Join the Professors as we dive deep into the wild world of PC hardware economics, from Nvidia GPU production cuts to the bizarre reality of older Ryzen CPU’s chips selling for more than their newer 9800X3D successors, all against sliding console and hardware sales across the industry. From there, we break down Steam’s looming end of 32-bit Windows support, plus Nintendo’s Switch 2 getting hammered by RAM shortages and soaring memory costs. The class then heads into the Shop with a heated look at Zotac’s controversial RTX 5070 Ti RMA denial, before circling up for Civics & Sociology to talk Neil Newbon’s “fuck AI in performance” stance, Bungie’s big art and copyright settlements, and Xbox cancelling Xbox Wrapped to chase 2026 anniversary hype instead. Finally, Lab Work covers Monster Hunter Wilds’ disastrous Title Update 4 performance issues and why Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade on Switch 2 might actually look better than PS4 thanks to DLSS and next-gen visual features. Heru and Plague would love your feedback! Let us know what we can improve on and other topics you'd like to hear us discuss by reaching out to feedback@thegameprofessors.com . Come in and grab a seat as we profess our love and hate for all things video games!

Timestamps:

09:38 - Business & Econ

33:28 - Shop Class

47:18 - Civics & Sociology

01:19:18 - Lab Work

01:36:36 - Independent Study

Join the Professors as Heru and Plague dive deep into Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's incredible Game of the Year victory—uncovering how a $10 million French indie studio with small team of developers beat the AAA titans, the inspiring story of self-taught composer Lorien Testard's soundtrack, and the free "Thank You Update" that drove sales to 6+ million copies. We break down The Game Awards 2025's shocking moments, including some snubs and the ongoing gacha bribery debate around Wuthering Waves' Players' Choice win. Then we tackle the messy copyright strike drama: Supercell's retaliatory takedowns against beloved Clash of Clans creator EricOneHive, plus Microsoft's desperate bid to compete with SteamOS's gaming dominance in 2026. We also cover Discord's being a RAM hog, the indefinitely delayed Deus Ex Remaster, and big announcements for Star Wars, Tomb Raider, and Hollow Knight's "Sea of Sorrow" expansion. Plus, Australia's historic under-16 social media ban and why Roblox got a free pass. Heru and Plague would love your feedback! Let us know what we can improve on and other topics you'd like to hear us discuss by reaching out to feedback@thegameprofessors.com . Come in and grab a seat as we profess our love and hate for all things video games!Timestamps:

• Lab Work - 36:46 (The Game Awards Overview)

• Business & Econ - 1:11:51 (Clair Obscur's budget comparison)

• Civics & Sociology - 1:34:05 (Game Awards responses from companies and players)

• Shop Class - 1:52:21 (Microsoft's response to SteamOS)

Join the Professors as we look at the The Game Awards 2025 nominees, with the event happening tomorrow! Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 sets the bar with 13 nominations! We break down the major contenders, standout performances, and who’s the most nominated publisher.

Next, we continue to explore the hardware crisis hitting gaming PCs hard—AI demand is hoarding memory chips, causing DDR5 and PC prices to spike. We discuss how this may force developers to rely on better design and optimization.

We also cover Netflix's massive $82.7 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, including gaming powerhouses like NetherRealm Studios and the Hogwarts Legacy empire. Plus, we tackle Japan's new AI anti-piracy system (and its Cyberpunk vibes), Activision's “major” Call of Duty strategy shift away from back-to-back releases, the Left 4 Dead creator's new co-op shooter on PlayStation, and how the NEX Playground motion-controlled console unexpectedly outsold Xbox during Black Friday.

If that wasn't enough, we check out Razer's nostalgic Boomslang 20th Anniversary Edition gaming mouse and touch upon some GPU competition coming out of China.

Heru and Plague would love your feedback! Let us know what we can improve on and other topics you'd like to hear us discuss by reaching out to feedback@thegameprofessors.com . Come in and grab a seat as we profess our love and hate for all things video games!