The Expansion Pass

Xbox is making major changes to backward compatibility, Achievements, game preservation, and the overall Xbox experience — while Gears of War: E-Day may be shaping up to be something special.

This week on The Expansion Pass, Luke Lohr and Captain Logun break down Xbox’s expanding backward compatibility plans, including what they could mean for original Xbox and Xbox 360 games across console and PC. We also discuss the latest Achievement updates, Xbox’s renewed focus on its existing community, physical game preservation, and where the platform may be heading next.

Then we get into our hands-on impressions of the Gears of War: E-Day beta. Horde Siege has us impressed, but can The Coalition convince players outside the existing Gears audience to give E-Day a chance?

Plus, QuakeCon 2026 delivers new Quake content, Grounded 2 prepares to head Into the Abyss, Nintendo shows more Fire Emblem, Ghost Recon Wildlands gets a substantial update nine years after launch, and Luke has a warning for anyone considering Jotunnslayer on Nintendo Switch 2.

Topics include:

• Xbox backward compatibility and game preservation
• Xbox Achievement updates
• The future of the Xbox ecosystem
• Gears of War: E-Day beta impressions
• Horde Siege and the evolution of Gears
• QuakeCon 2026 and Quake: Dawn of the Machine
• Grounded 2: Into the Abyss
• Fire Emblem and Nintendo Switch 2
• Ghost Recon Wildlands’ new update
• Jotunnslayer on Switch 2

The Expansion Pass delivers thoughtful gaming discussion without the console-war noise.

One of the biggest Xbox releases of the year is almost here, and Jampack Sam joins us after going hands-on with Gears of War: E-Day.

We break down everything he learned from the multiplayer preview, including Horde Siege, weapon customization, PvP, classes, progression, and whether The Coalition has found the right balance between classic Gears and modern gameplay.

We also dive into Microsoft's latest earnings report and Asha Sharma's long-term roadmap for Xbox. What do the company's priorities mean for consoles, Game Pass, Minecraft, TV adaptations, and the future of Project Helix?

Finally, Sony has responded to concerns over its move away from physical media. Is an all-digital PlayStation inevitable? What does that mean for collectors, ownership, and the next generation of consoles?

In This Episode
• Jampack Sam's Gears of War: E-Day hands-on impressions
• Horde Siege, PvP, progression, and launch expectations
• Xbox's long-term strategy after Microsoft's earnings report
• Console exclusives, Project Helix, and Xbox's future direction
• Sony addresses the end of physical media
• Why digital ownership remains one of gaming's biggest debates

If you enjoy thoughtful gaming conversations without the console-war noise, subscribe and leave us a rating—it helps more people discover the show.

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Andrew Hulshult has become one of the defining composers of modern FPS games, with credits including DOOM Eternal: The Ancient Gods, DOOM + DOOM II, DUSK, Prodeus, Heretic + Hexen, Quake Champions, and more.

In this exclusive interview, Andrew joins The Expansion Pass to discuss his journey from learning guitar through Napster to becoming one of gaming's most recognizable composers. We explore how the fan-favorite IDKFA soundtrack became official DOOM content, the pressure of following legendary composers Bobby Prince and Mick Gordon, and the incredible story behind choosing to score Iron Lung instead of pursuing what became DOOM: The Dark Ages.

We also discuss:

How Andrew got started in music

The origins of IDKFA

Working with id Software

DOOM Eternal: The Ancient Gods

DUSK and the rise of New Blood Interactive

Steam Deck and favorite games

Composing under impossible deadlines

Indie vs. AAA development

Dream franchises he'd still love to score

Upcoming projects

Whether you're a fan of DOOM, retro FPS games, game music, or simply enjoy hearing from the developers shaping the industry, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.

Thank you for listening to The Expansion Pass. If you enjoyed the interview, please consider following the show and leaving a review—it helps us continue bringing conversations like this to the community.

God of War: Laufey officially launches in February 2027, Halo Campaign Evolved and Splatoon Raiders earn strong critical reviews, and this week we're joined by Jefftroidvania to discuss Valve's new Steam Machine and the future of SteamOS.

On Episode 330 of The Expansion Pass, we break down one of gaming's biggest upcoming release windows, compare Halo Campaign Evolved and Splatoon Raiders review scores, discuss Nintendo's next Switch 2 exclusives, examine Xbox's expanding backward compatibility initiative, and dive into what Valve's newest hardware could mean for PC gaming.

In this episode:

God of War: Laufey's February 2027 release date

Halo Campaign Evolved review roundup and our impressions

Splatoon Raiders review roundup

Xbox backward compatibility expands to PC

Steam Machine hands-on with special guest Jefftroidvania

Nintendo's upcoming Switch 2 roadmap

Wolverine impressions

Community questions and what we're playing

If you enjoy thoughtful gaming discussions without the console-war noise, subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review—it helps more gamers discover the show.

Bethesda finally pulled back the curtain on what's next.

This week on The Expansion Pass, Luke Lohr and Captain Logun break down Todd Howard's biggest interview in years, including new details on Fallout 5, The Elder Scrolls VI, Starfield, and Obsidian's return to the Fallout universe. They discuss what Fallout 3 and New Vegas remasters could mean for longtime fans and whether Bethesda's new multi-studio strategy can solve its lengthy development cycles.

The conversation also explores Nintendo Switch 2's early sales, the rising cost of gaming hardware, whether the Xbox Ally X is worth its premium price, and why compelling software—not raw power—still determines the success of a console generation.

This Week's Topics
• Fallout 5 enters production
• Obsidian returns to Fallout
• Fallout 3 & New Vegas remasters
• The Elder Scrolls VI update
• Starfield's future at Bethesda
• Nintendo Switch 2 sales analysis
• Xbox Ally X impressions
• Why gaming hardware keeps getting more expensive
• Halo Campaign Evolved preview discussion

The Expansion Pass delivers thoughtful discussions on gaming without the console-war noise.