Xbox Expansion Pass

Project Helix: Xbox’s Next Console? | Marathon Player Numbers | XEP 313

Xbox may have just signaled the future of its next generation hardware.

At GDC this week Microsoft confirmed Project Helix, a next-generation Xbox initiative built around a custom AMD chip and designed to support both console and PC gaming. But what exactly is Helix — a traditional console successor or something closer to a living-room gaming PC?

This week on Xbox Expansion Pass, Luke Lohr (InsipidGhost) and Captain Logun break down everything currently confirmed about Project Helix and what it could mean for the future of the Xbox ecosystem.

We also analyze the early player numbers behind Bungie’s Marathon, including Steam concurrency and early ownership estimates, and discuss whether the launch trajectory raises questions for Sony’s live-service strategy.

Plus, Epic Games is changing Fortnite’s V-Bucks economy, meaning players will soon receive fewer V-Bucks for the same money.

Additional topics include Xbox Gaming Copilot coming to consoles, a major milestone for Silent Hill 2 Remake, and several notable announcements coming out of GDC 2026.

👉 Clear takes. No console-war noise.

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

Join the discussion and let us know your thoughts.

Xbox’s Next Console Is Basically a PC — Project Helix Explained | Sony Quits PC? | XEP 312

This week on Xbox Expansion Pass, Luke Lohr (InsipidGhost) and Captain Logun examine one of the most interesting weeks in the gaming industry.

Xbox has revealed the codename for its next generation hardware — Project Helix — a console designed to bridge the gap between Xbox and PC gaming ecosystems.

At the same time, reporting from Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier suggests that PlayStation may be reconsidering its strategy of bringing major single-player games to PC, potentially returning to a stronger focus on console exclusivity.

We also discuss the launch of Bungie’s Marathon, one of Sony’s most important live-service releases following the company’s $3.6 billion acquisition of Bungie.

Topics include:

• What Project Helix could mean for Xbox’s future
• Whether Xbox is building a console-PC hybrid
• Sony’s possible shift away from PC releases
• The launch and early reactions to Marathon
• The evolving battle between console exclusivity and platform ecosystems

 

Xbox’s Identity Crisis, Bluepoint’s Bloodborne Rejection & Sony Pulling Back? | XEP 311

Xbox says it’s a “Return to Xbox.”
But what does that actually mean?

This week we break down Asha Sharma’s first interview as Xbox leadership shifts — and whether the brand is facing an identity crisis.

We discuss:

• Hardware vs ecosystem strategy

• What “form factor” could mean next-gen

• Exclusivity confusion across Xbox and PlayStation

• Bluepoint pitching a Bloodborne remake — and Sony saying no

• Resident Evil Requiem’s massive review scores

• Whether anyone in gaming actually knows where hardware is headed

If Xbox owns Call of Duty, Diablo, Fallout and Elder Scrolls…
why doesn’t it feel like Xbox?

👉 Clear takes. No console-war noise.
🎧 Join us live Saturdays on YouTube
💬 Share your thoughts — we read them all.

Xbox Leadership Shakeup: Phil Spencer Retires & Sarah Bond Exits | XEP 310

Phil Spencer retires after nearly 40 years at Microsoft.
Sarah Bond exits Xbox leadership.
Asha Sharma, an AI executive, takes over Microsoft Gaming.

In this episode, we break down the leadership shakeup, Spencer’s legacy, Bond’s sudden departure, and what an AI-driven executive signals for Xbox’s future. We examine the “Return of Xbox” messaging, monetization concerns, exclusives in 2026, Game Pass strategy, and the broader direction of console hardware.

Is this a recommitment to Xbox… or a corporate pivot?

We discuss:

• Phil Spencer’s legacy (backward compatibility, Game Pass, major acquisitions)

• Why Sarah Bond’s departure is more surprising than it appears

• What an AI-driven executive signals about Xbox’s future

• “The Future of Play” and new business models

• Monetization concerns and development costs

• The Steam Machine conversation and the future of console hardware

• Whether exclusives still matter in 2026

👉 Clear takes. No console-war noise.
🎧 Join us live Saturdays on YouTube
💬 Share your thoughts — we read them all.

Mat Piscatella on Gaming’s $60B Market, GTA 6, Hardware Shortages & Game Pass | XEP Interview

Luke Lohr sits down with Circana’s Executive Director and video game industry analyst Mat Piscatella for a data-driven look at the state of gaming in 2026.

Despite U.S. video game spending approaching $61 billion, the industry feels unsettled. Piscatella explains why record revenue can coexist with market instability, why player growth has plateaued, and how attention is increasingly concentrated in a handful of live-service “black hole” titles.

