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Artwork for The Expansion Pass

The Expansion Pass

The Expansion Pass
Xbox
Game Pass
Playstation
Gears Of War
Xbox Game Pass
Avowed
Starfield
Fable
Dead By Daylight
Call Of Duty
Doom
Sea Of Thieves
Nintendo
Xbox Showcase
Fallout
Halo
Activision Blizzard
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

Ocarina of Time is back, and Nintendo's legendary Zelda adventure is earning incredible reviews nearly 30 years after its original release. But does the classic Zelda formula still hold up, and what can modern developers learn from it?

Luke and Capt... more

YouTube

Gears of War: E-Day reportedly cost Microsoft more than $500 million, but is that enormous investment actually a problem? Luke and Captain Logun examine the reported budget, early sales estimates, Game Pass, and whether Xbox exclusivity makes financi... more

YouTube

BioWare is closing after more than 30 years, and development on the next Mass Effect has been cancelled.

Luke Lohr and Captain Logun are joined by Brian Altano of The X Button to discuss BioWare’s legacy, what may happen to Mass Effect next, the rea... more

YouTube

The Expansion Pass crosses over with The Nerd Chat for a late-night discussion covering GTA 6, Xbox’s evolving strategy, new hardware, and what everyone has been playing.

The crew digs into reports that GTA 6 could arrive on PC in Q1 2027, whether R... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Brian Altano
Games media host and co-founder of The X Button, formerly at IGN
The X Button
Episode: BioWare Is Gone, Mass Effect Cancelled & Xbox’s Next-Gen Gamble
Jose Martinez III
Educator and gaming podcaster who covers Xbox and the gaming industry
The Nerd Chat
Episode: GTA 6 PC Rumors, Xbox Labs & The Future of Xbox Exclusives
Mathieu Côté
Head of partnerships at Behaviour Interactive and a key figure behind Dead by Daylight
Behaviour Interactive
Episode: INTERVIEW: Dead by Daylight’s 2027 Overhaul, Terrifier & the Future of DBD with Mathieu Côté
Nicole Fawcette
Coalition developer on Gears of War: E-Day
The Coalition
Episode: INTERVIEW: Gears of War: E-Day — The Coalition on Horror, Horde Siege & More Gears
Aryan Hanbeck
Art Director / Lead on Gears of War: E-Day
The Coalition
Episode: INTERVIEW: Gears of War: E-Day — The Coalition on Horror, Horde Siege & More Gears
Matt Searcy
Creative/Development lead on Gears of War: E-Day
The Coalition
Episode: INTERVIEW: Gears of War: E-Day — The Coalition on Horror, Horde Siege & More Gears
Shawn Layden
Former chairman of PlayStation Studios, former CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment America
Sony Interactive Entertainment
Episode: Shawn Layden on PlayStation’s Future, Physical Games, Xbox & the Changing Industry
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

Hosts

Luke Lohr
Gaming interviewer and multiplatform commentator known as InsipidGhost
Captain Logun
Gaming commentator and controller reviewer

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
    10 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 States10 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 States10 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 States2 years 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.

Listeners value the hosts' informed, measured coverage and appreciate discussion that avoids console-war toxicity.
The hosts' enthusiasm and relaxed chemistry make weekly gaming news and analysis enjoyable and approachable.
Some listeners describe the discussions as especially Xbox-focused, though they also value the broader gaming coverage.
Listeners praise the production quality and the balance of critical commentary with positivity about games across platforms.
Developer and industry interviews stand out for thoughtful questions and access to perspectives listeners do not often hear elsewhere.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

BioWare Is Gone, Mass Effect Cancelled & Xbox’s Next-Gen Gamble
Q: Any thoughts about the Mass Effect franchise that either of you would like to comment on?
The panel values the series' consequential player choices and hopes its future is not limited to monetized live-service designs, while recognizing that EA owns the franchise and its next steps are uncertain.
BioWare Is Gone, Mass Effect Cancelled & Xbox’s Next-Gen Gamble
Q: What's an Xbox supposed to look like in 27, 28 given all these changes that we have?
The panel sees a handheld as a possible way to reach new players, but says Xbox must offer an affordable price, strong hardware value and compelling games to stand out.
INTERVIEW: Dead by Daylight’s 2027 Overhaul, Terrifier & the Future of DBD with Mathieu Côté
Q: Is the door open for characters to return?
Côté says Behaviour would bring back removed characters, especially licensed ones, if the circumstances that prevented their continued use change.
INTERVIEW: Dead by Daylight’s 2027 Overhaul, Terrifier & the Future of DBD with Mathieu Côté
Q: Were you already working on it at the time we spoke last year?
Yes. Côté says the overhaul had been in development for a while, with active work underway for more than a year.
GTA 6 PC Rumors, Xbox Labs & The Future of Xbox Exclusives
Q: Why do we think exclusives will sell a $900-plus console?
The speakers disagree about how much exclusives can motivate console purchases. Some argue that buyers spending that much need games they cannot play elsewhere; others favor reaching more players across platforms, particularly for social multiplayer games.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Professions
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?

Weekly conversations about video games and the business behind them, spanning Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, PC, and subscription services. Regular hosts Luke Lohr and Captain Logun combine gaming news analysis, hands-on impressions and reviews, industry commentary, and informal discussion with their community. Interviews with developers, studio leaders, journalists, and industry veterans add first-hand perspectives on game design, licensing, publishing, and platform strategy. The coverage has a strong grounding in Xbox and its ecosystem, while taking a multiplatform view and weighing business decisions against their effects on games and players. A measured, conversational style and attention to both major releases and the people who make gam... more

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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. Defining Duke: An Xbox Podcast
3. Unlocked
4. The DayOne Show | A Video Games Podcast
5. XNC - Xbox News Cast Podcast

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. Brian Altano
2. Jose Martinez III
3. Mathieu Côté
4. Nicole Fawcette
5. Aryan Hanbeck
6. Matt Searcy
7. Shawn Layden
8. Jampack Sam

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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