Xbox's New Strategy, PlayStation's Physical Future & Black Flag | XP 328

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.

Xbox is finally revealing what comes after its historic restructuring. Luke and Logan break down Bloomberg's report that Obsidian is shifting toward Fallout, what that means for Xbox's renewed focus on pillar franchises, and whether Asha Sharma's strategy gives Xbox its clearest direction in years. They also discuss Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced's strong critical reception, PlayStation's continued physical media controversy, the EU's response, Logan's new Xbox ROG Ally X, and why Division 2 has become the latest obsession.   00:00 Intro 00:55 What We're Playing 04:10 Logan's Xbox ROG Ally X 19:12 Division 2 Has Us Hooked 33:00 Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Review 52:45 Xbox's New Strategy Explained 1:26:30 PlayStation's Physical Media Backlash 1:46:00 Nintendo, Consumer Rights & What's Next

One announcement dominated the gaming industry this week: PlayStation is ending physical game releases beginning in 2028. Is this the inevitable future of gaming, or should players be worried about ownership, preservation, pricing, and consumer rights? Luke Lohr and Captain Logun break down Sony's historic decision, what it means for the PlayStation 6, why digital ownership still lacks meaningful protections, and whether Xbox's reported disc-to-digital initiatives could offer a better path forward. The conversation also explores Microsoft's ongoing restructuring, the future of Xbox's biggest franchises, why Nintendo suddenly looks far more consumer-friendly than many expected, the latest Metroid rumors, Grounded 2 impressions, and much more. In this episode: Sony announces the end of physical PlayStation games Why digital ownership needs stronger consumer protections Xbox restructuring and what comes next Could Xbox solve physical-to-digital better than Sony? Nintendo's Game-Key Card strategy revisited Metroid Ravenous leak discussion Grounded 2 continues to impress Blade, Spider-Man, and what actually sells consoles What we're playing this week If you enjoy thoughtful gaming discussions without the console war noise, subscribe, leave a review, and join us every week on The Expansion Pass.  

This week on The Expansion Pass, we're tackling one of the biggest questions facing the gaming industry: is gaming becoming too expensive? Microsoft has announced significant Xbox console price increases, Grand Theft Auto VI is launching at $80, and Nintendo's Switch 2 continues to post impressive early sales despite rising hardware costs. We discuss what these changes mean for players, whether premium pricing is becoming the new normal, and how publishers are adapting to an increasingly expensive market. We also share our impressions of Star Fox and 007 First Light, discuss the surprising value proposition of the Steam Machine, examine Bungie's latest layoffs and Marathon's uncertain future, and look at why Nintendo's first-party strategy continues to drive hardware sales. In this episode: Xbox console price increases explained GTA VI's $80 launch price Switch 2 sales momentum Steam Machine pricing reactions Star Fox review impressions 007 First Light impressions Bungie layoffs & Marathon Nintendo's first-party strategy What we've been playing If you enjoy thoughtful gaming discussions without the console war noise, subscribe to The Expansion Pass on your favorite podcast platform and join us live each week on YouTube.

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?

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.

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 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. Clear takes. No console-war noise. iTunes: apple.co/2OL6SSV Spotify: spoti.fi/33gSiXa