Welcome to the Xbox Expansion Pass — your place for clear, thoughtful discussions on gaming without the console-war noise.
Hosted by Luke Lohr (“Insipid Ghost”) and Captain Logun, XEP covers the biggest stories in Xbox and the gaming industry through weekly news analysis, in-depth reviews, and long-form developer interviews. Whether it’s hands-on impressions of the latest first-party titles, reactions to industry shifts, or conversations with the creators shaping the future of games, XEP brings informed, level-headed insight every week.
With 120+ interviews featuring developers, journalists, and studio leads — from AAA to indie — Xbox Expansion Pass offers a grounded perspective on how games are made, why decisions happen, and where the industry is headed. Recent guests include creators from Xbox Game Studios, Bethesda, Ubisoft, Respawn, id Software, Ninja Theory, Blizzard, Asobo, Remedy, and more.
What You’ll Hear on XEP
-
Weekly Xbox and gaming industry news
-
Hands-on previews and spoiler-free reviews
-
Interviews with developers, journalists, and industry veterans
-
Coverage of Xbox hardware, Game Pass updates, studio strategies, and platform trends
-
Honest analysis grounded in experience, passion, and respect for players
Why Listeners Come to XEP
-
Clear takes
-
No console-war noise
-
Professional, insightful coverage
-
A welcoming community of gamers
-
Industry-level conversations accessible to everyone
Whether you're here for Xbox news, behind-the-scenes dev stories, or thoughtful commentary on the shifting landscape of gaming, Xbox Expansion Pass brings you high-quality coverage every week on your platform of choice — Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, Pandora, SiriusXM, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and more.
Subscribe and join the XEP community — and enjoy gaming discussions built on clarity, passion, and respect.
Episodes
Saturday Nov 25, 2023
Saturday Nov 25, 2023
#XboxNews #KillerInstinct #XboxTax
In episode 205 Luke Lohr and Captain Logun discuss news of a major Xbox IP making its return after 10 years with Killer Instinct, Xbox hardware sales DOWN 52%(!) in Europe, and discussions of the nebulous "Xbox Tax" are making their rounds in the industry. Enjoy!
XEP has a Patreon! If you enjoy XEP please consider supporting us financially to help us look, sound, and podcast better. Patreon.com/XboxExpansionPass
XEP has Merch! If you're interested in snagging some Xbox Expansion Pass merchandise, please check this out: https://wren-works.myshopify.com/collections/xbox-expansion-pass-merch
The Xbox Expansion Pass (XEP) is a podcast dedicated to interpreting the goings on in the world of video games and analyzing how they impact the Xbox ecosystem. Luke Lohr, the InsipidGhost, plays host and discusses various topics throughout the industry. The guests on the show are meant to help gamers expand their knowledge of the gaming industry.
Twitter: InsipidGhost, Instagram: InsipidGhost, Hive: InsipidGhost
Contact: InsipidGhost@gmail.com
Keelhauled: A Sea of Thieves Podcast
Please consider leaving a review on iTunes or Spotify. It is the best way to support the show. Thank you!
Wednesday Nov 22, 2023
Wednesday Nov 22, 2023
#Wartales #ShiroGames #XboxGames
In this interview Luke Lohr is joined by Quentin Lapeyre and Dylan Robinson of Shiro Games to discuss the recent release of Wartales onto Xbox. Lapeyre, Game Director, discusses crafting a game without a narrative, creating systems of survival that exist in passive states and overlap, and how bringing the game to Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and Xbox Game Pass has impacted the team.
Wartales Discord Link: https://discord.com/invite/3eNcQ2J29T
Wartales on Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/Wartales_Game
XEP has a Patreon! If you enjoy XEP please consider supporting us financially to help us look, sound, and podcast better. Patreon.com/XboxExpansionPass
XEP has Merch! If you're interested in snagging some Xbox Expansion Pass merchandise, please check this out: https://wren-works.myshopify.com/collections/xbox-expansion-pass-merch
The Xbox Expansion Pass (XEP) is a podcast dedicated to interpreting the goings on in the world of video games and analyzing how they impact the Xbox ecosystem. Luke Lohr, the InsipidGhost, plays host and discusses various topics throughout the industry. The guests on the show are meant to help gamers expand their knowledge of the gaming industry.
Saturday Nov 18, 2023
Saturday Nov 18, 2023
#suicidesquad #thegameawards #xboxnews
In episode 204 Luke Lohr and Captain Logun discuss The Game Awards and Xbox snubs, what’s old is new as nostalgia drives the industry in Call of Duty, Halo, and The Last of Us, and we have we discuss Hogwarts Legacy's controversy. Black Friday sales have arrived and are oddly expensive. Enjoy!
XEP has a Patreon! If you enjoy XEP please consider supporting us financially to help us look, sound, and podcast better. Patreon.com/XboxExpansionPass
XEP has Merch! If you're interested in snagging some Xbox Expansion Pass merchandise, please check this out: https://wren-works.myshopify.com/collections/xbox-expansion-pass-merch
The Xbox Expansion Pass (XEP) is a podcast dedicated to interpreting the goings on in the world of video games and analyzing how they impact the Xbox ecosystem. Luke Lohr, the InsipidGhost, plays host and discusses various topics throughout the industry. The guests on the show are meant to help gamers expand their knowledge of the gaming industry.
Twitter: InsipidGhost, Instagram: InsipidGhost, Hive: InsipidGhost
Contact: InsipidGhost@gmail.com
Keelhauled: A Sea of Thieves Podcast
Please consider leaving a review on iTunes or Spotify. It is the best way to support the show. Thank you!
Thursday Nov 16, 2023
Thursday Nov 16, 2023
#ImmortalsOfAveum #ascendantstudios #eaoriginals
In this interview Luke Lohr is joined by Bret Robbins, Game Director for Immortals of Aveum. Bret discusses the struggles of launching a new single player IP like Immortals of Aveum in a crowded release window, navigating the struggles of running his own studios, and the massive improvements that have arrived with the Echollector Update.
XEP has a Patreon! If you enjoy XEP please consider supporting us financially to help us look, sound, and podcast better. Patreon.com/XboxExpansionPass
XEP has Merch! If you're interested in snagging some Xbox Expansion Pass merchandise, please check this out: https://wren-works.myshopify.com/collections/xbox-expansion-pass-merch
The Xbox Expansion Pass (XEP) is a podcast dedicated to interpreting the goings on in the world of video games and analyzing how they impact the Xbox ecosystem. Luke Lohr, the InsipidGhost, plays host and discusses various topics throughout the industry. The guests on the show are meant to help gamers expand their knowledge of the gaming industry.
Saturday Nov 11, 2023
Saturday Nov 11, 2023
#ActivsionBlizzard #GrandTheftAutoVI #XboxSeriesS
In episode 203 Luke Lohr and Captain Logun discuss the continued news of reorganization at Xbox, Grand Theft Auto 6 is being teased, and the Baldur’s Gate 3 developers have made some impressive discoveries regarding the Xbox Series S. Activision Blizzard has been given more creative license than ever before. Enjoy!
XEP has a Patreon! If you enjoy XEP please consider supporting us financially to help us look, sound, and podcast better. Patreon.com/XboxExpansionPass
XEP has Merch! If you're interested in snagging some Xbox Expansion Pass merchandise, please check this out: https://wren-works.myshopify.com/collections/xbox-expansion-pass-merch
The Xbox Expansion Pass (XEP) is a podcast dedicated to interpreting the goings on in the world of video games and analyzing how they impact the Xbox ecosystem. Luke Lohr, the InsipidGhost, plays host and discusses various topics throughout the industry. The guests on the show are meant to help gamers expand their knowledge of the gaming industry.
Twitter: InsipidGhost, Instagram: InsipidGhost, Hive: InsipidGhost
Contact: InsipidGhost@gmail.com
Keelhauled: A Sea of Thieves Podcast
Please consider leaving a review on iTunes or Spotify. It is the best way to support the show. Thank you!
Saturday Nov 04, 2023
Saturday Nov 04, 2023
#ActivsionBlizzard #BlizzCon2023 #PhilSpencer
In episode 202 Luke Lohr and Captain Logun check out the news coming from Blizzcon 2023 including Xbox's presence as Phil Spencer makes an appearance to discuss culture and inclusion. Xbox outsells Playstation in Japan for the first time in ages and Call of Duty is bringing a number of controversies with its marketing and quality. We offer review impressions of the Modern Warfare 3 campaign and the Talos Principle 2. Enjoy!
XEP has a Patreon! If you enjoy XEP please consider supporting us financially to help us look, sound, and podcast better. Patreon.com/XboxExpansionPass
The Xbox Expansion Pass (XEP) is a podcast dedicated to interpreting the goings on in the world of video games and analyzing how they impact the Xbox ecosystem. Luke Lohr, the InsipidGhost, plays host and discusses various topics throughout the industry. The guests on the show are meant to help gamers expand their knowledge of the gaming industry.
Twitter: InsipidGhost, Instagram: InsipidGhost, Hive: InsipidGhost
Contact: InsipidGhost@gmail.com
Keelhauled: A Sea of Thieves Podcast
Please consider leaving a review on iTunes or Spotify. It is the best way to support the show. Thank you!
Saturday Oct 28, 2023
Saturday Oct 28, 2023
#ActivsionBlizzard #SarahBond #AlanWake
In episode 201 Luke Lohr and Captain Logun take a look at the monumental shift in Xbox leadership structure as Sarah Bond has taken over as Xbox President and Matt Booty will oversee Bethesda. Activision’s acquisition brings the number of billion dollar franchises in Xbox’s portfolio to an impressive 17! An Xbox Showcase brings mixed reactions and Alan Wake 2 reviews are in. Enjoy !
XEP has a Patreon! If you enjoy XEP please consider supporting us financially to help us look, sound, and podcast better. Patreon.com/XboxExpansionPass
The Xbox Expansion Pass (XEP) is a podcast dedicated to interpreting the goings on in the world of video games and analyzing how they impact the Xbox ecosystem. Luke Lohr, the InsipidGhost, plays host and discusses various topics throughout the industry. The guests on the show are meant to help gamers expand their knowledge of the gaming industry.
Twitter: InsipidGhost, Instagram: InsipidGhost, Hive: InsipidGhost
Contact: InsipidGhost@gmail.com
Keelhauled: A Sea of Thieves Podcast
Please consider leaving a review on iTunes or Spotify. It is the best way to support the show. Thank you!
Saturday Oct 21, 2023
Saturday Oct 21, 2023
#ActivsionBlizzard #Bethesda #Xbox
In episode 200 Luke Lohr and Captain Logun examine the surprising news of Pete Hines leaving Bethesda after over 20 years, we have an update on when Activision titles will arrive in Xbox Game Pass now that they've been acquired, and we see a major increase in Xbox console sales as a result of Starfield. Spider-Man 2 and Mario Wonder have arrived and we see incredible success for several titles in Xbox Game Pass. Enjoy!
XEP has a Patreon! If you enjoy XEP please consider supporting us financially to help us look, sound, and podcast better. Patreon.com/XboxExpansionPass
The Xbox Expansion Pass (XEP) is a podcast dedicated to interpreting the goings on in the world of video games and analyzing how they impact the Xbox ecosystem. Luke Lohr, the InsipidGhost, plays host and discusses various topics throughout the industry. The guests on the show are meant to help gamers expand their knowledge of the gaming industry.
Twitter: InsipidGhost, Instagram: InsipidGhost, Hive: InsipidGhost
Contact: InsipidGhost@gmail.com
Keelhauled: A Sea of Thieves Podcast
Please consider leaving a review on iTunes or Spotify. It is the best way to support the show. Thank you!
Saturday Oct 14, 2023
Saturday Oct 14, 2023
#ActivsionBlizzard #AssassinsCreedMirage #Xbox
In episode 199 Luke Lohr and Captain Logun examine the monumental news of Activision-Blizzard FINALLY being acquired by Microsoft and thus joining the Xbox family. Bad news for fans of physical media as Best Buy is set to leave the business…with more companies set to follow suit. All that and some killer good times with game releases.
XEP has a Patreon! If you enjoy XEP please consider supporting us financially to help us look, sound, and podcast better. Patreon.com/XboxExpansionPass
The Xbox Expansion Pass (XEP) is a podcast dedicated to interpreting the goings on in the world of video games and analyzing how they impact the Xbox ecosystem. Luke Lohr, the InsipidGhost, plays host and discusses various topics throughout the industry. The guests on the show are meant to help gamers expand their knowledge of the gaming industry.
Twitter: InsipidGhost, Instagram: InsipidGhost, Hive: InsipidGhost
Contact: InsipidGhost@gmail.com
Keelhauled: A Sea of Thieves Podcast
Please consider leaving a review on iTunes or Spotify. It is the best way to support the show. Thank you!
Monday Oct 09, 2023
Monday Oct 09, 2023
#ForzaMotorsport #AssassinsCreedMirage #Review
In episode 198 Captain Logun is joined by Greg Sewart of Player One Podcast to discuss their review of the Xbox exclusive Forza Motorsport. Assassin's Creed Mirage is out and Logun has put ample time into it as the silly seasons of game releases is well under way. As always, we hope you enjoy the show!
XEP has a Patreon! If you enjoy XEP please consider supporting us financially to help us look, sound, and podcast better. Patreon.com/XboxExpansionPass
The Xbox Expansion Pass (XEP) is a podcast dedicated to interpreting the goings on in the world of video games and analyzing how they impact the Xbox ecosystem. Luke Lohr, the InsipidGhost, plays host and discusses various topics throughout the industry. The guests on the show are meant to help gamers expand their knowledge of the gaming industry.
Twitter: InsipidGhost, Instagram: InsipidGhost, Hive: InsipidGhost
Contact: InsipidGhost@gmail.com
Keelhauled: A Sea of Thieves Podcast
Please consider leaving a review on iTunes or Spotify. It is the best way to support the show. Thank you!