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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Following the Fallout TV show's massive success, the clamoring for a new game has never been louder. This isn't Bethesda's first rodeo with such demands. However, with a new owner and the most eyes ever on the product, Todd Howard has finally said that they are investigating ways to deliver more Fallout games. What would a roadmap for Fallout look like in the near, mid, and long term? The Dukes aim to break down what looks to be a busy few years for Bethesda. That's because it's not just Fallout, but Starfield that is also gaining traction! Almost eight months after its launch and things were admittedly starting to look bleak after few content additions have been made. With the May update, it finally is gaining momentum with peeks at land vehicles, Shattered Space, and more! Plus more on Xbox's summer showcase being announced, what the mysterious Developer Direct game will be, Xbox's plummeting hardware sales, and so much more in a jam packed week!

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

0:10:49 - Starfield's Insane May Update

0:32:56 - Fallout is collaborating with Call Of Duty

0:35:38 - Xbox's Hardware Plummets

0:46:41 - Id@Xbox x IGN showcase recap

1:03:00 - Watch Dogs is dead and buried

1:07:33 - Updates on Remedy

1:12:49 - Square Enix undergoes major business shifts

1:20:04 - Tekken Season 1 update

1:26:33 - Hasbro’s leap into AAA

1:35:18 - What We’re Playing

2:07:37 - Xbox Games Showcase

2:41:09 - Todd Howard interview

3:00:24 - Coming soon to Xbox Game Pass

3:02:03 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week

3:04:58 - Dealing with game criticism

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ATLUS has shown out once again in what has been a phenomenal roll for the company. With a 20+ minute showcase under our belts, Metaphor: ReFantazio is looking absolutely fantastic. More importantly, it's not just fantasy Persona, but aims to be much more and potentially far more complicated. The Dukes dissect this incredible looking JRPG, mull over what it means for Persona 6, as well as overstate the importance of Xbox having the marketing for this will be. Naturally, we continue to talk about Fallout as we see the franchise continue to hit unbelievable metrics. Perhaps more shocking is that Fallout 76 has seen a tremendous bounceback unto itself with positivity beginning to surround the game for the first time since its Steam launch in 2020. Plus more on Starfield updates, game preservation, Kena: Bridge Of Spirits coming to Xbox, and 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

0:14:01 - Fallout Season 2

0:19:18 - Fallout games are thriving

0:39:27 - Game publishers won’t support libraries for preserving online games

0:49:24 - Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 announced for 2024

0:56:16 - An update for World of Warcraft on consoles

0:58:31 - Sonic Frontiers 2 leaked from Midori

1:07:15 - IGN x iD @ Xbox Showcase

1:12:04 - Kena: Bridge Of Spirits rated for Xbox

1:13:36 - Meta is making a limited edition Xbox inspired quest headset

1:22:05 - Embracer Group is splitting into three companies

1:27:23 - Jedi Survivor is available on Game Pass

1:30:02 - What We’re Playing

2:02:48 - Metaphor Re: Fantazio showcase

2:34:24 - Todd Howard says “really good updates for Starfield are on the way”

2:48:31 - Coming soon to Game Pass Core

2:49:20 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week

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It's been a Fallout filled week! With the tremendous success that is the TV show, the hunger for a new Fallout has arguably never been higher. Following our spoiler filled discussion of the TV show, we circle back to the timely question: What can Xbox and Bethesda accomplish with this franchise? Having InXile and Obsidian in the family is a match made in heaven, the remaster opportunities are plentiful, and yet, nothing is happening beyond the show. Even the next gen update arrives weeks after the show has aired! Whether it's mismanagement, overprotection, or slow moving relations, a series of this magnitude can no longer remain dormant in the game's space as it has beyond its live service title. The Dukes dive into the options available to Bethesda and how they could navigate such a task. Plus thoughts on PlayStation's move to PC with trophies, Persona 1 & 2 remakes, an Elder Scrolls show, Towerborne's beta, and plenty 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

0:10:25 - Todd Howard discusses Elder Scrolls show

0:15:06 - Fallout is topping paid charts for Xbox

0:18:35 - PlayStation is going all in on PC

0:31:04 - Persona 1 & 2 are receiving remakes

0:35:54 - Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 reveal

0:41:54 - Dead Space is on hold

0:46:10 - A new Baldur's Gate game is on the way

0:52:25 - Iron Man and Black Panther is open world

0:54:50 - Skydance is making a AAA Invincible game

1:01:19 - Towerborne beta details

1:03:32 - Lawbreakers is returning... kind of

1:08:41 - Mafia reveal possibly coming soon

1:12:57 - Blizzard is Blizzard

1:17:55 - Sea Of Thieves hits 40 million players

1:20:23 - Star Wars Outlaws controversy

1:26:20 - Hollow Knight Silksong rated in Australia

1:28:30 - What We're Playing

1:49:23 - TMNT: The Last Ronin is getting a movie

1:53:56 - Keanu Reeves is Shadow The Hedgehog

1:59:51 - Fallout 4's next gen update, TV show spoilers, and what's next for the series

2:46:00 - Coming soon to Xbox Game Pass

2:51:09 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week

2:55:26 - How does YouTube work?

