XEP 303: The AAA Model Is Cracking | Our Favorite Games of 2025 & What We’re Excited for in 2026

XEP 303: The AAA Model Is Cracking | Our Favorite Games of 2025 & What We’re Excited for in 2026

In this episode of Xbox Expansion Pass, we reflect on our favorite games of 2025 and what they reveal about where the industry is headed in 2026.

We break down why smaller and mid-budget games like Arc Raiders, Avowed, Grounded 2, and South of Midnight connected so strongly, while the traditional AAA model continues to strain under rising budgets, longer development cycles, and higher price points. We also discuss the growing frustration around hardware costs, $80 games, and why many players simply want games that “just work.”

Plus, we share our most anticipated games of 2026—including Gears of War: E-Day, Fable, Wolverine, and GTA 6—and answer community questions about emotional storytelling, digital libraries, and the future of gaming ecosystems.

Thoughtful discussion, no console-war noise.

Support XEP: https://www.patreon.com/XboxExpansionPass

XEP Merch: https://wren-works.myshopify.com/collections/xbox-expansion-pass-merch

Blue Sky: @InsipidGhost

Contact: InsipidGhost@gmail.com

Blue Sky: @CaptLogun

Keelhauled: A Sea of Thieves Podcast

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Xbox at 25: Seamus Blackley Interivew on Xbox,  AI’s Impact & Gaming’s Future

Xbox at 25: Seamus Blackley Interivew on Xbox, AI’s Impact & Gaming’s Future

To celebrate 25 years of Xbox, we’re joined by Seamus Blackley — widely known as the father of Xbox. In this episode, we revisit the creation of the original Xbox, the risks it took to break into the ...

11 Huhti 1h 44min

Xbox at 25: Ed Fries on Halo, Risk, and the Future of Gaming

Xbox at 25: Ed Fries on Halo, Risk, and the Future of Gaming

Xbox didn’t start as a sure thing—and according to Ed Fries, it almost didn’t happen at all. In this episode, we’re joined by Ed Fries, former Vice President of Microsoft Game Studios and one of the k...

8 Huhti 1h 19min

Xbox Showcase Returns, Gears E-Day Leads, RAM Crisis Hits Gaming | XEP 316

Xbox Showcase Returns, Gears E-Day Leads, RAM Crisis Hits Gaming | XEP 316

Xbox has officially locked in its biggest moment of the year — and it could define the future of the platform. This week, we break down the confirmed Xbox Games Showcase and the full Gears of War: E-D...

4 Huhti 1h 38min

Xbox Is a “Pain” for Developers? Dave Oshry on Console Struggles | XP Interview

Xbox Is a “Pain” for Developers? Dave Oshry on Console Struggles | XP Interview

Dave Oshry (New Blood Interactive — DUSK, Ultrakill) breaks down why developing for Xbox can be a challenge for indie teams. From backend systems to certification delays, Oshry explains how console pu...

2 Huhti 1h 7min

PS5 Hits $649, Xbox Scrambles, Game Pass Changes Are Coming | XP 315

PS5 Hits $649, Xbox Scrambles, Game Pass Changes Are Coming | XP 315

Sony has raised the price of the PlayStation 5 again—pushing the base model to $649 and the Pro to $899. It’s the second major price increase in under a year, and it’s happening at a point in the gene...

29 Maalis 1h 46min

Starfield Hits PS5 — What It Means for Xbox + Crimson Desert Reactions | XEP 314

Starfield Hits PS5 — What It Means for Xbox + Crimson Desert Reactions | XEP 314

This week on Xbox Expansion Pass, we’re tackling one of the biggest shifts in Xbox’s modern era. Starfield is coming to PlayStation 5 on April 7—launching alongside its largest update yet (Free Lanes)...

22 Maalis 1h 49min

Project Helix: Xbox’s Next Console? | Marathon Player Numbers | XEP 313

Project Helix: Xbox’s Next Console? | Marathon Player Numbers | XEP 313

Xbox may have just signaled the future of its next generation hardware. At GDC this week Microsoft confirmed Project Helix, a next-generation Xbox initiative built around a custom AMD chip and designe...

15 Maalis 1h 25min

Xbox’s Next Console Is Basically a PC — Project Helix Explained | Sony Quits PC? | XEP 312

Xbox’s Next Console Is Basically a PC — Project Helix Explained | Sony Quits PC? | XEP 312

This week on Xbox Expansion Pass, Luke Lohr (InsipidGhost) and Captain Logun examine one of the most interesting weeks in the gaming industry. Xbox has revealed the codename for its next generation ha...

8 Maalis 1h 35min

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