Destin Legarie Podcast | Save State Plus

Xbox is facing another major leadership shakeup as Helen Chiang, the company's first Chief Operating Officer and former head of Minecraft, has abruptly departed Microsoft after just three months in the position.New reporting from Eurogamer and The Verge's Tom Warren suggests Chiang was dismissed over an alleged policy violation, although Microsoft has not publicly confirmed the reason for her departure.Chiang spent 21 years at Microsoft and had only recently been promoted as part of Xbox CEO Asha Sharma's massive restructuring of the gaming division.With additional Microsoft layoffs reportedly on the horizon, what does another major executive departure mean for Xbox's future?Let's talk about what's happening at Xbox, the latest reports, and what this could mean for Microsoft's gaming business.

I sat down with the developer of Stranger Than Heaven for an exclusive interview about the game's unique combat system, its ambitious story spanning 50 years, and how players can shape Makoto's fighting style throughout his life.One of the biggest revelations is that you can specialize in a particular weapon over decades, unlocking new skills and moves as Makoto grows older. You can even play through the entire game using nothing but your fists!We also discuss the inspiration behind Makoto's journey, the historical settings, the evolution of his personality, and how the team is approaching this very different take on the Yakuza formula.*Topics discussed:*- Why Stranger Than Heaven has such a unique combat system- How weapon mastery evolves throughout Makoto's life- Why the developers chose to tell a story across 50 years- The inspiration behind the game's historical locations- How Makoto changes as he ages- Why historical authenticity isn't always the goal

The next generation of Xbox consoles could look VERY different, and potentially a lot more expensive.A new report from Fortune takes a closer look at Xbox CEO Asha Sharma's plans for the future of Microsoft's gaming business, including a next-generation Xbox console reportedly targeting 2028 and a new handheld targeting 2027.But one of the biggest revelations is the potential price. According to the report, Microsoft's Project Helix could cost between $1,200 and $1,800 unless Microsoft subsidizes the hardware. That's a massive departure from traditional console pricing.There are also reported internal disagreements about Windows, the Xbox operating system, and what the next generation of hardware should actually be.Today we're breaking down the report, what these changes could mean for Xbox players, and whether Microsoft is taking its console business in the right direction.Source:https://fortune.com/2026/10/20/the-non-gamer-ceo-racing-to-save-microsofts-xbox/#Xbox #ProjectHelix #XboxNews #Microsoft #NextGenXbox

Steam Next Fest is back for October 2026, and I went digging through the demos and upcoming games to see what caught my attention.I found 19 games worth taking a closer look at, from larger upcoming releases like ArcheAge Chronicles and Warhammer Survivors to lesser-known titles like Guns of Eschaton, Emberville, SLAM TANK, and plenty more.In this video, I'm exploring what's coming, sharing the games that piqued my interest, and highlighting some titles you might otherwise miss.Steam Next Fest runs October 19–26, 2026, so there's a limited window to check out the participating demos.**Games featured (Steam links):**- [Guns of Eschaton] (https://store.steampowered.com/app/3734220/)- [ArcheAge Chronicles] (https://store.steampowered.com/app/3218230/)- [CLUTCHED] (https://store.steampowered.com/app/4950790/)- [Plague Lords] (https://store.steampowered.com/app/2616100/)- [Army Troop Remastered] (https://store.steampowered.com/app/3361860/)- [Elta: Defy All Gods] (https://store.steampowered.com/app/2659410/)- [Emberville] (https://store.steampowered.com/app/2295170/)- [Dungeonbound] (https://store.steampowered.com/app/5200620/)- [Guns n' Goblins] (https://store.steampowered.com/app/4671750/)- [ReBlade: The Death Spiral] (https://store.steampowered.com/app/3489340/)- [SLAM TANK] (https://store.steampowered.com/app/5186030/)- [Mortuus] (https://store.steampowered.com/app/5363350/)- [Deadzone Rogue 2] (https://store.steampowered.com/app/4541470/)- [Warhammer Survivors] (https://store.steampowered.com/app/3669620/)- [Slotbound] (https://store.steampowered.com/app/4906570/)- [Rasen] (https://store.steampowered.com/app/3967860/)- [Rank & Ruin] (https://store.steampowered.com/app/4806610/)- [Voxotron] (https://store.steampowered.com/app/4633120/)- [Hela: of Mice & Magic] (https://store.steampowered.com/app/3161310/)- [Find The Needle] (https://store.steampowered.com/app/5165210/)What games are you most excited about from Steam Next Fest? Let me know what I should check out next!#SteamNextFest #PCGaming #IndieGames

EA is officially shutting down BioWare, the legendary studio behind Mass Effect, Dragon Age, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, and some of gaming's most beloved RPGs.According to Bloomberg, Electronic Arts is cutting approximately 400 jobs across the company, including roughly 50 at BioWare. EA has also confirmed that development on the next Mass Effect game is being canceled.After more than 30 years, BioWare is closing its doors. In this video, we're breaking down EA's announcement, what happened to Mass Effect, the broader restructuring at Electronic Arts, and what this means for the future of the gaming industry.It's a sad day for RPG fans and, more importantly, the developers affected by these decisions.EA: https://www.ea.com/news/building-eas-next-chapterBloomberg: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-10-21/electronic-arts-to-cut-400-jobs-shut-down-biowareBioWare: https://blog.bioware.com/2026/10/21/bioware-update/#BioWare #MassEffect #ElectronicArts #GamingNews