Podcast · Leisure & Travel

Next-Gen Console Watch

by IGN & Geek Media · English · Leisure & Travel

Since the early days of gaming, players have debated which console reigns supreme and how to build the ultimate high-performance gaming PC. Each week, Next Gen Console Watch breaks down the biggest advancements in video game hardware—covering PlayStation, Xbox, and PC upgrades—all in under 20 minute

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 26 min
Latest: 9 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

9 Oct 2026 · 25 min

Xbox's Next Gen Future Depends on Strengthening Current Gen - Next-Gen Console Watch

Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! On this week's episode, Daemon, Max, and Ryan look into Xbox CEO Asha Sharma's recent quotes taken from company town hall meeting. Xbox is trying to turn a corner in this current generation, while also preparing for next-gen and Project Helix. Can it be done? And is a "family of devices" for gen 10 a path of succcess for Xbox? We also have last week's poll results a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com, Spotify, and Discord. And finally, the Next-Gen Console Watch crew bids farewell to one of their own. Join us on Discord https://discord.gg/5gz9kJc7Y…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

2 Oct 2026 · 19 min
8 Years Isn't Enough: Why This Console Generation Needs to Be Longer - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week Daemon, Ryan, and Max take a look at ex-PlayStation Worldwide Studios boss Shuhei Yoshida's recent comments about this current generation. Yoshida doesn't think gamers are interested in a PlayStation 6 or really any new generation of gaming hardware, and the PS5/Switch 2 generation should go for as long as possible. While our wallets might appreciate, can PlayStation's business model go beyond the usual 5-7 year lifespan of gaming hardware? And what about Microsoft, whose Xbox business has not been performing well in the last two generations?…
E295 · 23 Sep 2026 · 29 min
No Franchise Is Safe As Phase Two of Xbox’s Reset Begins - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week Daemon, Max, and Ryan dive deep into the latest happenings at Microsoft. This week the company announced another round of layoffs and a significant reshuffling of their remaining studios, which has resulted in Activision getting their shot at Halo, Obsidian being folded into Bethesda, and more. Would Activision's Halo be more Call of Duty than Halo? And would that be such a bad thing? What does this mean for Bungie, who has just announced a return of sorts to Destiny 2? And what will become of Rare, who is also moving into Activision's stable…
E294 · 18 Sep 2026 · 29 min
Xbox & PlayStation Are Headed in Opposite Directions (Again) - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week Daemon, Max, and Ryan discuss the diverging paths Xbox and PlayStation appear to be taking in this console generation, and it isn't the first time. Ever since the Xbox-PlayStation 2 days, the two competitors have found themselves trading wins every other console generation, with Sony seeing massive success with the PS2, then Microsoft with the Xbox 360 the following generation, and so on. Both have lost massive amounts of gamer good will in this gen, with Sony and Microsoft shuttering studios, cancelling projects, and pushing forward some…
E293 · 11 Sep 2026 · 41 min
Who Has the Best Holiday/Early 2027 Lineup? - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week Max is in the host's seat, and is joined by Ryan McCaffrey from Podcast Unlocked, and Logan Plant from Nintendo Voice Chat. With the holidays fast approaching, we take a look at the end of year and early 2027 lineups from each of the major consoles. Nintendo had their big reveal of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake gameplay, while PlayStation and Xbox are kicking things off sooner with Wolverine and Gears of War: E-Day, respectively. And next year sees God of War: Laufey and Fable dropping practically on top of each other, while…
E292 · 4 Sep 2026 · 27 min
GTA 6 Biggest Unanswered Questions - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week Max, Daemon, and Ryan take a look at what last week's huge GTA 6 gameplay footage didn't tell us. Everyone is marveling at how amazing the game looks and runs on a regular PS5, we can't help but wonder how it'll look and play on a PS5 Pro, and probably more importantly, how it'll perform on an Xbox Series S. There's also the GTA Online component—of which Rockstar has said very little—and who is taking over for Lazlow Jones on Chatterbox FM? Plus we have last week's poll result and a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com, Spotify, and…
E291 · 21 Aug 2026 · 28 min
The Biggest Non-GTA Games We’ll See Next Week - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week Daemon and Ryan are joined by Game Scoop's Sam Claiborn, and the trio look ahead to next week's gamescom trade show. The biggest gaming trade show in the world is set to feature looks at Gears of War: E-Day, Fable, Final Fantasy 7: Revelation, Control: Resonant, and more. But there could be some surprises, such as maybe, HOPEFULLY, a look at Grand Theft Auto 6 to coincide with the Netflix preview also dropping next week, and although it's not officially announced, Nintendo's Ocarina of Time remake is being released later this year, so maybe…
E290 · 14 Aug 2026 · 28 min
Fall 2026’s Biggest Unanswered Questions - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week Daemon, Max, and Ryan look foward to Fall 2026, and some of the biggest gaming questions we will we'll have some answers to. With console prices up across all three major systems, will retailers offer any kind of holiday discount? Is there room for any other game after GTA 6 drops? Will the Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake be the next $80 game from Nintendo? And can Gears of War: E-Day be the first-party hit Xbox desparately needs? Plus we have last week's poll results, and a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com and Spotify. Learn more about…
E289 · 7 Aug 2026 · 24 min
The $500 Console Is Dead - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week Daemon, Max, and Bo break down Bo's recent op-ed about the death of the $500 console. With RAM shortages, supply chain issues, and general inflation wreaking havoc on the games industry, is it time to consider $1,000 or more for a gaming console the new normal? And if that's the case, can we expect an industry crash similar to what befell video games in the 1980s? Plus we have last week's poll results and a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com and Spotify. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
E288 · 31 Jul 2026 · 21 min
GTA 6 Fallout Forces February’s First-Party Face Off - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week we look at a first-party showdown that hasn't ocurred in many moons: two major games, God of War: Laufey from Sony, and the Fable reboot from Xbox, will drop within about a week from each other. This is all thanks to GTA 6's shuffling of release dates, which had every publisher scrambling to either avoid that game's date, or fill a void left by its vacancy. Plus we have last week's poll results, and a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com and Spotify. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
E287 · 17 Jul 2026 · 26 min
PlayStation’s Physical Game Problem Isn’t Going Away - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This Daemon is joined by Ryan McCaffrey from Podcast Unlocked, and Brian Altano from Beyond! to discuss the continued criticism they've faced since announcing the end of physical game media production. The fans have been letting them know how they feel in the comments of every YouTube video and social media post made since the announcement. But despite the anger, Sony will likely stay the course, and will stop producing games on disc in 2028. And though gamers may gain shelf space, they lose in something more intangible. Plus we have last week's poll…
E286 · 10 Jul 2026 · 26 min
Can This Console Generation Be Saved? - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week Daemon, Max, and Ryan assess the dumpster fire that is this current generation of gaming consoles. With the 1-2 gut punch of PlayStation not supporting physical media in a couple of years, and Xbox CEO Asha Sharma announcing yet another round of layoffs that will stretch into next year, things have never truly looked so bleak for the games industry. But is all hope lost? Plus we have a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com and Spotify. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
6 Jul 2026 · 19 min
Only Nintendo Can Save Physical Games - Next-Gen Console Watch
This week we got the surprise announcement from Sony that it is ending production of PlayStation discs in early 2028. So in 18 months, going forward PlayStation will be an all-digital ecosystem. Your existing discs will work in your PS5 if it has a disc drive, but the PlayStation 6 will presumably not play discs at all. We expect Xbox's Project Helix to go the same way. And so, it falls to Nintendo to carry the torch for physical media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
12 Jun 2026 · 28 min
PS5 vs Xbox vs Switch 2: Who Had the Best Showcase? - Next-Gen Console Watch
All three platforms have held their big summer showcases. They’ve laid out their plans for the rest of the year and into 2027. So it’s time to survey the results. Who had the best showcase? Who has the best game lineup? On this epsiode of Next-Gen Console Watch, we dive into the Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo showcases. Which one did you like the best? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
E283 · 29 May 2026 · 22 min
Forget UE5: Huge Franchises Likely Using Unreal Engine 6 - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week Epic Games unveiled the sixth generation of Unreal, appropriately titled Unreal Engine 6. Rocket League will be the first game to get the UE6 makeover, but certainly not the last. Daemon, Ryan, and Max take a look at some of the biggest franchises that will very likely make the jump to UE6—even if many games haven't taken full advantage of Unreal Engine 5 yet. Plus we have last week's poll results, and a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com and Spotify. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
22 May 2026 · 32 min
PS5 + Xbox + Nintendo Summer Show Predictions 2026 - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week, Daemon and Max are joined by Nintendo Voice Chat's Logan Plant and Podcast Unlocked's Miranda Sanchez to give their predictions on the summer's big gaming showcases. Both Xbox and PlayStation have showcases in June, and Nintendo can't be too far behind with a new Nintendo Direct. So what do we think will be there? Some real Wolverine gameplay? A closer look at Halo: Campaign Evolved or Gears of War: E-Day? Or maybe Nintendo will make our dreams come true and confirm the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake. Plus we have last episode's…
E281 · 8 May 2026 · 18 min
Nintendo Investors Want You to Pay More for Switch 2 - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week we dive into recent reports saying Nintendo's shareholders want the company to raise the Switch 2 price. It's no secret that Nintendo's stock price has plunged in the year since they've released the Switch 2, despite their new console having a stellar launch and strong, if slow, holiday sales numbers. Current economic conditions have made the Switch 2 even mor expensive to produce than before, and Nintendo has so far been eating the extra cost, which in turn has been eating into their profits. But can a price hike really be beneficial for…
E279 · 24 Apr 2026 · 25 min
Holy Sh!t, Something Actually Got Cheaper - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! Xbox's new CEO is already making moves to course-correct the company's direction. Last week's leaked memo from CEO Asha Sharma has been proven true, with Xbox dropping the price of the Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass plans. Daemon, Ryan, and Max go over what's different with the new plans, what led the company to this decision, and what changes could be next. Plus we have last week's poll results and a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com and Spotify. IGN YouTube Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
E278 · 17 Apr 2026 · 27 min
Xbox Agrees Game Pass Is Too Expensive, Now What? - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week we discuss the leaked memo from Xbox CEO Asha Sharma regarding Game Pass' price. She agrees that Game Pass has become too expensive and Xbox must find some way to make it a real value for players. But what does that mean? Take away features? Plus we have last week's poll results and a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com and Spotify. YouTube Spotify IGN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
E278 · 10 Apr 2026 · 22 min
2026’s Biggest Unannounced Games from Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week Ryan is joined by IGN's Community Lead, Jada Griffin, and the host of Nintendo Voice Chat, Logan Plant. The crew looks ahead to the rest of 2026 to see if there are any more surprises left from the big three console makers. Recent rumors and leaks about a Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake and a new Star Fox game have given us pause to think that there's more up their sleeves than they've announced. Is it time for a new Persona game? Is the next Uncharted on the way? How about a follow-up to Halo Infinite? Plus we have last week's poll results and…
E276 · 3 Apr 2026 · 24 min
Rising Prices Mean We’re Stuck with PS5, Series X - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week Daemon, Max, and Ryan peer into the future of gaming, only to see the same consoles we're playing today being used possibly years from now. With all models of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox having received several price hikes over the years, and with world events and economic factors keeping the prices of nearly all goods high, it looks like true next-generation gaming maybe delayed for the forseeable future. What can Sony do to bring costs down? And is this an opportunity for Xbox to gain relevance with gamers, now that the base PS5 and Xbox…
E275 · 27 Mar 2026 · 18 min
Switch 2's First Year Was Strong, But Where's Nintendo's Mascots? - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week Ryan and Max are joined by Logan Plant, host of IGN's Nintendo Voice Chat podcast to talk about the Nintendo Switch 2's Year 1, and what we're expecting for Year 2. The Switch 2 has become not only Nintendo's fastest-selling console, but the fastest-selling console of all-time, with more than 17 million units sold in less than a year. Mario Kart World has a nearly 1:1 attachment rate with the Switch 2, Donkey Kong Bananza was a hit with critics and fans, and Pokémon Pokopia is having an Animal Crossing-esque viral moment. But none of these…
E274 · 20 Mar 2026 · 33 min
DLSS 5: Are Faces Fixed or F*****? - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week Daemon, Max, and Ryan are joined by IGN's senior tech manager, Bo Moore, to discuss Nvidia's reveal of their controversial DLSS 5 update. The footage caused a stir on the internet as the tech clearly is doing more than just enhancing performance relative to resolution, with many accusing Nvidia of using the equivalent of "AI TikTok filters" on character models. We break down what we think the tech initially set out to do, and what this means for the PS5 and Xbox. Plus we have last week's poll results, and a new poll for you to vote on at…
E273 · 13 Mar 2026 · 28 min
6 Burning Questions We Have About the Next Xbox - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! Microsoft is getting a head start on next-gen by officialling announcing the next Xbox, codenamed Project Helix. Of course, we have a ton of questions, but we've pared it down to six burning questions ranging from price of games to whether or not it will ship with a disc drive. Plus, we have last week's poll results, and a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com and Spotify. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
E272 · 6 Mar 2026 · 16 min
PlayStation Having Second Thoughts About Sharing Its Games - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! On this week's episode, the crew discusses a recent report that Sony might be rethinking PC ports in the future. Specifically, first-party single-player games like Ghost of Yōtei, Marvel's Wolverine, and others might not see PC versions. Multiplayer titles like Bungie's Marathon—published by Sony—will still see multiplatform releases. The report cites low sales for Sony's PC titles, and a possible risk to PS5 and eventually PS6 hardware. But we have another theory: with the eventual release of the Steam Machine and the possible next Xbox merging PC and…
E271 · 27 Feb 2026 · 28 min
5 Changes Xbox’s New CEO Can Make to Win Over Fans - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! After last week's bombshell news story about Xbox's leadership shaek-up—an exclusive from our very own Ryan McCaffrey—we take this opportunity to put together five tips that might be able to win back wayward Xbox fans. The Xbox brand isn't what it used to be, but all hope is not lost, and hopefully incoming CEO Asha Sharma can right the ship. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
E270 · 20 Feb 2026 · 19 min
Which of These Upcoming Games Can Run On Switch 2? - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week we take a look at a few games that might have a chance of coming to the Nintendo Switch 2. It's the fastest-selling console of all time with almost 20 million units sold globally in less than a year, and other triple-A titles are already coming to the platform such as Resident Evil: Requiem and 007 First Light. Upcoming games like Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, Forza Horizon 5 (and maybe 6), Beast of Reincarnation, Silent Hill: Townfall, and others have already been announced for the PS5 and Xbox Series consoles, but publishing issues aside,…
E268 · 6 Feb 2026 · 41 min
Where Are These 13 PS5 & Xbox Games? - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week we take a look at 13 supposed PS5 and Xbox Series games that we should have already been playing. Games like Judas, Knights of the Old Republic remake, Little Devil Inside, and Beyond Good & Evil 2 have had rocky development paths, but at this point, we're wondering if we'll even get these games at all, despite developers and publishers assuring us they're still being worked on. Plus we go over AMD's latest comments about the next-generation Xbox, and we have last week's poll results and a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com. Learn more…
E267 · 30 Jan 2026 · 16 min
The Pros & Cons of Holding Back the PS6 - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week Daemon, Max, and Ryan look at the possible ups and downs of a delay of the PlayStation 6. With PS5 software sales holding strong, and with prices for gaming components like RAM skyrocketing, there's a real possibility Sony will wait another few years before debuting the PS6. This could make the current generation the longest console cycle so far, with 8 or more years from the launch of the PS5 and the possibile drop of the PS6. Plus we have last week's poll results, and a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com. Learn more about your ad…
E266 · 23 Jan 2026 · 23 min
Xbox’s Dev Direct Was Great — Even for PS5 - Next-Gen Console Watch
Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch. This week Daemon, Max, and Ryan take a look at the latest Xbox Developer_Direct. Microsoft Game Studios showcased Playground Games' Forza Horizon 6 and the Fable reboot, plus Kiln from Double Fine, and Beast of Reincarnation of Game Freak. While it's shaping up to be a good year for Xbox (in terms of games), this showcase was also great news for PlayStation fans. And we have last week's poll results, plus a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

About Next-Gen Console Watch

Next-Gen Console Watch is a English leisure & travel podcast from IGN & Geek Media. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: IGN & Geek Media
Language: English
Category: Leisure & Travel
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 26 min
Latest episode: 9 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1772148241

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The Melo app keeps playing with the screen off, works in the car and on your watch, wakes you to your station, and browses the whole catalogue offline. Free, no ads, no account.