Podcast Unlocked

By IGN

What's Podcast Unlocked about?

Love video games? IGN's Podcast Unlocked is your source for everything Xbox. If you live and breathe Halo, Gears of War, Forza, and more, Podcast Unlocked has you covered. Tune in every week for the latest video game news for Xbox junkies around the globe.

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Podcast Unlocked episodes:

04.11.2024
Xbox’s Next-Gen and Game Preservation Focus Is Exactly What's Needed - Unlocked 640
A new Fallout Show is receiving rave reviews. Xbox is "Full-Speed Ahead" on Next-Gen hardware. And reports say that an Xbox game preservation team is being built to keep the games we love for years to come. There's been a...
04.04.2024
Podcast Unlocked Episode 639 - Is Silksong Real??
Hollow Knight: Silksong has been the hot topic amongst its fans since its announcement back in 2019. This April Fools, a listing was made on the Microsoft store for Silksong with minimal details. We discuss whether or not this means...
03.28.2024
What if the Xbox Handheld Is Real? – Unlocked 638
Based on a recent interview, it seems like Phil Spencer has been thinking a lot about a possible Xbox handheld. We discuss what we'd want from it – noting that we would VERY MUCH want it – and wonder if...
03.21.2024
Rebuilding BioWare’s Reputation – Unlocked 637
We've got a variety of topics to discuss on Podcast Unlocked topics this week, from Xbox Game Pass's killer month of March to three fun Halo stories about three totally different Halo properties to our headline topic: BioWare. We talk...
03.14.2024
Fallout TV Show Teased as Fallout 6 – Unlocked 636
In today’s episode, we're diving into the intriguing world of the Fallout TV series, as hinted by Bethesda's Todd Howard. With a directive to the show's creators to avoid elements planned for Fallout 5, the series is setting up an...
03.07.2024
What We Thought of Xbox’s Second Showcase in 2024 – Unlocked 635
We recorded this week's episode live, immediately following the conclusion of Xbox's Partner Preview livestream. We reacted to the event as a whole and called out our favorites from the 14 games shown. Plus: we discussed the killer wave of...
02.29.2024
What Is the Xbox Game of the Generation So Far? – Unlocked 634
It's a slow news week, so we spend the whole show discussing something that's been on the community's mind lately, and that is the question of whether or not this console generation has been a disappointment. And, on the back...
02.23.2024
Does Xbox Need a ‘Series X Pro’? – Unlocked 633
We open this week's podcast by discussing what first-party Xbox games might be next to get ported to the PlayStation or Switch as Microsoft officially announces the four games (Pentiment, Sea of Thieves, Grounded, and Hi-Fi Rush) heading to other...
02.16.2024
Xbox's Big Changes Weren't So Big After All...Whew! – Unlocked 632
The Xbox leadership gave us its promised "business update" to tell us what changes were coming to how Microsoft handles its exclusives. It turns out that no, the big guns like Starfield and Indiana Jones won't be going anywhere, but...
02.08.2024
WTF Is Going On With Xbox? – Unlocked 631
It's been a wild week in the world of Xbox. Community morale is as low as it's been since the Xbox One unveiling back in 2013, as rumor after report after rumor after report suggests that Microsoft is going to...
01.31.2024
Suicide Squad Is Out. Let’s Talk About It – Unlocked 630
There's unfortunately not a lot of fun to be had on this week's Podcast Unlocked. We open by addressing the layoffs across Microsoft's gaming division that were announced just after last week's Unlocked published, then follow that with another gut-punch...
01.25.2024
Palworld Is a Red-Hot Xbox Exclusive – Unlocked 629
Palworld is the hottest game out there right now, and it's an Xbox console exclusive that's also on Game Pass! We welcome in ace IGN contributor and IGN Palworld reviewer Travis "The Tie Guy" Northup to discuss his thoughts on...
01.19.2024
Why We Loved Xbox's Developer Direct – Unlocked 628
We recorded this week's episode live, immediately after Xbox's Developer Direct. And we loved that Direct! Indiana Jones and the Great Circle had a fantastic reveal (it's FIRST-PERSON!) and reminded us of the original Xbox classic The Chronicles of Riddick:...
01.11.2024
Indiana Jones, Hellblade 2, Avowed: Xbox Developer Direct Is Back! – Unlocked 627
Three huge topics dominate Unlocked this week: 1) Our excited reactions to the just-announced second Xbox Developer Direct. INDIANA JONES!! 2) Destin got to play Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, and it didn't play nearly as well as we'd...
01.04.2024
Xbox Poised for Big Year in 2024 – Unlocked 626
Happy New Year! IGN's weekly Xbox show is back with a detailed discussion on what to expect from Xbox in 2024. We talk about what's locked in for the new year, what's a maybe, what's probably too early, our expected...
12.21.2023
Our Favorite Xbox Moments of 2023 – Unlocked 625
Our final episode of 2023 has us looking back on our six favorite Xbox moments of the year, that not coincidentally included a number of our favorite games. Plus: we remember James McCaffrey, the voice of Max Payne and Alan...
12.14.2023
Unlocked’s Best Xbox Game of 2023 – Unlocked 624
The time has come for the Podcast Unlocked team to crown our Best Xbox Game of 2023! We start with five nominees, narrow it down to two, and, well...you'll see. We then spend the rest of the podcast discussing Xbox's...
12.07.2023
Can GTA 6 Possibly Live Up to the Hype? – Unlocked 623
The first GTA6 trailer has arrived and we spent the entire show talking about it! From the technical marvels to the Bonnie-and-Clyde-like main characters to how GTA Online might integrate with Grand Theft Auto VI's online mode, we dive into...
11.30.2023
Will Xbox Surprise Us at The Game Awards? - Unlocked 622
As The Game Awards season creeps up on us in December, Stella and Destin speculate with Kahlief Adams on what we could possibly see from Xbox in the coming weeks. We also dive into Baldur's Gate 3's upcoming Xbox release,...
11.16.2023
Gearing Up for Baldur’s Gate 3 on Xbox – Unlocked 621
We celebrate the Xbox's 22nd birthday this week, anticipate the imminent release of Baldur's Gate 3 on Xbox (bear sex and all), discuss the Xbox nominations (and Starfield's lack thereof) at this year's Game Awards, and more! Learn more about your...
11.09.2023
What to Make of the New Mass Effect 5 Teaser — Unlocked 620
The Xbox Series X and S turn three years old this week, so we discuss how the latest Xbox console generation is going, both on its own and in comparison to the first three years of other Xbox consoles. Plus:...
11.02.2023
Unlocked x Xcast: The Ultimate Xbox Podcast Crossover – Unlocked 619
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...
10.25.2023
Xbox's Partner Stream Suprised and Delighted – Unlocked 618
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...
10.18.2023
The Activision Deal Is Done. Now What? – Unlocked 617
Microsoft's acquisition of Activision-Blizzard is finally done, and so we can finally stop talking about it! Or, well, at least we can stop talking about the annoying will-they-or-won't-they regulatory side of it. Now it's time to talk about the games!...
10.11.2023
Xbox Game Pass Will Level Up in 2024 – Unlocked 616
Some Forza Motorsport vs. Gran Turismo 7 talk kicks off the show before we talk about Halo Infinite's new Season 5 content, discuss how Xbox Game Pass looks set to level up in 2024 with the addition of Activision-Blizzard games,...
10.05.2023
Ranking our Top 5 Xbox First-Party Developers – Unlocked 615
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...
09.27.2023
Will OG Xbox Classic MechAssault Return? – Unlocked 614
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...
09.20.2023
Xbox Just Leaked…Everything – Unlocked 613
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...
09.13.2023
The Xbox MasterCard Is a Real Credit Card – Unlocked 612
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...
09.06.2023
Do You Want a Mid-Gen Xbox Series X Upgrade? – Unlocked 611
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...
08.31.2023
What We Think of Bethesda’s Long-Awaited RPG, Starfield – Unlocked 610
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...
08.23.2023
Gamescom Announcements: The Good, Bad, and Ugly – Unlocked 609
Gamescom is underway, and this week's episode is dedicated to a recap and analysis of everything from the Opening Night Live showcase -- from the beauty of Alan Wake 2, Black Myth: Wukong, and Lords of the Fallen to our...
08.16.2023
Why We’re Not Buying STALKER 2’s Rumored Release Date – Unlocked 608
We're diving into the mystery surrounding STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl's potential release date. Is the December 1 date listed on Plaion's website for real? We've got the juicy details on what this highly anticipated game might bring, from survival...
08.09.2023
The Biggest News from EVO 2023: Reptile, Azucena, A.K.I., and More! – Unlocked 607
Get ready to dive into some exciting EVO news on this episode. We've got a crazy Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles crossover heading to Street Fighter 6, and there's a new character teaser for Street Fighter 6 that's brewing some serious...
08.02.2023
We Need to Talk About Remnant 2 – Unlocked 606
00:00:00 - Intro & Baldur’s Gate 3 00:06:25 - Remnant 2 Sells More Than One Million Units 00:23:25 - Our IGN Icons Picks! & FFXVI Coming to Xbox 00:35:09 - Elite Series 2 Replacement Parts Announced 00:40:02 - Games Joining and Leaving Xbox Game...
07.26.2023
What We Want From EA’s New Black Panther Game – Unlocked 605
