Defining Duke, Episode 70: The Xbox & Bethesda 2022 Games Showcase Cannot Fail (Patreon)

It's been a busy week in gaming. Between Square Enix, WB Games, and Ubisoft, the acquisition conversation has never been hotter and now with a move by Embracer yet another piece has been removed from the chess board. Bringing this Embracer Group to a staggering 14,000 employees and 200+ games in development, this move to acquire Square Enix's western division has put the industry on watch. Matty and Cog discuss the future of Tomb Raider, Deus Ex, other abandoned Square Enix IP, as well as the future of both Square and Embracer. More important to the Xbox fandom is the newly announced Summer Showcase for 2022. Xbox and Bethesda are teaming up again on June 12th for what is a show that must be a statement. This has to be where a new era of Xbox begins in earnest.

Timestamps:
0:00:00 - Intro

0:03:08 - Follow-ups and smaller news items.

0:06:43 - Have we checked out Rogue Legacy 2?

0:08:38 - Much love to Randy <3

0:11:01 - Spork?

0:14:36 - Horizon Forbidden West… JUST another open-world game?

0:16:44 - Mac and cheese. And ketchup?!

0:23:47 - What we’ve been playing.

0:44:27 - What is the best Call of Duty campaign?

0:51:57 - Is it a problem if there is no 30 minute presentation for Starfield?

1:01:18 - Is another acquisition brewing?

1:07:27 - Could Game Pass function more like Amazon Prime?

1:10:26 - Will Xbox fix their backwards compatibility program?

1:16:20 - The Embracer Group has purchased Square Enix’s western operations.

1:45:41 - The Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase has been announced for June 12th.

2:04:07 - Activision-Blizzard shareholders have voted to approve the Microsoft Acquisition.

2:07:23 - Ubisoft may be considering a partnership with a private equity firm.

2:13:07 - Psychonauts 2 was the best selling game in Double Fine’s history.

2:15:19 - More information has come out about Yuji Naka’s departure.

2:26:39 - Skull and Bones gameplay has leaked.

2:31:46 - Paramount+ is doing well in the wake of the Halo show.

2:36:24 - Coming soon to Game Pass.

2:37:57 - Game Pass pick of the week.

2:47:36 - Where should you go as a non-tourist tourist in New York?

2:55:10 - Should Overwatch 2 even be a game that’s sold?

3:01:05 - What change in the gaming sphere will affect games most?

3:09:07 - If we were stranded on a desert island, what console or handheld would we bring?

3:12:03 - What are our favorite video game songs?