Defining Duke, Episode 54: Major Xbox Exclusive Delayed + E3 2022 Gets Canned (Patreon)

2022 continues at its rip-roar pace for Xbox. One of the major pieces in its early year strategy, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, has received a significant seven month delay. With a new vacancy created and only CrossfireX and Tunic remaining, we believe Xbox needs to make a big move ASAP. This would come in the form of Game Pass, so Matty and Cog shake out the potential options. Separately, E3 2022 has already been canceled while the likes PAX and GDC are continuing on with their set plans. The reasoning? As always, the pandemic. However, there is enough reasonable doubt here to bring about another angle of the conversation. Last, but not least is the latest Phil Spencer interview with New York Times. From politics, to Activision, and the sales of Xbox, he divulges much about their current strategy. That's not to mention the likes of Dying Light 2's length, Final Fantasy's absence from Xbox, and plenty more that is left to be discussed.

Timestamps:

0:00:00 - Intro

0:04:16 - Age of Empires IV may be coming to Xbox.

0:08:27 - How can Cog call Deathloop one of his Games of the Year when he hasn’t played it?

0:13:55 - What we’ve been playing.

0:25:56 - Will Halo Infinite integrate pop culture into their battle royale?

0:30:44 - How do we manage our backlog?

0:37:30 - You can only play one exclusive game for each generation… what are they?

0:49:49 - Should franchises be put out to pasture when the time is right?

0:57:03 - Is Twitch viewership a good indication of how well a game is doing?

1:03:55 - S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 has been delayed.

1:16:55 - E3 2022 will not be an in-person event.

1:35:33 - Phil Spencer sheds light on a number of developments.

1:52:00 - Take Two has acquired Zynga.

1:57:07 - It’s unlikely Final Fantasy 7 Remake will ever come to Xbox.

2:08:09 - Dying Light 2 will/won’t take you 500 hours to complete.

2:14:41 - A big Halo Infinite update is likely to release in February.

2:20:58 - Game Pass pick of the week.

2:27:16 - Do Star Wars games have a stagnation problem?

2:33:06 - What tactical RPGs would we suggest for a reintroduction to the genre?

2:38:40 - What RPG won’t come out this year but we wish would?

2:45:27 - Are Star Wars games in a good place again?

2:51:29 - Will we see another big Game Pass announcement soon?