PAX East 2026 and Jojo's Blue Ball Run
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In this episode of Player Player, hosts Joe Zuber and Arsene Lakba reflect on their experience at PAX East 2026 in Boston, discussing the event's mixed reception, travel frustrations, and standout games. Joe shares his excitement for the long-awaited animated adaptation of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run, praising its animation, voice acting, and high-octane debut, while criticizing Netflix’s fragmented release strategy that has left fans waiting for months between episodes. The hosts also dive into their rewatch of Jujutsu Kaisen, highlighting its layered storytelling and production quality, and express enthusiasm for upcoming titles like Dorohedoro Season 3 and the indie games showcased at PAX, including Memorial Wake, Throwback Jai Alai Heroes, and the standout game of the show, Tales of Tuscany. They also share personal highlights from the convention, including a memorable lobster roll, a chaotic dinner at a sports bar, and the viral 'John 1000' and 'Big John Machine' memes. The episode closes with a look ahead to a packed month of game releases, including Pragmata and Sorrows.
Steel Ball Run’s debut was excellent, but Netflix’s weekly release model is frustrating fans after a long wait.
PAX East 2026 felt weaker than previous years, with fewer major announcements and big-name titles.
Indie games like Tales of Tuscany and Memorial Wake show strong promise and deserve attention.
Jujutsu Kaisen’s rewatch reveals deeper narrative connections and world-building details.
The 'John 1000' and 'Big John Machine' memes highlight how absurdity and irony drive internet culture.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Welcome Back & PAX East 2026 Reflections
The hosts kick off the episode with a warm welcome, teasing their return from PAX East 2026. Joe recounts the grueling travel experience, including early flights and long layovers, while also praising the smooth TSA process at both SeaTac and Boston Logan. The conversation sets a lighthearted tone as they transition into discussing the convention.
Steel Ball Run: Hype, Hope, and Netflix’s Release Strategy
“I don't understand how we can get one really hefty episode and then be like, yeah, you know what? We don't really know when the rest of the episodes are coming out.”
Jujutsu Kaisen Rewatch & Mappa’s Production Machine
The hosts reflect on their ongoing rewatch of Jujutsu Kaisen, noting how the non-linear timeline reveals new connections and foreshadowing. They praise Mappa’s animation quality and express awe at how the studio manages multiple projects like JJK, Dorohedoro, and Steel Ball Run simultaneously. They speculate about the studio’s internal processes and express a desire to see behind-the-scenes insight.
PAX East 2026: Games, Gems, and the Unseen
“This is going to be a must play for me just based off of that intro that I played. I can't wait to see all the shenanigans that are happening in this fucking game.”
Dungeon Crawler Carl, Trivia, and the PAX Vibe
The hosts highlight the cultural phenomenon of Dungeon Crawler Carl, whose blind packs sold out instantly at PAX. They recount cracking packs, the high-stakes trading, and the emotional rollercoaster of getting a Blastoise worth $400. They also praise the trivia panels and the overall positive energy of the convention.
“This is going to be a must play for me just based off of that intro that I played. I can't wait to see all the shenanigans that are happening in this fucking game.”
“The flavors on that chicken sandwich really had me... It was a ratatouille moment for me where I had an attitude. I was ready to talk some shit. The food just took my ass away.”
“I don't understand how we can get one really hefty episode and then be like, yeah, you know what? We don't really know when the rest of the episodes are coming out.”
Hosts
Steel Ball Run
other
PAX East 2026
other
Netflix
organization
Mappa
other
Joe Zuber
person
Arsene Lakba
person
Dungeon Crawler Carl
book
Tales of Tuscany
media
Memorial Wake
media
David Production
other
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