#263 | Endless Horizons

Sony finds itself in a pickle, or so it seems from the outside. With ever-burgeoning development costs comes the reality that new IP is an increasingly-risky endeavor. The safer and more reliable route, it could be argued, is in doubling-down on what works. And let's be real: Guerrilla-developed Horizon works. The two core games have sold 33 million units combined across PS4, PS5, and PC. The question, though, is how much does Horizon work? Could a good thing become a bad thing through simple repetition? This week, we discuss the future of Horizon (not to mention the past of Killzone) via reporting from an enlightening panel conducted with the leadership of Guerrilla, and we're forced to confront a reality where Horizon never truly disappears. Other notable news this week includes the retirement of legendary Naughty Dog co-president Evan Wells, The Last of Us' ridiculously successful run of Emmy nominations, Sony's new investments into live service, and more. Inquiries from the audience end the show, as usual. What does SEGA's unionization mean for the future of industry labor? Can 2D games simply be too difficult for some people to handle? Is D&D more nerdy than anime? If you had to stop at a gas station right now, what would be your go-to snack and drink choices?
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Sony finds itself in a pickle, or so it seems from the outside. With ever-burgeoning development costs comes the reality that new IP is an increasingly-risky endeavor. The safer and more reliable route, it could be argued, is in doubling-down on what works. And let's be real: Guerrilla-developed Horizon works. The two core games have sold 33 million units combined across PS4, PS5, and PC. The question, though, is how much does Horizon work? Could a good thing become a bad thing through simple repetition? This week, we discuss the future of Horizon (not to mention the past of Killzone) via reporting from an enlightening panel conducted with the leadership of Guerrilla, and we're forced to confront a reality where Horizon never truly disappears. Other notable news this week includes the retirement of legendary Naughty Dog co-president Evan Wells, The Last of Us' ridiculously successful run of Emmy nominations, Sony's new investments into live service, and more. Inquiries from the audience end the show, as usual. What does SEGA's unionization mean for the future of industry labor? Can 2D games simply be too difficult for some people to handle? Is D&D more nerdy than anime? If you had to stop at a gas station right now, what would be your go-to snack and drink choices?

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