Defining Duke: An Xbox Podcast

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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It's the week before Gamescom! Around this time, the Dukes never expect much as Xbox has already fired out their reveals for the year thanks to June's annual showcase. A recent rumor changed all of that! Thanks to NateTheHate, we are officially aware of a sequel to an Xbox owned IP being developed by a third party team which would see a release this year. The Dukes crack open the archives of Xbox and sift through all the dreams of what this could be. One thing is for certain: It's not Banjo.

Timestamps:

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

0:00 - Intro
2:47 - Health is wealth
18:26 - An Xbox first party game you’ve missed
27:38 - You can DoorDash games
30:22 - Harvey Smith is back
43:00 - Sledgehammer was prototyping a Halo game
56:05 - Xbox’s 25th Anniversary Controller details leak
57:46 - Fallout 4’s newest update has some serious lore
1:21:14 - Xbox is partnering with McDonalds
1:30:02 - Kingdom Hearts 4 news galore
1:45:04 - Shuhei Yoshida’s peculiar advice to Sandfall Interactive
1:50:18 - Trails In The Sky gets a unique localization patch
1:56:34 - PlayStation’s live service struggles continue
2:05:35 - Oxenfree studio Night School is shutdown by Netflix
2:11:57 - What We’re Playing
2:29:16 - Xbox has a secret game announcement coming to Gamescom
2:59:08 - Wrap Up

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How hungry are people for Elder Scrolls VI? Apparently, very! All it took was eight asterisks within the game's subtitle to send a flurry of fans into everything from lore wikis to decoding employee identification numbers in Starfield's Developer Direct. With such rampant curiosity, this led the Dukes down the rabbithole. What do these eight characters represent? Indeed, if the theories are true, they tell us more than you'd expect. Beyond that, we settle into a chat about the coming generation of consoles. Will Xbox weaponize Elder Scrolls VI as a lightning rod which can draw people into the ecosystem? Is it worth risking millions upon millions of dollars lost for this? Essentially, is this game going to find itself in a camp with Call Of Duty and Forza or Clockwork and Gears? There are compelling arguments for both sides, so join the very delirious Dukes as they settle into a lengthy conversation about Elder Scrolls!

Timestamps:

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

0:00 - Intro
11:20 - Health Is Wealth
25:12 - Gears E Day beta sets records for series
38:32 - Currently hired ID Software dev blasts Xbox
1:02:12 - Xbox explains the big server outage
1:05:33 - Update on Halo Campaign Evolved sale’s estimates
1:20:34 - GTA 6 gets a gameplay reveal on Netflix
1:50:45 - Ghost Of Yotei Complete Edition announced
1:54:22 - Lord Of The Rings remasters inbound
2:00:15 - Atlus thinks they have to do Persona 1 & 2 Remakes
2:06:52 - Hog Leg 2 confirmed
2:09:56 - What We’re Playing
2:42:49 - The extremely desperate Elder Scrolls rabbithole
3:11:43 - Blizzard is Microsoft’s top performing studio
3:16:48 - Wrap up

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In a time where game preservation feels it matters the least, here comes some much needed news. Leaked via The Verge, we now know Xbox is accelerating a program dedicated to preserving your games dating back to the original Xbox generation. That much has been known thanks to a program greenlit by Sarah Bond during her time at Xbox. However, the new wrinkle is not only that Xbox 360 games are headed to PC, but also that the backwards compatible library stands a chance to expand beyond what we already know. Now, the catch is that other developers would have to play ball, but more from a greenlight standpoint rather than any additional engineering. The icing on the cake? Xbox is finally bringing its platinum trophy equivalent to the platform. After two generations of waiting, they'll finally be getting with the times and you won't have to wait much longer to hear about it thanks to Asha Sharma. Plus: Xbox's "platform" game focus, more absolutely dismal news for Halo, the unaffordability of console gaming, and so much more!

Timestamps:

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

0:00 - Intro
5:42 - Health Is Wealth
21:54 - In person Duke soon?
23:45 - Shoutout to SS+
28:31 - A retro gaming solution?
30:00 - Asha Sharma confirms platinum trophy equivalent coming to Xbox later this year
44:18 - Asha Sharma’s leaked memo to staff
58:16 - Halo sales estimates are in
1:32:01 - Xbox console price increase confirmed for EU and UK
1:36:42 - ESO faces a content delay following layoffs
1:41:23 - A crazy Bethesda remaster candidate leaks
1:44:16 - Sony responds to shareholders about physical games
1:57:43 - Steam Machine reservations will be filled by end of year
1:59:18 - Mass layoffs expected at EA
2:02:19 - What We’re Playing
2:31:00 - Xbox’s Game Preservation Program Leaks
3:07:58 - Wrap Up

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