This week on the Cheesy Controller Podcast Jalen and Madrid talk about their very early impressions of Slay the Spire 2 in early access and how the sequel is shaping up so far, what feels new, and whether it’s already living up to the original.

They also discuss the second team reveal for Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, The Amazing Guardians, and how the roster is starting to take shape as more teams get announced. The conversation then shifts to Marathon and the first weekend of Cryo Archive, including Anton’s Highguard refund situation that somehow still resulted in him spending more money on Marathon anyway.

The group also talks about being hesitant to jump into the new Fortnite season and how tough it can be to keep up with seasonal updates in live service games. To wrap things up, they discuss DLSS 5 and the negative blowback from people calling it more of an AI filter than a real graphical leap, and they close the episode by talking about PSN reportedly getting a name change and speculating on what Sony might rename the service in the future. 🧀🎮

The Cheesy Controller Podcast goes live once again from the Atlanta Sci-Fi and Fantasy Expo 2026 for their second year hosting a live panel in front of an audience. This special episode is all about sci-fi games that the hosts believe deserve adaptations into movies or TV shows, and the conversation goes all over the galaxy. From story-driven epics and dystopian worlds to weird, experimental sci-fi universes that could become incredible streaming series, they break down which games would work best, who could star in them, and whether live action or animation would be the better route. The live audience also gets involved with their own picks and reactions, making this a fun, energetic episode full of sci-fi love, adaptation debates, and plenty of cheesy controller energy from the stage. 🧀🎮

Anton and Chris are back with another packed episode of the Cheesy Controller Podcast! This week the duo dives into their early time with Scott Pilgrim EX on Steam, with both hosts playing roughly the first half of the game and sharing their thoughts on how the brawler stacks up to the beloved original. Chris also gives a full breakdown after beating Resident Evil Requiem, discussing the ending, standout moments, and the long road he’s now on toward earning the platinum trophy. Meanwhile, Anton talks about jumping into the full release of Bungie’s Marathon, sharing how the experience feels now that the game is fully out in the wild. The two also dig into Microsoft and Xbox’s big announcement of Project Helix, debating what it could mean for the long-term stability of the Xbox brand and how the strategy might reshape the platform going forward. To wrap things up, Chris closes out the show by talking about the little bit of Romeo Is a Deadman he’s managed to squeeze in between his marathon Resident Evil sessions. 🧀🎮

In this episode of the Cheesy Controller Podcast, the crew dives into a packed week of gaming news and what they’ve been playing. They start by discussing the unfortunate layoffs at the studio behind EA’s revival of Skate, and what it could mean for the future of the long-awaited skating comeback. From there, they react to the first look at the upcoming God of War show—and let’s just say the early impressions leave them with… concerns.

The conversation shifts to the Pokémon Presents celebrating the Pokémon 30th anniversary, breaking down the announcements, surprises, and what it might mean for the franchise moving forward. Chris also checks in with his early impressions of Resident Evil Requiem, sharing his thoughts now that he’s reached the halfway point of the game.

Meanwhile, Anton talks about jumping into the Marathon Server Slam ahead of launch week and whether the experience has him excited or cautious about Bungie’s upcoming shooter. The hosts also attempt to start their nostalgic journey through Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen, though their busy gaming schedules mean progress has been… limited. Finally, they wrap things up with a discussion about Monster Hunter Wilds and some of the brutal endgame challenges that might be the toughest content the series has seen yet.

It’s a news-heavy episode full of reactions, early impressions, and the usual chaotic backlog struggles from the Cheesy Controller crew. 🧀🎮

On this week’s episode of The Cheesy Controller Podcast, the crew reacts to a seismic shake-up in the industry as Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond officially depart Xbox. What does this mean for the future of the brand, Game Pass, and Microsoft’s overall gaming strategy? The conversation gets even wilder as they break down PlayStation Studios surprisingly shutting down Bluepoint Games—a move that no one saw coming. Is this a pivot in Sony’s remake strategy, or a bigger restructuring behind the scenes?

The industry talk continues with a deep dive into Wildlight Interactive and the implications of their backing from Tencent. Is this just smart funding in a tough economy, or another sign of global consolidation in gaming?

On a more nostalgic note, the hosts share their genuine excitement over Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen potentially making their way to the Nintendo Switch, reliving Kanto memories and debating how these classics hold up today. Then it’s all about the future with the new trailer for Slay the Spire 2—new mechanics, new characters, and what the sequel needs to do to surpass the original indie darling.

Finally, they celebrate a massive milestone: NieR: Automata hitting 10 million copies sold over the last decade. The team reflects on its legacy, its unexpected staying power, and what these numbers could mean for the future of the franchise.

Big departures, shocking shutdowns, nostalgic ports, and hopeful sequels—this episode has a little bit of everything. Tune in and press start. 🧀🎮

In this episode of The Cheesy Controller, we dive deep into the massive February 2026 PlayStation State of Play, where Sony and its partners unveiled a ton of exciting titles and updates for PS5 and beyond. We kick things off discussing the gorgeous new adventure Kena: Scars of Kosmora and break down what makes its expanded world and mechanics so compelling. From ambitious PC ports like Death Stranding 2: On The Beach to fresh looks at co-op shooter 4:LOOP and the mysterious Pragmata gameplay, we cover the trailers and reveals that have fans buzzing. There’s nostalgia on the menu too, with highlights like Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered and the Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition, along with strategy RPG Brigandine Abyss and the revamped Dead or Alive 6: Last Round free-to-play version. We also chat about inventive newcomers like Crimson Moon and Beast of Reincarnation, the wild surprises from Konami including Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse and Silent Hill: Townfall, plus updates on co-op and stealth titles such as Yakoh Shinobi Ops and Project Windless. With a packed lineup of indie gems, remasters, big-budget adventures, and intriguing surprises, this episode breaks down all the biggest takeaways from one of the most jam-packed State of Play shows yet. 🧀🎮

The Cheesy Controller Podcast is back this week with a packed news episode full of surprises, leaks, and plenty of hype. The crew dives straight into the February 2026 Nintendo Partner Direct, breaking down all the biggest reveals and the games that caught them off guard the most. One of the standout announcements was Monster Hunter Stories 3, which immediately sparked speculation about new monsters, battle systems, and how deep the RPG mechanics might go this time around.

They also share hands-on impressions of the Pragmata demo on both PlayStation 5 and the Nintendo Switch 2, comparing performance, visuals, and controller feel between the two platforms. The excitement ramps up even more with the confirmation that Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is arriving on Switch 2 this June, leading to a passionate discussion about portability versus performance and whether this version could become the definitive way to play.

Not all the news is celebratory though, as the hosts react to the recent PlayStation ROM key leaks and what it could mean for digital ownership and security going forward. They also talk about the newly announced State of Play airing Thursday and speculate on potential reveals, while briefly celebrating Pokémon turning 30 and the wave of nostalgia that comes with it.

Outside of gaming, the conversation veers into pop culture with predictions for Super Bowl 2026, curiosity around the mysterious title Orbitals, and the long-awaited reveal of new Resident Evil amiibo figures. The episode wraps up with quick hits on the current state of Overwatch, the growing importance of Discord verification, and how online communities are continuing to evolve alongside the games themselves. It’s a fast-moving, info-packed episode filled with speculation, excitement, and just the right amount of cheesy banter. 🧀🎮

This week on the Cheesy Controller Podcast, the crew gathers to crown their Game of the Year for 2025, break down their personal Top 3 lists, and debate which titles truly defined their year in gaming. Before diving into the big awards, they also take time to celebrate the Best Old Games they played in 2025 — shout-outs go to Spider-Man 2, Mega Man 11, Fortnite, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Stardew Valley, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, Marvel Rivals, and Slay the Spire — proving that great games never really age. The hosts also run through a stacked list of Honorable Mentions including Lumines Arise, Hades 2, DOOM: The Dark Ages, Sword of the Sea, Chronos, Ghost of Yōtei, Sworn, and even a nostalgic nod to Oblivion.

From there, the competition heats up as everyone reveals their personal rankings. Anton’s Top 3 features Pokémon Legends ZA in the top spot, followed by Death Stranding 2 and Monster Hunter Wilds. Chris champions horror and atmosphere with Silent Hill f, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and South of Midnight. Madrid doubles down on Expedition 33 as his number one, with Hades 2 and Rematch rounding things out, while Jalen leads with Digimon Story: Time Stranger, backed by MegaBonk and Hades 2. After tallying the community point system, the final results reveal Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 taking the overall crown with 5 points, followed closely by Hades 2, Pokémon Legends ZA, Digimon Story: Time Stranger, and Silent Hill f all tying strong at 3 points each. It’s a packed episode full of passionate debates, surprising overlaps, and a clear reminder that 2025 was an incredible year to be a gamer. 🧀🎮