Podcast Unlocked

IGN

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. read less

Our Editor's Take

Podcast Unlocked is IGN's podcast dedicated to discussing the Xbox video game platform. Ryan, Destin, and Mitch are the hosts of the podcast, giving gamers the most recent and popular news in gaming.

This podcast has been releasing episodes since 2014. The hosts offer a unique mix of gaming-focused episodes and expansive topics. Podcast Unlocked goes beyond gaming tips. They also relay the latest industry news, especially when it impacts gamers. From a new company launch to the next-gen war, listeners can learn more about the community.

What's next in the Xbox vs. Playstation saga? What new insights are there from the Activision-Blizzard drama? Is Microsoft developing anything new on the console front? Podcast Unlocked will address topics like these in their fun but informative episodes.

Podcast Unlocked often shares different and recurring segments. This way, the audience can follow their preferred topics and themes more conveniently. One segment, News Unlocked, is a weekly recap of Xbox news and information. Another one, Wallet Unlocked, details all the upcoming retail and digital gaming release dates. Gamers awaiting a new game drop might want to plan their weekly budget with help from this segment.

In another segment, Unblocked Blocked, they bring in some competitive fun. Listeners can submit any Xbox-related trivia. The goal is to stump cohost Mitch, aka "the Mitch Maister." In this segment, the rarer the trivia, the better.

The podcast hosts also share their Xbox Showcase Predictions. Here, they analyze data and come up with their forecasts about the Showcase. They also weigh in on important issues, like the Xbox Games Pass and its real value to gamers.

New Xbox gamers and regulars alike can learn more about their favorites with this show. Xbox-exclusive titles and franchises take up regular space in the podcast. Games like Halo 2, Halo Infinite, Minecraft, Splinter Cell, and Star Wars are all topics.

Casual and serious gamers alike can trust IGN's Podcast Unlocked to bring the latest in the Xbox world. New episodes come out on a regular basis.

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IGN Presents | The Callisto Protocol: Helix Station

IGN Presents | The Callisto Protocol: Helix Station

Subscribe to the horror series set in the universe of “The Callisto Protocol,” the hotly anticipated game from Striking Distance Studios. Helix Station was once the jewel of the Jovian system, but it’s been a decaying ghost ship ever since its Carpenter drive went supercritical. When a dangerous escaped criminal seeks refuge there, officers of the Black Iron Prison force a pair of veteran skip tracers to help recover him. But once on Helix, they discover murderous alien life forms, as well as unspeakable horrors from their past. Starring Gwendoline Christie and Michael Ironside. IGN is publishing and distributing Helix Station in partnership with Striking Distance Studios, creator of the game The Callisto Protocol. The first two episodes of The Callisto Protocol: Helix Station are available now, with new episodes dropping every Thursday. You can find it wherever you get your podcasts. Listen & Subscribe here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episodes

Indiana Jones Is the Best Xbox Exclusive in Years – Unlocked 671

Indiana Jones Is the Best Xbox Exclusive in Years – Unlocked 671

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is here, and we discuss in great (spoiler-free) detail why we think it's the best Xbox exclusive in years. Plus: our predictions for reveals we'll get at next week's Game Awards, Xbox Game Pass's December lineup, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Xbox Games We’re Most Thankful For – Unlocked 670

The Xbox Games We’re Most Thankful For – Unlocked 670

Happy Thanksgiving to our USA listeners! In the spirit of the holiday this week, we're discussing the Xbox games we're most thankful for. Not necessarily the very best ones, but the ones that mean a lot to us that we're thankful for. Special guest: David "Fame2K" Whitaker from LV1 Gaming. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

STALKER 2 First Impressions – Unlocked 669

STALKER 2 First Impressions – Unlocked 669

Our STALKER 2 reviewer Michael Higham joins us to discuss his thoughts so far as he's neck-deep in Xbox's big new exclusive first-person shooter. Plus: we discuss the Game of the Year nominees announced for this year's Game Awards, including whether or not an expansion pack should be included. We also talk about what we want from Amazon's live-action Mass Effect TV show, lament how Splinter Cell remains cursed after the long-gestating Tom Hardy-led live-action movie is announced as officially dead, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

GTA 6 Release Date: Place Your Bets – Unlocked 668

GTA 6 Release Date: Place Your Bets – Unlocked 668

Take-Two's CEO keeps insisting that Grand Theft Auto 6 will be released in 2025. Do we believe him? We discuss why (spoiler) we don't. Plus: a new Phil Spencer interview sees the Xbox boss being quite candid about both an Xbox handheld and the future of exclusives on Xbox hardware, and we have a LOT of thoughts. And we kick things off with a report from IGN contributor Travis Northup, who just got back from Montreal to preview Compulsion Games' new game South of Midnight. Join us! This week's show is Ryan McCaffrey, Stella Chung, Travis Northup, and is produced by Nick Maillet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Celebrating Halo 2’s 20th Anniversary – Unlocked 667

Celebrating Halo 2’s 20th Anniversary – Unlocked 667

November 9 marks the 20th anniversary of Halo 2's release. We celebrate one of the greatest Xbox games ever by welcoming fellow veteran Xbox gamer Danny Peña from Gamertag Radio to share memories of playing it for the first time, ranking the original dozen multiplayer maps, plus a little surprise from a special guest. This week’s show is Ryan McCaffrey, Destin Legarie, Danny Peña from Gamertag Radio, and is produced by Nick Maillet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Getting Evil With Diablo's Rod Fergusson on Episode 666 – Unlocked 666

Getting Evil With Diablo's Rod Fergusson on Episode 666 – Unlocked 666

We celebrate our perfectly-timed-for-Halloween episode 666 with Rod Fergusson, the super-nice franchise head of one of gaming's most evil franchises, Diablo. Rod talks about the new Diablo 4 expansion pack, Vessel of Hatred, the new Spiritborn character class, his reaction to Gears of War: E-Day as the former studio head at The Coalition, and even what his Gears 6 would've looked like. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Xbox Is Cooking This Holiday – Unlocked 665

Xbox Is Cooking This Holiday – Unlocked 665

With STALKER 2, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle all releasing one right after another later this Fall, Xbox is set to seriously cook at the end of 2024. Destin gives his glowing hands-on impressions of his recent STALKER 2 preview session, Seth Macy joins us to gush about Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, and Ryan will give his hands-on impressions of Indy...soon. Plus: former Halo senior developer Joseph Staten is back on the free agent market after Netflix shut down its AAA gaming studio, Halo Infinite's rumored battle royale mode was real before getting canceled, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Xbox's Latest Partner Preview Stream Was Fantastic – Unlocked 664

Xbox's Latest Partner Preview Stream Was Fantastic – Unlocked 664

We went on the air live, immediately following the latest Xbox Partner Preview livestream. We gave our in-the-moment reactions to Xbox's fantastic presentation that included several reveals, including Remedy's Left 4 Dead-style session-based 3-player co-op multiplayer FPS, FBC Firebreak. We also discussed the adorable dog factor powering The Legend of Baboo along with Wuchang Fallen Feathers, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, Alan Wake 2's Lakehouse expansion, Mouse: P.I. for Hire, Subnautica 2, and plenty more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Future of Halo Is Unreal – Unlocked 663

The Future of Halo Is Unreal – Unlocked 663

Our resident Xbox crew (including Miranda!) reacts to and analyzes the huge Halo news of all future projects being moved to Unreal Engine 5 as well as the studio rebranding from 343 Industries to Halo Studios. We predict what the next mainline Halo game is, what we might get before that, how it ties into a possible PlayStation debut for the franchise, and much more! Download the Opera GX: IGN Edition browser at http://Opera.com/gx/ign Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The STALKER 2 Documentary Is a Must-Watch – Unlocked 662

The STALKER 2 Documentary Is a Must-Watch – Unlocked 662

Our Xbox crew discusses the new STALKER 2 making-of documentary, and how it's a must-watch even if you aren't interested in the game. Plus: Ubisoft admits that Star Wars Outlaws has underperformed its sales expectations, leading us to suggest where the company should go from here in the bigger picture. We also talk about Tango Gameworks's new owner Krafton's plans for Hi-Fi Rush 2, Obsidian's possible expansion of Pillars of Eternity into a new genre, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Crazy Blizzard Stories With Jason Schreier – Unlocked 661

Crazy Blizzard Stories With Jason Schreier – Unlocked 661

Bloomberg video game industry reporter Jason Schreier joins us to discuss his new book, Play Nice: The Rise, Fall, and Future of Blizzard Entertainment (out October 8) sharing crazy stories about the prestigious developer that Microsoft just bought as part of their $69 billion acquisition. Plus: Ubisoft delays Assassin's Creed Shadows, Splinter Cell is back...albeit on Netflix, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Can Battlefield Get its Mojo Back? – Unlocked 660

How Can Battlefield Get its Mojo Back? – Unlocked 660

We open this week's Xbox podcast at IGN by giving our hands-on impressions of Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Then we discuss another EA game, Battlefield. We've got new details about the next game in the venerable first-person shooter series, and we talk about what we want out of it and what we think it needs to do in order to get back on top. Plus: more Microsoft layoffs, some good news on the Skate reboot, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What the PS5 Pro Means for Xbox’s Present and Future – Unlocked 659

What the PS5 Pro Means for Xbox’s Present and Future – Unlocked 659

We open this week's Xbox podcast by marking Destiny's 10th anniversary and then discussing the present and future for both the long-running shooter and Bungie itself, as well as what's riding on Bungie's next big project in Marathon. Then we give our thoughts on the Minecraft movie teaser before moving into our main topic: the PS5 Pro's widely panned unveiling and what it means for Xbox in both the present and the future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Xbox Exclusives We Almost Got – Unlocked 658

The Xbox Exclusives We Almost Got – Unlocked 658

This week's Xbox show delves into two notable games that Xbox boss Phil Spencer discussed having the chance to sign but didn't – plus one crucial one he did. Plus: Black Myth Wukong's Xbox absence is explained, Enotria: The Last Song's developers publicly call out Team Xbox for a lack of support, Stellas impressions of Call of Duty Black Ops 6, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our Thoughts on Star Wars Outlaws (So Far) – Unlocked 657

Our Thoughts on Star Wars Outlaws (So Far) – Unlocked 657

Star Wars Outlaws, arguably the first big game to hit Xbox this Fall season, has arrived, and we've got thoughts on what we've played so far. Plus: we discuss some of the biggest announcements to come out of Gamescom (Mafia: The Old Country, Borderlands 4, and others), which games we're most excited about playing for the remainder of this year, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’ve Seen Indiana Jones and Avowed & Both Look AWESOME – Unlocked 656

We’ve Seen Indiana Jones and Avowed & Both Look AWESOME – Unlocked 656

Ryan and Destin are joined by Spawn on Me's Kahlief Adams to discuss our extended new looks at two of Xbox's biggest upcoming games: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, which both Ryan and Kahlief got a lengthy behind-closed-doors look at; and Avowed, which Destin and Kahlief both got to play. We are super excited for both and we want to tell you all about them. Plus: it turns out Indy is a timed exclusive, so we discuss how Xbox fans are feeling and what it signals for the future of the platform. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

8 Spectacular Games We Checked Out At gamescom 2024 - Podcast Unlocked

8 Spectacular Games We Checked Out At gamescom 2024 - Podcast Unlocked

What’s happening, friends? It is a special gamescom edition of Podcast Unlocked. This week, we've constructed for you a very unique gamescom-specific audio episode this week. Our awesome team at gamescom have put together a number of Xbox developer interviews that we’re going to share with you back to back. Coming up, we have interviews with the developers of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Avowed, Monster Hunter Wilds, Diablo IV, Marvel Rivals, Fragpunk, Civilization VII, and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2. Look for another regular episode of Podcast Unlocked, where we will dig into all sorts of stuff, including my behind-closed-doors demo of Indiana Jones, which I am unbelievably thrilled about. We’ll talk about all that and more, but for now, enjoy these developer interviews. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We Love Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster (So Far) – Unlocked 655

We Love Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster (So Far) – Unlocked 655

We've played a bunch of the upcoming Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster and we want to tell you all about why we love what we've played so far. Plus: one of our most anticipated games gets delayed to 2025 but we're happy it'll get the time it needs AND avoid the Fall games rush, Hi-Fi Rush developer Tango Gameworks gets saved by PUBG publisher Krafton and we're pretty sure we know what game they'll make next, we daydream about Batman games on Xbox now that WB is open to licensing its IPs to other game developers, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Avowed’s ‘Problem’ Is the Best Kind of Problem for Xbox – Unlocked 654

Avowed’s ‘Problem’ Is the Best Kind of Problem for Xbox – Unlocked 654

Our Xbox crew discusses why Avowed's delay out of the Q4 holiday season and into early 2025, and why the "problem" of it getting delayed is actually a blessing in disguise for Obsidian's eagerly anticipated first-person RPG. Plus: what Xbox's near-term lineup looks like now after the Avowed and STALKER 2 delays, one of last year's best games comes to Xbox One for those who haven't upgraded to a Series X or Series S yet, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ranking Xbox’s Most Important Franchises – Unlocked 653

Ranking Xbox’s Most Important Franchises – Unlocked 653

Parris Lilly from Gamertag Radio joins Ryan and Destin to discuss a number of Xbox topics this week, from the cancellation of the Paramount+ Halo TV series – which leads to a discussion about how important of a franchise Halo is to Xbox these days, and what the most important franchises are to Microsoft now – to Xbox's mixed-results financials, the devastating layoffs at Bungie, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices