Xbox Expansion Pass | Podcast Guru

Overview

Episodes

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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.

Recent Episodes

Mat Piscatella on Gaming’s $60B Market, GTA 6, Hardware Shortages & Game Pass | XEP Interview

FEB 18, 2026

Mat Piscatella on Gaming’s $60B Market, GTA 6, Hardware Shortages & Game Pass | XEP Interview

Luke Lohr sits down with Circana’s Executive Director and video game industry analyst Mat Piscatella for a data-driven look at the state of gaming in 2026. Despite U.S. video game spending approaching $61 billion, the industry feels unsettled. Piscatella explains why record revenue can coexist with market instability, why player growth has plateaued, and how attention is increasingly concentrated in a handful of live-service “black hole” titles. The conversation explores: • The impact of component and RAM shortages on console pricing and availability• Why subscription growth is now focused on revenue per user rather than user growth• Xbox hardware performance and Game Pass strategy• The growing divide between affluent and price-sensitive players• Why Grand Theft Auto VI could be critical to console momentum• Discoverability challenges and storefront power• Why CCU charts don’t tell the full story 👉 Clear takes. No console-war noise.🎧 Join us live Saturdays on YouTube📅 Timestamps available on YouTube💬 Share your thoughts — we read them all. Support XEP:Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/XboxExpansionPass

56 MIN

Live Service Collapse, State of Play Optics, and Industry Momentum | XEP 309

FEB 15, 2026

Live Service Collapse, State of Play Optics, and Industry Momentum | XEP 309

This week on Xbox Expansion Pass, Luke Lohr (InsipidGhost) and co-host Captain Logun break down major shifts in the gaming industry, from the continued collapse of live service games to why PlayStation’s latest State of Play generated so much momentum. The episode examines Overwatch’s platform reset, sustainability challenges facing games as a service, and how third-party marketing can make multiplatform releases feel exclusive. The discussion also looks at Xbox’s evolving strategy, the role of optics in platform perception, and what these trends mean for players across Xbox, PlayStation, and PC. Additional conversations cover early reactions to upcoming titles, Remedy’s Control universe, the risks and rewards of remasters and experimentation, and growing concerns around game preservation and long-term access to digital libraries. 👉 Clear takes. No console-war noise.🎧 Join us live Saturdays on YouTube📅 Timestamps available on YouTube💬 Share your thoughts — we read them all. Support XEP:Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/XboxExpansionPass

81 MIN

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

FEB 8, 2026

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

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): @InsipidGhostBlueSky (Logun): @CaptLogunContact: [email protected] More XEP & Friends:Keelhauled – A Sea of Thieves Podcast: 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!

91 MIN

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

FEB 1, 2026

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

Hardware sales are slowing across the gaming industry, developers are pushing back on generative AI, and we take a clear-eyed look at Highguard’s launch and early reception. Clear takes on Xbox, the broader console market, and where the industry may be heading next — without the console-war noise.

93 MIN

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

JAN 30, 2026

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

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): @InsipidGhostBlueSky (Logun): @CaptLogunContact: [email protected] More XEP & Friends:Keelhauled – A Sea of Thieves Podcast: 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!

27 MIN