00:00:19 Intro 00:02:41 New Black Panther open-world game announced 00:18:47 Ubisoft cancels Immortals Fenyx Rising 2 00:26:16 Rainbow Six talk 00:32:29 Forgotten Ubisoft IP 00:40:17 Another Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III leak Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
07.19.2023
Xbox Live Gold Is Dead. But Is That a Good Thing? – Unlocked 604
Though Microsoft's acquisition of Activision-Blizzard has cleared its biggest hurdle (the FTC), the deal isn't quite done yet. And all parties involved have given themselves more time to finalize the deal. We discuss that, plus Sony finally signing its 10-year...
07.12.2023
Microsoft Defeats the FTC: Our Reactions – Unlocked 603
The moment we've all been waiting for has arrived: the verdict is in for Microsoft vs. FTC, and Team Xbox has won! We spend the entire show discussing the massive implications of the ruling, which seems to have set the...
07.05.2023
The Other Xbox News While We Wait for the FTC Verdict – Unlocked 602
As we await the verdict in the Microsoft vs. FTC trial regarding the fate of Xbox's Activision-Blizzard acquisition, we dig into some of the other things happening in the world of Xbox, from the future of Banjo-Kazooie (if there even...
06.30.2023
Xbox vs. FTC Trial: 7 Big Things We’ve Learned So Far – Unlocked 601
With the Microsoft vs. FTC trial concluding, with a verdict expected next week, we discuss and analyze seven big things we've learned so far, from the fate of Bethesda game exclusivity to the other publishers Microsoft considered buying and more!...
06.22.2023
Xbox’s Powerhouse RPG Lineup + The Xbox One Is Done – Unlocked 600
We have so much to talk about on this milestone episode! We recap some of the games we saw and played at Summer Game Fest, then discuss how Xbox is absolutely STACKED with AAA exclusive first-party RPGs for the next...
06.12.2023
Summer of Gaming Special: Unpacking the Xbox/Bethesda Showcase & Starfield Direct - Unlocked 599
Happy Summer of Gaming! In this special SoG episode of Podcast Unlocked, Ryan McCaffrey, Stella Chung, Destin Legarie, and Kat Bailey discuss their favorite reveals and surprises from the Xbox/Bethesda Showcase and the Starfield Direct. Xbox came out firing on...
06.06.2023
From Fallout to Fable: 12 Xbox Showcase Predictions – Unlocked 598
On the eve of the biggest Xbox event of the year, we keep to our tradition and make a total of 12 predictions for the upcoming Xbox Showcase. From Fable to Avowed to Gears of War and beyond, we've got...
05.31.2023
Rod Fergusson Interview: On Diablo 4, Leaving Gears Behind, and More! – Unlocked 597
Diablo Franchise General Manager and old friend of Unlocked Rod Fergusson joins the show this week to celebrate the launch of Diablo 4. Rod talks about the challenges of joining Blizzard mere days before the COVID-19 pandemic, why he left...
05.23.2023
What Xbox’s Fall 2023 Looks Like So Far – Unlocked 596
Mortal Kombat 1 has been announced, and it's bringing its unexpected title to next-gen consoles in September. Meanwhile, Alan Wake 2's voice actor may have just spoiled the release date for Remedy's upcoming survival-horror sequel. We discuss these two games,...
05.17.2023
Xbox’s Activision-Blizzard Deal Greenlit in EU…but it’s Not Over Yet – Unlocked 595
Xbox's deal to acquire Activision-Blizzard gets a key approval from the European Commission, even while the UK's CMA doubles down on its opposition. A quote from Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has us wondering what Microsoft might be willing to do...
05.10.2023
Xbox Games Showcase Predictions, Round 1 – Unlocked 594
Phil Spencer's recent comments about Xbox's third-place standing in the video game marketplace have created quite a stir in the Xbox community. We play Phil's quote and then spend a LOT of time reacting to and discussing it. Plus: it's...
05.03.2023
Redfall’s Poor Launch Tests Xbox Fans’ Patience – Unlocked 593
Redfall is out, and unfortunately it's basically a worst-case scenario. We talk through our personal impressions of the game so far, and then get into a larger discussion about what it means for Xbox customer confidence, the intense pressure that...
04.26.2023
Xbox’s Activision-Blizzard Deal Is Done. Now What? – Unlocked 592
In a surprise plot twist, Microsoft's Activision-Blizzard acquisition has been BLOCKED by the UK's CMA regulatory authority. We spend most of the show discussing the ramifications of this as well as what Microsoft might do next. Plus: we kick off...
04.19.2023
Can Netflix Make Awesome AAA Games? – Unlocked 591
Longtime Halo senior developer Joseph Staten, the subject of last week's Unlocked, has announced where he's going next: Netflix! We discuss what this means for Netflix's gaming efforts before turning our attention to the newly announced departure of another longtime...

What's Podcast Unlocked about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Podcast Unlocked episodes:

Xbox’s Next-Gen and Game Preservation Focus Is Exactly What's Needed - Unlocked 640

Podcast Unlocked Episode 639 - Is Silksong Real??

What if the Xbox Handheld Is Real? – Unlocked 638

Rebuilding BioWare’s Reputation – Unlocked 637

Fallout TV Show Teased as Fallout 6 – Unlocked 636

What We Thought of Xbox’s Second Showcase in 2024 – Unlocked 635

What Is the Xbox Game of the Generation So Far? – Unlocked 634

Does Xbox Need a ‘Series X Pro’? – Unlocked 633

Xbox's Big Changes Weren't So Big After All...Whew! – Unlocked 632

WTF Is Going On With Xbox? – Unlocked 631

Suicide Squad Is Out. Let’s Talk About It – Unlocked 630

Palworld Is a Red-Hot Xbox Exclusive – Unlocked 629

Why We Loved Xbox's Developer Direct – Unlocked 628

Indiana Jones, Hellblade 2, Avowed: Xbox Developer Direct Is Back! – Unlocked 627

Xbox Poised for Big Year in 2024 – Unlocked 626

Our Favorite Xbox Moments of 2023 – Unlocked 625

Unlocked’s Best Xbox Game of 2023 – Unlocked 624

Can GTA 6 Possibly Live Up to the Hype? – Unlocked 623

Will Xbox Surprise Us at The Game Awards? - Unlocked 622

Gearing Up for Baldur’s Gate 3 on Xbox – Unlocked 621

What to Make of the New Mass Effect 5 Teaser — Unlocked 620

Unlocked x Xcast: The Ultimate Xbox Podcast Crossover – Unlocked 619

Xbox's Partner Stream Suprised and Delighted – Unlocked 618

The Activision Deal Is Done. Now What? – Unlocked 617

Xbox Game Pass Will Level Up in 2024 – Unlocked 616

Ranking our Top 5 Xbox First-Party Developers – Unlocked 615

Will OG Xbox Classic MechAssault Return? – Unlocked 614

Xbox Just Leaked…Everything – Unlocked 613

The Xbox MasterCard Is a Real Credit Card – Unlocked 612

Do You Want a Mid-Gen Xbox Series X Upgrade? – Unlocked 611

What We Think of Bethesda’s Long-Awaited RPG, Starfield – Unlocked 610

Gamescom Announcements: The Good, Bad, and Ugly – Unlocked 609

Why We’re Not Buying STALKER 2’s Rumored Release Date – Unlocked 608

The Biggest News from EVO 2023: Reptile, Azucena, A.K.I., and More! – Unlocked 607

We Need to Talk About Remnant 2 – Unlocked 606

What We Want From EA’s New Black Panther Game – Unlocked 605

Xbox Live Gold Is Dead. But Is That a Good Thing? – Unlocked 604

Microsoft Defeats the FTC: Our Reactions – Unlocked 603

The Other Xbox News While We Wait for the FTC Verdict – Unlocked 602

Xbox vs. FTC Trial: 7 Big Things We’ve Learned So Far – Unlocked 601

Xbox’s Powerhouse RPG Lineup + The Xbox One Is Done – Unlocked 600

Summer of Gaming Special: Unpacking the Xbox/Bethesda Showcase & Starfield Direct - Unlocked 599

From Fallout to Fable: 12 Xbox Showcase Predictions – Unlocked 598

Rod Fergusson Interview: On Diablo 4, Leaving Gears Behind, and More! – Unlocked 597

What Xbox’s Fall 2023 Looks Like So Far – Unlocked 596

Xbox’s Activision-Blizzard Deal Greenlit in EU…but it’s Not Over Yet – Unlocked 595

Xbox Games Showcase Predictions, Round 1 – Unlocked 594

Redfall’s Poor Launch Tests Xbox Fans’ Patience – Unlocked 593

Xbox’s Activision-Blizzard Deal Is Done. Now What? – Unlocked 592

Can Netflix Make Awesome AAA Games? – Unlocked 591