Banjo-

and open to all of the different storefronts and ways to play that you see on PC.

There is not a single hint in that direction since they started talking about their next generation plans. It could be running Microsoft Store and Xbox games on the same Xbox user interface (curated experience) running on Windows for gaming. it's likely that next generation the game builds will be the same for console and PC, with no Xbox ports required and all games being Play Anywhere by default. Rog Xbox Ally X was manufactured by Asus, but the next Xbox will be 100% Microsoft, so I don't think we should start assuming that it will support third-party stores before there is some kind of official information covering that particular topic.

@BAMozzy Microsoft's engineers managed to run Xbox 360 (Power PC) games better on Xbox One (x86), so I expect them to make those, Xbox One and Series games play on the next console just using software. Running the gaming version of Windows with just the gaming features like DirectX will make possible to run the same build of games next generation, with no console ports required. They are capable of doing it and I honestly believe it's the best possible outcome for them financially and for gamers from a console fan's perspective.

@Master_Cthulhu70 You make a lot of valid points that I agree with. There is a lot of speculation about the next Xbox. It's confirmed that it's backwards compatible and the largest generational leap. The third-party stores are rumours and perhaps they only exist because of the Rog Xbox Ally X being a handheld PC with third-party stores.

The next Xbox should run the gaming version of Windows and games builds should be the same for console and PC, so no ports needed and all games available, because all games are made for Windows. Win-win. The OS of the console should be the Xbox Full Screen Experience that will be more optimised by then, and that Rog Xbox Ally X just started.

Consoles are more optimised for gaming and like you said, Series X still compares favourably to high-end PCs because of that. So basically, I think that the next Xbox should be exactly that: a console that only runs the full screen experience optimised for that console, hardware and software optimised for gaming, and developers making the most of the console because they know exactly what they are dealing with. That version of Windows for gaming should still be an Xbox user interface like that of Series X|S.

I loved Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 despite not being a fan of the genre and that being my first time playing Ninja Gaiden. Another great addition to Game Pass.

@Master_Cthulhu70 Yep! I'm looking forward to what's next and how Xbox will be better integrated with Windows devices. I think that Microsoft will manufacture their own handheld/hybrid on top of the confirmed next-gen console. Rog Xbox Ally X is awesome hardware. It's the best handheld PC. I'm watching reviews and I'm impressed, but until it or its successor run Xbox games, it's not an Xbox, but an Xbox PC. It has PC Game Pass, Cloud, all PC games and all the Xbox games part of Play Anywhere, but not the others.

As I said in my other comments about the next Xbox and this Rog Xbox Ally X, I expect the next Windows devices to support Xbox games and that includes running backwards compatibility Xbox and Xbox 360 games. It's easy compared to what they achieved on Xbox One. It's what every future Xbox console and device could be, including the confirmed next-gen console. Everything playable and everything on the same Windows.

@Dm9982 And with free upgrades. Besides PC, Xbox is the best value and most consumer-friendly, indeed.

@Dm9982 For the record, backwards compatibility is what made me a fan of Xbox, so I understand you.

@Dm9982 That is the ultimate goal. Then, Windows will be the best platform for games, because of its native compatibility with PC games and because of the Xbox backwards compatibility "translation" added for Xbox users, something I suspect it's already being worked on. I also think that this is the best handheld gaming available, but it's not the same optimising something big and versatile like Windows as bare bones OS or limited software layers, so it was predictable that the first months would be rough for the first device that truly has a gaming version of Windows, and that will also benefit any other computer and gaming handheld running Windows. This is not about a single device, but the first step of something gigantic.

@TheGameThrifter There are 1,532 Play Anywhere games.

https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/browse?PlayWith=XboxPlayAnywhere

It's not expensive considering the specifications, but it's expensive compared to subsidised consoles. If you bought a Series X or PS5 in 2020-2021, you should feel very happy now.

Since PS5 Pro, subsidised consoles are over and we won't see them again. Nintendo consoles are cheaper, but not subsidised either, with capabilities in line with the last generation. Next-gen consoles will have this pricing we are not used to.

That said, it seems that the owners of Rog Xbox Ally X are happy with the hardware and all the issues are related to software issues, that are being addressed.

@WildConcept6

What's frustrating to me is that Xbox shouldn't need to "regain trust" or "squash" rumors. This isn't 2022. Or years in the Xbox One era. This year Xbox has been the most visible and transparent probably to date. We've gotten back to back shows and they've had a big physical presence at gaming events world wide. They've made their plans to expand the Xbox ecosystem clear and reiterated multiple times that the next console built by Xbox is also coming. It's not bad that Microsoft is FINALLY utilizing their strengths to both make PC gaming a better experience and grow Xbox (which has now been a native launcher on PC for nearly a decade (Xbox Play Anywhere is 10 years old next year)). There was literally an announcement about next Gen right after the showcase. Like this article says Phil did this same lab around the top secret base for next gen in April. Xbox won't STOP talking about the next generation of hardware from interviews with engineers building it to teases from executives.

It's like Xbox has been serving its sentence for controversial pre-launch Xbox One plans that were cancelled anyway for over a decade. If you read the hollow comments, it's always the same narrative without even reading the articles from people that are not interested in Xbox anyway, so there's no trust to be won, as there is no interest to begin with. You know it's irrational when whatever Xbox does or says is bad, whether it's in one direction or the opposite, and when the competition is good whatever the 180-degree turns and anti-consumer decisions they make. @SalaciousCrumb

@Cvantez Yes, Quantum Break and the film that is inserted in there are really well done. Everybody should download the full package. 100% worth watching.

@dskatter Yeah,. it's up to the developers to make the most of the hardware. In some cases, you can see games really shine on Series X, while others are more straightforward ports. Fortunately, only a few seem rough, and even those get updated eventually. I have this game installed on Series X, but I haven't played it yet. I liked Quantum Break, it's really cool.

Man, Series X is a beast.

Thanks for the review. My current favourite is Avowed! One thing I love about Game Pass is that you don't need to be 100% sure since there is no additional purchase for playing the full game, so it's not just about the value itself, but the risk-free choice.

@Questionable_Duck I think that this is what will happen to PC Game Pass, that it will disappear because of the three main tiers including PC games now, but Microsoft will respect the current subscriptions, which is nice. Better get that one before it's too late, PC (and Rog Xbox Ally) players.

@OldGamer999 Sony likely tried to fish new PS fans releasing things like Lego Horizon Adventures, but that strategy is less effective than selling games to fans of other platforms, as proven by Helldivers 2 on Xbox and Forza Horizon 5 on PS. Not all PS games are a hit on PC, but not all Xbox games are a hit on PS either. Interestingly, not all PS exclusives have been a big success on PS5. Gamers just want to play the games they like on the platform of their choice. It's that simple!

All things considered, a middle ground for Sony would be releasing their games on other platforms such as PC and Xbox some time after they launch on PS. This seemed impossible a few years ago with Jim Ryan, but the new CEOs are aware of the financial benefits. I think that the strategy of Xbox will be the same in most cases, first on Game Pass (Xbox and PC), and later on other consoles, basically PS, because of the technical limitations of Switch 2. In other words, it looks like console exclusivity is a thing of the past. With small budgets and high prices that fans are willing to pay, Nintendo is the exception, for now.

@themightyant It's on Xbox.com FAQ. Game Pass for Console is still available to current subscribers and they get all games on day one, Call of Duty included. The price has not been increased. It's a great deal, but it's the only tier without online console multiplayer and lacks recent additions to current tiers at no extra cost, like Cloud and PC games.

@Stocksy I said that the only thing I miss is a bigger and OLED screen because I have accepted that this is not an Xbox console to begin with, but I think that it's likely that Microsoft is working on making Xbox games playable on devices like this, same as backwards compatible games (Power PC) run better on Xbox One (x86), which is an engineering miracle. The future of Xbox is console and PC combined, so backwards compatibility and Play Anywhere are a must. This first Xbox gaming handheld is just the first step. Optimising Windows for gaming so intensely is not a small task, as it's not the same Windows OS than the Nintendo Switch OS. If they really want to win the many millions invested in the Xbox consoles, they really need to bring backwards compatibility — confirmed for the next-gen Xbox — and Play Anywhere as the bridge to their future devices.

@OldGamer999 @HonestHick @Coletrain

The popularity of the PS brand is unquestionable, partly because it's the default and the casual console, with third-party hits owning the best-selling lists. Final Fantasy has been a PS staple since the first console, but it's fully platform now. Like Square Enix, Sony is expanding their user base, which does not mean losing their hardware position, which is only important for them because of the store commissions.

PC and Xbox players are not going to emigrate to PS. They would have done so years ago, so there's something for Sony to sell outside their ecosystem. Xbox is, of course, the tricky part of the equation, but it would be stupid for Sony to think that PS players are going to switch to Xbox. Actually, I think they fear the vocal die-hard fans reactions and sensationalist headlines more, but the majority of PS users (99%) will be fine with seeing Sony games elsewhere, as they have seen Final Fantasy and Sony games on PC and Xbox. Another thing to consider is that the next Xbox console will be backwards compatible. If it also supports third-party stores, Sony games will already be there, so it might be another reason for Sony to put their games on the Xbox store, for those millions of active Xbox users that are not as invested in third-party stores.

The excuse that the aforementioned fans employed for Final Fantasy games not being on Xbox because it was not worth it financially was proven wrong by Microsoft during the ABK acquisition and subsequently by Square Enix, who admitted they had accepted console exclusivity deals. Xbox One and Series X|S have received major support by third parties, with important series joining Xbox for the first time recently. The truth is that it's easy to port Windows games to Xbox, but if the game builds are the same for the next Xbox and for Windows, the port costs will literally be zero. If Play Anywhere keeps growing, as it should and as it has been, Xbox and PC will be considered the same by developers, and even Sony will bring games to not just PC but also Xbox, after the success of Helldivers 2 and all the other factors considered.

@FraserG For what it's worth, I enjoy your writing and I always find useful your reviews and guides. Besides, the future of Xbox is a combination of console and PC. Microsoft confirmed that the next-gen console will be backwards compatible, but I think that it's likely that they are also working on making Xbox games playable on devices like this, same as backwards compatible games run on Xbox One.

@Master_Cthulhu70 I hope you feel better soon!

@HonestHick Yeah. You are right. I also think that this is the start of something huge, optimising Windows for gaming without software layers or emulators like Proton, so Windows games can perform optimally on the OS, but also supporting Steam and Epic as any PC. I believe that, eventually, Xbox games will be playable. Microsoft's engineers are geniuses. Xbox 360 (Power PC) games running better on Xbox One (x86) prove it. After making sure that Windows is optimal for gaming, I can see Microsoft adding support for Xbox games, and that would be awesome @axelhander. I don't mean the next-gen Xbox that is confirmed to be backwards compatible, but this gaming handheld and/or its successors. It's not a crazy idea.

I would love to see gameplay of Forza Horizon 3 (Play Anywhere title) at 60fps on Rog Xbox Ally X, impossible on any console. It's the only thing that it needs to be perfect.

Series X was indeed packaged as a present.

Can't be. Xbox gamers have been trained as monkeys to not buy games. [/sarcasm]

What I like the most is that they nailed the hardware and that Microsoft is aware of how much they need to optimise Windows for gaming (Xbox full-screen experience), with desktop Windows still being an option for additional features, emulators or whatever. It's essential for the future of gaming on Windows without software layers and emulators like Proton.

@FraserG You described how efficient Rog Xbox Ally X is, that it stays cool and that battery life doesn't disappoint. Have you tried turning wireless off to get extra juice?

@BaldB3lper78 @LoneBadger I know what you mean, but this is the best option in the gaming handheld market in my opinion, considering the specifications, ergonomics and multiple stores. It's not really an Xbox console, although it has the Play Anywhere titles. The next-gen Xbox console is confirmed to be backwards compatible and it will be manufactured by Microsoft and not Asus, so that would be a better choice for some. That doesn't mean that ROG Xbox Ally X doesn't excel at handheld gaming, being powerful, efficient, comfy and versatile.

@FraserG Thanks for the honest and comprehensive review and congratulations on Pure Xbox getting a ROG Xbox Ally X. It looks amazing and the price is good compared to other gaming handhelds with similar specifications. The lack of a bigger OLED screen is the only thing I miss.

@Cakefish Cool. 😁 I also think that Game Pass for PC will be discontinued because it's currently hidden under an arrow on the Xbox site and because all plans include PC now, but current subscribers will likely be respected. The Game Pass for Console subscribers kept their subscription intact with day one access to all first-party games, Call of Duty included.

That's what I said:

Obviously, I was not referring to Pure Xbox. They would never directly compare the price of Game Pass Ultimate with PS Plus Premium while ignoring the differences between them and the new additions to Game Pass, but that double disinformation occurred elsewhere, with most websites not covering the added value to Game Pass Essential and Premium at no extra cost, but just the price hike of Ultimate.

@Cakefish Just one of the many things to consider along the others I mentioned, but talking about that specifically, I doubt that the articles failing to mention it (99% of them) had those consumer scenarios in mind. You can bet that when Game Pass PC is discontinued, it will be news as cheaper access to games on day one cancelled, so it's only fair to cover the good and the bad, and also not make direct comparisons on the same site between Ultimate and a PS subscription that doesn't include first-party games until years later. In that regard, PS Plus Premium is 30% more expensive than Game Pass Premium, even though Game Pass Premium gets all first-party games but Call of Duty within a year, while PS Plus Premium gets the first-party games between 1 and 2.5 years later.

I think that what didn't work at Xbox is the communication inside the company, the higherups, Nadella with rolling dollar symbols on his eyes, making last-minute decisions and not being more involved and commited, resulting in each Xbox boss stating their own views without proper and deeper meetings. The whole team should talk, plan and communicate as one, and I have the feeling that there is a lack of teamwork inside the Xbox business structure. There is also a hands-off philosophy that affects the performance of the less capable studios.

@BaldB3lper78 Yes, I agree that Sarah Bond seems a saleswoman and Phil Spencer, while being more involved, seems frustrated. Xbox needs to prepare better messaging for the next console and not reveal plans before they are more likely to be definitive.

@BaldB3lper78 If they focus on that, and future builds of Xbox games will be the same for console and PC, it's not a niche hardware market in the sense that it won't matter how many hardware units they sell, but how many Xbox=Windows copies they sell on their own hardware and on all PCs that run Windows (most of them do), while paying 30% to Valve for Windows games sold on Steam. The experience for Xbox users doesn't get worse but better, they still have their confirmed backwards compatibility and they get all the games since they don't need to be specifically ported to Xbox, but the Xbox and Windows build is the same. They would even get elusive Steam games such as Sony's.

@GoldenPants Building a PC library is a good choice, but I wanted to make clear a couple of things about Xbox games. You can buy several Xbox games on PS5, but there are thousands of Xbox One, Series X|S and backwards compatible games that you can not. PC ports started on Xbox One with Play Anywhere, and still it's not quite there! Xbox being a PC-Xbox is actually the best possible outcome.

Similarly, Sony is going to port their games to PC, at least. The ultimate goal of gaming seems to be PC. Last generation, we started to see most third-party games launching on PC, as opposed to the previous generation. This generation, we are seeing all the big publishers supporting all platforms. Square Enix, a big fan of console exclusivity deals, has now a fully multiplatform strategy. The PC market includes handhelds now. The younger gamers are not as interested in walled gardens and traditional consoles. Cloud is popular on mobile devices. All things considered, merging PC and console might be perceived as a failure because of the limited sales of consoles, but it might actually be the future of the industry.

@datamonkey Bad news getting more traction than good news combined with vocal users preferring another brand equals this.

@Sakai Whenever there are good news. I click to check what people are posting and if there's something positive for once, but nope, the narrative does not changed whether the news are good or bad, whether it's a rumour or an official statement. It's predictable and, yeah, ultimately boring. If everything about Xbox is bad, the logical thing to do would be stop reading and writing about it, but it seems that the opposite is what happens. On the other hand, constructive criticism not always aimed at the same company is interesting to read.

While Microsoft contradicts itself, I also think that the reason is that they were very open — they seem quieter now — about their plans, but plans change for Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo. Sony has done several 180-degree turns this generation — exclusivity, no cross-gen, PS "pedigree" games, supported platforms — cancelled games and closed studios that nobody pays attention to, and Nintendo couldn't care less about their fans. Probably because Xbox is behind, it still is the most consumer-friendly: cross-buy, free cloud saves, free remaster upgrades, free and enhanced backwards compatibility, etc.

The price hikes this generation apply to the three console makers. Game Pass Premium and Essential had PC and Cloud added at no extra cost, but this is not acknowledged, why? The access to day one games (Ultimate) has indeed become more expensive. With many more Xbox studios and development being more expensive across the board, it was expected that access to $70 games via subscription would get more expensive. It's silly to compare the price of Ultimate with the subscriptions of Nintendo and Sony, because Xbox has many more studios and their games are included on day one. Game Pass Ultimate was too good value and I'm not the only one saying this, but many journalists that normally don't praise Xbox have admitted it.

We could discuss the many disappointments we have experienced as Xbox, Sony and Nintendo customers, I know I could, but the fact that the negative rumours — true or false — about Xbox are usually exaggerated, e.g., Xbox cancelling their next-gen console, gives us a clue about who is behind spreading those rumours, youtubers looking for clicks and those whose preferred brand is not Xbox and hypocritically favour its competition. Most of all, it's a tiny vocal minority that complain online. Most gamers don't waste their time supporting or spreading a biased and incomplete perception of the reality while pretending to be concerned about a platform they don't really care about.

I tried Jet Set Radio when I was a teenager at a friend's Dreamcast. Now I have that and Sunset Overdrive on Xbox, but I haven't played them.

There are games that I liked but it was a relief when I reached the end. The kind of games I replay are Resident Evil (the classics and the remakes), Project Zero/Fatal Frame (all), Super Mario World, Rare's Donkey Kong Country trilogy, Sonic 1-K (now Sonic Origins) Banjo-Kazooie, Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, Twilight Princess, Super Mario Sunshine... Xbox One was my first Xbox, so Xbox exclusives came later to my life. The only game that is very long that I could see myself replaying is Persona 5 Royal, because it was more than a lengthy RPG to me.

@Kieduss Resident Evil Remake, one of my favourite games ever.

@Blastfemur I agree on the second playthrough sometimes being better than the first.

@nomither6 Many indies are overrated, but there are some I really liked like Unravel and Hades. The games I replay the most are older and not indie. Don't you replay some classics? Shadow The Hedgehog? 😜

@HonestHick Back at you! I don't know how many rumours about Xbox dropping hardware have elicit next-gen console with backwards compatibility confirmations from Microsoft. Judging by the engagement of Xbox players and the expansion and versatility of the PC market, an Xbox console that is not a walled garden will appeal to many gamers, at least Xbox gamers and some PC gamers. There will be more Xbox because there is no reason not to, but if Xbox was no more, there will only be a high-end console, PS, and I'm not sure that that's what gamers including Sony fans really want to see. Now that I think about it, maybe Nintendo is lazier and stingier because there is no Sega to compete with. Anyway, if there is a platform that will survive all consoles, that's PC, and I'm not even a PC gamer.

@Cakefish Besides that, Sony and Nintendo are much more secretive, so they contradict themselves much less even though their plans also change. Xbox tried to be very open, Phil most of them all, but plans changing or evolving and unpredictable things can be detrimental. Shouldn't Microsoft not say anything until plans are definitive, especially now with the CEO controlling the Xbox business more than ever? The "We do not have anything to comment" by Nintendo seems to work.

@awp69 They only use the "evidence" and sources that suit their narrative.

@PsBoxSwitchOwner Your comments about Xbox have always been negative and you only tag Xbox users tendentiously, so why should I bother?

I have seen both Xbox and PS5 "out of stock". They are not as many stored as older consoles in the past, and what shops get is sold out quickly, but if you ask, they tell you that they are waiting for the next shipment. As other users have pointed out, it's just that every single negative sign that concerns Xbox is used to spread the Xbox is dead mantra, usually by non-Xbox users, who are much more active and "concerned" about the fate of Xbox. Not saying that every rumour is false, but the online obsession with Xbox being doomed is disproportionate, insane and biased. Actually, Xbox has been the least prominent console at retailers since Xbox One and Nintendo the most popular since Switch. On top of that, 90% of Xbox sales are digital, so you never see many Xbox games out there. Back in 2020, Microsoft revealed that they saved a recurrent and significant stock of Series X for their own site, and Xbox Series X 2TB Galaxy Black Special Edition has always been a web exclusive.

Merging Xbox and Windows (PC) development not only will simplify the development of games, but AMD and Sony just presented the technology for the next generation and, while Mark (Sony) was obviously focused on the PS6 concept, Jack (AMD) was very open about AMD designing the same next-gen technologies for Xbox as well. The technology and the development has become a multiplatform concept and that will benefit all the platforms and development of games. The developers will be able to focus on the main gaming platform (PC) and Xbox will be part of that, unlike some years ago when developers used PS4 as the target, then designed the downgrades for Switch, the port for Xbox One and the upgrades for PS4 Pro and Xbox One X. This is more important now than ever before, with development being more complex and requiring a large amount of time.

@MrStark Also, Maiden of Black Water and Mask of the Lunar Eclipse.

I finally beat the third part of Final Fantasy XIII on Series X, which I loved despite the initial hours being very confusing. Now I'm thinking what game will be next from the backlog and Game Pass.

The next Xbox console will not only play PC games, it will also play Xbox games. 99% of the Xbox One and Series X|S exclusives aren't available for PS and none of the backwards compatible console games is available on PC. Thus, it's not "a PC with the Xbox logo" which, nevertheless, would appeal to at least some PC gamers, since it would run the gaming version of Windows and it would be more optimised and efficient for gaming than an off the shelf PC build, but it will also be an Xbox console. It's basically the dream of any console gamer, get rid of the walled garden. It will also appeal to PC gamers that don't spend or don't want to spend a lot of time building and upgrading their systems. It's a combination of the best of both worlds. With one exception, Nintendo, most gamers don't buy consoles because of their exclusives, but if all future Xbox exclusives will be available for PS, all future PS exclusives will be available for PC and therefore for Xbox.

@GlasgowGuy It didn't show for me before its release, but now I see the 30% discount on my Xbox and on Xbox.com.