Unlocked

The greatest Xbox podcast crossover ever happens now! IGN's Podcast Unlocked and Kinda Funny's Xcast have joined forces for an Xbox podcast tour-de-force. First we discuss the brilliance of Alan Wake 2 and the Max Payne 1+2 Remakes that Remedy is about to go into full production on before discussing Gears of War creator Cliff Bleszinski's recent comments about Gears needing a reboot. And then the main event: our Xbox first-party studio fantasy draft! Now that Microsoft's Activision-Blizzard acquisition has happened, we thought it'd be a fun time to each draft three studios who we're most excited about for the next five years. Who will get chosen? Who will get left out? Join us, and don't forget to go to humblebundle.com and pick up the IGN Editor's Choice Bundle, the proceeds of which benefit the Extra Life children's charity! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We did the podcast live this week immediately following Xbox's Partner Preview livestream, and we spent the entire episode being pleasantly surprised by both the things Microsoft promised would be there (like Alan Wake 2, Ark: Survival Ascended, and Dungeons of Hinterberg), and the things that were surprises (like Metal Gear solid Delta, Still Wakes the Deep, and The Finals). Plus, we give some constructive criticism on Xbox's latest presentation format. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Microsoft's acquisition of Activision-Blizzard is complete. They discuss games from the back catalog they want to see refreshed. They talk about reviving Transformers and their desires for future games. They discuss the implications of the Activision deal and Bobby Kodak's future prospects. There's speculation on potential acquirers for Codex and they reflect on Pete Hines' retirement.

Forza Motorsport vs. Gran Turismo 7 talk, new Season 5 content for Halo Infinite, Xbox Game Pass leveling up in 2024 with Activision-Blizzard games, recent layoffs at Telltale

First we give our initial impressions of Forza Motorsport and Assassin's Creed Mirage now that the review embargoes on them have lifted, and then we spend the bulk of the episode giving our top-5 rankings of Xbox's internal game studios (including Bethesda/Zenimax) while also contemplating Phil Spencer's Xbox legacy to date as PlayStation boss Jim Ryan finalizes his ahead of his retirement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We open this week's busy episode of Unlocked by discussing two big new games we just played a bunch of: Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty and Alan Wake 2. After that we discuss Phil Spencer's wish to bring back MechAssault and have a fantasy draft for which Xbox developer should make it -- along with our own picks (complete with preferred developers) for other dormant Xbox franchises we'd like to see return. Plus: we get lost wondering how the heck we're going to play all of the games in this historically busy stretch of major game releases that we're in right now, and more!   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In one of our longest Podcast Unlocked episodes ever, we recap, discuss, and analyze every piece of Microsoft's huge FTC case documents leak that revealed the Xbox Series X slim refresh (and its lack of any disc drive), plans for future Bethesda/Zenimax games (many of which are still unannounced), their top-level plans for their next-generation console due out in Holiday 2028, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a quick update on how our Starfield adventures are going, we discuss Phil Spencer and the Xbox leadership team’s big decision to bend the Series X/S parity rules to get Baldur’s Gate 3 on Xbox, Destin’s big interview with Phil Spencer — including whether or not Microsoft will produce a mid-gen refresh for the Series X — the sad closure of Volition, and more!00:00:00 - Intro & Forza Motorsport Impressions00:14:32 - Will Embracer Sell Gearbox?00:33:41 - Donald Mustard Retires from Epic Games00:44:17 - The Xbox Mastercard is Real00:58:35 - Is Ubisoft Finally Releasing XDefiant?01:14:06 - Unlocked Block Trivia & Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a quick update on how our Starfield adventures are going, we discuss Phil Spencer and the Xbox leadership team’s big decision to bend the Series X/S parity rules to get Baldur’s Gate 3 on Xbox, Destin’s big interview with Phil Spencer — including whether or not Microsoft will produce a mid-gen refresh for the Series X — the sad closure of Volition, and more!00:00:00 - Intro & Replaced Delayed to 202400:12:05 - Xbox Drops Parity Requirement & Baldur's Gate 3 Coming!00:22:10 - Blizzard/Activision & Game Pass?00:39:10 - Mid-Generation Refresh for Xbox?01:11:28 - Embracer Group Shuts Volition Down & Outro  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the episode you've been waiting for: Starfield. We brought in our Starfield reviewer, Dan Stapleton, to have a spoiler-free discussion about what we think of the most anticipated Xbox game of the year. We talk about what we like, what we don't, and how it ranks alongside Fallout and The Elder Scrolls. 00:00:00 - Intro & Starfield Review Discussion01:02:00 - IGN Icons01:05:51 - Even More Starfield & Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices