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
Xbox Elite Controller 3 Leaks, Star Fox Returns, Forza Horizon 6 Reviews | XP 321
17/05/2026 | 1h 52 mins.
Xbox may be preparing its next major hardware push. This week, Luke Lohr, Captain Logun, and Nintendo World Report’s John Rairdin discuss the leaked Xbox Elite Controller Series 3, Xbox cloud gaming controller rumors, and what Microsoft’s future hardware strategy may actually look like.
We also break down the massive review scores for Forza Horizon 6, Valve’s new Steam Controller, PlayStation surfacing player count data, AMD’s FSR 4.1 tech, Xbox’s branding refresh, and Discord’s new Game Pass partnership.
On the Nintendo side, we dive deep into Star Fox’s return on Switch 2, Nintendo’s remake strategy, Metroid Prime 4, Zelda remake rumors, Star Fox Adventures, Assault, and whether Nintendo is finally ready to treat Star Fox like a major franchise again.
Topics include: • Xbox Elite Controller 3 leaks • Xbox cloud controller rumors • Forza Horizon 6 review scores • Steam Controller impressions • Star Fox Switch 2 reactions • Metroid Prime 4 discussion • Nintendo remake strategy • AMD FSR 4.1 & Xbox Series X • Doom: The Dark Ages DLC • Lego Batman & 007 First Light • Xbox Game Pass + Discord
Clear takes. No console-war noise.
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Nintendo Raises Switch 2 to $500, Star Fox Returns, Sony’s Bungie Problems | XP 320
15/05/2026 | 1h 49 mins.
Nintendo has officially raised the Switch 2 price to $500 — and at nearly the same time, brought Star Fox back to center stage.
This week on The Expansion Pass, Luke Lohr, Captain Logun, and special guest Joseph Moran (Mr. BadBit from The Trophy Room: A PlayStation Podcast) break down Nintendo’s pricing strategy, the return of Star Fox, Sony’s massive Bungie write-down, Marathon’s future, and Xbox canceling Copilot for Gaming under Asha Sharma.
Topics include:
🎮 Nintendo Switch 2 price increase 🦊 Star Fox returns on Switch 2 💰 Sony writes down roughly $767 million tied to Bungie 🏃 Marathon player counts, discourse, and live service pressure 🧠 Xbox cancels Copilot for Gaming 🎙 SGF discussion and gaming industry analysis
The team also debates whether Marathon can recover long term, why Nintendo may still succeed despite rising hardware prices, and whether Star Fox’s reboot is the right move for the franchise.
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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