Defining Duke: An Xbox Podcast

Episoade

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  #289 | The Fallout From The 'Xbox Reset' 19.07.2026 3h 36min

  A lot can happen in a week's time! Now that the dust is settling and we have a rare quiet moment for Xbox, it's time to fully unpack the immediate results of Xbox's Reset. We've learned that multiple Zenimax owned studios have returned to their smaller sized around the mid 2010s. When you look across the industry at the various indie and AA success stories, one has to wonder if AAA is no longer just borrowing creative ideas from these parts and, instead, emulating their business structure. Is there a lesson to be learned in Expedition 33 reaching 8+ million copies sold with a team of around 30 people and their strategic form of outsourcing? What of the 10+ person team at Mega Crit that works on the indie hit Slay The Spire 2? Does the industry truly need its titanic teams across the board or should there be exceptions to that rule in cases such as Rockstar? The reality is that we won't know for years how any of this pans out, but it's a good thought exercise nonetheless! Timestamps: Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00 - Intro10:51 - Health Is Wealth25:04 - The Future of Elder Scrolls33:49 - Leadership Issues at Halo Studios Again1:02:46 - The Black Ops 1 and 2 PS5 Ports1:08:59 - Microsoft Deletes a 25 Year Old Account1:29:51 - The Slow Adoption Rate of PS5 and Series Consoles1:39:37 - Obsidian Responds to Claims That They're a Different Team Nowadays1:54:33 - Ryse: Son of Rome Was Supposed to Be Xbox's Assassin's Creed2:00:52 - Glen Schofield Officially Retires from Making Games2:10:17 - People Are Truly Backlog Gaming Like Crazy2:13:41 - What We're Playing2:34:44 - The Fallout of the "Xbox Reset"3:25:04 - Wrap Up Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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  #288 | The Grand 'Xbox Reset' Is HERE... (it's a LOT) 12.07.2026 3h 38min

  What has Brad done this time? Timestamps: Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00 - Intro12:27 - Health Is Wealth27:44 – Xbox leaning into exclusivity43:19 – TES 6 is 2–3 years away52:27 – Obsidian is making a Fallout game1:33:58 – Spyro devs are interested in Banjo1:38:47 – Project Fantasy funding pull leads to studio shutdown1:46:11 – What We’re Playing2:01:14 – The Grand Xbox Reset is here3:27:31 – Wrap Up Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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  #287 | We're Tired, Boss... 05.07.2026 3h 31min

  The bottom continues to fall out from the games industry. Approximately five impending studio closures was simply not enough. Here comes PlayStation who is shutting down their entire physical game operation. It's never been more clear than right now that many of us who have been gaming since the 90s are now truly considered "the old guard" as we continue to face off against staggering changes at a breakneck speed. Timestamps: Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00 - Intro3:31 - Checking in with the Dukes22:50 - Xbox announces more console price increases48:38 - Is Xbox pulling third party deals from Game Pass?55:26 - PlayStation goes all digital1:18:37 - The Bungie cuts are official1:34:27 - Will GTA 6 be 60 FPS?1:38:57 - Oblivion Remastered gets Switch 2 port details1:41:07 - What We’re Playing2:06:09 - Xbox is eyeing Undead Labs for closure2:29:24 - Xbox debates canceling Blade and shutting down Arkane2:58:52 - Xbox pulls funding from Project Fantasy3:12:12 - Wrap up Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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  #286 | Steam Machine Prices and XBOX Helix effect... 28.06.2026 3h 18min

  The RAM-pocalypse has arrived and Valve has set the tone on hardware pricing! Jimmy Champane of Deck Ready and The Insipid Ghost of The Expansion Pass break down all the Steam Machine news! How does this affect Project Helix launch and pricing? Massive news week for the Dukes and we sift through it all. GTA 6 colossal news impact, Phil Spencer believing in Kojima/OD, Xbox going full Hollywood and so much more! Timestamps: Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00 - Intro2:38 - Warm Up Questions5:12 - GTA 6 Price revealed, details & performance32:23 - Todd Howard likes Blade. XBOX rake inbound?43:55 - XBOX triples down on HOLLYWOOD58:28 - Halo’s Project Ekur latest rumors1:11:21 - Kojima says Phil & Asha understood OD1:21:58 - Marathon’s new PvE mode1:38:59 - Sonic and Shinobi failed to meet expectations1:47:21 - Obsidian sued in class action lawsuit1:51:13 - EA holds third round of layoffs this year1:56:24 - Looking ahead at game releases - July 20262:04:22 - What We're Playing2:15:07 - STEAM MACHINE sticker shock & Project Helix effect Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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  #285 | It's Happening AGAIN... - More Xbox Studio Shutdowns Soon 21.06.2026 3h 12min

