The XboxCast

Episode 450 Beta 1

This is just a test for our real 450th episode. In fact, you could call it Episode No. 449.5.
Any facts to the contrary are communist lies!
 
Could Xbox be buying up some Ubisoft IP? Rumors are saying that Xbox is on the prowl to add some Tom Clancy or Assassins Creed to their already impressive line up of unused and ignored IPs... After all, Xbox has been banned from buying Ubisoft outright for the next 10 years. All thanks to the UK being a stick in the mud during the Activision Blizzard take over.
 
The studio that bought us the very disappointing Saints Row reboot was closed down, and now we know why. According to an exac, it was too expensive for what it was. It also doesn't help that the game, known for being anti-PC, got a reboot that was over the top PC. 
 
And Minecraft is getting a visual update! The first in it's entire history. While its no Super Duper Graphics Pack that was promised way back when, its a start in the right direction. Reflections, god-rays, oh my! Hopefully this is the start of a greater graphics refresh that the game has been crying out for. It may even spawn its very own XboxCast event... Minecraft May!
 
All this and much, much more in this week's episode of The Regular Show!
Make sure you've joined our Discord to take part in our amazing community events. 
The next one up is the world famous #AprilAchievementChallenge!
 
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For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit
⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐

Copilot For Your Hands

Xbox is working on a handheld gaming console!
And knowing Microsoft's naming standard, will probably call it "Copilot for Your Hands"!
 
In what is the worst kept secret of the gaming space, we now know that Xbox is partnering with Asus on a gaming handheld to take on the Switch. Will it be any good? Will it still run Windows? All this remains to be seen, but with Steam entering the operating system space, we can see Microsoft starting to sweat a little. Will you pick one up? Or will you continue to use your trusty SteamDeck?
 
Halo Infinite was about to get the Destiny treatment - 10 years of evolving and growing. But we can all see where that ended up. The utter mismanagement of 343 Industries caused a massive shake up, even to the point where the entire studio was renamed, and Halo was shifted to the Unreal 5 engine. One day, there will be thesis's written about the incredible fumble that was 343i and Halo Infinite. 
 
Diablo IV is about to get harder. A lot harder! People were speed running season 7 way too easily apparently. So now we're all being punished in season 8. Looks like we'll never get to Paragon 300 at this rate... 
 
All this and much, much more in this week's episode of The Regular Show!
Make sure you've joined our Discord to take part in our amazing community events. 
The next one up is the world famous #AprilAchievementChallenge!
 
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For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit
⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐

THIPS 7

Tony Hawke's Pro Skater 3 + 4 Remaster - also known as THIPS 7 - will be board sliding its way onto your Xbox this very year! And we cannot wait!
 
Thats right, we'll soon grinding, ollie-ing, and kickflipping all over the place. And the best news is that we'll be doing it as the DOOMSLAYER! Because what's better than being Tony Hawke? Being the death machine that is the DOOMSLAYER. We can't wait to glory-kill some rails. If fighting the darkness is not your style, you can also skate away your troubles as the Revenant, proving there's something for everyone. Will the music be just as good as we remember? You better believe it! 
 
Acclaim is coming back. This will only mean something to you if you've been gaming since the late nineties, but for us older gamers, it's welcome news indeed. Will we get some new games in franchises we haven't seen singe 2001? Or will this be revived only to sell IP to Tencent? Either way, if this means we get a new Shadow-man game, then bring it on!
 
And of course, what is a week in Xbox without being disappointed? This week, the rumor that Gears of War is going to PlayStation would be bad enough. But of course, they just have to add salt in the wound, and will be shipping the game without multiplayer! For a game that earned its cult following because of multiplayer, this is a very strange move indeed. Or this could be one giant ploy to get PlayStations gamers up to speed for when they release GoW: E-Day on the rival console as well? Either way, we aren't sure what Xbox is trying to achieve, but we do know they are pushing away some very vocal and long-term fans with these types of moves. 
 
All this and much, much more in this week's episode of The Regular Show!
Make sure you've joined our Discord to take part in our amazing community events. 
The next one up is the world famous #AprilAchievementChallenge!
 
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For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit
⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐

Obviously The Fish Plays Bass

Because what other instrument would a fish play?
 
Rockbeasts has been announced and looks to be the sleep hit we never knew we needed. Creatures big and small all come together in this unique RPG that is going to be filled to the brim with the best puns ever. And we're hyped for it! 
 
That Annapurna Interactive Showcase took place and there were announcements for announcements. From game devs confirming they are working on their next game, to release dates for games you've never heard of, the entire show could have been an email. At least according to us. We're not massive indie fans, so we're pretty sure some hidden gems are slipping under our radar. If we missed something exciting, be sure to let us know. 
 
Phil Spencer has said that generative A.I. is going to be amazing for game preservation. We have some doubts after seeing the current state of things, but like any good Microsoftie, Phil is making sure to lock step with the wider Microsoft as they march to the drumbeat of A.I. in everything. All we ask is for our Xbox to be a little smarter... What do you think? Is A.I. in video games a good thing? Or is it one giant Silicon Valley bubble? 
 
Not to be outdone, the head kahuna of Microsoft - Satya himself - has started crooning about the role of A.I. in video games. Particularly, how import gaming data is to Microsoft in helping to train their models. Just think - you'll go off to work one day and your A.I. avatar gets to stay home and unlock achievements for you. Because who wants to play their games anyway? It's much easier to let A.I. beat that boss, get that perfect three-star score, or manage your inventory. Actually, that last one sounds like the perfect use of A.I. in video games. Never having to deal with inventory management ever again will make it all worth it.
 
All this and much, much more in this week's episode of The Regular Show!
Make sure you've joined our Discord to take part in our amazing community events. 
The next one up is the world famous #AprilAchievementChallenge!
 
--
For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit
⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐

100% More Finger

Lee has 100% more finger in this episode.
Or is it due to being replaced by AI?
 
Xbox has a roadmap? Wait. It's a roadmap created by an Xbox fan, and not from Xbox Studios themselves. That more like the Xbox we know and love - no advertising, and expecting fans to do all their work for them. That aside, the roadmap is pretty impressive. Going all the way back to 2020, it showcases only the games Xbox Game Studios have actually released. This generation seems to be all about the games, and we've got them in spades. 
 
There's a new third part Xbox controller, and its a monster! Four controllers in one and called the best controller for PC and Xbox gaming. The Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot surely looks impressive, with being able to swap out the controller modules for your perfect layout. Now you can try out symmetrical thumb-sticks just to feel how wrong they are. 
 
And Ubisoft is Ubisofting all over their financials - posting what looks to be incomplete sales data. But in a twist, its not incomplete - that's just how far Ubisoft sales have fallen. 50% down in one quater alone. Will AC Shadows come in to save them? Or is it going to be the final nail in the coffin, causing them to be sold to Tencent? 
 
We're in the midst of #FriendlyFeb! So, make sure you've joined our Discord to enjoy the fun. Any #FriendlyFeb game reviews you put in Discord have a chance to be read out on the podcast. 
 
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For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit
⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐

Rooster-dor

It's like matador, but for roosters.
A more exciting way to make chicken skewers.
 
The reviews are in for South of Midnight, and boy is it shaping up to be a very special exclusive. Couple this with the reviews from Avowed, and Xbox is finally looking to be in the swing of things. Will they be able to keep up this momentum? Or will it all be undone by putting all these games on PlayStation in a years' time? 
 
Do you long for the gold ole days of RPGs, where every level up felt earned, where every item drop was a special occasion? A time before we got the dopamine riddled new hack-n-slashers? Well, you're not alone. The creator of Diablo 2, David Brevik, has shared a longing to get back to these types of games. 
 
And could Final Fantasy be coming to Xbox? New rumors are hinting that we may even see FF7 Remake and FF16 on Xbox this year! But do you care? It's been so long, and Xbox has been putting out so many great games on Game Pass - from AAA blockbuster to indie gems - that it looks to be too little too late for Square Enix.
 
We're in the midst of #FriendlyFeb! So, make sure you've joined our Discord to enjoy the fun. Any #FriendlyFeb game reviews you put in Discord have a chance to be read out on the podcast. 
 
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For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit
⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐

The Age of Games Coming To PlayStation

PlayStation gets even more Xbox games.
While Xbox gets..? The warm fuzzies of being everyone's friends?
 
Age of Empires, Age of Mythology and Forza Horizon 5 are all headed to PlayStation. There really are no more red lines inside Xbox. How soon will see Halo or Gears of War on PlayStation? All while Xbox is talking about winning people based on hardware, services and experiences. Almost like the games themselves aren't experiences? Seems like Activision Blizzard is not going to pay for itself, and Microsoft is calling on Xbox to collect.
 
Multiversus is shutting down. Yip, the game that released, then pulled, then re-released somehow never managed to find an audience. Who would have thought? Unless its due to be re-re-released this time next year? Bold strategy, Cotton, let's see if it pays off. 
 
Rebel Wolves, ex-devs from CD Projekt RED, are showing off their first game. On a mission to make the best RPG's in the world, this CGI trailer looks to have all the best bits of The Witcher distilled. We're looking really forward to hat they cook up, when they cook it up. 
 
And we're in the midst of #FriendlyFeb! So, make sure you're in our Discord, and join in on the fun. 
 
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For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit
⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐

Xbox Copilot: Welcome to Season 9

A new Xbox is coming, and we know the name.
Introducing Xbox Copilot!
 
Welcome to Season 9. We're glad you're here! And hello to all the new listeners. Let us introduce ourselves. We're The XboxCast - a podcast from Australia/New Zealand all about the life of an Xbox gamer in the lands of Down Under. From sky high tech prices, to being left off world maps, the ANZ experience is always fun. 
 
As a welcome back, we go over January's Developer Direct - DOOM, South of Midnight, and a surprise Ninja Gaiden 4 announcement. Oh my! So much to look forward to. And what is this? All of it going to PlayStation... Sometimes Xbox really makes it hard to be a fan. But Microsoft will Microsoft, and boy, do we get into it. 
 
We promise, we're not always so ranty!
 
And get yourself ready for #FriendlyFeb! Our February event kicks off soon, so make sure you're in our Discord, and join in on the fun. 
 
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For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit
⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐

The Game Awards (Alternate Version)

It's the Game Awards Show, but different!Thanks Lee!
 
Before we sign off officially for 2024, we have one final episode for you - its The Game Awards - again. But slightly different. 
 
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For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit
⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