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This week, we're talking Xbox Helix and Microsoft's gaming financials, Fable vs. God of War Laufey, Gears: E-Day's multiplayer previews, and much more. Will Xbox ditch Steam? Will Satya give Asha enough time to save Xbox?! Let's talk about it.

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TIMESTAMPS:

00:00:00: Intro, most anticipated games, hitting the backlog, recent games.

00:20:00: Xbox Helix vs. Steam.

00:55:00: Gears of War: E-Day impressions, Xbox financials, and future strategy.

01:35:00: Xbox Game Studios strategy, future of Fallout, future of Halo.

01:50:00: Digital rights, Xbox Live outages, future of Xbox Ally and handhelds.

02:20:00: Fable vs. God of War, Paramount acquires Warner Bros.

02:42:00: Patreon Q&A, Xbox at Gamescom.

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and on YOUTUBE: @ZalkerGaming

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Jez and Rand gear up for ep. 415 of the Xbox Two Podcast! This week, we talk Xbox Cloud Gaming + ads new "free" tier, we discuss Halo Campaign Evolved's success (or lack thereof) and get into the latest Xbox back compat news. Also, Jez reads ... a BOOK?!

💚SUPPORT US on PATREON from $1.99: Extra shows, ad-free, Q&A section weekly, and MORE! ⁠⁠http://patreon.com/XB2⁠⁠ | Now cheaper!

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00:00: Intro, Jez has buyer's remorse, and reads a book?!

00:18:00: Tomb Raider delayed, Ghost Recon Wildlands leaked, PS5 disc controversy continues. Xbox tax and the state of game journalism.

00:55:00: LG monitors injecting ads into Windows, Xbox Cloud Gaming vs. ads. Halo reviews influenced by Xbox hate?

01:20:00: Halo Campaign Evolved thoughts, Xbox back compat on PC.

02:00:00: Circana shows Xbox hardware sales jump, Game Pass vs. Xbox studios, Matt Booty vs. Xbox exclusives.

02:30:00: Patreon Q&A topics and superchats.

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Rand and Jez RETURN for a big week in Xbox gaming news. We discuss the on-going fallout from Asha's cuts, we talk the huge tranche of Bethesda news dropping earlier today, and we discuss Jez's interview with Todd Howard.

💚SUPPORT US on PATREON from $1.99: Extra shows, ad-free, Q&A section weekly, and MORE! ⁠http://patreon.com/XB2⁠ | Now cheaper!

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00:00: Intro, Xbox to have a disc drive rumor, clickbait, Positron updates?
00:20:00: Wolverine PS5 BOYCOTT?! God of War TV show recast. Microsoft accounts HACKED and digital rights.
00:47:00: Games played: Buckshot Roulette, DOOM, Halo Campaign Evolved, Assassin's Creed: Black Flag resynced.
01:00:00: Xbox Ultimate Sale, August release schedule, EA College Football drama. Halo Studios mismanagement? Bungie, Marathon in trouble. Analysts predict Xbox Helix' sales, WWE viewing figures tank.
01:25:00: Todd Howard interview, Fallout and Elder Scrolls news. Obsidian's Fallout, Avowed 2 not dead?
02:10:00: Patreon Q&A topics.

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It's here, the big "Xbox reset." Jez and Rand discuss the aftermath of project Asha, and whether or not Microsoft has gone too far. Was this the right thing for the health of the brand? Did Xbox Game Studios become too bloated? Or is this all just callous spreadsheetery?

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00:00: Intro, aftermath of PlayStation's discpocalypse. Will Xbox support discs?
00:28:00: The Xbox "Reset," mass layoffs, divestitures, and the future.
00:46:00: Obsidian making a Fallout game? Shrinking core market, impact of AI.
01:00:00: The fate of id Software.
01:20:00: Superchats, Patreon Q&A topics, and final thoughts.

💚SUPPORT US on PATREON from $1.99: Extra shows, ad-free, Q&A section weekly, and MORE! ⁠http://patreon.com/XB2⁠ | Now cheaper!💚

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THE END IS NIGH ... for physical discs. Rand and Jez talk the LATEST DRAMA in the Xboxosphere, with Sony KILLING discs and the implications for Xbox Helix. What does Xbox's layoff bloodbath look like now? Is the game industry COOKED? Or is there optimism for the future? Let's talk.

💚 SUPPORT US on PATREON from $1.99: Extra shows, ad-free, Q&A section weekly, and MORE! ⁠http://patreon.com/XB2⁠ | Now cheaper!

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00:00: PlayStation ending physical discs. Xbox rumors, World Cup. Polygon has the worst article of the year.
00:28:00: Cyberpunk hits 40 million sales, Destiny 2 profitability, Steam Machine issues.
00:56:00: Xbox Tax, deep dive: the death of physical.
02:00:00: Xbox Studio layoffs and closures, Halo Studios' future. Warcraft leaks.
02:30:00: Patreon Q&A: Xbox leadership, creative freedom, and more.

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JEZ and RAND talk about the latest Xbox drama: price hikes, the GTA 6 marketing blitz, the death of Destiny, Steam Machine and the RAMagaddon, and much more.

Hey guys, sorry for the delay, was travelling! Better late than never. Also on that note, since I was travelling I was calling in on a Bluetooth headset, so apols for strange audio. Should be back to normal next week good sirs. ^Jez

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TIMESTAMPS:
00:00:00: Rand's desk explodes, Jez gets engaged! Xbox newspocalypse. 007 impressions. Avowed impressions.
00:25:00: Console prices increased, state of the market.
00:55:00: Is gaming cooked? Delay next-gen?
01:28:00: Europe is literally on fire. Bungie layoffs, GTA 6 preorders and marketing debate.
02:00:00: Patreon Q&A, community questions and superchat topics (various).

💚SUPPORT US on PATREON from $1.99: Extra shows, ad-free, Q&A section weekly, and MORE! http://patreon.com/XB2 | Now cheaper!💚

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Jez and Rand get into it for the latest XBOX TWO PODCAST. We talk Xbox Showcase after math, the drama around Asha Sharma's "reset," the implications of Xbox exclusive games, and more. What's going to happen?!

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00:00: Intro, GTA 6 rumors, preorders, Fall is STACKED.
00:20:00: Bungie layoffs, Hellblade 2 reactions, Xbox Showcase. Xbox Studio closures, fiscal strategy.
01:10:00: Exclusivity re-evaluated? PR problems, game budgets, Gears E-Day, Xbox brand confidence.
01:55:00: Patreon Q&A, industry crash, sell-off rumors.
02:20:00: Game Pass value, Bethesda franchises, "Xbox Tax."
02:45:00: Industry contraction, oversupply, nostalgia?!

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Hey gang, unfortunately Rand's power is out thanks to the tornado hitting Chicago and the surrounding area, so we're rocking a solo show ahead of the regular XB2 410 likely for Monday. I got the XB2 Patreon Q&As here too!

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TIMESTAMPS:
00:00:00: Xbox business health, Game Pass revenue, industry pressure. Xbox restructuring / spin-off rumors.
00:38:00: Halo Studios management, studio closure rumors.
01:00:00: Xbox Showcase impressions, game reveals, best games.
01:20:00: Patreon Q&A. Future of exclusives, multi-platform plans, Helix changes?
01:56:00: SGF surprises, dream crossovers. Free-to-play monetization problems, and Xbox's future.

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ORIGINALLY AIRED: MAY 26, 2026, FIRST ON https://PATREON.COM/XB2 💚

THE THIRTENE EIGHTIETH XB2+1 IS HERE. HANGING OUT WITH XBOX LEGEND ... JON "SIKAMIKANICO" CLARKE.

We'll talk Xbox things, how XboxEra's transition to DayOne is going, and Jon's predictions for the Xbox Showcase... and RYAN GOSLING?!

FOLLOW JON on X: http://twitter.com/_Sikamikanico_

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