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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

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes250Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GamesVideo GamesLeisure

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Artwork for The Expansion Pass

Latest Episodes

Bethesda finally pulled back the curtain on what's next.

This week on The Expansion Pass, Luke Lohr and Captain Logun break down Todd Howard's biggest interview in years, including new details on Fallout 5, The Elder Scrolls VI, Starfield, and Obsid... more

Xbox is finally revealing what comes after its historic restructuring.

Luke and Logan break down Bloomberg's report that Obsidian is shifting toward Fallout, what that means for Xbox's renewed focus on pillar franchises, and whether Asha Sharma's st... more

One announcement dominated the gaming industry this week: PlayStation is ending physical game releases beginning in 2028. Is this the inevitable future of gaming, or should players be worried about ownership, preservation, pricing, and consumer right... more

This week on The Expansion Pass, we're tackling one of the biggest questions facing the gaming industry: is gaming becoming too expensive?

Microsoft has announced significant Xbox console price increases, Grand Theft Auto VI is launching at $80, and... more

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Recent Guests

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
Joseph Moran
Host of The Trophy Room, a PlayStation podcast
PlayStation ecosystem
Episode: Nintendo Raises Switch 2 to $500, Star Fox Returns, Sony’s Bungie Problems | XP 320
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
Jason Schreier
Gaming journalist and author
Bloomberg
Episode: XEP 304: Xbox Dev Direct 2026 Leaked | Fable Deep Dive | Avowed Goes to PS5

Hosts

Luke Lohr
Host of The Expansion Pass; focuses on clear takes, industry analysis, and developer interviews.
Captain Logun
Co-host providing discussion balance, live chat integration, and broader platform insights.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 251 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
    6 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 States6 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 States6 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.

Positive, non-toxic, and well-produced compared to other gaming podcasts.
Thoughtful, informed discussions with credible guests.
Some listeners crave deeper dives on less-covered topics.
Brand noted for clear takes and respectful tone, without console-war bias.
Interviews are a strength with a wide range of industry guests.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#199
Ireland/Leisure/Video Games
Apple Podcasts
#221
Austria/Leisure/Video Games

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Xbox’s Identity Crisis, Bluepoint’s Bloodborne Rejection & Sony Pulling Back? | XEP 311
Q: If PlayStation does axe single-player ports to PC, does that impact your desire to get a Steam machine?
Yes, it does damage my desire for a Steam machine, but my library on Steam is substantial, so I still want to get one.
Mat Piscatella on Gaming’s $60B Market, GTA 6, Hardware Shortages & Game Pass | XEP Interview
Q: Why do games take so long to make?
Games take time because you won't know what works until you actually make it and start playing it, often leading to iteration and redoing.
Mat Piscatella on Gaming’s $60B Market, GTA 6, Hardware Shortages & Game Pass | XEP Interview
Q: Can you talk about what a CCU is for people that don't know?
A concurrent user is how many people are playing a game at any given time, which can be misleading due to the stickiness of the game.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Age Range
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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?

The show focuses on clear, thoughtful discussions about gaming, cutting through console-war noise. It covers major industry news across Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, PC, and Game Pass, with hands-on previews, reviews, and long-form developer interviews. A standout is the host duo's commitment to balanced analysis, plus frequent, in-depth conversations with a variety of guests from developers to journalists, spanning AAA to indie. The format emphasizes practical insights into game ecosystems, platform strategy, and the business of gaming, making it useful for listeners who want nuanced perspectives rather than reactive takes. The podcast frequently features cross‑platform context, live community engagement, and interviews that illuminate how ... more

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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. Defining Duke: An Xbox Podcast
3. The DayOne Show | A Video Games Podcast
4. Unlocked
5. The Xbox Drive

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.

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What guests have appeared on The Expansion Pass?

Recent guests on The Expansion Pass include:

1. Dan (DaddyDwally)
2. Freight Conductor
3. John Rairdin
4. Joseph Moran
5. Seamus Blackley
6. Ed Fries
7. Dave Oshry
8. Mr. BadBit

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