Defining Duke: An Xbox Podcast

#245 | Getting REAL About Xbox Game Pass...Much of the conversation surrounding Game Pass and its sustainability has been about whether or not it can turn a profit. The Dukes themselves have pondered on this very subject for dozens of episodes. At this point, Game Pass is here to stay. The conversation has evolved from how much money the service makes to whether or not it dramatically impacts how games are made. At first, PlayStation alumni Shawn Layden brought attention to this subject. While well respected and incredibly knowledgable, many believed that Shawn bled a bit too much blue for their taste and that his points may be biased. That's fair to say, but what happens when many of Xbox's own start to say the same? Much of our conversation is about what Pete Hines, the former SVP of Communication and Marketing at Bethesda, had to say on Xbox's premier service. However, it's really about the fallout from it. Shannon Loftis, a Xbox lifer who spent 20+ years at the company, sang a similar tune to that of Pete and Shawn. Even MachineGames currnet studio head had thoughts on how Game Pass players dip very quickly. Even recently, Larian's own Swen Vincke had his concerns about Game Pass. Raphael Colantonio, formerly of Arkane and now at WolfEye, shared a similar sentiment. While indie and even AA have found a pocket from which they very much benefit from Game Pass, AAA is speaking out. The question remains: Are players willing to listen in the face of such value? Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:17:57 - Health Is Wealth0:22:02 - Bethesda finally teases Starfield DLC0:30:16 - Wolfenstein lives on0:38:37 - Hollow Knight Silksong breaks records0:51:10 - Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth due out on Xbox in 20260:53:27 - Physical games live on for another generation?1:05:37 - Dead Island 3 on the way1:12:19 - Helldivers 3 basically confirmed1:16:05 - Resident Evil 5 Remake isn’t happening1:22:44 - Old KOTOR Remake concept art leaks1:24:35 - Metal Gear Delta sells 1 million copies in 2 days1:25:22 - 2K is making a “college basketball experience” while EA bails1:34:37 - Batman Arkham Shadow is getting a sequel1:39:35 - IO Interactive finally talks about Mindseye launch1:44:20 - What We’re Playing2:23:54 - Pete Hines opens up on Xbox & Bethesda3:12:04 - Xbox’s Tokyo Game Show plans3:20:02 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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3Klst. 28Mín.

#243 | We played The Outer Worlds 2 EARLY and...It's been a bit of a rough go for Obsidian as of late. Compared to their usual RPG triumphs, Avowed felt quite a bit less than that. However, not all of it was entirely their fault. At one point, Xbox chose to make this the $80 game that would lead the charge in a new era of high prices. After considerable pushback, they chose to drop the price to $70. While a welcome sight, some have debated if even that is a fair price point for what appears to be a AA RPG. Now, marketing has kicked the hornet's nest with the latest companion trailer. So, here we are. Cog and Matty played the prologue section of the game and our thoughts are mixed. There certainly wasn't a "sound the alarm" moment, but it read to the Dukes like a less confident showing. Much of what makes an Obsidian RPG great is here. However, after the preview failed to show how that would be executed, both Dukes were left feeling like there is more that could've been done. Now, the tough decision falls to Xbox. Do you risk another preview and overexpose the game to try and correct things? Do you ride into launch and hope for the best? Time will tell, but we only have to wait until October to learn just how worth it Outer Worlds 2 will be. Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:15:07 - Write Ins0:37:33 - Pete Parsons is leaving Bungie0:51:25 - Tim Schafer on Double Fine’s future games0:55:32 - Hollow Knight Silksong finally has a release date1:11:32 - Xbox Ally preorder date leaks1:12:39 - The reason that Switch 2 ports of Xbox games are delayed?1:23:00 - Xbox Cloud Gaming is coming to Game Pass subscribers1:29:48 - New Starfield updates detailed1:35:13 - High On Life 2 will include 5 playable games1:37:14 - Replaced is set to release Spring 20261:38:59 - Activision responds to Call of Duty concerns1:50:34 - More Clair Obscur is on the way2:04:51 - Atari has acquired 5 Ubisoft games2:09:26 - Ken Levine opens up on Judas2:16:53 - Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines 2’s Wild DLC situation2:23:20 - Naoki Yoshida says there’s no need for new consoles2:26:52 - Herman Hulst on Concord’s failure2:31:46 - Skate enters early access on September 16th2:40:02 - What We’re Playing3:48:09 - Forza Horizon 6 will be set in Japan3:59:05 - Coming soon to Xbox Game Pass4:00:22 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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4Klst. 10Mín.

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