Unlocked

Episodet

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  Xbox Reportedly Won’t Let Discs Die – Unlocked 752 06.08.2026 1h 35min

  Join the IGN Discord https://discord.gg/h2T45nkkm6 One well-sourced rumor suggests that Xbox won't be backing away from physical media, in the name of backwards compatibility. We discuss what Xbox can and should do to continue offering gamers a choice in how they buy their games. Plus: Xbox's backwards compatibility push reportedly turns to Xbox 360 games on PC, and we revisit some of our favorite semi-obscure 360 games we'd love to see brought forward through this program. We also talk about Xbox's huge new price increase in Europe in the UK, Project Helix, future Xbox exclusivity, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Where Does Halo Go From Here? + Gears E-Day Multiplayer Thoughts – Unlocked 751 30.07.2026 1h 26min

  It's all about Halo this week – save for our first hands-on impressions of Gears of War: E-Day's impressive Horde Siege multiplayer mode at the end of the episode – as we discuss not only our thoughts on the just-released Halo 1 remake, Campaign Evolved, but also the future of Steve Downes in the role of Master Chief, what we'd want (and in Halo 2's case, demand!) from potential remakes of Halo 2 and Halo 3, where the mainline series goes from here, and more! 00:00:00 - Halo: Campaign Evolved 01:06:32 - Gears of War: E-Day Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Obsidian Returns to Fallout – Unlocked 750 16.07.2026 1h 22min

  Fallout: New Vegas game director Josh Sawyer will lead a new Fallout game at Obsidian, giving RPG fans what they've wanted for a long time, even if it's under less-than-ideal industry circumstances. We talk all about this huge new development for Xbox, including what engine it might run on. Plus: id Software is still very much alive, but what will they do next? We debate that before we conclude by lamenting the reported cancellation of a Halo multiplayer project from the studio run by the multiplayer lead on Halo 2. 00:00:00 - Intro & -Obsidian Cancels Avowed 2 for Fallout 00:34:16 - What Engine will Obsidian use for Fallout? 00:44:14 - Future of  id Software 01:02:01 -  Cancelled Halo multiplayer 01:14:45 - Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Xbox’s Brutal ‘Reset’ + Who Bought State of Decay 3 and Senua? – Unlocked 749 09.07.2026 1h 39min

  The axe has fallen at Xbox, and while the result is thousands more job losses, the silver lining is that no studios are being closed. We try to figure out who might've bought Undead Labs (State of Decay 3) and Ninja Theory (Senua), as well as what the now-independent Double Fine might be working on. Plus: Game Pass's failures and how it might evolve moving forward, and more! 00:00:00 - Intro & Xbox Layoffs 00:20:52 - Future of State of Decay 3 00:30:21 - Future of Ninja Theory 00:35:39 - Future of Double Fine 00:41:56 - Future of Bethesda 00:58:39 - Physical Discs & Project Helix 01:11:30 - Future of Game Pass 01:30:05 - Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  What’s Left of/at Xbox? – Unlocked 748 02.07.2026 1h 28min

  Join the IGN Discord https://discord.com/invite/h2T45nkkm6 Another dreadful week of Xbox news brings reports that State of Decay 3 may get canceled and developer Undead Labs might be shut down, with Arkane and its Marvel's Blade project potentially suffering the same fate. We give our reactions, and also discuss how we'd "reboot" Xbox around its biggest franchises, as it's reported that new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma wants to do. 00:00:00 - Intro 00:02:46 - State of Decay 3 Might be Cancelled 00:24:07 - Development on new The Elder Scrolls & Fallout 00:52:59 - Xbox Might Cancel Blade 01:04:34 - Hideo Kojima’s OD 01:21:13 - Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Xbox's Third Price Increase Is the Biggest Yet – Unlocked 747 26.06.2026 1h 24min

  Money is the name of the game this week, from Xbox's third round of price cuts that see the Series S now start at $500 and the Series X start at $750 to GTA coming in at $80 for the base game and $100 for the Ultimate Edition to the Steam Machine pricing reveal and what it might mean for Project Helix. Plus: brutal Bungie layoffs, our "Game of the Year So Far" picks, and more. This weeks show is hosted by Ryan McCaffrey, MIchael Higham, Miranda Sanchez, and is produced by Nick Maillet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Hello Darkness My Old Friend – Unlocked 746 18.06.2026 1h 55min

