BAMozzy

@Tasuki Playstation has Playstation Portal Handheld Gaming device that doesn't play ANY Playstation games natively at all. PS Vita didn't play PS3 games natively yet both were 'Playstation' branded because Playstation is Sony's Gaming Brand. They make Headsets for DJ's/Audiophiles and gamers with their gaming ones Playstation branded.

Microsoft own Xbox, Windows, DirectX etc and EVERY Windows PC/Xbox Console has Microsoft OS at its heart with DirectX API's - and Xbox is named Xbox because it has DirectX in a 'box', just like a PC. A decade ago, Xbox stopped being the Console and gamers whined they had no point buying Xbox anymore because Xbox is on PC, yet today, Xbox can't be on PC, its Console only and Xbox is dead because the Console doesn''t sell like Playstation - its absolutely ridiculous!!

Anyway, back on topic, I'm playing BO7 Day 1 - it seems the most ambitious/experimental campaign in CoD history - can be played co-op with a co-op end game mode, MP, a better version of what we got in BO6 with much better map design and Zombies too which I thought was the best Zombies has been in years. I'd be willing to buy if I didn't have Game Pass because BO6 was easily my most played game of the last year - playing at least 2-3hrs daily - I get the dailies done and then decide whether to keep playing or switch to something else.

I'm also much more likely to buy on 'Xbox' so I get the Xbox PC version too as I'm more likely to buy a Gaming PC than a next gen 'Console' locked to just 1 store/platform with a LOT of games/content/features locked behind an Essential tier (or better) subscription. Therefore I'm only buying games with PC versions inc or buying on my Gaming Laptop/Handheld PC's so I'll have a library to bring forward.

@TheGameThrifter Xbox is Microsofts GAMING brand on ACROSS all their Products/Services - its stopped being the Just the Console when the XB1 nearly killed the Xbox brand altogether. Instead of quitting Gaming, Xbox merged into Microsoft and that enabled them to throw Money at Gaming, buying up Studios etc because they weren't making games just for some cheap, subsidised Console, they were making Games for their PC and Cloud based platforms too.

Play Anywhere gives you an Xbox PC version - as well as the Xbox Console version and Smart Delivery delivers the 'Xbox' version to your Xbox Platform. Game Pass PC is locked to Xbox PC platform too - you don't get the Steam, Epic, Playstation or whatever other Platforms, just Xbox (PC or Console) platform versions.

An Xbox RoG Ally has a Microsoft owned and controlled OS and utilises DirectX API's too, just like an Xbox Console which gets its name because it has DirectX in the Box, just like a Windows PC. The ONLY difference is that PC's are not locked to just Microsoft and their Platform/Store ONLY, you can buy and play on 3rd Party Patforms like Steam or Epic. But that doesn't mean you aren't playing on 'Xbox' if you play via Buying from Microsoft, playing via Game Pass or Play Anywhere regardless of whether that's on a Console or PC - its ALL XBOX and has been for nearly a Decade.

Why are some Console games so ignorant, blinkered or uneducated? Is it any wonder they are so 'easily' confused and can't see outside their tiny little bubble!!

What difference does it make how many sales it has? Do you care how many Asus Strix gaming Laptops were sold or how many Lenovo Go 2's are sold? They are all GAMING PC's too.

Xbox stopped being JUST the Console a decade ago and became MS's gaming brand across all their Products and services. Their PC platform, the place they started developing and publishing games for, is 'Xbox', hence this Asus made Gaming PC in collaboration with MS's gaming division is Xbox branded, like the MetaVR.

If they sell 10k Xbox Ally X's, what difference will that make. It won't be indicative of the 'Popularity' of Handheld Gaming PC's as a Platform as Asus has released 4 diffferent models now, Lenovo and MSi have a few and of course EVERY Gaming Laptop/PC too has exactly the same Library and Xbox PC platform too.

If you want a Z2E based Handheld PC, you have more than 1 choice - the Asus Xbox RoG Ally X is just the cheapest, but the MSI isn't that much more. Sales of a 'Playstation 5' or 'Switch 2' directly indicate the number of gamers on a Sony/Nintendo platform, Sales of Xbox Handheld PC's or Consoles are NOT indicative of anything. You don't even need to buy 'hardware' to play on Xbox on an 'Xbox' Gaming Platform (a MS OS powered device with DirectX API's in the Box - DirectX in a box is 'Xbox' as that's how Xbox name originated) as you can usse a MS App to stream games from MS Hardware/servers.

I really don't get why some are so focussed on Sales. A decade ago were complaining that there no point in buying Xbox Consoles anymore because Xbox is on PC and then expecting MS Consoles/Hardware to suddenly 'sell' years later depite the fact that you still don't need Xbox hardware to play Xbox. Asus, Lenovo, Alienware, MSI etc all make 'Windows' based Gaming Hardware - all of which have the 'Xbox PC' Platform built in - hence Play Anywhere and Game Pass PC - both of which offer the Xbox PC ONLY versions (not Steam, not Epic or other 3rd Party PC gaming platform).

As far as numbers go, I'm sure they made 'enough' to cover what they thought they'd expect to sell in the first few months but not too many that they have unsold stock sitting in warehouses for months or more. Its always better to slightly under-produce than over-produce to meet demand so you cater to demand. Both the Xbox Ally's are part of EXACTLY THE SAME Platform as Asus's previous RoG Ally's as well as Lenovo and MSI Handhelds - which are all the SAME platform as ALL other Windows PC's...

@TheGameThrifter well that's because MS (and previously ABK) don't own those IP's and don't have a 'current' license to make money from those games - either by selling them or selling Subscriptions to play them.

If you bought, you paid for a Licence to play on whatever Hardware you bought it for - in other words, if you bought it for Xbox 360, you can still play it on a 360 as that was what you bought a Licence for.

Neither Microsoft or Activision (ABK) owned Spider-Man, James Bond, TMNT, Transformers etc so those games may well 'never' come to Game Pass or be 're-sold' because that would be breaking copyright and/or Trademark laws.

As for CoD, it doesn't make sense to 'flood' the market with multiple versions of what is basically the same Game. It would be like EA Access having ALL their Fifa Games for the past 20yrs and then wondering why Multi-player or Zombies modes aren't really working as the community is spread out over the 20 odd game instead of the majority playing the latest 2 or 3 games at most...

There are MANY reasons that they may not have or may not choose to put OLD games they've newly acquired into a Sub service. Those that own them can play but they aren't going to put things that maybe 'detrimental' to their current games and/or not theirs (either 3rd Party owned IPs or had some expired Licences - in Music or Brands or even some deals/contracts in place) that prevent them from offering these.

You can still buy some old games, others are delisted for a reason. MS aren't going to spend 'millions' for licences etc to give-away old games on Game Pass that have been 'dead' for years/decades...

I certainly felt like Gears 1 was much darker, more Horror inspired and really put the 'Horror' into a Horrific situation. The second retained some of that but its become more 'action' and toned down the dark, gritty atmosphere to go more 'family' friendly or attract younger audiences.Certainly the Coalition games so far have been more like a jovial romp than a battle for your own right to exist...

I wish this was more a Game Pass Perk and not pushed out to everyone wanting to Subscribe to Ultimate. To me, it feels bolted on to justify their Price increase for EVERYONE - instead of maybe raising the prices by a 'small' margin and offering Fortnite Crew as an Optional Perk to add to your Subscription fee at a 'discounted' monthly fee.

It doesn't add 'games' to my Library, unlike EA Access and Ubisoft+ (even if those games are old and cheap on sale now) and Fortnite itself is F2P anyway so at most, Fortnite Crew should be a 'Perk' like other F2P rewards...

Even if they offered 80% off, I doubt I'd get my Money's worth from it. I think its better to buy whatever Ubisoft game you want in a sale and play it anytime you want without having to subscribe for a month or two to rush through it....

Whilst I don't like to hear about cancellations and job losses in general, I can't say that I was ever interested in, or even likely to play this game. Nothing about it appealed and looking at the screenshots doesn't make me feel like I want to engage...

Difficult to know if that will be possible and sustainable. Xbox stopped being 'just' the Console a decade ago when it merged into Microsoft and became their Gaming Brand so when they say they want 'Xbox' operating at a 30% profit margin, that's across ALL of Xbox, not individual games, but if you know one is 'costing' more than it will make back, its best to cancel at the earliest opportunity - cut all ongoing costs.

Whether they'll sell enough 'Products & Services' to see a 30% profit margin after counting the costs of running Xbox - all the MS Gaming branch, who knows, but they sell their Products/services on a LOT of devices - inc 3rd Party Gaming Platforms like PS and Steam.

@Panda22 Me too! I've got Nebula on EVERY weapon, apart from the new Chainsaw, but Haunted Havoc is too hectic for melee and so much an addictively fun mode in BO6 Zombies!

I enjoyed the survival map in the BO7 Beta and the campaign, which can be played co-operatively, has a camo grind and end game content - that intrigues me, but at my age, I'm more a 'Solo' player - too old to socialise and talk to kids age...

Exactly so buy Play Anywhere and get the PC version or buy games on PC and they'll be playable too natively...

@JLO64 I don't buy games unless they are Play Anywhere these days - not unless they are very cheap in a sale (pocket money costs). I am more likely to buy a PC version of games - even on Xbox store, as I think that they'll be 'Play Anywhere' next gen.

Play Anywhere is unlikely to be popular with a LOT of 3rd Party AAA games and their Publisher/Dev.

They lose 30% to the Platform holder and retailer, so I doubt they'll want to give up 'another' sale on PC when they can make 'more' money - although if you are playing on Console or PC, the majority wouldn't buy again anyway so its 'not' a lost sale, more an added benefit for their Customer to play their game in ANY 'Xbox' ecosystem only - its not like they are being asked to give away a Steam version.

At least Microsoft will support their Xbox Platforms and let you play their games anywhere within their Ecosystem, but I can understand why 3rd Party games (as they are NOT 'Xbox' games, they are EA, Ubisoft, TakeTwo etc multi-platform games that you happened to buy the 'Xbox Console' version of.

If (or when) Microsoft release their Windows11 based 'Console' (Hybrid), I would expect that 'EVERY' Xbox release will be Xbox PC versions - inc 3rd Party Publishers looking to release on 'Microsofts' Platform. It would need to run Windows PC games for Steam, Epic and other 3rd Party PC Gaming Platform apps so EVERY game would effectively be 'Play Anywhere'.

Of course that doesn't mean they'll all be on Game Pass - especially not Day 1, but if the next Xbox is a Win11 based 'PC' too, then all games released for it would be the 'PC' version - even if 'optimised' for a fixed Platform with 'curated' settings for that hardware, you could still change them like a PC

Surely procedural Generation is some form of AI to place approprite assets in the place/areas etc to create the right look. Those aren't placed by Human hand indivdually.

I have zero issues with AI being used to generate 100's of distinctly different diverse crowds of NPC's or used to create the environment, different biomes etc that the 'Game' and all its Game-play mechanics work in.

I have no issue with AI at all as AI could do things quicker, more efficent and 'better' than a team of Humans. If a game is 'broken, incomplete or just generic, cliched, boring etc', I won't be buying/playing - regardless of who/what made it - and I'll Play the games I want to play, I enjoy, and/or release in a polished state even if it was made entirely by AI as the 'game' and its Game-play is much more important to me than who publishes and/or makes the game.

Just got off after gaming for the past 4-5hrs with no issues. I was playing Online and checked the store for deals before I shut down for the evening - either I timed it well or just lucky it seems...

What many 'Console' gamers fail to remember (or never knew) the history of 'Xbox' - so called because MS wanted to bring 'PC' gaming, where they started game development, and Direct X to mainstream gaming so built 'affordable' hardware and created DirectX in a Box (or Xbox as it became known)

Both a Windows PC and Xbox console have a Microsoft OS at its core and both have DirectX API's. A PC is the 'original' Xbox (DirectX in a Box). MS was making games for their Windows Platform before they got into 'Consoles' and their Flight Sim IP is older than Xbox.

When the OG Xbox released, there was a LOT of Console gamers that thought MS were mad to release a 'PC' in a Box, something that big and bulky as it required HDD's and internet connectivity (like PC's), not small and attractive under the TV like console of that era.

A decade ago, Xbox merged into MS and Xbox stopped being 'just' the console and became their gaming Brand. That was also the point that MS stopped focussing on 'just' the Console too and rebranded their OG Windows PC platform - hence 'Every' game since has released Day 1 on PC, Console and 'Cloud' to.

It doesn't matter if you play on a PC, Console or Cloud, if you plat a MS game, you are playing an Xbox game. Doesn't matter if you buy a Console or Windows PC, you are still buying a MS Operating System, so a customer of MS. The only difference really is that a PC has other Platforms as its an 'Open, Multi-platform' device compared to a closed Platform they fully have you locked into on a console.

As tech has improved, yyou can now get 'affordable' gaming PC's so much more accessible than 25yrs ago, much more mainstream.. Is it any wonder that they would 'merge' or streamline their Platforms on PC and Console, try and get them 'both' running the same version of the game instead of having to make multiple versions of the exact same game.

That's where 'innovation' will come - the Software to merge' their two platforms, the 'break' from traditional 'locked' platform devices etc will be innovative, but 25yrs ago, it was 'innovative' for MS, a PC developer to make a Console, built like a PC, to work and become the 'massive' brand 'Xbox' is today across many devices.

Doesn't look that appealing to me, not really my type of game. I don't know if he'll find 'redemption' or get enough sales for that to be realised. It seems somewhat 'niche' to me...

DF are always concerned by devs using a 'generic' engine instead of a Custom built engine as they think every game tends to be very similar 'graphically' even if the artstyle is different. Same 'issues' and/or look in certain aspects like Lumin and of course PC stutter Struggle which has affected a LOT of PC games built on UE5.

I'm sure UE5 will be a lot easier, quicker and much more efficient than their current engine which was built on the remnants of the Original engine created by Bungie. Its been amended and features bolted on etc that its not efficient or easy to work with and you have fewer and fewer devs able to work with it. If you have to spend weeks or months training someone, that is a waste of time/resources when so many Devs maybe familiar with working on a UE based game.

I thought it looked like Halo, almost like I remember it looking back with 'Rose tinted specs' - I obviously 'imagined' it looking more realistic than it was which UE5 does. It looks better than H:I did - maybe not quite as good as the 'in-game' cinematic trailer they revealed Halo with but a LOT better than the Game they shipped.

I wouldn't be surprised if they did to add to their 'Surface' devices - although I do expect it to be more a 'handheld PC' than an Xbox Console - maybe with some hardware or emulation built in to play Xbox Console games natively - which maybe not possible with other Handhelds - Maybe that's why the Xbox Ally has the Z2E AI chip whereas the other Z2E handheld from Lenovo and MSi don't as the AI is required for 'emulating' Series Hardware without using valuable GPU/CPU resources required to run the game well....

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...

@Fiendish-Beaver Halo Infinites MP is (or at least was - I don't really play it) Free to Play, you only had to pay for the Campaign which was 'bolted' on to the MP.

Yoou can donload and play juat the MP if that's all you want to play on PC (I believe) but as you require Game Pass on Console to play Online, you kind of do need Game Pass Essential tier at least to play (although I don't know if you still do for F2P games) but I've never tested.

I just remember H:I MP as being Free to Play but the Campaign was sold and bolted into the MP menu and mode to access which kind of annoyed me at the time...

@Fiendish-Beaver The MP is F2P on Xbox so I doubt they'll 'sell' it on PS5 as well. I do expect them to port the Current MP suite or at least remake it in UE5, but I do expect them to bring the 'modern' Halo MP which is Free to Play on Xbox/PC.

They'll make the money by selling the Campaign as an introduction to Halo and the MP will sell Cosmetics, Season Passes and whatever else they offer in the Halo MP store...

I don't think they 'remade' the PvP because that would compete with Halo:Infintes F2P MP that they've spent years on improving, updating and of course all the Forge creations.

I can see them either releasing this as a F2P MP (alongside Halo: CE) on PS5 OR Converting it to a 'new' Engine (UE5), renaming it from 'Infinite' (and removing whatever Stigma is attached to that name) and releasing that simultaneously.

I can't see them not bringing a 'Halo' MP mode to PS5 but I don't see it as part of a 'paid' package as Halo MP is Free to Play on Xbox. Either they bring that to PS5 or rebuild it on a new Engine to match Halo:CE. They'll want to sell Season Passes, Cosmetics etc etc but I do think they'll bring a Free to Play version...

I don't think Halo:CE was that popular as a MP - it was the Story and Campaign that everyone wanted to play - MP was hidden behind a Gold tier Subscription, which only a 'small' fraction of OG Xbox owners had. Halo 2 though, now that was a game that sold 'Gold' as the Online MP was much better and enticed people to subscribe. Of course the 360 era was really when Online gaming took off - CoD4:MW was massive for MS and their Sub service. Therefore I can understand that Halo:CE isn't really remembered for its MP and why its not been remade.

The main competition faced by ALL major gaming Publishers right now is Social Media platforms. Instead of spending time playing games, a lot of gamers are now spending time flicking through tiktok, youtube, twitch etc instead.

If you are spending time on tiktok for example, you are not spending time in a game - regardless of whether that's Xbox, Steam, Playstation, Switch platform, whether that's 1st or 3rd Party published. You aren't spending time in games (no engagement) and not spending money (not buying games, DLC/MTX, etc).

What they are saying is that they fell that Social Media and 'other' forms of entertainment (I use that in the loosest sense) are the biggest competition they face in Gaming. If you choose to play on Playstation, there are Xbox games you may choose to spend time/money in - CoD, Minecraft etc so generating revenue/engagement with Xbox.

If people are choosing to watch tiktok instead of gaming in their leisure time, that's a bigger threat to MS than Playstation. At least if they are on PS, MS can 'compete' for you time/money with their own product releases on PS hardware.

In terms of staff, they may not all of been from those directly involved with making the game - more like providing resources and/or support to the studio to enable them to make the game - photographers, cartographers for mapping tracks, whatever they used to 'scan' cars or record exhaust/engine noise etc, flying out to photograph fo photogramitry or it whatever its called 'in-game' etc

A lot of that can be 'sourced' (locally) and distributed Digitally as and when required for example, deals made, Cad/digital files sent and 'accurate' cars are in Forza - inc their digital audio files. And if co-working more closely with Playground Shared 'resources' and Support their for Turn 10 led Projects.

For me, the only thing that would really bring me back to a 'Forza Motorsport' game would be if Forza made a spiritual succssor to the Rallisport Challenge games (especially 2) back on the OG Xbox days instead of/or with a track based racer. So much creativity and choice of setting for tracks and off-road or gravel sections for different 'physics' and handling, point to point races as well....

I am not playing in Early access and can't say I have 'no' interest at all or that I'll bother to play after launch. I have a little interest in checking it out BUT I also have a massive Backlog of games - some that interest me more than OW2 so more likely to get played first (if I get round to them) and new games releasing adding to my Backlog or occupying my limited gaming time too much to play OW2. Chances are, it will remain as one of those games I may get round to trying, but never find the time/oppoortunity or reason to jump in over the many other gaming choices I have.

@TheGameThrifter

They can't sell consoles because they keep telling people not to buy their consoles. They've been saying people don't need an Xbox since 2016...

And then you wonder why their sales are so low. Its because Xbox stopped being JUST their Console. All Xbox Games are on their 'Xbox' Platforms, hence EVERY Xbox game is on PC, Console, Cloud. They've stated that at every Show since so is it any wonder that the Console is not as popular.

No-one needs to buy a Series console - unless it offers the best bang for buck to suit your budget (inc the Series S and its performance for its cost) or because you prefer or have a history with the Xbox Console - don't want to be bothered with PC's or Cloud options. So 30m for what is not needed or even wanted by a LOT of gamers as they have or 'prefer' to game on PC or Cloud based devices is quite impressive - even if dwarfed by PS or Switch sales. If you have an RTX5090 based PC, what incentive do you have to buy an Series console at all? Games are 'worse' in performance/graphical quality, probably cost more to play - especially online as that requires a Subscription on Console and even Game Pass Day 1 release tier is much cheaper on PC. Even a 'cheap' PC can play Xbox games - if not natively at playable settings, certainly via streaming - point is there is NO pointi in wasting money on hardware you don't need/want...

My old Student laptop or mobile phone can let me play 'Xbox', and my Gaming Laptop plays Xbox games at series X like Graphics but better frame rates. Much better if I reduce Res or use DLSS. Point is Consoles are expensive and not the ONLY option with Xbox. Cheaper options, not just streaming, but PC's - if your willing to game at 1080p (or lower with FSR on Handheld PC's) and 60fps (or even 30fps on Handhelds) with Console like medium/low settings make the need or desire for an Xbox Console 'obsolete' because Xbox is much bigger than just the Console, Xbox is ON PC and Cloud too...

@Markatron84 I wouldn't be surprised if Halo Infinites MP - which is Free to Play on Xbox/PC, doesn't expand onto PS with the release of Halo:CE.

If not the current Halo: Infinite - a 'remake' in UE5 with all the Maps and a 'new' Forge will be released to co-incide with Halo: CE on all platforms - Probably renamed too (Halo: Online) as 'Infinite' may have some stigma or expectation (expect H:I to be remade and released on PS5 too simultaneously) attached to that name.

I do think they'll bring a Halo MP mode to PS to grow their Online community and user base. Maybe that's why its not been mentioned with Halo: CE because Halo MP will be a F2P game on all devices soon...

@TheGameThrifter Yes and? what has Sales got to do with anything? It doesn't change the fact that the Series Consoles for their entire life cycle have only been 1 'option' to play Xbox Games. Most 'new' gamers aren't playing on Console - PC's are far more affordable and mainstream than they were a decade ago, than they were 25yrs ago when Microsoft neglected their PC platform to bring their PC games and DirectX API to mainstream gamers with affordable and subsidised hardware.

As I said, why buy a Series S or X? Unless you 'prefer' the Console type gaming experience a locked, fixed spec and curated gaming device offers or its the 'best' option for your budget (cheap up front costs for hardware that punches above its price point), its not the 'best' or 'only' option for everyone.

Xbox has been on PC for nearly a decade, however, the XB1 did have a period of time when it was the 'ONLY' Xbox platform and of course cheapest way into the Xbox platform. During that life cycle, Games stopped releasing Exclusively as Xbox was merged into Microsoft - PC gamers that maybe bought an Xbox one for Exclusives, now didn't need to play on it as Xbox was on their 'preferred' platform.

Cloud was still very much in its early days with a much more limited library and wasn't 'great' in many places so XB1 still remained as the Cheap entry point.

Now you don't need a Series S - the 'cheap' entry point - XB1S/X owners can stream the games not released on their XB1 Hardware - Starfield, Indiana etc, play on devices they have, inc any PC/Laptop or many iOS/Android devices. A LOT of PC's will still play the latest games at Console like settings (1080/30 with medium/low graphic setings) and it doesn't cost that much more to match/better a PS5 Pro with an intel DLSS based GPU built in.

So EVERY PC gamer, which has become more affordable and Mainstream over the past 25yrs since Xbox brought PC gaming to a 'mainstream' market doesn't need (or want) a Series console. Steamdeck is a fantastic handheld thar many Kids will go on to play on PC rather than a Console for their big screen hardware of choice. So Xbox PC is their 'Xbox' platform on their PC so can offer Game Pass PC with Day 1 releases on their PC patform.

All that will affect their Series hardware sales. the Majority of Xbox gamers don't want or need the Xbox Console because they play on Xbox (PC or Cloud) without wasting money on a 'console' and whatever additional costs are required. Buy CoD on PC, play it all year no sub costs, buy on Console, still need to pay for a year of Essential subs to play it, play via streaming, yes it may have a monthly fee - but no Hardware costs or additional fees required - just a simple monthly subscription and all those games available to play on whatever hardware you happen to be on at that time.

So explain to me why ANYONE, other than those that 'prefer' a Console or it suits their budget best, would buy a Series console when 'Xbox' is on PC and Cloud too - regardless of whether a few games release Day 1 on Playstation hardware too?

@FuzzieGinge88 Actually I think they bought ABK to compete with the likes of TenCent and other massive Gaming businesses. After flopping with the XB1, Xbox, a small side project with a handful of Studios and not much 'budget', was merged into Microsoft and became their entire Gaming brand.

That's why ALL their Games also release on their PC platform - some of them actuallyy released 'first' on their PC Platform - Gears Tactics (which was a launch game on Series hardware), Flight Simulator and AoE4 all released on PC before coming to 'Xbox' Consoles months later.

Play Anywhere, Smart Delivery and Game Pass are locked to Xbox Platforms - console and PC. You only get the Xbox PC versions via Play Anywhere or Game Pass PC, not Steam or Epic PC versions and Smart Delivery to deliver the Xbox PC or Console version you are playing on.

Because Xbox is no longer JUST the Console (and hasn't been for years - hence low Console sales) as you don't need an Xbox Console to game on an Xbox Platform (PC or Cloud - inc streaming 'modern' games to last gen Xbox hardware - don't need to buy the Series hardware to play Indiana Jones or Starfield), they also invested heavily in building up their own Studios/IP's - Bethesda and ABK also had their own PC platform and LONG PC history - older than both Xbox and PS - Blizzard have quite a few PC Only IPs. So arguably these purchases weren't about 'Console' and beating 'Sony' on Console sales as NONE of their games are 'exclusive' to the Xbox Console ONLY - they will ALL release on Xbox PC and WoW is PC only anyway so more about Competing on their 'PC' platform against third Party PC platforms like Steam.

ABK games release on PS anyway - or have so far so it was a Purchase for their entire Gaming brand on PC, Console and Cloud - not just their Console, and increase their Gaming revenue to be one of the biggest Gaming Publishers in the world

@armondo36 still anazed at some opinions of 'console' only gamers.

A) What reason for the past decade have you needed to buy an Xbox? Since the XB1 flopped hard and so MS merged Xbox into MS instead of 'quitting' gaming, there has been NO reason to buy an Xbox. PC gamers don't need to buy an Xbox because Xbox is on PC and has been for a decade - All games release Day/Date on Xbox platforms (PC, Console Cloud) so if you have a PC or Xbox hardware, you get Xbox games released on their Xbox Platform Day 1 and can play Day 1 on many devices via streaming - all without needing to buy an Xbox Console specifically. Playstation may get historic games (minecraft, CoD, Doom etc), 'old' games (even if they are remastered/remade, still an old game at its core - Gears remastered, Halo:CE) and Social games (Sea of Thieves, FH5) to build up Online communities but they still have Exclusives (even if timed) like Starfield, Avowed, South of Midnight, Fable, Clockwork Revolution etc...

Also Xbox offer Play Anywhere/Smart Delivery so you get the Xbox version for your Platform (Xbox PC or Console) and Game Pass too is locked to an Xbox platform - Xbox PC, Console or App. So Xbox offers more 'choice' in how you want to play Xbox Products or access Xbox services.

B) the Next Xbox is most likely to be an 'Xbox PC' Windows 11 based device, not subsidised as it won't be locked to Xbox ONLY. But if you want to bring your Xbox Library forward, it will be the ONLY next gen hardware to do so. Chances are, they won't be charging for Online Gaming with Friends (unless they find some way to lock you to their Platform only without at least an Essential tier Subscription) but you won't get ALL Xbox games on Playstation or Xbox services, I doubt they'll offer 3rd Party Platforms like Steam/Epic so a much smaller library - you could play Playstation games on your Xbox PC even if they don't release on a Microsoft owned Platform...

Its a 'choice' but maybe you can stream Xbox games on your old Xbox anyway so don't need to upgrade....

@TheGameThrifter Xbox Console sales have flatlined ever since Xbox was merged into Windows/Microsoft instead of being a 'small' side Project with a 'handful' of Studios that was flopping hard after the release of XB1.

That merger meant Microsoft would NO LONGER neglect their own PC platform, the Gaming Platform they originally started on - games like Flight Sim for example. 25yrs ago, Gaming PC's were niche and very expensive so MS wanted to go 'mainstream' and bring PC games to mainstream audiences - hence the HDD and internet connection. Both of which led Console gamers to call the OG Xbox basically a PC in a Box - although its a DirectX machine in a Box with Microsoft wanting to establish DirectX as the API of choice - which devs had to use for their Console so used it for PC too.

When they 'merged' Xbox into MS, Xbox stopped being 'just' their Console and became their Gaming Brand - hence Day 1 releases on their PC Platform, Game Pass for both their Xbox PC and Console platforms, Play Anywhere and Smart delivery giving both Xbox PC and Console versions, delivering the right version for your hardware.

All that affects the sales of Consoles - console become 'optional' for those that ONLY have the budget for a Subsidised Console locking you into that 1 store and Platform or 'prefer' the Console style gaming experience that a single platform offers. PC gamers (and most young kids are PC gamers these days as PC's have dropped in price and far more versatile) aren't buying an Xbox at all, but will buy a PS or Switch for their 'exclusives'. Will buy just for a handful of releases they can't play on their 'prefered' platform.

Xbox are offering all their games Day 1 on ALL their Platforms regardless of whether you prefer the PC, Console or Cloud gaming experience, Play Day 1 on any Xbox gaming enabled device - whether it has their OS at the heart (as PC and Xbox have) or via a MS owned App on iOS/Android devices and Game Pass, despite the price rise offers you Day 1 access at no 'extra' cost - 4 AAA games a year would cost more so could be the best Value, but if you buy, you get both a Console and PC version (you don't on PS5) and won't be waiting for games to come to your Playstation platform - games like Starfield, Avowed, South of Midnight, Fable, Clockwork Revolution - the 'Single Player' games.

Xbox can compete on 'Hardware' - best hardware, library, games (as not all Xbox games release Day/Date on PS), controller, design/aesthetics, services etc etc and of course how well it plays the SAME games.

There are many ways for MS to compete and still be one of the biggest gaming companies in the world. Xbox is Microsofts gaming brand - regardless of whether you play Xbox games in their Platforms or on PS - its still money for Xbox gaming and you are spending your 'time' in their Xbox product. If you 'prefer' to do that via a 3rd Party Platform - inc Steam on PC for example, that's your choice, but you are still a Microsoft customer, using a Microsoft product you've paid Microsoft to use (even if you have to pay Sony/Valve for using their Platform and/or access to online based content). Xbox Console hardware is not the only Xbox Platform and why it won't compete on Sales with PS/Switch hardware but 'Xbox' can compete as Xbox is NOT just the Console Platform...

Couldn't care less - its not as if I can't play Halo on the Platform I want or most likely to play it on. Its a 25yr old game at its core too and as far as I am aware, 'Xbox' platforms will be the ONLY place to offer Halo on Game Pass as well as Xbox PC/Console versions.

The fact that more gamers can now play day 1 doesn't negatively impact my enjoyment of or ability to play that game. If anything, I am happy that it seems MS are releasing 'more' games a year that I can enjoy even if other gamers on other platforms can also enjoy them too - aren't we all 'Gamers' with a shared interest in Gaming?

With some of the issues on Playstation, I can understand now why PushSquare maybe weren't as 'Positive' as those reviewing on Xbox hardware.

In any case, I have NO intention of Playing the Outer Worlds 2 on any other Platform besides Xbox (Xbox PC and/or Console) via Game Pass - if I choose to play at all. I never finished the first and don't think I left the first 'main' area after the intro/tutorial area so I doubt I'd have bought OW2 until it was dirt cheap (and only if it reviewed well) at the most.

I'm happy that at least it seems to be a 'Solid' release from Microsoft and hopefully another success this year but the last game I 'enjoyed' from Obsidian was Fallout: New Vegas and now have far less interest in or time to 'dedicate' to an RPG. So many I've started 'multiple' times because when I get an opportunity (orr desire) to jump back in, I have so many quests that I can't remember the story or point of the quests.

The more RPG's have 'grown' - instead of being just '1' big Open Area with every Quest/mission etc contained in that 1 space, the less interested and/or more I dislike the game. Starfield has quests/missions that you have to travel in a Ship to a different area just to collect or drop something off - but that Planet has no other quests/missions leading to it 'yet'. On a single map, those are just 'new' regions that you may decide to make a 'detour' from the main path to explore en-route whilst following the main mission - but when main missions and most 'unfinished' quests each require travelling to 'different' maps, that's where I usually quit.

Each to their own, but I'm glad that solid releases are still coming out despite all the negative news...

Nuketown always comes to Black Ops within a couple of weeks of Launch - and I have no issue with them bringing Maps back from previous games as 'DLC/Seasonal Content' as I think a LOT of those maps are great 3-lane Maps that worked well in the past, often Fan Favourites.

I must admit though, Treyarchs Nuketown/Firing Range and IW's Shipment/Rust maps have NEVER been my favourites and have wanted many of the medium/large maps to be brought back - especially some of the DLC Maps. I loved the Remnake of the Cliffside map from W@W that turned it into a Golf Course.

BO6 maps were not great imo. They may have gone for a 3 lane design in Principal, but with so many sightlines and ways to cut across the lanes, those 'Lanes' were too messy, too unpredictable etc so the 'flow' wasn't great. What I noticed about the Beta is that the maps are more traditional 3 lane design so the Flow and 'predictability' was better.

I really enjoy CoD's gunplay and movement. It feels the most consistent and solid - yes I get that other aspects (SBMM or Cartoon Skins) maybe too much at times, but when the moment to moment gunplay feels that Slick/Solid and nothing else feels quite as good, I'm looking forward to BO7.

I really love Treyarch's Zombies - arguably good enough to be a Standalone release so CoD tends to be my 'most played' game annually even if it never makes my top 3 Games of the Year and arguably the 'best' value in terms of cost per hour...

Anyone who knows or is a Creative type will likely know that sometimes (or quite a LOT of the time), the project they are working on is 'never' perfect, never going to be 'perfect' and could always be tweaked and improved. As the 'project' developes too, the project they are working can 'grow' and grow as the creatives continue to have ideas and inspiration.

Whether its an artist who never thinks their Painting is 'finished' or that they could or would have done 'more' or a better job had they had more time/money, to a Game Dev.

Sometimes you may need someone to keep the Creative 'Dreamers' on track, focussed on the project as planned, not changing/diverting mid-way as new ideas and inspirations add delays, complications etc for the management.

Ambition and the reality of the scale of that Ambition too can be too much for that creative team to realise and then get bogged down in the technicalities of developing that concept into a working model, let alone a finished project.

These are some of the issues with letting Studios have freedom to create. You might Greenlight a Project that maybe you've seen a small mock-up demo and listened to the Creative describe their Ambition and goals for their Project, but a year or 2 later, that has changed, evolved now requiring more time/money and instead of now being 'near' completion, they are still in the 'early' stages because they still haven't fully settled on everything, all working towards that 'same' goalpost. A few years later and progress still doesn't seem that much further along as new ideas and mechanics are being implemented.

After several years, their Company has spent Millions on the Project/Studio and still has no Product to sell, no way to recoup that investment. They see that it will cost Millions more to get even close to the finish line, assuming no 'issues/delays' crop up, and don't think it will barely sell enough to cover their costs if it released in the next 6-12m, let alone after 2+ more years of investment.

Trying to find the Balance between Managing the Creative side and the realities of a Business side is not easy as some studios may need more 'Hands-on' Management than others - it really does depend on the Studio and the Project.

@GamingGod My point isn't about the quality of the games at all - its more the fact that its called a 'Playstation' yet doesn't play ANY Playstation games Natively.

An Xbox Ally may not play 'Xbox Console' games natively, but it does play Xbox PC games natively - some you may own via Play Anywhere with Smart Delivery to deliver the Xbox version for your Hardware (PC or whatever Xbox Consoles it released on) and others maybe available via your Game Pass Subscription and Game Pass is 'locked' to the Xbox versions only - GP PC locked to Xbox PC versions as its their PC version of GP.

The Xbox Ally's also play ALL your Xbox games via Remote play, just like a Playstation Portal offers so the argument that it doesn't play Xbox games is absolutely ridiculous when it plays more Xbox games natively, let alone the options to stream those games when the ONLY option on a 'Playstation' Portal is to Stream, it doesn't offer any 'Native' gaming.

I said it Can't play Playstation games natively, yet is still a Playstation gaming Handheld device (not 'yet' as in maybe it will one day play games natively). It only streams, but people are fine with that being a Playstation branded device, but a Handheld PC can't be Xbox branded because it doesn't play their 'Xbox Console' games natively - it plays Xbox PC games natively though...

@DNortonX So is a PLAYSTATION portal not a Playstation despite Sony branding it as a Playstation? It doesn't play ANY Playsstation games you may own Natively and relies solely on Remote Play/Streaming to 'play on the go'

At least with an Xbox Ally, you are able to play Xbox games Natively - all their Xbox PC games they've released for the past decade are on their Xbox PC platform, they have Play Anywhere and Smart Delivery so you get the Xbox PC or Console version (only their PC platform version, not Steam, Epic or other PC Platform version, just the XBOX PC version). Game Pass PC too is locked to their Xbox PC platform.

Just because you are 'only' a Console Player, Doesn't mean that others don't have a Xbox PC Library. If you play CoD, Indiana Jones, Avowed, Outer Worlds 2 etc on PC via Game Pass, you are playing the Xbox PC version, buy DLC, seasonal passes, MTX's or even the game through Game Pass, you get the Xbox ONLY versions

Xbox stopped being the 'JUST' the console a decade ago, that's why MS release ALL their Games Day/Date into their Xbox Platforms, which are ALWAYS listed as PC, Console, Cloud. A decade ago, EVERYONE was complaining about Xbox merging into Microsoft/Windows that NO-ONE would buy an Xbox now that Xbox is on PC.

The sales of Consoles is 'weak' compared to the Playstation/Switch with their 'Exclusives' to incentivise PC gamers to buy - even if just for the exclusives. The reason is because Xbox is also on PC and Cloud so you don't need a Console to play Xbox Games on an Xbox platform.

Xbox is MS's Gaming Brand, just like Playstation is to Sony. You can't play games on EVERY branded product - like Portal, Headsets, Controllers, (you can use a 'Playstation/Xbox' Controller to play Games on the Steam Platform for example) - its just their Gaming Brand - Sony's Playstation Headsets are designed for their Gaming ecosystem which is 'Playstation' but they also make Headsets for Audiophiles/DJ's etc - not PS branded.

Xbox has more than 1 Platform - you have Xbox Console and Xbox PC. About a decade ago, XB1 flopped hard, so MS considered Shutting down their Xbox Console business altogether - instead decided to merge it into MS/Windows and so since then, Xbox is on PC.

Play Anywhere and Smart Delivery offer you the 'Xbox' version for the Patform you play on - regardless of whether that is a Windows PC, Series X, Series S (or the XB1 S/X if released on these too). Game Saves, Progress and Achievements are all synced between Xbox PC and Xbox Consoles.

Game Pass too is on their Xbox Platforms - either Xbox PC or Xbox Console versions - both offer Free Games for their respective Platform and all those games are locked to the 'Xbox' Platform Store they are on so if you buy DLC, MTX or the game through GP, you are buying from Xbox.

Game Pass Cloud lets you stream 'Xbox' games (as in games sold or made/published by Microsoft and locked to 'Xbox' - the Xbox Console platform with its titles) but its through a Microsoft owned App on whatever enabled devices you have.

PC has more than one Platform/Storefront and Microsofts Gaming Brand is Xbox so their PC platform is 'Xbox' too - but Xbox PC, not Console.

So yes, you can play 'Xbox' and many devices will either be able to let you play Xbox games (as in games locked to an Xbox Platform so you can't play these on 'other' platforms unless you buy) Natively or via Streaming.

Playstation Portal doesn't play Playstation 5 games 'Natively' at all yet is a Playstation Gaming handheld - it relies on Streaming/Remote Play to let you play 'Playstation' on the Go. A Xbox Ally too will let you play Xbox games on the go via Streaming/Remote Play, but also lets you play some Xbox Games natively if you bought them with Play Anywhere or via Game Pass Subscriptions,

Didn't rememdy also make the CrossfireX campaigns that 'flopped' too. FBC is competing in a tough market with well established IP's and a lot of them are F2P with years and years of additional content and Game-play, QoL updates.

Unless its unique, special and/or extrremely well polished with a lot of Content, a premium Live Service game will struggle to compete - especially with that barrier to entry too others don't require...

@IOI It's not loyalist to understand the situation in the context in which these decisions occur instead of just the 'Xbox' Console bubble.

Its no secret that prices have gone up for everyone - whether you are a Consumer or business. The price of Silicon, Copper etc has risen, the cost of Fuel and Energy (electricity/Gas etc) so that 'impacts' both.

Price rises in a Cost of Living crisis are certainly not welcome, but the businesses too are facing higher 'costs/tariffs' as well as slowing Revenue as their Consumers have less free money to spend. Even the exchange rate for Global business affect pricing. If their currency can't buy as much anymore due to falling value in the exchange rate, that makes it more expensive too.

Maybe MS aren't spending money on R&D to find ways to manufacture their Console chearper - like Sony have done with their revisions of Slim/Pro hardware - instead of raising costs. But with Xbox on PC and Cloud too, the console is never going to sell like the 360 days, return to those 'glory years' etc...

Since the 360 days, Xbox would seem a very tainted brand - XB1 was a 'flop', Kinect/DRM killed it and MS Console momentum. They merged Xbox into MS, so Xbox on PC meant Xbox Consoles had NO Exclusives or incentives to buy, Play Anywhere/Smart Delivery to give you the Xbox version for your Hardware (PC or Console) and introduced Game Pass (which has always been contentious for its Day 1 releases hurting 'Sales' and/or 'destroying Gaming' according to some sectors). yes they've had some successes - BC, XB1X, Game Pass 'value' - at least until recently and being named best Publisher in 2021, but these can be overshadowed by 'No' Exclusives as Xbox is on PC...

Despite reiterating over the last Decade that 'this is an Xbox' because their Gaming Platforms are 'Xbox Platforms regardless of whether you play on PC, Console or Cloud, they've been bashed for that too and some still refuse to acknowledge Xbox is on PC, until it comes to Console sales and then know full well why Console sales are 'weak' - Who buys an Xbox when Xbox is on PC and now coming to PS too...

I do think it will be a Windows PC in a Console like form factor at its heart. As MS owns Windows 11 and as we have seen, can and will 'modify' it to boot up a certain way - like with some processes turned off for gaming mode and booting to custom UI, not the full desktop.

Their next Console could also boot to a Custom UI, but unlike the Xbox Ally's, not be able to switch to a Desktop mode (MS may cut that from their OS) leaving ONLY the Windows 11 parts that PC games require (and their UI).

That way, every game they make is a PC game, no need to port a version over to a Console and spend weeks/months tweaking and optimising to get it 'running' and polished enough for release. They have a 'fixed spec' Console - as well as low power Handhelds to Scale and optimise for so as long as they make settings scale to their hardware for consistent performance/visual clarity, that's a LOT more cost effective than porting to multiple Platforms.

Xbox Console maybe on its 'deathbed' in the traditional sense, but Xbox as a Platform will Continue - just like Steam, Epic and other PC platforms...

@Banjo- That's what I think - the next Console will be a Windows 11 OS with some customisation/modification to lock it to Microsoft Only - after all they build and can modify their own OS to only boot to Xbox FSE with all 'Desktop and non-gaming' aspects Stripped out completely - not supplied so no way to switch to full screen mode or access other Windows based platforms services.

Being a 'fixed' Platform, Devs can just optimise their PC versions with say a 60fps and 120fps mode - or let you set your own 'custom' settingsbut essentially its the exact same game they sell on any other PC platform - its software recognise your hardware specs and adjusts its settings accordingly

That way their Studios only make PC games with their minimum standard for 'optimising to' is their weakest PC product - so handheld ready with its 'settings' and able to scale up to Console or high end PC gaming but must be at least decent on a handheld with settings to adjust text scale for example on small screens and targeting say 4k/60 on a Fixed spec Console style PC and release it on their Store only (unless porting to P3rd Party Consoles like PS or Switch).

Point is, MS want Windows at the heart of gamers experience whether on PC, Console or Cloud and Windows to be the home of Gaming with Xbox as their Gaming brand on all devices. whether that happens with their next console, which I do think won't be a 'traditional' single platform device, although I do think they might put 'multi-platform' access behind a game pass sub tier.

The only issue is how to bring that Console Library forward effectively and 'cheaply', don't want to be wasting valuable chip just for space for BC compatibility if you can 'emulate with purely software to make the game work and think its running on the Hardware its code expects it to work with.

Until we know if they can emulate the hardware in software only or require custom hardware, as both are AMD, Xbox could just licence out the 'Xbox' die space for any partnered PC build for Xbox Console compatibilty, but its still an 'Xbox PC' platform regardless and maybe its 'Xbox' only - not console or PC as they are both the same - just one maybe a Custom Windows 11 OS only for Console gaming rather than the full multi platform interface Windows normally offers and controls which other Windows based content you can use on their product - its not the Open Windows 11 experience, its the Locked to Windows 11 gaming (Xbox) with MS controlling who they let into their Platform to vie for your time and or money....

@mikeangry I know its not booting up and switching on ALL the Windows Desktop processes and Xbox FSE is built into 'Windows' as a gaming UI on this particular version of Windows - but Windows/Xbox is interchangeable on PC depending on whether you are talking about 'Windows' as whole or Microsofts specific Gaming platform on Windows PC is Xbox. Its built into Windows so of course its not an 'APP' like some may expect - its Xbox PC their Windows Gaming Platform built into Windows and their Store.

I think they will find a way to make the next Console a Windows based Console but whether it ONLY boots to Xbox and cannot open up to a full desktop, and as MS have 'Control' of the OS and type of device its going in, can certainly 'modify it and its 'interface' to not boot up (or even include any of the 'Desktop' aspects in the OS - just what Games require for gaming on a Windows PC) and 'Lock' gaming Apps like Steam behind a Console pay wall - otherwise they'll lose all their online social gaming sales to Steam instantly if they don't need 'Essential' for that. But games will be 'PC games released into Microsofts Store Front - not a 'ported to Xbox Console version' - the same version you can buy on steam or whatever other apps MS offer.

Both Windows 11 and Xbox teams are working together on this to try and make their 'handheld' platform, which also Benefits their Xbox gaming Platform as they try and emulate the ease of use and storefront experience Console gamers expect etc - they've neglected there PC Platform for years allowing 3rd Parties to 'dominate' them - they've spent the past 8yrs 'improving' their PC Platform alongside their Console and Cloud building. This handheld is basically the culmination of 'Xbox' merging into Microsoft about a decade ago and throwing Microsoft type money to their Xbox gaming Division on their PC, Console and Cloud divisions - every release since merging has released on PC/Console hardware.

Its not so much emulating the Hardware - MS and AMD work together and I'm sure the next Xbox can run those games because of some Hardware design, but that doesn't mean that it can't be a 'Windows 11' based system that runs Windows PC games natively. It may require some 'custom software/emulation' so that the Xbox Console games think they are running on an Xbox because 'code' needs to interface with the OS to run the game on the hardware. If there are 'specific to Xbox' hardware aspects - like dedicated Audio chip so audio only gets sent to a 'audio' chip in code, it either requires an dedicated audio chip to 'operate' in a specific way built in or sent to a similar part in their hardware and 'emulate' it there'

Its complex if the games are coded to interface with specific OS/API's and hardware - when at their Core, they are all modified PC builds comprising of all the same parts - CPU/GPU/RAM etc required to actually run a game - the only difference is the way they are coded to run on hardware with specific OS and API's to use that hardware as effectively as they can, they are all games on PC, or built on one.

It just depends on whether they can get software to emulate the hardware etc on the hardware they really want to build for maximum performance at whatever console like price point they target, not waste a bit on 'specialist' hardware taking up die space on their chip but still requires specific software to interface between game and hardware for Backwards Compatibilty.

@lacerz Xbox One and its failing changed EVERYTHING for Xbox 'Consoles'. It almost saw the End of Xbox as a Brand as MS considered quitting Gaming altogether - only had a handful of Studios and IP's, relying heavily on Forza, Gears and Halo despite losing Bungie and Epic as the devs on their biggest two IP's, and the disaster of TV, TV, TV and a Kinect Only device (which lasted only 6 months before it became 'optional' before being dropped altogether). Despie making Changes so that basically everything they screwed up on, they had reversed/backtracked on, they lost all momentumm and goodwill built up over the 360 era.

Instead of calling it a day, MS merged Xbox into Windows and that was the single biggest change to their Xbox Console as Xbox stopped being just the Console, but the brand for ALL Microsoft Gaming. Games stopped being exclusive to their console only and released Day/date on their PC platform - that upset Xbox customers who all said why buy an Xbox when Xbox is on PC now (ironic that 10yrs later, PC can't be Xbox despite having Xbox on it)

Merging also enabled MS to spend massively on Studios and Publishers - most with long history on PC before releasing games on consoles. Merging also meant that Microsoft introduced Play Anywhere so you got the Xbox Console and Xbox PC version and with Smart Delivery, will deliver the version for your Hardware - play on PC, get the Xbox PC version, Play on Series X, get the Series X version with any additional features/modes over the Series S version

It also enabled them to create Game Pass that's exclusive' to their Platform - even if you have to use a Microsoft App on an Android/iOS device. Game Pass PC offering Xbox PC versions whilst Game Pass Console/Cloud is the Console versions.

Purchasing ABK was a direct result of them merging a failing Console Side Project into MS and making it their Gaming Brand across all platforms, throwing 'money' at keeping Xbox as a relevant Gaming brand beyond just the Console with its 'low' sales relative to other Consoles.

All the 'good' & 'bad' coming out of Microsoft from the perspective of us a gamers as consumers of Microsoft Products/services with regards to 'Xbox' is a direct result of them merging Xbox into MS.

Game Pass was once the best thing in Gaming because you got games Day 1 and could play anywhere via cloud or PC too until the price went up that bit too much for many but releasing Games day/date on PC made their console less appealing/important. Play Anywhere was great - if under supported by 3rd Parties but not if that means Xbox PC platform/devices can exist and 'confuse' those who are blinkered/narrow minded and can't accept 'Xbox' existing outside their Console only mind and then get 'butthurt' when you try and explain Xbox is NOT just the console anymore and hasn't been years now - plenty of time to get accustomed to the messaging instead of constantly fighting against it - that's not an Xbox if it doesn't play my Console games - yet will get Xbox PC games via Play Anywhere or Game Pass when it 'suits' them...

@GeeEssEff nope - and I don't think Bill Gates is really involved with MS these days - I don't think he even owns a major portion of MS shares either.

Its now Satya Nadella who runs MS, not related to him either.

Again, its not my fault you can't grasp MS's 'Xbox' ecosystem and still think of it as ONLY their Console Platform despite MS branding ALL their Gaming division as 'Xbox' as it was well established as their Gaming brand a decade ago - but stopped being just their Console.

Their Xbox Ally's are Xbox PC devices that boot to their Xbox PC platform where your Xbox PC library is - the Play Anywhere Console games gave you an Xbox PC version, not just the Xbox Console version to play on your Console but the Xbox PC version to play on Windows PC's and Game Pass PC is locked to Xbox PC platform offering Xbox PC versions of games - not the Console version as they won't run natively. That's been happening for years so why is it so hard to accept that Xbox is on PC and therefore any PC that's running (or boots to) Xbox PC platform (windows itself is an Xbox PC gaming platform with Windows Store - but the games are Xbox PC versions) to also be Xbox?

Windows and Xbox OS - both Microsoft, Direct X API is Microsoft so games on their OS, using their API's on their Platform are ALL Microsoft Gaming products so 'Xbox' branded - however confusing that maybe when they don't 'stipulate'

However, they have never been shy about saying these Handhelds are PC's so Xbox PC, not Xbox Console - seems so simple to me after a Decade of messaging, a decade of Play Anywhere and Day 1 releases on PC, a decade of Game Pass on their Xbox Platforms/Apps, a decade of Xbox Studios and Xbox Publishing.

Now I know that some won't read a wall of text as that's too much for them to cope with, but the point is, I'm not defending MS just because you don't like the truth.

I'm not the one who decided to merge Xbox into windows and brand their entire gaming division 'Xbox' which has obviously led to some confusion - which I will accept it can be confusing to begin with, but after years and years, surely it must sink in at sometime that 'Xbox' and any reference to Xbox does not ALWAYS mean their Console hardware platform.

I know I've been saying it since 2016 - when they merged Xbox in and Xbox stopped being just the Console. Everytime the Console owners whinge/whine about MS not prioritising or focussing ONLY on their Console, I've had to remind them that Xbox Console is just '1' of Microsofts Gaming Platforms and Xbox is their PC, Console and Cloud Ecosystem which is why you got Game Pass, Play Anywhere and a massive injection of Money to buy Studios for their 'Xbox' ecosystem on PC, Cloud and Console (as well as some 3rd Party Platforms too - like Steam, Playstation, Switch etc.

Again, no 'opinion' so no Defending or criticising the situation, just stating the facts that Xbox does NOT mean just the Console or Console Library, you can have an Xbox PC library too so ANY windows PC, not just Xbox branded ones, have Xbox built in as their PC Platform and that's where Game Pass PC lives too - on their Xbox PC platform offering Xbox PC versions you can ONLY play on the Xbox PC ecosystem - not Steam, not Epic or any other 3rd Party - that is Fact, not Opinion

Again, I can see where Confusion can stem from - hence I often point out the facts without Opinion and then get called a MS shill or Fanboy for knowing that Xbox is not just their console. I'm trying to inform not anger or upset people but the fact is, Microsoft themselves made those changes nearly a decade ago and yet people still assume 'Xbox' branded stuff must be their Console only or just their Xbox Console Library and can't mean their Xbox PC and/or Xbox PC library too - despite even getting Xbox PC games via Play Anywhere or using their Console Game Pass Subscription to play on 'Xbox PC' games on PC hardware for the last decade.

If I'm 'wrong' or 'misinformed', just answer this Question:-
Where and what platform version are the Play Anywhere 'Console' games you bought found on a PC? They aren't in any 3rd Party Gaming Platform like Steam, so not the 'steam' version, certainly not the Xbox Console version either, they are Xbox PC versions

Its got nothing to do with defending MS or 'commitment' to a Company, its me paying attention to the way they have 'merged' Xbox into Windows and the resulting messaging and brand use since then so I don't make 'assumptions'. I am not going to say that Xbox is 'ONLY' the Console and any device that doesn't play EVERY Xbox Console game natively can't be an Xbox when MS themselves made 'Xbox' their gaming brand on ALL their platforms

I'm sorry you are 'butthurt' that MS has a PC platform too that they call Xbox or that your 'preferred' Console hardware is NOT the ONLY Xbox Platform but optional, that Microsoft aren't 'focussed' solely on their Console and return to releasing games Exclusively to their Xbox Console instead of Xbox family of Platforms.

Since merging, Games stopped being Exclusive to Console but you get Play Anywhere in the Xbox ecosystem - inc PC and Cloud streaming your OWN Xbox games, Game Pass is on their Xbox Platforms (or you can get a MS App to stream games on other Platforms like iOS/Android or use 'Browsers' inc Steam Browser to stream 'Xbox' games. Merging into Windows also gave them significant budget increases to purchase Studios/Publishers - Bethesda, Activision and Blizzard have massive Windows PC history - longer than they have history with Playstation or Xbox Consoles.

Point is, I'm only reiterating the Facts, its not my opinion about whether MS should call their PC platform 'Xbox' or not, not my opinion about what constitutes 'Xbox' today - just stating the facts that explains 'why' this is an Xbox device - not Xbox Console but Xbox PC and it boots to Xbox FSE, MS's Xbox PC Platform and Xbox has been on PC for years - even if they still keep 'Windows' and Windows Store naming - their Games are Xbox games (on PC) and their gaming Platform is Xbox on PC too - just like you have Steam on PC and Steamdeck with SteamOS too...Steam is Valves Gaming brand, Playstation is Sony's and MS has Xbox...

@GeeEssEff Again, Its NOT about defending MS, its about correcting people's blinkered or uninformed - which MS's themselves can take some blame for - opinions that contradict facts.

I get that Xbox Console owners here Xbox and think that must mean 'just' them, but there are PC Only gamers and/or Cloud Only gamers that don't, or haven't needed an Xbox for years because they are already on 'Xbox'. It annoyed 'Xbox' Console owners when MS merged into Windows so every release was on Xbox PC Day 1 - never even considered that Game PC was on the Xbox PC platform 'exclusively' - not steam, epic or other PC gaming Platforms.

The amount of times over the past decade that Console owners have been angry because MS has been focused on their PC platform with updates or Game Pass PC getting games not coming to Console Game Pass, even releasing games like Gears: Tactics, Flight Sim, AoE4 etc on their PC platform first and almost Every time, I or someone else has pointed out that 'Xbox' stopped being 'just' the Console, that Console is just 1 'option' to get into the Microsoft Gaming (and Xbox is their Gaming Brand - like Playstsation is for Sony) ecosystem - Play on iOS/Android devices via a Microsoft app, you are playing on Xbox in the Cloud, Play on Microsoft Windows PC (not Steam/Epic etc) via Play Anywhere, Windows Store Purchases or even Game Pass PC, you are playing on Xbox PC and may have a decent Library of games built up over years of PC gaming (although with MS's neglect of their PC platform, it pushed most to 3rd Party Apps instead - a BIG Mistake by MS and maybe another major reason people forget MS had and still has their OWN platform on PC.

I'm not saying its strictly down to Peoples ignorance or blinkered view on the gaming Landscape where Publishers have their OWN PC platforms these days - inc EA and Ubisoft too btw. MS's messaging maybe not the clearest or even spelt out as 'clearly' as I try to do, but after a 'decade' of Xbox being part of Windows PC's too, they still can't accept Xbox being anything other than their Console Platform.

Years of MS telling you Xbox is on PC, on Cloud as well as their Console, years of Game Pass for 'Xbox' games - even on PC, Years of Play Anywhere where you get the 'Xbox' PC version, years of MS saying 'this is an Xbox' and showing a range of devices inc Mobiles, Laptops/desktops and/or TV 's/Media Sticks, years of MS updates focused on their PC platform - more so than their Console in recent years.