Saros Impressions, Resident Evil Movie News & Blood of Dawnwalker Release Date | Arcade Couch

Dylan shares his impressions of Saros so far and discusses the latest gaming news and upcoming releases for May 2026 with Ashley.
SHOW DOT POINTS
Saros is a follow-up to Returnal with new gameplay mechanics.
The game features a mix of story and exploration.
Boss fights in Saros have multiple stages that increase in complexity.
The pacing of Saros allows for breaks and upgrades between runs.
Comparisons to Returnal highlight differences in difficulty and structure.
The Resident Evil movie aims to tell a new story within the franchise.
Audience expectations can impact their enjoyment of adaptations.
Creative freedom in adaptations can lead to unique storytelling.
The film's release is generating positive buzz among fans.
Fast production turnaround shows the director's commitment. Blood of Dawnwalker is set to release on September 3rd.
The game features a unique hybrid gameplay mechanic.
Players can choose to complete the plot or explore romance options.
The game is developed by a team with a strong pedigree from CD Projekt Red.
The setting of Blood of Dawnwalker is distinct from The Witcher.
The hosts express excitement about the upcoming May game releases.
There is a competitive landscape with titles like Fable and Grand Theft Auto 6.
The gameplay allows for distinct player experiences based on choices.
Community engagement is encouraged for feedback on anticipated games.
The hosts are cautiously optimistic about the upcoming releases.
YOUR HOSTS 🎙️ Dylan Blight 🎙️ Ashley Hobley 
RESOURCES
Dark fantasy vampire RPG The Blood of Dawnwalker gets a release date and an autumn showdown with Fable | Eurogamer.net
https://press-start.com.au/news/2026/05/01/the-first-trailer-for-zach-creggers-resident-evil-movie-is-here/
Games Coming Out In May 2026 That You Should Be Excited For
CREDITS
🎵 Music: Dylan Blight
🎵 Sound Effect by floraphonic from Pixabay
🎨 Artwork: Cherie Henriques
📝 Show notes powered by Riverside.FM
👉 DISCOVER MORE ARCADE COUCH & EXPLOSION NETWORKListen to every episode // Check out the website // Support Explosion Network

Is Gaming Too Obsessed With Remakes? + Metro 2039 & Street Fighter Movie News | Arcade Couch

We debate whether video game remakes/remasters are killing the industry and holding it back from bigger things.
SHOW DOT POINTS
Nostalgia can hinder innovation in gaming.
Remakes are often more financially viable for publishers.
There are still many original games being released.
The gaming industry is risk-averse, favouring known properties.
Development timelines have become excessively long.
Creative direction is crucial for timely game production.
Hiring more staff could alleviate development bottlenecks.
The gaming community is still young and evolving.
Stories in games are often retold, similar to other media.
Metro 2039 reflects real-world issues and challenges. Metro Exodus introduces a new protagonist named Artem.
The Street Fighter film aims to capture the essence of the game.
The trailer for the Street Fighter film received positive feedback.
Lana Del Rey will perform the title song for the Bond game.
The return of composer David Arnold adds credibility to the Bond game.
Wind Rose offers a unique pirate adventure experience.
The game allows for both single-player and co-op gameplay.
Community reactions to games can vary widely.
The importance of character development in video games is emphasized.
The hosts reflect on their different methods of discovering new games.
YOUR HOSTS 🎙️ Dylan Blight 🎙️ Ashley Hobley 🎙️ Ciaran Marchant
RESOURCES
Metro 2039 Is A Brand New Metro Game Influenced By Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine
Street Fighter film gets new trailer full of roundhouses and explosions, plus a spot of mournful karaoke | Eurogamer.net
007 First Light title song will be performed by Lana Del Rey, while Bond film composer David Arnold returns to franchise after almost two decades | Eurogamer.net
CREDITS
🎵 Music: Dylan Blight
🎵 Sound Effect by floraphonic from Pixabay
🎨 Artwork: Cherie Henriques
📝 Show notes powered by Riverside.FM
👉 DISCOVER MORE ARCADE COUCH & EXPLOSION NETWORKListen to every episode // Check out the website // Support Explosion Network

State of Play 2026 Kicks Off Strong – Our Breakdown

We break down the first State of Play for 2026, which brought plenty of surprises and new game trailers.
SHOW DOT POINTS
The PlayStation Showcase featured a variety of new game announcements.
Wolverine was included in the showcase, albeit not in the expected format.
Kenna: Bridge of Spirits sequel shows significant development.
Ghost of Yotai Legends is set to return with multiplayer features.
Death Stranding 2 is confirmed for PC release.
Resident Evil Requiem continues to generate buzz with frequent trailers.
Legacy of Cain is getting a remaster, sparking interest in the franchise.
A new 2.5D Castlevania game is in development, appealing to long-time fans.
Unique IPs like Project Windlass are being introduced, showcasing creativity.
Konami's segment highlighted both remasters and new titles, indicating a focus on legacy franchises. The John Wick game aims to capture the essence of the franchise.
Bungie's Marathon is set to test servers with a service slam.
PlayStation Plus is adding notable titles like Marvel's Spider-Man 2.
Saros gameplay trailer showcases significant improvements over Returnal.
Marvel's Fighting Souls introduces new characters like Storm and Magic.
God of War trilogy remakes are in early development for PS6.
Sons of Sparta explores Kratos's early life and relationships.
The game aims to offer a different perspective on Kratos.
Voice acting in Sons of Sparta has received mixed reviews.
The game's combat mechanics differ from those in traditional God of War games. Wrestle Quest's pixel art aims for an authentic 80s aesthetic.
Highguard's layoffs reflect broader issues in the gaming industry.
Video game success is crucial for team retention.
Mario Tennis Fever offers smooth, engaging gameplay.
Mugenics combines humour with tactical gameplay mechanics.
The gaming industry often relies on the success of the next release.
Highguard's development challenges raise questions about live service games.
The structure of video game development can lead to instability for teams.
Mario Tennis Fever's story mode serves as an extended tutorial.
Mugenics has the potential for addictive gameplay and deep mechanics.
YOUR HOSTS 🎙️ Dylan Blight 🎙️ Ashley Hobley
EPISODE TIMECODES
00:00:00 - Intro00:50:00 - State of Play Breakdown00:43:30 - God of War Sons of Sparta Review-In-Progress00:55:50 - Highguard Developer Lay Offs01:04:20 - Mario Tennis Fever Review-In-Progress01:13:20 - Mewgenics Impressions01:20:40 - Outro
RESOURCES
Every Announcement From February’s PlayStation State of Play - Explosion Network
Highguard not shutting down following Wildlight layoffs, with a "core group" of developers left to support the game | Eurogamer.net
CREDITS
🎵 Music: Dylan Blight
🎵 Sound Effect by floraphonic from Pixabay
🎨 Artwork: Cherie Henriques
📝 Show notes powered by Riverside.FM
👉 DISCOVER MORE ARCADE COUCH & EXPLOSION NETWORKListen to every episode // Check out the website // Support Explosion Network