Unlocked

ID@XBox dropped some exciting new trailers today and the Unlocked crew is here to update us on the latest indie games coming to Xbox! Stella Chung, Miranda Sanchez, and Taylor Lyles share their thoughts on games like The Explorator, Homestead Arcana, The Last Case of Benedict Fox, and the new Vampire Survivors: Tales of the Foscari DLC! We also touch on cheaper storage expansion for the Xbox as well as an unfortunate delay for ARK 2. Tons of fun stuff happening this week, so don't miss out!00:00:00 - Intro & ID@Xbox Reactions! 00:17:17- ARK 2 Delayed to 2024 00:25:25 - New Xbox Controller Made From Recycled Parts? 00:37:14 - Cheaper Xbox Storage on the Way & Outro  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil 4, and more Resident Evil 4. At least that's what Brian Altano played this week. Join us on this episode as we let Brian gush over his love of RE4, discuss changes coming to Game Pass, and some bummer MultiVersus news. 00:00:00 Intro00:01:21 Resident Evil 4 Remake00:23:00 Game Pass changes00:38:05 MultiVersus leaves open beta00:50:42 Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all played a ton of the Diablo 4 beta this past weekend, and we were all also lucky enough to play Redfall recently as well. We've got a LOT of thoughts about both. Join us! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hitman developer IO Interactive is starting to talk about its new online fantasy-RPG project. Plus it's got a James Bond 007 game in the works. We discuss those, and then debate whether or not they might -- or should -- be Xbox's next acquisition target. Plus: Zombie Telltale is saying all of right things about its decision to delay The Wolf Among Us 2 into next year, guest panelist Cameron Hawkins agrees to take one for the team and eat a KFC Double Down in order to get Diablo 4 beta access, and more!00:00:00 - Intro00:04:06 - IO Interactive Working on a Fantasy RPG00:21:04 - Should IO Interactive Be Xbox’s Acquisition Target?00:35:57 - The Wolf Among Us 2 Delayed & Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Starfield finally has a release date, so we kick off the show discussing why this new September window makes a lot of sense for Bethesda Game Studios's next big RPG. Plus: we share nine moves we think Xbox should make in 2023, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tons to talk about this week! We start by discussing our disappointment in the new gameplay showcase for Rocksteady's Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. Then we analyze Tango Gameworks founder Shinji Mikami's departure from the studio and why we think The Evil Within 3 is still happening. Plus: Mortal Kombat 12 gets announced in an unexpected way, Call of Duty will get a full-game release this year after all, and more! 00:00:00 - Intro & Housekeeping00:03:19 - What’s Up with Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League?00:21:29 - Shinji Mikami is Leaving Tango Gameworks00:28:13 - WB CEO Announces Mortal Kombat 1200:38:12 - Call of Duty and Forza Horizon 5 News!00:47:10 - Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Microsoft makes 10-year deals to bring Call of Duty to other platforms with not one but TWO different companies in an effort to get regulators to approve the Activision-Blizzard acquisition. We discuss how Microsoft might be nearing the endgame of this corporate chess match. Plus: we're stoked for the Diablo 4 beta, Ubisoft makes a puzzling statement about attending E3, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Microsoft admits in a court filing as part of the proposed Activision-Blizzard acquisition that game sales suffer when games get added to Xbox Game Pass. We discuss why it doesn't really matter, why Game Pass matters for games both big and small, and more! Plus: why Kotick has to go if the acquisition is approved, Dead Island 2's release date changes AGAIN (but for the better this time!), and plenty more!00:00:00 - Intro & Secret Single-Player Titanfall Game Reportedly Canceled by EA00:03:36 - Xbox: Game Pass Cannibalizes Game Sales00:23:23 - Kotick to Stay as CEO of Blizzard/Activision is Microsoft Deal is Blocked?00:31:08 - Hi-Fi Rush Easter Egg Teases Evil Within 3?00:41:21 - Dead Island 2’s Release Date Moves UP a Week00:48:43 - Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A busy week of Xbox news has us discussing the recent cancellation of a secret Titanfall single-player project at Respawn and why we sadly may never see Titanfall again. Plus: live-service multiplayer games are getting shut off left and right, so what does it mean for the industry? Also: how will DC's plan to integrate video games into the DCU go over with developers, MLB The Show 23 adds a wonderful new feature that celebrates a key part of baseball history, Tim Schafer heads to the Hall of Fame, and more! 00:00:00 - Intro & Secret Single-Player Titanfall Game Reportedly Canceled by EA00:24:36 - Marvel’s Midnight Suns and Xcom Director Isn’t Thrilled James Gunn’s New DC Connected Universe00:35:29 - Crossfirex and Knockout City Are Officially Shutting Down00:51:31 - MLB The Show 23 Will Feature Legends From the Negro Leagues01:01:22 - Tim Schafer Inducted Into the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame01:10:22 - Unlock-Block Trivia & Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Now that we've had a week to play Hi-Fi Rush and see the incredible viral reaction to it, we had a deep and extended conversation about Tango Gameworks' surprise rhythm-action release. We discuss why it was exactly what Xbox was needed, whether we might get a sequel, and more. Plus: the second half of the podcast is dedicated to an equally deep and heartfelt conversation about the state of 343 Industries and the Halo IP. 00:00:00 - Intro & How Much Fun is Hi-Fi Rush?00:35:10 - 323 Industries Report from Jason Schreier01:12:28 - Unlocked Block Trivia00:37:29 - Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices