A packed week means a packed show. A Zelda Movie? Grand Theft Auto 6? Transparent MMO Design? What do all these things have in common? They all happened this week. Garrett is back in the World of Warcraft and for Retail no less with the Season of Discovery around the corner. If there is a fence, Kyle is behind it, maybe even still purchasing the wood. Remakes, remasters, 2024 incoming, and more.

Immediately following the BlizzCon Opening ceremony live watch, Garrett and Kyle take a seat to talk about the hits, misfires and mysteries. It should be no secret that you won't be hearing much about the Overwatch news. Diablo was also limited. The biggest hitter was the Warcraft section which features a Co-op Hearthstone Battlegrounds Mode, and a three expansion plan for the games narrative going forward. The comparisons to Final Fantasy 14 are not lost on us. News will continue to develop over the weekend, so enjoy this hot-off-the-press coverage.

We may be cross-country again, but we are ever so close to our goals! This is the Grinding Gear Podcast. Travel meant movie time for Kyle and he was delighted by a certain reference in Mutant Mayhem. Garrett turns back the clock to talk about the ABK Acquisition. Speaking of that clock, Heroes of the Storm received a sizable PTR patch. Mostly bug fixes, but many will absolutely affect balance. Is Microsoft taking Heroes to Game Pass? Spiderman 2 and Lies of P are on the menu. The new FF14 job got announced at Fanfest and frankly were stoked for different reasons. All this and more.

What a week! We have announced The Bromance Studio. The big drive is underway. Podcast will soon be recorded TOGETHER and oh so much more. In this episode you will learn all about the Studio plans, how long we’ve had to keep this secret and so much more. Kyle had trouble picking a publicly played plane game. Garrett has continued his Cyberpunk journey. You might learn something. You might learn more than you need to. Supportourbromance.com and we’ll build a studio. Now that’s a threat you can count on.

Okaymage, WoW caster and FF14 streamer, joins the episode! Okaymage has been on quite the content creation trajectory and is here to tell her story. With no RPG experience, coming straight from League of Legend to World of Warcraft, and making Frost Mage guides, she has developed a massive following due to her MSQ streams. Join in for the takes, the licks and the minty fresh podcast.

A guest filled episode of Halloween gaming and Hot Takes! Grinding Gears own moderator, Dirty 30’s Reviewer (more incoming) and CEO of the House Kristen Ashton joins the episode, along side the MSQurator Jon Jagger. After hearing the previous Unpopular Opinions game, both were eager to take the stage and face their own pile of HOT TAKES!

Endy_D20, FFXIV streamer, previous WoW player, forever Dungeon Master and surprise Heroes of the Storm fan, joins the podcast today! A much requested guest who just wrapped his playthrough of the MSQ, Endy is the perfect guest for a thoughtful week in the MMO sphere. Chris Metzen returns to the WoW team, sparking a whirlwind of conversation across the internet. MMOs have tight competition in such a packed year. Endy shares a delightful journey, including tips for starting your own streams.

The bountiful riches of video games and adjacent content as we GRIND through the end of your week. Cyberpunk 2.0 is out and they want you to start a new game. Onimusha is getting a Netflix adaptation, with mixed reactions. Lies of P has a special sauce, and we’ve got a review from the Fromsoft expert in these parts. Lastly, Final Fantasy 14 is putting out a Tabletop RPG, with an unknown system.

Nintendo’s Direct, Ahsoka, Starfield and Baldurs Gate 3 all make an appearance on this episode, but we know you’re really here for the HOT TAKES! We enjoy a new segment, based on our recent stream, where we judge your HOTTEST TAKES from games to movies, to music. Naturally we address the Unity situation, but we are not lawyers so we will leave that ongoing conversation to the professionals.

We field your questions and field the STARS! Starfield is out for the wide public and you won’t believe it, but Garrett is in love. In fact, Kyle is on the back foot for this adventure. From bugs, ship building, IMMERSION and gunplay, we give you the big Starfield review. Supportourbromance.com or we’ll keep the planets PNG images.  

Starfield is almost upon us and the embargo has been lifted. Will we make SPACE for this monumental game amongst the awesome releases of today? It is yet to be seen. Armored Core 6 has taken the hosts by storm and a meaty spoiler-free discussion ensues. D&D, Dark Forces, movies and more. Supportourbromance.com or we’ll make a trailer with our L1 sticks gently romanced.

A burden of riches is upon us! Baldurs Gate 3 keeps on giving, but there is even more greatness to be had. Bomb Rush Cyberfunk has smitten Kyle, and Garrett got the Gamescom coverage. Armored Core 6 is TOMORROW?! Mario is changing, Phil Spencer is confusing, and what a time it is. Emails and more!

Supportourbromance.com or we’ll instant spawn cops behind a wall.

The Gates are open. Baldur the Third is here. Reviews are off the charges and we are in love. Garrett and Kyle currently quest through act one and give you the spoiler-free lowdown on the internet darling, Baldur’s Gate. A surge of interest in D&D has followed as many try their hand at 5th edition rule. We’ve also been watching things, like Futurama, Justified, or Kyle's first viewing of Labyrinth for the first time. Supportourbromancing.com or we’ll multiverse franchise your planular adventure.

Jon Jagger rejoins the show to talk Fan Fest 2023, Wrestling, Baldur’s Gate, Friendship and more. Garrett and Kyle fresh from their travel gauntlet share short-form stories of their adventures (see the Tuesday stream for the long form) and get the scoop for their eye in the sky, Jon who last minute could not attend. Batteries may be drained, music may be battle, but FRIENDSHIP REIGNS SUPREME!

Oh my goodness, look at the time. Baldur’s Gate is basically out when we return from Fan Fest and as it is a construct of 5th Edition D&D, Kyle gives Garrett the full run down. What shall Garrett make? Is Kyle leading the witness?!

Star Wars Ahsoka trailer, Indiana Jones Dial of Destiny review and Diablo tells players to “touch grass”: this is Grinding Gear. We prepare to depart on our two-week Summer Vacation and Fan Fest adventure. A special pre-recorded episode will be posted next week for your listening enjoyment. Speaking of Fan Fest, the schedule for the convention is up but remains shrouded in mystery. What will a non-BlizzCon MMO convention feel like? What is there to do? How many Emets will there be?! All this on more on today’s episode.

Day of the deepest dives. In preparation for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Garrett has rewatched EVERY movie, including the Crystal Skull. Kyle has become deeply invested in Transformers and shares his findings. Pokemon has started a forum this week, so prepare for our first ever very cursed game show. What are we playing, emails and more!

Supportourbromance.com or we’ll launch a new discord with zero moderation. You’d like that, wouldn’t you?!

The numbers are in! Or are they? FF16 has sold 3 million copies. A stacked year continues with Baldur’s Gate releasing early for PC to avoid lining up verse Starfield. Would you shave your head for money? How much? What if it was refunded? Deep questions like this and more.

Grind through the end of this wild week with us! Nintendo Direct unleashed a number of announcements that caught our eye. Dota 2, a long-running MOBA, is getting rid of Battle Passes while Diablo 4 prepares to unleash its first one. Garrett and Kyle extol the virtues of Diablo 4 for a bit, before heading into FF16 review round-up which is looking mighty impressive. Emails and more.