Happy New Year! If you spent much of the Holidays playing the nine-time Game Awards winner Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, then be sure to listen to our interview with Lorien Testard, who composed its incredible score. Start the year with this fantastic episode: bit.ly/44y6MUU

It's time to declare the winner of the 2025 Console of the Year tournament. After a series of heats and some close calls, your thousands of votes have whittled the guests down to one worthy champion. Listen now to find out which guest created the most popular console of 2025: bit.ly/3MZ6lNl

The votes are in. On Tuesday, @SimonParkin.bsky.social will share who's won the 2025 Console of the Year. Massive thanks to everyone who participated. Each and every one of your votes is hugely appreciated! Join us for the big reveal: bit.ly/43RMgx9

We're thrilled to have been named as @Kotaku.com's favourite podcast of 2025, with Ethan Gache saying, "No gaming podcast this year has kept me as consistently entertained nor taught me as much as Simon Parkin’s My Perfect Console." If you're not a subscriber, then join us here: bit.ly/43RMgx9

I've been listening to this wonderful podcast from almost the beginning and this episode felt quite absurd to listen to. Spoiler: it features a game of mine you might now. And also @simonparkin.bsky.social, it does have online leaderboards, although perhaps not the most intuitive UX I guess 😊.

It’s time for @SimonParkin.bsky.social and @TheNewsAtGlenn.bsky.social to reveal their five favourite games of 2025. Which titles from this year will they choose to construct their consoles? Find out in this special episode: bit.ly/4pY2JtM

One of the most humbling and touching pieces of podcast I’ve listened to in years. I didn’t know half of those anecdotes about one of my heroes, and friends, in the industry. Thanks so much @harvey1966.bsky.social for sharing those bits. It takes courage. And I know it will help many people. GG.

We wanted to take a moment to thank all the incredible guests who have appeared on the podcast in 2025. We’ve welcomed 46 fantastic people to the show, from games industry legends to comedians and musicians. Thank you all! Subscribe so you don’t miss our final episodes of the year: bit.ly/43RMgx9

Which of the games released in 2025 would make it onto YOUR Perfect Console? Join @SimonParkin.bsky.social and @TheNewsAtGlenn.bsky.social for our Game of the Year episode as they each build a console featuring five games from 2025. Don’t miss our penultimate episode of the year: bit.ly/43RMgx9

One of the best video game podcasts going

This is my favorite perfect console interview by far. It’s long. It rambles. But in the best ways.

this is great btw. Recommended.

Join Simon for one of his favourite interviews of 2025, an open and no-holds-barred chat with acclaimed game designer @harvey1966.bsky.social. Listen in as he charts his life from the US Air Force to designing morally complex and richly-layered games such as Deus Ex. Available now: bit.ly/4iUVdwM

For our final interview of 2025, a wide-ranging, intimate conversation with acclaimed game designer @harvey1966.bsky.social. Harvey discusses his long, storied career, and opens up about how the success of Deux Ex enabled him to finally confront his demons... Subscribe now: bit.ly/43RMgx9

Why not show Yuletide love to the gamers in your life with a My Perfect Console Patreon subscription? Membership unlocks fantastic benefits, including ad-free episodes, monthly Game Club episodes and more! Offer the ultimate gift of gaming goodness this Holiday season: bit.ly/4pc7BuI

Join Simon live in Chicago as he chats with pioneering American video game developer Alex Seropian. Find out how Alex founded Bungie while a student at University, and why, after Apple's Steve Jobs revealed the game on stage, they took Halo to Microsoft. Listen now: bit.ly/48DkCGz

What a great listen. Someone whose brain operates at a level where I can barely even relate – but crossing paths with Atari, Sega and Sony at such pivotal times results in some great insights.

Ever wondered why Crazy Dave in Plants versus Zombies wears a pot on his head? To find out, be sure to catch Simon's live chat next week in Chicago with game developer Alex Seropian, co-founder of Bungie and creator of Halo: Combat Evolved. Subscribe now: bit.ly/43RMgx9

The Audience Versus will return in 2026, with monthly shows starting from Jan. Comedians take on the audience in a series of unlikely video game challenges, with @frankieward.bsky.social, @iaindoesjokes.bsky.social, Jamali Maddix & John Robertson announced as guests. Book now: bit.ly/48m5FbJ

'What If I, Y'Know, Design the Next Console?': How Mark Cerny Pitched Himself as PS4's Architect. (Repost)

the new my perfect console with Mark Cerny talking about his career in games since 17 (!!!) has him waxing poetically about the plight of Captain Olimar in the first Pikmin and talking about how "SEGA was a sweatshop" in the Genesis days good stuff

Incredible @myperfectconsole.bsky.social episode with Mark Cerny sharing a ton of annecdotes. Atari, Sega, Universal, Cystal Dynamics, Naughty Dog, Insomniac, Playstation, you name it. Priceless stories for videogame history enthousiasts. Give it a listen! Mark, write a biography I beg you! 🙏

Stupidly overinvested in the outcome of the My Perfect Console console of the year contest. Think we're heading to a Nintendo heavyweight final (if this last round goes as I expect/hope).

A phenomenal interview within the format of the show while the guest clearly has about 100 hours at least of stuff to talk about. One day maybe. A book. But in the meantime, an excellent interview by Simon Parkin

Today, we’re joined by Mark Cerny, one of the most influential creators in the history of video games. Designer of iconic Marble Madness; founder of the team behind Sonic the Hedgehog 2; and lead architect of the PS4 and PS5 consoles that have defined a generation. Don’t miss it: bit.ly/4ophkg1

A rare Pokémon appears: Mark Cerny, on the show, next week.

Which guest built the most popular console of 2025? It's the semi-finals, with congressional candidate @katmabu.bsky.social vs. former Edge magazine editor @hitpoints.bsky.social, and folk musician @basiabulat.bsky.social facing down Charlie Rosen of the @the8bitbigband.bsky.social Vote here:

For Black Friday we’re offering 40% off an annual subscription to My Perfect Console. Get your episodes early and ad-free, receive monthly supporter-exclusive content, and gain access to the full back catalogue. Use code: MPC40 at checkout for all this and more.

Just as Sonic the Hedgehog became a global icon, its creator, Yuji Naka, quit Sega. In next week's episode, PlayStation 5 architect Mark Cerny reveals the story behind Sonic's leap to glory, and how Sonic 2 came to be developed in the U.S. under his leadership. Available on Tuesday: bit.ly/43RMgx9

It's time to dive into the mailbag for a correspondence special! In this episode, @SimonParkin.bsky.social discusses why guests often struggle to name their console, identifies the best moment in a game, and attempts to settle a dispute between a father and his kids. Listen here: bit.ly/4oqaLtN

James and John had a cracking time at The Audience Versus last night. It was great catching up with @simonparkin.bsky.social after the show, especially as we’ve been handling the social media for @myperfectconsole.bsky.social for some time now. Don't miss this nerdy night out: bit.ly/4rErrRd

Games can bring much-needed relief from the boredom and stress of being in an active warzone. Listen as Brandon Adler, Game Director at Obsidian, discusses his path from the U.S. Air Force to testing Neverwinter Nights 2 and now leading the creation of The Outer Worlds 2. Tune in: bit.ly/3K82L2u

It's the quarter final round of the My Perfect Console of the Year tournament. 8 consoles remain. Will Tonda Ros beat Nathan Brown? Can Cabel Sasser take down Kat Abughazaleh? Ed Night or Basia Bulat? Adanna Nedd or Charlie Rosen? You decide. Vote now: forms.gle/wGaEFx1CEARJ...

This is an absolutely brilliant episode. So much passion and sincerity in the answers. Got a bit teary eyed (though it might be the blistering cold) hearing about the arrival of the Amiga and the difference it made.

From playing his Nintendo 3DS while under fire in Baghdad to directing The Outer Worlds 2 — Brandon Adler’s journey is one of the most remarkable in game development. Subscribe to hear how Brandon went from a member of the U.S. Air Force to Game Director at Obsidian: bit.ly/43RMgx9

COMPETITION TIME!🏆 We're giving away 2 pairs of tickets to The Audience Versus on November 25th. To enter: Reply and tell us any weird rules you’ve made up when playing video games with friends, either now or as a kid. @SimonParkin.bsky.social will announce the 2 winners on Friday, November 21st.

Persistence paid off for schoolboy game dev @rockandrollmachine.bsky.social when he landed a publishing deal for his first game, Total Wormage (aka Worms), at a trade show. Listen to the untold story of how Andy designed a game at school that became a global sensation. Out now: apple.co/47PAhUk

In last week's MPC Console of the Year vote, Rami Ismail just pipped Shuhei Yoshida, with 58.9%; as-yet unannounced Guest 143 beat champion wrestler Saraya with just 52.3% of the vote. We now progress to stage 3 of the competition. Head here to place your votes: forms.gle/A71pF6U4F2X2...

Next week's guest is @rockandrollmachine.bsky.social, creator of legendary multiplayer series Worms, the game that pits artillery-wielding soil dwellers in a fight to the death. This is one you won’t want to miss (with your sheep or banana bomb): bit.ly/43RMgx9

The second stage of My Perfect Console 2025 voting is here! Choose your favourite episodes using the form link below and help decide who takes home the title. We'll announce the winner in December. bit.ly/4hPV9Oo

Sometimes, even after investing thousands of hours and $25 million into a game's development, tough decisions must be made. Join @SimonParkin.bsky.social as he chats with former PlayStation President, @yosp-jp.bsky.social, about a career spent working on iconic games. Available now: bit.ly/4hQXAAd

Thank you to all who voted in last week's opening round of My Perfect Console of the Year 2025. See the results so far here: challonge.com/mpcnsole2025 Voting now open for Round 2! Vote here for your favourite consoles in a series of head-to-heads. Open to all: forms.gle/ZA681Lofc3F4...

Our next guest is one of the most beloved figures in the video games industry. Please welcome, @yosp-jp.bsky.social . The Former President of Sony Interactive's Worldwide Studios helped oversee the development of landmark titles across generations. Don’t miss this exciting episode: bit.ly/43RMgx9

Prepare to join us on a Journey. A @thatgamecompany.com Journey, to be precise. For November’s Game Club, @TheNewsAtGlenn.bsky.social and @SimonParkin.bsky.social embark on a pilgrimage across endless deserts and buried ruins to a distant mountain. Share your thoughts on Patreon: bit.ly/43dN4gy

🤖🌟 Issue 6 of APWOT is live on Kickstarter! 🌟🤖 Featuring a beautiful lenticular cover of Astro Bot marking both our feature interview with the game’s director, Nicolas Doucet, and the 30th anniversary of PlayStation. Get in there! 💫 kck.st/4i1GAHT 💫

My favourite bit of democracy every year: voting for the @myperfectconsole.bsky.social console of the year. Some absolutely wild match ups in this year's poll (and a couple of all timer selections).

Will Danny Abbasi’s perfect console be as genre-blurring and dreamy as his band’s music? This week, @SimonParkin.bsky.social chats with Miniseries drummer, Danny, about the five titles he would immortalise on his perfect console. Available now: bit.ly/4hEJ9PE

It's the most divisive time of the year: My Perfect Console 2025 voting begins to crown the best console of the year. Head here to place your votes in the first round of match-ups. Winner will be announced in December.: forms.gle/YbZaNqunizs7...

It's the most divisive time of the year: My Perfect Console 2025 voting begins to crown the best console of the year. Head here to place your votes in the first round of match-ups. Winner will be announced in December.: forms.gle/YbZaNqunizs7...

Next week's guest is musician Danny Abassi. Best known as the drummer for Miniseries –– whose debut album, Pilot, is out in November ––Danny brings both precision and playfulness to the band’s unique blend of indie rock and experimental pop. Don’t miss the next episode, out Tuesday: bit.ly/43RMgx9