With the first ever Developer_Direct in the rear view for us, it's time to pick apart all the games (and surprises) shown off! We saw Redfall, Forza Motorsport, Minecraft Legends, Elder Scrolls Online, and even a surprise drop from Tokyo Gameworks with Hi-Fi Rush. With these games, Xbox has a healthy and full first half of 2023 - a strange sight for fans of the ecosystem. Is this the format for the future of Xbox and how can it be improved? Did Xbox show enough gameplay and did they get the pace...
Jan 26, 2023•3 hr 21 min•Ep. 108
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced this week that Microsoft would see 10,000 layoffs by the end of March 2023. Among those affected are those working within Xbox and Bethesda. According to various reports, the teams impacted within the gaming division are both 343 Industries and Bethesda Game Studios. However, one person has chosen to leave and was Halo Infinite's last standing beacon of hope: Joseph Staten. Joe is the one responsible for getting the team in order at 343 to help "land the pla...
Jan 22, 2023•2 hr 35 min•Ep. 107
Fans of the platform have long been accustomed to Xbox's lack of communication. To many, it seemed like the first half of the year flat out didn't exist for the company when it came to major showings or releases of games. With the announcement of Developer_Direct, it is the start of a new chapter as Xbox has two planned out. The first will feature heavy hitters such as Redfall, Minecraft Legends, Forza Motorsport, and Elder Scrolls Online. The second Developer_Direct will be a standalone show fu...
Jan 15, 2023•3 hr 35 min•Ep. 106
It has been said by many far and wide that 2023 is the year Xbox must deliver. With the rumor mill churning out some interesting nuggets in the form of an early 2023 Xbox showcase, release date candidates for Starfield and Redfall, and even hints of what's to come later in the year; there is much to be excited about. Both official outlets and reports are suggesting that a Starfield-Redfall duo for May/June can soon be upon us. With that in mind, Xbox fans must adjust to a new reality. A reality ...
Jan 08, 2023•2 hr 49 min•Ep. 105
Our holiday tradition continues as Matty and Cog gather to discuss the very best and worst that Xbox's most popular service, Game Pass, had to offer. It was a year that saw strong improvement in the terms of quality as last year featured technical Day 1 duds such as Dark Alliance, Back 4 Blood, and even Outriders that painted a bleak picture of weak titles taking the bag. 2022 restored the confidence which left the Dukes with many good pickings, but even then we still had some stinkers. Indeed, ...
Jan 01, 2023•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 104
Fallout is a series that is near and dear to our Duke hearts and undoubtedly one of the lead reasons behind Xbox's purchase of Zenimax Media. While Fallout 76 lives on, many wonder where the next mainline entry lies and with whom. You see, Xbox has a unique talent issue when it comes to this particular franchise as they happen to own all the teams with members that are responsible for what Fallout is today. Brian Fargo, Feargus Urquhart, Josh Sawyer, and Todd Howard all have left their mark on t...
Dec 25, 2022•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 103
Capping off Xbox's tragic 2022 and our final episode ahead of the holiday break is a glimmer of hope for us to at least conclude that year on a somewhat positive note. Many fans are now left searching for answers following the absence of Xbox at The Game Awards despite apparently having three first party, AAA games arriving in the next six months. Following a tweet from Aaron Greenberg saying that we won't have to wait long to hear more, we can't help but wonder what this may mean. Follow up rep...
Dec 18, 2022•2 hr 47 min•Ep. 102
Xbox's conclusion to 2022 is rather thematic as it matches the vibe of the overall year: Disappointing. While we began on the high of the Activision Blizzard deal, swift delays of Starfield and Redfall as well as a vacant first half of the year painted an all too familiar picture. With the windows closing for Starfield, Redfall, and Forza Motorsport respectively to be dated for the first half of 2023, it was stunning to see Xbox not only skip out on showing anything from those games, but not sho...
Dec 11, 2022•3 hr 31 min•Ep. 101
What better way to celebrate 100 episodes than to hear from Godd Howard himself? Many fans are clamoring for new Starfield information, but what we didn't expect was Todd Howard to appear on a podcast for three hours and talk about things beyond Starfield. Those topics range from Elder Scrolls 6, to Amazon's Fallout TV show, and even MachineGames' Indiana Jones! Todd even dives deep into his relationship with Xbox with how things have changed for the better and, in some ways, not at all. Outside...
Dec 04, 2022•3 hr 19 min•Ep. 100
Thanks to our sponsors: Get Surfshark VPN at https://surfshark.deals/DUKE - Enter promo code DUKE for 83% off and 3 extra months FREE Shop Tommy John's Cyber Monday to get 33% off everything, plus free shipping at https://tommyjohn.com/duke Bethesda seemed to be an answer to a prayer when it came to Xbox fans in 2022. With Starfield and Redfall, they were set to deliver new AAA exclusives that the platform is hungry for. While that obviously got pushed back, Bethesda may have a surprise reveal u...
Nov 27, 2022•2 hr 58 min•Ep. 99
Thanks to our sponsors: Get Surfshark VPN at https://surfshark.deals/DUKE - Enter promo code DUKE for 83% off and 3 extra months FREE Cancel your unnecessary subscriptions right now at https://www.rocketmoney.com/duke The Game Awards, or as some may call them, The Lame Awards, are the subject of ire year in and year out. 2022 has proven to be much of the same as the Game Of The Year list is out with contentious picks aplenty. While it may be the home of things like nepotism and recency bias, man...
Nov 20, 2022•2 hr 51 min•Ep. 98
Thanks to our sponsors: Get Surfshark VPN at https://surfshark.deals/DUKE - Enter promo code DUKE for 83% off and 3 extra months FREE The relationship between Game Developer and Game Composer is a subject we rarely get a lot of insight on within the games industry. As the news of Doom Eternal's composer controversy comes to the public eye, Cog is joined by LSM family Ben to analyze the extremely fascinating implications. Maty Booty interviews, N7 Day and some fun slander await! Learn more about ...
Nov 13, 2022•2 hr 32 min•Ep. 97
Thanks to our sponsors: Get Surfshark VPN at https://surfshark.deals/DUKE - Enter promo code DUKE for 83% off and 3 extra months FREE Phil Spencer has heard the frustration of Xbox fans regarding the absence of first party games in 2022 loud and clear. The question is..can he actually keep his promises to a frustrated base? Cog is joined by the Man with the million Gamerscore Rand Al Thor 19 to discuss this and the interesting relationship between Embracer Group and Xbox. Is there more than meet...
Nov 06, 2022•3 hr 3 min•Ep. 96
Xbox fans have made many declarations to bring Persona to their beloved box and, finally, it has arrived. This week sees the re-launch of Persona 5 Royal, but for many; it's the first time they are arriving in Shujin Academy. Xbox fans have responded in kind as Persona 5 Royal has reached the top 10 for played games on consoles. Does this signify a major turning point for Xbox's battle in Japan? Could other Japanese developers be taking note of such a surge on the platform and be willing to play...
Oct 30, 2022•3 hr 2 min•Ep. 95
Fallout is arguably the most lucrative IP that Xbox earned from its acquisition of Zenimax Media. Since the ink on that deal dried, the possibilities for that series seem endless. With brilliant Fallout minds underneath the Xbox umbrella such as Todd Howard, Brian Fargo, Feargus Urquhart, Tim Cain, and Leonard Boyarsky, it feels like we're primed for a special era in the franchise's lifecycle. While it sounds great, it looks like we're a ways out from any meaningful collaboration. A recent inter...
Oct 23, 2022•2 hr 55 min•Ep. 94
It was a packed week for Xbox. From laying our eyes on Starfield's new dialogue system to a new Xbox console teased by Phil Spencer, there is much to analyze. Joining us for this week's episode is Dad Of Xbox: Jez Corden! He fits like a glove in this episode as much of what we discuss began with his own leaks. As mentioned at the top, Phil Spencer's shelves have struck again and hiding within there is a prototype for what has been codenamed "Xbox Keystone." It is reported that this new cloud dev...
Oct 16, 2022•3 hr 44 min•Ep. 93
In a jam packed week, we have many stories that could compete for the headlines. Google Stadia's closure, Xbox's Activision propaganda, the acquisition of various media outlets, or even CD Projekt Red's slew of game announcements. In the spirit of accountability, none other than PlayStation should dominate this one. In a rumored move showing little shame, they are set to do a The Last Of Us Part 1 style "remake" for 2017's PS4 exclusive, Horizon: Zero Dawn. As the goal posts have continued to mo...
Oct 09, 2022•3 hr 21 min•Ep. 92
Obsidian Entertainment is often referred to as "Xbox's #1 draft pick" by the Dukes. While Starfield and Redfall have left 2022 more vacant than Xbox would have liked, Obsidian is showing a bit of Insomniac Games energy with two releases this fall. Those two being Grounded and Pentiment! While not entirely sexy games, these experiments carve out the future of what Xbox as a console can look like. One which allows creative freedom to a team primarily known for RPGs whereas both their games releasi...
Oct 02, 2022•3 hr 12 min•Ep. 91
With the continued back-and-forth, Xbox and Sony are truly reviving what we thought was a bygone time: The Console Wars! It's clear now that the modus operandi for PlayStation is to obstruct the Activision deal by any means necessary. This means even taking the public "egg in the face" as they continue to sink their public image. Xbox has shown the willingness to abide by the rules, but the real question is will this awaken a more cutthroat version of the current executives we see in place? Matt...
Sep 25, 2022•3 hr 2 min•Ep. 90
Showcases, showcases, showcases! Xbox Tokyo Game Show 2022, State Of Play, Nintendo Direct, Ubisoft Forward, and Disney all came out to show what their respective teams and partners are working on. While each showcase had their bright spots, Xbox's Tokyo Game Show presentation stood out to us in particular as it feels like a lot of the playing catch-up is done. Now, the platform is primed to chase down the true game changers which should make for an exciting year as they continue to be ambitious...
Sep 18, 2022•3 hr 57 min•Ep. 89
Want to know a fate more painful than being forced to play Yakuza: Like A Dragon and enduring the wrath of the LSM audience? Ask Jim Ryan! Through statements publicly delivered to press outlets, Xbox and PlayStation are trading blows over the status of Call Of Duty and the fulfillment of contracts on PlayStation's end. Indeed, it appears there is a legitimate fear over on PlayStation's side of the fence that Microsoft has been "inadequate" in delivering what is necessary for Call Of Duty to thri...
Sep 11, 2022•2 hr 49 min•Ep. 88
As the days go by, PlayStation replicates Nintendo more and more. From 'premium allure,' to highly priced games rooted in nostalgia, and much more, these two are walking a scarily similar path. Then there's Xbox, and while there is room for improvement, it's hard to think of many ways they can be more pro-consumer. With the PlayStation 5 moving its asking price above the Xbox Series consoles where Microsoft has confirmed they will remain at their current retail value, there has never been an eas...
Sep 04, 2022•3 hr 18 min•Ep. 87
Xbox has long been the loser in the exclusive race. Following an interview with Bloomberg, Phil Spencer suggested that he feels we will see less and less of such exclusives as time goes on. This directly contradicts what was said when Bethesda was acquired; a move made to net exclusives for platforms where Game Pass exists. Joining us this week is LoneVaultWanderer to not only analyze this sudden change of tune, but also everything that was revealed at the Gamescom ONL showcase. In what was a su...
Aug 28, 2022•3 hr 29 min•Ep. 86
From the summer drought to showcases aplenty, this is quite the 180 compared to the last couple of months. The time as come for announcements between Quakecon, Gamescom, and the newly revealed Disney + Marvel Games Showcase. The question is will Xbox be a willing participant and, if so, what will they be showing off? The topic calls our attention to two highly looked over studios within the Xbox portfolio: Machine Games and Roundhouse Studio. One confirmed to have a Lucasfilm IP and the other is...
Aug 21, 2022•3 hr 3 min•Ep. 85
Grab your popcorn! The back and forth over Call of Duty and Game Pass between Xbox and PlayStation has truly begun. Last week's episode saw us discussing the possible "fear" within PlayStation as they highlighted how Call Of Duty on Game Pass would create an unfair advantage. In a 27 page document submitted by Microsoft, they have battled back where, yes, the console wars have become all too real. Filling in is 'The Honorable' Ben Smith where we sink into what is effectively our gaming parents b...
Aug 14, 2022•2 hr 55 min•Ep. 84
For many, this episode's title will seem like a cheap attempt at console war bait, but fret not for it is a legitimate question worth asking. Thanks to the Brazilian government, we have a very transparent view of a rare interaction between PlayStation and Xbox where the two wage a war of their own on the value of exclusivity. The subject matter is Call Of Duty and PlayStation underlines the very scary potential of that big of a game being mixed with day one Game Pass. Matty and Cog dig deep into...
Aug 07, 2022•3 hr 13 min•Ep. 83
News has begun to roll out of Ubisoft that shows them sprinting in multiple different directions at once. From the platform based live service Assassin's Creed game to a tighter and less expansive entry in the series all the way to a heaping four games cancelled, a lot is happening for them and not much of it sounds good. As we have historically seen, Xbox can sweep in when these companies are going through the worst of times. With Lord Acquisition at my (Matty) side, I wanted to tackle the subj...
Jul 31, 2022•2 hr 40 min•Ep. 82
Microsoft has provided the FTC the additional information it was seeking, potentially triggering a final window to any challenges of the Activision Blizzard acquisition. The Dukes are assisted by Rand Al Thor 19 & LSM family Ben Smith to dissect the deal, potential caveats, and best case scenarios. What does Discord integration mean for Xbox? Arcane’s new game design philosophy? Power Wash Simulator’s greatness? How much do we care about video game merchandise and more! Learn more about your ad ...
Jul 24, 2022•3 hr 23 min•Ep. 81
Redfall stands as one of Xbox's most anticipated exclusives and it makes sense. Arkane Studios is a world class talent creating some of the best immersive sim titles that our industry has to offer. However, Redfall is set to be different compared to the studio's past work and a major interview by IGN shines a spotlight on why. Together, the Dukes go through it with a fine toothed comb to bring each aspect of the conversation surrounding the game to light. Otherwise in a quieter week of gaming, w...
Jul 17, 2022•3 hr 17 min•Ep. 80
The news has slowed that considerably compared to weeks prior, but that's fine because it gives more room to get in touch with what the audience is thinking. Our collective focus is on the future of Xbox Game Pass where many of your chimed in about a variety of paths that the brand can take. What devices or consoles could it appear on? What regions may it thrive in? Should DLC also arrive for free alongside Day One games? Will Xbox craft their own native handheld and submerge themselves in that ...
Jul 10, 2022•2 hr 58 min•Ep. 79
