Defining Duke, Episode 132 | Xbox Finally WINS - Is The Activision Deal Done?! feat. Hoeg Law (Patreon)

Well, it’s finally happened. Since January of 2022 it has been an absolute bloodbath, but now we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to the Activision Blizzard deal. With the FTC vying for a preliminary injunction that would effectively lead to the death of this deal, the two opposing forces did battle in court. Following Microsoft's victory, the FTC has moved to appeal the decision as this saga continues. As the July 18th deadline quickly approaches, it's very possibly that by the next Defining Duke episode that we'll finally turn the page on this long winded chapter in Xbox history. Naturally, we had to tap an expert on the shoulder for all this and who better to ask all our crazy questions than Hoeg Law? Joining us, we go through the FTC's appeal process, the ongoing negotiations with the CMA, potential console exclusivity, Game Pass content, and so much more. It's Hoeg's first time back in the realm of the Dukes since December so be sure to give him a warm welcome! Furthermore, we get into the Xbox x IGN indie showcase which displayed a strong amount of diversity as Xbox seems to do of late. We also dig into Starfield's absolutely bonkers PC specs and get to the bottom of some uncertainties surrounding the game.

Timestamps:

0:00:00 - Intro

0:12:46 - How do we feel about romancing a bear?

0:15:43 - Soundtrack recommendations

0:17:03 - Putting the pictures to bed

0:23:34 - 343 is unearthing cut content from Halo 1 and 2

0:25:36 - Hi-Fi Rush was always an Xbox exclusive

0:27:34 - Layoffs are hitting Microsoft again

0:28:25 - AEW Fight Forever is getting a new mode

0:31:49 - IO Interactive has opened a new studio

0:33:10 - Square Enix is considering remastering more old games

0:35:54 - EA has announced a new studio and a Black Panther game

0:40:10 - A new Spyro may be on the way

0:40:43 - Take Two plans to release 2 previously released games

0:41:26 - A Star Wars Jedi Survivor sequel is in the works

0:42:49 - Assassin’s Creed Codename Red may release in 2024

0:46:22 - What have we been playing?

1:12:26 - The FTC has lost their case to block the Activision acquisition (but are appealing)

2:24:51 - Xbox’s indie game showcase brings lots of reveals

2:43:47 - Starfield’s PC specifications have been revealed

3:00:29 - Game Pass Pick of the Week

3:04:19 - Is this the best year for RPGs?