The Expansion Pass

Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto VI gameplay reveal shows the enormous scale of Leonida, including reports of an 80-hour playthrough and a map roughly three times the playable size of Red Dead Redemption 2. We also debate GTA VI's potential 30 FPS target and whether Rockstar gets more leeway than other developers.

Microsoft's next generation comes into focus as Xbox details its new disc-to-digital entitlement program and Project Helix is described as a “family of devices.” We break down what that could mean for physical games, Xbox Play Anywhere, future consoles, the $899 Xbox Series X25, the ROG Xbox Ally X20, and rapidly rising gaming hardware prices.

Plus: The Witcher 3 Remastered and Songs of the Past, what Bethesda needs to change for The Elder Scrolls VI, Marvel's Iron Man gameplay leak, Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 impressions, and more from Gamescom 2026.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction
11:44 Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 Impressions
20:56 The Games Getting Buried This Fall
28:41 GTA VI Gameplay Is Finally Here
37:08 Does GTA VI Need 60 FPS?
50:23 What Does Elder Scrolls VI Need to Change?
52:30 The Witcher 3 Returns Again
1:05:56 Xbox's Disc-to-Digital Future
1:09:30 Xbox Series X25 & New Hardware
1:19:30 Project Helix: A “Family of Devices”
1:27:24 Marvel's Iron Man Gameplay Leaks
1:37:30 Gaming Hardware Is Getting Too Expensive

GTA 6 has been hacked again—and this time Take-Two is going after the source. Microsoft and Discord have been pulled into the investigation as Rockstar faces yet another major leak surrounding gaming's most anticipated release.

Meanwhile, Xbox is changing how it does business. Microsoft has stopped providing digital sales data to Circana, PlayStation and Steam logos are disappearing from Xbox marketing, and the reported Xbox Disc-to-Digital program could fundamentally change how physical Xbox libraries survive into the next generation.

We debate what these moves actually mean for Xbox, whether physical games are dying on the platform, and whether Microsoft's increasingly digital ecosystem is becoming more—or less—consumer friendly.

Plus: Gears of War: E-Day vs. Modern Warfare 4, rising console prices, PlayStation's digital ownership problem, Horizon Hunters Gathering, Xbox dashboard improvements, and more.

The E-Day beta is drawing impressive numbers, including an estimated 1.2 million Xbox players, while Steam engagement has already surpassed recent Gears releases. Luke and Captain Logun break down what the early response means for Gears, whether Siege could broaden the franchise's audience, and why Xbox needs to capitalize on the opportunity.

Plus, we dig into the first hands-on impressions of Marvel's Wolverine, the leaked Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2 hardware, Xbox's Elite Series 3 leak, Gears E-Day controllers, Ghost of Yōtei Complete Edition, the increasingly crowded fall release calendar, and Xbox's upcoming Gamescom 2026 presence.

Can Gears E-Day become the flagship win Xbox has been waiting for? And is Wolverine shaping up to be PlayStation's next major hit?

The Expansion Pass covers Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, and the biggest stories across gaming—without the console-war noise.

Apple's own creator guidance supports this approach: descriptions should quickly communicate what the episode covers and why someone should listen, while naturally incorporating terms people might actually search.

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.

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.