Defining Duke: An Xbox Podcast

Thanks to the likes of OpenAI, hardware manufacturers are scrambling to adjust prices amidst a shortage of RAM. As a result, things are about to become more expensive again! Unlike companies like Lenovo or PlayStation who seemingly bought stock in advance to help avoid price shock, Xbox appears to be ready to pass this one onto the consumer. Naturally, the "Xbox refugees" have turned their attention toward the Steam Machine which could fill a void in our gamer hearts. However, the Dukes find it hard to imagine a hero in this stock shortage story. Just how much will the Steam Machine be after Valve admits they will not be subsidizing and are just looking to make the device competitive? Will it look good beside a PlayStation 6 or next gen Xbox? We have a lot of questions, little answers, and even less money. Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:04:41 - Health Is Wealth0:14:29 - Let’s chat some more about Charlie ‘4 Hours’ Cox0:22:50 - Xbox’s November 2025 update0:31:40 - Default Game Profiles come to the Xbox Ally0:35:06 - The Xcrocs are (sadly) real0:41:13 - Battlefield 6 versus Black Ops 71:04:07 - Destiny 3 is in the works?1:09:10 - A crazy week in the world of Ubisoft1:31:50 - TMNT is getting the Sonic treatment1:43:28 - Leaked messages of what got Rockstar employees fired1:46:03 - Intergalatic: The Heretic Prophet is years away1:50:00 - Stellar Blade 2 will be multiplatform1:50:59 - Death Stranding 2 coming to PC soon?1:52:57 - Exodus trailer confirmed for The Game Awards1:56:57 - Cyberpunk’s sequel is ramping up1:59:42 - SEGA admits their definitive versions could hurt sales2:13:12 - What We’re Playing2:44:17 - Valve talks Steam Machine value as Xbox is expected to jump their prices again Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As was originally reported, Xbox brought out a Partner Preview in November. It was chockful of everything strange like a co-op alien shop simulator or a thuggish rabbit beating up baddies to more traditional first person horror titles. The catch was that every game we saw throughout was a Play Anywhere title, a program that many of Xbox's players still yearn for the platform to leverage more. All in all, the Dukes enjoyed the show, especially given it dropped ahead of the biggest show of the year in the Game Awards where announcements are typically prioritized. Beyond that, we dive deep into the Valve rumor mill. Half Life 3 is everywhere! Is it finally happening and are the Dukes believers? We get into that plus updated thoughts on the Steam Machine now that we've had some time to digest the triple-whammy Valve hit us with last week. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at https://www.shopify.com/duke Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:13:32 - Discussing The Game Awards nominees0:31:43 - The myriad of Half Life 3 rumors0:36:54 - Valve’s focus for the Steam Machine0:51:16 - Xbox Ally is exceeding expectations0:55:09 - Xbox releases game publishing documentation to the public0:59:26 - Obsidian has yet to use generative AI1:03:17 - Activision caught using AI generated assets in Black Ops 71:12:01 - Bethesda responds to Fallout 4’s anniversary issues1:28:04 - Krafton is now the publisher of Hi Fi Rush, but there’s a catch1:31:37 - New comments by Sarah Bond on Xbox’s future1:37:18 - PlayStation was indifferent to market shrinking in Japan1:46:07 - Where is Yoko Taro?1:48:58 - A new Ratchet & Clank game got revealed1:56:42 - Don’t call it a Concord comeback2:00:35 - Silent Hill Townfall’s release date leaked2:02:15 - Ubisoft canceled Splinter Cell for xDefiant2:10:02 - Red Dead Redemption 1 gets next gen update2:10:56 - Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 reaches 4 million sales figure2:13:38 - First look at Zelda movie2:14:27 - Death Stranding is getting an original anime on Disney+2:17:16 - Coming soon to Xbox Game Pass2:19:42 - What We’ve Been Playing3:11:50 - Xbox Partner Preview Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Xbox's big bet for bringing PCs to the living room has officially been undercut. This week, Valve announced three (!) different pieces of hardware. First, there is the Steam Machine, which serves as the strongest competitor to consoles. While still very much a PC, the Steam Machine packs a lot of punch for a small device and could be a force if priced well. Second, a brand new VR headset in the Steam Frame. Despite Meta having massive first-party support, Valve has decided to challenge a space that many of us thought was finished growing. Third, and finally, is a Steam Controller. It's horrendous looking and makes the Duke look ergonomic. How does Valve's aggressive hardware plans disrupt Xbox and does any lingering appeal for the PC in the living room by Xbox remain? The Dukes unite and dive straight in. Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:08:49 - The Hair Crisis0:13:57 - Halo Infinite support is ending0:21:59 - Former Nintendo President opens up on Xbox and Switch 20:31:59 - State Of Play Japan reactions0:47:15  Arc Raiders is a smash hit0:57:04 - GTA 6 has been delayed1:09:02 - Take Two proves great narrative games sell well1:13:02 - Borderlands 4 sales are soft1:18:58 - Dispatch sells over 1 million copies1:20:47 - Ghost Of Yotei sells over 3 million copies1:23:00 - BioWare and EA recommit to Mass Effect1:42:28 - Marvel 1943: Rise Of Hydra has been delayed1:44:35 - Silent Hill 2’s Xbox release date leaks1:48:42 - Nintendo first party are using game key cards1:51:07 - Square Enix undergoes layoffs and drops new roadmap2:03:02 - Trails In The Sky Remake 2 confirmed for 20262:05:54 - What We’re Playing3:00:07 - Valve announces Steam Machine, Frame, and Controller3:28:55 - Todd Howard interview3:42:30 - Avowed 2 is in the cards, but not Outer Worlds 3? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's been quite the year for Obsidian Entertainment. Following three major releases in one year with Avowed, Grounded 2 (Early Access), and The Outer Worlds 2. Obsidian finds itself discussing their future and relevance in a world where "Microsoft Gaming" exists. Cog and Hoeg discuss the significance of revisiting the Pillars of Eternity universe with their latest turn based announcement. What does the future also hold for this studio? In addition to all the latest news in the world of Xbox! Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:02:50 - Health Is Wealth0:05:01 - Does Cog Really Hate Exclusives?0:17:14 - Xbox Hybrid Future?0:33:59 - Cancelling Game Pass Ultimate?0:40:32 - Destiny 2 New Renegades expansion0:49:39 - Nintendo’s Patent in Palworld Dispute is Being Re-examined1:03:54 - Devs believe Steam has a monopoly on PC games?1:14:03 - Consumers spend more on remakes than remasters1:22:42 - Battlefield 6 Has Reportedly Sold Over 10 Million Copies1:31:21 - Arc Raiders early success & roadmap1:40:33 - Black Ops 7 ROG Xbox Ally X Support1:44:22 - Expedition 33 & Final Fantasy VII Remake event1:52:52 - What We Are Playing2:11:36 - Obsidian announces Pillars of Eternity Turn-Based Mode & talks future2:42:41 - Xbox Q1 hardware sales down2:54:20 - Xbox - Ex-Boxer commercial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Following months of swirling rumors, Halo Combat Evolved has its remake. It's called Halo Campaign Evolved and you can play it next year on Xbox, PC, and yes, even PlayStation! It has everything from sprinting to aiming down sights, but more surprising is the new content found within. Cutscenes have been entirely reshot, new prequel missions are being added to the game, new weapons are getting thrown in there, and even the warthog saw an expansion to it. Cog and Gene had the opportunity to go hands-on with a demo of this remake and the takeaways are what you'd expect from a Halo Studios led project. Indeed, it's the familiar cocktail of optimism for what's in front of you and lingering skepticism from the thing you just got. Go to https://www.quince.com/duke for free shipping and 365-day returns Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:02:53 - Sarah Bond says exclusive games are antiquated0:16:09 - Matt Booty says Xbox’s competition is TikTok and movies0:29:43 - Phil Spencer says Forza Motorsport isn’t dead0:38:25 - Phil Spencer on Xbox’s AI push0:45:09 - Xbox has a Partner Preview coming in November0:52:55 - Fallout Day 2025 was terrible1:18:40 - ID@Xbox showcase reveals 12 indie Game Pass titles1:20:43 - Canceled multiplayer God of War game leaks1:24:12 - Ghost of Yotei sales analysis1:31:00 - Loulan: The Cursed Sands revealed1:33:23 - Masters of Albion will be Peter Molyneux’s final game1:41:31 - Mouse: P.I. for Hire releases on March 19th, 20261:42:45 - Battlefield REDSEC shadow dropped by EA1:45:07 - FemShep wants to go back to Mass Effect1:46:40 - Crash Bandicoot is getting a Netflix series1:47:51 - What We’re Playing (Xbox Ally X)2:26:55 - Halo Campaign Evolved discussion3:01:40 - Cog's thoughts on Ninja Gaiden 43:09:11 - Outer Worlds 23:35:17 - Massive details on the next Xbox3:59:25 - Xbox’s 30% profit margin to blame for price hikes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There's much to be said about how The Outer Worlds 2 was handled prior to its release. Everything from a lacking preview and Avowed's underwhelming launch to Xbox attempting to force a $80 price point put this game on the uphill climb. All of that is out the window now. Cog and Matty have it in hand and have logged their many hours! Is the Black Rock ready to deliver on the RPG pedigree that they're known for or are they best off focusing on their new strength in games like Grounded or Pentiment? Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:02:57 - Final future of the Dukes update0:08:31 - Xbox Ally impressions0:28:08 - The pace of Xbox releases0:35:29 - The most positive Xbox experience this generation0:43:07 - What We’re Playing1:02:44 - Outer Worlds 22:13:25 - Improvements coming to the Xbox Ally2:15:49 - ID@Xbox showcase coming October 28th2:17:16 - Starfield’s PS5 announcement will come in 20262:18:31 - Warner Bros Discovery is up for sale again2:27:26 - Assassin’s Creed franchise lead was forced out2:35:11 - Glen Schofield is trying to get Dead Space back2:54:25 - Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 updates3:00:34 - The Resident Evil Remake rumors are heating up3:04:24 - A new Dragon Ball game coming in 20263:08:11 - Marvel Cosmic Invasion releases December 1st3:10:33 - Quantic Dream’s strange new multiplayer game3:16:16 -  What’s next for Arrowhead?3:18:28 - Silent Hill sales update3:21:18 - Kirby Air Riders gets ANOTHER direct3:25:41- Sarah Bond clarifies Xbox next gen details3:49:04 - Xbox has plans to move its product manufacturing out of China Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Despite the ongoing hardware "crisis," plenty of next generation hardware news continues to leak out of Xbox. This time, we have Project Magnus courtesy of Moore's Law Is Dead! Set to release in 2027, this console will (as expected) feature some Windows elements and go head-to-head with the pre-built PC market. To help break all of this down, Jimmy Champane of Deck Ready is here. Beyond Project Magnus, we get into a newly released piece of Xbox hardware in the Xbox Ally. Is it worth your money and what does it tell us about the future of Xbox's unified Windows approach? A lot, it seems! Beyond that, we tackle a new-ish structure for the show, covering everything from Xbox to PlayStation and Nintendo. Much of our show is shaped by you, so we hope you enjoy the inclusion and look forward to reading your thoughts. Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:20:42 - Where did the former Zenimax Online devs go?0:30:06 - Call Of Duty is dropping SBMM0:42:23 - Halo art director delivers ominous message1:04:51 - Indiana Jones gets anniversary update1:10:17 - Everwild screenshots have leaked1:12:44 - Sucker Punch’s future after Ghost Of Yotei1:27:46 - What is Bluepoint up to?1:31:34 - More Expedition 33 content on the way1:36:39 - Japan responds to rise of Sora AI1:44:05 - Assassin’s Creed director quits over Tencent2:04:02 - Massive Pokémon leak2:18:14 - Switch 2 console sales update2:21:34 - Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game revealed2:24:59 - The Mindseye Aftermath2:30:18 - What We’re Playing3:18:10 - Xbox’s Project Magnus and PlayStation 6 are rumored to release in 20273:55:17 - Another week of Xbox hardware drama Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Following such erratic changes to Game Pass and a ton of wild weekend rumors, many are wondering if Xbox will be out of the console business altogether by 2027. Despite marketing for the next generation being expected to begin next year, some insiders are suggesting this is now up in the air for Team Green. Joining us to discuss the current state of Xbox is the man with a million, Rand Al Thor 19. While Xbox addressed the uncertainty surrounding their hardware and have a public agreement with AMD, many continue to doubt this is the path forward. The truth is that Xbox hardware has seen a steep decline in sales for almost two years. Now, major retailers are pulling their stock. Like much of you have written in about this subject, we are left with the same question: Can we even believe Xbox at this point? If you can't then can we continue to build our digital libraries on Xbox with the way Xbox is trending? Is the path truly to become a third party publisher? If so, should Xbox rip off the bandaid and go all in now? It's a jam packed episode and we sift through every layer of it to try and get to the root of it all. Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 03:08 - The future of the Dukes0:21:28 - Cog’s trip to Japan0:35:50 - Where is Phil Spencer?1:00:32 - Outer Worlds 2 caught in the crossfire again1:15:57 - Can Xbox and PlayStation team up now?1:20:09 - What even is Xbox Play Anywhere?1:30:07 - What is going on with Keeper?1:40:18 - Lina Khan’s victory lap1:47:58 - Xbox’s response to the Game Pass price hike1:56:24 - Game Pass DLC discounts are done2:02:17 - Halo Combat Evolved Remake rumors2:16:46 - Coming soon to Xbox Game Pass2:20:29 - What We’re Playing2:59:26 - Is Xbox hardware coming to an end?3:35:43 - The reason Game Pass hiked its prices3:56:22 - Xbox is reportedly adding a free tier for Cloud Gaming Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Xbox happened. Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:03:14 - Health Is Wealth0:10:02 - Are we still Xbox fans?0:26:22 - What’s happening with Forza Horizon 6?0:36:23 - Xbox Ally preorders are live0:48:50 - EA is going private in a $55 Billion deal1:05:47 - Ken Levine interview recap1:19:18 - Fallout 76 Burning Springs update1:20:14 - Prototype is coming back?1:27:07 - Ubisoft forms Vantage Studios1:30:23 - AAA Lord Of The Rings game in development1:38:49 - What We’re Playing2:25:25 - Xbox Game Pass gets a major price hike3:14:00 - Do we keep doing Game Pass Pick Of The Week? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Forza bros, rejoice! After plenty of speculation, rumors, and eventual leaks, Forza Horizon 6 has finally been announced at Tokyo Game Show 2025. Joining me is honorary Duke, Sir Bradley Ellis, to discuss all things Forza and more in the world of gaming! It has been long anticipated that Playground would take the franchise to Japan and now that it's finally happening, we have a lot to go over. Landing in 2026, this will be hitting Xbox and PC first, which already lands a little out of the realm of our expectations. When is the inevitable PlayStation port? We dive into just that. Moreover, Playground may end up being the 2026 darling for Xbox if Fable and Forza hit in the same year. Matty and Brad dig into their expectations for 2026 where no doubt there will be a double feature including these two. Beyond that, we dive into the recent State Of Play, the new OD gameplay, more leaked details on Perfect Dark's episodic format, 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 - Intro0:09:03 - Health Is Wealth0:23:29 - Danganronpa theories0:29:14 - Hideo Kojima shows off OD0:41:49 - 2025 is Xbox’s biggest investment in Game Pass0:49:23 - More leaked details on Perfect Dark1:01:42 - Black Ops 7 multiplayer reveal on September 30th1:08:15 - Xbox’s handheld UI is out now1:14:23 - Borderlands 4 has reached 2.5 million players1:17:36 - Cyberpunk 2077 sequel to include multiplayer1:20:39 - Aspyr removes AI replicated voice from Tomb Raider1:24:29 - What We’re Playing2:09:34 - New price increases for Xbox2:23:33 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week2:25:20 - Xbox TGS 2025 Showcase2:48:58 - State Of Play Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices