Welcome home. This is Audio EXP, the weekly podcast from Geek Native. I am your host, Girdy, and today is the 20th of June, 2026.
[The following is a transcript of Audio EXP: #338]
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This week, we are looking at a landmark regulatory decision for digital consumer rights, a sharp inventory bottleneck affecting local hobby shops, and new partnerships from high-profile sci-fi creators.
Before we dive into the headlines, we have an update on our June features. I have officially sent over our interview questions to Jack at Dice Average RPG, our current spotlight honourees. We are well on track to have the full conversation live on the site before the end of the month, so keep an eye out for that.
Our lead story this week hits the digital rights space. The European Commission has officially declined to propose new legislation that would legally oblige video game publishers to keep discontinued games playable. The grassroots “Stop Killing Games” citizen petition gained significant support across Europe, advocating for rules requiring publishers to ensure retired online-only titles had a functional, playable state for consumers after commercial support ends.
However, Brussels formally dismissed the petition, stating that introducing a sweeping legal obligation would be completely disproportionate. The regulatory body cited concerns over existing intellectual property rights, publisher operational costs, and potential cybersecurity risks. While the decision is a setback for digital preservationists, the Commission noted that existing EU consumer laws already protect buyers’ economic interests, pointing to options for proportionate refunds if a game’s closure violates a contract. To address ongoing concerns, they plan to bring industry and consumer groups together later this year to look at better voluntary standards for end-of-life support.
The physical hobby scene is navigating an entirely different kind of supply challenge. Independent shops saw their trade stock allocations for the upcoming Warhammer 40k 11th Edition sell out in just 90 seconds. Warhammer 40k fans completely wiped out the available allocations for the highly anticipated new 11th edition starter set, Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon, within minutes of pre-orders going live. While the swift take-up was largely anticipated and managed by Games Workshop’s internal trade systems, the immediate 90-second depletion highlights the ongoing struggle friendly local game stores face to secure enough physical product to meet local demand when major new editions drop. It leaves independent retailers balancing thin inventory margins against a highly eager local player base.
In tabletop rules design, fans of cinematic sci-fi horror have an interesting mechanical shift on the horizon. Free League Publishing has launched pre-orders for Operation Leading Edge, a major new cinematic adventure boxed set for the Alien roleplaying game. Operating out of Stockholm, the publisher has created this new set as the second instalment of the ongoing Jeremiah Saga trilogy, shifting the game’s focus toward high-tension military deployments on the remote moon Jeremiah VI. Crucially, the launch introduces a dedicated miniatures set featuring alternative combat rules. Rather than limiting tactical engagements to the abstract, zone-based distance mapping that defined the original 2019 system, the game is leaning into explicit support for 28mm-scale miniatures and grid-based combat. The package includes a standalone booklet with simplified rules designed specifically for fast-paced skirmishes, alongside 20 high-quality figures representing Colonial Marines, Union of Progressive Peoples forces, and varied Xenomorph strains.
Concurrently, a major fantasy partnership has formed as Hit Point Press and Son of Oak team up for Humblewood in the Mist. This project combines the popular woodland setting of Humblewood with the evocative, narrative-heavy rules engine behind City of Mist, offering players a distinctly atmospheric storytelling experience.
For comic book and fiction fans, two legendary names are making a splash. Dungeons & Dragons is expanding the Forgotten Realms lore with a special signed bookplate edition of The Finest Edge of Twilight. This new release officially introduces Drizzt Do’Urden’s daughter into the universe, bringing a distinct generational dynamic to the iconic fantasy line. Meanwhile, Andy Weir, the bestselling author of The Martian and Project Hail Mary, is making a return to sequential art and comics with a brand-new graphic project, bridging hard science concepts with graphic novel storytelling.
If you appreciate television history, a unique auction is on the way. Original animation production cels from the classic eras of The Simpsons and Dragon Ball Z are heading to a live Propstore auction. These are authentic, hand-painted fragments used in the actual broadcasting heritage of these historic shows, offering animation collectors a rare chance to buy a piece of physical media history.
Finally, we wrap up this week with three digital book bundles. You can hail King Torg with the latest Kobolds Ate My Baby collection on the Bundle of Holding, bringing comedic, high-fatality tabletop chaos to your group. If you prefer comics, you can pick up a 215-dollar selection of Top Cow sci-fi and fantasy albums through a separate Bundle of Holding deal. Alternatively, multi-genre gamers can grab a varied tabletop library in the Roll Big or Go Home 2 bundle, which bundles dozens of independent indie rulebooks together into a single tier.
That is it for this week. Thanks for listening to Audio EXP. For all the links and full stories, head over to Geek Native. Until next week, stay geeky.
