Unlocked

The first officially announced Xbox Series game ever, Hellblade 2, has finally arrived, and we've played it! Join us for a spoiler-free discussion of Ninja Theory's stunning new Senua adventure. Plus: Activision opens a new AAA development studio with a narrative-driven focus, this year's Call of Duty looks set to drop straight onto Xbox Game Pass, Grand Theft Auto 6 gets a narrowed-in release window, and much more!

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Today we’re diving into the best of Unlock-Block trivia. Join us as we relive some of the most memorable moments from past shows.

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This episode is much cheerier than the last one as the news is (for the most part) much better! For instance, a new statement from the president of Square Enix strongly suggests that Xbox players will no longer be left behind on future Final Fantasy game releases – or any other game Square Enix makes. Plus: rumors of a new Doom being revealed at the upcoming Xbox Showcase heat up as Ryan implores Stella to play Doom Eternal, Assassin's Creed Shadows sounds like Ubisoft straight-up built a Splinter Cell game into it (mechanically speaking), and more!

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Another devastating wave of Xbox layoffs results in the closure of three Bethesda studios, including the makers of last year's shadow-dropped hit Hi-Fi Rush and the decorated developers of Prey. We do our best to make sense of the move from Microsoft, a company that has spent the better part of the past decade trying to add talent and get more exclusive games on its platforms.

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Join us for our reactions to the most exciting and interesting games (of the many, MANY exciting and interesting games) to come out of IGN's ID@Xbox showcase. We gave our excited impressions of Lost Records: Bloom & Rage, Vampire Survivors' Contra DLC, Dungeons of Hinterberg, Jackbox: Naughty Pack, Stampede: Racing Royale, Palworld's new update, Commandos: Origins, 33 Immortals, and the bizarrely fascinating All You Need Is Help. Enjoy!

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Destin and Ryan dive into the most pleasant surprise of the week: an announcement of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, plus a fantastic reveal trailer to accompany it! We talk a bit about the first game and why we're so hyped for this one – plus why this Fall is suddenly looking mighty good for fans of first-person fantasy RPGs. Plus: Halo Infinite gets another excellent update that leads us into a discussion about more Xbox-based TV shows, we lament the single-player GTA5 DLC we never got, and more!

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On this week's Podcast Unlocked, we're discussing the fallout of Fallout! Yes, the Prime Video TV show is a huge hit – and it's really fantastic to boot. We tell you (in spoiler-free terms) why we love it so much, and then talk about the positive effect it's having on the player counts in ALL of the other Fallout games, many of which are available on Xbox Game Pass right now. Plus: the next wave of Xbox Game Pass games has been announced, the gaming community is upset over Star Wars Outlaws' upcoming Season Pass, and more!

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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 lot of positivity in Xbox news this week and we bring on Brad Sams and Parris Lilly to discuss the latest. In addition to all of this, Gears 6 rumors are swirling alongside a rumored June 9th Xbox Showcase that would definitely bring the hype. All that and more this week on IGN's Podcast Unlocked.

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Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/exclusive-xbox-president-sarah-bond-has-set-up-a-new-team-dedicated-to-game-preservation-and-forward-compatibility

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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 there's hope on the near horizon for the sequel along with Microsoft's new chatbot AI testing, No Man's Sky updates, and the new gamepass games for April.

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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 it could end up being a Switch-like replacement for the Series S in the next console generation. Plus: Elder Scrolls 6 is already playable at Bethesda, but we're hoping the team is doing some serious updating to the Creation Engine. And finally, we talk about Toys for Bob's new game deal with Microsoft after they recently split off from Activision, including what we think the game is. Enjoy the show!

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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 about how EA's hiring of a decorated new executive to oversee BioWare will hopefully help steer the renowned studio back to its former glory. Enjoy the episode!

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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 intriguing narrative canvas, spanning the aftermath of Fallout 4 and touching on the lore of New Vegas, all within the backdrop of post-apocalyptic Los Angeles. As Fallout 5 remains on the distant horizon, post-The Elder Scrolls 6, the anticipation builds for what Bethesda has in store for the franchise's future.

Additionally, we cover the Square Enix Publisher Sale, offering significant discounts on major franchises, and provide updates on the latest Forza Motorsport enhancements that promise to enrich the racing experience. We also spotlight the arrival of the System Shock remake on Xbox and PlayStation, following its successful PC launch.

