The Expansion Pass - TopPodcast.com

View Top 200 Chart

Back to Rankings Page

The Expansion Pass — Leisure
The Expansion Pass

Welcome to The Expansion Pass (XP) — your place for clear, thoughtful discussions on gaming without the console-war noise.

Hosted by Luke Lohr (InsipidGhost) and Captain Logun, XP covers the biggest stories in gaming across Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, PC, and Game Pass through weekly news analysis, in-depth reviews, and long-form developer interviews.

Formerly Xbox Expansion Pass, the show has evolved into a multiplatform gaming podcast while staying rooted in the strategy, ecosystem, and conversations that built it.

With 150+ interviews featuring developers, journalists, and studio leads — from AAA to indie — XP offers a grounded perspective on how games are made, why decisions happen, and where the industry is headed. Guests include creators from Xbox Game Studios, Bethesda, Ubisoft, Respawn, id Software, Ninja Theory, Blizzard, Asobo, Remedy, and more.

What You’ll Hear on XP

• Weekly gaming and industry news
• Hands-on previews and spoiler-free reviews
• Interviews with developers, journalists, and industry veterans
• Coverage of Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, PC, and Game Pass
• Honest analysis grounded in experience and respect for players

Why Listeners Come to XP

• Clear takes
• No console-war noise
• Insightful, professional coverage
• A welcoming gaming community
• Industry-level conversations made accessible

Whether you’re here for gaming news, developer insight, or thoughtful commentary on a changing industry, The Expansion Pass (XP) delivers high-quality coverage every week.

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, Pandora, SiriusXM, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and more.

Subscribe and join the XP community — and enjoy gaming discussions built on clarity, passion, and respect.

Copyright: © Copyright 2019 All rights reserved.

Latest Episodes:

Xbox Expansion Pass 148: Google Stadia Shutting Down | Developer Interview: Soulstice Oct 02, 2022

Show notes

#Xbox #Stadia #Soulstice

In episode 148 of the Xbox Expansion Pass we welcome the developers of Reply Games Marco Mortillaro and Samuele Perseo on to discuss their recent AA release of Soulstice, an homage to classic action games like DMC and Ninja Gaiden. Prior to that we take a look at the implications on xCloud of Google’s decision to shut down Stadia and what game companies are doing for players impacted. Enjoy!

The Xbox Expansion Pass (XEP) is a podcast dedicated to interpreting the goings on in the world of video games and analyzing how they impact the Xbox ecosystem. Luke Lohr, the InsipidGhost, plays host and discusses various topics throughout the industry. The guests on the show are meant to help gamers expand their knowledge of the gaming industry.

Twitter: InsipidGhost

Contact: InsipidGhost@gmail.com

Please consider leaving a review on iTunes or Spotify. It is the best way to support the show. Thank you!

0:00 Intro

0:29 Welcome

1:11 Words of Kindness & Cyberpunk

8:39 Stadia Shuts Down

15:37 Grounded Full Release

18:22 Soulstice Impressions

20:16 Spooky Games

24:41 Live Service Storytelling

32:25 Reply Game Studios

38:00 Comparing Soulstice to AAA

48:00 Level Design & Story

53:45 Language Writing

58:13 Fixed Camera

1:03:00 Slow Motion

1:07:40 Stefanie Joosten

1:13:29 Soliciting Feedback

1:17:00 Pride In Soulstice

Xbox Expansion Pass 147: New Iron Man Game | Satya Nadella Talks Activision | Cyberpunk Resurgence Sep 25, 2022

Show notes

#Xbox #Cyberpunk #IronMan

In episode 147 of the Xbox Expansion Pass there’s plenty of good news to discuss ranging from the announcement of EA Motive’s Iron Man title to Satya Nadella’s public statements on the Activision Blizzard Deal expressing confidence and perhaps casting shade. Beyond that GTA 6 has been leaked and Cyberpunk lives again. Enjoy!

The Xbox Expansion Pass (XEP) is a podcast dedicated to interpreting the goings on in the world of video games and analyzing how they impact the Xbox ecosystem. Luke Lohr, the InsipidGhost, plays host and discusses various topics throughout the industry. The guests on the show are meant to help gamers expand their knowledge of the gaming industry.

Twitter: InsipidGhost

Contact: InsipidGhost@gmail.com

Please consider leaving a review on iTunes or Spotify. It is the best way to support the show. Thank you!

0:00 Intro

0:42 Welcome

1:17 Words of Kindness

6:31 New Iron Man Game

10:39 Comic Book Games

13:07 Satya Nadella Talks Activision

18:51 GTA 6 Leak

24:39 Cyberpunk Resurgence

31:00 Leaving Xbox One Behind

36:07 Japanese Xbox Success

40:36 Outro

Xbox Expansion Pass 146: Jeff Grubb Talks Xbox Game Studio Updates | Tokyo Game Show | Bonnie Ross Sep 18, 2022

Show notes

#Xbox #TokyoGameShow #BonnieRoss

In episode 146 of the Xbox Expansion Pass we’re joined by the Grand Curator of the Game Mess, Mr. Jeff Grubb. We’ll be chatting this past week’s second E3-esque slew of announcements thanks to a PlayStation State of Play, Nintendo Direct, and Xbox’s Tokyo Game Show - lots of cross platform news hitting the gamerverse in this one. Bonnie Ross is exiting 343 Industries raising questions about the future of Halo and Jeff Grubb shares details of Xbox's internal release schedule. Enjoy!

The Xbox Expansion Pass (XEP) is a podcast dedicated to interpreting the goings on in the world of video games and analyzing how they impact the Xbox ecosystem. Luke Lohr, the InsipidGhost, plays host and discusses various topics throughout the industry. The guests on the show are meant to help gamers expand their knowledge of the gaming industry.

Twitter: InsipidGhost

Contact: InsipidGhost@gmail.com

Please consider leaving a review on iTunes or Spotify. It is the best way to support the show. Thank you!

0:00 Intro

0:30 Welcome

1:02 Words of Kindness Jeff Grubb

3:30 Changing Content Creation

7:41 Xbox Tokyo Game Show 2022

10:31 Phil Spencer In Japan

14:14 Buy the Exclusive or Buy the Publisher

17:21 What If Halo and Forza Hit Bigger?

20:46 Xbox Game Studios Internal Schedule

23:20 XGS In 2023

27:57 ID@Xbox Update & Old Xbox JRPGS

31:16 Goldeneye 007 on Xbox

36:44 Bonnie Ross Leaving Halo & 343 Industries

43:01 No New Halo Content?

43:50 Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2

52:01 More Xbox Acquisitions?

54:34 Upcoming Disney Games

57:33 Yakuza Day One on Game Pass

58:50 Bloodborne Update

Xbox Expansion Pass 145: Jim Ryan Calls Out Phil Spencer | Elite 2 Core Announced | Guest Sean Capri Sep 11, 2022

Show notes

#Xbox #JimRyan #CallofDuty

In episode 145 of the Xbox Expansion Pass we break down comment's made by Playstation's Jim Ryan calling Phil Spencer's Activision offer "inadequate" while also debating the merits of a price hike for consoles. New Xbox hardware has been announced by way of the Elite 2 Core controller and we wonder just what's going on at 343 studios.

The Xbox Expansion Pass (XEP) is a podcast dedicated to interpreting the goings on in the world of video games and analyzing how they impact the Xbox ecosystem. Luke Lohr, the InsipidGhost, plays host and discusses various topics throughout the industry. The guests on the show are meant to help gamers expand their knowledge of the gaming industry.

Twitter: InsipidGhost

Contact: InsipidGhost@gmail.com

Please consider leaving a review on iTunes or Spotify. It is the best way to support the show. Thank you!

Xbox Expansion Pass 144: Interview With Seamus Blackley Aug 21, 2022

Show notes

#Xbox #SeamusBlackley #EmbracerGroup

In episode 144 of the Xbox Expansion Pass we’re grateful to be joined by Seamus Blackley. Physicist, mathematician, designer and Father of the Original Xbox. This has been a long time coming and as always: enjoy.

The Xbox Expansion Pass (XEP) is a podcast dedicated to interpreting the goings on in the world of video games and analyzing how they impact the Xbox ecosystem. Luke Lohr, the InsipidGhost, plays host and discusses various topics throughout the industry. The guests on the show are meant to help gamers expand their knowledge of the gaming industry.

Twitter: InsipidGhost

Contact: InsipidGhost@gmail.com

Please consider leaving a review on iTunes or Spotify. It is the best way to support the show. Thank you!

0:00 Intro

0:46 Welcome

1:15 Words of Kindness

3:36 Embracer Group Acquisitions

6:38 Dead Island 2

8:48 Introducing Seamus Blackley

10:00 Reflecting on Celebrity

14:51 Emailing Bill Gates & Internal Politics

19:37 Seamus vs 3DO

21:29 From A Home of Abuse

23:39 Life Changing Quote

27:00 Lonely?

34:15 Ethernet to xCloud

40:15 Proving Bill Gates

43:33 Microsoft's Dumb Mistake

46:50 People Taking Credit

51:58 Thoughts on Activision & Bethesda

52:00 Peter Moore & Steve Balmer

54:02 Episode 201 of Unlocked

56:30 Phil Spencer

58:00 Local Compute versus Cloud

1:00:12 Seamus Advice

1:02:00 Now a CEO

1:05:00 Playing Games

1:08:07 Outro

Xbox Expansion Pass 143: Xbox at Gamescom | More AAA Delays | Interview: Rimworld Console Edition Aug 14, 2022

Show notes

#Xbox #Gamescom #RimworldConsoleEdition

In episode 143 of the Xbox Expansion Pass we discuss the recent string of high profile delays out of this fall, the Xbox presence at Gamescom, and Modern Warfare 2 looks to be making a big splash ahead of October. In the back half of the show we’re joined by Kevin Mann of Double Eleven Studios to discuss the release of Rimworld: Console Edition. Enjoy!

The Xbox Expansion Pass (XEP) is a podcast dedicated to interpreting the goings on in the world of video games and analyzing how they impact the Xbox ecosystem. Luke Lohr, the InsipidGhost, plays host and discusses various topics throughout the industry. The guests on the show are meant to help gamers expand their knowledge of the gaming industry.

Twitter: InsipidGhost

Contact: InsipidGhost@gmail.com

Please consider leaving a review on iTunes or Spotify. It is the best way to support the show. Thank you!

0:00 Introduction

0:45 Welcome

1:22 Words of Kindness

4:27 Xbox at Gamescom

7:19 Playstation Blocking Games

9:25 Third Party at Gamescom

12:18 Delayed Games (Midnight Suns & Hogwarts)

18:43 Call of Duty Beta

21:06 Halo's Survival

23:15 Elden Ring In Gamepass

26:56 Dream Guest on XEP

34:52 Double Eleven's Kevin Mann

35:30 Rimworld's Genre

39:33 Porting a PC Game to Console

47:27 Pressure

50:11 Future Rimworld DLC

52:01 Massive Game

57:44 Killer Squirrels

1:01:22 Player Feedback

1:05:52 Closing

Xbox Expansion Pass 142: First Party Check-In | Is Sony Scared? | Game Pass Family Plan Aug 07, 2022

Show notes

#Xbox #Playstation #Activision

In episode 141 of the Xbox Expansion Pass we’re joined by content creator Mr. Boomstick XL to discuss a number of topics including an Xbox first party check in, the Activision acquisition bringing statements of fear from Sony and downplay from Microsoft, and Xbox is soft launching a Game Pass family plan. Enjoy!

The Xbox Expansion Pass (XEP) is a podcast dedicated to interpreting the goings on in the world of video games and analyzing how they impact the Xbox ecosystem. Luke Lohr, the InsipidGhost, plays host and discusses various topics throughout the industry. The guests on the show are meant to help gamers expand their knowledge of the gaming industry.

Mr. Boomstick's Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DoubleBarrelGamingWMrBoomStickXL

Twitter: InsipidGhost

Contact: InsipidGhost@gmail.com

Please consider leaving a review on iTunes or Spotify. It is the best way to support the show. Thank you!

0:00 Intro

0:28 Welcome

0:59 Words of Kindness

3:04 First Party Check In - Halo

8:27 Roadmap Failures

10:48 Forge Mode Leaks

18:43 Forza Horizon Hot Wheels

25:04 Sea of Thieves Season 7

29:35 Is Sony Scared of Activision Deal?

36:00 It's Just Business

43:08 Game Pass Family Plan

49:48 Hellblade 2 Details

55:20 Closing

Related Podcasts