The XB2 — An Xbox & Gaming Podcast

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THE END IS NIGH ... for physical discs. Rand and Jez talk the LATEST DRAMA in the Xboxosphere, with Sony KILLING discs and the implications for Xbox Helix. What does Xbox's layoff bloodbath look like now? Is the game industry COOKED? Or is there optimism for the future? Let's talk.

💚 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: PlayStation ending physical discs. Xbox rumors, World Cup. Polygon has the worst article of the year.00:28:00: Cyberpunk hits 40 million sales, Destiny 2 profitability, Steam Machine issues.00:56:00: Xbox Tax, deep dive: the death of physical.02:00:00: Xbox Studio layoffs and closures, Halo Studios' future. Warcraft leaks.02:30:00: Patreon Q&A: Xbox leadership, creative freedom, and more.
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JEZ and RAND talk about the latest Xbox drama: price hikes, the GTA 6 marketing blitz, the death of Destiny, Steam Machine and the RAMagaddon, and much more.

Hey guys, sorry for the delay, was travelling! Better late than never. Also on that note, since I was travelling I was calling in on a Bluetooth headset, so apols for strange audio. Should be back to normal next week good sirs. ^Jez

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TIMESTAMPS:00:00:00: Rand's desk explodes, Jez gets engaged! Xbox newspocalypse. 007 impressions. Avowed impressions.00:25:00: Console prices increased, state of the market.00:55:00: Is gaming cooked? Delay next-gen?01:28:00: Europe is literally on fire. Bungie layoffs, GTA 6 preorders and marketing debate.02:00:00: Patreon Q&A, community questions and superchat topics (various).

💚SUPPORT US on PATREON from $1.99: Extra shows, ad-free, Q&A section weekly, and MORE! http://patreon.com/XB2 | Now cheaper!💚
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Jez and Rand get into it for the latest XBOX TWO PODCAST. We talk Xbox Showcase after math, the drama around Asha Sharma's "reset," the implications of Xbox exclusive games, and more. What's going to happen?!

TIMESTAMPS:00:00:00: Intro, GTA 6 rumors, preorders, Fall is STACKED.00:20:00: Bungie layoffs, Hellblade 2 reactions, Xbox Showcase. Xbox Studio closures, fiscal strategy.01:10:00: Exclusivity re-evaluated? PR problems, game budgets, Gears E-Day, Xbox brand confidence.01:55:00: Patreon Q&A, industry crash, sell-off rumors.02:20:00: Game Pass value, Bethesda franchises, "Xbox Tax."02:45:00: Industry contraction, oversupply, nostalgia?!
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Hey gang, unfortunately Rand's power is out thanks to the tornado hitting Chicago and the surrounding area, so we're rocking a solo show ahead of the regular XB2 410 likely for Monday. I got the XB2 Patreon Q&As here too!

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TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00: Xbox business health, Game Pass revenue, industry pressure. Xbox restructuring / spin-off rumors.00:38:00: Halo Studios management, studio closure rumors.01:00:00: Xbox Showcase impressions, game reveals, best games. 01:20:00: Patreon Q&A. Future of exclusives, multi-platform plans, Helix changes?01:56:00: SGF surprises, dream crossovers. Free-to-play monetization problems, and Xbox's future.
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ORIGINALLY AIRED: MAY 26, 2026, FIRST ON https://PATREON.COM/XB2 💚

THE THIRTENE EIGHTIETH XB2+1 IS HERE. HANGING OUT WITH XBOX LEGEND ... JON "SIKAMIKANICO" CLARKE.

We'll talk Xbox things, how XboxEra's transition to DayOne is going, and Jon's predictions for the Xbox Showcase... and RYAN GOSLING?!

FOLLOW JON on X: http://twitter.com/_Sikamikanico_
SEE DAYONE online: http://www.playday.one
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