Defining Duke: An Xbox Podcast

To be apathetic to something is to experience a lack of feeling or emotion in response to an event. For the Dukes, it's the word of the show. Xbox has been mismanaged for an entire generation and it has come at the cost of losing world class talents alongside studios. It was just in 2024 that we lost Tango Gameworks, Arkane Austin, Roundhouse Studios, and Alpha Dog Games. There was also the formidable Toys For Bob that went independent. That alone was more than enough to last us a generation, but today we learned that Xbox has closed down the studio they started back in 2018: The Initiative. Alongside that, Rare's Everwild has been canceled on top of a new IP from Zenimax Online Studios. There's no other way to slice it. For Xbox to improve, leadership must be held accountable. The question is if they ever will and given how situations at teams like Bungie have gone down, we expect a meek, weak willed level of accountability to the bloodbath at Microsoft this week. Indeed, much of the frustration is built off the back of constant, mind-numbing, inconsistent messaging. It was only in February that CEO of Microsoft Gaming, Phil Spencer, said Everwild was really shaping up. It was canceled today. With such wishy-washy messaging to their fans, the brand is at a point where no one can believe anything they say. Sure, a partnership with AMD to do next-generation consoles was announced within the last month. How can we trust that? It's the lowest level of trust asked of a consumer that you can believe an announcement when you see it. Instead, the only message we're left with is that if you're not a mega-hit in the making, Xbox wants to have no part of you. What does this say to teams like Compulsion and Ninja Theory or larger developers like Obsidian that like to split off in pursuit of smaller titles? It's amusing that Xbox has done this in the name of creating a sustainable business yet their methods and approach to making games is arguably the least sustainable thing we've seen. They're all in on a subscription service while putting tens of millions of dollars into making games. How it'll all shake up will be interesting to watch, but many of us know how this story will end. Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:02:40 - Health is Wealth
 0:20:27 - Xbox layoffs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It was supposed to be a slow news week, so naturally we talked for almost four hours on the latest in gaming. Heading up our show is a recurrent subject: layoffs at Xbox. Despite Phil's claims about a sustainable business, the cuts keep coming. Of course, that leaves us in a bit of a pickle. What parts of Xbox business are faltering? We're about a year removed from last year where Xbox began shutting down multiple teams, so it's not a far cry to say we may be approaching that point. We haven't seen Game Pass numbers in a hot minute, titles like South Of Midnight and Hellblade 2 have questionable sales at best, and the green team is all but officially confirmed to be out on physical games. So, which is it, if any? We gab quite a bit before leaving it to next week where we'll get official confirmation. Plus, Xbox integrating other PC storefronts into their app, righting the record on Final Fantasy XVI, diving into Lies Of P sales figures, and so much more in what was an unexpectedly meaty (oh!) episode of Defining Duke. Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:16:24 - Health Is Wealth0:32:22 - Correcting FF16 information from last week0:41:52 - A new Halo game is releasing… kinda0:54:16 - Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition announced1:01:46 - SEGA sales data leaks1:14:08 - Persona 4 Revival & Stranger Than Heaven release info1:17:35 - Blood Of Dawnwalker Gameplay deep dive1:22:58 - Cyberpunk 2077 update 2.3 has been delayed1:27:54 - Layoffs headed for Mindseye developer1:40:01 - Blood Message reveal reaction1:43:03 - Rematch devs respond to crossplay issues1:48:34 - Third party Switch 2 sales below estimates1:59:03 - Splitgate 2 devs face layoffs2:12:25 - Lies Of P difficulty settings2:23:24 - What We’re Playing3:08:15 - Major Xbox layoffs inbound3:33:13 - Steam library comes to Xbox PC App3:45:03 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The green team is sticking with making hardware. Consoles, handhelds, maybe even more. They're in! In a push to put their games in more places than ever alongside a massive decline in Series console sales, the understanding was Xbox has no place in the hardware business and may as well bow out. With today's news, it appears to be quite the opposite. Alongside this news presented by Xbox President, Sarah Bond, we also learned there will be more storefronts and games will continue to go everywhere. The moves made by Xbox have even extracted comments out of PlayStation execs during a fireside chat about their financials. As they continue to turn heads, we'll do our best to unpack how this even makes sense for Xbox. Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:03:16 - Health Is Wealth0:24:50 - Xbox's video capture issue0:30:22 - Will Xbox deliver a GOTY winner?0:44:22 - Marathon has been indefinitely delayed1:02:47 - Borderlands 4 will cost $701:11:27 - Final Fantasy 16 is flopping on Xbox?1:26:06 - PlayStation comments on Xbox’s hardware direction1:37:45 - Outer Worlds 2 director responds to the $80 concerns1:47:58 - Crash Team Racing reaches 10 million sales1:51:51 - Silent Hill 1 Remake confirmed1:56:19 - Expedition 33 “improvements” are on the way1:59:48 - What We’re Playing2:25:10 - Xbox details their next generation consoles3:01:24 - Coming soon to Xbox Game Pass3:05:17 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The fallout of any Xbox showcase is always our favorite episodes to record as a duo! It gets us all involved and allows to pick with greater detail at whatever is on the community's mind as consuming so many trailers. Well, there's mostly one thing on Xbox fan's minds at the moment and it's if Outer Worlds 2 should be the second ever $80 game. There's no doubt about it that there are more to come, but should Call Of Duty have taken the fall? Is this price tag going to prevent The Outer Worlds 2 from reaching its peak popularity? We have many thoughts on this touchy subject, but also on the future of Windows combining itself with Xbox. With Xbox Play Anywhere, things are changing. However, many fans are noticing that most of their library CAN'T play anywhere. Will Xbox ameliorate this and, if so, how quickly? Plus more on Cog's incredible Shinobi story, MindsEye first impressions, the future of Halo's story as a multi-platform title, when we'll get Persona 6, and plenty more! Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:06:58 - Health Is Wealth0:20:43 - Persona 6?0:31:42 - Should Xbox go full Nintendo?0:50:20 - Xbox console games on PC1:13:05 - What is in the water at Obsidian?1:22:25 - The future of Halo’s story1:28:56 - Does Matty truly hate Forza Horizon?1:33:53 - Phil on Xbox & Windows team1:35:14 - Why does Grounded 2 exist?1:43:29 - Oblivion Remaster gets its first update1:45:32 - What We’re Playing3:14:39 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Xbox has been the gold standard for showcases these last two years. Whether it be their summer showcases or Developer Direct, they just seem to have a death grip on the rhythm needed to put on a good show along with well timed announcements. Well, no one stays hot forever, so it was inevitable that Xbox would come down to earth at some point. The question is, when they do, where would they end up? Fortunately, it wasn't terrible! We got a deep look at The Outer Worlds 2 while Double Fine finally came out of hiding with their atmospheric adventure game, Keeper. Clockwork Revolution stole the show with a 5+ minute trailer and, naturally, Call Of Duty is coming back again this year. Perhaps most noteworthy was the reveal of the ROG Xbox Ally X. As long reported, this partnership with ASUS will be the beginning of Xbox's handheld journey. Cog went hands-on, so we have to-the-minute thoughts on the user experience, UI updates, and performance testing! Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:03:24 - General Impressions0:12:28 – Outer Worlds 20:30:16 – High On Life 20:33:49 – Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy0:37:45 – Rog Xbox Ally X0:56:10 – Blood Of The Dawnwalker0:58:08 – Super Meat Boy 3D0:59:35 – Ninja Gaiden 41:04:54 – Indiana Jones: The Order Of Giants1:11:02 – Beast Of Reincarnation1:13:48 – Clockwork Revolution1:24:52 – Grounded 21:31:37 – Chronos: The New Dawn1:36:19 – Aphelion1:40:05 – There Are No Ghosts At The Grand1:43:03 – Mudang Two Hearts1:45:50 – Planet Of Lana 21:51:37 – Animo1:55:51 – Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 + 41:57:00 – At Fate's End1:59:06 – Gears Of War Reloaded2:01:58 – Persona 4 Revival2:11:06 – Invincible VS2:16:00 – Final Fantasy has come to Xbox2:27:17 – Keeper2:34:19 – Phil's 2026 Teases2:54:51 – Black Ops 7 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Xbox Games Showcase 2025 is soon upon us and you know the tradition! It's Defining Duke. It's Xbox Two. It's showcase season! Compared to prior years, the pressure on Xbox feels a little lessened. The games are in full swing and mostly delivering, Project Latitude is far less controversial, and many are just hoping the company maintains the status quo for once. So, for the games: Is it time for Elder Scrolls VI? Does Halo make its return to the big stage? Does Final Fantasy VII Remake finally hit the platform? What of Persona 4 Remake? Can Playground Games announce Forza Horizon 6 this year? With speculitis flowing through our veins, we heavily debate the "yays" and "nays" of Xbox's next summer showcase for five whole hours. Enjoy!Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:05:21 - Health Is Wealth0:17:22 - Write Ins0:26:16 - What We're Playing1:33:39 - Bethesda Predictions2:16:17 - Activision Predictions2:42:05 - Halo Studios2:59:49 - The Coalition3:01:45 - Compulsion Games3:06:05 - Double Fine3:12:34 - Inxile Entertainment3:19:01 - Mojang3:21:47 - Ninja Theory3:29:17 - Obsidian Entertainment3:45:44 - Playground Games3:59:18 - Rare4:06:29 - The Initiative4:10:50 - Turn 104:16:46 - Undead Labs4:22:42 - World’s Edge4:24:50 - Audience inquiries & random predictions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Much has been said about Xbox's multiplatform shift, but Xbox finally has games AND they're selling. It's truly a momentous occasion! The Dukes bend the knee as they assess a strong month for Xbox bringing four of the five best selling games to other platforms. What does this mean for the Switch 2 ports and Xbox's brand identity? Naturally, we unpack that. We also get into the thick of Bungie's latest plagiarism scandal. Just how damning are the accusations and is Marathon on the brink of cancellation? If it were to get to its release, what does it need to keep the studio alive? Indeed, things look incredibly grim for Bungie and many exit strategies are likely being planned.Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:08:19 - Health Is Wealth0:17:35 - Write Ins0:20:35 - Xbox handheld leaks0:25:48 - Xbox is dominating on PlayStation0:38:06 - Microsoft cuts 3% of its overall workforce0:40:04 - Xbox announces “Retro Classics”0:46:30 - Xbox is talking to Steam for its next console0:52:51 - DOOM: The Dark Ages has reached 3 million players0:59:41 - Gears Of War movie has its director1:05:27 - Oblivion Remastered’s completion rate is concerning?1:09:20 - Jade Raymond leaves Haven Studio1:20:18 - Arrowhead’s next game might come to Xbox1:25:03 - Atomfall is getting a sequel or spin-off1:27:33 - Randy Pitchford on $80 for Borderlands 41:37:53 - New Kingdom Hearts 4 screenshots1:44:59 - Red Dead Redemption 2 is getting a current gen update1:45:46 - Cyberpunk Orion details1:47:56 - What We’re Playing2:04:10 - Bungie is caught stealing art… again2:41:23 - Hellblade 2 to PS5 this summer2:50:26 - Avowed director leaves Obsidian3:10:19 - Coming soon to Xbox Game Pass3:17:39 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Dukes get ready to rip and tear through another set of video games news and releases! Joining us is honorary Duke, Gene Park, to talk about the latest game out of iD Software in DOOM: The Dark Ages. It's the third entry in iD's modern reboot of the franchise and, as always, they've taken a new approach to things. DOOM: The Dark Ages places a shield in your hands and asks you to "stand and fight." How does this feel in comparison to DOOM Eternal's lightning fast combat or the more deliberate nature of DOOM 2016? It finds itself in the middle as all three Dukes have different takes on this one. Its combat, story, enemy variety, pacing, traversal, level design. All of them speak to us (or not) in ways that really highlight this isn't iD's best DOOM, but it's not their worst. It finds itself in the middle and, by the finale, feels like the series has run out of gas. So, what does this team of talented FPS developers do next? Is it time for Quake? Naturally, we discuss all of that and much more.Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:16:50 - Health is Wealth0:31:02 - GTA 6 Update0:34:38 - Should Xbox have held the Gears announcement?0:48:15 - Fallout Season 2 drops in December1:00:06 - DOOM: The Dark Ages physical copy debacle1:10:28 - Oblivion Remastered’s continuous issues1:23:26 - Xbox returning to back compat focus?1:37:54 - GTA IV Remaster inbound?1:46:43 - Mafia: The Old Country release date and pricing1:54:21 - Will Borderlands 4 jump for $80?2:07:47 - Marvel 1943: Rise Of Hydra has been delayed to 20262:11:09 -  Capcom is doing better than we understand2:21:09 - Square Enix’s rough financials2:30:39 - Warner Bros Games revenue is in the tubes2:32:13 - Doom: The Dark Ages3:33:16 - What We’re Playing4:00:05 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Well, it finally happened... Dogs and cats are finally sleeping together. Xbox has announced one of its iconic franchises with Gears of War Reloaded coming to PlayStation Day and Date! The Dukes break down the magnitude and ramifications of this major inflection point in Xbox console gaming identity. Meanwhile GTA6 casually reveals an explosive second trailer, Expedition 33 continues to dominate the news cycle, and Xbox Handhelds are leaking all over the place. Joining Cog this week is Brad, to dive into all the latest Xbox News and more!Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.0:00:00 - Intro0:03:06 - Health is Wealth0:11:46 - Kingdom Come Deliverance 2: Three Million Sold0:13:48 - Split Fiction Surpasses 4 Million Sales0:17:08 - PS5's top 3 selling games in April 2025 were all from Xbox0:23:13 - Compulsion Games Role Not to make Blockbusters like COD0:29:47 - Expedition 33 Magical Development Story0:41:43 - Expedition 330:52:16 - Destiny 2 YEAR OF PROPHECY (Star Wars)1:04:35 - GTA Release Date & Trailer 21:24:12 - Expedition 33 Says “Oblivion Remaster Didn't Harm Us"1:36:47 - Gears of War Reloaded On Playstation2:02:44 - Xbox ROG ALLY2 Leaked2:12:56 - Game Pass Pick of the Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Well, we were ready to have a very positive episode, but here we are! Xbox has gone all the way ahead of most of the competition and confirmed the following. Console and accessories prices are jumping immediately. Xbox game prices will reach $80 by the end of the year. In a world where the first party is mostly producing divisive titles sitting in the ~80 open critic range, you have to imagine Xbox’s financial situation can’t be in a brilliant stop to step on a rake ahead of its competition. Yet, that’s where things get even more interesting. Xbox’s Q3 2025 results saw them at the industry’s top publisher while also being the leader in games sold on PlayStation with at least four of their titles in the top 10. Xbox wants their money and the Dukes have plenty of thoughts on this. Is this going to push even more people into Game Pass? Will this give birth to a free tier of Game Pass? What of Cloud Streaming’s growth when consoles are becoming extremely pricey. Meanwhile, it's already May and it feels as if we have enough fantastic games to begin our voting on Game Of The Year! Expedition 33 is the talk of the town alongside Oblivion and rightfully so, but it's fascinating just how many incredible experiences surround them. Unlikely heroes in Last Defense Academy, sleeper indie hits in Towerborne, and much more are around every corner. Who has time for all of this? Hell if we know, but we're just happy to be on the ride 2025 is taking us on.Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.0:00:00 - Intro0:06:28 - Health Is Wealth0:36:44 - Oblivion reaches 4 million players0:41:49 - Expedition 33 has sold 1 million copies0:56:38 - People Can Fly’s Project Maverick revealed1:02:58 - Borderlands 4 gets new release date1:08:47 - Wuchang Fallen Feather launches on July 24th, 20251:10:56 - Robocop: Rogue City - Unfinished Business launches on July 17th, 20251:12:37 - FBC: Firebreak launches on June 17th, 20251:16:41 - Tainted Grail: Fall Of Avalon leaves early access on May 23rd1:19:53 - Baldur’s Gate 3 director on AI1:29:16 - TMNT Splintered Fate is coming to Xbox and PlayStation1:37:31 - Kevin Eastman on the TMNT Last Ronin video game1:41:19 - Capcom teases Resident Evil 91:44:18 - Splinter Cell: Blacklist randomly gets Steam achievements1:47:50 - Elden Ring passes 30 million sales1:50:11 - Microsoft Q3 Results1:57:06 - Expedition 332:34:24 - Marathon2:54:19 - Oblivion Remaster3:16:26 - Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy3:22:29 - Xbox price increase4:04:00 - Respawn suffers more layoffs and cancellations4:19:08 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices