Welcome to the long-awaited return of The NPCs, where we’re back to discuss video game news, video game insights, provide commentary, and oh so much more.

In our absence, a lot of things have happened in the video game universe: Roguelike’s have taken over the Steam charts, Elden Ring got a multiplayer game, Fortnite still exists, and we still don’t have Grand Theft Auto 6…

But one thing has been on our minds for at least half of the year: have we finally reached the end of the console wars? Microsoft has doubled down on a marketing campaign where “Everything is an Xbox,” making it so phones, TVs, even your smart fridge can play Xbox games without needing an Xbox at all. In tandem, we also saw bridges built with core first-party titles like Forza, Gears of War, and even Halo showing up on the PlayStation 5. With the possibility of Nintendo also receiving similar treatment, has Microsoft finally bowed out of the console race? Do we even need consoles anymore given more of a transition to PC-based architecture? Let’s talk about it in our great return episode: The Console Wars Concludes…

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#Palworld #HaloInfinite #Xbox

In this week’s news:

• Palworld devs called out for potential AI use in character creation

• 343 is done with seasons in Halo Infinite

• Xbox Developer Direct recap

• Ubisoft thinks gamers will be comfortable not owning games

• Gamestop stops supporting NFTs, and everyone rejoiced.

• Call of Duty not at the top of sales charts for 2023, first time in 14 years

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#CES #Switch2 #Overwatch

In this week’s news:

• CES 2024 - the gaming roundup: Gamesradar Best of CES 2024, Inverse Best Gaming Hardware @ CES, Nvidia announces RTX 40 Super series, AMD announces new CPUs, GPU

• Game Shark is coming back, and it may have leaked the Switch 2 release

• Valve will now require disclosure of AI-generated content in games on Steam

• Overwatch 2 Season 9 will add passive healing for DPS & Tanks

• 13-year-old becomes the first gamer to beat Tetris by reaching the “Kill Screen”

• The latest Xbox Series S uses physical format…. Bread

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#GTAV #NintendoNetwork #ActivisionBlizzard

In this week's news:

• GTA V Source Code leaks, Reveals previously planned DLC

• Wii U & 3DS online services shut down months ahead of schedule

• Bobby Kotick leaves Activision Blizzard, and employees speak out

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#GameAwards #Bungie #GTAVI

In this week’s news:

• Bungie layoffs attributed to potential Sony takeover
• GTA VI trailer drops, internet obviously goes wild
• Twitch leaving Korean market due to rising costs; Twitch usage stats for Korean market via SullyGnome
• The Game Awards 2023 Winners & Game Awards Announcements
• Australia up next to get 18+ Only Switch Online app
• After unexplained bans, PlayStation users report their accounts have been restored
• Nintendo Live 2024 Tokyo has been canceled

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Welcome everyone to a special episode of The NPCs Discuss! In this episode, we will be talking about our predictions for 20 of the 31 categories for the Game Awards 2023!

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#Playstation #N64 #AssassinsCreed

In this week’s news:

• Sony set to face $7.9 billion class action lawsuit over PlayStation Store prices
• Nintendo is launching an 18+ n64  Switch Online App in Japan
• Ubisoft blames “technical error” for showing pop-up ads in Assassin’s Creed
• Dave the Diver comes under the Game Awards nomination controversy and Geoff Keighley weighs in
• Embracer CEO confirms Free Radical is facing closure
• Netflix lands the Grand Theft Auto Trilogy
• Level 5 Vision announcements at the November Showcase
• New Sonic Movie 3 teaser reveals Shadow the Hedgehog’s shoes
• Resident Evil 4 Remake PSVR2 coming next week
• New Tribes game announced

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#Blizzcon #CallOfDuty #Destiny2

Main Stories:

• Blizzcon 2023 Opening Day Recap
• Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 reviews are out, and it’s not pretty
• Bungie lays off 100 devs, and gamers respond
• Sakurai thinks it’ll be difficult to push Smash Bros further
• Fortnite OG has brought in nearly 4 million players in the first day
• Microsoft set to cut free Xbox Game Pass benefit from employees, until Phil Spencer steps in
  

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#PS5Slim #DiabloIV #SmashBros

In this week's news:

• PS5’s external disk drive will require an internet connection at install time
• Blizzard will give away a gaming PC… cooled with human blood?
• Nintendo drops new rules for Smash Bros tourneys, and it’s not good.
• Xbox Series S gets a massive price hike in Brazil
• Microsoft looks to be alerting to unauthorized 3rd party accessories on Xbox
• Want to smell like Solid Snake? Well fret not!

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#ActivisionBlizzard #Analogue #Roblox

In this week’s news:

• With Microsoft’s Activision-Blizzard acquisition done, what’s next?
• Analogue is making a 4K Nintendo 64
• Roblox launch on PS5 a big hit, but how big?
• Nintendo removes Switch announcement trailer, but hold steady!

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#Microsoft #ActivisionBlizzard #PS5Slim

In this weeks’ news:

• Microsoft completes their acquisition of ABK 
• PS5 Slim announced, to replace current model in November 
• Cyberpunk 2077 live action adaptation in the works 
• Halo Infinite Season 5 announced 
• Lego and Nintendo showcase Animal Crossing sets 
• Someone bought a brand new Wii U in 2023? 
• Sony adding streaming to PS Plus Premium memberships 

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#CounterStrike2 #Unity #SteamDeck

In this week’s news:

• Valve doesn’t expect to launch another Steam Deck for a few years 
• Unity apologizes by walking back some of its planned changes 
• Crystal Dynamics, Epic hit by layoffs 
• Counter Strike 2 officially drops 
• Someone gets Phil Spencer to sign a PS5 faceplate 
• PlayStation head Jim Ryan to retire this spring 

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#NintendoDirect #PlaystationStateOfPlay #Unity

In this week's news:

• Developers unite against Unity’s new pricing model
• F-Zero, Paper Mario, and more in a new Nintendo Direct
• Apple Event shows off AAA titles coming to iPhone
• Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Spider-Man 2, and more in a new PlayStation State of Play
  
• Embracer Group may sell Gearbox
• Microsoft & Barclays are launching an Xbox Credit Card
• Xbox has shared the Game Pass Core games list
  

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#Starfield #Switch2 #E3

In this week’s news:

• Nintendo shows off Switch 2 demos @ Gamescom
• Starfield hits 1 million concurrent players on launch day
• E3 2024 not happening; maybe in 2025?
• Steam will soon show players which games support PlayStation controllers
• Rockstar may have sold some games with DRM cracks on Steam
• Miss the Xbox 360? Why not build one with Mega Bloks!
• Stray is getting an animated movie
• Were you hoping for an Assassins' Creed Black Flag remake? Think again!

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#PlaystationPortal #Denuvo #CharlesMartinet

In this week’s news:

• Sony dubs Project Q the PlayStation Portal
• Denuvo offers built-in protection on Nintendo Switch & Unreal Engine
• Charles Martinet stepping away as the voice of Mario
• Overwatch 2 director responds to review bomb on Steam
• Atari releasing the 2600+, which will play original cartridges
• Microsoft finally ends production of the Kinect
• Microsoft selling wraps for your Xbox

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#Switch2 #CSGO #Transformers

In this week’s news:

• 3:09 - Switch 2 may be out in 2024
• 16:26 - Ratatan beats Kickstarter goal, coming to consoles
• 23:52 - Twitch bans CS:GO skin gambling sponsorships
• 30:03 - Microsoft now selling replacement parts for controllers
• 37:22 - Hasbro says Activision lost “Transformers” games, retracts soon after

43:14 - Quest Markers

• Vampire Survivors may be getting a “Director's Cut”
• PS5 Beta adds Dolby Atmos, 8TB SSD support
• Fans aiming to beat player count record on Half Life Opposing Force

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#FinalFantasy #Ubisoft #Playstation

In this week’s news:

• Square Enix bringing Final Fantasy XIV to Xbox
• Emulation working again on Xbox, until the suspensions began.
• Dreamworks is joining in on the kart-racing genre
• Ubisoft said to be deleting inactive accounts, immediately steps back.
• Playstation Project Q handheld leaks, and it’s not pretty so far.
• Microsoft reveals “pizza-scented” Xbox controller
• Nicki Minaj is going to be a Call of Duty Operator
• Neopets are making a comeback

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