Unlocked

A new report suggests that not only is Xbox's next-gen Project Helix console coming out in Fall of 2028, but that Microsoft is developing its own first-party handheld due out in Fall of 2027! Xbox Game Pass is also reportedly being revamped in a curious way that just might work. Plus: BioWare gets shut down, ending any hope for Mass Effect 5 and ending the run of a legendary RPG developer.

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In a spoiler-free discussion, Ryan and Michael talk about how much they love Gears of War: E-Day, which Ryan reviewed for IGN. Plus: Halo's former Franchise Creative Director comments on the three probable paths to success that he thinks Halo might take under Activision, and more!

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Xbox's "reset" continued this week, and we discussed and analyzed all of the newest changes, including the big one of Activision taking over on Halo from Halo Studios. Our thoughts on why we think this happened, whether or not it'll be a reboot, what engine it'll use, what studio might work on it, and more. Plus: Bungie breathes a second life into Destiny 2, and more!

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Our hiatus is over and we've got a LOT to talk about this week, starting with Sony's shocking decision to drop Hideo Kojima's next-gen tactical espionage game Physint, only for Xbox to pick it up. Plus: the big unreleased games we've been playing (Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, Exodus, State of Decay 3, Gears of War: E-Day, Metro 2039), our thoughts on the GTA 6 gameplay reveal, and more!

This weeks show was hosted by Ryan McCaffrey and Michael Higham. It was produced by Nick Maillet

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The director of Kingdom Hearts 4 promises a late 2027 release window for the eagerly awaited Kingdom Hearts 4. Can it really be true? Plus: our very spoiler-free reactions to the GTA 6 leaks (we haven't watched any of it ourselves), Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4's surprise single-player demo, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma gets a demo of The Elder Scrolls 6, and more!

00:00:00 - Intro & Kingdom Hearts 4

00:15:11 - The GTA 6 Leaks

00:40:21 - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Beta

00:47:09 - The Elder Scrolls 6

00:57:23 - Warren Spector Retires

01:08:06 - Outro

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One well-sourced rumor suggests that Xbox won't be backing away from physical media, in the name of backwards compatibility. We discuss what Xbox can and should do to continue offering gamers a choice in how they buy their games. Plus: Xbox's backwards compatibility push reportedly turns to Xbox 360 games on PC, and we revisit some of our favorite semi-obscure 360 games we'd love to see brought forward through this program. We also talk about Xbox's huge new price increase in Europe in the UK, Project Helix, future Xbox exclusivity, and more!

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It's all about Halo this week – save for our first hands-on impressions of Gears of War: E-Day's impressive Horde Siege multiplayer mode at the end of the episode – as we discuss not only our thoughts on the just-released Halo 1 remake, Campaign Evolved, but also the future of Steve Downes in the role of Master Chief, what we'd want (and in Halo 2's case, demand!) from potential remakes of Halo 2 and Halo 3, where the mainline series goes from here, and more!

00:00:00 - Halo: Campaign Evolved

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Fallout: New Vegas game director Josh Sawyer will lead a new Fallout game at Obsidian, giving RPG fans what they've wanted for a long time, even if it's under less-than-ideal industry circumstances. We talk all about this huge new development for Xbox, including what engine it might run on. Plus: id Software is still very much alive, but what will they do next? We debate that before we conclude by lamenting the reported cancellation of a Halo multiplayer project from the studio run by the multiplayer lead on Halo 2.

00:00:00 - Intro & -Obsidian Cancels Avowed 2 for Fallout

00:34:16 - What Engine will Obsidian use for Fallout?

00:44:14 - Future of  id Software

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The axe has fallen at Xbox, and while the result is thousands more job losses, the silver lining is that no studios are being closed. We try to figure out who might've bought Undead Labs (State of Decay 3) and Ninja Theory (Senua), as well as what the now-independent Double Fine might be working on. Plus: Game Pass's failures and how it might evolve moving forward, and more!

00:00:00 - Intro & Xbox Layoffs

00:20:52 - Future of State of Decay 3

00:30:21 - Future of Ninja Theory

00:35:39 - Future of Double Fine

00:41:56 - Future of Bethesda

00:58:39 - Physical Discs & Project Helix

01:11:30 - Future of Game Pass

01:30:05 - Outro

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Another dreadful week of Xbox news brings reports that State of Decay 3 may get canceled and developer Undead Labs might be shut down, with Arkane and its Marvel's Blade project potentially suffering the same fate. We give our reactions, and also discuss how we'd "reboot" Xbox around its biggest franchises, as it's reported that new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma wants to do.

00:00:00 - Intro

00:02:46 - State of Decay 3 Might be Cancelled

00:24:07 - Development on new The Elder Scrolls & Fallout

00:52:59 - Xbox Might Cancel Blade

01:04:34 - Hideo Kojima’s OD

01:21:13 - Outro

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