Latest Xbla Podcast Episodes
Xbox Game Pass ‘Friends & Family’ Price Speculation
Podcast Unlocked - August 31, 2022 00:20 - 58 minutes ★★★★★ - 2.7K ratingsIGN's Kat Bailey joins Destin and Ryan to discuss the latest leak surrounding Microsoft's seemingly imminent Xbox Game Pass Friends & Family subscription plan. We speculate what it might cost, and how it further adds to Game Pass's already-amazing value proposition. Plus: we talk Madden NFL 23 a...
Xbox's Fall Lineup Locks In
Podcast Unlocked - August 26, 2022 19:51 - 55 minutes ★★★★★ - 2.7K ratingsXbox brought plenty of content to Gamescom, and now we've got a clear picture of what the holiday lineup looks like for Xbox gamers. Plus: Xbox commits to maintaining Xbox prices after Sony raised the price of PS5 in many major territories, Phil Spencer hints at his next acquisition priorities,...
We Deserve a AAA Lord of the Rings Game
Podcast Unlocked - August 17, 2022 00:27 - 51 minutes ★★★★★ - 2.7K ratingsThis week, Ryan’s back from a long-needed vacation! We catch up on a new Lord of the Rings game coming from Weta Workshop and Private Division as well as talk about games we’re looking forward to hearing about at Gamescom next week! We also anticipate Marvel and Disney rolling out a brand new Ga...
Xbox Series S Performance Boost & an Activision Update - Unlocked 556
Podcast Unlocked - August 09, 2022 19:30 - 56 minutes ★★★★★ - 2.7K ratingsWith the news that the Xbox Series S Performance Boost benefiting developers after direct feedback, the Podcast Unlocked crew discusses the success of the Series S console and why they like it. In addition Activision Blizzard not only covered off on an upcoming Modern Warfare stream in the comin...
Xbox Making Great Moves for Team Chat, Less so for Summer Events – Unlocked 555
Podcast Unlocked - August 02, 2022 19:30 - 53 minutes ★★★★★ - 2.7K ratingsWith an official Discord chat integration on the way, the Podcast Unlocked crew discusses other features they'd like to see get an update or overhaul along with Xbox's Summer Spotlight program that's been a little underwhelming, though it did introduce the team to a particularly cool giraffe. Pl...
17 Big Xbox Games for 2023
Podcast Unlocked - July 26, 2022 22:13 - 56 minutes ★★★★★ - 2.7K ratingsAs two more big games get pushed into 2023 (Lord of the Rings: Gollum and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora), we take a look at the crush of major releases coming to Xbox next year and discuss what we're most looking forward to. Plus: a discussion on Ubisoft's latest Ghost Recon and Splinter Cell pro...
Concerns About Halo Infinite’s Future
Podcast Unlocked - July 19, 2022 21:49 - 59 minutes ★★★★★ - 2.7K ratingsLots of Halo Infinite talk this week! First we discuss our hands-on impressions of the just-released online co-op beta, then we dive into the wave of key staff departures from the Infinite development team and wonder if it’s a bad sign for a game that’s supposed to be a long-term platform for t...
Halo Fans Rejoice! Legendary Halo 2 E3 Demo To Be Released
Podcast Unlocked - July 12, 2022 21:16 - 57 minutes ★★★★★ - 2.7K ratingsThe Halo caretakers and developers at 343 Industries are making a major piece of lost Halo history playable: the infamous Halo 2 E3 2003 campaign demo that never made it into the final game. We react to this fantastic surprise and recall the Halo 2 hype from that time. Plus: a plea for proper, n...
How Far Away Is Mass Effect 5?
Podcast Unlocked - July 05, 2022 22:32 - 58 minutes ★★★★★ - 2.7K ratingsAs a talented and decorated game developer joins BioWare to work on the next Mass Effect game, we discuss what the nature of her role means for when we can reasonably expect Mass Effect 5 to get done. Spoiler: it's probably going to be quite a while! Plus: predictions for Ubisoft's just-announce...
Hell Freezes Over: Xbox Outsells PS5 in Japan
Podcast Unlocked - June 28, 2022 22:05 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 2.7K ratingsYes, you're reading that right: Xbox Series X and S outsold the PS5 in Japan, of all places, both individually and combined. We discuss this small victory for Xbox in Japan as well as the bigger picture. Plus: we debate the proposed inclusion of microtransactions in Halo: The Master Chief Collec...
Our Xbox Showcase Top Picks
Podcast Unlocked - June 22, 2022 00:53 - 54 minutes ★★★★★ - 2.7K ratingsWe take one last, definitive look back on the Xbox Showcase and the Xbox Showcase Extended now that the dust has settled. We've got some constructive criticism for Microsoft, but we also gush about our favorite games from the event, such as High on Life, Forza Motorsport, Redfall, and Starfield.
Xbox Showcase Live Reactions
Podcast Unlocked - June 13, 2022 19:05 - 40 minutes ★★★★★ - 2.7K ratingsIf you missed it when it aired live, here's our reaction show immediately following the Xbox Showcase from Sunday, June 12. We discussed the long-awaited gameplay reveal of Starfield, what Xbox's exclusive lineup for the rest of this year looks like, Redfall, Diablo 4 and Overwatch 2 reactions, ...
Welcome to Xbox Hype Week!
Podcast Unlocked - June 08, 2022 00:24 - 58 minutes ★★★★★ - 2.7K ratingsIt's Xbox Hype week! With the Xbox Showcase just days away, we look ahead to Xbox's big event. Both of them, now that we know that an Extended Showcase is happening on Tuesday, June 14. We make more predictions for what we want to see and think we'll see. Plus: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Tim...
What We Want from Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Podcast Unlocked - May 31, 2022 23:15 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 2.7K ratingsStar Wars Jedi: Survivor, the long-known-about sequel to Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, has finally been announced. We discuss what we want to see out of Respawn's upcoming next-gen sequel. Plus: lamenting the very serious reason for the latest Xbox exclusive to get delayed, Ryan gushes over Ninj...
Was Xbox 360’s Fall 2007 the Best 3 Months in Gaming History?
Podcast Unlocked - May 24, 2022 20:56 - 58 minutes ★★★★★ - 2.7K ratingsWe look back at the Fall of 2007 and discuss: was it the best 90 days of any console ever? From August 21-November 21, 2007 we got Halo 3, Mass Effect, BioShock, The Orange Box, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare - all in a 90-day window. There were also a number of other really good games in that s...
Xbox Fans Fed Up After Starfield, Redfall Delays
Podcast Unlocked - May 17, 2022 21:49 - 59 minutes ★★★★★ - 2.7K ratingsAfter Starfield and Redfall both got delayed out of 2022 on the same day, we discuss why Xbox fans are understandably frustrated with the lack of major first-party exclusives this year. Next year does look amazing - and we discuss that in detail - but we also talk about how many fans are tired o...
Mass Effect Next: Is Shepard Back?
Podcast Unlocked - May 10, 2022 22:27 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 2.7K ratingsSpawn on Me's Kahlief Adams joins us to discuss a busy week of Xbox news, from EA seemingly accidentally revealing Shepard's return to Mass Effect (do we even want Shepard back? Are we hyped for this?), where Activision can take Sledgehammer's Call of Duty games from here after the disappointing...
12 Xbox Showcase Predictions
Podcast Unlocked - May 03, 2022 23:42 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 2.7K ratingsWith Microsoft announcing the date for its upcoming Xbox-Bethesda Showcase, we waste no time in making our first round of predictions for the event. From Hellblade 2 to Starfield to Forza Motorsport to Gears 6 and more, we discuss what we think might happen at the biggest Xbox event of the year....
Xbox Makes Bank in Latest Sales Figures
Podcast Unlocked - April 26, 2022 23:24 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 2.7K ratingsThe Xbox has its best March since the Xbox 360 era, and IGN's Xbox crew discusses the ins and outs of the numbers. Plus: Gearbox is bringing back Tales from the Borderlands itself – and Ryan has a bone to pick with them – 343 Industries details Halo Infinite's 2022 roadmap, and more!
Portal 3 Needs to Happen
Podcast Unlocked - April 19, 2022 21:06 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 2.7K ratingsMy Xbox and Me host MC Fixer joins us to discuss a big week of Xbox news, from Portal 2's lead writer publicly calling on Valve to greenlight Valve 3 to Amy Hennig getting another shot at a Star Wars game to Sega working on big-budget reboots of Crazy Taxi and Jet Set Radio and more! TIMECODES...
Halo Infinite Season 2 Might Have Some Tricks Up Its Sleeve – Unlocked 539
Podcast Unlocked - April 12, 2022 22:08 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 2.7K ratingsThis week the Unlocked crew are joined by a very special guest host, Adam Cole! Discussions include speculation about what we can expect from Halo Infinite Season 2, the Kingdom Hearts 4 reveal, and Cyberpunk 2077's upcoming story expansion. Also, have you guys tried Destin's cookies yet? 00:00...
Is the Xbox Series X Shortage Over?
Podcast Unlocked - April 05, 2022 23:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 2.7K ratingsBig news for those who've still been trying to get their hands on an Xbox Series X: the shortage might finally be over. Plus: our Game Pass picks for new Series X owners, the upcoming Xbox Game Pass Family Plan has been confirmed, Unreal Engine 5's completion means a bunch of Xbox exclusives jus...
Will GTA+ Be Worth It?
Podcast Unlocked - March 29, 2022 23:11 - 55 minutes ★★★★★ - 2.7K ratingsGrand Theft Auto Online is now offering an optional new subscription service called GTA+. We dig into what it is, who it's for, and whether or not it's worth it. Plus: Xbox leaders discuss the future of cloud gaming and the present-day success of Xbox Game Pass at the Game Developers Conference,...
Tunic Creator Interview + New Witcher Game Revealed
Podcast Unlocked - March 23, 2022 00:33 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 2.7K ratingsTunic creator Andrew Shouldice joins us for the first half of this week's show to discuss the ins and outs of creating the new Xbox-exclusive action-adventure largely by himself. Plus: our reactions to the announcement of the new Witcher game, our reactions to the report of toxic leadership at O...
Halo TV Impressions + Tunic Rocks!
Podcast Unlocked - March 16, 2022 17:00 - 53 minutes ★★★★★ - 2.7K ratingsThree major topics dominate our discussion this week: 1) Our spoiler-free thoughts on the Halo TV show after we all watched the first two episodes. 2) Ryan's spoiler-free thoughts on Tunic now that the review embargo has lifted. And 3) The rocky situation at The Initiative as development on Perf...
Halo Infinite Season 2 Hype Check
Podcast Unlocked - March 09, 2022 00:13 - 51 minutes ★★★★★ - 2.7K ratingsHalo Infinite multiplayer's season 2, Lone Wolves, has been announced, and we've got a lot to say about the state of the game so far and how hyped (or not?) we are for season 2. Plus: GTA 5's next-gen graphics modes are revealed. Also: Microsoft, Xbox, and the war in Ukraine. TIMECODES: 00:00...
What Call of Duty’s Year Off Means for the Series
Podcast Unlocked - March 02, 2022 01:33 - 59 minutes ★★★★★ - 2.7K ratingsOur Xbox crew digs into the latest bit of big Call of Duty news: that the series will be taking next year off. We discuss what it means for the franchise. Plus: Elden Ring lives up to the hype, the possibility of Xbox Game Pass coming to Steam (and thus the Steam Deck), and more! TIMECODES: 0...
Halo Infinite Made Life Tough for Battlefield 2042?
Podcast Unlocked - February 22, 2022 23:11 - 59 minutes ★★★★★ - 2.7K ratingsOur Xbox crew discusses the report that, among other issues, the release of Halo Infinite's free-to-play multiplayer hurt the launch of Battlefield 2042. Plus: Ubisoft stakes a claim to independence in the wake of so many publishers being bought...unless the right price comes along, Street Fight...
Activision’s Future Xbox Exclusivity Gets Clarified
Podcast Unlocked - February 16, 2022 00:12 - 53 minutes ★★★★★ - 2.7K ratingsAnother week brings another important new update in Xbox's huge acquisition of Activision-Blizzard. Microsoft is making it clear that Call of Duty will continue on PlayStation - and come to Switch - so we discuss the ramifications of that decision for Xbox. Plus: Cyberpunk 2077 comes to Xbox Ser...
Our GTA 6 Hopes and Wishes
Podcast Unlocked - February 09, 2022 00:18 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 2.7K ratingsRockstar has officially acknowledged Grand Theft Auto 6's development, so we spend time mulling over some key questions: When will it be out? Will the long gap between GTA 5 and GTA 6 help or hurt it? Where will it be set? What do we want out of it in terms of main characters, gameplay features,...