Hit Save! Podcast

Author: Hit Save!

Our podcast is focused on preserving video game history through interviews with game developers. We will be interviewing indie developers from around the industry, big and small, to document their unique game development process and ensure that their stories, their ideas, and their motivation will be available for others to enjoy and learn from for years to come. If you are an indie developer or publisher and you would like us to interview you or your team, send us an email at hello@hitsave.org!
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Language: en

Genres: Leisure, Video Games

Contact email: Get it

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Keeping the Dream Alive: Twenty-Two Years of Free Online Gaming with XLink Kai
Episode 3
Friday, 5 September, 2025

Earlier this summer we sat down with CrunchBite, the third-generation developer and current project lead behind XLink Kai, the remarkable tunneling service that has been connecting console gamers across the internet for over two decades.XLink Kai is what's known as a tunneling program - essentially a VPN that tricks game consoles across the globe into thinking they're on the same local network. This simple concept has enabled millions of players to experience LAN-enabled games with their online friends, from the original Xbox's Halo matches to modern Switch titles, all completely free of charge.Our interview with CrunchBite reveals the story behind one of gaming's most enduring community-driven projects. What started as two friends in the UK wanting to play Halo before Xbox Live existed has evolved into a preservation effort supporting 15 different console generations and over 1,300 games.