From Game Boy and PSP to Switch and Steam Deck, we rewind through handheld gaming history. Plus: Game Awards reactions, reveals we loved (and hated), and a handheld-themed quiz.

This week on The Midnight Release, Chase and Austin jump back into gaming with Episode 7: “Pocket Power”, a full rewind through the history of handheld gaming — from the original Game Boy all the way to modern handheld PCs like the Steam Deck and the Switch 2.

We talk about where we each started, our favorite handheld consoles and games, unforgettable Pokémon memories, funny (and painful) stories from the road, and how handheld gaming has evolved from simple pixels to full console-level experiences in your hands. We also dig into GameStop-era handheld chaos — trades, bundles, thefts, and holiday madness.

On the Side Quest front, Chase flips the script in Now Loading, quizzing Austin with “opposite-name” versions of classic handheld games. Then we introduce a brand-new segment, Checkpoint Chat, where we break down the Game Awards — winners, snubs, reveals, and what has us hyped heading into 2026.

It’s a nostalgia-heavy episode packed with handheld history, industry talk, and the kind of conversations that only happen when you’ve lived through every generation.

🎮 Some power fits right in your pocket.

Blockbuster nights, VHS nostalgia, Netflix’s mail-in era, midnight movie releases, and the rise (and fall) of physical media. Plus: GOTY predictions, upcoming movie hype, and deep-pull memories from the video rental days.

This week on The Midnight Release, Chase and Austin jump out of the gaming lane and back into another core part of 90s–2000s childhood: Friday nights at Blockbuster. From VHS tapes and late fees to catching that one copy of a new release before anyone else, this episode dives into movie culture, video rental rituals, and how physical media shaped an entire generation.

But it doesn’t stop there — we rewind all the way through Netflix’s mail-in DVD era, GameFly, Redbox luck, and late-night midnight movie premieres before big studios phased them out. We also break down how movie culture has shifted, why physical media is disappearing, and which films defined our childhoods before 2010.

As always, the episode rounds out with our recurring and brand-new segment lineup, including nostalgia deep-dives, upcoming movie hype, and a quick look at this week’s big event: The Game Awards.

📼 Be kind, rewind — and enjoy the nostalgia trip.

Before Xbox Live and Discord, there were basements full of CRTs, ethernet cables running like spiderwebs, and hands covered in Dorito dust. This week, Chase and Austin are joined by Wayne and Howie to relive the glory days of LAN parties, couch co-op, early multiplayer memories, and the snacks that fueled them.

Grab your controllers, fire up the ethernet hub, and keep your hands clean (or don’t) — because Episode 5 is all about LAN Parties and Doritos Dust.

This week, Austin and Chase are joined by two very special guests: Howie (aka Scott) and Wayne, Austin’s older — and according to Chase — “much better-looking” brother. Together, the crew rewinds to a time before online gaming took over the world, reliving the magic of couch co-op, local multiplayer chaos, and all-night LAN marathons.

We cover:
🎮 Life before online gaming — from Mario/Duck Hunt to GoldenEye to the first FPS experiences
👾 Arcade glory days — TMNT: Turtles in Time, X-Men, Rampage, Power Rangers
🔌 LAN party setups — multi-TV madness, ethernet cables everywhere
🎮 Halo, Gears, CoD — local tournaments, campaign runs, and Wayne’s legendary Gears soapbox
🎮 Pokémon link cables, Double Dash battles, NBA Street, Shaolin Monks, and more
🕹️ First gamertags — BlueSanta117, IZI Pwnage IZI
🥤 Snacks & drinks of the era — Game Fuel, Red Bull, fork-eaten chips, Monsters, and of course… Doritos

We also introduce two brand new segments this week:

👫 Co-Op Mode (New)

A collaborative segment featuring guest opinions, crossovers, and crew-based conversations. For its debut, we discuss the group’s current gaming obsessions and what they’re most excited for in 2026

💾 Listener Memory Card (New)

Your stories take center stage! We dig into your submitted favorite games and first COD experiences.

Finally, we reach our Save Point, reflecting on how the four of us still run DnD campaigns together today and how these early multiplayer moments shaped entire friendships.

Next week, we take a detour into film nostalgia with “Be Kind, Rewind,” covering Blockbuster, Friday night rentals, DVDs, and the golden era of physical media.

🎧 Want to be featured in a future Listener Memory Card segment?
This week’s question:
Which of these give you the most nostalgic, warm-fuzzy media memories — Blockbuster, Netflix (early days), Redbox, GameFly, or something else? And why?

Email us at: themidnightreleasepod@gmail.com