Topic: Xbox Series In 2026

Considering everything that has happened over 2025 with Micro and Game Pass etc, do you still love your Xbox Series console, or do you wish you never bothered and went with another company?

Because obviously when the hike went up World War 3 kicked off, but now everything has calmed down, how do you feel?

Hello. Personally, I'm very grateful that I have the Series X. I picked it up new a few years ago when it dropped to £300. I picked up an expansion drive a year later, due to an unexpected windfall and moving somewhere where the internet isn't very flash. I'm fortunate to be gifted Game Pass on my birthday and in the festive season, and shopping around for codes means that Ultimate can still be found for much cheaper than the increased price, so that eases my mind (a little) that they are not spending an absolute fortune on what is a luxury pastime. I also cashed in every last reward point just before they nerfed the prices and auto-redemption as well.

I used to use a gaming laptop from 2019 for games that were too demanding for Nintendo Switch. It was mid-range at the time I bought it. I was considering replacing it last year but a home move put that lower down my list of priorities. With the current market and economy ref. RAM, GPUs and SSDs, there is no way I could or would upgrade now. So the laptop is dual-booting Linux and that has extended the life of it quite a bit. I look after it so it still works just fine, but it's been left behind in this current climate of games requiring more VRAM and, well, just pure grunt from the system that it does not have.

So, the Series X is my way of being able to enjoy demanding modern games. I even bought a second hand wheel, pedals and shifter for it (which also work with the PC). With the generosity of family gifting me Game Pass, and some frugal shopping for games, I'm really enjoying it. I saved up for a Switch 2, and just like the original it's a pure smile machine. I love that too. I claim "free" games from Epic, Prime and GOG, and I couldn't even tell you half of what is in the resulting backlog but there are some genuine bangers in there, and usually they're a bit older and within the means of my laptop to be able to run them well.

I'm the kind of person that is make do and mend, a discerning shopper, and I'm happy with what I have rather than buying things for the sake of it. Even so, I feel like I have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to gaming, which I've enjoyed since the BBC Micro. The Xbox Series X (my first Xbox) is one of the pillars of that, despite the confusing and questionable choices the corporation that brings it to market makes. Cheers!