This week we talk about Steam Next Fest which is starting now! We discuss the consumer electronics crisis that is being fueled by lack of supply. We then talk about Sony's newest State of Play and the games that stood out to us. Unreal Tournament 2004 is free and has been improved by the old unreal community. Then we talk about the importance of originality. Thanks for listening and have a great week!

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DualComm

Game of the week: Easy Delivery Co. https://store.steampowered.com/app/3293010/Easy_Delivery_Co/ Video of the week: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fG8JUDjtgtw

Show links: STEAM NEXT FEST (Feb 23 – March 2, 2026 @ 10AM PT) https://store.steampowered.com/sale/nextfest_feb26_press/ Lost Save's Video On Next Fest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sf1LOHTaa14

Hardware Shortages: https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/memory/many-consumer-electronics-manufacturers-will-go-bankrupt-or-exit-product-lines-by-the-end-of-2026-due-to-the-ai-memory-crisis-phison-ceo-reportedly-says/ https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/artificial-intelligence/over-80-percent-of-companies-report-no-productivity-gains-from-ai-so-far-despite-billions-in-investment-survey-suggests-6-000-executives-also-reveal-1-3-of-leaders-use-ai-but-only-for-90-minutes-a-week https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzTg5hhH5tE https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2026/02/sony-considering-ps6-delay-to-2028-or-even-2029-new-report-says

State of Play Feb 12 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0e5YEXtZu0 God of War 2D spin-off article (VGC): https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/what-the-f-are-they-thinking-god-of-war-creator-says-2d-spin-off-sons-of-sparta-doesnt-respect-the-license/

UNREAL TOURNAMENT 2004 (Free 4K Community Installer) https://www.oldunreal.com/

Stardew Valley player sleeps for 1,000 years (Kotaku): https://kotaku.com/stardew-valley-sleep-meteorite-mushroom-trees-stone-owls-2000669774

00:00:00 Intro 00:03:30 Game Of The Week 00:12:30 Video Of The Week 00:21:48 Steam Next Fest 00:30:36 Are Consumer Electronics In Jeopardy? 00:41:00 Consequences Of Steam Machine Delay 00:47:39 State Of Play 01:01:22 Unreal Tournament 2004 Free And Enhanced 01:08:20 Stardew Valley Player Sleeps For 1000 Years 01:10:00 You Have What AI Needs

Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dual-comm-podcast/id1781108219 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Ls95EviV2hcBBnufcZ5ZE iHeartRadio: https://iheart.com/podcast/240902321 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/5752977a-04fd-4198-b7e3-2a25665b98fc

Follow us on YouTube: @bbkdragoon | @EposVox | @lostsaves | @NeuroSpicy.Cooking

Season 2 of the Dual Comm podcast has arrived.

We discuss the Steam Deck LCD going away, likely due to RAM shortages. We talk about giving gaming less of yourself to enjoy the hobby more, and then dig into the self-help trend flooding YouTube around hobbies. We also talk about a PC Gamer article noting that the focus of major FPS releases is shifting away from competitive play and toward more relaxed co-op experiences. We wrap by talking about dopamine sensitivity, doing things for yourself, and creating.

Thanks for watching.

Dual Comm Party Chat Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuMLyNxTXPdCKlZ9CMXkNPDMNNIKQARPd

Show Links:

Welcome to the FPS Vibe Shift (PC Gamer) https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/welcome-to-the-fps-vibe-shift/

Chiral Drifter - Gaming Feels New Again (We Gave Gaming Smaller Pieces of Ourselves) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnIo2WWt848

Another video about giving gaming less of yourself https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo4LUKi62jY

Epos new blog gamer.dad https://gamer.dad

Chapters:

00:00:00 - Season 2 Begins 00:01:48 - Finishing Horizon Zero Dawn and Starting Forbidden West 00:12:46 - Steam Deck Funded by Counter-Strike Skins 00:15:47 - The End of the Steam Deck LCD 00:20:53 - Launching the gamer.dad Blog 00:22:04 - Rediscovering RSS 00:23:27 - Giving Games Less of Yourself 00:31:24 - When Intentional Gaming Becomes the Default 00:51:21 - The FPS Vibe Shift 01:10:24 - YouTube, Algorithms, and Sensationalism 01:30:16 - Doing Things Just for Yourself 01:39:30 - Dopamine Sensitivity and Overstimulation

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dual-comm-podcast/id1781108219

Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Ls95EviV2hcBBnufcZ5ZE

Subscribe on iHeartRadio: https://iheart.com/podcast/240902321

Subscribe on Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/5752977a-04fd-4198-b7e3-2a25665b98fc

Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dual-comm-podcast/id1781108219 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Ls95EviV2hcBBnufcZ5ZE iHeartRadio: https://iheart.com/podcast/240902321 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/5752977a-04fd-4198-b7e3-2a25665b98fc

Follow us on YouTube: @bbkdragoon | @EposVox | @lostsaves | @NeuroSpicy.Cooking

It's the one-year anniversary of the Dual Comm Podcast. Thank you for such an incredible year. In this episode we talk about the origin of the show with a cool surprise, then revisit some of our favorite topics from the first year and how our perspectives have shifted. We also dive into games that hit at the right place and right time, taking breaks before burnout even begins, and share some of our favorite games from the last year along with our goals for 2026. Thanks for making this such a great year. We appreciate you all.

Disclosure: I received a free review copy of The Outer Worlds 2 from Xbox / Microsoft.

Show Links: Taking a break from a certain type of gaming instead of being frustrated: https://demodisc.zone/t/taking-a-break-from-mainstream-gaming/251

Chapters

• 00:00:00 The Origin Of the Dual Comm Podcast + Surprise
• 00:05:35 Demo Discs Are Amazing & Should Return
• 00:19:40 Favorite Moments From Dual Comm Year 1
• 01:06:19 Games In The Right Place At The Right Time?
• 01:19:40 Taking Breaks Before Burn Out Sets In
• 01:27:45 Netflix Trying To Buy Warner Bros.
• 01:33:17 Surprise Topic #2
• 01:39:20 Free Prime & Epic Games
• 01:42:00 Favorite Game Of 2025 & Goals For 2026

Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dual-comm-podcast/id1781108219 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Ls95EviV2hcBBnufcZ5ZE iHeartRadio: https://iheart.com/podcast/240902321 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/5752977a-04fd-4198-b7e3-2a25665b98fc

Follow us on YouTube: @bbkdragoon | @EposVox | @lostsaves | @NeuroSpicy.Cooking

This week in the Dual Comm Podcast we discuss the games we've been playing recently, and the TV & movies we've been watching. We then shift to discussions about the PlayStation 5's unique features and why PlayStation 6 may be facing an uphill PR battle to earn buy in. Then we talk about the absolute immense value the PlayStation 4 offers players right now. Finally we talk about gaming nostalgia and the current algorithm trends, finishing with the discussion of reflection and third places and memories. Thanks for listening.

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 Intro - 1 Year Of Dual Comm Almost
• 00:04:31 What Games & Media Have You Been Playing And Watching
• 00:16:33 PlayStation 5 Graphics Discussion
• 00:28:57 Does PlayStation 6 Have Perception Challenge?
• 00:39:11 The Amazing Value Of The PS4
• 00:46:54 Are Creators Turning Nostalgia Into A Meme?
• 01:04:17 We Leave A Part Of Ourselves Behind

Dual Comm Party Chat Episode 2: https://youtu.be/-1dOITdMaOk?si=IQL5Pzqb6qQyvUOQ

We leave a part of ourselves behind: https://youtu.be/vejSywwFq7Q?si=wTyOAtv8MeuWqhi6

Links discussed in today's show: https://insider-gaming.com/ea-shuts-down-call-of-duty-inspired-battlefield-6-portal-maps/ https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2025/10/ps5-has-been-special-thanks-to-ssd-dualsense-features-rather-than-visuals https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2025/10/even-i-cant-tell-the-difference-shuhei-yoshida-thinks-ps6-needs-something-other-than-just-more-power

Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dual-comm-podcast/id1781108219 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Ls95EviV2hcBBnufcZ5ZE iHeartRadio: https://iheart.com/podcast/240902321 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/5752977a-04fd-4198-b7e3-2a25665b98fc

Follow us on YouTube: @bbkdragoon | @EposVox | @lostsaves | @NeuroSpicy.Cooking

On this episode we talk about the Xbox Game Pass subscription price increase and subsequently we then talk about what happens when you start ditching subscriptions and actually own the things you love again. From Jellyfin to physical media, there’s a real sense of freedom that comes with taking back control of what you watch and play. We dig into why old games feel so good right now, how subscription fatigue is shaping modern gaming, and why shorter, more personal play sessions might be the best thing you can do for yourself. Then we answer some great viewer comments. Thanks for listening!

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 New Show "Party Chat"
• 00:03:54 Xbox Removed From Retailers
• 00:14:00 Ditching Subscription Services – Taking Ownership Back with Jellyfin and Physical Media
• 00:31:00 Game Pass Price Hike and the Future of Access-Based Gaming
• 00:34:00 Why Old Games Feel So Good Right Now
• 00:42:00 The Power of Personal Choice in Gaming
• 00:45:00 How Daydreaming Died – Escaping Peripheral Hobby Burnout
• 00:52:03 Epos’ Steam Sale Recommendations
• 00:56:52 Secret Topic – Game Difficulty and Player Expectations
• 01:04:00 Relearning How to Just Play and Stop Optimizing the Fun Out
• 01:07:04 The Power of Short Sessions and Rediscovering Flow
• 01:18:50 Viewer Comment – Gears of War: E-Day and Franchise Stagnation
• 01:35:53 Viewer Comment – Live Service Games Are the TikTok of Gaming

Video we discussed regarding old games and personal connection: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rae6dQ18E4Q

Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dual-comm-podcast/id1781108219 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Ls95EviV2hcBBnufcZ5ZE iHeartRadio: https://iheart.com/podcast/240902321 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/5752977a-04fd-4198-b7e3-2a25665b98fc

Follow us on YouTube: @bbkdragoon | @EposVox | @lostsaves | @NeuroSpicy.Cooking

In this episode we dig into why Souls games feel so challenging when life gets stressful, and how frustration can shape the way we approach gaming. We also talk about the end of console uniqueness, why Steam quietly won the console war, and what it means for how we choose platforms going forward. From there we get into the question of whether games are really relaxing or if they’re actually stimulation, and why that matters for how we spend our free time. We react to the new Switch 2 Direct and the familiar pull of FOMO, while trying to keep things grounded in what really matters. We share thoughts on the different types of gamers out there, and how our identities around competition and casual play have changed over the years. Finally, we wrap on why intrinsic fun is worth chasing over external rewards, and how that shift might be the healthiest way to keep enjoying games as adults. Thanks for listening!

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 The Challenge of Souls Games & Finding Joy in Difficulty
• 00:21:18 Steam Won the Console War – Consoles Feel the Same Now
• 00:41:00 Choosing Your Platform: What Matters Most Going Forward
• 00:57:00 Games as Stimulation, Not Passive Relaxation
• 01:01:00 Switch 2 Direct Reactions & Handling FOMO
• 01:05:25 What Kind of Gamer Are You?
• 01:15:45 Playing for Fun: Intrinsic Rewards Over External Pressure

Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dual-comm-podcast/id1781108219 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Ls95EviV2hcBBnufcZ5ZE iHeartRadio: https://iheart.com/podcast/240902321 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/5752977a-04fd-4198-b7e3-2a25665b98fc

Follow us on YouTube: @bbkdragoon | @EposVox | @lostsaves | @NeuroSpicy.Cooking