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It's a little early for the usual summer showcase leaks, but here we are nonetheless! Gears Of War stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Halo when it comes to importance during the Xbox 360 generation. Despite that, the series has never earned itself the "Master Chief Collection treatment" nor has developer The Coalition received its flowers for its consistency during a barren generation. With insiders already hyping up Gears 6 behind the scenes, the Dukes discuss what Xbox coudl do to make the most of this moment. At the same time, this showcase is seemingly being set up to cast a wide net. While 2023's summer show featured a look at the slate of first party studios that Xbox has acquired over the years plus a strong Japanese presence, it appears this is going to be the first time Activision defines a showcase. It's been said that Call Of Duty Black Ops: Gulf War is set to be revealed during this show. Perhaps more interesting, Xbox has invested in a "game preservation team" with insiders suggesting more announcement beyond just a new Call Of Duty being present for the franchise. Could backwards compatibility be making a return and how far will they go? Plus more on Xbox's next console, how Sea Of Thieves is possibly a testbed for more Xbox games heading to PS5, 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

0:15:49 - Hellblade 2 previews are out

0:32:24 - Xbox CVP Kareem Choudhry is leaving Microsoft

0:35:44 - Xbox renews commitment to China in major way

0:45:08 - Star Wars Outlaws release date and new trailer

0:52:37 - The Dead Space Remake 2 kerfuffle

0:59:18 - Pocket Pair announces Pal Arena

1:00:41 - 33 Immortals finally gets a date

1:04:12 - Canceled Batman game leaked

1:08:07 - Sands Of Time Remake details

1:10:15 - What We're Playing

1:33:23 - Persona 6

1:39:54 - Even more Xbox leaks

2:01:20 - Game Preservation

2:29:30 - This is just the start for Xbox games on other consoles

2:33:07 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week

2:36:50 - How to get in the mood to game

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t's quiet... Too quiet. Indeed, we've found ourselves in the "pre-showcase lull" for Xbox. Still, we have some big news to sift through. For starters, independent developers have thrived during the era of Xbox Game Pass thanks to massive bags being handed out for day one access which compliments the lower budgets of these titles. According to prominent indie developers, that gold rush is over. The Dukes dive into the future of Xbox Game Pass. If the way Xbox sells games is changing and the layoffs that have occurred all circle around the sustainability of the business, then there's no reality where Game Pass gets out unscathed. So, what are they changing, how do indies factor in, and what does it accomplish? Speaking of indies, it would see that Hollow Knight Silksong is finally on the way. When will this massive game land for Xbox and is it sooner than we expect? Plus, more on the questionable state of Final Fantasy 14, the future of KOTOR Remake, Dragon's Dogma 2's success, and so 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

0:15:03 - Final Fantasy 14's launch on Xbox is bad

0:19:47 - KOTOR Remake is alive and well

0:27:45 - Take Two now owns Gearbox

0:33:48 - Dragon's Dogma 2 has sold 2.5 million copies

0:36:11 - Details on the next Yakuza game

0:38:36 - Certain Affinity hit with layoffs

0:40:23 - Xbox has a new AI chatbot for support

0:46:02 - CD Projekt Red talks microtransactions

0:48:15 - What We're Playing

1:26:20 - Amy Hennig's Star Wars game

1:32:45 - Xbox's indie gold rush is over

1:46:32 - Hollow Knight Silksong coming soon?

1:50:33 - Coming to Xbox Game Pass

1:54:41 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week

2:01:46 - How to build the ultimate man cave

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We're at the point in Xbox's lifespan where the sensitivity is at an all time high. By that, we mean that the reaction to certain pieces of news is heightened considerably and is leading to even a singular comment spiraling into chaos. That's just what happened this week when, once again, we hear how Xbox is struggling. This time, it hails from the EU region where Christopher Dring states that a major game publisher questions the support of the platform in general. Naturally, this has been spun and applies to every conceivable developer under the sun. The Dukes approach this from two angles. For starters, how can Xbox escape the rumor mill and begin controlling the narrative? Is there something they can do to wipe away the doubt that gives legs to simple murmuring? Secondly, if true, what does this mean for Xbox? Separately, comments from Phil Spencer have indicated that extra money could be sought out in other areas of the industry. From Windows Central claiming an Xbox handheld prototype is in the works and Phil Spencer's recent interview signaling an infatuation with the Xbox handheld idea, it seems that their hardware push is far from over. Phil also spoke about bringing digital storefront like Epic Games Store and Itch.io to Xbox. Is the long term vision and all encompassing box full of all your games from all platforms? As always, it's never a sure bet with Xbox, but the Dukes do their digging nonetheless.

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

0:00:00 - Intro

0:17:43 - Microsoft Rewards shutting down

0:24:55 - Xbox is integrating Battle Net with Game Pass?

0:37:57 - Phil Spencer wants to bring Epic Games Store to Xbox

0:51:58 - Sea Of Thieves is getting a massive update for its PS5 launch

0:54:49 - Marvel 1943 launches in 2025

0:58:07 - Marvel Rivals announced

1:07:09 - Grounded's final update gets detailed

1:16:08 - Xbox reaches an agreement with Toys For Bob

1:17:38 - SMT V new date

1:18:36 - Shinji Mikami's new studio accidentally leaked

1:22:40 - Yoshi-P teases FF16 for Xbox

1:25:58 - Resident Evil 9 may go open world

1:32:13 - Sonic Heroes is getting a remake in 2025?

1:38:06 - Star Wars Outlaws rated in multiple regions

1:41:53 - What We're Playing

2:25:51 - Elder Scrolls VI is playable

2:30:28 - Xbox is prototyping a handheld

2:48:44 - Developers are apparently wondering why they're supporting Xbox

3:07:52 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week

3:14:33 - Ending Questions

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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 recently stated that Xbox has committed to more hardware in the future. Could it finally be the Xbox handheld set to launch this holiday? Naturally, the Dukes are giddy about this concept and dive deep. We also lament the state that Battlefront Classic Collection has launched in, mull over the state of PocketPair, enjoy Xbox's 4D chess play with Sea Of Thieves newest SKUs, and dive into the latest changes at Bungie and Blizzard.

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

0:00:00 - Intro

0:11:11 - Bungie replaces Marathon director

0:19:42 - Massive changes hit Overwatch 2

0:27:27 - Jim Ryan opens up

0:31:07 - Ereban: Shadow Legacy is longer coming to Game Pass

0:36:17 - New Sea Of Thieves editions announced

0:45:15 - Pocketpair

0:51:03 - Fallout's TV isn't interested in pleasing fans

0:59:19 - Xbox has a new VP of Global Partnerships

1:00:43 - Halo Infinite March Update

1:03:28 - Grandia HD Collection is coming to Xbox

1:05:02 - Connie Booth is headed BioWare

1:08:13 - Sand Land demo is available now

1:12:29 - What We're Playing

1:46:00 - PS5 Pro leaks. Should Xbox match it?

1:58:35 - A new Xbox development kit has been certified

2:22:40 - Coming Soon to Game Pass

2:32:00 - Game Pass Pick of the Week

2:36:19 - Ending Questions and Wrap up

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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, imply much, much more. Plus, another Tekken 8 showdown, celebrating the work of Akira Toriyama, discussing what's going on with Sweet Baby Inc, and so 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

0:13:46 - Pentiment's Framerate

0:15:58 - Peter Moore Interview

0:25:17 - Halo MCC Is Done

0:30:07 - Persona 3 DLC on Game Pass

0:35:03 - Ni No Kuni stays on Game Pass

0:36:26 - Last Case

0:39:23 - Moon Studios Future with Xbox

0:42:37 - Multiversus Returns In May

0:45:00 - Dragon's Dogma 2 Updates

0:55:52 - What We're Playing

1:37:26 - Akira Toriyama's Passing

1:47:47 - What's going on with Sweet Baby Inc

2:13:09 - Todd Howard's Fallout 5 Comments

2:28:06 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week

2:51:02 - Final Questions

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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 request the same? As we see Embracer shedding off two studios of its own, the Dukes wonder who the next domino to fall will be. Plus, Starfield's March update, a Spongebob Xbox Series X for sale, Warner Bros. stampeding against its own momentum, 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

0:10:34 - Starfield update

0:16:25 - KOTOR Remake is free from Embracer

0:26:34 - Baldur’s Gate 3 Physical update

0:28:16 - Fallout, Spongebob Xbox

0:36:20 - What’s going on with Moon Studios?

0:48:13 - Dragon Age Dreadwolf on track for 2024

0:52:18 - Warner Bros focus on live service

1:00:54 - What We’re Playing

1:33:03 - The State of Fallout

1:41:29 - Toys For Bob goes indie

1:58:20 - Xbox Partner Preview

2:41:05 - Coming soon to Game Pass

2:47:55 - Game Pass Pick of the Week

2:54:02 - How do we prioritize what we play? 

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