Defining Duke: An Xbox Podcast

A rather peaceful July continues on as we dig through the aftermath of Xbox's major changes to Game Pass. For starters, we now have clarity on the wait for Day 1 games in the service at the standard tier and those who remain will be seemingly waiting a long time for their shiny games to arrive. Furthermore, Xbox is potentially pulling out of regions like Europe, Africa, and the Middle East when it comes to their consoles. With all these parts of the business shifting in real time, many are trying to predict where Xbox will be at the end of all these changes. Well, much of it hinges on Call Of Duty which is tying its beta to Game Pass subscribers. Indeed, it's a different Xbox we're looking at in 2024! Does this new Xbox consider Crash 5 important enough to resurrect? How cutthroat shall they be with 343 in their next Halo? There is quite a bit to discuss, so enough briefing and let's get to chatting!Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.0:00:00 - Intro0:16:10 - Microsoft Rewards not fueling Game Pass?0:19:23 - Amazon is now selling a Xbox Streaming bundle0:31:09 - Microsoft releases dynamic Xbox 360 blades background0:37:26 - Forza Horizon 5 has reached 40 million players0:44:35 - TMNT: Mutants Unleashed gameplay revealed1:00:23 - Yakuza developer announcing their next game at Tokyo Game Show1:07:15 - A sequel to Aliens Fireteam Elite leaks1:09:36 - Deadpool controller1:11:09 - What We’re Playing1:49:51 - Crash Bandicoot 51:57:38 - Day 1 Game Pass clarification from Jez Corden2:04:59 - Call Of Duty Black Ops 6 beta details2:09:46 - Xbox marketing is possibly exiting some regions2:16:10 - Xbox GeForce Now integration available now2:18:24 - What's going on with Halo's future?2:39:04 - Microsoft is reportedly moving on from their DEI teams2:52:50 - Leaving Game Pass soon2:54:22 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week3:01:34 - What system do we grow our game library on?3:12:48 - Wrap-up Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After years of conversation on the topic, Xbox has finally made long anticipated adjustments to its popular subscription service. Day one Game Pass games are gone from its standard tier and all have seen a price hike. The conversation naturally navigates itself to the "why" in this situation. All subscription services go up whether it's Netflix, Disney+, or Spotify. Is it because of Black Ops 6 impending? Is Day One Game Pass hurting Xbox? Is $20 enough to stop any form of bleeding with that in mind? Are they extracting maximum value from the service at its peak? Are they setting a newer, higher standard for the batch of new subscribers that will join with the launch of a new Call Of Duty game? There's many ways for us to assess, so we'll comb through all of them carefully! Furthermore, we have details on Hellblade 2's performance on the market. From sales to engagement, there are question marks about what this game has done for the platform, so the Dukes dissect what information Circana has provided on that matter. Plus more on Banjo Kazooie, LEGO Horizon on Xbox, the questionable Fire Stick TV ad, Bioshock updates, Dragon Age: Veilguard romance options, 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 - Intro0:31:56 - Banjo Kazooie rumors0:38:41 - Guerilla Games on Xbox version of LEGO Horizon Adventures0:42:38 - Atlas Fallen coming to Game Pass?0:44:48 - Xbox summer sale 2024 is live now0:46:35 - Cities Skylines 2 will be missing its Xbox console release0:49:21 - Xbox Amazon Fire Stick TV ad0:54:20 - Cloud Chamber is heavily recruiting for BioShock0:56:28 - Dragon Age: Veilguard romance details1:02:46 - Star Wars: Outlaws planet details1:04:58 - Piranha Bytes is the latest studio to be shutdown by Embracer1:07:45 - New Yakuza Game?1:12:07 - Bleach Rebirth Of Souls announced1:17:07 - What We’re Playing1:41:54 - How do we celebrate our birthdays?1:47:48 - What Xbox franchise could get a Lego version?1:50:06 - Will Metaphor: ReFantazio get an enhanced edition?1:50:55 - Game Pass Changes2:31:46 - Xbox's Hardware and Software sales3:04:41 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week3:10:41 - How would we improve our recording area?3:19:30 - Wrap Up Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's finally a slow news week which means we get to settle into some stories that we'd typically breeze over! Leading the charge this week is Avowed which continues to sound amazing! With new details from director Carrie Patel, the Dukes settle into a discuss about character building, choice and consequence, and the oft-debated romance. Alongside that, rumors of Activision games arriving on Game Pass are starting to percolate to the top as the Transformers games have been relisted. At the same time, we are hearing how games like Crash and Tony Hawk are due out on Game Pass shortly. What does the cadence of release look like for Activision's catalogue and how does Xbox handle the licensed, backwards compatible games? There's plenty of room for a discussion there, so let's have one! Plus more Xbox's handheld UI, Assassin's Creed Remakes inbound, Xbox Cloud Gaming arriving on Amazon Fire TV sticks, 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 Intro and write-ins0:32:37 Xbox Cloud Gaming is coming to Amazon fire TV Sticks0:37:53 Activision Transformer games relisted, currently unavailable for purchase0:46:32 Lost Odyssey remaster dream is dead0:51:47 Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster release date0:57:37 A new Resident Evil is in development0:59:45 Dragon’s Dogma 2 performance update1:02:16 Ubisoft is remaking multiple Assassins Creed games1:07:44 Star Wars Bounty Hunter is coming to Xbox1:12:57 Shadow of the Erdtree has sold 5 million copies1:15:04 Flintlock Siege Of Dawn has gone gold1:17:00 Crazy Taxi update from SEGA1:21:59 What We’re Playing2:00:56 Avowed interview2:17:42 What's this Xbox mobile dashboard?2:24:01 Activision Games to Game Pass soon2:30:39 Coming soon to Xbox Game Pass2:36:19 Game Pass Pick Of The Week2:39:12 Another Mt Rushmore2:53:31 Wrapup Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a relatively slow week, we're able to settle into a major interview conducted by Variety with the one and only, Matt Booty. Sitting as Xbox Game Content and Studios President, Matt Booty was a major factor behind Xbox's decision to shut down four Bethesda studios. In the brand's third attempt to answer the deeper reasoning behind these closures, we get a few more breadcrumbs that leave room for assumption on the matter. Alongside that, Booty speaks on the Xbox exclusive situation with remains relatively unclear moving into the future. Plus more on Forza Horizon 4's delisting, Hellblade 2 initial sales, 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 - Intro0:14:25 - Forza Horizon 4 being delisted0:24:43 - Avowed is fully playable in third person0:29:16 - Harvey Smith on Redfall’s final update0:32:07 - Xbox's statement on Black Myth Wukong0:39:24 - Bethesda Game Studios Montreal is unionizing0:44:52 - Hellblade 2 fails to crack top 100 sales in Europe0:53:49 - Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed release date0:57:20 - Katsuhiro Harada on why Soul Calibur disappeared1:10:26 - Jet Set Radio Remake leaks online1:17:55 - BioWare on Dragon Age Veilguard’s name change1:20:34 - What We’re Playing1:47:13 - Warm Up Question01:57:42 - Matt Booty interview with Variety02:43:06 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week02:51:40 - Ending Question Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Well, this is a first. Matty had the opportunity to sit down with Bethesda Game Studios lead Todd Howard to discuss everything from Starfield and Elder Scrolls VI to Fallout and the company's shifting design philosophies! In an otherwise slow news week, the Dukes sink into all Todd had to share with Matty. What's going on with Fallout ports or New Vegas? How far along is Elder Scrolls VI and what technology is being used to build it? What's going on with Starfield Year 2 and will it be supported longer than prior BGS games? He shares a lot, so let's talk a lot!Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.0:00:00 - Intro0:17:22 - BO6 file size0:18:42 - Multiple games announced for Xbox at the June 2024 Nintendo Direct0:33:40 - Sea Of Thieves sales are insane on PlayStation0:36:07 - Xbox release date rumors0:43:17 - New Gears E-Day Details0:50:56 - State Of Decay 3 release window rumor0:56:10 - Forza Horizon 5 gets a “Universal Icons Car Pack”0:56:31 - Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP0:57:01 - Alone In The Dark Studio “Pieces Interactive” has been shutdown by Embracer0:58:06 - What We’re Playing1:21:49 - Finishing games1:33:45 - Todd Howard Interview recap2:34:40 - Coming soon to Xbox Game Pass2:37:46 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week2:43:41 - Ending Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If there's one thing that the Xbox Showcase taught us, it's that Xbox has a lot ready to release soon. Perhaps, even, too many! As Cog aptly puts it, Xbox has an abundance of riches and we're keen on seeing how they spread the wealth. Will Xbox go all in with a line up of Shattered Space, Black Ops 6, Avowed, Indy, and Starfield DLC? It's hard to tell as the team seems to be playing a wait and see approach, but there's no denying the sense of corner finally being turned. Plus more on an Xbox handheld, more games eventually leaving the platform, deep dives into State Of Decay 3 and Avowed, plus 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 - Intro0:29:02 - The latest on Black Ops 60:32:49 - Eidos Montreal is supporting Fable0:38:09 - New Gears Of War: E-Day details0:44:59 - How DOOM: The Dark Ages Feels, According to ID0:49:59 - New State of Decay 3 detail0:57:58 - Starfield June Update details1:03:27 - Avowed director on Obsidian's future1:07:04 -Ara History Untold gets a release date1:09:36 - Xbox might have a big Gamescom show1:15:29 - Dragon Age: The Veilguard gameplay reveal1:36:33 - Visions Of Mana gets a release date1:37:11 - Star Wars Outlaws details1:43:13 - What We’re Playing2:06:35 - Where is the ABK Game Pass drop?2:12:22 - What do the Xbox execs do now?2:19:31 - Phil Spencer interview on Xbox Handheld, Third Party Games, & More 2:51:02 - A massive deep dive on Avowed3:09:14 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week3:14:11 - Ending Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After months of dooming, Xbos fans needed a big win. In the humble opinion of the Dukes, Xbox absolutely delivered on all levels. Missing games finally received needed updates with Perfect Dark and State Of Decay 3. The Coalition finally gets the spotlight in a shocking Gears announcement: a prequel set during E-Day! Furthermore, tons of third parties showed up in a big way from a new Life Is Strange featuring Max Caufield to a stunning turn-based gem in Expedition 33. Returning games like Fable, Avowed, South Of Midnight, and Indiana Jones among others all showed out! Truly, it was one for the books, so join us as we recap one of the best ever showcases to go down in gaming. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Xbox Games Showcase 2024 is soon upon us meaning it's time to unite with Xbox Two for our annual predictions show! Joining us is Rand Al Thor 19 to dissect what feels like another "must win" situation for Xbox. As per usual, we run down the multitude of first party studios, now including Activision, and debate heavily what will make the cut. Will they renew their vows with hardware? Can Xbox manage to massage concerns surrounding some of their lingering games like Perfect Dark and State Of Decay 3? What surprises can they bring to the table? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The next major release in Xbox's first party family has arrived! Senua's Saga: Hellblade II has seen an increased amount of pressure placed upon it as concern for the platform holder as ramped up. Stripping ourselves from the heightened emotionality of that situation, how does over five years of development, a team size four times bigger than the original, and a big Microsoft check benefit the newest entry in the Hellblade series? The Dukes are joined by Gene Park where all three were able to play through the game a week ahead of its launch and let their thoughts marinate. Sitting at an 82 on OpenCritic, Hellblade 2 is off to a solid start, but where do the Dukes sit? Well, it's time to dig deep and find out!Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.Timestamps: 0:00:00 - Intro0:06:00 - Ninja Theory's next game greenlit0:15:57 - Xbox games to PS50:20:38 - Xbox 360 JRPGs0:26:39 - Lies of P DLC confirmed for second half of 20240:30:34 - GTA 6 launches Fall 20250:35:53 - Star Wars Total War game coming from Creative Assembly0:39:47 - Assassin’s Creed Shadows revealed0:56:09 - Valve’s Deadlock leaked1:00:15 - Larian opens up new studio1:03:39 - Kingdom Hearts comes to Steam on June 13th1:11:55 - IGN acquires a ton of gaming news outlets1:20:19 - What We’re Playing3:11:03 - Activision opens studio called Elsewhere3:20:16 - Call Of Duty to Game Pass is all but confirmed3:33:36 - Final updates for Redfall and Hi Fi Rush3:37:53 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The dust has settled since Xbox closed four different Bethesda studios. Many expected the team to go into hiding as there is no good answer for this outcome, but they did the opposite. Xbox President Sarah Bond showed up to a Bloomberg interview and gave a mind boggling non-answer that has sent this already wounded fanbase into another outrage. Naturally, the Dukes dive into this as well as your many questions about how the optics have shifted for the Xbox business moving forward. We also dive deep into the dramatic changes that Square Enix has undergone wher they have now moved into a multi-platform approach. What Square Enix games are headed to Xbox and when? The Dukes dig into to find out. Plus more on Perfect Dark and State Of Decay 3's status, Assassin's Creed Shadows, SEGA's plans for Persona, and so much more!Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.Timestamps: 0:00:00 - Intro0:14:59 - Jeff Grubb's report on Perfect Dark, Gears 6, and Dragon Age0:25:00 - Square Enix reveals multiplatform strategy0:44:40 - Hi Fi Rush update from Limited Run Games0:45:01 - Jez Corden has heard that State Of Decay 3 is looking very good0:47:10 - SEGA is annualizing Persona, Yakuza, and Sonic0:54:13 - Assassins Creed Shadows revealed1:00:01 - Activision appears to be working on a new IP1:01:44 - EA is considering putting ads in games1:06:44 - ROG Ally X announced1:12:41 - Suicide Squad was more costly than we thought1:14:38 - Jake Solomon (XCOM, Midnight Suns) opens new studio1:20:00 - Xbox is adding the ability to pre download updates1:23:16 - Fallout 4's update gets a patch1:25:34 - What We’re Playing1:38:12 - Hellblade 2 gutcheck2:01:46 - Cog on Xbox Leadership2:18:34 - Selective outrage with studio closures2:30:50 - The Dukes thoughts on the importance of "Xbox engagement"2:46:12 - Sarah Bond’s interview with Bloomberg3:23:18 - Coming soon to Xbox Game Pass…3:26:24 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week03:30:40 - Wrap up Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices