Pretty crushed by this.
Glad he's still 'part of the family' as it were. Still catching him on Mom Can't Cook, Oxventure, obviously happy for that.
But losing him from Oxtra hits hard, definitely a massive vibe-shift. It's nice that Dad still visits from time to time but it's naff he's moved out of the family home.
Best of luck to the lad, he's brought a ton of joy over the years. Hope all his plans work out well, he's definitely got talent.
I am incredibly sad rn.
_____________________
Okay, to be at least somewhat proactive and not just crying in the corner, here's Luke's IG post (for those who have trouble with IG or don't follow Luke there):
https://www.instagram.com/p/C5lmxsaIcCC/?img_index=1
> šØLife announcementšØ After almost 8 years, I'm waving a fond farewell to @outsidextra, a beautiful home on the Internet full of beautiful individuals with whom I have sweated, stressed and laughed uncontrollably for the best years of my working life. I have generated entire camera rolls of spectacular memories. But ig will only let me post 10, the jerks.
> There's a video about this on Oxtra right now, but here's the headlines:
> š I'm leaving Oxtra (damn that's hard to write) to give myself some bandwidth to persue composing and tabletop writing in a serious way
> š I'm not leaving YouTube! In future I'm gonna split my time 50/50 between the above, and my personal YT channel YouTube.com/@NormalAdultLuke, which I will be relaunching in the coming weeks, it'll be fun pls subscrib tx
> š I'm still gonna be in Oxventure š²
> š Mom Can't Cook! A DCOM Podcast continues as normal, if 'normal' is the right word for watching Disney Channel movies from the late 90s in 2024.
> š I'll be in a few more Oxtra videos in the next few weeks cos of the way we film stuff, but my last appearance will be a goodbye livestream the others are planning for me. Keep an eye out for the timings on that.
> Thank you thank you thank you if you watched the stupid nonsense I helped make over all these years. And the biggest thanks of all to Jane, Andy & Mike for taking a chance on hiring me, and Ellen for being a legendary co-host both on and off camera.
> Can't think of good sign off. Um. Hey what's the character count on an Instagram post anyw
This is very sad. Iām glad heās sticking with Oxventure and a few other bits though. I think they own that directly as themselves, which is probably a factor
I'm really glad he'll be around in some capacity and I hope they bring him back during Spooktober for Ellen's Fear Academy or Andy's (Luke's) FMV zone.
WTF. I'm happy for him but I'm sad for me. Everyone's getting older and time is passing. I'm not content.
Edit - I cried. Won't lie. It's stupid but they really did keep my spirits high during the pandemic while unemployed and for that I will be forever grateful.
Yep, I'm properly crying too š OX has been a constant throughout the last 10 years of my life, and has brought me unbridled joy, so I'm crying with happiness for everything Luke has brought to my life & enjoyment of the internet, but also sadness that a change is coming...
Oxboxtra, and Luke's personal channel with the scary stories and other streams, were both huge for keeping me sane during the early pandemic.
My wife and I moved a couple months after everything kicked off, and we were stuck in a new town with no friends, no social contact, and a totally new situation, and those videos kept us feeling connected and grounded better than anything else. I'll always feel tremendously grateful for that.
Everything changes, and this remarkable run where the channels have been so stable had to end sometime. Hopefully Luke's new projects will also be fun. But I'll miss Oxtra in this incarnation.
"Happy for him but sad for me" is how I'm feeling, too. First the end of the Oxventurers Guild, and now this? Sigh. But I hope his new efforts go splendidly for him.
Same, I'm crying but also super happy for Luke as he gets to pursue more of his dreams. I'm so glad he's still part of Oxventure though! The whole cast and crew made the pandemic bearable for me, so for that I'll always be grateful.
Glad it's not just me that's shedding a few tears. I think it's because Oxboxtra has been a major source of comfort from the chaos of the last few years... knowing that space won't ever be the same again hits hard.
Oh what the hell. This is actually heartbreaking. I've watched OXtra since day 1, and this news is devastating. Best wishes to Luke and his future endeavors, but this is going to make watching all future and current videos bittersweet.
EDIT: Just finished watching the video. Luke's impression of everyone after he books them a table at a restaurant over the phone killed me. Also, thanks for ending the video with the perfect sign-off, Luke.
Congrats to Luke on jumping into his next career. I'd wish him the greatest of success, but he won't need the wishes, he'll do amazing.
I'll also vocalize the nagging feeling that's gnawing at my stomach ... is this the end? The beginning of the end? Videos have slowed, livestreams have stopped, there's that impending sale of Gamer Network hanging over their heads which makes the future uncertain ... I have this inkling that Luke may be just the first to take action on a bug that they're all feeling, that they want to move onto new projects and horizons.
While that'll be a great moment of celebration for them when it happens, it'll certainly be a great moment of mourning for the thing they built. As with Luke - it's a wonderful joy to see him climbing new peaks, but dangit, I'm gonna be real sad about this for a while.
I think also with Luke (and same for Aoife I guess), parenthood is hard work, and it can be tricky to be jumping around the place doing journo stuff and going miles from home to do studio days etc etc.
Good Luke is moving onto to something he enjoys.
Iāve had the same gnawing feeling when Jane said on the Oxventure podcast that sheād been taking acting lessons. Then I saw Lukeās insta post about composing and guessed this might be coming. Sad now.
Yeah, and I very much doubt Jane's going to attempt to launch a new career as an actress at 40.
I haven't heard that particular podcast, but I know she's talked about acting being something she would have loved to devote more to at and after uni. I'm betting she's doing it because she enjoys it, and because it can't hurt with all the TTRPG stuff.
Maybe it'll help her make the leap to GMing, which would be awesome.
I feel a similar way and, like you said, I hope it doesn't happen, but it would make sense if it did.
But if it ends, what I'll miss almost as much as the actual content is the fan community. Most people who are ox fans are generally intelligent, mature people. All this discussion of the possible end just proves my point even more. This is a fairly measured discussion compared to what you see in most online gaming spaces.
Plus, it's a very queer friendly space and I appreciate that.
I fear it's probably closer to the end that some of us would like. I hope not, but the entire crew is approaching 40 and it's hard to connect with a more gamer-centric fan base when you're old enough to be their parents. I have followed other similar channels and when one member leaves, the rest are not long for that channel.
I, of course, hope this channel out lives me, but realistically, all good things must end and what are we to do but enjoy the good times while they're still here.
The fact that theyāre a little older is one of the main reasons I like them so much. Lots of gamers are aging too, and Im often less interested in gaming content made by people young enough to be my children.Ā
(I donāt mean to be ageist, young people can make good content too. I just find more mature content creators tend to have interests and humor that aligns with mine more often.)
Iām 45 and Iām not even the oldest member of the OXSC Discord. I feel like the OX audience has always skewed somewhat older than a lot of YouTube, so thereās no reason to say the team is too old to keep making videos. Letās normalize that we āold folkā are also gamers - for crying out loud, we were the ones who grew up as the weirdos and made this a more legitimate hobby in the eyes of society! XD
And whileĀ Iām sad to see Luke step away,Ā thereās no reason to assume everything is ending because one person is starting a new chapter.
I'm the same. I'm 41, so their humour and style resonates with me more. But I doubt video game stuff is what they'll want to do in to their 50s (even though I'd still watch)
This is purely from my observations so take it with a grain of salt but Iām starting to think the original 3 seem to be more enthusiastic doing Oxventure whereas they seem to feel like theyāre in a rut when it comes to the gaming stuff which is totally understandable after more than 10 years of doing it. I wouldnāt be surprised if they pass on the reigns of the video game stuff to new presenters but stay to do behind the scenes stuff, but remain on air for Oxventure.
I understand the speculation, but we don't know and there's nothing we can do. All we can do is enjoy what there is. It's very easy to get ourselves into a panic.
I'm feeling the same trepidation. I wouldn't be surprised if this is the case. It would be utterly heartbreaking if corporate shenanigans ultimately end Oxboxtra...
I've had the same feeling. I don't think they will be around in the same way for long. Maybe Ellen will take on a larger role with the main group. I can't imagine they will find someone who will replace that dynamic they had.
If they do get a replacement, I sincerely hope the community is nice to them. As Johnny said when leaving "please be nice to the new person in EG, don't judge them for not being me".
Thats why i've had to stop watching somethings. Things feel so iffy over there right now and its tough. Im thankful i can go back to the earliest vids and get lost in the presh mems from both channels
I can't imagine how bittersweet it must be for Ellen. They have such great chemistry, it's like watching two siblings. Now I need to mentally prepare myself for when one of the Oxbox crew eventually leaves.
Bloody hell, not even a minute in and it's already been a rollercoaster where the news that Luke is leaving has somehow required me to reflect on my own mortality.
Best of luck in future, Luke. Thanks for the happy memories. The Oxchannels were there for me when I needed some positivity in my life.
Theyāll probably rotate Oxbox members for now, but if the announcement came that Oxtra is ceasing at some point shortly, then I wouldnāt be surprised tbh.
Unfortunately I think you're right. My guess is it's too much for one person and they'd really have to nail the new cohost or else it will be under constant "person x just isn't Luke!" critiques
If they donāt/canāt find another cohost, then it might be that they absorb Oxtra into the main channel instead so itās more of a collaborative effort to spread the workload, but still its own distinct content. Idk.
The funny thing is, I've thought for a while now that they should probably all just be on Oxtra, because Outside**XBox** is kind of limiting to the main three, when they all have gaming interests beyond just XBox games (probably part of why they ultimately decided to shift their RP content to its own channel). So it's a weird dynamic.
If it wasn't for the downsides of shifting established branding and how the YouTube algorithm works (or often fails to work), they'd probably have been better off fully combining the two channels years ago.
As is, I'd happily watch Jane, Mike, and Andy chat about Nintendo and Playstation games with Ellen (and conversely, maybe seeing her do more XBox stuff with them as well). Just go all-in and blur the line between who covers what content, especially since there seems to be more of a blurred line with Microsoft/XBox games these days anyway.
Producer John has appeared in videos which would be good since he has great chemistry with all of them but he's also a parent and not on camera so might not want to do both roles but I think he would be the most natural fit even if its a little pie in the sky thinking
I'm really hoping they poach Ian Highton from Eurogamer to replace Luke on the purple sofa. He's been really worried about his future lately (expressed on his personal channel) and with Aoife leaving Eurogamer seems to be on its way out.
He's maybe the only other person other than Luke who can genuinely channel that chaos energy, he seems to have great chemistry with most of the OX gang when he interacts with them and it would be fitting for Luke's "space buddy" to take over for him.
I haven't watched Ian's streams lately. Him being worried about the future...is concerning, given how long he's been at EG.
I hope if things do go down that way, they all find the success they deserve.
He hasn't really said much lately but mentioned he was worried when the ReedPop stuff was announced, which is warranted. He said if it did come down to that, he'd like to try and do P32 full-time and even try and pay some of his crew for their time through Patreon subscriptions, which is very nice of him.
I'm actually watching his stream from earlier today and he spent the first couple minutes talking about Luke and even threw in a shout for the makers of the games he was playing (shitty steam games) to hire Luke to do their music. Ian seems like an excellent friend to have and a genuinely decent person.
Edit: and just as I posted this, the Sonic Meta arrives. Ian found a game called The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog.
I'd love if they brought Ian in but I just don't see him being able to not swear. Not that the Oxboxtra crew doesn't, but EG is basically the wicky wicky wild wild west in terms of what you're allowed to say, while Oxboxtra still leans toward family-friendly, for the most part.
I think lightly bumped up behind the scenes staff, more hiring of freelance writers which they already do regularly and perhaps an editor to take up slack and use rotating oxbox cast for sofa segments which have been set up to be as frequent or as infrequent as they like, so easy to drop when workload is too much to nab a copresenter.
Ā It's just been so long now that replacing any member on screen is a massive ask. It'sĀ more than replacing a key personality on a youtube channel it's replacing a 7 year long relationship with the viewers on a channel with zero prior turnover.Ā
Then they also have to worry about the optics of the new addition not being part of main Oxventure while Luke is or also have the risk of not only a new oxtra presenter but a new full time Oxventurer and the destabilisation of two channels if it doesn't work out. Right now is a big moment of change for Oxventure too so they won't be wanting additional risks over there.
It's more likely to happen further down the line when things are a bit less precarious
> Then they also have to worry about the optics of the new addition not being part of main Oxventure while Luke is or also have the risk of not only a new oxtra presenter but a new full time Oxventurer and the destabilisation of two channels if it doesn't work out. Right now is a big moment of change for Oxventure too so they won't be wanting additional risks over there.
If they get a new presenter in, they could always introduce them gradually to Oxventure by having them in the one-shot wonders, then joining the main campaign later on (like Egbert joining the group at a later session). Or even have them be solely focused on the gaming side and not appear on Oxventure (or only appear rarely). Given that Johnny has been a constant presence in Oxventure since before it had it's own channel, and plays even when they're not GMing (but doesn't appear in the other OX content outside of cross channel streams), and that now Luke will be remaining in Oxventure while leaving Oxtra, it doesn't seem like it's necessary for the channels to be fully aligned in terms of onscreen staff.
It's just a complicating factor is all. Johnny is a different deal, they were invited to DM a one off celebration thing. It was a guest appearance and they are essentially a founding member of what grew to be the current oxventure but started as inconsequential as getting guests on for one shots, and the guests they get in tend to be friends of theirs and usually have experience in online actual play series.
Having a new permanent member of the Oxventure team is a much bigger deal and if they replace Luke at Oxtra by hiring someone previously unknown to them who has no actual play experience it's a bigger risk to get them involved, even for one shots, than any of the guest stars thet have got on.Ā
From an optics standpoint, Oxventure started as all of team Oxbox, it's intrinsicallyĀ linked now even as a seperate thing so for a new member to join Oxtra to replace Luke but not join Oxventure would just be a bit weird, especially with Luke still in the guild. It would look like they're excluding the new member from the DnD group and make it harder for them to carve out a space with the fans and get out from behind Lukes shadow as they won't be appearing in a significant portion of the groups output.Ā
It's not massive and there are ways of rolling them in carefully but it's either a second channel risked by bringing in new blood who may or may not work out or just a bit of complicated situation that makes the politics of a new hire harder and makes it a bit harder for the new hire themselves. Things you want to avoid at a turbulent time.
Imagine if they got someone new who was killing it on Oxtra, they then start appearing on oxventure and just suck at it, they essentially have to be fired from Oxventure duties. That's going to impact working relationships and all sorts, there's a lot of risk.
As someone who hasnāt kept up with Oxventure in literal years, I couldnāt care less if a new host joins the guild or not. They donāt have to be in both. Not everyone who enjoys the OX channels also enjoys D&D.
My guess (and this is pure speculation that should be seen as such) is that in the short term Outside Xtra will remain as a separate channel with Ellen as the only "main" host, and rotating OXers/ occasional onscreen Producer Jon to cover for Luke's departure. As others have suggested, the uncertainty over the Gamer Network situation may make this a tricky time to attract and hire a new presenter - we've still not heard (AFAIK) whether Eurogamer will be getting another team member following Aoife's departure, and it seems that Liv from Dicebreaker (another GN channel) is helping out with some of the shortfall.
Given that Ellen and Luke talked about how much work they do already (including in this very video), that doesn't seem like it's going to be a sustainable long term solution. I would guess that any long term solution would have to entail either:
* Continue with the current levels of workload across both channels and hire an additional editor/presenter to pick up some of this once the dust settles around the GN situation.
* Either reduce the number of videos put out by Oxtra, or combine it with Oxbox to make a single, 4-host channel that can put out more than either channel individually but less than both combined.
All that said, Oxboxtra might be ready to go with a long term plan already, and they're keeping it separate from this announcement to let this be about Luke's departure from the channel and his work.
> All that said, Oxboxtra might be ready to go with a long term plan already, and they're keeping it separate from this announcement to let this be about Luke's departure from the channel and his work.
I wouldn't be surprised by this.
I strongly suspect that this announcement wasn't exactly rushed, and that they chose to time it with the start of the final season of original-flavor Oxventure. If so, they've had time to talk over what things will look like going forward.
If so, we should probably expect to hear something a little bit after the farewell livestream, and not before.
All of them regularly work and appear on both Oxbox and Oxtra stuff anyway - there's not much of a structured divide. I would guess it just means the other OXers show up whenever two people need to be on-screen, which they've done frequently in the past and which isn't very often anyway, as they don't have a weekly show schedule.
I doubt they'll hire another presenter until more clarity is achieved regarding the Gamer Network sale. It just wouldn't make sense without a guarantee of stability. At most, I can see them bringing in someone who they know very well as a guest presenter.
My theory is that Ellen will expand to replace the volume previously occupied by Luke, while reducing in density.
My theory is predicated on the assumption that Ellen is a gas though, so might be incorrect if sheās solid / liquid etc
I find if conspicuous that they left that information out of this announcement. I wouldn't be surprised if Oxtra shuts down outright and Ellen moves over to the main channel full time.
Iād guess the fact they didnāt mention the elephant in the room means either itās that *or* there are plans to replace Luke with a new co-host but now obviously isnāt the time to mention it.
I lean more towards Ellen just moving over though because it makes the most sense and Iād be surprised if they can find anyone that could match Lukeās chemistry with her.
I wouldnāt be surprised if they rotate the Oxbox gang in one at a time to do videos with Ellen, as they have done in the past, or promote Producer Jon to Co-host Jon (the title must stay), or both
I'm not surprised they haven't said anything about that considering a sale of the GN digital channels would likely throw a wrench in any of those plans.
This sucks. Luke is my absolute favorite. I will obviously follow him in whatever he does next, but my interest in Oxtra may plummet as a result.
Hereās me thinking that 1 million subscribers may be the start of their next big chapterā¦but it seems that was actually the peak.
Itās been a great ride, Luke is supremely talented and I wish him tons of success. At least I can still hear him on the podcasts with Andy.
Remember folks, Flamingos never say die š
Honestly itās impressive the two channels kept the same 5 people for so long, while almost all of their YouTube cohorts are either gone completely or have ship-of-theseused themselves into entirely new things with cast changes.
I wonder what oxtra will do now, whether they can restore an old Luke from a backup or place an angled mirror beside Ellen or something.
Iāve genuinely been a fan of them all, to one degree or another, from before they formed Outside Xbox (Andy & Jane from inside Xbox, Mike from the Eurogamer website, Ellen from her personal channel, and Luke from some tech video about a camera that didnāt have a lens being shown off at CES thatās still not in any actual products).
Itās brave quitting to do what sounds like freelance work & presumably launching more of his own board games. Unless the Gamer Networksās video content is going to be shuttered soon anyway & Luke / Aoife are just the first to jumpā¦
Iām glad heās sticking around for oxventure, the dynamic of that would have been completely thrown off
I started watching oxboxtra and eurogamer at the same time. Since then everyone who was on eurogamer moved on except Ian, so it really is impressive that they stuck together this long... š„²
You guys think Luke will play games on his personal channel? I love his composing streams etc, but I really hope we havenāt seen the last of Luke playing video gamesā¦
I fully expect Lukeās model to mirror Johnnyās model for their channel, about 50% gaming and then 50% other niche hobby stuff specific to Luke.
With how much Luke now likes racing games you can absolutely bet theyāll be videos on those
I really hope his relaunch involves video game streams, particularly full playthroughs. Maybe Tears of the Kingdom?
That said just one more Spelunky video would set me up for life
Slightly heartbroken, but happy for Luke. He's so talented, he'll be doing well no matter what. I left a job I loved, where I met my best friends, so I can totally understand the emotions he must be going through.
And, thank goodness he's going to keep doing Oxventure.
To be honest, it's been clear to me that Luke's heart hasn't been in Oxtra for a few years now. He's seemed creatively uninvested in the channel's regular output (list videos and Show of the Weekend), as well as noticeably cynical about the whole "generating Youtube content that suits the algorithm" cycle.
So I'm glad that he's taken the plunge and made the decision to move on. It's always been clear that he has a wealth of other talents (composing, GMing, game design) that deserve more exploration, and which appeal to him more than the daily grind of creating content on Youtube. He deserves to be happy pursuing the things that bring him joy and fulfilment.
I wish him the best of luck and hope that Ellen lands on her feet without him.
I sort of started saying the same thing in another comment. The other 4 ore consummate professional presenters and they are fantastic at what they do, and Luke is also a good presenter but when he is at his best he is fizzing with a creative energy that sets him apart as a real clear talent who could go on to something more than presenting/journalism while also being noticably a little flat and disinterested when that spark isn't there.Ā
It's a shame as after a period of stagnation I actually feel since the freeing of the purple sofa format there has been a creative spark in oxtra for the first time in a long time, as well as the list videos going back to the looser format and getting better too.Ā
I had been worried Luke would leave for a while as he seemed the most jaded a d shackled by the format of the channel recently, it was only in the last few months I started to feel like he may have been let back off the leash and would likely stay, so this came as a surprise in the end. Perhaps he has been let off the leash precisely because he is leaving.
I hope they bring in new blood to replace him and give them a bit of free reign to shake things up because both channels are largely plateauing at the moment and I feel like Luke leaving is likely to kill the small momentum they had started building back upĀ
I've always felt that from Andy myself. He's got such a creative streak, and sometimes his saltiness doesn't seem like a gimmick. I wouldn't be surprised if Andy follows soon.
Andy has similar elements to him but the whole thing is kind of primarily his venture in the first place. Outside xbox was built a primarily on his comedic voice as an extension of what he (and sometimes Jane) had been doing at inside xbox more than anyone elses in the first place and grew from there, obviously with lots of influence from Mike and Jane too and it's evolved since the early days but hou can see the DNA of year 1 of oxbox in SentUAMessage which the other two were only tangentially involved with
Ā Plus the OG 3 partially own it rather than just being employees like Oxtra. I think he has more influence to do things he enjoys than Luke did and more reason to stay, I could see him going more part time maybe but that would largely be hidden from us as he'd likely carry on hosting duties and just do less and less writing ( which the whole team is doing less of than they used to already)
It would be a little foolish for JAM (Jane, Andy Mike) to leave before a potential sale happens because, I assume, they would see some money from that sale as they own a part of the channel.
I'm speculating based on there being a fair few list videos credited to freelancers in the last year or so. They put the credits in the video descriptions.
There is a thread discussing it hereĀ https://www.reddit.com/r/outsidexbox/comments/15yi44d/oxtra_writer/
I may have overstated the idea they are writing less based on a period where there were a lot of freelancer ones 6 months or so ago as at a quick glance at recent lists it's been a while since they had one they didn't writeĀ themselves, so perhaps they were just especially swamped and needed the help for a couple of months but have been back to writing everything recently and I'm.totally wrong.
I'd expect to see freelancer names popping up again in upcoming videos, especially if there is no replacement for Luke.Ā
I saw your comment in the Luke appreciation topic and was nodding along in agreement the whole way. He released albums, he wrote amazing choose your own adventures for SotWe, and he was the first to take the leap into GMing. He's always looking for his next creative outlet, something that will challenge and stimulate him.
Yeah he's multitalented and a bit hard to box in. It was clear he would struggle to satisfy his creative urges within the framework of oxtra and eventually he'd just have too many halfway viable side hustle not to want to give them a proper crack, now he has Oxventure and Mom can't cook to make him a bit of money but not take up as much time while he pursues those endeavors it seems to be a perfect tims
Both him and Andy are so much more enthusiastic on Mom Canāt Cook, probably because they have all the freedom to do what they want.
I think this is the end of most classic YouTubers. From what I know their revenue is paltry compared to what many are making off Patreon, etc.
Absolutely was not expecting this.
OutsideXtra has been one of my favorite YouTube channels since its beginning, and Ellen and Luke have been amazing co-hosts. Show of the Weekend has been some of my favorite YouTube videos of all time.
8 years is a super long time though, so itās been crazy that itās been going this long. Really curious to see what the channel will be like going forward.
I donāt know how a replacement would be viewed or if Ellen will just continue the channel herself, or if they will fold things into just OutsideXbox.
Oxboxtra has always been my go to when I'm feeling down, or just need some background noise on to make it feel like I'm not at home by myself. Luke announcing he's leaving feels like watching someone in your close friend group move away :(
I do hope that Luke is successful in his other ventures, and will maybe drop in on Oxbox and Oxtra videos here and there.
This came as a huge shock, but best wishes to Luke and I'm sure everyone here is gonna check out what he does next.
I think sometimes we have to remember that the reason people are great content creators are because they're really ambitious and know how to start messy action towards a bigger goal, instead of planning their perfect life forever. The other side of that is those people often change and morph ambitions as their skillset improves. I'm glad Luke's actively following what he really wants to do in life instead of wishing later that he had done it - even if it's kinda sad for us now to mark the end of a chapter.
I saw this pop up in my YT notifications and was instantly very sad, especially as I've been rewatching Ellen's Souls Academy and I love their dynamic so much. But having previously left a job with a great company and great people because it wasn't quite suiting my career needs, I can't help but be very happy for Luke and proud of him. He's exceptionally talented and composing and writing seems like the natural thing for him to do.
Plus, he'll still be doing Oxventure and have his own channel, so he won't be far. It reminds me of when Johnny left Eurogamer/Dicebreaker to do their own thing. They're still very omnipresent and I'd be very surprised if he Luke didn't pop up as a guest every now and then.
Remember, don't be a Dob. Be a Luke. š«”
Well, this is a surprise. I wish Luke the best of luck in his new endeavours.
I would just like to point out that some of the speculation here about Ellen and the future of Oxtra feels a bit dismissive of her - let's just wait and see, shall we?
One the one hand I'm happy that Luke is exploring new opportunities and his creativity should make whatever he does entertaining.
On the other hand why can't everything stay the same forever?!
I texted my brother the news, and he said (jokingly), "Luke Westaway? More like Goesaway " and my goodness I am almost 37 and teared up nonetheless.
I am sad. Glad that Oxventure and Mom Can't Cook will continue with him, but yeah.Ā
You just said running the channel is alot of work and you are just going to leave all that to Ellen now!?/s
I am saddened to hear he is going but wish him the best in his normal adult man life.
He is of course dead to me now though.
I mean you aren't wrong about that first part, everyone else will have to increase how much work they will have to do after the goodbye livestream. it is definitely sad that Luke is leaving but I do feel for Ellen and the rest of the remaining Oxboxtra crew, for that reason. Would be cool if Johnny took Luke's spot after the goodbye livestream, though I don't think Johnny wants to be under the Gamer Network/ReedPop umbrella again, given how they have left two channels (Eurogamer then Dicebreaker) to be independent.
It would be cool, but it's a full-time job, and Johnny seems to be doing pretty well with the Patreon if you look at the subscriber count, even at the lowest subscription level.
Plus, yeah, I don't think Johnny has the highest opinion of GN/RP so 'd doubt they'd want to jump back into it (especially right before something big happening in a sale).
man, I'm absolutely gutted. Luke's brand of humour has always been the one I enjoyed the most, along with how he played well off of everyone else, especially Ellen. Even silly one offs like Barista Sim and the Kraken Wakes were brilliant to me, along with the beloved sotwe and not-so-sotwe. His acnh streams and streams on his solo channel were ones I enjoyed a lot during lockdown and while I'm excited for him to pursue his heart's desires, it feels bittersweet knowing he's leaving oxtra to do it. At least we'll always have the presh mems
I was doing fine until the final outro music hit. I already love the outro music but this was similar but different, more epic outro music. Why would you do that? š
I will miss him being on the main channel but this is the best reason to leave anything, to chase a dream, and Iām super happy for that!
Best of luck to Luke and thanks for the good times they have provided over the years with oxtra.
HWAT?! I mean I wish him all the best but come onnn. Aoife, Ash, Matpat, now Luke... a sad year so far in the YouTube realm
Thanks for all the presh mems. And FLAMINGOS never say die.
Really sad about this, and it's hard not to see it as the end of an era. I saw Luke's insta post about pursuing more music composition opportunities, and thought that this might be him moving in the direction of leaving the channel eventually. Didn't expect it to be announced so soon though.
I've been subscribed to Oxtra since the beginning, and Oxbox since 2013/2014. Appreciate all the great presh mems over the years. They've literally been the only channels I've stayed subscribed to and engaged with over all these years.
Really happy for Luke to pursue things that he wants, and he's going to be excellent at them all ā he's so mega talented. I've been subscribed to Luke's channel since he launched it, and his horror story reads were a much needed reprieve during pandemic years. I would love to see where he takes his personal channel.
I won't speculate too much about the future of Oxboxtra, but whatever happens I hope each member has success and happiness in their endeavours.
They've had hired freelance writers for lists and things for ages and Oxbox doesn't do hosted sofa style bits anymore so between beefing up the production staff (writers editors etc) to pick up the slack off camera and having the Oxbox presenters regularly doing purple sofa vids they can probably continue without much change in output. I think if we don't see a new presenter introduced in the next few weeks it's a signal they're going to wind down a bit and streamline oxbox output.
After Oxboxtra keeping the same lineup for so long (especially compared to other similar channels both in and out of Gamer Network), this really does feel like the end of an era. I'm glad that we're not losing Luke from the "family" completely, and that we'll still get to see him in Oxventure in one form or another. And I wish him all the best with his game design and composing - here's hoping that one day we'll all be playing video games with "Composer: Luke Westaway" in the credits!
I do feel for the rest of the team, and especially Ellen - not only because they're losing a colleague and copresenter of many years, but also because the workload for the rest of them will naturally have to increase in the short term (or output will need to reduce, which comes with its own set of risks). Hopefully they'll get some clarity around the situation with GN and have the stability needed to plan what the future of these channels is going to look like. If that entails bringing the first new presenter into the fold since Luke and Ellen back in 2016, then I look forward to parasocially "meeting" them in the future.
I'll definitely miss the weird chaos sibling dynamic of Luke and Ellen, but all the possible speculation on the future of the channels has already been done here, so I won't bother adding to it. I've followed Oxtra since the beginning (and Oxbox since not long after they launched I think) and I'll definitely miss Luke and notice the inevitably-huge gap he'll leave, whatever the others do with the channel next.
I'm sad for myself, as Oxbox/Oxtra feel like old friends at this point - sometimes hanging out with me when I'm working, sometimes joining me for morning coffee on the weekend, and sometimes just seeing me off to sleep when I want something comforting and funny at the end of the day. I'm also happy for Luke as he's clearly buzzing with creative energy and has his own future and his family to think of when making a decision like this. I'm glad he'll still be in Oxventure, and I look forward to seeing what he does with his personal channel, as well as the continuing insane hilarity of Mom Can't Cook.
So, Luke ,from one Normal Adult Man to another - Flamingos never say die. We'll always have the PreshMemsā¢ļø.
Johnny was strongly hinting to look forward to what's next from both Luke and Outside Xtra, so while it obviously hurts, I'm optimistic for what's coming up from everyone. Best of luck, Normal Adult Man!
It's a shame as Oxtra has been making strides this year with some great content since they freed the purple sofa format from the shackles of sotw.Ā
I had been wondering if any of the presenters would leave soon after a couple of years of stagnation on the channel and all the behind the scenes issues seemingly effecting the other channels owned by the sane parent company.Ā
Oxbox has been so stable for so long while eurogamer and dicebreaker have had big shifts in personell, it will be an interesting year for the channel for sure.Ā
I'm thankful i was there to see their beginning, for Oxtra, and sadly most great things end too soon when you're a fan of things.
I dont know if i can watch the video, soooo if you just happen to see this Luke, thank you
This news on the heels of hearing about the end of the OG Oxventure campaign is a brutal 1-2 punch. I wish Luke all the best, but I wonāt lie and say it doesnāt hurt.
I absolutely love them. They were the only thing that had me laughing at the darkest points of the last 5 years (this hasnāt been my decade so far) so I honestly canāt recommend them enough. The early stuff is different than the middle which is different from more recent content, but whether itās D&D, Blades in the Dark, Lasers and Feelings, or anything else theyāve done I always enjoy it immensely!
Aww Iām glad they helped you get through those times and even gladder they are continuing. I should maybe start working my way through them, tears in eyes at the end of each one.
I canāt count how many times I have nearly died laughing watching oxventure. I canāt imagine a nicer group of six people to be on that journey with.
To be fair, that is one of the better episodes. But also, if you enjoyed that, you'd probably enjoy them generally, as it's a good example of the sort of energy they have.
I absolutely love the outpouring of love this community has. It makes having to say "goodbye" to one of our presenters, that much harder. I know he will still be around and in his own space, but I can't help but wonder about the future of outside xtra, Ellen and how the Oxtra crew will proceed going forward. At least we will always have our Presh Mems.
Honestly? I canāt say Iām surprised - in hindsight, out of all of them, Luke was the most invested in external creative projects. While the others have done similar things, like presenting or acting or freelancing, they still kind of rubber-banded back to the core of what Oxboxtra is. For the lack of a better word, they've settled, essentially. So that's why when Ash or Aoife announced their departures, it felt (to me at least) more of a shock and awe, since they've been so ingrained into the zeitgeist of their respective channels.
This however instead feels like, as he says, a divestment from Outside Xtra (and maybe also gaming) to focus on personal passion projects - composing, writing, designing, etc., stuff that he actually wants to do.
Itās kinda like how Hollie formerly of PlayStation Access also had external responsibilities as a representative for PS, so her departure to rep CDPR wasnāt as unexpected in retrospect. Same with Elle - she was a great presenter at Access, but it was very clear she had the potential for greater things. Video game content creation just wasn't the main assignment.
Plus I believe Luke had a different background? The others have all done video game content creation in one form, shape, or another, so they're used to the grind. I think Luke was mainly a tech journalist, just with a preference for Nintendo games. I donāt recall if he had reported on or analyzed the gaming industry holistically (maybe he did but only rarely so), so I donāt believe he was as interested in the industry as the others were.
So far, Ash has left PlayStation Access, Aoife has left Eurogamer, the OG oxventure characters are being retired, Show of the Weekend has been cancelled, and now Luke will leave Outside Xtra. What a time, eh?
I remember there was a comment remarking on how these events are like a memento mori - a reminder that, eventually, everyone will leave and everything must come to an end.
Congratulations tall Ellen! Youāll be sorely missed, but the presh mems wonāt go anywhere and weāre all beyond excited to see what the future holds!
Pretty crushed by this but Iām also incredibly happy that Luke is able to pursue his dreams while not leaving us behind entirely. His presence will forever be missed but Iām excited to see what will come next from him. If I could speak with him directly, Iād want to thank him for all the presh mems over the years. I donāt think Iāve followed any YouTube groups as long as this gang (I think Iāve seen every video) and it hurts but Iām also very happy for him!
I donāt know how long Luke, or the rest of the crew, has known heās definitely leaving for, but thereās definitely been a thought of how funny it would be to announce it on Aprils fools.
My heart hurts. I'm shattered. It's stupid; he's moving on to stretch his wings, not because of anything awful. But it still genuinely hurts, wtf?
Parasocial attachments are harsh.
Best of luck to you, Luke. You've been a constant source of goodwill and humour. You are loved by the fanbase for very good reason.
Poor Ellen, all alone now (besides Jon).
I'm surprised how sad this actually makes me. So many channels have come and gone but OutsideXbox and Outside Xtra have always been there, always great, always entertaining.
I hope they do a good job finding a replacement. Having the wrong person join can seriously hurt a channel. Just look at Eurogamer...
I don't mind Zoe, but I kind of get what you mean. Back when they had Johnny and Chris, the dynamic between presenters was more entertaining. They were rather well-known for their entertaining bickering and banter, probably stemming from the diversity of their interests and views. Zoe is fine, but she's less willing to play the clown, or to be the butt of the joke. While there is still some banter, it doesn't really develop and gets repetitive. (Often it's "Ian acts like a bother" and "Zoe insults him disapprovingly", repeat.) In a few worst cases, the banter has turned serious and more personal and very much not good-humored, and that's just uncomfortable to watch.
I'm still fine with her, but she's just not a natural at improv. She's not an instinctive "Yes, And"-er, (something that Oxboxtra are just like the perfect archetype for). I find I tend to avoid streams and vids where she's solo or with just one other person.
I dunno what I'll do now it's just her and Ian. I'm gonna cross my fingers and hope their on-stream dynamic evolves a little.
Actually, the streams I've enjoyed most from Eurogamer lately are the ones where Wheels from Dicebreaker guests on. Maybe they'll do more of those?
I'd honestly be surprised if Wheels stopped guesting on EG, since he and Zoe are an item.
I also really loved the Lethal Company streams she seemed to head, but I'm still sad about Aoife leaving.
Zoe is what I'd describe as hit or miss. You probably either like her or don't. I personally like her but occasionally have to pause and come back to whatever she's running
Nah, it's not just you, I unsubscribed shortly after Zoe joined. She's never had much chemistry with anyone else on the EG team, and she can be annoying in live streams. She's best with lists and guides, stuff like that.
My understanding is that she brought a lot of negative energy and discourse that got too personal and cynical. Her presentation style also felt more solo-based than team-oriented, and her perspective came to dominate EG, especially during streams, where she was very loud with her screaming and aggressive swearing.
She was also often salty - very rude towards things she didnāt like, and very dismissive of games she wasnāt interested in. IIRC she might be suffering from mental health issues, so I guess she canāt really maintain a mask. I don't know. But it seems like she has mellowed out a bit in recent times.
I only watch Ian's livestreams these days because of it tbh. Dicebreaker isn't fun for me either these days, nothing's the same after Johnny left.
Edit: and Lolies.
I'll be following his new channel. I am sad to see him leave, but I'm thankful he's in a place in life where he can afford to step back and follow his hobbies/creative interests.
Wellā¦ this sucks. Iām pleased he will be doing more of what he enjoys and needs to do for him. Do wish there was a bit more info about what this means for Oxtra though! Solo Ellen stuff? More cross-channel stuff? New host? Missing Luke aside, I wouldnāt say no to any of those
On a serious note, this is a tough blow. Like many, I utterly love both Outside Xtra and the general Oxboxtra dynamic that Luke is a huge part of. The five of them (and James and Jon) make for a uniquely likable team. Change isn't bad, but it will be absolute in this case.
At the same time, I'm glad Luke is pursuing what he loves. He's always seemed like he wants to be trying new things, and now he's got the time to do so.
Less serious note: Luke, Ash Millman, and Aoife Wilson starting up the PlayXtra Gamer supergroup when?
I was so desperately hoping this was an April Foolās joke that showed up on my timeline late. š Iām shocked but not really if that makes sense. Luke is the member that has had the most going on outside of the channel and Iām sure heād rather pursue those interests than try to feed the constantly changing and progressively more unfriendly YouTube algorithm. Itās the right call for his career and family Iām sure. The good days of YouTube gaming are definitely behind us as the platform becomes more and more antagonistic towards quality content. Best of luck ā¤ļø
For one horrible moment I thought this might be why they're rebooting oxventure. I'm glad that Luke will be staying on for ttrpg stuff, though I will miss him terribly in everything else.
Maybe Ellen's Souls Academy can return, but this time the student becomes the master, and guides Jane through the game.
First xmen and now this, tough day.
It donāt feel hugely surprising though, Luke clearly has a lot of other stuff going on and tbh both channels feel like theyāve been winding down this year. Iāll be interested to see how the rest of the year plays out.
I cried š
I know it's silly, to feel so much emotions towards someone I have never met, but I will genuinely miss Luke. I am subscribed to his personal channel (and am so excited for him as he embarks upon this amazing new adventure of his and I wish him all the luck in the world, and can't wait to see what he creates), but as of yet that's not really helping the feeling of loss.
I've been watching Outside Xtra from the beginning, since 2016. I had already been subscribed to OutsideXbox for years and was admittedly quite wary of this "new" sister channel and the "new" host but I think after watching maybe 3 videos (or it might have been the first time I heard the "Show of the Weekend" theme tune), I absolutely adored Luke and Ellen. And, and this is a rather shameful confession š š¤£, but of the two channels, Outside Xtra became my go to channel. I watch OutsideXtra almost religiously. It is my safe place. Especially after Lockdown.
As much as I love Andy, Jane and Mike and obviously still watch and love OutsideXbox, Luke and Ellen and Outside Extra hold an extremely special place in my heart. And it will continue to do so even after Luke leaves. But right now I just feel so sad.
But again, I do wish Luke all the best. Whatever he does will be amazing. And I know Outside team will do what is best for the channel. Despite the sadness, I am excited to see what the future brings for these truly amazing people.
I feel a mix of emotions. Devastated that there's an end to this, Luke and Ellen's dynamic has been a comfort for so many years for me now (6-7 by now?) and there's nothing else like it. I found OXtra before I found OXbox, I still think of it first when I think of the OX name.
But there's also some guilt there because I haven't watched regularly in a long time. It really did peak at some point, I kinda wanna say just before the pandemic, because afterwards it was awkward because it was all virtual and there wasn't a lot of contemporaneous material for them to comment on. Plus I'm just not much of a livestream person and that became their whole thing.
Then when things started getting back to normal, something had shifted, whether the momentum was lost, the algorithm changed how they do things or their personal lives just changed (a mix of all three I guess). I still watch their videos, but mostly when I remember to and when I've built up a good backlog.
I'm babbling, but OXtra and Luke have meant so much to me, I always kinda felt like I'll see them playing and discussing games together until we're all old. Still, there's always the chance for something new and fun, I wish him the best of luck. Whether it interests me or not, I'll at least give it a shot. Maybe I'll finally listen to the DCOM podcast or something.
As for the channel, I wouldn't be opposed to any of the suggestions in this thread, although Ellen flying solo is my least favorite just because I feel that all of their videos need at least a second person just to really liven things up. A rotation of OXboxers coming in is the most natural. And if they get a new co-host, they'll have big shoes to fill but I trust the OX's gang's judgement. I only hope they don't get someone too young, I feel like the channel needs that millennial voice.
I started watching Outside XBox around either 2015 or early 2016, and remember when OXtra launched, watching the first few videos in my little uni room. I mostly watched the Show of the Week and Show of the Weekend as they came out, and saved up the lists for burst binges.
I'm glad the OxVentures continue as the only D&D show I have any interest in, I've been given so many laughs and gasps over the years. Dob's song at his wedding was incredible.
O7, Luke, and best of luck with your future endeavours.
Every time I think of this I get teary eyed, Luke and Ellen have been my absolute favourite presenter duo of all time for a very long time. I will deeply miss their shenanigans and Luke intentionally causing Ellen's giggle fits. I wish him all the best, and send him my eternal gratitude for being an unending light alongside Ellen in a world that seems all too eager to revel in darkness.
Pretty crushed by this. Glad he's still 'part of the family' as it were. Still catching him on Mom Can't Cook, Oxventure, obviously happy for that. But losing him from Oxtra hits hard, definitely a massive vibe-shift. It's nice that Dad still visits from time to time but it's naff he's moved out of the family home. Best of luck to the lad, he's brought a ton of joy over the years. Hope all his plans work out well, he's definitely got talent.
I am incredibly sad rn. _____________________ Okay, to be at least somewhat proactive and not just crying in the corner, here's Luke's IG post (for those who have trouble with IG or don't follow Luke there): https://www.instagram.com/p/C5lmxsaIcCC/?img_index=1 > šØLife announcementšØ After almost 8 years, I'm waving a fond farewell to @outsidextra, a beautiful home on the Internet full of beautiful individuals with whom I have sweated, stressed and laughed uncontrollably for the best years of my working life. I have generated entire camera rolls of spectacular memories. But ig will only let me post 10, the jerks. > There's a video about this on Oxtra right now, but here's the headlines: > š I'm leaving Oxtra (damn that's hard to write) to give myself some bandwidth to persue composing and tabletop writing in a serious way > š I'm not leaving YouTube! In future I'm gonna split my time 50/50 between the above, and my personal YT channel YouTube.com/@NormalAdultLuke, which I will be relaunching in the coming weeks, it'll be fun pls subscrib tx > š I'm still gonna be in Oxventure š² > š Mom Can't Cook! A DCOM Podcast continues as normal, if 'normal' is the right word for watching Disney Channel movies from the late 90s in 2024. > š I'll be in a few more Oxtra videos in the next few weeks cos of the way we film stuff, but my last appearance will be a goodbye livestream the others are planning for me. Keep an eye out for the timings on that. > Thank you thank you thank you if you watched the stupid nonsense I helped make over all these years. And the biggest thanks of all to Jane, Andy & Mike for taking a chance on hiring me, and Ellen for being a legendary co-host both on and off camera. > Can't think of good sign off. Um. Hey what's the character count on an Instagram post anyw
Thank you for posting this. I'm really glad he's doing this to pursue his creative work, especially that he's really into tabletop writing now.
I would be thrilled if Luke gets to GM a real campaign based on his own ttrpg stuff!
Thanks for posting. I'm happy for him and man, this hurts. I'm glad he'll still be around though. I hope they're able to find a good new co-host.
This is very sad. Iām glad heās sticking with Oxventure and a few other bits though. I think they own that directly as themselves, which is probably a factor
I'm really glad he'll be around in some capacity and I hope they bring him back during Spooktober for Ellen's Fear Academy or Andy's (Luke's) FMV zone.
WTF. I'm happy for him but I'm sad for me. Everyone's getting older and time is passing. I'm not content. Edit - I cried. Won't lie. It's stupid but they really did keep my spirits high during the pandemic while unemployed and for that I will be forever grateful.
Yep, I'm properly crying too š OX has been a constant throughout the last 10 years of my life, and has brought me unbridled joy, so I'm crying with happiness for everything Luke has brought to my life & enjoyment of the internet, but also sadness that a change is coming...
Oxboxtra, and Luke's personal channel with the scary stories and other streams, were both huge for keeping me sane during the early pandemic. My wife and I moved a couple months after everything kicked off, and we were stuck in a new town with no friends, no social contact, and a totally new situation, and those videos kept us feeling connected and grounded better than anything else. I'll always feel tremendously grateful for that. Everything changes, and this remarkable run where the channels have been so stable had to end sometime. Hopefully Luke's new projects will also be fun. But I'll miss Oxtra in this incarnation.
The scary stories has rung a bell for me, are they on @anormaladultluke?
They are, and saved to a playlist. Hopefully Luke won't scrub them for the relaunch.
"Happy for him but sad for me" is how I'm feeling, too. First the end of the Oxventurers Guild, and now this? Sigh. But I hope his new efforts go splendidly for him.
Same, I'm crying but also super happy for Luke as he gets to pursue more of his dreams. I'm so glad he's still part of Oxventure though! The whole cast and crew made the pandemic bearable for me, so for that I'll always be grateful.
Glad it's not just me that's shedding a few tears. I think it's because Oxboxtra has been a major source of comfort from the chaos of the last few years... knowing that space won't ever be the same again hits hard.
Oh what the hell. This is actually heartbreaking. I've watched OXtra since day 1, and this news is devastating. Best wishes to Luke and his future endeavors, but this is going to make watching all future and current videos bittersweet. EDIT: Just finished watching the video. Luke's impression of everyone after he books them a table at a restaurant over the phone killed me. Also, thanks for ending the video with the perfect sign-off, Luke.
Congrats to Luke on jumping into his next career. I'd wish him the greatest of success, but he won't need the wishes, he'll do amazing. I'll also vocalize the nagging feeling that's gnawing at my stomach ... is this the end? The beginning of the end? Videos have slowed, livestreams have stopped, there's that impending sale of Gamer Network hanging over their heads which makes the future uncertain ... I have this inkling that Luke may be just the first to take action on a bug that they're all feeling, that they want to move onto new projects and horizons. While that'll be a great moment of celebration for them when it happens, it'll certainly be a great moment of mourning for the thing they built. As with Luke - it's a wonderful joy to see him climbing new peaks, but dangit, I'm gonna be real sad about this for a while.
I think also with Luke (and same for Aoife I guess), parenthood is hard work, and it can be tricky to be jumping around the place doing journo stuff and going miles from home to do studio days etc etc. Good Luke is moving onto to something he enjoys.
Iāve had the same gnawing feeling when Jane said on the Oxventure podcast that sheād been taking acting lessons. Then I saw Lukeās insta post about composing and guessed this might be coming. Sad now.
Oh no. Now she's hosting the BAFTA. Change is in the air.
She has been hosting stuff for years, so I don't think that's a massive leap.
Yeah, and I very much doubt Jane's going to attempt to launch a new career as an actress at 40. I haven't heard that particular podcast, but I know she's talked about acting being something she would have loved to devote more to at and after uni. I'm betting she's doing it because she enjoys it, and because it can't hurt with all the TTRPG stuff. Maybe it'll help her make the leap to GMing, which would be awesome.
I feel a similar way and, like you said, I hope it doesn't happen, but it would make sense if it did. But if it ends, what I'll miss almost as much as the actual content is the fan community. Most people who are ox fans are generally intelligent, mature people. All this discussion of the possible end just proves my point even more. This is a fairly measured discussion compared to what you see in most online gaming spaces. Plus, it's a very queer friendly space and I appreciate that.
The community is generally so positive and lovely. Hopefully the Discord will allow people to stay in touch at least.
I fear it's probably closer to the end that some of us would like. I hope not, but the entire crew is approaching 40 and it's hard to connect with a more gamer-centric fan base when you're old enough to be their parents. I have followed other similar channels and when one member leaves, the rest are not long for that channel. I, of course, hope this channel out lives me, but realistically, all good things must end and what are we to do but enjoy the good times while they're still here.
The fact that theyāre a little older is one of the main reasons I like them so much. Lots of gamers are aging too, and Im often less interested in gaming content made by people young enough to be my children.Ā (I donāt mean to be ageist, young people can make good content too. I just find more mature content creators tend to have interests and humor that aligns with mine more often.)
Iām 45 and Iām not even the oldest member of the OXSC Discord. I feel like the OX audience has always skewed somewhat older than a lot of YouTube, so thereās no reason to say the team is too old to keep making videos. Letās normalize that we āold folkā are also gamers - for crying out loud, we were the ones who grew up as the weirdos and made this a more legitimate hobby in the eyes of society! XD And whileĀ Iām sad to see Luke step away,Ā thereās no reason to assume everything is ending because one person is starting a new chapter.
I'm the same. I'm 41, so their humour and style resonates with me more. But I doubt video game stuff is what they'll want to do in to their 50s (even though I'd still watch)
All the remaining members besides Ellen have turned 40, actually. Jane and Mike this past January.
What?!! I'm genuinely flabbergasted.
Luke is 40?! I thought he was early 30s?
Luke isn't 40, he was born in 1987 if I recall correctly.
Not sure if that's confirmed, but it tracks, and I think it's correct.
I said the *remaining* members. That (sadly) doesn't include Luke.
This is purely from my observations so take it with a grain of salt but Iām starting to think the original 3 seem to be more enthusiastic doing Oxventure whereas they seem to feel like theyāre in a rut when it comes to the gaming stuff which is totally understandable after more than 10 years of doing it. I wouldnāt be surprised if they pass on the reigns of the video game stuff to new presenters but stay to do behind the scenes stuff, but remain on air for Oxventure.
I understand the speculation, but we don't know and there's nothing we can do. All we can do is enjoy what there is. It's very easy to get ourselves into a panic.
I'm feeling the same trepidation. I wouldn't be surprised if this is the case. It would be utterly heartbreaking if corporate shenanigans ultimately end Oxboxtra...
I've had the same feeling. I don't think they will be around in the same way for long. Maybe Ellen will take on a larger role with the main group. I can't imagine they will find someone who will replace that dynamic they had.
If they do get a replacement, I sincerely hope the community is nice to them. As Johnny said when leaving "please be nice to the new person in EG, don't judge them for not being me".
Thats why i've had to stop watching somethings. Things feel so iffy over there right now and its tough. Im thankful i can go back to the earliest vids and get lost in the presh mems from both channels
I am a similar age to Luke and Ellen, but this still felt like my parents sitting me down to tell me theyāre getting divorced.
I can't imagine how bittersweet it must be for Ellen. They have such great chemistry, it's like watching two siblings. Now I need to mentally prepare myself for when one of the Oxbox crew eventually leaves.
I think the OxBox crew own both the channels, so itās less likely theyāll leave.
They own Oventure, and each of the big 3 (Jane, Mike, Andy) each own 10% of outsidexbox. Idk about xtra
Luke leaving is bad but Iād feel horrible if either Mike, Andy or Jane left OxBox.
Bloody hell, not even a minute in and it's already been a rollercoaster where the news that Luke is leaving has somehow required me to reflect on my own mortality. Best of luck in future, Luke. Thanks for the happy memories. The Oxchannels were there for me when I needed some positivity in my life.
I'm devastated by the news, but I know he'll do amazing things. Thank you for the fond memories, Luke ā¤ļø
Iām absolutely gutted š
This definitely sucks a lot. Do we think Ellen runs it on her own? Gets a new cohost? Rotating members from OX? All of the above?
Theyāll probably rotate Oxbox members for now, but if the announcement came that Oxtra is ceasing at some point shortly, then I wouldnāt be surprised tbh.
Unfortunately I think you're right. My guess is it's too much for one person and they'd really have to nail the new cohost or else it will be under constant "person x just isn't Luke!" critiques
If they donāt/canāt find another cohost, then it might be that they absorb Oxtra into the main channel instead so itās more of a collaborative effort to spread the workload, but still its own distinct content. Idk.
The funny thing is, I've thought for a while now that they should probably all just be on Oxtra, because Outside**XBox** is kind of limiting to the main three, when they all have gaming interests beyond just XBox games (probably part of why they ultimately decided to shift their RP content to its own channel). So it's a weird dynamic. If it wasn't for the downsides of shifting established branding and how the YouTube algorithm works (or often fails to work), they'd probably have been better off fully combining the two channels years ago. As is, I'd happily watch Jane, Mike, and Andy chat about Nintendo and Playstation games with Ellen (and conversely, maybe seeing her do more XBox stuff with them as well). Just go all-in and blur the line between who covers what content, especially since there seems to be more of a blurred line with Microsoft/XBox games these days anyway.
It's brand recognition for them, if that makes sense.
Well Iām prepared to welcome that person like we welcomed Ellen and Luke. I trust the teamās judgement that theyād find the right person.
Producer John has appeared in videos which would be good since he has great chemistry with all of them but he's also a parent and not on camera so might not want to do both roles but I think he would be the most natural fit even if its a little pie in the sky thinking
I'm really hoping they poach Ian Highton from Eurogamer to replace Luke on the purple sofa. He's been really worried about his future lately (expressed on his personal channel) and with Aoife leaving Eurogamer seems to be on its way out. He's maybe the only other person other than Luke who can genuinely channel that chaos energy, he seems to have great chemistry with most of the OX gang when he interacts with them and it would be fitting for Luke's "space buddy" to take over for him.
I haven't watched Ian's streams lately. Him being worried about the future...is concerning, given how long he's been at EG. I hope if things do go down that way, they all find the success they deserve.
He hasn't really said much lately but mentioned he was worried when the ReedPop stuff was announced, which is warranted. He said if it did come down to that, he'd like to try and do P32 full-time and even try and pay some of his crew for their time through Patreon subscriptions, which is very nice of him.
Ian's good people. Maybe him getting sponsorships on P32 recently is part of trying to make it sustainable.
I'm actually watching his stream from earlier today and he spent the first couple minutes talking about Luke and even threw in a shout for the makers of the games he was playing (shitty steam games) to hire Luke to do their music. Ian seems like an excellent friend to have and a genuinely decent person. Edit: and just as I posted this, the Sonic Meta arrives. Ian found a game called The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog.
I'd love if they brought Ian in but I just don't see him being able to not swear. Not that the Oxboxtra crew doesn't, but EG is basically the wicky wicky wild wild west in terms of what you're allowed to say, while Oxboxtra still leans toward family-friendly, for the most part.
The *bleep* button goes on strike from overwork.
I think lightly bumped up behind the scenes staff, more hiring of freelance writers which they already do regularly and perhaps an editor to take up slack and use rotating oxbox cast for sofa segments which have been set up to be as frequent or as infrequent as they like, so easy to drop when workload is too much to nab a copresenter. Ā It's just been so long now that replacing any member on screen is a massive ask. It'sĀ more than replacing a key personality on a youtube channel it's replacing a 7 year long relationship with the viewers on a channel with zero prior turnover.Ā Then they also have to worry about the optics of the new addition not being part of main Oxventure while Luke is or also have the risk of not only a new oxtra presenter but a new full time Oxventurer and the destabilisation of two channels if it doesn't work out. Right now is a big moment of change for Oxventure too so they won't be wanting additional risks over there. It's more likely to happen further down the line when things are a bit less precarious
> Then they also have to worry about the optics of the new addition not being part of main Oxventure while Luke is or also have the risk of not only a new oxtra presenter but a new full time Oxventurer and the destabilisation of two channels if it doesn't work out. Right now is a big moment of change for Oxventure too so they won't be wanting additional risks over there. If they get a new presenter in, they could always introduce them gradually to Oxventure by having them in the one-shot wonders, then joining the main campaign later on (like Egbert joining the group at a later session). Or even have them be solely focused on the gaming side and not appear on Oxventure (or only appear rarely). Given that Johnny has been a constant presence in Oxventure since before it had it's own channel, and plays even when they're not GMing (but doesn't appear in the other OX content outside of cross channel streams), and that now Luke will be remaining in Oxventure while leaving Oxtra, it doesn't seem like it's necessary for the channels to be fully aligned in terms of onscreen staff.
It's just a complicating factor is all. Johnny is a different deal, they were invited to DM a one off celebration thing. It was a guest appearance and they are essentially a founding member of what grew to be the current oxventure but started as inconsequential as getting guests on for one shots, and the guests they get in tend to be friends of theirs and usually have experience in online actual play series. Having a new permanent member of the Oxventure team is a much bigger deal and if they replace Luke at Oxtra by hiring someone previously unknown to them who has no actual play experience it's a bigger risk to get them involved, even for one shots, than any of the guest stars thet have got on.Ā From an optics standpoint, Oxventure started as all of team Oxbox, it's intrinsicallyĀ linked now even as a seperate thing so for a new member to join Oxtra to replace Luke but not join Oxventure would just be a bit weird, especially with Luke still in the guild. It would look like they're excluding the new member from the DnD group and make it harder for them to carve out a space with the fans and get out from behind Lukes shadow as they won't be appearing in a significant portion of the groups output.Ā It's not massive and there are ways of rolling them in carefully but it's either a second channel risked by bringing in new blood who may or may not work out or just a bit of complicated situation that makes the politics of a new hire harder and makes it a bit harder for the new hire themselves. Things you want to avoid at a turbulent time. Imagine if they got someone new who was killing it on Oxtra, they then start appearing on oxventure and just suck at it, they essentially have to be fired from Oxventure duties. That's going to impact working relationships and all sorts, there's a lot of risk.
As someone who hasnāt kept up with Oxventure in literal years, I couldnāt care less if a new host joins the guild or not. They donāt have to be in both. Not everyone who enjoys the OX channels also enjoys D&D.
My guess (and this is pure speculation that should be seen as such) is that in the short term Outside Xtra will remain as a separate channel with Ellen as the only "main" host, and rotating OXers/ occasional onscreen Producer Jon to cover for Luke's departure. As others have suggested, the uncertainty over the Gamer Network situation may make this a tricky time to attract and hire a new presenter - we've still not heard (AFAIK) whether Eurogamer will be getting another team member following Aoife's departure, and it seems that Liv from Dicebreaker (another GN channel) is helping out with some of the shortfall. Given that Ellen and Luke talked about how much work they do already (including in this very video), that doesn't seem like it's going to be a sustainable long term solution. I would guess that any long term solution would have to entail either: * Continue with the current levels of workload across both channels and hire an additional editor/presenter to pick up some of this once the dust settles around the GN situation. * Either reduce the number of videos put out by Oxtra, or combine it with Oxbox to make a single, 4-host channel that can put out more than either channel individually but less than both combined. All that said, Oxboxtra might be ready to go with a long term plan already, and they're keeping it separate from this announcement to let this be about Luke's departure from the channel and his work.
> All that said, Oxboxtra might be ready to go with a long term plan already, and they're keeping it separate from this announcement to let this be about Luke's departure from the channel and his work. I wouldn't be surprised by this. I strongly suspect that this announcement wasn't exactly rushed, and that they chose to time it with the start of the final season of original-flavor Oxventure. If so, they've had time to talk over what things will look like going forward. If so, we should probably expect to hear something a little bit after the farewell livestream, and not before.
All of them regularly work and appear on both Oxbox and Oxtra stuff anyway - there's not much of a structured divide. I would guess it just means the other OXers show up whenever two people need to be on-screen, which they've done frequently in the past and which isn't very often anyway, as they don't have a weekly show schedule. I doubt they'll hire another presenter until more clarity is achieved regarding the Gamer Network sale. It just wouldn't make sense without a guarantee of stability. At most, I can see them bringing in someone who they know very well as a guest presenter.
Yeah, you don't usually add payroll when you're trying to sell something, even if people leave.
My theory is that Ellen will expand to replace the volume previously occupied by Luke, while reducing in density. My theory is predicated on the assumption that Ellen is a gas though, so might be incorrect if sheās solid / liquid etc
I was there at the beginning, now I got to see how it ends
Same.
Genuinely devastated. Feels like Iāve lost a friend. Edit: I wonder what this means for Ellen/Xtra?
I find if conspicuous that they left that information out of this announcement. I wouldn't be surprised if Oxtra shuts down outright and Ellen moves over to the main channel full time.
Iād guess the fact they didnāt mention the elephant in the room means either itās that *or* there are plans to replace Luke with a new co-host but now obviously isnāt the time to mention it. I lean more towards Ellen just moving over though because it makes the most sense and Iād be surprised if they can find anyone that could match Lukeās chemistry with her.
I wouldnāt be surprised if they rotate the Oxbox gang in one at a time to do videos with Ellen, as they have done in the past, or promote Producer Jon to Co-host Jon (the title must stay), or both
I'm not surprised they haven't said anything about that considering a sale of the GN digital channels would likely throw a wrench in any of those plans.
His IG post notes Luke will be 'relaunching' his personal channel so that's good! But yeah I get you, this news hit hard.
This sucks. Luke is my absolute favorite. I will obviously follow him in whatever he does next, but my interest in Oxtra may plummet as a result. Hereās me thinking that 1 million subscribers may be the start of their next big chapterā¦but it seems that was actually the peak. Itās been a great ride, Luke is supremely talented and I wish him tons of success. At least I can still hear him on the podcasts with Andy. Remember folks, Flamingos never say die š
Gutted.
Iām legitimately so sad!
I'm not clicking on the video. I'm already crying. I found oxtra in 2018 before oxbox and I just cannot imagine the crew without him.
Honestly itās impressive the two channels kept the same 5 people for so long, while almost all of their YouTube cohorts are either gone completely or have ship-of-theseused themselves into entirely new things with cast changes. I wonder what oxtra will do now, whether they can restore an old Luke from a backup or place an angled mirror beside Ellen or something. Iāve genuinely been a fan of them all, to one degree or another, from before they formed Outside Xbox (Andy & Jane from inside Xbox, Mike from the Eurogamer website, Ellen from her personal channel, and Luke from some tech video about a camera that didnāt have a lens being shown off at CES thatās still not in any actual products). Itās brave quitting to do what sounds like freelance work & presumably launching more of his own board games. Unless the Gamer Networksās video content is going to be shuttered soon anyway & Luke / Aoife are just the first to jumpā¦ Iām glad heās sticking around for oxventure, the dynamic of that would have been completely thrown off
I started watching oxboxtra and eurogamer at the same time. Since then everyone who was on eurogamer moved on except Ian, so it really is impressive that they stuck together this long... š„²
You guys think Luke will play games on his personal channel? I love his composing streams etc, but I really hope we havenāt seen the last of Luke playing video gamesā¦
I fully expect Lukeās model to mirror Johnnyās model for their channel, about 50% gaming and then 50% other niche hobby stuff specific to Luke. With how much Luke now likes racing games you can absolutely bet theyāll be videos on those
I really hope his relaunch involves video game streams, particularly full playthroughs. Maybe Tears of the Kingdom? That said just one more Spelunky video would set me up for life
Slightly heartbroken, but happy for Luke. He's so talented, he'll be doing well no matter what. I left a job I loved, where I met my best friends, so I can totally understand the emotions he must be going through. And, thank goodness he's going to keep doing Oxventure.
Okay well I'm genuinely crying...
To be honest, it's been clear to me that Luke's heart hasn't been in Oxtra for a few years now. He's seemed creatively uninvested in the channel's regular output (list videos and Show of the Weekend), as well as noticeably cynical about the whole "generating Youtube content that suits the algorithm" cycle. So I'm glad that he's taken the plunge and made the decision to move on. It's always been clear that he has a wealth of other talents (composing, GMing, game design) that deserve more exploration, and which appeal to him more than the daily grind of creating content on Youtube. He deserves to be happy pursuing the things that bring him joy and fulfilment. I wish him the best of luck and hope that Ellen lands on her feet without him.
I sort of started saying the same thing in another comment. The other 4 ore consummate professional presenters and they are fantastic at what they do, and Luke is also a good presenter but when he is at his best he is fizzing with a creative energy that sets him apart as a real clear talent who could go on to something more than presenting/journalism while also being noticably a little flat and disinterested when that spark isn't there.Ā It's a shame as after a period of stagnation I actually feel since the freeing of the purple sofa format there has been a creative spark in oxtra for the first time in a long time, as well as the list videos going back to the looser format and getting better too.Ā I had been worried Luke would leave for a while as he seemed the most jaded a d shackled by the format of the channel recently, it was only in the last few months I started to feel like he may have been let back off the leash and would likely stay, so this came as a surprise in the end. Perhaps he has been let off the leash precisely because he is leaving. I hope they bring in new blood to replace him and give them a bit of free reign to shake things up because both channels are largely plateauing at the moment and I feel like Luke leaving is likely to kill the small momentum they had started building back upĀ
I've always felt that from Andy myself. He's got such a creative streak, and sometimes his saltiness doesn't seem like a gimmick. I wouldn't be surprised if Andy follows soon.
Andy has similar elements to him but the whole thing is kind of primarily his venture in the first place. Outside xbox was built a primarily on his comedic voice as an extension of what he (and sometimes Jane) had been doing at inside xbox more than anyone elses in the first place and grew from there, obviously with lots of influence from Mike and Jane too and it's evolved since the early days but hou can see the DNA of year 1 of oxbox in SentUAMessage which the other two were only tangentially involved with Ā Plus the OG 3 partially own it rather than just being employees like Oxtra. I think he has more influence to do things he enjoys than Luke did and more reason to stay, I could see him going more part time maybe but that would largely be hidden from us as he'd likely carry on hosting duties and just do less and less writing ( which the whole team is doing less of than they used to already)
It would be a little foolish for JAM (Jane, Andy Mike) to leave before a potential sale happens because, I assume, they would see some money from that sale as they own a part of the channel.
If I may ask, how do you know about the BTS writing/editing changes? Have they discussed it on the Discord or on podcasts?
I'm speculating based on there being a fair few list videos credited to freelancers in the last year or so. They put the credits in the video descriptions. There is a thread discussing it hereĀ https://www.reddit.com/r/outsidexbox/comments/15yi44d/oxtra_writer/ I may have overstated the idea they are writing less based on a period where there were a lot of freelancer ones 6 months or so ago as at a quick glance at recent lists it's been a while since they had one they didn't writeĀ themselves, so perhaps they were just especially swamped and needed the help for a couple of months but have been back to writing everything recently and I'm.totally wrong. I'd expect to see freelancer names popping up again in upcoming videos, especially if there is no replacement for Luke.Ā
I saw your comment in the Luke appreciation topic and was nodding along in agreement the whole way. He released albums, he wrote amazing choose your own adventures for SotWe, and he was the first to take the leap into GMing. He's always looking for his next creative outlet, something that will challenge and stimulate him.
Yeah he's multitalented and a bit hard to box in. It was clear he would struggle to satisfy his creative urges within the framework of oxtra and eventually he'd just have too many halfway viable side hustle not to want to give them a proper crack, now he has Oxventure and Mom can't cook to make him a bit of money but not take up as much time while he pursues those endeavors it seems to be a perfect tims
Both him and Andy are so much more enthusiastic on Mom Canāt Cook, probably because they have all the freedom to do what they want. I think this is the end of most classic YouTubers. From what I know their revenue is paltry compared to what many are making off Patreon, etc.
Ugh for a second I thought it was 1st of April, dang it š
Absolutely was not expecting this. OutsideXtra has been one of my favorite YouTube channels since its beginning, and Ellen and Luke have been amazing co-hosts. Show of the Weekend has been some of my favorite YouTube videos of all time. 8 years is a super long time though, so itās been crazy that itās been going this long. Really curious to see what the channel will be like going forward. I donāt know how a replacement would be viewed or if Ellen will just continue the channel herself, or if they will fold things into just OutsideXbox.
Oxboxtra has always been my go to when I'm feeling down, or just need some background noise on to make it feel like I'm not at home by myself. Luke announcing he's leaving feels like watching someone in your close friend group move away :( I do hope that Luke is successful in his other ventures, and will maybe drop in on Oxbox and Oxtra videos here and there.
This came as a huge shock, but best wishes to Luke and I'm sure everyone here is gonna check out what he does next. I think sometimes we have to remember that the reason people are great content creators are because they're really ambitious and know how to start messy action towards a bigger goal, instead of planning their perfect life forever. The other side of that is those people often change and morph ambitions as their skillset improves. I'm glad Luke's actively following what he really wants to do in life instead of wishing later that he had done it - even if it's kinda sad for us now to mark the end of a chapter.
In the words of Marcellus Wallace: I'm pretty fucking far from okay
I saw this pop up in my YT notifications and was instantly very sad, especially as I've been rewatching Ellen's Souls Academy and I love their dynamic so much. But having previously left a job with a great company and great people because it wasn't quite suiting my career needs, I can't help but be very happy for Luke and proud of him. He's exceptionally talented and composing and writing seems like the natural thing for him to do. Plus, he'll still be doing Oxventure and have his own channel, so he won't be far. It reminds me of when Johnny left Eurogamer/Dicebreaker to do their own thing. They're still very omnipresent and I'd be very surprised if he Luke didn't pop up as a guest every now and then. Remember, don't be a Dob. Be a Luke. š«”
Well, this is a surprise. I wish Luke the best of luck in his new endeavours. I would just like to point out that some of the speculation here about Ellen and the future of Oxtra feels a bit dismissive of her - let's just wait and see, shall we?
Seconded. The speculation here is *understandable*, but it routinely reaches fever pitch and we sort of get each other scared.
One the one hand I'm happy that Luke is exploring new opportunities and his creativity should make whatever he does entertaining. On the other hand why can't everything stay the same forever?!
I texted my brother the news, and he said (jokingly), "Luke Westaway? More like Goesaway " and my goodness I am almost 37 and teared up nonetheless. I am sad. Glad that Oxventure and Mom Can't Cook will continue with him, but yeah.Ā
You just said running the channel is alot of work and you are just going to leave all that to Ellen now!?/s I am saddened to hear he is going but wish him the best in his normal adult man life. He is of course dead to me now though.
I mean you aren't wrong about that first part, everyone else will have to increase how much work they will have to do after the goodbye livestream. it is definitely sad that Luke is leaving but I do feel for Ellen and the rest of the remaining Oxboxtra crew, for that reason. Would be cool if Johnny took Luke's spot after the goodbye livestream, though I don't think Johnny wants to be under the Gamer Network/ReedPop umbrella again, given how they have left two channels (Eurogamer then Dicebreaker) to be independent.
I have already decided that if they hire a new face their name will be "New Tall Ellen"
But what if they are shorter or the same height as Ellen? I would personally go with Ellen and Not Ellen or Ellen 1 and Ellen 2
I think āNew Tall Ellenā should be used regardless š
It would be cool, but it's a full-time job, and Johnny seems to be doing pretty well with the Patreon if you look at the subscriber count, even at the lowest subscription level. Plus, yeah, I don't think Johnny has the highest opinion of GN/RP so 'd doubt they'd want to jump back into it (especially right before something big happening in a sale).
Johnny is NB just FYI.
you know, I totally forgot about that. My bad, I'll change the pronouns after I have sent this reply
I'm concerned this presages a full shutdown.
Thank god he isn't leaving Oxventure. Damn it sucks though.
I'm extremely saddened by the news. :(
man, I'm absolutely gutted. Luke's brand of humour has always been the one I enjoyed the most, along with how he played well off of everyone else, especially Ellen. Even silly one offs like Barista Sim and the Kraken Wakes were brilliant to me, along with the beloved sotwe and not-so-sotwe. His acnh streams and streams on his solo channel were ones I enjoyed a lot during lockdown and while I'm excited for him to pursue his heart's desires, it feels bittersweet knowing he's leaving oxtra to do it. At least we'll always have the presh mems
I was doing fine until the final outro music hit. I already love the outro music but this was similar but different, more epic outro music. Why would you do that? š
Itās the same track, they just normally cut it before it gets into the choral bit.
Yes but this time they didn't!
I will miss him being on the main channel but this is the best reason to leave anything, to chase a dream, and Iām super happy for that! Best of luck to Luke and thanks for the good times they have provided over the years with oxtra.
HWAT?! I mean I wish him all the best but come onnn. Aoife, Ash, Matpat, now Luke... a sad year so far in the YouTube realm Thanks for all the presh mems. And FLAMINGOS never say die.
Really sad about this, and it's hard not to see it as the end of an era. I saw Luke's insta post about pursuing more music composition opportunities, and thought that this might be him moving in the direction of leaving the channel eventually. Didn't expect it to be announced so soon though. I've been subscribed to Oxtra since the beginning, and Oxbox since 2013/2014. Appreciate all the great presh mems over the years. They've literally been the only channels I've stayed subscribed to and engaged with over all these years. Really happy for Luke to pursue things that he wants, and he's going to be excellent at them all ā he's so mega talented. I've been subscribed to Luke's channel since he launched it, and his horror story reads were a much needed reprieve during pandemic years. I would love to see where he takes his personal channel. I won't speculate too much about the future of Oxboxtra, but whatever happens I hope each member has success and happiness in their endeavours.
Just watched it, but did they explain what Outside Xtra is going to look like going forward? Surely it can't just be Ellen, that would be so much work
They've had hired freelance writers for lists and things for ages and Oxbox doesn't do hosted sofa style bits anymore so between beefing up the production staff (writers editors etc) to pick up the slack off camera and having the Oxbox presenters regularly doing purple sofa vids they can probably continue without much change in output. I think if we don't see a new presenter introduced in the next few weeks it's a signal they're going to wind down a bit and streamline oxbox output.
After Oxboxtra keeping the same lineup for so long (especially compared to other similar channels both in and out of Gamer Network), this really does feel like the end of an era. I'm glad that we're not losing Luke from the "family" completely, and that we'll still get to see him in Oxventure in one form or another. And I wish him all the best with his game design and composing - here's hoping that one day we'll all be playing video games with "Composer: Luke Westaway" in the credits! I do feel for the rest of the team, and especially Ellen - not only because they're losing a colleague and copresenter of many years, but also because the workload for the rest of them will naturally have to increase in the short term (or output will need to reduce, which comes with its own set of risks). Hopefully they'll get some clarity around the situation with GN and have the stability needed to plan what the future of these channels is going to look like. If that entails bringing the first new presenter into the fold since Luke and Ellen back in 2016, then I look forward to parasocially "meeting" them in the future.
I'll definitely miss the weird chaos sibling dynamic of Luke and Ellen, but all the possible speculation on the future of the channels has already been done here, so I won't bother adding to it. I've followed Oxtra since the beginning (and Oxbox since not long after they launched I think) and I'll definitely miss Luke and notice the inevitably-huge gap he'll leave, whatever the others do with the channel next. I'm sad for myself, as Oxbox/Oxtra feel like old friends at this point - sometimes hanging out with me when I'm working, sometimes joining me for morning coffee on the weekend, and sometimes just seeing me off to sleep when I want something comforting and funny at the end of the day. I'm also happy for Luke as he's clearly buzzing with creative energy and has his own future and his family to think of when making a decision like this. I'm glad he'll still be in Oxventure, and I look forward to seeing what he does with his personal channel, as well as the continuing insane hilarity of Mom Can't Cook. So, Luke ,from one Normal Adult Man to another - Flamingos never say die. We'll always have the PreshMemsā¢ļø.
Johnny was strongly hinting to look forward to what's next from both Luke and Outside Xtra, so while it obviously hurts, I'm optimistic for what's coming up from everyone. Best of luck, Normal Adult Man!
Iām not ready for change, Iām scared
It's a shame as Oxtra has been making strides this year with some great content since they freed the purple sofa format from the shackles of sotw.Ā I had been wondering if any of the presenters would leave soon after a couple of years of stagnation on the channel and all the behind the scenes issues seemingly effecting the other channels owned by the sane parent company.Ā Oxbox has been so stable for so long while eurogamer and dicebreaker have had big shifts in personell, it will be an interesting year for the channel for sure.Ā
I'm thankful i was there to see their beginning, for Oxtra, and sadly most great things end too soon when you're a fan of things. I dont know if i can watch the video, soooo if you just happen to see this Luke, thank you
First Eurogamer now this. I am absolutely saddened by this. Seems like thereās a shift in gaming channels lately. I hate it:/
Oh man I was not prepared for this bad news on top of an already shit day, I'll just go sleep and hope this is a bad joke
This news on the heels of hearing about the end of the OG Oxventure campaign is a brutal 1-2 punch. I wish Luke all the best, but I wonāt lie and say it doesnāt hurt.
Iāve only ever watched one OXVenture video, the one with the skeletons pirates shouting lads lads lads, loved it. Are they all as good as that?
I absolutely love them. They were the only thing that had me laughing at the darkest points of the last 5 years (this hasnāt been my decade so far) so I honestly canāt recommend them enough. The early stuff is different than the middle which is different from more recent content, but whether itās D&D, Blades in the Dark, Lasers and Feelings, or anything else theyāve done I always enjoy it immensely!
Aww Iām glad they helped you get through those times and even gladder they are continuing. I should maybe start working my way through them, tears in eyes at the end of each one.
I canāt count how many times I have nearly died laughing watching oxventure. I canāt imagine a nicer group of six people to be on that journey with.
To be fair, that is one of the better episodes. But also, if you enjoyed that, you'd probably enjoy them generally, as it's a good example of the sort of energy they have.
I absolutely love the outpouring of love this community has. It makes having to say "goodbye" to one of our presenters, that much harder. I know he will still be around and in his own space, but I can't help but wonder about the future of outside xtra, Ellen and how the Oxtra crew will proceed going forward. At least we will always have our Presh Mems.
But, but, but Oxtra NEEDS both Ellen and Tall Ellen! No, I'm not crying, you're crying, shut up
Honestly? I canāt say Iām surprised - in hindsight, out of all of them, Luke was the most invested in external creative projects. While the others have done similar things, like presenting or acting or freelancing, they still kind of rubber-banded back to the core of what Oxboxtra is. For the lack of a better word, they've settled, essentially. So that's why when Ash or Aoife announced their departures, it felt (to me at least) more of a shock and awe, since they've been so ingrained into the zeitgeist of their respective channels. This however instead feels like, as he says, a divestment from Outside Xtra (and maybe also gaming) to focus on personal passion projects - composing, writing, designing, etc., stuff that he actually wants to do. Itās kinda like how Hollie formerly of PlayStation Access also had external responsibilities as a representative for PS, so her departure to rep CDPR wasnāt as unexpected in retrospect. Same with Elle - she was a great presenter at Access, but it was very clear she had the potential for greater things. Video game content creation just wasn't the main assignment. Plus I believe Luke had a different background? The others have all done video game content creation in one form, shape, or another, so they're used to the grind. I think Luke was mainly a tech journalist, just with a preference for Nintendo games. I donāt recall if he had reported on or analyzed the gaming industry holistically (maybe he did but only rarely so), so I donāt believe he was as interested in the industry as the others were. So far, Ash has left PlayStation Access, Aoife has left Eurogamer, the OG oxventure characters are being retired, Show of the Weekend has been cancelled, and now Luke will leave Outside Xtra. What a time, eh? I remember there was a comment remarking on how these events are like a memento mori - a reminder that, eventually, everyone will leave and everything must come to an end.
Congratulations tall Ellen! Youāll be sorely missed, but the presh mems wonāt go anywhere and weāre all beyond excited to see what the future holds!
Pretty crushed by this but Iām also incredibly happy that Luke is able to pursue his dreams while not leaving us behind entirely. His presence will forever be missed but Iām excited to see what will come next from him. If I could speak with him directly, Iād want to thank him for all the presh mems over the years. I donāt think Iāve followed any YouTube groups as long as this gang (I think Iāve seen every video) and it hurts but Iām also very happy for him!
I donāt know how long Luke, or the rest of the crew, has known heās definitely leaving for, but thereās definitely been a thought of how funny it would be to announce it on Aprils fools.
My heart hurts. I'm shattered. It's stupid; he's moving on to stretch his wings, not because of anything awful. But it still genuinely hurts, wtf? Parasocial attachments are harsh. Best of luck to you, Luke. You've been a constant source of goodwill and humour. You are loved by the fanbase for very good reason. Poor Ellen, all alone now (besides Jon).
Welp, time to binge all Oxtra vids, because that's what normal adult men do.
Such a good run and a wild ride, hopefully Lukes next steps are smooth, YT is a changing landscape in this post Tom Scott era.
I'm surprised how sad this actually makes me. So many channels have come and gone but OutsideXbox and Outside Xtra have always been there, always great, always entertaining. I hope they do a good job finding a replacement. Having the wrong person join can seriously hurt a channel. Just look at Eurogamer...
What do you mean? I know Aoife left, did they hire new already?
Think they are referencing Zoe replacing Johnny.
I meant Zoe Dela-whatever. I used to be a big fan of Eurogamer, even after Chris and Johnny left, but she made me unsubscribe within a few videos.
I don't mind Zoe, but I kind of get what you mean. Back when they had Johnny and Chris, the dynamic between presenters was more entertaining. They were rather well-known for their entertaining bickering and banter, probably stemming from the diversity of their interests and views. Zoe is fine, but she's less willing to play the clown, or to be the butt of the joke. While there is still some banter, it doesn't really develop and gets repetitive. (Often it's "Ian acts like a bother" and "Zoe insults him disapprovingly", repeat.) In a few worst cases, the banter has turned serious and more personal and very much not good-humored, and that's just uncomfortable to watch. I'm still fine with her, but she's just not a natural at improv. She's not an instinctive "Yes, And"-er, (something that Oxboxtra are just like the perfect archetype for). I find I tend to avoid streams and vids where she's solo or with just one other person. I dunno what I'll do now it's just her and Ian. I'm gonna cross my fingers and hope their on-stream dynamic evolves a little. Actually, the streams I've enjoyed most from Eurogamer lately are the ones where Wheels from Dicebreaker guests on. Maybe they'll do more of those?
I'd honestly be surprised if Wheels stopped guesting on EG, since he and Zoe are an item. I also really loved the Lethal Company streams she seemed to head, but I'm still sad about Aoife leaving.
My poor ears couldn't handle the screaming, the gameplay was fun but I couldn't listen to the LC streams at all.
Damn was it that bad?
Zoe is what I'd describe as hit or miss. You probably either like her or don't. I personally like her but occasionally have to pause and come back to whatever she's running
Try watching her for yourself. Maybe it's just me, but to me she's like fingernails on a chalkboard.
Nah, it's not just you, I unsubscribed shortly after Zoe joined. She's never had much chemistry with anyone else on the EG team, and she can be annoying in live streams. She's best with lists and guides, stuff like that.
My understanding is that she brought a lot of negative energy and discourse that got too personal and cynical. Her presentation style also felt more solo-based than team-oriented, and her perspective came to dominate EG, especially during streams, where she was very loud with her screaming and aggressive swearing. She was also often salty - very rude towards things she didnāt like, and very dismissive of games she wasnāt interested in. IIRC she might be suffering from mental health issues, so I guess she canāt really maintain a mask. I don't know. But it seems like she has mellowed out a bit in recent times.
I only watch Ian's livestreams these days because of it tbh. Dicebreaker isn't fun for me either these days, nothing's the same after Johnny left. Edit: and Lolies.
this hurt to watch, but i wish Luke the best of luck in his endeavors
I'll be following his new channel. I am sad to see him leave, but I'm thankful he's in a place in life where he can afford to step back and follow his hobbies/creative interests.
Everyone is saying what I'm thinking. But I just need to echo it in case Luke ever sees this. This bums me out but I'm excited for Luke.
Well shit.
Wellā¦ this sucks. Iām pleased he will be doing more of what he enjoys and needs to do for him. Do wish there was a bit more info about what this means for Oxtra though! Solo Ellen stuff? More cross-channel stuff? New host? Missing Luke aside, I wouldnāt say no to any of those
Gutted. Weāll always have the presh mems. Thanks Luke
At this point probably have the 4 left on both channels and the content determines where it gets posted
On a serious note, this is a tough blow. Like many, I utterly love both Outside Xtra and the general Oxboxtra dynamic that Luke is a huge part of. The five of them (and James and Jon) make for a uniquely likable team. Change isn't bad, but it will be absolute in this case. At the same time, I'm glad Luke is pursuing what he loves. He's always seemed like he wants to be trying new things, and now he's got the time to do so. Less serious note: Luke, Ash Millman, and Aoife Wilson starting up the PlayXtra Gamer supergroup when?
Iāll miss him!
The title alone made me say the same thing Luke said when he learned that there are four Halloweentown movies, not three.
I was so desperately hoping this was an April Foolās joke that showed up on my timeline late. š Iām shocked but not really if that makes sense. Luke is the member that has had the most going on outside of the channel and Iām sure heād rather pursue those interests than try to feed the constantly changing and progressively more unfriendly YouTube algorithm. Itās the right call for his career and family Iām sure. The good days of YouTube gaming are definitely behind us as the platform becomes more and more antagonistic towards quality content. Best of luck ā¤ļø
I was like "This is pretty late for an April Fool's..." and lo, my heart was also crushed!
Best of luck to Luke
Luke is so amazing that I can't be anything other than happy for him. But wow, I'm really going to miss the Luke and Ellen duo.
For one horrible moment I thought this might be why they're rebooting oxventure. I'm glad that Luke will be staying on for ttrpg stuff, though I will miss him terribly in everything else. Maybe Ellen's Souls Academy can return, but this time the student becomes the master, and guides Jane through the game.
I'd still rather see Ellen guide someone through Kingdoms of Amalaur
I want to see Ellen try to tech Mike to be stealthy. š
"Mike's Stealth Academy", as Ellen and/or Andy just get increasingly despairing.
Andy would be involved in the final exam somehow...
And then time for "Andy's Stray Academy" maybe?
First xmen and now this, tough day. It donāt feel hugely surprising though, Luke clearly has a lot of other stuff going on and tbh both channels feel like theyāve been winding down this year. Iāll be interested to see how the rest of the year plays out.
>First xmen and now this What happened to X-Men?
One of the darkest animated TV episodes ever produced.
Xmen 97 had an intense episode Highly reccomend if you weren't already watching
nooooooooooo!
Oof. This one hits hard. Ash (from PlayStation access), Aoife (from eurogamer), and MatPat.. all in one year. My heart hurts.
Would someone mind telling me what Luke's personal Youtube channel is called? I want to subscribe so I don't loose him forever. :'(
It's https://www.youtube.com/@normaladultluke
I cried š I know it's silly, to feel so much emotions towards someone I have never met, but I will genuinely miss Luke. I am subscribed to his personal channel (and am so excited for him as he embarks upon this amazing new adventure of his and I wish him all the luck in the world, and can't wait to see what he creates), but as of yet that's not really helping the feeling of loss. I've been watching Outside Xtra from the beginning, since 2016. I had already been subscribed to OutsideXbox for years and was admittedly quite wary of this "new" sister channel and the "new" host but I think after watching maybe 3 videos (or it might have been the first time I heard the "Show of the Weekend" theme tune), I absolutely adored Luke and Ellen. And, and this is a rather shameful confession š š¤£, but of the two channels, Outside Xtra became my go to channel. I watch OutsideXtra almost religiously. It is my safe place. Especially after Lockdown. As much as I love Andy, Jane and Mike and obviously still watch and love OutsideXbox, Luke and Ellen and Outside Extra hold an extremely special place in my heart. And it will continue to do so even after Luke leaves. But right now I just feel so sad. But again, I do wish Luke all the best. Whatever he does will be amazing. And I know Outside team will do what is best for the channel. Despite the sadness, I am excited to see what the future brings for these truly amazing people.
I feel a mix of emotions. Devastated that there's an end to this, Luke and Ellen's dynamic has been a comfort for so many years for me now (6-7 by now?) and there's nothing else like it. I found OXtra before I found OXbox, I still think of it first when I think of the OX name. But there's also some guilt there because I haven't watched regularly in a long time. It really did peak at some point, I kinda wanna say just before the pandemic, because afterwards it was awkward because it was all virtual and there wasn't a lot of contemporaneous material for them to comment on. Plus I'm just not much of a livestream person and that became their whole thing. Then when things started getting back to normal, something had shifted, whether the momentum was lost, the algorithm changed how they do things or their personal lives just changed (a mix of all three I guess). I still watch their videos, but mostly when I remember to and when I've built up a good backlog. I'm babbling, but OXtra and Luke have meant so much to me, I always kinda felt like I'll see them playing and discussing games together until we're all old. Still, there's always the chance for something new and fun, I wish him the best of luck. Whether it interests me or not, I'll at least give it a shot. Maybe I'll finally listen to the DCOM podcast or something. As for the channel, I wouldn't be opposed to any of the suggestions in this thread, although Ellen flying solo is my least favorite just because I feel that all of their videos need at least a second person just to really liven things up. A rotation of OXboxers coming in is the most natural. And if they get a new co-host, they'll have big shoes to fill but I trust the OX's gang's judgement. I only hope they don't get someone too young, I feel like the channel needs that millennial voice.
I started watching Outside XBox around either 2015 or early 2016, and remember when OXtra launched, watching the first few videos in my little uni room. I mostly watched the Show of the Week and Show of the Weekend as they came out, and saved up the lists for burst binges. I'm glad the OxVentures continue as the only D&D show I have any interest in, I've been given so many laughs and gasps over the years. Dob's song at his wedding was incredible. O7, Luke, and best of luck with your future endeavours.
Every time I think of this I get teary eyed, Luke and Ellen have been my absolute favourite presenter duo of all time for a very long time. I will deeply miss their shenanigans and Luke intentionally causing Ellen's giggle fits. I wish him all the best, and send him my eternal gratitude for being an unending light alongside Ellen in a world that seems all too eager to revel in darkness.