The Expansion Pass

Xbox Future Debate, Summer Game Fest Winners & Nintendo Direct Reactions | XP 325

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

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

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

Xbox Exclusives Return? PlayStation Pulls Back From PC + Forza Horizon 6 Explodes | XP 322

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
• Bungie’s uncertain future under PlayStation
• Game Pass vs PlayStation Plus
• 007 First Light impressions
• Splitgate 2 and Titanfall comparisons

Clear takes. No console-war noise.

🔊 iTunes: apple.co/2OL6SSV
🎧 Spotify: spoti.fi/33gSiXa

#Xbox #PlayStation #ForzaHorizon6 #GamePass #GamingPodcast

Xbox Elite Controller 3 Leaks, Star Fox Returns, Forza Horizon 6 Reviews | XP 321

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.

🔊 iTunes: apple.co/2OL6SSV
🎧 Spotify: spoti.fi/33gSiXa
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Nintendo Raises Switch 2 to $500, Star Fox Returns, Sony’s Bungie Problems | XP 320

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.

👉 Clear takes. No console-war noise.

🔊 iTunes: apple.co/2OL6SSV
🎧 Spotify: spoti.fi/33gSiXa

Xbox Earnings Drop, PlayStation DRM Explained, Steam Controller Returns | XP 319

Xbox earnings are down as Asha Sharma begins resetting the brand, raising questions about hardware, Game Pass growth, and long-term strategy.

We break down the latest Xbox revenue numbers, what they mean for the future of the platform, and whether exclusives need to return to strengthen the brand.

We also cover Sony’s response to PlayStation DRM concerns, what “digital ownership” actually means, and why the backlash matters more than the feature itself.

Plus, Valve Corporation re-enters the hardware conversation with the new Steam Controller, raising bigger questions about the Steam Machine and whether something like Half-Life 3 is needed to drive adoption.

Finally, we look at Nintendo’s growing Switch 2 lineup, including Splatoon Raiders, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, and new Star Fox rumors.

Xbox Admits It’s Broken, Game Pass Drops Price, Valve Returns to Hardware | XEP 318

Xbox has officially hit reset—and this time, they’re saying it out loud.

In a rare internal memo, leadership under Asha Sharma acknowledges what many players have been feeling: the experience hasn’t been good enough. Pricing, updates, and platform identity are all under review—and Game Pass is already seeing major changes.

At the same time, Valve is quietly preparing a return to hardware. A new Steam Controller looks ready to launch, while larger ambitions like Steam Machine and Steam Frame face delays.

Meanwhile, Nintendo continues executing with confidence, rolling out Splatoon Raiders and Yoshi and the Mysterious Book without the same identity struggles seen elsewhere.

Also this week:

• Diablo: Lord of Hatred impressions and early reviews
• Resident Evil Requiem sales milestone
• Assassin’s Creed Black Flag returns
• What all of this means for the future of gaming platforms

This episode explores a simple question:
👉 Are platforms finally correcting course—or just reacting?

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👉 Clear takes. No console-war noise.

🔊 iTunes: apple.co/2OL6SSV
🎧 Spotify: spoti.fi/33gSiXa

📅 Join us live Saturdays on YouTube

Game Pass “Too Expensive?”, PS5 vs Switch 2 & Metro 2039 Revealed | XEP 317

This week on The Expansion Pass, we’re breaking down one of the most important shifts happening in gaming right now.

Is Xbox Game Pass becoming too expensive?

New data shows subscription spending is rising fast—but Xbox leadership is already signaling concern about pricing and long-term value. Meanwhile, PlayStation continues its steady approach with PS Plus, and Nintendo’s Switch 2 is helping drive major hardware growth.

We also dive into Metro 2039’s reveal and how real-world events are shaping its story in a major way.

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🎯 Topics include:

• Game Pass pricing concerns and future direction
• PS5 vs Switch 2 (Circana data breakdown)
• Metro 2039 reveal and thematic shift
• PlayStation Plus April lineup
• Rockstar security concerns ahead of GTA VI

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🎮 Also discussed:

• Fur Squadron Phoenix impressions
• Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel
• Pragmata gameplay thoughts
• Windrose preview

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👉 Clear takes. No console-war noise.

🔊 iTunes: apple.co/2OL6SSV
🎧 Spotify: spoti.fi/33gSiXa

📅 Join us live Saturdays on YouTube

Xbox at 25: Seamus Blackley Interivew on Xbox, AI’s Impact & Gaming’s Future

To celebrate 25 years of Xbox, we’re joined by Seamus Blackley — widely known as the father of Xbox.

In this episode, we revisit the creation of the original Xbox, the risks it took to break into the industry, and how those early decisions shaped modern gaming.

But the conversation doesn’t stop there.

We dive into the growing role of AI in game development, how it could reshape creativity, production, and player experiences, and whether the industry is prepared for what’s coming next.

From cloud gaming and shifting business models to the balance between innovation and financial pressure, this is a wide-ranging discussion on where gaming is headed—and what it may lose along the way.