'GTA' Leaks, Copycat Clones, and How to Get Back Into Gaming | Button Mash

2026-08-21 · 129 min · 10 entities

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Asserted relationships

→ appeared on The Ringer-Verse podcast

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evidence rules-v5
Host: Ben Lindbergh
→ appeared on The Ringer-Verse podcast

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evidence rules-v5
Guests: Matt James, Nicole Carpenter, Rany Jazayerli
→ discusses TV & Film concept

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Feed category: TV & Film
→ hosted by The Ringer company

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Feed author/publisher: The Ringer

Entities found in this episode

concepts 4

mentioned TV & Film concept

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Feed category: TV & Film
mentioned Button Mash concept

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'GTA' Leaks, Copycat Clones, and How to Get Back Into Gaming | Button Mash
discusses TV & Film concept

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evidence rules-v5
Feed category: TV & Film
mentioned GTA concept

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GTA

persons 2

mentioned Ben Lindbergh person

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evidence rules-v5
Host: Ben Lindbergh
mentioned Matt James person

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evidence rules-v5
Guests: Matt James, Nicole Carpenter, Rany Jazayerli

podcasts 2

appeared on The Ringer-Verse podcast

0.82

evidence rules-v5
Host: Ben Lindbergh
appeared on The Ringer-Verse podcast

0.82

evidence rules-v5
Guests: Matt James, Nicole Carpenter, Rany Jazayerli

companys 2

mentioned The Ringer company

0.70

evidence rules-v5
Feed author/publisher: The Ringer
hosted by The Ringer company

0.40

evidence rules-v5
Feed author/publisher: The Ringer

Episode description as stored

Ben and Matt James deliver their hands-on impressions of failing to play FromSoftware's 'The Duskbloods' during a disastrous network test, then react to recent news: fresh 'Grand Theft Auto VI' leaks, another live-service snafu for Sony in 'Horizon Hunters Gathering,' Dave Bautista's selection as a recast Kratos in Prime Video's 'God of War,' Disney's decision to double down on 'Kingdom Hearts,' and a sequel funded by a mysterious, rich patron. After that, Ben brings on prolific reporter Nicole Carpenter to talk about an epidemic of game cloning, the moral and legal lines between inspiration and imitation, and how the industry's copycat problem pertains to Steam sensation 'Meccha Chameleon,' Roblox smashes 'Grow a Garden' and 'Steal a Brainrot,' and 'Palworld.' Lastly, Ben brings on writer (and doctor) Rany Jazayerli to explain what it's like to give up gaming for decades before finally returning to the fold. (00:00) Intro (00:13) Duskbloods with Matt James (10:11) News and More! (48:31) Nicole Carpenter Joins (82:31) Rany Jazayerli Joins Host: Ben Lindbergh Guests: Matt James, Nicole Carpenter, Rany Jazayerli Senior Producer: Steve Ahlman Additional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopowell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices