Defining Duke: An Xbox Podcast

In a quieter week for Xbox, we deliver to you our longest episode in show history. Don't say we never spoil you! 

Timestamps:

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00 - Intro
8:25 - Health Is Wealth
1:17:30 - Nickname ideas for the Dukes
1:21:02 - We might have a Helix handheld nickname issue
1:25:53 - Xbox’s 25th anniversary is soon
1:31:44 - Why do canceled games almost always look great?
1:38:13 - Phantom Blade Zero reviews are in
1:40:49 - So, your future GOAT game used AI…
1:55:06 - Why does developers flocking to Fallout generate excitement?
2:04:10 - Xbox overextends in missed Netflix deal
2:18:34 - Arkane Lyon’s leash gets extended
2:28:38 - Original Xbox games seem to be getting achievements soon
2:34:35 - Call Of Duty is losing momentum
2:45:23 - Inside Xbox’s COO exiting the company
3:01:20 - Xbox is working on their review situation
3:13:28 - Microsoft offers 60,000 buyouts
3:23:59 - The Gears Of War: E-Day budget situation
3:46:31 - Xbox execs are missing performance targets
3:51:25 - The financials are in for Xbox
4:06:40 - Mass Effect rally continues on
4:42:43 - What We’re Playing
5:19:09 - Wrapping up

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5 hour Duke? Happy days!

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:05:17 - Health Is Wealth
0:43:37 - Nicknaming The Dukes
0:46:23 - Disc to digital benefits
0:48:41 - Is Xbox moving too fast?
0:54:03 - When are more retro Xbox games getting achievement and PC support?
0:56:23 - What is the rest of 2026 gaming schedule looking like?
1:01:10 - Fallout Day 2026
1:06:45 -Xbox hasn’t forgotten physical media
1:20:23 - Xbox buyout was explored
1:39:32 - Xbox Cloud Gaming prices revealed
1:44:58 - AMD FSR 4.1 is coming to Xbox consoles and handhelds
1:50:14 - BioWare is shutting down
2:40:04 - A new sub franchise is headed to Call Of Duty
2:43:04 - Nuance in the AI conversation?
3:13:36 - Star Wars Battlefront 3 is on the menu
3:31:47 - Another new update is coming to Cyberpunk 2077
3:35:46 - What We’re Playing
4:10:06 - Massive investigation on Xbox reveals next gen pricing, changes to Game Pass, and plenty more

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Blink and you might miss the new big thing Xbox is doing! Last week, it was XP. This is the home to Xbox's Products, Places, Partnerships, and Productions. Basically, where everything that is beyond the "box" goes. Sure, fine, that's a lot to talk about on its own. However, a wave of recomps, games running on browsers, and AI powered mods have led to yet another initiative to be stood up rather quickly. This time, it's Xbox Labs, and Xbox aims to take hold of the emerging "creator" space where they will sell new products. If that wasn't enough, a new survey leaked online and tells us that Xbox is looking at making literally everything exclusive outside of Call Of Duty. So, the Dukes heads are spinning to say the least. Let's chat through it all as we always do in what has become an incredibly unpredictable time for all of gaming.

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:08:32 - Health Is Wealth
0:34:05 - Super Mario World slander
0:38:36 - The last game mechanic to make you go “huh, that’s neat”
0:46:20 - Xbox still wants new IP
0:54:41 - Xbox announces the Nano controller
1:01:04 - Gears Of War: E-Day sales estimates are in
1:32:41 - Destiny 1 Remaster inbound?
1:38:54 - Epic is making a full AI game
2:17:46 - College Football is in jeopardy and Todd Howard is likely depressed to hear this
2:26:34 - Physical games are doing just fine
2:35:14 - More Silent Hill games inbound
2:38:28 - Great news for Star Wars: Zero Company
2:41:26 - What We’re Playing
3:00:59 - Xbox Labs is the newest Xbox initiative to be announced
3:27:26 - Xbox reveals XP
3:53:08 - Major exclusives coming to Xbox?

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The aggression of Asha Sharma and Xbox's new leadership group continues on! In a leaked town hall, we learned of many of Xbox's plans for the future including a "family" of devices for Helix, incoming changes to Game Pass, and the streamlining to how games reach the platform. One of the more noteworthy comments was Asha's insistence that Xbox has not "earned the right" to avert their gaze beyond the console platform. This is something clearly in staunch opposition to what the prior leadership team stood for as they explored everything from gaming through TV apps to the Cloud. With the focus on the current generation of consoles, what does this mean for games even in the 2030s? The Dukes think you should get very cozy with the idea of still playing games on these devices even up to a decade from now.

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:10:09 - Health Is Wealth
0:28:54 - What game are we dropping everything for to obtain the Thic?
0:39:53 - A licensed game that could finally get its due
0:45:11 - What is next for Xbox Game Studios?
0:55:13 - Gaming for spooky season
0:59:26 - Fear of layoffs looming at The Coalition
1:19:44 - The Forza Bros are getting upset
1:30:48 - Rebs Gaming drops new Halo leaks
1:49:08 - A used PS5 pro is $1,400 at GameStop
2:03:29 - State Of Decay 3 Beta coming soon
2:10:03 - Layoffs begin at Ninja Theory
2:17:45 - Fan favorite PlayStation series set to make comeback?
2:32:16 - Capcom looking to turn RE Engine into an AI Generation Engine
2:41:28 - Kena: Scars Of Kosmora delayed to 2027
2:43:47 - What We’re Playing
3:12:22 - Xbox Helix details leak from internal Town Hall

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Happy 300 to all our fellow Dukes! For those of you have stuck by our side through both personal and professional highs and lows, we're eternally grateful that you're here. To the surprise of some of you, the Dukes DO take a lot of time to reflect and celebrate. Beyond that, we get into the main attraction. Xbox's first console exclusive in years is here in Gears Of War: E-Day. Cog and Matty have played the campaign. Did it deliver? There's only one way for you to find out.

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro/Reminiscing on 300 episodes of Duke
0:48:44 - Xbox Ally or Steam Deck?
0:53:02 - Mythic Achievements are real
1:09:00 - Xbox is NOT for sale
1:23:21 - What’s happening inside Destiny 2’s unvaulting?
1:34:52 - Unpacking the Physint budget drama
1:51:07 - Satya Nadella says Xbox’s streamlining is great
1:55:08 - Ex Bethesda dev says Starfield 2 is unlikely
2:18:16 - Witcher 3 Remaster is setting records
2:23:15 - Why Remedy didn’t use yellow paint in Control Resonant
2:27:31 - PlayStation reportedly polling about physical games
2:37:00 - Looking Ahead At Game Releases - October 2026
2:50:12 - What We’re Playing
3:33:44 - Rebs Gaming’s inside report on Halo’s future

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 Round 2 of the Xbox Reset has arrived thanks to none of other than the Green Reaper. Joining us is Gene Park to discuss the fallout of these events. Halo is now officially run by Activision as Xbox finally chopped down 343 aka Halo Studios. It has been a long time coming as 343 managed the franchise for 15 years. Their tenure brought us Halo Anniversary Edition, Halo 4, Halo 5 Guardians, Halo Infinite, Halo Wars 2, and Halo Campaign Evolved. Almost all of these were disasters in their own way and as Asha Sharma's team cleans house, this felt inevitable in the wake of poor sales for the latest Halo remake. So, how can Activision rebuild the franchise? What direction do they take things in? Is it time to rebuild from scratch and ignore literally anything done before? Are sprint, ADS, and mantling returning features? How long will all of this take? It is a seismic undertaking and one thing is clear: another 343 led Halo game that sucks would sting, but another new beginning that results in disaster would drive us all to the point of insanity. Xbox must nail this, but that goes for a number of their IP they're now looking to nurture. Obsidian has joined forces with Bethesda and it's no doubt that these two will be at the hip for a very long time as Fallout continues to peak in popularity. What is Obsidian's creative future? Are they forever attached to Fallout or are more experiments on the way? Plus, will InXile join the fold at Bethesda eventually as the Xbox Game Studios family has become incredibly lean. It's our largest episode ever, so do get comfortable, settle into the conversation, and 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
0:07:02 - Addressing the nuclear Brad strike
0:14:02 - Health Is Wealth
0:17:02 - Is Trails 2 Remake worth it if you already played the original?
0:19:59 - The next chapter for Bungie
0:48:49 - Gene Park’s interview with Hideo Kojima
1:27:31 - Xbox’s platinum equivalent is here
1:37:46 - Why Fable was given a decade
1:47:36 - Undead Labs has gone independent
1:52:44 - Starcraft won’t be Xbox exclusive
1:58:55 - Blood Of Dawnwalker cost just $40 million
2:12:44 - Final Fantasy 7’s difficulty controversy
2:37:01 - Valor Mortis makes admirable price move
2:44:11 - What We’re Playing
3:20:16 - Round 2 of the Xbox Reset commences

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XBOX's continued investment in an avalanche of tentpole IP's came full circle at BlizzCon 2026! The Dukes enlist "The Reaper" of Overwatch and all things BLIZZARD to break down the latest ramifications! From World Of Warcraft's roadmap/controller future, Diablo 5, and StarCraft announcements to how far out some of these releases are! We also discuss a plethora of XBOX news, the Kojima and XBOX partnership aftermath, Asha Sharma handling your customer support tickets and more!
Timestamps:
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 Wealth
0:12:09 - Warm Up Questions
0:27:14 - Inside report on Kojima and PlayStation’s split
0:54:02 - Are Day 1 Game Pass Games done in 2027?
1:13:32 - Apparently, Asha Sharma is helping Xbox support herself
1:22:02 -  The PlayStation Blackout failed
1:28:10 - Wonders Of O trademarked by Neowiz
1:33:34 - Major updates for Bungie & Marathon
1:46:07 - FF7 Remake team is handling Kingdom Hearts 4
1:57:05 - Injustice 3 inbound?
2:00:29 - SEGA is going all in on adaptations
2:10:04 - GenAI use is crushing Level 5
2:12:24 - Capcom Announcements from TGS 2026
2:16:36 - Sea of Thieves Signs Of Life
2:21:36 - What We’re Playing
2:49:05 - The Big Blizzcon Blowout

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In the wee hours of the night, an absolute stunner landed. Prolific and beloved game director, Hideo Kojima, has killed off his partnership with PlayStation for his upcoming action-espionage title, PHYSINT, and signed on with Xbox. According to the man himself, PlayStation was ready to cancel his game this June! After three months of searching, he found his partner in XBOX. It's a partnership where Kojima claims that they "share a common vision for the future" which says more than just about anything else within this next. Those who recall the PHYSINT announcement in 2024 will also remember that this was TV/movie deal as well. According to the XBOX Wire, they've got that too! So, what gives? Is this just a money play? Has Sony lost touch with optical wins when it was only last generation that they reaped the massive benefits of saving Kojima from Konami? What is XBOX's end goal in all of this? There is much to discuss! Beyond that, we talk about the Cloud Gaming snafu, the diabolical Steam achievement leak, 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 (Gamescom and Pax West Debriefing)
00:34:17 - Health Is Wealth
00:46:26 - Will Metaphor: ReFantazio get a definitive edition?
00:49:43 - Cog’s thoughts on GTA 6 gameplay
00:55:41 - Nintendo Direct recap
01:04:04 - Ocarina Of Time Remake impressions
01:30:30 - Developers opt out of Xbox’s disc to digital program?
01:37:55 - Every NPC in Fable is handcrafted
01:41:42 - Hideki Kamiya once again requests to make Scalebound
01:48:31 - Rumors suggest Forza Horizon 6 isn’t coming to PS5 in 2026
01:50:43 - Blood Of Dawnwalker sequel in the works
01:55:54 - More Final Fantasy 7 beyond the remakes
01:59:20 - Capcom is focusing on reactivating IP
02:02:31 - Witcher 1 Remake is on hold
02:05:45 - PlayStation is looking to bring back Killzone
02:12:05 - Venom game is still in development
02:13:38 - Game Releases for September 2026
02:21:55 - What We’re Playing
03:04:45 - Hideo Kojima jumps ship to Xbox
03:54:14 - The catastrophic Steam achievement leak
03:18:37 - Xbox’s Cloud Gaming Snafu

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Ladies and gentlemen, it is time for a rare one! Indeed, it is I, Matty, and I shall be tickling your ears across the airwaves in a solo venture here from Paris. Today, I dive into the post-Gamescom fallout in what has been an eventful trip for Xbox. For starters, BBC News briefly spoke with Asha Sharma and managed to snag a few answers from her on everything from Helix's "family of devices" to Halo getting some more focus over time. Most interestingly to me was her approach to physical games versus Sony's recent statement on how "reasonable consumers" know they don't own their digital games. Naturally as a game collector, I'm very interested to see where Xbox's disc-to-digital program goes. If this is the starting point, or "step one" as they've put it, then I can imagine great things arriving down the stretch. The question is: what does this mean for physical releases? Is it possible that Xbox pulls out limited runs of their games following the launch? I discuss that, plus Asha's thoughts on Xbox's approach to exclusivity which say more than I think most are considering! Beyond that, we dive into Fable's story length, Xbox's ambitious movie deal, my experience with State Of Decay 3, and (somehow) a whole lot more. Enjoy!

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Timestamps:
Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.
0:00:00 - Intro
0:13:58 - State Of Decay 3 release plans
0:30:11 - Double Fine's Game Jam Kickstarter
0:41:00 - Xbox's Ambitious Movie Deal
0:51:59 - DOOM's DLC Crunch Story
0:59:11 - Thoughts on GTA 6's Gameplay Reveal
1:09:43 - Star Wars: Zero Company Devs Furloughed Ahead Of Launch
1:15:39 - A Motive's Iron Man Game Confirmed
1:54:05 - What I'm Playing
2:17:25 - Asha Sharma's comments on Helix, Physical Media, and Halo

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IN PERSON DUKE ALERT! The Dukes have united in Germany for Gamescom 2026. This marks a first for the duo! Join us as we recollect on our adventures across Europe from jetlag to McDonalds and, yes, even Fable! Much has been said about the game following its delays, but now we have a clear look at combat. What about it is strong and are the comments about the enemy reactivity overplayed? We dive in. Plus more on State Of Decay 3 from graphics to feel. How is this shaping up as it hails from a former Xbox First Party studio? Naturally, we dive into that, plus all the other things we've seen and played while out here. It's a bit of a structureless conversation, so we appreciate you bearing with us and enjoy what is a rare type of episode for all of us. Due to the episode being in person, there are no timestamps.

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