Expedition 33 genuinely reminded us why we love games — not because it's a massive AAA production, but because it has soul, smart systems, and feels like it was made by people who actually care. That kicked off a much bigger conversation: are we entering a quiet renaissance of great AA games?

In this episode, we talk about how mid-budget games like Expedition 33 are doing what the big-budget blockbusters often don’t. These are games that respect your time, play great out of the gate, and remind you what makes gaming fun in the first place.

We also look at how Game Pass, especially on PC, is quietly delivering some of the best value in gaming right now — from day-one drops like Indiana Jones and the Oblivion Remaster to upcoming hits like Doom: The Dark Ages. Xbox Series X, though? It might be feeling a little left behind.

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Topics in this episode:

• Expedition 33 and the rise of soulful AA games

• Game Pass is quietly crushing it for PC players

• Is the Xbox Series X already aging out?

• Do you need to beat a game to truly appreciate it?

• EA layoffs and why AAA development keeps struggling

• The absurd state of mobile gaming in 2025

• Our thoughts on the Marathon alpha and the direction of multiplayer FPS games

Timecodes:

00:00:00 Expedition 33 Is Incredible 00:15:00 – The Rise of Great AA Games 00:22:27 – Game Pass Is Quietly Delivering 00:29:00 – Is the Xbox Series X Already Aging Out? 00:40:39 – Do You Need to Beat a Game to Truly Appreciate It? 01:01:45 – EA Layoffs & the AAA Struggle 01:21:55 – The Wild State of Mobile Gaming

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