Defining Duke: An Xbox Podcast

Star Wars: Fate Of The Old Republic. Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:01:35 - Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic0:15:50 - Pragmata Release Date0:17:26 - New Divinity Game0:23:50 - Coven of the Chicken Foot0:25:26 - Ontos0:27:00 - 4:LOOP0:29:23 - Order Of The Sinking Star0:30:52 - South of Midnight gets PS5 and Switch 2 reveal0:33:50 - Exodus0:39:34 - Control Resonant0:41:42 - Lego Batman: Legacy Of The Dark Knight0:43:48 - Tomb Raider0:47:37 - Saros Delayed0:49:42 - Star Wars: Galactic Racer0:52:04 - Award winners1:08:25 - Resident Evil Requiem1:12:03 - Gang of Dragon1:20:02 - Invincible VS Release Date1:22:17 - Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred1:23:59 - Total War: Warhammer 40,0001:27:37 - Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve1:32:31 - Phantom Blade Zero Release Date1:35:41 - Mega Man Dual Override1:42:48 - Highguard1:56:29 - Wrap Up Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Despite any gripes with Xbox this year, there's no denying that 2026 presents a fun challenge for them. Fable, Forza Horizon 6, Halo, and Gears Of War E-Day are all slated to drop next year. However, a new wrinkle has been introduced in the ambitious RPG, Clockwork Revolution, which hails from inXile Entertainment. After a seven minute trailer from this summer's showcase, we felt this thing had to be ready to go soon. Sadly, the RPG titan tempered our expectations when the trailer ended with the familiar statement from its initial reveal: "Coming in due time." Well, if a LinkedIn profile is to be believed, Clockwork Revolution may join the fray of a busy year for the "biggest publisher in gaming." Naturally, we hone in on GTA 6 which creates a splash radius so large that every publisher will be avoiding them for the fall. How Xbox navigates this will be interesting as we have yet to consider overdue titles like State Of Decay 3 and third party deals. Buckle up, friends! It's going to be a wild ride. Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:06:49 - Health Is Wealth0:11:42 - Birthday video games0:24:49 - Holiday gaming plans0:30:43 - Our reveal predictions for The Game Awards0:37:07 - What is that Game Awards statue?0:41:43 - Avowed roadmap updated0:50:38 - Microsoft might want to add AI to Game Pass1:00:04 - Xbox Game Pass is done for the year1:05:04 - CD Projekt Red wants the new Witcher trilogy done in 6 years1:28:49 - Make or Break moment for Yacht Club Games1:38:21 - The art controversy with Marathon has been settled1:43:00 - There will be a Hitman 41:45:49 - Ubisoft cuts plans for Assassin’s Creed Shadows DLC1:51:10 - Splinter Cell director returns1:54:35 - Bloodlines 2 sales flop1:58:23 - Is Shadow The Hedgehog getting his own movie?2:01:41 - What’s next for Metal Gear Solid?2:08:11 - Control 2 reveal at The Game Awards?2:09:19 - Some sales updates2:10:42 - What We’re Playing3:01:50 - Xbox’s 2026 release rumors Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Thanks to the likes of OpenAI, hardware manufacturers are scrambling to adjust prices amidst a shortage of RAM. As a result, things are about to become more expensive again! Unlike companies like Lenovo or PlayStation who seemingly bought stock in advance to help avoid price shock, Xbox appears to be ready to pass this one onto the consumer. Naturally, the "Xbox refugees" have turned their attention toward the Steam Machine which could fill a void in our gamer hearts. However, the Dukes find it hard to imagine a hero in this stock shortage story. Just how much will the Steam Machine be after Valve admits they will not be subsidizing and are just looking to make the device competitive? Will it look good beside a PlayStation 6 or next gen Xbox? We have a lot of questions, little answers, and even less money. Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:04:41 - Health Is Wealth0:14:29 - Let’s chat some more about Charlie ‘4 Hours’ Cox0:22:50 - Xbox’s November 2025 update0:31:40 - Default Game Profiles come to the Xbox Ally0:35:06 - The Xcrocs are (sadly) real0:41:13 - Battlefield 6 versus Black Ops 71:04:07 - Destiny 3 is in the works?1:09:10 - A crazy week in the world of Ubisoft1:31:50 - TMNT is getting the Sonic treatment1:43:28 - Leaked messages of what got Rockstar employees fired1:46:03 - Intergalatic: The Heretic Prophet is years away1:50:00 - Stellar Blade 2 will be multiplatform1:50:59 - Death Stranding 2 coming to PC soon?1:52:57 - Exodus trailer confirmed for The Game Awards1:56:57 - Cyberpunk’s sequel is ramping up1:59:42 - SEGA admits their definitive versions could hurt sales2:13:12 - What We’re Playing2:44:17 - Valve talks Steam Machine value as Xbox is expected to jump their prices again Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As was originally reported, Xbox brought out a Partner Preview in November. It was chockful of everything strange like a co-op alien shop simulator or a thuggish rabbit beating up baddies to more traditional first person horror titles. The catch was that every game we saw throughout was a Play Anywhere title, a program that many of Xbox's players still yearn for the platform to leverage more. All in all, the Dukes enjoyed the show, especially given it dropped ahead of the biggest show of the year in the Game Awards where announcements are typically prioritized. Beyond that, we dive deep into the Valve rumor mill. Half Life 3 is everywhere! Is it finally happening and are the Dukes believers? We get into that plus updated thoughts on the Steam Machine now that we've had some time to digest the triple-whammy Valve hit us with last week. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at https://www.shopify.com/duke Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:13:32 - Discussing The Game Awards nominees0:31:43 - The myriad of Half Life 3 rumors0:36:54 - Valve’s focus for the Steam Machine0:51:16 - Xbox Ally is exceeding expectations0:55:09 - Xbox releases game publishing documentation to the public0:59:26 - Obsidian has yet to use generative AI1:03:17 - Activision caught using AI generated assets in Black Ops 71:12:01 - Bethesda responds to Fallout 4’s anniversary issues1:28:04 - Krafton is now the publisher of Hi Fi Rush, but there’s a catch1:31:37 - New comments by Sarah Bond on Xbox’s future1:37:18 - PlayStation was indifferent to market shrinking in Japan1:46:07 - Where is Yoko Taro?1:48:58 - A new Ratchet & Clank game got revealed1:56:42 - Don’t call it a Concord comeback2:00:35 - Silent Hill Townfall’s release date leaked2:02:15 - Ubisoft canceled Splinter Cell for xDefiant2:10:02 - Red Dead Redemption 1 gets next gen update2:10:56 - Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 reaches 4 million sales figure2:13:38 - First look at Zelda movie2:14:27 - Death Stranding is getting an original anime on Disney+2:17:16 - Coming soon to Xbox Game Pass2:19:42 - What We’ve Been Playing3:11:50 - Xbox Partner Preview Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Xbox's big bet for bringing PCs to the living room has officially been undercut. This week, Valve announced three (!) different pieces of hardware. First, there is the Steam Machine, which serves as the strongest competitor to consoles. While still very much a PC, the Steam Machine packs a lot of punch for a small device and could be a force if priced well. Second, a brand new VR headset in the Steam Frame. Despite Meta having massive first-party support, Valve has decided to challenge a space that many of us thought was finished growing. Third, and finally, is a Steam Controller. It's horrendous looking and makes the Duke look ergonomic. How does Valve's aggressive hardware plans disrupt Xbox and does any lingering appeal for the PC in the living room by Xbox remain? The Dukes unite and dive straight in. Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:08:49 - The Hair Crisis0:13:57 - Halo Infinite support is ending0:21:59 - Former Nintendo President opens up on Xbox and Switch 20:31:59 - State Of Play Japan reactions0:47:15 Arc Raiders is a smash hit0:57:04 - GTA 6 has been delayed1:09:02 - Take Two proves great narrative games sell well1:13:02 - Borderlands 4 sales are soft1:18:58 - Dispatch sells over 1 million copies1:20:47 - Ghost Of Yotei sells over 3 million copies1:23:00 - BioWare and EA recommit to Mass Effect1:42:28 - Marvel 1943: Rise Of Hydra has been delayed1:44:35 - Silent Hill 2’s Xbox release date leaks1:48:42 - Nintendo first party are using game key cards1:51:07 - Square Enix undergoes layoffs and drops new roadmap2:03:02 - Trails In The Sky Remake 2 confirmed for 20262:05:54 - What We’re Playing3:00:07 - Valve announces Steam Machine, Frame, and Controller3:28:55 - Todd Howard interview3:42:30 - Avowed 2 is in the cards, but not Outer Worlds 3? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's been quite the year for Obsidian Entertainment. Following three major releases in one year with Avowed, Grounded 2 (Early Access), and The Outer Worlds 2. Obsidian finds itself discussing their future and relevance in a world where "Microsoft Gaming" exists. Cog and Hoeg discuss the significance of revisiting the Pillars of Eternity universe with their latest turn based announcement. What does the future also hold for this studio? In addition to all the latest news in the world of Xbox! Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:02:50 - Health Is Wealth0:05:01 - Does Cog Really Hate Exclusives?0:17:14 - Xbox Hybrid Future?0:33:59 - Cancelling Game Pass Ultimate?0:40:32 - Destiny 2 New Renegades expansion0:49:39 - Nintendo’s Patent in Palworld Dispute is Being Re-examined1:03:54 - Devs believe Steam has a monopoly on PC games?1:14:03 - Consumers spend more on remakes than remasters1:22:42 - Battlefield 6 Has Reportedly Sold Over 10 Million Copies1:31:21 - Arc Raiders early success & roadmap1:40:33 - Black Ops 7 ROG Xbox Ally X Support1:44:22 - Expedition 33 & Final Fantasy VII Remake event1:52:52 - What We Are Playing2:11:36 - Obsidian announces Pillars of Eternity Turn-Based Mode & talks future2:42:41 - Xbox Q1 hardware sales down2:54:20 - Xbox - Ex-Boxer commercial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Following months of swirling rumors, Halo Combat Evolved has its remake. It's called Halo Campaign Evolved and you can play it next year on Xbox, PC, and yes, even PlayStation! It has everything from sprinting to aiming down sights, but more surprising is the new content found within. Cutscenes have been entirely reshot, new prequel missions are being added to the game, new weapons are getting thrown in there, and even the warthog saw an expansion to it. Cog and Gene had the opportunity to go hands-on with a demo of this remake and the takeaways are what you'd expect from a Halo Studios led project. Indeed, it's the familiar cocktail of optimism for what's in front of you and lingering skepticism from the thing you just got. Go to https://www.quince.com/duke for free shipping and 365-day returns Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:02:53 - Sarah Bond says exclusive games are antiquated0:16:09 - Matt Booty says Xbox’s competition is TikTok and movies0:29:43 - Phil Spencer says Forza Motorsport isn’t dead0:38:25 - Phil Spencer on Xbox’s AI push0:45:09 - Xbox has a Partner Preview coming in November0:52:55 - Fallout Day 2025 was terrible1:18:40 - ID@Xbox showcase reveals 12 indie Game Pass titles1:20:43 - Canceled multiplayer God of War game leaks1:24:12 - Ghost of Yotei sales analysis1:31:00 - Loulan: The Cursed Sands revealed1:33:23 - Masters of Albion will be Peter Molyneux’s final game1:41:31 - Mouse: P.I. for Hire releases on March 19th, 20261:42:45 - Battlefield REDSEC shadow dropped by EA1:45:07 - FemShep wants to go back to Mass Effect1:46:40 - Crash Bandicoot is getting a Netflix series1:47:51 - What We’re Playing (Xbox Ally X)2:26:55 - Halo Campaign Evolved discussion3:01:40 - Cog's thoughts on Ninja Gaiden 43:09:11 - Outer Worlds 23:35:17 - Massive details on the next Xbox3:59:25 - Xbox’s 30% profit margin to blame for price hikes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There's much to be said about how The Outer Worlds 2 was handled prior to its release. Everything from a lacking preview and Avowed's underwhelming launch to Xbox attempting to force a $80 price point put this game on the uphill climb. All of that is out the window now. Cog and Matty have it in hand and have logged their many hours! Is the Black Rock ready to deliver on the RPG pedigree that they're known for or are they best off focusing on their new strength in games like Grounded or Pentiment? Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:02:57 - Final future of the Dukes update0:08:31 - Xbox Ally impressions0:28:08 - The pace of Xbox releases0:35:29 - The most positive Xbox experience this generation0:43:07 - What We’re Playing1:02:44 - Outer Worlds 22:13:25 - Improvements coming to the Xbox Ally2:15:49 - ID@Xbox showcase coming October 28th2:17:16 - Starfield’s PS5 announcement will come in 20262:18:31 - Warner Bros Discovery is up for sale again2:27:26 - Assassin’s Creed franchise lead was forced out2:35:11 - Glen Schofield is trying to get Dead Space back2:54:25 - Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 updates3:00:34 - The Resident Evil Remake rumors are heating up3:04:24 - A new Dragon Ball game coming in 20263:08:11 - Marvel Cosmic Invasion releases December 1st3:10:33 - Quantic Dream’s strange new multiplayer game3:16:16 - What’s next for Arrowhead?3:18:28 - Silent Hill sales update3:21:18 - Kirby Air Riders gets ANOTHER direct3:25:41- Sarah Bond clarifies Xbox next gen details3:49:04 - Xbox has plans to move its product manufacturing out of China Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Despite the ongoing hardware "crisis," plenty of next generation hardware news continues to leak out of Xbox. This time, we have Project Magnus courtesy of Moore's Law Is Dead! Set to release in 2027, this console will (as expected) feature some Windows elements and go head-to-head with the pre-built PC market. To help break all of this down, Jimmy Champane of Deck Ready is here. Beyond Project Magnus, we get into a newly released piece of Xbox hardware in the Xbox Ally. Is it worth your money and what does it tell us about the future of Xbox's unified Windows approach? A lot, it seems! Beyond that, we tackle a new-ish structure for the show, covering everything from Xbox to PlayStation and Nintendo. Much of our show is shaped by you, so we hope you enjoy the inclusion and look forward to reading your thoughts. Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:20:42 - Where did the former Zenimax Online devs go?0:30:06 - Call Of Duty is dropping SBMM0:42:23 - Halo art director delivers ominous message1:04:51 - Indiana Jones gets anniversary update1:10:17 - Everwild screenshots have leaked1:12:44 - Sucker Punch’s future after Ghost Of Yotei1:27:46 - What is Bluepoint up to?1:31:34 - More Expedition 33 content on the way1:36:39 - Japan responds to rise of Sora AI1:44:05 - Assassin’s Creed director quits over Tencent2:04:02 - Massive Pokémon leak2:18:14 - Switch 2 console sales update2:21:34 - Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game revealed2:24:59 - The Mindseye Aftermath2:30:18 - What We’re Playing3:18:10 - Xbox’s Project Magnus and PlayStation 6 are rumored to release in 20273:55:17 - Another week of Xbox hardware drama Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Following such erratic changes to Game Pass and a ton of wild weekend rumors, many are wondering if Xbox will be out of the console business altogether by 2027. Despite marketing for the next generation being expected to begin next year, some insiders are suggesting this is now up in the air for Team Green. Joining us to discuss the current state of Xbox is the man with a million, Rand Al Thor 19. While Xbox addressed the uncertainty surrounding their hardware and have a public agreement with AMD, many continue to doubt this is the path forward. The truth is that Xbox hardware has seen a steep decline in sales for almost two years. Now, major retailers are pulling their stock. Like much of you have written in about this subject, we are left with the same question: Can we even believe Xbox at this point? If you can't then can we continue to build our digital libraries on Xbox with the way Xbox is trending? Is the path truly to become a third party publisher? If so, should Xbox rip off the bandaid and go all in now? It's a jam packed episode and we sift through every layer of it to try and get to the root of it all. Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 03:08 - The future of the Dukes0:21:28 - Cog’s trip to Japan0:35:50 - Where is Phil Spencer?1:00:32 - Outer Worlds 2 caught in the crossfire again1:15:57 - Can Xbox and PlayStation team up now?1:20:09 - What even is Xbox Play Anywhere?1:30:07 - What is going on with Keeper?1:40:18 - Lina Khan’s victory lap1:47:58 - Xbox’s response to the Game Pass price hike1:56:24 - Game Pass DLC discounts are done2:02:17 - Halo Combat Evolved Remake rumors2:16:46 - Coming soon to Xbox Game Pass2:20:29 - What We’re Playing2:59:26 - Is Xbox hardware coming to an end?3:35:43 - The reason Game Pass hiked its prices3:56:22 - Xbox is reportedly adding a free tier for Cloud Gaming Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Xbox happened. Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:03:14 - Health Is Wealth0:10:02 - Are we still Xbox fans?0:26:22 - What’s happening with Forza Horizon 6?0:36:23 - Xbox Ally preorders are live0:48:50 - EA is going private in a $55 Billion deal1:05:47 - Ken Levine interview recap1:19:18 - Fallout 76 Burning Springs update1:20:14 - Prototype is coming back?1:27:07 - Ubisoft forms Vantage Studios1:30:23 - AAA Lord Of The Rings game in development1:38:49 - What We’re Playing2:25:25 - Xbox Game Pass gets a major price hike3:14:00 - Do we keep doing Game Pass Pick Of The Week? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Forza bros, rejoice! After plenty of speculation, rumors, and eventual leaks, Forza Horizon 6 has finally been announced at Tokyo Game Show 2025. Joining me is honorary Duke, Sir Bradley Ellis, to discuss all things Forza and more in the world of gaming! It has been long anticipated that Playground would take the franchise to Japan and now that it's finally happening, we have a lot to go over. Landing in 2026, this will be hitting Xbox and PC first, which already lands a little out of the realm of our expectations. When is the inevitable PlayStation port? We dive into just that. Moreover, Playground may end up being the 2026 darling for Xbox if Fable and Forza hit in the same year. Matty and Brad dig into their expectations for 2026 where no doubt there will be a double feature including these two. Beyond that, we dive into the recent State Of Play, the new OD gameplay, more leaked details on Perfect Dark's episodic format, 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 - Intro0:09:03 - Health Is Wealth0:23:29 - Danganronpa theories0:29:14 - Hideo Kojima shows off OD0:41:49 - 2025 is Xbox’s biggest investment in Game Pass0:49:23 - More leaked details on Perfect Dark1:01:42 - Black Ops 7 multiplayer reveal on September 30th1:08:15 - Xbox’s handheld UI is out now1:14:23 - Borderlands 4 has reached 2.5 million players1:17:36 - Cyberpunk 2077 sequel to include multiplayer1:20:39 - Aspyr removes AI replicated voice from Tomb Raider1:24:29 - What We’re Playing2:09:34 - New price increases for Xbox2:23:33 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week2:25:20 - Xbox TGS 2025 Showcase2:48:58 - State Of Play Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cronos: The New Dawn, Hell Is Us, Hollow Knight Silksong, Borderlands 4, Silent Hill F, Trails In The Sky Remake, and the list goes on. It's an overload of games right now and the Dukes are doing their best to keep up! Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:05:29 - Health Is Wealth0:45:32 - Dragon Quest 7 info0:50:36 - Is RE5 remake different from what we thought?0:55:30 - Does Bethesda still have it?1:16:25 - Nintendo Direct reaction1:35:26 - Randy Pitchford’s Borderlands 4 meltdown1:50:40 - The Initiative studio head breaks his silence2:05:07 - The Scalebound Saga continues on2:14:03 - Zenimax Online Studios wants to make new stuff2:20:18 - Final Fantasy 7 Remake’s Part 3 is going multi-plat2:33:04 - The Series S helped Battlefield 62:39:22 - GTA 6 is getting delayed… again?2:45:22 - Nintendo’s dangerous new patent2:55:58 - Black Flag Remake might be more RPG-heavy3:00:50 - State Of Play next week3:10:34 - Far Cry is leaning into multiplayer3:15:22 - What We’re Playing3:36:48 - Coming soon to Xbox Game Pass…3:39:23 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Much of the conversation surrounding Game Pass and its sustainability has been about whether or not it can turn a profit. The Dukes themselves have pondered on this very subject for dozens of episodes. At this point, Game Pass is here to stay. The conversation has evolved from how much money the service makes to whether or not it dramatically impacts how games are made. At first, PlayStation alumni Shawn Layden brought attention to this subject. While well respected and incredibly knowledgable, many believed that Shawn bled a bit too much blue for their taste and that his points may be biased. That's fair to say, but what happens when many of Xbox's own start to say the same? Much of our conversation is about what Pete Hines, the former SVP of Communication and Marketing at Bethesda, had to say on Xbox's premier service. However, it's really about the fallout from it. Shannon Loftis, a Xbox lifer who spent 20+ years at the company, sang a similar tune to that of Pete and Shawn. Even MachineGames currnet studio head had thoughts on how Game Pass players dip very quickly. Even recently, Larian's own Swen Vincke had his concerns about Game Pass. Raphael Colantonio, formerly of Arkane and now at WolfEye, shared a similar sentiment. While indie and even AA have found a pocket from which they very much benefit from Game Pass, AAA is speaking out. The question remains: Are players willing to listen in the face of such value? Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:17:57 - Health Is Wealth0:22:02 - Bethesda finally teases Starfield DLC0:30:16 - Wolfenstein lives on0:38:37 - Hollow Knight Silksong breaks records0:51:10 - Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth due out on Xbox in 20260:53:27 - Physical games live on for another generation?1:05:37 - Dead Island 3 on the way1:12:19 - Helldivers 3 basically confirmed1:16:05 - Resident Evil 5 Remake isn’t happening1:22:44 - Old KOTOR Remake concept art leaks1:24:35 - Metal Gear Delta sells 1 million copies in 2 days1:25:22 - 2K is making a “college basketball experience” while EA bails1:34:37 - Batman Arkham Shadow is getting a sequel1:39:35 - IO Interactive finally talks about Mindseye launch1:44:20 - What We’re Playing2:23:54 - Pete Hines opens up on Xbox & Bethesda3:12:04 - Xbox’s Tokyo Game Show plans3:20:02 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today in news that we wish we never knew about: Xbox's reboot of Perfect Dark was nearly saved! Their dance partner? Take Two Interactive who serves as publisher of Rockstar. Yes, indeed, a recent report states that these two were working out a deal similar to Xbox selling off Tango Gameworks alongside the Hi Fi Rush IP to Krafton in order to help the company. Unfortunately, a falling out between both sides occurred over an IP ownership dispute. Now, Perfect Dark is doomed to sit in "IP Jail" with many of Xbox's other abandoned properties. At least Banjo has some company now. Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:02:40 - Health Is Wealth0:23:57 - Our preview philosophy0:35:17 - Is The Outer Worlds 2 hate overblown?0:50:30 - What games should you play soon?0:54:23 - Call Of Duty is entering the movie business1:00:49 - Gears Of War Reloaded numbers are in1:12:16 - Helldivers 2 is the #1 paid game on the Xbox store1:23:23 - Grounded 2 seems to be doing very well1:28:52 - 007 First Light impressions1:36:14 - PlayStation 6 will be a handheld?1:48:20 - Epic responds to Unreal Engine 5 concerns2:02:20 - Ubisoft’s 2026 and 2027 games2:10:54 - What's going on with Cyberpunk 2077?2:14:25 - Kojima event may show off OD2:17:05 - What We’re Playing3:10:24 - Perfect Dark was nearly revived3:28:05 - Coming soon to Xbox Game Pass3:40:56 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's been a bit of a rough go for Obsidian as of late. Compared to their usual RPG triumphs, Avowed felt quite a bit less than that. However, not all of it was entirely their fault. At one point, Xbox chose to make this the $80 game that would lead the charge in a new era of high prices. After considerable pushback, they chose to drop the price to $70. While a welcome sight, some have debated if even that is a fair price point for what appears to be a AA RPG. Now, marketing has kicked the hornet's nest with the latest companion trailer. So, here we are. Cog and Matty played the prologue section of the game and our thoughts are mixed. There certainly wasn't a "sound the alarm" moment, but it read to the Dukes like a less confident showing. Much of what makes an Obsidian RPG great is here. However, after the preview failed to show how that would be executed, both Dukes were left feeling like there is more that could've been done. Now, the tough decision falls to Xbox. Do you risk another preview and overexpose the game to try and correct things? Do you ride into launch and hope for the best? Time will tell, but we only have to wait until October to learn just how worth it Outer Worlds 2 will be. Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:15:07 - Write Ins0:37:33 - Pete Parsons is leaving Bungie0:51:25 - Tim Schafer on Double Fine’s future games0:55:32 - Hollow Knight Silksong finally has a release date1:11:32 - Xbox Ally preorder date leaks1:12:39 - The reason that Switch 2 ports of Xbox games are delayed?1:23:00 - Xbox Cloud Gaming is coming to Game Pass subscribers1:29:48 - New Starfield updates detailed1:35:13 - High On Life 2 will include 5 playable games1:37:14 - Replaced is set to release Spring 20261:38:59 - Activision responds to Call of Duty concerns1:50:34 - More Clair Obscur is on the way2:04:51 - Atari has acquired 5 Ubisoft games2:09:26 - Ken Levine opens up on Judas2:16:53 - Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines 2’s Wild DLC situation2:23:20 - Naoki Yoshida says there’s no need for new consoles2:26:52 - Herman Hulst on Concord’s failure2:31:46 - Skate enters early access on September 16th2:40:02 - What We’re Playing3:48:09 - Forza Horizon 6 will be set in Japan3:59:05 - Coming soon to Xbox Game Pass4:00:22 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gamescom took place this week! On top of Opening Night Live which was home to many reveals, Xbox held their own show the day after. It's there that we finally got information on the Xbox Ally. Everything from its official release date to features, specs, capabilities, and so on. With the rumored price tag floating at $549.99 and $899.99 respectively, is this handheld doing enough to justify its enthusiast status? Despite everything being an Xbox, it seems like the Xbox Ally will only function as such if a title supports "Play Anywhere." While not a concern for future games as we've seen many releases support the future, what this means for your established Xbox library isn't great news. We parse through it all... and a lot of Lego Batman. Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:07:28 - Health Is Wealth0:31:52 - Xbox is safe from Tyson... for now0:33:26 - Grounded 2 is outpacing the first0:38:08 - Ex-PlayStation Exec Shawn Layden on Game Pass0:57:15 - Details on the Helldivers x ODST collab1:01:21 - Rod Fergusson is the new Head of the BioShock Franchise1:08:28 - High On Life 2 is releasing February 13th, 20261:11:31 - Triangle Strategy shadow drops on Xbox1:15:35 - Mafia: The Old Country sales thus far1:17:34 - Shenmue 3 Enhanced Edition announced by ININ1:36:41 - What We’re Playing2:02:23 - Gamescom recap2:45:29 - Updates on Xbox Ally3:01:30 - PlayStation hikes console price3:08:56 - Leaving Xbox Game Pass3:10:21 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Contraband was announced back in 2021. Since then, we've seen just about nothing from the game. No messaging beats, no trailers, and even the Xbox executives didn't yap about this one! After four years of development, this collaboration between Xbox and Avalanche has come to a close. Adding it to the list of canceled Xbox titles, this one feels different to Dependable Cog and Choco Matty. Part of it is apathy, but it's also a new angle from the previous shutdowns where we really don't know much about what was lost. It's a valuable lesson in why Xbox shouldn't announce things early. Beyond our headline, we get into Xbox's president offering her talents to Tyson Foods (?!), Halo coming to PlayStation, a legend leaving Xbox, and diving deep into Matty's recent interview with ex-BioWare vet, Mark Darrah. Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:10:29 - Cog wears diapers & Matty goes viral for cleaning0:40:34 - Health Is Wealth0:48:38 - Mafia: The Old Country "Controversy"0:58:16 - Are games giving what the fans want?1:04:19 - Ex BioWare dev on Dragon Age remasters1:25:35 - PlayStation is moving away from hardware?1:43:25 - Rod Ferguson is leaving Blizzard1:51:15 - Sarah Bond joins… Tyson Foods2:00:50 - An update on the future of Forza2:05:48 - The release date for the Xbox Ally has leaked2:07:58 - Heretic + Hexen re-release shadowdropped2:12:09 - A Halo game is coming to PlayStation2:17:13 - Halo ODST is coming to Helldivers 22:21:52 - Bungie’s leash tightens with Marathon2:28:48 - S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is getting a massive roadmap2:34:14 - LEGO Batman is getting the Skywalker Saga treatment?2:44:11 - Crimson Desert has been delayed to Q1 20262:45:40 - What We’re Playing3:25:42 - Contraband has been canceled3:33:39 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The year of the Ninja rages on! Fresh off Ninja Gaiden 2 Black and Ninja Gaiden Ragebound, we have more ninjas to talk about thanks to the new Shinobi demo alongside Ninja Gaiden 4. In a seemingly impossible move, Xbox brought together two legendary Japanese developers to reactivate a franchise that had laid dormant since 2012. There were still question marks even after a strong showing at this years Developer Direct. At the top of everyone's list following a ton of layoffs was simply: Does PlatinumGames still have it? Well, it appears that despite the winds of change blowing through the studio, the new wave of talent at Platinum is more than up to the task. Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:07:28 - Health Is Wealth0:20:25 - Starfield’s PS5 port and Expansion 2 won’t be out until 20260:42:12 - Xbox financials update0:50:54 - Pouring one out for BioShock fans1:03:17 - Battlefield 6 multiplayer reveal reactions1:16:12 - Nintendo Direct announces new Xbox games1:23:55 - THQ Nordic 2025 showcase breakdown1:31:25 - Kojima on OD when speaking to SSense about his career1:34:15 - EA is working on more games with Disney1:40:31 - So, uh, Ubisoft threatened to sue Edward Kenway’s actor?1:45:37 - Ninja Gaiden 4 / What We’re Playing2:39:34 - Coming soon to Xbox Game Pass2:44:01 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A new job listing over at PlayStation shows that more games are headed to Xbox. Naturally, the internet did its thing and we saw some crazy titles get tossed out as ideas for ports: The Last Of Us, Uncharted, Spider-Man, God Of War, and so on. Others have suggested that PlayStation is folding just as Xbox has. Have they? Joining me is Sir Bradley Ellis to dive into what ends up being a semi-painful reminder of the current state of Xbox as we shift from topic-to-topic. Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:04:50 - Xbox's game price landmine0:21:12 - Satya’s statement lol0:28:31 - More Xbox games to PlayStation0:34:31 - Holy cow, Xbox is getting more physical games?!0:44:20 - Fallout 76 is going to Ohio?0:53:08 - Oblivion Remastered reaches 9 million players0:56:31 - Xbox falls in like with UK’s age verification process1:01:37 - Video game subscription spending is at an all time high1:04:18 - Wolfenstein is getting a TV series1:07:42 - Dead Space director Glen Schofield may have directed his final game1:23:15 - Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection had its release date leaked1:27:34 - Dying Light: The Beast has been delayed by 4 weeks1:32:16 - Silent Hill 1 Remake is closer than we thought?1:35:45 - A new Spongebob game has LEAKED1:48:20 - Can The Witcher 3 even be beat? CDPR doesn’t know1:53:20 - Mafia: The Old Country is longer than expected?1:58:28 - A Star Wars Outlaws sequel has been canceled2:03:45 - What We’re Playing2:33:41 - More PlayStation games coming to Xbox according to a job post2:48:22 - Xbox will have a significant presence at Gamescom2:56:58 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hell has frozen over! Xbox has moved the price of The Outer Worlds 2 down to $70 after fan backlash. What does this mean for the future of Xbox's lineup and the games industry as a whole? Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:21:27 - Health Is Wealth0:35:02 - Clarifying the Fable rumor0:39:57 - MachineGames has multiple projects in development0:42:09 - Contraband lives on0:47:26 - Xbox is working on next gen cloud gaming0:49:54 - Starfield ACTUALLY gets an update1:02:37 - Xbox is adding a play history tab1:05:18 - Oblivion Remaster's Virtuous Studio sees layoffs1:17:08 - From Software has ANOTHER game on the way1:21:14 - Ubisoft on why Star Wars Outlaws failed1:31:53 - Saber Interactive reveals Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival1:35:17 - Battlefield 6 reveal happening this week1:37:39 - Splitgate 2 unlaunches1:42:50 - What We’re Playing2:23:39 - The Outer Worlds is $702:51:39 - No Rest For The Wicked is skipping Xbox3:05:24 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Xbox saw Matty was slipping, so in a bold strategy to reel the Dukes back in, they have opted to greenlight Fallout 5. Despite what many will try and say to downplay this, there is a strong chance that Fallout 5 goes beyond the borders of Bethesda for the first time since 2010. Considering it's a mainline entry, this is a massive shakeup. It gets even more dicey when Obsidian Entertainment gets taken off the board. So, who makes a new Fallout game? The 76 team? InXile? Larian? Dare we say, a new studio? Oh, boy. Each choice outside of the obvious like Larian or InXile has their caveats. So, let's get into the thick of the future of the Bethesda's valuable post-apocalyptic IP. Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro/ Health Is Wealth1:08:15 - Arkane Lyon is safe for now1:10:18 - Zenimax hasn't seen layoffs yet1:13:52 - Rare has commented on the layoffs for the first time1:18:24 - Guitar Hero easter egg in Tony Hawk1:22:10 - Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 + 4 is fully on the disc1:23:51 - Forza Horizon 5 sold 2 million copies on PlayStation 51:25:52 - Fallout 76 is getting TV show content1:28:16 - Oblivion Remastered gets a crucial patch… and a physical edition?!1:32:24 - Jez Corden on Starfield’s next DLC1:37:00 - The Alters has sold 280K copies1:38:49 - Ken Levine on Judas1:40:35 - Xbox is paying how much for Game Pass deals?!1:43:49 - Halo 1 Remake rumors1:54:05 - What We’re Playing2:20:40 - Fallout 5 has been greenlit2:52:08 - The Xbox Ally will be $1,000?3:01:19 - King is replacing workers with AI3:12:49 - Coming soon to Xbox Game Pass3:18:01 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A conversation involving such dramatic shifts in the brand requires as much nuance as we can gather! Summoned to the realm of the Dukes are none other than Last Stand Media's own Gene Park and Rick Hoeg to help us sift through the fallout of last week's Xbox layoffs. Any single one of these stories could be our lead for the week, but let's get it started with Microsoft's $80 billion investment in their AI infrastructure. Sadly, it has been reported that this is the root cause of the layoffs. Naturally, an investment to the tune of almost $12 billion more than Activision doesn't sneak up on you. The question we're left asking in wake of these claims is how leadership was able to blindside staff within Xbox despite likely knowing about these impending changes for months. Why meet with teams like Zenimax Online Studios and Romero Games, prepare hardware investments, create long term production plans only to axe them by the following weekend? A fired up Rick Hoeg will certainly let us know how he feels on the matter (IYKYK). Speaking of Zenimax Online Studios, we now have details on the canceled Project Blackbird to parse through thanks to multiple insider reports. Blackbird was an online, open world RPG focusing on shooting and traversal mechanics with a planned release window of 2028. With the pedigree of this studio being clear and the risk being low compared to most live service initiatives out there, why shut down something with such great potential? Well, perhaps that's because in a "hits only" business, you need to go with the guarantee. There's no greater guarantee for money than the Fallout IP and, finally, it appears Xbox has come to their senses. Multiple Fallout games are in production! Reason for celebration, no? We'll get to that. Plus, our thoughts on Helldivers 2 coming to Xbox, a Halo project potentially in trouble, and returning once more to the "Great Game Pass Profitability Debate." Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:07:15 - Write Ins1:02:59 - What We’re Playing1:46:33 - Microsoft's $80 billion investment led to last week's layoffs2:40:54 - Details on Project Blackbird3:21:40 - Multiple Fallout games in development3:39:53 - The next Halo game is in trouble?3:50:59 - Helldivers 2 is coming to Xbox on August 26th4:11:14 - The great Game Pass profitability debate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

To be apathetic to something is to experience a lack of feeling or emotion in response to an event. For the Dukes, it's the word of the show. Xbox has been mismanaged for an entire generation and it has come at the cost of losing world class talents alongside studios. It was just in 2024 that we lost Tango Gameworks, Arkane Austin, Roundhouse Studios, and Alpha Dog Games. There was also the formidable Toys For Bob that went independent. That alone was more than enough to last us a generation, but today we learned that Xbox has closed down the studio they started back in 2018: The Initiative. Alongside that, Rare's Everwild has been canceled on top of a new IP from Zenimax Online Studios. There's no other way to slice it. For Xbox to improve, leadership must be held accountable. The question is if they ever will and given how situations at teams like Bungie have gone down, we expect a meek, weak willed level of accountability to the bloodbath at Microsoft this week. Indeed, much of the frustration is built off the back of constant, mind-numbing, inconsistent messaging. It was only in February that CEO of Microsoft Gaming, Phil Spencer, said Everwild was really shaping up. It was canceled today. With such wishy-washy messaging to their fans, the brand is at a point where no one can believe anything they say. Sure, a partnership with AMD to do next-generation consoles was announced within the last month. How can we trust that? It's the lowest level of trust asked of a consumer that you can believe an announcement when you see it. Instead, the only message we're left with is that if you're not a mega-hit in the making, Xbox wants to have no part of you. What does this say to teams like Compulsion and Ninja Theory or larger developers like Obsidian that like to split off in pursuit of smaller titles? It's amusing that Xbox has done this in the name of creating a sustainable business yet their methods and approach to making games is arguably the least sustainable thing we've seen. They're all in on a subscription service while putting tens of millions of dollars into making games. How it'll all shake up will be interesting to watch, but many of us know how this story will end. Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:02:40 - Health is Wealth 0:20:27 - Xbox layoffs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It was supposed to be a slow news week, so naturally we talked for almost four hours on the latest in gaming. Heading up our show is a recurrent subject: layoffs at Xbox. Despite Phil's claims about a sustainable business, the cuts keep coming. Of course, that leaves us in a bit of a pickle. What parts of Xbox business are faltering? We're about a year removed from last year where Xbox began shutting down multiple teams, so it's not a far cry to say we may be approaching that point. We haven't seen Game Pass numbers in a hot minute, titles like South Of Midnight and Hellblade 2 have questionable sales at best, and the green team is all but officially confirmed to be out on physical games. So, which is it, if any? We gab quite a bit before leaving it to next week where we'll get official confirmation. Plus, Xbox integrating other PC storefronts into their app, righting the record on Final Fantasy XVI, diving into Lies Of P sales figures, and so much more in what was an unexpectedly meaty (oh!) episode 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 - Intro0:16:24 - Health Is Wealth0:32:22 - Correcting FF16 information from last week0:41:52 - A new Halo game is releasing… kinda0:54:16 - Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition announced1:01:46 - SEGA sales data leaks1:14:08 - Persona 4 Revival & Stranger Than Heaven release info1:17:35 - Blood Of Dawnwalker Gameplay deep dive1:22:58 - Cyberpunk 2077 update 2.3 has been delayed1:27:54 - Layoffs headed for Mindseye developer1:40:01 - Blood Message reveal reaction1:43:03 - Rematch devs respond to crossplay issues1:48:34 - Third party Switch 2 sales below estimates1:59:03 - Splitgate 2 devs face layoffs2:12:25 - Lies Of P difficulty settings2:23:24 - What We’re Playing3:08:15 - Major Xbox layoffs inbound3:33:13 - Steam library comes to Xbox PC App3:45:03 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices