Joystickeros Returns, One of the First Shows for Gamers

11 Jul Joystickeros Returns, One of the First Shows for Gamers

More than 10 years and a true technological revolution had to pass before Habacuc Guzmán returned to MTV’s screen with Joystickeros, a show that first aired back in 2006 when the gaming industry was just beginning to take firm steps forward. To celebrate the show’s return, the Mexican host shared in a recent interview how the gaming world has changed, his excitement about coming back to Joystickeros, and his hopes for what lies ahead.

How does it feel to be back on Joystickeros?
– Honestly, it means a lot. It’s something that marked my life, and now it’s doing it again. That’s incredibly fun for me.

Even though the show wasn’t on the air, both you and the industry kept moving forward.
– Fortunately, I never really left the gaming industry. I stayed close through other projects—marketing, e-commerce, and now even esports. So I was always nearby, and I got to witness the industry’s growth firsthand. It amazed me, and it made me happy. Coming back to Joystickeros now, to talk about everything that’s going on, is very exciting. There’s so much more to cover, and I’m really grateful for that.

What are the biggest changes you’ve noticed in this return?
– Content is more accessible than ever. It’s easier to get information about games thanks to streamers and content creators. At the same time, games themselves are easier to access, with the rise of indie titles and digital distribution. Everything’s just more within reach now.

And in terms of the industry itself?
– I think the biggest difference is esports. Back when I was wrapping up the first Joystickeros run, esports were barely starting. I remember the World Cyber Games—sponsored by a tech brand—were just emerging. They were amazing, with players from the U.S., Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico. Esports are definitely the biggest new development I’ve seen.

So esports will be a key part of Joystickeros this time?
– Absolutely. We’ll talk about esports, and also mobile gaming. That’s another huge shift—the power of mobile devices today is incredible. Phones can now deliver experiences that are on par with what we used to get from a PS2. It’s wild. Mobile is now a fundamental part of the gaming ecosystem.

How did the idea to bring Joystickeros back come about?
– Honestly, it was a bit of stubbornness on my part (laughs)—I had a real need to return to that space, which I feel was never truly replaced. Sure, we have streamers and content creators now, but the Joystickeros format never really came back, especially not in Latin America. Seeing that gap made me itch to return, and thanks to our sponsor Telcel, it became a reality. Of course, with the support of MTV and Pluto TV, we’re back. It’s incredible. We want to create entertainment based on video games. We want to talk about games in-depth, but we don’t want to be ultra hardcore. That’s important—we want it to be fun. We want people to laugh too. That’s the spirit we’re aiming for in this new chapter of Joystickeros.

What are your expectations for this long-awaited return?
– That’s where I get a bit nervous. We’re optimistic and we’ve poured a lot of heart into the show. Our hope is that people enjoy it. We want them to know we’re doing our best to make it as entertaining as possible. That same Habacuc from the first season is still here—he hasn’t changed. He’s back, and we hope people have fun, laugh, and give us feedback. Now more than ever, we’re connected through social media, so we’d love to hear what they like, don’t like, and what they’d like to see. That would make us really happy.

New episodes of Joystickeros premiere every Wednesday at 12 p.m. (Argentina time) on Pluto TV Argentina and are available to watch for free. After each premiere, the episodes will be uploaded to MTV Latin America’s YouTube channel, and a week later they’ll air on MTV Latin America’s television channel.