Having seen all the positive talk surrounding this game on the forums in recent days, I think I shall jump on this some time in the New Year. I desperately need for there to be few releases that interest me for the first 6 months because I have so many games that I have already bought that I really want to play. How is it that even though I am retired and cannot find sufficient time to play what I want...! 🤣
All I can say is, I am retired, and still seem to not have enough time to get through all the games I want to, @Titntin. I've bought 36 games this year, and only played half that, and even then some of those games I did play were not from that 36...! 😂
What is Achilles Survivor like, @Brigurugi. I really enjoyed the original game, and noticed Survivor in the sales the other day and thought it looked pretty decent...
I do think it is unconscious bias when reviewing home games, @Cakefish. I am inclined to agree with you there. However, I also think that same bias is present when Push reviews an Xbox game too. It may well be unconscious bias there too, but it is pretty obvious when it happens. It means that I tend to take a point of a review score here, when they review an Xbox game, and add one when Push review one.
I'm sure there are sites that do consciously add or deduct points based on who has made the game, but I don't think that that is the case here or on Push... usually... 😉😂
I played both Doom and the Outer Worlds 2, @swedetrap, and did enjoy both of them very much, particularly OW2. I would rate Ghost of Yotei as better than both of them though. At the end of the day, it's all about personal preferences, and so there is no right or wrong about what game is better, or worse, than another...
The best Xbox game I played this year was The Outer Worlds 2 though a close second would be Doom: The Dark Ages.
My personal top 8 games for 2025 were: 1. Cronos: The New Dawn 2. Ghost of Yotei 3. Hell Is Us 4. Expedition 33 5. Days Gone: Remastered 6. The Outer Worlds 2 7. Doom: The Dark Ages 8. Gears of War: Reloaded (slightly begrudgingly at 8, had I played more games from this year, I'm sure it would have been lower)
I did play a few other games this year that were not released in 2025, all of which were excellent too.
Metaphor: ReFantazio CyberPunk 2027 New World: Aternum Gears 5
I've said it a few times now, @OldGamer999, but Microsoft keep putting out games that are 7s and 8s at best, and then they wonder why they don't feature in contention for any Game of the Year awards. Microsoft are churning out quite a few titles each year now, but all of them would probably benefit from at least a few more months in development, and some of them potentially longer still.
Sony, to their credit, whilst only putting out a couple of games a year, are at least putting out highly polished products that deservedly get 9s and occasionally 10s.
How Microsoft cannot see the difference is beyond me. Nothing that Microsoft puts out is remotely like the games that Sony makes, but that they also lack the same polish is simply crazy. Putting out titles that could score better in reviews if left in the oven for a few months more, is literally costing Microsoft money. It simply makes no sense...
I have raised this a few times, @Weebleman. It is grammatically incorrect, in my opinion. Yes, the games were on the Xbox, but for them to be Xbox games I would suggest that they need to have been made by Xbox, which, of course, none of them were...
I'm going to be that person that says Ghost of Yotei was at least on par with Tushima, @swedetrap, and may have even surpassed it. It was easily one of the best games that released this year, and was certainly better than everything that Xbox released...
I've said time and time again, @Cakefish, that Xbox centric websites favourably review Xbox games, as do PlayStation centred websites give higher scores to PlayStation games. And of course the reverse is true, meaning that Push, as an example, will seemingly dock a point from an Xbox game.
That is why I always put an 8 down to a 7 here on Pure for an Xbox game, and why I inflate by a point an Xbox game when it is reviewed on Push.
75 is about right for Gears of War: Reloaded, and I say that with a slightly heavy heart because I am a massive Gear Head...
That Gears of War: Reloaded gets anywhere near the 80s amazes me. Don't misunderstand me, I am probably the biggest Gears of War fan to grace these forums, and have put over 2000 hours into Gears 5 alone, but the 'effort' put into this 'Remaster' was atrocious. I use the word 'effort' in the loosest possible terms, as really all this amounted to was a performance boost which would not have been undertaken had it not been intended for a PlayStation audience, and which would have been gifted to us, on Xbox, as an update.
I went through the campaign twice, solo (including on Insane), and once on Insane in co-op, but have to say that when played solo, the friendly AI was utterly broken, and was an embarrassment when you consider that this was a flagship title that was appearing on the PlayStation for the first time.
If Reloaded can be considered among the best games of 2025, it really doesn't say much about the rest on offer...
In all seriousness though, this story is now months old, and Microsoft would have known about it within hours of it becoming a story. That was the time that they should have come out and denied it if it was not true. The most likely scenario is that they have spent the past few months interrogating their staff in an effort to find the person that leaked what is likely to be either true, or very close to the truth. Having completed their investigation, they now choose to make a statement regarding it after most likely having been asked, but after for most the story had been forgotten.
Question is, when faced with everything that has happened in recent months, do you actually believe them? We've seen Studio closures, game cancellations, Studio's moved from their own games into supporting roles, a decline in the quality of the content added to Game Pass, job loses, the elimination of any game being exclusive to Xbox, and of course a massive hike in Game Pass price. All of that points to a seismic shift within Xbox, where the purse-strings are pulled by Hood and Nadella, and where the heads of Xbox are mere puppets who dance to the tune of Microsoft.
So is it 30%? Quite probably, or as near as possible to it...
I've said the very same thing before on these forums, @Balaam_. Though I have always said that I would hazard a guess that he will be silenced by some pretty hefty NDA's that will prevent much of what we want to know from coming out...
I think the guy is awesome, and that he is genuinely passionate about Xbox. I feel that he is wrong maligned by some who think he has told lies based on the fact that he will say one thing and then another will happen, but I don't think he is the one that keeps changing things. He is just the face of Xbox, whilst many of the decisions that he gets blamed for are ones forced upon him by those senior to him.
You often see people say he should resign rather than do the bidding of those above him, but what good would that do us Xbox gamers? All that would happen is that Nadella would put in place some corporate Yes Man, who would do everything he is told rather than fight our corner, which is what I believe Spencer does.
If we think things are bad now, or that many of the decisions are wrong, just imagine how bad it would be if no one was standing up for Xbox.
In my opinion Phil Spencer deserves the praise and the accolades, and also his pay packet...!
Game of the Year? I doubt it, though that is mostly because I think Fable will not release until 2027.
I think there is a possibility of some of the games receiving other rewards, but in all honesty, for Xbox to have a genuine chance of a Game of the Year nomination (let alone an actual award!), they have to stop putting out games that are reviewing at 8s and below on anywhere other than an Xbox centric site.
All too often there is a good game hidden beneath bugs, or not fully realised gameplay. Games that require months of patches to get into that 9 and above territory should never be considered for Game of the Year, and that is often the standard of games that Xbox puts out.
I want Xbox to do well so we can have some pride in what they do, but Microsoft need to have some pride in Xbox first, and right now I would suggest that is severely lacking...
Nothing wrong with a pre-built PC, @TheOldHunter4K, particularly not if you are like me and wouldn't know where to start in building one for yourself. Glad your enjoying it. My hope is that when Microsoft release their PCBox, that it will keep things simple when it comes to the PC side of things, and yet still keep that console experience...
I'm just hoping that one day they will just pop when I turn the game on, @kitchnwitch. I will return to it when they release the expansions because I bought the Premium Edition, but the frustration is real when you slog through some really tough battles, and then don't get the reward you deserve...
I will also be undertaking couple of Master Hordes in Gears 5 as a trio (with two bots), which are exceptionally challenging because not only is this the hardest level, but the Horde is designed for 5 players. It feels really good when you beat a map, and so far we have managed 9 out of the 37 maps...
I noticed InfamousOrange was a brand new person, and wondered whether it was Ricky Spanish reincarnated (after he got banned yet again earlier this week!), @Cakefish... 😂
Am I right in thinking this is just for the first game, @Kezelpaso? If so, do we know when we will be getting the second, and when they will be releasing the third? Thank you.
Merry Christmas, and thank you for all you do on these forums...
I have my PC hooked up to the television in my front room, @TheOldHunter4K, though my two son's retreat to their bedrooms most of the time allowing me to game to my heart's content. That said, I don't enjoy gaming on my PC, there always seems to be some faff involved in getting games to run properly. How are you finding it...?
I misread the title of the article when I first saw the headline, @FraserG. I thought you were asking how much we had spent on the Xbox, rather than how much time. Anyway, because I keep records of everything that I spend on games, I thought I would total it all up. What a stupid thing to do that was! 😂
So, I have spent £1065.68 on games for the Xbox this year (that includes one Collector's Edition), and £462.49, on games for the PlayStation, which includes two Collector's Editions. Believe it or not, £1528.17 is actually good by my standards when compared to previous years, and the reason I keep records is so that I try not to spend quite so much... 😂
I loved the game, though I am still very disgruntled that I went through the entire game on Very Hard difficulty, only for the achievement not to pop. I got the Hard achievement, but not the one for the difficulty I was actually doing. Anyone who attempts the game on Very Hard will find that some of the battles are exceptionally difficult, so to not get the achievement is really, really annoying... 🤬
I'm going to estimate 90% of my time has been playing the Xbox. I say estimate because Microsoft have done us dirty and not given us a Wrap meaning I cannot be precise.
What I do know for certain is that I played just two games on my PS5 this year (Days Gone: Remastered and Ghost of Yotei) with a total of just 217 hours. Every other game I played has been on my Xbox, and as I spent about 2000 hours on my Xbox last year (1950 hours up until the Wrap released on the 4th of December 2024), I think 90% is a fair estimate...
I'm really looking forward to E-Day, but really wish they had done Gears 6 first.
I cannot help but look at the quote saying 'E-Day will be the best place to jump into the Gears Universe' without thinking to myself that this is foretelling that the game will also launch day and date on the PlayStation...
Thank you, @Questionable_Duck. That is much appreciated.
I like the fact that we are all passionate about gaming, and even when any of us disagree, it is usually done in a reasonable manner, and then it is a matter of making our case, which is the fun part.
Regardless of what I might say, I never say anything in malice, but do try to be honest with my opinions. There is nothing wrong with a bit of friendly discourse, even when there is no agreement. It's why I like these forums, and the people that frequent them, and there are a lot of people who are very knowledgeable here, which I find inspiring.
Anyway, I wish your good self, and all everyone else here a wonderful Christmas...
That sounds like a plan to me, @ilyn. I do own a gaming PC, but much prefer console, so I'd love to see some of these games on the Xbox, and you'd think it would be easy money for them too....
Thank you, @FraserG & @Weebleman. That means a lot. I do like this community, and being part of it. I love the fact that so many of us are passionate about all things Xbox, and I enjoy the back and forths I have with people, even when they're wrong! 😂
Well that sucks! I was really looking forward to seeing my year with Xbox, and seeing whether I could top my 1950 hours that I played for last year. I only put 217 hours into my PS5, where I played just two games (Ghost of Yotei and Days Gone: Remastered), but I know I would have played for a lot longer on my Xbox, where I apparently put 628 hours into New World: Aternum in the first 3 or 4 months. So I think I may have managed to top last years hours, but not I'll never know for sure...
Yes, I absolutely agree, @ilyn. We've seen countless examples of games improving over time. Indeed, it happens with every game really because few games don't get a patch after release. Thus the experience in a game a few months (maybe years!) after its initial release will nearly always be better than for those that did opt to play the game upon release, and it follows that people's reviews reflect that. Has to be said you can put reviews into date order on the Xbox Store too, which is what I often do myself...
It always strikes me as incredible that a yearly sports title always does so well every single year, particularly when you consider that they changes from game to game are often than not very minor, with basically who's in what team, and what kit they are wearing, often being the most significant update. Indeed, you'd think that the developers could just put an annual update out to make these changes, but then if people are going to keep buying the games every year, why would they...?
You make good points, @ilyn. I did think about the subscription payments, but wondered whether Microsoft might see it as a way of enticing more people to Game Pass (much as they did with the Fortnite subscription).
As for console, the rumours are constant, though the denials are too, so who knows. I do think it would be good for the game to come to Game Pass, because I, for example, have always been curious about the game, but not curious enough to get a subscription for it. I'm sure I'm not alone in that...
Really disappointed by this, I want to know just how many hours I have played my Xbox for. Last year I spent 1950 hours on my Xbox, and Baldur's Gate 3 was my top played game at 332 hours. I know I've spent a long time on my Xbox this year because according to True Achievements, I have spent 628 hours playing New World: Aternum alone, and I stopped playing that in either March or April this year.
I was in the top 1% of time played on the Xbox last year, and I'd put money on that being the case this year too as I only spent 217 hours on my PS5 this year, having played just two games on it for the entire year. Every other second of my playtime has been on the Xbox, so my hours are going to be very high indeed.
Just have to hope that Microsoft think that January is a better time to give us our Wrapped for the previous year...
Absolutely agree, @ilyn. When I predicted that it would hop over to PlayStation early this year, I was saying back then that it would be 'Complete Edition' that included Shattered Space, and then Shattered Space released to middling to poor reviews and I think that scuppered the planned port at that time.
I'd like to say that I am confident that it will make the move next year, but part of me thinks that they will wait to see how the new expansion lands first. It could be that they are gauging reaction to the behind closed doors showing before deciding what to do; if it has had a positive reaction, then maybe it will make the move on the same day as the expansion releases. However, knowing Bethesda's* track record, I can see them wanting it to be fixed by us Xbox gamers first.
*Just to be clear, I like Bethesda games, but they are renowned for their problems...
Oh, I absolutely understand that there are nuances to review scores, @themightyant. One man's 7 might be another man's 9, or whatever. I just think the more reviews you have, the more confident you can be in the aggregate, as that kind of thing will be equalled out.
As for being on my toes, I always am. Years of being a Copper have made me mistrustful of pretty much everything and everyone. Never trust a anything, that's my motto... 😂
I've been saying for much of this year that Starfield will get a 'Complete' release on the PlayStation in the New Year. That said, I thought it was going to release on the PlayStation at the beginning of this year, so what do I know... 😂
Surely it must have something to do with World of Warcraft? You'd think that the rumours of a console port might finally be proven correct. Maybe even putting the game on Game Pass, probably on PC first.
From an Xbox consumer point of view, the ABK acquisition has proven to be the biggest disappointment in the history of Xbox, and there have been a few major disappointments over the years. Not only have we had very, very few of the games that came with the acquisition put on to Game Pass, but it has cost us all more in terms of Game Pass prices increases too, and that's before you get into the whole watering down of the Xbox ecosystem.
I'm ashamed to admit that I thought the ABK acquisition would be great for Xbox, but boy, how wrong I was...
I totally agree with you, @themightyant, but that is why I put a lot more credence in tens of thousands of reviews as that gives a far better aggregate, and therefore is more reliable, in my opinion.
I am probably a cynic, well, there's no probably about it, but when I look at an item on Amazon, for example, and it has 10 reviews, my first thought is that those 10 reviews were probably left by people who manufacture the item. It is only when you get hundreds, or thousands of reviews that I feel them to be more reliable...
Thank you, @FraserG. I did look it up yesterday, and there have apparently been times where many years have elapsed when Microsoft have not done one. Seems really odd to not do one, especially when everyone else is...
Comments 4,249
Re: Xbox Exec Pays Respects To Beloved Influencer And 'Incredible Human', Lamarr Wilson
I've not heard of Lamarr, myself, but that is a beautiful, heartfelt tribute from Aaron Greenberg...
Re: Opinion: This Xbox Game Studios Gem Is My Game Of The Year For 2025
Having seen all the positive talk surrounding this game on the forums in recent days, I think I shall jump on this some time in the New Year. I desperately need for there to be few releases that interest me for the first 6 months because I have so many games that I have already bought that I really want to play. How is it that even though I am retired and cannot find sufficient time to play what I want...! 🤣
Re: Xbox Game Pass Is Looking Great For 2026, But Only Six Games Have Release Dates So Far
I think the only game that I might be tempted to play from that list is High On Life 2 though I have not even played the first game as yet...
Re: Here Are The Top 10 Xbox Games Of 2025 According To Metacritic
All I can say is, I am retired, and still seem to not have enough time to get through all the games I want to, @Titntin. I've bought 36 games this year, and only played half that, and even then some of those games I did play were not from that 36...! 😂
Re: Here Are The Top 10 Xbox Games Of 2025 According To Metacritic
What is Achilles Survivor like, @Brigurugi. I really enjoyed the original game, and noticed Survivor in the sales the other day and thought it looked pretty decent...
Re: PBA Pro Bowling 2026 Reviews Suggest It's One Of The Best Bowling Games Ever On Xbox
Excellent. Thank you as always, @FraserG...
Re: Here Are The Top 10 Xbox Games Of 2025 According To Metacritic
I don't think these forums could cope with another me, @Mr_RC...! 🤣
Re: Here Are The Top 10 Xbox Games Of 2025 According To Metacritic
I do think it is unconscious bias when reviewing home games, @Cakefish. I am inclined to agree with you there. However, I also think that same bias is present when Push reviews an Xbox game too. It may well be unconscious bias there too, but it is pretty obvious when it happens. It means that I tend to take a point of a review score here, when they review an Xbox game, and add one when Push review one.
I'm sure there are sites that do consciously add or deduct points based on who has made the game, but I don't think that that is the case here or on Push... usually... 😉😂
Re: Here Are The Top 10 Xbox Games Of 2025 According To Metacritic
I played both Doom and the Outer Worlds 2, @swedetrap, and did enjoy both of them very much, particularly OW2. I would rate Ghost of Yotei as better than both of them though. At the end of the day, it's all about personal preferences, and so there is no right or wrong about what game is better, or worse, than another...
Re: Talking Point: Which Xbox Games Deserved More Love This Year?
The best Xbox game I played this year was The Outer Worlds 2 though a close second would be Doom: The Dark Ages.
My personal top 8 games for 2025 were:
1. Cronos: The New Dawn
2. Ghost of Yotei
3. Hell Is Us
4. Expedition 33
5. Days Gone: Remastered
6. The Outer Worlds 2
7. Doom: The Dark Ages
8. Gears of War: Reloaded (slightly begrudgingly at 8, had I played more games from this year, I'm sure it would have been lower)
I did play a few other games this year that were not released in 2025, all of which were excellent too.
Metaphor: ReFantazio
CyberPunk 2027
New World: Aternum
Gears 5
Re: Here Are The Top 10 Xbox Games Of 2025 According To Metacritic
I've said it a few times now, @OldGamer999, but Microsoft keep putting out games that are 7s and 8s at best, and then they wonder why they don't feature in contention for any Game of the Year awards. Microsoft are churning out quite a few titles each year now, but all of them would probably benefit from at least a few more months in development, and some of them potentially longer still.
Sony, to their credit, whilst only putting out a couple of games a year, are at least putting out highly polished products that deservedly get 9s and occasionally 10s.
How Microsoft cannot see the difference is beyond me. Nothing that Microsoft puts out is remotely like the games that Sony makes, but that they also lack the same polish is simply crazy. Putting out titles that could score better in reviews if left in the oven for a few months more, is literally costing Microsoft money. It simply makes no sense...
Re: Here Are The Top 10 Xbox Games Of 2025 According To Metacritic
I have raised this a few times, @Weebleman. It is grammatically incorrect, in my opinion. Yes, the games were on the Xbox, but for them to be Xbox games I would suggest that they need to have been made by Xbox, which, of course, none of them were...
Re: Here Are The Top 10 Xbox Games Of 2025 According To Metacritic
I'm going to be that person that says Ghost of Yotei was at least on par with Tushima, @swedetrap, and may have even surpassed it. It was easily one of the best games that released this year, and was certainly better than everything that Xbox released...
Re: PBA Pro Bowling 2026 Reviews Suggest It's One Of The Best Bowling Games Ever On Xbox
Do you happen to know whether the game has couch co-op, @FraserG? I'd be interested if it does...
Re: Here Are The Top 10 Xbox Games Of 2025 According To Metacritic
I've said time and time again, @Cakefish, that Xbox centric websites favourably review Xbox games, as do PlayStation centred websites give higher scores to PlayStation games. And of course the reverse is true, meaning that Push, as an example, will seemingly dock a point from an Xbox game.
That is why I always put an 8 down to a 7 here on Pure for an Xbox game, and why I inflate by a point an Xbox game when it is reviewed on Push.
75 is about right for Gears of War: Reloaded, and I say that with a slightly heavy heart because I am a massive Gear Head...
Re: Here Are The Top 10 Xbox Games Of 2025 According To Metacritic
That Gears of War: Reloaded gets anywhere near the 80s amazes me. Don't misunderstand me, I am probably the biggest Gears of War fan to grace these forums, and have put over 2000 hours into Gears 5 alone, but the 'effort' put into this 'Remaster' was atrocious. I use the word 'effort' in the loosest possible terms, as really all this amounted to was a performance boost which would not have been undertaken had it not been intended for a PlayStation audience, and which would have been gifted to us, on Xbox, as an update.
I went through the campaign twice, solo (including on Insane), and once on Insane in co-op, but have to say that when played solo, the friendly AI was utterly broken, and was an embarrassment when you consider that this was a flagship title that was appearing on the PlayStation for the first time.
If Reloaded can be considered among the best games of 2025, it really doesn't say much about the rest on offer...
Re: Microsoft Says It's 'Incorrect' That Xbox Division Is Now Targeting 30% Profit Margins
So 29.99% Got it!
In all seriousness though, this story is now months old, and Microsoft would have known about it within hours of it becoming a story. That was the time that they should have come out and denied it if it was not true. The most likely scenario is that they have spent the past few months interrogating their staff in an effort to find the person that leaked what is likely to be either true, or very close to the truth. Having completed their investigation, they now choose to make a statement regarding it after most likely having been asked, but after for most the story had been forgotten.
Question is, when faced with everything that has happened in recent months, do you actually believe them? We've seen Studio closures, game cancellations, Studio's moved from their own games into supporting roles, a decline in the quality of the content added to Game Pass, job loses, the elimination of any game being exclusive to Xbox, and of course a massive hike in Game Pass price. All of that points to a seismic shift within Xbox, where the purse-strings are pulled by Hood and Nadella, and where the heads of Xbox are mere puppets who dance to the tune of Microsoft.
So is it 30%? Quite probably, or as near as possible to it...
Re: Xbox's Phil Spencer Shares Lengthy Video Message After Winning 'Industry Icon' Award
I've said the very same thing before on these forums, @Balaam_. Though I have always said that I would hazard a guess that he will be silenced by some pretty hefty NDA's that will prevent much of what we want to know from coming out...
Re: Xbox's Phil Spencer Shares Lengthy Video Message After Winning 'Industry Icon' Award
I think the guy is awesome, and that he is genuinely passionate about Xbox. I feel that he is wrong maligned by some who think he has told lies based on the fact that he will say one thing and then another will happen, but I don't think he is the one that keeps changing things. He is just the face of Xbox, whilst many of the decisions that he gets blamed for are ones forced upon him by those senior to him.
You often see people say he should resign rather than do the bidding of those above him, but what good would that do us Xbox gamers? All that would happen is that Nadella would put in place some corporate Yes Man, who would do everything he is told rather than fight our corner, which is what I believe Spencer does.
If we think things are bad now, or that many of the decisions are wrong, just imagine how bad it would be if no one was standing up for Xbox.
In my opinion Phil Spencer deserves the praise and the accolades, and also his pay packet...!
Re: 50+ Games Are Reduced By 90-95% In This Year's Xbox Countdown Sale
That's awesome, @Jenkinss! I'm not one for modding mostly because I don't have a clue what I'm doing...
Re: Talking Point: Will Any Of Xbox's 2026 Releases Become GOTY Contenders Next Year?
Game of the Year? I doubt it, though that is mostly because I think Fable will not release until 2027.
I think there is a possibility of some of the games receiving other rewards, but in all honesty, for Xbox to have a genuine chance of a Game of the Year nomination (let alone an actual award!), they have to stop putting out games that are reviewing at 8s and below on anywhere other than an Xbox centric site.
All too often there is a good game hidden beneath bugs, or not fully realised gameplay. Games that require months of patches to get into that 9 and above territory should never be considered for Game of the Year, and that is often the standard of games that Xbox puts out.
I want Xbox to do well so we can have some pride in what they do, but Microsoft need to have some pride in Xbox first, and right now I would suggest that is severely lacking...
Re: 50+ Games Are Reduced By 90-95% In This Year's Xbox Countdown Sale
I say it pretty much every time, but XCOM 2 is an absolute steal at that price...
Re: Talking Point: How Much Time Have You Spent Gaming On Xbox Consoles This Year?
Nothing wrong with a pre-built PC, @TheOldHunter4K, particularly not if you are like me and wouldn't know where to start in building one for yourself. Glad your enjoying it. My hope is that when Microsoft release their PCBox, that it will keep things simple when it comes to the PC side of things, and yet still keep that console experience...
Re: Obsidian To Work On Two DLCs & 'Continual Improvements' To The Outer Worlds 2 In 2026
I'm just hoping that one day they will just pop when I turn the game on, @kitchnwitch. I will return to it when they release the expansions because I bought the Premium Edition, but the frustration is real when you slog through some really tough battles, and then don't get the reward you deserve...
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (December 20-21)
I am partaking in some Warhammer: Chaos Gate.
I will also be undertaking couple of Master Hordes in Gears 5 as a trio (with two bots), which are exceptionally challenging because not only is this the hardest level, but the Horde is designed for 5 players. It feels really good when you beat a map, and so far we have managed 9 out of the 37 maps...
Re: 'Xbox Wrapped' Ditched For 2025 Due To Ambitious 2026 Plans, Suggests Report
I noticed InfamousOrange was a brand new person, and wondered whether it was Ricky Spanish reincarnated (after he got banned yet again earlier this week!), @Cakefish... 😂
Re: Digital Foundry Delivers Its Verdict On The Final Fantasy 7 Remake Demo For Xbox
Am I right in thinking this is just for the first game, @Kezelpaso? If so, do we know when we will be getting the second, and when they will be releasing the third? Thank you.
Merry Christmas, and thank you for all you do on these forums...
Re: Talking Point: How Much Time Have You Spent Gaming On Xbox Consoles This Year?
I have my PC hooked up to the television in my front room, @TheOldHunter4K, though my two son's retreat to their bedrooms most of the time allowing me to game to my heart's content. That said, I don't enjoy gaming on my PC, there always seems to be some faff involved in getting games to run properly. How are you finding it...?
Re: Talking Point: How Much Time Have You Spent Gaming On Xbox Consoles This Year?
Wait until you retire, @Oldgamer03, then you can enjoy spending money (providing her indoors will let you, of course!)... 🤣
Re: Talking Point: How Much Time Have You Spent Gaming On Xbox Consoles This Year?
I misread the title of the article when I first saw the headline, @FraserG. I thought you were asking how much we had spent on the Xbox, rather than how much time. Anyway, because I keep records of everything that I spend on games, I thought I would total it all up. What a stupid thing to do that was! 😂
So, I have spent £1065.68 on games for the Xbox this year (that includes one Collector's Edition), and £462.49, on games for the PlayStation, which includes two Collector's Editions. Believe it or not, £1528.17 is actually good by my standards when compared to previous years, and the reason I keep records is so that I try not to spend quite so much... 😂
Re: 'Xbox Wrapped' Ditched For 2025 Due To Ambitious 2026 Plans, Suggests Report
Infamous Orange, @Cakefish...? Maybe a Spanish orange... 🤔😂🤣
Re: Obsidian To Work On Two DLCs & 'Continual Improvements' To The Outer Worlds 2 In 2026
I loved the game, though I am still very disgruntled that I went through the entire game on Very Hard difficulty, only for the achievement not to pop. I got the Hard achievement, but not the one for the difficulty I was actually doing. Anyone who attempts the game on Very Hard will find that some of the battles are exceptionally difficult, so to not get the achievement is really, really annoying... 🤬
Re: Talking Point: How Much Time Have You Spent Gaming On Xbox Consoles This Year?
I'm going to estimate 90% of my time has been playing the Xbox. I say estimate because Microsoft have done us dirty and not given us a Wrap meaning I cannot be precise.
What I do know for certain is that I played just two games on my PS5 this year (Days Gone: Remastered and Ghost of Yotei) with a total of just 217 hours. Every other game I played has been on my Xbox, and as I spent about 2000 hours on my Xbox last year (1950 hours up until the Wrap released on the 4th of December 2024), I think 90% is a fair estimate...
Re: Gears Of War: E-Day Is The Coalition's 'Most Ambitious Game Yet'
I'm really looking forward to E-Day, but really wish they had done Gears 6 first.
I cannot help but look at the quote saying 'E-Day will be the best place to jump into the Gears Universe' without thinking to myself that this is foretelling that the game will also launch day and date on the PlayStation...
Re: 'Xbox Wrapped' Ditched For 2025 Due To Ambitious 2026 Plans, Suggests Report
Thank you, @Questionable_Duck. That is much appreciated.
I like the fact that we are all passionate about gaming, and even when any of us disagree, it is usually done in a reasonable manner, and then it is a matter of making our case, which is the fun part.
Regardless of what I might say, I never say anything in malice, but do try to be honest with my opinions. There is nothing wrong with a bit of friendly discourse, even when there is no agreement. It's why I like these forums, and the people that frequent them, and there are a lot of people who are very knowledgeable here, which I find inspiring.
Anyway, I wish your good self, and all everyone else here a wonderful Christmas...
Re: Xbox's Blizzard Team Is Preparing For Its 'Biggest Year Yet' In 2026
That sounds like a plan to me, @ilyn. I do own a gaming PC, but much prefer console, so I'd love to see some of these games on the Xbox, and you'd think it would be easy money for them too....
Re: 'Xbox Wrapped' Ditched For 2025 Due To Ambitious 2026 Plans, Suggests Report
Thank you, @FraserG & @Weebleman. That means a lot. I do like this community, and being part of it. I love the fact that so many of us are passionate about all things Xbox, and I enjoy the back and forths I have with people, even when they're wrong! 😂
Re: 'Xbox Wrapped' Ditched For 2025 Due To Ambitious 2026 Plans, Suggests Report
Well that sucks! I was really looking forward to seeing my year with Xbox, and seeing whether I could top my 1950 hours that I played for last year. I only put 217 hours into my PS5, where I played just two games (Ghost of Yotei and Days Gone: Remastered), but I know I would have played for a lot longer on my Xbox, where I apparently put 628 hours into New World: Aternum in the first 3 or 4 months. So I think I may have managed to top last years hours, but not I'll never know for sure...
Re: Xbox Celebrates 'Incredible' 2025 And Thanks The Fans In End Of Year Message
All well and good, but where's my Wrap...!!! 🤬😂
Re: 2025 GOTY Contender 'Dispatch' Just Got Revealed For Switch, But What About Xbox?
Yes, I absolutely agree, @ilyn. We've seen countless examples of games improving over time. Indeed, it happens with every game really because few games don't get a patch after release. Thus the experience in a game a few months (maybe years!) after its initial release will nearly always be better than for those that did opt to play the game upon release, and it follows that people's reviews reflect that. Has to be said you can put reviews into date order on the Xbox Store too, which is what I often do myself...
Re: One Xbox First-Party Game Makes Newzoo's Top-10 'Releases By Revenue' For 2025
It always strikes me as incredible that a yearly sports title always does so well every single year, particularly when you consider that they changes from game to game are often than not very minor, with basically who's in what team, and what kit they are wearing, often being the most significant update. Indeed, you'd think that the developers could just put an annual update out to make these changes, but then if people are going to keep buying the games every year, why would they...?
Re: Xbox's Blizzard Team Is Preparing For Its 'Biggest Year Yet' In 2026
You make good points, @ilyn. I did think about the subscription payments, but wondered whether Microsoft might see it as a way of enticing more people to Game Pass (much as they did with the Fortnite subscription).
As for console, the rumours are constant, though the denials are too, so who knows. I do think it would be good for the game to come to Game Pass, because I, for example, have always been curious about the game, but not curious enough to get a subscription for it. I'm sure I'm not alone in that...
Re: Is 'Xbox Wrapped' Happening For 2025? Fans Clearly Want To See It
Really disappointed by this, I want to know just how many hours I have played my Xbox for. Last year I spent 1950 hours on my Xbox, and Baldur's Gate 3 was my top played game at 332 hours. I know I've spent a long time on my Xbox this year because according to True Achievements, I have spent 628 hours playing New World: Aternum alone, and I stopped playing that in either March or April this year.
I was in the top 1% of time played on the Xbox last year, and I'd put money on that being the case this year too as I only spent 217 hours on my PS5 this year, having played just two games on it for the entire year. Every other second of my playtime has been on the Xbox, so my hours are going to be very high indeed.
Just have to hope that Microsoft think that January is a better time to give us our Wrapped for the previous year...
Re: Rumour: Starfield Set For Eventful Year In 2026, Including Multiple New Releases
Absolutely agree, @ilyn. When I predicted that it would hop over to PlayStation early this year, I was saying back then that it would be 'Complete Edition' that included Shattered Space, and then Shattered Space released to middling to poor reviews and I think that scuppered the planned port at that time.
I'd like to say that I am confident that it will make the move next year, but part of me thinks that they will wait to see how the new expansion lands first. It could be that they are gauging reaction to the behind closed doors showing before deciding what to do; if it has had a positive reaction, then maybe it will make the move on the same day as the expansion releases. However, knowing Bethesda's* track record, I can see them wanting it to be fixed by us Xbox gamers first.
*Just to be clear, I like Bethesda games, but they are renowned for their problems...
Re: 2025 GOTY Contender 'Dispatch' Just Got Revealed For Switch, But What About Xbox?
Oh, I absolutely understand that there are nuances to review scores, @themightyant. One man's 7 might be another man's 9, or whatever. I just think the more reviews you have, the more confident you can be in the aggregate, as that kind of thing will be equalled out.
As for being on my toes, I always am. Years of being a Copper have made me mistrustful of pretty much everything and everyone. Never trust a anything, that's my motto... 😂
Re: Rumour: Starfield Set For Eventful Year In 2026, Including Multiple New Releases
I've been saying for much of this year that Starfield will get a 'Complete' release on the PlayStation in the New Year. That said, I thought it was going to release on the PlayStation at the beginning of this year, so what do I know... 😂
Re: Xbox's Blizzard Team Is Preparing For Its 'Biggest Year Yet' In 2026
Surely it must have something to do with World of Warcraft? You'd think that the rumours of a console port might finally be proven correct. Maybe even putting the game on Game Pass, probably on PC first.
From an Xbox consumer point of view, the ABK acquisition has proven to be the biggest disappointment in the history of Xbox, and there have been a few major disappointments over the years. Not only have we had very, very few of the games that came with the acquisition put on to Game Pass, but it has cost us all more in terms of Game Pass prices increases too, and that's before you get into the whole watering down of the Xbox ecosystem.
I'm ashamed to admit that I thought the ABK acquisition would be great for Xbox, but boy, how wrong I was...
Re: 2025 GOTY Contender 'Dispatch' Just Got Revealed For Switch, But What About Xbox?
I totally agree with you, @themightyant, but that is why I put a lot more credence in tens of thousands of reviews as that gives a far better aggregate, and therefore is more reliable, in my opinion.
I am probably a cynic, well, there's no probably about it, but when I look at an item on Amazon, for example, and it has 10 reviews, my first thought is that those 10 reviews were probably left by people who manufacture the item. It is only when you get hundreds, or thousands of reviews that I feel them to be more reliable...
Re: 2025 GOTY Contender 'Dispatch' Just Got Revealed For Switch, But What About Xbox?
Ahh, thank you, @themightyant. That's why it wasn't immediately obvious to me then...
Re: Is 'Xbox Wrapped' Happening For 2025? Fans Clearly Want To See It
Thank you, @FraserG. I did look it up yesterday, and there have apparently been times where many years have elapsed when Microsoft have not done one. Seems really odd to not do one, especially when everyone else is...