Defining Duke: An Xbox Podcast

In a lighter news week, there is a consistent theme that crops up across all of Xbox's games recently. From Redfall to Starfield and Forza, each of these games will be supported for an extremely long time. As the Dukes experience real-time clarity on Xbox's vision, we dive deep into the idea of Game Pass as a model changing how these games are made. With Todd Howard confirming a minimum of five years of Starfield support, it's worth examining the library of upcoming titles and how Xbox may approach the release of those. Is it wise for them to have "one and dones" similar to Hi Fi Rush or does their model demand more from a game than what it offers on day one? Beyond that, we sift through another quality stack of Game Pass additions, the review reception of Forza Motorsports, our impressions on new releases like Assassin's Creed Mirage, Lamplighters League, and more, alongside ominous updates for the KOTOR Remake. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As we quickly approach the CMA's deadline for a decision on Xbox's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, we see another significant stride in the deal. The CMA has conditionally approved the acquisition if particular circumstances can be met on the cloud front. Meanwhile, the console wars trek on and Starfield is in the line of fire as it's now been officially rated as Bethesda's worst "official" release ever. There are caveats and we get into it, but also sift through the legitimate criticisms that have chewed up Starfield just as much. Plus, a decent showing for Xbox at the Tokyo Game Show, Jim Ryan is leaving PlayStation, and the Dukes big bet on Dishonored 3! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Slow week, huh? As the gaming industry grows, so too do its leaks. Much like Hollywood, it's becoming increasingly difficult to keep projects under wraps before someone spills the beans. Joining the ranks with Nvidia's GeForce Now, Xbox has suffered one of gaming's largest leaks ever. From an entire release schedule for Bethesda's upcoming games to a mid generation refresh and even their vision for 2028's next generation consoles, there are dozens of documents to sift through. Fallout 3 Remaster, Dishonored 3, Oblivion Remaster, Ghostwire Tokyo getting a sequel, a licensed IP game, and so much more is on the way! Unfortunately for Xbox, it also revealed the sort of conversations that happen behind closed doors. As recently as 2020, Xbox wants to purchase Nintendo and continues to size up PlayStation. Their goals are perhaps far more ambitious (and terrifying) than anyone could have expected. So, let's unpack it all. Much like the GeForce Now leak, this one will likely serve as a Bible of sorts to check back on when needing guidance to the next leak. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For years, the Dukes were met with abuse and slander due to their faith in Starfield on how it can serve as a turning point in the current generation. The reviews have come and gone, the talk on the streets has become a bit messy to put it lightly, but the numbers don't lie. Starfield is a raging success across all metrics as it is now Bethesda Game Studios' biggest launch of all time as it managed to beat out the likes of Skyrim and Fallout 4. To do so in an exclusive capacity puts things into perspective even more. With six million players already accounted for and likely millions more beyond that this point, Bethesda has committed to "years and years" of support thus paving the way for Starfield to become the most played Bethesda game ever as Phil Spencer desired. We also get into the mind boggling decisions Unity is making in regards to its popular game engine, Square Enix's recent plummet, the upcoming reveal of Indiana Jones, the Fallout TV show's leaked teaser trailer, and a plethora of more news in a jam packed week. Start hiring now with a $75 job credit at https://www.indeed.com/duke Download DraftKings Sportsbook and use code DEFININGDUKE to sign up and get $200 in bonus bets Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fellow Dukes, your wait is finally at an end! Starfield is here and the Dukes are teaming up with Gene Park to break every facet of the game down. Walking away from this conversation, one thing is for sure. Starfield is arguably the biggest game we have seen in years. Despite varying hours logged from 30 all the way to 70, the Dukes have a variety of stories to tell. So much so that we learned a ton from the "water cooler moments" the game has provided already! The polish is there and allows for the game's incredible writing to truly shine. However, the game is not without its issues. Starfield's uneven exploration may leave Bethesda Game Studios purists at a loss for some time and there is much to be said about its RPG elements despite choice being at the forefront. That's only just scratching the surface of what this game brings. It's time for The Dukes to settle into a conversation about Xbox's biggest game of the generation. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/duke and get on you way to being your best self Download DraftKings Sportsbook and use code DEFININGDUKE to sign up and get $200 in bonus bets Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fellow Dukes, your wait is finally at an end! Starfield is here and the Dukes are teaming up with Gene Park to break every facet of the game down. Walking away from this conversation, one thing is for sure. Starfield is arguably the biggest game we have seen in years. Despite varying hours logged from 30 all the way to 70, the Dukes have a variety of stories to tell. So much so that we learned a ton from the "water cooler moments" the game has provided already! The polish is there and allows for the game's incredible writing to truly shine. However, the game is not without its issues. Starfield's uneven exploration may leave Bethesda Game Studios purists at a loss for some time and there is much to be said about its RPG elements despite choice being at the forefront. That's only just scratching the surface of what this game brings. It's time for The Dukes to settle into a conversation about Xbox's biggest game of the generation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Dukes have Starfield and will have to navigate that landmine for an entire episode! One thing we can discuss is our plans for the game, the content, and so on as it’s been a long time coming. While Cog sits out to rest, Gene Park joins the show to talk all things Xbox. For starters, we dive into the thick of Opening Night Live. From stage crashes, to new Starfield content, and a plethora of new trailers, we have much to talk about! There’s also a surprise turn in the ABK deal where now Ubisoft is involved. What does this mean for Xbox’s cloud initiative moving forward? Plus more on Persona 3 Reload’s date, Phil Spencer’s commitment to four AAA games per year, and what the plans are for Game Pass when Activision joins the Xbox family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's time to start believing, folks. Starfield has gone gold following multiple delays and it looks like you can finally put that September 1st (or 6th!) release date "in ink!" Alongside going gold, the information is finally starting to pour in for the game. We have a deep timeline of 300 years worth of lore to mull over. For those less grimoire inclined, we have a brand new Q&A from Will Shen and Emil Pagliarulo that is chockful of new bits of information of the next Bethesda epic. In a week tailormade for the Dukes, we learned of the team who has been working on the TMNT: Last Ronin video game. It hails from Black Forest Games who has a spotty history. If that didn't leave us uncertain enough, THQ Nordic is the publisher. Will the hype win the day for the Dukes or are we full blown skeptics out the gate? Plus, a renewed debate on the Xbox Series S sparks up following some key features for Forza Motorsport being delayed, Assassin's Creed Mirage. Start hiring now with a $75 job credit at https://www.indeed.com/duke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Baldur's Gate has, well, stormed the gates of PCs around the globe and has managed to amass a staggering 800K+ concurrent players. Such a feat is difficult to accomplish, especially for a hardcore turn-based RPG despite how much many love them. To say Larian Studios deserves such attention and celebration would be an understatement. However, as an Xbox podcast, the eyes of many of our listeners and writers has shifted to Bethesda Game Studios Starfield where some may worry of history repeating itself. Ahead of Fallout 4's release, another transformative RPG released and that game was The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Much of the conversation turned into Bethesda being upstaged and there is a small yet growing fear that Bethesda may be upstaged again. Are these games truly comparable? Well, the Dukes are happy to answer that very question. Plus, we dive into more of your Starfield questions such as what Xbox needs for this game to be considered a success and how to cope with a potential failure come September 1st. We also sift through Square Enix's shift in focus, Xbox's changes to the $1 offer in Game Pass, and spread some much needed words on the Health Is Wealth movement! This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/duke and get on your way to being your best self Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2023 has been a bit of an adventure through an Oblivion gate for Xbox, hasn't it? Funny enough, they also may be remaking the widely celebrated 2006 RPG that started as an Xbox 360 exclusive. Following a now deleted Reddit post from a verified ex-employee of Virtuos Studios, by the end of next year we may have an Oblivion remake in our hands. There are many worthwhile questions to ask such as why now, why Virtuos, what changed in Bethesda's stance on re-releasing a game, and is this merely a one-off? The Dukes are up to their ears in Starfield hype, so it's tantalizing to know that another BGS experience may not be much further off. However, could Xbox have pushed this and struck a deal with the Devil as Virtuos' last outing wasn't one to write home about. If that's not enough, Square Enix and Xbox have renewed their vows! With Final Fantasy 14 headed to the platform, many Xbox fans are left wondering what's next beyond the popular MMORPG? Can Final Fantasy VII Remake finally come to Xbox along with the staggering amount of games that the platform has missed out on? Plus, even Cog's very favorite Transformers games have found themselves in the headlines as a comeback may be on the way with Hasbro and Activision Blizzard exchanging words through headlines! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

August is coming and with that is an anticipated onslaught of Starfield marketing. Trailers, reveals, and details aplenty leaves us all wondering: Just how far will Bethesda go? Well, with three new animated trailers in our system and some analysis of the Fallout 4 marketing cycle, we may have a good idea of that! We also delve into the recent majority shareholder purchase by Tencent of Techland. How does this change the gaming landscape and is the industry giving Tencent's aggression the same vilification as the likes of Microsoft and Sony? "Lord Acquisition" has some thoughts you're going to want to hear on the matter. Plus, who's behind the recent wave of backwards compatible multiplayer improvements in the likes of Call Of Duty and Gears Of War? We get into all of this as well as Ubisoft's insistence on returning to tighter games, Activision's massive success on PC, a pizza scented TMNT controller, some wild food takes, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After much delay and public arguing, Xbox and PlayStation have finally signed a binding agreement to continue bringing Call Of Duty to PlayStation following the completion of the Activision Blizzard deal. However, PlayStation's delay has bit them in the backside as the Dukes had predicted. Indeed, this deal only pertains to Call Of Duty meaning that all bets are off for the vault of other Activision Blizzard content. Tony Hawk, Spyro, Crash Bandicoot, and many more can easily become exclusives. Will they? The Dukes dive deep into this wormhole of a topic. This week also finally saw the end of an era in Xbox Live Gold as come September 14th, Xbox will transition current subscribers over to a new tier in the Game Pass offering called "Game Pass Core." With 25 games to boot and guaranteed online multiplayer, what could go wrong? Well, there is a caveat which we'll explore in a bit of a potential hustle play by Xbox. Start hiring now with a $75 job credit at https://www.indeed.com/duke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Well, it’s finally happened. Since January of 2022 it has been an absolute bloodbath, but now we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to the Activision Blizzard deal. With the FTC vying for a preliminary injunction that would effectively lead to the death of this deal, the two opposing forces did battle in court. Following Microsoft's victory, the FTC has moved to appeal the decision as this saga continues. As the July 18th deadline quickly approaches, it's very possibly that by the next Defining Duke episode that we'll finally turn the page on this long winded chapter in Xbox history. Naturally, we had to tap an expert on the shoulder for all this and who better to ask all our crazy questions than Hoeg Law? Joining us, we go through the FTC's appeal process, the ongoing negotiations with the CMA, potential console exclusivity, Game Pass content, and so much more. It's Hoeg's first time back in the realm of the Dukes since December so be sure to give him a warm welcome! Furthermore, we get into the Xbox x IGN indie showcase which displayed a strong amount of diversity as Xbox seems to do of late. We also dig into Starfield's absolutely bonkers PC specs and get to the bottom of some uncertainties surrounding the game. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/duke and get on your way to being your best self Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's the calm before the storm as we await the court's decision on whether or not the FTC's injunction will be granted thus killing the Activision deal. With that on the horizon, we look at Gamescom where Xbox is currently not tempering expectations about their presence on the show floor. Naturally, the Dukes dive deep into the litany of titles that could appear. Considering the show's more European centric audience, its it time for neighboring UK studios like Ninja Theory and PlayGround Games to come out of hiding once more? Is it time for Hellblade II's combat to finally be shown off? What of other dated games coming to Xbox that may crawl its way into a show of some kind? The options are plentiful and leave us with much to consider. Once again, SEGA and Xbox's relationship continues to grow thus adding more credibility to Game Pass. Football Manager, one of SEGA's most lucrative games, continues to shine in the service as the Japanese publisher had much praise for Xbox to go around. Plus, are the Dukes alongside other Xbox creators bought and paid for? Is such interaction with big executives a major contamination to the integrity of ours and others' products? This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/duke and get on your way to being your best self Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you thought the Activision deal was inescapable already, Xbox's battle in court against the FTC just turned the notch up to eleven. In a plethora of poorly redacted documents and fully exposed e-mails, all of Xbox's plans that were supposed to be private are made clear. From their mile long acquisition watchlist to details on key upcoming exclusives, this is the peek behind the curtains many gaming enthusiasts have been seeking. Coupled in with PlayStation's true feelings on the deal and you have one of the most riveting news weeks in Xbox history. While much of this is exciting, there is more sour news about Perfect Dark. In a new scathing report - this time from IGN, we learn the truth about this "AAAA" game, alongside its unlikely first partner and troubled development history. We also dive deep in to Todd Howard's latest interview on Starfield! Plus more on E3, Starfield's physical copy, a new Metal Gear game making its way to Xbox finally, and plenty more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Head of Xbox Game Studios Matt Booty spoke with Axios in a most telling interview addressing what the future of major unknowns are. From the doors of Arkane Austin remaining open "for now" to 343 being stripped of their title as the sole Halo developer, it lets us properly understand that the veterans are being replaced by the class of 2018 as Xbox seeks to reinvigorate its brand. Alongside that is the inevitable price hike for Xbox consoles and even Game Pass across respective regions. The timing before a potential closing of the ABK deal and even Starfield's recent showcase spells out to us that Xbox is making the most of this opportunity. Speaking of which, the ABK deal might finally be nearing its conclusion after all this time! Major Microsoft and Xbox executives are making the trip to battle the FTC in court and prevent an injunction from being granted. If successful, it could fast track their case. Plus updates on Avowed's visuals, Starfield's first preview. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The fallout from Xbox's showcase has left us with many tantalizing topics to tackle. Obsidian's upcoming epic, Avowed, received a deep dive from game director Carrie Patel where she reveals more story and gameplay details on the 2024 RPG. From a confirmation that this is a full single player game all the way to its in-depth melee combat, the Dukes have it completely covered. Furthermore, Xbox is feeling bullish about Starfield and it is showing. Across interviews with Todd Howard, Phil Spencer, and Matt Booty, there are scraps of new details lying about everywhere for us to pick up and analyze. Todd opens up on his potential final game, the evergreen support of Starfield while Mr. Booty makes a bold claim on Starfield being the least BGS title ever. Plus, a thorough examination of everything from the Xbox Games Showcase Extended, the latest move from the FTC involving the Activision acquisition, Fable updates, and plenty more to sort through! Thanks to our sponsors! If you're ever injured, go to https://www.forthepeople.com/duke for more info Start hiring now with a $75 sponsored job credit at https://www.indeed.com/duke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Xbox needed a good showcase after all of the bad to remind folks why they bought their piece of plastic in the first place. Well, Xbox's 2023 showcase wasn't just good, it was close to perfect. First party arrived in spades with Fable, South Of Midnight, Avowed, Hellblade 2, Forza Motorsport, and Clockwork Revolution all showing out to varying degrees. Third party delivered in the form of Persona, Metaphor ReFantazio, Towerborne, Payday 3, Path Of The Goddess, 33 Immortals, and tons more. The icing on the cake was none other than Bethesda Game Studios who blew everyone out of the water with Starfield. A game that truly feels like a major turning point for Xbox as both a publisher and the quality at which their exclusives should launch in. The emotions are high, so let's settle into a groove through all the amazing games we saw in a showcase for the ages. Thanks to our sponsors! If you're ever injured, go to https://www.forthepeople.com/duke for more info Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's that time of year! As tradition dictates, the Dukes unite with Xbox Two and comb through all 23 Xbox Game Studios. This has been said for years on Defining Duke to be the "showcase of dreams." Xbox simply has so much backed up in their pipeline following massive acquisitions in 2018 and 2019 that this year has been pinned as the one to show it all off. From Starfield, Hellblade 2, and Avowed to Fable, Forza, and Fallout, there is a massive amount of potential to surprise and delight fans. What of third party partnerships, Game Pass deals, and our targets for possible exclusives? How about Bethesda who already has so much cooking this year? Do we hear from the likes of Machine Games and Roundhouse? We have many, many thoughts on a metric ton of possibilities to get into in what is Defining Duke's biggest episode to date! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If there was any moment to put their foot on Xbox's throat, this showcase felt like a most opportune time. PlayStation only comes out of hiding every so often meaning it stand to reason that you'd think they'd have plenty to show off. You see, Xbox and PlayStation aren't too different. The mid-generation outlook for both consoles is eerily similar with very little knowledge on what is cooking for first party. Fortunately for Xbox, PlayStation left their audience in the dark on major teams such as Naughty Dog, Bend, Bluepoint, and several others. With that, the window is open to take some of the "mindshare" back as they aim to surprise and delight at their upcoming showcase. Naturally, we dig into the showcase itself, but mostly how it reflects Xbox's ability to bounce back at this moment. Plus rumors of a Persona 3 Remake revealed on Xbox's stage have us excited, Nvidia, Boosteroid, and Xbox's partnership have picked up, OG Dukes get a special treat from EON Gaming with the XBHD, and plenty more in another jam packed week! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're under a month away from Xbox's defining (!) showcase and PlayStation is officially set to strike first. In our last episode, we mulled over the pressure that Xbox faces as the morale is low for both fans and executives alike if Phil Spencer's recent interview was anything to go by. One aspect we tackled following the increasing rumors was a reality where Xbox would be on the receiving end of a most unfortunate double edged sword. That blade being the incompetency shown in Redfall and the bad timing for Xbox of PlayStation making a major public splash while they're arguably at their worst. Sure, there are State Of Plays for varying degrees of quality, but make no mistake: PlayStation only comes around with a showcase when there are major things to be shown. Undoubtedly, this will up the ante on what Xbox needs to do to make an impact. Plus, the EU approves Xbox's acquisition of Activision Blizzard King, some scoops on the 12 month window being removed from Xbox's show, the developer of Somerville says Game Pass hurt his game, and much more in the world of Xbox! Thanks to our sponsors! Start hiring with https://ww.indeed.com/duke with a $75 sponsored job credit If you're ever injured, go to https://www.forthepeople.com/duke for more info Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Recently, Phil Spencer joined the Kinda Funny XCast to discuss everything from Redfall's disappointment and the Xbox Games Showcase to their stagnant pipeline and even their goals as a game publishing platform. This transparent look provided little for Xbox fans to feel confident about as the pressure continues to mount between Starfield needing to be an "11/10" experience and PlayStation's rumored showcase lingering just days ahead of Xbox. Indeed, there's no denying that if Xbox doesn't absolutely nail it with their 2023 showcase that the blowback will be enormous. While Starfield shoulders the burden, it is up to all of Xbox first party to now prove why the fans should even both hanging around in the first place. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

E3 2021 concluded with the "one more announcement" moment and that game was Redfall. Since then, Xbox has closely tied itself to the game as one of its big, AAA, premium exclusives. Following the vacancy of 2022, Xbox fans hoped to have their patience rewarded when the delay for Redfall released on May 2, 2023. Well, it's here and it has arrived unspectacular fashion. Redfall currently sits at a 62 on OpenCritic across 77 critic reviews and the brand has suffered yet another brutal, embarrassing blow. How could Xbox release a game of such low quality after their commitments to first party? Is this the fault of Phil Spencer, Matt Booty, Game Pass, or something else? Is this what we're to expect from Starfield and other games from acquired talent? Indeed, the release of Redfall sends an awful message and The Dukes are far from happy. With "New York Sports energy," The Dukes prepare to take Xbox and Bethesda to task for the heinous state of Redfall and delve deeper into the matter on the state of first party. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the bad news snowballed for Xbox in recent weeks, it felt like fans could at least hang their hat on the Activision deal seemingly trending in the proper direction. Well, that seems to have gone south too. The UK regulatory body known as the CMA has moved to block the merger of Xbox and Activision due to cloud based concerns. With the FTC and CMA collectively against Microsoft, their sliver of hope rests on the impending decision of the EU regulatory body. Xbox certainly wasn't in a position to rest on their laurels and if the worst comes to pass then it's doubly so the case. Beyond the usual doom and gloom, The Dukes peer into this potential reality where the deal is outright canceled. What is Xbox to do if Activision isn't part of their future? Do they go scorched earth on third party deals or seek internal investment? We won't have to wait long to find out as a potential pin in the balloon awaits us ahead of the 2023 summer showcase for Xbox. Plus, a final gutcheck on Redfall before release, a deep look into the truth behind Xbox's financials, many first party studios have multiple games in development, a surprise update on Gears 6, hands-on impressions with the ASUS ROG Ally, and so much more in this jam packed episode of Defining Duke! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Following the Redfall 30 FPS surprise and the Square Enix debate, Xbox fans are certainly on edge now. With "check-to-check energy" in their veins, another game has skipped the platform while reaching literally every single other. That game is Oxenfree II which follows in the footsteps of Capcom's Mega Man Battle Network Collection, Larian Studios' Baldur's Gate 3, as well as the abundance of Square Enix games. With hardware sales falling for Series consoles in the EU as PlayStation 5 is up an insane 369% on hardware sales, one has to wonder if the lack of appeal is reaching both consumers and developers. The Dukes dig into the scuttlebutt as the reactions are growing stronger with this continued trend. It is starting to show that no matter the significance of the game they're missing out on, the reaction will be there until Xbox begins to be more consistent like its competitors. Plus, Joe Staten's destination revealed, the old guard has been swapped out for Halo, SEGA makes a surprising acquisition, Diablo IV goes gold, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Xbox fans, we have reached an impasse. It's Team Delay versus Team "Get Your Game OUT!" Arkane has confirmed that Redfall, an Xbox first party exclusive, will launch at 30 FPS on consoles with 60 frames down the line. It's clear that this generation has tested the patience of fans and, naturally, this news has led to a big blow up. The optics for this situation are clearly bad, but would things be worse if Redfall were to receive a second delay? Some fans feel that it's time for Xbox to finally deliver, come hell or high water! The Dukes dive into this brewing disaster as well is if this is a "litmus test" for an inevitable Starfield 30 FPS confirmation. There is much to be said on the quality standard Xbox is setting for themselves as they seem perfectly fine with being in second place. Otherwise, the Dukes sink into Persona 3 Remake, Ravenlok's release date, another 10 year commitment by Xbox, Sonic's continued success, and much, much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Live A Live, Octopath Traveler 2, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Final Fantasy 14, Final Fantasy 16, Babylon's Fall (lol), Forspoken, Theaterhythm: Final Bar Line, and many, many more games out of Square Enix have skipped Xbox. Some to people's dismay while others leave us thankful it never graced our piece of plastic in the first place. The fact remains: There's an astonishing amount of titles skipping the platform and Xbox fans want to know why. The Dukes tackle this topic following the announcement of Live A Live arriving everywhere except Xbox. So, what gives? Is Square at fault, has PlayStation paid them off to bar games from release, or is it the harsh reality nobody seems to wish to admit which is Xbox has blame in this too? We dive in. Plus New Vegas 2 pops up in a rather hilarious manner, Game Pass Family & Friends looks like a steal, a Starfield controller leaks, the handheld wave continues on with the "Q Lite," Quantum Break leaving Game Pass, and plenty more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There's no denying the Dukes have tried to rally behind E3, but doubt began to seep in following Xbox's exit from the show floor. This week, we learned of three major players pulling out of E3. Those being SEGA, Ubisoft, and Tencent. With reports from IGN stating that there has been next to zero communication from the ESA and ReedPop as well as no one else attending, it very well may be curtains for E3. What comes next to fill E3 shoes and what led to the fate of a once prestigious and celebrated show? Elsewhere, we get into the thick of it following a letter submitted to the Biden administration by 11 members of Congress. Have the tables turned? It's possible as one of Xbox's greatest opponents in approving the deal, the CMA, looks to be moving toward an approval. Meanwhile, Japan gives the deal a thumbs up, ID @ Xbox is printing physical games, Hellblade 2 looks incredible, Redfall sees numerous important updates as it approaches launch, and Game Pass drops its $1 deal. Join us in another plump week of gaming news! Thanks to our sponsor! Start hiring now at https://www.indeed.com/duke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Xbox and PlayStation may have their differences, but they admittedly stay at the same pace when it comes to the release of new hardware. Outlet Insider Gaming has reported a "PS5 Pro" of sorts is inbound by the end of 2024 and naturally our audience has inquired if Xbox can expect much of the same. The report also says that the next generation involving the PlayStation 6 aims to begin in 2028. With Cloud Gaming being such a vital part of their plan moving, is Xbox thinking the same thing? The Dukes share their thoughts. Plus, Starfield has an R18+ rating in Australia, High On Life is getting DLC, Shin Megami Tensei may be making its way to Xbox, and Game Pass continues its quality over quantity focus. Thanks to our sponsors! Start hiring now at https://www.indeed.com/duke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We recently learned of a Starfield Developer_Direct that will be taking place around the same time as Xbox's very own summer showcase which is undoubtedly chockful of content. Now, Xbox has pulled back the curtains on some of their plans and the Dukes has some disagreements to iron out. Xbox will not be on the show floor at E3 and plans on holding their Starfield Direct right after their own summer showcase. One Duke is in favor of this plan while another is not. Who will take the L? We'll learn on June 11th in an Xbox extravaganza of sorts just how wild things will get. Otherwise, Xbox and PlayStation are ramping up their respective aggression levels for the Activision Blizzard deal and making their intentions very clear. With multiple more 10 year deals inked, Jim Ryan claiming he just wants the merger blocked, and the FTC demanding tea be spilled -- it will be a mighty interesting day in court when these three finally come together. Meanwhile, Ghostwire Tokyo comes to Xbox, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 faces some serious threats, Sea Of Stars comes to Xbox, Forza might be delayed until October, and a whole bunch more news round out another week for Xbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After much anxiety and anticipation among Xbox fans, Bethesda has finally broken their silence on Starfield and revealed that the game will be releasing September 6th, 2023 with a showcase arriving on June 11th. There is much to be said about another "delay" for the game that puts Starfield near a holiday window for a second time. Fortunately, there is an equal amount to be said about the glimpses we've seen of notable improvements thanks to said delay. Its Xbox's biggest game of the generation thus far and The Dukes have thoughts on Bethesda Game Studios upcoming juggernaut RPG. Plus more on Outer Worlds shockingly bad update, Redfall's upcoming press event, and news on both Avowed/Hellblade 2's release windows. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There's much to go over as Xbox fans wait with bated breath for information on Starfield's Developer Direct. With the Activision deal pending, the media is claiming that if it is to fail that Microsoft is ready to shut down Xbox. Just how much validity is there to such a claim? The Dukes dig into the facts and find out. We also have updates from Phil Spencer in a new interview on upcoming game announcements, Obsidian clamoring for a New Vegas remaster, Shinji Mikami leaving Tango Gameworks, confusion on the front of Project Dragon, Baldur's Gate 3 controversy, and even Halo/Forza DLC updates to boot. It truly is a jam packed week, so let's go through all of it and have some fun talking about more important things like toilet paper. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Xbox and Nintendo have seemingly grown close during this generation and there's not a stronger sign of that than the latest agreement between the two. We already knew about bringing Call Of Duty to Switch, but if the words of Xbox Vice Chair/President Brad Smith are anything to go by then there are more Xbox games headed to Nintendo platforms. This is deal was struck as Xbox set to swing big as regulators began to put pressure on them with suggestions of divesting parts of the business. Nvidia also joined the 10 year deal party as Xbox has agreed to provide their PC games to Nvidia's GeForce Now streaming service in an attempt to clear up concerns about the cloud market. With this move, Xbox has won over Nvidia as they are now in favor of the deal. If it wasn't clear, it is now. Xbox will do almost anything to ensure that Call Of Duty is theirs by the end of all this. How the regulators respond is yet to be seen, but for now The Dukes sink their teeth into the potential of these partnerships and how they will grow all involved platforms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Much as been said about gaming's most popular subscription service. While many have detracted its boons to the game development scene, Game Pass has stormed on to surpassed 25 million subscribers. At the same time, it seems Xbox has been caught talking about both sides of their mouth. In an admission to the CMA, Microsoft has stated that game sales do fall off across 12 months titles in Game Pass. While some see this as a mark of defeat, it only seems to highlight the lack of knowledge many of us have on the funding process. The Dukes dive deep into this one as we check our previous claims about the service, where it stands now, and if the sky is truly falling for Game Pass. Otherwise, we have a possible Evil Within 3 tease, Xbox climbing their personal rankings in Japan, and "Robert" may be here to stay if the Activision deal falls through. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We haven't heavily discussed the Xbox-Activision deal in months following many of us being fatigued from constantly revising it. Since December, we said it would take something truly noteworthy to move it into our headline and given the current scuttlebutt across the community -- it appears now is that time. The CMA has made its stance clear that Xbox will have to relinquish plenty to get the deal done, but how much is too much for the two seeking to make a deal? With calls for divestiture and even outright relinquishing Call Of Duty, many have hit the panic button for Microsoft. As usual, we run through our same rigamarole of big executive quotes and how the CMA came to such a decision. Beyond that, Xbox has become known for its many experimental titles like Pentiment, Grounded, and Hi-Fi Rush. Unfortunately, titles of that same ilk have been canceled over at one of their marquee first party studios: The Coalition. Furthermore, BioWare seemingly continues to struggle to get its next Dragon Age game out the door, we have smaller updates on Compulsion/Fable, and 2022 GOTY Crossfire X is gone... but at what cost? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With E3's return to an in-person event, you wouldn't be foolish to assume Xbox would have a presence given the endless vocal support the brand has for the convention. Following financial complications and maybe even Developer_Direct's success, it appears Xbox is heading in a different direction. IGN reports the all of the "Big 3" including Xbox will not have a presence at E3. While Xbox will have a showcase as they confirmed last week, this opens up a slew of possibilities for what Xbox could look like in the future when it comes to communication and presentations. Otherwise, another week and another 343 Industries bombshell. Following the shake-up occurring with staff amounting to at least 95 layoffs, Bloomberg has now reported that Halo will see a swap to Unreal Engine, visit new platforms, and radical changes seemingly coming to Infinite's 10-year plan. Is fifth times the charm for 343 or is it too little too late? We dive into that as well as the reported delay for Forza Motorsport out of the first-half window as well as the volatile nature of Starfield's release date rumors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the first ever Developer_Direct in the rear view for us, it's time to pick apart all the games (and surprises) shown off! We saw Redfall, Forza Motorsport, Minecraft Legends, Elder Scrolls Online, and even a surprise drop from Tokyo Gameworks with Hi-Fi Rush. With these games, Xbox has a healthy and full first half of 2023 - a strange sight for fans of the ecosystem. Is this the format for the future of Xbox and how can it be improved? Did Xbox show enough gameplay and did they get the pace of the showcase right? The Dukes have plenty of thoughts on all that was (and wasn't) shown! Outside of Developer_Direct, 343 confirmed they will continue to be stewards of the Halo franchise moving forward in a somewhat ominous message to fans. What is the right next step for such a precious IP and does Xbox overhead need to be more involved? Following the public humiliation surrounding Halo Infinite's launch, should Xbox continue to scale them down into a game publisher? Reports are saying things may be headed in that direction. With all this Xbox news plus hands-on thoughts with new releases in Forspoken and Dead Space Remake, it's one of Defining Duke's busiest weeks yet! Thanks to our sponsors! Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code DEFININGDUKE. New customers can be $5 dollars and get $200 in free bets instantly Gambling Problem? Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (CO/IL/IN/LA/MD/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA). 21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA(select parishes)/MD/MI /NJ/ NY/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. VOID IN OH/ONT. Eligibility restrictions apply. Free bets: Valid 1 per new customer. Min. $5 deposit. Min $5 bet. $200 issued as free bets that expire 7 days (168 hours) after being awarded. See terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/basketballlterms. No Sweat: Valid 1 per customer. NBA same game parlay bets only. Min 3-leg. First bet after opting-in must lose. Paid as one Free Bet Token based on amount of initial losing bet. Max. wagering limits apply. Free Bets expire 7 days (168 hours) after being awarded. Ends at the start of the final NBA game each day when offered prior to 2/16/23 @ 10PM ET. See terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/basketballterms Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced this week that Microsoft would see 10,000 layoffs by the end of March 2023. Among those affected are those working within Xbox and Bethesda. According to various reports, the teams impacted within the gaming division are both 343 Industries and Bethesda Game Studios. However, one person has chosen to leave and was Halo Infinite's last standing beacon of hope: Joseph Staten. Joe is the one responsible for getting the team in order at 343 to help "land the plane" in time for launch. It is clear now as more and more senior leadership makes their departure that 343 is facing the most restructuring of all the current first party studios. The Dukes get into the unfortunate layoffs as well as what the impact could be on games like Halo Infinite and Starfield. Otherwise, we have more insight on expected release dates for the Xbox's Developer_Direct which is set for next week and how High On Life 2 may no longer be in Xbox's best interests after recent developments involving Justin Roiland. Thanks to our sponsors! Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code DEFINGDUKE. New customers can be $5 dollars and get $200 in free bets instantly Get 20% off your first purchase at https://www.tommyjohn.com/duke Gambling Problem? Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MD/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA). 21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA(select parishes)/MD/MI /NJ/ NY/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. VOID IN OH/ONT. Eligibility restrictions apply. Free bets: Valid 1 per new customer. Min. $5 deposit. Min $5 bet. $200 issued as free bets that expire 7 days (168 hours) after being awarded. See terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/footballterms. No Sweat: Valid 1 offer per customer per day of NFL 2023 Wild Card Round. Opt in req each day. First bet must lose after opting in. NFL bets only. Paid as one (1) free bet based on amount of initial losing bet. Max $10 free bet awarded. Free bets expire 7 days (168 hours) after being awarded. See terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/footballterms Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fans of the platform have long been accustomed to Xbox's lack of communication. To many, it seemed like the first half of the year flat out didn't exist for the company when it came to major showings or releases of games. With the announcement of Developer_Direct, it is the start of a new chapter as Xbox has two planned out. The first will feature heavy hitters such as Redfall, Minecraft Legends, Forza Motorsport, and Elder Scrolls Online. The second Developer_Direct will be a standalone show fully dedicated to Starfield. With a fluid format providing updates on highly anticipated exclusives and an inevitable summer showcase, Xbox fans are going from being left in the dark to three major showings from the company. This is a contrast to an otherwise anemic 2022. Beyond that, we have more details on a game we will be seeing a lot of on January 25th: Redfall. According to Arkane, Redfall leans heavily into its Far Cry inspiration -- a major point of conflict between Matty and Cog. What the Dukes do agree on is the staggering response to a lighter yet higher quality drop of titles into Game Pass for the month of January. Plus, our least favorite encounters in a public setting, Cog answering the bell for his lack of Deathloop completion, and more important subjects fill out an already busy week! Thanks to our sponsors! Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code DEFININGDUKE. New customers can be $5 dollars and get $200 in free bets instantly Gambling Problem? Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MD/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA). 21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA(select parishes)/MD/MI /NJ/ NY/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. VOID IN OH/ONT. Eligibility restrictions apply. Free bets: Valid 1 per new customer. Min. $5 deposit. Min $5 bet. $200 issued as free bets that expire 7 days (168 hours) after being awarded. See terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/footballterms. No Sweat: Valid 1 offer per customer per day of NFL 2023 Wild Card Round. Opt in req each day. First bet must lose after opting in. NFL bets only. Paid as one (1) free bet based on amount of initial losing bet. Max $10 free bet awarded. Free bets expire 7 days (168 hours) after being awarded. See terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/footballterms Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It has been said by many far and wide that 2023 is the year Xbox must deliver. With the rumor mill churning out some interesting nuggets in the form of an early 2023 Xbox showcase, release date candidates for Starfield and Redfall, and even hints of what's to come later in the year; there is much to be excited about. Both official outlets and reports are suggesting that a Starfield-Redfall duo for May/June can soon be upon us. With that in mind, Xbox fans must adjust to a new reality. A reality where blockbuster games are being delivered and thanks to that the conversation will change. In the spirit of preparation, The Dukes take a hard look at the first half of 2023 where Xbox can finally leave their long awaited mark on the industry. However, we must also ask: What if they don't deliver? It is all these angles and more that we prepare for in today's episode on top of more on Hellblade 2, Deathloop, Persona 3 Remake, and much, much more. Thanks to our sponsors! Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code DEFININGDUKE. New customers can be $5 dollars and get $200 in free bets instantly Gambling Problem? Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MD/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA). 21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA(select parishes)/MD/MI /NJ/ NY/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. VOID IN OH/ONT. Eligibility restrictions apply. Free bets: Valid 1 per new customer. Min. $5 deposit. Min $5 bet. $200 issued as free bets that expire 7 days (168 hours) after being awarded. See terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/footballterms. No Sweat: Valid 1 offer per customer per day of NFL 2023 Wild Card Round. Opt in req each day. First bet must lose after opting in. NFL bets only. Paid as one (1) free bet based on amount of initial losing bet. Max $10 free bet awarded. Free bets expire 7 days (168 hours) after being awarded. See terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/footballterms Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our holiday tradition continues as Matty and Cog gather to discuss the very best and worst that Xbox's most popular service, Game Pass, had to offer. It was a year that saw strong improvement in the terms of quality as last year featured technical Day 1 duds such as Dark Alliance, Back 4 Blood, and even Outriders that painted a bleak picture of weak titles taking the bag. 2022 restored the confidence which left the Dukes with many good pickings, but even then we still had some stinkers. Indeed, every light does have its shadow... or Crossfire X. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fallout is a series that is near and dear to our Duke hearts and undoubtedly one of the lead reasons behind Xbox's purchase of Zenimax Media. While Fallout 76 lives on, many wonder where the next mainline entry lies and with whom. You see, Xbox has a unique talent issue when it comes to this particular franchise as they happen to own all the teams with members that are responsible for what Fallout is today. Brian Fargo, Feargus Urquhart, Josh Sawyer, and Todd Howard all have left their mark on the series. The question really becomes, how can Xbox best utilize this talent to bring Fallout to new levels? More importantly, can we get our hands on Fallout remasters? What of remakes? What fills the gap ahead of Fallout 5 which is arriving after Elder Scrolls 6? Will Obsidian be able to produce Fallout New Vegas 2? While tantalizing, the future of this extremely popular series is surprisingly uncertain. That doesn't account for its new TV show in production that marks the series first ever piece of expansion material. Joining us is AnchormanV to chat all things Fallout and how Xbox can figure this one out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Capping off Xbox's tragic 2022 and our final episode ahead of the holiday break is a glimmer of hope for us to at least conclude that year on a somewhat positive note. Many fans are now left searching for answers following the absence of Xbox at The Game Awards despite apparently having three first party, AAA games arriving in the next six months. Following a tweet from Aaron Greenberg saying that we won't have to wait long to hear more, we can't help but wonder what this may mean. Follow up reports and downplaying by Bethesda all point to some sort of event being on the horizon. What will it be and will be enough to overcome the rough conclusion to 2022? The Dukes dive it. We also have new details on questing in Starfield as well as Halo Infinite slowly gaining traction! That plus holiday traditions, our thoughts on Avowed's absence, and a transparent conversation with our audience round out our year. To everyone who listened to Defining Duke in 2022, thank you! We hope you enjoyed and we'll see you in 2023 with (hopefully) games to talk about! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Xbox's conclusion to 2022 is rather thematic as it matches the vibe of the overall year: Disappointing. While we began on the high of the Activision Blizzard deal, swift delays of Starfield and Redfall as well as a vacant first half of the year painted an all too familiar picture. With the windows closing for Starfield, Redfall, and Forza Motorsport respectively to be dated for the first half of 2023, it was stunning to see Xbox not only skip out on showing anything from those games, but not show up in any form. To make matters worse for them, this all happened on the same day that the FTC had announced they will be suing Microsoft to block the acquisition of Activision Blizzard. With the deal now in jeopardy despite announced deals with both Nintendo and Steam, Xbox's one saving grace in 2022 may be dashed away into nothing more than an extensive headache. If that wasn't enough, this is also the week we learned that all first party games would be $70 moving forward. After all that has transpired, it undoubtedly places more pressure on these three games to perform exceedingly well for Xbox or we may reach another low for them in this generation. Thanks to our sponsors! Get 20% off your first order at https://tommyjohn.com/duke Cancel your unnecessary subscriptions right now at https://www.rocketmoney.com/duke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What better way to celebrate 100 episodes than to hear from Godd Howard himself? Many fans are clamoring for new Starfield information, but what we didn't expect was Todd Howard to appear on a podcast for three hours and talk about things beyond Starfield. Those topics range from Elder Scrolls 6, to Amazon's Fallout TV show, and even MachineGames' Indiana Jones! Todd even dives deep into his relationship with Xbox with how things have changed for the better and, in some ways, not at all. Outside of this, we are relatively free from the shackles of the perpetual news cycle following the Activision-Xbox deal and can instead turn our attention toward Xbox's achievement system. With a new report from Jez Corden, fans are excited about the possibility of Xbox layering PlayStation's trophy system on top of the current Gamerscore infrastructure. Hopefully within the new 100 episodes, we can cover what this new achievement system truly is! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Thanks to our sponsors: Get Surfshark VPN at https://surfshark.deals/DUKE - Enter promo code DUKE for 83% off and 3 extra months FREE Shop Tommy John's Cyber Monday to get 33% off everything, plus free shipping at https://tommyjohn.com/duke Bethesda seemed to be an answer to a prayer when it came to Xbox fans in 2022. With Starfield and Redfall, they were set to deliver new AAA exclusives that the platform is hungry for. While that obviously got pushed back, Bethesda may have a surprise reveal up their sleeve. Zenimax Online Studios, keepers of the Elder Scrolls Online, have amassed a 200 person team to work on a new Xbox IP. It is one such project that creative director Ben Jones states has been in development for four and a half years with significant resources put into it. Are The Game Awards a good spot for this reveal? We discuss! Meanwhile, the battle for Call Of Duty ensues. It appears that Xbox has submitted an offer to PlayStation that the public has deemed "too good to be true." According to the NYTimes, Xbox has offered PlayStation ten years worth of Call Of Duty which another three added onto their original offer if sources are to be trusted. This begs the question, have the two warring companies finally reached an impasse? PlayStation has refused to comment and Jim Ryan is insisting in his latest statement that choice for gamers will outright disappear if Activision joins the Xbox family. With the EU's extension for a decision being put back until April, it seems like we are truly in for the long haul when it comes to this deal and who will ultimately come out on time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Thanks to our sponsors: Get Surfshark VPN at https://surfshark.deals/DUKE - Enter promo code DUKE for 83% off and 3 extra months FREE Cancel your unnecessary subscriptions right now at https://www.rocketmoney.com/duke The Game Awards, or as some may call them, The Lame Awards, are the subject of ire year in and year out. 2022 has proven to be much of the same as the Game Of The Year list is out with contentious picks aplenty. While it may be the home of things like nepotism and recency bias, many folks such as Cog have accepted it as the way things shall be. From snubs to perplexing categorization such as Elden Ring in the Best Narrative category, we (along with the audience) have many questions to ask. Perhaps the biggest one is, is it worth our frustration or should we just take our game announcements and go? Beyond that, we get into a busy week for Xbox releases as we dive deep into Pentiment along with Somerville. It may not be nearly on the level of God Of War, but Xbox fans will take it! Furthermore, we mull over the comments of Phil Spencer as he firmly closes the door on any Call Of Duty doubts, but raises key points on the future of both mobile games and Project Keystone. That plus The Witcher 3's next gen update, Dave Bautista's Gears Of War casting, and Starfield's uncertain marketing cadence round out our discussion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Thanks to our sponsors: Get Surfshark VPN at https://surfshark.deals/DUKE - Enter promo code DUKE for 83% off and 3 extra months FREE The relationship between Game Developer and Game Composer is a subject we rarely get a lot of insight on within the games industry. As the news of Doom Eternal's composer controversy comes to the public eye, Cog is joined by LSM family Ben to analyze the extremely fascinating implications. Maty Booty interviews, N7 Day and some fun slander await! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Thanks to our sponsors: Get Surfshark VPN at https://surfshark.deals/DUKE - Enter promo code DUKE for 83% off and 3 extra months FREE Phil Spencer has heard the frustration of Xbox fans regarding the absence of first party games in 2022 loud and clear. The question is..can he actually keep his promises to a frustrated base? Cog is joined by the Man with the million Gamerscore Rand Al Thor 19 to discuss this and the interesting relationship between Embracer Group and Xbox. Is there more than meets the eye with their acquisitions ? We dive in with fun speculation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Xbox fans have made many declarations to bring Persona to their beloved box and, finally, it has arrived. This week sees the re-launch of Persona 5 Royal, but for many; it's the first time they are arriving in Shujin Academy. Xbox fans have responded in kind as Persona 5 Royal has reached the top 10 for played games on consoles. Does this signify a major turning point for Xbox's battle in Japan? Could other Japanese developers be taking note of such a surge on the platform and be willing to play ball with the oft neglected platform? As Cog dives in for the first time and Matty watches like a proud dad, we get into the thick of things in Shibuya. Beyond the region of Japan, we move our attention to China where the status quo is shifting dramatically. It is reported by Reuters that Xbox is assembling a team to scout talent throughout China after missing out on the ever popular Genshin Impact. This has major implications for the brand moving forward and we have much to say on it. Beyond that, it was a busy week for Xbox Game Studios across Bethesda, Arkane, and World's Edge! Indeed, this episode truly feels like a bit of a preview on what Defining Duke conversations will be like in 2023. GAMES! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices