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Unlocked

IGN

These days, practically everything is an Xbox, and Xbox fans deserve to celebrate their passion for Xbox everywhere. Unlocked is the definitive Xbox podcast, hosted by Ryan McCaffrey alongside a panel of expert guests. Each week, they dive deep into...

Location:

San Francisco, CA

Networks:

IGN

Description:

These days, practically everything is an Xbox, and Xbox fans deserve to celebrate their passion for Xbox everywhere. Unlocked is the definitive Xbox podcast, hosted by Ryan McCaffrey alongside a panel of expert guests. Each week, they dive deep into breaking Xbox news, exclusive game reveals, and heated debates on the future of Xbox—covering everything from consoles and PC to Game Pass and cloud gaming. Whether you're a longtime Xbox fan or just jumping in, Unlocked is your go-to source for all things Xbox. Unlocked is a part of Geek Media Podcast Network, an IGN Entertainment Brand. Visit Geek.com for more information.

Language:

English


Episodes
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Project Helix Reactions: Name Ideas, Messaging Musts, and More – Unlocked 732

3/12/2026
Microsoft has confirmed the rumor that its next-gen console will play PC games. The machine is codenamed Project Helix, and we discuss potential names for the device, how Microsoft must get its messaging right, the advantages it might have over the competition, and much more! 00:00:00 - Intro & Welcome Nugg and MC Fixer 00:04:24 - Project Helix Announcement Reactions & Potential Names 00:24:45 - Sony Returns to Console Exclusivity & 00:31:18 - Project Helix Potential Advantages over PlayStation 00:51:22- Microsoft's GDC 2026 Keynote 01:05:09 - Outro & Where to Find Us Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:01:12:59

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Resident Evil Requiem Tops a Big Games Week – Unlocked 731

3/5/2026
We've spent time with several big new games that we had a blast with this week, and we'd like to tell you all about them: Resident Evil Requiem, Marathon, Mouse: P.I. for Hire, and Control Resonant. A huge year of gaming continues – join us as we share our impressions of these four! 00:00:00 - Resident Evil Requiem 00:32:26 - Marathon 01:02:18 - Mouse P.I. For hire 01:06:51 - Control Resonant 01:13:24 - Game Pass March, Cyberpunk 2077, & Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:01:26:55

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Phil Spencer’s Retirement and the Future of Xbox – Unlocked 730

2/26/2026
Longtime Xbox executive Greg Canessa, aka the Creator of Xbox Live Arcade, joins us to react to, analyze, and quite honestly just process this week's seismic news about Xbox boss Phil Spencer retiring, Xbox President Sarah Bond leaving, and the appointment of new Microsoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharma. We discuss Phil's legacy, give our unsolicited advice to Asha for what we'd like to see in her era of Xbox, and more in this extra-long episode! #xbox #gaming #philspencer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:01:53:22

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Are Hard Drives the Next-Gen Xbox’s Latest Roadblock? – Unlocked 729

2/19/2026
Just as we thought things might be lining up for a next-gen Xbox launch in 2027, a new story on hard drive availability has left us wondering if that option might be slipping away. Plus: we go over the new games coming to Xbox that were announced in last week's Sony State of Play, talk through the next wave of Xbox Game Pass additions, and more! 00:00 - Intro 01:06 - Ryan's Thoughts On Reanimal 05:16 - Are Hard Drives the Next-Gen Xbox’s Latest Roadblock? 19:05 - The Biggest Xbox Games From The Sony State of Play 47:27 - Whats Headed to Xbox Game Pass 54:58 - PokemonPlanet This weeks show is hosted by Ryan McCaffrey, Miranda Sanchez, and Michael Higham. The episode is produced and edited by Nick Maillet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:01:01:58

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Next-Gen Xbox in 2027…or Not Until 2028? – Unlocked 728

2/12/2026
Remember last week's comments from AMD's CEO about being ready to support a next-gen Xbox launch in 2027? It turns out there's more to the story, so we're discussing what launch timing might make sense for Microsoft, and how we think a BS-free version of Windows 11 is a big key to the whole launch. Plus: can Baldur's Gate 3 make a good HBO TV show? We're going to find out either way, so we talked about what we want to see from the co-showrunner of The Last of US show who's in charge of this project. 00:00:00 - Intro & Replaced Demo 00:17:41 - Next-Gen Xbox 2027 Launch Reportedly 'Best Case Scenario 00:50:09 - Baldur's Gate 3 TV Show 01:06:54 - PlanetPokemon & Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:01:14:34

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Resident Evil Requiem Looks Ready to Cook – Unlocked 727

2/5/2026
Two big topics dominate our Xbox show this week: first, Resident Evil Requiem. Our own Michael Higham got to play a few hours of a near-final build, and he came back super excited about what will probably be the biggest game in the first quarter of 2026. And then we discussed AMD's CEO publicly stating that they'd be ready to support a next-gen Xbox launch in 2027, including whether or not we think the next Xbox will beat the PlayStation 6 to market, whether that even matters, and what Microsoft could do to try and get core gamers excited about what promises to be a very different type of console. 00:00:00 - Intro & Resident Evil Requiem 00:18:29 - Next-gen Xbox launch in 2027? 00:48:32 - No Plans For The Outher Worlds 3 01:03:04 - New to Game Pass & Outro Go to https://surfshark.com/unlocked or use code UNLOCKED at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:01:12:22

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Top 100 Xbox Games Ever: The Top 20 – Unlocked 726

1/29/2026
In a marathon two-hour episode, our friends from Outside Xbox join us to discuss the Top 20 games in our collaborative Top 100 Xbox Games of All Time list. We share stories, memories, and more from each of these 20 incredible Xbox games that have stood the test of time, from Halo(s) to Mass Effect(s) to GTA 5 and plenty more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:02:17:06

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Top 100 Xbox Games Debate: The Obscure Ones – Unlocked 725

1/24/2026
Part one of our Top 100 Xbox Games of All Time conversation is here! We're talking about the games that mean a lot to us from 100-26 on our list. There will be games you remember, games that make you go, "Oh yeah, that one!", and maybe some games that are new to you. Come back next week for part two when we dig into the top games on the list! 00:00:00 - Intro & Fallout 3 00:12:20 - The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind 00:19:31 - Fusion Frenzy & 1 vs 100 00:28:17 - Rainbow Six: Vegas & Street Fighter IV 00:37:02 - Full Spectrum Warrior & Mirror's Edge 00:45:21 - Halo 4 & Lost Odyssey 00:56:15 - Rock Band 3 & Wolfenstein II 01:05:55 - Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Hitman (2016), & DOOM Eternal 01:13:32 - Favorite 7/10 Games & Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:01:32:06

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Xbox Developer Direct Reactions – Unlocked 724

1/22/2026
In this episode, we react to everything shown at Xbox’s latest Developer Direct, with deep dives into Fable, Forza Horizon 6, a surprise reveal from Double Fine Productions, and a brand-new project from Game Freak. Big reactions, big speculation, and a whole lot of excitement. 00:00:00 - Intro & Fable Deep-Dive 00:37:50 - GameFreak + Beasts of Reincarnation 00:47:25 - Doublefine + Kiln 00:53:56 - Forza Horizon 6 & Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:01:05:23

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Xbox Developer Direct Predictions – Unlocked 723

1/15/2026
Xbox's now-annual early-year showcase returns next week! We know Fable and Forza Horizon 6 will be there, but what else will show up? We've got predictions. Plus: Hellblade and Wolfenstein are reportedly getting new sequels, Forza Horizon 5 is still selling huge all these years later, The Witcher 3 might drop a new expansion many years after the last one, Anthem shuts down, renowned Xbox 360-era developer Twisted Pixel is closed, and more! 00:00:00 - Xbox Developer Direct Predictions 00:20:06 - Ninja Theory is working on Hellblade 3 00:28:49 - Wolfenstein 3 may be on the way 00:39:38 - Forza Horizon 5 sells 5 million copies on PS5 00:49:17 - Witcher 3 DLC 00:59:55 - Anthem is officially dead 01:05:03 - Meta has shut down Twisted Pixel & Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:01:18:12

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Remembering 2 Xbox Greats – Unlocked 722

1/8/2026
The Xbox world lost two wonderful people over the holidays: longtime Microsoft hardware team member Albert Penello and game industry legend Vince Zampella, whose credits include co-creating Call of Duty, Titanfall, Apex Legends, and many more. Xbox marketing boss Aaron Greenberg joins us to remember Albert, who was an absolute joy to everyone he met and who he knew extremely well both at and outside of work. And then we spend the rest of the episode talking about Vince and the great guy he was as well as the monumental impact he had on both the Xbox (Call of Duty 2, Titanfall) and the larger games industry. Thank you to Gamertag Radio's Parris Lilly for joining us this week as well. 00:00:00 - Did you guys play anything over the holiday break? 00:06:39 - Remembering Albert Penello 00:32:48 - Remembering Vince Zampella Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:01:14:50

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Ranking Every Xbox’s Day-One Launch Lineups – Unlocked 721

12/22/2025
What to do during a quiet holiday week with no news? How about we argue amongst ourselves? Haha well sort of: we decided to rank the four Xbox console day-one launch lineups we've had so far, and let's just say we definitely did not all agree on how these rankings should go. Enjoy and happy holidays! This weeks show is hosted by Ryan McCaffrey, Miranda Sanchez, Michael Higham, and is produced by Nick Maillet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:57:29

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Xbox No-Showed at The Game Awards, but There’s Good News – Unlocked 720

12/16/2025
We didn't get any reveals from Xbox at this year's Game Awards, but there's some very good news: we're going to see a lot more from them very soon. We talk all about what Xbox's 2026 Developer Direct might look like, and then discuss our favorite Game Awards reveals. This weeks show is hosted by Ryan McCaffrey, Miranda Sanchez, Michael Higham, and is produced by Nick Maillet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:54:04

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Does Xbox’s Next Gen Start in 2026? – Unlocked 719

12/11/2025
Our Xbox crew kicks off by going over IGN's nominees for Best Xbox Game of 2025 before giving our individual picks, and then we get to the big topic this week: new comments by Xbox's VP of Next-Gen that seem to suggest we're getting SOMETHING next year. Whether that's just an announcement or an actual console as well remains to be seen, but we discuss it. Plus: the KOTOR remake isn't dead, the Assassin's Creed: Black Flag remake is very much alive, and more! 00:00:00 - Intro 00:20:28 - Xbox's 2026 00:31:23 - KOTOR Remake 00:46:46 - Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Remake 00:53:51 - Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:58:19

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Splinter Cell Might Not Be Dead After All – Unlocked 718

12/4/2025
On this week's Xbox show, we've got good news on the long-dormant Splinter Cell Remake project that has us optimistic that a new Sam Fisher adventure might actually see the light of day. Plus: GTA 6 suffers a small but very weird leak, IO Interactive has a full plate that includes Hitman 4, CD Projekt Red has set a very ambitious schedule for its upcoming The Witcher trilogy, and more! 00:00:00 - Intro 00:13:30 - Splinter Cell Remake Update 00:29:50 - New GTA 6 Leaks 00:37:17 - Hitman 4 Update 00:53:05 - Witcher 4 01:03:43 - December GamePass Lineup 01:10:24 - Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:01:19:03

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Major Nelson Shares His Xbox 360 Memories – Unlocked 717

11/22/2025
Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb, the longtime public face of Xbox at Microsoft, joins us for a special Xbox 360 episode as the most successful Xbox console ever celebrates its 20th anniversary. Larry shares a ton of great stories and even shows off a bunch of rare souvenirs from that era. You're not going to want to miss this episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:01:26:00

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The Winners from Xbox’s Partner Showcase (Fall 2025) – Unlocked 716

11/20/2025
The Winners from Xbox’s Partner Showcase (Fall 2025) – Unlocked 716We recorded this week's episode live immediately following Xbox's Fall 2025 Partner Preview showcase, where we got updated looks at known quantities like Reanimal, Tides of Annihilation, and 007: First Light. But we also got a number of reveals from intriguing new games like Erosion, Echo Generation 2, Vampire Crawlers, and more. Enjoy our reactions! 00:03:17 - Vampire Crawlers: The Turbo Wildcard 00:06:28 - Tides of Annihilation 00:09:37 - Erosion 00:14:02 - Echo Generation 2 00:18:55 - Armatus 00:24:23 - The Mound: Omen of Chthulu 00:27:01 - Dave the Diver - Official Xbox Launch 00:28:54 - Crowsworn 00:31:49 - 007 First Light & Roadside Research 00:40:37 - Total Chaos 00:44:24 - Reanimal, Cloverpit, Raji: Kaliyuga, & Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:54:27

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GTA 6’s Delay Hits Xbox Extra Hard – Unlocked 715

11/13/2025
In a jam-packed episode of our Xbox show, we discuss Grand Theft Auto 6's delay and how it hits Xbox harder than any other publisher. Plus: Valve's new Steam Machine will seemingly be competing directly with Xbox's next-gen console/PC hybrid efforts, Halo Infinite's support is in fact finite, why we think Mass Effect 5 is BioWare's last chance as a studio, our confidence level in The Elder Scrolls 6 despite it being many years away, and more! This weeks show is Ryan McCaffrey, Michael Higham, Miranda Sanchez, and is produced by Nick Maillet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:01:34:56

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The Outer Worlds 2’s Game Director Joins the Podcast! – Unlocked 714

11/6/2025
Our special guest this week is Obsidian's Brandon Adler, the Game Director on The Outer Worlds 2. He tells us about how the team's new RPG has been received so far, what kind of stuff hit the cutting room floor, what got prototyped but never made it into the game, how other games influence them, getting advice from the RPG legends in the building, and more! This weeks show is Ryan McCaffrey, Michael Higham, and is produced by Nick Maillet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:50:04

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From Playing Mortal Kombat to Preserving It – Unlocked 713

10/30/2025
Old-school Xbox fans will get a little extra enjoyment out of this week's episode, which welcomes Ryan's old Official Xbox Magazine podcasting partner Dan Amrich, now a developer at Digital Eclipse, for a KOXM Radio reunion to discuss his team's comprehensive new release, Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection. Dan goes into great detail about how much meticulous care and effort went into the Legacy Kollection in order to make it into a "playable museum exhibit." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:01:36:50