Unlocked

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

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

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

We remember original Xbox Ninja Gaiden director Tomonobu Itagaki upon the unfortunate news of his passing before discussing the first new mainline Ninja Gaiden game in 13 years, NInja Gaiden 4. Plus: Ryan went on a field trip to Halo Studios and brought back hands-on impressions of Halo: Campaign Evolved, the just-announced remake of Halo: Combat Evolved done in Unreal Engine 5. Finally, Xbox President Sarah Bond gives us a cryptic but concerning update on Xbox's next-gen console plans, Miranda tells you why you need to play Ball x Pit on Xbox Game Pass, and more! 00:00:00 - Intro & Ball X Pit 00:10:18 - Ninja Gaiden 4 Review Discussion 00:42:11- Halo Coming to PS5 01:22:27 - Future of Xbox Consoles & Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Game design legend and Double Fine Productions Studio Head Tim Schafer returns to Unlocked along with Keeper Project Director Lee Petty to talk about their new living-lighthouse game, Keeper! It's out now and it's awesome. In our spoiler-free conversation, Lee and Tim tell us about the project's origins, using Unreal Engine 5, the importance of making games artists want to make, and more! And afterwards we talk about the fantastic new ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X handheld gaming PC now that it's available and we have benchmarks. Enjoy! 00:00:00 - Keeper Interview 00:50:59 - ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X 01:04:54 - Outro & Humble Bundle Choice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Microsoft's recent price hike for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate has caused quite a stir. The hosts discuss how to resolve this pricing dilemma and the backlash from subscribers. The shift from DLC discounts to Rewards points raises concerns about consumer experience. They also address rumors about Microsoft's future hardware and the potential for a free version of Xbox Cloud Gaming. The community's reactions and cancellation trends suggest that consumer pressure might just lead to a course correction by Microsoft.

Microsoft's price hike on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate has gamers buzzing. The reveal of the Xbox ROG Ally X prices sparks comparisons to other handhelds like the Steam Deck. A staggering $55 billion acquisition of EA raises questions about its future direction and the impact of private equity. The team debates whether the increased Game Pass prices will tarnish Xbox's image. Plus, they explore potential AI influences on game quality and upcoming titles that everyone is excited about this month.

Our main topic is one we'd rather not have to discuss, but unfortunately, here we go again with Xbox console price hikes. We talk about our thoughts on the bigger picture of these higher-than-ever prices five years into this console generation. Plus: we've got fun stuff to talk about too, such as Forza Horizon 6's reveal and Japan setting, plus Hideo Kojima's creepy Xbox exclusive OD, which appears to be a spiritual successor to the infamous PT. 00:00:00 - Intro & Xbox ROG Ally X Price Watch 2025 00:05:06 - Xbox Price Hikes in the USA 00:25:10 - Ex-Blizzard President Mike Ybarra criticizes the Xbox price Hike 00:41 :40 - Forza Horizon 6 Revealed 01:02:05 - O.D. Trailer Reaction 01:10:12 - Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We begin IGN's Xbox show this week by discussing the alleged (but still unconfirmed as of recording) pricing of the Xbox ROG Ally X handheld gaming PC, including what the huge apparent gap in price between the base model and the top-end model means for each one. And then our main topic is around GTA 6: a new Rockstar job listing makes a big but fair claim, and we debate just how far and wide its pop-culture reach and impact will be when it finally drops. 00:00:00 - Intro 00:15:08 - LEGO Voyagers Review & Lost Skies 00:17:52 - BioShock Movie is 'Definitely' Based on the First Game 00:31:16 - GTA 6 'Will Be The Largest Game Launch in History 00:58:22 - IGN Fan Fest Returns! 01:01:21 - Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With rumors swirling and Microsoft confirming a Tokyo Game Show livestream, we discuss whether or not we might be about to get a reveal of Forza Horizon 6. Plus: Hollow Knight: Silksong and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle DLC impressions, former Xbox and industry execs weigh in on Xbox Game Pass, and more! 00:00:00 - Intro & Humble Bundle 00:03:42 - Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Order of Giants DLC 00:12:02 - Borderlands 4 out this week too! 00:14:18 - Hollow Knight: Silksong 00:16:10 - ROG Ally X 00:18:02 - Forza Horizon 6 & Xbox's TGS Livestream 00:42:02 - Xbox Game Pass is coming under fire 01:17:15 - Double Fine & Keeper + Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices