Defining Duke: An Xbox Podcast

After weeks of unaddressed rumors surrounding Hi Fi Rush and Sea of Thieves coming to PlayStation, the powderkeg blew for Xbox this week. Gears Of War, Halo, Starfield, Indiana Jones, and a growing list are all reported to be going multi-platform. The only official comment we have on the matter is no sort of denial, but rather a "see you next week." In a DEFCON 1 level episode of Defining Duke, we...

The moment we’ve long anticipated since Xbox began gobbling up various publishers has arrived and indicated a change in direction for the brand. On January 25th, a day after Microsoft was named the second $3 trillion company, Microsoft laid off 1,900 employees (accounting for 8% of their gaming division) across Activision, Blizzard, Xbox, and Bethesda. This pushes the industry as a whole beyond th...

Following the Xbox Developer_Direct, we have much to unpack. In the world of Avowed, we received an extended showing that gave us more gameplay, but some viewers were still left with that same sense of uncertainty. With the game confirmed to be AA style, in an alpha state, and aiming for a Fall 2024 release, the Duke boys get into the expectations surrounding this title and what is missing. Meanwh...

As tradition dictates, Xbox has opened the year with their Developer_Direct. We saw gameplay from Avowed, Hellblade 2, Ara History Untold, Indiana Jones and The Great Circle, and even had a surprise appearance from Square Enix! With the roadmap set for the year, how do the Dukes feel about Xbox's showing? Is this enough to satiate them? Did Avowed improve from its initial showing? Will Hellblade 2...

The Dukes have said it before and they'll say it again: It's never a straightforward job covering Xbox. Just when you think you have them figured out, they flip the script. There's no better example of that then this week where social media had Xbox on the brink with one rumor only to be celebrating them the next day thanks to an announcement. According to multiple insiders, Xbox is looking to tak...

The news waits for no one, including the Dukes! Insomniac was hacked, Bobby Kotick left Activision, and a new rumor surrounding Xbox's next console generation all managed to slip out in the two weeks we were gone. Naturally, we tackle all of this, but the Dukes really wanted to lean into the proposed 2026 gameplan for Xbox. Striking ahead of PlayStation, this would leave them in a similar position...

To say it has been an eventful 2023 for Xbox would be an understatement. From establishing the Developer_Direct, a steady output of first party games, and acquiring Activision, to massive FTC court cases leaks, Redfall's release state, and lingering questions on Blade's exclusivity, we've had plenty to discuss. The Dukes gather this time not only to go through 2023 pound-for-pound, but also see wh...

It's the holiday season and perhaps Santa got you a brand new Xbox! Either that, or you always are subscribed to Game Pass and are looking at where to spend your precious free time. Well, as tradition dictates, the Dukes have gathered to analyze what has been an impressive year for Game Pass. As Xbox moves away from quantity and into quality, what were the best and worst that Game Pass had to offe...

The Dukes have gathered one final time in 2023 during the aftermath of The Game Awards. Following a successful showing by Xbox, many question marks linger around Blade. Well, we have a direct answer from Disney, and that result lies with Bethesda. So, what gives? Plus, we get into the possibility of a free Game Pass tier fueled by ads as Xbox seeks to create value even at the lowest level of entry...

It was a much different story for Xbox coming out of The Game Awards this year compared to the last. In 2022, Xbox had yet again skipped the show with any meaningful announcements and even had their acquisition of Activision blocked by the FTC. This time around, there weren't any regulators to stop their fun! They showed up with Hellblade II gameplay alongside announcements of Arkane's Blade and e...

As we approach The Game Awards, it looks like we won't be ranting on how Xbox missed the show again. Indeed, they have already confirmed that there will be important announcements at the show! With a very "Matty" angle on this news, the Dukes combine to speculate what Xbox could be bringing to the big stage. What's really made headlines is Bethesda's customer support who has taken it upon themselv...

What was once a defining Xbox exclusive has made its way to PlayStation. Now, reports are in that the Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic Remake is in a world (or galaxy!) of trouble with development at a complete standstill and PlayStation wanting out. Many fans, us included, are calling on Xbox to, if legality permits it, be the saviors of this troubled project. From legacy to the habit of fi...

For the fourteenth year in a row, Xbox is not going to be part of the Game Of The Year conversation. From fanboys to game developers, it feels like the industry has hit a boiling point when it comes to the way particular nominees are handled. Is it time for separate committees to be established for each category? Is it time to see The Game Awards for the marketing show is really is? Does any of th...

It was a bit chilly this weekend as a Blizzard seems to have blown through Xbox. That works, right? Anyway, during Blizzcon, we received a close up look at what's to come for the likes of Diablo, World Of Warcraft, and much more. More importantly is Phil Spencer's stage presence and the subsequent interview done with Blizzard President Mike Ybarra that has grown the expectations of "old Blizzard"...

After a couple of years as family members, Xbox has brought Bethesda a bit closer with its latest restructuring. Matt Booty, head of Xbox Game Studios, will now oversee all content across the Xbox and Bethesda families. Furthermore, Sarah Bond has now been elevated to President at Xbox. With these changes, many are wondering what the impact across content and partnerships will be. Is Fallout New V...

In an unexpected move from Xbox, they've put together yet another showcase format. This time, it arrives in the form of "Xbox Partner Preview" which the Dukes agreed felt more like a business transaction than a show with big announcements. Expectations were tempered, yet Xbox didn't even bring Game Pass announcements to the show. Even if games like Yakuza, Alan Wake 2, and MGS 3 Remake look qualit...

After almost two years of going back and forth on every layer of this deal, it is finally complete. Xbox owns Activision Blizzard King and have massively expanded both the IP as well as talent under their possession. Now, the real work begins! As Phil Spencer says he's going to begin visiting all these teams, gamers have many burning questions! What is the future of exclusivity for the many upcomi...

While modern gaming has its drawbacks, our always online nature allows any game to not be out of the fight so long as it maintains direction, funding, and manpower. That comeback story is something that continued to rear its head in this episode. From Halo Infinite's fifth season, to Redfall finally dropping much needed features at launch, and even Guitar Hero being teased for a return, much in th...

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 ye...

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" re...

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 fo...

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 manage...

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 t...

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 t...

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 ne...