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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 Xbox Game Pass games hitting the service this month, Toys For Bob's new studio independence, WB's head-scratching doubling-down on live-service games, and more!

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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 of that, we discuss what our Xbox Game of the Generation is so far after the first three years, noting that cross-gen games like Elden Ring don't count. Thanks to Gamertag Radio's Danny Peña for joining us on this episode!

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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 consoles, and then we get into our main topic: a so-called Xbox Series X Pro. With rumors abound of a PS5 Pro, does Microsoft need to get a mid-gen upgrade (i.e. different than the Brooklin refresh from the FTC trial's roadmap leak) out there soon too? Or is it not worth it. We then finish with a bit of chatter about season 2 of the Paramount+ Halo TV show.

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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 older and/or smaller games like Hi-Fi Rush, Grounded, Pentiment, and Sea of Thieves will be. We discuss what this means for the future of Xbox, including the next-gen hardware tease from Sarah Bond. Join us!

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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 put some of its biggest games (like Starfield and Indiana Jones) on PS5. We spend the entire show discussing Microsoft's potentially earth-shaking new strategy, how poor their messaging has been both with this and going back many years now, and then what happens if indeed they're right. Join us!

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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 layoff story, before Destin discusses his mixed feelings about Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League now that he's played almost the entire campaign.

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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 the game after 100 hours. Plus: Xbox Live Arcade-style indie game curation is finally back on Xbox, we discuss a few other big game releases on Xbox this week that aren't named Palworld, and more!

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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: Escape From Butcher Bay, Hellblade 2 looked incredible and we finally got the long-awaited release date, Avowed had gorgeous settings and meaningful character choices but didn't quite wow us in the combat department, and Visions of Mana showed up as a secret and unexpected game. Enjoy our reactions and recap!

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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 hoped. We've all got lots of thoughts on this one. And 3) New reports suggest that Hi-Fi Rush may be headed to Nintendo Switch and Sea of Thieves might go to Switch and PS5. Are we bothered by Xbox giving away some of its older exclusives? Should we be? Join us for a huge show!

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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 announcements, the possible announcements, and "WTF is going on with these games.

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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 Wake 2's Alex Casey; and discuss the long-awaited departure of Activision CEO and game industry villain Bobby Kotick.

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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 excellent showing at last week's Game Awards, including the gorgeous new Hellblade 2 trailer, the star-studded reveal of Hideo Kojima's OD, and Arkane's unexpected team-up with Marvel to make a Blade game.

00:00:00 - Intro

00:02:54 - Unlocked’s Best Xbox Game of 2023

00:21:38 - Baldur’s Gate 3 & Alan Wake II Impressions

00:23:42 - Xbox at The Game Awards!

00:49:38 - Outro

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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 EVERYTHING about the biggest game announcement this decade.

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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, yet another one of it's HUGE patches, and the incredible physical Deluxe Edition that's up on preorder! Finally, Bethesda responded to several negative reviews of Starfield on Steam and we've got some thoughts on it. What are yours now that you've had a lot more time with it since its release?

If you want to get in on a couple giveaways happening right now, head on over to ign.com/rewards! We've got an Alienware Gaming Bundle from Remnant II up for grabs (ends 12/2/23) as well as a custom Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon Xbox Series X (ends 12/15/23).

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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!

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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: we try to make sense of the new Mass Effect 5 teaser we got for N7 Day this week, and then we discuss the imminent Grand Theft Auto 6 announcement and whether or not it's going to happen at The Game Awards. Join us!

00:00:19:06 Intro

00:06:03:14 3 years of Xbox Series X|S

00:26:26:00 Mass Effect 5 tease

00:44:57:27 Finally some real Grand Theft Auto 6 news

00:52:17:24 Outro

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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!

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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.

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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! We discuss Activision-Blizzard games in the back catalog that we'd like to see lightly refreshed for the Xbox Series X|S (similar to the recent Quake 2 remaster), before taking turns talking about which of their IPs we'd like to see Microsoft bring back as a brand-new game. Plus: Starfield tops the sales charts, Bethesda's "Uncle Pete" Hines says goodbye, and more!

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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, lament the recent layoffs at Telltale, and more.

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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.

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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! 
 

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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!

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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 Impressions

00:14:32 - Will Embracer Sell Gearbox?

00:33:41 - Donald Mustard Retires from Epic Games

00:44:17 - The Xbox Mastercard is Real

00:58:35 - Is Ubisoft Finally Releasing XDefiant?

01:14:06 - Unlocked Block Trivia & Outro

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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 2024

00:12:05 - 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

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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 Discussion

01:02:00 - IGN Icons

01:05:51 - Even More Starfield & Outro

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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 disgust at the knucklehead stage-crashers who are going to ruin access these events for fans. Plus: We can tell you that we're playing Starfield, and though we can't share any opinions on it yet, we let you know when you can read IGN's review.

00:00:00 - Intro & the Biggest gamescom Announcements

00:40:55 - Modern Warfare 3: Will It Be Good?

00:46:22 - Alan Wake 2 Reactions & Outro

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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 mechanics to a dynamic day-night cycle.

Xbox is taking a stand against bad behavior with a fresh strike-based program. Learn all about the new enforcement system and how it aims to create a better gaming environment. But is eight strikes before a one-year ban too much? We're breaking down the pros and cons.

And hold onto your controllers, because Xbox Game Pass is about to drop a bombshell lineup! From Everspace 2 to Gris, and the eagerly awaited Starfield, we've got the scoop on the upcoming releases that'll keep you glued to your screens.

00:00:00 - Intro & Baldur's Gate 3 is Just SO GOOD

00:18:08 - Is STALKER 2's Release Date ACTUALLY Happening?

00:35:02 - Xbox Has New Strike-Based Program to Combat Toxicity

01:03:32 - Awesome Xbox Game Pass Games BEFORE Starfield

01:11:14 - Unlocked Block Trivia & Outro

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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 curiosity. But that's not all, Mortal Kombat 1 is back with a bang, introducing Reptile, Ashrah, and Havik as fresh fighters. Red Dead Redemption has also been announced as a port for the PS4 and Switch, and a lot of fans aren't happy! And of course, you know we have to touch on some thoughts on Starfield, Baldur's Gate 3, and Forza Motorsport news. It's a packed episode with host Kahlief Adams, joined by Stella Chung and Destin Legarie, so don't miss this one!

00:00:00 - Intro & EVO 2023 News Galore!

00:15:28 - Alien is Coming to Dead by Daylight

00:19:03 - Xbox is Going Big for gamescom

00:29:07 - Could Starfield Learn Anything From Baldur's Gate 3?

00:43:29 - Red Dead Redemption PS4/Switch Port is Coming

00:49:33 - Outro

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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 Pass & Outro

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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

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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 Call of Duty deal with Microsoft, the death of Xbox Live Gold and its somewhat confusing replacement in the form of Xbox Game Pass Core, and more!

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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 stage for Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of Activision-Blizzard to finally go through. We talk about the games we might see out of it - particularly from Raven Software - the very serious matter of how Xbox boss Phil Spencer must take steps to clean up the toxic workplace culture at ABK, whether or not Microsoft (and Sony) are done making big acquisitions, and more! 

00:00:00 - Intro & ID@Xbox Impressions

00:09:31 - The FTC/Xbox Trial is Not Over Yet!

00:31:18 - What Games Could Return if Xbox Acquired Activision?

00:50:10 - What Needs to Change at Activision

01:05:38 - Is Microsoft Done with Acquisitions?

01:16:19 - Outro

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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 is one) to Ubisoft's rumored Assassin's Creed Black Flag remake to this month's hidden gem on Xbox Game Pass, and more!

00:00:00 - Intro & FTC v. Microsoft Updates

00:08:17 - Xbox & Bethesda at gamescom 2023

00:18:48 - Will We Ever See Another Banjo Kazooie Game?

00:36:40 - Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Getting a Remake?

00:48:39 - Outro

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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! Plus: our own investigative report into the state of The Initiative and the Perfect Dark reboot.

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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 several years, then pour one out for the Xbox One as Microsoft officially stops making games for it, and THEN we finish this extra-long episode digging into all of the crazy revelations that are coming out as we speak during Microsoft's trial against the FTC regarding the Activision-Blizzard acquisition. Enjoy!

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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 all cylinders with some hot new reveals from their best studios. From Starfield to Clockwork Revolution and FINALLY some new information and scenes for Fable, there's a lot to cover, and it's all just icing on the cake! There's so much more, so stay tuned for that!

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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 a dozen ideas about what we might see this Sunday. Plus: we discuss the recent report about Redfall's troubled development, gush about Diablo 4, and more!

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