Feffster

Is this only going to benefit Unreal Engine 5 games or could FSR 3 be rolled out in wider updates for other titles? Just wondering what other games might benefit if this is patched in….Robocop (Unreal Engine 5?) springs to mind. If it can be patched to other titles then how about Avatar or maybe even Starfield, & there must be others with inconsistent 60fps issues.

@FraserG - good work mate. A lot has been said about the reward system being nerfed over the last year but actually it remains very generous. I’m set on auto-renew for GPU and it easily covers my subscription for 8-9 months of the year (I click on the daily Bing quiz questions, always search on Bing instead of Google and most days, but not all, I play on console and try to remember to open the Xbox app). That’s it - doesn’t seem overly strenuous to get free Gamepass Ultimate for most of the year.

@OldGamer999 - I’m guessing yours is a newer (and better) set than mine, but I’m really happy with my Sony OLED (A80J) - 120hz, vrr, excellent quality visuals, motion and sound. I had an LG C series prior to the Sony and I know they are recommended for gamers but I’ve found the Sony is superior for gaming, movies and general tv. Enjoy! I’m playing Starfield and a few rounds of PGA Tour Golf this weekend.

Well of course it'll be on Gamepass, as @Banjo rightfully says Sarah Bond confirmed it recently. Can you also how think just how stupid it would be if COD Direct (following the upcoming Showcase) revealed that the next game wasn't going to be on GP. Surely even Microsoft wouldn't be that daft.

Halo for me. What a game (and it still holds up today via The Master Chief Collection).

Starfield and PGA Tour Golf on Series X. Have a good w/end all.

Absolutely loving it. I dropped off the launch game after c11hrs as my eyes now have trouble with 30fps. This update is transformative, way better than I dared hope for - running it at 60fps at 120hz with VRR. Yes, there’s some frame rate hitches, but by and large it runs very smooth, and I’m looking forward to exploring more of the planets and storylines.

@InterceptorAlpha - I think that will be my preferred choice too. Do you know if setting to 120hz but running at 60fps makes any difference? (I generally leave my Sony OLED at 60) - I appreciate the 40fps mode won’t work unless the setting is 120hz but I don’t want to use that option.

Anyway, delighted there is now a 60fps mode and already enjoying an enormous upgrade. Glad I went for a VRR Tv too. Happy Days!

Only a matter of time before I have to admit defeat....too many good games and too little time!

@themightyant - I appreciate that, thanks. And I agree we’ve seen plenty of evidence of reports/rumour being exaggerated or misinterpreted by the gaming community over recent months.

@Banjo- thanks, and you said it much better than I did! 👍

@themightyant - I’m not here to pick a fight, just expressing an opinion.

My opinion is that plenty of the journalistic speculation around gaming turns out to be inaccurate. Just because multiple sources state that something may or may not be happening doesn’t make it true - groupthink isn’t necessarily a good way to come to an outcome and often results in poor decisions and conclusions.

Anyway, let’s agree to disagree on this point 🤓

@themightyant - I guess we’ll never know as none of us are privy to internal discussions at Microsoft (I’m making the assumption that no one on this forum actually works for Microsoft at the Xbox division). The point I’m making is that this was all conjecture, speculation and innuendo - there’s no shortage of that around Xbox at the moment and plent of it is absolute BS. I get that sometimes MS brings it on itself. What struck me from yesterday’s report on this website (re The Verge) was the “I’m told this”, “It is my understanding that” line of journalism that is all too commonplace (and often inaccurate) without actually quoting a verified source.

Maybe it was a discussion, maybe it wasn’t (it also seems likely they had these discussions way before even making the ABK offer, or during the acquisition process). Maybe they discussed the weather or what to have for lunch or what their next acquisition target might be - none of which we actually know without being privy to those internal discussions. That’s the main point I was seeking to make in my comment above.

Nice clear messaging from Microsoft, something they aren’t typically renowned for.The Verge had this totally wrong then - remember that the next time something is ‘rumoured’ by them.

Re COD - isn’t there another way it could work with Gamepass? - eg

Older COD come to Gamepass
New COD costs £/$70 on Day 1 to those not on Gamepass
Those on Gamepass can buy it Day1 and get a 50% discount
After, say, 6 months the latest COD will be on Gamepass

• those that can wait will get it after 6 months, those that can’t get it at a discount and those not on Gamepass can leave it alone or buy it just like they do now.

No big surprise as all the video presentations have been ultra-widescreen and 30fps, but I can’t say I’m a fan of either decision. I think it would have more impact if they presented the cut scenes in ultra wide and the gameplay was left in 16:9 (with a performance mode option for those that prefer to play their games that way).

Hooked on PGA Tour (sorry, as I was typing I clocked that’s an appalling pun) and also enjoying Fallout 4. Star Wars JS to be added to the backlist and SOTTR too. Excellent month for GP.

Again? That’s not necessarily the point is it?….Some of us tried at 30fps but gave up - this is a Godsend to us and we will be playing through for the first time.

Great news. My eyes had to give up after about 10 hours. Looking forward to restarting my Starfield adventure. This is like a new game drop for me. Happy days.

“New display modes on console”……..mmmmm, I wonder. 🙏

Tried quality mode last week and it does drop a few frames here and there - presumably DRS saves the day in Performance mode by lowering the resolution when things get busy.

I’m sticking with Performance mode - haven’t noticed a single stutter so far and perfectly sharp enough (presumably 4K apart from the odd drop when DRS kicks in).

Performance all day long for me. I don’t want to do 30fps anymore, would love to see a performance mode added for Starfield and the upcoming Hellblade 2

@Duck_Farmer @SpecialT - if you are playing HL2 (or Portal) from The Orange Box on Series consoles then remember to take advantage of the unofficial mod that allows you to play at 4K60fps. There’s a YouTube video to explain how. I recently completed HL2 on Series X and it looks and plays brilliantly for an older game. Portal not too shabby either!

Still pretty generous imo (easy to ‘pay’ for 6-8 months of Gamepass Ultimate over a 12 month period). Difficult to grumble about that sort of generosity.

Great news. Look forward to giving Brands Hatch a go today. 25GB reduction is very welcome too.

@ZYDIO - I agree that might be an option, I think the DF video said something similar too.

@ShadowofTwilight - I can assure you I’m not desperate for it to happen (and if I was then I’d simply go and buy a PS5). I’m just saying there’s a suggestion that the next Xbox will effectively be a PC (by another name). Joining the dots beyond that isn’t too tricky.

All pointing towards stronger PC links and/or architecture. The recent Digital Foundry video covered this and for the first time Microsoft’s strategy now seems to make sense. If they can make the front end more of a console than a PC experience then they can achieve a master stroke which solves backwards compatibility, removes (or at least massively reduces) the cost of converting to PC and maybe even makes PlayStation games playable on Xbox (ie the PC ports of those PS games). If they can pull that off then that would be genius.

@abe_hikura @TheGrizMan - I have concerns too but much less so since watching the Digital Foundry discussion on alternative stores appearing on Xbox hardware. I think that’s the first time I’ve understood there might be method in Microsoft’s strategy. By next-gen (possibly, but less likely, later this gen) we might well see Xbox being able to access a vast library of PC titles, and feasibly even PlayStation titles (that have been ported across to PC).

Plenty of speculation but interesting and worth watching if you haven’t seen it.

Enjoying EA PGA Tour Golf, a bit of Toy Soldiers HD & a smattering of Forza Motorsport for good measure. Have a good one all.

I don’t understand why modern games like this aren’t built to be scalable with a performance option built in as standard. I accept there was an argument that it couldn’t be done for Starfield as it is CPU limited, but for a game like this…..come on, really?

I know some will say there’s no difference but it is chalk and cheese for me and my eyes, especially playing on a large OLED display.

Enjoyed the first one and completed it on Series X. I was looking forward to this but my (old!) eyes suffer at 30fps so really hope there is a performance mode option patched in later. Not completely convinced about the ultra-widescreen look either - don’t mind for cut scenes, but not for gameplay.

Nice, I've been hoping the golf game would drop. Good year so far for GP.

I've never played before - do others recommend? I think I read this had performance issues at launch - does anyone know if they have been improved/sorted since?

@RexPowercolt - I almost gave up yesterday when trying to register but finally got past the ‘are you a human’ checks and got an account registered. I’m glad I did as I’m beginning to enjoy the game which surprised me as I thought it wouldn’t be for me.

Quite how Xbox have taken 6 months to get Diablo IV onto Gamepass and not address these front end frustrations is almost unbelievable. Yes, it’s not rocket science and once you’ve got registered it works fine, but why put these hurdles in the way? Why isn’t it a seamless process to link our Xbox account to a Blizzard one? After all, we playing on a console (which is supposed to make life easy). Just to show you how stupid the registration process is there was initially an option to link to a PlayStation account but not one for a Microsoft/Xbox account.

How dumb is that?!

Anyway, rant over….I’m looking forward to exploring more of Diablo’s world. & Happy Easter weekend everyone, go steady on the eggs.

@NEStalgia - well said and I agree with much of what you say. From a personal viewpoint I’m not expecting them to confirm that there will be a guarantee about a certain number of future generations of console, I appreciate that’s not realistic. I watched the recent Podcast with interest and the attempts made in it to address the concerns of Xbox customers.

Despite the assurances made in that Podcast the rumours/speculation keep on coming. I don’t think Microsoft has been clear enough in their response, but that’s just my opinion and I appreciate others may see it differently.

@TheLastHarbinger - except they absolutely have not “tackled the matter head on” - the current and continued clumsy messaging is leading to a loss of confidence in the Xbox brand. A loss of confidence may lead to a loss of (Xbox) customers, etc, etc

I’m invested in the Xbox brand, all I’m asking for is clear messaging about the future to allay concerns rather than the constant stream of unclear drivel that Phil and co seem to spout. I don’t think that’s too much to ask for.

@hoffa007 - yep, timed exclusives because of pre existing contracts. I mean for future titles in those franchises of course.

Just imagine an alternate world (one where the head of Xbox actually knew what s/he was doing!)...

"The following games and franchises will always remain exclusive on console to Xbox users: [insert games/franchises eg Halo, Gears of War, Forza Horizon, Forza Motorsport, Indiana Jones, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Age of Empires, Starfield, Avowed, Fable, etc]

The following games/fanchises will release on other consoles - but only after an Xbox console exclusivity period of not less than 24 months [insert games/franchises eg Sea of Thieves, Pentiment, Hi-Fi-Rush, Grounded, Deathloop, Ghostwire Tokyo, etc]

The following games/franchises will release simultaneously on Xbox and other selected consoles but will be included DAY 1 on Xbox Gamepass - Call of Duty, Diablo, Quake, Doom, Castle Wolfenstein, Elder Scrolls, Fallout, etc]

There are more than can be included and I'm not suggesting the categories aren't up for debate - but Xbox need to make the messaging clear, knock all these rumours on the head once and for all and do it in a manner that shows strength to the Xbox brand.

Rather than stoking the fire why doesn't he just give perfect clarity on the subject?

I'm not against some games making their way across to other platforms but these constant rumours and innuendo are like death by a thousand cuts - and Phil Spencer and his team are responsible as their messaging is as clear as mud.

All I want to know is that my hard earned £s are not being wasted by spending them on the Xbox store - i.e. Xbox is going to exist going forward and I'm not suddenly going to find the rug has been pulled (from beneath my digital library).

Really enjoyed playing through the Titanfall 2 campaign on Series X (FPS Boost bonus too).

Number 3 announcement next month please 🙏

Mine is back. Almost disappointed!….thought (longer term) it being missing might reduce the backlog 😃

Unbelievable. Did they learn nothing from the fiasco when then launched Ghostwire Tokyo on Xbox?

I have no objection to this game appearing on PlayStation but it is another schoolboy error if it runs better on that platform.

Toy Soldiers HD, Forza Horizon 4 and a bit of Flight Sim - all on Series X.

Indy, Avowed then Hellblade 2 (provided it has a performance mode). Flight Sim deserves some love but it is a storage killer.

And what about 2024 Call of Duty?….not everyone’s cup of tea, but isn’t it now ‘first party’? (even if there’s something weird going on with Microsoft not dropping ABK games onto Gamepass)

I just want them to say something that shows me my digital library won’t be unusable and worthless when we get to next-gen. Otherwise why would I spend any more of my hard earned £s on their store?

@abe_hikura - well said. For me you’ve hit the nail right on the head.

@Widey85 - totally agree. Sounds like a hastily arranged damage limitation event being cobbled together.

Not a good look for Team Green. Ironically, I’ve been multi platform in nearly every previous generation, right back to Atari 800 and CBM 64, but this gen I’m just Series X - thought it was all I needed.

I thought Microsoft might use ABK games on Gamepass to drive console sales, but nearly 4 months after the acquisition there’s still no sign of anything happening there. Meanwhile PS5s are selling like hotcakes, so it’s not like console sales overall are in decline.

I’m nearly all digital nowadays. As much as I’d like to think physical has a place for game preservation I think 5-10 years from now it’ll be virtually all digital and a decade or so after that it’ll be the same for streaming. I didn’t see that coming 10 years ago when I had a bookshelf full of 360 games.