  All of Xbox's good energy and community goodwill instantly evaporated as the honeymoon phase for new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma came to a quick end this week. Her new publicly released memo talked of a "resetting" of Xbox and narrowing profit margins, which has resulted in reports of multiple Xbox studios being either shut down or perhaps spun out independently. We discuss Xbox Game Pass's role in Xbox's problems, Xbox's mismanagement of its studios and franchises over the years, and so much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Fable, Gears of War, and Halo: Our Behind Closed Doors Reactions – Unlocked 745 11.06.2026 1h 8min

  We've got SO much more to talk about since the Xbox Showcase last weekend. Namely: we got behind-closed-doors looks at Gears of War: E-Day, Fable, and Halo: Campaign Evolved – the latter of which we got to play! 00:00:00 - Intro & Gears of War: E-Day00:22:07 - Fable00:42:21 - Halo: Campaign Evolved00:58:55 - Bad Magpie & Outro #halo #gearsofwar #xbox Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Xbox Games Showcase 2026 Recap: Gears E-Day, Clockwork Revolution and New Xbox Console | IGN Live 2026 - Unlocked 744 07.06.2026 33min

  The Xbox Games Showcase 2026 was packed with major reveals, world premieres, release dates, and surprise announcements. In this complete recap, we cover everything shown, including Gears of War: E-Day launching October 6, Halo: Campaign Evolved and its prequel missions arriving July 28, Fable releasing February 23, 2027, Persona 4 Revival, Persona 6, State of Decay 3, Metro 2039, Wo Long 2, Minecraft Dungeons 2, Spyro: A Realm Beyond, Clockwork Revolution, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 DMZ, and much more. We also break down the biggest Xbox Game Pass news, new gameplay reveals, and every trailer shown during Microsoft's massive 2026 showcase. Other highlights include Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, Sea of Thieves: Custom Seas, Doom: The Dark Ages – Revelations, Crazy Taxi World Tour, Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, Where Winds Meet: Hidden Mountain, Valor Mortis, Magicians: The Devil's Deal, and the reveal of the translucent Xbox Series X25 console. Whether you're looking for every Xbox Games Showcase 2026 announcement, all release dates, or the biggest surprises from the event, this video has everything you need in one place. Subscribe for more Xbox news, game reveals, walkthroughs, guides, and Summer Game Fest coverage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  GTA 6 Looks Likely for November, So What Does it Mean for Xbox? – Unlocked 743 28.05.2026 1h 15min

  New comments by Take-Two's CEO suggest that Grand Theft Auto 6 is looking like it's really going to be released on November 19. So what does that mean for Xbox and its packed Fall slate of games? We lay out two likely scenarios. Plus: what's next for Bungie now that Destiny support is ceasing, The Witcher 3 gets a surprise new expansion pack over a decade after its last one, the developer of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 making a Middle-earth game seems like a match made in RPG heaven, and more! 00:00:00 - 007 First Light 00:13:19 - Mina The Hollower 00:21:43 - Is Xbox Ready for GTA 6 This Fall? 00:35:12 - Destiny 2 is Ending 00:51:02 - Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 making a Middle-earth game 00:58:31 - The Witcher 3 New DLC & Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Our 12 Xbox Showcase Predictions – Unlocked 742 22.05.2026 1h 27min

  While we’re together, and before it gets so close to the Xbox Showcase that things start leaking (hopefully not) – the event is just barely over two weeks away! – we thought we’d have fun this week and make our annual Xbox Showcase predictions. You can listen along at home, make your predictions in the Comments section below, and then we can all see how accurate (or not) we were when the Showcase airs on June 7 at 10am PT. 00:00:00 - Intro & Game Pass Friends & Family 00:11:26: - Persona 4 Revival & New Mistwalker Game 00:28:11 - Xbox Controller Leaks 00:38:53 - Blind Taste Testing the Special Edition XBOX 25 Fanta 00:46:22 - id Software & State of Decay 3 00:57:09 - New Wolfenstien Game, Fable & GTA 6 01:10:32 - Knights of the Old Republic Remake 01:19:45 - Jet Set Radio, Streets of Rage, Golden Axe, & Crazy Taxi 01:22:56 - Outro Presented by Fanta Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Forza Horizon 6 Rocks! – Unlocked 741 14.05.2026 1h 2min

  Our friend Mark Medina makes his long-awaited return to Unlocked to join our discussion on Forza Horizon 6, the latest open-world driving game masterpiece from Playground Games. We give our thoughts on what we've played so far and where we think Horizon might go next. Plus: new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma is reportedly thinking carefully about exclusivity for Xbox moving forward, and big surprise: we've got thoughts! All that and more on this week's Podcast Unlocked! 00:00:00 - Intro & Forza Horizon 6 Impressions 00:26:30 - Where Does Forza Horizon Go Next? 00:35:17 - Xbox's Huge Exclusivity Shift & Outro Join the IGN Discord today: https://discord.gg/mx62v5pgq #forzahorizon6 #xbox #gaming Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  New Xbox CEO Kills Copilot AI – Unlocked 740 07.05.2026 1h 2min

  It's another busy week of Xbox news as new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma continues to make moves, shaking up the Xbox leadership team and killing Xbox's Copilot AI program in the process. Plus: we geek out over Yakuza developer RGG Studio's new showcase – presented by Microsoft – for its new game Stranger Than Heaven. Plus: Mixtape is a 10 out of 10 and on Game Pass right now, the rest of what's hitting Game Pass over the next week, and more! 00:00:00 - Intro & Stranger Than Heaven Showcase 00:16:17 - Mixtape Review Discussion 00:18:44 - New On Game Pass (Outbound, Wuchang, Mixtape & More) 00:23:08 - Xbox's Copilot AI program is Dead 00:38:36 - Xbox Game Dev Update & Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  New Xbox Logo and Attitude: Is Xbox Back to Being Green and Mean? – Unlocked 739 30.04.2026 1h 32min

  After Michael tells us about the fun time he had at this year's Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival, we spend the rest of the episode discussing Xbox's logo refresh and its new "We Are Xbox" mission statement. There's a LOT to get into here, from affordability to exclusivity to mergers and acquisitions and a whole lot more. Enjoy! #xbox #gaming #unlocked Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Xbox Game Pass Gets a Price…Decrease! – Unlocked 738 23.04.2026 1h 7min

  Microsoft has walked back its wild 50% Xbox Game Pass Ultimate price increase from six months ago...mostly. We discuss the bold change and what it means moving forward. Plus: our favorite games from this week's ID@Xbox Showcase, and more! 00:00:00 - Intro & Game Pass Price Decrease 00:18:19 - PC Game Pass & The Future of Game Pass Exclusives 00:42:53 - ID@Xbox 2026 ( Tears of Metal & Crashout Crew) 00:46:56 - RV There Yet? & Escape Academy 2 00:49:49 - Vampire Crawlers & Echo Generations 2 00:52:15 - Deep Dish Dungeon & inKONBINI 00:57:12 - Beastro & LOFSONG & Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Replaced Director Shares Insights, Origins, and What's Next After Xbox Debut – Unlocked 737 16.04.2026 1h 10min

  Replaced game director Yura Zhdanovich joins us to discuss his just-released Xbox exclusive. He shares insights into the project's origin, getting offered an exclusivity deal from Microsoft, what's next for Sad Cat Studios, and much more! Plus: Pragmata impressions amidst a huge week of awesome new game releases! 00:00:00 - Intro & Replaced Director Interview 00:57:13 - Pragmata Review Discussion #xbox #replaced #pragmata #gaming Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  State of Decay 3 Is Back from the (Un)Dead – Unlocked 736 09.04.2026 1h 16min

  After we brought it up on last week's podcast, State of Decay 3 has awoken from its slumber and announced an upcoming community playtest! We talk all about what we want from the upcoming zombie survival/RPG. Plus: our hands-on impressions of the preview version of Forza Horizon 6, Xbox Achievements are getting some welcome improvements, Game Pass has a ton to offer in April, and more! 00:00:00 - Intro & Forza Horizon 6 Talk 00:14:24 - Kiln Beta this weekend 00:16:02 - Starfield DLC + Free Lanes Update is out 00:20:58 - State of Decay 3 is alive 00:40:10 - Xbox Achievements are getting a nice update! 00:50:08 - April Game Pass, Wave 1 00:57:40 - Brian Raffel retires & Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  What Xbox’s Showcase Announcement Tells Us About its 2026 Lineup – Unlocked 735 02.04.2026 1h 20min

