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

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

Because the Xbox Showcase was SO GOOD this year, our 30-minute live reaction show from Sunday just wasn't enough. So we regrouped and talked for upwards of two more hours about all the big games, from Doom: The Dark Ages to Gears of War: E-Day to Fable to Perfect Dark to Black Ops 6 and so, so many more. Then we lay out how phenomenal the next year and a half of Xbox exclusives and Xbox Game Pass launches is looking before telling you a bit about a few other games we got to see and play at the event last week, including Xbox exclusives STALKER 2 and Replaced! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

00:00:00 - Intro  00:01:48 - Our Thoughts on the Modern Warfare II Beta 00:11:18 - Grounded v1.0 is here! 00:14:44 - Team Ninja is Open to Outsourcing Ninja Gaiden? 00:30:14 - Splinter Cell Remake is Getting Rewritten? 00:43:24 - Unlocked Block Trivia & Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grand Theft Auto 6 gameplay was leaked via a hacker. So now what? What do we think of the return to Vice City? What, if anything, will change about Rockstar's plan to show us the game on their terms. We discuss that as well as Diablo 4's upcoming endgame beta, hands-on impressions from the surprise demo of Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, and more!   00:00:00 - Intro  00:11:35 - Thoughts on the Rockstar GTA VI Leak 00:23:27 - Going Back to Vice City 00:42:38 - Over 40 Minutes of Diablo IV Gameplay Leaked 00:53:18 - What Does the Rest of 2022 Look Like? 00:57:10 - UK Investigates Microsoft’s Acquisition of Activision/Blizzard 01:15:12 - Deathloop Comes to Xbox Game Pass 01:17:12 - Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our Xbox crew discusses a significant management shake-up at the top of 343 Industries, Sony boss Jim Ryan's public airing of Call of Duty-related grievances against Phil Spencer and Microsoft, the biggest news from the weekend's Disney/Marvel and Ubisoft showcases, the new Xbox Elite controller, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Halo and 343 Industries was an arranged marriage from the start. After the latest sting of bad news – the cancellation of split-screen co-op – we spend an hour discussing 343's past, present, and future with the franchise. Is the arranged marriage working? Should Halo even be a "live service" game? It's a complex topic with no clear answers, but clearly it's time to have the conversation. Plus: September's Xbox Game Pass games, the Game Pass Friends & Family Plan goes live in a test market, and more!   00:00:00 - Intro  00:01:41 - Halo Devs Cancel Split-Screen Co-op 00:13:10 - What’s Happening at 343 Industries? 01:00:30 - Xbox Game Pass Friends & Family is Coming! 01:13:29 - More Game Pass News & Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

IGN's Kat Bailey joins Destin and Ryan to discuss the latest leak surrounding Microsoft's seemingly imminent Xbox Game Pass Friends & Family subscription plan. We speculate what it might cost, and how it further adds to Game Pass's already-amazing value proposition. Plus: we talk Madden NFL 23 and sports video games, debate what we want out of the just-announced new Mafia game (including when we want it to be set), and more!   00:00:00 Intro00:01:14 Madden NFL 2300:11:25 Game Pass Friends and Family00:27:25 New Mafia Game00:37:58 Cyberpunk Team Heist Game from Payday Creator00:44:34 Xbox Games With Gold00:51:10 Unlock-Block Trivia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Xbox brought plenty of content to Gamescom, and now we've got a clear picture of what the holiday lineup looks like for Xbox gamers. Plus: Xbox commits to maintaining Xbox prices after Sony raised the price of PS5 in many major territories, Phil Spencer hints at his next acquisition priorities, and more!   00:00:00 Xbox Highlights at Gamescom 00:23:04 Xbox's Fall line-up 00:37:40 Breaking down Phil Spencer's Bloomberg interview 00:47:42 Unlock-Block Trivia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Ryan’s back from a long needed vacation! We catch up on a new Lord of the Rings game coming from Weta Workshop and Private Division as well as talk about game’s we’re looking forward to hearing about at gamescom next week! We also anticipate Marvel and Disney rolling out a brand new Games Showcase next month! Tons of fun stuff today, so come join us in the comments!   00:00:00 - Intro  00:04:50 - Private Division Working on a LOTR Game? 00:18:39 - Xbox’s gamescom Showcase News 00:37:10 - Disney & Marvel’s Games Showcase Coming Sept. 9th 00:46:30 - Even More Delays! 00:50:16 - Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 With the news that the Xbox Series S Performance Boost benefiting developers after direct feedback, the Podcast Unlocked crew discusses the success of the Series S console and why they like it. In addition Activision Blizzard not only covered off on an upcoming Modern Warfare stream in the coming months, but there were also a few news bits about the merger with Microsoft that we missed last week. There was a hefty bit of news to discuss this week so join us as we discuss each story together this week on IGN's Podcast Unlocked.   00:00:00 - Intro  00:01:47 - Xbox Series S to Get a Performance Boost 00:13:30 - Call of Duty: Next Announced 00:30:45 - Xbox Game Pass Tests Out a Family Plan 00:37:00 - Marvel’s Midnight Suns Delayed  00:43:28 - Even More News! 00:53:53 - Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

00:00:00 - Intro & Discord is Coming to Xbox! 00:06:57 - What Other Things Should Xbox Improve? 00:15:18 - Halo Infinite Co-op, No Matchmaking? 00:27:24 - What is the Xbox Summer Spotlight? 00:40:25 - Xbox Game Pass August 00:47:55 - What Are We Playing & Outro   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

00:00:00 - Intro  00:01:08 - Our Thoughts on Ask Dusk Falls & FH5 Hot Wheels DLC 00:08:45 - More Games Delayed to 2023! 00:31:25 - What’s Up with Ubisoft? 00:50:53 - Unlocked Block Trivia & Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After directing two fantastic Star Wars Jedi games at Respawn, Stig Asmussen has embarked on a new adventure: Starting AAA studio Giant Skull. IGN's Ryan McCaffrey sits down with Stig to talk about why he left Respawn, what to expect from his next project, and his goals for creating a healthy work culture at Giant Skull amidst a turbulent time in the video game industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

00:00:00 - Intro & SDCC Info! 00:02:18 - Halo Infinite Co-op Campaign Beta is great! 00:13:15 - Halo Veteran Devs Start a New AAA Studio 00:39:56 - Grounded Gets a TV Adaptation 00:47:58 - As Dusk Falls & New Game Pass Games 00:55:00 - Unlocked Block Trivia & Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

00:00:00 - Intro  00:08:56 - Halo 2 Earthcity Demo Returning? 00:27:00 - Respawn Hiring for an Unannounced Single Player Game 00:36:03 - Skull and Bones Finally Gets a Release Date 00:45:55 - Games with Gold Removing Xbox 360 Games Soon 00:50:25 - Unlocked Block Trivia & Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

00:00:00 - Intro & GotG writer Mary DeMarle joins BioWare 00:24:01 - Ubisoft 'Multi-Game' Showcase Coming in September 00:34:04 - GTA IV and Read Dead Redemption remasters scrapped? 00:41:56 - New Co-op mode for Halo Infinite 00:49:12 - Game Pass Games for July 00:54:40 - Unlocked Block Trivia & Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00 - Intro 1:25 - Xbox Outsells PlayStation in Japan 22:57 - Halo Master Chief Collection Gets Microtransactions 43:39 - Will Microsoft Change Blizzard's Microtransaction Tactics? 51:38 - Overwatch 2 Replacing Original Game 59:10 - July Xbox Games With Gold 1:00:11 - DICE Doubling Down on Battlefield 1:06:54 - Tony Hawk 3 and 4 Remasters Cancelled 1:11:31 - Trivia and Outro   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We take one last, definitive look back on the Xbox Showcase and the Xbox Showcase Extended now that the dust has settled. We've got some constructive criticism for Microsoft, but we also gush about our favorite games from the event, such as High on Life, Forza Motorsport, Redfall, and Starfield. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you missed it when it aired live, here's our reaction show immediately following the Xbox Showcase from Sunday, June 12. We discussed the long-awaited gameplay reveal of Starfield, what Xbox's exclusive lineup for the rest of this year looks like, Redfall, Diablo 4 and Overwatch 2 reactions, our favorite games of the show, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's Xbox Hype week! With the Xbox Showcase just days away, we look ahead to Xbox's big event. Both of them, now that we know that an Extended Showcase is happening on Tuesday, June 14. We make more predictions for what we want to see and think we'll see. Plus: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake's rough road, the survival-horror smorgasbord of Callisto Protocol, Dead Space Remake, and Resident Evil 4 Remake this winter, and more! TIMECODES: 00:00:19 - Intro & Housekeeping 00:03:43 - Xbox News Roundup Part 1 00:09:31 - Xbox & Bethesda Showcase Predictions 00:36:44 - Xbox News Roundup Part 2 00:53:12 - Unlocked Block Trivia & Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, the long-known-about sequel to Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, has finally been announced. We discuss what we want to see out of Respawn's upcoming next-gen sequel. Plus: lamenting the very serious reason for the latest Xbox exclusive to get delayed, Ryan gushes over Ninja Gaiden as the entire series hits Xbox Game Pass, and more! TIMECODES: 00:00:00 - Intro & Housekeeping 00:08:52 - Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Announced for 2023! 00:25:09 - Replaced Delayed to 2023 00:44:41 - New Game Pass and Games with Gold for June 00:54:22 - Unlocked Block Trivia & Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We look back at the Fall of 2007 and discuss: was it the best 90 days of any console ever? From August 21-November 21, 2007 we got Halo 3, Mass Effect, BioShock, The Orange Box, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare - all in a 90-day window. There were also a number of other really good games in that same window: Assassin's Creed 1, Project Gotham Racing 4, Blue Dragon, Eternal Sonata, and more! Join us as we look back on one of the greatest stretches in the history of gaming. Plus: spoiler-free Halo TV Series season 1 reactions. TIMECODES: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:04:21 - Halo TV Season 1 Impressions 00:12:39 - The Xbox 360's Greatest 3-Month Stretch 00:45:20 - The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt for Next Gen Coming Soon! 00:51:00 - Unlocked Block Trivia & Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After Starfield and Redfall both got delayed out of 2022 on the same day, we discuss why Xbox fans are understandably frustrated with the lack of major first-party exclusives this year. Next year does look amazing - and we discuss that in detail - but we also talk about how many fans are tired of being told "Wait until next year." Can the Xbox Showcase provide any immediate answers? Join us! TIMECODES: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:39 - Redfall and Starfield Delayed to 2023! 00:10:08 - How Does 2022 Look Like So Far? 00:48:14 - Unlocked Block Trivia & Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us for an exclusive live interview at IGN Live with Xbox's Phil Spencer and a panel of top game developers. In this deep-dive session, we explore the latest Xbox strategies, the impact of recent studio acquisitions, and what the future holds for Xbox and its fans. From discussing major titles like 'Halo Infinite' to addressing community concerns and revealing insights into upcoming Xbox projects, this is a conversation any gaming enthusiast won't want to miss. Tune in to hear directly from the leaders shaping the future of gaming. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spawn on Me's Kahlief Adams joins us to discuss a busy week of Xbox news, from EA seemingly accidentally revealing Shepard's return to Mass Effect (do we even want Shepard back? Are we hyped for this?), where Activision can take Sledgehammer's Call of Duty games from here after the disappointing Vanguard, Gotham Knights leaving Xbox One behind, Clippy in Halo Infinite, and more! TIMECODES: 00:00:00 - Intro & Commander Shepard Returning? 00:26:30 - Activision On Call of Duty Vanguard's Underperforming Sales 00:50:35 - Gotham Knights No Longer Releasing For PS4 and Xbox One 00:59:40 - Halo Infinite's Season 2 Adds Clippy! 01:03:50 - Resident Evil Re:Verse Potential Release 01:09:15 - Unlocked Block Trivia & Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Microsoft announcing the date for its upcoming Xbox-Bethesda Showcase, we waste no time in making our first round of predictions for the event. From Hellblade 2 to Starfield to Forza Motorsport to Gears 6 and more, we discuss what we think might happen at the biggest Xbox event of the year. Plus: we attempt to unravel the head-scratching mystery that is Embracer Group buying a few Square Enix studios and franchises, including Tomb Raider, Deus Ex, and Thief. TIMECODES: 00:00:00 - Intro & Xbox Showcase Predictions! 00:50:55 - Embracer Group Acquires a Handful of Square Enix Studios 01:13:48 - Game Pass Games for May & more! 01:14:53 - Unlocked Block Trivia & Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Xbox has its best March since the Xbox 360 era, and IGN's Xbox crew discusses the ins and outs of the numbers. Plus: Gearbox is bringing back Tales from the Borderlands itself – and Ryan has a bone to pick with them – 343 Industries details Halo Infinite's 2022 roadmap, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My Xbox and Me host MC Fixer joins us to discuss a big week of Xbox news, from Portal 2's lead writer publicly calling on Valve to greenlight Valve 3 to Amy Hennig getting another shot at a Star Wars game to Sega working on big-budget reboots of Crazy Taxi and Jet Set Radio and more! TIMECODES: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:02:56 - Should Valve Get Portal 3 Done? 00:19:40 - Amy Hennig Working on a New Star Wars Game? 00:29:58 - SEGA on Crazy Taxi & Jet Set Radio Reboots 00:40:50 - CDPR Delays The Witcher 3 Next Gen Release 00:47:46 - WB and the Minecraft Movie 00:53:59 - Unlocked Block Trivia & Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week the Unlocked crew are joined by a very special guest host, Adam Cole! Discussions include speculation about what we can expect from Halo Infinite Season 2, the Kingdom Hearts 4 reveal, and Cyberpunk 2077's upcoming story expansion. Also, have you guys tried Destin's cookies yet? 00:00:00 - Intro & Housekeeping 00:02:20 - Halo Infinite Season 2 Announced! 00:16:48 - Cyberpunk 2077 Story Expansion Incoming 00:24:07 - Kingdom Hearts IV Announced 00:31:35 - Dead Space Remake Coming Early 2023? 00:38:04 - What’s Up with System Shock 3? 00:53:30 - Our “Lifetime” Games & Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Big news for those who've still been trying to get their hands on an Xbox Series X: the shortage might finally be over. Plus: our Game Pass picks for new Series X owners, the upcoming Xbox Game Pass Family Plan has been confirmed, Unreal Engine 5's completion means a bunch of Xbox exclusives just got one step closer to release, and more! TIMECODES: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:02:10 - Is the Xbox Series X Shortage Almost Over? 00:06:27 - Our Recommended Game Pass Games 00:19:10 - Xbox Game Pass Family Plan Incoming! 00:26:46 - Xbox Games for April 00:28:50 - Monkey Island is Back! 00:31:48 - Our Dream Sequel Revivals 00:41:26 - Unreal Engine 5 is Officially Here 00:52:55 - Unlocked Block Trivia & Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grand Theft Auto Online is now offering an optional new subscription service called GTA+. We dig into what it is, who it's for, and whether or not it's worth it. Plus: Xbox leaders discuss the future of cloud gaming and the present-day success of Xbox Game Pass at the Game Developers Conference, and more! TIMECODES: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:02:57 - Rockstar Announces GTA+ Subscription Service 00:17:50 - April Games for Gold 00:23:00 - What’s Coming for Xbox Cloud Gaming? 00:44:30 - Unlock-Block Trivia & Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tunic creator Andrew Shouldice joins us for the first half of this week's show to discuss the ins and outs of creating the new Xbox-exclusive action-adventure largely by himself. Plus: our reactions to the announcement of the new Witcher game, our reactions to the report of toxic leadership at Ori developer Moon Studio, and more. TIMECODES: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:49 - Interview With Andrew Shouldice! 00:39:40 - New Witcher Game in Development 00:56:52 - Moon Studios is Reportedly an "Oppressive" Place to Work 01:16:58 - Unlock-Block Trivia 01:19:43 - Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Three major topics dominate our discussion this week: 1) Our spoiler-free thoughts on the Halo TV show after we all watched the first two episodes. 2) Ryan's spoiler-free thoughts on Tunic now that the review embargo has lifted. And 3) The rocky situation at The Initiative as development on Perfect Dark reportedly struggles to move forward in the wake of many senior development leads leaving the project. TIMECODES: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:30 - Halo TV Series First Impressions 00:17:21 - Tunic Review! 00:26:52 - Perfect Dark Leads Are Leaving Studio 00:47:14 - Unlock-Block Trivia 00:51:37 - Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Halo Infinite multiplayer's season 2, Lone Wolves, has been announced, and we've got a lot to say about the state of the game so far and how hyped (or not?) we are for season 2. Plus: GTA 5's next-gen graphics modes are revealed. Also: Microsoft, Xbox, and the war in Ukraine. TIMECODES: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:57 - Halo Infinite Season 2 Multiplayer Announced 00:21:53 - Microsoft Suspends Sales in Russia 00:33:29 - Grand Theft Auto 5 and GTA Online Xbox Series X/S New Features Revealed 00:41:13 - Capcom is Bringing Resident Evil 2 Remake, 3 Remake, and 7 to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series 00:42:28 - Unlock-Block Trivia 00:48:29 - Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this very special IGN Live analysis of the summer Xbox Showcase, we break down each announcement, from blockbuster game releases to unexpected surprises, and discuss their impact on the gaming landscape. The Podcast Unlocked crew, including Ryan McCaffrey, Miranda Sanchez, Stella Chung, and Destin Legarie, discuss key moments from the showcase, offering insights and reactions that you won't find anywhere else. Whether you're catching up or want to relive the excitement, this is your definitive guide to understanding what's next for Xbox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our Xbox crew digs into the latest bit of big Call of Duty news: that the series will be taking next year off. We discuss what it means for the franchise. Plus: Elden Ring lives up to the hype, the possibility of Xbox Game Pass coming to Steam (and thus the Steam Deck), and more! TIMECODES: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:03:56 - Elden Ring Fever! 00:15:00 - New Call of Duty Pushed to 2024 00:29:09 - Game Pass On Steam Deck? 00:46:49 - Xbox Game Pass For March 00:52:45 - Unlock-Block Trivia 00:55:51 - Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our Xbox crew discusses the report that, among other issues, the release of Halo Infinite's free-to-play multiplayer hurt the launch of Battlefield 2042. Plus: Ubisoft stakes a claim to independence in the wake of so many publishers being bought...unless the right price comes along, Street Fighter 6 just got announced but it's already off to a controversial start, and more! TIMECODES: 00:00:00 - Intro  00:03:39 - EA Admits Battlefield 2042 "failed to meet the expectations of our players" 00:19:52 - Ubisoft Acquisition? 00:29:34 - Street Fighter 6 Announced! 00:43:07 - No Man’s Sky Is Not Finished 00:51:20 - Unlock-Block Trivia 00:55:55 - Conclusion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another week brings another important new update in Xbox's huge acquisition of Activision-Blizzard. Microsoft is making it clear that Call of Duty will continue on PlayStation - and come to Switch - so we discuss the ramifications of that decision for Xbox. Plus: Cyberpunk 2077 comes to Xbox Series X, our thoughts on Netflix's BioShock movie, impressions of The Cuphead Show, and more! TIMECODES: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:03:23 - Bioshock Netflix Movie 00:10:25 - The Cuphead Show First Impressions 00:12:32 - Microsoft has confirmed that "Call of Duty and other popular Activision Blizzard titles" will not just be released on PlayStation 00:21:10 - New COD Game For 2022 00:29:30 - Microsoft has committed to putting "the right people in the right position" at the helm of Activision Blizzard 00:34:42 - Cyberpunk 2077 Released On Series X/S Today 00:41:36 - Atomic Heart Gets a Release Window 00:45:56 - Xbox Game Pass Games for February 00:47:18 - Unlock-Block Trivia 00:50:20 - Conclusion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rockstar has officially acknowledged Grand Theft Auto 6's development, so we spend time mulling over some key questions: When will it be out? Will the long gap between GTA 5 and GTA 6 help or hurt it? Where will it be set? What do we want out of it in terms of main characters, gameplay features, etc. Plus: Infinity Ward confirms the next Call of Duty game and we debate what big and small steps the franchise should take next in order to stay fresh, PlatinumGames wants to bring back Scalebound, and more! TIMECODES: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:48 - Miranda Shows Xbox Nail Polish 00:05:08 - GTA 6 Officially Acknowledged By Rockstar 00:41:12 - GTA 5 Next Gen 00:47:45 - CoD Modern Warfare 2 Coming in 2022? 01:07:15 - PlatinumGames Wants to Return to Scalebound 01:14:15 - Unlock-Block Trivia and Conclusion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sony has purchased Bungie, who has meant so much to Xbox and its history, that we can't help but discuss the deal. We look at what it means for the future of Bungie on Xbox, remember our favorite Bungie-made moments on Xbox, and more. Plus: our reactions to the Halo TV show's new trailer and release date, and more! TIMECODES: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:10 - Sony Buys Bungie for $3.6 billion 00:32:12 - Halo TV Series Gets New Trailer 00:46:20 - Game Pass Games for February 00:48:04 - Unlock Block Trivia and Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We can't stop thinking about last week's landmark Xbox acquisition of Activision-Blizzard, so on this week's podcast, we're talking about A) Who Microsoft might strategically target for acquisition next, and B) our dream Xbox-Bethesda-Activision-Blizzard project collaborations and IP revivals. Plus: Respawn announces THREE new Star Wars games, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Xbox continues its spending spree, buying Activision-Blizzard for almost $70 billion. We spent almost the entire podcast discussing it, from future game exclusivity to Microsoft's role in cleaning up Activision Blizzard's toxic workplace culture to whether or not so much consolidation is a good thing for the video game industry. Join us for the biggest Xbox story of the year (because we can't imagine anything else in 2022 topping this)! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We have a random assortment of Xbox topics to discuss this week, from Dying Light 2's supposed 500-hour play time, Amazon getting the Fallout TV show off the ground with a big name attached, Xbox Game Pass landing another big third-party game on day one, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy New Year! Xbox Game Pass gets 2022 started in a big way - by dropping the entirety of Mass Effect: Legendary Edition onto Game Pass. We discuss the legendary RPG series, the importance of its presence on Game Pass, and more. Plus: what we played over the holiday break (hint: Halo Infinite multiplayer), Tencent's stealthy infiltration of the games industry, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The hosts of IGN's four major podcasts (Game Scoop, Unlocked, Beyond, and NVC) unite, Avengers-style, to discuss 2021's biggest games on each platform, as well as look ahead to what's coming in 2022. We hope you enjoy this special episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Now that Halo Infinite's campaign has been out for a little while, it's time to go into full spoiler mode and discuss our thoughts on the story! Find out what we thought of the (Legendary) ending, Cortana, Master Chief, The Pilot, The Banished, and more! WARNING: Do NOT listen to or watch this episode if you haven't finished the Halo Infinite campaign yet/don't want to be spoiled. Or just skip ahead to the 1:14:30 mark to avoid Halo Infinite spoilers and go right to our recap of Xbox-centric announcements from The Game Awards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's episode is all about Halo Infinite. We can FINALLY talk about it now that the review embargo has lifted. We discuss everything we did and didn't like about Master Chief's glorious return,. but don't worry – this conversation is spoiler-free. We'll do a full Halo Infinite spoilercast on next week's episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy holidays! As we push into the final (huge) month of the Xbox year, we discuss Amazon's rumored Mass Effect TV show. Can it work? Who should it focus on? Who should star in it? Plus: Halo Infinite multiplayer impressions, Scalebound's director speaks candidly about the canceled Xbox exclusive, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices