This week on Xbox Casuals - An Xbox Podcast

⁠⁠Corey Dirrig⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Josh Finney⁠⁠⁠⁠ return after a few weeks off—and there’s a lot to talk about, though not all of it’s good.They kick things off with the ROG Ally X and its awkward Good Morning America debut. The problem? The ROG Ally isn’t an Xbox console—it’s a PC. Branding it with the Xbox logo has caused major confusion, and while Xbox is promoting the device, they’ve publicly blamed ROG for its pricing, hinting at tension between the two companies.

Next, they dive into the latest on Halo. Reports suggest Halo Studios is developing two new projects—one likely a Halo: Combat Evolved remake, and the other Halo 7.

Meanwhile, Certain Affinity is said to be building a live-service multiplayer Halo title, with Microsoft hoping for a longer tail than Halo Infinite.

Unfortunately, all isn’t well within the studio. Two former employees recently spoke out on social media about internal issues they can’t fully discuss yet but plan to when the time comes—suggesting ongoing cultural and management problems.

Finally, Corey and Josh share their thoughts on the latest Game Pass price hike, the pressure it’s putting on Xbox’s studios, and their hopes that beloved teams like Double Fine, Compulsion Games, and Ninja Theory won’t be affected by layoffs or closures.

All that and more on this week’s episode of Xbox Casuals.

Thank you for watching or listening to Xbox Casuals: An Xbox Podcast from Tower Casuals and Boss Rush Media. You can find the show on YouTube and all major podcast platforms. If you enjoyed the discussion, be sure to like the video, subscribe to the channel, and rate us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Drop a comment to share your thoughts on this week’s news or leave a question for next week’s episode. Thank you for your continued support of Xbox Casuals, Tower Casuals, and Boss Rush Media.

#XboxCasuals #XboxPodcast #XboxNews #Xbox #Halo #Halo7 #HaloRemake #ROGAllyX #XboxGamePass #GamePass #XboxStudios #MicrosoftGaming #XboxCommunity #GamingPodcast #XboxSeriesX #XboxUpdates #HaloInfinite

This week on Xbox Casuals - An Xbox Podcast

⁠Corey Dirrig⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠Josh Finney⁠⁠⁠ react to Microsoft’s latest Xbox price hikes—including the shocking $1,000 ROG Ally X—and what it means for the future of Xbox hardware.

They rant about mismanagement, fading retail presence, and whether PC or PlayStation is now the smarter buy, while also digging into all the Tokyo Game Show trailers like Ninja Gaiden 4, 007 starring Gemma Chan, Monster Hunter 1 and 2, and more.

Finally, they discuss the most recent Nintendo Direct and State of Play presentations, discussing the new Fire Emblem game, Ghost of Yotei, Mario Tennis, and the rereveal of Marvel and Insomniac's Wolverine.

This and more on Xbox Casuals.

Thank you for watching or listening to Xbox Casuals: An Xbox Podcast from Tower Casuals and Boss Rush Media. You can find the show on YouTube and all major podcast platforms. If you enjoyed the discussion, be sure to like the video, subscribe to the channel, and rate us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Drop a comment to share your thoughts on this week’s news or leave a question for next week’s episode. Thank you for your continued support of Xbox Casuals, Tower Casuals, and Boss Rush Media.

#TokyoGameShow #StateofPlay #Wolverine #NintendoDirect #Xbox #PlayStation #GamingNews #Hades2 #ROGXboxAllyX

It was a big week at Gamescom and the boys have a lot to say about it!

This week on Xbox Casuals, ⁠⁠Corey Dirrig⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠Josh Finney⁠ discuss the massive showing for Xbox at Gamescom, including the Xbox ROG Ally X, Indiana Jones' DLC, and the release date for Hollow Knight: Silksong.

They then shift the conversation to Helldivers II on Xbox, Gears of War Reloaded on PlayStation, and how both games compliment each other in terms of where their strengths are in terms of gameplay.

They also hit on Crystal Dynamics and Cloud Chamber layoffs, Rod Fergusson heading up BioShock 4, the big fall ahead, Xbox's 25th anniversary in 2026, and more.

