Defining Duke: An Xbox Podcast

Xbox has been the gold standard for showcases these last two years. Whether it be their summer showcases or Developer Direct, they just seem to have a death grip on the rhythm needed to put on a good show along with well timed announcements. Well, no one stays hot forever, so it was inevitable that Xbox would come down to earth at some point. The question is, when they do, where would they end up? Fortunately, it wasn't terrible! We got a deep look at The Outer Worlds 2 while Double Fine finally came out of hiding with their atmospheric adventure game, Keeper. Clockwork Revolution stole the show with a 5+ minute trailer and, naturally, Call Of Duty is coming back again this year. Perhaps most noteworthy was the reveal of the ROG Xbox Ally X. As long reported, this partnership with ASUS will be the beginning of Xbox's handheld journey. Cog went hands-on, so we have to-the-minute thoughts on the user experience, UI updates, and performance testing!

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

0:00:00 - Intro
0:03:24 - General Impressions
0:12:28 – Outer Worlds 2
0:30:16 – High On Life 2
0:33:49 – Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy
0:37:45 – Rog Xbox Ally X
0:56:10 – Blood Of The Dawnwalker
0:58:08 – Super Meat Boy 3D
0:59:35 – Ninja Gaiden 4
1:04:54 – Indiana Jones: The Order Of Giants
1:11:02 – Beast Of Reincarnation
1:13:48 – Clockwork Revolution
1:24:52 – Grounded 2
1:31:37 – Chronos: The New Dawn
1:36:19 – Aphelion
1:40:05 – There Are No Ghosts At The Grand
1:43:03 – Mudang Two Hearts
1:45:50 – Planet Of Lana 2
1:51:37 – Animo
1:55:51 – Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 + 4
1:57:00 – At Fate's End
1:59:06 – Gears Of War Reloaded
2:01:58 – Persona 4 Revival
2:11:06 – Invincible VS
2:16:00 – Final Fantasy has come to Xbox
2:27:17 – Keeper
2:34:19 – Phil's 2026 Teases
2:54:51 – Black Ops 7

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Xbox Games Showcase 2025 is soon upon us and you know the tradition! It's Defining Duke. It's Xbox Two. It's showcase season! Compared to prior years, the pressure on Xbox feels a little lessened. The games are in full swing and mostly delivering, Project Latitude is far less controversial, and many are just hoping the company maintains the status quo for once. So, for the games: Is it time for Elder Scrolls VI? Does Halo make its return to the big stage? Does Final Fantasy VII Remake finally hit the platform? What of Persona 4 Remake? Can Playground Games announce Forza Horizon 6 this year? With speculitis flowing through our veins, we heavily debate the "yays" and "nays" of Xbox's next summer showcase for five whole hours. 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
0:05:21 - Health Is Wealth
0:17:22 - Write Ins
0:26:16 - What We're Playing
1:33:39 - Bethesda Predictions
2:16:17 - Activision Predictions
2:42:05 - Halo Studios
2:59:49 - The Coalition
3:01:45 - Compulsion Games
3:06:05 - Double Fine
3:12:34 - Inxile Entertainment
3:19:01 - Mojang
3:21:47 - Ninja Theory
3:29:17 - Obsidian Entertainment
3:45:44 - Playground Games
3:59:18 - Rare
4:06:29 - The Initiative
4:10:50 - Turn 10
4:16:46 - Undead Labs
4:22:42 - World’s Edge
4:24:50 - Audience inquiries & random predictions

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Much has been said about Xbox's multiplatform shift, but Xbox finally has games AND they're selling. It's truly a momentous occasion! The Dukes bend the knee as they assess a strong month for Xbox bringing four of the five best selling games to other platforms. What does this mean for the Switch 2 ports and Xbox's brand identity? Naturally, we unpack that. We also get into the thick of Bungie's latest plagiarism scandal. Just how damning are the accusations and is Marathon on the brink of cancellation? If it were to get to its release, what does it need to keep the studio alive? Indeed, things look incredibly grim for Bungie and many exit strategies are likely being planned.Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:08:19 - Health Is Wealth
0:17:35 - Write Ins
0:20:35 - Xbox handheld leaks
0:25:48 - Xbox is dominating on PlayStation
0:38:06 - Microsoft cuts 3% of its overall workforce
0:40:04 - Xbox announces “Retro Classics”
0:46:30 - Xbox is talking to Steam for its next console
0:52:51 - DOOM: The Dark Ages has reached 3 million players
0:59:41 - Gears Of War movie has its director
1:05:27 - Oblivion Remastered’s completion rate is concerning?
1:09:20 - Jade Raymond leaves Haven Studio
1:20:18 - Arrowhead’s next game might come to Xbox
1:25:03 - Atomfall is getting a sequel or spin-off
1:27:33 - Randy Pitchford on $80 for Borderlands 4
1:37:53 - New Kingdom Hearts 4 screenshots
1:44:59 - Red Dead Redemption 2 is getting a current gen update
1:45:46 - Cyberpunk Orion details
1:47:56 - What We’re Playing
2:04:10 - Bungie is caught stealing art… again
2:41:23 - Hellblade 2 to PS5 this summer
2:50:26 - Avowed director leaves Obsidian
3:10:19 - Coming soon to Xbox Game Pass
3:17:39 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Dukes get ready to rip and tear through another set of video games news and releases! Joining us is honorary Duke, Gene Park, to talk about the latest game out of iD Software in DOOM: The Dark Ages. It's the third entry in iD's modern reboot of the franchise and, as always, they've taken a new approach to things. DOOM: The Dark Ages places a shield in your hands and asks you to "stand and fight." How does this feel in comparison to DOOM Eternal's lightning fast combat or the more deliberate nature of DOOM 2016? It finds itself in the middle as all three Dukes have different takes on this one. Its combat, story, enemy variety, pacing, traversal, level design. All of them speak to us (or not) in ways that really highlight this isn't iD's best DOOM, but it's not their worst. It finds itself in the middle and, by the finale, feels like the series has run out of gas. So, what does this team of talented FPS developers do next? Is it time for Quake? Naturally, we discuss all of that 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
0:16:50 - Health is Wealth
0:31:02 - GTA 6 Update
0:34:38 - Should Xbox have held the Gears announcement?
0:48:15 - Fallout Season 2 drops in December
1:00:06 - DOOM: The Dark Ages physical copy debacle
1:10:28 - Oblivion Remastered’s continuous issues
1:23:26 - Xbox returning to back compat focus?
1:37:54 - GTA IV Remaster inbound?
1:46:43 - Mafia: The Old Country release date and pricing
1:54:21 - Will Borderlands 4 jump for $80?
2:07:47 - Marvel 1943: Rise Of Hydra has been delayed to 2026
2:11:09 -  Capcom is doing better than we understand
2:21:09 - Square Enix’s rough financials
2:30:39 - Warner Bros Games revenue is in the tubes
2:32:13 - Doom: The Dark Ages
3:33:16 - What We’re Playing
4:00:05 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Well, it finally happened... Dogs and cats are finally sleeping together. Xbox has announced one of its iconic franchises with Gears of War Reloaded coming to PlayStation Day and Date! The Dukes break down the magnitude and ramifications of this major inflection point in Xbox console gaming identity. Meanwhile GTA6 casually reveals an explosive second trailer, Expedition 33 continues to dominate the news cycle, and Xbox Handhelds are leaking all over the place. Joining Cog this week is Brad, to dive into all the latest Xbox News and 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
0:03:06 - Health is Wealth
0:11:46 - Kingdom Come Deliverance 2: Three Million Sold
0:13:48 - Split Fiction Surpasses 4 Million Sales
0:17:08 - PS5's top 3 selling games in April 2025 were all from Xbox
0:23:13 - Compulsion Games Role Not to make Blockbusters like COD
0:29:47 - Expedition 33 Magical Development Story
0:41:43 - Expedition 33
0:52:16 - Destiny 2 YEAR OF PROPHECY (Star Wars)
1:04:35 - GTA Release Date & Trailer 2
1:24:12 - Expedition 33 Says “Oblivion Remaster Didn't Harm Us"
1:36:47 - Gears of War Reloaded On Playstation
2:02:44 - Xbox ROG ALLY2 Leaked
2:12:56 - Game Pass Pick of the Week

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Well, we were ready to have a very positive episode, but here we are! Xbox has gone all the way ahead of most of the competition and confirmed the following. Console and accessories prices are jumping immediately. Xbox game prices will reach $80 by the end of the year. In a world where the first party is mostly producing divisive titles sitting in the ~80 open critic range, you have to imagine Xbox’s financial situation can’t be in a brilliant stop to step on a rake ahead of its competition. Yet, that’s where things get even more interesting. Xbox’s Q3 2025 results saw them at the industry’s top publisher while also being the leader in games sold on PlayStation with at least four of their titles in the top 10. Xbox wants their money and the Dukes have plenty of thoughts on this. Is this going to push even more people into Game Pass? Will this give birth to a free tier of Game Pass? What of Cloud Streaming’s growth when consoles are becoming extremely pricey. Meanwhile, it's already May and it feels as if we have enough fantastic games to begin our voting on Game Of The Year! Expedition 33 is the talk of the town alongside Oblivion and rightfully so, but it's fascinating just how many incredible experiences surround them. Unlikely heroes in Last Defense Academy, sleeper indie hits in Towerborne, and much more are around every corner. Who has time for all of this? Hell if we know, but we're just happy to be on the ride 2025 is taking us on.Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.0:00:00 - Intro
0:06:28 - Health Is Wealth
0:36:44 - Oblivion reaches 4 million players
0:41:49 - Expedition 33 has sold 1 million copies
0:56:38 - People Can Fly’s Project Maverick revealed
1:02:58 - Borderlands 4 gets new release date
1:08:47 - Wuchang Fallen Feather launches on July 24th, 2025
1:10:56 - Robocop: Rogue City - Unfinished Business launches on July 17th, 2025
1:12:37 - FBC: Firebreak launches on June 17th, 2025
1:16:41 - Tainted Grail: Fall Of Avalon leaves early access on May 23rd
1:19:53 - Baldur’s Gate 3 director on AI
1:29:16 - TMNT Splintered Fate is coming to Xbox and PlayStation
1:37:31 - Kevin Eastman on the TMNT Last Ronin video game
1:41:19 - Capcom teases Resident Evil 9
1:44:18 - Splinter Cell: Blacklist randomly gets Steam achievements
1:47:50 - Elden Ring passes 30 million sales
1:50:11 - Microsoft Q3 Results
1:57:06 - Expedition 33
2:34:24 - Marathon
2:54:19 - Oblivion Remaster
3:16:26 - Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy
3:22:29 - Xbox price increase
4:04:00 - Respawn suffers more layoffs and cancellations
4:19:08 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's a pretty unique week for Defining Duke listeners. It's practically no news and all games. Oblivion Remaster truly was shadowdropped. That just happens to be the same week that a bonafide GOTY contender in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 arrives. Oh, we also have Last Defense Academy and Blue Prince to add to that bunch and that's just the last couple of weeks! Joining us to comb through this week and much more is Ebontis, co-host of The Last Word and a variety based content creator.Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

0:00:00 - Intro
0:04:03 - Health is Wealth
0:23:39 - Oblivion’s impact on Expedition 33
0:39:09 - Fallout 3’s remaster just got more exciting
0:47:45 - Honest talk about leak culture
1:00:08 - Oblivion Remaster player count
1:09:20 - Outer Worlds 2 new gameplay drops
1:16:27 - Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3+4 Remake will have a career mode
1:18:11 - Star Wars Zero Company trailer reveal
1:24:02 - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
2:12:12 -  KCD 2
2:23:16 - Split Fiction
2:29:21 - Blue Prince
2:36:10 - The First Berzerker Khazan
2:46:15 - Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy
2:58:08 - Oblivion Remake
3:26:52 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I was born 87 years ago. For 65 years I ruled as Tamriel’s emperor. For all these years, I’ve never been the ruler of my own dreams. I have seen the Gates of Oblivion, beyond which no waking eye may see. Behold! In darkness, a doom sweeps the land. This is the 27th of Last Seed. The year of Akatosh 433. These are the closing days of the 3rd Era... and the final hours of my life.

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

0:00:00 - Intro

0:13:27 - Health Is Wealth

0:40:48 - Write Ins

0:44:48 - Marathon reveal impressions

1:13:46 - Star Wars Zero Company officially announced

1:17:30 - Mafia: The Old Country release date leaks

1:23:51 - Xbox summer showcase rumors are already here

1:33:35 - Outer Worlds 2 gets new gameplay

1:59:22 - DOOM: The Dark Ages accessories revealed

2:04:39 - Cronos: The New Dawn gameplay reveal

2:08:49 - Triple I Showcase announcements

2:13:04 - Sea Of Thieves heads to Battlenet

2:14:00 - Elder Scrolls Online isn’t going anywhere

2:21:42 - Zenless Zone Zero is coming to Xbox in June

2:22:12 - What We’re Playing

2:40:31 - Oblivion Remastered is real

3:14:04 - Coming soon to Xbox Game Pass

3:17:20 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Following the delay of Fable, it was a coin toss on who would get the nod to follow up Xbox's 2025 summer showcase with a Developer Direct of their own. Now, we have the answer. No, it's not Gears Of War: E-Day and no it's not Halo. It's The Outer Worlds 2! Combined with this reveal, IGN posted over 10 minutes of Outer Worlds 2 gameplay! While it pops the bubble ahead of its full inflation, the Dukes were excited to lay eyes on the game following its December reveal. What has changed? What has improved? Also, what else will we see at this summer's showcase? We're full of guesses, so let's get to speculating!

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

0:00:00 - Intro

0:05:46 - Health is Wealth

0:23:54 - Write Ins

0:38:52 - Oblivion Remake is shadow dropping any moment this month

0:48:04 - Xbox’s AI generated Quake II demo

1:02:53 - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 details

1:05:38 - Titanfall 3 rumors

1:11:21 - Final Fantasy VII Remake is still Xbox bound

1:16:24 - Hidetaka Miyazaki addresses multiplayer concerns

1:21:48 - Marathon reveal on April 12th

1:28:53 - A Deus Ex return is being pitched

1:31:37 - Zenless Zone Zero is coming to Xbox soon

1:32:23 - What We’re Playing

2:13:59 - Xbox summer showcase announced

2:54:14 - Switch 2 follow up

3:18:04 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The next exclusive from the "Class Of 2018" has arrived! It's South Of Midnight, hailing from Montreal's very own Compulsion Games, and it's another mixed bag. For all the visuals, stop motion, and music do to set the game apart, the Dukes struggled to fall in love with story following its abrupt conclusion. There's a lot to dig about it, but we wonder how the Xbox fandom will react to this after effectively waiting since 2018 for a story that doesn't necessarily wrap it up or make the best use of its gameplay mechanics. Alas, it's another "good, not great" that the Dukes think you should check out at sometime, but can't really justify the 40 bones you'd spend on it outside of Game Pass. In other news, Nintendo has upended the industry with their newly announced game prices which reach as high as $90 on the physical front. How this will have a ripple effect on the industry is easy to guess, but naturally, we dig a little deeper into the conversation than that.

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

0:00:00 - Intro

0:23:56 - Xbox handheld teased by ASUS

0:28:15 - How Xbox games are selling on PlayStation and Steam

0:35:09 - Why are Activision games not on Game Pass?

0:38:40 - RuneScape Dragonwids announced

0:48:29 - First look at Star Wars turn based tactics game

0:52:48 - MindsEye is releasing June 10th

0:55:32 - Trails Beyond The Horizon confirmed for Fall 2025

0:59:34 - Atomfall has surpassed 1.5 million players

1:02:04 - Powerwash Simulator tops 17 million players

1:02:41 - Death Stranding reaches 20 million players

1:03:51 - Monster Hunter Wilds sells 10 million units in 1 month

1:05:08 - Expedition 33 has gone gold

1:06:45 - Assassins Creed Invictus is launching this year

1:09:51 - Ubisoft and Tencent’s new partnership

1:18:22 - What We’re Playing

1:54:31 - Nintendo Switch 2 Direct reactions

2:34:56 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices