Episode #0040 – Oblivion’s Return, Xbox Price Hikes, and Surviving the Job Hunt (Livestream from 05/5/2025)

In this episode, we start with our usual Gaming Roundtable, sharing what we’ve been playing lately—from Minecraft and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion to the emotional indie gem Clair Obscur and more. Then we shift gears into a broader discussion about the resurgence of beloved franchises and cult titles, including the Oblivion remake, early impressions of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and the fresh wave of speculation around Half-Life 3.

We also take a hard look at the Xbox pricing news, with games reaching $80, Game Pass price increases on the horizon, and the Series S/X seeing regional price hikes. What’s going on—and what does this mean for the future of gaming affordability?

Finally, we close out the episode with an honest conversation about the realities of job hunting in tech. Brandon shares his experiences navigating the market, Matt tells stories from the hiring side, and the team offers thoughts on red flags, burnout, and the importance of culture fit.

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YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheDigitalAscent

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Hosts/Contributors

  • Brent
  • Matt
  • Shaun
  • Jordyn
  • Brandon

Technical Lead and Audio/Video Design

  • Brent

Sources

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Trailer – YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qI6L6GsNuc

Half-Life 3 Tease Reignites After Code Leak – TheGamer
https://www.thegamer.com/half-life-3-rumor-source-code-valve-leak/

Xbox Game Price Increase Confirmed – IGN
https://www.ign.com/articles/xbox-first-party-games-now-80-dollars

Game Pass Price Hike Incoming – The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/2025/04/19/xbox-game-pass-price-hike-2025

Series X Pricing Changes – Windows Central
https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox-series-x-price-hike-confirmed

Tags

#OblivionRemake #ClairObscur #HalfLife3 #XboxPricing #GamePass #JobHunting #GamingNews #TechPodcast #DigitalAscent #Minecraft #SplitFiction #Expedition33