Finished the main campaign of Borderlands 4 with my brother yesterday. Still have a few bits of side content left to tidy up though. The little Christmas themed DLC mission they recently released for example.
On the Switch side I’m also trying to get as much Kirby & the Forgotten Land done as possible before Metroid Prime 4 arrives next week.
I’ve preordered Code Vein 2 on Xbox though. That’s a January release. The deluxe edition is currently selling for same price as the standard release so I thought heck why not preorder then.
I’ve never been hit by the suspicious search accusation by Microsoft but I’m a little nervous I may be if I try to max out these doubled caps. Risky gamble!
It’s clearly a Switch 1 version at its core. At least it got 60fps support on Switch 2. It’s probably best to ignore the Switch 2 label and treat it as Switch 1 game with better framerate. From that viewpoint it’s pretty decent. I think the mistake was labelling it as a full fat Switch 2 game because it’s just not.
@BAMozzy I’d say these niche features are important. Not everyone will use each individual one, but when you add enough you start to please a wide audience. Look at Steam. They have a cult following on PC, they are so widely beloved precisely because Valve cares about these little quality of life features. The customisation and personalisation options are far beyond any other competitor. It shows in Steam’s domination of the PC market.
I agree the PC app needs a lot of improvement. It’s woefully behind XSX let alone Steam. It doesn’t have to be an either/or situation though. Microsoft is big company and the Xbox division alone is much larger than Valve. They have enough resources to show consoles TLC as well as PC.
@BAMozzy Quite a lot on my wishlist. Firstly fixing the annoying store bug where it keeps repeatedly asking ‘do you want us to give you notifications?’ pop-up everytime you open the store app. I tick ‘yes’ and the ‘don’t ask me again’ boxes and it just ignores this and asks again on every console boot! Secondly, implement the ability to custom sort the store wishlist as you can on Steam. If I want to reorder my wishlist right now my only option is to remove and re-add games manually. It’s so clunky! Thirdly, add the ability to replace ugly game icons with custom artwork as you can on Steam. Fourthly, add the ability to pin more than two custom groups to the dashboard as you used to be able to and let these be the first things that show up when you scroll below the Home Screen. Those are just the low-hanging fruit! There’s always room for improvement.
@TheGameThrifter I haven’t had an insider update for a while. I’m on beta ring. The last one was on the 6th November and before that 17th October. This time last year was way more active for October and November. There is a definite slow down in console OS development right now, they are being neglected. I hope the console updates pick up again next year.
If memory serves me correctly, nearly 20 years ago I actually got my original Xbox for Christmas 2005. I came from a poor household so getting a second hand original Xbox from CEX was actually huge for child me. Before this I just had a GBA SP (which I remember fondly) and my only exposure to home console gaming was around my cousin’s and friend’s houses. My younger brother got a second hand GameCube the same year. We were a generation behind the cutting edge. I never got a 360 because when I went to uni in 2010 I got a laptop with a dedicated GPU and started using Steam.
It’s a really nice bonus to have but if I buy a game on Xbox it’s because I want to play it on Xbox. My PC is for: games that don’t come to Xbox (so Sony first & third party exclusives as well as some indies), games that can’t run at 60fps on XSX (Plague Tale Requiem, Hellblade 2, Keeper etc.), and games that were designed for mouse & keyboard (Stellaris, Cities Skylines etc.). These games I always buy on Steam, unless they happen to be on Game Pass. So while I’m very supportive of Play Anywhere it’s not really influencing my purchasing decisions to be honest. Xbox is already my default platform.
Each to their own of course, but I vastly preferred Keeper. Both have relatively simplistic gameplay so that wasn’t my issue with SOM. I found it had a very repetitive formula, whereas Keeper was better at keeping the gameplay feeling fresh despite the simplicity. Additionally, the story of SOM underwhelmed me. The best character (Catfish) was majorly sidelined in the last quarter or so of the game. I guess they wanted to tell a more human story overall and focus on the adoptive grandma’s trauma, whereas I was enjoying the fantastical folklore side of things and simply wanted much more catfish. Keeper also has superior art direction and music in my opinion. Again, each to their own of course.
What happened to the achievements overhaul? Phil mentioned it years ago. I like collecting achievements though am by no means a completionist, but I do know an overhaul is one of the most frequent community requests by Xbox fans. Do Xbox still know this?
They keep getting asked these questions in interviews because actions speak louder than words. And everyone can see the recent actions they have taken. XSX is significantly more expensive than the PS5 in the USA and even here in UK where the gap isn’t quite as large it’s still notably more expensive. The marketing encouraging gamers to move away from consoles. Huge Game Pass Ultimate price rise, a tier mostly used by console gamers. All these things paint a picture of a company that clearly could not care less anymore about selling XSX and XSS.
I personally don’t doubt the next gen Xbox will exist for a second, but I also don’t blame the wider gaming community for having deep scepticism about future hardware. Xbox blatantly doesn’t care about their existing hardware and so that’s not going to fill people with confidence about future hardware. Only the hardcore enthusiasts follow every little hardware rumour, most gamers will only see how Xbox is treating their current hardware and base their confidence on that.
Clair Obscur will steamroll the GOTY. I haven’t played it myself, but the chatter I’ve seen online makes it very predictable. Which isn’t to say it’s not deserved, just very predictable!
I personally will be voting for Split Fiction in every category that it’s nominated in. Love that game.
No, as you say Fraser, Microsoft have demonstrated that they couldn’t care less about Series X and S. And next gen Xbox is confirmed to be fully backwards compatible anyway.
And even playing devil’s advocate and hypothetically imagining a fantasy world where Microsoft does still care about hardware sales then still no. Sure GTA is the biggest game franchise, but I don’t think even it is big enough to change up entire hardware launch strategies.
As the article points out they’re still competing by default by offering a product aimed at living room, TV-orientated, controller-friendly gaming. That directly overlaps with the console gaming market. All companies bend over backwards these days to insist they aren’t competing with other companies operating in the same market as them, but the reality of a mature market like video games is that time and money aren’t infinite.
No poll option for those who still have time on Ultimate stacked up via the old Gold-to-Ultimate conversion offer. Mine expires in early March next year and I’ll have to make a decision then on whether I’ll renew at the new, less generous conversion rate or downgrade to essential. I’m not sure yet what I’ll do.
@Weebleman yeah it’s a good point you make. Microsoft need to tread carefully, because having Xbox digital libraries isn’t the impenetrable barrier to switching platforms as Phil Spencer once said it was. We saw how many gamers switched from away Xbox to PlayStation and/or PC this generation regardless of existing libraries. And Game Pass has probably resulted in Xbox gamers building up libraries at a slower rate than in previous generations too.
Personally I’d much prefer having everything in one box for simplicity and minimalism, so that rumoured Xbox still has huge appeal to me. My loyalty to Xbox is not set in stone though. If Valve put out an upgraded Steam Machine that’s competitive with the next Xbox in hardware specs I will be paying very close attention!
This model doesn’t pose any threat to rumoured future Xbox because of the limited hardware, but a hypothetical more powerful version really could bring the heat to Microsoft.
Okay my interest in this particular device has significantly waned now that DF are saying it’s below the XSX performance-wise. A potential future more powerful version would definitely interest me greatly though.
@IOI yeah same here, this is definitely a tempting device for me personally, pricing dependant. The fact it’s much more aligned with current consoles specs than the future rumoured Xbox does give me reason to hold off though, so I’ll see how things shake out next year. I’ll be keeping a very close eye on this for sure though!
All hail the GabeCube - yes I stole this name from Reddit. It’s perfect though!
I made comments in the past about how the biggest threat to Xbox’s future vision will come from Valve. Doing exactly this. If the future of Xbox is PC, then this is what Xbox will be competing with, not so much the PS6.
Yes specs-wise this is more aligned with current consoles than the rumoured next-gen devices, but those aren’t expected until 2027 at the earliest so Valve will have time to iterate. Could quite easily see a beefed-up SKU a year or two later, much like how they made a fancier Steam Deck model. I’m sure this is just the start of their plans. And we don’t know the pricing of any of these devices yet.
The gauntlet has been thrown down by Valve! I hope Microsoft can rise to the challenge and offer fierce competition.
I can say the same about most publishers honestly. It feels many publishers are holding back currently, for one reason or another. I was expecting a great deluge of third party games but instead it’s just a mere trickle. Hope that changes in 2026.
I hope so. Please don’t just be Switch 2. Don’t get me wrong, Switch 2 would be great for the handheld factor, but obviously not 60fps due to the hardware limitations. So yeah, fingers crossed for an XSX port 🤞
Interesting read! I personally joined the party in early 2021. Firstly with the XSS in March and then a few months later upgrading to the XSX in May. And though this console is 4.5 years old now, it’s holding up very well. Never even needed to dust it and it’s still whisper quiet - that’s good engineering right there! I personally prefer the current home screen to what was there originally, though it’s certainly far from perfect (hello adverts). The hardware is starting to feel a bit aged in comparison to my more modern PC, but that’s just the typical lifecycle of a console, nothing unusual there. As long as games keep giving me the option of 60fps performance modes I’ll be content. Here’s to two more years of XSX - there’s still life in this little box yet!
Series S is fine and all, but it’s just not for me personally. Too many 30fps caps and other compromises. I don’t regret upgrading to the Series X at all. It was an accessible entry point to Xbox, but I soon realised that I needed more than what it had to offer.
Fable has to be 2026, right? Right? It’d already be six years since the first reveal. Xbox trying to break Metroid Prime 4’s announcement-to-release record or something? Stop announcing games way too early!
Wow this could actually give Sony a distinct advantage as Steam is just outright better than the Xbox app in pretty much every way imaginable. Xbox would still have the sizeable head start of course, but Sony could really catch up if the cross buy works through Steam (and supports cross save too, that’s vitally important). Even if it’s just their own proprietary launcher it’s still a clear win for consumers and validates the direction Xbox has been heading in. Cross buy and cross save via Steam would revolutionise gaming, but kinda sounds too good to be true.
@Weebleman I think what I’m trying to say is while Asus is the manufacturer for Xbox Ally and undoubtedly care much more about raw sales, Microsoft still needs devices like this (and the next- Xbox) to be an overall success to generate interest in the Xbox app. The purpose of this FSE experiment is to grab some more of the PC market that Steam currently dominates. I don’t think that can really happen if PC handhelds (and next-gen Xbox) continue to be niche slither of the overall PC market. And we know that Microsoft doesn’t have unlimited patience, if something isn’t driving the growth they’re after, they will axe it.
@BAMozzy the way I see it is that this controller-optimised version of Windows is an experiment. It needs to drive user engagement to the Xbox app (on Xbox Ally and all the other handhelds it eventually rolls out to) or Microsoft could lose interest in developing FSE further if it doesn’t meet their targets. FSE is tied to success of the hardware that it runs on, as few PC gamers will bother running it on their custom desktops or even laptops with proper mouse & keyboard setups. The current Steam/Xbox apps just offer a better experience for mouse & keyboard users. FSE is designed specifically for the controller-first experience and that’s handhelds and eventually (presumably) the next Xbox PC hybrid device (I still have no idea what to call it lol). So I think controller-focused hardware needs to succeed so that Microsoft stays invested in developing FSE for the long term. That’s my take on this whole situation!
@BAMozzy I think sales kinda matter in this case, because good sales demonstrate to Microsoft that it was worth spending all the extra resources and effort to streamline Windows for a better gaming experience, vs all the other handhelds that preceded the Xbox Ally which just shipped with bog-standard Windows. The future of the PC and console merger holds so much promising potential and it all hinges on Microsoft staying highly motivated in this vision in the long term. We don’t want them to suddenly get cold feet if Xbox Ally fails to generate the Xbox app engagement metrics that they were looking for.
Tough one to score I agree. It’s short, doesn’t have much gameplay/puzzle depth, or much replay value. On the other hand, it’s a stunning work of art both visually and musically. The atmosphere and vibes were so good throughout. I loved the attention to details in every scene, all the little quirky alien creatures, so imaginative and cool! The bond that formed between Twig and the Lighthouse was very cute and endearing too.
Psychonauts 2 is still a clear tier above in my opinion, but I thought Keeper was still a great game.
Hey PX, you might want to make an article how the Xbox Ally (the non-X one that uses RDNA 2) has just lost full driver support from AMD:
“RDNA 1 and RDNA 2 graphics cards will continue to receive driver updates for critical security fixes and bug resolutions. To focus on optimizing and delivering new and improved technologies for its latest GPUs, AMD is placing the Radeon RX 5000 and RX 6000 series (RDNA 1 and RDNA 2) into maintenance mode with the AMD Software Adrenalin Edition 25.10.2 release. Future driver updates with targeted game optimizations will be focused on RDNA 3 and RDNA 4 GPUs.“
Comments 1,092
Re: Six Games Are Leaving Xbox Game Pass In Early December 2025
I’m surprised. Hollow Knight seemed like one of those forever games like Deep Rock Galactic.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (November 29-30)
Finished the main campaign of Borderlands 4 with my brother yesterday. Still have a few bits of side content left to tidy up though. The little Christmas themed DLC mission they recently released for example.
On the Switch side I’m also trying to get as much Kirby & the Forgotten Land done as possible before Metroid Prime 4 arrives next week.
Re: Talking Point: Are You Looking Forward To Any December Xbox Releases As 2025 Wraps Up?
December is Metroid Prime 4 month!
I’ve preordered Code Vein 2 on Xbox though. That’s a January release. The deluxe edition is currently selling for same price as the standard release so I thought heck why not preorder then.
Re: Microsoft Rewards Is Allowing You To 'Double Your Points' Until Early December
I’ve never been hit by the suspicious search accusation by Microsoft but I’m a little nervous I may be if I try to max out these doubled caps. Risky gamble!
Re: Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition On Switch 2 Is 'Cut Back' Even From The Xbox 360 Version
It’s clearly a Switch 1 version at its core. At least it got 60fps support on Switch 2. It’s probably best to ignore the Switch 2 label and treat it as Switch 1 game with better framerate. From that viewpoint it’s pretty decent. I think the mistake was labelling it as a full fat Switch 2 game because it’s just not.
Re: Talking Point: Did You Expect More From Xbox 360's 20th Anniversary?
Presumably saving all the fanfare for next year’s quarter century annniversary and that makes sense to me.
Re: Here's What's Included In The Xbox November 2025 Update
@BAMozzy I’d say these niche features are important. Not everyone will use each individual one, but when you add enough you start to please a wide audience. Look at Steam. They have a cult following on PC, they are so widely beloved precisely because Valve cares about these little quality of life features. The customisation and personalisation options are far beyond any other competitor. It shows in Steam’s domination of the PC market.
I agree the PC app needs a lot of improvement. It’s woefully behind XSX let alone Steam. It doesn’t have to be an either/or situation though. Microsoft is big company and the Xbox division alone is much larger than Valve. They have enough resources to show consoles TLC as well as PC.
Re: Here's What's Included In The Xbox November 2025 Update
@BAMozzy Quite a lot on my wishlist. Firstly fixing the annoying store bug where it keeps repeatedly asking ‘do you want us to give you notifications?’ pop-up everytime you open the store app. I tick ‘yes’ and the ‘don’t ask me again’ boxes and it just ignores this and asks again on every console boot! Secondly, implement the ability to custom sort the store wishlist as you can on Steam. If I want to reorder my wishlist right now my only option is to remove and re-add games manually. It’s so clunky! Thirdly, add the ability to replace ugly game icons with custom artwork as you can on Steam. Fourthly, add the ability to pin more than two custom groups to the dashboard as you used to be able to and let these be the first things that show up when you scroll below the Home Screen. Those are just the low-hanging fruit! There’s always room for improvement.
Re: Talking Point: What Have You Bought In The Xbox Black Friday Sale 2025 So Far?
Echo the backlog comments. I have too much on my plate already to justify buying even more right now!
Re: Here's What's Included In The Xbox November 2025 Update
@TheGameThrifter I haven’t had an insider update for a while. I’m on beta ring. The last one was on the 6th November and before that 17th October. This time last year was way more active for October and November. There is a definite slow down in console OS development right now, they are being neglected. I hope the console updates pick up again next year.
Re: Xbox Developers Are Reportedly 'Thrilled' To Release Their Games On PS5
Let’s get Stellar Blade on Xbox then yeah?
Re: Xbox Series X|S Could Go Up In Price Again Due To Potential RAM Shortages, It's Claimed
XSX is going to meet price parity with PS5 Pro before long if things keep heading in this direction 💀
Re: It's Official! The Xbox 360 Is 20 Years Old Today
If memory serves me correctly, nearly 20 years ago I actually got my original Xbox for Christmas 2005. I came from a poor household so getting a second hand original Xbox from CEX was actually huge for child me. Before this I just had a GBA SP (which I remember fondly) and my only exposure to home console gaming was around my cousin’s and friend’s houses. My younger brother got a second hand GameCube the same year. We were a generation behind the cutting edge. I never got a 360 because when I went to uni in 2010 I got a laptop with a dedicated GPU and started using Steam.
Re: Poll: How Important Is The Xbox Play Anywhere Program To You?
It’s a really nice bonus to have but if I buy a game on Xbox it’s because I want to play it on Xbox. My PC is for: games that don’t come to Xbox (so Sony first & third party exclusives as well as some indies), games that can’t run at 60fps on XSX (Plague Tale Requiem, Hellblade 2, Keeper etc.), and games that were designed for mouse & keyboard (Stellaris, Cities Skylines etc.). These games I always buy on Steam, unless they happen to be on Game Pass. So while I’m very supportive of Play Anywhere it’s not really influencing my purchasing decisions to be honest. Xbox is already my default platform.
Re: This Xbox Game Studios Adventure Deserved More Nominations At The Game Awards 2025
Each to their own of course, but I vastly preferred Keeper. Both have relatively simplistic gameplay so that wasn’t my issue with SOM. I found it had a very repetitive formula, whereas Keeper was better at keeping the gameplay feeling fresh despite the simplicity. Additionally, the story of SOM underwhelmed me. The best character (Catfish) was majorly sidelined in the last quarter or so of the game. I guess they wanted to tell a more human story overall and focus on the adoptive grandma’s trauma, whereas I was enjoying the fantastical folklore side of things and simply wanted much more catfish. Keeper also has superior art direction and music in my opinion. Again, each to their own of course.
Re: 'Tides Of Annihilation' Is Looking Pretty Impressive So Far, And It'll Be Xbox Play Anywhere
This looks absolutely stunning. Wow 🤩
I hope this is a 2026 release!
Re: 16 Xbox Reveals Teased For Thursday's Partner Preview Showcase
Probably a long shot, but could that orange one be Stellar Blade?
Re: Talking Point: Do You Think GTA 6 Will Actually Launch On Xbox A Year Today?
I don’t see any reason to doubt it currently. It’s already been delayed twice.
Re: Xbox 360 Was Influenced By Fear Of Sony Dominating The Living Room, Says Former Boss
How times change! Now they actively support and encourage the Sony domination of the living room lol
Re: Xbox President Talks Positive & Resistant Feedback From Fans, How It's Shaping The Future
What happened to the achievements overhaul? Phil mentioned it years ago. I like collecting achievements though am by no means a completionist, but I do know an overhaul is one of the most frequent community requests by Xbox fans. Do Xbox still know this?
Re: Sarah Bond Insists Hardware Is 'Absolutely Core' To Xbox, Teases Powerful Next-Gen Console
Déjà vu!
They keep getting asked these questions in interviews because actions speak louder than words. And everyone can see the recent actions they have taken. XSX is significantly more expensive than the PS5 in the USA and even here in UK where the gap isn’t quite as large it’s still notably more expensive. The marketing encouraging gamers to move away from consoles. Huge Game Pass Ultimate price rise, a tier mostly used by console gamers. All these things paint a picture of a company that clearly could not care less anymore about selling XSX and XSS.
I personally don’t doubt the next gen Xbox will exist for a second, but I also don’t blame the wider gaming community for having deep scepticism about future hardware. Xbox blatantly doesn’t care about their existing hardware and so that’s not going to fill people with confidence about future hardware. Only the hardcore enthusiasts follow every little hardware rumour, most gamers will only see how Xbox is treating their current hardware and base their confidence on that.
Re: Two Xbox Game Pass Titles Nominated For GOTY At The Game Awards, But Microsoft Misses Out
Clair Obscur will steamroll the GOTY. I haven’t played it myself, but the chatter I’ve seen online makes it very predictable. Which isn’t to say it’s not deserved, just very predictable!
I personally will be voting for Split Fiction in every category that it’s nominated in. Love that game.
Re: Xbox Partner Preview November 2025 Showcase Confirmed For This Week
Oh I am SO ready to see more Tides of Annihilation!!! 😀
Re: Former Xbox Exec On Steam Machine: Choice Is Good, Not Everything Needs A Winner Or Loser
He’s not wrong. Healthy competition is good for consumers. Steam Machine will keep Xbox on their toes, so to speak.
Re: Analyst Questions Whether Next Xbox & PS6 Could Slip To 2028 Following GTA Delay
No, as you say Fraser, Microsoft have demonstrated that they couldn’t care less about Series X and S. And next gen Xbox is confirmed to be fully backwards compatible anyway.
And even playing devil’s advocate and hypothetically imagining a fantasy world where Microsoft does still care about hardware sales then still no. Sure GTA is the biggest game franchise, but I don’t think even it is big enough to change up entire hardware launch strategies.
Re: Valve Says It Focused On 'Own Audience' For Steam Machine Rather Than Xbox, PS5 & Switch
As the article points out they’re still competing by default by offering a product aimed at living room, TV-orientated, controller-friendly gaming. That directly overlaps with the console gaming market. All companies bend over backwards these days to insist they aren’t competing with other companies operating in the same market as them, but the reality of a mature market like video games is that time and money aren’t infinite.
Re: Poll: Now That The Dust Has Settled, Which Xbox Game Pass Tier Are You Subscribed To?
No poll option for those who still have time on Ultimate stacked up via the old Gold-to-Ultimate conversion offer. Mine expires in early March next year and I’ll have to make a decision then on whether I’ll renew at the new, less generous conversion rate or downgrade to essential. I’m not sure yet what I’ll do.
Re: Talking Point: What Does The 'Steam Machine' Mean For Xbox's Next-Gen Console Plans?
@Weebleman yeah it’s a good point you make. Microsoft need to tread carefully, because having Xbox digital libraries isn’t the impenetrable barrier to switching platforms as Phil Spencer once said it was. We saw how many gamers switched from away Xbox to PlayStation and/or PC this generation regardless of existing libraries. And Game Pass has probably resulted in Xbox gamers building up libraries at a slower rate than in previous generations too.
Personally I’d much prefer having everything in one box for simplicity and minimalism, so that rumoured Xbox still has huge appeal to me. My loyalty to Xbox is not set in stone though. If Valve put out an upgraded Steam Machine that’s competitive with the next Xbox in hardware specs I will be paying very close attention!
Re: Talking Point: What Does The 'Steam Machine' Mean For Xbox's Next-Gen Console Plans?
This model doesn’t pose any threat to rumoured future Xbox because of the limited hardware, but a hypothetical more powerful version really could bring the heat to Microsoft.
Re: Steam Machine Specs Revealed, Here's How They Compare To Xbox Series X|S
Okay my interest in this particular device has significantly waned now that DF are saying it’s below the XSX performance-wise. A potential future more powerful version would definitely interest me greatly though.
Re: Valve Announces New Hardware, Including A Steam Machine That'll Compete With Xbox
@IOI yeah same here, this is definitely a tempting device for me personally, pricing dependant. The fact it’s much more aligned with current consoles specs than the future rumoured Xbox does give me reason to hold off though, so I’ll see how things shake out next year. I’ll be keeping a very close eye on this for sure though!
Re: Valve Announces New Hardware, Including A Steam Machine That'll Compete With Xbox
All hail the GabeCube - yes I stole this name from Reddit. It’s perfect though!
I made comments in the past about how the biggest threat to Xbox’s future vision will come from Valve. Doing exactly this. If the future of Xbox is PC, then this is what Xbox will be competing with, not so much the PS6.
Yes specs-wise this is more aligned with current consoles than the rumoured next-gen devices, but those aren’t expected until 2027 at the earliest so Valve will have time to iterate. Could quite easily see a beefed-up SKU a year or two later, much like how they made a fancier Steam Deck model. I’m sure this is just the start of their plans. And we don’t know the pricing of any of these devices yet.
The gauntlet has been thrown down by Valve! I hope Microsoft can rise to the challenge and offer fierce competition.
Re: Former Nintendo President 'Surprised' That Xbox Hasn't 'Fully Embraced' Switch 2
I can say the same about most publishers honestly. It feels many publishers are holding back currently, for one reason or another. I was expecting a great deluge of third party games but instead it’s just a mere trickle. Hope that changes in 2026.
Re: Hit PS5 Exclusive Stellar Blade May Be On The Way To Xbox In The Near Future
@TrollOfWar lol the ultimate monkey’s paw moment, I can too easily envision this cursed possibility!
Re: Hit PS5 Exclusive Stellar Blade May Be On The Way To Xbox In The Near Future
I hope so. Please don’t just be Switch 2. Don’t get me wrong, Switch 2 would be great for the handheld factor, but obviously not 60fps due to the hardware limitations. So yeah, fingers crossed for an XSX port 🤞
Re: It's A Big Birthday For The Xbox Series X, So Let's Look Back At Our Review From 2020
Interesting read! I personally joined the party in early 2021. Firstly with the XSS in March and then a few months later upgrading to the XSX in May. And though this console is 4.5 years old now, it’s holding up very well. Never even needed to dust it and it’s still whisper quiet - that’s good engineering right there! I personally prefer the current home screen to what was there originally, though it’s certainly far from perfect (hello adverts). The hardware is starting to feel a bit aged in comparison to my more modern PC, but that’s just the typical lifecycle of a console, nothing unusual there. As long as games keep giving me the option of 60fps performance modes I’ll be content. Here’s to two more years of XSX - there’s still life in this little box yet!
Re: Five Years On, Xbox Series S Is Still A Fantastic Place For Current-Gen Gaming
Series S is fine and all, but it’s just not for me personally. Too many 30fps caps and other compromises. I don’t regret upgrading to the Series X at all. It was an accessible entry point to Xbox, but I soon realised that I needed more than what it had to offer.
Re: It's Official, Rockstar Games Has Delayed GTA 6 To November 2026
May just became prime real estate again for video game releases!
Re: Talking Point: What Do You Think Xbox's Release Schedule Looks Like For 2026?
Fable has to be 2026, right? Right? It’d already be six years since the first reveal. Xbox trying to break Metroid Prime 4’s announcement-to-release record or something? Stop announcing games way too early!
Re: Sony May Be Preparing Its Own Version Of Xbox Play Anywhere For PS5 & PC
Wow this could actually give Sony a distinct advantage as Steam is just outright better than the Xbox app in pretty much every way imaginable. Xbox would still have the sizeable head start of course, but Sony could really catch up if the cross buy works through Steam (and supports cross save too, that’s vitally important). Even if it’s just their own proprietary launcher it’s still a clear win for consumers and validates the direction Xbox has been heading in. Cross buy and cross save via Steam would revolutionise gaming, but kinda sounds too good to be true.
Re: ROG Xbox Ally X Continues To Prove Popular As Stock Issues Persist In Some Countries
@Weebleman I think what I’m trying to say is while Asus is the manufacturer for Xbox Ally and undoubtedly care much more about raw sales, Microsoft still needs devices like this (and the next- Xbox) to be an overall success to generate interest in the Xbox app. The purpose of this FSE experiment is to grab some more of the PC market that Steam currently dominates. I don’t think that can really happen if PC handhelds (and next-gen Xbox) continue to be niche slither of the overall PC market. And we know that Microsoft doesn’t have unlimited patience, if something isn’t driving the growth they’re after, they will axe it.
Re: ROG Xbox Ally X Continues To Prove Popular As Stock Issues Persist In Some Countries
@BAMozzy the way I see it is that this controller-optimised version of Windows is an experiment. It needs to drive user engagement to the Xbox app (on Xbox Ally and all the other handhelds it eventually rolls out to) or Microsoft could lose interest in developing FSE further if it doesn’t meet their targets. FSE is tied to success of the hardware that it runs on, as few PC gamers will bother running it on their custom desktops or even laptops with proper mouse & keyboard setups. The current Steam/Xbox apps just offer a better experience for mouse & keyboard users. FSE is designed specifically for the controller-first experience and that’s handhelds and eventually (presumably) the next Xbox PC hybrid device (I still have no idea what to call it lol). So I think controller-focused hardware needs to succeed so that Microsoft stays invested in developing FSE for the long term. That’s my take on this whole situation!
Re: ROG Xbox Ally X Continues To Prove Popular As Stock Issues Persist In Some Countries
@BAMozzy I think sales kinda matter in this case, because good sales demonstrate to Microsoft that it was worth spending all the extra resources and effort to streamline Windows for a better gaming experience, vs all the other handhelds that preceded the Xbox Ally which just shipped with bog-standard Windows. The future of the PC and console merger holds so much promising potential and it all hinges on Microsoft staying highly motivated in this vision in the long term. We don’t want them to suddenly get cold feet if Xbox Ally fails to generate the Xbox app engagement metrics that they were looking for.
Re: Poll: A Few Weeks On, What Review Score Would You Give Keeper?
Tough one to score I agree. It’s short, doesn’t have much gameplay/puzzle depth, or much replay value. On the other hand, it’s a stunning work of art both visually and musically. The atmosphere and vibes were so good throughout. I loved the attention to details in every scene, all the little quirky alien creatures, so imaginative and cool! The bond that formed between Twig and the Lighthouse was very cute and endearing too.
Psychonauts 2 is still a clear tier above in my opinion, but I thought Keeper was still a great game.
Re: Xbox Gets One Nomination For 'Ultimate Game Of The Year' At Golden Joysticks 2025
Sorry lads and ladies, I had to cast my vote for Split Fiction instead.
The list shows what a good year it’s been for games though!
Re: ROG Xbox Ally X Continues To Prove Popular As Stock Issues Persist In Some Countries
Never give in to scalpers, it’s really not worth it!
Re: Fortnite's Simpsons Crossover Is A Success, So Isn't It Time For A Hit & Run Remake?
It would provide so much nostalgia, yes please to a (good) remake!
Re: Here's What's Included In The Xbox October 2025 Update
Hey PX, you might want to make an article how the Xbox Ally (the non-X one that uses RDNA 2) has just lost full driver support from AMD:
“RDNA 1 and RDNA 2 graphics cards will continue to receive driver updates for critical security fixes and bug resolutions. To focus on optimizing and delivering new and improved technologies for its latest GPUs, AMD is placing the Radeon RX 5000 and RX 6000 series (RDNA 1 and RDNA 2) into maintenance mode with the AMD Software Adrenalin Edition 25.10.2 release. Future driver updates with targeted game optimizations will be focused on RDNA 3 and RDNA 4 GPUs.“
Source: https://videocardz.com/newz/amd-confirms-focus-shifts-to-rdna3-and-rdna4-rx-6000-and-rx-5000-lose-day-1-game-optimizations
Re: Microsoft CEO Says Xbox 'Wants To Innovate' With Its Next-Gen Console
@ilyn yeah with the PS5 Pro already at £700 it wouldn’t surprise me either if this were £1000.
Re: Poll: Which Was Your Favourite Xbox Game Pass Title From October 2025?
Keeper was a real pleasure. What a majestic experience.