Defining Duke, Episode 175 | Beware Evil Villain Xbox... - Four Bethesda Studios SHUT DOWN!
Added 2024-05-09 16:00:16 +0000 UTCA nightmare year for Xbox continues. The latest chapter in this story is Xbox's shuttering of four Bethesda studios in Tango Gameworks, Arkane Austin, Roundhouse Studios, and Alpha Dog Games. The message is clear that the experimenting days of Xbox are done as the strategy deployed by its leaders continues to fail. The focus is Call Of Duty, Fallout, DOOM, and other high profile titles while the future of surrounding creative studios like Obsidian, Compulsion, Ninja Theory, and others have uncertainty beginning to cloud them. It serves as yet another powder keg moment for the brand where fan patience has run out. Is it time for the Phil Spencer era to end? How is Hi Fi Rush considered a hit yet its studio is shutdown? Why is the leash so short for teams like Arkane Austin while 343 and The Initiative can afford to waste precious resources? Is it even possible for Xbox to restore the faith at this point? You have many questions, so do we, and one thing is for sure: Xbox is still finding out the answers to all of them.
Timestamps:
0:00:00 - Intro
0:03:47 - What We’re Playing
0:32:09 - Xbox shuts down four Bethesda Studios
2:40:49 - Game Pass Pick of the Week
2:43:03 - Looking ahead to the Xbox Showcase
Comments
Y'all are being dicks to Cog. I get criticism, but that isn't what's in this thread. Most of you probably don't even listen to DD week in and week out and just come here to shit on the Dukes when negative Xbox news drops. Cog and Matty, it's a pleasure listening to you guys, keep it up.
MeatSpin11
2024-05-17 03:29:12 +0000 UTCSuper disappointing to see cog go full “corporate cog” on this episode. Shit is ridiculous
Brian Comstock
2024-05-14 22:23:43 +0000 UTCMan if they shutter Doublefine, I'll be heartbroken. Honestly the best studio Microsoft has now imo
Gooch Gobbler
2024-05-14 19:13:57 +0000 UTCPC and handheld gaming will keep it alive. These consoles have been some ass lately.
Bartevious
2024-05-14 17:44:03 +0000 UTCI simply don’t believe starfield is anywhere near bethesdas most played game. Skyrim has sold over 60 million copies and has been on game pass for years
Carter Evenson
2024-05-14 17:20:22 +0000 UTCAgreed. I appreciate cogs opinion, so I won’t shit on him here in the slightest to be clear. I get the angle he’s coming from with the tango deal, but it’s not on devs to make sure games sell. That’s the marketing team. The devs job is to make a good game.
Bartevious
2024-05-14 05:10:50 +0000 UTCCurrent xbox leadership has been in charge for over 40% of the brand's life and almost 20% of the life of the industry as a whole. How much more time do they need?
Seany Mac
2024-05-13 18:31:55 +0000 UTCThe pain when cog was reading about the new dishonored pitch ;(
Remington Wilson
2024-05-13 06:51:25 +0000 UTCI really like Cog, but this was disappointing to listen to. I'm beyond tired of hearing about Microsoft's "plan" and how we need to keep waiting and believing in their plan. The cat has been out of the bag, there is no plan. They're a wildly greedy, money-hungry mega corporation with no belief in creativity and Game Pass has become a cancer to this industry.
Sindri
2024-05-13 02:47:53 +0000 UTCWhile I appreciate Cog’s view I do think it’s kind of dishonest not to talk about consolidation the way we should. I remember back some episodes after the ABK closing deals and Cog was already so excited about prospects of other acquisitions and even talked about SEGA. I’m sorry Cog but if SEGA was acquired by Microsoft the gaming industry would be way worse because consolidation is NEVER good. Anyway, really liked the episode and Matt cooked with his opening monologue and Brad gave a great perspective of someone who is not necessarily too passionate about Xbox and gave the general public thoughts.
Breno Bezerra Bluhm
2024-05-12 18:20:11 +0000 UTCThis.
Chris Van Buren
2024-05-12 14:20:35 +0000 UTCAt this point I can’t pour any more of my hard money into this ecosystem. I was a believer, bought ps5 and series x at launch, 3 years of gamepass, and I’ve only been disappointed. After they announced the 4 games coming to ps5, I pulled the plug on Xbox and officially bailed. At this point I’m in the “I’ll wait until it comes to PlayStation” camp.
Chris Van Buren
2024-05-12 14:19:24 +0000 UTCI don't know how much the board is forcing them, what I know is Phill and his lackeys had 10 years to provide something worthwhile and they have done nothing, just spending billions for acquisitions and now they start destroying the ones they acquired... Cog should be objective on looking at xbox but he can't, he is a super fan, I like him but that's the truth.
Fotis Lyto
2024-05-12 14:04:16 +0000 UTCCog seems completely incapable of objectivity in regards to Microsoft
Stevie Q
2024-05-12 09:37:49 +0000 UTCFun fact, right after this podcast, COG received a free invitation as a Microsoft executive.
FuturaFoxx
2024-05-12 02:03:55 +0000 UTCA lot of comments on here hating on Cog but I think he’s right, as evidenced recently by the Ryan McCaffrey column. As bad as Xbox is doing, it’s looking like the board is forcing their hand now and the last thing you want is another Don Mattrick era. Be careful what you wish for indeed. #DDBrad
NeO JD
2024-05-11 04:22:59 +0000 UTCIf you don’t think a change would be worse you’re delusional. Sucks Bethesda had the studio closures and hifi rush is awesome but besides that it’s really much to do about nothing.
Aaron
2024-05-10 23:58:46 +0000 UTCDisappointed with Cog’s way of thinking.
Drew
2024-05-10 23:53:37 +0000 UTCI’m with you. A couple months ago when the games on PlayStation leaked, we were talking about a civil war within Xbox. Is Phil really running the show now or has Satya taken it over and they’re just using Phil as a figurehead because of the goodwill he built
Christopher Hockett
2024-05-10 23:24:46 +0000 UTCHe's certainly keeping the door open for himself.
Ealia Staroverov
2024-05-10 19:13:18 +0000 UTCIt's hard not to feel like the game industry is crumbling
lazer_josh
2024-05-10 17:38:07 +0000 UTCI’m very okay with not supporting Xbox anymore. Lack of games is the biggest reason for me but closing Tango is the shove I needed to follow through. My Series X has been packed up for some time now but I went ahead and sold it today. I really like a lot of the IP that Microsoft now holds but I have no faith in that company to do anything meaningful with them. I plan to stick around with the Dukes but as someone with a limited amount of time for video games I feel like my time and money are more respected elsewhere.
Brett Altmiller
2024-05-10 16:28:16 +0000 UTCOooooh a clockwork orange reference. Pretty dope.
Frank G.
2024-05-10 15:43:48 +0000 UTCUp until this closure stuff. I had faith in Xbox now Imma play the wait and see.
Anthony Stewart
2024-05-10 15:30:06 +0000 UTCCog is in denial😂
Will Anderson
2024-05-10 15:28:04 +0000 UTCI'm just gonna say what nobody wants to say. COG Is a Xbox puppet. He's clearly biased
Kevin Miller
2024-05-10 14:41:43 +0000 UTCI’m curious to understand why no one I’ve listened to has suggested that maybe Xbox execs no longer have their hands on the wheel. Is it possible Microsoft is strongly pushing their thumb on the scale? Thank you COG for pointing out the hard (and sad) facts.
Philip Dunphy
2024-05-10 13:21:13 +0000 UTCHorizon 5 undoubtedly meets that quality bar. That being said, there's only that one that comes to mind. It's also worth mentioning that I don't think that's their goal or strategy. What do you mean when you say "Quality"? Surely isn't not lack of bugs? Graphics? Scale?
Eric Golley
2024-05-10 13:11:13 +0000 UTCR.I.P Tango. You will be missed. I haven’t turned on my Series X since Psychonauts 2. I bought Hifi on my Steam Deck and played Ghostwire on my PS5. Despite having a PS4, my Xbox One was my primary console last generation. I sold my GameCube for a Xbox 360 before that and for two generations Microsoft had me
Michael Mashpotato
2024-05-10 12:02:28 +0000 UTCDid we think the Dukes will comment on the awful Sarah Bond Bloomberg interview?
Gray Gordon
2024-05-10 11:48:24 +0000 UTCXbox has not created a single game this generation that rivals the quality of a Sony exclusive. Gameplay wise, I’m not a fan of Sonys exclusives this gen but you can’t deny the production and quality. Xbox couldn’t at least deliver that for their two biggest titles, Forza and Halo. That’s not board problem. That’s a management problem, a Phil Spencer problem.
Vanzant
2024-05-10 11:17:24 +0000 UTCCog is smoking the copium hard on this one. Still love ya!
ajwhite
2024-05-10 10:33:26 +0000 UTCHow Spencer and co are still in power is mind boggling. They haven't managed to produce basically any games. I'd get rid of them abd get Shawn Layden, Yoshida and hell maybe even... Bobby K. Can't even imagine how many more games we'd have already if they were running the show.
Reuben Barrett
2024-05-10 10:06:47 +0000 UTCI fucking love Brad
Kojima Made Me Gay
2024-05-10 09:49:24 +0000 UTCI don’t understand not wanting to change the leadership at Xbox. They’ve failed and the good things that you could argue that they’ve done, anyone of us in this thread could do with the financial backing that Microsoft has given them. With 10s of billions of dollars of outside money at your disposal you should be able to leave the competition dead and buried. Given virtually unlimited money, they’ve bought studios, given the games away on a sub for peanuts, and paid to get a few Japanese games on the platform. Would a child have done any worse?
John Carroll
2024-05-10 08:49:07 +0000 UTCDoes Cog work for Microsoft?
Sock Cuckers
2024-05-10 08:25:44 +0000 UTCCogs invite to the next power breakfast confirmed.
Grimm Carousel
2024-05-10 05:10:19 +0000 UTCCOG cmon man; doesn’t matter they have to get leadership outta there. Y’all laughed at Jim Ryan but that robot fit an esculent job in a wild time for the world and that guy can’t even hold a controller correctly. Shake it up imo
A Hind D
2024-05-10 04:16:22 +0000 UTCFffiiinnnneee. I’ll add them to my backlog 😭
Adam Barnes
2024-05-10 02:05:01 +0000 UTCDoublefine is another example of a studio that would have been shuttered had it not been acquired. I think that Microsoft/Xbox has fundamentally mismanaged their studios, but I agree with Cog that many of them are living on gifted time as it is. The only shame, perhaps, is that someone who would have managed them better didn’t buy them. But who would that even have been when it comes to Bethesda or ABK? It’s a shit show all around.
Jared R
2024-05-10 01:10:00 +0000 UTC“Halo Infinite had a resurgence and is fixed”
CUMSoftware
2024-05-10 01:09:49 +0000 UTCFingers crossed that he becomes full-time eventually.. if that’s something he’d want.
Jared R
2024-05-10 01:03:22 +0000 UTCFolks, play the Dishonored series and play Prey. Amazing stuff. Prey has one of the best DLCs in Mooncrash. Such a shame Arkane Austin had to get the axe, worried about Arkane Lyon
Yiorgos
2024-05-09 23:46:16 +0000 UTCAlso, how Matty pronounced c’est la vie was fucking hilarious
Adam Barnes
2024-05-09 23:35:36 +0000 UTCAbsolutely top tier username
Adam Barnes
2024-05-09 23:24:21 +0000 UTCSurely it’s clear to everyone now that Microsoft doesn’t belong in gaming.
Adam Barnes
2024-05-09 23:23:40 +0000 UTCWhat games are we waiting to see still? Can’t believe the management is still running things.
Cody Mahoney
2024-05-09 22:38:33 +0000 UTCReally appreciating Brad’s willingness (indeed, enthusiasm!) to drop by other shows with some regularity, even beyond Stelly and SS+. Continues to have solid takes and great chemistry with the group.
PluuusRyan
2024-05-09 22:37:46 +0000 UTCCorporate Cog appearing in even this episode is stunning. It's also objectively funny that he is still singing the "when these games hit" song. Dude. It's TWENTY-TWENTY-FOUR.
ByWatterson
2024-05-09 22:26:44 +0000 UTCBrad episodes are the best. He really balanced things out.
Daniel
2024-05-09 22:06:29 +0000 UTCI’m sure the devs without jobs really care about that distinction
My most hated race is the 400m dash
2024-05-09 22:05:15 +0000 UTCYeah I must have missed Colin predicting the closure of Tango
My most hated race is the 400m dash
2024-05-09 22:03:58 +0000 UTCBrad is the gift that keeps on giving. Also great show Matty and Cog. It sucks but tango could’ve been closed down years ago. It hurts extra because Hifi rush was my favorite game that year
Have you considered considering considerations considerately considerate
2024-05-09 22:01:33 +0000 UTCThat Matty and Brad chemistry was not one I saw coming and I’m here for it. Y’all are great together.
Bogey
2024-05-09 21:53:50 +0000 UTCBooty and Phil couldn't manage 5 studios. How did people think they could manage 35?
Jacob Lesperance
2024-05-09 21:52:45 +0000 UTCSupport class Brad Ellis has entered the building. We ready to hit the raid boss XboxP3 now.
Jordan Falduto
2024-05-09 21:35:29 +0000 UTCBrads point about Gamepass for one month to play Hellblade is exactly what I did for Starfield. The Gamepass model leaves too much money on the table
Andrew Long
2024-05-09 21:35:01 +0000 UTCBrad on 3 shows in 4 days?! Hell yeah!!
MeatSpin11
2024-05-09 20:56:59 +0000 UTC#DDBrad #ColinWasRight
Zac
2024-05-09 20:13:46 +0000 UTCThey closed Tango??? Fucking TANGO?! Xbox cannot be saved. Microsoft is run by absolute retards.
Adam Barnes
2024-05-09 20:06:17 +0000 UTCAt least I have time to 100% the wall in Hi-Fi Rush now 😔. RIP Tango
My most hated race is the 400m dash
2024-05-09 19:40:50 +0000 UTCCan someone please educate me? I always assumed Forza Horizon used Turn 10 car assets. That would mean you can't shut down Turn 10 if you want to keep making Horizon games, right?
Ealia Staroverov
2024-05-09 19:29:17 +0000 UTCI’m your prom date you ugly pos, you don’t like that? No… 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Zachary
2024-05-09 19:27:36 +0000 UTC“How did Matt booty not get the …boot… yet?”
Whitewinwolf
2024-05-09 18:20:06 +0000 UTCI’d take cog a little more seriously if he could pronounce frustration properly.
Nick DeHeve
2024-05-09 17:51:00 +0000 UTCHello! I'm excited to be here
Jose Horrach
2024-05-09 17:42:13 +0000 UTCRemember when Jim Ryan stood up and yelled “im not here to get a deal for call of duty im here to block your merger” the bots made fun of that man. Now look at ya
Otacon_Ocelot
2024-05-09 17:39:23 +0000 UTCPeople are 2 steppin' to Drake being called a certified pedophile. Doesn't get much worse than that
Suce Mes Orteils
2024-05-09 17:30:09 +0000 UTCThey didn't get laid off “cOrP cOg” the fucking studios was shut down because of the ABK deal you always glee about lol wtf smh
Otacon_Ocelot
2024-05-09 17:16:40 +0000 UTCMother fucking Bradley!
Asique Alam
2024-05-09 17:01:42 +0000 UTCHello fellow subs that don’t usually listen to DD.
Cormac
2024-05-09 16:24:49 +0000 UTCI don’t know who having a worse week right now between xbox and Drake.
Big titty drinker
2024-05-09 16:15:55 +0000 UTCThumbnail is sick
GameSimp
2024-05-09 16:08:23 +0000 UTCYou know it’s rough when there’s only 4 timestamps
Red Metal
2024-05-09 16:06:18 +0000 UTCI love how the time stamps are just like, yeah 2 hours of the big topic xD
Chris Gillar
2024-05-09 16:06:18 +0000 UTCIt is a sick thumbnail
Otacon_Ocelot
2024-05-09 16:05:52 +0000 UTCJust in time for my drive
Ib Saint
2024-05-09 16:05:14 +0000 UTCAI cooked with this thumbnail 🔥
Meatball
2024-05-09 16:02:29 +0000 UTC
