A new development kit has been certified for Xbox in South Korea! With leaks showing an all digital Series X on the way, this originally felt like a news story you brush by and not much else. That was the case until we learned a key bit of information that flipped the conversation on its head: This certification couldn't be for a digital Series X. So, what is it? The last certification seen for Xbox hardware was with the Series X around five months ahead of its launch. We know Sarah Bond recentl...
Mar 24, 2024•2 hr 53 min•Ep. 168
The data is starting to roll in as Sea Of Thieves is available for pre-order on PlayStation. Beating out the likes of Star Wars and Dragon's Dogma, this once Xbox exclusive has found itself at the #1 spot for the weekend. While it's initial data, it's the first sign that Xbox's big play just might pay off. Naturally, it opens the familiar can of worms in wondering what will go multi-platform next. We also discuss Todd Howard's seemingly innocent comments on Fallout 5 that, according to Matty, im...
Mar 17, 2024•3 hr 10 min•Ep. 167
This week featured the second ever Xbox Partner Preview! Consisting of 14 different games, Xbox shined a spotlight on AA partners, made some Game Pass announcements, and had a shadow drop to boot. The Dukes dive deep into each game individually and rank the showcase shortly thereafter! We also get into the loss of Toys For Bob who announced that they'll be going independent while maintaining a partnership with Microsoft. Have they managed to escape the Call Of Duty sweatshop and will others requ...
Mar 10, 2024•3 hr 15 min•Ep. 166
The fallout of Xbox's industry shifting decisions has resulted in many-a-questions. What other Xbox games go multi-platform? What's the long term vision? Is the desire for a wider pool of consumers only going to delay obvious development based decisions that need to be made? Much of our audience here shares in these inquiries and we spend much of this Defining Duke sifting through them all. We also dig into the layoffs that continue to ravage our industry as both PlayStation and EA have entered ...
Mar 03, 2024•3 hr 7 min•Ep. 165
Following weeks of rumors and speculation which led to multiple emergency Defining Dukes and even a business update event for Xbox, we finally have all the answers we desired. The games leaving Xbox are Hi Fi Rush, Pentiment, Sea Of Theives, and Grounded, two of which were unveiled at a Nintendo Direct, and their arrivals are imminent. Separately, PlayStation has made several illuminating comments themselves such as discussing a more aggressive PC strategy and potentially digging into other plat...
Feb 25, 2024•3 hr 10 min•Ep. 164
After a week that felt like an eternity, we have arrived on the fateful day where Xbox discusses the future of their business. What's happening with exclusivity, Game Pass, hardware, and the brand's commitment to the future? To many, it was a nothing burger. Others have left with more questions than answers. Many are pleased that their investment is safe and there are no concerns moving forward. The Dukes discuss Xbox's potential clairvoyance with the multi-platform strategy, lessons learned fro...
Feb 17, 2024•2 hr 28 min•Ep. 163
After weeks of unaddressed rumors surrounding Hi Fi Rush and Sea of Thieves coming to PlayStation, the powderkeg blew for Xbox this week. Gears Of War, Halo, Starfield, Indiana Jones, and a growing list are all reported to be going multi-platform. The only official comment we have on the matter is no sort of denial, but rather a "see you next week." In a DEFCON 1 level episode of Defining Duke, we opted to hold summit featuring each side of the aisle. Joining the Dukes are the Sacred Symbols boy...
Feb 08, 2024•3 hr 21 min•Ep. 162
The moment we’ve long anticipated since Xbox began gobbling up various publishers has arrived and indicated a change in direction for the brand. On January 25th, a day after Microsoft was named the second $3 trillion company, Microsoft laid off 1,900 employees (accounting for 8% of their gaming division) across Activision, Blizzard, Xbox, and Bethesda. This pushes the industry as a whole beyond the 5,000 mark for total layoffs in 2024. For comparison, 2023 saw a total of 10,500 layoffs in its en...
Feb 04, 2024•3 hr 19 min•Ep. 161
Following the Xbox Developer_Direct, we have much to unpack. In the world of Avowed, we received an extended showing that gave us more gameplay, but some viewers were still left with that same sense of uncertainty. With the game confirmed to be AA style, in an alpha state, and aiming for a Fall 2024 release, the Duke boys get into the expectations surrounding this title and what is missing. Meanwhile, Hellblade 2 was at the center of its own sort of conversation. While it did have an incredible ...
Jan 28, 2024•3 hr 17 min•Ep. 160
As tradition dictates, Xbox has opened the year with their Developer_Direct. We saw gameplay from Avowed, Hellblade 2, Ara History Untold, Indiana Jones and The Great Circle, and even had a surprise appearance from Square Enix! With the roadmap set for the year, how do the Dukes feel about Xbox's showing? Is this enough to satiate them? Did Avowed improve from its initial showing? Will Hellblade 2 deliver a masterful experience worthy of the wait? Are the lacking of release dates concerning? We ...
Jan 19, 2024•3 hr 57 min•Ep. 159
The Dukes have said it before and they'll say it again: It's never a straightforward job covering Xbox. Just when you think you have them figured out, they flip the script. There's no better example of that then this week where social media had Xbox on the brink with one rumor only to be celebrating them the next day thanks to an announcement. According to multiple insiders, Xbox is looking to take prolific exclusives like Hi Fi Rush and Sea Of Thieves and port them to competitors like PlayStati...
Jan 14, 2024•3 hr 19 min•Ep. 158
The news waits for no one, including the Dukes! Insomniac was hacked, Bobby Kotick left Activision, and a new rumor surrounding Xbox's next console generation all managed to slip out in the two weeks we were gone. Naturally, we tackle all of this, but the Dukes really wanted to lean into the proposed 2026 gameplan for Xbox. Striking ahead of PlayStation, this would leave them in a similar position to the Xbox 360 vs PS3. Does Xbox need to hit the reset button so soon after finally getting their ...
Jan 07, 2024•3 hr 25 min•Ep. 157
To say it has been an eventful 2023 for Xbox would be an understatement. From establishing the Developer_Direct, a steady output of first party games, and acquiring Activision, to massive FTC court cases leaks, Redfall's release state, and lingering questions on Blade's exclusivity, we've had plenty to discuss. The Dukes gather this time not only to go through 2023 pound-for-pound, but also see what important lessons that can be gleamed from all these events. Was 2023 Xbox's best of the generati...
Dec 31, 2023•1 hr 46 min•Ep. 156
It's the holiday season and perhaps Santa got you a brand new Xbox! Either that, or you always are subscribed to Game Pass and are looking at where to spend your precious free time. Well, as tradition dictates, the Dukes have gathered to analyze what has been an impressive year for Game Pass. As Xbox moves away from quantity and into quality, what were the best and worst that Game Pass had to offer in 2023? We hope to answer that very question. Head to https://www.squarespace.com/duke to save 10...
Dec 24, 2023•1 hr 36 min•Ep. 155
The Dukes have gathered one final time in 2023 during the aftermath of The Game Awards. Following a successful showing by Xbox, many question marks linger around Blade. Well, we have a direct answer from Disney, and that result lies with Bethesda. So, what gives? Plus, we get into the possibility of a free Game Pass tier fueled by ads as Xbox seeks to create value even at the lowest level of entry to help expand their subscription service. Is this a wise move or something that will inevitably hu...
Dec 17, 2023•3 hr 15 min•Ep. 154
It was a much different story for Xbox coming out of The Game Awards this year compared to the last. In 2022, Xbox had yet again skipped the show with any meaningful announcements and even had their acquisition of Activision blocked by the FTC. This time around, there weren't any regulators to stop their fun! They showed up with Hellblade II gameplay alongside announcements of Arkane's Blade and even Hideo Kojima's frequently leaked "OD." Yet, as per usual, not all answers are certain. Is Blade ...
Dec 10, 2023•4 hr 37 min•Ep. 153
As we approach The Game Awards, it looks like we won't be ranting on how Xbox missed the show again. Indeed, they have already confirmed that there will be important announcements at the show! With a very "Matty" angle on this news, the Dukes combine to speculate what Xbox could be bringing to the big stage. What's really made headlines is Bethesda's customer support who has taken it upon themselves to respond to the Starfield reviews being submitted on Steam. Is this a sign of insecurity? Is it...
Dec 03, 2023•3 hr 20 min•Ep. 152
What was once a defining Xbox exclusive has made its way to PlayStation. Now, reports are in that the Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic Remake is in a world (or galaxy!) of trouble with development at a complete standstill and PlayStation wanting out. Many fans, us included, are calling on Xbox to, if legality permits it, be the saviors of this troubled project. From legacy to the habit of fixing up the likes of Bethesda and Activision, we're led to believe that this may be a great fit. Doe...
Nov 26, 2023•3 hr 34 min•Ep. 151
For the fourteenth year in a row, Xbox is not going to be part of the Game Of The Year conversation. From fanboys to game developers, it feels like the industry has hit a boiling point when it comes to the way particular nominees are handled. Is it time for separate committees to be established for each category? Is it time to see The Game Awards for the marketing show is really is? Does any of this matter at all? We received a staggering amount of write-ins on the subject from all walks of life...
Nov 19, 2023•3 hr 5 min•Ep. 150
It was a bit chilly this weekend as a Blizzard seems to have blown through Xbox. That works, right? Anyway, during Blizzcon, we received a close up look at what's to come for the likes of Diablo, World Of Warcraft, and much more. More importantly is Phil Spencer's stage presence and the subsequent interview done with Blizzard President Mike Ybarra that has grown the expectations of "old Blizzard" making a return. Blizzard Entertainment has long been under the thumb of Activision with much of the...
Nov 12, 2023•3 hr 36 min•Ep. 149
After a couple of years as family members, Xbox has brought Bethesda a bit closer with its latest restructuring. Matt Booty, head of Xbox Game Studios, will now oversee all content across the Xbox and Bethesda families. Furthermore, Sarah Bond has now been elevated to President at Xbox. With these changes, many are wondering what the impact across content and partnerships will be. Is Fallout New Vegas 2 more possible than ever? What of a collaboration between ID and 343 on Halo? Under Matt Booty...
Nov 05, 2023•2 hr 59 min•Ep. 148
In an unexpected move from Xbox, they've put together yet another showcase format. This time, it arrives in the form of "Xbox Partner Preview" which the Dukes agreed felt more like a business transaction than a show with big announcements. Expectations were tempered, yet Xbox didn't even bring Game Pass announcements to the show. Even if games like Yakuza, Alan Wake 2, and MGS 3 Remake look quality, the show left us asking why it even existed. So, we gather to answer those very questions. Meanwh...
Oct 29, 2023•3 hr 2 min•Ep. 147
After almost two years of going back and forth on every layer of this deal, it is finally complete. Xbox owns Activision Blizzard King and have massively expanded both the IP as well as talent under their possession. Now, the real work begins! As Phil Spencer says he's going to begin visiting all these teams, gamers have many burning questions! What is the future of exclusivity for the many upcoming Activision games? Will Xbox dig into the massive backlog of titles at their disposal? How will th...
Oct 22, 2023•3 hr 48 min•Ep. 146
While modern gaming has its drawbacks, our always online nature allows any game to not be out of the fight so long as it maintains direction, funding, and manpower. That comeback story is something that continued to rear its head in this episode. From Halo Infinite's fifth season, to Redfall finally dropping much needed features at launch, and even Guitar Hero being teased for a return, much in the vicinity of Xbox is looking to make a grand return. Even beyond its green gates, Cyberpunk stands ...
Oct 15, 2023•3 hr 11 min•Ep. 145
In a lighter news week, there is a consistent theme that crops up across all of Xbox's games recently. From Redfall to Starfield and Forza, each of these games will be supported for an extremely long time. As the Dukes experience real-time clarity on Xbox's vision, we dive deep into the idea of Game Pass as a model changing how these games are made. With Todd Howard confirming a minimum of five years of Starfield support, it's worth examining the library of upcoming titles and how Xbox may appro...
Oct 08, 2023•3 hr 3 min•Ep. 144
As we quickly approach the CMA's deadline for a decision on Xbox's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, we see another significant stride in the deal. The CMA has conditionally approved the acquisition if particular circumstances can be met on the cloud front. Meanwhile, the console wars trek on and Starfield is in the line of fire as it's now been officially rated as Bethesda's worst "official" release ever. There are caveats and we get into it, but also sift through the legitimate criticisms th...
Oct 01, 2023•3 hr 58 min•Ep. 143
Slow week, huh? As the gaming industry grows, so too do its leaks. Much like Hollywood, it's becoming increasingly difficult to keep projects under wraps before someone spills the beans. Joining the ranks with Nvidia's GeForce Now, Xbox has suffered one of gaming's largest leaks ever. From an entire release schedule for Bethesda's upcoming games to a mid generation refresh and even their vision for 2028's next generation consoles, there are dozens of documents to sift through. Fallout 3 Remaster...
Sep 24, 2023•4 hr 4 min•Ep. 142
For years, the Dukes were met with abuse and slander due to their faith in Starfield on how it can serve as a turning point in the current generation. The reviews have come and gone, the talk on the streets has become a bit messy to put it lightly, but the numbers don't lie. Starfield is a raging success across all metrics as it is now Bethesda Game Studios' biggest launch of all time as it managed to beat out the likes of Skyrim and Fallout 4. To do so in an exclusive capacity puts things into ...
Sep 17, 2023•3 hr 12 min•Ep. 141
Fellow Dukes, your wait is finally at an end! Starfield is here and the Dukes are teaming up with Gene Park to break every facet of the game down. Walking away from this conversation, one thing is for sure. Starfield is arguably the biggest game we have seen in years. Despite varying hours logged from 30 all the way to 70, the Dukes have a variety of stories to tell. So much so that we learned a ton from the "water cooler moments" the game has provided already! The polish is there and allows for...
Sep 10, 2023•3 hr 30 min•Ep. 140
Fellow Dukes, your wait is finally at an end! Starfield is here and the Dukes are teaming up with Gene Park to break every facet of the game down. Walking away from this conversation, one thing is for sure. Starfield is arguably the biggest game we have seen in years. Despite varying hours logged from 30 all the way to 70, the Dukes have a variety of stories to tell. So much so that we learned a ton from the "water cooler moments" the game has provided already! The polish is there and allows for...
Aug 31, 2023•3 hr 58 min•Ep. 139
