Best Backtrack History Podcasts (2025)

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The Cheltenham Torso Mystery 28:52

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4d ago28:52

28:52

The Cheltenham Torso Mystery Season: 6 Episode: 25 The Cheltenham torso mystery, a chilling enigma that gripped the nation, remains one of Gloucestershire's most infamous unsolved crimes. It made national headlines and sparked a massive police manhunt, but despite tantalising clues and relentless investigation, the truth was never uncovered. CAST B…

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Episode 181 - 007 First Light State Of Play 1:12:35

5h ago1:12:35

1:12:35

Send us a text In this episode... --> IO Interactive, developers of the much-beloved Hitman series, showed off its latest title, 007 First Light, during a special September State of Play. --> The Call of Duty video game series is finally getting a Hollywood movie, thanks to a deal between Activision and Paramount. --> Hollow Knight: Silksong's $20 …

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Episode 180 - Nintendo Is Gatekeeping Switch 2 Dev Kits 1:09:12

7d ago1:09:12

1:09:12

Send us a text In this episode... --> A fresh report has detailed the difficulties faced by some developers keen to launch games for Switch 2 — but who remain unable to do so due to a lack of Nintendo support. --> PlayStation boss Herman Hulst has said that live service failures are good for the development of their future attempts. --> The announc…

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Episode 179 - Gamescom Opening Night Live 2025 1:18:04

14d ago1:18:04

1:18:04

Send us a text In this episode... --> Gamescom Opening Night Live marks the start of the gaming convention in Cologne, and it’s always packed full of announcements, trailers and gameplay reveals. We're discussing all the highlights from the show. --> Animal rights organisation Peta has urged Nintendo to redesign the popular Cow character in Mario K…

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Shorter Tales 19:29

20d ago19:29

19:29

Shorter Tales Season: 6 Episode: 24 This week’s show packs a punch with three bite-sized but gripping tales – a dash of heroism from a local legend, a stirring act of WW2 bravery, and the bittersweet drama of a woman scorned – as well as your usual helpings of fascinating facts from days gone by. CAST Pete Budd - Colin Ball Jesse Organ - Patrick Al…

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Episode 178 - Battlefield 6 Wants To "Bootstomp" Call Of Duty 1:13:15

21d ago1:13:15

1:13:15

Send us a text In this episode... --> EA is calling the Battlefield 6 open beta its biggest ever, and Weekend 1 just wrapped up with a peak of 521,079 players, which is also an all-time peak for the entire Battlefield series. --> Nintendo has contacted the organizers of RTA, one of Japan's largest speedrunning charity events, to put a stop to the e…

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HMS Trincomalee 32:55

27d ago32:55

32:55

HMS Trincomalee Season: 6 Episode: 23 HMS Trincomalee is one of only two surviving British frigates from her era, alongside her near-sister ship, HMS Unicorn, now preserved as a museum in Dundee. Ordered on 30 October 1812, Trincomalee was constructed in Bombay (now Mumbai), India, by the renowned Wadia family of shipwrights. Her maiden voyage was …

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Episode 177 - Visa And Mastercard Deny Censorship Allegations Over Adult Video Games 1:13:58

28d ago1:13:58

1:13:58

Send us a text In this episode... --> Visa and Mastercard are refuting censorship allegations after forcing storefronts to remove adult video games. Valve says otherwise. --> The BioShock remake has been cancelled as BioShock 4 has reportedly failed to meet review standards. --> A short-lived Nintendo fan survey asked for your opinions on buying di…

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The Legend of Lady Anne Clifford (Pt 2) 24:13

1M ago24:13

24:13

The Legend of Lady Anne Clifford (Pt 2) Season: 6 Episode: 22 The last member of one of England’s great medieval dynasties, Lady Anne Clifford became something of a legend in her own lifetime, and has remained a celebrated figure in the history of northern England ever since. After fighting a 40-year battle for her right to inherit her father’s est…

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Episode 176 - Roblox The Dating App??? 1:28:09

1M ago1:28:09

1:28:09

Send us a text In this episode... --> The Roblox CEO has officially horrified every parent alive by announcing his ambition that the platform become a dating hub, despite the fact that roughly 40% of its users are under the age of 13. --> Sony Interactive Entertainment has filed a lawsuit against Tencent over its upcoming game Light of Motiram, wit…

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The Legend of Lady Anne Clifford (Pt1) 21:49

1M ago21:49

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The Legend of Lady Anne Clifford (Pt1) Season: 6 Episode: 21 The last member of one of England’s great medieval dynasties, Lady Anne Clifford became something of a legend in her own lifetime — and ever since, she’s stood as a celebrated figure in the storied history of northern England. Anne spent a lot of time at the court of Elizabeth 1 with her …

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Episode 175 - Xbox Backtracks On $80 Video Games 1:08:06

1M ago1:08:06

1:08:06

Send us a text In this episode... --> Just weeks after confirming The Outer Worlds 2 will be the first Microsoft game to retail for $80, Microsoft has reversed the decision, revealing the highly-anticipated sequel will now launch for $69.99 in keeping with typical AAA pricing. --> Despite donning a hat proclaiming "Make FPS Great Again" at Summer G…

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Who Killed Young Betty? 22:53

2M ago22:53

22:53

Who Killed Young Betty? Season: 6 Episode: 20 On February 20, 1823, young Betty Trump, just 13 or 14 years old, left her home in Buckland St Mary, near Taunton. She was on her way to visit family in the village of Winsham. On the return journey, Betty passed through Chard, pausing to pick up some supplies. Then she headed out once more toward Buckl…

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Episode 174 - Steam Turns Its Back On Adult-Only Video Games 1:16:38

2M ago1:16:38

1:16:38

Send us a text In this episode... --> Valve has introduced new - and worryingly vague - guidelines aimed at the adult-only game development community, and some are worried they could be used to target LGBTQIA+ content as corporations buckle to appease the US government's continuing attack on queer rights. --> Following the Federal Bureau of Investi…

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Episode 173 - Xbox Game Pass Is "Damaging The Industry" 1:19:33

2M ago1:19:33

1:19:33

Send us a text In this episode... --> Among the waves of fallout from Microsoft’s layoff of 9,000 employees last week, Xbox Game Pass has now come under fire for its “unsustainable model that has been increasingly damaging the industry for a decade.” --> Last week, Stop Killing Games - the consumer-driven initiative demanding games publishers leave…

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Florence Simpson 25:04

2M ago25:04

25:04

Florence Simpson Season: 6 Episode: 19 Florence Simpson didn’t just break new ground—she laid the foundation for the future of women in the British military. From voluntary cook to military commander, hers was a legacy of perseverance, service, and transformation at a time when the role of women in war was being rewritten. CAST Florence Simpson - C…

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Episode 172 - Microsoft Celebrates Profits By Laying Off 9,000 Employees 1:14:35

2M ago1:14:35

1:14:35

Send us a text In this episode... --> Microsoft began its fiscal year Wednesday by laying off thousands of employees, expanding one of the largest runs of layoffs in the company’s history. --> Video game spending has taken a nose dive among Gen Z, according to data from American research group Circana. --> The AI startup Runway, which recently part…

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The Suicidal Murderer 26:52

2M ago26:52

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The Suicidal Murderer Season: 6 Episode: 18 On April 5, 1936, Beatrice Sutton was found dead in her London flat, lying across the bed with pillows stacked over her face. At first, it looked like natural causes—but a closer look revealed she’d been strangled. Murder had hidden in plain sight. A murder with an unusual reason behind it CAST Frederick …

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Episode 171 - Third-Party Games Are Struggling On Nintendo Switch 2 1:22:05

2M ago1:22:05

1:22:05

Send us a text In this episode... --> Third-party games have reportedly struggled to sell on Nintendo Switch 2 at launch, with one publisher claiming that its game has sold “below our lowest estimates”. --> Fan-favorite rhythm game Beat Saber is ending support for PlayStation consoles, and for many players, this feels very much like the final nail …

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USS Huron: Bristol's U.S Hero 24:47

3M ago24:47

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USS Huron: Bristol's U.S Hero Season: 6 Episode: 17 It was just after midnight on Tuesday, July 21st, 1908, in a quiet little home on Rudgeway Parade, Upper Eastville. The world barely noticed as Antonio Williams drew his final breath. A modest man by all appearances… but behind that quiet ending was a life of extraordinary courage. Antonio William…

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Episode 170 - Microsoft And AMD Partner For Next Gen Of Xbox 1:13:25

3M ago1:13:25

1:13:25

Send us a text In this episode... --> Microsoft has confirmed a “strategic multi-year partnership” with AMD for the next generation of Xbox. --> Borderlands 4 preorders are finally live, and the base game is priced at $70, not $80 as previously feared. --> The Silent Hill remake is officially in development at Bloober Team. --> A bizarre butt-contr…

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Lillian Wyles: A Pioneering Police Officer 28:43

3M ago28:43

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Lillian Wyles: A Pioneering Police Officer Season: 6 Episode: 16 Lilian joined the London Metropolitan Police in 1919 as a Sergeant, part of the Metropolitan Women Police Patrols. At the time, this was most unusual for women and initially not at all popular either with fellow Police Officers or the Public as it was deemed "unwomanly". Eventually ri…

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Episode 169 - Summer Game Fest And Xbox Games Showcase 2025 1:14:20

3M ago1:14:20

1:14:20

Send us a text In this episode... --> Summer Game Fest 2025 included 15 individual events running from June 3-9. Here are the biggest announcements, including Resident Evil Requiem, Scott Pilgrim EX, the ROG Xbox Ally, and more. --> Reports have surfaced of GameStop stores carelessly stapling receipts right through the packaging of brand new Switch…

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The Murder of Billy the Tinker (Pt 2) 28:15

3M ago28:15

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The Murder of Billy the Tinker (Pt 2) Season: 6 Episode: 15 Previously, in the quiet village of Bishopsworth… It’s March 1880. Two colliers, out gathering primroses on an otherwise peaceful day, stumble upon a ghastly sight: a body, cold and decomposed, lying in a gully. The victim? William Palmer Robinson — a traveling razor grinder, eccentric wan…

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Episode 168 - PlayStation State of Play June 2025 1:27:29

3M ago1:27:29

1:27:29

Send us a text In this episode... --> The summer gaming reveal season is upon us, with PlayStation swooping in at the last second with a new State of Play livestream and introducing us to titles like Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement, Nioh 3, and Marvel Tokou: Fighting Souls --> Nintendo has reportedly begun shipping Switch 2 branded 'Out of Sto…

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The Murder of Billy the Tinker (Pt 1) 26:52

3M ago26:52

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The Murder of Billy the Tinker (Pt 1) Season: 6 Episode: 14 It’s March of 1880. In the sleepy Gloucestershire village of Bishopsworth, two colliers are out gathering primroses when they stumble upon something that will shake the entire region to its core — a body, lying in a gully, cold and decomposed. The victim? A man known as William Palmer Robi…

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Episode 167 - More Layoffs As EA Cancels Black Panther Game 1:08:09

3M ago1:08:09

1:08:09

Send us a text In this episode... --> In its third round of layoffs this year alone, EA has canceled its single-player Black Panther game and shut down developer Cliffhanger Games. --> A24 is doubling down on its foray into video game adaptations with live-action productions of Elden Ring and Death Stranding. --> Microsoft has announced Retro Class…

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Lillian Bland: An Aviation Pioneer 27:51

3M ago27:51

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Lillian Bland: An Aviation Pioneer Season: 6 Episode: 13 Lilian Bland (28 September 1878 – 11 May 1971) was a trailblazing Anglo-Irish journalist and aviator who made history in 1910–11. Defying the conventions of her time, she became one of the first women in Great Britain and Ireland—and possibly the world—to design, build, and successfully fly h…

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Episode 166 - Randy Pitchford Says "Real Fans" Will Pay $80 For Borderlands 4 1:10:40

4M ago1:10:40

1:10:40

Send us a text In this episode... --> Last week, when a Twitter user expressed concern over the upcoming Borderlands 4 potentially being $80 (a price point hasn't been set just yet), Gearbox head Randy Pitchford responded, "If you’re a real fan, you’ll find a way to make it happen." --> Star Wars’ infamous villain Darth Vader has been turned into a…

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Murder at Saxton Grange 30:59

4M ago30:59

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Murder at Saxton Grange Season: 6 Episode: 12 In the dark, quiet hours before dawn on September 5, 1933, flames erupted from a barn at Saxton Grange Farm, just outside Tadcaster in Yorkshire. When the fire was finally doused, what emerged from the smouldering ruin was grim: the charred remains of 30-year-old Frederick Ellison Morton, the farm’s own…