  Brad's curse continues on. Sign up for your $1 per month trial period at https://www.shopify.com/duke Timestamps: Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.0:00 - Intro3:30 - An update on the Green Reaper8:10 - Colin scolds The Dukes13:09 - A brief reprieve from Xbox depression24:30 - What We’re Playing1:02:00 - Xbox Studio Shutdowns3:01:15 - Wrap Up Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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  #284 | The Fallout From Xbox's 2026 Showcase... 14.06.2026 3h 55min

  Today, we tested the Brad curse. It worked. Timestamps: Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00 - Intro02:55 - Our favorite games from this week15:41 - Is the GTA 6 threat overexaggerated?24:33 - The great PlayStation vs Xbox Originality debate43:24 - Asha Sharma vs Phil Spencer50:33 - The Brad Curse becomes real1:18:05 - Xbox confirms “reliable pipeline of exclusives”1:48:42 - The Gears Of War PS5 Fiasco1:58:37 - Xbox lost millions of Game Pass subs after price hike2:05:47 - Fable gets 30 minutes of new gameplay2:24:45 - Halo: Campaign Evolved gets 28 minutes of new gameplay2:42:01 - Gears Of E-Day is the longest campaign yet2:44:40 - Premium editions for Halo, Gears, and Fable2:54:21 - Project Mara is officially canceled2:59:05 - Blade is still alive3:01:28 - What We’re Playing3:28:44 - Is Xbox trying to cut hardware prices?3:44:03 - Wrap Up Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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  #283 | Exclusivity Is BACK - Our Reaction To Xbox's 2026 Showcase... 08.06.2026 3h 25min

  Xbox's 2026 summer showcase has come and gone! As per usual, it was a relatively strong showing featuring big reveals and welcome surprises, yet it still managed to put up a few big head scratchers. Fortunately, the good outweighed the bad. For starters, the hardcore Xbox community has deeply yearned for the return to exclusivity. After months of lip service, Xbox is taking action by making Gears Of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution console exclusive. Obviously, that leaves us with many questions! Why these two games? What data do they hope to collect from them? Is Xbox appeasing their hardcore community for enough time to help rebuild the base before transitioning to a fully PC ecosystem? Beyond the strategy updates, we have plenty of good games! Halo, State Of Decay, A Plague Tale: Resonance, Persona 6, a new Spryo, Vivarium, and a chockful of other delightful looking games all made their presence felt. Unfortunately, Xbox has decided for what is technically a third year in a row to round out a showcase on a Call Of Duty game. Combined with a predictably lacking performance by Bethesda and the otherwise strong showcase experiences some serious lows. Last, but not least, we got an extended showing for Gears Of War: E-Day. Did Coalition's return to the essence of this franchise go off without a hitch? We discuss! Sign up for your $1 per month trial period at https://www.shopify.com/duke Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.0:00:00 - Intro0:06:45 - General Impressions0:19:04 - Commitment to Console Exclusivity0:38:30 -Fable0:48:31 - Halo Campaign Evolved0:53:12 - A Plague Tale: Resonance0:57:10 - Persona 4 Revival1:06:31 - State of Decay 31:12:15 - Sea of Thieves Season 201:15:22 - Metro 20391:20:36 - Bad Magpie1:22:31 - Wo Long 2: Wings of Ember1:25:08 - Join Us1:26:30 - Senua1:34:00 - Fallout 76: Infestations1:44:44 - DOOM: The Dark Ages – Revelations1:48:23 - Crazy Taxi World Tour1:54:04 - 25th Anniversary Hardware1:57:54 - Age of Empires IV Expansion1:58:56 - Minecraft Dungeons 22:00:38 - Magicians: The Devil's Deal2:02:07 - Valor Mortis2:04:26 - ESO – Season One Teaser2:07:49 - Flight Simulator World Update 222:09:12 - Where Winds Meet2:09:49 - Castlevania: Belmont's Curse2:11:59 - Vivarium2:18:34 - Persona 62:29:08  - Spyro: A Realm Beyond2:32:14 - Clockwork Revolution2:42:10 - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 42:54:30 - Gears of War: E-Day3:14:22 - Wrap Up Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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  #282 | Our Xbox Games Showcase 2026 Predictions... 31.05.2026 3h 47min

