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Artwork for 8-4 Play

8-4 Play

8-4, Ltd.
Nintendo
Elden Ring
Video Games
Monster Hunter
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Switch 2
Monster Hunter Wilds
Nintendo Switch 2
Japan
Animal Crossing
Game Awards
Mario Kart
Death Stranding 2
Nintendo Direct
Virtual Boy
Zelda
Final Fantasy
Tokyo Game Show
Silksong
Tekken 8

Every other week, tune into 8-4 Play for talk about Japan, video games, and Japanese video games, straight from the 8-4 offices in beautiful downtown Tokyo.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes421Founded16 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
LeisureVideo GamesTechnology

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for 8-4 Play

Latest Episodes

RIPPED FROM THE HEADLINES (a couple days ago): Game-by-game-by-game analysis of PlayStation's latest E3 June State of Play, plus…well, mostly that, honestly.

01:44 – Nicknames 13:03 – Sony State of Play

Special guest hosts Snoop Dogg, Seth Rogen, and Willie Nelson celebrate episode #420 by discussing the new Steam controller, Nintendo retirees, and how all our celebrity references are dated af.

01:22 – Nicknames

20:27 – Steam Controller

25:... more

Up-to-the-minute Star Fox hot takes, week-or-two-old Saros first impressions, and the ancient mobile flip-phone Japan-only Xenosaga spinoff review you never knew you wanted.

01:10 – Nicknames 06:38 – Star Fox Direct 30:42 – SAROS 41:40 – Xenosaga P... more

17-Bit's Jake and Raj join the crew to chat about dat indie dev life, dat Pragmata life, and dat Tomodachi Life, with a very special message on the dangers of drinking while podcasting.

01:07 – Nicknames 05:13 – Final Fantasy IV 11:30 – Awaysis 37:... more

Key Facts

Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Jake 17-Bit
Hurricane, guest on the show, founder of 17-Bit
17-Bit
Episode: 8-4 Play 4/24/2026: STROOP, THERE IT IS
John Lindemann
From Digital Foundry, discussing gaming technology and graphics
Digital Foundry
Episode: 8-4 Play 9/26/2025: TOKYO GAME SHOW 2025
Rob Fox
Designer producer, working on horror games such as Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Gunn Interactive
Episode: 8-4 Play 9/26/2025: TOKYO GAME SHOW 2025
Nick Accordion
Senior Producer at PlayStation, discussing Marvel Tokon
PlayStation
Episode: 8-4 Play 9/26/2025: TOKYO GAME SHOW 2025
Shane Bettenhausen
Industry Veteran with knowledge of various video games
Episode: 8-4 Play 9/26/2025: TOKYO GAME SHOW 2025
Thomas Nicol
Game journalist and lecturer from Germany
Episode: 8-4 Play 9/26/2025: TOKYO GAME SHOW 2025
Roy Blakely
Ghibli enthusiast and returning guest
Episode: 8-4 Play 7/25/2025: BANANZA REPUBLIC
Tina Love Review Carter
Episode: 8-4 Play 6/27/2025: SUMMER REVUE
Roy Road Warrior Blakely
Episode: 8-4 Play 6/27/2025: SUMMER REVUE

Hosts

Gabriel De Leon
Co-host with deep ties to 8-4 Play and Japanese game discourse
Mark McDonald
Co-host, central figure in discussions around gaming and Japan
John Ricciardi
Host/regular contributor with strong gaming knowledge
Tina Butts
Co-host with energetic commentary and strong opinions
Gabe De Leon
Contributor/host with multiple on-air personas

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 1.2k ratings
  • Most fun podcast around

    It's always fun to get to listen in on the gaming banter between these friends working for or associated with the localization powerhouse 8-4.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Valdi X
    Japan4 months ago
  • 8-4 is a 10/10

    Quest 64 battle theme, my beloved

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Fenrir Leonhart
    United States6 months ago
  • If you're gonna rush, why do it at all?

    Used to really enjoy this show but they just rush through everything while trying to cover all the major news so you end up with shallow discussion and everyone seems barely interested. When they started to move to a tight 1-hour show is when everything started to go downhill.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Lord Turkish
    United States10 months ago
  • Favorite

    This has been my favorite podcast since 2015. Great show.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sir Bentok
    United Statesa year ago
  • Politics talk is ruining this show

    I really enjoyed this show early on but the political talk is just too much. I come to be entertained and listen to life in Japan and video games. Instead every episode they go into politics, and how many times do I have to hear why you’re no longer on X aka Twitter and only on Blue Sky. Great, just tell me where you’re at to find your messages, I don’t care why you left one for another. If someone caught one episode in the past 2 years they would know why, it doesn’t need to be repeated. ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Sinizar360
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Occasional politics can be polarizing for some listeners
Mix of nostalgia and current-gen coverage is a strength
Energetic group with great Japan/game insights
Long-running show with dedicated fan base
Banters good for fans, but some episodes feel rushed

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

8-4 Play 4/24/2026: STROOP, THERE IT IS
Q: What role do conventions like PAX East and BitSummit play for Oasis and 17-Bit?
Conventions are described as crucial for fan engagement, testing, and networking, providing real-time feedback and opportunities to demonstrate the game's dynamics to potential players and publishers.
8-4 Play 4/24/2026: STROOP, THERE IT IS
Q: How is Oasis positioned in the market relative to other indie titles and established franchises?
Oasis is framed as a standout 'best game you haven't played yet' with a strong emphasis on local co-op, four-player play, and its unique art direction, while the team discusses the practicalities of getting it funded and published in a competitive market.
8-4 Play 4/24/2026: STROOP, THERE IT IS
Q: What has the team learned about the pacing of Oasis' development leading into submission?
The crew explains that submission season tightens the scope, prioritizes polishing existing features, and forces a focus on playthroughs, economy balance, and end-to-end experience rather than chasing new features.
8-4 Play 12/19/2025: PRIME MINISTRY
Q: How do you feel about the Nintendo Museum's recent updates?
The art gallery showcase was fascinating, revealing new and unseen art associated with classic games.
8-4 Play 12/19/2025: PRIME MINISTRY
Q: What are your impressions of Metroid Prime 4?
It's fine; it felt formulaic and relied too much on past designs, but still has engaging gameplay elements.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About 8-4 Play

What is 8-4 Play about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A candid, personality-driven roundtable about gaming, Japanese game culture, and notable industry moves, often weaving in nostalgia, hands-on impressions, and industry anecdotes. Episodes frequently cover hot topics from Nintendo and Japanese developers to game remakes and indie scenes, with a balance of humor, personal stories, and sharp banter. It's likely to appeal to listeners who enjoy witty discussion, strong ties to Japan and gaming history, and insight into both big releases and niche titles, all filtered through a Tokyo-based crew with long-running camaraderie and industry insight.

Where can I find podcast stats for 8-4 Play?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for 8-4 Play. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to 8-4 Play and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does 8-4 Play get?

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What are the audience demographics for 8-4 Play?

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How many subscribers and views does 8-4 Play have?

To see how many followers or subscribers 8-4 Play has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to 8-4 Play?

These podcasts share a similar audience with 8-4 Play:

1. The Jeff Gerstmann Show - A Podcast About Video Games
2. The Nextlander Podcast
3. Giant Bombcast
4. The MinnMax Show
5. Retronauts

How many episodes of 8-4 Play are there?

8-4 Play launched 16 years ago and published 421 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact 8-4 Play?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for 8-4 Play?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for 8-4 Play from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for 8-4 Play?

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What guests have appeared on 8-4 Play?

Recent guests on 8-4 Play include:

1. Jake 17-Bit
2. John Lindemann
3. Rob Fox
4. Nick Accordion
5. Shane Bettenhausen
6. Thomas Nicol
7. Roy Blakely
8. Tina Love Review Carter

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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