The XB2 — An Xbox & Gaming Podcast

Rand is sick right now, so I went solo to talk a range of stuff in recent Xbox news, the Gears of War: E-Day budget drama, Helen Chiang's post about her firing from Xbox, and much more. We also get the Patreon Q&A topics here as well. Back to normal this week hopefully.

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Originally aired on http://PATREON.com/XB2, Tuesday Oct 20, 2026. This week, we hang out with Samuel Tolbert, Windows Central alumni and damn fine writer, now working on Campaign Mode newsletter. We'll talk Xboxxy things, Xbox's crazy summer, our top games of the "right now," and much more.

FIND SAM: https://bsky.app/profile/samueltolbert.bsky.social CAMPAIGN MODE: https://campaign-mode.ghost.io/

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🥇WIN Call of Duty MW4 for Xbox/PC via: ⁠http://discord.gg/XB2

Jez and Rand are back in the hot seat, discussing what has been a pretty eventful week in Xbox and industry news. BioWare was killed by EA, Gears E-Day budget rumors create headlines, Fortune claims Xbox Helix is targeting 2028 ... at $1800 max?! What's going on?

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TIMESTAMPS:
00:00:00: Intro, Silver Pines impressions, Hellraiser impressions.
00:20:00: BioWare dead, Gears of War: E-Day budget, Arkane to be saved?
01:05:00: Stellar Blade coming to Xbox? Call of Duty campaign reviews.
01:55:00: Fortune covers Xbox, Helix coming in 2028? $1800 dollars?! Xbox Cloud Gaming pricing.
02:35:00: Xbox private equity rumors, Xbox COO leaves?! Battlefront 3 rumors. Patreon Q&A segment.

💚SUPPORT US on PATREON from $1.99: Extra shows, ad-free, Q&A section weekly, and MORE! ⁠http://patreon.com/XB2⁠ | Now cheaper!

A huge thank you to our Patreon members!

PATREON PRODUCERS 🥇:
Jason Dorson: https://www.amazon.com/Kingdom-Fool-J-Dorson-ebook/dp/B0GSRP2TLL
Inner Machine
DEKU2511
James Wezo

PATREON MVPS 🏅:
Adam Bartolo, AloraanGrogu, Asa-T & Madison, Battered Haddock, Briggz Country, BrightTundra1, ChrisM, Conker1031, CWoody, Cyllis, DEKU2511, DiscardedCabose, Ennex, Fantesticles, Frank from WildStarGaming, Good Old Collingwood, GovernerGrim, iamchuckdub, iMikeZero, Inner Machine, J F0LEY, James Moore, James Wezo, Jessica-Star, Jonathan Dorson, Justin Duell, KAYTRIOX, Lazar Wolf, matt, Murray, PatRock, Phrosty, Rand al Thor 19, Ronmar the Only, Rs Donks, Sean Kramer, Shay Elephant, Shrapnel, TrixR4Trey, Vito Chiaramonte, Woggerman, WolfgangKPZ, youngbl00d8.

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This week, Rand and Jez talk up Xbox's surveys on exclusive games. Could they really pull the trigger on going fully exclusive? We have the Xbox Labs announcement, what exactly is it? And we talk more leaks from Asha's Xbox Town Hall.

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TIMESTAMPS:
00:00:00: Intro, WoW writing backlash and AI coding controversy, PS5 jailbroken. Xbox Labs announcement. Game discovery and storefront saturation. AI slopocalypse?
00:40:00: Minecraft vs. Roblox, gen-AI, Draconia Malfoid. Rand plays Hellraiser. Jez plays Castlevania.
01:00:00: GTA 6 marketing and Xbox Play Anywhere deal? Game Awards controversy.
01:30:00: Call of Duty MW4 is ... good? Gears: E-Day flopped? Asha wants new IP. Will Kojima retire after Physint?
02:00:00: Xbox exclusivity survey. Big platform shift?
02:30:00: Patreon Q&A segment.

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Hey Xbox gang, as usual, Rand and Jez are back talking all of this week's major Xboxxy news, including the new Xbox PC app, the rumored GTA 6 deal for Xbox Cloud Gaming, Project Helix comments from Asha, Xbox's new XP division for movies and TV and theme parks, and much more.

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TIMESTAMPS:
00:00:00: Intro, Xbox Mythics "thiccs," ID@Xbox changes, leaked Xbox PC app, Don Mattrick was crazy? Xbox's new "XP" division.
00:30:00: Core gamer problem, and growing the hobby, BlizzCon becomes XboxCon? Hollywood embraces gaming.
00:50:00: Control Resonant impressions, Nick skips all the cutscenes?! Gears of War: E-Day sales fallout.
01:55:00: Xbox gets GTA 6 cloud streaming rights? Xbox Elite Series 3 imminent, FSR 4 coming to Xbox?
02:20:00: Xbox Helix, Asha's Town Hall presentation. Patreon Q&A segment.

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Hey gang! This month's XB2+1 rocked out with Lord Addict of the Iron Lords Podcast! Talking Xbox stuff, GTA 6, events of the summer, the future of Halo, and much, much more!

Lord Addict on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@LordAddictILP
Iron Lords on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@IronLordsPodcastRoundtable

AIRED FIRST on September 29, 2026 on PATREON!

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Hey gang, Rand and Jez are going live today as usual! We'll talk the Asha interview with the New York Times, E-Day reviews, Kojima PHYSINT budget misinformation, the latest info on Halo, and much more.

💚SUPPORT US on PATREON from $1.99: Extra shows, ad-free, Q&A section weekly, and MORE! ⁠http://patreon.com/XB2⁠ | Now cheaper!

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00:00: Intro, Xbox Mythic Achievements, Kojima + Physint budget rumors.
00:50:00: Gears of War: E-Day campaign impressions.
01:33:00: Media shenanigans, future of Halo, Take Two publishing agreement with Xbox.
01:53:00: Asha says Xbox is not for sale, WoW: Forever hype.
02:30:00: Patreon Q&A, Wolverine reviews drama, GTA 6 to miss Game Awards cut-off?

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Jez and Rand get into this week's big Xbox drama, yet another "restructure," and probably more on the way. Activision has taken over Halo, GTA 6 pre-order drama ensues, and much more.

💚SUPPORT US on PATREON from $1.99: Extra shows, ad-free, Q&A section weekly, and MORE! ⁠http://patreon.com/XB2⁠ | Now cheaper!

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00:00: Intro, Tom Warren vs. Matthew Ball re: Xbox GTA preorders. Xbox Mythic Achievement leaks. Market saturation vs. Control Resonant.
00:50:00: Gaming journalism and clickbait, Wolverine reviews drama, Xbox layoffs and restructure.
01:15:00: Why is Microsoft moving studios under Activision? Xbox sell-off rumors, is Hideo Kojima to blame?
02:20:00: Missed Xbox Game Pass targets, Xbox strategy overview. WoW Forever hype mode.
03:08:00: Patreon Q&A topics.

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Jez is BACK and this week, the dynamic duo get into all things BlizzCon. Rand and Jez talk the big Xbox Game Pass rumors swirling around internet forums, we talk about Xbox joining forces with Kojima and the Tokyo Game Show, we talk STARCRAFT, Diablo V, and BlizzCon in general, and much more!

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TIMESTAMPS:00:00:00: Intro, BlizzCon pilgrimage, Control Resonant. WoW Forever vs. GTA 6.00:25:00: Kojima, PlayStation, PHYSINT. Marvel's Wolverine review drama. Lego Batman.01:05:00: Onimusha impressions, Capcom hype, Xbox 25th anniversary speculation.01:34:00: Xbox Game Pass "restructure."02:05:00: BlizzCon reactions, Diablo V and StarCraft. WoW on Xbox?02:35:00: AI apocalypse, Xbox ads in-game?03:10:00: Patreon Q&A, Elder Scrolls 6 launch ideas.

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The Xbox Two Podcast is back! This week, Rand is joined by Lord Cognito of the Iron Lords Podcast as Jez is out at BlizzCon 2026! The guys will be discussing how PlayStation cancelled Hideo Kojima's PHYSINT only for Xbox to pick up publishing rights making PS fans really upset with the recent PlayStation decisions, Wolverine reviews bomb drama and so much more!

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TIMESTAMPS:
00:00:00: Welcoming Lord Cognito! BlizzCon hype and STARCRAFT. Xbox discs go digital, Fable "hands-on" previews.
00:30:00: Onimusha impressions, Capcom's hot streak. Wolverine reviews implode.
01:10:00: Wolfenstein 3 teased, Xbox goes transmedia. Double Fine sarcasm controversy.
01:22:00: Hideo Kojima cuts ties with PlayStation, Xbox grabs PHYSINT.
02:28:00: Patreon Q&A.

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OwO what's this?! Another podcast?! with Jez and Rand?!

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Another week, another day in paradise. Rand and Jez talks Xbox Cloud Gaming changes, GTA 6 sales seemingly lifting Xbox Series X|S sales, Double Fine's independence push and Kickstarter, and much more.

💚SUPPORT US on PATREON from $1.99: Extra shows, ad-free, Q&A section weekly, and MORE! ⁠http://patreon.com/XB2⁠ | Now cheaper!

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00:00: Intro, StarCraft RETURNS?! Nexon licensing rumors. Blizzcon expectations.
00:28:00: Life is Strange Reunion, Onimusha reviews, MGS Vol 3. collection?
00:50:00: Somehow, Scalebound returned. Banjo pitch rumors, GTA 6 boosts Xbox.
01:10:00: Xbox disc-to-digital, third-parties "upset" about discs, Xbox Cloud Gaming limits.
02:00:00: Corps say consumers don't deserve tariff refunds. Double Fine goes indie and trolls Xbox.
02:35:00: Sony argues against digital game ownership, Patreon Q&A topics.

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Hey gang! Rand and Jez are back again with this week's Xbox Two show. This week, we'll be talking all things Gamescom, Witcher 3 impresses, various new gameplay trailers, GTA 6's first gameplay deep dive, Fable reactions, Xbox's disc-to-digital program, Asha's interview with the BBC, and muchy much more.

💚SUPPORT US on PATREON from $1.99: Extra shows, ad-free, Q&A section weekly, and MORE! ⁠http://patreon.com/XB2⁠ | Now cheaper!

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00:00: Intro, Ori 3 rumors, Gamescom expectations, GTA 6 trailer reactions.
00:40:00: Gears: E-Day campaign preview, Xbox disc-to-digital announcement.
01:30:00: Xbox pitching to Hollywood, gaming books and media. Xbox Series X25 scalper situation.
01:55:00: Blizzard and CD Projekt RED partner up, Plague Tale Resonance, Star Wars Zero Company gameplay impressions.
02:20:00: Fable combat drama, Xbox Helix and Elder Scrolls 6 exclusivity. Gamescom reactions, backlogpocalypse.
03:00:00: Witcher 3 Remastered, CD Projekt RED the GOAT? Patreon Q&A.

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Hey gang, Rand and Jez are back with another week of Xbox Two hotness. This week we talk GTA 6 leaks, Xbox Helix and PS6 sales forecasts being troubled, PlayStation's live service implosion, and much more.

💚SUPPORT US on PATREON from $1.99: Extra shows, ad-free, Q&A section weekly, and MORE! ⁠http://patreon.com/XB2⁠ | Now cheaper!💚

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00:00: Intro, it's review season baby, Gears E-Day and upcoming games.
00:18:00: Nostalgia, retro DLC a new trend? Marcus Lehto comments on Halo's future.
01:06:00: Xbox ditches Circana, Xbox Helix / PS6 console prices.
01:21:00: GTA 6 gameplay leaks, dev fallout.
01:56:00: Microsoft's AI investments, id Software layoffs, Roblox lawsuit, Bioware vs. EA.
02:25:00: PlayStation live service failure, classic CoD issues.
02:55:00: Patreon Q&A, Xbox 25th anniversary events.

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The Xbox Two Podcast is back and this week, Rand and Jez will be talking about Asha playing Elder Scrolls 6 and teasing the title of the game which caused the exclusivity debate to bring anew, rumors suggest that maybe Activision might make a Halo game, Wolverine PS5 previews are met with rage and anger, and so much more!

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TIMESTAMPS:

00:00:00: Intro, Mortal Shell 2 impressions, Gamescom hints?
00:20:00: Xbox Elite Controller leaks, Gears controller. Wolverine backlash.
01:10:00: BlizzCon and StarCraft shooter hype. Xbox next-gen devices rumor. Activision to take over Halo?
01:48:00: Kingdom Hearts on Xbox, Xbox and McDonald's, Elder Scrolls 6 speculation.
02:35:00: Roblox is cooked, Patreon Q&A.

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Time for a bonus episode! Last week we spoke to SCARCELY RELEVANT who has remained one of our biggest supporters. Scarcely is now streaming too on YouTube, and has vast industry contacts and insights from working adjacent to the video game industry. We talked on the state of Xbox, our favorite upcoming games, and much more!

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Jez and Rand get into another weekly discussion of Xbox news! This week, we talk GTA 6's debut on ... Netflix?! Was Halo Campaign Evolved on PlayStation even worth it?! Xbox is getting a ton of new features, including PLATINUM achievements, and much more.

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TIMESTAMPS:
00:00:00: Intro, Gears vs. Halo as Xbox's top IP, Matt Booty's studio management, Mortal Shell 2 impressions.
00:40:00: Media, rage bait, and Xbox perception, Back compat on PC, Project Helix "leaks."
01:20:00: Xbox avatars, MTX, EA acquisition, Bioware's future. Xbox "platinum" achievement.
01:50:00: Physical vs. Digital debate, Take-Two CEO comments. Cloud gaming vs. reality.
02:10:00: id Software layoffs, GTA 6 exclusive Netflix reveal?
02:45:00: Patreon Q&A.

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This week, we're talking Xbox Helix and Microsoft's gaming financials, Fable vs. God of War Laufey, Gears: E-Day's multiplayer previews, and much more. Will Xbox ditch Steam? Will Satya give Asha enough time to save Xbox?! Let's talk about it.

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TIMESTAMPS:

00:00:00: Intro, most anticipated games, hitting the backlog, recent games.

00:20:00: Xbox Helix vs. Steam.

00:55:00: Gears of War: E-Day impressions, Xbox financials, and future strategy.

01:35:00: Xbox Game Studios strategy, future of Fallout, future of Halo.

01:50:00: Digital rights, Xbox Live outages, future of Xbox Ally and handhelds.

02:20:00: Fable vs. God of War, Paramount acquires Warner Bros.

02:42:00: Patreon Q&A, Xbox at Gamescom.

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🦈 Get Surfshark 86% OFF! ⁠⁠http://www.surfshark.com/XB2⁠⁠ | 100% log free VPN for $2 per month! #ad AIRED FIRST ON JULY 21, 2026, ON http://patreon.com/XB2 !! 🙏 THE THIRTEEN NINTEENTHS XB2+1 IS HERE. HANGING OUT WITH THE INTREPID ZALKER GAMING of YouTube! We'll talk Xboxxy things, Xbox exclusives, the tech industrypocalypse, what Xbox needs to do to SURVIVE, and much more. FOLLOW ZALKER on X: http://twitter.com/ZALKER87

and on YOUTUBE: @ZalkerGaming

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Jez and Rand gear up for ep. 415 of the Xbox Two Podcast! This week, we talk Xbox Cloud Gaming + ads new "free" tier, we discuss Halo Campaign Evolved's success (or lack thereof) and get into the latest Xbox back compat news. Also, Jez reads ... a BOOK?!

💚SUPPORT US on PATREON from $1.99: Extra shows, ad-free, Q&A section weekly, and MORE! ⁠⁠http://patreon.com/XB2⁠⁠ | Now cheaper!

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00:00: Intro, Jez has buyer's remorse, and reads a book?!

00:18:00: Tomb Raider delayed, Ghost Recon Wildlands leaked, PS5 disc controversy continues. Xbox tax and the state of game journalism.

00:55:00: LG monitors injecting ads into Windows, Xbox Cloud Gaming vs. ads. Halo reviews influenced by Xbox hate?

01:20:00: Halo Campaign Evolved thoughts, Xbox back compat on PC.

02:00:00: Circana shows Xbox hardware sales jump, Game Pass vs. Xbox studios, Matt Booty vs. Xbox exclusives.

02:30:00: Patreon Q&A topics and superchats.

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Rand and Jez RETURN for a big week in Xbox gaming news. We discuss the on-going fallout from Asha's cuts, we talk the huge tranche of Bethesda news dropping earlier today, and we discuss Jez's interview with Todd Howard.

💚SUPPORT US on PATREON from $1.99: Extra shows, ad-free, Q&A section weekly, and MORE! ⁠http://patreon.com/XB2⁠ | Now cheaper!

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00:00: Intro, Xbox to have a disc drive rumor, clickbait, Positron updates?
00:20:00: Wolverine PS5 BOYCOTT?! God of War TV show recast. Microsoft accounts HACKED and digital rights.
00:47:00: Games played: Buckshot Roulette, DOOM, Halo Campaign Evolved, Assassin's Creed: Black Flag resynced.
01:00:00: Xbox Ultimate Sale, August release schedule, EA College Football drama. Halo Studios mismanagement? Bungie, Marathon in trouble. Analysts predict Xbox Helix' sales, WWE viewing figures tank.
01:25:00: Todd Howard interview, Fallout and Elder Scrolls news. Obsidian's Fallout, Avowed 2 not dead?
02:10:00: Patreon Q&A topics.

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