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The move to digital downloads is changing the way we buy, own, and play video games, and it has many players wondering if physical games are slowly becoming a thing of the past.

In this episode of Xbox Casuals, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Corey Dirrig⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Josh Finney⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ dive into the ongoing debate between physical and digital media, exploring the benefits and drawbacks of each.

They discuss the reality of digital ownership, what happens when online stores shut down, and why many gamers are concerned about preserving their collections. At the same time, they look at the convenience of instant downloads, digital game libraries, and subscription services that have made gaming more accessible than ever.

They also examine how Xbox and PlayStation are accelerating the industry’s move toward an all-digital future and share practical tips for protecting your game library, no matter which format you prefer.

This and more on Xbox Casuals: An Xbox Podcast.

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The team at Bungie, the studios at Xbox, and the video game industry continue to face one of its biggest turning points ever.

This week, ⁠⁠⁠Corey Dirrig⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Josh Finney⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ break down the major changes affecting both Bungie and the ongoing changes at Xbox.

After Destiny 2 received its final planned service updates, Bungie announced nearly 300 layoffs, leaving Marathon as the studio’s primary focus under Sony.

At the same time, Microsoft is undergoing major restructuring under new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma. Reports suggest several well-known Xbox studios, including Ninja Theory and Double Fine, could face closure while Microsoft also introduces a $150 price increase for Xbox consoles.

Josh and Corey discuss what led to these decisions, how Xbox Game Pass fits into Microsoft’s long-term strategy, and what this wave of layoffs and restructuring could mean for the future of the gaming industry.

This and more on Tower Casuals and Xbox Casuals.

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The Xbox Summer Showcase has come and gone, and Xbox delivered one of its strongest presentations in years.

This week on Xbox Casuals, Corey Dirrig and Josh Finney break down everything from the Xbox Summer Showcase, including the latest looks at Gears of War: E-Day, Fable, Halo: Combat Evolved Remake, Clockwork Revolution, and much more.

The duo also dives into Xbox’s growing partnership with SEGA, the reveal of Persona 4 Revival, rumors surrounding Persona 6, the return of Crazy Taxi, and the stunning new translucent Xbox Series X special edition console.

All this and more on Xbox Casuals.

This and more on Xbox Casuals: An Xbox Podcast.

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Corey Dirrig⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Founder of Boss Rush Media, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tower Casuals: The Destiny Podcast⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Boss Rush Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Josh Finney⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, cofounder and cohost of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tower Casuals: The Destiny Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

The XBOX Summer Showcase is right around the corner, so you know what time it is.

This week on Xbox Casuals, Corey Dirrig and Josh Finney discuss the recent news on what's happening at Bungie, Destiny 2, and Marathon Season 2, the discussions surrounding XBOX's major changes internally and what "tough decisions" actually means, and what Asha Sharma's first on-stage appearance might look like at the Summer Showcase.

They also go through their top 5 predictions for the XBOX Summer Showcase, including Halo 7, Wolfenstein III, Quake, The Coalition's new IP, and the reveal of Project Helix.

This and more on Xbox Casuals: An Xbox Podcast.

Join our communities:

• ⁠⁠Boss Rush Community Discord⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠Tower Casuals Destiny Discord⁠⁠

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Corey Dirrig⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Founder of Boss Rush Media, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tower Casuals: The Destiny Podcast⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Boss Rush Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Josh Finney⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, cofounder and cohost of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tower Casuals: The Destiny Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

The future of Xbox just got a whole lot more interesting with potential leaks, leadership shakeups, and a surprise shadow drop.

This week on Xbox Casuals, ⁠Corey Dirrig⁠ and ⁠Josh Finney⁠ discuss new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma's continued aggression in player-first moves, the latest in leadership changes, Forza Horizon 6 and whether legit city racing could finally return to the series in its Japanese setting, the potential Halo 2 and Halo 3 remakes, and talk about why IO Interactive’s James Bond: First Light already feels like a Game of the Year contender.

Plus they look ahead to the June Showcase, discuss if Fable can survive the GTA VI hype cycle, and what they could possibly see in the 30 minute showcase of Gears of War: E-Day.

This and more ⁠this week on Xbox Casuals⁠.

Join our communities:

• ⁠Boss Rush Community Discord⁠
• ⁠Tower Casuals Destiny Discord⁠

Follow our Hosts:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Corey Dirrig⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Founder of Boss Rush Media, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tower Casuals: The Destiny Podcast⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Boss Rush Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Josh Finney⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, cofounder and cohost of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tower Casuals: The Destiny Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

Xbox is making some aggressive moves, and it feels like things are finally out in the open. Under Asha Sharma and Matt Booty, the team laid out a clear four-part plan for the future, covering hardware, games, player experience, and services.

On this week’s Xbox Casuals, Corey Dirrig and Josh Finney discuss what it all means, from stabilizing the current console generation and teasing Project Helix, to growing franchises and rethinking how Xbox Game Pass works going forward.

There’s even talk of potential acquisitions and changes to exclusivity. It’s a lot to take in, but more than anything, it finally feels like Xbox is being upfront about where it’s headed and has lit some fire under the community. Now it’s just a matter of seeing how it all plays out.

This and more this week on Xbox Casuals.

Join our communities:

• Boss Rush Community Discord
• Tower Casuals Destiny Discord

Follow our Hosts:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Corey Dirrig⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Founder of Boss Rush Media, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tower Casuals: The Destiny Podcast⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Boss Rush Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Josh Finney⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, cofounder and cohost of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tower Casuals: The Destiny Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

The gaming world feels a little all over the place right now.

This week on Xbox Casuals, Corey Dirrig and Josh Finney break down the March 2026 Xbox Partner Preview and its 19 reveals before shifting to the tougher side of the industry, including Epic Games laying off over 1,000 employees as Fortnite engagement declines and costs continue to rise, leading to the shutdown of modes like Ballistic and Rocket Racing.

It’s a reminder that even the biggest companies are chasing profitability as budgets grow and development timelines get longer. This and more on Xbox Casuals.

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Corey Dirrig⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Founder of Boss Rush Media, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tower Casuals: The Destiny Podcast⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Boss Rush Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Josh Finney⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, cofounder and cohost of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tower Casuals: The Destiny Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

What exactly is Microsoft trying to say about the future of Xbox? On paper, it’s actually a lot simpler than they’re making it sound.

This week on Xbox Casuals, Corey Dirrig⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Josh Finney dig into Project Helix. The idea behind Helix sounds pretty simple on paper—bringing Xbox and PC gaming libraries together into one ecosystem that could include games from the Microsoft Store, Steam, Epic Games, and more—but Microsoft’s messaging around it has been anything but clear.

Corey and Josh talk through what it could mean for the future of the console if Microsoft pulls it off, while also raising plenty of questions about how multiple storefronts would work on an Xbox, how physical backward compatibility might translate to a more PC-style library, where Game Pass and Play Anywhere fit into the strategy, whether the interface could resemble devices like the ROG Ally X, what this means for Xbox’s multiplatform plans, and ultimately how much a console like this might actually cost.

This and more on Xbox Casuals: The Xbox Podcast.

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Corey Dirrig⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Founder of Boss Rush Media, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tower Casuals: The Destiny Podcast⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Boss Rush Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Josh Finney⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, cofounder and cohost of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tower Casuals: The Destiny Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

Xbox shocked the gaming world on Friday with major leadership changes.

This week on Xbox Casuals, Corey Dirrig and Josh Finney break down the massive news shaking up Xbox. Sarah Bond and Phil Spencer are stepping away from their roles as they help usher in a new era under incoming CEO Asha Sharma.

Does Sharma’s resume set her up for success—or could it present challenges as she takes the reins of Microsoft’s gaming brand?

Let’s discuss on Xbox Casuals.

#XboxCasuals #PhilSpencer #SarahBond #XboxLeadership #XboxPodcast

Xbox’s biggest games are coming—but the hype for them seems to be waning.

This week on Xbox Casuals, Corey Dirrig and Josh Finney dig into the long road to Xbox’s biggest upcoming releases, including Halo: Campaign Evolved, Gears of War: E-DAY, Fable, Forza Horizon 6, and what the broader 2026 Xbox lineup is shaping up to look like.

They also break down a recent Obsidian interview, discussing the softer sales performance of The Outer Worlds 2 and Avowed, the studio’s push to shorten development cycles, and what Obsidian might be working on next.

All that—and plenty more Xbox talk—on Xbox Casuals.