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Episode 165 - Nintendo Now Says It Can Brick Your Switch 1:09:25

4M ago1:09:25

1:09:25

Send us a text In this episode... --> Nintendo has revised its Account Agreement and Account Privacy Policy to tighten the rules on emulation and piracy, and the company now says it has the right to brick your console if it thinks you’ve broken the agreement. --> The video game companies negotiating a new contract with SAG-AFTRA have issued a “best…

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The HMS Victoria Disaster (Pt 3) 28:35

4M ago28:35

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The HMS Victoria Disaster (Pt 3) Season: 6 Episode: 11 HMS Victoria, the proud flagship of the Mediterranean Fleet, collided with HMS Camperdown during a routine manoeuvre gone horribly wrong. The impact tore a massive hole in Victoria’s bow, and within just fifteen minutes, the ship rolled over and sank beneath the waves. A total of 358 souls were…

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Episode 164 - Microsoft Increases Price Of Xbox 1:11:53

4M ago1:11:53

1:11:53

Send us a text In this episode... --> Microsoft has announced that it is raising the prices of its Xbox consoles globally and has also announced that it will charge $80 for games starting later this year. --> Grand Theft Auto 6 has been delayed out of 2025 as Rockstar confirms a May 26, 2026 release date, but what does that mean for the games indus…

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The HMS Victoria Disaster (Pt 2) 23:07

4M ago23:07

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The HMS Victoria Disaster (Pt 2) Season: 6 Episode: 10 On 22 June 1893, HMS Victoria, flagship of the Royal Navy’s Mediterranean Fleet, collided with HMS Camperdown during manoeuvres in the Eastern Mediterranean. In part two of this tale, we continue to eavesdrop on the court martial to determine who exactly was to blame CAST Rear Admiral Markham -…

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Episode 163 - Nintendo Switch 2 Pre-Orders Were A Dumpster Fire (Because That's The World We Live In Now) 1:15:54

4M ago1:15:54

1:15:54

Send us a text In this episode... --> Nintendo’s delayed Switch 2 preorders finally kicked off in the US at 12AM ET on Thursday, April 24th, and everything went to hell almost immediately. --> The founder of Discord has announced that he will be stepping down as CEO and will be replaced by Humam Sakhnini, who was previously Chief Strategy Officer a…

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Episode 162 - Bethesda Shadow Drops The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered 1:12:29

4M ago1:12:29

1:12:29

Send us a text In this episode... --> Bethesda has finally revealed the worst-kept secret in video games... The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered. --> Pocketpair has presented a comprehensive, multi-argument defense against Nintendo's Palworld lawsuit with a response that references a variety of games, ranging from Octopath Traveler to Far Cry 5…

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Episode 161 - Ubisoft Says Gamers Should Already Know They Don't Own Their Games 1:11:29

5M ago1:11:29

1:11:29

Send us a text In this episode... --> Ubisoft has now filed a response to the lawsuit over the shut down of online game The Crew and makes multiple claims as to why the suit should be dismissed, including that the plaintiffs knew what they were getting into because of "the explicit warnings on The Crew's packaging that plaintiffs were obtaining a l…

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Episode 160 - Nintendo Responds To Switch 2 Pricing Backlash 1:14:42

5M ago1:14:42

1:14:42

Send us a text In this episode... --> Following an uproar after last week's Direct, Nintendo execs have acknowledged the cost of its upcoming Switch 2 console and games and explained the reason behind the higher price point. --> A Minecraft Movie is shattering expectations at the box office. --> Microsoft has created a playable "interactive space i…

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Episode 159 - Nintendo Switch 2 Direct 1:17:18

5M ago1:17:18

1:17:18

Send us a text In this episode... --> Nintendo finally unveiled so much of what we've been waiting for about the Nintendo Switch 2. We breakdown all the big reveals in the Switch 2 Direct, including Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, and the price controversy. --> An Australian court has ordered YouTuber Karl Jobst to pay damages to celebrity a…

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Episode 158 - Game Informer Magazine Is Back Thanks To... NFTs?? 1:14:02

5M ago1:14:02

1:14:02

Send us a text In this episode... --> Game Informer is now backed by blockchain developer Gunzilla Games, the studio behind the upcoming NFT battle royale Off The Grid. --> New rumors state Nintendo is planning to launch the Switch 2 in June and that the company will supposedly implement a three-phase plan for its Switch 2 software, with first-part…

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Episode 157 - Don't Let Your Kids Be On Roblox, Says Roblox CEO 1:15:17

6M ago1:15:17

1:15:17

Send us a text In this episode... --> “Don't let your kids be on Roblox,” said the Roblox CEO, speaking to BBC News, before comparing himself to Walt Disney and declaring the platform “the future of communication.” --> Konami aired its latest Silent Hill Transmission broadcast just last week, sharing more details about the upcoming Silent Hill f. -…

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Episode 156 - Sony Ignores Irony, Uses Horizon Zero Dawn's Aloy To Demonstrate AI Capabilities 1:06:49

6M ago1:06:49

1:06:49

Send us a text In this episode... --> A new leak from an anonymous tipster has revealed PlayStation maker Sony is working on AI-driven characters, including Aloy from the Horizon series. --> A new report claims that the next console from Xbox might not be a traditional console at all, and that it might be targeting a 2027 launch. --> The World Vide…

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The HMS Victoria Disaster (Pt 1) 26:13

6M ago26:13

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The HMS Victoria Disaster (Pt 1) Season: 6 Episode: 9 At around 15:30 on 22 June 1893, disaster struck in the Eastern Mediterranean as HMS Victoria, the proud flagship of the Royal Navy's Mediterranean Fleet, collided with HMS Camperdown during fleet manoeuvres. Within moments, chaos unfolded, and the mighty warship began its tragic descent beneath…

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Episode 155 - Activision Confirms Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 Remaster 1:09:45

6M ago1:09:45

1:09:45

Send us a text In this episode... --> After plenty of rumors, Activision finally confirmed Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 are back and getting remade from the ground up. --> Acclaim, the US game publisher that enjoyed success in the 1990s, is being resurrected. --> Walmart is going all-in on "gamified shopping" — starting with its own video game. -->…

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Emily J. Harding: Protesting Through Art 24:46

6M ago24:46

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Emily J. Harding: Protesting Through Art Season: 6 Episode: 8 Emily Jane Harding Andrews (1850–1940) was a British artist, illustrator, and suffragette. Starting with miniatures, she shifted to children's book illustration in the 1880s. A committed activist, she joined the Artists' Suffrage League, designed posters for the movement, and spoke out a…

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Episode 154 - WB Cancels Wonder Woman Game 1:19:15

6M ago1:19:15

1:19:15

Send us a text In this episode... --> Warner Bros. has announced that it is shutting down three studios and that development of the Wonder Woman game “will not move forward.” --> Twitch has announced plans to implement a 100-hour storage limit for all highlights and uploads for all users. --> The Street Fighter movie has found its director in Kitao…

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Episode 153 - "Wokeness" Killed GameStop, Whines CEO 1:14:12

7M ago1:14:12

1:14:12

Send us a text In this episode... --> GameStop announced Tuesday that it plans to sell its operations in France and Canada, and the company's CEO is pointing a finger at the “wokeness” of the two countries. --> A little over two months after its hugely successful launch, the US-based developers behind Marvel Rivals, including its game director, hav…

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Martha Scriven: The Sad End of a Young Widow 26:22

7M ago26:22

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Martha Scriven: The Sad End of a Young Widow Season: 6 Episode: 7 Martha Scriven died on December 5, 1895. The cause of death was recorded as "exhaustion from peritonitis caused by punctured wound in the uterus and intestines." At the inquest, the attending doctor expressed doubt that Martha had been pregnant at the time of the procedure. Listen to…

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Episode 152 - PlayStation State of Play February 2025 1:14:17

7M ago1:14:17

1:14:17

Send us a text In this episode... --> A brand-new State of Play arrived this week, giving us an exciting look at the future of PS5 with a ton of games, including Saros, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, Directive 8020, and more. --> The Entertainment Software Association, the trade group that represents the video games industry, is making a new conference…

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The Father of Australian Architecture 22:07

7M ago22:07

22:07

The Father of Australian Architecture Season: 6 Episode: 6 Francis Greenway (1777–1837) was a convict-turned-architect who shaped Australia’s early colonial architecture. Transported for forgery, he became Governor Macquarie’s chief architect, designing landmarks like Hyde Park Barracks and St. James’ Church, gaining him the moniker the "Father of …