Huge Xbox Report Details 'Ambitious' Next-Gen Console With Free Online Play

I said they would have to do this. Free for the PCBox, and paid for the Series and below. It absolutely makes sense, and it may even be a draw for those PC gamers that want to have a second PC, which would be connected to their front room televisions.

The other thing they will need to address is whether on the PCBox you can have PC Game Pass, which again will be a cheaper subscription service...

Not even Microsoft is stupid enough to try charging for online play on a PC. Good to know they're not a completely lost cause.

@Fiendish-Beaver At the very least, you will be able to have it outside the "Xbox experience" as that, based on how it is described here, is "just a PC".

I would expect another Game Pass shake-up before this launches, the console Game Pass options become the "legacy options" with a new tier that replaces PC Game Pass that's basically just PC gamepass + cloud streaming.

If they're attempting to sell it as a Xbox PC hybrid they'd be shooting themselves in the foot to not make it free online. Guess even Microsoft has enough common sense for that.

Reports, leaks, everything points to this future for Xbox. Just got to get there without too much rake stepping now. Not a product that I think will outsell a ps6, but one that offers the most freedom you can have with a controller based system

@themightyant that’s what I was thinking, must be a number of people who have the lowest tier of game pass just to play online and so will lose those subscribers.

@Fiendish-Beaver They will most likely get rid of PC Game Pass by the time the next Xbox comes out.

@themightyant There will still be a lot of Game Pass Essential subscribers on Xbox Series X/S. Just because a new Xbox is coming out doesn't mean most current Xbox console owners will make the jump to next-gen, or that Microsoft is gonna get rid of paying for online on the current Xbox. In fact, I would imagine the majority won't.

This ties into the rumors of this thing being very expensive, as Microsoft won't be able to subsidize the cost of the console thanks to the loss of a guaranteed store.

It could be an interesting conflict if the rumored Steam Box/ Steam Machine successor comes out around this time, especially since Valve would be able to subsidize the cost of their device. MS could theoretically see itself pivoting away from a head-to-head with PlayStation only to enter one with Valve (albeit on a smaller scale).

Maybe with this evolution, a third "console wars" is about to kick off.

@Fiendish-Beaver Great news, I suspected it but we now have confirmation that the next Xbox will be fully backward compatible, thanks to AMD partnership I guess.

The commitment that the user experience will remain that of a console suits me perfectly as well. It was logical, but it’s always good to have confirmation.

Free multiplayer: there had already been some rumors about it, and now it’s confirmed, which is really cool too.

As for PC Game Pass, since this console and a traditional PC will share the same OS, it also seems logical that the PC Game Pass will be enough. You may have noticed that the console Game Pass has been removed , I think they did it in anticipation.

Well, I expect the console to cost 2k so free online is expected to go along with the $50 a month gamepass sub.(future pricing)

Jokes aside, I do fully expect the console hybrid to cost 1200-1500. If nothing else, the ally x has taught is people will pay. (I did)

The problem is, gaming always needed affordability. If Sony, MS, and Nintendo are all essentially opting out of an affordable option, will someone else step in? The market is screaming for a $200-$250 console that plays bespoke games. (I guess the series s used to fill that role, but it was cross marketed with the x)

Jez Corden openly mocked people for speculating about Forza, Gears or Halo making its way to PlayStation just a year ago, I wouldn’t take anything he says seriously, his article states the same speculation that we’ve been hearing for months, at this point it’s an expectation but there’s still nothing clear at how Xbox consoles games will run on PCs or how will they handle other launchers’ updates and drivers, if they under deliver or over price that hybrid console device it will be the final blow to the brand, yet if they pull it off it can have an interesting future.

The future is bright for xbox and xbox gamers.

If this report ends up being true then pretty much all of my wishes for next gen xbox will have been granted.

The big confirmation will be if Xbone, 360, and Series consoles will also get free online. Which would be good, however that would all but guarantee Xbox 360 servers are on the next inevitable big chopping spree.

It all sounds great but all Sony has to do is put out a marketing campaign pointing out the lack of BSOD on the PS6 and it will never get off the ground just like they essentially killed the Xbox One with the ‘game lending’ video at E3.

Such a device would be ‘chef’s kiss’ as far as I’m concerned. I’m all on board for this, it’s the dream come true.

I’d be perfectly okay with paying more for the hardware upfront, as long as it actually outperforms PS6 in practice. The rumoured specifications indicate that it should do.

Time will tell whether all this plays out the way that I really hope it will.

I don't know if I like the sound of free online. The paywall keeps a ton of cheaters out and subsidizes the security MS provides for your personal information and credit card numbers. This is a monkey paw curling situation brewing if you ask me. I'd rather pay a few bucks for extra protection instead of being a cheap ass penny pincher.

I hope the rumours are true because Xbox is my preferred way of playing games, and was already interested in Microsoft's next gen offering.
Fingers crossed.

@SalaciousCrumb Valve is able to protect sensitive Steam user info just fine without a paywall. I don’t think you need worry about that. Microsoft has plenty of money available to fund proper account security.

Free online play sounds great, but parts of the overall strategy here don’t add up.

This device will undoubtedly be significantly more expensive than a traditional console. Spec wise, it’ll be barely in mid-range pc territory by the time it launches. That means they’re pricing themselves out of the mainstream console market, while PC bros will just build rigs with far better hardware rather than invest in this machine. It just seems like Xbox is trading one small userbase for another.

@Medic_alert i guess backards compatibility is native (hardware) thanks to AMD partnership. For disc drive, It will most likely be optional, like PlayStation does. Since most players no longer play physical games, there’s no need to pass the cost on to those who don’t want physical editions.

@Cakefish @Fiendish-Beaver
So the console only experience side of things.
Will have a version of a new game and fully download experience?
Or, new games will be on the PC side of the console only and of course fully download experience?

Really can’t see the point of having both a console version of a new game and PC version available on one device.
Think there is more to this.

@kmtrain83 I think you misunderstood , it’ll be the same version of the game, whether it’s on PC or console. The only difference is that the game will detect the hardware and automatically load a default game profile optimized for console use (while still letting the player adjust the settings if they want to).

Xbox Play Anywhere also includes cloud support, and yes — it’ll be much simpler for developers in the future since they won’t have to manage a separate console version.

@themightyant Game Pass and many of the things associated with Xbox are already complicated in their current state, so I don't think Microsoft has any worries about complicating things even further. Besides, free multiplayer would be an incentive for Series X/S owners to upgrade to the next Xbox

This seems pretty solid on paper. But as always, execution is what matters. And Xbox hasn’t been good on that front in quite a long time (for the most part). I’m less excited and more curious to see how this all plays out.

Regardless, next year looks great for XBOX games!

@kmtrain83
Absolutely have not a clue.
For all we know the Xbox part might be cloud gaming only, boo.
And the PC part for new games fully downloaded for the full experience and no new Xbox console games going forward for download.
Wish they would just come out with it all and ease my mind, the longer they keep it hidden the more will divert to the other two, where certainty is as good as known.

Given that they've been trying to merge the PC and Xbox ecosystems, free online play makes sense. I wonder if the new Xbox will support physical media; that will be what determines if I buy one or if I just stick with my PC as I'm as much a collector as a gamer.

@OldGamer999 presumably there would only be one version of the game. The console/PC schism would cease to exist. It would just be the Windows version running on all devices.

This is the dream of console and PC gamers: a console-like experience with optional PC freedom and free online. Hardware optimised for gaming like your typical Xbox, surpassing PCs with similar specifications. Turn on and play. The best of both worlds. Moreover, no more walled gardens and no more specific ports, with the Windows version of games running on the next Xbox.

@Runex2121 there have been rumours that valve are interested in producing another steam box to compete with Sony and Nintendo. Here’s Gemini’s summary as couldn’t be bothered to write it up myself:

“Rumours suggest Valve is developing a new Steam console, codenamed Fremont, to compete in the living room market against consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. This new "Steam box" would be a set-top box for the TV, unlike the portable Steam Deck. Leaked specifications point to a custom AMD processor and RX 7600 series GPU, with the device designed to integrate seamlessly with the Steam ecosystem, similar to the original Steam Machines but with improvements.”

The rumoured power of the system points towards it being affordable rather than a high end enthusiast level hardware option.

@kmtrain83 It’ll be able to run your entire Xbox game library — something a regular PC won’t be able to do. From what I understand, Xbox consoles will include dedicated hardware for native backward compatibility. There will also be AI-powered features built into the hardware specifically for gaming (like Auto Super Resolution, etc.). The console will run the same OS as a PC, but its components won’t be exactly the same as what you’d find in a traditional PC.

This is just a PC, which I have zero interest in.
Sounds like it'll be $1000 or more.
Do they lower Game Pass Ultimate because PC doesn't pay for online?
Are you forced to play in PC multiplayer? Because I turn off crossplay to avoid cheaters.
Will devs support native Xbox versions of games or just say oh well, they can buy our game through the Steam Store?

@TheGameThrifter it’ll be the same version of the game, whether it’s on PC or console. The only difference is that the game will detect the hardware and automatically load a default game profile optimized for console use (while still letting the player adjust the settings if they want to).

@fatpunkslim A lot of AAA devs skip Windows Store. Games have to be developed specifically for a console, which is why those typically have less issues compared to PC games. PC games suffer a lot from bloat due to resources being used for other things.
If the next "Xbox" is Windows in full, it'll have the same bloat. Running Antivirus and everything else.
I like plug and play, not messing with settings and sliders and files. Windows is horrible

@OldGamer999 I'm stuck on the same fence as you. Xbox ecosystem is my preferred one now, confirmation of how that future looks is what I'm most desperate for

Interesting to see.

But the devil as always will be the price. Because let’s be truthful this is pricing out many families (unless MS seriously subsidises it).

Online may go free but I doubt there will be a PC gp and GPU. And how much will that be in 2years? $50?

But let’s see what they come up with.

@Cakefish
That’s what I was thinking.
But you hear things about games not running that great on windows or the unit needs more resource/power.
what I heard, I have no idea.

@Coletrain
They are probably leaving it until the last minute, so we stick around until all is revealed, in case we leave now if we don’t like.
I mean they must have a had some leave GPU due to the price increase.

@ElkinFencer10 Like others said, online will very likely be paid on Xbox One and Series X|S, same as phased-out Game Pass tiers still exist. Free online will be free on the next Xbox. It will be digital, although a disc driver might be available separately. They are going to get rid of PC Game Pass, currently hidden under an arrow on their website. They want all tiers to support console, PC and Cloud.

@OldGamer999 I've been toying with the idea of leaving but I've a pretty decent library of unplayed games at the moment, and I've no issues at all with the hardware performance of my series x - it's been excellent. Ultimately, I think I'll stick around until next gen releases and the reviews are in

@Coletrain
Definitely no series x complaints from me and GPU stacked March 2027.
I don’t get the secrets though unless they don’t know really. 🤣
It’s not like Nintendo and Sony are going to copy them, not next generation anyway.

@OldGamer999 All PC games run on Windows, Steam included. The problem with Windows is that until now, it was not optimised for gaming, which is what they're doing now, and thus third-party stores beat Microsoft's own OS store. The other problem with PC games in general is that every PC is different and there are several brands making different CPUs and GPUs, but games running on the same Xbox will know exactly the optimal settings.

@OldGamer999 no, I think Nintendo will carry on as is and Sony might experiment with different SKUs but largely keep the same high quality (but low volume) output. Guess that's the gamble staying with Xbox though eh, you just never know what you're gonna get 🤣

@OldGamer999 Sony will release a PS6 that won't be subsidised either and Nintendo will probably release a Switch 3 that won't be either. They still will be (popular) walled gardens, the only difference is that Sony games will be available on PC and, according to their job listings, some on the Xbox store as well.

I have been saying for ages now, @BaldB3lper78, that you cannot have the premium console/PC experience, and expect it to come in at much under a grand. I've been shot down for it time and time again, and yes, I know Phil Spencer said they weren't going to be selling a console for £1000, but then times, inflation, tariffs, and who is in charge at Xbox (Microsoft!) have all changed. Now, I don't expect the PCBox to be sold for £1000, I expect it to be more than that. Not by much, I guess, but I think it will come in at higher than a grand.

Honestly, I don't think that Microsoft is targeting the majority of those that game on the Xbox right now. I think they are targeting the hardcore element of those gamers. Those that bleed green and will stick with Xbox no matter what. Those that would play instruments aboard the sinking deck whilst all other flee.

For everyone else, Microsoft will provide the Series consoles. They will keep making them, and keep supporting them. I honestly don't think Microsoft are looking to sell tens of millions of the PCBox, but maybe a more modest 10 million. However, I do think that Microsoft are faced with a difficult proposition right now, as the only two real choices they have are to drop out of the market, or completely innovate by bringing something different to the market, but that ain't gonna come cheep...!

@Runex2121 "expected to go along with the $50 a month gamepass sub.(future pricing)"

Be very careful even joking that. I still stand by my prediction that will be reality within next 2 years. Yet....

People here did not respect my opinion or thoughts on that and even insulted me. Which is very much against forum rules. But I end up being the one that could not post for like a week - - if you follow what I'm saying.

Can't make this stuff up. I really thought on being financial supporter for the site and display blue ribbon. But treatment like the above absolutely removes my goodwill.

I admit it would be a very 4D chess way to beat Sony by having their games available on your platform, albeit on a different storefront. In any case, I can see people balking at that price but free online would be refreshing for anything resembling a home console.

@Coletrain @Banjo-
Absolutely we know what Sony and Nintendo are doing, that’s my point.
So why don’t Microsoft just let the cat out bag and give us the full details.
It is sort of exciting overall, but enough is enough now.

@Coletrain @OldGamer999 I think that the three of them are no longer competing with each other directly. Nintendo is probably more worried about mobile devices that were not as popular for gaming in 2017, including phones, tablets and now gaming handhelds that play more games and are less limited. Early sales are always strong, but will Nintendo repeat the Switch success? Sony is not worried about Xbox, but is probably worried about the console market being limited and hardware sales not translating to software sales with few exceptions, and typically third-party titles, so they are ready to become multiplatform and sell their so-called pedigree games to more players. Microsoft just realised the console market is even more limited for them and have been supporting PC since Xbox One and now are ready to merge both markets. What makes their proposition more interesting to me is that they are bringing the best of both worlds and, literally, the only thing that players will miss on the next Xbox are Nintendo exclusives.

@Oldgamer999 The next Xbox needs to be announced properly and closer to launch, not earlier than one year. Who knows when it will launch! 2027? 2028?

If the rumours of a $1200 PCBox are true, @Questionable_Duck, I'd be surprised if a third of Series, and prior, Xbox owners upgrade to the new system. So it there are 30 million Series consoles (and however many prior to that) then I would think that Microsoft will not expect to sell more than 10 million PCBoxes within the first year or two. Indeed, that may even be their lifetime target because for families, in particular, the console is there to entertain the kids, and kids don't need an all singing, all dancing PC. They just need something they can pick up an play at an affordable price...

@Banjo-
I would think year 2027. Though I would prefer 2028.
As due to various circumstances, current gen really hasn’t shown us the best of yet.

@Banjo- it's certainly an enticing prospect, and I don't mind paying extra if that's what it will do.

As Mr Beaver is correctly pointing out, this open future won't come at cost, but I guess you can counterbalance that by saying you won't need 2 separate consoles to play 99% of games so is it any different to people who have bought Xbox and ps5 this gen

@Neither_scene While not something with exclusives, if they could get it reasonably priced for families out there entering the market for gaming, it could be a hit.

Biggest concern I have with the current market is that with prices now starting at around $500 for a minimum entry point to game, for a large percentage of people it's just no longer viable.

Gaming is a hobby for all people, not just the rich. And while I am thankfully able to support the hobby without any issues, it would have been much more challenging in my youth. There is a large percentage of people out there who can only afford 1 console anyway, and with current trends, maybe not even one anymore.

@Coletrain Exactly, the only thing that the next Xbox won't play are Switch games. Besides, unless PS6 sports last-gen tech, unlikely after watching AMD's presentation, it won't be cheap because it won't be subsidised. Rumours say it won't be as powerful as the next Xbox, but that doesn't mean that it will be much cheaper, and then you have to consider paying for online, on top of what you mentioned.

@Fiendish-Beaver Yes, that's why removing paid online from the next Xbox really wouldn't be as detrimental to Microsoft's bottom line as people think it'll be. Heck, by the time the next Xbox is released in 2027, I assure you there will still be millions of people playing Fortnite and CoD or whatever on Xbox One.

@Banjo- the Mark Cerny X AMD video was interesting, because they really leaned on on streaming compression. If Xbox doesn't have something similar then they might run pretty much identically, because that quick storage system was a killer feature for ps5.

But it's all about the games for me; show me a system that plays Xbox and ps games without having to sit at a desk (and isn't a handheld lol!) and it's an easy winner

If they can promise a disc drive, internal or external, to play our entire libraries, then I think this could salvageable for me.

@Coletrain I like handhelds, but I definitely prefer playing on a console connected to a big OLED TV and with an Xbox controller in my hands. The Series X in that regard has been perfect for me during the last 5 years. At least, they nailed the hardware!

Really nice to hear BUT I won’t believe it until I hear it from Team Xbox AND see it in person lol.

Xbox has damaged consumer relations hence why I am cautious (as I should be).

This is really the only logical path forward for Xbox. Meanwhile PlayStation will do the same thing they did all over again, and Nintendo already has their hardware in place. It’ll be three very different ecosystems (with many of the same games, until switch 2 again inevitably lags behind)

I do hope the Xbox/PC Hybrid is true for the next Xbox hardware. It will be a day one buy for me. Unless the price is outrageous.

@ILuvGames agreed. Guess I better start saving my Best Buy credit or Microsoft rewards or something

I was so pumped when I got my Series X. I thought Xbox was going to have a great gen and when I played Halo Infinite, I thought we were doing it. I don’t understand what people didn’t like about Infinite, but I feel like whatever the failure was, it was on the management of Microsoft.

I don’t know why I’d buy the next gen unit, but who knows. I’ll be curious to see why we learn.

The next xbox will play playstation games natively and Nintendo games if you fancy yourself a pirate. Exclusivity is dead.

This will have access to more games than any console in history.

@jesse_dylan it’s not coming until 2027 from the sounds of it. Just putting aside $10 a week would get you probably about where you would want. Would put you over $1,000 saved up for release.

@BaldB3lper78 that comment was for the person replying to my original comment saying they were wanting to save up for the next Xbox which, by reports, will be sporting a higher price tag. What you do with your money is no concern of mine.

@SodaPop6548 Halo Infinite is a great game.

@Nintendo4Sonic I agree. The game was great. The post launch support not so much. Hopefully now that they are not using the Slipspace engine and they have gotten rid of a lot of the people making those not so great decisions. I am optimistic for Halo’s future.

@BacklogBrad Yep if there's steam and gog on there, day One for me 😁

@Nintendo4Sonic Yep, 100% Agree with you

@SodaPop6548 Series X is Great but took xbox to sell there soul the MS to get enough studios under them to do what they are doing now, pushing out about 6 games a year, if they could have done this from the start, maybe this gen could have been different but glad they are in the swing of things now, hopefully set them up for next gen👍

@ILuvGames I kinda suck in the Multiplayer, but the campaign was great, at times pretty tough, but great.

To compete with Steam and all other PC based platforms, they cannot charge for Social gaming so it makes sense.

If they were to build a more 'PC' like device that is open to 3rd Party Apps like Steam, who would buy ANY Online social games on the Xbox Platform. Buy on Steam and save having to pay for Essential (or higher tiers) just for Social gaming.

The only way they can add 3rd Party Gaming apps otherwise would be to lock those behind their own Sub paywall - Can't access Steam or Epic unless you subscribe to Game Pass - which would likely push people to 'PC' - there own PC games don't require a Subscription either so if its 'Xbox PC', then how do you charge only on 'Xbox' platform when any other Windows 11 PC won't.

Its archaic to charge for Social gaming when so many games are Social and the hardware is sold as a Social gaming device. Its a product of the early days as Console transitioned from Couch co-op to online gaming.

I understand that it helps with Subsidised Hardware - locking someone to a Platform with only 1 store and a Sub fee (which adds up over the life cycle to additional £100's on top), but really that is anti-consumer and archaic practice these days- although 'traditional' for Console gamers.

Xbox is really the 'king' of Consoles when it comes to Social Games/Gaming. The majority of their first Party IP's have big Online Communities built iup around them - Halo, Gears, Forza, Minecraft (the 4 big franchises they relied on before adding more studios) SoT, Grounded etc as well as acquiring F76, ESO, WoW, CoD etc. Sony and Nintendo were known more for their Single Player games than Social gaming - even though they do offer some...

Paid mouthpiece told to put something out to take the focus off all the negative press.

I will pay attention when a reputable, independent journalist does their own report.

Last week they were done with consoles, this media changes like the weather.

@ILuvGames Great comments, #79 👌. I love Halo Infinite, it's my favourite Halo, but the first one is also very special. It has some of the best level design in the series. Yes, I know some levels are empty and repetitive, but I mean the design of the battles, enemies and battlefields, some of the best I've seen in my life. I'm looking forward to its remake. The only one I disliked is 5 and 4 is so-so. Something got better at 343 Industries/Halo Studios, fortunately.

“it will feel like a traditional Xbox console“

So not a console.

@Banjo- I would say Infinite, Halo 4, Halo 5 is how I would rank the 343 games. I really enjoyed Infinite and Halo 4, great games. Halo 5 I also enjoyed especially the MP, the campaign I enjoyed but it didn’t feel as fleshed out as Infinite and 4. Still I’ve never played a bad Halo game, the internet is just full of exaggerating negative Nancy’s lol

@ILuvGames Well, there are more Sony fans than Xbox fans on Pure Xbox, as you can see. 😂

@Banjo- hating games based on publisher is such a weird thing. Glad I just get to enjoy whatever I want.

@ILuvGames Yeah, games are the important thing and it doesn't matter what games we play and on what system(s). Gaming is supposed to be for fun. Some people here gives those tragic vibes, though.

To match PC? But how much are audiences paying for it in other ways?

Ad a singleplayer type I don't care tbis doesn't effect me but come on.

The streaming services? Apps in the Microsoft store that Nintendo/Sony definitely don't have.

What is staying, going, added, removed for this console?

Do we get Steam?

Steam tv/movies too?

More cloud?

Who knows?

More power and price sure but what is it offering?

I don't care for specs and price doesn't make me anymore interested.

Non bland games and controller/console gimmicks do.

8/9th gen suck so why would I upgrade for even more bland and boring.

I haven't had fun playing a modern game Indies or AA/AAA in years because of current game design gameplay movesets/level designs being cut back so much. That's how bored I am by how accessible games are. It's not difficulty its how characters feel to play and the core structure of gamss progression, movesets, what level design is, what tasks/abilities.

I already bought a PC from all the waffling. I indeed died hard as an Xbox fan 💀

Basically a way to get into other platform’s game libraries because Xbox is unable to create and sustain one of its own.

@Fiendish-Beaver I though the whole point of the recent changes was that Gamepass PC no longer exists, as all three tiers include PC.

As I understood it the tiers now just reflect how many games you have access to, and if you have access to day 1

EDIT: I should add I expect they would keep those tiers the same but remove online play from them and add it as a supplemental for older devices.

Hopefully the console not more than $700

Well yeah because it'll be a PC and not a console. This and that ASUS handheld are simply to migrate their console players to PC

Free online play would have helped Series consoles a lot. Now that Xbox has way less draw even as a piece of hardware, let alone a dedicated gaming console, it's not going to make a difference. In 2020 this might have made Sony very nervous, but now they're simply going to shrug it off.

It'd be cool if Xbox made online free for all of their consoles, but I understand that this next-gen machine is basically a PC where you'll be able to play games from other services like Steam so a paywall makes no sense, but One and Series are walled garden systems so they're going to keep charging for it.

Not a chance, @rhyno_888. You are looking in excess of $1000. I would say somewhere between $1000 and $1400. You simply cannot have the premium PC experience that Microsoft is hinting at for less than $1000. Indeed, for it to be truly premium, you could even be looking to pay double that which you are hoping for...

Haven't gone through all of the comments here, so not sure if anyone else picked up. Everyone is saying this great for free online, but if this thing is backwards compatible with previous xbox consoles, then you will be paying for multilayer to play your library of games. It sounds like this is the only way it can tackle backwards compatibility, rather than the play anywhere route.
I am not xbot person myself, so would that mean you would have to purchase both console (for multiplayer) and PC gamepass?

I don't know how they can remove PC Game Pass, @ilyn, as they they will still have to have some form of Game Pass available for PC as PC Game Pass is apparently the only one that has seen any growth in recent times, and Microsoft won't want to lose those subscriptions.

The issue is how do they deal with that. Currently PC Game Pass is probably the best service Microsoft offer because it is a lot cheaper than Ultimate, but offers the same benefits. Indeed, it actually gets more games than Ultimate as it also has many PC orientated games on the service that are not available on consoles.

This is the issue for Microsoft; if you get rid of PC Game Pass and swap it out for Ultimate, you will actually be offering those that currently have PC Game Pass less than they currently get. Equally, if you currently have Ultimate, and then get the PCBox, then you surely you would expect to be treated the same as those that already receive PC Game Pass, but not only that, you would expect to be paying less than you currently do for Ultimate, just as PC Game Pass subscribers do.

The only other alternative is to migrate those who invest in the PCBox to PC Game Pass, but increase the price of PC Game Pass to match Ultimate, but then Microsoft run the risk of existing PC Game Pass subscribers quitting the service, unless they say that if you remain subscribed then your actual payments will not increase, with only those joining the service paying a new, higher, price.

Upshot is, I really cannot see how Microsoft can simply get rid of PC Game Pass because people will have stacked the service and will be rightly upset if it is fundamentally changed, or is in someway seemingly downgraded. Likewise, if you do invest in the PCBox, then you would expect to be treated the same as other PC gamers, and right now that means being offered more, but paying less.

All of that is before you take into consideration that part of the cost of Game Pass goes towards paying for access to online, which if it is then made free, must surely mean that the cost of Game Pass should come down, otherwise it is not actually free, is it...?

@Fiendish-Beaver only <1 million will buy Xbox if at that price. I don't think Microsoft will only sell 1 sku, I think there will be series s like version maybe at $600-$700. Maybe with lesser RAM let's say 32GB. We still don't know if Microsoft will use a single unified GDDR7 VRAM, that would be too expensive. I think they will use 16GB GDDR7 for the cheaper Xbox with 16GB LPDDR5X or maybe only use 8 core cpu. The expensive version probably 20GB GDDR7 with 24GB LPDDR5X with the rumored 11 core cpu.

@Fiendish-Beaver I reckon PC gamepass price increases are pretty much a given if they drop the requirement to pay for online play. If the Nextbox does everything people are expecting it to, then Xbox will miss out on several revenue streams that they have relied on in a closed console ecosystem. I can see a small price increase next year and a more significant one 6-12 months after it releases. The company who are probably most excited by all this is Valve….this will just be like printing money for them.

@Fiendish-Beaver I was mistaken thinking the PC had gone. I was looking at the gamepass website and they hide the PC only tier, whilst Essential, Premium and Ultimate are all clearly visible and specify that they include PC games. I suppose this is another example of just how poor their messaging is as it feels like its almost intended to be difficult or confusing.

I agree with you on everything you say above in regards that it would make no sense and alienate customers. Unfortunately I think its a big enough rake that MS will jump all over as the bean counters will not want to give up that revenue stream.

No, I honestly think they will be selling the PCBox at that sort of price, @rhyno_888. What they will do though is continue to sell the Series X, and maybe the S. It really is meant to be a premium product, and Microsoft have probably calculated they will sell around 10 million units.

I think Microsoft see it as an entry point to the PC market, and if you look into it, you will see that to get a mid-range PC will set you back around $1500, and a high-end one you are looking double that. Because of their buying power, Microsoft will pay less for the guts of the PCBox, and if they sell it at around cost, they can offer a middling PC for around $1200 (which is how much it is rumoured to cost). Even a middling PC will be a significant improvement on the Series X.

Honestly though, I really don't think that Microsoft are expecting to sell tens of millions of the PCBox, but if they make it an enticing enough machine, then many people will still buy into the idea...

Entirely agree, @GeeEssEff. If the PCBox comes out Fall next year, then I don't think we will see another Game Pass price increase until Spring 2027. If, as is widely expected, the PCBox comes out in 2027, then I suspect we will see a 'modest' Game Pass price increase across the board, and then the next one will be more significant, but won't happen until around 6 months after the release of the PCBox.

Regardless, subscription fees will be increasing, and then, as it creeps ever closer to $40 and above, people will need to actually calculate the value of the service to them as individuals.

For me, I have Ultimate stacked until June 2027, and I already know that I do not get value for money from the service. I really only use it for online access, and on top of that, I prefer to buy my games, even first-party ones. My plan had been to either drop Game Pass completely, or drop to Essential if I still need to pay for online.

I know me well (as you would expect!), and I have a real weakness for Xbox, and for having the latest tech, so I fully expect to buy the PCBox because I will want the best available Xbox, so if online does go free, which it absolutely should for anyone that buys the PCBox, then I will likely completely drop Game Pass, and simply continue to buy my games...

@Fiendish-Beaver PS6 will have complete monopoly if $1000-1200 next Xbox is true

I agree, @rhyno_888. I think there will be a sizeable shift of gamers migrating from the Xbox over to the PS6, and then even more will stick with their existing Series consoles. I doubt the uptake in a $1000+ Xbox will be huge to begin with, and that 10 million lifetime sales is more likely the target.

As I have said before, families looking to buy a console for the front room, which is primarily going to be used by their children, will have no need for a powerful PCBox, and be unwilling to spend $400 or more over the cost of the PS6 or Switch 2, and so they will not be looking to buy the PCBox.

The PCBox really is there for the Xbox enthusiast. It is not meant as a product for everyone...

Sounds good but I'ma hold the hype until it's actually released, reviewed and likely on sale lol. Would be great to have all that access in one spot without the PC tweaking and twerking , but I want to see how it all actually plays out. I'll have 2 years of rewards points saved up to cash in at a best buy or Microsoft store to go towards it if it's actually good.

@Markatron84 'yet'

Laughable.

Is this going to be largely the same OS that leaves 30% performance on the table vs running linux?

@Fiendish-Beaver hopefully Microsoft listen to what consumers want and do cheaper S version. $500 is okay

I dunno, I like that there will be that traditional Xbox interface for those of us who just want that experience, but then you're paying that premium for functionality that you'd never use.

This is my own little bubble but very few people I know even have PCs at home, and those that do only use it for Office, so a PC-like Xbox, which comes with the relative pains of PC gaming and costs a small fortune for that ability, wouldn't make much sense. I wanna say they should release a cheaper SKU aimed at the more general audience, but that hasn't been working so well for them and it's clear that something needs to change. Not sure this change is gonna get them out of the hole they're in.

What Microsoft meant is "Free online play" with ads.

What's laid out here is a Next Xbox with full backwards compatibility and the ability to play literally everything from any PC storefront or other means. If this is real, it is truly the holy grail to sit in the center of an Xbox empire. I wouldn't mind paying $1000 on a device that could play more Nintendo games than an official Nintendo console. But it also seems like the plan is OEMs at a variety of price and hardware SKUs and cloud solutions and to support Series X|S consoles as long as they have the Xbox One.

It is truly evolve or die time in the gaming industry. We're seeing the biggest AAA western publishers bail out or get bailed out. Console gaming has a particularly precarious future with the overall market not having grown in well over a decade. As is consoles are coasting on the fact that the same core users are spending more on games, Microtransactions, subscriptions, and hardware. Nintendo and Xbox exist in the same reality, the biggest differences are that a) yes, Xbox is in third place making it more vulnerable to the reality of the market and b) Nintendo has the clout to charge $450 for a Switch 2 (that is like last gen hardware in terms of tech) and $80 for Mario Kart or $70 for Pokémon (neither of which cost as much to make as other AAA games). Playstation exists in the same reality but is kinda just pretending everything is fine as their bread and butter (expensive high quality exclusives) turn into oil and fire on a wooden ship of gamers mostly stuck on fortnite, COD, and Minecraft.

If this is real, it's the best path forward for Xbox: they can truly take advantage of their competitive advantage while building an Xbox ecosystem that's an empire and carrying all that's come before forward. And it's why I continue to see Xbox as the best place to play. Over on Nintendo Switch 2 land it's a door charge to upgrade games and I certainly don't see my Wii or DS library on my switch much less with any cloud saves. Same for Playstation. It feels like Valve and Microsoft are building the future platforms that will carry gaming forward and finally invite in new gamers and I'm excited to see it. I hope Playstation wakes up before it's too late and I've given up hope for Nintendo (especially with how their fans enable their behavior). It's unfortunate to think that there'd be pushback to this. Do we all really want to stay in the cave with the lights off? Do we want to keep the walled gardens that bad? Because we're not even getting subsidies for them anymore. The PS5 Pro costs over $700 as an all digital console and again the Nintendo Switch 2 $450 (that's more than a steam deck, in the price range of the Z1 handhelds, and only $150 cheaper than the base PC Xbox Ally). That's not to mention individual game prices and the rising costs of subscriptions with Playstation and Nintendo still not having free cloud saves. Even if the next Xbox is twice as much as the next Playstation (which is won't, like come on) you'll still get that money back in no time with the insane value one offers over the other. Like really how could anyone even recommend another console at that point? There's no promise a Nintendo and Sony won't nuke libraries again, they offer nothing to protect your saves for free, and they will (in the face of this next Xbox) have less games for higher prices.

Everything comes down to execution, but honestly even if it's just a glorified Xbox Full screen experience that'd make PC the undisputed best place to game. I'm really, REALLY excited. I just wish I could time travel and have it in my hands now.