The XboxCast

It's time to play the music It's time to light the lights It's time to reveal our game awards tonight It's time to put on makeup It's time to dress up right It's time to raise the curtain On the most sensational, inspirational, celebrational, XboxCastational Game Awards tonight! ----more----   Our final show of 2025, and as is custom, we bow out with our version of The Game Awards. But we do things differently. See, we don't judge games we've never played, we don't get paid to declare winners (but if you would like to try change our minds - get in contact!), and we don't award games just because they sold well.    NO! Not us! We nominate games that we've played this year only. Our hands on experience is what sets us apart from every other game award show. And not just because we're awarding games that came in 4 years ago either.    By now you know the order of awards, but those that are new, our awards are:  The Biggest Surprise of 2025 Something that made you audibly gasp. The Make This into a Movie Award Awarded for best story. The Time Sink / Can't Stop Won't Stop Award Awarded for that game that sucked up all your time and was worth every minute. The Eye Meltingly Best-Looking Award Awarded for gorgeous graphics, good looking characters and other things that showcase 4K. The Together-At-Last Multiplayer Award Awarded for that game best played with friends, near and far.  The Music to My Ears Award From soundtracks to soundscapes, this awards games that showcase the best audio. The Edge of Your Seat Award What we're most looking forward to seeing in 2026. Hopefully it involves a future with Xbox in it.  The Ones That Didn't Quite Make It Award Honourable mentions and games that didn't quite make the cut, but were so close, it hurts.  The One Leaves Anti-Game Award Awarded for the game that almost you give up on gaming entirely. Consider this your Do-Not-Play list.  and the big one - Our Personal Game of the Year Award! Any game we've played this year that was exceptional in all regards, our very own GotY! -- On a more serious note, The XboxCast does this because of you. Whether you tune in every week on our live stream, or listen when you can, you guys make it all worth it. We hope you enjoyed the laughs, the rants and just the general nonsense we get up on the podcast.  Thank you for hanging out with us - on the podcast, in our Discord, near or far. 💚   From the whole XboxCast - Kyle, Lee, Simone and Producer Paul - have a Merry Christmas, and a blessed New Years.    See you all in 2026 as we celebrate 10 years (!!!) of The XboxCast! Will that be out last season? Will there even be Xbox to talk about? Tune in next year to find out...    -- For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit ⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐

The Game Awards for 2025, have come and gone.  And... Yeah...  ----more----   SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT It's that time of year - The XboxCast Game Awards for 2025! And voting is now live. Get voting now!   And now on with The Regular Show!   📢 The Game Awards 2025 Wrap Up   Ok, so we had the game awards! And what did we expect? Claire Obscur obviously cleaned up - winning almost every single category it was in. PlayStation was a flop with the games it put forward not coming away with anything, and as per normal - Xbox was a no show (thanks Geoff).    But we did get some cool trailers. But at some point, we have to ask ourselves - why is our Christmas E3 interrupted with an award show? Just give us the trailers and get out of here.   Divinity, Warlock, and two new Star Wars games? Oh my! But as is the norm in this industry, a CGI trailer of a game coming in 2030 can only do so much to generate hype. Or keep the hype going. Any ways, we are promised some games, most of which will probably launch on the Asus Xbox Series X-2 With Copilot Living Room Entertainment Centre with Copilot 365. Or the Dell Alienware Xbox X TV Game System with Copilot 365. Or what about the Razer Blade Xbox Laptop 15 Advanced with Xbox Game Pass on Copilot+ PC 365?    Either way, games were celebrated. Kyle was quizzed and Lee had fun...   -- For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit ⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐   

Kyle and Lee talk Linux.  Yes, Microsoft is that bad, that the biggest Microsoft fans are now actively using Linux.  (And hating it... But less than Windows 11!) ----more----   SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT It's that time of year - The XboxCast Game Awards for 2025! And voting is now live. Get voting now!   And now on with The Regular Show!   🕰️ Phil Spencer's 2019 'Unusual Strategy' Bombshell Still Haunts Xbox Six years later, Phil Spencer's Kotaku chat calling Xbox's player-first, device-agnostic vibe - "Play anywhere, with anyone" hits harder than ever. Profits from software/services, not console slumps? Cross-play dreams? Check and check, as multiplat Game Pass and Play Anywhere prove he's been preaching the gospel while hardware gathers dust. Visionary or excuse-maker? Still relevant AF.   🤠 Red Dead Redemption Next-Gen Upgrade Rockstar's free current-gen patch for RDR1 finally drops - 4K/60fps native on Series X (huge leap from 30fps back-compat hell), 1440p on S- but Xbox 360 digital owners? Stuck paying full price thanks to a botched upgrade glitch. Rockstar's "working with Microsoft" (yeah, sure), while PS5/Switch owners upgrade smooth. Classic Rockstar-Xbox drama - John Marston deserves better. Oh, and when you upgrade, you lose multiplayer...    🔄 Xbox November 2025 Console Update Gaming Copilot beta for real-time tips (who asked for this?), Full Screen Experience (or FSE as Microsoft calls it) on more PCs/handhelds, cloud resolutions on up to 1440p (if you're on Game Pass Ultimate), plus Cloud Gaming blitz to India/Brazil/Argentina on LG/Fire TV. So many asterixis...    ⛏️ Minecraft Swaps Version Numbers to Yearly Mess Starting 2026 Mojang's ditching 1.21 limbo for year-based tags like 25.3 (Copper Age) or 26.1... Thanks to Apple for paving the way. And Thanks to Microsoft for taking something that should be simple and making it even more confusing....    🚪 Xbox Game Pass Axes 6 Games in December Mortal Kombat 11, Paw Patrol World, Still Wakes the Deep, Wildfrost - goodbye games. We hardly knew ye...   🎁 Game Pass December Wave 1: 13 Fresh Drops, 4 Day-Ones Games are coming! Woo. We have... Medieval Dynasty, Stellaris, WWZ Aftermath, Monster Train 2, Spray Paint Sim, 33 Immortals (Preview), Routine, Indiana Jones, Dome Keeper, Digging a Hole, Death Howl, MK1 and Bratz. Thats quite a few... Are you playing any?    -- For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit ⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐   

