Next-Gen Console Watch

Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch. This week we take a look at how the recent RAM shortage will affect the next generation of console games. With AI data centers demanding more and more RAM, manufacturers have pivoted to providing this growing industry with pretty much whatever it needs, thus forcing the cost of consumer RAM through the roof. What does this mean for the PlayStation 6 and next Xbox? Or for Valve's Steam Machine? Plus we look at last week's poll results, and we have a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch. This week we take a look at 12 games we think will push the current generation of consoles to their limits. Games like Marvel's Wolverine, Control: Resonant, Resident Evil: Requiem, Gears of War: E-Day, and more are going to be amazing showcases for what the PlayStation 5 (and PS5 Pro) and the Xbox Series X (and the underpowered but still capable Series S) can really do, considering we should be entering the back half of this generation's life cycle. Plus we have last week's poll results and a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch. On the last NGCW of the year, we look back at 2025 and pick what we think were the "most next-gen games" of the year. We're probably past the 'halfway point' for this generation so we should be seeing some of the best-looking games the PS5 and Xbox Series X can run, and we weren't disappointed. Battlefield 6 and Death Stranding 2 showcased what photorealism can look like on current consoles, while games like Keeper and Ghost of Yōtei were highlights in creative art direction. What do you think were some of the best-looking games of the year? Let us know in the comments. And we also have last week's poll results and a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! It's the day after The Game Awards and along with Sandfall's Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 winning big, we received a mountain of new announcements. We're at an interesting time in this generation where any newly-announced game might just end up on the PlayStation 6 or next Xbox, so we break down what titles we think will end up on gaming's next-gen consoles. Could we see Tomb Raider: Catalyst debut on the PS6? Or maybe Larian's Divinity? Plus we go over last week's poll results and we have a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch! This week Daemon, Max, Ryan, and Logan grade the Nintendo Switch 2's launch window. The Switch 2 broke Nintendo—and industry—records by becoming the fastest-selling console of all time. But how did it fare against the Switch 1's first six months? Did the Switch 2's lineup of Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond hold up agains the Switch 1's legendary 1-2-3 punch of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Mario Odyssey, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild? And what can we expect next year? Plus we have last episode's poll results and a new poll for you to vote on at IGN.com.

00:00:21 Grading the Switch 2's launch window

00:01:13 Logan's grade

00:03:44 Ryan's grade

00:07:57 Max's grade

00:10:44 Looking ahead to 2026

00:14:27 Poll results

00:15:02 Outro
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices