Defining Duke: An Xbox Podcast (Last Stand Media & Studio71)

Here at Last Stand, we don't like to encroach on territory unless we think we can provide particular value for our audience. Back in 2018, we launched Sacred Symbols and KnockBack because we felt like there was a demand for high-quality PlayStation and nostalgia podcasts (respectively), but since then, we've halted our expansion. Yet, with a mighty promising 2021 (and beyond) shaping up for Microsoft's Xbox Series X|S -- and with our audience openly and regularly clamoring for expert Xbox coverage -- we felt like another opening has emerged. We thus humbly present Defining Duke, an all-new weekly podcast all about Xbox, by Xbox fans, for Xbox fans. Our co-hosts? None other than popular gaming YouTubers Matthew "MrMattyPlays" Schroeder and Jeremy "ACG" Penter. Defining Duke will go live each and every Thursday on Patreon (Sundays on free feeds) beginning January 7th, but in the meantime, we thought we'd introduce our show with an appropriate episode, one all about our most-anticipated Xbox Series X|S games of 2021. We hope you enjoy. Thank you for your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Game Pass, the popular and successful Xbox subscription service, has a knack for rolling in more without asking for additional money from its users. That trend seems to be continuing after EA Play was packaged in and now Xbox has their eyes set on the next logical step — adding in uPlay. Ubisoft owns a suite of tantalizing franchises and this move could only serve to boost the service to new heights. Also, more on potential Xbox exclusives Elder Scrolls VI and Arkane Studios’ next game plus additional (much needed!) details on The Medium! Hardware issues have plagued the launch of any new tech product due to global circumstances, but Microsoft is swearing more systems are on the way according to Phil Spencer. The question that looms is not if, but rather when? That alongside the future of Xbox controllers, Cloud Gaming, and achievements headline our first episode. Let’s do this thing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The news waits for no one, including the Dukes! Insomniac was hacked, Bobby Kotick left Activision, and a new rumor surrounding Xbox's next console generation all managed to slip out in the two weeks we were gone. Naturally, we tackle all of this, but the Dukes really wanted to lean into the proposed 2026 gameplan for Xbox. Striking ahead of PlayStation, this would leave them in a similar position to the Xbox 360 vs PS3. Does Xbox need to hit the reset button so soon after finally getting their legs going in 2023? Would an Xbox fanbase buy into such a product so soon after the Series X launch cycle? Is Xbox's messaging airtight enough to avoid a Wii U scenario? There are many ways this can go and Xbox in 2024 is surrounded with a lot of firepower between their own first party, Activision, and Bethesda where they could make some noise as soon as they'd like. We also get into the 2024 roadmap for Starfield, the rumors of Banjo returning, some updates on Blade, and plenty more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Dukes have said it before and they'll say it again: It's never a straightforward job covering Xbox. Just when you think you have them figured out, they flip the script. There's no better example of that then this week where social media had Xbox on the brink with one rumor only to be celebrating them the next day thanks to an announcement. According to multiple insiders, Xbox is looking to take prolific exclusives like Hi Fi Rush and Sea Of Thieves and port them to competitors like PlayStation and Nintendo in 2024. While the benefits on a business front immediately stand out for Xbox as they cash in again on an old release, many loyal fans are wondering where they benefit, if at all. As Xbox gears up for a monstrous 2024, it seems even more questions arise about each and every announced game. It truly is Pandora's Box and The Dukes wonder if Xbox is ready for that world given their history of communication woes. Otherwise, we have a newly announced Developer_Direct boasting an absolutely stacked lineup of titles from Indiana Jones and Avowed to Hellblade 2 and Ara History Untold. With the looming potential of a shadowdrop, the ball is in Xbox's court to set an exciting tone for the upcoming slate. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app now wide code DEFININGDUKE and get 200 bonus bets instantly after betting $5 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As tradition dictates, Xbox has opened the year with their Developer_Direct. We saw gameplay from Avowed, Hellblade 2, Ara History Untold, Indiana Jones and The Great Circle, and even had a surprise appearance from Square Enix! With the roadmap set for the year, how do the Dukes feel about Xbox's showing? Is this enough to satiate them? Did Avowed improve from its initial showing? Will Hellblade 2 deliver a masterful experience worthy of the wait? Are the lacking of release dates concerning? We get into all of it and, naturally, so much more! We also dive into the budding conversation of Xbox games leaving the platform as Satya Nadella has seemingly indicated that with Activision in the fold, Xbox will be bringing games to beyond their platforms. If that really is the case, what does this symbolize for the future of the brand? As always, the economics of this situation is sure to bring out the best in all of us. Plus, a S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 release date, more additions to PC Game Pass, Starfield's "biggest" update yet, Smite 2 (!) announced, and so much! Start the Good Habit at https://www.tryfum.com/XBOX to save 10% off the Journey Pack today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Following the Xbox Developer_Direct, we have much to unpack. In the world of Avowed, we received an extended showing that gave us more gameplay, but some viewers were still left with that same sense of uncertainty. With the game confirmed to be AA style, in an alpha state, and aiming for a Fall 2024 release, the Duke boys get into the expectations surrounding this title and what is missing. Meanwhile, Hellblade 2 was at the center of its own sort of conversation. While it did have an incredible showing, details presented after may have warped the perspective a touch. Hellblade 2 will sit at $50, be digital only, and is stated to be a similar length to the first game. Considering the amount of trailers shown off and how it was revealed alongside the Series X, many were expecting a more grand expansion compared to the original Hellblade. With these two side-by-side, it paints a clearer picture of what expectations should be set for the 2018/2019 draft class of Xbox. However, Xbox has secured both exclusively and in its own service, the biggest game of 2024. Palworld has stormed onto the scene breaking all sorts of records on Steam and there's little doubt that by the time you hear this episode, it will have gone on to set more milestones for itself. While there is controversy surrounding the artistic direction of the game, the Dukes can't help but enjoy it. Is that wrong? More importantly, what is the impact that one of the biggest games ever is going to have on the industry, and Xbox in particular? It's a packed week, so let's unpack, shall we? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The moment we’ve long anticipated since Xbox began gobbling up various publishers has arrived and indicated a change in direction for the brand. On January 25th, a day after Microsoft was named the second $3 trillion company, Microsoft laid off 1,900 employees (accounting for 8% of their gaming division) across Activision, Blizzard, Xbox, and Bethesda. This pushes the industry as a whole beyond the 5,000 mark for total layoffs in 2024. For comparison, 2023 saw a total of 10,500 layoffs in its entire year and we’re halfway there already by January. Embracer continues to offload staff as their company falls through the floor, Riot just laid off 11% of its staff, SEGA 10% of its own, Unity another 1,800 people, and Twitch another 500. That’s just accounting for the mass contributors as over a dozen other companies have laid off hundreds of their own. From Toys For Bob all the way to the Call Of Duty workshop, many teams within Activision were impacted in a substantial way. With a new president atop Blizzard who once served as Call Of Duty's GM, Satya Nadella's blatant call for publishing games beyond Xbox, and a physical game division laid off within Xbox, the reality is clear that Xbox is no longer being gentle about the digital future they intend to charge toward. It was Phil Spencer who saved Xbox in its death throes during the Xbox One generation. Should we fear what Xbox will become? Start the Good Habit at https://www.tryfum.com/XBOX to save 10% off the Journey Pack today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After weeks of unaddressed rumors surrounding Hi Fi Rush and Sea of Thieves coming to PlayStation, the powderkeg blew for Xbox this week. Gears Of War, Halo, Starfield, Indiana Jones, and a growing list are all reported to be going multi-platform. The only official comment we have on the matter is no sort of denial, but rather a "see you next week." In a DEFCON 1 level episode of Defining Duke, we opted to hold summit featuring each side of the aisle. Joining the Dukes are the Sacred Symbols boys. Is Xbox bowing out of the hardware space? If so, what does this mean for the competition in the gaming space with PlayStation remaining unchallenged? While it's all but confirmed that Xbox games are headed to PlayStation, the question remains in what capacity? For years, Xbox fans generally understood the idea that these would arrive thanks to Game Pass. Now, it seems Microsoft is doing this for sustainability. Naturally, fans of the platform feel betrayed leading to a plethora of meltdowns online. What happens to their digital libraries if an exit is made? Is Xbox throwing the towel too early when the vision is just about to come to fruition? The questions continue to mount as we had over 300 write-ins to sift through, so let's discuss the very future of Xbox and what the rationale behind their next phase may be. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 After a week that felt like an eternity, we have arrived on the fateful day where Xbox discusses the future of their business. What's happening with exclusivity, Game Pass, hardware, and the brand's commitment to the future? To many, it was a nothing burger. Others have left with more questions than answers. Many are pleased that their investment is safe and there are no concerns moving forward. The Dukes discuss Xbox's potential clairvoyance with the multi-platform strategy, lessons learned from Xbox One applied today, and much more in another DEFCON 1 level episode of Defining Duke.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Following weeks of rumors and speculation which led to multiple emergency Defining Dukes and even a business update event for Xbox, we finally have all the answers we desired. The games leaving Xbox are Hi Fi Rush, Pentiment, Sea Of Theives, and Grounded, two of which were unveiled at a Nintendo Direct, and their arrivals are imminent. Separately, PlayStation has made several illuminating comments themselves such as discussing a more aggressive PC strategy and potentially digging into other platforms. While there's no doubt that Xbox will be the first to commit in a major way to multi-platform, the Dukes are left wondering how long the walled gardens will remain as these business demand more. With that in mind, we discuss how much is enough for these companies and the ominous truth being the "when everyone plays, we all win" strategy that could play out in the next 10-20 years. Plus, a deep dive on Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth, inquiries answered on Xbox's sidestepping of physical games, a rumored Mandalorian game, and so much more in a very normal episode of Defining Duke.   Get 10% off your entire order at https://www.thefreezepipe.com and use code DUKE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The fallout of Xbox's industry shifting decisions has resulted in many-a-questions. What other Xbox games go multi-platform? What's the long term vision? Is the desire for a wider pool of consumers only going to delay obvious development based decisions that need to be made? Much of our audience here shares in these inquiries and we spend much of this Defining Duke sifting through them all. We also dig into the layoffs that continue to ravage our industry as both PlayStation and EA have entered the fold with impacted teams including the likes of Insomniac and Respawn. It's all that, plus around 30 minutes of Tekken 8 glazing, fight stories, health is wealth endearment, our first Game Pass DODGE Of The Week, and so much more! Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Introduction 0:21:25 - All Digital Series X incoming 0:23:34 - Age of Mythology Retold coming to Game Pass 0:25:10 - High On Life physical from LRG 0:28:30 - Tanya Watson joins Xbox Game Studios 0:31:45 - Third Kind Games is co developing Fable 0:37:12 - Pentiment runs better on PS5 due to a bug 0:42:51 - TMNT Arcade is coming to consoles 0:46:10 - Data-miners have found Persona 3 Reload DLC 0:47:41 - Skull and Bones has record player engagement 0:49:04 - Suicide Squad has fallen short 0:51:59 - What We’re Playing 1:32:10 - Warm Up Questions 2:11:18 - PlayStation Layoffs 2:36:29 - Game Pass Pick of the Week 2:45:05 - Ending Questions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week featured the second ever Xbox Partner Preview! Consisting of 14 different games, Xbox shined a spotlight on AA partners, made some Game Pass announcements, and had a shadow drop to boot. The Dukes dive deep into each game individually and rank the showcase shortly thereafter! We also get into the loss of Toys For Bob who announced that they'll be going independent while maintaining a partnership with Microsoft. Have they managed to escape the Call Of Duty sweatshop and will others request the same? As we see Embracer shedding off two studios of its own, the Dukes wonder who the next domino to fall will be. Plus, Starfield's March update, a Spongebob Xbox Series X for sale, Warner Bros. stampeding against its own momentum, and much more! Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro 0:10:34 - Starfield update 0:16:25 - KOTOR Remake is free from Embracer 0:26:34 - Baldur’s Gate 3 Physical update 0:28:16 - Fallout, Spongebob Xbox 0:36:20 - What’s going on with Moon Studios? 0:48:13 - Dragon Age Dreadwolf on track for 2024 0:52:18 - Warner Bros focus on live service 1:00:54 - What We’re Playing 1:33:03 - The State of Fallout 1:41:29 - Toys For Bob goes indie 1:58:20 - Xbox Partner Preview 2:41:05 - Coming soon to Game Pass 2:47:55 - Game Pass Pick of the Week 2:54:02 - How do we prioritize what we play?    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The data is starting to roll in as Sea Of Thieves is available for pre-order on PlayStation. Beating out the likes of Star Wars and Dragon's Dogma, this once Xbox exclusive has found itself at the #1 spot for the weekend. While it's initial data, it's the first sign that Xbox's big play just might pay off. Naturally, it opens the familiar can of worms in wondering what will go multi-platform next. We also discuss Todd Howard's seemingly innocent comments on Fallout 5 that, according to Matty, imply much, much more. Plus, another Tekken 8 showdown, celebrating the work of Akira Toriyama, discussing what's going on with Sweet Baby Inc, and so much more! Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro 0:13:46 - Pentiment's Framerate 0:15:58 - Peter Moore Interview 0:25:17 - Halo MCC Is Done 0:30:07 - Persona 3 DLC on Game Pass 0:35:03 - Ni No Kuni stays on Game Pass 0:36:26 - Last Case 0:39:23 - Moon Studios Future with Xbox 0:42:37 - Multiversus Returns In May 0:45:00 - Dragon's Dogma 2 Updates 0:55:52 - What We're Playing 1:37:26 - Akira Toriyama's Passing 1:47:47 - What's going on with Sweet Baby Inc 2:13:09 - Todd Howard's Fallout 5 Comments 2:28:06 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week 2:51:02 - Final Questions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A new development kit has been certified for Xbox in South Korea! With leaks showing an all digital Series X on the way, this originally felt like a news story you brush by and not much else. That was the case until we learned a key bit of information that flipped the conversation on its head: This certification couldn't be for a digital Series X. So, what is it? The last certification seen for Xbox hardware was with the Series X around five months ahead of its launch. We know Sarah Bond recently stated that Xbox has committed to more hardware in the future. Could it finally be the Xbox handheld set to launch this holiday? Naturally, the Dukes are giddy about this concept and dive deep. We also lament the state that Battlefront Classic Collection has launched in, mull over the state of PocketPair, enjoy Xbox's 4D chess play with Sea Of Thieves newest SKUs, and dive into the latest changes at Bungie and Blizzard. Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro 0:11:11 - Bungie replaces Marathon director 0:19:42 - Massive changes hit Overwatch 2 0:27:27 - Jim Ryan opens up 0:31:07 - Ereban: Shadow Legacy is longer coming to Game Pass 0:36:17 - New Sea Of Thieves editions announced 0:45:15 - Pocketpair 0:51:03 - Fallout's TV isn't interested in pleasing fans 0:59:19 - Xbox has a new VP of Global Partnerships 1:00:43 - Halo Infinite March Update 1:03:28 - Grandia HD Collection is coming to Xbox 1:05:02 - Connie Booth is headed BioWare 1:08:13 - Sand Land demo is available now 1:12:29 - What We're Playing 1:46:00 - PS5 Pro leaks. Should Xbox match it? 1:58:35 - A new Xbox development kit has been certified 2:22:40 - Coming Soon to Game Pass 2:32:00 - Game Pass Pick of the Week 2:36:19 - Ending Questions and Wrap up Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're at the point in Xbox's lifespan where the sensitivity is at an all time high. By that, we mean that the reaction to certain pieces of news is heightened considerably and is leading to even a singular comment spiraling into chaos. That's just what happened this week when, once again, we hear how Xbox is struggling. This time, it hails from the EU region where Christopher Dring states that a major game publisher questions the support of the platform in general. Naturally, this has been spun and applies to every conceivable developer under the sun. The Dukes approach this from two angles. For starters, how can Xbox escape the rumor mill and begin controlling the narrative? Is there something they can do to wipe away the doubt that gives legs to simple murmuring? Secondly, if true, what does this mean for Xbox? Separately, comments from Phil Spencer have indicated that extra money could be sought out in other areas of the industry. From Windows Central claiming an Xbox handheld prototype is in the works and Phil Spencer's recent interview signaling an infatuation with the Xbox handheld idea, it seems that their hardware push is far from over. Phil also spoke about bringing digital storefront like Epic Games Store and Itch.io to Xbox. Is the long term vision and all encompassing box full of all your games from all platforms? As always, it's never a sure bet with Xbox, but the Dukes do their digging nonetheless. Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro 0:17:43 - Microsoft Rewards shutting down 0:24:55 - Xbox is integrating Battle Net with Game Pass? 0:37:57 - Phil Spencer wants to bring Epic Games Store to Xbox 0:51:58 - Sea Of Thieves is getting a massive update for its PS5 launch 0:54:49 - Marvel 1943 launches in 2025 0:58:07 - Marvel Rivals announced 1:07:09 - Grounded's final update gets detailed 1:16:08 - Xbox reaches an agreement with Toys For Bob 1:17:38 - SMT V new date 1:18:36 - Shinji Mikami's new studio accidentally leaked 1:22:40 - Yoshi-P teases FF16 for Xbox 1:25:58 - Resident Evil 9 may go open world 1:32:13 - Sonic Heroes is getting a remake in 2025? 1:38:06 - Star Wars Outlaws rated in multiple regions 1:41:53 - What We're Playing 2:25:51 - Elder Scrolls VI is playable 2:30:28 - Xbox is prototyping a handheld 2:48:44 - Developers are apparently wondering why they're supporting Xbox 3:07:52 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week 3:14:33 - Ending Questions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

t's quiet... Too quiet. Indeed, we've found ourselves in the "pre-showcase lull" for Xbox. Still, we have some big news to sift through. For starters, independent developers have thrived during the era of Xbox Game Pass thanks to massive bags being handed out for day one access which compliments the lower budgets of these titles. According to prominent indie developers, that gold rush is over. The Dukes dive into the future of Xbox Game Pass. If the way Xbox sells games is changing and the layoffs that have occurred all circle around the sustainability of the business, then there's no reality where Game Pass gets out unscathed. So, what are they changing, how do indies factor in, and what does it accomplish? Speaking of indies, it would see that Hollow Knight Silksong is finally on the way. When will this massive game land for Xbox and is it sooner than we expect? Plus, more on the questionable state of Final Fantasy 14, the future of KOTOR Remake, Dragon's Dogma 2's success, and so much more! Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro 0:15:03 - Final Fantasy 14's launch on Xbox is bad 0:19:47 - KOTOR Remake is alive and well 0:27:45 - Take Two now owns Gearbox 0:33:48 - Dragon's Dogma 2 has sold 2.5 million copies 0:36:11 - Details on the next Yakuza game 0:38:36 - Certain Affinity hit with layoffs 0:40:23 - Xbox has a new AI chatbot for support 0:46:02 - CD Projekt Red talks microtransactions 0:48:15 - What We're Playing 1:26:20 - Amy Hennig's Star Wars game 1:32:45 - Xbox's indie gold rush is over 1:46:32 - Hollow Knight Silksong coming soon? 1:50:33 - Coming to Xbox Game Pass 1:54:41 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week 2:01:46 - How to build the ultimate man cave Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's a little early for the usual summer showcase leaks, but here we are nonetheless! Gears Of War stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Halo when it comes to importance during the Xbox 360 generation. Despite that, the series has never earned itself the "Master Chief Collection treatment" nor has developer The Coalition received its flowers for its consistency during a barren generation. With insiders already hyping up Gears 6 behind the scenes, the Dukes discuss what Xbox coudl do to make the most of this moment. At the same time, this showcase is seemingly being set up to cast a wide net. While 2023's summer show featured a look at the slate of first party studios that Xbox has acquired over the years plus a strong Japanese presence, it appears this is going to be the first time Activision defines a showcase. It's been said that Call Of Duty Black Ops: Gulf War is set to be revealed during this show. Perhaps more interesting, Xbox has invested in a "game preservation team" with insiders suggesting more announcement beyond just a new Call Of Duty being present for the franchise. Could backwards compatibility be making a return and how far will they go? Plus more on Xbox's next console, how Sea Of Thieves is possibly a testbed for more Xbox games heading to PS5, and so much more! Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. Timestamps: 0:00:00 - Intro 0:15:49 - Hellblade 2 previews are out 0:32:24 - Xbox CVP Kareem Choudhry is leaving Microsoft 0:35:44 - Xbox renews commitment to China in major way 0:45:08 - Star Wars Outlaws release date and new trailer 0:52:37 - The Dead Space Remake 2 kerfuffle 0:59:18 - Pocket Pair announces Pal Arena 1:00:41 - 33 Immortals finally gets a date 1:04:12 - Canceled Batman game leaked 1:08:07 - Sands Of Time Remake details 1:10:15 - What We're Playing 1:33:23 - Persona 6 1:39:54 - Even more Xbox leaks 2:01:20 - Game Preservation 2:29:30 - This is just the start for Xbox games on other consoles 2:33:07 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week 2:36:50 - How to get in the mood to game Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's been a Fallout filled week! With the tremendous success that is the TV show, the hunger for a new Fallout has arguably never been higher. Following our spoiler filled discussion of the TV show, we circle back to the timely question: What can Xbox and Bethesda accomplish with this franchise? Having InXile and Obsidian in the family is a match made in heaven, the remaster opportunities are plentiful, and yet, nothing is happening beyond the show. Even the next gen update arrives weeks after the show has aired! Whether it's mismanagement, overprotection, or slow moving relations, a series of this magnitude can no longer remain dormant in the game's space as it has beyond its live service title. The Dukes dive into the options available to Bethesda and how they could navigate such a task. Plus thoughts on PlayStation's move to PC with trophies, Persona 1 & 2 remakes, an Elder Scrolls show, Towerborne's beta, and plenty more! Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. Timestamps: 0:00:00 - Intro 0:10:25 - Todd Howard discusses Elder Scrolls show 0:15:06 - Fallout is topping paid charts for Xbox 0:18:35 - PlayStation is going all in on PC 0:31:04 - Persona 1 & 2 are receiving remakes 0:35:54 - Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 reveal 0:41:54 - Dead Space is on hold 0:46:10 - A new Baldur's Gate game is on the way 0:52:25 - Iron Man and Black Panther is open world 0:54:50 - Skydance is making a AAA Invincible game 1:01:19 - Towerborne beta details 1:03:32 - Lawbreakers is returning... kind of 1:08:41 - Mafia reveal possibly coming soon 1:12:57 - Blizzard is Blizzard 1:17:55 - Sea Of Thieves hits 40 million players 1:20:23 - Star Wars Outlaws controversy 1:26:20 - Hollow Knight Silksong rated in Australia 1:28:30 - What We're Playing 1:49:23 - TMNT: The Last Ronin is getting a movie 1:53:56 - Keanu Reeves is Shadow The Hedgehog 1:59:51 - Fallout 4's next gen update, TV show spoilers, and what's next for the series 2:46:00 - Coming soon to Xbox Game Pass 2:51:09 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week 2:55:26 - How does YouTube work? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

ATLUS has shown out once again in what has been a phenomenal roll for the company. With a 20+ minute showcase under our belts, Metaphor: ReFantazio is looking absolutely fantastic. More importantly, it's not just fantasy Persona, but aims to be much more and potentially far more complicated. The Dukes dissect this incredible looking JRPG, mull over what it means for Persona 6, as well as overstate the importance of Xbox having the marketing for this will be. Naturally, we continue to talk about Fallout as we see the franchise continue to hit unbelievable metrics. Perhaps more shocking is that Fallout 76 has seen a tremendous bounceback unto itself with positivity beginning to surround the game for the first time since its Steam launch in 2020. Plus more on Starfield updates, game preservation, Kena: Bridge Of Spirits coming to Xbox, and much more! Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. Timestamps: 0:00:00 - Intro 0:14:01 - Fallout Season 2 0:19:18 - Fallout games are thriving 0:39:27 - Game publishers won’t support libraries for preserving online games 0:49:24 - Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 announced for 2024 0:56:16 - An update for World of Warcraft on consoles 0:58:31 - Sonic Frontiers 2 leaked from Midori 1:07:15 - IGN x iD @ Xbox Showcase 1:12:04 - Kena: Bridge Of Spirits rated for Xbox 1:13:36 - Meta is making a limited edition Xbox inspired quest headset 1:22:05 - Embracer Group is splitting into three companies 1:27:23 - Jedi Survivor is available on Game Pass 1:30:02 - What We’re Playing 2:02:48 - Metaphor Re: Fantazio showcase 2:34:24 - Todd Howard says “really good updates for Starfield are on the way” 2:48:31 - Coming soon to Game Pass Core 2:49:20 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Following the Fallout TV show's massive success, the clamoring for a new game has never been louder. This isn't Bethesda's first rodeo with such demands. However, with a new owner and the most eyes ever on the product, Todd Howard has finally said that they are investigating ways to deliver more Fallout games. What would a roadmap for Fallout look like in the near, mid, and long term? The Dukes aim to break down what looks to be a busy few years for Bethesda. That's because it's not just Fallout, but Starfield that is also gaining traction! Almost eight months after its launch and things were admittedly starting to look bleak after few content additions have been made. With the May update, it finally is gaining momentum with peeks at land vehicles, Shattered Space, and more! Plus more on Xbox's summer showcase being announced, what the mysterious Developer Direct game will be, Xbox's plummeting hardware sales, and so much more in a jam packed week! Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. Timestamps:  0:00:00 - Intro 0:10:49 - Starfield's Insane May Update 0:32:56 - Fallout is collaborating with Call Of Duty 0:35:38 - Xbox's Hardware Plummets 0:46:41 - Id@Xbox x IGN showcase recap 1:03:00 - Watch Dogs is dead and buried 1:07:33 - Updates on Remedy 1:12:49 - Square Enix undergoes major business shifts 1:20:04 - Tekken Season 1 update 1:26:33 - Hasbro’s leap into AAA 1:35:18 - What We’re Playing 2:07:37 - Xbox Games Showcase 2:41:09 - Todd Howard interview 3:00:24 - Coming soon to Xbox Game Pass 3:02:03 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week 3:04:58 - Dealing with game criticism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A nightmare year for Xbox continues. The latest chapter in this story is Xbox's shuttering of four Bethesda studios in Tango Gameworks, Arkane Austin, Roundhouse Studios, and Alpha Dog Games. The message is clear that the experimenting days of Xbox are done as the strategy deployed by its leaders continues to fail. The focus is Call Of Duty, Fallout, DOOM, and other high profile titles while the future of surrounding creative studios like Obsidian, Compulsion, Ninja Theory, and others have uncertainty beginning to cloud them. It serves as yet another powder keg moment for the brand where fan patience has run out. Is it time for the Phil Spencer era to end? How is Hi Fi Rush considered a hit yet its studio is shutdown? Why is the leash so short for teams like Arkane Austin while 343 and The Initiative can afford to waste precious resources? Is it even possible for Xbox to restore the faith at this point? You have many questions, so do we, and one thing is for sure: Xbox is still finding out the answers to all of them. Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. Timestamps:  0:00:00 - Intro 0:03:47 - What We’re Playing 0:32:09 - Xbox shuts down four Bethesda Studios 2:40:49 - Game Pass Pick of the Week 2:43:03 - Looking ahead to the Xbox Showcase Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The dust has settled since Xbox closed four different Bethesda studios. Many expected the team to go into hiding as there is no good answer for this outcome, but they did the opposite. Xbox President Sarah Bond showed up to a Bloomberg interview and gave a mind boggling non-answer that has sent this already wounded fanbase into another outrage. Naturally, the Dukes dive into this as well as your many questions about how the optics have shifted for the Xbox business moving forward. We also dive deep into the dramatic changes that Square Enix has undergone wher they have now moved into a multi-platform approach. What Square Enix games are headed to Xbox and when? The Dukes dig into to find out. Plus more on Perfect Dark and State Of Decay 3's status, Assassin's Creed Shadows, SEGA's plans for Persona, and so much more! Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. Timestamps:  0:00:00 - Intro 0:14:59 - Jeff Grubb's report on Perfect Dark, Gears 6, and Dragon Age 0:25:00 - Square Enix reveals multiplatform strategy 0:44:40 - Hi Fi Rush update from Limited Run Games 0:45:01 - Jez Corden has heard that State Of Decay 3 is looking very good 0:47:10 - SEGA is annualizing Persona, Yakuza, and Sonic 0:54:13 - Assassins Creed Shadows revealed 1:00:01 - Activision appears to be working on a new IP 1:01:44 - EA is considering putting ads in games 1:06:44 - ROG Ally X announced 1:12:41 - Suicide Squad was more costly than we thought 1:14:38 - Jake Solomon (XCOM, Midnight Suns) opens new studio 1:20:00 - Xbox is adding the ability to pre download updates 1:23:16 - Fallout 4's update gets a patch 1:25:34 - What We’re Playing 1:38:12 - Hellblade 2 gutcheck 2:01:46 - Cog on Xbox Leadership 2:18:34 - Selective outrage with studio closures 2:30:50 - The Dukes thoughts on the importance of "Xbox engagement" 2:46:12 - Sarah Bond’s interview with Bloomberg 3:23:18 - Coming soon to Xbox Game Pass… 3:26:24 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week 03:30:40 - Wrap up Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The next major release in Xbox's first party family has arrived! Senua's Saga: Hellblade II has seen an increased amount of pressure placed upon it as concern for the platform holder as ramped up. Stripping ourselves from the heightened emotionality of that situation, how does over five years of development, a team size four times bigger than the original, and a big Microsoft check benefit the newest entry in the Hellblade series? The Dukes are joined by Gene Park where all three were able to play through the game a week ahead of its launch and let their thoughts marinate. Sitting at an 82 on OpenCritic, Hellblade 2 is off to a solid start, but where do the Dukes sit? Well, it's time to dig deep and find out! Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. Timestamps:  0:00:00 - Intro 0:06:00 - Ninja Theory's next game greenlit 0:15:57 - Xbox games to PS5 0:20:38 - Xbox 360 JRPGs 0:26:39 - Lies of P DLC confirmed for second half of 2024 0:30:34 - GTA 6 launches Fall 2025 0:35:53 - Star Wars Total War game coming from Creative Assembly 0:39:47 - Assassin’s Creed Shadows revealed 0:56:09 - Valve’s Deadlock leaked 1:00:15 - Larian opens up new studio 1:03:39 - Kingdom Hearts comes to Steam on June 13th 1:11:55 - IGN acquires a ton of gaming news outlets 1:20:19 - What We’re Playing 3:11:03 - Activision opens studio called Elsewhere 3:20:16 - Call Of Duty to Game Pass is all but confirmed 3:33:36 - Final updates for Redfall and Hi Fi Rush 3:37:53 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Xbox Games Showcase 2024 is soon upon us meaning it's time to unite with Xbox Two for our annual predictions show! Joining us is Rand Al Thor 19 to dissect what feels like another "must win" situation for Xbox. As per usual, we run down the multitude of first party studios, now including Activision, and debate heavily what will make the cut. Will they renew their vows with hardware? Can Xbox manage to massage concerns surrounding some of their lingering games like Perfect Dark and State Of Decay 3? What surprises can they bring to the table? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After months of dooming, Xbos fans needed a big win. In the humble opinion of the Dukes, Xbox absolutely delivered on all levels. Missing games finally received needed updates with Perfect Dark and State Of Decay 3. The Coalition finally gets the spotlight in a shocking Gears announcement: a prequel set during E-Day! Furthermore, tons of third parties showed up in a big way from a new Life Is Strange featuring Max Caufield to a stunning turn-based gem in Expedition 33. Returning games like Fable, Avowed, South Of Midnight, and Indiana Jones among others all showed out! Truly, it was one for the books, so join us as we recap one of the best ever showcases to go down in gaming. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If there's one thing that the Xbox Showcase taught us, it's that Xbox has a lot ready to release soon. Perhaps, even, too many! As Cog aptly puts it, Xbox has an abundance of riches and we're keen on seeing how they spread the wealth. Will Xbox go all in with a line up of Shattered Space, Black Ops 6, Avowed, Indy, and Starfield DLC? It's hard to tell as the team seems to be playing a wait and see approach, but there's no denying the sense of corner finally being turned. Plus more on an Xbox handheld, more games eventually leaving the platform, deep dives into State Of Decay 3 and Avowed, plus much more!  Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro 0:29:02 - The latest on Black Ops 6 0:32:49 - Eidos Montreal is supporting Fable 0:38:09 - New Gears Of War: E-Day details 0:44:59 - How DOOM: The Dark Ages Feels, According to ID 0:49:59 - New State of Decay 3 detail 0:57:58 - Starfield June Update details 1:03:27 - Avowed director on Obsidian's future 1:07:04 -Ara History Untold gets a release date 1:09:36 - Xbox might have a big Gamescom show 1:15:29 - Dragon Age: The Veilguard gameplay reveal 1:36:33 - Visions Of Mana gets a release date 1:37:11 - Star Wars Outlaws details 1:43:13 - What We’re Playing 2:06:35 - Where is the ABK Game Pass drop? 2:12:22 - What do the Xbox execs do now? 2:19:31 - Phil Spencer interview on Xbox Handheld, Third Party Games, & More  2:51:02 - A massive deep dive on Avowed 3:09:14 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week 3:14:11 - Ending Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Well, this is a first. Matty had the opportunity to sit down with Bethesda Game Studios lead Todd Howard to discuss everything from Starfield and Elder Scrolls VI to Fallout and the company's shifting design philosophies! In an otherwise slow news week, the Dukes sink into all Todd had to share with Matty. What's going on with Fallout ports or New Vegas? How far along is Elder Scrolls VI and what technology is being used to build it? What's going on with Starfield Year 2 and will it be supported longer than prior BGS games? He shares a lot, so let's talk a lot! Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro 0:17:22 - BO6 file size 0:18:42 - Multiple games announced for Xbox at the June 2024 Nintendo Direct 0:33:40 - Sea Of Thieves sales are insane on PlayStation 0:36:07 - Xbox release date rumors 0:43:17 - New Gears E-Day Details 0:50:56 - State Of Decay 3 release window rumor 0:56:10 - Forza Horizon 5 gets a “Universal Icons Car Pack” 0:56:31 - Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP 0:57:01 - Alone In The Dark Studio “Pieces Interactive” has been shutdown by Embracer 0:58:06 - What We’re Playing 1:21:49 - Finishing games 1:33:45 - Todd Howard Interview recap 2:34:40 - Coming soon to Xbox Game Pass 2:37:46 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week 2:43:41 - Ending Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a relatively slow week, we're able to settle into a major interview conducted by Variety with the one and only, Matt Booty. Sitting as Xbox Game Content and Studios President, Matt Booty was a major factor behind Xbox's decision to shut down four Bethesda studios. In the brand's third attempt to answer the deeper reasoning behind these closures, we get a few more breadcrumbs that leave room for assumption on the matter. Alongside that, Booty speaks on the Xbox exclusive situation with remains relatively unclear moving into the future. Plus more on Forza Horizon 4's delisting, Hellblade 2 initial sales, and more! Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro 0:14:25 - Forza Horizon 4 being delisted 0:24:43 - Avowed is fully playable in third person 0:29:16 - Harvey Smith on Redfall’s final update 0:32:07 - Xbox's statement on Black Myth Wukong 0:39:24 - Bethesda Game Studios Montreal is unionizing 0:44:52 - Hellblade 2 fails to crack top 100 sales in Europe 0:53:49 - Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed release date 0:57:20 - Katsuhiro Harada on why Soul Calibur disappeared 1:10:26 - Jet Set Radio Remake leaks online 1:17:55 - BioWare on Dragon Age Veilguard’s name change 1:20:34 - What We’re Playing 1:47:13 - Warm Up Question 01:57:42 - Matt Booty interview with Variety 02:43:06 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week 02:51:40 - Ending Question Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's finally a slow news week which means we get to settle into some stories that we'd typically breeze over! Leading the charge this week is Avowed which continues to sound amazing! With new details from director Carrie Patel, the Dukes settle into a discuss about character building, choice and consequence, and the oft-debated romance. Alongside that, rumors of Activision games arriving on Game Pass are starting to percolate to the top as the Transformers games have been relisted. At the same time, we are hearing how games like Crash and Tony Hawk are due out on Game Pass shortly. What does the cadence of release look like for Activision's catalogue and how does Xbox handle the licensed, backwards compatible games? There's plenty of room for a discussion there, so let's have one! Plus more Xbox's handheld UI, Assassin's Creed Remakes inbound, Xbox Cloud Gaming arriving on Amazon Fire TV sticks, and much more! Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 Intro and write-ins 0:32:37 Xbox Cloud Gaming is coming to Amazon fire TV Sticks 0:37:53 Activision Transformer games relisted, currently unavailable for purchase 0:46:32 Lost Odyssey remaster dream is dead 0:51:47 Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster release date 0:57:37 A new Resident Evil is in development 0:59:45 Dragon’s Dogma 2 performance update 1:02:16 Ubisoft is remaking multiple Assassins Creed games 1:07:44 Star Wars Bounty Hunter is coming to Xbox 1:12:57 Shadow of the Erdtree has sold 5 million copies 1:15:04 Flintlock Siege Of Dawn has gone gold 1:17:00 Crazy Taxi update from SEGA 1:21:59 What We’re Playing 2:00:56 Avowed interview 2:17:42 What's this Xbox mobile dashboard? 2:24:01 Activision Games to Game Pass soon 2:30:39 Coming soon to Xbox Game Pass 2:36:19 Game Pass Pick Of The Week 2:39:12 Another Mt Rushmore 2:53:31 Wrapup Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After years of conversation on the topic, Xbox has finally made long anticipated adjustments to its popular subscription service. Day one Game Pass games are gone from its standard tier and all have seen a price hike. The conversation naturally navigates itself to the "why" in this situation. All subscription services go up whether it's Netflix, Disney+, or Spotify. Is it because of Black Ops 6 impending? Is Day One Game Pass hurting Xbox? Is $20 enough to stop any form of bleeding with that in mind? Are they extracting maximum value from the service at its peak? Are they setting a newer, higher standard for the batch of new subscribers that will join with the launch of a new Call Of Duty game? There's many ways for us to assess, so we'll comb through all of them carefully! Furthermore, we have details on Hellblade 2's performance on the market. From sales to engagement, there are question marks about what this game has done for the platform, so the Dukes dissect what information Circana has provided on that matter. Plus more on Banjo Kazooie, LEGO Horizon on Xbox, the questionable Fire Stick TV ad, Bioshock updates, Dragon Age: Veilguard romance options, and plenty more! Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro 0:31:56 - Banjo Kazooie rumors 0:38:41 - Guerilla Games on Xbox version of LEGO Horizon Adventures 0:42:38 - Atlas Fallen coming to Game Pass? 0:44:48 - Xbox summer sale 2024 is live now 0:46:35 - Cities Skylines 2 will be missing its Xbox console release 0:49:21 - Xbox Amazon Fire Stick TV ad 0:54:20 - Cloud Chamber is heavily recruiting for BioShock 0:56:28 - Dragon Age: Veilguard romance details 1:02:46 - Star Wars: Outlaws planet details 1:04:58 - Piranha Bytes is the latest studio to be shutdown by Embracer 1:07:45 - New Yakuza Game? 1:12:07 - Bleach Rebirth Of Souls announced 1:17:07 - What We’re Playing 1:41:54 - How do we celebrate our birthdays? 1:47:48 - What Xbox franchise could get a Lego version? 1:50:06 - Will Metaphor: ReFantazio get an enhanced edition? 1:50:55 - Game Pass Changes 2:31:46 - Xbox's Hardware and Software sales 3:04:41 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week 3:10:41 - How would we improve our recording area? 3:19:30 - Wrap Up Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A rather peaceful July continues on as we dig through the aftermath of Xbox's major changes to Game Pass. For starters, we now have clarity on the wait for Day 1 games in the service at the standard tier and those who remain will be seemingly waiting a long time for their shiny games to arrive. Furthermore, Xbox is potentially pulling out of regions like Europe, Africa, and the Middle East when it comes to their consoles. With all these parts of the business shifting in real time, many are trying to predict where Xbox will be at the end of all these changes. Well, much of it hinges on Call Of Duty which is tying its beta to Game Pass subscribers. Indeed, it's a different Xbox we're looking at in 2024! Does this new Xbox consider Crash 5 important enough to resurrect? How cutthroat shall they be with 343 in their next Halo? There is quite a bit to discuss, so enough briefing and let's get to chatting! Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro 0:16:10 - Microsoft Rewards not fueling Game Pass? 0:19:23 - Amazon is now selling a Xbox Streaming bundle 0:31:09 - Microsoft releases dynamic Xbox 360 blades background 0:37:26 - Forza Horizon 5 has reached 40 million players 0:44:35 - TMNT: Mutants Unleashed gameplay revealed 1:00:23 - Yakuza developer announcing their next game at Tokyo Game Show 1:07:15 - A sequel to Aliens Fireteam Elite leaks 1:09:36 - Deadpool controller 1:11:09 - What We’re Playing 1:49:51 - Crash Bandicoot 5 1:57:38 - Day 1 Game Pass clarification from Jez Corden 2:04:59 - Call Of Duty Black Ops 6 beta details 2:09:46 - Xbox marketing is possibly exiting some regions 2:16:10 - Xbox GeForce Now integration available now 2:18:24 - What's going on with Halo's future? 2:39:04 - Microsoft is reportedly moving on from their DEI teams 2:52:50 - Leaving Game Pass soon 2:54:22 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week 3:01:34 - What system do we grow our game library on? 3:12:48 - Wrap-up Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

AI, layoffs, restructuring, and so on. Indeed, we're in the midst of interesting times for our beloved industry, but the clash between creator and executive has never been greater. Jobs are being lost to AI as we expected, but it's happening now. Not later, but now. Every publishing label is claiming that times are tough, but no adjustments on spending has been made. As the industry continues to bleed talent, who will want to join it? This subject matter is the very heartbeat of this episode as the Dukes collectively recognize the missteps being made. So, how do things get better? What can be done to improve an industry controlled by misers? The Dukes have thoughts and hopes such as unionization which is what Bethesda Game Studios has recently done. We also hear from our old friends again at the FTC on how Game Pass Standard is losing its value and what the source of Xbox's faltering marketing initiative is. Cancel your unwanted subscriptions at https://www.rocketmoney.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 - Intro/Patron Write-Ins 0:34:02 - Quiet: Level One kickstarter from Jonah Lobe 0:37:12 - Elder Scrolls VI has a strange leak 0:42:39 - Xbox working on cloud only version of Game Pass? 0:47:15 - MW3 officially on Game Pass 1:07:27 - Dungeons of Hinterberg dev needs your help 1:14:57 - Halo TV Show canceled by Paramount+ 1:25:24 - Halo Combat Devolved gameplay 1:27:13 - Tales Of Xillia Remastered leaks 1:32:00 - Heihachi announced for Tekken 8 at EVO 1:41:12 - First Player Games has been acquired by Warner Bros Games 1:49:12 - Multiple games are skipping Xbox 1:56:11 - Shadows Of The Damned: Hella Remastered returns this Halloween 1:57:03 - Humble Games is undergoing restructuring 2:01:57 - What We’re Playing 2:25:40 - The FTC criticizes Game Pass changes 2:36:13 - Xbox's Marketing isn't blessed like Sony... Says Xbox... 2:52:37 - Bethesda Game Studios has unionized 2:58:15 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The results for Microsoft Gaming's FY24 Q4 is in and it's mighty telling of where the company is at. On one hand, Xbox is making more money than ever before, but it's come at the loss of hardware sales which are down a staggering 42% YOY. Can Xbox afford to keep this trend up in a world not yet ready for digital only? According to Microsoft CFO Amy Hood, this is all well and fine as the company marches toward content and services. The Dukes dive into all the numbers, including Activision's ability to make the entirety of Xbox a boatload of money in spite of the remaining parts of Xbox plateauing. We also dig into the newest Starborn trademark, Bungie's daunting task ahead of them after massive layoffs once more, and plenty of other subjects in yet another busy week! Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro 0:33:22 - World Of Warcraft team are unionizing 0:38:39 - Stalker 2 delayed to November 20th 0:44:37 - A new Playground Games studio has opened 0:47:44 - Some Game Pass leaks 0:51:31 - Halo Infinite’s Operation Fleetcom details 0:53:06 - Double Fine’s “PsychOdyssey” documentary is getting a blu-ray release 0:56:01 - New Xbox transparent controller revealed 0:57:46 - 500K players for Flintlock: Siege Of Dawn 1:00:06 - What is happening at Bungie?! 1:24:06 - An open world Patrick Star game has leaked 1:27:34 - Legacy Of Kain 1 and 2 remastered spotted at SDCC 1:29:42 - Visions Of Mana demo available now 1:30:37 - Wildermyth comes to consoles on October 22 this year 1:32:18 - Dragon Age Veilguard Steam details 1:35:34 - Mortal Kombat 1 “Khaos Reigns” and Kombat Pack 2 revealed 1:40:56 - What We’re Playing 2:16:09 - Microsoft Gaming FY24 Q4 results 2:38:12 - Starborn Zenimax trademark 2:40:33 - An update on the Xbox-Capcom issues 2:42:53 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week 2:49:15 - Our Xbox 360 Memories Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Avowed is getting moved back to February 18, 2025 out of respect for our backlogs. How kind of Xbox to do such a thing! Avowed was a subject of much debate for the Dukes. While the game looked solid coming out of the January Developer Direct, it clearly needed more time. Come June, Avowed looked to be in much better shape and has now found itself a new date away from the noise of the holiday season. This sets up Xbox for a rare top quarter of the year game, a second for them in this generation. The Dukes settle into what this means for the roadmap moving forward and if it spells any trouble for the anticipated fantasy RPG. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a year chockful of layoffs and studio closures, we needed a W like this. What was originally considered one of the biggest losses amidst these changes was Xbox's closure of Tango Gameworks. Originally known for survival horror titles, Tango stormed out the gate last year with the beloved action rhythm game, Hi Fi Rush, to critical acclaim. Krafton seems to have liked the numbers they saw because they've stepped in to take Tango and the Hi Fi Rush IP off Xbox's hands. While The Evil Within and Ghostwire Tokyo remain in the hands of Xbox, the people's champion lives to fight another day. Naturally, the Dukes have plenty of thoughts. It's still a loss of talent for Xbox at the end of the day, so is there more to a partnership here? What happens to the lingering IP from Tango? We dive into the jaw dropping news and an otherwise slower news week. Cancel your unwanted subscriptions at https://www.rocketmoney.com/duke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For the first time ever, the Dukes are gathering in person to record an episode! What a time for it to happen too as we have plenty to discuss. For starters, we’re got our hands on a plethora of upcoming Xbox titles. Avowed, Ara History Untold, Towerborne, Atomfall, Metaphor Re Fantazio, and plenty more! As we were on site, we even had a chance to speak with a ton of the devs meaning we have added insight beyond the games themselves. Beyond the scoops, we naturally have to discuss the Indy situation as the game has been announced for PlayStation. We knew multi-platform was Xbox’s future, but this was quite an aggressive move. How do the Dukes feel about such a play from the green team? Naturally, we have much to say on top of the announcements at Opening Night Live itself. Go to https://www.takethesis.com to take the free 3-minute quiz to find out what your brain needs and use DUKE to get $60 off your first purchase when you sign up for Thesis. Thanks to Thesis for sponsoring today’s video! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As always, we like to source questions, comments, and concerns from our lovely audience each and every week. Many times, that alone defines the theme of the episode and that's certainly the case here. Following the news of Indiana Jones headed to PS5, plenty of Xbox fans have been left flat-footed. What does this mean for the future of the console's exclusives and will any of their competitors follow suit? Phil Spencer has shared his thoughts on the matter and now it's time for the Dukes to chime in! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Dukes are off to San Diego and that means we had to get a little crafty compared to our usual episodes! Since we’re recording in advance, we forged an episode in the spirit of Defining Duke Ultimate and leaned heavily into one topic: the Series X/S generation thus far. Easily our most asked question is whether or not to dive into a Xbox at this point, so we dedicated an entire episode to the idea! Matty and Cog sift through every first party release and discuss the highs and lows they’ve brought. Furthermore, we analyze every Day 1 Game Pass drop since the service began introducing third party with Outriders. We also happily indulge in another conversation of where Xbox could stand to improve and even what could be green lit to shift some of the optics around the brand. Indeed, this is the all-encompassing conversation on Xbox’s star in 2024 and we hope you do enjoy! Cancel your unwanted subscriptions at https://www.rocketmoney.com/duke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Much has been said about Xbox's lack of desire to do a mid-generation refresh. For some, it symbolizes the platform's lack of care for the future of its own hardware and, for others, a sign that the green team has their eyes on the next generation instead. In a surprise move, it is not Xbox who stepped on the rake this week! PlayStation has sneakily experienced a troublesome year much like Xbox between Concord, the rollercoaster ride that is Helldivers 2, and now the pricing of the PlayStation 5 pro. Of all our write-ins this week, 90% were asking one question: Did Xbox dodge a bullet by not going down this hardware rabbit hole? Naturally, the Dukes debate and discuss the ins-and-outs of this initially innocent announcement from PlayStation. In other news, Xbox will be returning to Japan for their own Tokyo Game Show event in 2024 and State Of Decay 2 support is finally over! We also get into the exclusivity situation surrounding Black Myth Wukong, the return of some classic Transformers games, and plenty more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week's episode is quite the unorthodox one! In the spirit of our friends over at the Friends Per Second podcast, we've split this episode between our usual news coverage and a fun interview the Dukes has the opportunity to conduct! Joining us this episode are Gabriela Leskur and Brian Stone. Gariela is the Narrative and Experience Lead at Oxide Games and Brian serves as Product Leader and Head Of Engineering at Xbox Game Studios Publishing. Together, these two answer our burning questions about the upcoming historical turn-based strategy game. Furthermore, we dive into the thick of Starfield's Shattered Space preview which gives us nearly ten minutes of gameplay to understand just what this is. Fortunately, it appears to be a direct response to much of the criticism laid at Bethesda's feet last fall. We also get into what may be going on with Tony Hawk, Marathon possibly being $40, more layoffs at Xbox, their strong dependence on Call Of Duty, and much more! Level up your game and get 10% off @TurtleBeach with code DUKE at https://wwwturtlebeach.com/DUKE! #turtlebeachpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the week of September 22nd, the games industry was blessed with not one, but two showcases! Today, the Dukes dive into both the State Of Play and Xbox's Tokyo Game Show 2024 presentation. With the State Of Play, much was announced for the Xbox platform! As for Tokyo Game Show, Xbox is showing that developers of all sizes are looking to support the "challenger brand." While the presentation was absent of any major reveals, games such as Threads Of Time or the long desired Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster did get us excited! Beyond the minor showcases, we also dive into the latest for Assassin's Creed Shadows where the writing is on the wall here with Ubisoft. It's clearly a do-or-die situation for them and based on their recent statement to investors, this game absolutely must perform. Will the delay help and how deep do Ubisoft's issues run? We get into just that plus a new Yakuza game, Xbox's 25th anniversary, Metaphor Re:Fantazio's demo, and much more! Cancel your unwanted subscriptions at https://www.rocketmoney.com/duke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Starfield faced a mighty amount of criticism throughout its 2023 launch. In today's gaming climate, this set the stage for what could be a big comeback for Bethesda Game Studios with the Shattered Space expansion. So, did it deliver? Matty has played 16 hours and finished it with Cog just getting his adventure started, so they both have much to say! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Following the post launch support of Halo Infinite, 343 Industries has become one of Xbox's more divisive first party studios. The leash for them has been unnaturally long given the ups-and-downs the flagship franchise has seen since they've taken up the Halo mantle beginning with Combat Evolved Anniversary and, now, Xbox is doubling down on the team. Joining us is resident Halo expert, Chris Ray Gun, to discuss the absolutely massive news that broke this week. Not only is 343 Industries rebranding, but all future games will be made on Unreal Engine 5, they're hiring after a massive amount of layoffs, and there are multiple Halo projects in development. One such project beyond the obvious next mainline entry is rumored to be Halo Combat Evolved Remaster. The Dukes plus Chris get into this very familiar path that Halo Studios is now walking plus the daunting challenge that lies before them Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

No, you're not imagining it! We have been getting a LOT of Xbox showcases as of late. Just weeks removed from their Tokyo Game Show panel and they have returned once more with a Partner Preview that ran for almost thirty minutes. Before that was Gamescom and before THAT was their massive summer show. Joining the Dukes are LSM's very own Gene Park and Bradley Ellis to discuss all the announcements and gameplay (or lack thereof) during the Partner Preview. Did it deliver like prior Xbox shows or was it a bit of a nothing burger? Naturally, we get into that. We also discuss Xbox Game Studios' new lead as well as rounding out our latest criticism of Bethesda, Metaphor's impressive sales, Destiny Rising, and the future of Xbox's streaming tech! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As every October 23rd comes around, Fallout fans are reminded of the missed opportunity for Bethesda to have their own "N7 Day" with the franchise. Well, 2024 is the year they finally took action and put fan demands into motion! What took place is, quite frankly, a whole lot of nothing. The Dukes sift through the fallout (!) of this showcase and what Bethesda can do to make 2025's showing a much better, more worthwhile one. While it's Fallout Day, it also appears to be Digital Day for Xbox! 91% of US players are buying games digitally and half of Xbox's customers have bought into their discless console. Has Xbox's push into cloud gaming and Game Pass been vindicated in light of these statistics? Plus, we have info on 2025's Call Of Duty the very week that Black Ops 6 drops! What does Activision have in store for us? More changes, it seems! We also get into the Banjo Kazooie kerfuffle, Helldivers 2 on Xbox, Cog's love of Metaphor, the surprise that is TMNT: Mutants Unleashed, and plenty more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The annual Call Of Duty release is here and it's a remarkable improvement from Modern Warfare 3! From the blockbuster campaign crafted by the underrated hands at Raven Software to its multiplayer and zombies that the Dukes have some mild concerns with. It's also the week that, for many, can define a lot of Xbox's big business decisions moving forward as well! With Game Pass subscribers stagnating a bit, many have looked to this Call Of Duty as the shot in the arm it needs to keep its stellar offering going. Keep in mind, the Game Pass tiers saw a major shift ahead of this release with some feeling like day one Game Pass releases may soon be off the table if this bet doesn't pan out. While the numbers aren't in yet, things are looking solid and the Dukes have much to talk about in this area! Plus more with Indiana Jones' framerate, updates on the tone of the next Mass Effect, Concord being shut down, and so much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a week with minimal major beats, the Dukes are able to sink their teeth into a plethora of smaller topics such as Xbox's recruitment of Insomniac's creative director, the fate of PlayStation's Wolverine project, and what this means for Perfect Dark! Furthermore, we try our hand at some data analysis by breaking down the early numbers for Call Of Duty and what impact this can have on Game Pass as well as its future. Indeed, many including us still believe that Black Ops 6 needs to be an absolute smash hit to justify Xbox's tampering with its golden goose. So, what does the limited data say and how does it fare for Xbox? We discuss that, plus more in Remedy's puzzling financial situation, BioWare's uncertain future, Ubisoft's response to recent criticism, and Monster Hunter Wilds smashing records with its beta. Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro 0:06:02 - A new creative director for Perfect Dark 0:13:50 - Xbox showing new hardware in 2025? 0:25:02 - HoYoverse is bringing Zenless Zone Zero to Xbox? 0:26:19 - The future of Gears 0:34:05 - Arkane Studios founder speaks out against Xbox 0:40:37 - Dragon Age: The Veilguard is not getting DLC 0:44:25 - Is Dragon Age getting a Legendary Edition? 0:50:11 - Some updates in the world of Ubisoft 0:59:22 - Monster Hunter Wilds has insane beta numbers 1:01:02 - Remedy's financial situation 1:07:15 - LEGO Horizon Adventures length revealed 1:10:46 - A sequel to HogLeg is in development 1:13:08 - Kingdom Come Deliverance has sold over 8 million units 1:16:24 - Meta’s staggering earnings 1:24:53 - Private Division has been sold off by 2K 1:26:07 - SEGA confirms a new Virtua Fighter game 1:28:44 - What We’re Playing 1:59:50 - Call Of Duty updates 2:15:59 - Some Undead Labs updates 2:18:57 - Coming soon to Xbox Game Pass 2:25:19 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today's main topic would have set the internet on fire earlier this year. Xbox's complete admission of a mutli-platform push, delayed handheld and mobile plans, as well as a desire to acquire more studios? Team Green is typically in a meltdown state by this point, but this time around, the news was met with indifference. Why is that the case? Well, for one, many who paid close attention to Xbox's actions, or even lack of action, knew that all this was inevitable. Xbox is seemingly abandoning its exclusive games initiative as Phil Spencer has stated there isn't a red line for quite literally any first party game in its stable. The Dukes break down his comments alongside the third party scene to see if there is any vindication for the Xbox leader's words earlier this year. Long anticipated was a Xbox handheld, but with Phil confirming that it's years out, where will this leave Xbox if they are the last to enter the ring as a handheld competitor? Steam, Logitech, Nintendo, PlayStation, ASUS, and so many others have brought their own ideas to the market with varying degrees of reception. Can Xbox succeed in an inevitably saturated market where players have already made their choice by the point they show up? The Dukes hash it out! Plus a deep dive into Indiana Jones's new gameplay, Halo 2's famous E3 demo is now playable, OG voice actors are returning for Gears E-Day, and so much more in one of our biggest episodes of the year! Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro 0:01:57 - Health Is Wealth 0:15:25 - Game Dev Talk 0:20:06 - John Dimaggio and Carlos Ferro are returning for Gears Of Way E-Day to voice Dom and Marcus 0:22:14 - The Halo 2 E3 2003 demo 0:25:32 - Death Stranding is now available on Xbox 0:31:44 - Indiana Jones & The Great Circle gameplay deep dive 0:39:29 - South Of Midnight previews are out 0:46:22 - S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 has gone gold 0:56:20 - Phil Spencer on future Fallout games 1:05:14 - Black Ops 6 is collabing with Halo, Gears, and DOOM? 1:07:04 - Spyro Reignited Trilogy is now available in Xbox Game Pass 1:07:37 - Warner Bros is plummeting 1:15:29 - GOG announces game preservation program 1:21:30 - SEGA is delisting a ton of retro classics 1:27:38 - 2K opens up on future games lineup 1:32:54 - GTA Trilogy: Definitive Edition gets a surprise update 1:34:28 - Tom Henderson’s report on Ubisoft’s Project U 1:39:23 - Sea Of Stars gets a massive free update 1:46:28 - Hideaki Itsuno joins Tencent 1:52:17 - Why exactly did Konami choose MGS3 for a remake? 1:55:24 - A Mass Effect TV series is in development at Amazon 2:05:41 - What We’re Playing 2:53:16 - Phil Spencer tells all in an interview with Bloomberg 3:39:05 - Bethesda goes on strike 3:46:14 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Contrary to their usual behavior, Xbox's communication has left no room for guessing as of late. In a recent marketing campaign titled "This Is An Xbox," the team showed a plethora of devices that you can access the Xbox ecosystem from. Following our conversation about Phil Spencer's interview with Bloomberg, the message already seemed clear that multi-platform is the future. Now, that message is crystal clear and there is no going back. The Dukes dive into the meaning behind this ad and, of course, what caveats may lie within their messaging as Phil was quick to assure console users that there would be more hardware. With plummeting hardware sales, why would Xbox seemingly abandon an install base of over 30 million users and risk damaging the start of their next generation? This becomes an even bigger question when their push on mobile is in its early beginnings and its PC app desperately needs work. The Xbox experience is best on the console, so what gives? Naturally, we have a lot to say on that, but we also have much to say on GAMES! The Dukes had a chance to go hands-on with Avowed in a digital preview event and things are shaping up quite nicely for Obsidian's next RPG. We get into the thick of our builds, choices, exploration, and even some bugs. We also dive into the hotly anticipated S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 which has faced much adversity in its lead up to launch. Now it's here and Matty has some thoughts after over 15 hours with the game so far. Plus more on Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024's disastrous launch, The Game Awards GOTY nominee kerfuffle, Starfield's November update, and plenty more in an episode with seemingly endless subjects to dive into! Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro 0:11:51 - Game Awards GOTY nominees 0:29:02 - Starfield's November Update 0:30:42 - Todd Howard’s takeaway on Shattered Space 0:42:48 - Microsoft Flight Sim 2024's chaotic launch 0:50:55 - Atomfall gets a release date 0:53:52 - Assassin's Creed Syndicate gets a next generation patch 0:59:48 - Kunitsu-Gami: Path Of The Goddess failed to hit its sales targets 1:03:52 - Remedy's shocking sales and budget transparency 1:07:55 - Embracer Group continues to plummet 01:13:21 - Dynasty Warriors Origins gets demo on November 22 1:13:52 - What We’re Playing 2:10:24 - This is an Xbox advertisements 2:33:56 - Sony is looking into purchasing the Kadokawa Corporation 2:56:22 - Avowed is coming to Battle Net and has 5 days of early access 3:11:19 - Coming soon to Xbox Game Pass 3:14:20 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The world of gaming sure didn't slow down for turkey week as the Dukes has plenty to dive into! It begins with the handheld wars. Steam, ASUS, Logitech, and many others have thrown their hat into the ring, but most await what Xbox and PlayStation will do. Recently, it was confirmed that an Xbox handheld is in development, but now Bloomberg has suggested that PlayStation is working on their own too. With the rise of PS Plus and streaming, PlayStation is slimming down the gap between them and Xbox on many features. What will Xbox need to do beyond timing its release well to compete with a company as synonymous with handhelds as Nintendo? More importantly, will Xbox and PlayStation find any success in a market that has seen very little handhelds sold in the scheme of things. We're far removed from the days of the Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance, and PlayStation Portable. So, what gives? The Dukes sink their teeth into this juicy rumor. Naturally, we discuss the evolving situation including Avowed and its art director. Has the situation gone too far and what action can be taken on both sides to mitigate this disaster? The talk is complicated and so we peel it back layer-by-layer as we get into the thick of another fantasy game caught in chaos. Plus, more on Xbox's new Game Studios lead, Call Of Duty's 4 year development cycle, and much more! Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro 0:25:01 - Avowed director Carrie Patel spoke to Gamesradar on Obsidian’s next game versus the competition 0:34:59 - 4 year dev cycles for Call Of Duty are the new norm? 0:42:37 - S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 has already sold 1 million copies 0:48:27 - Square Enix wants Final Fantasy VII Remake on Xbox 0:57:51 - Craig Duncan is officially the new head of Xbox Game Studios 1:00:09 - Black Myth Wukong getting “surprises” later in the year 1:02:03 - The Witcher 4 has entered full production, Cyberpunk 2077 has sold 30 million copies, and a new animated Cyberpunk show is on the way 1:08:09 - Casey Hudson’s studio, Humanoid Origin, has shut down 1:23:03 - Baldur’s Gate 3 profits insight 1:28:48 - Balatro made a looooot of money 1:32:29 - Top 20 best selling games for October in US 1:37:31 - What We’re Playing 2:09:08 - PlayStation's handheld has leaked 2:35:24 - Avowed drama recap 3:05:18 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the industry prepares for 2024's final and massive news week in The Game Awards, we sink our teeth into Indiana Jones & The Great Circle! This is the final massive (and temporary) Xbox exclusive for 2024, but more importantly, this is Machine Games's first release since the disastrous Wolfenstein Youngblood. What has the team been cooking in the time they've been away? The results just may surprise you if your expectations were in the company of Uncharted and Tomb Raider. We also dive deep into Kingdom Come Deliverance 2's aggressive release date move and what that means for its direct competitor in Avowed plus rumors of Forza Horizon 5 dropping on PlayStation, Game Awards predictions, and plenty more! Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro 0:29:26 - Forza Horizon 5 coming to PlayStation? 0:35:11 - Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 releases February 4th 0:53:10 - A new Stalker 2 patch is out with over 650 fixes 0:55:18 - Ubisoft is shutting down XDefiant 1:06:21 - BioWare’s Corinne Busche on future choices within Dragon Age 1:11:46 - News on Lies Of P developer next game 1:20:47 - FromSoftware is not doing Elden Ring 2 1:28:25 - Visions of Mana director Ryosuke Yoshida is leaving Netease 1:29:57 - Hironobu Sakaguchi on returning to Xbox 1:36:45 - Marvel Rivals monetization revealed 1:43:59 - What We’re Playing 2:39:10 - The final Game Pass drops of 2024… 2:43:12 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After a disastrous showing in 2023, Geoff Keighley and his team put together arguably their best show for the 10th anniversary of The Game Awards! While not perfect, major issues with pacing, presenters, and speech time seemed to be ironed out. It also doesn't hurt that the show was chockful of insane announcements. Of course, we get into The Black Rock who is delivering not just one, but two massive RPGs in a single year thanks to The Outer Worlds 2, but also a staggering list of other games. An Okami sequel is real as is Naughty Dog's new sci-fi IP. Onimusha is back as is a new IP for Yakuza developer, RGG. They're not just working on Project Century at RGG, but also reviving Virtua Fighter. Borderlands 4 and Mafia: The Old Country, massive showing in their own right, end up as footnotes due to the seismic amount of announcements packed into this show. The list goes on much longer than that, but we'll leave you a little something to listen to now. Enjoy! Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro 0:43:25 - What We’re Playing 1:17:26 - General thoughts on The Game Awards 1:28:51 - Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound 1:31:39 - Thick As Thieves 1:32:38 - Shadow Labryrinth 1:33:48 - Steel Paws 1:38:14 - Rematch 1:41:16 - Solasta 2 1:44:38 - The Witcher 4 1:50:00 - Elden Ring Nightrein 1:54:20 - Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth goes to PC 1:55:22 - Untitled Project from Ico, Shadow Of Colossus, Last Guardian devs 1:57:11 - The Outer Worlds 2 2:12:25 - Split Fiction 2:14:36 - Killing Floor 3 2:15:30 - The Long Dark 2 2:16:38 - Borderlands 4 2:23:42 - Clive Rosfield to Tekken 8 2:26:29 - Splitgate 2 2:26:49 - Virtua Fighter announcement 2:29:04 - Project Century by RGG 2:31:38 - Turok Origins 2:32:54 - Helldivers 2 2:33:14 - Warframe 1999 2:34:04 - Palworld Feybreak 2:36:11 - Onimusha Way Of The Sword 2:38:05 - The First Berserker 2:39:54 - Arad: Dungeon & Fighter 2:43:15 - Dying Light: The Beast 2:45:55 - Fortnite Ballistic 2:46:25 - Squid Game Unleashed 2:48:47 - Stage Fright 2:49:37 - Game Of Thrones Kingsroad 2:52:29 - Double Dragon Revive 2:54:21 - The Last Of Us 2 on PC 2:54:43 - Den Of Wolves 2:56:04 - Sonic Racing Crossworld 2:58:04 - Mafia: The Old Country 3:00:45 - Dispatch 3:02:48 - Okami Sequel announced by Capcom and Hideki Kamiya 3:05:48 - Crimson Desert 3:08:24 - Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s never a slow week on the Green Team, is it? Here are the Dukes thinking our final episode of the year will be a nice, steady, and quiet exit into the new year, but Xbox had different plans! This week, Satya Nadella addressed investors and claimed that Microsoft’s newest “This Is An Xbox” campaign is specifically defined to, well, redefine what it means to be an Xbox fan. So, what is an Xbox fan now? What is one by the new generation? Will there even be a shiny new box with that new generation at this rate? Every time the Dukes think this conversation is laid to rest, Xbox manages to twist the knife one more time. We also get into Xbox’s Project Rainway, a cross platform Xbox guide system, as well as why The Outer Worlds 2 is PS5 bound! We also sink our teeth into SEGA’s renaissance, what dormant IP Capcom may tackle next, why Starfield has so many loading screens, a boatload of “health is wealth” write-ins, and plenty more in a strong finish to a mighty interesting year for Xbox! Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro 0:47:23 - Big Xbox Game delayed in 2026? 0:52:26 - Call Of Duty to Game Pass soon? 0:54:08 - LEGO Horizon Adventures to Xbox 1:01:30 - Ex BGS developer Nate Purkeypile on Starfield’s loading screens 1:06:59 - Zenimax Online Studios workers have unionized 1:07:49 - Capcom is going back dormant IP 1:22:20 - Borderlands 4 might actually be serious 1:28:36 - New Far Cry leaks 1:37:58 - Dark Alliance is going offline on February 24, 2025 1:39:28 - What We’re Playing 2:10:15 - Xbox is "redefining what it means to be an Xbox fan" 3:00:36 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week 3:07:18 - What games are we playing during our holiday break? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

To say 2024 resembled a year of change for Xbox would be a bit of an understatement. Heading into a new year, the brand had all the momentum they had finally been seeking. They just delivered great, high profile exclusives in 2023 with the likes of a new Forza Motorsport, Starfield, and Hi Fi Rush, Game Pass delivered GOTY level experiences, and the Activision deal was finally done. Now, it was time to get down to business for the rest of the generation and Xbox did just that, only not in the way we expected. The reality is that the aforementioned momentum we all thought Xbox has ended up meaning very little. Their gaming brand barely generated profits in the final quarter of the year despite a highly anticipated Bethesda Game Studios game leading the charge. It was time for change and they made plenty. At the end of 2024, Xbox is now a multi-platform publisher, their dedication to future hardware is in question, and the social commentary surrounding their games has started to get messy. Combined with low quality deliveries in Shattered Space and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 as well as how divisive the long sought after Hellblade 2 ended up being and you have quite a lot to sift through. In a year full of negatives, can the Dukes find the positives, if any? How does 2025 shape up for Xbox with these changes now solidified? There's quite a bit to parse through, so let's get into one of the busiest years for Xbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Games are releasing at a ridiculous, potentially unsustainable pace. It's no longer a question of money, but rather time. Game Pass is always putting out good stuff, but there's so much to sift through that it makes the service a bit overwhelming. Well, the Dukes have arrived, and they have lists that they've checked twice. It's time to go over the naughty and nice for Xbox's prestige service in 2024. What games hit for Matty and Cog and which deserve a lump of coal in their stocking? Let's find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After two weeks of R&R, the Duke boys are back! Plenty happened while we were away. Everything from Oblivion Remake leaking (again) to a supposed Xbox console dropping in 2026 circulated, so we have much to pick up at the start of the new year. For starters, a Developer Direct looms and the lineup could be stacked if it's to include The Outer Worlds 2, Fable, DOOM: The Dark Ages, and South Of Midnight as expected. The question on the tip of everyone's tongue is simply this: "What is the mystery fifth game appearance?" In year one, it was Hi Fi Rush. Year two gave it to a rare third party appearance in Square Enix for Visions Of Mana. The Duke debate what could show up! We also dive into Xbox's sudden competition with Valve as they've lept headfirst into challenging Windows with their own OS. How has this accelerated Microsoft's plans without a handheld ready? Plus, grim estimates of Xbox's current console sales and, even worse, Xbox's sales hits to Game Pass titles! Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro 0:35:13 - Dispelling the Black Myth Wukong… myth? 0:44:29 - Series X & S sales estimates are bleak 1:03:08 - 80% of sales lost on Game Pass titles 1:11:44 - Xbox Cloud Gaming is headed to LG Smart TVs 1:12:38 - Kojima's OD sees a setback 1:16:40 - Xbox rejected a Halo/DOOM crossover for Secret Level 1:21:22 - Jez Corden on more Indiana Jones games 1:24:19 - Season 1 of Marvel Rivals revealed 1:30:54 - Splash Damage cancels Transformers: Reactivate 1:33:52 - SEGA considering its own subscription service 1:37:24 - First look at Virtua Fighter 6 1:41:31 - PlatinumGames says they’re planning some things.. 1:44:22 - Will Shen, former lead quest designer at BGS, on massive games 1:52:33 - So, this is where the former Annapurna Interactive team went 1:55:46 - SteamOS is available for third party devices 2:04:14 - Destiny 2 has lost 90% of its Steam players in seven months 2:13:37 - What We’re Playing 2:51:47 - Matty's 74 Hours on Xbox 3:06:31 - Xbox Developer Direct soon? 3:30:03 - Oblivion Remake rumors 3:48:17 - Coming soon to Xbox Game Pass 3:51:00 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As expected, the Xbox Developer_Direct is set to arrive soon and it will boast four games. Those titles are South Of Midnight, DOOM: The Dark Ages, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and a mysterious fourth game that's rumored to be from a "legendary Japanese IP." Naturally, the Dukes have many guesses about that, but also if there will the be usual fifth game that shows up like it has since Developer Direct became a thing. We won't have to wait long to find out. What we'll need to wait a while for is if Xbox will survive beyond 2030. No, that's not hyperbole. Outlet The Information reports that the Xbox business was set to shutdown in 2021 unless Game Pass subscriptions went up. What the rest of the write-up depicts are spooky times for the Green Team as it seems more and more like these moves by Xbox are more for survivability. Oblivion Remake continues to be a horribly kept secret, so we get into some new gameplay details on that, and also into what's going on with Ubisoft as Assassin's Creed Shadows sees another delay. You can get all of that, plus your weekly throat coat, all here on Defining Duke! Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro 0:26:02 - Bombshell report on Xbox’s financials 0:53:47 - Final Fantasy 7 to Xbox 0:55:34 - Marvel Rivals revenue on Xbox 0:58:50 - Unannounced Bethesda game listed on a French retailer 1:08:20 - Why Starfield did not have gore and dismemberment 1:11:10 - Assassin’s Creed: Shadows delayed to March 20th 1:21:52 - Larian Studios goes dark 1:22:29 - Blood Of Dawnwalker reveal 1:24:08 - Godfall developer Counterplay has reportedly shut down 1:26:32 - Smite 2 goes free to play 1:31:33 - What We’re Playing 1:56:00 - Avowed gut-check 2:04:06 - Game reveal nerves 2:25:32 - Xbox Developer Direct 2:50:48 - Xbox shipping games on PlayStation and Switch 3:10:49 - Oblivion Remake gameplay details 3:37:01 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The January Developer Direct has come and gone! With it, Xbox has finally achieved what many fans have desperately sought out for them to do since this generation started back in 2020: Have consistent releases in the front half of the year. Indeed, you'll be getting three major games from them between April 8th and May 15th on Game Pass. Those titles are Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, South Of Midnight, and DOOM: The Dark Ages. That's not all as the mysterious fourth (fifth?) showing is a strong return for Ninja Gaiden. A fourth entry is real and inbound for Fall of this year. Today, you can play Ninja Gaiden 2 Black which aims to straighten out problems over a decade old. With the return of 2D and 3D Ninja Gaiden, it truly is "The Year Of The Ninja" and the Dukes couldn't be happier about it. Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro 0:23:52 - Xbox Financials 0:36:25 - PlayStation’s live service initiative is a failure 1:18:07 - Extas1s has shared more games leaving Xbox 1:25:41 - Respawn’s upcoming Star Wars RTS game reveal soon 1:30:23 - Dragon Age Veilguard director leaves BioWare 1:39:25 - Hollow Knight Silksong is still real 1:41:40 - EA Origin is shutting down 1:42:34 - Some new sales numbers 1:43:55 - What We’re Playing 2:01:28 - Xbox Developer Direct 2:59:33 - BioWare Sales Update 3:12:19 - Indiana Jones sales 3:19:12 - Coming soon to Xbox Game Pass 3:24:11 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After a strong financial performance in December 2024 and a non-disastrous Phil Spencer interview, gamers are seemingly starting to bite on Xbox's vision a bit. After managing to fund games like Kunitsu-Gami, Ninja Gaiden 4, and reportedly picking up the phone to talk about Ori 3, Xbox appears to be driving all of their capital into making the unlikely games actually exist. If Xbox's future as a third party publisher is looking like this, it means that excellent games are enroute and that is a win for everyone. Do the Dukes agree?! Perhaps. You're going to have to listen to find out, obviously. Nerd. Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro 0:18:21 - Sony Interactive Entertainment announces that they are appointing Hideaki Nishino as President and CEO 0:34:57 - Ninja Gaiden 4 was in talks 6-7 years ago 0:42:35 - Gears Of War E-Day in 2025? 0:50:39 - The Gears Of War Judgment developer is back on Gears! 0:57:36 - Ori 3 is happening? 1:10:27 - DOOM: The Dark Ages is strictly single player 1:12:47 - Some updates on future Halo projects 1:25:42 - MLB The Show 25 is not coming to Xbox Game Pass 1:31:38 - BioWare is dramatically shrinking down 1:48:14 - Ubisoft is making cuts 1:49:18 - Split Fiction has officially gone gold 1:49:57 - Warner Bros Gaming division will have a new president 1:53:48 - What We’re Playing 2:22:26 - Xbox’s bold risk from 2024 is finally paying off 2:27:48 - Destin Legarie’s Phil Spencer interview 2:54:56 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joining this episode is Obsidian's very own Carrie Patel to tell us all we need to know going into Avowed! Everything from framerate and role-playing mechanics to the future of the Pillars franchise is covered in our deep dive with the game's director. Also, we get a bit into what's behind the secret sauce that allows a team like Obsidian to release so many games in a short period of time while the rest of the industry toils away on one-and-done projects. That's not the only news to come out of Obsidian as the lead writer of Fallout's most loved entry in New Vegas just returned to the studio. John Gonzalez is known for not only his work on the Horizon series, but also his iconic characters created such as Mr. House, the Strip families, Caesar, and so on. Could Obsidian be cooking on Fallout? Well, not according to John, but we theorize nonetheless. Naturally, we get into the plethora of PS5 ports announced this week in Forza Horizon 5 as well as the Age Of Empires series plus plenty more in a girthy week of Defining Duke! Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro 0:12:02 - John Gonzalez, lead creative designer on Fallout: New Vegas is back 0:21:33 - It’s raining PS5 ports! 0:31:31 - Gears Of War Trilogy Collection leaks? 0:36:09 - Breaking down Xbox’s Q2 2025 stats 0:59:05 - The Sleeping Dogs saga 1:04:05 - Final Fantasy VII Rebirth had a strong launch on Steam 1:08:48 - Devil May Cry 1 Remake possibly in development 1:13:51 - EA suggests that Dragon Age would’ve done better as a live service game 1:28:39 - First look at the new Battlefield 1:34:40 - Hideki Kamiya confirms that Platinum lost a ton of talent 1:41:24 - Some Capcom announcements 1:43:42 - Multiversus is going offline 1:47:19 - Fun economic updates for ya 1:52:49 - What We’re Playing 2:33:58 - Interview with Carrie Patel 3:17:16 - Coming soon to Xbox Game Pass 3:22:02 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After a long build up, the boys have played and finished Avowed! Joining the Dukes is Gene Park where we discuss everything from our combined experience with Avowed, to a preview with South Of Midnight, and even Sony's recent State Of Play. While there are few subjects to tackle, each of them have a lot of meat on their bones. So, let's not delay any further. Is Obsidian's latest RPG worth the dive? Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro 00:07:31 - State of Play 01:53:21 - WB Games continues to plummet 02:17:48 - Warhorse Studios updates 02:27:40 - Elden Ring Nightreign launch date 02:31:05 - GTA6 is still on for 2025 02:36:11 - What We’re Playing (Avowed) 04:02:43 - Game Pass Pick of the Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Xbox unveiled MUSE, a generative AI model aimed at boosting creativity and possibilities for gameplay. Published in the journal Nature as well as announced by Microsoft Research, the Xbox team shared findings alongside Ninja Theory on what this new AI model that was trained on Bleeding Edge could accomplish. In the extensive write-ups, we learn about the principles of this AI model, what Xbox's mandate is for it across their first party studios, and even get teased a bit on what it could mean for backwards compatibility. However, is it all sunshine and roses here for Xbox's new approach to game development? The push for AI is on more than ever and it's no longer a matter of "if" but rather "when." Like any tool, its public perception will be dictated by how responsibly it is handled. Joining Matty this week is Brad, to clean up the AI mess, and dive into a whole bunch of other Xbox news. We follow up our last episode's conversation on Avowed, dig into the future of Obsidian, mull over yet another Phil Spencer interview, and plenty more in what is bound to be divisive subject for many listeners. Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro/Avowed follow-up 0:22:33 - How will Obsidian scale after Avowed? 0:27:42 - Bobby Kotick interview 0:37:53 - Another Tony Hawk Pro Skater on the way? 0:45:09 - Jez Corden on Xbox’s next console 0:56:28 - Machine Games grows 0:59:35 - Updates on the leaked Final Fantasy remakes 1:09:14 - Stalker 2 is getting its biggest update yet 1:11:49 - Lost Soul Aside is getting a physical copy! 1:12:44 - Fairgame$ has been pushed to 2026 1:15:07 - System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster is getting a release date soon 1:18:47 - Kingdom Come Deliverance passes 2 million copies sold 1:19:57 - Funko Fusion developer 10:10 has reportedly been hit with layoffs 1:22:22 - Visionary art director Viktor Antonov passed away at age 52 1:24:39 - What We’re Playing 2:00:13 - Xbox introduces MUSE 2:35:24 - Phil Spencer interview 2:41:28 - Coming soon to Xbox Game Pass 2:43:30 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After a busy holiday season, there is an expected lull for gaming in January, but 2021 seems to be playing by its own ruleset. Xbox's acquiring of Bethesda may already be paying dividends with the announcement of Machine Games' brand new Indiana Jones game. For years Xbox has sought an answer to Uncharted even going to the length of purchasing timed exclusivity for a Tomb Raider game in 2015. After all this time, it appears the very answer may be the series that inspired Uncharted itself. Furthermore, EA and Disney's Star Wars exclusivity is dissolving before our very eyes, a deal that has brought quite a few problems to Disney's doorstep. All of this is happening underneath the rebranded umbrella of LucasFilm Games who looks to repeat the past success of Star Wars games echoing back to the early 2000s. The PC front also received its own significant reveal as Nvidia is bringing the RTX 3000 series to gaming laptops in the coming month. More importantly, what do Matty and Karak think of 5 Guys or certain activities occurring while our show is on in the background? It's a conversation as wild as Microsoft talking to Nintendo about buying them out. Wait, that actually happened! That along with updates on Halo Infinte, Xbox's digital storefront, Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order next gen info, and more headline our second episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Description: Today, Defining Duke invites in their very first guest to show, Chris Ray Gun! Chris sits down with Matty and Karak to mull over the 29 confirmed exclusive games dropping in 2021, but it always came back to Halo. Whether it is a flagship IP or not is up for debate, but the reality is that Halo Infinite is currently Xbox's biggest announced game coming soon and that means a lot is riding on it. From the free-to-play multiplayer, to valuable lessons learned by 343, to the campaign, Halo Infinite has all to gain or lose. The boys also sink their teeth into new major additions to Game Pass and Microsoft shopping for big studios to acquire. For a company that just acquired Bethesda, it looks like they're not done yet, but who's next? That along with the future of Ninja Gaiden, S.T.A.L.K.E.R., and more squeeze into this week's show! Let's discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It was an incredibly busy week for Xbox! The Xbox Live Gold fiasco, their first major Xbox Series X/S exclusive released, and Microsoft shared the company's recent earnings painting a clear picture of where Xbox stands as a division within the company. Even more crazy is that amongst all of this, there are rumors spreading of how one of the original Xbox's RPG exclusives may be making a return. That very RPG is Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic and it is seemingly in development at a studio not owned or dealing with EA in any capacity. What does this mean for the future of this Xbox classic and what scoops do Matty and Karak have from their sources? Topping off this wild week are confirmed monthly updates to Halo Infinite, share/capture changes inbound, and what could've been with a Jade Empire sequel! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The terms "Xbox" and "Future" tend to be synonymous. While there are great games, the true investment lies in the plethora of exclusive deals and acquisition made by the company. With that in mind, gamers are hungry to learn more on what Xbox plans to do with all the Bethesda studios now under their umbrella and it appears the answer may be arriving next month. Interestingly, Xbox has managed to nab an exclusive from PlayStation as MLB The Show has moved to the multi-plat business meaning you can officially purchase an Xbox game with PlayStation studios on the front. Does this impact the future of other exclusives? We discuss! In other news, Xbox manages to extend their lead in game streaming as Stadia shuts down all first party development and Mass Effect is making a return much bigger than expected. That plus much more rounds out our fifth episode of Defining Duke. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Games are often understood as a form of art, but it appears that many suits are still playing catch-up in that regard! After five years, WB Games has successfully managed to lock down the defining mechanic for their Middle Earth series of games. This isn’t the first we’ve seen of game mechanics being patented, but is a move that only serves to stagnate the industry further as options to innovate become limited. Furthermore, Xbox has teased a new place and way to play for the Halo Master Chief Collection. Could this be the long awaited Switch port or is it something far more simple? We dissect! While next gen consoles are hard to come by, they do sell out upon availability and this month saw the win go to Xbox as they lead the month of January 2021 in console sales. Is this a product of supply constraints loosening or Xbox strategically seizing a region of the world? Also, more on Stubbs The Zombie, E3’s anticipated return, upcoming Microsoft events, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Xbox has been leading the charge on backwards compatibility for years. This has mostly come in the form of being able to access your games from previous generations, but this week, they made good on a promise of making those games better. By introducing an FPS boost, Xbox hopes to make those backwards compatible titles even better for you as Karak went hands on with the program and breaks down his experience. Last week brought about the conversation of Halo MCC possibly moving to a new platform, but it is much more simple than that. A custom games browser has been added and even a brand new map to Halo 3 from the canceled Halo Online! Digging deeper, Game Pass received a new haul of exciting games, some not even three months old, and the xCloud program looks to be expanding even more if reports from The Verge are to be believed. That along with Final Fantasy 14 not being on Xbox, a new wireless headset by Xbox, and much more decorate this week's Defining Duke! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Week by week, we inch closer to the conclusion of the Bethesda-Xbox merging and, more importantly, answers to pressing questions. What of exclusivity? When is Bethesda Game Studios' Starfield arriving? It looks like in the middle of March we will be learning what this means for the future of both companies becoming one. On the other side of the spectrum, PlayStation has moved another one of their exclusives to PC and this is a good sign for those of the 'master race.' Both sides are embracing the middle man and this means more games for everyone. Otherwise in a rumor filled week, Matty and Karak dig into the possibility of Death Stranding making its way to Xbox as well as what Avalanche Studios is up to based off some peculiar job listings. It's a busy, but good time this week! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Walkthrough and Soulsbornekiro expert FightinCowboy joins the show! After nearly two years of silence, fans of Elden Ring finally have some answers. Unfortunately for Namco Bandai, none of this was planned. The new IP by From Software has suffered a major leak boasting an internal gameplay trailer and, worse yet, the potential showcase for this re-reveal has been outed as well. What do we make of this? Will it be a situation similar to Hogwart's Legacy where the leak comes and then the game disappears for years? In other news, Dying Light 2 continues to stumble. Previously linked to Xbox in some kind of exclusivity deal, Techland is struggling internally on which direction this game should head in. From an inconsistent development pipeline, to disgruntled employees leaving the team, and a peculiar obsession with what others are doing has led to a reporting by The Gamer exposing this and much more. On a less heavy note, more rumors swirl on Xbox's March event, Halo Infinite received a batch of new screenshots, and we sift through all of your fantastic Patron questions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

No more guessing. This week, Phil Spencer, Pete Hines, Todd Howard, and many others gathered to break down everything on the future of this acquisition. Game Pass additions, exclusivity, a summer event. It is all laid out for us to feast on. Now that we know what is happening, where do we go from here? Matty and Karak sift through week's of build-up and release it all in this very episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hot on the heels of rolling Bethesda into the fold, Xbox is sustaining momentum in the following week. Xbox Game Pass continues to solidify itself as the best value deal in gaming and things have somehow managed to get even better. On day one of its release you will be able to download Outriders through Game Pass on consoles! Major third party deals will continue to lift the service to new heights and Xbox understands that as they are bringing Octopath Traveler to Xbox as well. This is momentous as it marks the first time in ages Xbox has scored a JRPG ahead of PlayStation. With things unraveling as they are, Matty and Karak tapped reviewer Mike Williams of PCMag on the shoulder for additional input. Combine that with Game Pass on PC finally getting EA Play, a major event rumor, plus new Halo Infinite details and we are looking at a super episode here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the attention on Xbox, the time is now for them to strike and strike again. Rolling on weeks after one of their biggest moves they are now setting up a Indy showcase the debut brand new exclusives to the console. More shockingly, word has started to get around about a big Microsoft focused acquisition that could directly benefit Xbox in the name of the very popular video game chat service known as Discord. The major question has been will these games round out Xbox is big 2021 and 2022 as well as discord meeting the same fate as Skype? Is Skype in as sticky of a situation as it has been reported or do numbers say otherwise? As Xbox continues to make big moves for its future, Matty and Karak continue to dig. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The monthly embarrassment has arrived! While Game Pass kills it to the point of saying it yet again feeling redundant, Games With Gold continues to meander. Bringing another package of lackluster titles leaves us with one big question... is it time to sunset this one beloved program? In the backwards compatibility world, Xbox continues to push the limits. Elder Scrolls or Fallout: New Vegas on the phone? Sign us up! The timing is great for them as it syncs up with PlayStation shutting down the PSP, PS vita, and PS3 digital storefronts. How will Xbox continue this initiative moving forward? Plenty to go through in our longest episode yet! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

E3 was one of the victims of the pandemic, but with a new digital strategy in place it will be making a return in June of 2021. Xbox will be attendance and Bethesda will following them up leaving a lot of opportunity available to make a major impact. Will Xbox ditch their CGI trailer ways of the last year and give us strong looks at the likes of Fable, Avowed, Starfield, and Forza? Is Bethesda Game Studios going to fully dedicate Starfield to next-gen hardware? After analyzing some Todd Howard comments, the timing of the acquisition, and xCloud's surge, it's possible, but the boys discuss. In this same massive week, Xbox nabbed one of the former PlayStation exclusive titles as a Game Pass Day One addition. Where does this service start and end? How far will Xbox continue to go? That alongside more of YOUR questions round out a strong week for the industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

So, we're an Xbox and PC show. You've read the title, you know this. However, a large chunk of the audience write-ins were reflections on the Don Mattrick era and PlayStation's major shifts that have dragged Xbox into a favorable position. I thought for this episode it would be fun with a slower news week to turn our attention toward Bloomberg's reporting of PlayStation honing in on blockbuster titles only. As we continue to say, it's more clear than ever that Xbox and PlayStation are marching to entirely different beats and that means we are certainly in for one of the most interesting console generations. On the news side of things, more information has popped up suggesting Persona 5 Royal is heading to Xbox and some titles such as Everwild, Fable, and Perfect Dark might be caught in the development pipeline for some time! Oh, and debates on if sushi is a fish hot dog.. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Xbox’s executives have earned a reputation for teasing upcoming announcements in the background of their set-ups. This week, the games continued with a Nintendo Switch appearing in the studio during Microsoft’s Game Stack event. The boys sit down to investigate! In other updates throughout the Xbox world, Discord backs out on a Microsoft purchase, new Xbox Game Pass additions and subtractions, as well as the introduction of Game Pass Cloud streaming for iOS devices! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It is a rare quiet week for Xbox as we quickly approach E3. As plans begin to be set in stone, we look at the potential titles to expect at gaming's biggest show and, subsequently a release in the fall. That's where Bethesda Game Studios' first new IP in two decades arrives and sets the conversation for our show. With more rumbles of a 2021 reveal and release, should we truly expect that with how game development has gone? Xbox Game Pass quietly adds a nifty title to its library, updates on Obsidian Entertainments, talks of dinosaurs, and more decorate a slower week for our industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Epic and Apple are currently engaged in battle in the courtroom thanks to Fortnite’s mobile version which tried to circumvent the 30% cut Apple typically takes. Through that, we have seen all that occurs behind closed doors and it has been fascinating. For starters, a Phil Spencer e-mail that shines a spotlight on a recurring topic yet again: xCloud on Nintendo Switch. Plus, PlayStation’s true stance on crossplay has been unveiled and we even have financial dealings between publishers and Epic Games to investigate! That’s not it as Discord who was previously linked to Microsoft before turning away from them has now joined up with PlayStation via bringing the Discord app to their console early next year. How will this impact the future of crossplay and cross progression? Oh, and why Burger King shouldn’t exist! Great stuff to get into this week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Xbox looks to be shifting to a next generation state of mind. First party studios inXile Entertainment, Ninja Theory, and now The Coalition have all moved their work to Unreal Engine 5. This settings up the alluring discussion of how quickly we can transition, if at all, into those generation defining experiences! All is not well in the first party world! 343 Industries came under seemingly unfair criticism from the press and content creators when accusations of crunch began to surface. This all stems back to a single skybox artist who used to work at the company, Eric Lin. He followed up on his misinterpreted comments and that’s where the story really begins. Over in Bethesda land, the bad news for them is good news for us! Starfield leaks! Sprinkle on top a scathing discussion of french fries being dipped in a frosty and you have yourself the 19th week of Defining Duke. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week in news that's kind of, sort of not news, we talk a ton of Starfield! Just as Head Of Xbox Phil Spencer had said, it will indeed be an Xbox and PC exclusive. This brings forward two major questions. First, what is occurring in the industry where widely known news is news? Second, what does this mean for IP such as Fallout, Elder Scrolls, DOOM, Dishonored, and more? We re-visit and discuss! Plus, new Day One Game Pass additions in the name of Dungeons & Dragons Dark Alliance, Knockout City, and The Wild At Heart! Has Xbox Game Pass reached a point where consumers aren't as excited by the addition of day one launches through the service? Oh, and an advice show. Yes. Really. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With E3 hyping ramping up, anything is possible! Yes, that even means Valve coming to consoles. Reports are in that the company is working on their own PC handheld akin to the Nintendo Switch. What does this mean for the likes of emulation, game streaming, xCloud, and more? There's plenty to sift through. Speaking of, Karak and Matty obsess to an annoying extent over the asset announcing Xbox's E3 showcase. Backwards compatible additions? Starfield? Halo Infinite beta? So many possibilities! Xbox's future DRM problems have reared its ugly head once more, this time thanks to the oft applauded Smart Delivery service. Can Xbox solve this crucial problem that will impact future generations of gamers? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Christmas in June has arrived! With E3 season in full swing, developers are set to make major announcements on all manner of games! With that, we tap the shoulder of Lord Cognito to dissect all 23 first party studios under Xbox and give our ‘yay’ or ‘nay’ to their appearance at the grand show. Who will we see? Time shall tell! In other news, Ubisoft dives into the political nature of their latest game, Far Cry 6. Meanwhile, Dying Light 2 enjoys a re-reveal and Battlefield is setting up to show itself on the 9th of June. That and plenty more to talk about in a jam packed episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's a special episode for a special event. Xbox and Bethesda have teamed up for the first time to put on a showcase displaying what is heading to the ecosystem throughout the rest of 2021 and into 2022. Out of the 30 titles shown off, 27 are making their way to Xbox Game Pass which no doubt piles on the already staggering value. With that, they also hit hard with new console exclusives like Contraband, Starfield, Redfall, and many more. For a company with "no games," Xbox has attempted to flip that script very quickly. The remaining question is, has this showcase delivered enough to justify the purchase of the new consoles? Are concepts enough? As expected, we dive deep. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One of the primary points of critique for Xbox since the Xbox One has been its lack of meaningful releases. It was significant when an exclusive occurred, but the towering dominance of quality known as PlayStation exclusives would play as cleanup time in and time out. After E3 2021, one part of the critique can be put to bed. Month in, month out, Xbox has games for 2021 and they are bringing many more in 2022 as their investments heat up for 2023. So, for the first time in our show, we can sit down just talk the games coming to Xbox with updates on them. Forza Horizon 5, Redfall, and plenty more big titles coming to Xbox get filled out with important information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First and foremost, a big thank to Karak for being an excellent host for Defining Duke. We will miss his commentary, jokes, and analysis on the latest in Xbox. With that in mind, Defining Duke will soon be bringing a new host on board that we will announce soon. Onto the news! Xbox has touted the cloud for years and now they're making big hirings and one in particular is for Hideo Kojima to help him make something for Xbox. The prospect of Xbox extracting one of the dominant players in the PlayStation space certainly is tantalizing and it looks like they plan to make big moves to ensure it goes according to their desires. Aside from that, EA is looking to resurrect (HA!) Dead Space! Hailing from EA Motive, it is reportedly a re-imagining and not a direct sequel. What does this mean for the survival horror franchise and EA's approach to reviving old franchises? More pressing, what are our thoughts on the nature of leaks full on spoiling big reveals? Matty and Ben team up to tackle this and much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a special episode, we welcome Lord Cognito into the Last Stand Media family as our permanent co-host for Defining Duke. Cognito brings years of podcasting experience across Iron Lords Podcast & The Last Word podcast while standing as a strong representation of what Last Stand brings to the table. Honesty, respect, and hard work. He was #1 on our list and we're honored to have him in the fold week in and week out. Now, for the news! In the realm of PlayStation, they wrapped up one (maybe even two) studios that clearly belong in their first party portfolio. Those being Housemarque and Bluepoint. The two titans continue to battle in their own way and, as always, the question is who's next? Matty and Cog dissect! Otherwise, Phil Spencer provides much sought after clarity on the release window of Halo Infinite. Why exactly didn't we get a date? Phil provides the goods on top of the status of Killer Instinct's future! With that combined with more pressing topics like Cognito's burger choice, we have a lot to get through today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Reports, reports, and more reports! That's a TLDR for you. We have reports on the future of Grand Theft Auto's next entry which will feature an "evolving map" best compared to events in Fortnite. Assassin's Creed joins the fray of single player platforms that will be supported for years. In yet another report, it is revealed that much like Halo Infinite, Assassin's Creed will have a platform boasting multiple settings which will be added to for many years to come. How does this shift the single player landscape? In other (you guessed it) reports, we learn about a letter of intent signed between Hideo Kojima and Xbox that will likely guarantee this partnership bears fruit. I warned ya! Lots of reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Xbox team made the press rounds this week and dove into the likes of controller changes, VR/AR, early access, but most importantly to everyone (and especially Cog!) is that #JustONE! Fans have wanted Xbox to go all out with their single player narrative games and Phil Spencer has just claimed they have more in development than they ever had in the history of Xbox. An exciting trajectory for sure, so Matty and Cog shake out Xbox's future. Alongside that, a major week in the world of Japanese games. PC trouble has struck spin-off series Judgment and Persona celebrates its 25th anniversary! Will Johnny & Associates enter the modern age and let Takuya Kimura follow his wife on Instagram?! What of the future of Judgment as a series?! We discuss that alongside the alluring idea of Persona heading to Xbox and much more in a jam packed week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Last week saw the PC savvy Valve announce their entrance into the console market in the form of a handheld that aims to bring the PC experience in Switch-like form factor. As Team Handheld, Matty and Lord Cognito immediately love what they see, but the potential in Steam Deck goes beyond that of Valve. Indeed, it is the potential Xbox has to grow through this device like many others as we continue to wonder if Xbox will finally enter the handheld market. Beyond that, Xbox saw a record month in hardware sales likely thanks to their strong E3 2021 showcase. Together, we analyze the numbers and if they represent the future of Xbox's success? That success is due to a commitment of exclusives! One of which has now been delayed in the name of Fatshark's Warhammer 40,000: Darktide. It has slipped into 2022, so the team discusses. More importantly, your Patron questions such as Cog's commitment to the New York Mets and Matty's broken heart over Mega Man. It's a fire episode, so get cozy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lots happening in the Xbox world this week! For starters, eager fans can finally sink their teeth into Halo Infinite flight testing as it goes live this weekend. Only one of the two hosts made it in... can you guess who? That aside, it is a test boasting bot matches, but more than anything we will finally be able to get a true feel of the game! On the other end of the spectrum, Forza Horizon 5 displayed even more impressive visuals throughout three new biomes. The game is staggering on multiple levels and we comb through the details on this highly anticipated exclusive. Beyond that, we dip our toes into The Coalition pool where the talented team showed off some tech demos using Unreal Engine 5. Gears Of War 6 is confirmed to look beautiful! Between major drops on Game Pass with Microsoft Flight Simulator and The Ascent along with big fall games sneaking up, Xbox looks to be finally hitting their stride for the year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alongside a fantastic technical preview for Halo Infinite's multiplayer came some scary news for fans who have been waiting years for Infinite to finally drop. For starters, story spoilers are spreading throughout the web thanks to campaign files which were data mined from that very technical preview. That's not all as the very fitting battle royale mode may have also been discovered thanks to some voice lines uncovered by Jeff Steitzer! What do all these leaks make for the future of this make-or-break title for Xbox? The Duke discuss! Furthermore, Forza Motorsport 7 has been curiously delisted from all Xbox digital marketplaces. It's still playable and available, but the racing sim sized hole is now being filled with questions. With other Game Pass games tangled with licenses suffer a similar fate? The Ascent launched this past week on Xbox, PC, and Game Pass! It's yet another important exclusive as Xbox finds its legs. Matty and Cog dig in on what works and doesn't for this beautiful twin stick shooting action RPG. In other news, the Activision Blizzard situation continues to develop with a new page being added to the sorrowful storybook day by day. We finally delve into the ugly situation and all it has to offer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joining us this week in one of our longest episodes to date is the Man With A Million, Rand Al Thor! Matty, Cognito, and Rand team up for the perfect week as Xbox blew the lid off all their plans for upcoming content. For starters, three different showcases arrived for the company this month. One has already passed which is ID @ Xbox's Twitch indie showcase. What Game Pass additions and indie gems caught the boys' eyes? Later in August is the headliner, Xbox's Gamescom show. It aims to provide updates to titles coming THIS YEAR. Is it finally time for a Halo Infinite release date? Will the illusive titles such as The Gunk and Runic show up? Plenty of questions that we hope to have answered. Also in August is QuakeCon, a Bethesda focused event which will provide updates on their very own games. The pressing question being how slim are the chances of exclusives like Starfield and Redfall appearing? We can only hope for updates! Speaking of, plenty of updates come to current and upcoming titles. Stalker 2, Hellblade, Atomic Heart, and plenty more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Phil answered one of the most pressing questions since the reveal of the Steam Deck. Can it play Xbox games via the cloud? Now, we finally have our answer. Carrying it beyond that, Matty and Cognito dive into if this is enough or could Xbox go make their own handheld with Nintendo and Valve successfully entering the space? Beyond that, the head of Xbox took an interview with GamesRadar where they honed in on the fine craft of PlayStation and their excellent open world titles. His reply to the status of those games was telling of where the company is heading and the diverse portfolio they aim to bring. Drumming up more Xbox drama, Outriders developer People Can Fly listed quite the revelation on their investor website. It appears the game is not profitable! The question is, as a day one Xbox Game Pass game, is this the cause of the failure? The boys sink into the controversy which goes beyond Xbox! Such as with Boyfriend Dungeon, a game who's artistic interpretation of dark subject matter has been met with demands of censorship and opt-outs. A topic that has arguably brought more players to the game rather than pushing them away as intended. Rounding it, Matty and Cognito dive into Remedy's recent success, Rockstar's remasters, and the latest coming to Xbox Game Pass! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's another juicy episode and there's no one better to have alongside us to break everything down then Jez Corden of Windows Central Gaming. After a week of announcements across QuakeCon and Gamescom, we gather to break it all down. From Halo Infinite's long anticipated release date all the way to updates on titles such as Forza Horizon 5, Age Of Empires IV, The Gunk, and major new Game Pass editions. Bethesda also had a loud week as they are planning to sell us Skyrim again along with a host of new content on top of Fallout Worlds showing up in September. Beyond that, they dipped further into the nostalgia bag with Quake Remastered! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hideo Kojima is a name that continues to be tossed around on a partnership for Xbox, but it appears his work with PlayStation isn't finished if reports of a Death Stranding 2 are to be trusted. Is this a case of a mistranslated quote from actor Norman Reedus or will Kojima play both sides of the fence? Knowing the optics of the situation, you would have to assume that Xbox would like to isolate the legendary director. In other news, Xbox has announced a showcase of sorts for Tokyo Game Show. After Gamescom, the industry learned their lesson that the term "showcase" doesn't mean information galore and you may not even be able to trust that its biggest games are there. With expectations firmly in check, Matty and Cog dive into how Xbox needs to make strong moves to become a global brand. From localization to establishing new talent, it has been a consistent weak spot for the brand. The most important question asked in our show's history has also been answered: would we rather watch our parents do it everyday for the rest of our lives or join in once? It's an Xbox gaming show, what did you expect? A clever third answer just may raise its head... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a lighter news week, we shift our attention to PlayStation who was making the most noise. Thanks to next-gen upgrade backlash surrounding Horizon Forbidden West, the pitchforks were pulled out and raised high by fans of the platform. With that, Matty & Cog dip into PlayStation's incidental marketing of Smart Delivery and how the service is being pushed without Xbox doing much of anything. Scoping out the lay of the land, it appears that a $10 upgrade could be questionable depending on how long last generation titles hang around. In other headlines, Alan Wake is back! Formerly an Xbox exclusive, fans beyond that ecosystem can finally experience its wacky and zany nature this fall. What does this mean for the future of the series? We discuss! Perhaps more discussed than any of this is the situation over at Tripwire where CEO John Gibson was removed after comments made about a new bill passed in Texas. After revealing his thoughts on the situation, John is out, and with that we have a important topic to mull over. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week's Defining Duke, we are joined by none other than "The Mayor" Ben Smith who serves as Last Stand Media's associate producer. No, nothing happened to Sea Of Thieves! However, it appears there is a leak in a ship at sea known as GeForce Now. It is on this cloud based streaming service that recently we saw the likes of Resident Evil 4 Remake, Injustice 3, a new Lord Of The Rings game, Kingdom Hearts 4, and plenty more leak. Now, Nvidia is attempting to do damage control, but the boys have thoughts on leaks beyond familiar names. Within this are codenames for upcoming Xbox exclusives! In other news, Knights Of The Old Republic is leaving Xbox behind (for a limited time) and you know that Matty just couldn't help himself with this one. Beyond the Marvel and Star Wars discourse is a conversation on important subjects like Cog's grunting, Matty's priority of cigars instead of city keys, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, the leaky faucets of the games industry were at work! For starters, Dad Of Xbox Jez Corden went to work providing details on Project Indus & Project Cobalt which were discussed during last week's Defining Duke. Through this report, we learn a lot of secrets on what developer Oxide Games and inXile are up to. Beyond that, a new Star Wars game is reportedly in development if multiple sources are to be trusted. The team behind it? Quantic Dream who recently split off from PlayStation. The crazier aspect? It's supposedly open world! The Dukes discuss this big change of pace. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Defining Duke we are joined by Jeff Grubb to go over the latest in gaming! Before we get into anything, someone should call Tostitos because there are a ton of scoops this week. The biggest headline circling the Xbox camps is what is happening with Crystal Dynamics? Recently, they were brought into the fold to work on Perfect Dark, but now that partnership has expanded to a Game Pass deal for Avengers that seemed long overdue. Excellent timing or something brewing? We scoop! Beyond that, Netflix has joined what is a big time for spending across game companies. Welcoming in Night School Studio to their game development program, we are left asking one question. Is there a particular reason for these studios getting gobbled up? Diving into the nature of the industry plus the economy is required! That plus behind-the-scenes on scoops, why Matty likes Quantum Break, and much more decorate a very fun episode Defining Duke. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices