Defining Duke: An Xbox Podcast

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 - Intro
0:02:57 - Final future of the Dukes update
0:08:31 - Xbox Ally impressions
0:28:08 - The pace of Xbox releases
0:35:29 - The most positive Xbox experience this generation
0:43:07 - What We’re Playing
1:02:44 - Outer Worlds 2
2:13:25 - Improvements coming to the Xbox Ally
2:15:49 - ID@Xbox showcase coming October 28th
2:17:16 - Starfield’s PS5 announcement will come in 2026
2:18:31 - Warner Bros Discovery is up for sale again
2:27:26 - Assassin’s Creed franchise lead was forced out
2:35:11 - Glen Schofield is trying to get Dead Space back
2:54:25 - Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 updates
3:00:34 - The Resident Evil Remake rumors are heating up
3:04:24 - A new Dragon Ball game coming in 2026
3:08:11 - Marvel Cosmic Invasion releases December 1st
3:10:33 - Quantic Dream’s strange new multiplayer game
3:16:16 -  What’s next for Arrowhead?
3:18:28 - Silent Hill sales update
3:21:18 - Kirby Air Riders gets ANOTHER direct
3:25:41- Sarah Bond clarifies Xbox next gen details
3:49:04 - Xbox has plans to move its product manufacturing out of China

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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 - Intro
0:20:42 - Where did the former Zenimax Online devs go?
0:30:06 - Call Of Duty is dropping SBMM
0:42:23 - Halo art director delivers ominous message
1:04:51 - Indiana Jones gets anniversary update
1:10:17 - Everwild screenshots have leaked
1:12:44 - Sucker Punch’s future after Ghost Of Yotei
1:27:46 - What is Bluepoint up to?
1:31:34 - More Expedition 33 content on the way
1:36:39 - Japan responds to rise of Sora AI
1:44:05 - Assassin’s Creed director quits over Tencent
2:04:02 - Massive Pokémon leak
2:18:14 - Switch 2 console sales update
2:21:34 - Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game revealed
2:24:59 - The Mindseye Aftermath
2:30:18 - What We’re Playing
3:18:10 - Xbox’s Project Magnus and PlayStation 6 are rumored to release in 2027
3:55:17 - Another week of Xbox hardware drama

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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 Dukes
0:21:28 - Cog’s trip to Japan
0:35:50 - Where is Phil Spencer?
1:00:32 - Outer Worlds 2 caught in the crossfire again
1:15:57 - 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 lap
1:47:58 - Xbox’s response to the Game Pass price hike
1:56:24 - Game Pass DLC discounts are done
2:02:17 - Halo Combat Evolved Remake rumors
2:16:46 - Coming soon to Xbox Game Pass
2:20:29 - What We’re Playing
2:59:26 - Is Xbox hardware coming to an end?
3:35:43 - The reason Game Pass hiked its prices
3:56:22 - Xbox is reportedly adding a free tier for Cloud Gaming

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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 - Intro
0:03:14 - Health Is Wealth
0:10:02 - Are we still Xbox fans?
0:26:22 - What’s happening with Forza Horizon 6?
0:36:23 - Xbox Ally preorders are live
0:48:50 - EA is going private in a $55 Billion deal
1:05:47 - Ken Levine interview recap
1:19:18 - Fallout 76 Burning Springs update
1:20:14 - Prototype is coming back?
1:27:07 - Ubisoft forms Vantage Studios
1:30:23 - AAA Lord Of The Rings game in development
1:38:49 - What We’re Playing
2:25:25 - Xbox Game Pass gets a major price hike
3:14:00 - Do we keep doing Game Pass Pick Of The Week?

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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 - Intro
0:09:03 - Health Is Wealth
0:23:29 - Danganronpa theories
0:29:14 - Hideo Kojima shows off OD
0:41:49 - 2025 is Xbox’s biggest investment in Game Pass
0:49:23 - More leaked details on Perfect Dark
1:01:42 - Black Ops 7 multiplayer reveal on September 30th
1:08:15 - Xbox’s handheld UI is out now
1:14:23 - Borderlands 4 has reached 2.5 million players
1:17:36 - Cyberpunk 2077 sequel to include multiplayer
1:20:39 - Aspyr removes AI replicated voice from Tomb Raider
1:24:29 - What We’re Playing
2:09:34 - New price increases for Xbox
2:23:33 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week
2:25:20 - Xbox TGS 2025 Showcase
2:48:58 - State Of Play

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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 - Intro
0:05:29 - Health Is Wealth
0:45:32 - Dragon Quest 7 info
0:50:36 - Is RE5 remake different from what we thought?
0:55:30 - Does Bethesda still have it?
1:16:25 - Nintendo Direct reaction
1:35:26 - Randy Pitchford’s Borderlands 4 meltdown
1:50:40 - The Initiative studio head breaks his silence
2:05:07 - The Scalebound Saga continues on
2:14:03 - Zenimax Online Studios wants to make new stuff
2:20:18 - Final Fantasy 7 Remake’s Part 3 is going multi-plat
2:33:04 - The Series S helped Battlefield 6
2:39:22 - GTA 6 is getting delayed… again?
2:45:22 - Nintendo’s dangerous new patent
2:55:58 - Black Flag Remake might be more RPG-heavy
3:00:50 - State Of Play next week
3:10:34 - Far Cry is leaning into multiplayer
3:15:22 - What We’re Playing
3:36:48 - Coming soon to Xbox Game Pass…
3:39:23 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week

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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 - Intro
0:17:57 - Health Is Wealth
0:22:02 - Bethesda finally teases Starfield DLC
0:30:16 - Wolfenstein lives on
0:38:37 - Hollow Knight Silksong breaks records
0:51:10 - Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth due out on Xbox in 2026
0:53:27 - Physical games live on for another generation?
1:05:37 - Dead Island 3 on the way
1:12:19 - Helldivers 3 basically confirmed
1:16:05 - Resident Evil 5 Remake isn’t happening
1:22:44 - Old KOTOR Remake concept art leaks
1:24:35 - Metal Gear Delta sells 1 million copies in 2 days
1:25:22 - 2K is making a “college basketball experience” while EA bails
1:34:37 - Batman Arkham Shadow is getting a sequel
1:39:35 - IO Interactive finally talks about Mindseye launch
1:44:20 - What We’re Playing
2:23:54 - Pete Hines opens up on Xbox & Bethesda
3:12:04 - Xbox’s Tokyo Game Show plans
3:20:02 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week

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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 - Intro
0:02:40 - Health Is Wealth
0:23:57 - Our preview philosophy
0:35:17 - 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 business
1:00:49 - Gears Of War Reloaded numbers are in
1:12:16 - Helldivers 2 is the #1 paid game on the Xbox store
1:23:23 - Grounded 2 seems to be doing very well
1:28:52 - 007 First Light impressions
1:36:14 - PlayStation 6 will be a handheld?
1:48:20 - Epic responds to Unreal Engine 5 concerns
2:02:20 - Ubisoft’s 2026 and 2027 games
2:10:54 - What's going on with Cyberpunk 2077?
2:14:25 - Kojima event may show off OD
2:17:05 - What We’re Playing
3:10:24 - Perfect Dark was nearly revived
3:28:05 - Coming soon to Xbox Game Pass
3:40:56 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week

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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 - Intro
0:15:07 - Write Ins
0:37:33 - Pete Parsons is leaving Bungie
0:51:25 - Tim Schafer on Double Fine’s future games
0:55:32 - Hollow Knight Silksong finally has a release date
1:11:32 - Xbox Ally preorder date leaks
1:12:39 - The reason that Switch 2 ports of Xbox games are delayed?
1:23:00 - Xbox Cloud Gaming is coming to Game Pass subscribers
1:29:48 - New Starfield updates detailed
1:35:13 - High On Life 2 will include 5 playable games
1:37:14 - Replaced is set to release Spring 2026
1:38:59 - Activision responds to Call of Duty concerns
1:50:34 - More Clair Obscur is on the way
2:04:51 - Atari has acquired 5 Ubisoft games
2:09:26 - Ken Levine opens up on Judas
2:16:53 - Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines 2’s Wild DLC situation
2:23:20 - Naoki Yoshida says there’s no need for new consoles
2:26:52 - Herman Hulst on Concord’s failure
2:31:46 - Skate enters early access on September 16th
2:40:02 - What We’re Playing
3:48:09 - Forza Horizon 6 will be set in Japan
3:59:05 - Coming soon to Xbox Game Pass
4:00:22 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week

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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 - Intro
0:07:28 -  Health Is Wealth
0:31:52 - Xbox is safe from Tyson... for now
0:33:26 - Grounded 2 is outpacing the first
0:38:08 - Ex-PlayStation Exec Shawn Layden on Game Pass
0:57:15 - Details on the Helldivers x ODST collab
1:01:21 - Rod Fergusson is the new Head of the BioShock Franchise
1:08:28 - High On Life 2 is releasing February 13th, 2026
1:11:31 - Triangle Strategy shadow drops on Xbox
1:15:35 - Mafia: The Old Country sales thus far
1:17:34 - Shenmue 3 Enhanced Edition announced by ININ
1:36:41 - What We’re Playing
2:02:23 - Gamescom recap
2:45:29 - Updates on Xbox Ally
3:01:30 - PlayStation hikes console price
3:08:56 - Leaving Xbox Game Pass
3:10:21 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week

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