This week’s episode covers a wide range of major developments across the gaming industry, starting with a brief disruption at Rockstar North after a boiler malfunction prompted emergency services to secure minor structural damage, an incident the studio quickly confirmed caused no injuries and did not impact ongoing GTA 6 development. The discussion then shifts to Gears of War: E-Day, with developers emphasizing a return to the gritty tone and atmosphere of the original games while rebuilding the franchise from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5. The episode also highlights new research linking gaming more than 10 hours per week to poorer diet, sleep, and body mass outcomes, underscoring how excessive play, not gaming itself, can impact health. Finally, Bungie’s Marathon takes center stage with its confirmed March 5, 2026 release date, new gameplay details, faction-driven storytelling, and a high-profile voice cast, marking one of the most anticipated launches of the year.

0:00 Intro

1:04 Update

17:35 GTA 6 Developer Rockstar North Fire Crews https://tinyurl.com/5fnhttv7

25:58 Gears Of War: E-Day https://tinyurl.com/bdz3y8hd

33:20 Gaming More Than 10 Hours a Week? https://tinyurl.com/4z7p3zmm

48:57 Marathon News https://tinyurl.com/uat7tk9n

1:00:50 Outro

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This week on M2 Podcast, we break down the chaos surrounding Rainbow Six Siege after a massive hack flooded the game with billions in in-game currency and forced Ubisoft to take servers offline. We also take a close look at 8BitDo’s new Ultimate 3E controller, an officially licensed Xbox peripheral that looks like the Elite Series 3 Microsoft never released. On the business side of gaming, we discuss the surprisingly effective psychology behind indie game pricing and why developers believe $8 still feels like $5 to players. Finally, we unpack the growing RAM price crisis, exploring how AI demand, manufacturing shifts, and supply constraints are driving up costs and reshaping the future of PC builds.

0:00 Intro

1:48 Updates

10:01 Rainbow Six Siege Engulfed In Chaos https://tinyurl.com/442mccbz

19:49 8BitDo's new Xbox pro controller https://tinyurl.com/4ussn7pt

38:46 Peak Developer Explains Successful Game Pricing https://tinyurl.com/53kufe6p

50:02 Why is RAM so expensive right now? https://tinyurl.com/3zemt3ca

1:28:48 Outro

Leave a LIKE and a comment, thanks for watching/listening!

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This week on the M2 Podcast, we break down a packed slate of industry shifts and major announcements. Xbox architect Jason Ronald hints that 2026 will be a milestone year as the brand approaches its 25th anniversary, fueling speculation around new hardware and ecosystem updates. Tomb Raider is officially confirmed for The Game Awards, with fans eager to see Crystal Dynamics’ long-awaited next chapter for the franchise. Meanwhile, former Perfect Dark leads resurface at 2K to build an all-new studio following the project’s cancellation at Xbox earlier this year. And in entertainment power-move territory, Paramount’s aggressive $108 billion bid for Warner Bros.—backed by investors tied to the EA acquisition group—escalates the fight for control of one of Hollywood’s most influential catalogs. We analyze the implications for gaming, media, and everything in between.

0:00 Intro

0:54 Update

8:42 Xbox architect Jason Ronald teases big things https://tinyurl.com/54nn3bcc

17:26 Tomb Raider Will Be at The Game Awards https://tinyurl.com/y2hv5k25

27:46 Take-Two Hires Former Perfect Dark Leads https://tinyurl.com/3bk5keas

32:16 Paramount bid for Warner Bros. https://tinyurl.com/yc65k5ek

51:24 Outro

Leave a LIKE and a comment, thanks for watching/listening!

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PODCAST ►► https://anchor.fm/m2podcast

AMAZON Music ► https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/091902c3-b83b-487c-8fe7-4c96787434fe/M2-Podcast

APPLE ► https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1531832410

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