Xbox Backs Off of $80 Games…For Now – Unlocked 701
Lots to talk about this week! We start by discussing the latest releases and games we're previewing, including Grounded 2, Ninja Gaiden Ragebound, and Shinobi: Art of Vengeance. Then we hit on Helldivers 2 making a surprise jump to Xbox, chat about the rumored pricing for the Xbox ROG Ally handheld, celebrate Hollow Knight: Silksong being playable at Gamescom in a few weeks, express relief at Xbox backing down from its $80 first-party game pricing plan, and then go through a few Bethesda/Elder Scrolls-related stories.
00:00:00 - Intro & July Humble Bundle
00:05:15 - Grounded 2, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, Helldivers 2
00:17:24 - Xbox ROG Ally Price Update
00:28:28 - Hollow Knight: Silksong will be playable at gamescom!
00:35:16 - Xbox games at gamescom
00:41:27 -The Outer Worlds 2 will not be 80 dollars
00:48:14 - Does Microsoft have two unnanounced Xbox games in the pipeline? & Oblivion Remastered
01:01:42 - Future of Starfield
01:11:13:59 - A Farewell to Julian LeFay
01:16:17 - Outro
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1:25:34
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1:25:34
Former Xbox Exec on the Past, Present, and Future of Xbox – Unlocked 700
Former Xbox executive Greg Canessa – creator of Xbox Live Arcade – joins us for our 700th episode to share some awesome inside-baseball stories from his days at Xbox. He also talks about his perspective on Xbox today from the business side of things (including his thoughts on the Activision-Blizzard acquisition), as well as how he feels about Xbox's future. You're not gonna want to miss this one!
This weeks episode is Ryan McCaffrey, Michael Higham, Greg Canessa, Parris Lilly, and is Produced by Nick Maillet
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1:30:01
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1:30:01
The Depressing Aftermath of Xbox’s Huge Layoffs – Unlocked 699
We sort through the aftermath of Xbox's devastating layoffs from last week, including updates on the status of where Perfect Dark was, what's left of the Turn 10 team, how Microsoft's AI investments may have played a part in all of this, and much more.
00:00:00 - Intro
00:03:42 - Perfect Dark00:16:40 - The Future for Halo00:26:05 - Elder Scrolls Online Dev's Comment on Cancelled MMO00:34:37 - Xbox Layoffs Updates & Turn 1000:49:35 - Romero Games' Unannounced Cancelled Project00:56:12 - Founder of Dishonored and Prey Dev Arkane Slams Game Pass01:06:52 - What Now?01:18:31 - Outro
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1:25:23
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1:25:23
Assessing Xbox’s Layoffs, Game Cancellations, and Studio Closures – Unlocked 698
As expected, layoffs at Microsoft and Xbox did happen this week, and they were unbelievably brutal. Approximately 9,000 people reportedly got laid off, multiple games were canceled, and entire studios were shut down. We sort through the wreckage on this week's Unlocked.
00:00 - Intro
00:11:12 - Assessing Xbox’s Layoffs
00:24:33 - ZeniMax Online’s New MMORPG Has Been Canceled
00:29:55 - Perfect Dark and Game Cancellations
00:44:41 - The Damage to Xbox's Brand
00:52:21 - Xbox's Future & Phil Spencer's Rumored Retirement
01:10:14 - Mafia: The Old Country, LV1 Gaming, & Outro
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1:21:43
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1:21:43
Xbox's 2026 Looks STACKED – Unlocked 697
This year's Xbox Showcase was very good, but next year's Showcase should be absolutely jam-packed with Xbox's A-listers, from Halo to Gears of War to Fable and Forza Horizon. And not just that, Fall 2026 should be one of the biggest quarter of releases in Xbox history. Plus: Xbox's curious collab with Meta Quest, our bigger-picture perspective on reportedly imminent Xbox layoffs, and more!
00:08:34 - Let’s talk about NEXT year’s Xbox Showcase
00:27:35 - What is Xbox's Genre Identity?
00:30:45 - What does Fall 2026 look like for Xbox?
00:43:54 - What does 2027 look like for Xbox?
00:52:53 - Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition
01:00:38 - Microsoft Plans Major Job Cuts at Xbox Gaming Division
01:24:00 - Outro
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These days, practically everything is an Xbox, and Xbox fans deserve to celebrate their passion for Xbox everywhere. Unlocked is the definitive Xbox podcast, hosted by Ryan McCaffrey alongside a panel of expert guests. Each week, they dive deep into breaking Xbox news, exclusive game reveals, and heated debates on the future of Xbox—covering everything from consoles and PC to Game Pass and cloud gaming. Whether you're a longtime Xbox fan or just jumping in, Unlocked is your go-to source for all things Xbox.
Unlocked is a part of Geek Media Podcast Network, an IGN Entertainment Brand.
Visit Geek.com for more information.