The episode of Back Pocket mainly critiques Nvidia’s DLSS 5 as AI-generated visual “slop,” then moves through gaming news about Subnautica 2’s leadership being reinstated, Todd Howard reflecting on Elder Scrolls 6’s long wait, and the changing nature of game hype. It also reviews several games, especially the fun retro shooter Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War!, before previewing upcoming titles and ending with a few lighthearted community bits.
This episode of Back Pocket opens with the hosts riffing on emotions, voice work, and the absurdity of imagining themselves as Inside Out characters, before settling into a news-heavy show. The main gaming industry story is Nvidia’s DLSS 5, which the panel strongly criticizes for leaning into generative AI to “enhance” graphics in ways that can overwrite artistic choices and produce a glossy, uncanny, homogenized look. They especially object to how characters’ faces appear beautified and flattened into AI slop, arguing that while Nvidia frames it as an optional developer tool, it still feels like a corporate push that compromises visual artistry.
Next, the show covers a legal win for Subnautica 2’s original leadership, with a judge ordering publisher Krafton to reinstate former CEO Ted Gill and restore control over early access plans. The hosts explain that the dispute centered on Krafton allegedly delaying the game to avoid a major payout tied to release milestones, then trying to justify the firings through a hastily assembled “Project X” plan that even involved ChatGPT messaging. They see this as a rare case of developers and leadership getting some justice against a publisher’s attempt to control the outcome for financial reasons.
The third major news topic is Todd Howard lamenting the years-long gap between The Elder Scrolls 6’s announcement and its eventual release, which may not happen until 2028. The panel discusses how the modern internet makes long hype cycles riskier than they used to be, since fans now watch games evolve in public and react instantly to leaks, delays, and changing visuals. They also contrast this with more traditional Nintendo-style secrecy and remember the old E3 era of big personalities, hype, and overconfident stage presentations that made game reveals feel exciting and chaotic.
On the game-playing side, the hosts each cover a recent title. Ruby talks about Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War!, praising it as a fun, polished boomer shooter full of retro sprite art, FMV silliness, and over-the-top bug-blasting action, with the fun twist of letting players take control of the bugs too. They also discuss Mr. Sleepy Man, a weird and whimsical 3D platformer about causing mischief in Bedtime Town, which starts as a silly comedy but gradually reveals stranger tonal shifts, clever music, and a time-loop-like structure. Peter then covers We Got to Go, a cooperative “friend slop” game where players must escape a haunted house while managing fart and poop meters; the concept is hilarious, but they think it still needs more depth and challenge to stand out.
The episode closes with a look at upcoming releases, especially Crimson Desert and Screamer, both of which promise flashy, ambitious presentation and lots of content. They also highlight the return of Alt Games at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney, praising its role in giving indie developers a platform and noting the presence of speakers like Shuhei Yoshida and Alana Pearce. Finally, they read a comment about Pete being a Ditto, leading to a silly live bit where he makes a Ditto face, before wrapping up by thanking supporters and urging viewers to like, subscribe, comment, and join the community.