Game Buoy Podcast Episode 174 – Digital Love: Game Buoy Remake Project Episode 1

Ahoy, mateys, and welcome to the GAMEBUOY.ORG video game podcast – your port of call for gaming news and views that maybe aren’t on your radar, but most definitely should be! On this episode, recorded Sunday, May 11, 2025, Captain Spike and First Mate Slaggy McWaggy discuss the changing landscape of games distribution!

This episode is part of the Game Buoy Remake Project, a series of themed episodes revisiting previously discussed topics. This week, the Podcast Pirates follow up on Game Buoy Podcast Episode 3 – Digital Distribution and DLC, originally published May 8, 2012.

HOT TOPIC IS THE WAY THAT WE RHYME [3:35]

– Polygon was sold to Valnet and hit with layoffs on the same day that Jeff Grubb announced he was leaving Giant Bomb.
– The news of Polygon’s sale to Valnet was first reported by Kotaku.
– Per Aftermath, at least 25 Polygon employees were laid off.
– However, Fandom sold Giant Bomb to its staff, and Giant Bomb will now be a fully independent, creator owned, and reader supported side.
– Microsoft has raised Xbox console and game prices in the US.
– The Overwatch 2 team at Blizzard has fully unionized.
– Nintendo Switch system software Version 20.0 includes the new virtual game card feature, which has changed the way players can share games.
– Fortnite has returned to the iOS App Store.
– 8bitdo is currently not shipping to the US from China due to Trump’s tariffs.
– Anbernic has suspended all shipments to the US from China as well.
– The Wii Homebrew Channel’s GitHub repository has been archived due to the discovery that one of its toolkits utilizes stolen Nintendo and open source code.
– Wholesome Direct will take place on Saturday, June 7 at 9 AM Pacific, with proceeds from merchandise sales supporting Point of Pride, a nonprofit that provides gender affirming care and financial support to trans people.
– Wolf Hawkfield will be a playable character in the new Virtua Fighter game.

RELEASE UPDATES [31:29]

– Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. is coming to PS5, Xbox Series, and Switch 2.
– Grand Theft Auto 6 has been delayed until May 26, 2026.
– The release date of Borderlands 4 has been moved up two weeks earlier, to September 23.
– Sonic Rumble has been indefinitely delayed.
– Balatro, Ark: Survival Ascended, and Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun are free on PlayStation Plus for May 2025.
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