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⁠⁠⁠Corey Dirrig⁠⁠⁠⁠, Founder of Boss Rush Media and the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Boss Rush Network⁠⁠⁠

⁠Josh Finney⁠, Cofounder of ⁠Tower Casuals⁠ and ⁠Xbox Casuals⁠

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Thank you for ⁠watching⁠ or ⁠listening to Xbox Casuals: An Xbox Podcast⁠ from ⁠Tower Casuals and Boss Rush Media⁠. You can find the show on ⁠YouTube⁠ and ⁠all major podcast platforms⁠. If you enjoyed the discussion, be sure to like the video, subscribe to the channel, and rate us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Drop a comment to share your thoughts on this week’s news or leave a question for next week’s episode. Thank you for your continued support of ⁠Xbox Casuals⁠, ⁠Tower Casuals⁠, and Boss Rush Media.

We’re talking Xbox's partnership with AMD, the aftermath of the layoffs, Banjo vs. Spyro, the canceled sci-fi game Project Blackbird, and more. Let's Jump in!

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On this episode of Xbox Casuals, hosts Josh Finney and Corey Dirrig unpack Xbox’s recently announced partnership with AMD, a strategic move aimed at future-proofing the next generation of Xbox hardware while maintaining full compatibility with current titles and legacy digital libraries.

They continue to talk about the recent wave of layoffs at Microsoft and Xbox, examining what the cuts reveal about internal restructuring and the shifting creative direction at Xbox. One major point of discussion was the sudden cancellation of Project Blackbird, Zenimax Online's new sci-fi epic with visuals inspired by Blade Runner and a gameplay loop similar to Destiny 2 or Warframe, that ended with studio founder Matt Firor resigning immediately and adding to the long list of talent Xbox has lost since the Bethesda acquisition.

They then discuss the enduring appeal of classics like Spyro the Dragon, Crash Bandicoot, and Banjo-Kazooie, especially as reports surface that Microsoft may be open to reviving one of these beloved IPs, and finish up with the games they've been playing, including 2025 releases like Avowed and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as well as the original classic Final Fantasy VII just before Remake hits Xbox this fall.

Xbox just dropped a bombshell on the industry—studio closures, major game cancellations, and massive layoffs. What does it all mean for the future of Xbox? Let’s break it down.

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This week on Xbox Casuals, Josh Finney and Corey Dirrig dive into one of the most shocking weeks in recent Xbox history. Microsoft has confirmed the closure of The Initiative, the studio once tasked with reviving the Perfect Dark franchise. Not only has the game been officially canceled, but other high-profile projects have also been cut—including Rare’s long-anticipated Everwild and ZeniMax’s unannounced MMO, Project Blackbird.

That’s just the beginning. The episode also covers the latest round of layoffs across Xbox Game Studios, which has hit multiple teams hard. Turn 10, the team behind Forza Motorsport, has reportedly lost 50% of its staff. Mobile studio King saw a 10% reduction, and there are unconfirmed but significant cuts at Activision, Blizzard, Bethesda, and other first-party studios under the Xbox umbrella.

Josh and Corey discuss what these changes could mean for Xbox’s future strategy, the morale across the gaming community, and how fans are responding to the ongoing turbulence within Microsoft’s gaming division. They also touch on how these decisions might impact the roadmap for the next generation of Xbox hardware and software.

Whether you’re a long-time Xbox fan or just trying to keep up with the whirlwind of news, this episode brings thoughtful analysis, honest reactions, and a much-needed breakdown of a chaotic week in gaming.

All that and more, right here on Xbox Casuals.

Thank you for watching or listening to Xbox Casuals: An Xbox Podcast from Tower Casuals and Boss Rush Media. You can find the show on YouTube and all major podcast platforms. If you enjoyed the discussion, be sure to like the video, subscribe to the channel, and rate us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Drop a comment to share your thoughts on this week’s news or leave a question for next week’s episode. Thank you for your continued support of Xbox Casuals, Tower Casuals, and Boss Rush Media!

Xbox Summer Showcase and Summer Game Fest have come and gone, so Corey and Josh are here to recap the two major presentations and discuss the games shown off for Xbox. Did it deliver or were they duds? Let's discuss.

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Thank you for watching and/or listening to ⁠⁠Xbox Casuals: An Xbox Podcast⁠⁠. You can find us on all major podcast services, ⁠⁠on YouTube⁠⁠, or on ⁠⁠the Tower Casuals website⁠⁠. Remember if you’re watching on YouTube to subscribe to the channel, like the video, and leave a comment. If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leave us a review and five star rating. Thanks for your continued support of Xbox Casuals, Tower Casuals, and Boss Rush Media.#XCP45 #XboxGamePass #XboxSummerShowcase2025