16BitHero

The GTA double pack was brilliant value, it made my PS2 mates rather envious too. The crisper graphics and noticable shiny detail on vehicles was a good step up in quality. It was the best way to experience those two legendary games at the time, even with the 'Fisher Price' controller!

I rarely read an entire comment section but this has been proper nostalgic and for an article that doesn't leave any room for strong opinions or bickering. I thoroughly enjoyed reading some of these happy memories! They've made me think even more about moving back to the UK.

One question for my fellow Brits as you mention Game for the og Xbox in 2001 but I don't remember Game, rather it's predecessor Electronics Boutique (bought mine on Camden high street). Just curious to know if indeed Game was already taking over at that time.

First memory is using my student loan to buy the original Xbox with I think Halo, Project Gotham Racing and Tony Hawk 3. It was almost £500 if I recall but months later they cut the price significantly and gave us early adopters a choice of two games to compensate. I picked Rallisport Challenge and Dead or Alive 3 as there weren't many options still. My roommates had PS2 and GameCube so we were covered for that generation! Good times.

If Forza continues the nauseating festival nonsense aimed at teenagers then I'll have to skip this one. Can it just be a good ol' racer with some lovely scenery again?

Looking forward to seeing more of Fable.

@Kramlar they'll absolutely change them again within the next 12-18 months. Xbox are the tech version of Manchester United or Chelsea with their managerial decisions.

@fatpunkslim I wish you'd given me this advice two years ago. Yes it's obvious but game discounts (especially Steam) are as dangerous as gambling for me!

I won't buy a single game this year with my wife expecting. My owned backlog on Xbox, PS5, PC and Quest 3 is utterly insane and I have Gamepass until December. Happy gaming in 2026 everyone, our hobby is escapism of the finest order!

The irony of Microsoft and NVIDIA being part of the problem here (AI infrastructure)....you can't make it up.

I was scouring the internet for an update just yesterday. This is the best possible news. In the meantime, Arc Raiders is basically co-op/multiplayer in a Terminator adjacent universe.

Whatever your thoughts, this is the biggest announcement in gaming for a long long time. Many gamers would switch to PC from console if it was more more affordable - and the form factor was more living room/bedroom friendly. The store fronts are better, have more frequent sales with deeper discounts and everything is in one place (albeit you have to wait for Sony exclusives). Online gaming is free and the community is enormous. This is excellent for competition overall but will definitely have Microsoft and even Sony paying close attention. I know it won't be less than $1000 but that's where consoles are headed anyway with current tech prices, inflation, tariffs etc. Edit: rumoured pricing sounds very good value, maybe as low as $500?!

For reference I have a Series X with Gamepass ultimate (lapses Dec 2026), PS5 and a decent PC but Steam is by far my preferred store and gaming library these days.

Choice is a good thing at the end of the day.

Announcement. Not announce. What happened to literacy in the 21st century?

It's this year's Helldivers 2. Good design choices and a satisfying game play loop. I wish it had been licensed with the Terminator IP because that's basically what it is. Lovely graphics and stellar sound design.

There is definitely a theme here. I think Microsoft will see more short term subs when there are a batch of new games available in the same month or two, but far fewer long term subs. Mine is stacked until December 2026 but I'll let it lapse and probably stick to PC and Steam sales.

Gamepass is still good value when compared to other subscription services but the key thing is time. If you've got lots of time to play games then you're golden. I think most adults who are post college/university, won't find value in the new pricing, especially if they have other subs for their family ie Netflix/Disney etc.

Halo games never had a strong/particularly coherent narrative, they really need to hire good writers going forward. That said, I've played them all since day one, way back in erm, 2001? The gunplay and AI on heroic were, and still are, what sets them apart from most run of the mill shooters. Halo 4 was a decent first effort from 343 all things considered.

Maybe Microsoft are asking if they should make original high quality first party games instead of the medium to high quality they currently put out (see anything by Obsidian for example). For all the studios Microsoft have acquired, they are still lacking in this area in my opinion. Remakes, remasters and lots of 7 or 8/10's.

Timely article: https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/kingdom-come-deliverance-lead-says-obsidian-should-use-its-microsoft-fortune-to-make-games-more-like-kingdom-come-deliverance-give-me-something-more-than-level-grinding-in-a-static-scripted-world/

@AlwaysPlaying Same. Leave multiplayer/live service games to the established studios and focus on what you do best - which in Remedy's case are among my favourite IP's in all of gaming.

Five years ago my wife had played a video game. Animal Crossing, Blue Prince and PowerWash Simulator came along and now she has hundreds more hours in gaming than I can possibly find time for!

WHAT A YEAR. I can't pick from Doom The Dark Ages, Expedition 33, Ghost of Yotei, Death Stranding 2, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2... and there are many more releases I haven't gotten to yet.

I didn't love it as much as some folks but I think Expedition 33 will win it based on the conversation it has generated and for being a generally outstanding AA game that released in a finished state (ie respected consumers) - a rarity these days. Any of the above would deserve it imo.

As soon as they released the pricing details, Valve snared me with the $319 Steam Deck. No regrets, it's brilliant. If I win the lottery in the meantime though...

@Beckerjr true and the base Steam Deck, still with the same processing specs albeit a lesser resolution and storage, is currently $319.

@Eejay I don't think Sony will pursue VR after this generation. It's still relatively niche (even though I absolutely love my Quest/PCVR setup). The biggest VR titles thus far have had considerable financial banking from Meta etc. Yes Microsoft can afford it but if they are willingly ceding console numbers to competitors and focusing on software going forward, then there's no reason for them to get involved in VR hardware. They could work on software to allow third party VR headsets to work with Xbox but that ship has likely sailed. Another thing to consider with PSVR2 getting MSFS2024 is how punishing that game is to run despite it being predominately cloud based. I don't think the level of detail is going to be a show stopper, put it that way. Still, I'm happy more people will get to experience what is an incredible product - if you like flight sims/armchair travel/geography.

I personally love the service. I jump in and out based on games I want to play and now have an insane cdkeys deal until the end of 2026. For any newcomers or kids getting GP for the first time, the library is absolutely stacked. If you'd been told you'd have a choice of all those games for less than $20 a month 5 years ago you'd never believe it. I don't care if Microsoft are making or losing money on it. Consumers are winning at the moment.

Back on topic - I'm really enjoying the Veilguard. It's an all round fun rpg and good escapism even if the writing is a bit straightforward. I haven't played previous entries in the series so I came in with no expectations. For reference, Witcher 3 is my favourite rpg of all time.

I wish Konami would put out a mostly unlicensed PES again but allow for modding (PC and console). Football Life on PC is an incredible tease at what could be. An updated engine and a passionate community of modders could really challenge EAFC and force it to evolve or at least give us proper competition for the world's most popular sport..

Cracking on with Dragonage the Veilguard and I might start Contraband Police which is on a nice Steam discount at the moment.

It's clearly a deep sale only item, even for big Indy fans like me - unless you have bottomless pockets...

@OldGamer999 the rumours are the next gen of consoles will be a significant upgrade and aim for 4K 120fps to be standard. I think that will be peak gaming in terms of the flat screen mainstream industry. Most of us can't tell 4k from 8k unless you can afford a 75"+ TV. 120 fps is also more than enough for basically any game unless you play esports supposedly. Shortly before RT and PT became popular, the lighting in games already looked fantastic. Baked in or real time, most of us don't care if it just looks nice. I think we're looking at PS5 pro prices for next gen, especially with the fascist dimwit playing god with the global economy. I for one don't require the latest fancy technological innovations to enjoy gaming. Only those with £2-£3k for a graphics card can truly appreciate the latest and greatest. Devs need to optimize a good experience for the other 98% of us.

Rotten Tomatoes 11%

As much as I love Digital Foundry, they too have been on the RT/PT hype train without consideration for how it's held this console generation back with devs obsessing over it, leaving us with low base resolutions and subpar frame rates.

As a huge Indy fan from the beginning, I thoroughly enjoyed the base game (purchased despite having Gamepass) and will definitely be getting the dlc although I might wait for a sale pending the confirmed length.

Dragonage The Veilguard for me. I've been patiently waiting for it's Gamepass release and it hasn't disappointed. Good simple fantasy escapism.

DragonAge for me. Haven't played the other games in the series so no expectations. It feels like a simpler streamlined Baldurs Gate 3 in a way. I stopped Gears after 30 minutes or so. I can't ruin my nostalgia with another remaster? It feels really dated. I'd prefer an actual remake with improved mechanics, ai, graphics etc.

I gave it a good go, made it probably half way through (I've since watched the full cut scenes and read many a reddit story interpretation). I just can't do turn based combat in some games, especially if it becomes a little repetitive. Maybe I'll go back to it someday, the music, characters and story are fabulous.

It's mighty fun/nostalgic to play after all these years but the sound mix is poor in my opinion. I'm using the Xbox wireless headset so my options are limited but the bass is insane and constant in the first part of the campaign where I am currently. The guns sound tinny too - this is probably authentic but I wish they'd beefed up the sound in this area rather than the ambient part. The game nor the Series X have settings that can change this. I'll probably switch to my soundbar and turn down the bass for now.

@Kaloudz nah you're right, I 'ripped' a few CDs onto the HDD. I played Rallisport Challenge 1+2 with Jungle Hits and Drum n Bass Arena!

I never gave these titles a second thought until this summer when I read some Steam reviews. Both were on sale along with the dlc. I got myself a force feedback wheel (used with Dirt Rally 2, Automobilista 2 also) and never looked back. It also plays perfectly with a controller once you customize the layout. I'm now hopelessly addicted but liken them to Power Wash simulator only a little more involved. They are very relaxing and cathartic games. If you have any experience driving in the US or Europe then that's a bonus as despite the scaled map, you'll recognize a lot of places, large and tiny. All in all, great news for console gamers.

After a two week hiatus from gaming, I'm going to try to finish Alien Rogue Incursion and also continue with my wonderful midlife crisis purchases Euro and American Truck Simulators (don't laugh, I did and now I'm hopelessly addicted!)

Happy gaming all.

My Series X controllers last ages after almost 5 years, maybe four times longer than my PS5 controllers. Small form consumer batteries are just another landfill scourge that should really be phased out by now in my opinion.

Bit of an anti climax there (I didn't really zero in on the photos). I still think it will be a console/PC hybrid in the future.

Good luck to Avalanche, I hope they keep making the fun games they're known for. Steer well clear of being associated with Microsoft.

COD campaigns are incredibly tired at this point. There are many better single player shooters over the past 10 - 15 years in my opinion including the Doom trilogy/Wolfenstein/Halo/Titanfall 2/Metro trilogy/even Farcry! Multiplayer is still fun but I'm getting old and would rather use my gaming time for single player experiences. Saying that, Ready or Not is fantastic (PC player) and even better with friends. I like the look of this Battlefield, I just hope the campaign part isn't overly cinematic or scripted feeling like COD.

Edit: Warzone is still a ton of fun with friends.

@Tdx my wife and I are utterly hooked on Blue Prince! Almost forgot to feed the cats. What a brilliant puzzler. Anyone with the slightest interest should give it a go, especially as it's on Gamepass. You don't hear about these types of games in the GOTY conversation but this is up there with Clair Obscur and Doom The Dark Ages for my money. Perhaps leading...

You've got to really want a game to spend $70 considering their launch state, our collective backlogs and the fact it'll be $20 less within a few months. Saying that, if the value is there for you then that's all you need. However I simply don't believe these companies are making the revenue they could at that price.

It's about time BJ Blazkowicz took down this current US administration 🫣

Can't bloody wait for this. The original is one of my top three zombie-esque genre games ever (Resident Evil 2 remake and The Last of Us being the other two). Dying Light really is a cult classic at this point

@Fiendish-Beaver Same here (I loved their take on Mad Max), I sincerely hope there is a decent single player component to this game, I think it was always suggested it would be best played in co-op but live service?! It's going to have to be somewhat revolutionary/insanely fun - much like Helldivers 2 - to make any sort of splash in that saturated market. This new hire position has a ton of responsibility.

You definitely don't want to play this sub 60fps.

I honestly don't think business decisions are particularly sound across most industries these days. It's a mix of older leaders full of nostalgia and younger inexperienced marketers and advertisers in a time of huge technological upheaval and change. Only time will tell if Xbox will have a competitive console again but the handheld isn't it. That's a niche product through and through.