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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
Call Of Duty
Doom
Fable
Sea Of Thieves
Xbox Showcase
Fallout
Dead By Daylight
Activision Blizzard
Grounded 2
Halo
Forza Horizon 6
Nintendo
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

Xbox earnings are down as Asha Sharma begins resetting the brand, raising questions about hardware, Game Pass growth, and long-term strategy.

We break down the latest Xbox revenue numbers, what they mean for the future of the platform, and whether e... more

YouTube

Xbox has officially hit reset—and this time, they’re saying it out loud.

In a rare internal memo, leadership under Asha Sharma acknowledges what many players have been feeling: the experience hasn’t been good enough. Pricing, updates, and platform i... more

This week on The Expansion Pass, we’re breaking down one of the most important shifts happening in gaming right now.

Is Xbox Game Pass becoming too expensive?

New data shows subscription spending is rising fast—but Xbox leadership is already signal... more

YouTube

To celebrate 25 years of Xbox, we’re joined by Seamus Blackley — widely known as the father of Xbox.

In this episode, we revisit the creation of the original Xbox, the risks it took to break into the industry, and how those early decisions shaped mo... more

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Recent Guests

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
Mathieu Cote
Head of Partnerships at Behavior Interactive
Behavior Interactive
Episode: Interview: Dead By Daylight | Mathieu Cote
Jam-packed Sam
Content creator and gaming enthusiast with insights from hands-on experience at Halo Studios
None
Episode: XEP 296: Halo On PlayStation in 2026 | AI In Xbox Games | Outer Worlds 2 Reviews
Marcus Morgan
Executive Producer for Obsidian Entertainment's Grounded 2
Obsidian Entertainment
Episode: XEP Interview | Grounded 2
Chris Park
Director of Obsidian Entertainment's Grounded 2
Obsidian Entertainment
Episode: XEP Interview | Grounded 2

Hosts

Luke Lohr
Host of Xbox Expansion Pass, Luke is known for his in-depth analysis of gaming news, hands-on game reviews, and interviews with industry leaders. He brings extensive knowledge of games and the industry, focusing on creating a positive, informative environment.
Captain Logan
Co-host of Xbox Expansion Pass, Captain Logan contributes to discussions about gaming industry trends and engaging interviews. Alongside Luke, he fosters a respectful and thoughtful atmosphere for gaming conversations.

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
    3 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 States4 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 States4 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.

Some criticisms mention the show's focus on Xbox, although this specialization is also viewed as a strength by its core audience.
Many appreciate the podcast's positive atmosphere, which contrasts with the often toxic discourse in gaming communities.
Interviews with industry veterans have been highlighted as a strong point, offering listeners unique insights into game development processes and industry trends.
Listeners value the podcast for its thoughtful and engaging discussions about gaming without the typical console war mentality.
The hosts are praised for their professionalism and ability to provide clear and insightful content in every episode.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#106
Japan/Leisure/Video Games
Apple Podcasts
#114
Ireland/Leisure/Video Games
Apple Podcasts
#134
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.

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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?

Focused on the gaming industry, the discussions aim to provide clear and insightful commentary without the typical console-war narrative. The hosts cover a broad spectrum of topics from gaming news, industry shifts, and console updates to in-depth interviews with developers and industry veterans. Unique to this content are the extensive interviews, exceeding 120, representing various segments of the gaming world from indie to AAA titles. This engages audiences who seek a deeper understanding of how games are developed and the choices behind them. The podcast is a hub for gamers interested in industry trends, genuine perspectives on Xbox and its ecosystem, and community-driven conversation.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Expansion Pass?

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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. XNC - Xbox News Cast Podcast
3. The DayOne Show | A Video Games Podcast
4. The Xbox Drive
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?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Expansion Pass?

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What guests have appeared on The Expansion Pass?

Recent guests on The Expansion Pass include:

1. Seamus Blackley
2. Ed Fries
3. Dave Oshry
4. Mr. BadBit
5. Jason Schreier
6. Mathieu Cote
7. Jam-packed Sam
8. Marcus Morgan

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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