#GameFace! Canoodling In the Library

Next month our gaming future is in your hands.
Who's chosen to be cruel, and who's chosen to be kind? 
 
In August, we're doing Patron's Puzzling Picks - leaving our gaming future up to our Patreons. Is this a good idea or a great idea? And to make sure we don't suffer alone, we're getting the Patrons to choose games for their fellow Patrons! It's Christmas! In August? No one ever said we're great with timings.
 
Simone has done it! She has played more games in one week than Lee did. We really are in a weird timeline... Saving the world in Fenyx Rising, racing through the streets in Need for Speed Unbound and spying on nuns canoodling in the library in Pentiment - Simone has crossed every genre. 
 
Kyle is getting excited about factory building games. Wanna build a factory? It has to be a factory! Dyson Sphere Factory is on Game Pass PC and it's highly recomemended you play it. If factory building is your thing. And it's not really Lee's thing as he is stuck in Diablo. He may have a problem. 
 
Don't forget that we're doing a massive YouTube push, and we need your help. Go to our YouTube channel, watch the podcast on there, subscribe, like share and just be that annoying person who tells the world about us. You sharing the podcast is how we grow. So if you enjoyed this episode, please share it on all your social media and tag us! We're everywhere. Even in your house... 
 
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For previous episodes, all our socials, community events, and more, visit
⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐
 
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Your hosts are:
 
Kyle: XarCrius on Xbox and Twitter
Lee: Leehoward on Xbox and Twitter 
Simone: GymBeanNZ on Xbox and Twitter 

#NuNews: Me, Me, Lee

It's the Lee and Paul show. 
And Paul is kind enough to let Lee be the boss. 
 
This week, it's a deluge of news as suddenly everyone covering the Activision Blizzard deal now must find other news stories to cover. Lee yet again finds all the most important news stories just for you. Including our beloved True Achievement's Game Play Charts. 
 
Xbox Game Pass Family & Friends Plan has come to an end. Was the trial unsuccessful or did too many people take advantage of it? Microsoft is sure to be tight lipped about the program until we see it launch world wide. 
 
And have you tried to pick up an Xbox Series X yet? Chances are you 'll find they have been selling out. Why, you ask. Well Microsoft has fixed the old Call of Duty multiplayer servers, which means Xbox is the only place to enjoy all the old COD titles. Sony has also agreed to keep COD on PlayStation, but this is only for COD. It looks like other Activision Blizzard games are about to become Xbox Exclusive! 
 
And Phil Spencer has worked his magic in the background by bringing the Antstream Arcade collection to Xbox. Whatever your thoughts on the man is, he sure is sticking by his word of keeping gaming preservation alive. 
 
Please remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel. We need a small nation of subscribers before YouTube takes us seriously. And we very much want to be taken seriously. I am sure you agree... 
 
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For everything about the podcast, check out our ⭐ official website ⭐! 
Follow us on Twitter, find all our links on LinkTree and support us on Patreon. 
 
--
Your hosts are:
 
Kyle: XarCrius on Xbox and Twitter
Lee: Leehoward on Xbox and Twitter 
Simone: GymBeanNZ on Xbox and Twitter 

#NuNews: Happy Activision Blizzard Day

The FTC has been defeated. The CMA has just about conceded. 
Xbox is about to close on (finally) buying Activision Blizzard! It has been a long 18 months...
 
Paul joins us again for #NuNews from a freezing cold Christchurch. And Kyle has the best life advice for him! 
 
Powerwash Simulator takes us into the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Which is a very hard turn from the colourful world of SpongeBob. But hey, even Space Marines need clean armour. Grand Theft Auto is now back on Game Pass and it's the new shinny Xbox Series X version too. 4K60, ray tracing and all the deliciousness that comes with it. Time to jump back in maybe? 
 
Xbox is clamping down on the Xbox Live to Game Pass conversion, and Kyle is part of the casualties... Three years of Xbox live now gets you just over 2 years of Game Pass Ultimate. It's still better than a kick in the pants, but it's sad to see it go. 
 
Please remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel. We need a small nation of subscribers before YouTube takes us seriously. And we very much want to be taken seriously. I am sure you agree... 
 
--
For everything about the podcast, check out our ⭐ official website ⭐! 
Follow us on Twitter, find all our links on LinkTree and support us on Patreon. 
 
--
Your hosts are:
 
Kyle: XarCrius on Xbox and Twitter
Lee: Leehoward on Xbox and Twitter 
Simone: GymBeanNZ on Xbox and Twitter 

#GameFace! A Big Announcement

#PatronsPuzzlingPicks is coming up quickly.
And it's going to be the last event for Simone and Kyle for some time... 
 
All your questions about #PatronsPuzzlingPicks are answered in this episode. If you have questions we haven't answered, then you need to get into our Discord. Or bug Simone. Or tweet at us. Basically, if you want to take part and don't know how, then it's up to you to do something. We've done all we can! 
 
Have you played Star Wars: The Force Unleashed? Have you ever wanted to rant about it? Like just a deep seated rage that you haven't yet addressed? Well Simone is here to save the day. She has ranted enough for everyone. 
 
Please remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel. We need a small nation of subscribers before YouTube takes us seriously. And we very much want to be taken seriously. I am sure you agree... 
 
--
For everything about the podcast, check out our ⭐ official website ⭐! 
Follow us on Twitter, find all our links on LinkTree and support us on Patreon. 
 
--
Your hosts are:
 
Kyle: XarCrius on Xbox and Twitter
Lee: Leehoward on Xbox and Twitter 
Simone: GymBeanNZ on Xbox and Twitter 

#NuNews: Organic DevOps

It's that time of the year when there is just no news.
So, here's two hours of us babbling. (Which is no different to every week). 
 
Annapurna had their very own showcase and there are even more games to add to your backlog. And the best thing about this? Most of these games are coming to Game Pass Day one! Time to get hyped for the best deal in gaming. Which one are you most excited for? 
 
We get excited about all the stats for Kick.com! Can you believe this streaming platform has come in and started eating Twitch's lunch? Oh, and on an unrelated note, we stream the podcast every week on Kick! You can even follow us there. Because we're cool like that. Now go over and follow us. (But also please continue to watch us on YouTube!)
 
Of course there's new drama in the Activision Blizzard saga. Jim Ryan has demanded that Xbox give all its games to Playstation. And if they don't he will sulk. We may be being funny, but it's really not far from the truth. And then Phil claps back in the best way possible... We're starting to enjoy the new aggressive Xbox! 
 
Please remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel. We need a small nation of subscribers before YouTube takes us seriously. And we very much want to be taken seriously. I am sure you agree... 
 
--
For everything about the podcast, check out our ⭐ official website ⭐! 
Follow us on Twitter, find all our links on LinkTree and support us on Patreon. 
 
--
Your hosts are:
 
Kyle: XarCrius on Xbox and Twitter
Lee: Leehoward on Xbox and Twitter 
Simone: GymBeanNZ on Xbox and Twitter 

#GameFace! Zoom Zoom Zoom Zoom

We're zooming here, we're zooming there.
We're zooming everywhere! 
 
Simone and Kyle recount their trip to Vietnam and confuse Lee about coffee. Apparently, there is a monkey that eats a coffee bean and then you drink its poop. And it's quite expensive. But if you are a coffee drinker, this is peak coffee. And have you heard of Egg Coffee? Because Kyle is now a fan. 
 
#BackToYourBacklog has now wrapped up with an excellent turnout from the community. So many of you listeners got into the spirit and really went to town with this event. And we couldn't be prouder. You guys are amazing and we're blowing away by every one of you. Thanks for making these events really special. Now are you ready for #PatronsPuzzlingPicks? 
 
Kyle is super excited abut Hi-Fi Rush. So many colours! Lee is still stuck in Diablo, and Simone really want to talk about Immortality with someone. Can you say Spoilercast episode? Because we can. Even if we can't schedule it... 
 
Please remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel. We need a small nation of subscribers before YouTube takes us seriously. And we very much want to be taken seriously. I am sure you agree... 
 
--
For everything about the podcast, check out our ⭐ official website ⭐! 
Follow us on Twitter, find all our links on LinkTree and support us on Patreon. 
 
--
Your hosts are:
 
Kyle: XarCrius on Xbox and Twitter
Lee: Leehoward on Xbox and Twitter 
Simone: GymBeanNZ on Xbox and Twitter 

#NuNews: Patrons’ Puzzling Picks

We're getting ready for the next XboxCast Community Event.
And you're invited!* 
 
*Must be a patron. Why not sign up now? It's only $1! In fact, check out all the ways you can support us right over 🤩here!
 
The next event is called Patron's Puzzling Picks and not only do our patrons decided what game we're playing for August, but we're including a special Secret Santa for all our Patrons too! Have you ever wanted to make Gary play Hi-Fi Rush? Or maybe you want to see what game your Secret Santa picks out for you? Now's your chance to get in on the fun! All Patron's are eligible and you can sign up on our Discord. Don't use Discord? Just tweet at us! Or DM Simone. If you have any questions - feel free to ask away. You can ask in our live stream chat, Discord, Twitter, smoke signal or intergalactic radio signal sent in the 1970s. The choice is yours. Of course we can only receive some due to our current technology, so please keep that in mind. 
 
In this episode of NuNews, Lee catches Kyle up with all the news from the showcase. And what a showcase it was! From finally seeing Fable, to the deep dive into Starfield, there was so much to cover. So we do! You're welcome. 
 
Lee has tried hard to make sure that we don't turn into The DiabloCast, so he's limited himself to only 4 stories. Good on ya Lee! And if you're waiting for a Barbie Pink Xbox, well you're dreams have just come true. And it comes with special collector edition controllers too. So much pink! It's everywhere. 
 
And what would a modern Xbox Podcast be without some indepth Activision Blizzard news? Because we're nerds and we like it. And its been amazing to follow. At least for us. Feel free to skip it. But it will cost you a $1! 
 
Please remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel. We need a small nation of subscribers before YouTube takes us seriously. And we very much want to be taken seriously. I am sure you agree... 
 
--
For everything about the podcast, check out our ⭐ official website ⭐! 
Follow us on Twitter, find all our links on LinkTree and support us on Patreon. 
 
--
Your hosts are:
 
Kyle: XarCrius on Xbox and Twitter
Lee: Leehoward on Xbox and Twitter 
Simone: GymBeanNZ on Xbox and Twitter 

#NuNews: Now With More Paul

If you think Lee has been doing a decent job with the podcast, just wait until you hear from Paul! 
 
For the OG listeners, they'll remember when Paul was our producer - making us sound (and look) amazing. From giving us our first mic, to building a full-on recording studio - Paul was integral in getting The XboxCast off the ground. And he's back! Don't forget to follow his YouTube channel where he streams every week. 
 
Xbox has proved the doubters wrong and confirmed that that excellent Fable trailer was captured on an Xbox Series X! It pays to have the world's most powerful console, it seems, seeing what magic can happen. 
Microsoft is no longer making Xbox One games. It's official - the Xbone generation is dead and gone. But have they told their publishers? As there are still "next-gen" games coming for the system. 
 
Our favourite game ever is now one of the best selling games ever. Which means it will never leave the charts now. What will we do? Should we just ignore it? And does this bode well for Starfield? Who are we kidding - of course this bodes well for Starfield! If you aren't going to play it, then you wont be one of the cool kids... Hey, we don't make the rules. 
 
And if you're hanging out for a new Xbox, the Series S is now in black. And more importantly - 1 whole terrabyte. Begone small console, and say hello to the biggest small console around. 
 
Please remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel. We need a small nation of subscribers before YouTube takes us seriously. And we very much want to be taken seriously. I am sure you agree... 
 
--
For everything about the podcast, check out our ⭐ official website ⭐! 
Follow us on Twitter, find all our links on LinkTree and support us on Patreon. 
 
--
Your hosts are:
 
Kyle: XarCrius on Xbox and Twitter
Lee: Leehoward on Xbox and Twitter 
Simone: GymBeanNZ on Xbox and Twitter 

#NuNews: Live Tweeting On The Podcast

Lee is learning how to live tweet. 
He just chose to do it in the middle of the podcast.
 
Activision Blizzard is threatening to leave the UK. And Lee has a great idea of offering VPN's for all #GamePass subscribers so that Xbox players can still get their Call of Duty. This means Xbox gets to go ahead and buy ABK, all the UK people can play the games and Microsoft comes off looking like the good guy! It's foolproof. 
 
Stardew Valley is getting an update and Lee is getting excited when Simone retweets his #NuNews tweet! So thats why the story is in here. Its a new green scythe. So now your weapons can match. And everyone is losing their minds over it. 
 
Western Digital is now making Expansion Cards for the Series X and S! And it's cheaper than the Seagate. This is going to help drive the prices down and now we're all waiting for the 2TB Xbox... Come on guys! We're waiting! 
 
Please remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel. We need a small nation of subscribers before YouTube takes us seriously. And we very much want to be taken seriously. I am sure you agree... 
 
--
For everything about the podcast, check out our official website! 
Follow us on Twitter, find all our links on LinkTree and support us on Patreon. 
 
--
Your hosts are:
 
Kyle: XarCrius on Xbox and Twitter
Lee: Leehoward on Xbox and Twitter 
Simone: GymBeanNZ on Xbox and Twitter 

#GameFace! The Pre3 E3 Hype Stream Predictions

E3 season is upon us! Or Xbox Showcase Season. 
But its less fun to say it that way... 
 
Get ready for the hype with our predictions! What's coming, what do we hope to see and what we will inevitably get... The XboxCast tries to go crystal ball gazing and talk about our hopes and dreams for the showcase! 
 
And Lee will be having a very special episode for the showcase too! So, make sure you are following on Kick and YouTube to keep him company as he tries to keep the HoG boys in line. This will be streamed in our normal #GameFace! time slot, and if you don't know when that is, then you really need to check out our website and subscribe to our #NuNewsletter! 
 
Apart from #BackToYourBacklog, we just know you're dying to hear about our thoughts on Diablo IV. Yes, it's true, we did kinda break the rules of #BackToYourBacklog. But for a good cause! Because now you get to hear all about the latest, and greatest, to come from the Blizzard vault. 
 
Please remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel. We need a small nation of subscribers before YouTube takes us seriously. And we very much want to be taken seriously. I am sure you agree... 
 
--
For everything about the podcast, check out our official website! 
Follow us on Twitter, find all our links on LinkTree and support us on Patreon. 
 
--
Your hosts are:
 
Kyle: XarCrius on Xbox and Twitter
Lee: Leehoward on Xbox and Twitter 
Simone: GymBeanNZ on Xbox and Twitter 

#NuNews: Do Achievements Need Fixing?

Xbox achievements are broken. 
Or are they? 
 
Join Kyle and Lee as they go off on Xbox Achievements. Are they as broken or out of date as the hosts think? Would you like to see Achievements 2.0? What even does Achievement 2.0 even look like? 
Kyle thinks we should be able to remove games from our Gamer Tags if we have only one achievement. Lee doesn't care. Where do you sit on this matter? All this because Xbox looks like it's going to be fixing the easy Gamerscore games! 
 
Exciting news for Alan Wake fans! The highly anticipated Alan Wake 2 will be released digitally at an affordable price point because it's only being released on digital. Is this a good move? Or does it prove the Xbox One was ahead of its time? 
 
Xbox fans are in for a treat as some highly anticipated PlayStation Showcase games are also making their way to the Xbox platform. In fact only three games aren't coming to Xbox, but will be on PC. Which means we may see a time where PlayStation exclusives are a memory... 
 
Please remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel. We need a small nation of subscribers before YouTube takes us seriously. And we very much want to be taken seriously. I am sure you agree... 
 
--
For everything about the podcast, check out our official website! 
Follow us on Twitter, find all our links on LinkTree and support us on Patreon. 
 
--
Your hosts are:
 
Kyle: XarCrius on Xbox and Twitter
Lee: Leehoward on Xbox and Twitter 
Simone: GymBeanNZ on Xbox and Twitter 

#GameFace! You Horse Looks Like My Post Horse

Its time for the best Xbox podcast in the galaxy!
Exclusively featuring the games that we play. 
 
#BackToYourBacklog is about to kick off, and we have made some #LeeRules. It's not because Lee Rulez, but because we have to find ways to keep him in line. We just know he'll be trying to find a way to play Diablo IV... And we're here to make sure that he at least tries to make some progress in his backlog game. As hard as it may be. 
 
This episode finds the cast still chipping away at the games that sucked them in last week. Kyle is still trying to be a Jedi while Simone and Lee are trying to be cowboys. In fact, they are so cowboy that they are playing the same game! Well... The same game released a few years apart.  
 
Please remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel. We need a small nation of subscribers before YouTube takes us seriously. And we very much want to be taken seriously. I am sure you agree... 
 
--
For everything about the podcast, check out our official website! 
Follow us on Twitter, find all our links on LinkTree and support us on Patreon. 
 
--
Your hosts are:
 
Kyle: XarCrius on Xbox and Twitter
Lee: Leehoward on Xbox and Twitter 
Simone: GymBeanNZ on Xbox and Twitter