Thank you for taking the time to explain, @FraserG, I'm sure you have better things to do than converse with old fools like me! 😂
I get what you mean now. I've always thought of Ultimate as being the domain of consoles, albeit I was aware that it also allowed you to play the games on PC too.
Clearly I was a little confused here. My apologies...
I think once a game is in your Epic library you will get to keep it, and crucially, have it available on the PCBox, @BacklogBrad. I honestly cannot see them doing anything else. Regardless, for the minute it takes to add the game to your library each week, I think it a risk worth taking.
Obviously not every game is available to buy through CDKeys (in fact the vast majority are not), but what I do use them for is buying Xbox gift cards because a £50 gift card on CDKeys costs £46, meaning you get a de facto discount on every game that you buy on Xbox when using a gift card. I have literally saved hundreds of pounds this way because I usually add £100 in to my Xbox account each month, whereas in fact that £100 actually cost me £92, and I've been doing this for years. 😉
PlayStation is even better though; a £70 gift card for the UK costs £60, which is frankly ridiculous, whereas Steam is a little more stingy insomuch as a £50 gift card costs £48. It's still a saving of course, and it all adds up and helps...
You make good arguments on both sides, @themightyant, and I have said it a number of times, but watching all of this playout is fascinating.
I think it fair to say that I am a glass half-empty kind of guy, because life has had a habit of surprising me and kicking me in the nuts in the process.
I am heavily invested in Xbox, and have seen so many disappointing turns from Microsoft's management of Xbox in recent times that I have lost pretty much all faith in them (and I do specifically think this is Microsoft's senior management, and not those in charge (sort of!) at Xbox itself.
Seeing Xbox fail in any regard is not what I want, but I just get the feeling that is precisely what we will see (and with that I am specifically referring to their new consoles and Game Pass, though as I said above, I think it will play out over around 3 to 5 years after the release of the PCBox). As a publisher they are going great guns, and I think they will only do better in the future when they get fully used to the new position...
Menace is the only one that looks remotely interesting. Will be interested to see how it transfers over to consoles, bearing in mind that the above video was clearly captured on PC. The game also releases tomorrow on Steam, so it is not possible to read any user reviews as yet...
I often see people saying that they are going to leave consoles behind in the belief that PC gaming is some kind of Utopia, @ilyn, and whilst gaming on a PC is much simpler than it was 10 years ago, there are still often a lot of hoops to jump through just to get a game to run properly. It's even worse if you are like me, and have no PC knowledge to rely on in order to resolve problems. The other issue I have with PC gaming is that I sit in an armchair in my front room, and trying to use a mouse and keyboard is not the easiest thing to do from an armchair...
I have said a number of times that I think Microsoft will end support for the PCBox probably 3 to 5 years after it launches, @themightyant. I think the first casualty will be Game Pass, which I think will only last 3 years maximum following the release of the PCBox.
I think a big part of the 50% increase in price for Game Pass we saw recently is part of that strategy. Undoubtedly, Microsoft will have seen how their games sell on the PlayStation, and will be well aware that they could replicate that on the Xbox (pro rata) were it not for Game Pass, although there are probably a sizeable proportion of Xbox gamers that own a X/S purely as a Game Pass device, and so they would not buy their games on the Xbox anyway as they would buy them on their preferred system.
I don't think that Game Pass is sustainable, and probably hasn't been for quite some time. Maybe with just the third-party titles, but once you include first-party games into the equation, I don't think the sums add up.
I believe that Microsoft raised the price of Game Pass with two views in mind; first is that if people stick with it then Game Pass either becomes profitable, or close to it. Or secondly, the increase will push people to lower tiers or off the service completely (which judging by many of the comments we see, if the more likely scenario).
I think Microsoft are savvy enough to know that the most likely thing to happen is people will either move tier, or leave entirely, and thus they know that it will actually massively impact the underlying revenue that it creates. Basically, I think this is Microsoft moving to end Game Pass, but they still want to keep it in place until the PCBox arrives as a way to draw people into buying the device...
Having read your entire comment, @ilyn, I really hope we get some deep reviews prior to the PCBox releasing. I already have a capable gaming PC hooked up to my front room television (indeed, I am typing this message on it right now!). My issue is I don't enjoy all the faff that comes with PC gaming, and would rather have a console experience. That said, if I am going to drop £1000 or more on the PCBox, I want it to feel like a console even if I want to play on Steam. If life is made difficult for me, I may as well stick with (not) gaming on my PC...
I disagree, @ilyn & @themightyant & @BacklogBrad! A while back, I made a comment regarding people being more likely to buy their games at stores other than Xbox, and when I did so, I did a price comparison of something like 6 games that were yet to release, and were available to pre-order via CDKeys (now Loaded) for both the Xbox (where they were available) and for Steam. I forget the exact specifics now, but of the 6 games, 2 were the same price for both Xbox and Steam, and 4 were cheaper for Steam. If I remember correctly, 2 of the games were £10 cheaper, 1 was £20 cheaper, and 1 was £30 cheaper. £30...! That sort of saving would surely be big enough to persuade people to purchase on Steam over Xbox, would it not?
Also, let's not forget that Steam has vastly more games than Xbox, and when it holds it sales, the games have deeper cuts than seen on Xbox. Basically, if you buy a lot of games, then you will save a lot of money building a Steam library, and things like Quick Resume and Play Anywhere may not be enough to keep people within the Xbox Store ecosystem.
Play Anywhere is pretty niche when it comes down to it because if the only system you have is the PCBox then it is meaningless...
Every single week Epic provide a game for free. Now, to be totally transparent, most of the games are on the lower end of the quality scale, but if that is your bag, then there would be a lot to like. However, probably once a month or so, they release a top tier game for free too.
I've been adding to my library on the Epic Store pretty much since it started, and have only ever bought two games for it. I currently have over 400 owned games in my Epic library that I did not pay for.
You can open an account (for free) with Epic Store, and begin adding games to it even without the means to play them. By doing that, you will have a library of games awaiting you when the PCBox does finally arrive...
Honestly, there is a whole lot of nothing worthwhile there. I'd far rather that Microsoft reduced the cost of Game Pass by a £1 a month, than give us this lot, which the vast majority of us will have no interest in. I don't know how much all this lot costs Microsoft to provide each month, but I doubt that it is free for them, and you can guarentee that they pass the costs on to us in some way or other...
Yeah, I know, @Nintendo4Sonic. I am trying to curb my spending. For the past 2 years I've kept a list of absolutely everything I have bought, though I'm not sure it's really helping. Last year I spent in excess of £1500 on games alone (although that did include 3 Collector's Editions that cost £640 in total).
I've told myself I must do better this year, and so far have only spent around £33 buying 3 games. Problem is, there are a few games that I will definitely buy this year, including the Collector's Edition of Gears of War: E-day, and the Collector's Edition of Fable (assuming there is one). I will probably buy E-Day twice too, as I want it on both the Xbox and the Pro. Xbox because that is where I play with my mates, and the Pro because that is likely where it will play the best, and I am an absolutely huge Gears of War fan.
My only hope is that GTA 6 scares enough games into releasing next year, and as I'm not fussed about GTA, it might save my wallet taking a beating... 😂
Yes, @kanedase7en, I think all my dealings with them have been pretty positive. The hardest part, in my experience, is actually speaking to a human. You do sometimes have to jump through a lot of hurdles...
Really looking forward to this one, and have been since I first saw it. It looks absolutely gorgeous, and what they have shown of it is pretty compelling...
This is one of the very, very select titles that I have ever requested a refund for, and I buy a LOT of games. I have 1757 games in my digital library on my Series X, and although I seem to recall having once requested a refund on a game, I cannot remember what game it was.
I learned a lesson with this game in particular though; not to pre-order too early. So, in the case of Minds Eye, I pre-ordered the game 14 days before it released, meaning that the game released 15 days from when I bought it. The cut off for requesting a refund is 14 days, meaning I was unable to do an automatic request for a refund despite never having started the game, which is what I did the moment the horror of the game became clear.
I subsequently had to actually speak to someone at Xbox, which in itself is not an easy thing to do, but I was quite irritated by the circumstances in which I found myself, so I stuck to it and eventually spoke to someone. I explained my situation, and he took one look at my account, was astounded by how many games I had in my collection, also noted that I had £250 sat in my account, and also that I had not requested a refund for some time. He duly gave me my refund, which I greatly appreciated as it was not a given.
The lesson I learned though was to try and order a game within 7 days of it's release, which I do sometimes find difficulty in doing because I am like a kid in a sweetshop when buying games on my Xbox.
Anyway, I really hope that the developers can turn this game around, and if they manage that, I'll happily buy it once again...
Funny enough, I was only looking for this the other day, and lamenting the fact that it did not seem to be getting any discounts. My problem is that I have so many games that I have bought recently and have yet to play, that I think I might wait for this one to come round again...
This is positive news for those looking forward to this game. Have to say I thought it would be delayed into early 2027, but looks like I may be wrong about that...
I'm not one for reading autobiographies, @themightyant. The last one I read was written by a friend, so I don't think that really counts. However, I would be first in the queue for Phil Spencer's autobiographies. Unfortunately, I imagine that Microsoft have him tied up in so many NDA's that it'll never see the light of day, or if it did, it would not be particularly revealing.
Damn, I'd so like to know all the internal goings on, and what has caused so many of these decisions...
I truly believe that Microsoft sales expectations for the PCBox will be in the region of 10 million lifetime sales, @Daffy-Duck. Releasing a system that is likely going to be double the cost of the PS6 won't fly with the majority. It will be for proper Xbox enthusiasts with pretty deep pockets.
My only real concern is how long Microsoft will continue to support the PCBox if it should spectacularly flop in terms of sales, and if the actual system itself is lambasted, then what will they do? Hopefully neither of those come to pass, but it is still a concern, particularly when you invest a lot of money in buying one...
I absolutely agree, @Blurd, but I think the thinking at Microsoft might be that they want as many people as possible to remain in the Xbox ecosystem, and they know that the majority of their current gamers will baulk at paying $1000-$1500 for the next generation. Having an X2 will make it more affordable, particularly as it would be an alternative to the PS6, which would likely cost around the same (as the X2).
Also, the PCBox will, by its very nature, play PC games, and so games that are built for the PC market will pretty much automatically run on the PCBox, whereas that is not the case for X2, which would run Xbox games natively. In other words, there would be two different builds of the games, and I don't think people would expect a consoles costing half that of the PCBox would be as capable.
Providing that Microsoft don't insist on a parity rule this time round, then I don't think it will be such an issue. Honestly, I think quite a few problems that Xbox has endured this generation have been due to the parity rule, and part of the reason that some games either skipped, or initially skipped, the Xbox are quite probably due to the S.
I'm hoping that Microsoft will have learned some lessons come the next generation, though we are talking about Microsoft here, so there are no guarantees there because they do love to step on rakes...
The rumours circulating regarding the price of the PCBox range from $1000 TO $1500, @Blurd, and indeed, some have been speculating it could be more than that. I have seen $2000 mentioned a few times, but I think those rumours are wrong.
The problem is that none of the components are not getting any cheaper, and of course RAM has gone up exponentially, meaning that were the PCBox may have been targeting $1000 initially, the likelihood is that, without compromising on some of the components, it will now cost much more to put this thing together...
I think Microsoft will also bring out a revised Series X console, @Daffy-Duck. An X2 if you will. I think they will do this for two reasons; firstly, so that those that cannot afford the PCBox can still buy into the new generation, but also because I think they will want to move away from this generation, and specifically the Series S.
The S has been a bone of contention pretty much all generation long, but it seems pretty unrealistic to expect people to buy something that will be so significantly underpowered when compared to the PCBox, and indeed the PS6.
I think the happy medium would be to have a new X2 console that will be slightly better than the current X, meaning that it will still be a very capable machine. The only alternative would be to keep making the X, but I think that will only cause confusion because it will mean that it is not a new generation machine at all...
This is potentially the first bit of good news we've had in a while, and none of the gloom regarding what is happening with the Xbox brand is helped with Microsoft seemingly content to sit back and silently watch as things unfold. This titbit could just as easily have come from Microsoft leadership, and it would have calmed the waters somewhat.
Instead, we are left wondering whether the constant rumours of delays are true, or is it this single bit of information?
Personally, I hope this is true, because I think the best chance that Xbox has of getting the march on the PS6 is to get to market first. If the PCBox can have a year of positive reviews and positivity around the device prior to the release of the PS6, then they have more of a chance of attracting early adopters, myself among them. Even if the PS6 launches at half the price, the PCBox will still have had chance to embed itself first giving it a fighting chance. In a head to head battle, if the PCBox is indeed double the price of the PS6, it will have an uphill fight and its value will be put into question.
Hopefully we will hear more this year, and the rumours of the delays due to RAM are just that. With any luck, Microsoft got ahead of the game and bought the stocks they needed early, which is a possibility when you consider that they scrapped the mid-generation refresh, and also it was initially believed that they were targeting 2025 for release of the PCBox meaning they may have begun gathering the components early. In all honesty, I think Microsoft will be targeting around 10 million lifetime sales for the PCBox, and thus they will probably only need 20% of that for the actual launch, so it is entirely feasible that have managed to source what they need early.
The reference to GTA was a turn of phrase, @themightyant. I know some games do hit that 30% profit, but without looking it up, I seem to recall the average is somewhere between 16% and 22%. Forgive me if that is not exact, but it is somewhere around that, and if indeed, 16% is an average, expecting nigh on double that is totally unrealistic, unless, of course, we are asking Microsoft to just pump out Live Services games one after another, which I'm sure none of us want...
For goodness sake, @fatpunkslim. I never for one moment suggested that producing lower quality games will lead to more sales. Indeed, it would be quite the opposite. My concern lies in the drive to pump out games more quickly with Game Pass in mind that will then lead to a lowering of quality.
The games you mentioned, Keeper etc., hardly lit the World on fire, did they? They are all very niche, which is the opposite of what Game Pass needs if it is to attract new subscribers, or indeed, retain those it has.
Regardless, I was specifically referring to Obsidian with my comment, as per this particular article. And as for all the other games that Microsoft has in development, most of them have already been in development for quite some time, and so Microsoft could do one of two things, it could allow them to be finished, and then, once the games have been released, the projects that the studios then work on may be reduced in scale. Or two, Microsoft could stop development on the games, which of course they did with a number of studios. The point being that just because they are allowing studios to finish their current games does not mean that they will have the luxury of doing as they please next time round. We simply don't know. However, as I said, we don't know what will happen in the future with Microsoft's new direction and their new targets. It could all work out exceedingly well, or be a complete and utter disaster. We just don't know. However, like I said, I was specifically talking about Obsidian, which I assumed most people would realise bearing in mind that is what the article is about.
As for my urge to bash Xbox, I take it that you simply don't read what I write, but instead form an opinion and run with it. I am not bashing Xbox, I am raising a concern about the direction that Microsoft are taking Obsidian in. Much of the problems that The Outer Worlds 2 faced were caused by Microsoft, not Obsidian. And now Microsoft are seeking to have Obsidian move away from what they are known for, giving them less time to make a game, and that means it will either be smaller, or it will be of lesser quality, or indeed, possibly both. For those of us that very much appreciated The Outer Worlds 1 & 2, this is very frustrating, but of course, we are not allowed to voice our concerns because that is us demonstrating our urge to bash Xbox...
After reading how Resident Evil: Requiem will be enhanced on the PS5 Pro, @OldGamer999 & @Millionski, I had a sudden realisation that future games that I am really looking forward to including Gears of War: E-Day will also play best on the Pro. It is for that reason that I bought one (though the first one I received would not work, and I am awaiting the arrival of its replacement!).
Basically, the way I looked at it was why am I limiting myself to playing on the Xbox, when I could be playing on the Pro where pretty much every game will play better? Also, here we all are debating whether the PCBox will be delayed or even cancelled altogether, yet no one is for one moment suggesting that the PS6 will be cancelled. Delayed? Possibly. Cancelled? No!
As much as it pains me to say, Sony are offering the certainty that I want as a gamer. Thus I have decided to begin building my library on the Pro. It's not what I wanted to do, but what I think to be the sensible thing to do. Let's put it this way; if the PCBox is cancelled, then having jumped ship now before the Xbox console sank will have been a wise thing to have done. Conversely, as I have such a huge Xbox digital library (1757 games), if the PCBox does indeed come out in 2 or 3 years time, then I can just return to the Xbox and continue as before, and if there is a game that I bought for the Pro that I feel compelled to rebuy on the Xbox, so be it. That's what I will do.
Xbox is my preferred home, but right now I feel like a tenant under threat of eviction. It seems to me that the smart thing to do, therefore, is to find alternative accommodation, which at this time is the Pro. If in the future Microsoft can provide me with the certainty of a stable home, in the form of the PCBox, then I will happily move back. The problem is, however, I have a feeling that Microsoft no longer wish to play landlord, and they will basically sell up and become the worlds leading publisher instead, which of course, they pretty much are already...
Have to wonder if failing to hit the targets set by Microsoft is referring to that 30% profit margin we heard about before. A target that is basically unobtainable by most games except perhaps the likes of GTA?
Personally, I very much enjoyed The Outer Worlds 2, and whilst I have yet to play Avowed, it is on my list to get to at some point.
What concerns me is the mention of budgets, timescales, and Microsoft targets. All of that suggests to me lower quality games, and games that take fewer risks.
It seems to me that Microsoft are looking at it incorrectly; they need to invest more money into the games, make something compelling that people actually want, and take the time to get it right. These studios have the capabilities to create great games that would easily feature in the conversations around Game of the Year. Instead, it seems Microsoft are pushing for smaller scale games that can be made quickly and then used to fill quotas for Game Pass. Basically quantity over quality.
Why is it that Microsoft do not seem to understand that you need both, but particularly quality. If you put out a decent game, people will buy it (or play it via Game Pass). If you put out a mediocre game, people will just avoid it, or only buy it when it is dirt cheap. It just seems that Microsoft don't really care, so long as there is a constant feed for Game Pass.
It sounds like Microsoft are now pushing for is cookie-cutter games that can be rushed out the door, score 6s and 7s at best, and be ignored by the majority, which will inevitably lead to cutbacks and then studio closures...
I'd be inclined to agree with you, @themightyant, but for me personally, from the list you gave, I already own; SW: Outlaws, Re: Village, Talos Principle 2, Death Stranding DC, and Warhammer 40K SM2, which are basically all the big hitters. And let's not forget, many of the games above are a couple of years old, some more so.
That is why Game Pass is so subjective, because once you strip out all those games you own, and then all those that hold no interest for you, what is left maybe meagre pickings at best. Indeed, I think the only game that might hold interest for me from the games you listed would be Mio: Memories in Orbit, but I don't think I will find time to play it...
Game Pass is always very subjective, @ZeD, but in my opinion, last month was not particularly good, and so far this month is not doing much better. What I will also add is that last year for the first 4 months or so, everyone felt that Game Pass started very strongly, but I think very few people think it ended that way...
I already own both Avatar and Kingdom Come: Deliverance, and so I don't think there is anything for me here. Maybe High On Life 2, but that very much depends on reviews, and me playing and enjoying the first game, which I have yet to play.
What I will say is it is nice to see Ultimate on equal footing with PC Game Pass, because usually PC is the favoured destination of the new additions...
Right now, the Series X, in particular, can handle most of what is thrown at it with relative ease, and it is likely to be able to do so for another two or three years, but after that, it is likely to feel the strain of some of the newer, more demanding games that we are likely to see. It means that both the standard PS5 and the Series X, and most definitely the Series S, will start to show their age and begin to creak at the seams.
I have said it a number of times now, but as time moves on, sales of the Series consoles will dwindle into insignificance, and thus the chances of it being cancelled begin to exponentially altogether increase.
With the passing of time, Xbox will fall further and further behind its biggest rival, in respect of console users on the respective platforms. Add to this the advantage that the PlayStation has over the Xbox is that the PS5 is more or less keeping track with the PS4 (and is expected to exceed it once GTA 6 releases). Also that Sony has the PS5 Pro, which, right now, it the best place to play most games, including those once exclusive first-party Xbox games. It means that people will opt for the Pro over the Series whilst they await the arrival of the PS6 and the PCBox as the Pro will offer a better gaming experience in the meantime.
There is no guarentee whatsoever that RAM prices will come down over the coming years. Indeed they may continue to rise, and whilst that is bad news for both Microsoft and Sony, it does impact Xbox more because we know the PCBox is already likely to carry a premium price, and be a pretty niche product. If RAM prices continue to rise, or do not reduce, then it will push the price out of the pockets of many prospective PCBox buyers, even those that are ardent fans of Xbox such as myself.
Honestly, there are no easy solutions here, but when it comes to Microsoft in particular, I think they have two possible answers; first is to get the PCBox out the door at the earliest possible time (which one assumes is next year), or two, rip the band-aid off cancel the PCBox altogether as stringing us along with a will they, won't they, does nothing but harm the brand, and people may just choose to leave the uncertainty of Xbox behind...
It's nothing to do with being disrespectful to the author, @fatpunkslim, not sure how you come to that conclusion.
If we don't see Microsoft speak about how Cloud has grown within the next few months, I'd be absolutely amazed, and when Microsoft do this, and Pure Xbox covers this, I'll be sure to mention it again.
This is about Microsoft the direction of travel for Xbox, yes, but it is also a way of artificially raising the numbers. If people have their PC's idling for 15 minutes, whilst it plays 15 minutes of Among Us* on Game Pass, and then do exactly the same for Cloud, just to earn points, and in the meantime they are actually loading and emptying a dishwasher, and making a brew, are they actually playing a game on Game Pass, on a PC, or Cloud? I'd argue not, but they will be counted in the numbers that we see Microsoft tout so often.
I mean, if my PC is playing via Cloud, it matters not if the picture looks like fudge, and I could not care in the slightest that it runs like treacle because I'm not actually playing it. However, Microsoft will say that I am one of X percent now gaming on a PC, gaming on Cloud, playing via Game Pass, when I am actually none of those. And I am not alone in that, so can you not see how those numbers that Microsoft reveal once a quarter are entirely unreliable?
I don't know why you get so upset when people question these things. Indeed, people questioning these things is the only way we can try to keep these companies honest (and I mean all companies, not just Microsoft). And that then leads me back to what I was saying, this is just going to enable Microsoft to misrepresent how much their products are being used, mostly so as to appease their investors.
Lastly, of course I knew what a MAU entailed, but that wasn't my point. My point was that Microsoft will say that Cloud has increased by X amount percent when in fact they will have a few million more people sat idle in Cloud in their figures.
*As an aside, and by way of example; I have played Among Us for 11 Days and 8 hours, and have never left the menu screen. That's 11 Days and 8 hours that Microsoft will tell you, and their investors, I have played on Game Pass, and on my PC, when the reality is, I have not done either of them. Hopefully that will help demonstrate how the numbers Microsoft provide are entirely unreliable...
Again, @fatpunkslim, you don't see it do you. This is something that has not happened yet. In other words, until they do it or do not do it, I cannot be right or wrong.
However, in all seriousness, do you honestly think Microsoft sit down and break down who uses what beyond saying, one million people on console, plus one million on PC, plus one million on Cloud equals three million? Do you honestly think they break it down to who uses what? That's not how any company does it. In Microsoft's case, they want as many people on Cloud as they possibly can because, rightly or wrongly, they see Cloud as the imminent future, and they need to convince investors that that is the case. They won't be saying to the investors that people are jumping on Cloud for 15 minutes every day in order to earn some points, but that the overall number of people using Cloud is X...
How is it off topic, @fatpunkslim. If we don't post opinions on content produced here, no one would say anything, or are we only supposed to say, "Great!".
Come on, even you must be able to see how this can go on to be misrepresented by Microsoft? And before you say it, I'd say exactly the same if Sony were to do the same thing.
It's why these MAUs are pretty meaningless. If you log on to a console, a PC, or Cloud, or even mobile, you are likely to be counted multiple times. It is as simple as that. It's not trolling to suggest that this could lead to other things, intended or otherwise...
In order words, Microsoft can claim they have XXX million monthly users (MAUs), when in fact that number will be vastly less because people will be counted 3 times. Once for consoles, once for PCs, and once for Cloud. And of course, Microsoft will claim a surge in Cloud numbers too. Talk about artificially massaging the numbers! Then you will get some people on here regurgitating those numbers in an effort to say how well Microsoft are doing, when all along it's just one big con...
I only ever say something is a fact, if it is a fact, @fatpunkslim, and where it is supposition, I tend to preface it with the words, 'I think', because that way I am not stating that it is a fact, but what I believe will happen or has happened. Like I would say, "I think Xbox will cease to exist 3 years after the release of the PCBox." That is me saying what I think will happen at a point in the future. It isn't a fact, partly because that time has not yet come to pass, but also because it is simply my thought process.
However, if I were to say, "the PCBox has been cancelled.", then that is me portraying that statement as a fact, when in reality we don't know that to be the case, indeed, as far as we know, the PCBox is still coming, so it is far from a fact.
I think the issue here is that I am use to working in facts, my old mucker. I dealt in absolutes. You were either guilty of the offence, or you were not (or more likely I could not prove you were guilty, but that is a whole other matter!).
Look at it another way, if your employer said to you they were going to pay you ALL of your wages, then you would expect to receive it all. However, if you only received some of it, and they then turned around and said, "actually we only meant some, not all", you would remind them that they said ALL not SOME. That is what I am getting at regarding your initial comment...
I'm 62, @johnK, and have a memory like a sieve! Thus, I only ever play one game at a time from start to finish, although I do also play Gears 5 Horde every weekend too, so I guess you could argue that I play two games at a time...
I think it a bit early to claim that ALL third-party games will be multiplatform, @fatpunkslim. Most, yes. Most by a long way. However Sony still has a number of third-party games that are coming as at least timed exclusives, which of course is not the case on Xbox, or rather, when Xbox does have a third-party exclusives, it is for an exceptionally small game. Regardless, Sony will continue to bolster their own exclusive games with AA and AAA third-party exclusives.
As much as I'd like to see the practice end, now that Xbox no longer engages in the practice, I don't think Sony will stop doing it anytime soon, because exclusives do draw people into an ecosystem probably more than anything else. Exclusives are the only reason that I ever buy a PlayStation. If they did not have exclusives, I'd have an Xbox and only an Xbox...
Comments 4,610
Re: Three Games Are Available Today With Xbox Game Pass (February 5)
Thank you for taking the time to explain, @FraserG, I'm sure you have better things to do than converse with old fools like me! 😂
I get what you mean now. I've always thought of Ultimate as being the domain of consoles, albeit I was aware that it also allowed you to play the games on PC too.
Clearly I was a little confused here. My apologies...
Re: 'We've Been Talking To Microsoft' - Epic Games Wants Its Store On The Next Xbox Console
I think once a game is in your Epic library you will get to keep it, and crucially, have it available on the PCBox, @BacklogBrad. I honestly cannot see them doing anything else. Regardless, for the minute it takes to add the game to your library each week, I think it a risk worth taking.
Obviously not every game is available to buy through CDKeys (in fact the vast majority are not), but what I do use them for is buying Xbox gift cards because a £50 gift card on CDKeys costs £46, meaning you get a de facto discount on every game that you buy on Xbox when using a gift card. I have literally saved hundreds of pounds this way because I usually add £100 in to my Xbox account each month, whereas in fact that £100 actually cost me £92, and I've been doing this for years. 😉
PlayStation is even better though; a £70 gift card for the UK costs £60, which is frankly ridiculous, whereas Steam is a little more stingy insomuch as a £50 gift card costs £48. It's still a saving of course, and it all adds up and helps...
Re: 'We've Been Talking To Microsoft' - Epic Games Wants Its Store On The Next Xbox Console
You make good arguments on both sides, @themightyant, and I have said it a number of times, but watching all of this playout is fascinating.
I think it fair to say that I am a glass half-empty kind of guy, because life has had a habit of surprising me and kicking me in the nuts in the process.
I am heavily invested in Xbox, and have seen so many disappointing turns from Microsoft's management of Xbox in recent times that I have lost pretty much all faith in them (and I do specifically think this is Microsoft's senior management, and not those in charge (sort of!) at Xbox itself.
Seeing Xbox fail in any regard is not what I want, but I just get the feeling that is precisely what we will see (and with that I am specifically referring to their new consoles and Game Pass, though as I said above, I think it will play out over around 3 to 5 years after the release of the PCBox). As a publisher they are going great guns, and I think they will only do better in the future when they get fully used to the new position...
Re: Three Games Are Available Today With Xbox Game Pass (February 5)
Oh! I thought Game Pass on PC is called PC Game Pass, @FraserG. Is that incorrect...?
Re: Three Games Are Available Today With Xbox Game Pass (February 5)
Wait, what, @FraserG!?! It says Menace is on Ultimate above...
Re: Three Games Are Available Today With Xbox Game Pass (February 5)
Pleasing to see the 'NONE OF THE ABOVE' option being available, so thank you, @Kezelpaso & @FraserG.
Re: Three Games Are Available Today With Xbox Game Pass (February 5)
Menace is the only one that looks remotely interesting. Will be interested to see how it transfers over to consoles, bearing in mind that the above video was clearly captured on PC. The game also releases tomorrow on Steam, so it is not possible to read any user reviews as yet...
Re: 'We've Been Talking To Microsoft' - Epic Games Wants Its Store On The Next Xbox Console
I often see people saying that they are going to leave consoles behind in the belief that PC gaming is some kind of Utopia, @ilyn, and whilst gaming on a PC is much simpler than it was 10 years ago, there are still often a lot of hoops to jump through just to get a game to run properly. It's even worse if you are like me, and have no PC knowledge to rely on in order to resolve problems. The other issue I have with PC gaming is that I sit in an armchair in my front room, and trying to use a mouse and keyboard is not the easiest thing to do from an armchair...
Re: 'We've Been Talking To Microsoft' - Epic Games Wants Its Store On The Next Xbox Console
I have said a number of times that I think Microsoft will end support for the PCBox probably 3 to 5 years after it launches, @themightyant. I think the first casualty will be Game Pass, which I think will only last 3 years maximum following the release of the PCBox.
I think a big part of the 50% increase in price for Game Pass we saw recently is part of that strategy. Undoubtedly, Microsoft will have seen how their games sell on the PlayStation, and will be well aware that they could replicate that on the Xbox (pro rata) were it not for Game Pass, although there are probably a sizeable proportion of Xbox gamers that own a X/S purely as a Game Pass device, and so they would not buy their games on the Xbox anyway as they would buy them on their preferred system.
I don't think that Game Pass is sustainable, and probably hasn't been for quite some time. Maybe with just the third-party titles, but once you include first-party games into the equation, I don't think the sums add up.
I believe that Microsoft raised the price of Game Pass with two views in mind; first is that if people stick with it then Game Pass either becomes profitable, or close to it. Or secondly, the increase will push people to lower tiers or off the service completely (which judging by many of the comments we see, if the more likely scenario).
I think Microsoft are savvy enough to know that the most likely thing to happen is people will either move tier, or leave entirely, and thus they know that it will actually massively impact the underlying revenue that it creates. Basically, I think this is Microsoft moving to end Game Pass, but they still want to keep it in place until the PCBox arrives as a way to draw people into buying the device...
Re: 'We've Been Talking To Microsoft' - Epic Games Wants Its Store On The Next Xbox Console
Having read your entire comment, @ilyn, I really hope we get some deep reviews prior to the PCBox releasing. I already have a capable gaming PC hooked up to my front room television (indeed, I am typing this message on it right now!). My issue is I don't enjoy all the faff that comes with PC gaming, and would rather have a console experience. That said, if I am going to drop £1000 or more on the PCBox, I want it to feel like a console even if I want to play on Steam. If life is made difficult for me, I may as well stick with (not) gaming on my PC...
Re: 'We've Been Talking To Microsoft' - Epic Games Wants Its Store On The Next Xbox Console
I disagree, @ilyn & @themightyant & @BacklogBrad! A while back, I made a comment regarding people being more likely to buy their games at stores other than Xbox, and when I did so, I did a price comparison of something like 6 games that were yet to release, and were available to pre-order via CDKeys (now Loaded) for both the Xbox (where they were available) and for Steam. I forget the exact specifics now, but of the 6 games, 2 were the same price for both Xbox and Steam, and 4 were cheaper for Steam. If I remember correctly, 2 of the games were £10 cheaper, 1 was £20 cheaper, and 1 was £30 cheaper. £30...! That sort of saving would surely be big enough to persuade people to purchase on Steam over Xbox, would it not?
Also, let's not forget that Steam has vastly more games than Xbox, and when it holds it sales, the games have deeper cuts than seen on Xbox. Basically, if you buy a lot of games, then you will save a lot of money building a Steam library, and things like Quick Resume and Play Anywhere may not be enough to keep people within the Xbox Store ecosystem.
Play Anywhere is pretty niche when it comes down to it because if the only system you have is the PCBox then it is meaningless...
Re: 'We've Been Talking To Microsoft' - Epic Games Wants Its Store On The Next Xbox Console
Every single week Epic provide a game for free. Now, to be totally transparent, most of the games are on the lower end of the quality scale, but if that is your bag, then there would be a lot to like. However, probably once a month or so, they release a top tier game for free too.
I've been adding to my library on the Epic Store pretty much since it started, and have only ever bought two games for it. I currently have over 400 owned games in my Epic library that I did not pay for.
You can open an account (for free) with Epic Store, and begin adding games to it even without the means to play them. By doing that, you will have a library of games awaiting you when the PCBox does finally arrive...
Re: MindsEye's 'Most Significant' Update Has Just Arrived On Xbox, Here Are The Patch Notes
How right you are, @JackMate...! I'll change that... 😂
Re: Xbox Adds More Perks For Game Pass Members (February 2026)
Honestly, there is a whole lot of nothing worthwhile there. I'd far rather that Microsoft reduced the cost of Game Pass by a £1 a month, than give us this lot, which the vast majority of us will have no interest in. I don't know how much all this lot costs Microsoft to provide each month, but I doubt that it is free for them, and you can guarentee that they pass the costs on to us in some way or other...
Re: MindsEye's 'Most Significant' Update Has Just Arrived On Xbox, Here Are The Patch Notes
Yeah, I know, @Nintendo4Sonic. I am trying to curb my spending. For the past 2 years I've kept a list of absolutely everything I have bought, though I'm not sure it's really helping. Last year I spent in excess of £1500 on games alone (although that did include 3 Collector's Editions that cost £640 in total).
I've told myself I must do better this year, and so far have only spent around £33 buying 3 games. Problem is, there are a few games that I will definitely buy this year, including the Collector's Edition of Gears of War: E-day, and the Collector's Edition of Fable (assuming there is one). I will probably buy E-Day twice too, as I want it on both the Xbox and the Pro. Xbox because that is where I play with my mates, and the Pro because that is likely where it will play the best, and I am an absolutely huge Gears of War fan.
My only hope is that GTA 6 scares enough games into releasing next year, and as I'm not fussed about GTA, it might save my wallet taking a beating... 😂
Re: MindsEye's 'Most Significant' Update Has Just Arrived On Xbox, Here Are The Patch Notes
Yes, @kanedase7en, I think all my dealings with them have been pretty positive. The hardest part, in my experience, is actually speaking to a human. You do sometimes have to jump through a lot of hurdles...
Re: Huge Fantasy RPG Crimson Desert Launches Next Month With Xbox Play Anywhere
Really looking forward to this one, and have been since I first saw it. It looks absolutely gorgeous, and what they have shown of it is pretty compelling...
Re: MindsEye's 'Most Significant' Update Has Just Arrived On Xbox, Here Are The Patch Notes
This is one of the very, very select titles that I have ever requested a refund for, and I buy a LOT of games. I have 1757 games in my digital library on my Series X, and although I seem to recall having once requested a refund on a game, I cannot remember what game it was.
I learned a lesson with this game in particular though; not to pre-order too early. So, in the case of Minds Eye, I pre-ordered the game 14 days before it released, meaning that the game released 15 days from when I bought it. The cut off for requesting a refund is 14 days, meaning I was unable to do an automatic request for a refund despite never having started the game, which is what I did the moment the horror of the game became clear.
I subsequently had to actually speak to someone at Xbox, which in itself is not an easy thing to do, but I was quite irritated by the circumstances in which I found myself, so I stuck to it and eventually spoke to someone. I explained my situation, and he took one look at my account, was astounded by how many games I had in my collection, also noted that I had £250 sat in my account, and also that I had not requested a refund for some time. He duly gave me my refund, which I greatly appreciated as it was not a given.
The lesson I learned though was to try and order a game within 7 days of it's release, which I do sometimes find difficulty in doing because I am like a kid in a sweetshop when buying games on my Xbox.
Anyway, I really hope that the developers can turn this game around, and if they manage that, I'll happily buy it once again...
Re: We'll Start Seeing More GTA 6 This Summer Ahead Of November Launch, Says Take-Two CEO
Pretty sure bet that it will be Sony hosting, @shiningpikablu252. They already have a history...
Re: Obsidian Says Two Of Its 2025 Titles Didn't Meet Sales Targets, Vows To Learn For The Future
You may well be right, @themightyant, but one can dream about the beans being spilt... 😂
Re: Black Myth: Wukong Gets Its First Xbox Discount Since Launching Last Summer
Funny enough, I was only looking for this the other day, and lamenting the fact that it did not seem to be getting any discounts. My problem is that I have so many games that I have bought recently and have yet to play, that I think I might wait for this one to come round again...
Re: We'll Start Seeing More GTA 6 This Summer Ahead Of November Launch, Says Take-Two CEO
This is positive news for those looking forward to this game. Have to say I thought it would be delayed into early 2027, but looks like I may be wrong about that...
Re: Obsidian Says Two Of Its 2025 Titles Didn't Meet Sales Targets, Vows To Learn For The Future
I'm not one for reading autobiographies, @themightyant. The last one I read was written by a friend, so I don't think that really counts. However, I would be first in the queue for Phil Spencer's autobiographies. Unfortunately, I imagine that Microsoft have him tied up in so many NDA's that it'll never see the light of day, or if it did, it would not be particularly revealing.
Damn, I'd so like to know all the internal goings on, and what has caused so many of these decisions...
Re: AMD Mentions Next-Gen Xbox Console, Says It's 'Progressing Well' To Release In 2027
I said the same the other day, @themightyant...
Re: AMD Mentions Next-Gen Xbox Console, Says It's 'Progressing Well' To Release In 2027
I truly believe that Microsoft sales expectations for the PCBox will be in the region of 10 million lifetime sales, @Daffy-Duck. Releasing a system that is likely going to be double the cost of the PS6 won't fly with the majority. It will be for proper Xbox enthusiasts with pretty deep pockets.
My only real concern is how long Microsoft will continue to support the PCBox if it should spectacularly flop in terms of sales, and if the actual system itself is lambasted, then what will they do? Hopefully neither of those come to pass, but it is still a concern, particularly when you invest a lot of money in buying one...
Re: AMD Mentions Next-Gen Xbox Console, Says It's 'Progressing Well' To Release In 2027
Well said, @themightyant. I bit my lip, and decided not to respond... 😂
Re: AMD Mentions Next-Gen Xbox Console, Says It's 'Progressing Well' To Release In 2027
I absolutely agree, @Blurd, but I think the thinking at Microsoft might be that they want as many people as possible to remain in the Xbox ecosystem, and they know that the majority of their current gamers will baulk at paying $1000-$1500 for the next generation. Having an X2 will make it more affordable, particularly as it would be an alternative to the PS6, which would likely cost around the same (as the X2).
Also, the PCBox will, by its very nature, play PC games, and so games that are built for the PC market will pretty much automatically run on the PCBox, whereas that is not the case for X2, which would run Xbox games natively. In other words, there would be two different builds of the games, and I don't think people would expect a consoles costing half that of the PCBox would be as capable.
Providing that Microsoft don't insist on a parity rule this time round, then I don't think it will be such an issue. Honestly, I think quite a few problems that Xbox has endured this generation have been due to the parity rule, and part of the reason that some games either skipped, or initially skipped, the Xbox are quite probably due to the S.
I'm hoping that Microsoft will have learned some lessons come the next generation, though we are talking about Microsoft here, so there are no guarantees there because they do love to step on rakes...
Re: AMD Mentions Next-Gen Xbox Console, Says It's 'Progressing Well' To Release In 2027
The rumours circulating regarding the price of the PCBox range from $1000 TO $1500, @Blurd, and indeed, some have been speculating it could be more than that. I have seen $2000 mentioned a few times, but I think those rumours are wrong.
The problem is that none of the components are not getting any cheaper, and of course RAM has gone up exponentially, meaning that were the PCBox may have been targeting $1000 initially, the likelihood is that, without compromising on some of the components, it will now cost much more to put this thing together...
Re: AMD Mentions Next-Gen Xbox Console, Says It's 'Progressing Well' To Release In 2027
I think Microsoft will also bring out a revised Series X console, @Daffy-Duck. An X2 if you will. I think they will do this for two reasons; firstly, so that those that cannot afford the PCBox can still buy into the new generation, but also because I think they will want to move away from this generation, and specifically the Series S.
The S has been a bone of contention pretty much all generation long, but it seems pretty unrealistic to expect people to buy something that will be so significantly underpowered when compared to the PCBox, and indeed the PS6.
I think the happy medium would be to have a new X2 console that will be slightly better than the current X, meaning that it will still be a very capable machine. The only alternative would be to keep making the X, but I think that will only cause confusion because it will mean that it is not a new generation machine at all...
Re: AMD Mentions Next-Gen Xbox Console, Says It's 'Progressing Well' To Release In 2027
This is potentially the first bit of good news we've had in a while, and none of the gloom regarding what is happening with the Xbox brand is helped with Microsoft seemingly content to sit back and silently watch as things unfold. This titbit could just as easily have come from Microsoft leadership, and it would have calmed the waters somewhat.
Instead, we are left wondering whether the constant rumours of delays are true, or is it this single bit of information?
Personally, I hope this is true, because I think the best chance that Xbox has of getting the march on the PS6 is to get to market first. If the PCBox can have a year of positive reviews and positivity around the device prior to the release of the PS6, then they have more of a chance of attracting early adopters, myself among them. Even if the PS6 launches at half the price, the PCBox will still have had chance to embed itself first giving it a fighting chance. In a head to head battle, if the PCBox is indeed double the price of the PS6, it will have an uphill fight and its value will be put into question.
Hopefully we will hear more this year, and the rumours of the delays due to RAM are just that. With any luck, Microsoft got ahead of the game and bought the stocks they needed early, which is a possibility when you consider that they scrapped the mid-generation refresh, and also it was initially believed that they were targeting 2025 for release of the PCBox meaning they may have begun gathering the components early. In all honesty, I think Microsoft will be targeting around 10 million lifetime sales for the PCBox, and thus they will probably only need 20% of that for the actual launch, so it is entirely feasible that have managed to source what they need early.
Here's hoping... 🤞
Re: Obsidian Says Two Of Its 2025 Titles Didn't Meet Sales Targets, Vows To Learn For The Future
The reference to GTA was a turn of phrase, @themightyant. I know some games do hit that 30% profit, but without looking it up, I seem to recall the average is somewhere between 16% and 22%. Forgive me if that is not exact, but it is somewhere around that, and if indeed, 16% is an average, expecting nigh on double that is totally unrealistic, unless, of course, we are asking Microsoft to just pump out Live Services games one after another, which I'm sure none of us want...
Re: These 10 Games Are Coming To Xbox Game Pass, Including Three Major Additions (February 5-17)
Is this a bad time to say I've never seen Rick and Morty, @Decimateh...? 😂
Re: Obsidian Says Two Of Its 2025 Titles Didn't Meet Sales Targets, Vows To Learn For The Future
For goodness sake, @fatpunkslim. I never for one moment suggested that producing lower quality games will lead to more sales. Indeed, it would be quite the opposite. My concern lies in the drive to pump out games more quickly with Game Pass in mind that will then lead to a lowering of quality.
The games you mentioned, Keeper etc., hardly lit the World on fire, did they? They are all very niche, which is the opposite of what Game Pass needs if it is to attract new subscribers, or indeed, retain those it has.
Regardless, I was specifically referring to Obsidian with my comment, as per this particular article. And as for all the other games that Microsoft has in development, most of them have already been in development for quite some time, and so Microsoft could do one of two things, it could allow them to be finished, and then, once the games have been released, the projects that the studios then work on may be reduced in scale. Or two, Microsoft could stop development on the games, which of course they did with a number of studios. The point being that just because they are allowing studios to finish their current games does not mean that they will have the luxury of doing as they please next time round. We simply don't know. However, as I said, we don't know what will happen in the future with Microsoft's new direction and their new targets. It could all work out exceedingly well, or be a complete and utter disaster. We just don't know. However, like I said, I was specifically talking about Obsidian, which I assumed most people would realise bearing in mind that is what the article is about.
As for my urge to bash Xbox, I take it that you simply don't read what I write, but instead form an opinion and run with it. I am not bashing Xbox, I am raising a concern about the direction that Microsoft are taking Obsidian in. Much of the problems that The Outer Worlds 2 faced were caused by Microsoft, not Obsidian. And now Microsoft are seeking to have Obsidian move away from what they are known for, giving them less time to make a game, and that means it will either be smaller, or it will be of lesser quality, or indeed, possibly both. For those of us that very much appreciated The Outer Worlds 1 & 2, this is very frustrating, but of course, we are not allowed to voice our concerns because that is us demonstrating our urge to bash Xbox...
Re: Rumour: New Xbox Console Won't Release Until At Least Late 2027, Could Be Delayed Further
After reading how Resident Evil: Requiem will be enhanced on the PS5 Pro, @OldGamer999 & @Millionski, I had a sudden realisation that future games that I am really looking forward to including Gears of War: E-Day will also play best on the Pro. It is for that reason that I bought one (though the first one I received would not work, and I am awaiting the arrival of its replacement!).
Basically, the way I looked at it was why am I limiting myself to playing on the Xbox, when I could be playing on the Pro where pretty much every game will play better? Also, here we all are debating whether the PCBox will be delayed or even cancelled altogether, yet no one is for one moment suggesting that the PS6 will be cancelled. Delayed? Possibly. Cancelled? No!
As much as it pains me to say, Sony are offering the certainty that I want as a gamer. Thus I have decided to begin building my library on the Pro. It's not what I wanted to do, but what I think to be the sensible thing to do. Let's put it this way; if the PCBox is cancelled, then having jumped ship now before the Xbox console sank will have been a wise thing to have done. Conversely, as I have such a huge Xbox digital library (1757 games), if the PCBox does indeed come out in 2 or 3 years time, then I can just return to the Xbox and continue as before, and if there is a game that I bought for the Pro that I feel compelled to rebuy on the Xbox, so be it. That's what I will do.
Xbox is my preferred home, but right now I feel like a tenant under threat of eviction. It seems to me that the smart thing to do, therefore, is to find alternative accommodation, which at this time is the Pro. If in the future Microsoft can provide me with the certainty of a stable home, in the form of the PCBox, then I will happily move back. The problem is, however, I have a feeling that Microsoft no longer wish to play landlord, and they will basically sell up and become the worlds leading publisher instead, which of course, they pretty much are already...
Re: Obsidian Says Two Of Its 2025 Titles Didn't Meet Sales Targets, Vows To Learn For The Future
Have to wonder if failing to hit the targets set by Microsoft is referring to that 30% profit margin we heard about before. A target that is basically unobtainable by most games except perhaps the likes of GTA?
Personally, I very much enjoyed The Outer Worlds 2, and whilst I have yet to play Avowed, it is on my list to get to at some point.
What concerns me is the mention of budgets, timescales, and Microsoft targets. All of that suggests to me lower quality games, and games that take fewer risks.
It seems to me that Microsoft are looking at it incorrectly; they need to invest more money into the games, make something compelling that people actually want, and take the time to get it right. These studios have the capabilities to create great games that would easily feature in the conversations around Game of the Year. Instead, it seems Microsoft are pushing for smaller scale games that can be made quickly and then used to fill quotas for Game Pass. Basically quantity over quality.
Why is it that Microsoft do not seem to understand that you need both, but particularly quality. If you put out a decent game, people will buy it (or play it via Game Pass). If you put out a mediocre game, people will just avoid it, or only buy it when it is dirt cheap. It just seems that Microsoft don't really care, so long as there is a constant feed for Game Pass.
It sounds like Microsoft are now pushing for is cookie-cutter games that can be rushed out the door, score 6s and 7s at best, and be ignored by the majority, which will inevitably lead to cutbacks and then studio closures...
Re: These 10 Games Are Coming To Xbox Game Pass, Including Three Major Additions (February 5-17)
I'd be inclined to agree with you, @themightyant, but for me personally, from the list you gave, I already own; SW: Outlaws, Re: Village, Talos Principle 2, Death Stranding DC, and Warhammer 40K SM2, which are basically all the big hitters. And let's not forget, many of the games above are a couple of years old, some more so.
That is why Game Pass is so subjective, because once you strip out all those games you own, and then all those that hold no interest for you, what is left maybe meagre pickings at best. Indeed, I think the only game that might hold interest for me from the games you listed would be Mio: Memories in Orbit, but I don't think I will find time to play it...
Re: These 10 Games Are Coming To Xbox Game Pass, Including Three Major Additions (February 5-17)
Game Pass is always very subjective, @ZeD, but in my opinion, last month was not particularly good, and so far this month is not doing much better. What I will also add is that last year for the first 4 months or so, everyone felt that Game Pass started very strongly, but I think very few people think it ended that way...
Re: These 10 Games Are Coming To Xbox Game Pass, Including Three Major Additions (February 5-17)
I already own both Avatar and Kingdom Come: Deliverance, and so I don't think there is anything for me here. Maybe High On Life 2, but that very much depends on reviews, and me playing and enjoying the first game, which I have yet to play.
What I will say is it is nice to see Ultimate on equal footing with PC Game Pass, because usually PC is the favoured destination of the new additions...
Re: Rumour: New Xbox Console Won't Release Until At Least Late 2027, Could Be Delayed Further
Right now, the Series X, in particular, can handle most of what is thrown at it with relative ease, and it is likely to be able to do so for another two or three years, but after that, it is likely to feel the strain of some of the newer, more demanding games that we are likely to see. It means that both the standard PS5 and the Series X, and most definitely the Series S, will start to show their age and begin to creak at the seams.
I have said it a number of times now, but as time moves on, sales of the Series consoles will dwindle into insignificance, and thus the chances of it being cancelled begin to exponentially altogether increase.
With the passing of time, Xbox will fall further and further behind its biggest rival, in respect of console users on the respective platforms. Add to this the advantage that the PlayStation has over the Xbox is that the PS5 is more or less keeping track with the PS4 (and is expected to exceed it once GTA 6 releases). Also that Sony has the PS5 Pro, which, right now, it the best place to play most games, including those once exclusive first-party Xbox games. It means that people will opt for the Pro over the Series whilst they await the arrival of the PS6 and the PCBox as the Pro will offer a better gaming experience in the meantime.
There is no guarentee whatsoever that RAM prices will come down over the coming years. Indeed they may continue to rise, and whilst that is bad news for both Microsoft and Sony, it does impact Xbox more because we know the PCBox is already likely to carry a premium price, and be a pretty niche product. If RAM prices continue to rise, or do not reduce, then it will push the price out of the pockets of many prospective PCBox buyers, even those that are ardent fans of Xbox such as myself.
Honestly, there are no easy solutions here, but when it comes to Microsoft in particular, I think they have two possible answers; first is to get the PCBox out the door at the earliest possible time (which one assumes is next year), or two, rip the band-aid off cancel the PCBox altogether as stringing us along with a will they, won't they, does nothing but harm the brand, and people may just choose to leave the uncertainty of Xbox behind...
Re: Xbox Begins Testing New Monthly Quest For Microsoft Rewards Users
It's nothing to do with being disrespectful to the author, @fatpunkslim, not sure how you come to that conclusion.
If we don't see Microsoft speak about how Cloud has grown within the next few months, I'd be absolutely amazed, and when Microsoft do this, and Pure Xbox covers this, I'll be sure to mention it again.
This is about Microsoft the direction of travel for Xbox, yes, but it is also a way of artificially raising the numbers. If people have their PC's idling for 15 minutes, whilst it plays 15 minutes of Among Us* on Game Pass, and then do exactly the same for Cloud, just to earn points, and in the meantime they are actually loading and emptying a dishwasher, and making a brew, are they actually playing a game on Game Pass, on a PC, or Cloud? I'd argue not, but they will be counted in the numbers that we see Microsoft tout so often.
I mean, if my PC is playing via Cloud, it matters not if the picture looks like fudge, and I could not care in the slightest that it runs like treacle because I'm not actually playing it. However, Microsoft will say that I am one of X percent now gaming on a PC, gaming on Cloud, playing via Game Pass, when I am actually none of those. And I am not alone in that, so can you not see how those numbers that Microsoft reveal once a quarter are entirely unreliable?
I don't know why you get so upset when people question these things. Indeed, people questioning these things is the only way we can try to keep these companies honest (and I mean all companies, not just Microsoft). And that then leads me back to what I was saying, this is just going to enable Microsoft to misrepresent how much their products are being used, mostly so as to appease their investors.
Lastly, of course I knew what a MAU entailed, but that wasn't my point. My point was that Microsoft will say that Cloud has increased by X amount percent when in fact they will have a few million more people sat idle in Cloud in their figures.
*As an aside, and by way of example; I have played Among Us for 11 Days and 8 hours, and have never left the menu screen. That's 11 Days and 8 hours that Microsoft will tell you, and their investors, I have played on Game Pass, and on my PC, when the reality is, I have not done either of them. Hopefully that will help demonstrate how the numbers Microsoft provide are entirely unreliable...
Re: Nioh 3 Could Mark The Series' Xbox Debut As Sony Confirms 6-Month PS5 Exclusivity
You are definitely very close, @oopsiezz... 😂
Re: Xbox Begins Testing New Monthly Quest For Microsoft Rewards Users
Again, @fatpunkslim, you don't see it do you. This is something that has not happened yet. In other words, until they do it or do not do it, I cannot be right or wrong.
However, in all seriousness, do you honestly think Microsoft sit down and break down who uses what beyond saying, one million people on console, plus one million on PC, plus one million on Cloud equals three million? Do you honestly think they break it down to who uses what? That's not how any company does it. In Microsoft's case, they want as many people on Cloud as they possibly can because, rightly or wrongly, they see Cloud as the imminent future, and they need to convince investors that that is the case. They won't be saying to the investors that people are jumping on Cloud for 15 minutes every day in order to earn some points, but that the overall number of people using Cloud is X...
Re: Xbox Begins Testing New Monthly Quest For Microsoft Rewards Users
How is it off topic, @fatpunkslim. If we don't post opinions on content produced here, no one would say anything, or are we only supposed to say, "Great!".
Come on, even you must be able to see how this can go on to be misrepresented by Microsoft? And before you say it, I'd say exactly the same if Sony were to do the same thing.
It's why these MAUs are pretty meaningless. If you log on to a console, a PC, or Cloud, or even mobile, you are likely to be counted multiple times. It is as simple as that. It's not trolling to suggest that this could lead to other things, intended or otherwise...
Re: Xbox Begins Testing New Monthly Quest For Microsoft Rewards Users
In order words, Microsoft can claim they have XXX million monthly users (MAUs), when in fact that number will be vastly less because people will be counted 3 times. Once for consoles, once for PCs, and once for Cloud. And of course, Microsoft will claim a surge in Cloud numbers too. Talk about artificially massaging the numbers! Then you will get some people on here regurgitating those numbers in an effort to say how well Microsoft are doing, when all along it's just one big con...
Re: Nioh 3 Could Mark The Series' Xbox Debut As Sony Confirms 6-Month PS5 Exclusivity
I only ever say something is a fact, if it is a fact, @fatpunkslim, and where it is supposition, I tend to preface it with the words, 'I think', because that way I am not stating that it is a fact, but what I believe will happen or has happened. Like I would say, "I think Xbox will cease to exist 3 years after the release of the PCBox." That is me saying what I think will happen at a point in the future. It isn't a fact, partly because that time has not yet come to pass, but also because it is simply my thought process.
However, if I were to say, "the PCBox has been cancelled.", then that is me portraying that statement as a fact, when in reality we don't know that to be the case, indeed, as far as we know, the PCBox is still coming, so it is far from a fact.
I think the issue here is that I am use to working in facts, my old mucker. I dealt in absolutes. You were either guilty of the offence, or you were not (or more likely I could not prove you were guilty, but that is a whole other matter!).
Look at it another way, if your employer said to you they were going to pay you ALL of your wages, then you would expect to receive it all. However, if you only received some of it, and they then turned around and said, "actually we only meant some, not all", you would remind them that they said ALL not SOME. That is what I am getting at regarding your initial comment...
Re: Nioh 3 Could Mark The Series' Xbox Debut As Sony Confirms 6-Month PS5 Exclusivity
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Re: Nioh 3 Could Mark The Series' Xbox Debut As Sony Confirms 6-Month PS5 Exclusivity
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Re: Nioh 3 Could Mark The Series' Xbox Debut As Sony Confirms 6-Month PS5 Exclusivity
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Re: Death Stranding Director's Cut Gets Huge Player Bump Thanks To Xbox Game Pass
I'm 62, @johnK, and have a memory like a sieve! Thus, I only ever play one game at a time from start to finish, although I do also play Gears 5 Horde every weekend too, so I guess you could argue that I play two games at a time...
Re: Nioh 3 Could Mark The Series' Xbox Debut As Sony Confirms 6-Month PS5 Exclusivity
I think it a bit early to claim that ALL third-party games will be multiplatform, @fatpunkslim. Most, yes. Most by a long way. However Sony still has a number of third-party games that are coming as at least timed exclusives, which of course is not the case on Xbox, or rather, when Xbox does have a third-party exclusives, it is for an exceptionally small game. Regardless, Sony will continue to bolster their own exclusive games with AA and AAA third-party exclusives.
As much as I'd like to see the practice end, now that Xbox no longer engages in the practice, I don't think Sony will stop doing it anytime soon, because exclusives do draw people into an ecosystem probably more than anything else. Exclusives are the only reason that I ever buy a PlayStation. If they did not have exclusives, I'd have an Xbox and only an Xbox...