Episodit

  • This week's episode is quite the unorthodox one! In the spirit of our friends over at the Friends Per Second podcast, we've split this episode between our usual news coverage and a fun interview the Dukes has the opportunity to conduct! Joining us this episode are Gabriela Leskur and Brian Stone. Gariela is the Narrative and Experience Lead at Oxide Games and Brian serves as Product Leader and Head Of Engineering at Xbox Game Studios Publishing. Together, these two answer our burning questions about the upcoming historical turn-based strategy game. Furthermore, we dive into the thick of Starfield's Shattered Space preview which gives us nearly ten minutes of gameplay to understand just what this is. Fortunately, it appears to be a direct response to much of the criticism laid at Bethesda's feet last fall. We also get into what may be going on with Tony Hawk, Marathon possibly being $40, more layoffs at Xbox, their strong dependence on Call Of Duty, and much more!

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  • Much has been said about Xbox's lack of desire to do a mid-generation refresh. For some, it symbolizes the platform's lack of care for the future of its own hardware and, for others, a sign that the green team has their eyes on the next generation instead. In a surprise move, it is not Xbox who stepped on the rake this week! PlayStation has sneakily experienced a troublesome year much like Xbox between Concord, the rollercoaster ride that is Helldivers 2, and now the pricing of the PlayStation 5 pro. Of all our write-ins this week, 90% were asking one question: Did Xbox dodge a bullet by not going down this hardware rabbit hole? Naturally, the Dukes debate and discuss the ins-and-outs of this initially innocent announcement from PlayStation. In other news, Xbox will be returning to Japan for their own Tokyo Game Show event in 2024 and State Of Decay 2 support is finally over! We also get into the exclusivity situation surrounding Black Myth Wukong, the return of some classic Transformers games, and plenty more!
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  • The Dukes are off to San Diego and that means we had to get a little crafty compared to our usual episodes! Since we’re recording in advance, we forged an episode in the spirit of Defining Duke Ultimate and leaned heavily into one topic: the Series X/S generation thus far. Easily our most asked question is whether or not to dive into a Xbox at this point, so we dedicated an entire episode to the idea! Matty and Cog sift through every first party release and discuss the highs and lows they’ve brought. Furthermore, we analyze every Day 1 Game Pass drop since the service began introducing third party with Outriders. We also happily indulge in another conversation of where Xbox could stand to improve and even what could be green lit to shift some of the optics around the brand. Indeed, this is the all-encompassing conversation on Xbox’s star in 2024 and we hope you do enjoy!

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  • As always, we like to source questions, comments, and concerns from our lovely audience each and every week. Many times, that alone defines the theme of the episode and that's certainly the case here. Following the news of Indiana Jones headed to PS5, plenty of Xbox fans have been left flat-footed. What does this mean for the future of the console's exclusives and will any of their competitors follow suit? Phil Spencer has shared his thoughts on the matter and now it's time for the Dukes to chime in!
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  • For the first time ever, the Dukes are gathering in person to record an episode! What a time for it to happen too as we have plenty to discuss. For starters, we’re got our hands on a plethora of upcoming Xbox titles. Avowed, Ara History Untold, Towerborne, Atomfall, Metaphor Re Fantazio, and plenty more! As we were on site, we even had a chance to speak with a ton of the devs meaning we have added insight beyond the games themselves. Beyond the scoops, we naturally have to discuss the Indy situation as the game has been announced for PlayStation. We knew multi-platform was Xbox’s future, but this was quite an aggressive move. How do the Dukes feel about such a play from the green team? Naturally, we have much to say on top of the announcements at Opening Night Live itself.

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  • In a year chockful of layoffs and studio closures, we needed a W like this. What was originally considered one of the biggest losses amidst these changes was Xbox's closure of Tango Gameworks. Originally known for survival horror titles, Tango stormed out the gate last year with the beloved action rhythm game, Hi Fi Rush, to critical acclaim. Krafton seems to have liked the numbers they saw because they've stepped in to take Tango and the Hi Fi Rush IP off Xbox's hands. While The Evil Within and Ghostwire Tokyo remain in the hands of Xbox, the people's champion lives to fight another day. Naturally, the Dukes have plenty of thoughts. It's still a loss of talent for Xbox at the end of the day, so is there more to a partnership here? What happens to the lingering IP from Tango? We dive into the jaw dropping news and an otherwise slower news week.

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  • Avowed is getting moved back to February 18, 2025 out of respect for our backlogs. How kind of Xbox to do such a thing! Avowed was a subject of much debate for the Dukes. While the game looked solid coming out of the January Developer Direct, it clearly needed more time. Come June, Avowed looked to be in much better shape and has now found itself a new date away from the noise of the holiday season. This sets up Xbox for a rare top quarter of the year game, a second for them in this generation. The Dukes settle into what this means for the roadmap moving forward and if it spells any trouble for the anticipated fantasy RPG.
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  • The results for Microsoft Gaming's FY24 Q4 is in and it's mighty telling of where the company is at. On one hand, Xbox is making more money than ever before, but it's come at the loss of hardware sales which are down a staggering 42% YOY. Can Xbox afford to keep this trend up in a world not yet ready for digital only? According to Microsoft CFO Amy Hood, this is all well and fine as the company marches toward content and services. The Dukes dive into all the numbers, including Activision's ability to make the entirety of Xbox a boatload of money in spite of the remaining parts of Xbox plateauing. We also dig into the newest Starborn trademark, Bungie's daunting task ahead of them after massive layoffs once more, and plenty of other subjects in yet another busy week!

    Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

    0:00:00 - Intro
    0:33:22 - World Of Warcraft team are unionizing
    0:38:39 - Stalker 2 delayed to November 20th
    0:44:37 - A new Playground Games studio has opened
    0:47:44 - Some Game Pass leaks
    0:51:31 - Halo Infinite’s Operation Fleetcom details
    0:53:06 - Double Fine’s “PsychOdyssey” documentary is getting a blu-ray release
    0:56:01 - New Xbox transparent controller revealed
    0:57:46 - 500K players for Flintlock: Siege Of Dawn
    1:00:06 - What is happening at Bungie?!
    1:24:06 - An open world Patrick Star game has leaked
    1:27:34 - Legacy Of Kain 1 and 2 remastered spotted at SDCC
    1:29:42 - Visions Of Mana demo available now
    1:30:37 - Wildermyth comes to consoles on October 22 this year
    1:32:18 - Dragon Age Veilguard Steam details
    1:35:34 - Mortal Kombat 1 “Khaos Reigns” and Kombat Pack 2 revealed
    1:40:56 - What We’re Playing
    2:16:09 - Microsoft Gaming FY24 Q4 results
    2:38:12 - Starborn Zenimax trademark
    2:40:33 - An update on the Xbox-Capcom issues
    2:42:53 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week
    2:49:15 - Our Xbox 360 Memories
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  • AI, layoffs, restructuring, and so on. Indeed, we're in the midst of interesting times for our beloved industry, but the clash between creator and executive has never been greater. Jobs are being lost to AI as we expected, but it's happening now. Not later, but now. Every publishing label is claiming that times are tough, but no adjustments on spending has been made. As the industry continues to bleed talent, who will want to join it? This subject matter is the very heartbeat of this episode as the Dukes collectively recognize the missteps being made. So, how do things get better? What can be done to improve an industry controlled by misers? The Dukes have thoughts and hopes such as unionization which is what Bethesda Game Studios has recently done. We also hear from our old friends again at the FTC on how Game Pass Standard is losing its value and what the source of Xbox's faltering marketing initiative is.

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    Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

    0:00:00 - Intro/Patron Write-Ins
    0:34:02 - Quiet: Level One kickstarter from Jonah Lobe
    0:37:12 - Elder Scrolls VI has a strange leak
    0:42:39 - Xbox working on cloud only version of Game Pass?
    0:47:15 - MW3 officially on Game Pass
    1:07:27 - Dungeons of Hinterberg dev needs your help
    1:14:57 - Halo TV Show canceled by Paramount+
    1:25:24 - Halo Combat Devolved gameplay
    1:27:13 - Tales Of Xillia Remastered leaks
    1:32:00 - Heihachi announced for Tekken 8 at EVO
    1:41:12 - First Player Games has been acquired by Warner Bros Games
    1:49:12 - Multiple games are skipping Xbox
    1:56:11 - Shadows Of The Damned: Hella Remastered returns this Halloween
    1:57:03 - Humble Games is undergoing restructuring
    2:01:57 - What We’re Playing
    2:25:40 - The FTC criticizes Game Pass changes
    2:36:13 - Xbox's Marketing isn't blessed like Sony... Says Xbox...
    2:52:37 - Bethesda Game Studios has unionized
    2:58:15 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week
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  • 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 - Intro
    0:16:10 - Microsoft Rewards not fueling Game Pass?
    0:19:23 - Amazon is now selling a Xbox Streaming bundle
    0:31:09 - Microsoft releases dynamic Xbox 360 blades background
    0:37:26 - Forza Horizon 5 has reached 40 million players
    0:44:35 - TMNT: Mutants Unleashed gameplay revealed
    1:00:23 - Yakuza developer announcing their next game at Tokyo Game Show
    1:07:15 - A sequel to Aliens Fireteam Elite leaks
    1:09:36 - Deadpool controller
    1:11:09 - What We’re Playing
    1:49:51 - Crash Bandicoot 5
    1:57:38 - Day 1 Game Pass clarification from Jez Corden
    2:04:59 - Call Of Duty Black Ops 6 beta details
    2:09:46 - Xbox marketing is possibly exiting some regions
    2:16:10 - Xbox GeForce Now integration available now
    2:18:24 - What's going on with Halo's future?
    2:39:04 - Microsoft is reportedly moving on from their DEI teams
    2:52:50 - Leaving Game Pass soon
    2:54:22 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week
    3:01:34 - What system do we grow our game library on?
    3:12:48 - Wrap-up
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  • 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 - Intro
    0:31:56 - Banjo Kazooie rumors
    0:38:41 - Guerilla Games on Xbox version of LEGO Horizon Adventures
    0:42:38 - Atlas Fallen coming to Game Pass?
    0:44:48 - Xbox summer sale 2024 is live now
    0:46:35 - Cities Skylines 2 will be missing its Xbox console release
    0:49:21 - Xbox Amazon Fire Stick TV ad
    0:54:20 - Cloud Chamber is heavily recruiting for BioShock
    0:56:28 - Dragon Age: Veilguard romance details
    1:02:46 - Star Wars: Outlaws planet details
    1:04:58 - Piranha Bytes is the latest studio to be shutdown by Embracer
    1:07:45 - New Yakuza Game?
    1:12:07 - Bleach Rebirth Of Souls announced
    1:17:07 - What We’re Playing
    1:41:54 - 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 Changes
    2:31:46 - Xbox's Hardware and Software sales
    3:04:41 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week
    3:10:41 - How would we improve our recording area?
    3:19:30 - Wrap Up
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  • 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-ins
    0:32:37 Xbox Cloud Gaming is coming to Amazon fire TV Sticks
    0:37:53 Activision Transformer games relisted, currently unavailable for purchase
    0:46:32 Lost Odyssey remaster dream is dead
    0:51:47 Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster release date
    0:57:37 A new Resident Evil is in development
    0:59:45 Dragon’s Dogma 2 performance update
    1:02:16 Ubisoft is remaking multiple Assassins Creed games
    1:07:44 Star Wars Bounty Hunter is coming to Xbox
    1:12:57 Shadow of the Erdtree has sold 5 million copies
    1:15:04 Flintlock Siege Of Dawn has gone gold
    1:17:00 Crazy Taxi update from SEGA
    1:21:59 What We’re Playing
    2:00:56 Avowed interview
    2:17:42 What's this Xbox mobile dashboard?
    2:24:01 Activision Games to Game Pass soon
    2:30:39 Coming soon to Xbox Game Pass
    2:36:19 Game Pass Pick Of The Week
    2:39:12 Another Mt Rushmore
    2:53:31 Wrapup
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  • 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 - Intro
    0:14:25 - Forza Horizon 4 being delisted
    0:24:43 - Avowed is fully playable in third person
    0:29:16 - Harvey Smith on Redfall’s final update
    0:32:07 - Xbox's statement on Black Myth Wukong
    0:39:24 - Bethesda Game Studios Montreal is unionizing
    0:44:52 - Hellblade 2 fails to crack top 100 sales in Europe
    0:53:49 - Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed release date
    0:57:20 - Katsuhiro Harada on why Soul Calibur disappeared
    1:10:26 - Jet Set Radio Remake leaks online
    1:17:55 - BioWare on Dragon Age Veilguard’s name change
    1:20:34 - What We’re Playing
    1:47:13 - Warm Up Question
    01:57:42 - Matt Booty interview with Variety
    02:43:06 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week
    02:51:40 - Ending Question
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  • 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 - Intro
    0:17:22 - BO6 file size
    0:18:42 - Multiple games announced for Xbox at the June 2024 Nintendo Direct
    0:33:40 - Sea Of Thieves sales are insane on PlayStation
    0:36:07 - Xbox release date rumors
    0:43:17 - New Gears E-Day Details
    0:50:56 - State Of Decay 3 release window rumor
    0:56:10 - Forza Horizon 5 gets a “Universal Icons Car Pack”
    0:56:31 - Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP
    0:57:01 - Alone In The Dark Studio “Pieces Interactive” has been shutdown by Embracer
    0:58:06 - What We’re Playing
    1:21:49 - Finishing games
    1:33:45 - Todd Howard Interview recap
    2:34:40 - Coming soon to Xbox Game Pass
    2:37:46 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week
    2:43:41 - Ending
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  • 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 - Intro
    0:29:02 - The latest on Black Ops 6
    0:32:49 - Eidos Montreal is supporting Fable
    0:38:09 - New Gears Of War: E-Day details
    0:44:59 - How DOOM: The Dark Ages Feels, According to ID
    0:49:59 - New State of Decay 3 detail
    0:57:58 - Starfield June Update details
    1:03:27 - Avowed director on Obsidian's future
    1:07:04 -Ara History Untold gets a release date
    1:09:36 - Xbox might have a big Gamescom show
    1:15:29 - Dragon Age: The Veilguard gameplay reveal
    1:36:33 - Visions Of Mana gets a release date
    1:37:11 - Star Wars Outlaws details
    1:43:13 - What We’re Playing
    2:06:35 - 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 Avowed
    3:09:14 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week
    3:14:11 - Ending
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  • 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.
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  • 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?
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  • 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 - Intro
    0:06:00 - Ninja Theory's next game greenlit
    0:15:57 - Xbox games to PS5
    0:20:38 - Xbox 360 JRPGs
    0:26:39 - Lies of P DLC confirmed for second half of 2024
    0:30:34 - GTA 6 launches Fall 2025
    0:35:53 - Star Wars Total War game coming from Creative Assembly
    0:39:47 - Assassin’s Creed Shadows revealed
    0:56:09 - Valve’s Deadlock leaked
    1:00:15 - Larian opens up new studio
    1:03:39 - Kingdom Hearts comes to Steam on June 13th
    1:11:55 - IGN acquires a ton of gaming news outlets
    1:20:19 - What We’re Playing
    3:11:03 - Activision opens studio called Elsewhere
    3:20:16 - Call Of Duty to Game Pass is all but confirmed
    3:33:36 - Final updates for Redfall and Hi Fi Rush
    3:37:53 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week

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  • 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 - Intro
    0:14:59 - Jeff Grubb's report on Perfect Dark, Gears 6, and Dragon Age
    0:25:00 - Square Enix reveals multiplatform strategy
    0:44:40 - Hi Fi Rush update from Limited Run Games
    0:45:01 - Jez Corden has heard that State Of Decay 3 is looking very good
    0:47:10 - SEGA is annualizing Persona, Yakuza, and Sonic
    0:54:13 - Assassins Creed Shadows revealed
    1:00:01 - Activision appears to be working on a new IP
    1:01:44 - EA is considering putting ads in games
    1:06:44 - ROG Ally X announced
    1:12:41 - Suicide Squad was more costly than we thought
    1:14:38 - Jake Solomon (XCOM, Midnight Suns) opens new studio
    1:20:00 - Xbox is adding the ability to pre download updates
    1:23:16 - Fallout 4's update gets a patch
    1:25:34 - What We’re Playing
    1:38:12 - Hellblade 2 gutcheck
    2:01:46 - Cog on Xbox Leadership
    2:18:34 - Selective outrage with studio closures
    2:30:50 - The Dukes thoughts on the importance of "Xbox engagement"
    2:46:12 - Sarah Bond’s interview with Bloomberg
    3:23:18 - Coming soon to Xbox Game Pass…
    3:26:24 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week
    03:30:40 - Wrap up
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  • A nightmare year for Xbox continues. The latest chapter in this story is Xbox's shuttering of four Bethesda studios in Tango Gameworks, Arkane Austin, Roundhouse Studios, and Alpha Dog Games. The message is clear that the experimenting days of Xbox are done as the strategy deployed by its leaders continues to fail. The focus is Call Of Duty, Fallout, DOOM, and other high profile titles while the future of surrounding creative studios like Obsidian, Compulsion, Ninja Theory, and others have uncertainty beginning to cloud them. It serves as yet another powder keg moment for the brand where fan patience has run out. Is it time for the Phil Spencer era to end? How is Hi Fi Rush considered a hit yet its studio is shutdown? Why is the leash so short for teams like Arkane Austin while 343 and The Initiative can afford to waste precious resources? Is it even possible for Xbox to restore the faith at this point? You have many questions, so do we, and one thing is for sure: Xbox is still finding out the answers to all of them.

    Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.

    Timestamps: 
    0:00:00 - Intro
    0:03:47 - What We’re Playing
    0:32:09 - Xbox shuts down four Bethesda Studios
    2:40:49 - Game Pass Pick of the Week
    2:43:03 - Looking ahead to the Xbox Showcase
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