This week we dive into PowerWash Simulator 2, the long-anticipated sequel that finally launched in October 2025 and arrived day-one on Xbox Game Pass. We explore whether this follow-up keeps the relaxing magic of the first game or if it leans too heavily on the formula.

In this episode, we break down:

How the core loop evolves across 38 full jobs throughout Caldera County, with multi-stage tasks and larger, more complex environments

The expanded toolset: adjustable nozzles, surface cleaners, scissor lifts, and abseiling gear that add depth without overcomplicating the “power wash zen” the series is known for

Major multiplayer upgrades, including cross-play co-op, shared campaign progress, and split-screen local options

The new customizable “home base” that lets you decorate, store gear, and personalize your space

Long-term support and whether the game feels built for regular content drops, DLC, and replay value

Then we ask the real question: does PowerWash Simulator 2 offer enough freshness to stand above the original, or is it simply a more polished version of what fans already love?

Tune in for our full breakdown — and whether we say play it or pass it.

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Sometimes Game Pass drops something serious, sometimes something cinematic… and sometimes it drops a game where you launch balls into a pit and cause absolute mayhem. This week, we’re talking about Ball X Pit, a deceptively simple arcade-style title that’s all about physics-driven chaos, fast scoring, and “one more try” addiction.

In this episode of Game Pass or Pass, we break down what makes Ball X Pit work—and what doesn’t:

The core gameplay loop and why it’s weirdly satisfying despite being so simple

How the game ramps difficulty and unlocks new ball types, hazards, and pit modifiers

Whether the physics feel tight and intentional or more on the unpredictable, goofy side

If the game has enough depth to keep you hooked, or if it runs out of steam fast

Is Ball X Pit the kind of score-chasing, dopamine-hit arcade fun that deserves a spot in your rotation? Or is it just another Game Pass curiosity you’ll play once and forget?

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As we roll into the end of 2025, Xbox feels like it’s in the weirdest place it’s ever been.

In this episode of Game Pass or Pass, we sit down and talk through the massive shift Microsoft made at the start of October 2025: the full Xbox Game Pass revamp with new tiers (Essential, Premium, and Ultimate), the 50% price hike on Ultimate to $29.99/month, the jump in PC Game Pass pricing, and the confusing split between day-one releases on Ultimate versus “within a year” access on other tiers. We break down what each tier actually gets you now, how that compares to just a couple of years ago, and why the current structure feels so wild and hard to message to normal players.

We also dig into the broader context that got Xbox here: another major round of layoffs, around 9,000 jobs across Microsoft with thousands tied to Xbox; the closure of The Initiative; and the cancellation of high-profile first-party projects like Perfect Dark and Everwild, plus heavy cuts at Turn 10 and other studios. We talk honestly about how all of that undercuts the “we care about creators” messaging, and how it collides with Microsoft’s push toward a more PC-centric, multi-platform strategy where Xbox games show up on PlayStation, Switch, and Windows as services rather than true console exclusives.

From there, we zoom out and look at where Game Pass sits going into 2026:

Is Ultimate still worth the money after the price hikes and restructuring? PC Gamer+1

Does the new tier setup actually give players “more choice,” or just more confusion?

What does Game Pass look like in a world where Microsoft is clearly prioritizing Windows, cloud, and publishing on competing hardware over building a strong console identity?

We close the episode by looking across the aisle at PlayStation’s future hardware plans. Sony’s CFO is now on record saying PS5 is only “in the middle of its journey,” while leaks and reporting continue to point toward a PlayStation 6 sometime in the later part of this decade and a Switch-style PS6 handheld that’s designed around backward compatibility with PS4 and PS5 titles. We talk about what a PS6 and PS6 handheld could mean for Xbox’s next console, and whether Microsoft’s current moves put them in a better place for that fight—or a weaker one.

By the end of it, we’re asking a simple question with a messy answer: Is Game Pass still the best deal in gaming, or is Microsoft burning a lot of goodwill right as the next generation starts to come into view?

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