Rephonic
Artwork for Unlocked
Xbox
Game Development
Game Pass
Suicide Squad: Killed the Justice League
Microsoft
Baldur's Gate 3
Activision Blizzard
Indiana Jones
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
Starfield
Avowed
Grand Theft Auto VI
Palworld
VR Gaming
Cloud Gaming
Steam Deck
Halo
Grand Theft Auto 6
Playstation 5
Fallout TV Show

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 g... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes755Founded18 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
LeisureTech NewsVideo GamesNews

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Artwork for Unlocked

Latest Episodes

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 comp... more

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 brou... more

YouTube

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 convers... more

More fallout from last week's Xbox Game Pass Ultimate price hike as DLC discounts on Game Pass get eliminated in favor of Rewards points, as well as a possible cause of the 50% price increase. We discuss how we'd fix this pricing problem Microsoft's ... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Lee Petty
Game Director at Double Fine Productions.
Double Fine Productions
Episode: Keeper Devs Tim Schafer and Lee Petty Stop By! – Unlocked 711
Tim Schafer
Studio Head at Double Fine Productions.
Double Fine Productions
Episode: Keeper Devs Tim Schafer and Lee Petty Stop By! – Unlocked 711
Greg Canessa
Former Xbox executive and creator of Xbox Live Arcade
Formerly of Microsoft, Blizzard, Google
Episode: Former Xbox Exec on the Past, Present, and Future of Xbox – Unlocked 700
Lord Cognito
Podcaster and gaming enthusiast
Iron Lords Podcast and Lords of Gaming
Episode: Xbox’s Price Hikes Are Maddening – Unlocked 692
Jordan Ramée
GameSpot contributor
GameSpot
Episode: The Final Word on South of Midnight - Unlocked 687
Ash Parrish
A gaming journalist with experience in video game analysis and reporting
The Verge
Episode: What We Want From Xbox Handhelds and the Next Gen – Unlocked 684
Mark Medina
Returning guest and Xbox fan
IGN
Episode: Indiana Jones Is the Best Xbox Exclusive in Years – Unlocked 671
David Whitaker
Contributor at LV1 Gaming and guest on Podcast Unlocked
LV1 Gaming
Episode: The Xbox Games We’re Most Thankful For – Unlocked 670
Michael Higham
Longtime games media veteran and IGN hardware dude
IGN
Episode: STALKER 2 First Impressions – Unlocked 669

Host

Ryan McCaffrey
Host of the show and a prominent figure in the gaming industry, known for his engaging discussions on Xbox news and gaming culture.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 4.7k ratings
  • Michael Higham Weeks are an easy skip

    Definitely miss the days of Ryan, Miranda, Destin, and Stella. And Alanah before that!

    The new guy, Michael Higham just always sounds like he is stoned when he’s talking. And on weeks Ryan is out and he hosts, it is a DRAG. His constant “that’s what’s up,” “we cooked,” “I’m young” just adds to the annoyance unfortunately. I enjoy the podcast and news each week but when he hosts, I’d rather spend my time listening to something else or someone that doesn’t talk like they just smoked a huge joint.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Cardsdrummer
    United States3 months ago
  • Michael Higham

    See title.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    SuperSilver420
    United States3 months ago
  • Is this the Ryan show

    Seriously Ryan just loves to hear himself talk. Run on sentences and off topic tangents instead of interacting with his co-hosts. Which by the way are rotated out so frequently. Ryan needs to step down from host or watch how much he talks

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    FIFTY PES0
    United States6 months ago
  • Downward trajectory….

    Ive been listening to Ryan and this podcast for around 10 years and have really enjoyed his coverage of games. That said, over the last year or so its felt like they have become far more an advertising branch of IGN than honestly covering games. This became frustratingly obvious when games like Dragon Age: The Veilguard and Avowed got praised while refusing to discuss the major issues throughout both those games. It seems this problem has been furthered by the introduction of new hosts like Mich... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    DavidSprints
    Canada7 months ago
  • Bring Back Stella!!!

    Ryan and Miranda are great. Missing Destin and Stella. New guy seems really nice but doesn’t compare to the aforementioned. Wishing Destin the best, but can we get Stella back more often? Ryan Miranda and Stella would be great!

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Unsubscribed11
    United States7 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

There is a sense of disappointment regarding recent content shifts and host dynamics.
Listeners appreciate the focus on Xbox-centric news and discussions.
The podcast is often seen as a go-to source for Xbox gaming insights and community conversations.
Some longtime fans express nostalgia for previous hosts and formats.
However, there are concerns about the increase in advertising interruptions during episodes.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#13
United States/Leisure/Video Games
Apple Podcasts
#68
United States/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#14
Canada/Leisure/Video Games
Apple Podcasts
#23
United Kingdom/Leisure/Video Games
Apple Podcasts
#64
Canada/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#106
United Kingdom/Leisure

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Keeper Devs Tim Schafer and Lee Petty Stop By! – Unlocked 711
Q: What does success look like for Keeper in the context of Game Pass?
Success means achieving emotional connections with players and staying true to the game vision, rather than just sales numbers.
Keeper Devs Tim Schafer and Lee Petty Stop By! – Unlocked 711
Q: What inspired the design of the game Keeper?
The inspiration came from hiking during the pandemic and the search for purpose in a world where humanity is absent.
Former Xbox Exec on the Past, Present, and Future of Xbox – Unlocked 700
Q: What do you think about the current state of Xbox now compared to its origins?
Canessa reflects on the evolution of Xbox, highlighting changes in game development dynamics and user expectations.
Doom: The Dark Ages and Elden Ring Nightreign Reactions – Unlocked 693
Q: How is Doom The Dark Ages compared to Doom Eternal?
Doom The Dark Ages feels easier than Eternal, but still demands understanding of parry timings and knowing the weaknesses of enemies.
Doom: The Dark Ages and Elden Ring Nightreign Reactions – Unlocked 693
Q: When did you first know that you were getting really good at video games?
When I was about five years old playing Mega Man 3 and I beat Hardman on the first try.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Unlocked

What is Unlocked about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focused on the Xbox ecosystem, this podcast provides an engaging mix of news, game reviews, and discussions on gaming culture. Each episode features a rotating panel of expert guests who contribute insights into current events such as Xbox game releases and industry trends, while also exploring nostalgic aspects of gaming, particularly from the Xbox brand. Listeners can expect lively conversations around significant topics including the impact of Xbox Game Pass, game development challenges, and the community's sentiments towards various Microsoft and Xbox announcements. The podcast aims to cater to both dedicated Xbox enthusiasts and newcomers alike, making it a valuable resource for anyone interested in staying updated on all things Xbox.

Where can I find podcast stats for Unlocked?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Unlocked. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Unlocked and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Unlocked get?

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What are the audience demographics for Unlocked?

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How many subscribers and views does Unlocked have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Unlocked has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Unlocked?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Unlocked:

1. Beyond
2. Game Scoop!
3. Next-Gen Console Watch
4. Nintendo Voice Chat
5. Kinda Funny Gamescast: Video Game Podcast

How many episodes of Unlocked are there?

Unlocked launched 18 years ago and published 755 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Unlocked?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Unlocked?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Unlocked from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Unlocked?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Unlocked. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Unlocked?

Recent guests on Unlocked include:

1. Lee Petty
2. Tim Schafer
3. Greg Canessa
4. Lord Cognito
5. Jordan Ramée
6. Ash Parrish
7. Mark Medina
8. David Whitaker

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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