Defining Duke: An Xbox Podcast Last Stand Media

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
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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

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

The next major release in Xbox's first party family has arrived! Senua's Saga: Hellblade II has seen an increased amount of pressure placed upon it as concern for the platform holder as ramped up. Stripping ourselves from the heightened emotionality of that situation, how does over five years of development, a team size four times bigger than the original, and a big Microsoft check benefit the newest entry in the Hellblade series? The Dukes are joined by Gene Park where all three were able to play through the game a week ahead of its launch and let their thoughts marinate. Sitting at an 82 on OpenCritic, Hellblade 2 is off to a solid start, but where do the Dukes sit? Well, it's time to dig deep and find out!

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

Timestamps: 
0:00:00 - 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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The dust has settled since Xbox closed four different Bethesda studios. Many expected the team to go into hiding as there is no good answer for this outcome, but they did the opposite. Xbox President Sarah Bond showed up to a Bloomberg interview and gave a mind boggling non-answer that has sent this already wounded fanbase into another outrage. Naturally, the Dukes dive into this as well as your many questions about how the optics have shifted for the Xbox business moving forward. We also dive deep into the dramatic changes that Square Enix has undergone wher they have now moved into a multi-platform approach. What Square Enix games are headed to Xbox and when? The Dukes dig into to find out. Plus more on Perfect Dark and State Of Decay 3's status, Assassin's Creed Shadows, SEGA's plans for Persona, and so much more!

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

Timestamps: 
0:00:00 - 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
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices