The XB2 — An Xbox & Gaming Podcast

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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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It's here, the big "Xbox reset." Jez and Rand discuss the aftermath of project Asha, and whether or not Microsoft has gone too far. Was this the right thing for the health of the brand? Did Xbox Game Studios become too bloated? Or is this all just callous spreadsheetery?

TIMESTAMPS:00:00:00: Intro, aftermath of PlayStation's discpocalypse. Will Xbox support discs?00:28:00: The Xbox "Reset," mass layoffs, divestitures, and the future. 00:46:00: Obsidian making a Fallout game? Shrinking core market, impact of AI. 01:00:00: The fate of id Software. 01:20:00: Superchats, Patreon Q&A topics, and final thoughts.

💚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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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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