  It's officially showcase season! As tradition dictates, Rand Al Thor 19 of Xbox Two joins the Dukes for a smorgasbord of predictions! This year, we approach things a touch differently. Yes, we get into every (!) first party studio under the Xbox folder as per usual. However, 2026 marks the first Asha Sharma led summer showcase. With many business decisions up in the air ranging from exclusivity to hardware, this feels like a great time for Xbox's new lead to truly put her mark on the brand. With the "This is an Xbox" slogan out the window, will Xbox dare to don the logos of other platforms on their own stage? What of Project Helix? Much of Asha's rallying cry has been around "Return to XBOX." So, is it too early to show what Helix is truly made of during the 25th anniversary year of the brand? Will the shortage on consumer electronics plague what could be a massive announcement for the brand? Indeed, this showcase is a central point for a lot of business decisions that Asha could make in front of a crowd. Given this is her first showcase, the trio discusses what her "Hail Mary" moment can be. Is it time for a new Elder Scrolls VI trailer? Hi Fi Rush 2? Persona 6 or Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 3? A sequel to Fallout: New Vegas? There are many avenues for Xbox's new lead to take! Join us as we debate the appearance of over 30 first party studios, dig into third party partnerships, and stew over what could be a monumental showcase for the brand! Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:11:18 - Exclusivity0:43:01 - Hardware1:06:13 - Activision1:17:28 - Arkane1:25:33 - Bethesda Game Studios1:35:38 - Coalition1:41:07 - Compulsion1:42:44 - Double Fine1:45:13 - Halo Studios1:59:38 - iD Software2:03:45 - InXile2:18:42 - MachineGames2:27:09 - Mojang2:29:05 - Ninja Theory2:32:13 - Obsidian Entertainment2:38:00 - Playground2:48:14 - Rare2:53:22 - Turn 102:54:11 - Undead Labs2:59:27 - World's Edge3:02:08 - Xbox Game Studios Publishing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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  #281 | The Great Xbox-PlayStation Exclusivity Debate 24.05.2026 4h 2min

  The Belgium Beauty joins once more as the Dukes combine to tackle our favorite topic: EXCLUSIVITY! Yes, PlayStation appears dead set on reverting to the ways of old as news has come in via Bloomberg. Moving forward, all PlayStation single player games will be exclusive to the console. With the launch of Xbox Player Voice, fans are louder than ever about exclusivity on the other side and as we approach the June showcase season, the topic has reached a fever pitch. Through a combination of our brains and your write ins, we leave no stone unturned. Is this good for gaming? Are Xbox and PlayStation doing all this to remove any semblance of power from Steam? Can Xbox ever untether themselves from Steam? We dig through it all and much more! Our listeners can buy one prescription pair and get 20% off additional pairs at https://www.warbyParker.com/DUKE —and using our link helps support the show. #WarbyParker #ad Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:03:34 - Health Is Wealth0:50:02 - Comment boys0:55:58 - Quick summer showcase wishlist1:03:08 - Tough decisions in September1:18:30 - Xbox is now XBOX1:24:43 - Forza Horizon 6 surpasses 1 million players in early access1:27:42 - Warhorse is making a Lord Of The Rings RPG1:49:40 - The Colin Moriarty PlayStation Hack2:10:30 - PlayStation is returning to exclusivity2:54:39 - We almost got Star Wars: The New Republic3:14:58 - What We’re Playing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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  #280 | Gears Of War: E-Day's Release Just Leaked... 17.05.2026 3h 28min

  What's this?! The esteemed 'Belgium Beauty' as part of the Dukes in 2026?! Indeed, it's Lock and Matty here to sprinkle some extra fun in the world of Xbox where the news never stops moving! This week, we have two types of leaks: A fun release window... and an actual game ahead of its launch. Starting with the fun stuff, Gears Of War: E-Day is looking to take a slot in what will, no doubt, be an extremely busy September. How it leaked is the fun part! In the not so fun stuff, Xbox themselves leaked Forza Horizon 6 via Steam. Fortunately, it is very close to the game's launch, but there is more to this story. How did this go down and should there be any panic? Let's dive in!Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.0:00:00 - Intro0:03:42 - Health Is Wealth0:08:37 - The Xbox-Discord partnership is official0:21:22 - Forza Horizon 6 leaks online ahead of launch0:28:22 - Ken Levine on why Judas took a decade to make0:47:07 - eBay rejects Gamestop’s offer0:55:40 - Lies Of P sequel in full production1:10:19 - PlayStation first party is diving into the world of AI tools1:31:10 - SEGA cancels Super Game1:38:02 - The Bungie acquisition gets uglier1:48:57 - 007 First Light claps back at FPS jokes2:00:38 - Switch 2 price hike is here2:06:12 - Game sales update2:09:47 - What We’re Playing2:57:03 - Gears Of War E-Day appears set for September3:06:45 - Wrap up Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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  #279 | Xbox Overhauls The System... - New Leadership + Copilot Is GONE! 10.05.2026 4h 1min

  It appears that Xbox got sick of the whole weekly negative news cycle schtick and has decided to go in the other direction. Is this week's news truly all that positive? I sincerely depends on how you look at it and nobody will actually know until much later. Asha Sharma has made new additions to her leadership team. Sarah Bond's former team has been replaced by alumni of Meta, Instacart, and CoreAI which all happen to be people that worked with Asha at the same time she led those respective companies. Is this the invasion of AI into Xbox as we initially feared? We get into that, but there's almost zero doubt that Xbox anticipated this because they pulled out quite the plot twist. Copilot for console and mobile is stopped, effective immediately. So, while there is more AI focused leadership than ever in Xbox, they also just axed one of the worst things the brand started rolling out last year. How do the Dukes feel about all of this? Well, that's why you're here, no? Pull up a chair, relax, and let's talk about Xbox some more before Brad returns and ruins it all.Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.0:00:00 - Intro0:09:13 - Health Is Wealth0:16:28 - Halo 2 & 3 reportedly being remade0:38:22 - New Xbox boot up screen for the first time in 6 years0:42:12 - Jez Corden’s latest Xbox exclusivity scoop1:10:20 - GameStop is trying to acquire eBay1:17:06 - Steam Machine pre orders soon?1:21:17 - PS4 and XB1 may finally be on the way out1:27:54 - Bank Of America wants higher priced games1:33:03 - NBA: The Run revealed and arrives June 20261:38:00 - Are content creators heavily influencing the conversation?1:56:15 - Marathon has story plans for the next few years1:59:00 - Looking ahead at May 2026 game releases2:27:17 - What We’re Playing3:10:04 - Xbox is giving up Copilot and bringing in a new leadership group Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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  #278 | Xbox Is Wavering On Exclusivity Again... - Will They Do It? 03.05.2026 3h 27min

  The Dukes are finally reunited and what a week to do that! In a massive writeup on the Xbox Wire, we are seeing Asha Sharma and Matt Booty practically walk back on everything that the old regime stood for. Exclusivity is back under consideration, the "Microsoft Gaming" label is being ditched, and Xbox is focusing on their console. Just like old times! Perhaps most surprising with this blog post is the clear addressing of pain points for this brand: High prices, lacking PC presence, poor discovery tools, and most notably, disenchanted, frustrated players. The focus now for Xbox is daily active players. What does all of this mean and is this enough word salad to buy into? The globetrotting Dukes have you fine folks covered, so let's dig in. Sign up for your $1 per month trial period at https://www.shopify.com/duke Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.0:00:00 - Intro0:42:20 - Xbox Game Pass “Starter Edition” leaks0:49:16 - Asha Sharma on Xbox Helix timing and pricing0:54:41 - PS5 DRM drama1:07:15 - Valve drops updates on Steam Machine, Controller, and Deck 21:12:56 - Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced officially revealed1:22:51 - Far Cry show director says the worst things imaginable1:27:23 - Assassin’s Creed Hexe loses a ton of key staff1:32:56 - RPG developer Spiders is shutting down1:41:30 - New information on Blood Of Dawnwalker1:50:26 - Alien Isolation 2 teaser1:51:46 - What We’re Playing2:30:29 - Xbox shares massive update on the future of the brand Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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  #277 | Xbox Game Pass: The Price is Right? 26.04.2026 3h 39min

  The first 60 Days of Asha Sharma's tenure has been MORE than eventful! News of an Xbox Game Pass price drop and removal of Day One Call Of Duty from the service has reverberated throughout the games industry. What does this unprecedented price drop mean for Game Pass, future tier integrations, and COD moving forward? Cog enlists the unique perspective of Ebontis to break down all these ramifications. Beyond that, a fun Asha Sharma vs Shawn Layden interaction "debate", bold statements from Jason Ronald on Project Helix, and a huge week of Xbox news! Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/DEFININGDUKE and use code DEFININGDUKE and get $50 in lineups when you play your first $5 lineup! Go to PrizePicks.com/DoItLiveSweepstakes or check out PrizePicks social pages for more info. Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.0:00:00 - Intro0:05:18 - Health Is Wealth0:15:56 - warmups0:21:38 - Jason Ronald shuts down 3rd-party Helix console rumors0:30:37 - Starfield’s PS5 numbers are in0:42:54 - Asha Sharma wants to chat with Shawn Layden0:58:19 - Does Major Nelson want to go back to Xbox?1:03:23 - Shuhei Yoshida reveals that Jim Ryan fired him1:16:15 - Metro 2039 revealed1:20:19 - Mass Effect showrunner denies rewrite reports1:29:38 - Pragmata sells 1 million copies in 2 days1:34:22 - Gears Of War movie update1:39:05 - Former Halo executive and Xbox Film/TV lead has left Microsoft1:42:38 - Elden Ring movie gets release window and casting details1:45:55 - Xbox Unveils Forza Horizon 6 Controller And Headset1:49:39 - What We’re Playing2:46:40 - Xbox drops Game Pass price and Day 1 Call Of Duty from the service3:19:41 - Halo Studios reportedly abandons battle royale? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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  #276 | Is Xbox Now Reevaluating EVERYTHING? 19.04.2026 4h

  As the Asha Sharma regime begins to take shape, rumors of ending Day One Call Of Duty On Xbox Game Pass are heating up! In addition to Game Pass price drops, are exclusive Xbox games also back on the table? Thanks to recent discussions on The Xbox Two Podcast regarding these topics, Cog enlists Jez Corden and Rand Al Thor 19 to break these down further. Beyond that, another busy week of more Xbox Game Showcases, more Halo Studio drama, and how the release year of Xbox in 2026 is taking shape! Sign up for your $1 per month trial period at https://www.shopify.com/duke Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:05:12 - Warmup Up Questions0:24:59 - Matt Booty Official Xbox Podcast Interview0:35:51 - Xbox First Look: Metro 2039: New show format0:55:19 - Halo Studios drama continues1:23:13 - Playground Confirms Fable Delay Rumor Is False1:35:50 - Diablo 4 Could Be Coming to Switch 21:43:51 - WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers Dev Team Dissolved1:50:32 - What We’re Playing2:26:31 - Xbox Having 'Very Big Discussions' About Exclusivity3:18:11 - Xbox Considering Ending Day One Call of Duty on Game Pass & Lowering Price Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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  #275 | State Of Decay 3 Has A PULSE... (there's a catch) 12.04.2026 3h 43min

  Remember the 2020 trailer for State Of Decay 3? Turns out, that trailer was greenlit when the game was just a Microsoft Word document. Indeed, the team was barely above a handful of people and yet it got a full on trailer! That's only the start of today's story which leads us into the start of a private alpha playtest for the game. Indeed, it appears that this game truly began its work sometime in 2023 at best. The Dukes have thoughts, but much of it leans into the 'glass half full mentality' thanks to an interview by Sunny Games. In this, we learn about State Of Decay 3's direction for its co-op mode, combat, base building, choice and consequence, and plenty more. Beyond that, it was a busy week for Xbox as we finally are seeing movement on the achievements from. Naturally, there's also Halo drama to get into because when isn't that a thing? Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.0:00:00 - Intro0:20:31 - Game Pass refunds are dead?0:21:41 - Xbox theme parks0:25:12 - Halo Campaign Evolved release date leaks0:41:20 - Xbox is finally updating achievements0:56:29 - Mass Effect show being made for non-gamers1:12:36 - Xbox continues to tinker with back compat1:17:12 - Steam Deck 2 release date news1:23:44 - What We’re Playing2:19:49 - State Of Decay 3 has a pulse2:55:35 - Halo Studios has more drama Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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  #274 | Xbox's Summer Showcase REVEALED - Here's What To Expect... 05.04.2026 3h 23min

  Once more, Xbox's summer showcase finds itself on the Sunday of Summer Games Fest weekend! It's there that they'll pull the lid off their 25th anniversary celebration with a deep dive on Gears Of War: E-Day alongside what will no doubt feature the likes of Fable, Halo, and plenty of other games. The Dukes find themselves mighty curious what Coalition has planned for Gears Of War this time around. Much like Halo, Gears Of War is known for its suite of modes that made it so dominant during the 360 days. Seeing how Halo Infinite struggled to ship with campaign, forge, and multiplayer attached, can Gears have a similar issue with its campaign, horde more, and multiplayer? Speaking of multiplayer, will this latest rendition appeal to the wall bouncers or the casuals? Furthermore, how far will the gameplay be taken from an innovation standpoint when this is the youngest we've ever seen Marcus and Dom? The questions are many, but the outcome is tantalizing as Developer Directs during the summer have established themselves as games where there is far more than usual to be shown off. All of our answers arrive on June 7th, but why not listen to the Dukes gab about this and much more until then, right? Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:11:17 - A new segment?0:13:52 - Leak culture in video games0:23:45 - Xbox Partner Preview recap0:35:43 - Why Xbox killed their “This Is An Xbox” campaign0:38:43 - Updates and rumors on Halo Campaign Evolved0:49:54 - Bethesda shuts down Elder Scrolls Blades0:54:50 - Crystal Dynamics is making a Lord Of The Rings game1:07:31 - Eidos Montreal layoffs1:19:15 - Disney interested in buying Epic Games1:26:07 - Shift Up acquires Shinji Mikami’s studio1:33:42 - Nintendo's 2026 schedule leaks1:45:53 - What We're Playing2:17:53 - Xbox Summer Showcase revealed Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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  #273 | Xbox's Next Moves Leaked... - Game Pass Cuts SOON? 29.03.2026 3h 54min

  As tradition dictates, we recorded a roughly four hour show during a relatively light news week. Turns out that there was much to be said about those select topics. The Dukes revisit the hotly debated DLSS 5 topic with fresh information from a new interview with Nvidia as well as comments from their own CEO. The AI rabbithole admittedly runs deep this week as we also get into the closure of Sora as well as Capcom's plans for generative AI. From one hot button topic to another, we discuss the recent layoffs happening at Epic Games. When an industry's top selling game in Battlefield and most popular live service in Fortnite can't avoid layoffs, who can? The dynamic duo dive into the sustainability of game development and why indie just seems like the place to be now. Top of the Dukes' list is the recent report on Xbox CEO, Asha Sharma. It is said that she is assessing how to make Game Pass more attractive and is considering a price reduction. She is also investigating package deals, such as one with Netflix, as a way to bolster the service. Can this be enough to help the service grow? Is it even worth chasing when the 100 million subscriber dream is dead? As the episode's length suggests, we have plenty to say, so stop reading and get to listening! Sign up for your $1 per month trial period at https://www.shopify.com/duke Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.0:00:00 - Intro0:14:53 - What games are we looking forward to?0:24:42 - How can Copilot For Gaming navigate paying creators?0:33:29 - Marathon sales update0:52:49 - DLSS 5 updates1:24:15 - OpenAI shuts down Sora1:32:34 - Capcom on how they plan to use AI1:44:06 - Epic Games layoffs1:59:18 - Forza Horizon 6 PC requirements2:02:19 - Minecraft Dungeons is getting a sequel2:03:58 - Is Final Fantasy for old heads?2:15:51 - Sony shuts down another studio2:19:30 - Nintendo’s interesting digital pricing changes2:22:49 - Dragon’s Dogma 2 DLC inbound?2:36:40 - Sonic Frontiers Definitive Edition leaks2:41:14 - What We’re Playing3:20:51 - Xbox Game Pass price cuts incoming?3:37:52 - Chris Charla interview on Xbox Helix SKUs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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  #272 | Starfield's NEW DLC Is Finally Here... 22.03.2026 3h 57min

  After over a year of silence, Starfield's newest wave of content is here. The Dukes got to see things running behind the scenes and get a feel for Bethesda's new vision for the sci-fi RPG. It appears they're gearing up for more incremental updates rather than swinging in with a massive expansion pack each year. Between the Free Lanes update, Terran Armada, and the PlayStation 5 version, there's much for us to go over. Perhaps more of the hot button topic is what is transpiring within AI. This time, it arrives in the form of DLSS 5 and to say there was backlash would be an understatement. The sizzle reel that showed off this new technology on the likes of Starfield, Hogwarts Legacy, Resident Evil Requiem, and the like was openly mocked, reaching beyond the games industry. In fairness, some are hopeful that this technology could lead to better looking, cheaper games. Can it? Well, pull up a chair, friend. We have much to discuss. Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:09:41 - Remembering Camelworks0:25:13 - What will happen to Series X/S versions of games?0:29:19 - Jeff Kaplan tells you to shut up if you haven’t played a game0:43:22 - TMNT x Magic The Gathering0:49:04 - Xbox backwards compatibility rumors swirling0:54:07 - This is an Xbox campaign being retired1:02:11 - Gaming Copilot is coming to Xbox1:17:57 - PC revenue will overtake consoles by 2028?1:30:37 - LEGO Batman’s release date has moved up1:36:01 - Cyberpunk 2077 has no plans for new DLC1:38:50 - Exodus gameplay first look1:42:48 - Resident Evil Requiem sales update1:45:19 - Bravely Default shadow drops on Xbox1:49:27 - Marvel Maximum Collection gets a release date1:51:36 - PSSR 2.0 update1:57:54 - PlayStation Portal update2:02:48 - Switch 2 gets shocking upgrade2:06:13 - What We’re Playing2:24:45 - DLSS 5.0 revealed3:24:06 - Starfield DLC & PS5 Release Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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  #271 | A New Generation Of Xbox Is HERE... 15.03.2026 2h 1min

  As the "Curse of the Dukes" continues, we have another massive reveal that occurred so quickly after our latest episode of the show was produced. In the last week, we've learned a lot about Xbox's direction for their future and, to their credit, they're being incredibly direct about it. Introducing Project Helix: the codename for Xbox's next bit of hardware that is capable of playing your PC and console games. Following the announcement, they revealed a chockful of information on their plans at this year's Game Developer Conference. "Xbox Full Screen Experience" has evolved into "Xbox Mode" and that arrives on PC in April. After months of testing on the Xbox Ally, Xbox deems this feature ready for the big leagues. As for the next Xbox itself, alpha versions of the hardware will be out by early 2027 for developers. Is it possible we also see a retail release by holiday 2027? Best of all, there is a tease of more to come with Xbox's backwards compatibility program which has lied dormant for years. Is it possible they have additions in store or maybe (just maybe) achievements being added to classic games? Will these classic games be native to the platform or just streamed? Indeed, there are many questions surrounding the brand, but the wind is blowing in a positive direction for them and that's mostly due to seemingly having their ducks in a row on just how they wanted to communicate what their plans actually are. Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:08:31 - What We’re Playing0:39:55 - Xbox reveals Project Helix1:13:45 - Satya Nadella renews his vows with Xbox1:34:41 - Opening platform to game developers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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  #270 | PlayStation Exclusivity Is BACK - Does Xbox Follow Suit? 08.03.2026 3h 48min

  Many have said that you can't put the genie back in the lamp, but PlayStation begs to differ. After years of flirting with PC releases (many of which were delayed after the game's initial launch), Sony's gaming group is erecting the walled garden. Naturally, some Xbox fans are looking over at these moves and wondering if the new leadership regime at Xbox can pull off a similar feat. Have these platform holders been running from their fate all along? Can Xbox even dream of undoing all their years of work on damaging their brand? The Dukes sound off on a topic that we imagine will cycle around for a while yet. Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.0:00:00 - Intro0:07:52 - What are we excited about in video games?0:16:32 - We came so close to a Fallout remaster0:22:06 - Highguard is officially shutting down0:34:34 - Nacon is in trouble0:38:44 - What is happening to WB Games?0:48:05 - DOOM: The Dark Ages DLC is like a sequel0:52:38 - Halo MCC gets a surprise update0:56:13 - A look into Assassin’s Creed’s future1:03:44 - Bloodborne Remake was almost real1:22:35 - Pokemon Winds & Waves revealed1:33:20 - AI game reviews are trickling in1:51:09 - What We’re Playing2:56:09 - PlayStation is mostly walking away from PC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices