Technically the podcast never left but we're back! Kyle has returned from his Jury Duty exile. The internet has continued to do what it does and Garrett’s got all the goods lined up. Twitch has set new rules regarding what has become known as the “Topless Meta”. The Video Game Awards continue to make dramatic waves as views argue over format and speech timers. In a real shocker, Kojima wants to make a movie. The Day Before is a truly bright burning dumpster fire. And so much more. One could say the subject material in this episode is “mature”, but we certainly aren't.

What a week! The bromance content has been upended due to jury duty. But we’re not going to let that stop us from getting up very early (EXTREMELY early for Kyle) and having a chat about this year’s Game Awards! Later in the show we also get into how jury duty has impacted our end-of-year schedule and how we’ve surpassed every goal we’ve set thanks to the gearbox!

The Holidays are incoming. Garrett and Kyle return from Thanksgiving festivities to bring you all the important happenings from the dinner table! Bungie is messing it up again, but we don’t have time for that. Fallout has a tv show incoming and it’s canonical. See the return of HOT TAKES as we collect your HOTTEST TAKES from the internet, we call it Unpopular Opinions, but we all know what they are.

It’s a Grinding Gear Thanksgiving! The podcast records early this week as we’ll both be out the rest of the week for the holiday! Join us as we give a Bromance Studio update, talk Scott Pilgrim, WoW Classic Hardcore, FFXIV Endwalker, and share our holiday traditions.

We have gathered an ELITE team of current, former, and cautious World of Warcraft content creators for our post-BlizzCon round-table. Previous GG guests Preach, Okaymage and Jesse Cox all make a triumphant return to talk WoW’s announcement for an upcoming and ongoing 5 year story. Blizzard has planted a flag, a beginning, middle, and end. A total rework of their narrative process with evergreen content. The beacon is lit.

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!