Banjo-

They had two choices, to bully teams and allow crunch culture like Sony and Naughty Dog or let the teams do whatever they want until finally losing patience and numbers stop making sense. I think that something in between would be ideal. in the meantime, awesome IPs that would complement Xbox portfolio are abandoned, and other Xbox studios seem to do perfectly fine and even help others.

I just want Resident Evil back, which means no more VII nor VIII. VII was a good game, but not a Resident Evil game. VIII was not like 4, but a parody about 4. There are many classic characters I like, e g., Chris and Jill, but mostly the story and gameplay were better before VII and VIII and that includes segments of 6, even! This is my favourite horror franchise along Project Zero/Fatal Frame.

No wonder they need to repeat every year that the next generation is coming when websites and PS fans try to wipe Xbox off the map daily.

AMD is good news for pure backwards compatibility.

It was nice when they fixed the loading times on Xbox, but the 60fps update should have been released already, and fix the online lobbies while you're at it.

@Gabrie

From the last I've read the data is false, they are estimates made based on the number of reviews on the Xbox Store, which is absolutely irrelevant to even estimate sales.

It is not known if it will have sold well or badly, but surely it will have nothing to do with that number. We must be careful with the fantasies of many users on twitter...

...and with those of PS writers. 😂

It was a PS5 exclusive for over a year before it was released for PC and the PS version had a huge marketing campaign. There seems to be many Xbox players that are also PC players, on top of Xbox owners that are PS5 owners. As a supporter of Final Fantasy on Xbox, I hope that VII Remake Intergrade and Rebirth sell better than XVI, considering that those are also more popular and beloved. Good news is that Square Enix won't be signing any more exclusivity deals, so everyone will enjoy Final Fantasy on PC and Xbox, on top of PS5 and Switch 2 if technically possible.

That said, unofficial estimated figures are completely useless!

@Coletrain Same. That was the only thing I was missing on Xbox!

@Altaria_97 Most of that will come. I think it's time to remake the first Banjo-Kazooie games, though.

I knew they would come and it took a while! Loving the news, this is basically what I was missing on Xbox.

@FraserG

So, there we go! I've been holding off on buying a handheld PC for years now, but the ROG Xbox Ally looks like it'll finally tempt me into purchasing one.

Same here. I almost bought the first handheld PC, Steam Deck, but Asus ROG Ally X is the one I was waiting for all these years. It will also be my first Non-Nintendo handheld.

I wasn't excited about any Persona game, but I loved all the Persona titles available on Xbox. I didn't mind them being long, as opposed to other RPGs like Bravely Default and the first Xenoblade Chronicles. Metaphor: ReFantazio is next, and you'll get your Persona 6 very soon @ScalenePowers 😊

@XboxNumberOne Not to mention that Microsoft makes and sells computers, laptops and tablets that are compared to Apple's in terms of quality, no way they stop making consoles. It's not like they are not involved in the hardware and software business more than any other.

The only official information is that the next Xbox will be the largest technical leap in a hardware generation. It's also true that Microsoft is working on Xbox OS for handheld PCs and optimising Windows for gaming on different devices. It's likely that the first Xbox PC will be released this year by Asus. Everything regarding future Xbox hardware, home console, hybrid, handheld or a combination of them is unknown, but I'm sure that they are merging the console and PC environment and development, because PC is huge right now and console is a relatively small market. Moreover, they started doing this with Xbox One and now it makes more sense than ever before.

@themightyant The original leak didn't mention next-gen games. The current rumour is 2027 for a home and handheld console, but it could also be a hybrid console. The latest rumour is that the handheld won't come in 2027. The only official information is that the next Xbox will be the largest technical leap in a hardware generation.

Nobody knows, but I'm pretty sure that the next generation will merge the PC and console environments definitely, with backwards compatibility added, so no more limitations other than the hardware when playing new games. You'll get a PC, console, handheld or hybrid and you will be playing the backwards compatible games and also the new games with different settings.

Looking at the charts and how most games fail to sell enough on Xbox and PS, I think that subscriptions like Game Pass are the future.

@themightyant The original leak that I referred to (posted years ago on Pure Xbox and elsewhere) and which comment you replied to talked about existing Xbox games. Future Xbox games, including next-gen console games, will be built differently, because Microsoft is very likely merging the console and PC environments next generation. What they want to do is play the backwards compatible (Xbox and Xbox 360), Xbox One and Series games on future Xbox hardware. The next-gen games will basically be PC games and of course you won't be playing the newest PC games at the same resolution and frame rate on mobile and PC/home console, but you'll be able to play them on those different platforms.

@themightyant Bear in mind the lower resolution and other mobile and OS optimisations that don't make a 1:1 comparison logical, not to mention that every year new chips are released. By the way, the Switch 2 has a humble and underclocked 2021 chip and its output is compared to PS4 in terms of graphics and performance.

Same as the original story, they are waiting until the mobile technology allows them to do what they want to do, run Xbox/Xbox 360/Xbox One/Series games natively. It will arrive when that is possible and rely on other devices, Xbox PC (Asus handheld) and their own home console, in the meantime.

@Master_Cthulhu70 True, the people that are complaining on a daily basis about Xbox are not really honest. I appreciate hearing your and other genuine fans' voice and not the usual haters making every good news related to Xbox look bad.

I also think that's their plan, to release their own handheld (not the Asus one). They suggested that they were waiting until the technology was able to do what they had planned. Microsoft has the best software and hardware engineers. Running Xbox 360 games on Xbox One better than on the original hardware says it all. I have no doubt that the future of Xbox is safe on Xbox devices (home, handheld, hybrid), PC and Cloud.

Breaking news by Jez! Next Xbox controller will have improved features (no idea what) when it eventually releases (no idea when)!

I'm so happy that the Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest libraries on Xbox keep growing, on top of others like Octopath Traveller I & II. I love the engine they made and I'm happy they're not afraid to use it. I tried Octopath Traveller on Switch, but I beat both 100% on Xbox, where they're much more impressive and easier to play, because of the higher resolution, better visibility and comfier controller.

@Coletrain @awp69 Agreed. I want the current Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One and Series digital library available on the next home console (as downloads), but I also think that Cloud could solve some licencing and platform obstacles. I really doubt that Microsoft would throw their praised backwards compatibility away. They will either translate the code to a different architecture, like they did on Xbox One, or keep the same architecture.

Very happy to hear about more Rayman with Michel Ancel aboard.

@acmiguens I also use my New 3DS, much more than my Switch! It's Nintendo's best and also compatible with DS games, not to mention the Virtual Console.

What you say about battery life is interesting, because Switch 2 has a poor 2-hour battery. We still have no idea about the Xbox handheld. In theory, they have two, the licenced one (Asus) and their own (Xbox), but the latter would arrive in 2027. I'm curious about both, their technology, capabilities, screen and battery.

Amazing addition, but it should also offer a downloadable version, like all Game Pass titles. Perhaps, there are issues that we don't know like licencing and/or system choice. In between, Blizzard Arcade Collection is also available on Game Pass!

This is amazing. 2025 couldn't get any better on Xbox.

Being extremely linear, it was fine as it was on Series X with VRR, even though I usually complain about 30fps. I'm curious about those enhancements, maybe optional aspect ratio and video modes, with a 60fps mode in lower resolution.

@fbnaulin A small update, Nintendo published contradictory information about it, but they added the following.

Nintendo Switch 2 supports VRR in handheld mode only. The incorrect information was initially published on the Nintendo Switch 2 website, and we apologise for the error.

It makes no sense to cheapen out on USB ports when you are releasing a hybrid console that is not able to hit the frame rate targets as easily as a home console.

@HonestHick You are right. I was assuming for a minute that the upcoming technology would be able to make a difference and that external power and chips could be enough, but not just would it need to be able to translate older consoles code with different architecture, which was something that also was rumoured, but the combination should be beyond the hybrid technology we can imagine today. It's a mystery right now, but you're right, two separate consoles is the most likely option. Launching the same year is just business strategy, after all.

Regarding Valve, I could see Microsoft acquiring it after their huge investment in gaming, it makes total sense, because it would give them the biggest PC store and they could finally combine it with Cloud and consoles. If not an acquisition, a partnership is also probable.

@Wilforce That sound credible, the dock becoming the next home console, while the handheld could be used on its own. That would also explain what the rumours say about both the next Xbox home console and the first Xbox handheld, excluding this year's Asus handheld, launching in 2027. It makes perfect sense.

That would also make it a great choice for both handheld and home players, with the option to combine both, without paying for redundant parts.

@fbnaulin I heard that in Digital Foundry's video about the specifications of Nintendo Switch 2 where they mention the USB ports and lack of VRR support.

@Coletrain But even without eGPU, the Xbox handheld could have two power settings like Switch, what they call "perfomance" and "handheld" mode. That paired with the latest mobile technology could very well work like we're saying.

@chesheer It seems the the experience may vary. For me, it works fine, Halo Infinite included, but I haven't played the others you mentioned much. I know that some old games have issues with Quick Resume. If the developers do it right, even service games should work, because the Forza Horizon games work.

@Millionski I played Avowed for 100 hours on Series X at launch and it performed perfectly in performance mode.

@FraserG Indeed. I'm waiting for it before buying and playing.

@acmiguens Microsoft delayed the Xbox handheld console to get the right specs. They are expanding Play Anywhere, so they will be able to circumvent the parity issues using medium PC settings at 1080p (you don't need 4K on a handheld), while getting the best performance and quality on the next Xbox home console. The dock of the handheld would also help, as will the gaming version of Windows for multiple devices, which is the most popular gaming OS.

@16BitHero @OldGamer999 @HonestHick Thanks!

@Ricky-Spanish On top of that, hardware sales are not that important when both Microsoft and Sony need to publish games on PC. The software sales and subscriptions are important; hardware units, not so much. Basically, it's what you said, the power of the PS brand and fan base is strong. That doesn't mean that it's the best option for most people, even less this generation when most gamers are choosing PC and only Nintendo keeps their exclusives within a walled garden.

@OldGamer999 Yep, Nintendo cheapened out on USB ports so they cannot fix that with an update. The other things I don't like are the game key cards and how restrictive and stingy Nintendo is becoming, e.g., I would have never expected to pay extra for playing Tears of the Kingdom with better frame rate and resolution on Switch 2.

I think that the next Xbox handheld will be very interesting for Xbox and PC gamers, especially when you consider the free cloud saves, Play Anywhere and Game Pass, and I'm very curious about it because I almost bought the first PC handheld (Steam Deck). The combination of Xbox and PC is perfect.

@Secryt "Sony is far and away the better option for most people."

For you and other Sony fans, yes. Other people will look at Sony's store prices, with no third-party codes and their future being digital like the future of Xbox, and included content in subscriptions, with no new first-party games on Sony's subscriptions, and think that Xbox is a much better option: console and PC, free cloud saves, cross-buy, Cloud gaming, subscriptions with first-party content on day one, free and enhanced backwards compatibility, etc. Besides that, Sony's games on PC disables the "exclusives machine" argument.

@chesheer If you ask me, Quick Resume is the best new feature of the whole generation, but I'd like to share something with you guys that have problems with it, assuming you are not trying to use it for Xbox & Xbox 360 backwards compatible games.

Sometimes, I move my Series X around the house, and I've realised that if the WiFi signal is weak, it will give me a few problems with Game Pass titles, as the console checks if it's online or offline and if I'm currently subscribed, even when it's defined as my "Home console". In my experience, it's better to have a good internet signal (strong WiFi or Ethernet) or set the console to Offline and "Home console" if not. That said, when the internet connection is fine, I never have issues with Quick Resume and launching Game Pass titles.

Most importantly, we should use Quick Resume as a time-saver and not turn the Xbox off before the game has been saved, just in case.

@HonestHick Back at you!

@HarmanSmith Right! Great hardware and great service and ecosystem that goes backward (for free) and forward with Play Anywhere and Cloud. Excellent hardware and controller, indeed, except those unpredictable Elite controllers I have had some durability issues with, despite them being excellent otherwise. I'm looking forward to the next console and next controller.

I have played them all which is cool because my first Xbox was Xbox One. I liked them all except 5, but Hivebusters is also a lot of fun. Awesome gameplay and vibes (until 5).

@Cakefish That little detail you are focused on is, literally, the least important part. PS5 Pro is digital, so the next PS will likely be digital, Nintendo presents physical keys that most third parties choose instead of proper cartridges, and most Xbox owners buy and play digital games. The future is digital, for better or worse. I'm fine with digital libraries, as long as they are respected by the owner of the store.

@Cakefish "I don’t understand?"

I see. Series X is the premium version of Series S. Have you heard of Xbox One All-Digital Edition (2019) and PS5 Digital Edition (2020)? PS5 Pro is the successor to PS5. It's a new console that was released four years after PS5 and it's a digital console. You must know this as a massive Sony fan. Do you understand now what I mean by being first in releasing a new console that is digital or are you just being nitpicking and want to discuss every digital console, like PlayStation Portable Go (2009)?

Physical Is Doomed

On Nintendo Switch 2, most cartridges (third-party, at least) will be a physical key that require a recurrent connection to the internet for verification and download. This is shocking because on Nintendo Switch, the physical-digital ratio was fifty-fifty.

Sony was the first to get rid of physical with a new console and I believe that the next Xbox won't have a disc drive either, although both Sony and Microsoft will probably release a disc drive as add-on.

The best version will be the following generation version, just like V, but they should try to add a 40fps/VRR video mode this generation!

I hope there is official reveal soon to know the real thing properly.

There are a lot of Xbox fans, but not on this site, unfortunately (based on previous threads). I love some third parties and Nintendo since my childhood, but I feel that Xbox is the best gaming ecosystem by a big margin, and now they appeal to lots of different gamers thanks to their first parties and third party support.

Game Pass is excellent value, but I appreciate how we are able to get great deals and purchase any game like on PC and consumer-friendly features like Play Anywhere, free backwards compatibility, free upgrades, free cloud saves, Stream Your Own Game... How they respect our digital library and backwards compatibility are essential, and my favourite additions this generation are Quick Resume and FPS Boost.

@TheEstablishment @Master_Cthulhu70 @BigRedPaper Right. I don't know why all the positive Xbox news are painted in negative ways. Like I said elsewhere, this is half business and half marketing. I just saw a lot of Forza Horizon 5 tiles on the PS store. It's genius. Xbox games are relatively successful on PS5, but Sea of Thieves has 40 million players across Xbox and PC, it has sold 13.3M on Steam and "just" 1.8M on PS, not being part of any subscription available on PS. It's available on PC Game Pass, though. Grounded has sold 4.1M on Steam and 436,500 on PS. Sea of Thieves has sold 7.4 times more and Grounded has sold 9.4 times more on Steam than on PS. Hi-Fi Rush has sold 697,200 on Steam and 137,300 on PS. Age of Mythology: Retold has sold 435,000 on Steam and 41,000 on PS. Pentiment has sold 261,300 on Steam and 14,000 on PS. All official figures. You get the picture.

Microsoft is doing the right thing and Sony is following because PC is the king of sales, but Microsoft owns Windows, that powers most gaming PCs, and they are developing a version/interface of Windows for multiple devices, including handheld computers, desktop computers and future Xbox consoles, that will not be sold at a loss and that will be optimised gaming PCs running that version of Windows and same game builds as every PC store on Windows. It makes total sense: they keep their console owner to subscriber high ratio. Their future is no doubt multiplatform, it is since Xbox One, but their strategy is wise and future-proof: PC, console and Cloud as part of the same environment and all powered by a gaming version of Windows.

This game is another 2025 title that looks incredible and that I will play. It's just that I haven't yet!