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Welcome back to Spectator Mode Podcast! In episode 209 we dig into big shifts across the gaming industry, including reports that the Game Developers Conference may be seeing a drop in international attendance and what that means for developers worldwide. We also break down the latest Xbox Developer Direct, react to the Dragon Ball 40th Anniversary announcements, and revisit Highguard and what its struggles say about live service games. To wrap things up, we tackle a big question: can publishers succeed without major media outlets as more companies go straight to influencers and their own platforms?

**Keith apologizes for this crappy voice quality. Apparently, his XLR cable decided to give up the ghost and didn't tell him**

Timestamps

00:00 – intro
01:15 – Games we've played recently
11:08 – GDC losing its foreign audience
23:48 – Xbox Developer Direct
31:00 – Dragon Ball 40th Anniversary announcements
35:07 – What's going on with Highguard
40:45 – Can publishers succeed without major outlets

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In Episode 208 of Spectator Mode Podcast, the crew dives into what they’ve been playing lately before shifting gears into industry talk and firsthand event coverage.

Keith shares his experience attending CES 2026, including the tech, gaming hardware, and trends that caught his attention on the show floor. From there, the discussion turns to Highguard and whether anyone is truly hyped for it, followed by a serious conversation about the latest wave of gaming industry and games media layoffs and what it means for the future of coverage and development.

It’s a mix of games, tech, and real talk about where the industry is heading.

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro
01:59 – Games We’ve Played
27:35 – Keith Went to CES 2026
41:20 – Is Anyone Excited for Wildlight Entertainment's Highguard
51:45 – Gaming Industry and Gaming Media Layoffs
1:15:50 – Outro

Support the show

You can find the Spectator Mode podcast on the following podcast platforms. Please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcast, as it will go a long watch in more people discovering us. Thank you!

• Apple Podcasts
• YouTube
• Spotify
• Amazon Music

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We’re back! After taking a month-long break to recharge and deal with the holidays, the crew returns to break down a few topics that matter in the gaming world.

In Episode 207, we recap 2025, talk about what we’re looking forward to in 2026, discuss the rising prices of PC RAM and GPUs and how it impacts PC gaming, and cover GameStop closing even more stores. Plus, we hit a few other topics too… because of course we still manage to go off the rails.

But hey, that’s why you love us.

So yeah… welcome back!

Episode 207 Timestamps

00:00 – Intro
10:37 – What We Have Been Playing
17:47 – 2025 Recap
52:58 – Wishes and Plans for 2026
1:09:22 – PC Gaming just got even more expensive
1:28:29 – GameStop Closing More Stores
1:37:00 – Outro

#GamingPodcast #VideoGames #GamingNews #gameindustry

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Support the show

You can find the Spectator Mode podcast on the following podcast platforms. Please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcast, as it will go a long watch in more people discovering us. Thank you!

• Apple Podcasts
• YouTube
• Spotify
• Amazon Music