Want a bundle? Have a bundle! In fact, have a bundle of bundles!  ----more----   SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT It's that time of year - The XboxCast Game Awards for 2025! And voting is now live. Get voting now!   And now on with The Regular Show!   📢 Xbox Partner Preview November 2025: 16 Reveals, 9 Game Pass Day-Ones The November 20 Partner Preview blitz dropped world premieres like Armatus (action-roguelike), Raji: Kaliyuga (sequel surprise), Vampire Crawlers (Poncle's chaotic FPS deckbuilder roguelike), plus trailers for 007 First Light, Reanimal, Tides of Annihilation. Nine day-one Game Pass bangers announced, shadow drops like Total Chaos and CloverPit horror hits, Dave the Diver finally on Xbox. Bonus: Every featured game is Xbox Play Anywhere - buy once, play console/PC/cloud. Microsoft flexing that cross-play muscle hard.   🏆 The Game Awards 2025 Snubs: No Xbox First-Party in GOTY As Normal The Game Awards nominees dropped, and ouch - no Xbox Game Studios title in Game of the Year. Avowed, Doom: The Dark Ages, South of Midnight got nods elsewhere, but GOTY lineup heavy on indies and PlayStation exclusives like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 sweeping noms. Xbox's big 2025 swings missed the jury's radar - blame delays, flops, or just tough competition? Either way, Phil's probably side-eyeing the trophy case.   🔮 Next-Gen Xbox "Magnus" Rumors Leakers claim Microsoft's stockpiling 50 million AMD chips for codename Magnus next-gen console, aiming for 50M sales with a hybrid model running full Windows, Steam support, PC peripherals, and a traditional version. Game Pass integration obvious. Sounds like the ultimate PC-console mashup to end ecosystem wars - but sourced from shady YouTube whispers, so grain of salt bigger than Satya's bonus.   🛠️ Xbox Preps Next-Gen GDK Microsoft's rolling out a pile of new Xbox Game Development Kit goodies for devs gearing up next-gen—faster tools, better debugging, who knows what magic. After all the layoffs and chaos, at least they're pretending hardware's not dead yet.   ⚔️ Solo Self-Found Mode Coming to Diablo 4 Blizzard's adding Solo Self-Found to Diablo 4, letting masochists grind everything alone without trading or partying. Perfect for purists who hate the auction house ghosts - now you can suffer in true isolation. About time, or just admitting multiplayer loot's broken?   🐧 Linux Gaming Hits Major Milestone Linux gaming just smashed some big record (probably Proton compatibility or Steam Deck sales milestone), with distros eating into Windows handheld dominance. ROG Ally owners sideloading Bazzite- is Microsoft's Windows grip slipping, or just niche nerds flexing?   🎮 PlayStation Allegedly Gunning for Xbox's Cloud and Play Anywhere Opinion rants claim Sony "forced" multiplat exclusives, now plotting to wreck Xbox cloud gaming and steal Play Anywhere cross-buy ideas. Classic console war paranoia - PlayStation winning hardware while Xbox pivots services. If true, Microsoft's ecosystem dreams could crumble faster than a bad live service launch.   -- For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit ⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐   

In what seems to be a big yolk, we now have a game where you're an egg.  Has the game industry finally cracked? Or is this new genre ready to come out its shell?  ----more----   SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT The XboxCast is now doing merch! You heard that right. We have launched our very own merch that you can totally buy. Its 100% legit. We're now offering "Xbox on Cup" mugs, with our very own logo. Keen to get yours? The shop is live now on our site. Order yours today before Kyle changes the design...    And now on with The Regular Show!   💰 Microsoft Execs Demanding 30% Xbox Profit Margins—Double the Industry Norm Leaked Bloomberg bombshell shows who's really ruining Xbox. And the answer wont surprise you. We've spoken a lot about Amy Hood (Microsoft's CFO) recently, and with good reason. Seems like shes slapped a 30% "accountability margins" target on gaming in fall 2023, which is nearly double the 17% industry average. Cue 10k+ layoffs, studio shutdowns, and endless cancellations. Seems like Xbox is losing its soul just to please the bean counters...   📱 Xbox Blames TikTok For Everything, Not PlayStation Xbox boss Matt Booty claims Xbox's "biggest competition isn't another console... it's TikTok..." Yeah right... The fact that Xbox has tanked all good will, decided exclusives don't matter, doesn't have an answer to the PS Pro, and also put out the disastrous "This is an Xbox" ad campaign has done nothing but help the brand, of course.   🪟 Next-Gen Xbox Rumors: Full Windows, Back Compt, Free Multiplayer Leaks whisper next Xbox runs full Windows, beefy backward compat, and free online MP forever. But also comes with a steep price tag. Is this enough to sway people towards Xbox? Only time will tell, but we can't help but feel that Microsoft is not listening to any customers (with anything really)... So we wait and see, but we're not holding our breath.    ⚔️ Ubisoft Begs Division Studio Staff to Self-Layoff Ubisoft's nudging Massive Entertainment (The Division devs) to volunteer for cuts amid Tencent drama and flops. After AC boss ousting, now this, it looks like staff are grabbing parachutes before the axe falls. Ubisoft's imploding faster than a failed raid...    What is going on in the gaming indutry?  We wish we had the answers.    -- For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit ⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐  

In a world of band t-shirts, why wear anything that isn't black? ----more----   SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT The XboxCast is now doing merch! You heard that right. We have launched our very own merch that you can totally buy. Its 100% legit. We're now offering "Xbox on Cup" mugs, with our very own logo. Keen to get yours? The shop is live now on our site. Order yours today before Kyle changes the design...    And now on with The Regular Show!   🎄 Halo 3's 2025 Hallmark Christmas Ornament Up for Preorder at Amazon Its not even Halloween, and already the Christmas cheer is coming in fast and furiously. Looks like corporations have learnt that gamers have money and love nerdy things... Hallmark's new Keepsake Ornament for Halo 3 is now available for preorder at $24.99 USD, dropping in October 2025. And there's also an Xbox 360 console to match. Relive those glory days, before we got... this    🧠 Microsoft Thinks Gamers Need AI Hand-Holding Who ever asked for this, please raise your hand so we know who to ostracize. Seriously, what is the purpose of an AI that spoon-feeds you directions like "go right down the stairs, literally right in front of you" in Final Fantasy XVI. Oh, and it dishes out wrong advice, like fake item wheels in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle or pushing 720p on a rig that runs 1080p fine. Can we blame Reddit for this? Because we should.    💸 Even Xbox Dev Kits Get a 33% Price Hike—Because Why Not? Microsoft continues its streak to kill off Xbox by jacking up Xbox Series X/S developer kits from $1,500 to $2,000 overnight. Their reason? Tariffs, of course. It's all getting oh so tiresome... These beefed-up kits pack 40GB GDDR6, extra compute units, and debugging goodies, but now they're pricier than your average console bundle. Devs are probably side-eyeing this after the recent Xbox and Game Pass hikes...    🤝 Sarah Bond Blames ASUS for ROG Ally Prices, Drops Next-Gen AMD Tease In a Variety chat, Xbox President Sarah Bond casually throws ASUS under the bus for slapping $599.99 on the base ROG Xbox Ally and a wallet-melting $999.99 on the Ally X, saying they handled pricing like pros (or excuses). She touts quick sellouts for the top model, but hey, confirms next-gen Xbox is cooking with AMD—prototypes and all, no timeline though. So, Microsoft's playing coy while pointing fingers? Classic corporate dodgeball.   🚫 Ex-Blizzard Boss Calls Xbox Hardware a "Moron" Move Former Microsoft exec, and ex-Blizzard president, Mike Ybarra unloads on Xbox saying Xbox is "out of HW and exclusive games," and "only a moron" keeps churning consoles when titles are fleeing to third-party shores like PS and Nintendo. He does have a point though - Microsoft seems intent of killing Xbox, and hopefully someone as high profile as Mike calling it out allows the ship to be rectified before its death. We doubt it, but we can still hope.    At this stage, you'll have to convince us that Microsoft is not trying to kill Xbox on purpose....   -- For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit ⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐  

In another tumultuous week for Xbox, it seems nothing is certain. Except certain things.  ----more----   SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT The XboxCast is now doing merch! You heard that right. We have launched our very own merch that you can totally buy. Its 100% legit. We're now offering "Xbox on Cup" mugs, with our very own logo. Keen to get yours? The shop is live now on our site. Order yours today before Kyle changes the design...    And now on with The Regular Show!   🎥 Glen Powell Wants in on 'Clair Obscur: Expedition 33' Movie Glen Powell, the Top Gun: Maverick heartthrob, is itching to star in a Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 movie! The RPG, which sold a whopping 5 million copies since its April 2025 launch, has Hollywood buzzing. But seriously, another video game movie? Are we getting a cinematic masterpiece or another forgettable cash grab? Maybe a Netflix series would do it justice—or maybe we don’t need it at all.   👋 Is It Time To Say Goodbye to Halo? An opinion piece is calling for Microsoft to pull the plug on Halo, claiming 343 Industries (now Halo Studios) fumbled the ball after Bungie’s exit. With recent staff shake-ups like art director Glenn Israel’s departure, which sounds like hes not on great terms with the direction of the franchise, it may be time to move on. From our point of view, its time to let Master Chief rest... At least for a while.   🎮 ROG Xbox Ally X: TIME’s Best Invention of 2025 To prove we live in bazzaro world, the yet unreleased handheld wins an award for the best invention of 2025. How much did Microsoft pay for this level of advertising? Or was this all ASUS's influence? Either way, its a handheld computer with the Xbox logo slapped on. Hardly worth the title at all, and makes TIME Magazine look like more of a joke than it already it is.    🛒 Target and Walmart Ditch Xbox Stock? Alleged employees on Reddit (also known as the cesspool of the internet, so take this with a giant grain of salt) claim Target and Walmart are yanking Xbox Series X/S consoles, games, and accessories from shelves due to sluggish sales. Following Costco’s lead, this move has us raising eyebrows—are retailers giving up on Xbox? With stock vanishing online, is this a supply hiccup or a sign of bigger trouble?   ❓ Next-Gen Xbox Plans “Up in the Air”? Insider leaks suggest Microsoft’s next-gen Xbox plans are a mess after 9,000+ layoffs and canceled projects like Perfect Dark. With a 2026 launch looking shaky and retailers like Costco reportedly dropping Xbox, Microsoft’s doubling down on Game Pass and cloud gaming. Is Xbox pivoting to software, or is this just corporate chaos?    📈 Next-Gen Xbox Name and Specs Leak Online From Xbox hard being canceled to leaks spilling the tea on Microsoft’s next Xbox console, it seems like not even Microsoft know what they are doing! Which is hardly surprising at this stage. Rumored names and specs are swirling, hinting at a 2027 launch with beefy hardware to rival the best. These leaks even suggest a 100% performance lead over the leaked PS6 specs... If Xbox deliver this, then goodbye to the Performance / Quality mode switches in console games. At lest on Xbox. Poor PS players will still have to choose between 60FPS and 4K...    All this and more in this episode of The Regular Show.    -- For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit ⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐  

Xbox seems intent on driving away all its fans.  And the worst part, it seems to be working...  ----more----   SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT The XboxCast is now doing merch! You heard that right. We have launched our very own merch that you can totally buy. Its 100% legit. We're now offering "Xbox on Cup" mugs, with our very own logo. Keen to get yours? The shop is live now on our site. Order yours today before Kyle changes the design...    And now on with The Regular Show!   📦 Game Pass Changes — The Good, the Bad, and the Weird Xbox's Game Pass overhaul is here, and it’s… Well, very Microsoft of them...  We would try break it down for you, but honestly, just cancel your Ultimate Subscription, drop down to the mid-tier - Premium - and you'll be saving money while missing out on Day One releases only. Or do what hundreds of others have done and just cancel your subscription all together. To say we're angry with the sudden price jump would be an understatement.    💸 Xbox Series X|S Prices Go Up 📈 Further to driving fans away, Microsoft has announced a price increase for both Xbox Series X and Series S consoles. If you were to sell your secondhand Series X, you could be looking to make money. Thats how much the price of new consoles have gone up by. The company cites “market conditions”. Yeah right...    🛒 Costco Drops Xbox Consoles In a surprise move, Costco confirmed it will no longer sell Xbox consoles. The decision appears to be internal rather than supply-driven, and it’s raising eyebrows across retail and gaming circles. Is this a one-off, or the start of a broader shift in how Xbox reaches consumers?   All this and more in this episode of The Regular Show.    -- For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit ⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐  

The Tokyo Game Show has come and gone. But the question on everyone's lips is "Will EA Survive?" ----more----   SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT The XboxCast is now doing merch! You heard that right. We have launched our very own merch that you can totally buy. Its 100% legit. We're now offering "Xbox on Cup" mugs, with our very own logo. Keen to get yours? The shop is live now on our site. Order yours today before Kyle changes the design...    And now on with The Regular Show!   💰 EA Goes Private in $55 Billion Mega-Deal In a move that stunned the industry, Electronic Arts is being taken private in a record-breaking $55 billion buyout. The deal, led by a consortium of tech and investment firms, will delist EA from public trading and reshape its leadership structure. What does this mean for players? Fewer shareholder-driven decisions, potentially more creative freedom—and maybe a future where Madden isn’t monetized like a mobile game. Either way, it’s the biggest acquisition since Microsoft bought Activision Blizzard, and it’s sending shockwaves through the publishing world.     🗼 Xbox at Tokyo Game Show — Japan Gets Its Game On Xbox was at the Tokyo Game Show and we have all the coverage. But if you're interested in the best parts...    🚗 Forza Horizon 6 confirmed its setting: Japan. Expect drifting through Kyoto, racing past cherry blossoms, and dodging vending machines in Tokyo alleys. It’s the most requested location in franchise history, and it’s finally happening.   🛩️ Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 showed off new aerial tours of Mt. Fuji and Tokyo Tower, with real-time weather and cultural overlays. It’s not just flying—it’s sightseeing at 30,000 feet. And in a move surprising no-one, its coming to PlayStation...    All this and more in this episode of The Regular Show.    -- For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit ⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐

We're now vibe podcasting! ----more----   SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT The XboxCast is now doing merch! You heard that right. We have launched our very own merch that you can totally buy. Its 100% legit. We're now offering "Xbox on Cup" mugs, with our very own logo. Keen to get yours? The shop is live now on our site. Order yours today before Kyle changes the design...    And now on with The Regular Show!   🖥️ Xbox App Becomes the PC Gaming Hub Windows 11’s Xbox app now supports Steam, GOG, Epic, and more—letting you launch and track all your games from one place. It’s a huge win for PC players and a clear sign that Xbox is serious about being the home for all things gaming, no matter where you bought it.   ☁️ Cloud Gaming Gets a Resolution Boost Xbox Cloud Gaming is testing 1440p resolution for Ultimate subscribers. That’s a major upgrade from the current 1080p cap, and it could make streaming games look sharper than ever—especially on high-res monitors and handhelds.   🪖 Battlefield 6 Optimized for Series S DICE says optimizing Battlefield 6 for Xbox Series S made the entire game more stable. The devs focused on memory management and performance parity, proving that the “budget box” can still punch above its weight.   🌪️ Final Fantasy 7 Remake Gets Xbox Date After years of waiting, Final Fantasy 7 Remake is finally coming to Xbox Series XS on December 5. It includes all DLC and performance upgrades, and yes—Cloud still broods beautifully in 4K.   🕹️ Acclaim Returns With 9 New Games The legendary publisher behind Mortal Kombat ports and Turok is back, announcing nine new titles across genres. Highlights include a spiritual successor to Shadow Man and a new arcade racer. It’s retro revival season, and Acclaim’s bringing the heat.   🧠 Cyberpunk 2077 Gets Slick New Release CD Projekt Red unveiled Cyberpunk 2077: Neon Reign, a standalone expansion set in a new district with fresh storylines, vehicles, and mechanics. It’s launching in early 2026 and promises to build on Phantom Liberty’s momentum.   🎨 Witcher 3 Controllers Hit Xbox Design Lab You can now customize your own Witcher 3-themed Xbox controller, complete with sigils, silver accents, and monster-slaying vibes. Toss a coin to your thumbsticks.   ⚽ Football Manager 26 Joins Game Pass Coming in November, Football Manager 2026 will be a day-one Game Pass title. It’s the deepest management sim yet, with revamped scouting, dynamic rivalries, and a new match engine.   All this and more in this episode of The Regular Show.    -- For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit ⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐

Ducks! Now with guns! ----more----   SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT The XboxCast is now doing merch! You heard that right. We have launched our very own merch that you can totally buy. Its 100% legit. We're now offering "Xbox on Cup" mugs, with our very own logo. Keen to get yours? The shop is live now on our site. Order yours today before Kyle changes the design...    And now on with The Regular Show!   🗼 Xbox Heads to Tokyo Game Show — Mark Your Calendars Xbox’s TGS 2025 broadcast is locked in for September 25, promising new updates for Japanese titles, Game Pass expansions, and maybe a few surprise drops. Will we finally see more of Kojima’s cloud game? Or just more Persona ports? Either way, we’re watching with chopsticks in hand.   👽 Helldivers 2 Outselling PlayStation on Xbox? A new report suggests Helldivers 2 is actually selling faster on Xbox Series XS than it did on PlayStation. If true, it’s a rare case of a Sony-born title thriving in Microsoft’s backyard. We break down the numbers, the context, and whether this is just a marketing drop-pod or a real shift in player allegiance.   🦆 DUCKSIDE Trailer Drops — Fowl Play Confirmed DUCKSIDE is here, and it’s absolutely quackers. Think Rust meets Untitled Goose Game, but with tactical gear and aggressive waddling. The trailer shows off base-building, PvP chaos, and yes—ducks with shotguns. It’s absurd, it’s brilliant, and we’re already lining up for the pond.   🎮 Game Pass September — Silksong Sings at Last It’s happening. Hollow Knight: Silksong is finally launching as a day-one Game Pass title this September. Alongside it, we’re getting The Chinese Room’s Still Wakes the Deep, Little Kitty, Big City, and Party Animals. It’s a stacked lineup that proves Game Pass is still the best deal in gaming—even if your backlog is crying.   🧟 CoD: WWII Returns After 41 Days in the Shadows After a mysterious and controversial removal, Call of Duty: WWII is back on the Microsoft Store. The 41-day absence sparked rumors of licensing issues, but Activision says it was a “technical error.” We’re not saying it was sabotage, but… it was probably sabotage.   🪐 The Outer Worlds 2 — Fallout Vibes, Starfield Dreams Obsidian’s sequel is shaping up to be the Fallout-style RPG that Starfield couldn’t quite deliver. With deeper companion arcs, branching morality, and corporate satire dialed to eleven, The Outer Worlds 2 might just be the spacefaring redemption arc we’ve been waiting for.   All this and more in this episode of The Regular Show.    -- For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit ⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐

Simone is back! And there was much rejoicing.    SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT The XboxCast is now doing merch! You heard that right. We have launched our very own merch that you can totally buy. Its 100% legit. We're now offering "Xbox on Cup" mugs, with our very own logo. Keen to get yours? The shop is live now on our site. Order yours today before Kyle changes the design...    And now on with The Regular Show!   🏁 Forza Horizon 6 Leaks — Welcome to Japan The next Horizon festival might be drifting eastward. Leaked details suggest Forza Horizon 6 is set in Japan, with winding mountain roads, neon-soaked cityscapes, and a 2026 launch window. If true, it’s the most requested setting finally coming to life—and we’re already revving our engines.   🕹️ Windows 11 Goes Handheld — Finally Playable or Just a Patch Job? Microsoft’s new handheld gaming mode for Windows 11 was demoed on the Xbox Ally, and it’s… promising. The Xbox app can now be set as your default launcher, ditching the desktop for a controller-friendly UI. It’s smoother, snappier, and finally feels like it belongs on an 8-inch screen. But is it a real fix or just a full-screen façade? We break it down.   📦 Game Pass August Wave 2 — Stack It While You Can This month’s Game Pass lineup includes Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Frostpunk 2, and Moving Out 2. It’s a mix of stealth, survival, and slapstick co-op chaos. But don’t get too comfy—five games are leaving, including Borderlands 3, Broforce, and F1 Manager 2023. Time to loot, shoot, and scoot before they vanish.   🧨 Battlefield 6 Beta Debrief — Boom or Bust? EA’s community update reveals mixed feedback from the open beta. Players loved the new class weapon system but flagged UI bugs and matchmaking hiccups. The devs promise tweaks before launch, but the real question is: will Battlefield finally reclaim its crown, or just keep respawning?   🏗️ Satisfactory Gets Console Date — Build It Like Beckham Coffee Stain Studios’ beloved factory-builder hits Xbox Series XS and PS5 on November 4. It’s automation, exploration, and conveyor belt chaos—now with controller support. No crossplay (yet), no Game Pass (sadly), but still one of the most “Overwhelmingly Positive” games on Steam.   👽 Helldivers 2 x Halo ODST — Feet First Into Fan Service Launching August 26, Helldivers 2 drops a Legendary Warbond set packed with Halo ODST gear: MA5C rifles, Helljumper armor, and capes that scream “I dropped feet first into hell.” It’s a crossover that fuses two gritty universes—and might just revive Halo’s esports soul.   All this and more in this episode of The Regular Show.    We're also in deep in our Patreon's Pick August Event. For all of August, the Patrons get to tell us what to play. Do you want to have your chance to boss Lee around? Join our Patreon today and help your local Xbox podcast keep on trucking on, giving you the content you neither want nor deserve.    You're welcome.    -- For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit ⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐

Gamescom 2025 has wrapped! Was it a good year? Or was it a great year? Listen to find out...    SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT The XboxCast is now doing merch! You heard that right. We have launched our very own merch that you can totally buy. Its 100% legit. We're now offering "Xbox on Cup" mugs, with our very own logo. Keen to get yours? Then jump into our Discord and let us know.  Wanting to see it in person? Then check out this podcast on YouTube or hang tight until we have it on website.    And now on with The Regular Show!   🧠 Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 – Fear Is the Weapon Treyarch’s latest entry is set in 2035 and leans hard into psychological warfare. The campaign supports solo or four-player co-op, and introduces “fear toxin” mechanics inspired by Batman Arkham. Missions distort reality, enemies mutate mid-fight, and generative AI tools streamline level design. Zombies return, multiplayer expands, and the November 14 release date is locked in. 🕷️ Hollow Knight: Silksong – Finally, a Date Hornet’s long-awaited solo outing lands September 4. The trailer shows off acrobatic traversal, new biomes, and over 200 enemies—including 40 bosses. Team Cherry confirmed post-launch content plans, so this isn’t just a release—it’s a relaunch of the franchise’s future. 🧱 LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Now this got our attention because it looks absolutely Bat-Mazing! A love letter to Batman’s history, this new LEGO title blends Arkham-style combat with classic LEGO humor. Matt Berry voices Bane, and the game spans multiple Bat-eras—from Adam West to Robert Pattinson. Expect puzzles, stealth, and Batmobiles galore. 🧛 Resident Evil: Requiem – Gothic and Gory Capcom’s latest horror entry introduces Grace Ashcroft, a new protagonist navigating a plague-ridden European village. The trailer teases a stalker enemy with shape-shifting abilities and a narrative twist that ties back to RE7. It’s atmospheric, brutal, and deeply unsettling.   🧬 Borderlands 4 – Gravitar Goes Boom A new Borderland has us wondering if this is Destiny with a skin. Seriously, the game play, the gun-play and everything in-between looks like it was lifted straight from Bungie and run through a filter. Could this just a sneaky way to get Kyle to play (and enjoy) a Borderlands game? Because if its Destiny Reskinned, then sign us up!   🧛 Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 This game joins Silksong in only exiting when it gets released. Until then, it remains a bad April fools joke. Kyle refuses to believe its real, while Lee seems pretty excited to jump in.  All this and more in this episode of The Regular Show.    We're also in deep in our Patreon's Pick August Event. For all of August, the Patrons get to tell us what to play. Do you want to have your chance to boss Lee around? Join our Patreon today and help your local Xbox podcast keep on trucking on, giving you the content you neither want nor deserve.    You're welcome.    -- For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit ⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐

Is it Xbox PC, or Xbox on PC or PC Xbox, or Xbox App on PC?  Seems not even Microsoft knows...   But We're looking forward to Xbox on Cup very soon.    On this episode of The Regular Show   💻 Xbox PC or Xbox on PC or Xbox App On PC?  The PC Pour Begins Microsoft quietly shifts its branding from “Xbox PC” to “Xbox on PC,” and it’s more than semantics. It’s a signal: Xbox is no longer just a console—it’s a platform. With Game Pass, cross-play, and the ROG Ally handheld, the PC is now a first-class citizen in the Xbox ecosystem. The new label popped up in trailers for Grounded 2 and Age of Mythology: Retold, and it finally makes sense. It’s not a PC that’s an Xbox—it’s Xbox, on your PC. We will wait and see what the branding changes to next week.    🧾 Game Pass Hits $5 Billion—But At What Cost? After laying off 15,000 employees this year, Microsoft revealed that Xbox Game Pass raked in nearly $5 billion in annual revenue. That’s a record. But critics argue the subscription model is turning developers into “wage slaves,” stripping away creative incentives. Former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden says it’s bad for business, but hes a former boss for a reason...   🧼 Xbox Insider Update Scrubs the Library The latest Xbox Insider update fixes a long-standing annoyance: the game library clutter. Finally, you can hide games you don’t own or want to see. It’s a small win, but one that makes navigating your digital shelf a little less chaotic.   🕹️ Ubisoft Games Appear On The Microsoft Store Over 10 Ubisoft titles have landed on the Microsoft PC Store. It’s a clear push to bulk up the Xbox on PC catalog. Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and more are now just a click away. But you'll still need the Ubisoft Connect launcher app to actually run these games, so we're left wondering what the use is...    🎉 Rare Turns 40 And Xbox Throws a Party Rare is celebrating its 40th anniversary with surprise rewards in Sea of Thieves, exclusive Gamerpics, and a dynamic background. But the real star? A Rare-themed Xbox controller from 8BitDo. Blue and gold, with nods to Banjo-Kazooie, Viva Piñata, and Donkey Kong Country. It’s a collector’s dream. And it uses Hall Effect joysticks. Something Microsoft still hasn't gotten the hang of.    🛍️ Xbox Gear Store Shuts Down The Gear Store is closing, and fans are wondering if it’s part of a bigger shift. Maybe the guy in charge of the Gear Shop was one of those 15,000 pink slips? Or maybe Microsoft just forgot to renew the domain? Who knows. Either way, Xbox merch is now an EB Games exclusive... Or is it? 🤔   🕵️ Game Pass August Drops Assassin’s Creed Mirage and Frontpunk 2 lead the charge of September's Game Pass line ups, but sadly we're having to say goodbye to Anthem, Farming Simulator 22, and Persona 3 Reload. Now is the time to buy them if you haven't already. Or are you glad to see these ones go?    🧨 $80 Games? Not So Fast Finally some good news. The push to $80 games is finally facing a reckoning as gamers wonder how much more they're about to be squeezed. Xbox and EA have walked back pricing on games like The Outer Worlds 2 and Borderlands 4, returning to the $70 standard. Nintendo remains the lone holdout, but Nintendo will Nintendo...   🧍 Xbox Age Verification Rolls Out in the UK As part of the stupidity that is the UK government, you now have to prove you're of age to use Xbox Live, Spotify and YouTube amongst other apps. If you don't verify your age, you lose access to features like voice chat and game invites. But, if you have access to photo mode in games, well, then you can get past this requirement without having to give up a shred of your real life identity.      All this and more in this episode of The Regular Show.    We're also in deep in our Patreon's Pick August Event. For all of August, the Patrons get to tell us what to play. Do you want to have your chance to boss Lee around? Join our Patreon today and help your local Xbox podcast keep on trucking on, giving you the content you neither want nor deserve.    You're welcome.    -- For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit ⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐

When more people tune into The XboxCast, we become better. At least that's what we tell ourselves...    In this episode of The Regular Show:   🧑‍⚖️ CONTROVERSY!  The Stop Killing Games campaign, a grassroots movement fighting for digital preservation, is under fire for “systematic concealment” of financial contributions. Turns out, volunteering too hard might get you audited. What a world we live in...  💻 Finally, a usable Windows 11 A leaked Windows 11 UI designed specifically for gaming handhelds could finally fix the clunky experience plaguing devices like the ROG Xbox Ally. The new interface promises streamlined navigation, better game library access, and a layout that actually respects your thumbs. We break down what this means for the future of portable PC gaming—and why it’s long overdue.   🧙‍♂️ Fable Might Be A Fable A new report suggests the reboot won’t land until 2027. That’s a long wait for Albion. But not totally unexpected. Because of course it was going to be delayed.    💸 Ubisoft Being Ubisoft Ubisoft’s latest quote—“microtransactions make the player experience more fun”—might go down as one of the worst in gaming history. There's not much to say because of course this is Ubisoft we're talking about.    📼 And Microsoft Being Microsoft Microsoft has officially shut down its Movies & TV storefront on Xbox and Windows. While your purchased content is safe (for now), the move signals a major shift away from digital media ownership. Microsoft stepping away from the consumer markets isn't entirely surprising, but what could it mean for Xbox going forward?    ☁️ Gaming Onna Cloud Finally, Xbox Insiders get a new update that lays the groundwork for smarter Cloud Gaming. Cross-device play history and better library visibility are just the beginning. Kyle goes hands on during the podcast to see how it works. And not because he's distracted either...    -- For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit ⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐

We're trying out something new with our show notes.  Introducing - EMOJI!    You're welcome.    🛞 Forza Fans Left Spinning Forza’s latest studio update has left fans clutching their steering wheels in despair. With key developers shifting gears and future plans feeling more like a detour than a straightaway, the community is wondering if the franchise is headed for a pit stop or permanent retirement. We unpack the heartbreak and speculate on what’s next for the once-glorious racing titan.   🔥 Ubisoft Wants You to Burn Your Discs In a move that feels like it was brainstormed during a villain monologue, Ubisoft has declared war on physical media. That’s right — they want you to destroy your own game discs. We dive into the dystopian logic behind this, and ask: is this the beginning of the end for game ownership?   🧠 Microsoft’s Unreal Expectations? A new report claims Microsoft has “unrealistic” expectations for Xbox. But not everyone agrees. Some say it’s visionary leadership, others say it’s corporate delusion. We break down the debate and ask whether Xbox is dreaming big or just dreaming.   🧨 Romero Games: From Boom to Bust? Galway-based Romero Games was working on a promising new FPS — until their funding partner (allegedly Microsoft) pulled the plug. With 100 jobs at risk and a game that was hitting every milestone, we explore the emotional fallout and the studio’s fight to stay alive.   🛑 Stop Killing Games — But Publishers Say “No Thanks” The Stop Killing Games movement has hit 1.4 million signatures, demanding that publishers stop nuking online games. But European publishers say the proposals would “curtail developer choice.” We examine both sides of the digital preservation war.   💸 ROG Xbox Ally Pricing Leaks — Hold Onto Your Wallet The ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X handhelds have leaked with eye-watering prices: €599 and €899 respectively. Set to launch October 16, these Steam Deck rivals promise portable Xbox gaming — but at what cost? We break down the specs, the strategy, and whether your wallet can survive.   ☁️ Stream Your Own Game — Finally on PC Xbox’s PC app now lets you stream games you own — no Game Pass required. It’s a quiet revolution for cloud gaming, and a big win for players who prefer ownership over subscription.   🧍‍♂️ Halo CE Remake Rumored for 2026 — But Only Single Player? Rumors swirl about a Halo: Combat Evolved remake dropping in 2026 to celebrate the franchise’s 25th anniversary. But here’s the kicker: it might be single-player only. We discuss what this means for fans, and whether it’s a bold reimagining or a missed opportunity.   🏴‍☠️ Sea of Thieves Gets Custom Servers — But You’ll Pay Rare is finally adding custom servers to Sea of Thieves in early 2026 — but they’re locked behind a new subscription model. We explore what you’ll get, what it’ll cost, and whether it’s worth the doubloons.   🛹 Tony Hawk’s Dynamic Background — Because Why Not? Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 gets a flashy new Xbox dynamic background. It’s got birds, it’s got Tony, and it’s got just enough movement to make you feel like you’re grinding through nostalgia.   🕹️ Game Pass July Wave 2 — Grounded 2, Wuchang, RoboCop & More Microsoft’s July 2025 Wave 2 lineup includes Grounded 2, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, RoboCop: Rogue City, and more. We highlight the hits, the hidden gems, and the ones you might want to skip.   📅 August Game Pass So Far — Assassin’s Creed Mirage Leads the Charge August kicks off with Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Rain World, Citizen Sleeper 2, and Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap. We preview the lineup and speculate on what Wave 2 might bring.   -- For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit ⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐

It's been eight years since we embarked on the journey known as The XboxCast!  Join us as we look back - from where we started to how we ended up here.    What were we playing 8 years ago? What were you playing 8 years ago? And how did we record those first episodes?    All will be answered in this episode. Or at least mused over. This is one episode you're going to want to go to YouTube to watch.... Trust us!   -- For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit ⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐

Microsoft giveth. And Microsoft taketh away. And more seems to be going by the day.   The internet awoke to a bombshell this week with Microsoft canceling the highly anticipated Perfect Dark reboot and Rare’s ethereal Everwild, and shut down The Initiative studio in a sweeping round of layoffs affecting over 9,000 employees. Turn 10 Studios have also been cut in half and a rumored to be a support studio going forward.  Fans are reeling from the loss of these ambitious titles, with Perfect Dark’s sleek 2024 gameplay trailer now a bittersweet memory, and Everwild’s lush fantasy world left unexplored.   The A.I. beast must be feed, and Xbox looks to be sacrificial lamb here.    In the business world of line must go up, how long can Xbox survive? Especially with Satya's shortsightedness and tunnel vision on Azure. It seems that these are dark days for Xbox.     But it’s not all doom and gloom—Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 charges in with its Siege update, borrowing a horde-mode vibe from Gears of War to keep Space Marines slashing through Tyranid swarms. Meanwhile, The Blood of Dawnwalker, a vampire-fueled open-world RPG, stunned some with a massive gameplay reveal, yet left out hosts on the other side of "meh".   The Xbox App is leveling up too, adding Steam and Battle.net support for a seamless cross-platform experience—PC gamers, it’s time to unite your libraries! Xbox is here to save the day, as long as it's allowed to. And this leads Kyle to go on a rant about Steam...    -- For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit ⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐

Lee has won Best Face Badge. Not in real life - only in our hearts.    This week, we’re buzzing about Microsoft’s bombshell reveal of next-gen Xbox consoles, powered by a multi-year AMD partnership promising cutting-edge graphics, AI-enhanced gameplay, and full backwards compatibility with your entire Xbox library—ensuring your classics stay alive. Rumors swirl that these consoles, possibly launching in 2027, might lean into a Windows-based PC-like experience, sparking debates about whether Xbox is morphing into a gaming PC powerhouse.   Meanwhile, Borderlands 4 hands-on previews are dropping jaws, with its chaotic looter-shooter vibes set to redefine the series. The Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition leaked ahead of its announcement, hinting at a VR future where Game Pass and cloud gaming collide for immersive adventures.   Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II gets an enhanced update on August 12, 2025, with new modes and achievements to deepen its haunting narrative. While also sneakily going across to the blue team... We're truly living in a future where Halo may even come next! How do you feel as an Xbox fan?    The Xbox 360 lives on with a surprise 2025 update, keeping the retro flame burning. And in a move to surprise no one, the update puts ads on the dashboard. That's right - update your console from 2006 and get ads... Microsoft manages to Microsoft over everything lately.   -- For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit ⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐

Dead of Alive 3 is getting a remake, or remaster. And all around the world, people cheered!    After Not-E3, the news always tends to slow down. So we just tend to talk about Lee playing football at McLean park in Napier. He's practically famous by now. But we all know that you're here for game news, so lets go over everything we've missed from the Summer Game Fest.   Now we're going over every game that got shown that's coming to Xbox and Xbox PC. Strap yourselves in, its going to be a long one... Also, Kyle thinks Dark Souls doesn't look good. Because whats better for exposure than controversial statements? Although saying Dark Souls doesn't look good is not exactly controversial.    -- For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit ⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