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Artwork for The Expansion Pass

The Expansion Pass

The Expansion Pass
Xbox
Game Pass
Playstation
Xbox Game Pass
Gears Of War
Avowed
Starfield
Fable
Call Of Duty
Doom
Sea Of Thieves
Xbox Showcase
Fallout
Dead By Daylight
Nintendo
Activision Blizzard
Halo
Grounded 2
Forza Horizon 6
Summer Game Fest

Welcome to The Expansion Pass (XP) — your place for clear, thoughtful discussions on gaming without the console-war noise.

Hosted by Luke Lohr (InsipidGhost) and Captain Logun, XP covers the biggest stories in gaming across Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, PC, and Game Pass through weekly news analysis, in-depth reviews, and long-form developer interviews.

Formerly Xbox Expansion Pass, the show has ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes250Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Video GamesGamesLeisure

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Artwork for The Expansion Pass

Latest Episodes

Xbox Cloud Gaming is getting worse at the exact moment Microsoft wants xCloud on more devices. Game Pass Ultimate subscribers are being capped at just 15 hours of cloud gaming per month, with even tighter limits for Premium and Essential — and we hav... more

YouTube

Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto VI gameplay reveal shows the enormous scale of Leonida, including reports of an 80-hour playthrough and a map roughly three times the playable size of Red Dead Redemption 2. We also debate GTA VI's potential 30 FPS target ... more

GTA 6 has been hacked again—and this time Take-Two is going after the source. Microsoft and Discord have been pulled into the investigation as Rockstar faces yet another major leak surrounding gaming's most anticipated release.

Meanwhile, Xbox is ch... more

The E-Day beta is drawing impressive numbers, including an estimated 1.2 million Xbox players, while Steam engagement has already surpassed recent Gears releases. Luke and Captain Logun break down what the early response means for Gears, whether Sieg... more

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Recent Guests

Jampack Sam
Content creator on YouTube specializing in news and shorts about gaming
Episode: Is Gears of War: E-Day a Winner? Xbox's Strategy Shift & PlayStation's Digital Gamble | XP 331
Andrew Hulshult
Legendary gaming composer known for Doom Eternal, The Ancient Gods, Prodeus, Dusk, and more
New Blood, id Software, Bethesda
Episode: Andrew Hulshult Interview | DOOM, Iron Lung, DUSK & The Dark Ages Story
Dan (DaddyDwally)
The Nerd Chat
Episode: Xbox Studio Closures, Bungie Trouble & Summer Game Fest Favorites | XP 326
Freight Conductor
Guest from Spreading the Nerd, regular contributor
Spreading the Nerd
Episode: Fable Delay, Modern Warfare 4 & Steam Deck Price Increase | XP 323
John Rairdin
Nintendo World Report journalist
Nintendo World Report
Episode: Xbox Elite Controller 3 Leaks, Star Fox Returns, Forza Horizon 6 Reviews | XP 321
Seamus Blackley
Father of Xbox, interviewee on Xbox origins and future of gaming
Xbox (original creator/pioneer)
Episode: Xbox at 25: Seamus Blackley Interivew on Xbox, AI’s Impact & Gaming’s Future
Ed Fries
Former Vice President of Game Publishing at Microsoft (Xbox era)
Microsoft
Episode: Xbox at 25: Ed Fries on Halo, Risk, and the Future of Gaming
Dave Oshry
CEO and founder of New Blood Interactive
New Blood Interactive
Episode: Xbox Is a “Pain” for Developers? Dave Oshry on Console Struggles | XP Interview
Mr. BadBit
Host of The Trophy Room, PlayStation-focused creator
Trophy Room
Episode: Project Helix: Xbox’s Next Console? | Marathon Player Numbers | XEP 313

Hosts

Luke Lohr
Host of The Expansion Pass (InsipidGhost) with deep expertise in Xbox ecosystem and developer interviews
Captain Logun
Co-host discussing gaming news and insights; partnership in cross-platform coverage

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 252 ratings
  • XEP works extremely hard to bring weekly gaming coverage from across the industry. There are regularly developer interviews and they do not encourage console wars.

    Podchaser
    5
    insipidghost
    8 months ago
  • Smart, honest gaming discussions

    I started listening to Xbox Expansion Pass fairly recently, and it’s stayed in my rotation ever since.

    Luke and Logan do a great job breaking down gaming and industry news in a way that feels thoughtful and measured rather than reactionary. The discussions are honest, well-informed, and never talk down to the listener. You can tell both hosts genuinely care about the quality of the conversation, not just getting through the headlines.

