Defining Duke: An Xbox Podcast

Latest Episodes:

#293 | We go down the Elder Scrolls VI Rabbithole... Aug 16, 2026

Show notes

How hungry are people for Elder Scrolls VI? Apparently, very! All it took was eight asterisks within the game's subtitle to send a flurry of fans into everything from lore wikis to decoding employee identification numbers in Starfield's Developer Direct. With such rampant curiosity, this led the Dukes down the rabbithole. What do these eight characters represent? Indeed, if the theories are true, they tell us more than you'd expect. Beyond that, we settle into a chat about the coming generation of consoles. Will Xbox weaponize Elder Scrolls VI as a lightning rod which can draw people into the ecosystem? Is it worth risking millions upon millions of dollars lost for this? Essentially, is this game going to find itself in a camp with Call Of Duty and Forza or Clockwork and Gears? There are compelling arguments for both sides, so join the very delirious Dukes as they settle into a lengthy conversation about Elder Scrolls!

Timestamps:

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

0:00 - Intro
11:20 - Health Is Wealth
25:12 - Gears E Day beta sets records for series
38:32 - Currently hired ID Software dev blasts Xbox
1:02:12 - Xbox explains the big server outage
1:05:33 - Update on Halo Campaign Evolved sale’s estimates
1:20:34 - GTA 6 gets a gameplay reveal on Netflix
1:50:45 - Ghost Of Yotei Complete Edition announced
1:54:22 - Lord Of The Rings remasters inbound
2:00:15 - Atlus thinks they have to do Persona 1 & 2 Remakes
2:06:52 - Hog Leg 2 confirmed
2:09:56 - What We’re Playing
2:42:49 - The extremely desperate Elder Scrolls rabbithole
3:11:43 - Blizzard is Microsoft’s top performing studio
3:16:48 - Wrap up

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#292 | Xbox's Game Preservation Program LEAKS... Aug 09, 2026

Show notes

In a time where game preservation feels it matters the least, here comes some much needed news. Leaked via The Verge, we now know Xbox is accelerating a program dedicated to preserving your games dating back to the original Xbox generation. That much has been known thanks to a program greenlit by Sarah Bond during her time at Xbox. However, the new wrinkle is not only that Xbox 360 games are headed to PC, but also that the backwards compatible library stands a chance to expand beyond what we already know. Now, the catch is that other developers would have to play ball, but more from a greenlight standpoint rather than any additional engineering. The icing on the cake? Xbox is finally bringing its platinum trophy equivalent to the platform. After two generations of waiting, they'll finally be getting with the times and you won't have to wait much longer to hear about it thanks to Asha Sharma. Plus: Xbox's "platform" game focus, more absolutely dismal news for Halo, the unaffordability of console gaming, and so much more!

Timestamps:

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

0:00 - Intro
5:42 - Health Is Wealth
21:54 - In person Duke soon?
23:45 - Shoutout to SS+
28:31 - A retro gaming solution?
30:00 - Asha Sharma confirms platinum trophy equivalent coming to Xbox later this year
44:18 - Asha Sharma’s leaked memo to staff
58:16 - Halo sales estimates are in
1:32:01 - Xbox console price increase confirmed for EU and UK
1:36:42 - ESO faces a content delay following layoffs
1:41:23 - A crazy Bethesda remaster candidate leaks
1:44:16 - Sony responds to shareholders about physical games
1:57:43 - Steam Machine reservations will be filled by end of year
1:59:18 - Mass layoffs expected at EA
2:02:19 - What We’re Playing
2:31:00 - Xbox’s Game Preservation Program Leaks
3:07:58 - Wrap Up

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#291 | We played Gears Of War E-Day EARLY... Aug 02, 2026

Show notes

Ah, like the good ol' days! It's time to talk a lot of Halo and Gears. Interestingly, one franchise has handled the baton pass much better than the other.

Timestamps:

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.
0:00 - Intro
13:03 - Most Anticipated Games for the year
20:52 - Why do people care about Bethesda?
30:25 - The great Xbox outage
1:00:32 - Rebs Gaming on future of Halo
1:27:51 - Xbox optimizing download speeds
1:30:58 - Xbox’s gamescom plans
1:33:40 - The layoffs have begun at Double Fine
1:42:33 - Avatar Legends suddenly delayed on Xbox
1:49:26 - Stalker 2’s first expansion has a date
1:51:25 - Dragon Age Remasters dream is dead
2:03:12 - A new Cyberpunk game has leaked
2:07:03 - Looking Ahead At Game Releases - August 2026
2:13:08 - What We’re Playing
2:32:11 - Gears Of War E-Day
3:04:12 - Xbox’s ad supported game streaming has arrived
3:22:21 - Fable’s release date snag
3:37:09 - Wrap up

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#290 | Our Halo Campaign Evolved Review Is HERE - Did It Deliver?! Jul 26, 2026

Show notes

The latest release by Halo Studios is here! While the run up to this launch has been far from clean, how does this game fare when separated from the noise? The Dukes who have deep ties to this game unpack it from the ‘super fan’ angle before rolling into what this means for those who have never played a Halo game. It’s a strange one, but we’ll do our best as always!

Timestamps:

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

0:00 - Intro
4:51 - Health Is Wealth
21:06 - Hits Only versus New IP
40:35 - Xbox Reveals Backward Compatibility for PC
53:20 - Xbox’s Messaging on Exclusivity Gets Messy Again
1:03:31 - Xbox Leadership Reportedly Detests Game Pass
1:20:14 - Halo Roadmap Leaks from Rebs Gaming
1:35:07 - Marathon’s Director Bows Out
1:48:29 - Circana’s Dooming News for Physical Game Lovers
2:13:07 - KOTOR Remake in 2028?
2:20:14 - What We’re Playing (Halo)
3:07:26 - Bethesda Lays Out the Roadmap for Their Future
3:56:54 - Wrap Up

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#289 | The Fallout From The 'Xbox Reset' Jul 19, 2026

Show notes

A lot can happen in a week's time! Now that the dust is settling and we have a rare quiet moment for Xbox, it's time to fully unpack the immediate results of Xbox's Reset. We've learned that multiple Zenimax owned studios have returned to their smaller sized around the mid 2010s. When you look across the industry at the various indie and AA success stories, one has to wonder if AAA is no longer just borrowing creative ideas from these parts and, instead, emulating their business structure. Is there a lesson to be learned in Expedition 33 reaching 8+ million copies sold with a team of around 30 people and their strategic form of outsourcing? What of the 10+ person team at Mega Crit that works on the indie hit Slay The Spire 2? Does the industry truly need its titanic teams across the board or should there be exceptions to that rule in cases such as Rockstar? The reality is that we won't know for years how any of this pans out, but it's a good thought exercise nonetheless!

Timestamps:

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

0:00 - Intro
10:51 - Health Is Wealth
25:04 - The Future of Elder Scrolls
33:49 - Leadership Issues at Halo Studios Again
1:02:46 - The Black Ops 1 and 2 PS5 Ports
1:08:59 - Microsoft Deletes a 25 Year Old Account
1:29:51 - The Slow Adoption Rate of PS5 and Series Consoles
1:39:37 - Obsidian Responds to Claims That They're a Different Team Nowadays
1:54:33 - Ryse: Son of Rome Was Supposed to Be Xbox's Assassin's Creed
2:00:52 - Glen Schofield Officially Retires from Making Games
2:10:17 - People Are Truly Backlog Gaming Like Crazy
2:13:41 - What We're Playing
2:34:44 - The Fallout of the "Xbox Reset"
3:25:04 - Wrap Up

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#288 | The Grand 'Xbox Reset' Is HERE... (it's a LOT) Jul 12, 2026

Show notes

What has Brad done this time?

Timestamps:

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

0:00 - Intro
12:27 - Health Is Wealth
27:44 – Xbox leaning into exclusivity
43:19 – TES 6 is 2–3 years away
52:27 – Obsidian is making a Fallout game
1:33:58 – Spyro devs are interested in Banjo
1:38:47 – Project Fantasy funding pull leads to studio shutdown
1:46:11 – What We’re Playing
2:01:14 – The Grand Xbox Reset is here
3:27:31 – Wrap Up

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#287 | We're Tired, Boss... Jul 05, 2026

Show notes

The bottom continues to fall out from the games industry. Approximately five impending studio closures was simply not enough. Here comes PlayStation who is shutting down their entire physical game operation. It's never been more clear than right now that many of us who have been gaming since the 90s are now truly considered "the old guard" as we continue to face off against staggering changes at a breakneck speed.

Timestamps:

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

0:00 - Intro
3:31 - Checking in with the Dukes
22:50 - Xbox announces more console price increases
48:38 - Is Xbox pulling third party deals from Game Pass?
55:26 - PlayStation goes all digital
1:18:37 - The Bungie cuts are official
1:34:27 - Will GTA 6 be 60 FPS?
1:38:57 - Oblivion Remastered gets Switch 2 port details
1:41:07 - What We’re Playing
2:06:09 - Xbox is eyeing Undead Labs for closure
2:29:24 - Xbox debates canceling Blade and shutting down Arkane
2:58:52 - Xbox pulls funding from Project Fantasy
3:12:12 - Wrap up

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#286 | Steam Machine Prices and XBOX Helix effect... Jun 28, 2026

Show notes

The RAM-pocalypse has arrived and Valve has set the tone on hardware pricing! Jimmy Champane of Deck Ready and The Insipid Ghost of The Expansion Pass break down all the Steam Machine news! How does this affect Project Helix launch and pricing? Massive news week for the Dukes and we sift through it all. GTA 6 colossal news impact, Phil Spencer believing in Kojima/OD, Xbox going full Hollywood and so much more!

Timestamps:

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

0:00 - Intro
2:38 - Warm Up Questions
5:12 - GTA 6 Price revealed, details & performance
32:23 - Todd Howard likes Blade. XBOX rake inbound?
43:55 - XBOX triples down on HOLLYWOOD
58:28 - Halo’s Project Ekur latest rumors
1:11:21 - Kojima says Phil & Asha understood OD
1:21:58 - Marathon’s new PvE mode
1:38:59 - Sonic and Shinobi failed to meet expectations
1:47:21 - Obsidian sued in class action lawsuit
1:51:13 - EA holds third round of layoffs this year
1:56:24 - Looking ahead at game releases - July 2026
2:04:22 - What We're Playing
2:15:07 - STEAM MACHINE sticker shock & Project Helix effect

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#285 | It's Happening AGAIN... - More Xbox Studio Shutdowns Soon Jun 21, 2026

Show notes

Brad's curse continues on.

Timestamps:

Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement.
0:00 - Intro
3:30 - An update on the Green Reaper
8:10 - Colin scolds The Dukes
13:09 - A brief reprieve from Xbox depression
24:30 - What We’re Playing
1:02:00 - Xbox Studio Shutdowns
3:01:15 - Wrap Up

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#284 | The Fallout From Xbox's 2026 Showcase... Jun 14, 2026

Show notes

Today, we tested the Brad curse. It worked.

Timestamps:

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

0:00 - Intro
02:55 - Our favorite games from this week
15:41 - Is the GTA 6 threat overexaggerated?
24:33 - The great PlayStation vs Xbox Originality debate
43:24 - Asha Sharma vs Phil Spencer
50:33 - The Brad Curse becomes real
1:18:05 - Xbox confirms “reliable pipeline of exclusives”
1:48:42 - The Gears Of War PS5 Fiasco
1:58:37 - Xbox lost millions of Game Pass subs after price hike
2:05:47 - Fable gets 30 minutes of new gameplay
2:24:45 - Halo: Campaign Evolved gets 28 minutes of new gameplay
2:42:01 - Gears Of E-Day is the longest campaign yet
2:44:40 - Premium editions for Halo, Gears, and Fable
2:54:21 - Project Mara is officially canceled
2:59:05 - Blade is still alive
3:01:28 - What We’re Playing
3:28:44 - Is Xbox trying to cut hardware prices?
3:44:03 - Wrap Up

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