Xbox Studio Closures, Bungie Trouble & Summer Game Fest Favorites | XP 326
22/06/2026 | 1h 30 mins.
Xbox appears headed toward a major strategic shift, and we're breaking down what it could mean for Game Pass, first-party studios, and the future of the platform.
Captain Logan is joined by Mr. Bad Bit of The Trophy Room and Daddy Dwally of The Nerd Chat to discuss reports surrounding Xbox studio restructuring, Game Pass concerns, Halo: Campaign Evolved's PlayStation Plus controversy, and Sony's growing Bungie problem.
We also dive into Marathon, Destiny 3, AI in game development, rising AAA budgets, and whether platform holders are finally being forced to rethink how games are funded and released.
In the second half, we share what we've been playing, including 007 First Light, Pragmata, Astro Bot, Forza Horizon 6, and more before revealing our favorite games from Summer Game Fest 2026.
Topics Included:
Xbox layoffs and studio closures
The future of Game Pass
Halo: Campaign Evolved on PS5
PlayStation Plus local co-op controversy
Bungie, Marathon, and Destiny 3
Sony's live-service struggles
AI tools in game development
Rising AAA development costs
007 First Light impressions
Pragmata impressions
Summer Game Fest 2026 highlights
Tomb Raider
Alien Isolation 2
Onimusha: Way of the Sword
Time Codes 00:00 Intro & Guest Introductions 03:29 Xbox Layoffs, Studio Closures & The Future of Game Pass 34:30 Halo: Campaign Evolved, PS+, and the Local Co-op Controversy 42:23 Bungie, Marathon, Destiny 3 & Sony's Studio Problems 59:00 AAA Budgets, AI Tools, and Industry Sustainability 1:03:33 What We've Been Playing 1:18:56 Best Games of Summer Game Fest 2026 1:27:39 Final Thoughts & Guest Plugs
🎧 Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2OL6SSV 🎧 Spotify: spoti.fi/33gSiXa 💬 Join the conversation and let us know: Is Xbox making the right moves, or are they cutting too much too late?
Xbox Future Debate, Summer Game Fest Winners & Nintendo Direct Reactions | XP 325
14/06/2026 | 2h 10 mins.
Summer Game Fest 2026 is in the books, and we're breaking down everything we saw in Los Angeles.
This week on The Expansion Pass, Luke and Logan discuss the biggest announcements from Summer Game Fest, Xbox Showcase, PlayStation State of Play, and Nintendo Direct. From Resident Evil Veronica and The Last Ronin to Grounded 2, Wolf Among Us 2, and Onimusha: Way of the Sword, we rank the showcases and debate which company had the strongest presentation.
We also dive into the future of Xbox. With reports of restructuring, growing discussions around exclusivity, Game Pass, first-party priorities, and Asha Sharma's leadership direction, what should Xbox look like over the next decade?
Plus:
Resident Evil Veronica impressions
Onimusha: Way of the Sword preview
Summer Game Fest showcase rankings
Xbox exclusivity strategy
Halo and Xbox's future
Game Pass value in 2026
Nintendo Direct reactions
Nintendo Switch 2 pricing discussion
Community questions
Clear takes. No console-war noise.
Xbox Showcase 2026 Reactions: Gears of War E-Day, Halo, Fable & Spyro
10/06/2026 | 59 mins.
The Xbox Games Showcase 2026 has come and gone, and we were there in person to see it unfold.
This week, Luke and Captain Logun break down Xbox's biggest announcements, including Gears of War: E-Day, Halo: Campaign Evolved, Fable, Spyro: A Realm Beyond, State of Decay 3, Clockwork Revolution, Persona 6, and more. We also discuss the atmosphere inside the theater, reactions from attendees, Xbox FanFest, and whether Xbox finally delivered on its promise to "Return to Xbox."
Topics include:
• Gears of War: E-Day gameplay and October release plans • Halo: Campaign Evolved's visual overhaul and new missions • Why Fable finally won us over • Spyro's return after years away • Clockwork Revolution's growing momentum • State of Decay 3 gameplay impressions • Persona 4 Revival and Persona 6 on Xbox • Xbox's 25th Anniversary hardware reveal • FanFest experiences and meeting Xbox leadership • Is Xbox finally building momentum again?
🎮 Clear takes. No console-war noise.
Fable Delay, Modern Warfare 4 & Steam Deck Price Increase | XP 323
31/05/2026 | 1h 25 mins.
Fable has reportedly been delayed into 2027, Modern Warfare 4 has been officially revealed, and Valve has dramatically increased Steam Deck OLED pricing.
On this week's episode of The Expansion Pass, Luke Lohr, Captain Logun, and Freight Conductor break down what Fable's delay means for Xbox's release strategy, whether Steam Deck remains a compelling value proposition at nearly $1,000, and why Call of Duty's return to Nintendo platforms could be one of Microsoft's biggest long-term wins following the Activision acquisition.
The team also discusses Play Anywhere, the future of gaming hardware, Xbox's upcoming Showcase, Summer Game Fest expectations, 007 First Light, Mina the Hollower, Fallout rumors, Star Wars hopes, Gears of War, Halo, and much more.
Topics Include:
• Fable delayed to 2027 • Modern Warfare 4 revealed • Call of Duty returns to Nintendo • Steam Deck OLED price increases • Xbox Ally X and handheld gaming • Xbox Showcase predictions • Summer Game Fest expectations • Play Anywhere and next-generation hardware • 007 First Light impressions • Mina the Hollower discussion • Fallout and Mass Effect hopes • Halo, Gears of War, and Forza Horizon 6
The Expansion Pass is a weekly gaming podcast covering Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, PC, handheld gaming, and the industry trends shaping the future of gaming.
Xbox Exclusives Return? PlayStation Pulls Back From PC + Forza Horizon 6 Explodes | XP 322
24/05/2026 | 1h 53 mins.
Are exclusives suddenly important again?
This week on XP, Luke Lohr and Captain Logun break down Xbox fans demanding exclusives through the new Player Voice forums while PlayStation reportedly pulls back from PC releases entirely for major first-party titles.
We also discuss:
Forza Horizon 6 surpassing 6 million players
Why FH6 may be Xbox’s best ecosystem argument yet
Nintendo’s aggressive first-party strategy
Destiny 2 winding down while Marathon struggles
Whether Project Helix changes the future of console gaming
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.
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