Banjo-

@Scrubchub Right. Actually, you could say that they make the best consoles, although not the most popular ones, that's for sure. But hey, merging the console and PC markets, their not so popular consoles and huge libraries suddenly became future-proof.

$1,000 is what I posted before. Besides the privileged deals that Microsoft makes, it's likely that they will subsidise a small part of the costs or cover them with something else, considering that the next Xbox will be a beast.

@Gemini53 @Globo Thanks 😉. So back to things not discussed much yet, I like the name Magnus, but they made a logo for Helix, so will it be Xbox Helix? It will likely lack a disc drive, but will an add-on be available separately like PS5 Pro? I don't care much about the later because I only keep a couple of physical Xbox games, but the name intrigues me.

I admit that I didn't think that Asha was the best choice at first, but then I realised that the thing that is failing at Xbox is the marketing and that she seems to be an expert. Of course, Xbox won't be what it was in the beginning, because everything has changed in the industry, but Microsoft really wants Xbox to do well. Merging the PC and console markets and games is the way forward and respecting their platform of choice and libraries is what will keep fans happy.

@UnlimitedSevens You are mistaken. I don't even read nor post every month. I haven't seen you outside Push Square before, I wonder why and if that is related to your hostility 🤔.

This is a rumour, but in any case Sony has been switching strategies since the launch of PS5: no cross-gen, cross-gen, exclusives, no exclusives, service games prioritised, pedigree single-player games prioritised, etc., so another change is not surprising. The new CEOs will do what's best for Sony in terms of profits and don't care about die-hard fans complaining like little children about others having access to their toys.

@UnlimitedSevens

Except @Banjo- , he will sell his firstborn no doubt.

LOL Then you don't know me at all.

@ElkinFencer10 Fair enough. Xbox hadn't said anything about third-party stores, but what you are saying was reported. The problem is that biased and asinine opinions and rumours spread like wildfire. It's too early, but I think that Asha is going to make impactful statements and confident decisions and fix the weak marketing of Xbox. This statement is just that, and we'll know more about the next-gen console soon.

@GoldenPants The fact that I don't need to buy the same games again on Xbox to be playable or upgraded, it's what made me upgrade to Xbox One X and then Series X. Now, it's not just those games, including backwards compatible games, but I also have access to the PC games I have missed, and PC players also have access to the games they own. It's software where you can save more money.

@ElkinFencer10 You knew all that because of the rumours and leakers. At the same time, there were people on this very site saying that the next-gen Xbox console was cancelled and that Xbox was dead, despite the official statements.

@lechugajr Xbox is the most consumer-friendly console. The disproportionate hatred it gets is not justified and has no reasoning behind. It usually comes from Sony or Nintendo fans, if you pay enough attention. That said, the Xbox marketing has been awful, and I'm starting to believe that this is what Asha is for. It's too early to say, but she looks like someone that is going to make impactful statements and confident decisions that will boost the brand. This is what she means by returning to Xbox.

@ButterySmooth30FPS I don't think that games will be cheaper on a third-party store on the same system, you are comparing PCs with Series X now. There must be some perks, price matching or something like that planned for the Xbox store. They are going big with Play Anywhere and they won't stop there.

@kuu_nousee You are right! It's also like Series X, it does different things in developer mode. I think that the desktop mode will have limitations, essentially for controlling cheats, piracy of new games, etc. Third-party stores will be there, but I'm not expecting much else in terms of desktop.

@ButterySmooth30FPS No, because it's backwards compatible. If you mean future games, developers will know the Helix profile and can target its fixed configuration, while PCs are a wild jungle. At the end of the day, it will be the same as on Xbox One and Series consoles, that also run Windows, but have specific development kits. Basically, it will be some kind of automatic Windows port with these settings for the Helix console.

November is Microsoft's favourite month. Teasing the next-gen console in March 2026, November 2027 seems the launch date. Besides, Microsoft already has a RAM deal. Two things to consider, nothing tells us that component prices will be cheaper in the future and the chips of these projects are not easily upgraded, so delaying them only makes the system outdated.

@Weebleman Yes, but still the equivalent PCs are much more expensive than the Xbox and PS consoles. Microsoft already has a RAM deal, and nothing tells us that components will be cheaper in the future, so I don't think that Microsoft (and Sony) will delay their consoles because of the current prices, especially if we consider that the chips of these projects aren't upgraded that easily.

@masofdas Google, Apple, Sony and Nintendo are all facing anti-trust laws that could potentially force them to include third-party alternatives on their systems. This is a long process, but I don't think that consoles as we know them are going to exist for much longer.

@Globo I'm 100% sure that they are not dropping the Xbox logo, but if the keep the Helix name, the Xbox logo morphing into the Helix logo when you boot up the console is a possibility.

@Globo Pricing is just speculation at this point. Firstly, Microsoft can get better components deals than the PC manufacturers. Secondly, a PC with the same specifications will be outperformed by a console. Finally, Microsoft can somehow eat a little part of the costs or cover them with something else.

@Globo I can see Xbox lowering the commission compared to Steam. EU loves protecting the consumers, but of course Microsoft would do it as a business strategy. It will also make a lot of sense to match Steam prices on the same system. Sales are already great on Series X|S, but they won't let Steam have the better deals on the same system. Like you said, it's just a few pounds/euros/dollars at best.

Funnily, the only thing that "worries" me about the next Xbox is the name. I prefer Magnus or Helix than One or Series.

So, I guess a closed ecosystem that abuses their users is better for customers than a fixed hardware configuration that is backwards compatible with Xbox games, plays like an Xbox console, but have other options available.

@Ryu_117 Exactly! By that logic, we should also consider Xbox One and PS4 PCs and not consoles.

@Gabrie For publisher, I bet they will lower the commission that they pay to Steam. That aside, I don't know why would any publisher abandon the Xbox store, when Series X|S is the most supported Xbox console ever. The key here is Play Anywhere, and that Xbox and PC games will be the same build next generation. Publishers won't need to develop ports for the Xbox store.

This is not a PC, but a backwards compatible console that runs Xbox and PC games. Don't forget that Windows has been running on Xbox since Xbox One. They should, however, make the Full Screen Experience a built-in Windows feature. Windows should and will have a gaming profile on all systems, so it will be flawless and efficient.

The PC market is the biggest and the only one growing, but Xbox won't cater to the big spenders only. Their console will be premium and expensive - I say $1000 - but it will give you more for the same money than the PC market equivalent, and you will have cheaper options in the ecosystem, even if those are manufactured by third parties like Asus. Remember, also, that games are optimised for these fixed hardware configurations. In the beginning, Cloud was an Ultimate perk, now it's included in all Game Pass tiers. It's clear that they are targeting the PC, console and mobile players and will find an audience in each segment.

In regard to the exclusives, it's not necessary for Xbox to port all their games to PS and/or Nintendo on day one. PS is a closed ecosystem with its own OS that requires the porting work and Sony's 30% commission. It's not where Microsoft will find their biggest growth nor audience, and just a couple of Xbox exclusives have found remarkable success on PS, so it will still be on a case by case basis.

Launch date? 2027 or 2028.

@UnlimitedSevens The PC market is the biggest and the only one growing, but Xbox won't cater to the big spenders only. Their console will be premium and expensive, but it will give you more for the same money than the PC market equivalent, and you will have cheaper options available, even if those are manufactured by third parties like Asus. In the beginning, Cloud was an Ultimate perk, now it's included in all Game Pass tiers. It's clear that they are targeting the PC, console and mobile players and will find an audience in each segment.

@Juanalf "why wouldn't someone just get a gaming PC?"

Two reasons. Firstly, PCs are not as well optimised for gaming and give you less for more money. Secondly, PCs don't have backwards compatibility with (some) Xbox, (some) Xbox 360, (all) Xbox One and (all) Series X|S games. More reasons could be that it's an easier setup, that it does not stop being a console, that it's overall better value, that games will be optimised for this hardware configuration, etc.

@cragis0001 That's a very interesting point that we should not underestimate, since it affects Google and Apple, the mobile giants and, of course, will affect all digital stores eventually. EU does not want the big companies to abuse their consumers. Eu does not want them banning other stores on their systems nor allowing them while establishing abusive commissions. That will have a positive impact worldwide.

@cragis0001 That also makes a lot sense. There is this app, Full Screen Experience, that turns Windows resources not related to gaming off, but it makes more sense to have that game profile built in, so it's flawless and efficient.

@Ryu_117 Absolutely. There are only some Xbox games that have been ported to PS and only two of them have found remarkable success on PS. Xbox will only port games to PS and Nintendo if it makes sense to them, knowing that the biggest market is PC. I don't know why PS fans need to know exactly what games and when, we don't know what PS games are ported to PC and when. If all Xbox games are on Xbox and PC on day one but not PS, it would benefit the Xbox brand. I'm not against porting games, but it's not necessary for Microsoft to port all Xbox games to PS on day one. PS is a closed system with its own OS (requiring the porting work), exclusives and business strategies, like porting some games to PC and a few to Xbox. Microsoft won't prioritise that.

@WildConcept6 As someone that was a Nintendo fanboy and had a PS before an Xbox, the conclusion is that the console gamers that sticked to the least popular option like I did since Xbox One will be the ones with more freedom to play and the biggest library, because it's not a PC like some say, it's the Xbox experience with the Xbox library plus the PC stores.

@TheGameThrifter @Fragpiper And that's exactly why all games will be on the Xbox store. I don't know how anyone can doubt this, when Series X with its Xbox ports is the most supported Xbox console.

The next Xbox will always be more optimised for gaming than a PC, so it will be perfect for playing your library and buy the new games. All games will be Play Anywhere and will be the same build. I think that the next Xbox will cost $1000. Expensive, maybe, but still more accessible and a better deal than the equivalent PC configuration. A no-brainer. Besides, if it's not subsidised, then I'm going to guess that online will be free. It just does not make sense to charge for online services when there are other PC stores on the same system

This sounds exactly what I said makes the most sense: a powerful next-gen console that is backwards compatible with Xbox and plays PC games, and future Xbox games will simply be PC games. In other words, all games will be Play Anywhere and be the same build for console and PC. The next Xbox will always be more optimised for gaming than a PC, so it will be perfect for playing your library and buy the new games. Expensive, maybe, but still more accessible and a better deal than the equivalent PC configuration. A no-brainer. I'm excited about this, but I know that Series X (and S) still has a lot to offer.

@Coletrain Since last generation, I find Xbox exclusives more interesting than Sony's, not just because of the variety but because they are more "gamey". Sony publish titles with mediocre gameplay, huge production value and a cinematic feel, and that's what critics generally seem to prefer.

@Scoopz I have watched enough videos to know that that's not the rule. Oliver is always downplaying any criticism towards Switch and Switch 2. John is the most genuine and says the truth, whatever the platform. This doesn't have anything to do with me.

@Gemini53 Yeah, but then you read comments stating that Switch 2 is on par with Series X and PS5 because it has modern features that make up for the power gap, or that the visual differences are not perceptible, or that Switch 2 is more capable than Series S because of a port of a fighting game. 🤦

Until Gamecube, I was happy with my Nintendo console running all games. Wii changed Nintendo's priorities, so why would I buy games that are more expensive, play worse, look worse and are usually attached to an specific console, like Wii U-Switch-Switch 2 paid upgrades? It makes no sense. Nintendo hardware is for exclusives, and wishing they were playable on Series X.

Note, yes.

The Xbox store is the most responsive and enjoyable to browse because it's built in, but I've always wanted this option added, that is typical of sites like Xbdeals.net. Most wishlisted is a bonus.

@Coletrain Yes, people say that all Xbox games are on PS, but it just got a few. Time is not a problem with ports, because Forza Horizon 5 launched on PS5 four years later and it's the most successful Xbox port on PS. Xbox players won't be buying a PS5 to play a PS game and PS players won't be buying an Xbox to play an Xbox game, but if they eventually come, they will get attention, like Forza Horizon 5 on PS and Helldivers 2 and Death Stranding on Xbox. Besides, although Sony has only published a game for Xbox, things might be quite different on the next Xbox and PC will be more tied to Xbox than ever.

Watching both Digital Foundry videos, the work that Capcom has done in technical terms is excellent, but Switch 2 shows once again last-gen performance and graphical power that is literally compared to PS4 and its version of Resident Evil 4 Remake, the unstable frame rate being the thing that would break the deal for me. Series S also has some graphical downgrades, but it's a solid 60fps performer. Series X and PS5 show amazing results. It's also unusual to see a developer make the most of the GPU upgrade of PS5 Pro.

The differences between the Series S and Switch 2 versions are more about how the graphics are upscaled. John says that, at first, he thought that the Series S version was the Switch 2 version, and that the Series S is blurrier than the Switch 2 version, but then he says that there are some Series X/PS5 features in the Series S version, and that performance is flawless on both Xbox consoles, while the Switch 2 version has massive frame rate drops. They also explain that the native resolution in handheld mode is 360p, 540p in docked mode, while on Series S is 720p.

Side note, it's funny how Oliver is so optimistic about anything Switch (2) in every video, overstating its memory and downplaying his colleagues' complaints about graphical sacrifices, while constantly making fun of Series S.

I don't think that the RAM crisis will dictate when the next-gen consoles will be released, because nothing tells you that RAM will be cheaper later and for how long AI demands are going to pile memory modules. What I think is that Asha has time to tune the features of the next Xbox and that's intriguing. I think that she's doing the business side of things, but also learning and considering what Xbox and PC gamers appreciate the most. There will be several ways to play Xbox games next generation, but I'm sure that one of them is a high-end console that will last the whole generation with great software results like Series X.

@Coletrain I agree, but what she's saying make sense. Analyse and decide what's better in the long term. I'm assuming that Xbox exclusives include PC releases, I'm even assuming that next gen the game builds will be the same for Xbox and PC. I think that she's referring to PS and Nintendo ports, that are not as important. It's a second life for sales capitalising on Sony and Nintendo fans that don't play elsewhere. Releasing some games on PS and Nintendo one year later seems the right thing for the biggest publisher that also has not just hardware, but a subscription with day one releases.

@Globo It also annoys me that he modulates every sentence as a question and does not pronounce well. The most genuine and the ones that give better insight are always John Linneman and Alex Battaglia.

@betterthings It's more about how the graphics are upscaled in both ports. Answering your question, John says that, at first, he thought that the Series S version was the Switch 2 version, and that the Series S is blurrier than the Switch 2 version, but then he says that there are some Series X/PS5 features in the Series S version, and that performance is flawless on both Xbox consoles, while the Switch 2 version has massive frame rate drops. They also explain that the native resolution in handheld mode is 360p, 540p in docked mode, while on Series S is 720p.

Watching both Digital Foundry videos, the work that Capcom has done in technical terms is excellent, but Switch 2 has once again last-gen performance and graphical power that is literally compared to PS4 and its version of Resident Evil 4 Remake, the unstable frame rate being the thing that would break the deal for me. Series S also has some graphical downgrades, but it's a solid 60fps performer. Series X and PS5 show amazing results. It's also unusual to see a developer make the most of the GPU upgrade of PS5 Pro.

Side note, it's funny how Oliver is so optimistic about anything Switch (2) in every video, overstating its memory and downplaying his colleagues' complaints about graphical sacrifices, while constantly making fun of Series S.

@Gemini53 Like other users said, Xbox is the one that replies the most and expose themselves, but the three of them change plans and strategy over time, especially PS. Microsoft too, but the difference is that Microsoft replies and communicates openly, show DF their hardware before release, etc., while Sony and Nintendo are very ambiguous when they "don't have anything to say."

The power of the Playstation brand is very strong, indeed, and what drives their hardware sales. PS4 was de facto the casual console of the last generation for the big sellers, that were third-party (FIFA, Madden, Call of Duty, GTA...), but this was to a large degree because of Microsoft messing up the launch of Xbox One with the expensive Kinect bundle and futuristic features and Nintendo releasing a home console that was not cheap and almost a generation too late.

@Gemini53 Microsoft really doesn't have a reason to drop hardware, especially if Windows and Xbox games become one as I think they will. If we compare hardware sales, Series X|S have struggled compared to PS5, but in terms of software and subscriptions is very profitable. On top of that, for some reason, developers are supporting Xbox more than ever before. Console sales is just part of the equation.

Sony is becoming more unpredictable. I watched the recent DF Direct and it's true that Sony is making bad decisions related to their studios and service games, even in the eyes of Sony fans, so it's not clear what kind of games they want to produce this and next generation. What I mean is that you can't be sure about what Sony will be doing, besides a PS6, while Xbox, for better or worse, like it more or less, is pretty clear.

@Lanmanna Not 100% as I specified in my first comment, but yes, they did. They were advisors for the components, ergonomics and hardware design and developed the software. They also sell them on their site, like Asus.

He uses Rog Xbox Ally X as example because it's the last console they have worked on and the one to start the Full Screen Experience that they have recently developed. He could have mentioned Series X, but that was released in 2020, so wouldn't say much about their current plans. We'll have to wait until they reveal their next console/hybrid that will be 100% developed by Xbox and will run all Xbox games (unlike Xbox Rog Ally), but I don't think that it will be revealed sooner than one year before the launch, so a bit of patience and go play on your PS5, I mean, your Series X, in the meantime. 😜

I'm one of the biggest fans of classic Resident Evil games, not so much of 7 and Village, but of course Requiem belongs to my collection for me to own, play and judge.

7 basically killed what I love the most about Resident Evil games, and relied on first-person gore and disconnected boring characters and story, although the demo was terrifying as its own thing, more than the game. Village was kind of a joke, with some very bad segments and, unlike 4, the action parts were boring. Village is the only Resident Evil game that I haven't replayed. The remakes, 5 and 6? Once every 1 or 2 years.

This is probably why I'm most excited about the rumoured Code Veronica remake and, next month, the remake of Fatal Frame II comes out!

Let's let her try. She seems genuine and maybe what the business and marketing side of Xbox needs. She won't be managing game development and she doesn't need to be a gamer. I know that negativity and prejudices are common on the internet and that 99% of the negativity surrounding Xbox doesn't come from genuine Xbox users anyway, but let's wait and see for once, instead of declaring the death of Xbox for the 435th time. 😉

@FraserG I couldn't agree more. Despite Playstation's popularity never ever shrinking whether it's being better (PS4) or worse (PS5) in regard to business decisions and games, Xbox has been great for many years now in terms of software and hardware, and a big part of that is thanks to Phil Spencer.

My first Xbox console was Xbox One, and I thought it was better than PS4, that I also had, in many ways. I knew that if I dropped Xbox One or Series X, I would miss all the things I was loving about them in terms of hardware, software and features. Although I have a soft spot for the old Nintendo home consoles and Nintendo 3DS, Series X is probably my favourite console.