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The Inner Gamer PodcastAuthor: The Inner Gamer
The Inner Gamer is a video game podcast exploring the world of video games and the industry surrounding them. Built for the casual gamer, we dive into all the games to weed out the games that are worth your time. Language: en Genres: Arts, Leisure, Video Games, Visual Arts Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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450: Meccha Chameleon, Empulse and the XBox Reset
Episode 450
Tuesday, 30 June, 2026
This week on The Inner Gamer, Brett, Jason and Austin start with the indie story nobody saw coming: Meccha Chameleon, a $6 hide-and-seek party game from a nearly-solo Japanese dev team, sold millions of copies in days with zero marketing spend. They break down the skill-based mechanic that made it perfect for viral clips, the conspiracy theories that followed its success, and whether a tiny team can actually sustain support for a player base this size. From there, the conversation shifts to Empulse, 1047 Games' early access movement shooter chasing that old Titanfall feeling. The gameplay genuinely delivers — but with Splitgate 2's collapse still fresh, the guys dig into whether a no-microtransaction promise is a real change of heart or just the only move left for a studio rebuilding trust. The back half of the episode turns to the industry itself. Xbox's "reset" has gone from rumor to reality — real layoffs, real studio closures, and a console price hike happening at the same time the platform is trying to reassert exclusivity. And closing things out, Brett, Jason and Austin tackle the rising cost of being a gamer head-on, using GTA 6's tiered pricing and the Steam Machine's four-figure price tag to talk through what's actually worth paying for — and how to navigate a hobby that keeps getting more expensive. Show Notes: 1:09 - Housekeeping 1:59 - Meccha Chameleon Sold 10 Million Copies— What Nobody Is Talking About 19:19 - Empulse First Look: Good Game, Poor Track Record 48:47 - The Xbox Reset is Here, and It’s Worse Than We Thought 1:13:55 - Gaming Got Expensive — Permanently 1:43:12- Upcoming Video Game Releases Become a part of the conversation! If you donate $1 or more on Patreon you can get exclusive access to the Patreon-only chat and channels on the server. Visit our website to find our social channels, check past podcasts and donate to the show.Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all of our latest videos as they drop. Credits:"Blue Groove Deluxe" by BlueFoxMusic on audiojungle.netWoman Announcer - Ariana Guerra; Actress"Wisdom" by Super Nostalgia 64