    One of the highlights for me has been the interviews. They ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    brianeck85
    United States8 months ago
  • Best gaming podcast

    There is no better gaming podcast out there. Positive, insightful and fun. 2 great guys making fun content. A must listen!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Falconguy19
    United States8 months ago
  • Great!!

    Luke and Logan are some of the best! They keep you up to date on the gaming industry while staying away from the toxicity that others focus on

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SJDub5
    United Statesa year ago
  • Harry Potter

    These people actually believe a man can be a woman. They actually think a man can have a monthly cycle like a woman. I know they’re not biologists but common sense tells you men are men and women are women.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    iRaUnSpokenHero
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Consistently high-quality analysis and interviews from developers and journalists
Positive, balanced insights with a focus on respect and clear takes on gaming ecosystems
A must-listen for Xbox fans and broader gaming listeners seeking deeper industry understanding
Thoughtful, well-informed industry discussion with interviews that add real context to news

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Andrew Hulshult Interview | DOOM, Iron Lung, DUSK & The Dark Ages Story
Q: Do you approach playing games you worked on differently, and how do you balance honoring the original while making it your own?
I listen to the original material to understand its core, then bring in my own ideas in a way that fits the day-to-day workflow and keeps the sound recognizable to the fanbase; it's about finding a happy medium rather than a complete departure.
Andrew Hulshult Interview | DOOM, Iron Lung, DUSK & The Dark Ages Story
Q: What was the process like for Doom Eternal, especially with the tight 27- to 29-day DLC timeframe?
It was a crash course under strict deadlines, with remote collaboration during the height of the pandemic; we wrote, recorded, mixed, and mastered the DLCs in a compressed period, learning to stay focused, communicate effectively, and deliver a cohesive sound under pressure.
Andrew Hulshult Interview | DOOM, Iron Lung, DUSK & The Dark Ages Story
Q: How did you get into the world of music, and what sparked your path to becoming a game composer?
I was drawn to heavy, aggressive guitar-based music from a young age, and after teaching myself and learning from friends, I found an outlet in guitar playing and live shows; the early internet era with tab sharing and online communities helped me learn songs and refine my style, which gradually led me toward scoring games as opportunities arose.
Xbox at 25: Seamus Blackley Interivew on Xbox, AI’s Impact & Gaming’s Future
Q: What was the core idea that made Xbox a viable product?
Seamus emphasizes that the core idea was a fast graphics computer with a hard drive connected to the internet, a combination he believed would enable online multiplayer and persistent storage, which ultimately proved to be the right vision even if it faced early resistance.
Xbox Is a “Pain” for Developers? Dave Oshry on Console Struggles | XP Interview
Q: What does success look like for New Blood Interactive?
Success is relative and not tied to blockbuster sales; for many of their titles, reaching tens of thousands to a few hundred thousand copies sold is sustainable and enables ongoing development, especially given their independent, non-publisher model.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Expansion Pass

What is The Expansion Pass about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful, multi-platform gaming show delivering weekly news analysis, hands-on previews, and in-depth developer interviews. Conversations cover Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, PC, and Game Pass, blending hands-on impressions with broader industry trends such as live-service strategies, first-party pipelines, and platform ecosystems. Notable strengths include long-form interviews with developers and creators from AAA to indie, and a consistent emphasis on clear, respectful discourse without fanboy shouting. The format often mixes reaction to current events with strategic context, helping listeners decide what's worth watching or playing and offering actionable insights for industry professionals seeking nuance over hot takes.

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How many listeners does The Expansion Pass get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Expansion Pass?

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How many subscribers and views does The Expansion Pass have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Expansion Pass has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Expansion Pass?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Expansion Pass:

1. The XB2 — An Xbox & Gaming Podcast
2. The DayOne Show | A Video Games Podcast
3. Defining Duke: An Xbox Podcast
4. XNC - Xbox News Cast Podcast
5. Unlocked

How many episodes of The Expansion Pass are there?

The Expansion Pass launched 7 years ago and published 250 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Expansion Pass?

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What guests have appeared on The Expansion Pass?

Recent guests on The Expansion Pass include:

1. Jampack Sam
2. Andrew Hulshult
3. Dan (DaddyDwally)
4. Freight Conductor
5. John Rairdin
6. Seamus Blackley
7. Ed Fries
8. Dave Oshry

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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