There's trouble on the homefront. We have collectively report after report roll in describing the struggles of Xbox's first party studios. Whether it be 343 and their mismanagement of Halo, Bethesda and their troubled Fallout 76 development, half of The Initiative leaving, or toxic conditions seeping into Undead Labs; there are now many examples in the ether for us to dissect. All of them combined bring us to one painful question that must be asked: Is Xbox's hands off approach backfiring on the...
Jul 03, 2022•3 hr 47 min•Ep. 78
With some space between us and the showcase, news has slowed down and the dust has settled. It's now that we can take our best look at the road ahead and answer a crucial question: is there enough for Xbox in 2022? Between their new "console launch exclusive" strategy and the investment in Game Pass for Day 1 releases, there are many questions for us to answer. One such question is could Xbox potentially deploying a tactic from the Nintendo playbook in 2023 to stagger the staggering amount of ga...
Jun 26, 2022•2 hr 41 min•Ep. 77
We're days removed from the Xbox & Bethesda showcase as well as the extended one on Tuesday meaning all the announcements, trailers, and news are out in the wild. With that, there is much to sift through such as new Starfield details, a Fallout 5 confirmation by the Toddfather himself, and some possibly worrying Redfall news on its multiplayer component. Couple that in with some insightful questions from the audience about the parameters Xbox has set for themselves during the show with only show...
Jun 19, 2022•2 hr 53 min•Ep. 76
The big day has finally arrived. After months of rumors, speculation, and bold predictions, we have now seen everything the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase for 2022 has to offer. As Cog has to aptly put it, it's a journey through many peaks and valleys. For it is here that we see Starfield for the first time ever, Persona arriving to Xbox, Kojima in the flesh, and many other surprises. That being said, this showcase also placed a clear spotlight on the vacancy of this fall where a majority of the...
Jun 13, 2022•2 hr 46 min•Ep. 75
The situation has changed for Xbox entering this year's showcase. With the delay of both Starfield and Redfall, 2022 is looking mighty empty and they need answers. However, the slate for 2023 is quite the opposite as it appears to be chockful of games. Joining the Dukes are the fine gentlemen of Xbox Two - Rand Al Thor 19 and Jez Corden. Together, we comb through each and every Xbox first party studio, rumored third party project, Game Pass candidates, acquisition targets, and some of the most b...
Jun 05, 2022•4 hr 32 min•Ep. 74
As Cog would say, "the Twitter streets are getting hot!" We have seen the conversation surrounding Xbox turn up to 11 as cooler heads refuse to prevail. Now, many are announcing their exit of Xbox's crown jewel: Game Pass. To make matters more interesting, Xbox Game Pass fanned the flames with a "dunk" on Kotaku bringing to light a potential weakness in their offering. So, joining the zeitgeist, is it truly time to cancel your subscription? The Duke have some thoughts on the matter. To make matt...
May 29, 2022•2 hr 58 min•Ep. 73
With the delay of both Starfield and Redfall, discussions have only heated up since we all last spoke. People are calling for Phil Spencer's job and console war toxicity is reaching an all time high. Joining us is Windows Central Gaming's own Miles Dompier to talk on our most requested subject: Can Xbox save their 2022? The pressure is on from fans who are expecting answers with the June showcase and the Dukes have united with Miles to talk about what exactly Xbox can do to quell concerns. Beyon...
May 22, 2022•3 hr 13 min•Ep. 72
Xbox and Bethesda's partnership was destined to bear fruit in 2022. Now, that has been pushed back as it has been confirmed that Starfield and Redfall are now slated for the first half of 2023. To say this is catastrophic would be an understatement even if it means we receive better games at the end of the road. The showcase, the expectations, the holiday window, the shake-up of releases for 2023, the potential shotgun blast of those, and many more ramifications we likely won't know of until the...
May 15, 2022•4 hr 4 min•Ep. 71
It's been a busy week in gaming. Between Square Enix, WB Games, and Ubisoft, the acquisition conversation has never been hotter and now with a move by Embracer yet another piece has been removed from the chess board. Bringing this Embracer Group to a staggering 14,000 employees and 200+ games in development, this move to acquire Square Enix's western division has put the industry on watch. Matty and Cog discuss the future of Tomb Raider, Deus Ex, other abandoned Square Enix IP, as well as the fu...
May 08, 2022•3 hr 33 min•Ep. 70
During acquisition season, many of us have been surprised by targets such as Zenimax, ABK, and Bungie. However, there is one company that has been on all of our bingo cards and that's Ubisoft. Reports are arriving which state that the company is preparing to sell off in the face of yet another takeover as their share prices continue to nosedive. While Ubisoft claims they can remain independent, can they truly? Outside of the Ubisoft rumors, Bethesda is trudging through many of their own. A Manda...
May 01, 2022•3 hr 7 min•Ep. 69
JET SET RADIOOOOOOO! After all this time, it looks like it may be finally back. Even 'crazier,' Crazy Taxi also looks to be in the mix as both series are set to return through SEGA's mysterious "Super Game" as fully developed AAA games. Despite Matty and Cog's optimism, we can't help but feel some ominous energy emanating from this new venture of SEGA's in a world full of microtransactions and NFTs. Furthermore, details for Season 2 of Halo Infinite have arrived and things are looking up for the...
Apr 24, 2022•3 hr 5 min•Ep. 68
Halo Infinite has struggled mightily out the gate to supply content post launch, but with Certain Affinity joining the crew at 343 in official capacity; things may now finally start heading in the other direction. Certain Affinity has appeared in a multitude of Xbox related reports as they are not only working on Halo, but also chipping away on an exclusive Monster Hunter styled game. Indeed, this 'support studio' is more than what meets the eye. Over in unreality or whatever it is, Kingdom Hear...
Apr 17, 2022•3 hr 12 min•Ep. 67
Long have we anticipated a price increase for Xbox Game Pass and, in some cases, many had requested this. According to Brad Sams, this change is coming and it is possible it lands when the Activision acquisition is complete. It will be a different landscape for the brand then upon the completion of said deal likely to be in 2023 and it is largely expected that is when we will finally see more output from Xbox Game Studios. Before the price increase hits, reports have landed of a potential family...
Apr 10, 2022•2 hr 36 min•Ep. 66
After many weeks of reporting, leaking, and speculating, PlayStation's answer to Game Pass is here. Jim Ryan said as much over a year ago that PlayStation was working on that answer to the booming service and it arrives in the form of a three tier subscription that manages to outprice its main competitor. How does it stand on its own and how does it compare to the current dominance of Game Pass? Is PlayStation bowing out of day-and-date releases enough for them to tread water? The Dukes dig in. ...
Apr 03, 2022•3 hr 24 min•Ep. 65
It's a mixed bag kind of week. From chicken wing and soda slander all the way down to the latest at CD Projekt Red, this episode covers a lot of ground if I do say so myself. A new Witcher game has been announced, PlayStation gobbles up another studio in a most organic way, and former Microsoft partner Moon Studios is in big trouble. Plus news on a Ubisoft showcase and the latest on the Xbox x Steam Deck integrations. There's plenty of discussion to go around, so get cozy and let's chat about th...
Mar 27, 2022•3 hr 21 min•Ep. 64
Out of all the studios that have been added to their first party stable in the past five years, The Initiative is the only one that Xbox has attempted to build from the ground up. Everything has been brought in with huge acquisitions. This is important for the team to nail and things are looking mighty unsteady at this moment when looking at a recent report detailing almost half of The Initiative's talent leaving the new studio. Leadership issues, bottlenecks in production, and shifts in design ...
Mar 20, 2022•3 hr 6 min•Ep. 63
All is quiet on the Xbox front as they churn away on their plans for late 2022. In the meantime, fans are beginning to get a tad restless and with the recent update on Halo Infinite, it seems those feelings may persist. Delays, developers leaving, and an unclear road map paint a not so good picture for the service game. Beyond that, Bethesda Game Studios has had a rare leak revolving around a new IP called "SpyTeam." What is this new game and is the team behind Starfield working on it? We invest...
Mar 13, 2022•3 hr 20 min•Ep. 62
A new Fallout game has long been the request of the Dukes, especially Matty. Finally, we have a nugget of information that suggests this one day might finally become a reality. If reports are to be believed then the talks have begun in earnest at Microsoft to make this a reality. What does this mean for the likes of Fallout 76, potential remasters, and the setting of the next entry? Matty has been patient, so there is much for us to discuss. Beyond that, the release of the Steam Deck has been a ...
Mar 06, 2022•3 hr 19 min•Ep. 61
After weeks of reports, an SEC filing to the FTC has unveiled the ins-and-outs of the dealing between Xbox and Activision. It is fascinating to learn that a mere day after Phil Spencer sent out an e-mail stating he was deeply disturbed by Activision and revising their relationships that he had made the call one day later to initiate a potential acquisition. With much tea spilt, the Duke certainly have thoughts on this one. What is more shocking is that Call Of Duty is receiving its first delay i...
Feb 27, 2022•3 hr 8 min•Ep. 60
It's a jumbled mess of news this week. Xbox's messaging continues to puzzle the Dukes as Phil Spencer has claimed he wants games like Starfield to be the most played Todd Howard game yet it has the most walls surrounding it. We see "popular Activision Blizzard titles" are remaining multi-platform, so the situation for Bethesda is different. Will this energy be maintained in future deals? That will be most telling and it's possible that Microsoft has a potential candidate. PlatinumGames can't hel...
