messy question: when you “vote with your wallet,” who actually feels it first? We dig into the disc debacle backlash, why comment sections have turned hostile, and why we think directing rage at small studios is the fastest way to miss the point while still doing real damage.Before the news spiral, we keep it grounded with what we are playing. RGT is over 60 hours into Xenoblade Chronicles and staring down the final stretch, including the classic JRPG moment where you think you are done, then realize you are underleveled and happily disappear into side missions. George talks about saving Indiana Jones for an upcoming holiday, slowly picking through Final Fantasy VIII, and getting genuinely won over by Super Mario Bros Wonder. We also get nerdy about hardware and nostalgia, because the Switch N64 controller can instantly make Ocarina of Time, GoldenEye, and Jet Force Gemini feel “right” again.On the Xbox side, we react to a batch of new console features like longer gamertags, improved library artwork, offline personalization, wish list shortcuts, and better cloud play prompts, all landing at a weird time for the industry. That kicks off a bigger, honest conversation about next-gen consoles, rumored PS6 pricing, broadband realities, and whether gaming is drifting toward an expensive, digital-only hobby built for the few instead of the many. If you have thoughts on discs, cloud gaming, or how you want to buy games in 2026 and beyond, share the episode, leave a review, and subscribe so you do not miss what comes next.Support the showJoin our fantastic discordhttps://discord.gg/v7RFSUcGIf link has expired then message us at questions@unofficialcontrollerpodcast.comor DM us on instagram or X and we'll send you an invite.Cheers gamers!Subscription Tiers$3Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet up$5Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet upA single item of yearly limited art merch$8Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet upA single item of yearly limited art merchYearly art merch mug$10 Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet upA single item of yearly limited art merchYearly art merch mugYearly art merch t-shirtThanks to all who subscribe, it means the world to us and really helps us keep the shows going.

July 12, 2026Episode 3271 hr 46 min

Brazil Challenges Sony Over Digital Game Ownership And Preservation

Send us Fan MailYou can feel the ground shifting under gaming right now, and not just because we’re playing more big-budget releases on handhelds. We start with what we’ve been obsessing over on Switch 2, including Xenoblade Chronicles and why its real-time JRPG combat still feels tactical, modern, and weirdly addictive once it clicks. We also get into the little realities of “upgraded classics” like pop-in and frame stutter, plus whether you can mainline the story without turning your life into a grind.From there, George makes the case for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle as one of the best licensed games in years. We talk first-person exploration, surprisingly weighty fistfights, smart camera shifts during traversal, and the film-level details that make it feel like you’re living inside an Indiana Jones story. Final Fantasy VIII Remastered also gets its moment, including the love-hate relationship with junctioning, unskippable summon animations, and the kind of enemy level scaling that forces you to learn systems instead of out-leveling problems.Then the conversation turns into something bigger than any one game: digital game ownership and game preservation. Brazil is pushing consumer-rights rules inspired by Stop Killing Games, while Sony’s disc-less direction raises hard questions about resale, lending, and what happens when stores shut down. We cap it off with Xbox news on id Tech after layoff rumors, plus a real debate about whether Microsoft should protect its internal engines or risk deeper dependence on Unreal Engine.If you enjoyed the chat, subscribe, share the episode with a friend who still buys physical, and leave us a review. Where do you stand on all-digital consoles, and what would it take to change your mind?Support the showJoin our fantastic discordhttps://discord.gg/v7RFSUcGIf link has expired then message us at questions@unofficialcontrollerpodcast.comor DM us on instagram or X and we'll send you an invite.Cheers gamers!Subscription Tiers$3Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet up$5Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet upA single item of yearly limited art merch$8Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet upA single item of yearly limited art merchYearly art merch mug$10 Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet upA single item of yearly limited art merchYearly art merch mugYearly art merch t-shirtThanks to all who subscribe, it means the world to us and really helps us keep the shows going.

July 5, 2026Episode 3261 hr 18 min

The Day Gaming Died with Two And A Half Gamers UK

Send us Fan MailThe future of gaming is starting to feel less like progress and more like a contract you can’t read. We’re joined by Two and a Half Gamers UK to talk through the current state of modern gaming, starting with the GTA 6 digital controversy and why preordering a digital game can feel like paying for hype instead of securing a copy. If downloads never run out, what are we really buying and why are companies pushing us to commit early?From there, we get into the bigger fears behind the PS6 disc drive rumors and the gut punch of storefront shutdowns. When older stores close and licenses expire, “purchased” can turn into “unavailable” overnight, and that changes how collectors think about game ownership, game preservation, and backward compatibility. We also talk about remakes and remasters, and how easy it is for publishers to quietly remove original versions and steer everyone into rebuying the new one.We round it out with the hard questions: why Game Pass and PS Plus style subscriptions don’t always work like Netflix, why the console upgrade jumps feel smaller while prices climb, and why retro gaming prices could spike if physical media keeps shrinking. Plus, we end on pure nostalgia with the one-item-you-save-from-a-fire debate and where you can find the guests’ streams and vlogs.If you care about physical games, digital-only consoles, and what it means to truly own your library, hit play, then subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave us a review.Two and a half gamers YouTube-https://youtube.com/@twoandahalfgamersuk?si=s6NwGEzwgxU2fm3KTwo and a half gamers uk Twitch - https://www.twitch.tv/twoand_a_halfgaTwo and a half gamers uk Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/share/1EkEohABy3/Harry's Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/hdriz.retro_rewind/Aarron's Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/flippin_calisuk/JC's Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/jc__dasilva/Support the showJoin our fantastic discordhttps://discord.gg/v7RFSUcGIf link has expired then message us at questions@unofficialcontrollerpodcast.comor DM us on instagram or X and we'll send you an invite.Cheers gamers!Subscription Tiers$3Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet up$5Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet upA single item of yearly limited art merch$8Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet upA single item of yearly limited art merchYearly art merch mug$10 Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet upA single item of yearly limited art merchYearly art merch mugYearly art merch t-shirtThanks to all who subscribe, it means the world to us and really helps us keep the shows going.

June 28, 2026Episode 3251 hr 36 min

Switch 2 Vs PS5 In Japan

Send us Fan MailNintendo is spending 121 billion yen on a brand-new R&D center in Kyoto, Sony is selling a Japan-only PS5 at a loss, and the Switch 2 is still running away with the market. That combo says a lot about where gaming is headed, so we unpack it from the perspective that actually matters: how people live, how people play, and what they can realistically fit into a busy day.We also get personal with the stuff you only hear when two longtime players are being honest. The Soulslike “rage fixation” loop, chasing lost XP, and realizing you’re wasting time just because you’re mad. The strange relief of stepping away from trophies and achievements, and how completionism can turn an amazing single-player game into a checklist. Plus the practical handheld angle: why Switch 2 ports can be “good enough” when the trade is gaming anywhere, anytime, without fighting the TV.Then we zoom out to the bigger cultural shift: physical media, collector’s editions, and the slow death of the old ritual of saving up, buying a box, and actually owning what you paid for. Streaming and digital libraries are convenient, but the bill never ends and the licenses don’t love you back. If you’ve felt that tension between convenience and ownership, or between prestige consoles and real-life gaming time, you’ll feel seen here.Subscribe for more weekly gaming talk, share this with a friend who’s stuck in trophy brain, and leave a review to help more players find the show. What’s winning your gaming time right now: power, portability, or pure comfort?Support the showJoin our fantastic discordhttps://discord.gg/v7RFSUcGIf link has expired then message us at questions@unofficialcontrollerpodcast.comor DM us on instagram or X and we'll send you an invite.Cheers gamers!Subscription Tiers$3Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet up$5Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet upA single item of yearly limited art merch$8Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet upA single item of yearly limited art merchYearly art merch mug$10 Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet upA single item of yearly limited art merchYearly art merch mugYearly art merch t-shirtThanks to all who subscribe, it means the world to us and really helps us keep the shows going.

June 21, 2026Episode 3241 hr 25 min

The gaming industry is imploding !?

Send us Fan MailXbox chaos, PS6 uncertainty, and a tiny handheld that keeps embarrassing the “power” conversation all collide in one week. We sit down and talk through the reports of major Xbox layoffs and studios potentially on the chopping block, and what that does to creativity when teams are building games under constant fear and shifting strategy. If you’ve ever wondered whether acquisitions and exclusives actually fix the core problem, we wrestle with that head-on. From there we jump to the next-gen elephant in the room: PS6 timing. With component costs surging and analysts hinting at a 2027 or even 2028 launch, we ask what Sony can realistically ship without pricing normal players out. If consoles creep toward $1,000, do we still get the classic “new generation,” or do we end up with a set-top-box style future where ecosystems matter more than hardware leaps? And then Switch 2 barges in with the most interesting twist: Unreal Engine’s lighting updates and smarter scaling suggest software might be the real next-gen. We debate ray tracing vs baked lighting, why the difference often doesn’t matter unless you’re doing side-by-side tests, and why portability changes what “great performance” feels like. Along the way, we get into trophy chasing burnout, pick-up-and-play gaming, and the weird power of nostalgia when old favorites hit just right. If you like smart gaming takes with a bit of chaos, subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find us.Support the showJoin our fantastic discordhttps://discord.gg/v7RFSUcGIf link has expired then message us at questions@unofficialcontrollerpodcast.comor DM us on instagram or X and we'll send you an invite.Cheers gamers!Subscription Tiers$3Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet up$5Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet upA single item of yearly limited art merch$8Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet upA single item of yearly limited art merchYearly art merch mug$10 Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet upA single item of yearly limited art merchYearly art merch mugYearly art merch t-shirtThanks to all who subscribe, it means the world to us and really helps us keep the shows going.

June 14, 2026Episode 3232 hr 22 min

The Switch 2 Is Eating Everyone’s Lunch

Send us Fan MailThe Switch 2 is starting to feel less like a side console and more like the place where everything shows up, and that changes the whole mood of a gaming week. We’re coming in hot off our own playtime too: Forza Horizon 6 swallowing hours, Outbound delivering the kind of calm “camp, craft, and breathe” loop you can keep installed forever, plus early thoughts on 007 First Light and a surprisingly sticky return to Mass Effect Legendary Edition. On the nostalgia front, Donkey Kong 64 landing on Switch Online hits hard, even if modern button mapping reminds you the N64 era had its own kind of chaos.Then we get into the main event: Nintendo Direct reactions with a wide-angle look at what Summer Games Fest season is really saying. We talk Switch 2 ports, performance trade-offs, and why day-and-date releases matter so much more than arguing about a few visual downgrades. If you’ve been waiting for the handheld to get “real console” support, this is the kind of lineup that makes people look twice, whether you’re Nintendo-only or you already own everything else.We also pull on two threads that matter beyond hype. First, we finally explain why South Korea keeps “leaking” unannounced games: it’s largely GRAC and the Game Industry Promotion Act forcing ratings info into public view. Second, we react to Xbox leadership outlining five hard realities and a “next 100 days” business reset, from shrinking margins and rising hardware component costs to overextended studios and platform infrastructure problems, plus what that might mean for exclusives, Game Pass, and future hardware plans like Project Helix.If you enjoy straight-shooting gaming news with real opinions, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave us a review so more people can find the show.Support the showJoin our fantastic discordhttps://discord.gg/v7RFSUcGIf link has expired then message us at questions@unofficialcontrollerpodcast.comor DM us on instagram or X and we'll send you an invite.Cheers gamers!Subscription Tiers$3Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet up$5Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet upA single item of yearly limited art merch$8Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet upA single item of yearly limited art merchYearly art merch mug$10 Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet upA single item of yearly limited art merchYearly art merch mugYearly art merch t-shirtThanks to all who subscribe, it means the world to us and really helps us keep the shows going.