Unlocked

Bethesda's "secret" remaster of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion keeps leaking. We'll talk about what we learned from this week's leak, when you can play it (hint: VERY SOON), how it'll hit for a generation of Elder Scrolls fans that have only ever known Skyrim, and more. Plus: our Mount Rushmore of RPGs, Xbox Game Pass's incredible second wave in April, the new Star Wars game and the somewhat surprising developer involved, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The excitement around The Outer Worlds 2 is palpable as the hosts share exclusive gameplay insights. They dive into Doom: The Dark Ages, detailing its unique mechanics that set it apart from its predecessor. The success of the Minecraft movie sparks a discussion on future adaptations of Xbox franchises. Controversial new AI tech, like Microsoft's Copilot, raises questions about creativity and job security in game development. With new titles heading to Game Pass, the conversation stays vibrant and engaging!

This week on Unlocked, Michael and Miranda are joined by GameSpot's Jordan Ramée to talk all about the latest Xbox exclusive, South of Midnight, now that we have reviewed it and we explore our own connections to American South. We also touch on previews for Doom: The Dark Ages and the ongoing saga of where Hollow Knight Silksong is. And we find a way to make the Nintendo Direct about Xbox (lol) before talking about Asus and Xbox teasing their handheld collaboration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Unlocked, Miranda and Michael go over the biggest reveals for Minecraft Live 2025 (new mobs!), discuss the Backbone One Xbox Edition and how they hope Xbox's latest neat peripheral designs influence their next major device releases, and round out the show by discussing two games coming to Xbox shown during the Nintendo Direct.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dive into the excitement of the new Assassin's Creed Shadows game! The hosts chat about the nostalgic buzz surrounding the imminent remake of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. They explore how this beloved classic could blend surprise releases with effective marketing strategies. Plus, there's a deep dive into the narrative successes of Hazelight's Split Fiction and reflections on the anticipated Knights of the Old Republic remake. Get ready for a vibrant mix of gaming innovations and heartfelt nostalgia!

The crew is joined by Ash Parrish from The Verge to discuss the reports of Xbox handhelds (from OEMs) coming later this year and the prospect of a next-gen Xbox coming in 2027 (and how weird time works because it feels like the Series X|S came out just yesterday). But first, we revisit Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 demo for Miranda's final thoughts, and get Ash's insights on South of Midnight from her preview and interview with actor and developer Ahmed Best.Eat smart with Factor. Get started at factormeals.com/FACTORPODCAST and use code FACTORPODCAST to get 50% off your first box plus free shipping. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our Xbox crew discusses the awful news of WB Games closing down Shadow of Mordor developer Monolith Productions along with two other studios. Is their patented Nemesis System dead forever? But first, we spend a happy first half of the podcast gushing over a few new games we've been playing: Split Fiction, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and Monster Hunter Wilds.00:00:00 - Intro00:03:00 - Spilt Fiction Impressions00:13:52 - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Preview Impressions00:33:48 - Monster Hunter Wilds Impressions00:38:15 - Is Hazelight Studios the new Telltale?00:43:26 - WB Games has shut down 3 Studios00:56:55 - Is the Nemesis System Dead Forever?01:05:50 - Fable Delayed01:13:08 - OutroEat smart with Factor. Get started at factormeals.com/FACTORPODCAST and use code FACTORPODCAST to get 50% off your first box plus free shipping. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our Xbox crew reacts to all of the new and cool games we got to see at the latest ID@Xbox Showcase, from Jump Ship to Herding to Outbound to 33 Immortals and more! And joining us to shed a bit more light on the ID@Xbox program and all of these games is ID@Xbox Director Guy Richards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Avowed officially launches this week, its Game Director, Carrie Patel, and the studio head at developer Obsidian Entertainment, Feargus Urquhart, join us for a conversation about their big new first-person fantasy RPG. They discuss how the project evolved since its original unveiling, what they did with the extra development time when its release date moved to February, and much more! Plus: Feargus talks Fallout, shares a Matt Stone and Trey Parker story from making South Park: The Stick of Truth, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We've been waiting for this moment: to be swimming in new first-party Xbox games. We have all been playing both Avowed and South of Midnight, and we discuss our thoughts on each of them. We also spend time talking about our experiences with Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 so far and why we love its grounded medieval RPG world. Finally, we discuss Bloomberg's new report about WB Games and what's next for Rocksteady, Monolith, and Avalanche with regard to Batman, Wonder Woman, and Hogwarts Legacy, respectively. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices