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Xbox Expansion Pass

Xbox Expansion Pass

Written by: Xbox Expansion Pass
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About this listen

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.

Copyright 2019 All rights reserved. Science Fiction
Episodes
  • Nintendo Welcomes Xbox, Hardware Sales Dip & Epic’s Storefront Push | XEP 308

    Nintendo Welcomes Xbox, Hardware Sales Dip & Epic’s Storefront Push | XEP 308
    Feb 8 2026

    This week on Xbox Expansion Pass, the conversation centers on how quickly the gaming industry is shifting — and what that means for hardware, platforms, and players.

    A Nintendo Direct packed with Xbox-adjacent announcements signals just how normalized multi-platform publishing has become. At the same time, new data shows hardware sales continuing to slide across the industry, even as engagement and monthly active users remain strong.

    The discussion also digs into the Epic Games Store’s record year, what multiple storefronts could mean for future Xbox hardware, and why competition — not exclusivity — may be the defining force of the next generation.

    Additional topics include:

    • Xbox titles becoming expected on Nintendo platforms

    • Why engagement now matters more than boxes sold

    • The risks and rewards of pricing games at $70+

    • Live-service optics vs actual game quality

    • What a Windows-based future could mean for consoles

    👉 Clear takes. No console-war noise. 🔊 iTunes: apple.co/2OL6SSV | Spotify: spoti.fi/33gSiXa 🎧 Join us live Saturdays on YouTube 💬 Share your thoughts — we read them all.

    Support XEP: Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/XboxExpansionPass

    Follow & Contact: BlueSky (Luke): @InsipidGhost BlueSky (Logun): @CaptLogun Contact: https://captlogun.podbean.com

    Review the show: If you enjoy XEP, please consider leaving a review on iTunes or Spotify — it’s one of the best ways to support the show. Thank you!

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    1 hr and 32 mins
  • Hardware Sales Drop, AI Anxiety & Highguard’s Launch Reality Check | XEP 307

    Hardware Sales Drop, AI Anxiety & Highguard’s Launch Reality Check | XEP 307
    Feb 1 2026

    Hardware sales are down across the gaming industry, developers are pushing back on generative AI, and we take a clear-eyed look at Highguard’s launch — from its strong debut to its rapid drop-off.

    On this episode of Xbox Expansion Pass, we break down what a late-generation slowdown actually means for consoles, why Xbox is increasingly judged by ecosystem reach rather than boxes sold, how tools like Project Genie are reshaping (and worrying) developers, and whether Highguard launched too early after its big-stage reveal.

    We also share what we’ve been playing, including Dead by Daylight’s Stranger Things crossover.

    👉 Clear takes. No console-war noise. 🔊 iTunes: apple.co/2OL6SSV | Spotify: spoti.fi/33gSiXa 🎧 Join us live Saturdays on YouTube 💬 Share your thoughts — we read them all.

    Support XEP: Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/XboxExpansionPass

    Follow & Contact: BlueSky (Luke): @InsipidGhost BlueSky (Logun): @CaptLogun Contact: https://captlogun.podbean.com

    Review the show: If you enjoy XEP, please consider leaving a review on iTunes or Spotify — it’s one of the best ways to support the show. Thank you!

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 33 mins
  • Ian Proulx on Splitgate’s Reset, Arena Reloaded, and Lessons Learned | XEP Interview

    Ian Proulx on Splitgate’s Reset, Arena Reloaded, and Lessons Learned | XEP Interview
    Jan 31 2026

    In this episode of Xbox Expansion Pass, Luke Lohr (Insipid Ghost) sits down with Ian Proulx, CEO and co-founder of 1047 Games, for a candid discussion about Splitgate’s past year, the Summer Game Fest moment, and the lessons learned along the way.

    Ian reflects on the challenges of building a sequel versus a new IP, why Splitgate 2 missed expectations for some players, and the difficult decision to reset and relaunch the game as Splitgate: Arena Reloaded. From there, the conversation shifts into gameplay philosophy, retention metrics, portal accessibility, monetization, and what “stabilizing” the game actually means heading into 2026.

    This is a thoughtful, direct conversation about course correction, leadership, and rebuilding trust — without framing anyone as a villain or a victim.

    Topics discussed include:

    • The Summer Game Fest moment and how it reshaped the Splitgate conversation

    • Lessons learned from that period and what Ian would do differently

    • Why building a sequel is different than building a new IP

    • Where Splitgate 2 missed player expectations

    • The decision to pull the game back and reset

    • Arena Reloaded’s refocus on classic arena gameplay

    • Arena Royale explained

    • Retention, requeue rate, and how 1047 measures success

    • Portal balance and accessibility tools

    • Monetization philosophy and rebuilding player trust

    • Performance, polish, and the quality bar moving forward

    👉 Clear takes. No console-war noise.

    Support XEP: Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/XboxExpansionPass

    Follow & Contact: BlueSky (Luke): @InsipidGhost BlueSky (Logun): @CaptLogun Contact: https://captlogun.podbean.com

    Review the show: If you enjoy XEP, please consider leaving a review on iTunes or Spotify — it’s one of the best ways to support the show. Thank you!
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    27 mins
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