  After talking about our favorite games from PAX East, we discuss Microsoft's Xbox Showcase announcement – which included news that Gears of War: E-Day will get the coveted "Direct" slot immediately following the event. We dig deep into what that means for the Gears prequel, why Fable might end up being the game that gets bumped to 2027 out of Xbox's stacked 2026 lineup, which studios we might and might not hear from at the Xbox Showcase, and more! 00:00:00 - Intro & What We Played At PAX (Kiln and 4 Penny Coffins 00:02:34 - Rain98 00:05:30 - Lunarium & Cat Secretary 00:10:07 - Xbox Games Showcase & Gears of War: E-Day 00:22:34 - Too Many Xbox Games? 00:24:19 - Will Fable be at the showcase? 00:36:44 - Double Fine: Kiln 00:38:51 - Halo Studios: Campaign Evolved 00:39:31 - inXile: Clockwork Revolution 00:42:27 - Mojang & Ninja Theory 00:46:49 - Playground Games & Rare 00:52:30 - Undead Labs & State of Decay 3 00:58:45 - Arkane, Marvel's Blade, & Blizzard 01:04:09 - This is An Xbox & Outro #gaming #xbox #gearsofwar Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Xbox Showcase Goes Crazy and We Find Hidden Gems Live at PAX East 2026 – Unlocked 734 28.03.2026 52min

  In episode 734 of Podcast Unlocked, the crew takes the stage to react to the incredibly packed Xbox Partner Showcase. We discuss the biggest reveals, including the new STALKER 2: Cost of Hope DLC, Hades 2 dropping next month, Wuthering Waves finally coming to Xbox, the Yakuza-inspired Stranger than Heaven, and the surprise drop of Super Meat Boy 3D! Plus, we share our favorite hidden indie gems that we went hands-on with on the PAX East show floor, and wrap things up with a live audience AMA discussing what we all want to see from the next-generation Xbox console. Terms & Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to legal residents of the 50 US & DC, 18+ yrs of age. Ends 4/26/26. Void where prohibited. See Official Rules at  https://www.ign.com/rewards/enter-to-win-a-rog-xbox-ally-handheld-gaming-device for full details. https://www.Trolli.com/xbox #Xbox #PAXEast2026 #XboxShowcase Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Our Favorite New Games You Might Not Have Heard of Yet – Unlocked 733 19.03.2026 1h 16min

  We all played cool games at the Game Developers' Conference last week, and we'd like to tell you about them! Plus: Michael gushes about all the fun he's been having with Marathon before talking to us about his trip to Bethesda to see Starfield's new expansion and interview Todd Howard, LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight gets a new release date, April and May are unbelievably jam-packed full of games we're excited about, and more! #xbox #gaming #gdc2026 00:00:00 - Intro 00:02:49 - Delphinium 00:06:36 - Dosa Divas 00:10:34 - Nomori 00:15:17 - Mongil: Star Dive 00:18:16 - At Fate's End 00:31:25 - Marathon Update with Michael 00:39:35 - Starfield updates from Michael 00:44:14 - Project Helix thoughts from Miranda and Michael 00:59:23 - Lego Batman's release date changed again? 01:01:02 - April and May Games (Samson: A Tyndalston Story, Replaced, Mouse PI for Hire, Diablo 4 Lord of Hatred) 01:03:13 - Kiln, Mixtape, Saros, 007: First Light, Paralives, Crimson Desert, Yoshi and The Mysterious Book 01:06:32 - Where to Find Us & Outro This episode of Unlocked is hosted by Ryan McCaffrey and produced by Tayo Oyekan. Technical production is by Marhyan Franzen and Amir Rakib. Technical direction and editing are handled by Nick Maillet. Graphic design is by Justin Vachon. Unlocked is an IGN production and part of the Geek Media network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices