Welcome to The Expansion Pass (XP) — your place for clear, thoughtful discussions on gaming without the console-war noise.
Hosted by Luke Lohr (InsipidGhost) and Captain Logun, XP covers the biggest stories in gaming across Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, PC, and Game Pass through weekly news analysis, in-depth reviews, and long-form developer interviews.
Formerly Xbox Expansion Pass, the show has evolved into a multiplatform gaming podcast while staying rooted in the strategy, ecosystem, and conversations that built it.
With 150+ interviews featuring developers, journalists, and studio leads — from AAA to indie — XP offers a grounded perspective on how games are made, why decisions happen, and where the industry is headed. Guests include creators from Xbox Game Studios, Bethesda, Ubisoft, Respawn, id Software, Ninja Theory, Blizzard, Asobo, Remedy, and more.
What You’ll Hear on XP
• Weekly gaming and industry news
• Hands-on previews and spoiler-free reviews
• Interviews with developers, journalists, and industry veterans
• Coverage of Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, PC, and Game Pass
• Honest analysis grounded in experience and respect for players
Why Listeners Come to XP
• Clear takes
• No console-war noise
• Insightful, professional coverage
• A welcoming gaming community
• Industry-level conversations made accessible
Whether you're here for gaming news, developer insight, or thoughtful commentary on a changing industry, The Expansion Pass (XP) delivers high-quality coverage every week.
Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, Pandora, SiriusXM, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and more.
Subscribe and join the XP community — and enjoy gaming discussions built on clarity, passion, and respect.
Episodes
Sunday Oct 02, 2022
Sunday Oct 02, 2022
#Xbox #Stadia #Soulstice
In episode 148 of the Xbox Expansion Pass we welcome the developers of Reply Games Marco Mortillaro and Samuele Perseo on to discuss their recent AA release of Soulstice, an homage to classic action games like DMC and Ninja Gaiden. Prior to that we take a look at the implications on xCloud of Google’s decision to shut down Stadia and what game companies are doing for players impacted. Enjoy!
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.
Contact: InsipidGhost@gmail.com
Please consider leaving a review on iTunes or Spotify. It is the best way to support the show. Thank you!
0:00 Intro
0:29 Welcome
1:11 Words of Kindness & Cyberpunk
8:39 Stadia Shuts Down
15:37 Grounded Full Release
18:22 Soulstice Impressions
20:16 Spooky Games
24:41 Live Service Storytelling
32:25 Reply Game Studios
38:00 Comparing Soulstice to AAA
48:00 Level Design & Story
53:45 Language Writing
58:13 Fixed Camera
1:03:00 Slow Motion
1:07:40 Stefanie Joosten
1:13:29 Soliciting Feedback
1:17:00 Pride In Soulstice
Sunday Sep 25, 2022
Sunday Sep 25, 2022
#Xbox #Cyberpunk #IronMan
In episode 147 of the Xbox Expansion Pass there’s plenty of good news to discuss ranging from the announcement of EA Motive’s Iron Man title to Satya Nadella’s public statements on the Activision Blizzard Deal expressing confidence and perhaps casting shade. Beyond that GTA 6 has been leaked and Cyberpunk lives again. Enjoy!
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.
Contact: InsipidGhost@gmail.com
Please consider leaving a review on iTunes or Spotify. It is the best way to support the show. Thank you!
0:00 Intro
0:42 Welcome
1:17 Words of Kindness
6:31 New Iron Man Game
10:39 Comic Book Games
13:07 Satya Nadella Talks Activision
18:51 GTA 6 Leak
24:39 Cyberpunk Resurgence
31:00 Leaving Xbox One Behind
36:07 Japanese Xbox Success
40:36 Outro
Sunday Sep 18, 2022
Sunday Sep 18, 2022
#Xbox #TokyoGameShow #BonnieRoss
In episode 146 of the Xbox Expansion Pass we’re joined by the Grand Curator of the Game Mess, Mr. Jeff Grubb. We’ll be chatting this past week’s second E3-esque slew of announcements thanks to a PlayStation State of Play, Nintendo Direct, and Xbox’s Tokyo Game Show - lots of cross platform news hitting the gamerverse in this one. Bonnie Ross is exiting 343 Industries raising questions about the future of Halo and Jeff Grubb shares details of Xbox's internal release schedule. Enjoy!
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.
Contact: InsipidGhost@gmail.com
Please consider leaving a review on iTunes or Spotify. It is the best way to support the show. Thank you!
0:00 Intro
0:30 Welcome
1:02 Words of Kindness Jeff Grubb
3:30 Changing Content Creation
7:41 Xbox Tokyo Game Show 2022
10:31 Phil Spencer In Japan
14:14 Buy the Exclusive or Buy the Publisher
17:21 What If Halo and Forza Hit Bigger?
20:46 Xbox Game Studios Internal Schedule
23:20 XGS In 2023
27:57 ID@Xbox Update & Old Xbox JRPGS
31:16 Goldeneye 007 on Xbox
36:44 Bonnie Ross Leaving Halo & 343 Industries
43:01 No New Halo Content?
43:50 Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2
52:01 More Xbox Acquisitions?
54:34 Upcoming Disney Games
57:33 Yakuza Day One on Game Pass
58:50 Bloodborne Update
Sunday Sep 11, 2022
Sunday Sep 11, 2022
#Xbox #JimRyan #CallofDuty
In episode 145 of the Xbox Expansion Pass we break down comment's made by Playstation's Jim Ryan calling Phil Spencer's Activision offer "inadequate" while also debating the merits of a price hike for consoles. New Xbox hardware has been announced by way of the Elite 2 Core controller and we wonder just what's going on at 343 studios.
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.
Contact: InsipidGhost@gmail.com
Please consider leaving a review on iTunes or Spotify. It is the best way to support the show. Thank you!
Sunday Aug 21, 2022
Sunday Aug 21, 2022
#Xbox #SeamusBlackley #EmbracerGroup
In episode 144 of the Xbox Expansion Pass we’re grateful to be joined by Seamus Blackley. Physicist, mathematician, designer and Father of the Original Xbox. This has been a long time coming and as always: enjoy.
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.
Contact: InsipidGhost@gmail.com
Please consider leaving a review on iTunes or Spotify. It is the best way to support the show. Thank you!
0:00 Intro
0:46 Welcome
1:15 Words of Kindness
3:36 Embracer Group Acquisitions
6:38 Dead Island 2
8:48 Introducing Seamus Blackley
10:00 Reflecting on Celebrity
14:51 Emailing Bill Gates & Internal Politics
19:37 Seamus vs 3DO
21:29 From A Home of Abuse
23:39 Life Changing Quote
27:00 Lonely?
34:15 Ethernet to xCloud
40:15 Proving Bill Gates
43:33 Microsoft's Dumb Mistake
46:50 People Taking Credit
51:58 Thoughts on Activision & Bethesda
52:00 Peter Moore & Steve Balmer
54:02 Episode 201 of Unlocked
56:30 Phil Spencer
58:00 Local Compute versus Cloud
1:00:12 Seamus Advice
1:02:00 Now a CEO
1:05:00 Playing Games
1:08:07 Outro
Sunday Aug 14, 2022
Sunday Aug 14, 2022
#Xbox #Gamescom #RimworldConsoleEdition
In episode 143 of the Xbox Expansion Pass we discuss the recent string of high profile delays out of this fall, the Xbox presence at Gamescom, and Modern Warfare 2 looks to be making a big splash ahead of October. In the back half of the show we’re joined by Kevin Mann of Double Eleven Studios to discuss the release of Rimworld: Console Edition. Enjoy!
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.
Contact: InsipidGhost@gmail.com
Please consider leaving a review on iTunes or Spotify. It is the best way to support the show. Thank you!
0:00 Introduction
0:45 Welcome
1:22 Words of Kindness
4:27 Xbox at Gamescom
7:19 Playstation Blocking Games
9:25 Third Party at Gamescom
12:18 Delayed Games (Midnight Suns & Hogwarts)
18:43 Call of Duty Beta
21:06 Halo's Survival
23:15 Elden Ring In Gamepass
26:56 Dream Guest on XEP
34:52 Double Eleven's Kevin Mann
35:30 Rimworld's Genre
39:33 Porting a PC Game to Console
47:27 Pressure
50:11 Future Rimworld DLC
52:01 Massive Game
57:44 Killer Squirrels
1:01:22 Player Feedback
1:05:52 Closing
Sunday Aug 07, 2022
Sunday Aug 07, 2022
#Xbox #Playstation #Activision
In episode 141 of the Xbox Expansion Pass we’re joined by content creator Mr. Boomstick XL to discuss a number of topics including an Xbox first party check in, the Activision acquisition bringing statements of fear from Sony and downplay from Microsoft, and Xbox is soft launching a Game Pass family plan. Enjoy!
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.
Mr. Boomstick's Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DoubleBarrelGamingWMrBoomStickXL
Contact: InsipidGhost@gmail.com
Please consider leaving a review on iTunes or Spotify. It is the best way to support the show. Thank you!
0:00 Intro
0:28 Welcome
0:59 Words of Kindness
3:04 First Party Check In - Halo
8:27 Roadmap Failures
10:48 Forge Mode Leaks
18:43 Forza Horizon Hot Wheels
25:04 Sea of Thieves Season 7
29:35 Is Sony Scared of Activision Deal?
36:00 It's Just Business
43:08 Game Pass Family Plan
49:48 Hellblade 2 Details
55:20 Closing
Sunday Jul 31, 2022
Sunday Jul 31, 2022
#Xbox #Discord #Multiversus
In episode 141 of the Xbox Expansion Pass we’re joined by Joseph Moran, aka Mr. Bad Bit, host of The Trophy Room: A Playstation Podcast to discuss the latest gaming news including some Xbox sales numbers, Discord arriving to the Xbox ecosystem, and excitement around WB’s Multiversus. After that I sit down with CEO of Herobeat Studios Javier Romello to chat about their recently launched title: Endling Extinction is Forever.. Enjoy!
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.
Contact: InsipidGhost@gmail.com
Please consider leaving a review on iTunes or Spotify. It is the best way to support the show. Thank you!
0:00 Intro
0:49 Welcome
1:30 Words of Kindness
2:54 Sea of Thieves Adventures
8:30 Infamous First Light
9:40 Xbox & Discord
17:20 Xbox Sales Numbers
25:59 COVID Effects Studios
31:57 Multiversus
45:15 M Rated Games
54:31 Hobbies?
58:09 The Trophy Room
58:56 Endling Extinction Is Forever Interview
1:24:25 Outrod
Monday Jul 18, 2022
Monday Jul 18, 2022
#Xbox #AsDuskFalls #Fall2022
In episode 140 of the Xbox Expansion Pass we prepare for Xbox’s biggest month since the launch of Halo Infinite thanks to a high profile indie As Dusk Falls and the Hot Wheels DLC for Forza Horizon 5. Halo Infinite's Co-Op campaign has launched and we've got a preview of games to come in the Fall of 2022. Enjoy!
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.
Contact: InsipidGhost@gmail.com
Please consider leaving a review on iTunes or Spotify. It is the best way to support the show. Thank you!
0:00 Steve Downes Intro
0:46 Welcome
1:17 Words of Kindness
4:04 Housekeeping
5:37 Sea of Thieves Season 7
8:28 "Team Health"
11:45 Sony's PS4 Initiatives
14:04 Halo Infinite Co-Op
17:55 As Dusk Falls Impressions
20:42 As Dusk Falls Controls
22:43 Bright Memory Imbound
24:17 Coming Soon for Xbox
26:36 Summer Game Sale
29:36 Release Date Importance
33:33 Game Pass Has Games
38:17 Closing
Sunday Jul 10, 2022
Sunday Jul 10, 2022
In episode 139 of the Xbox Expansion Pass we’ve got plenty to discuss as Microsoft has announced significant changes to the Games With Gold program, E3 is set to return with new leadership, and Ubisoft made waves with the return and showcase of Skull and Bones. Enjoy!
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.
Contact: InsipidGhost@gmail.com
Please consider leaving a review on iTunes or Spotify. It is the best way to support the show. Thank you!
0:00 Opening
0:29 Welcome
1:01 Words of Kindness
2:21 Games With Gold Changes
8:01 E3 Returning In 2023
12:34 Skull & Bones
19:27 Ubisoft Forward 2022
21:10 Housekeeping
23:02 Collector's Editions
28:07 New Gaming IPs
30:46 Backlog
37:39 Closing