On this week’s episode of Starside Chat, we talk about our early experiences with the Halo Infinite multiplayer. Zach gives his early impressions with Battlefield 2042, and a brief review of the new Stadia, timed-exclusive Wavetale. And we run down the list of nominations for this year’s Game Awards, with our predictions for which games will win!

[News of the Week]

• Steam Deck delayed 2 months
• GTA trilogy definitive edition is out, but it’s a mess
• Thunderful Games Showcase
  • SteamWorld Headhunter – Moves from 2D to 3D
  • Gunk – 3rd person sci-fi game coming in Dec.
  • Wavetale – Stadia timed-exclusive 3rd person action adventure game
• Xbox 20th Anniversary
  • 6 part Xbox documentary series starting Dec. 13
  • More backwards compatibility with OG Xbox games and 360 games (including frame rate boost in some games)
  • Halo Infinite Multiplayer available now
• MultiVersus – Batman, Arya Stark, Shaggy and Bugs Bunny square off in free to play Smash Bros-style fighting game
• Dragon Ball The Breakers – Asymmetrical multiplayer game that pits on player as Cell vs 7 players trying to escape

[Games out this week]

• Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl
• Battlefield 2042

[Features]

• The Game Awards nominations – Dec. 9
  • Game of the Year
    • Deathloop
    • It Takes Two
    • Metroid Dread
    • Psychonauts 2
    • Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
    • Resident Evil Village
  • Best Game Direction
    • Deathloop
    • It Takes Two
    • Returnal
    • Psychonauts 2
    • Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
  • Best Narrative
    • Deathloop
    • It Takes Two
    • Life is STrange: True Colors
    • Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy
    • Psychonauts 2
  • Best Art Direction
    • The Artful Escape
    • Deathloop
    • Kena: Bridge of Spirits
    • Psychonauts 2
    • Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
  • Best Score and Music
    • The Artful Escape
    • Cyberpunk 2077
    • Deathloop
    • Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy
    • Nier Replicant
  • Best Audio Design
    • Deathloop
    • Forza Horizon 5
    • Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
    • Resident Evil Village
    • Returnal
  • Best Indie
    • 12 Minutes
    • Death’s Door
    • Inscryption
    • Kena: Bridge of Spirits
    • Loop Hero
  • Best Action Game
    • Back 4 Blood
    • Chivalry 2
    • Deathloop
    • Far Cry 6
    • Returnal
  • Best Action/Adventure
    • Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy
    • Metroid Dread
    • Psychonauts 2
    • Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
    • Resident Evil Village
  • Best Role Playing
    • Cyberpunk 2077
    • Monster Hunter Rise
    • Scarlet Nexus
    • Shin Megami Tensei V
    • Tales of Arise
  • Best Family Game
    • It Takes Two
    • Mario Party Superstars
    • New Pokemon Snap
    • Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury
    • Warioware: Get It Together 
  • Best Sports/Racing
    • F1 2021
    • FIFA 22
    • Forza Horizon 5
    • Hot Wheels Unleashed
    • Riders Republic
  • Best Multiplayer
    • Back 4 Blood
    • Knockout City
    • It Takes Two
    • Monster Hunter Rise
    • New World
    • Valheim
  • Best Debut Indie
    • The Artful Escape
    • The Forgotten City
    • Kena: Bridge of Spirits
    • Sable
    • Valheim
  • Most Anticipated Game
    • Elden Ring
    • God of War Ragnarok
    • Horizon Forbidden West
    • Breath of the Wild 2
    • Starfield

See the full list of Game Awards nominations here.

[What We’re Playing/Watching]

• The Artful Escape
• Wavetale
• Battlefield 2042
• Halo Infinite Multiplayer Beta
• Shang Chi
• Cowboy Bebop