The conversation explores:

• The impact of component and RAM shortages on console pricing and availability
• Why subscription growth is now focused on revenue per user rather than user growth
• Xbox hardware performance and Game Pass strategy
• The growing divide between affluent and price-sensitive players
• Why Grand Theft Auto VI could be critical to console momentum
• Discoverability challenges and storefront power
• Why CCU charts don’t tell the full story

👉 Clear takes. No console-war noise.
🎧 Join us live Saturdays on YouTube
📅 Timestamps available on YouTube
💬 Share your thoughts — we read them all.

Support XEP:
Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/XboxExpansionPass

Live Service Collapse, State of Play Optics, and Industry Momentum | XEP 309

This week on Xbox Expansion Pass, Luke Lohr (InsipidGhost) and co-host Captain Logun break down major shifts in the gaming industry, from the continued collapse of live service games to why PlayStation’s latest State of Play generated so much momentum.

The episode examines Overwatch’s platform reset, sustainability challenges facing games as a service, and how third-party marketing can make multiplatform releases feel exclusive. The discussion also looks at Xbox’s evolving strategy, the role of optics in platform perception, and what these trends mean for players across Xbox, PlayStation, and PC.

Additional conversations cover early reactions to upcoming titles, Remedy’s Control universe, the risks and rewards of remasters and experimentation, and growing concerns around game preservation and long-term access to digital libraries.

👉 Clear takes. No console-war noise.
🎧 Join us live Saturdays on YouTube
📅 Timestamps available on YouTube
💬 Share your thoughts — we read them all.

Support XEP:
Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/XboxExpansionPass

Nintendo Welcomes Xbox, Hardware Sales Dip & Epic’s Storefront Push | XEP 308

This week on Xbox Expansion Pass, the conversation centers on how quickly the gaming industry is shifting — and what that means for hardware, platforms, and players.

A Nintendo Direct packed with Xbox-adjacent announcements signals just how normalized multi-platform publishing has become. At the same time, new data shows hardware sales continuing to slide across the industry, even as engagement and monthly active users remain strong.

The discussion also digs into the Epic Games Store’s record year, what multiple storefronts could mean for future Xbox hardware, and why competition — not exclusivity — may be the defining force of the next generation.

Additional topics include:

• Xbox titles becoming expected on Nintendo platforms

• Why engagement now matters more than boxes sold

• The risks and rewards of pricing games at $70+

• Live-service optics vs actual game quality

• What a Windows-based future could mean for consoles

👉 Clear takes. No console-war noise.
🔊 iTunes: apple.co/2OL6SSV | Spotify: spoti.fi/33gSiXa
🎧 Join us live Saturdays on YouTube
💬 Share your thoughts — we read them all.

Support XEP:
Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/XboxExpansionPass

Follow & Contact:
BlueSky (Luke): @InsipidGhost
BlueSky (Logun): @CaptLogun
Contact: InsipidGhost@gmail.com

More XEP & Friends:
Keelhauled – A Sea of Thieves Podcast: https://captlogun.podbean.com

Review the show:
If you enjoy XEP, please consider leaving a review on iTunes or Spotify — it’s one of the best ways to support the show. Thank you! 

Hardware Sales Drop, AI Anxiety & Highguard’s Launch Reality Check | XEP 307

Hardware sales are down across the gaming industry, developers are pushing back on generative AI, and we take a clear-eyed look at Highguard’s launch — from its strong debut to its rapid drop-off.

On this episode of Xbox Expansion Pass, we break down what a late-generation slowdown actually means for consoles, why Xbox is increasingly judged by ecosystem reach rather than boxes sold, how tools like Project Genie are reshaping (and worrying) developers, and whether Highguard launched too early after its big-stage reveal.

We also share what we’ve been playing, including Dead by Daylight’s Stranger Things crossover.

👉 Clear takes. No console-war noise.
🔊 iTunes: apple.co/2OL6SSV | Spotify: spoti.fi/33gSiXa
🎧 Join us live Saturdays on YouTube
💬 Share your thoughts — we read them all.

Support XEP:
Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/XboxExpansionPass

Follow & Contact:
BlueSky (Luke): @InsipidGhost
BlueSky (Logun): @CaptLogun
Contact: InsipidGhost@gmail.com

More XEP & Friends:
Keelhauled – A Sea of Thieves Podcast: https://captlogun.podbean.com

Review the show:
If you enjoy XEP, please consider leaving a review on iTunes or Spotify — it’s one of the best ways to support the show. Thank you! 

Ian Proulx on Splitgate’s Reset, Arena Reloaded, and Lessons Learned | XEP Interview

In this episode of Xbox Expansion Pass, Luke Lohr (Insipid Ghost) sits down with Ian Proulx, CEO and co-founder of 1047 Games, for a candid discussion about Splitgate’s past year, the Summer Game Fest moment, and the lessons learned along the way.

Ian reflects on the challenges of building a sequel versus a new IP, why Splitgate 2 missed expectations for some players, and the difficult decision to reset and relaunch the game as Splitgate: Arena Reloaded. From there, the conversation shifts into gameplay philosophy, retention metrics, portal accessibility, monetization, and what “stabilizing” the game actually means heading into 2026.

This is a thoughtful, direct conversation about course correction, leadership, and rebuilding trust — without framing anyone as a villain or a victim.

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Topics discussed include:

• The Summer Game Fest moment and how it reshaped the Splitgate conversation

• Lessons learned from that period and what Ian would do differently

• Why building a sequel is different than building a new IP

• Where Splitgate 2 missed player expectations

• The decision to pull the game back and reset

• Arena Reloaded’s refocus on classic arena gameplay

• Arena Royale explained

• Retention, requeue rate, and how 1047 measures success

• Portal balance and accessibility tools

• Monetization philosophy and rebuilding player trust

• Performance, polish, and the quality bar moving forward

👉 Clear takes. No console-war noise.

Support XEP:
Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/XboxExpansionPass

Follow & Contact:
BlueSky (Luke): @InsipidGhost
BlueSky (Logun): @CaptLogun
Contact: InsipidGhost@gmail.com

More XEP & Friends:
Keelhauled – A Sea of Thieves Podcast: https://captlogun.podbean.com

Review the show:
If you enjoy XEP, please consider leaving a review on iTunes or Spotify — it’s one of the best ways to support the show. Thank you!

 

Xbox Developer Direct 2026 Breakdown: Fable, Forza Horizon 6, and Big Game Pass Updates | XEP 306

This week on Xbox Expansion Pass, we break down the Xbox Developer Direct 2026 and what it tells us about Xbox’s near-term future. We dig into Forza Horizon 6’s Japan setting, release date, and controversial $120 Premium Edition pricing, and then pivot to a deep dive on the Fable reboot — combat, morality systems, NPC simulation, and why this could finally be the RPG Xbox fans have waited two generations for.

We also react to Game Freak’s Beast of Reincarnation, Double Fine’s clay-brawler Kiln, and the wider 2026 slate including Halo: Campaign Evolved, Gears of War: E-Day, State of Decay 3, and Clockwork Revolution. Along the way we talk Game Pass value with big third-party adds like Death Stranding Director’s Cut and Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2, plus how Xbox is handling $70+ pricing in a rough economy.

In the back half of the show we answer a community question about which cancelled game we’d resurrect and who we’d want making it (yes, Scalebound and StarCraft: Ghost show up), touch on Arc Raiders’ surprise success, Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade coming to Xbox with a limited Play Anywhere bonus, and share a few thoughts on Riot’s 2XKO, cross-media crossovers like Stranger Things in Dead by Daylight, and the future of Xbox on PC and handhelds.

Clear takes. No console-war noise. Xbox-forward discussion hosted by Luke Lohr (Insipid Ghost) and Captain Logun.

Support XEP:
Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/XboxExpansionPass

Follow & Contact:
BlueSky (Luke): @InsipidGhost
BlueSky (Logun): @CaptLogun
Contact: InsipidGhost@gmail.com

More XEP & Friends:
Keelhauled – A Sea of Thieves Podcast: https://captlogun.podbean.com

Review the show:
If you enjoy XEP, please consider leaving a review on iTunes or Spotify — it’s one of the best ways to support the show. Thank you!

 

Topics This Week

• Xbox Developer Direct 2026 recap
• Fable’s huge showing and new release window
• Forza Horizon 6’s pricing, editions, and Japan setting
• Game Freak’s Beast of Reincarnation
• Double Fine’s Kiln
• Death Stranding and Space Marine 2 on Game Pass
• State of Decay 3 development updates
• Clockwork Revolution ambitions
• Gears and Halo release window speculation
• High Guard, Arc Raiders, FF7 Intergrade
• 2XKO, Riot’s expanding lineup
• Community questions and more

 

Support XEP: https://www.patreon.com/XboxExpansionPass

BlueSky (Luke): @InsipidGhost 

Contact: InsipidGhost@gmail.com

BlueSky (Logun): @CaptLogun 

Check out Keelhauled: A Sea of Thieves Podcast for more Sea of Thieves content.

If you enjoy the show, please consider leaving a review on iTunes or Spotify - it's one of the best way to support the show. Thank you!