2025 Year in Review: The Switch 2 Era Begins, Clair Obscur’s GOTY Upset & Arc Raiders’ AI Debate

As 2025 comes to a close, Eammonn Dignam reflects on a year that changed the industry. We analyze the record-breaking launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 , which brought us Mario Kart World and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, all while celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Mushroom Kingdom's hero. We discuss the shifting of the guard as Doug Bowser retires as President of Nintendo of America, succeeded by Devon Pritchard. The show also dives into the "AA" miracle: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 winning Game of the Year on a budget under $10 million. Finally, we break down the end-of-year controversy surrounding Arc Raiders , its shift to a premium $40 model, and Tim Sweeney’s defense of its AI-voiced characters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices