Instant Riot: The Gamer Clothing Brand That Actually Gets Us
Matthew Maulding Matthew Maulding

Instant Riot: The Gamer Clothing Brand That Actually Gets Us

Say hello to Instant Riot, the pop-culture-obsessed, gamer-powered t-shirt brand that has quickly become our go-to for shirts that speak directly to us as gamers with a sense of humor. Not generic “gamer fuel” vibes. Not bootleg meme shirts you regret buying. Real designs. Real references. Real personality.

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Destiny 2’s Struggles Signal a Make-or-Break Moment for Bungie and Sony
Zach Kohler Zach Kohler

Destiny 2’s Struggles Signal a Make-or-Break Moment for Bungie and Sony

When Destiny 2 launched, it felt like the kind of forever-game that would print money indefinitely. A gorgeous sci-fi universe, punchy gunplay, a loyal player base stretching back a decade, it seemed unstoppable. But now? Sony just reported a $24 million impairment tied to Bungie’s assets after Destiny 2 fell short of expectations, and the situation is starting to look a lot more complicated.

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Valve’s 2026 Hardware Play
Zach Kohler Zach Kohler

Valve’s 2026 Hardware Play

Valve just dropped a hardware trifecta that could reshape the living-room landscape—the Steam Machine, the new Steam Controller, and the standalone Steam Frame VR headset, all set for a 2026 release. If you’ve ever wished your Steam library belonged on your couch instead of your desk, Valve appears ready to grant that wish.

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Borderlands 4 Already on Sale?
Zach Kohler Zach Kohler

Borderlands 4 Already on Sale?

Borderlands 4 has only been out for a month, but it’s already 20% off on Steam — and fans aren’t exactly celebrating. Just this past summer, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford confidently claimed it would take at least five years before the game saw a major discount. Fast-forward a few weeks, and that promise didn’t even last through the first DLC teaser.

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Red Dead Redemption 2 Remaster: Do We Really Need It?
Zach Kohler Zach Kohler

Red Dead Redemption 2 Remaster: Do We Really Need It?

Rumors are once again swirling across the gaming frontier: Red Dead Redemption 2 might finally be galloping onto PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and even the rumored Switch 2. According to recent reports, the ports are real and in active development — a long-awaited upgrade for one of Rockstar’s most acclaimed titles.

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Has Xbox Lost the “Best Value in Gaming”?
Zach Kohler Zach Kohler

Has Xbox Lost the “Best Value in Gaming”?

For years, Xbox Game Pass was hailed as the best deal in gaming — an all-you-can-play buffet of first-party titles, indie gems, and third-party blockbusters. But those glory days may be behind us.

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Silent Hill f: A Bold New Direction in 1960s Japan - Exclusive Interview
Matthew Maulding Matthew Maulding

Silent Hill f: A Bold New Direction in 1960s Japan - Exclusive Interview

Konami brand manager Darnell Tucker joined the Good Playing With You crew on launch day to break down the series’ biggest pivots yet: a 1960s Japan setting rooted in folklore, a “beautiful-but-horrific” new aesthetic, tougher puzzle design, and a surprisingly robust melee system that rewards timing, counters, and smart retreats. Here’s what players should know before diving in.

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6 MORE Games To Hook Non-Gamers
Zach Kohler Zach Kohler

6 MORE Games To Hook Non-Gamers

Convincing someone who “doesn’t play video games” to give one a try can feel like an uphill battle. You’ve probably heard the classics—Stardew Valley, Mario Kart, Animal Crossing—but sometimes you need fresh picks that prove games can be cozy, clever, and downright addictive without demanding a 40-hour time commitment.

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8 Side Characters Who Deserve Their Own Video Game
Zach Kohler Zach Kohler

8 Side Characters Who Deserve Their Own Video Game

One of the best parts of gaming is when a side character completely steals the show. You go in expecting to care about the protagonist, but then—bam!—some supporting cast member shows up, drops a few lines, or pulls off a memorable moment, and suddenly you’re wishing they were the star of the story.

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6 Nintendo Franchises That Deserve a Donkey Kong Revival
Zach Kohler Zach Kohler

6 Nintendo Franchises That Deserve a Donkey Kong Revival

If there’s one thing Donkey Kong Country Returns and Tropical Freeze taught us, it’s that with the right developer and a little Nintendo magic, even a dormant IP can become a modern classic. With the recent Donkey Kong buzz and a new entry finally on the horizon, it begs the question: what other classic Nintendo franchises are ripe for a next-gen revival?

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6 Games That Weren’t Worth the Buy
Zach Kohler Zach Kohler

6 Games That Weren’t Worth the Buy

Let’s be real—sometimes we drop full price on a game, only to realize later… yeah, this should’ve been a weekend rental at best. It’s the gamer’s version of buyer’s remorse. Whether it’s bloated open worlds, zero replay value, or just plain disappointment, some titles hit better when there’s an expiration date involved.

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6 Story-Driven Games That Deserve More Credit for Their Narrative Brilliance
Zach Kohler Zach Kohler

6 Story-Driven Games That Deserve More Credit for Their Narrative Brilliance

If you think great storytelling in games is reserved for a select few like The Last of Us or Red Dead Redemption 2, think again. Some of the most emotionally resonant, character-driven, or just plain wild narratives come from games you might’ve forgotten—or never thought of as narrative-first to begin with.

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6 Popular Games We Wish We Loved (But Just Couldn’t Get Into)
Zach Kohler Zach Kohler

6 Popular Games We Wish We Loved (But Just Couldn’t Get Into)

Every gamer has that game—the one everyone raves about, the one critics give perfect scores, the one your friends insist will “click” if you just give it more time. But no matter how many second chances you give it, you just…don’t love it. Today, we’re diving into exactly those heartbreakers: the games we desperately wish we loved, but couldn’t.

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Gamepass, Battlefield, and Ubisoft: The Evolving Video Game Industry
Zach Kohler Zach Kohler

Gamepass, Battlefield, and Ubisoft: The Evolving Video Game Industry

The video game industry is in the middle of a seismic shift. Between controversial subscription models and ballooning development budgets, players and developers alike are starting to feel the tension. This week, two major stories lit up the gaming world: the growing backlash against Xbox Game Pass, and Electronic Arts’ seemingly unrealistic expectations for Battlefield 6.

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Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake Preview
Matthew Maulding Matthew Maulding

Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake Preview

Last week, I had the chance to visit the Square Enix offices to take a look at and play their upcoming release of the Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake. And let me tell you, dear readers, you’re in for a treat!

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6 Hidden Gem Games You Should Absolutely Check Out
Matthew Maulding Matthew Maulding

6 Hidden Gem Games You Should Absolutely Check Out

Let’s be honest: there are way too many games out there, and not nearly enough time to play them all. The big hitters get all the love, but what about the games that quietly slap? On this week’s Good Playing With You, we highlighted 6 hidden gems that deserve way more attention than they’ve gotten.

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6 Great Games We Loved…But Never Finished
Matthew Maulding Matthew Maulding

6 Great Games We Loved…But Never Finished

We’ve all been there. You fire up a game, get sucked into its world, fall in love with the story or combat…and then, somehow, somewhere along the way, you just stop playing. Maybe life got in the way. Maybe a tough boss did. Or maybe another game came out that bogarted your attention. We’re diving into the gaming graveyard; those titles we truly enjoyed but never managed to finish.

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6 Best Nintendo Launch Titles of All Time
Matthew Maulding Matthew Maulding

6 Best Nintendo Launch Titles of All Time

Nintendo has a long history of launching their consoles with absolute bangers—and some of them were so good, they helped define an entire generation of gaming. On this episode of Good Playing With You, the crew looked back at the six best Nintendo launch titles of all time—games that not only sold systems, but also left a lasting mark on players around the world.

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