TheXboxHub Official Podcast

TheXboxHub Official Podcast Episode 71: Welcoming Bethesda to the Xbox Family

Well, it’s official. Microsoft have sealed the deal that enables them to add Bethesda to their ever-growing Xbox Game Studios portfolio and it’s the talk of the town. Naturally, TheXboxHub Official Podcast Episode 71 has something to offer regarding the deal, but there’s also a cavalcade of games to discuss as we share thoughts on DiRT 5, Kill It With Fire, Maquette, and many more. And that’s just a taste of what to expect from this latest episode, so please relax and enjoy our musings.

Much like Microsoft, Gareth and James are welcoming a new addition in the form of Darren, with a little segment in place to get to know him a little better. Beyond that, the WandaVision TV series is a hot topic, alongside a scary drama known as The Terror and an anti-climatic Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch during AEW Revolution. 

Following on from that, the trio have played a shed load of games in the past week and so they provide insight for each in turn. With a total of ten titles, both old and new, there’s surely going to be something for everyone; whether that involves annihilating spiders in Kill It With Fire, searching lovely environments for objects in Under Leaves, or understanding the puzzling world of Maquette. Expect the likes of Monster Truck Championship, DiRT 5, Eastshade, In Rays of the Light and other intriguing games to feature too.

With time to spare, the team delve into the Bethesda deal and speculate what it means for Xbox Game Pass. Elsewhere, potentially dodgy dealings at EA involving FIFA Ultimate Team cards caught their eye. The unveiling of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge really brought about some nostalgic feelings, while news regarding We Were Here Forever extending the co-op series further and the release window for Rust just caps off a good week of announcements.

Feel free to comment on anything discussed in TheXboxHub Official Podcast Episode 71 or ask any questions for us to answer in future episodes!

As always, full show notes are available over at https://www.thexboxhub.com/podcast

TheXboxHub Official Podcast Episode 70: Outriders on the storm

In the wake of the Nintendo Pokémon Direct and PlayStation State of Play, things have understandably gotten a little quieter. Don’t worry though, for we still have interesting gaming news to chat about in this episode and we’re putting a few recent releases in the spotlight, like Under the Jolly Roger and GraviFire. The Outriders ‘demo’ is also causing a stir, so be sure to tune in to TheXboxHub Official Podcast Episode 70.

This week, Richard returns alongside James and Gareth, with general musings kickstarting the episode. One ponders growing older with a big milestone approaching, while the other two focus on more important topics such as Netflix’s Behind Her Eyes and the Birds of Prey film from the DC Universe. 

It’s not long before the team sink their teeth into some games and share their thoughts however, taking into account the positives and negatives. All three team members were fortunate enough to get hands-on with Under the Jolly Roger (Thanks to Herocraft), and we find out how much they enjoyed the swashbuckling adventures. There’s talk about the pure destruction in Wreckfest, the block pushing of GraviFire, and the impressive Outriders demo as well. 

The trio then delve into the news, including the latest titles heading into the Xbox Game Pass library, Frogwares dispute with Nacon over The Sinking City, and a K-pop killer coming soon to Dead by Daylight. Additionally, the Aliens: Fireteam announcement caught their attention, weighing up its potential to be a success where others have failed. And finally, there’s just enough time for a quiz, albeit one hosted by Gareth. This sees a rare contest between James and Richard, but who will reign supreme as the quiz king?

Feel free to comment on anything discussed in TheXboxHub Official Podcast Episode 70 or ask any questions for us to answer in future episodes!

As always, full show notes are available over at https://www.thexboxhub.com/podcast

TheXboxHub Official Podcast Episode 69: PlayStation State of Play 2021 Special

We had our minds firmly focused on the Nintendo Direct in the previous episode, but now another presentation has caught our attention in the form of the PlayStation State of Play. The first of its kind in 2021, the latest State of Play provides plenty to discuss alongside a raft of other news involving Halo, Anthem and Destiny 2. For all of that, and more, please enjoy TheXboxHub Official Podcast Episode 69!

Sharing their thoughts on everything and anything from the gaming world and beyond this week are Gareth, James and Paul. Before tucking into the juiciest stuff though, the trio go off on a tangent about work, covid vaccines and rewatchable films - yes, it’s a strange concoction. 

Once the dust settles from their ramblings, the entire PlayStation State of Play event gets the ultimate spotlight. No matter whether it’s the PS5 upgrades or the upcoming games to look forward to, the team delves into the lot. Expect coverage of Crash 4, Deathloop, Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, Knockout City, and Sifu, amongst others. Outside of that however, the disappointing Anthem announcement and the delay for Destiny 2 DLC is food for thought. In better news, there were fresh Halo Infinite screenshots, so that’s something to cheer folks up.

There’s just enough time to give opinions on the game’s they’ve been playing, such as Firework, DiRT 5, Curse of the Dead Gods, and Destiny 2. And finally, the Outriders demo has really left its mark on one of our team, but you must tune in to find out who and why.

Feel free to comment on anything discussed in TheXboxHub Official Podcast Episode 69 or ask any questions for us to answer in future episodes!

As always, full show notes are available over at https://www.thexboxhub.com/podcast

TheXboxHub Official Podcast Episode 68: Nintendo: Direct-ors Cut

Well, Nintendo caught everyone off-guard with a surprise presentation this week and so there are a heck of a lot of announcements to discuss. Hence, TheXboxHub Official Podcast Episode 68 is going to feature the very best bits from the Nintendo Direct, which means you can look forward to Zelda, Mario and more getting a mention. That’s not all either, with the world of Xbox ready to open its arms for the upcoming arrival of Fall Guys. It’s a packed episode as we throw Project Winter, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and a couple of other games into the mix too. 

This week, William takes a seat at the table with Gareth and James, as the trio kick things off by chatting about what they’ve been up to in general. William’s made the most of a week off known as ‘reading week’ in Canada, while James has been staying up late to watch ChocoPro broadcasts. Meanwhile, Gareth provides an insight into a recent Netflix arrival starring Tom Hanks, News of the World. In terms of games though, expect a chat about the intriguing Project Winter and how it’s best enjoyed. There’s also a spotlight shined on Active Neurons 3, the new Assassin’s Creed River Raids content, and a look back at the excellent Shadow of Mordor.

Obviously, the hot topic is the Nintendo Direct presentation, with the team picking out some of their highlights, including The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD, Mario Golf: Super Rush, and Project Triangle Strategy. Of course, they simply had to bring up the news of Fall Guys coming to Xbox as well as the FPS Boost some games are receiving and the reveal of a new Xbox wireless headset. Venturing slightly outside of gaming, there’s also reaction to the latest Justice League and Mortal Kombat film trailers.

Feel free to comment on anything discussed in TheXboxHub Official Podcast Episode 68 or ask any questions for us to answer in future episodes!

As always, full show notes are available over at https://www.thexboxhub.com/podcast

TheXboxHub Official Podcast Episode 67: Sending love to Cyberpunk this Valentine’s Day

Love is in the air as Valentine’s Day approaches, but there’s not much else going on in terms of new games to delve into. Don’t worry though, for our weekly podcast still has plenty of juicy news from the world of gaming, such as the Ratchet & Clank release date and the shocking incident involving Cyberpunk developers CD Projekt Red. We've got some interesting games to discuss in TheXboxHub Official Podcast Episode 67 as well, including Yakuza 4 and Train Sim World 2. 

The ever-present Gareth and James are reunited with the resident quizmaster, Richard, this week and that means you can enjoy a very special Valentine’s Day inspired gaming quiz. So stay tuned until the end to see who comes out on top in that one. Before all that, the trio discuss their recent activities and share general musings about life. Topics range from an online experience courtesy of The Cinematic Orchestra and the verdict on Bingsu, to TV series It’s a Sin and action flick Bad Boys For Life.

And then you can expect ‘expert’ opinions on their recent gaming exploits, which include The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Speed Limit, How to Take Off Your Mask Remastered, and Train Sim World 2 St Pancras DLC. One of the team also waxes lyrical about the 2011 puzzler Stacking, proving that some unlikely games do stand the test of time. Moving on to the news, and there are all sorts of theories thrown around here in regards to the data stolen from Cyberpunk 2077 developers CD Projekt Red. There’s also the recent announcement of the Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart launch date, the confirmed castings for The Last of Us HBO show, and the possible future of streaming.

Feel free to comment on anything discussed in TheXboxHub Official Podcast Episode 67 or ask any questions for us to answer in future episodes!

As always, full show notes are available over at https://www.thexboxhub.com/podcast

TheXboxHub Official Podcast Episode 66: Wrestling with Mass Effect

Prepare for yet another episode of our weekly podcast, which you can expect to feature games, more games, and wrestling apparently. That’s right, TheXboxHub Official Podcast Episode 66 takes a look at some of February’s impending arrivals on Xbox, including a new wrestling game. There’s also chat about recent releases The Medium, TOHU and Another Dawn, as well as reaction to the Mass Effect Legendary Edition launch date and what that entails. 

This week, Gareth and James are joined by Zwift addict Neil, with discussion diverting almost immediately to topics outside of gaming. From Covid-19 vaccines and icy desserts to the Royal Rumble and a Netflix drama titled The Dig, it’s a wild opener. Someone's feeling too old after delving into PS5 exclusive Destruction AllStars, which leads us nicely into finding out what other games they’ve been playing.

Over the past week, a real variety of offerings have appeared on the trio’s gaming radar, including The Medium, point and click adventure TOHU, the number focused puzzler Get 10 Quest, and a survival experience that shocked everyone in the form of Another Dawn. Even though they aren’t all winners, attention turns to other games releasing in February, with the team looking forward to Little Nightmares II, Taxi Chaos, and Retromania Wrestling. 

And speaking of wrestling, the recent announcement of Action Arcade Wrestling suggests that it could be a good year for fans of the squared circle antics. Such news is slightly overshadowed by the reveal of the Mass Effect Legendary Edition release date.

There’s also a quiz to close out the episode and it’s quite possibly the best one they’ve done so far. You won’t want to miss out on the epic head to head between James and Neil.

Feel free to comment on anything discussed in TheXboxHub Official Podcast Episode 66 or ask any questions for us to answer in future episodes!

As always, full show notes are available over at https://www.thexboxhub.com/podcast

TheXboxHub Official Podcast Episode 65: The Hitman and The Medium

It’s starting to get interesting in the realm of gaming now, with some big hitters launching recently on Xbox Series X|S and PS5 as well as various announcements stirring up excitement. As such, TheXboxHub Official Podcast Episode 65 delves into the likes of Hitman 3 and The Medium. There’s also a look forward to upcoming indie games, a breaking down of the recent Resi Evil reveals, and much more.

The latest instalment of the weekly podcast sees Gareth and James joined by KEMCO fanatic Paul for the first time. After a brief interrogation of Paul to get to know him better, the trio discuss what they’ve been up to lately, which includes watching documentaries about serial killers and preparing for a Blackpink online concert. 

Amongst the games featured this week are a couple of excellent offerings, with Hitman 3 thrown into the spotlight initially as we hear thoughts on the various level designs and assassination attempts. There’s also a lengthy chat in regards to the dual-worlds of The Medium and whether it makes the most of the powerful console. That’s not all either, because Disjunction and Nubarron: The adventure of an unlucky gnome get a mention too. Additionally, the guys select a few of the most interesting indie games set for a 2021 release.

If it’s a scoop you’re after though, then the final segment covering a real assortment of news may do the trick. The Resident Evil Village trailer, demo and accompanying reveals gave the team a lot to unpack; especially in regards to the upcoming multiplayer experience. Furthermore, the recent Xbox Live Gold price u-turn is brought up alongside the Games With Gold and PS Plus schemes. 

Feel free to comment on anything discussed in TheXboxHub Official Podcast Episode 65 or ask any questions for us to answer in future episodes!

As always, full show notes are available over at https://www.thexboxhub.com/podcast

TheXboxHub Official Podcast Episode 64: Hunting the Xbox Exclusives for 2021

Episode 64 of TheXboxHub Official Podcast is out and this time around the team cover all the bases - we've got some Marble Duel madness, more Immortals Fenyx Rising love, a tease of Zwift and a look at the Xbox exclusives for 2021.

 

As always, full show notes are available over at https://www.thexboxhub.com/podcast

TheXboxHub Official Podcast Episode 63: Nic Cage, game delays and Pokemon Snap

Welcome back for another instalment of our weekly podcast as the gaming world begins to awaken from its slumber. There have been more game delays, surprising reveals like the New Pokemon Snap, and release dates for a selection of highly anticipated games are now becoming clearer. So, whether your interests involve Xbox, PlayStation or Nintendo, TheXboxHub Official Podcast Episode 63 will have something to offer.

The line-up for this episode consists of Gareth, James, and Richard, who get the ball rolling with a general catch-up discussion regarding their recent activities. Watching films and TV shows is a common theme for our trio, ranging from old favourites like I Am Legend to the thrilling Netflix series The Uncanny Counter. Due to the History of Swear Words being brought up too, it becomes a bit of an impromptu appreciation of Nicolas Cage and his many, many works.

Following that, it’s all about games as opinions are given for a wide selection of titles, including whether they’re worth your time and effort. Amongst the games played this week are Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory, Calico, Jet Kave Adventure, The Pillar: Puzzle Escape and The Childs Sight. Their attention then turns to delays to upcoming games such as Harry Potter, Riders Republic, and Pragmata. Fortunately, the prospect of a Star Wars offering from Ubisoft, Bethesda’s Indiana Jones teaser, and the long-awaited revival of Pokemon Snap, help balance the mood.

As a little feature to see out the episode, the team moves onto sharing their favourite - and least favourite - films that have become video games. Expect those terrible ones like E.T. and Home Alone to get a mention alongside the marginally better Marvel tie-ins and the pinnacle for some, Goldeneye. 

Feel free to tell us your favourite video games based on films, or merely comment on anything else in TheXboxHub Official Podcast Episode 63!

As always, full show notes are available over at https://www.thexboxhub.com/podcast

TheXboxHub Official Podcast Episode 62: Previewing the Xbox games of 2021

It’s a new year and TheXboxHub team return to provide more quality content for your listening pleasure. In TheXboxHub Official Podcast Episode 62, we recap the best Xbox games of 2020 - as voted for by our entire team - and look forward to what’s in store for both the Xbox and PlayStation in 2021, including Hitman 3, Horizon Forbidden West and The Medium. So, settle down and please enjoy!

Kicking off 2021 are Gareth, Richard, and William, with a quick catch-up on what they’ve all been up to lately. Someone started watching the entire Star Wars film saga from the very beginning, another spent New Year’s Eve bingeing on terrible movies, while the other had plenty to say about Wonder Woman. It’s a bit of a film fest to be honest.

But fear not, because there are games galore as the trio delve into TheXboxHub’s Games of the Year 2020 and Indie Games of the Year 2020 lists. Find out what topped our lists and potentially discover a few surprising entries to take note of too. And that’s before discussing the games they’ve played recently, which features the likes of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Immortals Fenyx Rising, Ghost of Tsushima, and more. 

While news is pretty slow in the gaming world, there are still a couple of things making the headlines such as the removal of the PogChamp emote on Twitch and the delay imposed on Outriders. Once the dust settles after that, each person chats about the games they’re most excited for in 2021 and what else they hope to see revealed this year. Expect to hear thoughts on the aforementioned games as well as God of War 2, Eastward, Psychonauts 2, Halo Infinite and others.

As always, full show notes are available over at https://www.thexboxhub.com/podcast