The XB2 — An Xbox & Gaming Podcast

Hosted by Rand & Jez

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Episodes

437

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

The world's best Xbox and gaming podcast is here: The XB2. 😎 Connect with us at TheXB2.com, for YouTube, Discord, Patreon, and much more. Also known as The Xbox Two, we're an Xbox-first gaming podcast featuring "The Xbox Two!" We're two Xbox lifers and industry analysts, Jez Corden of WindowsCentral.com and YouTuber Rand Al Thor 19. Every Friday, we discuss the week's gaming news, share exclusive information, and offer unique insights, with some good humor along the way.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 11, 20261 hr 48 min

XB2+1 (Ep. 40) Talking Xbox with SCARCELY RELEVANT

🦈 SPONSOR: http://SURFSHARK.com/XB2 | SurfShark VPN! Get 86% OFF a two year plan, working out to just $2 a month! 🦈 Time for a bonus episode! Last week we spoke to SCARCELY RELEVANT who has remained one of our biggest supporters. Scarcely is now streaming too on YouTube, and has vast industry contacts and insights from working adjacent to the video game industry. We talked on the state of Xbox, our favorite upcoming games, and much more! 💚SUPPORT US on PATREON from $1.99: Extra shows, ad-free, Q&A section weekly, and MORE! ⁠http://patreon.com/XB2⁠ | 50% OFF💚 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

August 8, 20263 hr 26 min

417: GTA 6 debuts on Netflix, Halo Campaign Evolved flops on PS5, Xbox Platinum achievements?!

🦈 SPONSOR: http://SURFSHARK.com/XB2 | SurfShark VPN! Get 86% OFF a two year plan, working out to just $2 a month! 🦈 Jez and Rand get into another weekly discussion of Xbox news! This week, we talk GTA 6's debut on ... Netflix?! Was Halo Campaign Evolved on PlayStation even worth it?! Xbox is getting a ton of new features, including PLATINUM achievements, and much more. 💚(50% OFF) SUPPORT US on PATREON from $1.99: Extra shows, ad-free, Q&A section weekly, and MORE! ⁠http://patreon.com/XB2⁠💚 TIMESTAMPS:00:00:00: Intro, Gears vs. Halo as Xbox's top IP, Matt Booty's studio management, Mortal Shell 2 impressions.00:40:00: Media, rage bait, and Xbox perception, Back compat on PC, Project Helix "leaks."01:20:00: Xbox avatars, MTX, EA acquisition, Bioware's future. Xbox "platinum" achievement.01:50:00: Physical vs. Digital debate, Take-Two CEO comments. Cloud gaming vs. reality.02:10:00: id Software layoffs, GTA 6 exclusive Netflix reveal?02:45:00: Patreon Q&A. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

August 1, 20263 hr 37 min

416: Xbox Helix "changes," Fable vs. God of War Laufey, Gears: E-Day multiplayer previews

🦈 SPONSOR: http://SURFSHARK.com/XB2 | SurfShark VPN! Get 86% OFF a two year plan, working out to just $2 a month! 🦈 This week, we're talking Xbox Helix and Microsoft's gaming financials, Fable vs. God of War Laufey, Gears: E-Day's multiplayer previews, and much more. Will Xbox ditch Steam? Will Satya give Asha enough time to save Xbox?! Let's talk about it. 💚SUPPORT US on PATREON from $1.99 (50% OFF): Extra shows, ad-free, Q&A section weekly, and MORE! ⁠http://patreon.com/XB2⁠ | Now cheaper!💚 TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00: Intro, most anticipated games, hitting the backlog, recent games. 00:20:00: Xbox Helix vs. Steam. 00:55:00: Gears of War: E-Day impressions, Xbox financials, and future strategy. 01:35:00: Xbox Game Studios strategy, future of Fallout, future of Halo. 01:50:00: Digital rights, Xbox Live outages, future of Xbox Ally and handhelds. 02:20:00: Fable vs. God of War, Paramount acquires Warner Bros. 02:42:00: Patreon Q&A, Xbox at Gamescom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

July 28, 20261 hr 32 min

XB2+1 (Ep. 39) Talking Xbox with ZALKER GAMING

🦈 Get Surfshark 86% OFF! ⁠⁠http://www.surfshark.com/XB2⁠⁠ | 100% log free VPN for $2 per month! #ad AIRED FIRST ON JULY 21, 2026, ON http://patreon.com/XB2 !! 🙏 THE THIRTEEN NINTEENTHS XB2+1 IS HERE. HANGING OUT WITH THE INTREPID ZALKER GAMING of YouTube! We'll talk Xboxxy things, Xbox exclusives, the tech industrypocalypse, what Xbox needs to do to SURVIVE, and much more. FOLLOW ZALKER on X: http://twitter.com/ZALKER87 and on YOUTUBE: @ZalkerGaming Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

July 25, 20263 hr 33 min

415: Xbox back compat returns, Halo Campaign Evolved reviews, Xbox gaming "free" with ads

🦈 SPONSOR: ⁠http://SURFSHARK.com/XB2⁠ | SurfShark VPN! Get 86% OFF a two year plan, working out to just $2 a month! 🦈 Jez and Rand gear up for ep. 415 of the Xbox Two Podcast! This week, we talk Xbox Cloud Gaming + ads new "free" tier, we discuss Halo Campaign Evolved's success (or lack thereof) and get into the latest Xbox back compat news. Also, Jez reads ... a BOOK?! 💚SUPPORT US on PATREON from $1.99: Extra shows, ad-free, Q&A section weekly, and MORE! ⁠⁠http://patreon.com/XB2⁠⁠ | Now cheaper! TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00: Intro, Jez has buyer's remorse, and reads a book?! 00:18:00: Tomb Raider delayed, Ghost Recon Wildlands leaked, PS5 disc controversy continues. Xbox tax and the state of game journalism. 00:55:00: LG monitors injecting ads into Windows, Xbox Cloud Gaming vs. ads. Halo reviews influenced by Xbox hate? 01:20:00: Halo Campaign Evolved thoughts, Xbox back compat on PC. 02:00:00: Circana shows Xbox hardware sales jump, Game Pass vs. Xbox studios, Matt Booty vs. Xbox exclusives. 02:30:00: Patreon Q&A topics and superchats. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

July 18, 20263 hr 12 min

414: Bethesda's future REVEALED, Jez interviews Todd Howard, Obsidian's Fallout, Xbox Helix rumors

🦈 SPONSOR: http://SURFSHARK.com/XB2 | SurfShark VPN! Get 86% OFF a two year plan, working out to just $2 a month! 🦈 Rand and Jez RETURN for a big week in Xbox gaming news. We discuss the on-going fallout from Asha's cuts, we talk the huge tranche of Bethesda news dropping earlier today, and we discuss Jez's interview with Todd Howard. 💚SUPPORT US on PATREON from $1.99: Extra shows, ad-free, Q&A section weekly, and MORE! ⁠http://patreon.com/XB2⁠ | Now cheaper! TIMESTAMPS:00:00:00: Intro, Xbox to have a disc drive rumor, clickbait, Positron updates?00:20:00: Wolverine PS5 BOYCOTT?! God of War TV show recast. Microsoft accounts HACKED and digital rights.00:47:00: Games played: Buckshot Roulette, DOOM, Halo Campaign Evolved, Assassin's Creed: Black Flag resynced. 01:00:00: Xbox Ultimate Sale, August release schedule, EA College Football drama. Halo Studios mismanagement? Bungie, Marathon in trouble. Analysts predict Xbox Helix' sales, WWE viewing figures tank. 01:25:00: Todd Howard interview, Fallout and Elder Scrolls news. Obsidian's Fallout, Avowed 2 not dead? 02:10:00: Patreon Q&A topics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

July 11, 20263 hr 19 min

413: The Xbox "Reset."

🦈 SPONSOR: http://SURFSHARK.com/XB2 | SurfShark VPN! Get 86% OFF a two year plan, working out to just $2 a month! 🦈 It's here, the big "Xbox reset." Jez and Rand discuss the aftermath of project Asha, and whether or not Microsoft has gone too far. Was this the right thing for the health of the brand? Did Xbox Game Studios become too bloated? Or is this all just callous spreadsheetery? TIMESTAMPS:00:00:00: Intro, aftermath of PlayStation's discpocalypse. Will Xbox support discs?00:28:00: The Xbox "Reset," mass layoffs, divestitures, and the future. 00:46:00: Obsidian making a Fallout game? Shrinking core market, impact of AI. 01:00:00: The fate of id Software. 01:20:00: Superchats, Patreon Q&A topics, and final thoughts. 💚SUPPORT US on PATREON from $1.99: Extra shows, ad-free, Q&A section weekly, and MORE! ⁠http://patreon.com/XB2⁠ | Now cheaper!💚 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

July 4, 20263 hr 45 min

412: PlayStation OUTRAGE, Sony ENDS physical games, Xbox layoffs and closures SOON

🦈 SPONSOR: http://SURFSHARK.com/XB2 | SurfShark VPN! Get 86% OFF a two year plan, working out to just $2 a month! 🦈 THE END IS NIGH ... for physical discs. Rand and Jez talk the LATEST DRAMA in the Xboxosphere, with Sony KILLING discs and the implications for Xbox Helix. What does Xbox's layoff bloodbath look like now? Is the game industry COOKED? Or is there optimism for the future? Let's talk. 💚 SUPPORT US on PATREON from $1.99: Extra shows, ad-free, Q&A section weekly, and MORE! ⁠http://patreon.com/XB2⁠ | Now cheaper! TIMESTAMPS:00:00:00: PlayStation ending physical discs. Xbox rumors, World Cup. Polygon has the worst article of the year.00:28:00: Cyberpunk hits 40 million sales, Destiny 2 profitability, Steam Machine issues.00:56:00: Xbox Tax, deep dive: the death of physical.02:00:00: Xbox Studio layoffs and closures, Halo Studios' future. Warcraft leaks.02:30:00: Patreon Q&A: Xbox leadership, creative freedom, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

June 29, 20262 hr 50 min

411: Xbox raises prices AGAIN, GTA6 "best" on PlayStation, Destiny cooked, Steam Machine

JEZ and RAND talk about the latest Xbox drama: price hikes, the GTA 6 marketing blitz, the death of Destiny, Steam Machine and the RAMagaddon, and much more. Hey guys, sorry for the delay, was travelling! Better late than never. Also on that note, since I was travelling I was calling in on a Bluetooth headset, so apols for strange audio. Should be back to normal next week good sirs. ^Jez 🦈 SPONSOR: http://SURFSHARK.com/XB2 | SurfShark VPN! Get 86% OFF a two year plan, working out to just $2 a month! 🦈 TIMESTAMPS:00:00:00: Rand's desk explodes, Jez gets engaged! Xbox newspocalypse. 007 impressions. Avowed impressions.00:25:00: Console prices increased, state of the market.00:55:00: Is gaming cooked? Delay next-gen?01:28:00: Europe is literally on fire. Bungie layoffs, GTA 6 preorders and marketing debate.02:00:00: Patreon Q&A, community questions and superchat topics (various). 💚SUPPORT US on PATREON from $1.99: Extra shows, ad-free, Q&A section weekly, and MORE! http://patreon.com/XB2 | Now cheaper!💚 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

June 19, 20263 hr 3 min

410: Xbox killing studios?! Xbox gets exclusives back, Xbox Showcase aftermath

Jez and Rand get into it for the latest XBOX TWO PODCAST. We talk Xbox Showcase after math, the drama around Asha Sharma's "reset," the implications of Xbox exclusive games, and more. What's going to happen?! TIMESTAMPS:00:00:00: Intro, GTA 6 rumors, preorders, Fall is STACKED.00:20:00: Bungie layoffs, Hellblade 2 reactions, Xbox Showcase. Xbox Studio closures, fiscal strategy.01:10:00: Exclusivity re-evaluated? PR problems, game budgets, Gears E-Day, Xbox brand confidence.01:55:00: Patreon Q&A, industry crash, sell-off rumors.02:20:00: Game Pass value, Bethesda franchises, "Xbox Tax."02:45:00: Industry contraction, oversupply, nostalgia?! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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The XB2 — An Xbox &amp; Gaming Podcast