There's trouble on the homefront. We have collectively report after report roll in describing the struggles of Xbox's first party studios. Whether it be 343 and their mismanagement of Halo, Bethesda and their troubled Fallout 76 development, half of The Initiative leaving, or toxic conditions seeping into Undead Labs; there are now many examples in the ether for us to dissect. All of them combined bring us to one painful question that must be asked: Is Xbox's hands off approach backfiring on them as their teams spiral themselves into the ground? With this week's news, there's no better time to tackle such a tough topic. In lighter news, Mega Man Battle Network is back, Starfield has a pretty exciting leak, and the fork-spoon wars may be set off again thanks to disgruntled pie consumers. With our most write ins to date, it's time to tackle our juiciest episode yet.

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 With some space between us and the showcase, news has slowed down and the dust has settled. It's now that we can take our best look at the road ahead and answer a crucial question: is there enough for Xbox in 2022? Between their new "console launch exclusive" strategy and the investment in Game Pass for Day 1 releases, there are many questions for us to answer. One such question is could Xbox potentially deploying a tactic from the Nintendo playbook in 2023 to stagger the staggering amount of games in the pipeline so they don't cannibalize one another? The Dukes sound off, but there's much more to talk about in an otherwise relatively quiet week. The Activision Blizzard chopping block claims another victim in the name of Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 + 4 remake and Forza Motorsport is (begrudgingly) spoken about in a positive light! Plus more on the "Piss Gate," Final Fantasy 7's eluding of Xbox, and much more!

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We're days removed from the Xbox & Bethesda showcase as well as the extended one on Tuesday meaning all the announcements, trailers, and news are out in the wild. With that, there is much to sift through such as new Starfield details, a Fallout 5 confirmation by the Toddfather himself, and some possibly worrying Redfall news on its multiplayer component. Couple that in with some insightful questions from the audience about the parameters Xbox has set for themselves during the show with only showcasing content throughout the next 12 months and we have much to discuss on the future of this platform.

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The big day has finally arrived. After months of rumors, speculation, and bold predictions, we have now seen everything the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase for 2022 has to offer. As Cog has to aptly put it, it's a journey through many peaks and valleys. For it is here that we see Starfield for the first time ever, Persona arriving to Xbox, Kojima in the flesh, and many other surprises. That being said, this showcase also placed a clear spotlight on the vacancy of this fall where a majority of the first party content has been punted to 2023. Now the Dukes gather and to breakdown every single trailer, announcement, or reveal that dropped.

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The situation has changed for Xbox entering this year's showcase. With the delay of both Starfield and Redfall, 2022 is looking mighty empty and they need answers. However, the slate for 2023 is quite the opposite as it appears to be chockful of games. Joining the Dukes are the fine gentlemen of Xbox Two - Rand Al Thor 19 and Jez Corden. Together, we comb through each and every Xbox first party studio, rumored third party project, Game Pass candidates, acquisition targets, and some of the most bold, outlandish predictions you may ever hear. This is our longest episode yet, so please do enjoy and we will see you on the other side for our showcase reactions.

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As Cog would say, "the Twitter streets are getting hot!" We have seen the conversation surrounding Xbox turn up to 11 as cooler heads refuse to prevail. Now, many are announcing their exit of Xbox's crown jewel: Game Pass. To make matters more interesting, Xbox Game Pass fanned the flames with a "dunk" on Kotaku bringing to light a potential weakness in their offering. So, joining the zeitgeist, is it truly time to cancel your subscription? The Duke have some thoughts on the matter. To make matters worse for some, it has been confirmed that Xbox turned down an exclusive deal with Marvel to work on their IP. As we know, PlayStation took that ball, ran with it, and now it is a major piece of the pie they offer fans. Is this a decision that Phil and his team regret? Matty and Cog parse through the timeline and get into what transpired here.

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With the delay of both Starfield and Redfall, discussions have only heated up since we all last spoke. People are calling for Phil Spencer's job and console war toxicity is reaching an all time high. Joining us is Windows Central Gaming's own Miles Dompier to talk on our most requested subject: Can Xbox save their 2022? The pressure is on from fans who are expecting answers with the June showcase and the Dukes have united with Miles to talk about what exactly Xbox can do to quell concerns. Beyond that, PlayStation has struck at a perfect time with details about their PS Plus overhaul. Xbox fans must now take a hard look at Game Pass and see if it can answer the bell (Spoilers: It does).

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Xbox and Bethesda's partnership was destined to bear fruit in 2022. Now, that has been pushed back as it has been confirmed that Starfield and Redfall are now slated for the first half of 2023. To say this is catastrophic would be an understatement even if it means we receive better games at the end of the road. The showcase, the expectations, the holiday window, the shake-up of releases for 2023, the potential shotgun blast of those, and many more ramifications we likely won't know of until they hit. This marks Bethesda Game Studios' first true delay since Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion in 2005 when it was, ironically, pushed back to Spring 2006 for the Xbox 360. Joining us is ColtEastwood to discuss the Xbox Everywhere initiative along with the newly announced Summer Games Fest showcase which presents a problem Xbox is much happier to have. That being, where do they slot in the numerous announcements and big reveals they have planned? If reports are to be believed, the spread has increased to three if you include Gamescom and offers the team the ability to spread the wealth. Problems both good and bad for the green machine have arrived and it's time for us alongside our lovely guest to discuss.

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It's been a busy week in gaming. Between Square Enix, WB Games, and Ubisoft, the acquisition conversation has never been hotter and now with a move by Embracer yet another piece has been removed from the chess board. Bringing this Embracer Group to a staggering 14,000 employees and 200+ games in development, this move to acquire Square Enix's western division has put the industry on watch. Matty and Cog discuss the future of Tomb Raider, Deus Ex, other abandoned Square Enix IP, as well as the future of both Square and Embracer. More important to the Xbox fandom is the newly announced Summer Showcase for 2022. Xbox and Bethesda are teaming up again on June 12th for what is a show that must be a statement. This has to be where a new era of Xbox begins in earnest.

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During acquisition season, many of us have been surprised by targets such as Zenimax, ABK, and Bungie. However, there is one company that has been on all of our bingo cards and that's Ubisoft. Reports are arriving which state that the company is preparing to sell off in the face of yet another takeover as their share prices continue to nosedive. While Ubisoft claims they can remain independent, can they truly? Outside of the Ubisoft rumors, Bethesda is trudging through many of their own. A Mandalorian game, Roundhouse's possible comic book game, and updates on Elder Scrolls VI? I (Matty) have spent time rummaging through these leaks to get to the bottom of what is happening here and it's time to spill some tea. Preferably spilled with a spoon, which we also get into.

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