Feb 20, 2022•3 hr 1 min•Ep. 59
The Dukes have spoken on multiple accounts about Xbox progress as a brand, but their communication leaves much to be desired. There has been no better public example than the back-and-forth statements on how Xbox plans to handle the games from their newly acquired publisher, Activision. From uncertainty, to delays of when the team will speak on such subjects, an "intent" to honor agreements, and now the latest statement which says that Call Of Duty will remain multiplatform. It leaves the Dukes ...
Feb 13, 2022•2 hr 48 min•Ep. 58
Goodbye, old friend. Bungie, who is directly responsible for putting Xbox on the map in 2001, has gone around quite a bit. From exiting their relationship with Microsoft, to entering a 10 year deal with Activision involving Destiny, breaking off of said deal, receiving an investment from NetEase, and thanks to PlayStation the circle is now complete. For the price of $3.6 billion, PlayStation has purchased Halo developer Bungie. While not a direct response to Xbox's acquisition of Activision, it ...
Feb 06, 2022•3 hr 9 min•Ep. 57
A little over a week after the industry's biggest news yet and with some time on our side, the dust is beginning to settle on Xbox latest acquisition. With things beginning to marinate, we now have an opportunity to dissect all of the legal hullabaloo that has been circulating. Sony's response, Phil Spencer's "intent" or "desires," and the revival of dead Activision IP are linger in the aftermath of an earth shattering deal. Joining us are Rand Al Thor and Jez Corden of Xbox Two in an Avengers l...
Jan 30, 2022•3 hr 50 min•Ep. 56
For the long time Defining Duke listeners, we all know you have been waiting for a week like this. A time where a major haymaker is delivered by Microsoft and we can break it all down together. For the staggering price of $68.7 billion, Xbox has acquired publisher Activision and with it come a slew of development teams and IP that we're not quite sure even they know what to do with. Beyond inheriting a plethora of potential exclusive games and bolstering Game Pass, Xbox takes in damaged goods. A...
Jan 23, 2022•3 hr 22 min•Ep. 55
2022 continues at its rip-roar pace for Xbox. One of the major pieces in its early year strategy, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, has received a significant seven month delay. With a new vacancy created and only CrossfireX and Tunic remaining, we believe Xbox needs to make a big move ASAP. This would come in the form of Game Pass, so Matty and Cog shake out the potential options. Separately, E3 2022 has already been canceled while the likes PAX and GDC are continuing on with their set plans. The reasoning? As...
Jan 16, 2022•3 hr 8 min•Ep. 54
Xbox has hit the ground running in 2022 with a variety of announcements, news, and leaks. For starters, Ubisoft and Xbox have finally teamed up for a day one drop on Xbox Game Pass. The game? The $40 spin-off 'Rainbow Six: Extraction' or as the Dukes like to call it: Rainbow Six: Experiment. Indeed, it looks as if the seeds are being planted for more deals in the future for the two companies. Otherwise, a classic overdue for both a remaster and return is GoldenEye 007. In 2008, Xbox nearly succe...
Jan 09, 2022•3 hr 5 min•Ep. 53
Hot takes ahoy! Matty and Cog have played a lot in a year that has often been referred to as a “down year for video games.” As always there are lists of games to sift through, but the Dukes shed their lists down to the top five of the very best and worst this year had to offer us. We promise these lists will shock, amaze, stun, and disappoint. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jan 02, 2022•1 hr 59 min•Ep. 52
It's the holiday season and maybe Santa got some of you a shiny new Xbox! With that Xbox (or PC, we didn't forget!) you might find yourself perusing the catalog of hundreds of Game Pass games. It can be overwhelming to sift through page after page of alluring games especially with how great so many of them are. Matty and Cog are lucky enough to be able to sit down and play many of these games to help guide the audience towards or away from them. Today, we present to you our Top 5 Game Pass games...
Dec 26, 2021•1 hr 50 min•Ep. 51
We'll give it to you straight. Hot off The Game Awards, it hasn't been a great look for "modern gaming." The NFT floodgates have burst wide open, massive delays are inbound, and now those sacred video game discs don't even arrive with the full game on them. Matty and Cog cut through the noise and get to the heart of each of these matters. Such as the highly anticipated reveal of Splinter Cell with a brand new remake. Should a company as creatively and morally bankrupt as Ubisoft be trusted with ...
Dec 19, 2021•2 hr 57 min•Ep. 50
In an episode chockful of time traveling, we breakdown all that transpired during the bemoaned Game Awards. It was advertisements galore, television, celebrities and movies aplenty, where you had a sneaking suspicion that Joel McHale was going to make a surprise return somewhere throughout. Despite all of this, we at least had games and many promising ones at that! Among those was the highly anticipated reveal of Hellblade 2's gameplay which many thought were pure cinematics. Indeed, Ninja Theor...
Dec 12, 2021•3 hr 58 min•Ep. 49
