The XboxCast

Call of FortCraft

Microsoft giveth.And Microsoft taketh away.
And more seems to be going by the day.
 
The internet awoke to a bombshell this week with Microsoft canceling the highly anticipated Perfect Dark reboot and Rare’s ethereal Everwild, and shut down The Initiative studio in a sweeping round of layoffs affecting over 9,000 employees. Turn 10 Studios have also been cut in half and a rumored to be a support studio going forward. 
Fans are reeling from the loss of these ambitious titles, with Perfect Dark’s sleek 2024 gameplay trailer now a bittersweet memory, and Everwild’s lush fantasy world left unexplored.
 
The A.I. beast must be feed, and Xbox looks to be sacrificial lamb here. 
 
In the business world of line must go up, how long can Xbox survive? Especially with Satya's shortsightedness and tunnel vision on Azure. It seems that these are dark days for Xbox.  
 
But it’s not all doom and gloom—Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 charges in with its Siege update, borrowing a horde-mode vibe from Gears of War to keep Space Marines slashing through Tyranid swarms. Meanwhile, The Blood of Dawnwalker, a vampire-fueled open-world RPG, stunned some with a massive gameplay reveal, yet left out hosts on the other side of "meh".
 
The Xbox App is leveling up too, adding Steam and Battle.net support for a seamless cross-platform experience—PC gamers, it’s time to unite your libraries! Xbox is here to save the day, as long as it's allowed to. And this leads Kyle to go on a rant about Steam... 
 
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Best Face Badge

Lee has won Best Face Badge.
Not in real life - only in our hearts. 
 
This week, we’re buzzing about Microsoft’s bombshell reveal of next-gen Xbox consoles, powered by a multi-year AMD partnership promising cutting-edge graphics, AI-enhanced gameplay, and full backwards compatibility with your entire Xbox library—ensuring your classics stay alive. Rumors swirl that these consoles, possibly launching in 2027, might lean into a Windows-based PC-like experience, sparking debates about whether Xbox is morphing into a gaming PC powerhouse.
 
Meanwhile, Borderlands 4 hands-on previews are dropping jaws, with its chaotic looter-shooter vibes set to redefine the series. The Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition leaked ahead of its announcement, hinting at a VR future where Game Pass and cloud gaming collide for immersive adventures.
 
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II gets an enhanced update on August 12, 2025, with new modes and achievements to deepen its haunting narrative. While also sneakily going across to the blue team... We're truly living in a future where Halo may even come next! How do you feel as an Xbox fan? 
 
The Xbox 360 lives on with a surprise 2025 update, keeping the retro flame burning. And in a move to surprise no one, the update puts ads on the dashboard. That's right - update your console from 2006 and get ads... Microsoft manages to Microsoft over everything lately.
 
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Dead or Alive 3: Relifted

Dead of Alive 3 is getting a remake, or remaster.
And all around the world, people cheered! 
 
After Not-E3, the news always tends to slow down. So we just tend to talk about Lee playing football at McLean park in Napier. He's practically famous by now. But we all know that you're here for game news, so lets go over everything we've missed from the Summer Game Fest.
 
Now we're going over every game that got shown that's coming to Xbox and Xbox PC. Strap yourselves in, its going to be a long one... Also, Kyle thinks Dark Souls doesn't look good. Because whats better for exposure than controversial statements? Although saying Dark Souls doesn't look good is not exactly controversial. 
 
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Cod Fish Necklace: An Xbox Show Case Wrap Up

Xbox's Not-E3 has come and gone. And we're left wondering about a lot of things... 
 
Sure, we can write some witty comments here, but it's much easier to just give you a list of the games that Xbox showed off. For all out thoughts,. you'll just have to listen to the podcast... 
 
What was interesting was just how many had the PS5 Logo. Looks like Xbox is truly embracing its future as the modern SEGA... 
 
The games Xbox chose to show us:
The Outer Worlds 2 (October 29, 2025, Game Pass)
High on Life 3 (March 2025, Game Pass)
Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy (March 2026, Game Pass)
The Blood of Dawnwalker (2026, Xbox/PC/PS5)
Super Meat Boy 3D (March 2025, Game Pass)
Ninja Gaiden 4 (April 7, 2025, Xbox/PC/PS5, Game Pass)
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle – DLC: The Order of Giants (September 2025)
Grounded 2 (July 29, 2025, Game Preview, Game Pass)
Clockwork Revolution (Release TBD, Game Pass)
Beast of Reincarnation (2026, Xbox/PC/PS5, Game Pass)
Final Fantasy XVI (Available immediately on Xbox Series X|S and PC)
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade (Winter 2025, Xbox)
Persona 4 Revival (Release TBD, Xbox/PC/PS5, Game Pass)
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 (Release TBD, Game Pass Ultimate)
Age of Mythology: Retold – Heavenly Spear DLC (Fall 2025, Game Pass)
There Are No Ghosts at the Grand (2026, Xbox/PC, Game Pass)
Mudang: Two Hearts (2026, Xbox/PC)
Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf (2026, Xbox/PC, Game Pass)
Fallout 76: Gone Fission (Available now)
Solo Leveling: Arise Overdrive (2026, Xbox)
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 (July 11, 2025, Game Pass)
At Fate’s End (2026, Xbox/PC, Game Pass)
Gears of War: Reloaded (August 26, 2025, Xbox/PC/PS5, Game Pass)
Sea of Thieves – Season 17: Smuggler’s Tide (August 2025)
Keeper (October 17, 2025, Xbox/PC)
Cronos: A New Dawn (Fall 2025, Xbox/PC)
Aphelion (2026, Xbox/PC, Game Pass)
Aniimo (2026, Xbox/PC)
Invincible Vs. (2026, Xbox/PC)
Hollow Knight: Silksong (2025, tied to ROG Xbox Ally launch, Game Pass)
Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster (Release TBD)
What did you think of 2025's Not-E3? 
 
Join our Discord to become a member of our amazing community and take part in our #Back2YourBacklog June Event!
 
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This is an Xbox. That is an Xbox. You’re an Xbox and I’m an Xbox!

When everything is an Xbox, nothing is an Xbox... 
 
Xbox Game Pass is a rollercoaster, welcoming trippy sci-fi and an anti-live-service gem in The Alters, while Baldur’s Gate and Baldur’s Gate II shadowdrop for console players.Game Pass is the gift that just keep on giving. But where is the option to subscribe for more time to play these amazing games? 
 
Minecraft may have missed its Super Duper Graphics Pack update, but it's back with a massive graphics update and a bonus achievement. Finally, we get to see the blocks rendered in 4K... And remember Manual Samuel —that wacky gem? Well it gets new achievements after nine years!
 
Hardware’s stealing the spotlight, though: Microsoft’s new AMD partnership powers first-party Xbox gear, and two Xbox handhelds drop just as Nintendo Switch 2 launches (cheeky timing, Phil!). The ROG Xbox Ally gets a price and release date, but Microsoft’s sidelining its own handheld to focus on Windows 11 PC gaming, with “Xbox PC” branding taking center stage. Fans aren’t thrilled, with some claiming “Xbox as we know it is ending” and others joking you’ll need to sell a kidney for the new storage upgrades.
 
The Witcher 4 set the internet ablaze with a UE 5.6 tech demo at State of Unreal 2025, but has left Lee very unimpressed. We'll let youi be the judge, but so far, it just looks like another UE5 game. Kyle holds out hope that CD Projekt RED will deliver though, but how far can reckless optimism get you?
 
Forza Horizon 6 is teased for Xbox’s 25th anniversary in 2026—no release this year year, though. Sony’s PlayStation State of Play June 2025 showcased a slew of PC and Xbox titles, proving cross-platform love is alive.
 
The next event is in June and it's all about your backlog! For more info, check out the official #Back2YourBacklog page on our website for all the info. Then join our Discord to become a member of our amazing community.
 
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Jason MooMoo The Sea Cow

A Riders Republic movie is in the works. 
Sometimes the jokes write themselves...
 
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine gets a remastered glow-up, landing day one for Xbox and PC—perfect for chainsword-wielding fans. Meanwhile, The Division 2 storms the service with its Battle for Brooklyn expansion and Year 7 content, ready to unleash fresh chaos.
 
Xbox dropped sleek Witcher 3 controllers to celebrate a decade of Geralt, making us all want to toss a coin to our console setups. Over in Monster Hunter Wilds, the May update brings Street Fighter’s Akuma, tougher Tempered monsters, and balance tweaks that have us hyped. But it’s not all smooth sailing—EA’s canned its Black Panther game and shuttered Cliffhanger Games, leaving Wakanda fans gutted, while Bungie’s Destiny 2 content vaulting stirs up legal drama that’s got Guardians talking.
 
On the experimental side, Microsoft’s testing an Xbox Copilot AI to guide your gaming—friend or futuristic overlord? We’ll see. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 hits a milestone thats super fitting for the game, and Atomfall is already eyeing a sequel and a TV show, talk about big dreams!
 
And Hideo Kojima’s back at Summer Game Fest, because of course he is. Geoff continues to remind the world that Kojima is his friend, even if Kojima doesn't know...  
 
The next event is in June and it's all about your backlog! For more info, check out the official #Back2YourBacklog page on our website for all the info. Then join our Discord to become a member of our amazing community.
 
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The T-Box

Our world famous #AprilAchievementChallenge has come to an end. And do we have the recap for you - all the in-and-outs as they happened!
Gears of War is going to PlayStation, its true, For all the good that will do...Xbox really seems keen to destroy its brand.
As it sends its tent pole games into competitor's hand.
But the games only flow towards one way,
As God of War has not come to Xbox this day...
We're sorry for starting the podcast off with this depressing news, but blame Lee. So far, of the core Xbox franchises - Forza, Gears and Halo, only Halo remains and Xbox exclusive. But for how long? By the end on Not-E3 this year, will Xbox have any exclusives left? Probably not. Then the only thing going for it is Game Pass... The world we could have been in, if only Microsoft stick by their guns and had faith in their products - Xbox included. Just imagine what would have happened if Call of Duty was exclusive! Xbox may even be the no.1 console...
 
In saying that - it's not like we aren't getting any games! Thanks to a renewed Xbox roadmap, we can see the next few games planned and we're sure this will be expanded on during not-E3 as well! In addition, Game Pass continues to shower us with games - some we have bought, and some we were going to buy. This is the service that keeps on serving... up good games, that is!
 
While there's a lot to be critical of, Xbox is where our hearts are. Even if its not where Microsoft's heart is any more. So in preparation, we're getting ready for Tencent to buy Xbox from Microsoft and release The T-Box! Tongue in cheek, of course!
 
The next event is in June and it's all about your backlog! For more info, check out the official #Back2YourBacklog page on our website for all the info. Then join our Discord to become a member of our amazing community.
 
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Beard and Bark Face

The charts have changed!
This is not a drill, the charts have changed!
 
The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion Remaster has rocketed into 2nd place on the charts! Proving once again what we knew all along - the world craves good RPGs! And maybe not even good RPGs, but good games in general. And what's this? Coming in the top 10 is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33! Truly we live in an age of wonders! Good games coming left and right and its all thanks to Xbox.
 
In fact, its thanks to Xbox that PlayStation can keep the lights on, as Microsoft Gaming becomes the top publisher on the PlayStation store for the last quarter. Sony must really love getting their 30% cut from all of Microsoft's hard work. Would certainly be a shame if Xbox decided to stopped being nice and focus on their own ecosystem...
 
In more good news - PC Game Pass hits a 45% YoY increase! So we live to see another day of articles telling us how unsustainable or unprofitable Game Pass is. Thanks gaming media! And speaking of Game Pass, Farcry 4 gets a 60FPS patch just in time for it's Game Pass debut. Like we said - good games are coming left and right. It's becoming so hard to keep up. RIP to everyone backlog everywhere.
 
And we finally have Hunted the Truth when it comes to Halo 5's infamous media campaign which was nothing like the game. In a tale as old as time, the Sales & Marketing guys didn't understand what they were selling, and so sold something that didn't exist. You would have thought that with this happening 10 years ago, Microsoft and everyone else would have learnt their lesson, but it seems not.
 
Do you have questions about the title of this episode? Of course you do. Lee has been playing Avowed and he's been a-wowed with it. To find out more, you'll just have to listen...
 
Our world famous #AprilAchievementChallenge has come to an end. But you'll have to wait until next week to hear the official stats... (Thats what we call a tease in this industry)
 
The next event is in June and it's all about your backlog! For more info, check out the official #Back2YourBacklog page on our website for all the info. Then join our Discord to become a member of our amazing community.
 
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Everything's an Xbox Even More

Did you hear?
It scored 92 on OpenCricket!
 
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has come out swinging. Rave reviews, massive media blitz and the cherry on top? It just so happens to be a great game! Often scoring 10/10 on just about every gaming review site that matters! What a fantastic outing for the first game from a new and unknown studio. Now we know where all of Ubisoft's talent went.. And it does this all without any towers to climb and survey!
 
The Division 2 finally has some DLC news! It's only taken them about 6 years to get back into gear. We'll be getting a short story and some new cosmetics, but hey - for the price, we can't exactly complain. Hopefully, we see more investment into Div2 from here on out. Or maybe even The Division 3? Will you be jumping into Battle for Brooklyn when it comes out?
 
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remake Remaster Re-Relese is finally real! And its out now on Game Pass. Who would have though that we'd ever get here? With leak after leak, we finally can get back into Cyrodiil! But at 100+GB for a game that came on a DVD... It better be amazing.
 
And rejoice all your LG TV owners. Or at least if you bought your TV in the last 2 years. Because now your LG TV is officially an Xbox. Yes, the Xbox app is available for LG TV's but only for the 2023 models on wards. Now we can welcome a lot more people into the wonderful world of "Everything's an Xbox"...
 
Speaking of Achievement Hunters - the current event is is the world famous #AprilAchievementChallenge!
Check out our website for future events and join our Discord to become a member of our amazing community.
 
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For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit
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