Brett Deister dives into some hot gaming topics this week, kicking things off with exciting news about Hogwarts Legacy, which is set to get new content and a sequel. He’s also got the scoop on Immortals of Avium, where the game's pacing issues are causing quite the stir, alongside the much-anticipated Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater remake. And if that wasn’t enough, he shares his thoughts on Civilization 7 and the surprising acquisition of Haemimont Games by Paradox Interactive. We also tackle some juicy tech news, like the price hikes for Nvidia's RTX 50 series and the latest buzz around AMD’s Ryzen 9,800 x 3D. As we wrap up, Brett doesn’t hold back on EA’s recent blunders with Dragon Age and the controversial influences of USAID in gaming, all while passionately advocating for games that prioritize fun over political agendas. Let’s jump in!

Takeaways:

• Brett discusses the upcoming sequel and new content for Hogwarts Legacy, which gained popularity despite initial controversies.
• Immortals of Avium is removing Denuvo post-launch, addressing pacing issues that hindered its gameplay experience.
• Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is set to release soon, exciting fans of the classic series with a modern remake.
• Civilization 7 has some gamers buzzing, but Brett shares mixed feelings about its features and optimization on Steam Deck.
• Paradox Interactive's acquisition of Haemimont Games could lead to more exciting strategy games in the future, a win for strategy fans everywhere.
• EA continues to struggle with its game design choices, particularly with Dragon Age, sparking a conversation about prioritizing fun over political correctness in gaming.

Companies mentioned in this episode:

• Hogwarts Legacy
• Immortals of Avium
• Metal Gear Solid Delta
• Civilization 6
• Civilization 7
• Paradox
• Nvidia
• GeForce RTX 5080
• GeForce RTX 5090
• AMD
• Ryzen 9800X3D
• EA
• Dragon Age
• Battlefield
• Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
• Jagged Alliance 3
• Surviving Mars
• Imon Games
• Tropico
• Bloodlines 2
• City Skylines 2
• Sweet Baby Inc.
• Anita Sarkeesian