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!

@Vipor007 I bought my Series X day 1 so the price increase on Hardware as not had any impact on. I also have a PS5 and that gets far less of my time spent on it because of Game Pass and the sheer quantity of great games that offers. I know that some games maybe 'exclusive' to PS5 and Xbox games also release on that platform, but I won't pay $70 for ANY game - not when I have so many great games in my Backlog, on Game Pass etc that I can play until those games are on sale.

I also have a TV with Game Pass Cloud streaming built in, a RoG Xbox Ally X and gaming Laptop so Game Pass lets me play games anywhere, on whatever platform/device I happen to want to play on at NO extra cost - I never need to buy games for these and can continue playing the games I want to play seemlessly. I don't need to rebuy games to play on PC for example and my progress in those games carry across each platform, still earn Achievements and can play with my friends/family.

Point is, Game Pass maybe a bit more expensive than it was, but because I have a Console, multiple Gaming PC and multiple devices I can stream to as well, its still great value. Being able to play games like Doom, Indiana Jones, Call of Duty, Avowed, Outer Worlds 2, Forza, Fable, etc etc etc etc across so many different devices at no 'extra' cost, no need to buy different platform versions and can keep my progression, I'd rather buy and/or play in the Xbox Ecosystem and my PS5 has become nothing but a 'box' for exclusives once they are cheap and on Sale. I know I could play Doom, CoD, Indiana etc but add up the cost of buying those and can ONLY play on PS5 compared to plying on so many devices with progress synced across all for a 'small' monthly fee, and it still the best value (to me) and best option for my situation.

I'd still rather not have to pay for Fortnite Premium with my GPU subscription but the amount of games and platforms I can play on, the amount of money it still saves if I add up all the different games I have played (even older, indie and/or 3rd party Published - not just the Day 1 Xbox releases) over a year makes it worth it - like I said, just the fact I can play Doom or CoD on PC at no extra cost makes it worth it instead of having to buy a PC specific version.

Each to their own and different people will have different gaming set-ups, different situations, circumstances and even budgets and/or gaming habits/preferences so they will have their own unique answer and/or justification for their choices here...