Unlocked

We react to a new since-confirmed report that 2K's new BioShock game continues to find its footing. We discuss where the project is and what the BioShock IP still means to gamers. Plus: Helldivers 2's upcoming Xbox release looks to be extra special thanks to an apparent Halo: ODST crossover, another Xbox exclusive appears to be canceled, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Unlocked, we dive into the finer details of Battlefield 6 after a hands-on preview and find a return to form for EA’s long-running shooter franchise. But we also dig into Grounded 2’s early access to see how Obsidian keeps cooking up good games for 2025. We also look at the latest Game Pass revenue numbers in contrast to the recent layoffs across Xbox’s game studios. And we couldn’t have done this without our esteemed guest Niki Grayson who you can find on podcasts such as If You’re Driving, Close Your Eyes and VGBees. #Xbox #GamePass #Grounded2 #Battlefield6 #IGN #gaming  00:00:00 – Intro and August’s Humble Bundle 00:10:17 – Battlefield 6 hands-on preview 00:50:01 – Grounded 2 early access impressions 01:02:14 – Game Pass revenue hits $5 billion 01:14:21 – Outro and where to find us Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lots to talk about this week! We start by discussing the latest releases and games we're previewing, including Grounded 2, Ninja Gaiden Ragebound, and Shinobi: Art of Vengeance. Then we hit on Helldivers 2 making a surprise jump to Xbox, chat about the rumored pricing for the Xbox ROG Ally handheld, celebrate Hollow Knight: Silksong being playable at Gamescom in a few weeks, express relief at Xbox backing down from its $80 first-party game pricing plan, and then go through a few Bethesda/Elder Scrolls-related stories. 00:00:00 - Intro & July Humble Bundle 00:05:15 - Grounded 2, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, Helldivers 2 00:17:24 - Xbox ROG Ally Price Update 00:28:28 - Hollow Knight: Silksong will be playable at gamescom! 00:35:16 - Xbox games at gamescom 00:41:27 -The Outer Worlds 2 will not be 80 dollars 00:48:14 - Does Microsoft have two unnanounced Xbox games in the pipeline? & Oblivion Remastered 01:01:42 - Future of Starfield 01:11:13:59 - A Farewell to Julian LeFay 01:16:17 - Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Xbox executive Greg Canessa – creator of Xbox Live Arcade – joins us for our 700th episode to share some awesome inside-baseball stories from his days at Xbox. He also talks about his perspective on Xbox today from the business side of things (including his thoughts on the Activision-Blizzard acquisition), as well as how he feels about Xbox's future. You're not gonna want to miss this one! This weeks episode is Ryan McCaffrey, Michael Higham, Greg Canessa, Parris Lilly, and is Produced by Nick Maillet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We sort through the aftermath of Xbox's devastating layoffs from last week, including updates on the status of where Perfect Dark was, what's left of the Turn 10 team, how Microsoft's AI investments may have played a part in all of this, and much more. 00:00:00 - Intro 00:03:42 - Perfect Dark00:16:40 - The Future for Halo00:26:05 - Elder Scrolls Online Dev's Comment on Cancelled MMO00:34:37 - Xbox Layoffs Updates & Turn 1000:49:35 - Romero Games' Unannounced Cancelled Project00:56:12 - Founder of Dishonored and Prey Dev Arkane Slams Game Pass01:06:52 - What Now?01:18:31 - Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As expected, layoffs at Microsoft and Xbox did happen this week, and they were unbelievably brutal. Approximately 9,000 people reportedly got laid off, multiple games were canceled, and entire studios were shut down. We sort through the wreckage on this week's Unlocked. 00:00 - Intro 00:11:12 - Assessing Xbox’s Layoffs 00:24:33 - ZeniMax Online’s New MMORPG Has Been Canceled 00:29:55 - Perfect Dark and Game Cancellations 00:44:41 - The Damage to Xbox's Brand 00:52:21 - Xbox's Future & Phil Spencer's Rumored Retirement 01:10:14 - Mafia: The Old Country, LV1 Gaming, & Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This year's Xbox Showcase was very good, but next year's Showcase should be absolutely jam-packed with Xbox's A-listers, from Halo to Gears of War to Fable and Forza Horizon. And not just that, Fall 2026 should be one of the biggest quarter of releases in Xbox history. Plus: Xbox's curious collab with Meta Quest, our bigger-picture perspective on reportedly imminent Xbox layoffs, and more! 00:08:34 - Let’s talk about NEXT year’s Xbox Showcase 00:27:35 - What is Xbox's Genre Identity? 00:30:45 - What does Fall 2026 look like for Xbox? 00:43:54 - What does 2027 look like for Xbox? 00:52:53 -  Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition 01:00:38 - Microsoft Plans Major Job Cuts at Xbox Gaming Division 01:24:00 - Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We kick off by talking about the games we got to play behind closed doors after the Xbox Showcase: The Outer Worlds 2, Gears of War Reloaded, and Ninja Gaiden 4. And then we dig into our main topic: Xbox's next-gen hardware announcement. We analyze what it means, what it doesn't, and discuss where Xbox is going. ****** 00:00 - Intro 03:00 - Outer Worlds, Gears of War Reloaded, & Summer Game Fest 13:50 - Handhelds Are Clearly Important to the Future of Xbox 21:20 - Ninja Gaiden 4 is Pretty Rad 34:43 - Dissecting Xbox’s Next-Gen Announcement 57:31 - Marathon got Delayed 01:07:03 - Whats Headed To Gamepass This week’s show is Ryan McCaffrey, Michael Higham, Miranda Sanchez, and is produced by Nick Maillet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this jam-packed IGN Live 2025 special, we’re diving into three games revealed in the Xbox Games Showcase 2025. First, Daemon Hatfield joins Obsidian Entertainment for a deep dive into The Outer Worlds 2, then Remedy stops by to talk FBC: Firebreak. Finally, Tom Jorgenson sits down with Iron Galaxy to break down the long-awaited Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 Remaster. You don't wanna miss it! 00:00:00 - The Outer Worlds 2 00:12:01 - FBC: Firebreak 00:21:40 - Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 Remaster Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Xbox Games Showcase delivered big reveals and we’ve got thoughts. In this episode, we break down the biggest surprises and top takeaways from the show, including the ROG Ally Xbox handheld, Clockwork Revolution, Call of Duty Black Ops 7, the return of Persona 4, and Final Fantasy’s Xbox debut. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices