The XboxCast

TXC Media
  • 4.3 (6)
  • Video Games
  • Updated Weekly

Funny first. Factual second.™ Join us every week for a hilarious and entertaining dive into the world of Xbox. Whether you’re a gamer with a job, a gamer with kids, or just a gamer with too many hobbies, we’ve got you covered. Get your Xbox news fix in #NuNews, laugh along with our latest gaming adventures in #GameFace! or keep yourself regular with our Regular Show for your weekly dose of Xbox goodness. Our podcast, community, and movement aim to bring a positive and upbeat voice to all things Xbox. And to top it all off, The XboxCast is the longest-running Xbox podcast from Down Under! So, come for the laughs, stay for the games, and become a member of our amazing community. To find out more about the podcast, the hosts, the monthly events, and links to all our social media - visit The XboxCast’s Official Website @ https://www.thexboxcast.co.nz.

  1. Aug 29

    It's All Just Boot in That Ute - The 2026 GamesCom Wrap Up Episode

    Lee now owns a ute. Not just any ute, the Kia Tasman ute! And he's pretty impressed with all the junk in its trunk.    Now quite a regular show as we're coving GamesCom!   🟢 GamesCom 2026! We're looking at everything you need to know about Gamescom 2026 in this episode! So join us to see if there was anything you've missed.     🎮 Gamescom 2026 Was HUGE for Xbox! Gamescom 2026 has delivered an absolute mountain of Xbox news, and there’s a lot to talk about! From the explosive Gears of War: E-Day campaign trailer and the surprise announcement of The Witcher 3 Remastered to gorgeous new looks at Tides of Annihilation, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, Metro 2039 and Exodus! Xbox had plenty to show off. We’ve also got new release dates, Game Pass announcements, delays, fresh gameplay and a whole bunch of games you probably didn’t even know were coming to Xbox. Worms: Galactic Tactics, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Tactics, Crazy Taxi: World Tour, Stage Tour, Road Kings, Mewgenics and Valor Mortis are just some of the games making waves. And that’s before we even get to the Future Games Show, which brought more than 40 Xbox and PC games and 13 brand-new reveals, including SPINE: This is Gun Fu, Wolcen 2, Serious Sam: Shatterverse, Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault and Star Wars: Galactic Racer.   🟩 52 Xbox Games, Game Pass Goodness & All the Gamescom 2026 Highlights If you thought that was everything, think again! TrueAchievements counted a staggering 52 Xbox game reveals and updates from Gamescom Opening Night Live alone. That includes huge names like Fable, Forza Horizon 6, Halo: Campaign Evolved, Gears of War: E-Day, The Blood of Dawnwalker, Turok: Origins, Final Fantasy VII Revelation and Path of Exile II, alongside plenty of fascinating indie and AA games. There was also plenty for Xbox Game Pass subscribers, with titles such as Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, There Are No Ghosts at the Grand, Aniimo and more joining the growing Game Pass lineup. Of course, Gamescom wasn’t all good news - Turok: Origins, Mariachi Legends, Road Kings and There Are No Ghosts at the Grand were among the games pushed into 2027. But with so many releases coming across Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Play Anywhere and Game Pass, there’s still plenty to get excited about.    So, grab a drink, settle in and join The XboxCast crew as we dig through one of the biggest Gamescoms Xbox has had in years - the games we’re excited for, the ones that surprised us, and the ones that might have slipped completely under your radar! -- Did you like the intro music? Of course you did. Because who wouldn't? Now you can hear more, thanks to Made By Humans! Check it out on Spotify, Apple Music or wherever you listen to your tunes!    -- For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit ⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐

  2. Aug 22

    I'm Buying A Hut!

    Welcome back to the podcast.  Did you miss us?    Now on with The Regular Show.   🐜 Grounded 2’s Player Count Surges 220% Grounded 2 has exploded in popularity, jumping over 220% on Xbox after its massive new update and Game Pass Premium launch. The “Into the Abyss” update added new biomes, water systems, rideable bugs, and expanded base-building. One of the biggest first-party spikes of the year.   🐉 Game Pass August 2026: Beast of Reincarnation & Plague Tale Lead August’s lineup is stacked with two major day-one releases: Beast of Reincarnation and A Plague Tale: Legacy. Strong AA and narrative-driven offerings define the month. Game Pass continues its “quality over quantity” strategy.   📺 Xbox Introduces Free Game Streaming With Ads Xbox is testing ad-supported cloud streaming, letting players jump into games instantly without a subscription. Microsoft outlined five principles: transparency, player control, limited interruptions, privacy protection, and clear value. Essentially Game Pass Lite, but free.   🧑‍💻 Xbox VP of Engineering Quits After 2 Months PC Gamer reports Xbox’s newly hired VP of Engineering has resigned just two months into the role. No official reason given, but insiders point to instability caused by Xbox’s ongoing “Reset” restructuring. Leadership turnover continues to be a theme in 2026.   🥽 Game Pass Starter Edition Expands via Meta Horizon Xbox’s cheaper Starter Edition tier is rolling out to more regions through Meta Horizon. Designed for casual players and VR users, offering a limited library at a low cost. A strategic push toward broader accessibility.   🏃 Another Studio Breaks Free From Xbox Windows Central confirms another internal studio has gone independent, following Double Fine and Ninja Theory’s restructuring moves. The unnamed team is seeking autonomy while remaining partnered with Xbox. A continuing trend under Asha Sharma’s leaner strategy.   🧩 Xbox Surprise Update Adds 12 New Console Features A stealth update dropped with a dozen new features: UI improvements, Quick Resume fixes, new capture options, controller firmware updates, and accessibility upgrades. One of the biggest non-Insider updates in years.   💿 Xbox Testing Disc-to-Digital Conversion A new leak suggests Xbox is experimenting with a disc-to-digital authentication system. Players could validate physical games and add them to their digital library. Potentially one of Xbox’s most consumer-friendly ideas ever.   📰 Xbox Wire Gets a Redesign Xbox Wire has been fully redesigned with a modern layout, better mobile support, and stronger visual identity. It finally looks like a proper platform blog in 2026.   🚀 No Man’s Sky Celebrates 10th Anniversary Hello Games marks 10 years of No Man’s Sky with a retrospective and new content. One of gaming’s greatest comeback stories continues to thrive.   🔫 Gears of War: E-Day Breaks Franchise Records The limited Steam beta for Gears of War: E-Day has already surpassed the franchise’s all-time peak player record. And it’s not even fully released yet. Massive momentum heading into launch.   🕹️ Xbox 360 Backwards Compatibility Leak for PC A leak shows Xbox 360 backwards compatibility running natively on Windows PCs. If true, this would be the biggest BC expansion since the Series X launched.   🛠️ Xbox Adds Four More Console Features New features include improved storage management, better HDR controls, and long-requested Quick Resume toggles. The OS team is delivering rapid-fire updates in 2026.   🧪 New Game Pass Additions: Resonance, Vapor World, Blood Dungeon Xbox Wire confirms new titles including Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, Vapor World: Over the Mind, and Blood Dungeon. Strong mix of narrative, surreal, and dungeon-crawler content.   🪑 IKEA x Xbox Furniture Line Announced IKEA and Xbox are launching a joint furniture line for gamers. Expect desks, chairs, storage, and “gaming-optimized” layouts. Peak capitalism achieved.   📅 Four Game Pass Games Confirmed for September TrueAchievements lists four early September additions. Details still light, but the month is shaping up to be another strong one.   💸 Xbox Series X Price Spike A Google Shopping snapshot shows Series X prices climbing sharply across multiple retailers. Likely tied to supply constraints and the upcoming hardware refresh.   -- Did you like the intro music? Of course you did. Because who wouldn't? Now you can hear more, thanks to Made By Humans! Check it out on Spotify, Apple Music or wherever you listen to your tunes!    -- For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit ⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐

  3. Jul 6

    Wuthering Waves, but, Why?

    Lee is confused about Wuthering Waves.  But, why?    Now on with The Regular Show.   🟢 Xbox Insider Update Brings Four Handy New Features Xbox Insiders are getting a surprisingly useful batch of quality-of-life improvements. Microsoft is rolling out updates to Gamertags, Game Hubs, Wishlists and Game History, making it easier to discover games, manage your profile and keep track of what you've been playing. Nothing flashy, but these are exactly the kinds of improvements that make the Xbox dashboard feel more polished. Now if only we could get a faster Store...   ☁️ Stream Your Own Game Gets 51 More Titles Microsoft has massively expanded the "Stream Your Own Game" feature, adding another 51 games to the growing list. If you own these titles digitally, you'll be able to stream them directly from the cloud without needing them to be part of Game Pass. It's another step toward Microsoft's vision of letting you play your library almost anywhere. The feature keeps getting better... now we just need Australia to get all the good cloud features first.   🎯 Cancelled Xbox 360 GoldenEye Finally Runs Natively on PC One of gaming's greatest "what ifs" has taken another fascinating turn. Developers have successfully recompiled the cancelled Xbox 360 version of GoldenEye 007 into a native PC executable, meaning it runs without emulation. It doesn't make the project legal, but it's an impressive piece of preservation work that shows just how close this remaster came to release before licensing issues killed it.   💳 Xbox Could Soon Offer Buy Now, Pay Later Buying an Xbox console, game or accessory may soon become a little easier on the wallet. Microsoft is reportedly partnering with Klarna and PayPal to introduce flexible payment options across Xbox purchases. Whether you're eyeing a new console or just a few too many games during a sale, spreading the cost could become as simple as checking a different payment option. Just remember... buying games on finance probably isn't the best financial advice you'll hear today.   ⚠️ Xbox Faces Another Major Reset The biggest story this week continues to be Microsoft's internal shake-up. Following confirmed July layoffs, Xbox leadership has reportedly told staff that "this cannot continue," signalling another major reset for the gaming division. CEO Asha Sharma is said to be focusing on leaner teams, better execution and a more affordable Xbox ecosystem moving forward. It's a tough period for Xbox, but many fans are hoping these difficult decisions eventually lead to stronger games and a healthier platform. Which leads to...    💼 Satya Nadella: Xbox Must Become Sustainable Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has made it clear that Xbox's future depends on becoming a sustainable business. Rather than chasing endless growth, Microsoft wants predictable returns from its gaming division as development costs continue to rise. It's a statement that helps explain many of the company's recent decisions around Game Pass, multiplatform releases and internal restructuring. And of course this means...    🏢 Xbox Studios Reportedly Looking for Independence Reports suggest several Xbox Game Studios teams, including Double Fine and Ninja Theory, are exploring ways to spin off into independent studios. Nothing has been confirmed, but after months of restructuring and uncertainty, it paints a picture of developers wanting greater creative and financial control. Whether Microsoft would actually let these studios go is another question entirely.   -- Did you like the intro music? Of course you did. Because who wouldn't? Now you can hear more, thanks to Made By Humans! Check it out on Spotify, Apple Music or wherever you listen to your tunes!    -- For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit ⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐

  4. Jun 20

    "I think I’m in Love with Your Dead Grandmother" Was Worse

    What even does that title mean?  At this stage, we're not even sure anymore...    ☀️ 🎮🕺 Summer Games Fest Wrap Up   We cover all the games coming to XBOX and PC revealed during the Summer Game Fast 2026! Here's a complete list for you. You're welcome... Resident Evil: Veronica Cuphead 2 Mighty Cuphead Adventure Alien: Isolation 2 gen ATLAS Blood Message Stranger Than Heaven HAEX (PC) Mortal Shell II (Open Beta) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin Gundam: Rogue Orbit Crossfire Guild Wars 3 (PC/PS5) Star Wars: Galactic Racer Virtua Fighter Crossroads RuneScape: Dragonwilds (Xbox release) 1666 Amsterdam (PC) SAW: Genesis (PC) Star Wars: Zero Company The Blood of Dawnwalker Among Us Story: On Guard Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance (Expansion) Swords of Legends Clutch Chronicles: Medieval (PC Early Access) Palworld 1.0 The Wolf Among Us Remastered The Wolf Among Us 2 Stellar Blade: Blood Rain Final Fantasy VII: Revelation -- Did you like the intro music? Of course you did. Because who wouldn't? Now you can hear more, thanks to Made By Humans! Check it out on Spotify, Apple Music or wherever you listen to your tunes!    -- For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit ⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐

  5. Jun 12

    The XBOX Showcase Recap

    In the deep, dark Winter of the Southern Hemisphere, XBOX has arrived to spread some much-needed light and joy... We hope!     🎮 XBOX Showcase 2026   From new console hardware, to announcing the return of Exclusives - we cover everything that XBOX had to show the world.    Is 2026 the year they win us all back? Or is this another year where they snatch defeat from the jaws of victory?    -- Did you like the intro music? Of course you did. Because who wouldn't? Now you can hear more, thanks to Made By Humans! Check it out on Spotify, Apple Music or wherever you listen to your tunes!    -- For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit ⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐

  6. Jun 1

    XBOX Is Yelling At Us Now

    In a change heard across the world, Xbox is now XBOX!  And the crowd goes... mild?   Now on with The Regular Show!   🏎️ Forza Horizon 6 Is XBOX’s Biggest Launch Since 2024 Forza Horizon 6 has exploded out of the gate, becoming the biggest XBOX launch since at least 2024 according to TrueAchievements’ player-count data. It’s outperforming every major first‑party release of the last two years and that’s before the full Game Pass wave hits. Playground Games continues to carry the platform on its beautifully rendered shoulders. At this point, Forza is XBOX’s most reliable franchise…   🟩 Microsoft Gaming Changes Its Name… From Xbox To XBOX In a company-wide memo, Microsoft Gaming has officially rebranded itself as simply XBOX. Executives say the new “North Star” for the division is Daily Active Players, not console sales or Game Pass subs. This marks the biggest identity shift since the Phil Spencer era began. Sanity has prevailed it seems...    🎨 New Limited-Edition Controller… But Only in Design Lab? XBOX has revealed a new “Limited Edition” controller. But in true XBOX fashion, it’s only available through Design Lab. It features a unique shell, special accents, and custom engraving options, making it feel more like a premium preset than a true LE release. Design Lab exclusivity means scalpers can’t touch it, which is a rare W for controller collectors.   💀 Why the Game Pass Family Plan Was Cancelled A new report sheds light on why the Game Pass Family Plan quietly disappeared. And in surprise to no one, it looks like EA is to blame... The plan was “too generous,” too easy to exploit, and too difficult to scale globally. Microsoft reportedly struggled with regional pricing, account sharing, and revenue forecasting. In short: it was great for players, terrible for accountants.   🌌 Destiny 2: Every End Is a New Beginning Bungie has released a massive new Destiny 2 update reflecting on the end of the Light & Darkness saga. The studio outlines what’s next for the game, including new seasonal structures, narrative arcs, and long‑term support plans. It’s a soft reboot without calling it a reboot. Destiny players are eating well again... Finally! Looks like Destiny is being killed so Marathon can flop...   📺 XBOX Games Showcase 2026 & Gears E‑Day Direct — Dates Confirmed Insider Gaming has confirmed the dates and times for the XBOX Games Showcase 2026, followed immediately by a dedicated Gears of War: E‑Day Direct. Expect major first‑party reveals, new gameplay, and the full unveiling of E‑Day’s campaign. This is XBOX’s biggest broadcast of the year. Prepare your hype meters accordingly.   🧑‍💼 XBOX Hires New Exec to Strengthen the Console Side XBOX has hired a new senior executive specifically tasked with “strengthening the console side of the business.” This comes as XBOX pivots toward a more balanced strategy between hardware, PC, cloud, and multiplatform releases. The new hire will oversee hardware planning, accessories, and retail presence. In other words: someone finally got put in charge of making XBOX consoles feel like a priority again.   🎮 The XBOX Elite Series 3 Leaks… And It’s Missing Something Big The Elite Series 3 controller has leaked online, featuring a removable battery, new grips, and updated internals. But according to early impressions, it’s still missing one crucial feature: Hall Effect sticks. In 2026, that’s becoming inexcusable for a premium controller. Come on XBOX — drift is not a personality trait.   -- Did you like the intro music? Of course you did. Because who wouldn't? Now you can hear more, thanks to Made By Humans! Check it out on Spotify, Apple Music or wherever you listen to your tunes!    -- For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit ⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐

  7. May 15

    Checking In On Microsoft Solitaire Collection

    We know why you're here every week. To answer that one burning question...  Where does Microsoft Solitaire Collection sit on the chats?   Now on with The Regular Show   🎮 Project Saluki & “Positron” Leak Could this be a new Game Pass Tier AND a Disc‑to‑Digital Program?  A new backend leak has revealed Project Saluki, an unannounced Xbox Game Pass tier that appears to sit below Core and above the rumoured TRITON tier. But, even more interesting is “Positron,” a potential disc‑to‑digital conversion program that would let players register physical Xbox games to their digital library. The system references barcode scanning, ownership validation, and library syncing. If real, this would be one of the biggest consumer‑friendly moves Xbox has made in years. Now, if they got it working with PlayStation games and allowed you to move your library across... Project Helix will be even better value!   💸 Xbox Announces a New, Cheaper Version of Game Pass, Kinda... Discord leaked it, so Microsoft officially revealed it. A new budget Game Pass tier, designed for players who want access to a small library without cloud gaming or day‑one releases. The tier is priced lower than Game Pass Essentials and focuses on affordability during Xbox’s broader subscription restructuring. Think of it as Discord Nitro Plus. Sadly, Online Console is not included. What a missed opportunity.    🟩 Asha Sharma’s Big Xbox Reveal... Kinda... Take this one with a big grain of salt because the source is "Trust me bro". But because its news, we'll still chat about it. Asha Sharma has "confirmed" new details about Project Helix, the next‑generation Xbox designed around hybrid local/cloud play and deep Windows integration. She also revealed that Halo 2 and 3 remakes are in development, built to re‑establish Halo as a flagship franchise. Sharma emphasised a return to “big, prestige first‑party games” as a core pillar of Xbox’s future. But we all know that the only reason is because Halo lost its way, and remaking the old games is a good way to put these games on PlayStation...    🚫 Forza Horizon 6 Pirate Banned for 8,000 Years In a completely unfair move, Microsoft has issued an 8,000‑year hardware ban to a player who played Forza Horizon 6 after the game leaked early on Steam. The ban covers the user’s Xbox account, console hardware ID, and associated services. Microsoft says it is taking “strict enforcement action” against anyone accessing or distributing the leaked build. More bans are expected as the company continues its investigation. Keep in mind, though, that Microsoft themselves leaked this by uploading the pre-load to Steam completely unencrypted...    🎮 Xbox Reveals 28 Games With ROG Ally Enhancements Xbox has published a list of 28 titles that now include optimisations specifically for the ROG Ally and ROG Ally X handhelds. Improvements include better power profiles, UI scaling, performance presets, and controller‑first navigation. Games like Starfield, Forza Horizon 5, and Sea of Thieves are among the updated titles. You love to see it!   🤖 Xbox No Longer Developing Copilot for Consoles Insider Gaming reported, and Asha confirmed it - Microsoft has halted development of Copilot for Xbox consoles! And there was much rejoicing! Despite earlier announcements suggesting it would arrive in 2026, the decision reportedly stems from performance limitations and unclear use‑case value on console UI. Copilot development will continue on Windows, mobile, and cloud‑based Xbox services. Microsoft has not commented publicly on whether console support may return later, but we hope not. Now if only the Windows team took notes...    -- Did you like the intro music? Of course you did. Because who wouldn't? Now you can hear more, thanks to Made By Humans! Check it out on Spotify, Apple Music or wherever you listen to your tunes!    -- For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit ⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐

  8. Apr 30

    Iterative? Iterative!

    Words are confusing...   Did you like the intro music? Of course you did. Because who wouldn't? Now you can hear more, thanks to Made By Humans! Check it out on Spotify, Apple Music or wherever you listen to your tunes!    🎮 All Games Announced At The ID@Xbox Spring Showcase The ID@Xbox Spring Showcase highlighted a huge wave of indie titles coming to Xbox and Game Pass, including new reveals, surprise shadow‑drops, and updates on previously announced projects. Microsoft emphasised creative diversity, with genres ranging from cozy life‑sims to hardcore action roguelikes. Several titles confirmed day‑one Game Pass launches, and some even caught our attention!   🟩 “I’ve Ordered a Series X, I’m Back In” A Pure Xbox community post from a returning Xbox fan went viral after they announced they’d bought a Series X again due to recent platform improvements. And Asha Sharma personally replied, welcoming them back and reinforcing her commitment to rebuilding trust with players. The exchange resonated with the community, symbolising the more open, conversational leadership style Sharma has adopted. It’s a small moment, but one that landed well with long‑time fans. Remember when Phil used to do this? And is this the Asha Affect?   💸 Game Pass Ultimate Gets New Conversion Rates After Price Drop Following the recent price reduction for Game Pass Ultimate, Microsoft has updated its conversion ratios for players upgrading from Xbox Live Gold, Core, or other Game Pass tiers. The new rates are more favourable than expected, making it cheaper to convert existing time into Ultimate. Pure Xbox notes that this effectively softens the impact of previous conversion nerfs. It’s a rare case of a pricing change that players are actually happy about.   🧭 Asha Sharma: “Players Are Frustrated” In a candid interview, Asha acknowledged that players are frustrated with pricing, communication, and inconsistent first‑party output. She outlined a plan focused on affordability, predictable release cadence, and rebuilding the Xbox identity. Asha also emphasised cross‑team collaboration, saying Xbox needs to “earn back trust” through actions, not promises. It’s the clearest articulation yet of her long‑term vision for the platform.   🟦 Leak Reveals New Xbox Game Pass Tier Bundled With Discord Nitro A new leak suggests Xbox is preparing a Game Pass tier bundled with Discord Nitro, offering perks across both ecosystems. The tier appears to include PC Game Pass access, Nitro benefits, and possible cloud‑gaming time allowances. This aligns with earlier leaks referencing the “Duet” tier and Microsoft’s push for more flexible subscription options. Neither company has officially commented, but the integration would be a first for Xbox.   -- For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit ⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐

See All (495)

4.3
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Funny first. Factual second.™ Join us every week for a hilarious and entertaining dive into the world of Xbox. Whether you’re a gamer with a job, a gamer with kids, or just a gamer with too many hobbies, we’ve got you covered. Get your Xbox news fix in #NuNews, laugh along with our latest gaming adventures in #GameFace! or keep yourself regular with our Regular Show for your weekly dose of Xbox goodness. Our podcast, community, and movement aim to bring a positive and upbeat voice to all things Xbox. And to top it all off, The XboxCast is the longest-running Xbox podcast from Down Under! So, come for the laughs, stay for the games, and become a member of our amazing community. To find out more about the podcast, the hosts, the monthly events, and links to all our social media - visit The XboxCast’s Official Website @ https://www.thexboxcast.co.nz.

Information

  • Creator
    TXC Media
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    495
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © This podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
  • Show Website
    The XboxCast