That's not what he meant, @VeganH. It just means that they will be making games for the PS5 until it is 10 years old (for example). Thus, using this generation as an example, Sony were supporting the PS4 until 2024, which is obviously 4 years after the release of the PS5. Hence, if they support the PS5 until 2030, when the console would be 10 years old, and now would be halfway through its life span, then we could see the PS6 as early as 2026 (although I think 2027 is more likely)...
Looks so good. Really cannot wait. Absolutely loved the first series. Makes me want to do yet another 1000 hour run in either Fallout 4 or New Vegas. I like to see everything, go everywhere, and complete every quests, and so a single campaign run usually takes me around 1000 hours. The games are so good...
I still think there is an outside chance that the PCBox will arrive in Fall 2026 to coincide with the 25th anniversary, @OldGamer999. If I were to put it in terms of percentages, I would say 20% 2026 and 79% 2027. I cannot see it slipping to 2028 or beyond, unless Microsoft pull the plug altogether, which accounts for that remaining 1%. 😉
GTA6, on the other hand, I can most definitely see that slipping into 2027, and possibly even later.
As for the 'I believe in generations' comment, that was made by Jim Ryan when speaking about the PS5, and we can see how that one turned out! Thus, you do not need to return to that era because you are still living it.
Honestly, I believe that Microsoft may well keep making at least the Series X for the entirety of the next generation. They will either do that, or they will do what they always do, and immediately pull the plug once the PCBox releases. My money is on them continuing to produce the Series console(s) for the whole of the next generation.
When it comes to the PS6 and PS5, Sony will undoubtedly keep making the PS5 until right before the release of the PS7 (and yes, to all the doubters, there will most definitely be a PS7. Whether I will still be around to witness its arrival is another matter!)...
Nope! I cannot see this. Yes, GTA6 will sell consoles, but neither Sony nor Microsoft needs GTA6 as a launch title as such, the game will just help with sales. I'm sure both companies would rather rely on their own games to shift their consoles, than rely on GTA6. Besides, Sony is far and beyond likely to have the publicity rights for GTA6, which really won't be of any benefit to Xbox...
Not sure that would be necessary, @Questionable_Duck. I'm fairly certain that if you buy an Xbox game on Steam, that you then download it to your PC, albeit it is actually then shown in the Xbox app, but it physically on your PC, and can be launched from within Steam. You do sometimes have to use launchers for companies like Sony but you do still download the game.
I could be wrong, and it wouldn't be the first time, but I'm fairly certain that's the case. You might be able to choose to stream though, but again, I'm not 100% certain on that as I don't have any Xbox games in my Steam account...
They haven't started to do so yet, @fatpunkslim. Corden has been wrong many times before, and he likes to keep things suitably vague so that he can be almost right.
Regardless, it could just be that Sony is looking to release their Live Service games everywhere day one, which is honestly simply sensible. They will have learned that much from the release of Helldivers 2. Until they start to do so with the single-player games, I would not hold your breath as you are likely to die of hypoxia... 😉
What do you mean by 'natively' play Xbox games, @Questionable_Duck? I am confused by the term, or are you referring to specific launchers for Xbox, Sony, etc...?
And that is the problem that Microsoft have now created for themselves, @Weebleman.
1. They have made Game Pass far less attractive, and far less affordable.
2. They have pretty much done away with exclusives, and even when they keep a game as a (presumeably) timed exclusive, they still release the game day one on Steam.
3. The rumoured price of the PCBox is £1000 / $1200 plus, which will price many out of buying it.
4. Sony still keep their exclusives for at least a year.
So, if Valve are now set to release their console for around £500, then you can buy the Steam console, and the PS6 for around the same price as the PCBox, and you will be able to play every game that releases (excluding Nintendo exclusives) day one. Meaning that for those of us that like to buy an Xbox and a PlayStation, that you will not need to be forking out close to £2000 in order to buy both, you could spend around £1200 instead and get just the PS6 and the Steam console.
This really is a problem for Microsoft. Those that are happy to forgo PlayStation games, want a more powerful system, and still want to utilise Game Pass, will likely opt for the PCBox, but everyone else now has more affordable options...
Thank you, @Kezelpaso & @FraserG. I really don't understand all of this stuff, but I cannot wrap my head around how Microsoft can make money off a third-party game sold on Steam. I think the only thing they might have going for them is the Play Anywhere games, but that then means they need third-party developers to sign up to that, and I struggle to see the incentives for developers to do that, and even then that only benefits those that do buy the handheld too.
Losing all the sales to Steam, which is often cheaper, plus surely they have to make Game Pass free if you have the PCBox, just seems to be absolutely fraught with pitfalls to me. It's going to be fascinating to see it all unfold, that's for sure...
Cool. Thank you, @FraserG. I didn't realise you could actually access the game files on the handheld. It's not something I feel confident enough to do, but it's good that it's there...
I agree, @ilyn, and I've not said that I think the PCBox could easily cost £1200 because I don't want people to think that I'm aggroing Xbox all the time, but truthfully, I can see it hitting that sort of price, albeit I don't really see them going above that as you then enter the realms of building yourself your own PC instead, and making it a truly decent piece of kit.
Honestly though, when I see people saying that it will not cost more than £600, I cannot help but wonder what they expect such a device to be capable of. You only have to look at the current prices for an Xbox, and then read how the PCBox is supposed to be feature rich, and the largest ever technical leap, and you just know it will not be cheap...
I think the issue many of us have with Bungie is the way they have treated those of us that have bought the games and the DLC. It seems entirely wrong to me the way they chose to retire entire planets, taking with it the money that you had paid to play that planet. It certainly meant that I was against buying any further DLC, albeit I did recently relent when I was able to pick up some of the DLC packs at 90% off. I believe I own all the DLC now, and I look forward to going through all the campaign elements again at some point soon because one thing Bungie do get right is the gun handling. Everything else? Not so much...
Great article, @FraserG, read it from start to finish, and yet I have absolutely no interest in owning one!
Couple of questions though, with a mind to the PCBox, you mention mods, and whilst I don't have any real understanding of how you go about it on a PC, I thought it involved going into the directories and adding them the part of the program. How would you do that on the Xbox Ally?
Secondly, I have said time and time again, that adding Steam to the PCBox will be a huge risk for Microsoft, and indeed, early on I simply didn't think they would do it at all, but assuming they will, how do you think Microsoft will cover the fact that people may choose to buy more and more games on Steam instead of the Xbox Store? After all, buying them on Steam means they lose that 30% for every third-party game they sell, and will also see them losing 30% of their own first-party games should people choose to buy them on Steam instead. Seems like a heck of risk to me...
I don't know, @ilyn, Bond said the largest technological leap, and premium product. Both those statements says to me that it will be a device filled with parts that live up to those statements, and I honestly do think we are looking at a device that will cost at least £1000. I think Microsoft are going for broke here as they cannot put out a device that is similar in performance and power to the PS6 because the Series has done terribly in comparison to the PS5, and with all that has happened with Xbox over the past couple of years people will be unwilling to stick with Xbox if they bring out a console that is comparable to the PS6. Many gamers simply do not trust Microsoft right now, and so if they do not live up to their statements on the PCBox, then I think people will be more inclined to get a PS6 instead.
As much as a £1000 device sounds unattractive in many ways, I think Microsoft are damned if they do, and damned if they don't. If Microsoft bring out a £600 console that is not better than the PS6, but gives us access to Steam, then maybe they will sell 20-30 million consoles next generation, but gamers will be unhappy because it will not live up to all the promises on power, etc. If they bring out a £1000 device, then they will probably sell around 10 million of them, which will probably be in line with their sales expectations. However, that device will likely give us that largest technical leap, etc. I think in either example, Microsoft will lose gamers. Not so many if it is a £600 device, but the issue of trust will remain, and of course that device will see many gamers buying games on Steam, etc., which will hurt Microsoft's bottom line. I think many gamers will be happy with a Series X+ that gives us Steam, but I don't think that is all that Microsoft is aiming for. I think they are looking to differentiate themselves from the PS6, so I believe a £1000+ device is the more likely scenario...
Sorry, @fatpunkslim, you've lost me! You say there are a number of 'pro-PlayStation' people voting as evidenced by the comments, and yet the only person to mention PlayStation, other than yourself, states that they have let their PlayStation sub lapse too, which is hardly a pro-PlayStation comment.
Maybe, just maybe, people really are un-subbing from Game Pass. Just maybe the poll speaks the truth. Maybe people are not prepared to pay the increased prices for Game Pass.
I know you fully support Microsoft, and that is absolutely fine, but you have to accept that many people are fed up with the direction Microsoft are taking, and the associated costs. You may well be right, in that everything will turn out perfectly well, but that does not mean that anyone cancelling their Game Pass subscription, or who is being critical of Microsoft, are simply pro-PlayStation...
I think you are correct, @TrollOfWar. Right now, I can play very few of the games that I own on Xbox on my PC. If Microsoft enable me to play the full slate of games that I own on the PCBox, at settings similar to my PC, then I will undoubtedly buy it. I have access to Steam etc. right now, and only rarely do I ever venture over there, so I'm not really interested in that side of things. But a better device that plays my games better still, and I'll be happy, and I very much doubt that Microsoft will disappoint in that regards, so I am pretty much sold on the idea of the PCBox. I just need Microsoft to push me over the edge into pre-order territory...
I first played Pong in the Summer of 1973 at the age of 9, whilst on school holidays @TrollOfWar. My father died when I was 6 weeks old, and so each Summer I would be shipped off to my Aunt's so that my Mum could earn a crust. I immediately fell in love with gaming there and then.
I would class myself as a gamer from the age of 17, when I bought my first console, which was an Intellivision. I've also owned a Phillips CDi, a ZX Spectrum, Sega Saturn and an Amstrad, all of them long before the PS1 was even a thing.
I bought my first PlayStation in 1994, and have bought every generation ever since, though I have never bought a Pro version of the Sony consoles.
I pre-ordered the OG Xbox in 2001, and have pre-ordered every generation ever since, and also pre-ordered each of the mid-generation refreshes.
Xbox is my main, I have well over 1600 games in my digital library, and over 250 360 games on disc too. By contrast, I only ever buy the big Sony exclusives, so, in recent times, I may only play one or two games a year on my PS5.
Regardless, I will most definitely be pre-ordering the PS6, and I will very likely pre-order the PCBox. My two real reservations with the PCBox is that I already own a very capable gaming PC already hooked up to my front room television, and so I am unsure whether Microsoft will be offer a compelling reason to own something that might be very similar to a device I already have. My second reservation is just how committed Microsoft will be to staying the course with the PCBox. I fear the possibility that around 3 years after its release (so around 2030), Microsoft will announce their full withdrawal from the console market, with the intention of fully committing to being a games publisher. However, what I will say is that I am first and foremost an Xbox gamer, I am very loyal (albeit often critical), and I like to have the latest gaming tech, so I can see my reservations crumbling, and pre-ordering whatever Microsoft offer because, above all, I am weak-willed... 😉
I think there will be a recognisable increase in performance and power with the PCBox, @ilyn. It simply has too! The reason I say this is that Microsoft could pretty easily take the Series X and add the capability to access different store fronts. I mean, you can stream Steam to the Series X console right now, so adding it on properly wouldn't be particularly challenging, or expensive, at all.
So, if the rumours of a console costing more than a £1000 / $1200 are true, and if Bond is to be believed when she says powerful leap and premium equipment, then there is no way that they can push a Series X Plus out the door and expect us to pay that kind of huge price.
No, with everything we keep hearing, I think we will see an appreciable improvement in the quality at which games can be played, ray-tracing will not be so much an option, but a staple, as will 60fps (or maybe even 120fps). Honestly, if Microsoft cannot pretty much guarantee these settings, then I really cannot see how they can justify the kind of price for the console that we keep hearing of, nor the claims as to its power etc....
I would not describe it as serious, @Coletrain. Indeed, you could argue that it has a tone and gameplay loop similar to Outer Worlds, in that it is about recruiting certain people to aid you in your mission. Obviously, it is made by an East Asia developer, and so it has a different feel, and some quirks to it that you don't find in games made in the West (such as Outer Worlds), and of course all the combat is melee, skill and timing based. It really is a lot of fun, and shines on the harder difficulties...
Nice to see someone talking sense on the subject. The console 'wars' ended the moment that Microsoft decided to shed the idea of exclusives as they undoubtedly are a draw into a particular ecosystem. The question now is whether Microsoft can do enough to encourage people to buy into their next 'console', and whether Game Pass remains the draw into the Xbox ecosystem that it once was.
Honestly, I think that question remains to be answered, and I for one, as I am somewhat hesitant to say yes right now...
I really enjoyed Stellar Blade, and if it releases on the Xbox, I will happily buy it again in order to play it on my preferred platform. I hope it does come over, and I highly recommend it...
I only ever double dip on games I really like, @Questionable_Duck, and that list of double dips is exceptionally small! However, if Stellar Blade does release on the Xbox, it is most certainly a game that I would happily buy again to play on my preferred console. It is a very enjoyable game indeed, and I highly recommend it...
Both the PS5 and the Series consoles will be sold for pretty much the entirety of the next generation, though for differing reasons. I don't think that the next PS6 will be vastly better than the PS5, and so uptake on the PS6 will be slower than it was for the PS5. With the PCBox, it will likely be significantly better than the Series X, but it will also be significantly more expensive, possibly twice as expensive as the Series X, meaning that far fewer people will buy it with the target at Microsoft likely being something like 10 million lifetime sales*. Upshot for both Sony and Microsoft will be a much slower start for the next generation.
*Unless the PCBox is the last Xbox console, in which case it may hang around for far longer than a typical generation, and so, assuming that it is still shifting units, then Microsoft may continue to make it available...
I received my Series X day one, and have played several thousands of hours on it, and I absolutely love it. I'm hoping it will make it to the release of the PCBox without giving up the ghost!
I have had my PS5 for just as long, and maybe played for a couple of hundred hours, no more. Xbox is where I'd rather be gaming...
I think you could well be right, @themightyant. It is entirely possible that we have a better game now than we would ever have had had they simply released it in a polished state in the first place. As you say, we will never know for sure though...
No game should be rushed out just to appease shareholders. Just imagine how much more successful Cyberpunk 2077 would have been had it released in the state that it eventually came to be. The shareholders may have had to wait longer for their money, but they would have ended up with far more.
And it's not just right for shareholders either; the developers and gamers win too...
Having finished Ghost of Yotei, which is the only game I have played on my PS5 this year (indeed, it is the only game I have played anywhere other than my Xbox). I'm now back on my Series X, and I'll be indulging in some more Outer Worlds 2, interspersed with a couple of Master Horde runs in Gears 5, which I shall be doing as part of a trio instead of a team of 5 that the difficulty really demands. Much more difficult and challenging, but all the more rewarding when you get a map done...
What difficulty did you play Outer Worlds 2 on, @mac_da_man? I am exploring everywhere, and I am almost finished on the second planet (albeit I don't know how many planets there are). I have been doing absolutely everything that I can, and have so far played it for over 50 hours! Only thing is, I am playing it on Very Hard, which means many, many deaths and restarts. Indeed, as it only records the amount of time you have actually stayed alive for, I have probably played for closer to 80 hours... 😂
As an aside, @FraserG, I think as well as saying that a game has an 'Overwhelmingly Positive' status, it would be worth giving the actual score for the game too. In the case of Contraband Police not only does it have a status of 'Overwhelmingly Positive', but those 10,000 reviews actually equate to a score of 95/100, or 9.5/10, which is possibly even more illustrative of how well the game has been received. Just a thought...
Just as Microsoft probably have a Plan B for in case GTA6 was delayed into a problematic time frame, @FraserG, I imagine they will have a Plan C for in case GTA 6 is announced for that problematic time frame, and then delayed back out of it again!
Personally, I think GTA 6 will not release until 2027 anyway, but there is another possibility! What if Microsoft always intended to release the PCBox in the Fall of 2027? Or, what if Microsoft are in the position of being able to bring forward the release of the PCBox so as to coincide it with the release of GTA 6? Then they could effectively have the biggest release of the year as a launch title. They would just have to hope that it will have a simultaneous release on the PC too, so as to really capitalise on its release, but regardless, it would mean the Xbox is the best place to play GTA 6... 😉
Thank you, @FraserG. That is pretty much what I thought, but I wondered whether it was for the PCBox in particular. I have a friend who is already in receipt of the PS6 development kit, and as we have been hearing so much about the PCBox, I'd be shocked if those weren't out in developers hands too by now...
I don't know Swindon all that well, it's been a couple of decades since I've been there, but it certainly doesn't look like I remember it to be... 🤣
I really enjoyed the game, and it shines on the harder difficulties. I think a lot of people are upset due to the inclusion of a new enemy type, but you couldn't go through an entire new trilogy (which is was initially intended to be) without innovating to some extent.
Regardless, the Prometheans were a far better inclusion in Halo, than the robots were in Gears of War 4!
Anyway, I gave it a 9/10, though I am only speaking to the campaign as I don't play the multiplayer these days.
Truthfully though, the game was much better than Halo 5 was, though I enjoyed Infinite pretty much the most of all of the mainline series, though both Reach and ODST were also standouts in the franchise for me...
I have watched a few fairly lengthy videos on YouTube, @RiverGenie, and I have settled on the idea of buying it. It's just a matter of time; I simply do not have enough of it! However, if it had launched with an introductory offer, or some pre-order bonuses, I would have bought it straightaway, and it would have sat in my library until I was ready to play it (assuming I don't forget about it!), but as it launched at full price, with no pre-order bonuses, I may as well wait until I have the time to play it, and maybe that will coincide with a sale too. I'm so reckless with my money when it comes to gaming, that I am just trying to be a little more sensible...
Mine is closer to 50% on the Xbox, @GeeEssEff, and probably higher than that on Steam. I have over 1600 games on the Xbox, and 800 more on Steam. I have literally wasted £1000s, and that is honestly shameful. It's not like I can really afford to do that...
I looked at Satisfactory yesterday, @RiverGenie, as it happened, and noticed that there was no introductory offers, and no small DLCs or perks in buying it straightaway. Basically, I do want to buy it, but I may as well wait until I am actually ready to play it because otherwise there is a distinct possibility that it will sit in my extensive library, and end up forgotten. It just maybe that when I am ready to play it, it will either have more content, or be on sale. So as much as I want to play it, I'll wait for the moment.
Very glad you are enjoying it. It will be interesting to see how it performs in the very late stages on PC because apparently that is where you can see some minor issues arise, albeit they don't really spoil the experience. You'll have to let me know how you get on...
Stellaris! Yet another game I bought, complete with all its DLC, that I have yet to play. I buy them with the best of intentions, but only have so much time. Frankly it's ridiculous...
1. Forza Horizon - Spring 2026. 2. Gears of War: E-Day - September 2026 3. Halo Combat Evolved Remaster Remastered - November 2026. 4. Fable - Spring 2027
What Microsoft really need to do to really capitalise on these high profile games, is offer a brand new Xbox to play them on. I still think that there is a chance that the PCBox will arrive around Fall 2026, maybe even slightly earlier, perhaps to coincide with the release of E-Day.
Not doing that presents a problem for Microsoft as all of these games are high profile, and games that are arguably the face of Xbox, and all that it represents. Microsoft will be missing an opportunity if they release the PCBox after these games have come out because what other games do they have in development that could act as launch titles, and that truly represent Xbox...?
It's certainly an interesting find on the PlayStation Store, but what it amounts to just speculation right now. It could be something significant, or a whole bunch of nothing...
What's the thumbnail picture from, @FraserG? Initially I thought it was Ghost of Yotei, or maybe Assassin's Creed: Shadows, but now I just cannot work it out..
If they do go the route of opening their own store front on the PC, @BacklogBrad, and then going even further by putting their games on there day one, then it'll certainly be a very audacious move, when they possess the knowledge that the PCBox is enroute, and also that their more rabid console fanbase will throw a massive tantrum.
It does make you appreciate more why Microsoft are taking the route they are with their next 'console' @Coletrain. Microsoft literally have to do something that truly differentiates them from PlayStation for them to have any comparative measure of success in the hardware side of things.
I was initially sceptical of whether I wanted Microsoft to make the PCBox, and even now, I would prefer a more traditional console. I own a decent gaming PC that I prefer not to game on, and so the idea of owning another, less powerful, PC is unappealing to me.
However, if the PCBox is still very much a console, then I will definitely be buying it, even if that means I do not use it to its full potential, though I guess that depends on how easily it leans into playing games through Steam, etc.
Anyway, the reveal of the PCBox cannot come soon enough for me. I need to know whether I should be excited or not, as right now I remain sceptical to some extent, and have so many questions I'd like answers too. Regardless, I know I am very weak willed, and also that I like to have the latest tech (when it comes to Xbox, that is. I mean, I have a base PS5, not a Pro!), which in combination mean that I am probably 90% likely to buy whatever Microsoft offer next in the way of an Xbox console...
Comments 3,754
Re: Analyst Questions Whether Next Xbox & PS6 Could Slip To 2028 Following GTA Delay
That's not what he meant, @VeganH. It just means that they will be making games for the PS5 until it is 10 years old (for example). Thus, using this generation as an example, Sony were supporting the PS4 until 2024, which is obviously 4 years after the release of the PS5. Hence, if they support the PS5 until 2030, when the console would be 10 years old, and now would be halfway through its life span, then we could see the PS6 as early as 2026 (although I think 2027 is more likely)...
Re: Seven New Games Added To Xbox Retro Classics, Including A PS1 Title From 1997
Ahh! So this is what people meant when they said Sony would put more games on the Xbox... 🤣
Re: Fallout Season Two Gets 'Official Trailer' Ahead Of December Launch
Looks so good. Really cannot wait. Absolutely loved the first series. Makes me want to do yet another 1000 hour run in either Fallout 4 or New Vegas. I like to see everything, go everywhere, and complete every quests, and so a single campaign run usually takes me around 1000 hours. The games are so good...
Re: Analyst Questions Whether Next Xbox & PS6 Could Slip To 2028 Following GTA Delay
I still think there is an outside chance that the PCBox will arrive in Fall 2026 to coincide with the 25th anniversary, @OldGamer999. If I were to put it in terms of percentages, I would say 20% 2026 and 79% 2027. I cannot see it slipping to 2028 or beyond, unless Microsoft pull the plug altogether, which accounts for that remaining 1%. 😉
GTA6, on the other hand, I can most definitely see that slipping into 2027, and possibly even later.
As for the 'I believe in generations' comment, that was made by Jim Ryan when speaking about the PS5, and we can see how that one turned out! Thus, you do not need to return to that era because you are still living it.
Honestly, I believe that Microsoft may well keep making at least the Series X for the entirety of the next generation. They will either do that, or they will do what they always do, and immediately pull the plug once the PCBox releases. My money is on them continuing to produce the Series console(s) for the whole of the next generation.
When it comes to the PS6 and PS5, Sony will undoubtedly keep making the PS5 until right before the release of the PS7 (and yes, to all the doubters, there will most definitely be a PS7. Whether I will still be around to witness its arrival is another matter!)...
Re: Analyst Questions Whether Next Xbox & PS6 Could Slip To 2028 Following GTA Delay
Nope! I cannot see this. Yes, GTA6 will sell consoles, but neither Sony nor Microsoft needs GTA6 as a launch title as such, the game will just help with sales. I'm sure both companies would rather rely on their own games to shift their consoles, than rely on GTA6. Besides, Sony is far and beyond likely to have the publicity rights for GTA6, which really won't be of any benefit to Xbox...
Re: Talking Point: What Does The 'Steam Machine' Mean For Xbox's Next-Gen Console Plans?
Not sure that would be necessary, @Questionable_Duck. I'm fairly certain that if you buy an Xbox game on Steam, that you then download it to your PC, albeit it is actually then shown in the Xbox app, but it physically on your PC, and can be launched from within Steam. You do sometimes have to use launchers for companies like Sony but you do still download the game.
I could be wrong, and it wouldn't be the first time, but I'm fairly certain that's the case. You might be able to choose to stream though, but again, I'm not 100% certain on that as I don't have any Xbox games in my Steam account...
Re: Valve Announces New Hardware, Including A Steam Machine That'll Compete With Xbox
They haven't started to do so yet, @fatpunkslim. Corden has been wrong many times before, and he likes to keep things suitably vague so that he can be almost right.
Regardless, it could just be that Sony is looking to release their Live Service games everywhere day one, which is honestly simply sensible. They will have learned that much from the release of Helldivers 2. Until they start to do so with the single-player games, I would not hold your breath as you are likely to die of hypoxia... 😉
Re: Talking Point: What Does The 'Steam Machine' Mean For Xbox's Next-Gen Console Plans?
What do you mean by 'natively' play Xbox games, @Questionable_Duck? I am confused by the term, or are you referring to specific launchers for Xbox, Sony, etc...?
Re: Valve Announces New Hardware, Including A Steam Machine That'll Compete With Xbox
And that is the problem that Microsoft have now created for themselves, @Weebleman.
1. They have made Game Pass far less attractive, and far less affordable.
2. They have pretty much done away with exclusives, and even when they keep a game as a (presumeably) timed exclusive, they still release the game day one on Steam.
3. The rumoured price of the PCBox is £1000 / $1200 plus, which will price many out of buying it.
4. Sony still keep their exclusives for at least a year.
So, if Valve are now set to release their console for around £500, then you can buy the Steam console, and the PS6 for around the same price as the PCBox, and you will be able to play every game that releases (excluding Nintendo exclusives) day one. Meaning that for those of us that like to buy an Xbox and a PlayStation, that you will not need to be forking out close to £2000 in order to buy both, you could spend around £1200 instead and get just the PS6 and the Steam console.
This really is a problem for Microsoft. Those that are happy to forgo PlayStation games, want a more powerful system, and still want to utilise Game Pass, will likely opt for the PCBox, but everyone else now has more affordable options...
Re: Steam Machine Specs Revealed, Here's How They Compare To Xbox Series X|S
Reading up on this, @You-come-to-me, to directly answer your question, it would seem that the Series X would be the powerful machine of the two...
Re: A Month Later, The ROG Xbox Ally X Has Totally Changed My Gaming Habits
Thank you, @Kezelpaso & @FraserG. I really don't understand all of this stuff, but I cannot wrap my head around how Microsoft can make money off a third-party game sold on Steam. I think the only thing they might have going for them is the Play Anywhere games, but that then means they need third-party developers to sign up to that, and I struggle to see the incentives for developers to do that, and even then that only benefits those that do buy the handheld too.
Losing all the sales to Steam, which is often cheaper, plus surely they have to make Game Pass free if you have the PCBox, just seems to be absolutely fraught with pitfalls to me. It's going to be fascinating to see it all unfold, that's for sure...
Re: A Month Later, The ROG Xbox Ally X Has Totally Changed My Gaming Habits
Cool. Thank you, @FraserG. I didn't realise you could actually access the game files on the handheld. It's not something I feel confident enough to do, but it's good that it's there...
Re: Sony Exec Suggests PS5 Is Far From Finished, And It's Likely The Same For Xbox Series X|S
I agree, @ilyn, and I've not said that I think the PCBox could easily cost £1200 because I don't want people to think that I'm aggroing Xbox all the time, but truthfully, I can see it hitting that sort of price, albeit I don't really see them going above that as you then enter the realms of building yourself your own PC instead, and making it a truly decent piece of kit.
Honestly though, when I see people saying that it will not cost more than £600, I cannot help but wonder what they expect such a device to be capable of. You only have to look at the current prices for an Xbox, and then read how the PCBox is supposed to be feature rich, and the largest ever technical leap, and you just know it will not be cheap...
Re: Sony's Purchase Of Former Xbox Studio Bungie Isn't Exactly Going To Plan
I think the issue many of us have with Bungie is the way they have treated those of us that have bought the games and the DLC. It seems entirely wrong to me the way they chose to retire entire planets, taking with it the money that you had paid to play that planet. It certainly meant that I was against buying any further DLC, albeit I did recently relent when I was able to pick up some of the DLC packs at 90% off. I believe I own all the DLC now, and I look forward to going through all the campaign elements again at some point soon because one thing Bungie do get right is the gun handling. Everything else? Not so much...
Re: A Month Later, The ROG Xbox Ally X Has Totally Changed My Gaming Habits
Great article, @FraserG, read it from start to finish, and yet I have absolutely no interest in owning one!
Couple of questions though, with a mind to the PCBox, you mention mods, and whilst I don't have any real understanding of how you go about it on a PC, I thought it involved going into the directories and adding them the part of the program. How would you do that on the Xbox Ally?
Secondly, I have said time and time again, that adding Steam to the PCBox will be a huge risk for Microsoft, and indeed, early on I simply didn't think they would do it at all, but assuming they will, how do you think Microsoft will cover the fact that people may choose to buy more and more games on Steam instead of the Xbox Store? After all, buying them on Steam means they lose that 30% for every third-party game they sell, and will also see them losing 30% of their own first-party games should people choose to buy them on Steam instead. Seems like a heck of risk to me...
Re: Sony Exec Suggests PS5 Is Far From Finished, And It's Likely The Same For Xbox Series X|S
I don't know, @ilyn, Bond said the largest technological leap, and premium product. Both those statements says to me that it will be a device filled with parts that live up to those statements, and I honestly do think we are looking at a device that will cost at least £1000. I think Microsoft are going for broke here as they cannot put out a device that is similar in performance and power to the PS6 because the Series has done terribly in comparison to the PS5, and with all that has happened with Xbox over the past couple of years people will be unwilling to stick with Xbox if they bring out a console that is comparable to the PS6. Many gamers simply do not trust Microsoft right now, and so if they do not live up to their statements on the PCBox, then I think people will be more inclined to get a PS6 instead.
As much as a £1000 device sounds unattractive in many ways, I think Microsoft are damned if they do, and damned if they don't. If Microsoft bring out a £600 console that is not better than the PS6, but gives us access to Steam, then maybe they will sell 20-30 million consoles next generation, but gamers will be unhappy because it will not live up to all the promises on power, etc. If they bring out a £1000 device, then they will probably sell around 10 million of them, which will probably be in line with their sales expectations. However, that device will likely give us that largest technical leap, etc. I think in either example, Microsoft will lose gamers. Not so many if it is a £600 device, but the issue of trust will remain, and of course that device will see many gamers buying games on Steam, etc., which will hurt Microsoft's bottom line. I think many gamers will be happy with a Series X+ that gives us Steam, but I don't think that is all that Microsoft is aiming for. I think they are looking to differentiate themselves from the PS6, so I believe a £1000+ device is the more likely scenario...
Re: Poll: Now That The Dust Has Settled, Which Xbox Game Pass Tier Are You Subscribed To?
Sorry, @fatpunkslim, you've lost me! You say there are a number of 'pro-PlayStation' people voting as evidenced by the comments, and yet the only person to mention PlayStation, other than yourself, states that they have let their PlayStation sub lapse too, which is hardly a pro-PlayStation comment.
Maybe, just maybe, people really are un-subbing from Game Pass. Just maybe the poll speaks the truth. Maybe people are not prepared to pay the increased prices for Game Pass.
I know you fully support Microsoft, and that is absolutely fine, but you have to accept that many people are fed up with the direction Microsoft are taking, and the associated costs. You may well be right, in that everything will turn out perfectly well, but that does not mean that anyone cancelling their Game Pass subscription, or who is being critical of Microsoft, are simply pro-PlayStation...
Re: Poll: Now That The Dust Has Settled, Which Xbox Game Pass Tier Are You Subscribed To?
I'm still with Ultimate, but only because I am stacked until June 2027. Were I paying monthly, I would have cancelled.
Perhaps there should have been an option to tick for 'Stacked', and another for 'I would cancel if I could'... 😉
Re: Ex-Nintendo Boss: Xbox Isn't 'Directly' Competing Anymore, But There'll Always Be A War
I think you are correct, @TrollOfWar. Right now, I can play very few of the games that I own on Xbox on my PC. If Microsoft enable me to play the full slate of games that I own on the PCBox, at settings similar to my PC, then I will undoubtedly buy it. I have access to Steam etc. right now, and only rarely do I ever venture over there, so I'm not really interested in that side of things. But a better device that plays my games better still, and I'll be happy, and I very much doubt that Microsoft will disappoint in that regards, so I am pretty much sold on the idea of the PCBox. I just need Microsoft to push me over the edge into pre-order territory...
Re: Ex-Nintendo Boss: Xbox Isn't 'Directly' Competing Anymore, But There'll Always Be A War
I first played Pong in the Summer of 1973 at the age of 9, whilst on school holidays @TrollOfWar. My father died when I was 6 weeks old, and so each Summer I would be shipped off to my Aunt's so that my Mum could earn a crust. I immediately fell in love with gaming there and then.
I would class myself as a gamer from the age of 17, when I bought my first console, which was an Intellivision. I've also owned a Phillips CDi, a ZX Spectrum, Sega Saturn and an Amstrad, all of them long before the PS1 was even a thing.
I bought my first PlayStation in 1994, and have bought every generation ever since, though I have never bought a Pro version of the Sony consoles.
I pre-ordered the OG Xbox in 2001, and have pre-ordered every generation ever since, and also pre-ordered each of the mid-generation refreshes.
Xbox is my main, I have well over 1600 games in my digital library, and over 250 360 games on disc too. By contrast, I only ever buy the big Sony exclusives, so, in recent times, I may only play one or two games a year on my PS5.
Regardless, I will most definitely be pre-ordering the PS6, and I will very likely pre-order the PCBox. My two real reservations with the PCBox is that I already own a very capable gaming PC already hooked up to my front room television, and so I am unsure whether Microsoft will be offer a compelling reason to own something that might be very similar to a device I already have. My second reservation is just how committed Microsoft will be to staying the course with the PCBox. I fear the possibility that around 3 years after its release (so around 2030), Microsoft will announce their full withdrawal from the console market, with the intention of fully committing to being a games publisher. However, what I will say is that I am first and foremost an Xbox gamer, I am very loyal (albeit often critical), and I like to have the latest gaming tech, so I can see my reservations crumbling, and pre-ordering whatever Microsoft offer because, above all, I am weak-willed... 😉
Re: Sony Exec Suggests PS5 Is Far From Finished, And It's Likely The Same For Xbox Series X|S
I think there will be a recognisable increase in performance and power with the PCBox, @ilyn. It simply has too! The reason I say this is that Microsoft could pretty easily take the Series X and add the capability to access different store fronts. I mean, you can stream Steam to the Series X console right now, so adding it on properly wouldn't be particularly challenging, or expensive, at all.
So, if the rumours of a console costing more than a £1000 / $1200 are true, and if Bond is to be believed when she says powerful leap and premium equipment, then there is no way that they can push a Series X Plus out the door and expect us to pay that kind of huge price.
No, with everything we keep hearing, I think we will see an appreciable improvement in the quality at which games can be played, ray-tracing will not be so much an option, but a staple, as will 60fps (or maybe even 120fps). Honestly, if Microsoft cannot pretty much guarantee these settings, then I really cannot see how they can justify the kind of price for the console that we keep hearing of, nor the claims as to its power etc....
Re: Hit PS5 Exclusive Stellar Blade May Be On The Way To Xbox In The Near Future
I would not describe it as serious, @Coletrain. Indeed, you could argue that it has a tone and gameplay loop similar to Outer Worlds, in that it is about recruiting certain people to aid you in your mission. Obviously, it is made by an East Asia developer, and so it has a different feel, and some quirks to it that you don't find in games made in the West (such as Outer Worlds), and of course all the combat is melee, skill and timing based. It really is a lot of fun, and shines on the harder difficulties...
Re: Ex-Nintendo Boss: Xbox Isn't 'Directly' Competing Anymore, But There'll Always Be A War
Nice to see someone talking sense on the subject. The console 'wars' ended the moment that Microsoft decided to shed the idea of exclusives as they undoubtedly are a draw into a particular ecosystem. The question now is whether Microsoft can do enough to encourage people to buy into their next 'console', and whether Game Pass remains the draw into the Xbox ecosystem that it once was.
Honestly, I think that question remains to be answered, and I for one, as I am somewhat hesitant to say yes right now...
Re: Hit PS5 Exclusive Stellar Blade May Be On The Way To Xbox In The Near Future
I really enjoyed Stellar Blade, and if it releases on the Xbox, I will happily buy it again in order to play it on my preferred platform. I hope it does come over, and I highly recommend it...
Re: Helldivers 2 Is Doing 'Extremely Well', Thanks In Part To 'Attracting New Users On Xbox'
I only ever double dip on games I really like, @Questionable_Duck, and that list of double dips is exceptionally small! However, if Stellar Blade does release on the Xbox, it is most certainly a game that I would happily buy again to play on my preferred console. It is a very enjoyable game indeed, and I highly recommend it...
Re: Sony Exec Suggests PS5 Is Far From Finished, And It's Likely The Same For Xbox Series X|S
Both the PS5 and the Series consoles will be sold for pretty much the entirety of the next generation, though for differing reasons. I don't think that the next PS6 will be vastly better than the PS5, and so uptake on the PS6 will be slower than it was for the PS5. With the PCBox, it will likely be significantly better than the Series X, but it will also be significantly more expensive, possibly twice as expensive as the Series X, meaning that far fewer people will buy it with the target at Microsoft likely being something like 10 million lifetime sales*. Upshot for both Sony and Microsoft will be a much slower start for the next generation.
*Unless the PCBox is the last Xbox console, in which case it may hang around for far longer than a typical generation, and so, assuming that it is still shifting units, then Microsoft may continue to make it available...
Re: It's A Big Birthday For The Xbox Series X, So Let's Look Back At Our Review From 2020
I received my Series X day one, and have played several thousands of hours on it, and I absolutely love it. I'm hoping it will make it to the release of the PCBox without giving up the ghost!
I have had my PS5 for just as long, and maybe played for a couple of hundred hours, no more. Xbox is where I'd rather be gaming...
Re: CD Projekt RED Reminds GTA 6 Team Of Mistakes Made With Cyberpunk 2077 Launch
I think you could well be right, @themightyant. It is entirely possible that we have a better game now than we would ever have had had they simply released it in a polished state in the first place. As you say, we will never know for sure though...
Re: CD Projekt RED Reminds GTA 6 Team Of Mistakes Made With Cyberpunk 2077 Launch
No game should be rushed out just to appease shareholders. Just imagine how much more successful Cyberpunk 2077 would have been had it released in the state that it eventually came to be. The shareholders may have had to wait longer for their money, but they would have ended up with far more.
And it's not just right for shareholders either; the developers and gamers win too...
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (November 8-9)
Having finished Ghost of Yotei, which is the only game I have played on my PS5 this year (indeed, it is the only game I have played anywhere other than my Xbox). I'm now back on my Series X, and I'll be indulging in some more Outer Worlds 2, interspersed with a couple of Master Horde runs in Gears 5, which I shall be doing as part of a trio instead of a team of 5 that the difficulty really demands. Much more difficult and challenging, but all the more rewarding when you get a map done...
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (November 8-9)
What difficulty did you play Outer Worlds 2 on, @mac_da_man? I am exploring everywhere, and I am almost finished on the second planet (albeit I don't know how many planets there are). I have been doing absolutely everything that I can, and have so far played it for over 50 hours! Only thing is, I am playing it on Very Hard, which means many, many deaths and restarts. Indeed, as it only records the amount of time you have actually stayed alive for, I have probably played for closer to 80 hours... 😂
Re: Contraband Police Has 'Overwhelmingly Positive' Reviews, And It Launches On Xbox Today
As an aside, @FraserG, I think as well as saying that a game has an 'Overwhelmingly Positive' status, it would be worth giving the actual score for the game too. In the case of Contraband Police not only does it have a status of 'Overwhelmingly Positive', but those 10,000 reviews actually equate to a score of 95/100, or 9.5/10, which is possibly even more illustrative of how well the game has been received. Just a thought...
Re: Contraband Police Has 'Overwhelmingly Positive' Reviews, And It Launches On Xbox Today
I misread the title for a moment, @FraserG, and thought Contraband had shadow-dropped... 🤣
Re: The Timing Of Xbox's 25th Anniversary Just Got A Lot More Awkward
Just as Microsoft probably have a Plan B for in case GTA6 was delayed into a problematic time frame, @FraserG, I imagine they will have a Plan C for in case GTA 6 is announced for that problematic time frame, and then delayed back out of it again!
Personally, I think GTA 6 will not release until 2027 anyway, but there is another possibility! What if Microsoft always intended to release the PCBox in the Fall of 2027? Or, what if Microsoft are in the position of being able to bring forward the release of the PCBox so as to coincide it with the release of GTA 6? Then they could effectively have the biggest release of the year as a launch title. They would just have to hope that it will have a simultaneous release on the PC too, so as to really capitalise on its release, but regardless, it would mean the Xbox is the best place to play GTA 6... 😉
Re: Xbox Highlights Four 'Exciting Updates' Added In Latest Development Kit Release
Thank you, @FraserG. That is pretty much what I thought, but I wondered whether it was for the PCBox in particular. I have a friend who is already in receipt of the PS6 development kit, and as we have been hearing so much about the PCBox, I'd be shocked if those weren't out in developers hands too by now...
Re: Xbox Highlights Four 'Exciting Updates' Added In Latest Development Kit Release
You're not wrong about the last two being a bit technical, @FraserG. They were complete gobbledegook. 😂
When it says Development Kit, is this for the Series consoles, or the PCBox...?
Re: It's Official, Rockstar Games Has Delayed GTA 6 To November 2026
I think it is a fair bet right now that it will slip into 2027, and I wouldn't be shocked if it ended up releasing quite late in 2027 either...
Re: Random: A GTA Clone About Farting Frogs Has Reached The 'Top Paid' Charts On Xbox
I don't know Swindon all that well, it's been a couple of decades since I've been there, but it certainly doesn't look like I remember it to be... 🤣
Re: Talking Point: Exactly 13 Years Later, How Are You Feeling About Halo 4 These Days?
I really enjoyed the game, and it shines on the harder difficulties. I think a lot of people are upset due to the inclusion of a new enemy type, but you couldn't go through an entire new trilogy (which is was initially intended to be) without innovating to some extent.
Regardless, the Prometheans were a far better inclusion in Halo, than the robots were in Gears of War 4!
Anyway, I gave it a 9/10, though I am only speaking to the campaign as I don't play the multiplayer these days.
Truthfully though, the game was much better than Halo 5 was, though I enjoyed Infinite pretty much the most of all of the mainline series, though both Reach and ODST were also standouts in the franchise for me...
Re: Two New Games Are Available Today Across Xbox & PC Game Pass (November 6)
I have watched a few fairly lengthy videos on YouTube, @RiverGenie, and I have settled on the idea of buying it. It's just a matter of time; I simply do not have enough of it! However, if it had launched with an introductory offer, or some pre-order bonuses, I would have bought it straightaway, and it would have sat in my library until I was ready to play it (assuming I don't forget about it!), but as it launched at full price, with no pre-order bonuses, I may as well wait until I have the time to play it, and maybe that will coincide with a sale too. I'm so reckless with my money when it comes to gaming, that I am just trying to be a little more sensible...
Re: Two New Games Are Available Today Across Xbox & PC Game Pass (November 6)
Mine is closer to 50% on the Xbox, @GeeEssEff, and probably higher than that on Steam. I have over 1600 games on the Xbox, and 800 more on Steam. I have literally wasted £1000s, and that is honestly shameful. It's not like I can really afford to do that...
Re: Two New Games Are Available Today Across Xbox & PC Game Pass (November 6)
I looked at Satisfactory yesterday, @RiverGenie, as it happened, and noticed that there was no introductory offers, and no small DLCs or perks in buying it straightaway. Basically, I do want to buy it, but I may as well wait until I am actually ready to play it because otherwise there is a distinct possibility that it will sit in my extensive library, and end up forgotten. It just maybe that when I am ready to play it, it will either have more content, or be on sale. So as much as I want to play it, I'll wait for the moment.
Very glad you are enjoying it. It will be interesting to see how it performs in the very late stages on PC because apparently that is where you can see some minor issues arise, albeit they don't really spoil the experience. You'll have to let me know how you get on...
Re: Two New Games Are Available Today Across Xbox & PC Game Pass (November 6)
Stellaris! Yet another game I bought, complete with all its DLC, that I have yet to play. I buy them with the best of intentions, but only have so much time. Frankly it's ridiculous...
Re: Talking Point: What Do You Think Xbox's Release Schedule Looks Like For 2026?
I think the order of release will be:
1. Forza Horizon - Spring 2026.
2. Gears of War: E-Day - September 2026
3. Halo Combat Evolved Remaster Remastered - November 2026.
4. Fable - Spring 2027
What Microsoft really need to do to really capitalise on these high profile games, is offer a brand new Xbox to play them on. I still think that there is a chance that the PCBox will arrive around Fall 2026, maybe even slightly earlier, perhaps to coincide with the release of E-Day.
Not doing that presents a problem for Microsoft as all of these games are high profile, and games that are arguably the face of Xbox, and all that it represents. Microsoft will be missing an opportunity if they release the PCBox after these games have come out because what other games do they have in development that could act as launch titles, and that truly represent Xbox...?
Re: 20+ Games Are Already Confirmed For Xbox Game Pass In 2026
Thank you, @FraserG...
Re: Sony May Be Preparing Its Own Version Of Xbox Play Anywhere For PS5 & PC
It's certainly an interesting find on the PlayStation Store, but what it amounts to just speculation right now. It could be something significant, or a whole bunch of nothing...
Re: 20+ Games Are Already Confirmed For Xbox Game Pass In 2026
Several games of interest to me in that list (albeit that I am more likely to buy them (for the Xbox) than play them on Game Pass):
High On Life 2
Aphelion
At Fate's End
Fable
Forza Horizon 6
Gears of War: E-Day
Halo: Campaign Evolved
Replaced
Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy
Re: 20+ Games Are Already Confirmed For Xbox Game Pass In 2026
What's the thumbnail picture from, @FraserG? Initially I thought it was Ghost of Yotei, or maybe Assassin's Creed: Shadows, but now I just cannot work it out..
Re: Xbox Is Questioning Fans About PS5 Game 'Ghost Of Yotei' In New Survey
If they do go the route of opening their own store front on the PC, @BacklogBrad, and then going even further by putting their games on there day one, then it'll certainly be a very audacious move, when they possess the knowledge that the PCBox is enroute, and also that their more rabid console fanbase will throw a massive tantrum.
Interesting times, of that there is no doubt...
Re: Xbox Is Questioning Fans About PS5 Game 'Ghost Of Yotei' In New Survey
It does make you appreciate more why Microsoft are taking the route they are with their next 'console' @Coletrain. Microsoft literally have to do something that truly differentiates them from PlayStation for them to have any comparative measure of success in the hardware side of things.
I was initially sceptical of whether I wanted Microsoft to make the PCBox, and even now, I would prefer a more traditional console. I own a decent gaming PC that I prefer not to game on, and so the idea of owning another, less powerful, PC is unappealing to me.
However, if the PCBox is still very much a console, then I will definitely be buying it, even if that means I do not use it to its full potential, though I guess that depends on how easily it leans into playing games through Steam, etc.
Anyway, the reveal of the PCBox cannot come soon enough for me. I need to know whether I should be excited or not, as right now I remain sceptical to some extent, and have so many questions I'd like answers too. Regardless, I know I am very weak willed, and also that I like to have the latest tech (when it comes to Xbox, that is. I mean, I have a base PS5, not a Pro!), which in combination mean that I am probably 90% likely to buy whatever Microsoft offer next in the way of an Xbox console...