@Pichuka97 @IOI Those Twitter posts are just examples, they're far from the only comments I've come across suggesting the same thing.
The idea isn't to portray this as a "major trend" by any means, but to highlight that for some people, Xbox Play Anywhere is playing a role in whether they buy their games on Xbox or not. I'd say the poll results back this up as well.
@Fiendish-Beaver It's the advantage that you can play across console and PC with just one purchase, whereas with Steam you only get a PC version. When you buy 007 First Light on Xbox Series X, for example, you'll also get a native PC version that appears for free in the Xbox PC app.
A lot of Play Anywhere titles feature cross-save functionality as well, meaning you can jump between console and PC seamlessly and carry on where you left off on either device.
@UltimateKGB @swedetrap Yep, absolutely! Xbox Play Anywhere is a real game-changer with devices like this, I even had a pretty substantial library ready to go from day one.
@Balaam_ Just to clarify, I'm not playing games on the Ally for eight hours per-day by any means. I'm working on it, using it as a PC.
When it comes to gaming, I'm splitting my time between the Xbox Series X and ROG Xbox Ally - it depends on the kind of mood I'm in.
As you say, the Series X is for when I want "the best possible experience I can afford at any given time" with Xbox games on a big TV. The Ally is for when I want to play different games (like Steam titles), as well as for when I want to cosy up on the sofa, lie in bed, play on something when the TV is in use, go on holiday, etc.
At first I was prioritising the Ally for gaming because it was shiny and new, whereas after three months it's more of a 50-50 situation (maybe 60-40 in favour of the Ally). Combined, they give me access to pretty much any game I want (Nintendo aside), while also serving my day-to-day needs in terms of my work on Pure Xbox.
@TrollOfWar The Windows experience is the same as on any other Windows PC handheld as far as I'm aware, and when you're docked with a proper mouse and keyboard, it feels just as good as using a dedicated PC.
In terms of navigating the Ally X as a handheld gaming device, you don't need to use Windows unless there's a specific reason to — it boots into the lightweight Xbox app, and you can access the likes of Steam and other storefronts from within that app without ever interacting with the Windows desktop. The app itself is fine albeit with plenty of room for improvement, but I know some people have been installing an alternative called "Bazzite" instead. Yet to try that myself.
Exiting out to Windows in handheld form does come with a few irritations at times, mainly just because it's a small screen and using the analog stick as a mouse isn't ideal, but I wouldn't say it's terrible either. I still do it now and again for browsing Pure Xbox, watching YouTube, and accessing games that don't work through the Xbox app.
To be honest, the original angle for this feature was just to focus on my experiences using the Ally as a PC, but then I wanted to mention about playing offline and Xbox Play Anywhere, so it evolved into something a bit different.
The original review and the one-month review contain more details about the games I was playing back then and how they performed, and there have been a few articles about individual games like Keeper, Black Ops 7, Final Fantasy 7 Remake and TimeSplitters Rewind in the months since.
When we get to the six-month review, I'll be sure to include more details about the specific games I've been playing.
As I've mentioned before, not all games will run at a perfect 60FPS on the Ally X (the likes of Star Wars Outlaws, Expedition 33 and Keeper are all titles that I've somewhat struggled with), but with enough tweaking you can find a balance that works for you. That said, I'd generally rather prioritise the Series X for games like those.
@Vipor007 Totally depends on the game. It plays a lot of games well, but you're still going to want to tinker with settings for most of them to get the visual / performance balance you want.
I talked a lot more about this in our initial review:
@Fiendish-Beaver Haha, the intent wasn't necessarily to sell you on it — I think it's a great device for some people and probably unsuited for others — but I do really enjoy it for sure.
The Play Anywhere thing isn't a strict rule, it's not like I'm never going to buy a console-only game again, but it's just changed how I look at the Microsoft Store now.
It's a bit like if Nintendo suddenly started making Switch games dock-only or handheld-only — I'd still buy Mario Kart if it was dock-only, but in general I'd want to prioritise the games that worked across both.
It's not going to stop me buying GTA 6 in November. It didn't stop me completing Despelote (a non-Play Anywhere title) on the Series X last month. But if I'm weighing up a bunch of games that I'm only somewhat interested in, the priority will go to the XPA titles.
@SMJ It is indeed, and I've just added it into the list in place of Raiden IV which I've since discovered is still purchasable digitally in the US.
@Shiryu Yes, Ace Combat 6 is back compat! As I say, there are a few more titles that can fit into the list if you go looking for them, with AC6 being a good example.
@Fiendish-Beaver It's taken from the official Xbox Store description, with the asterisk part explaining the following:
"*This game is a partial remake of FINAL FANTASY VII, first released in 1997. It is the first title in a multi-part series based on the original game. It reimagines the Midgar portion of the story with expanded scenes, new characters, and additional narrative layers."
I've now taken it out of our version just to avoid any confusion.
@Lup It's honestly decent, and that's coming from someone who's traditionally preferred PES. The addition of an "authentic" gameplay style really improved things for me.
@GuyinPA75 Did you ever see a "Just For You" banner next to the game on Xbox? The upgrade was only for 14 days I believe, or at least that's what it was initially saying.
Worth contacting Xbox Support to see if they can help.
Update: Hello everyone! This guide has now been updated for 2026. Let me know if you find it useful, if there's anything else you want to know about, and how you're getting on with the program!
@ILuvGames Yeah they do, so you never know. The fact VGC says a first-party "studio" rather than "game" suggests to me they're referring to an in-house developer though.
I know a few people are speculating it might be Double Fine's "Kiln", which is a multiplayer brawler that was prototyped many years ago.
@ILuvGames Toys for Bob isn't technically a first-party studio (their next game is being published by Xbox, but they haven't been acquired), so I don't think it'll be them. They're rumoured to be making a new Spyro game anyway.
Double Fine is very possible, Obsidian too. We'll see!
Update: It's apparently a first-party game and not a third-party one:
"CORRECTION: VGC has since been told this is a smaller original game from a first-party studio, and not a third-party game, as first reported. Apologies for the mix-up."
It's also worth noting here that Xbox One & Series X/S games will reportedly carry over to the next console.
That potentially means great things for all Xbox hardware moving forward, as theoretically the likes of the ROG Xbox Ally and even Windows 11 PCs could be able to support console games natively in the future, considering they're likely to use the same interface as each other and all support Windows.
Windows Central does say a bit about back compat in here:
"Existing Xbox console users' libraries will come forward with them to the new Xbox, as Microsoft continues to commit to backward compatibility in a big way."
I'm also having a ton of fun with Evercade right now, it's so addictive collecting those cartridges! I assume a Rare Collection 2 is on the cards, but as you say, Blizzard Arcade makes sense too.
@BionicDodo Fair enough, I don't think they've ever really spelled it out, although I'd argue that Xbox definitely isn't just about console anymore — they're pushing this massive campaign about how everything is an Xbox and how PC / cloud is a massive part of the brand now.
We still refer to Phil Spencer as the "Xbox boss" quite a lot, even though he's technically "Microsoft Gaming CEO" these days, because quite honestly we're not sure how the two roles differ!
@BionicDodo I know what you mean, but I don't really think there's a difference between "Microsoft Gaming" and "Xbox". They're one and the same for all intents and purposes.
@Martsmall Windows Central generally has a good track record with reports. Who knows if it'll all pan out like this, but it's coming from a big outlet and it's interesting stuff 🤷♂️
We always make sure we say "rumour" when it's coming from Jez's podcast, but in this case it's more of a report.
@Deadcorpse66 So, what I've seen suggests it'll be a "curated Core library" for free players with one premium track a month, and then single tracks will cost just over $1 to buy on top.
Maybe that'll change for the launch, but it's in the marketing materials that have been provided to us.
Comments 3,451
Re: Xbox Play Anywhere Is Convincing People To Buy Their Multiplatform Games On Xbox
@Pichuka97 @IOI Those Twitter posts are just examples, they're far from the only comments I've come across suggesting the same thing.
The idea isn't to portray this as a "major trend" by any means, but to highlight that for some people, Xbox Play Anywhere is playing a role in whether they buy their games on Xbox or not. I'd say the poll results back this up as well.
Re: These 10 Games Are Coming To Xbox Game Pass, Multiple Major Additions (January 21 - February 3)
@awp69 High possibility based on previous versions of the showcase! Seems like a 50/50 really.
Re: These 10 Games Are Coming To Xbox Game Pass, Multiple Major Additions (January 21 - February 3)
@ZeD I'm cool with it! Death Stranding and Star Wars Outlaws alone will keep me busy for the rest of the month.
Re: These 10 Games Are Coming To Xbox Game Pass, Multiple Major Additions (January 21 - February 3)
@awp69 Yeah, January is always a weird time — I fully expect things to pick up in the months ahead for "day one" titles.
Re: Xbox Play Anywhere Is Convincing People To Buy Their Multiplatform Games On Xbox
@Fiendish-Beaver It's the advantage that you can play across console and PC with just one purchase, whereas with Steam you only get a PC version. When you buy 007 First Light on Xbox Series X, for example, you'll also get a native PC version that appears for free in the Xbox PC app.
A lot of Play Anywhere titles feature cross-save functionality as well, meaning you can jump between console and PC seamlessly and carry on where you left off on either device.
Re: These 10 Games Are Coming To Xbox Game Pass, Multiple Major Additions (January 21 - February 3)
@ilyn FF1 was added earlier this month, so I assume they're just trickling them out in order.
Re: These 10 Games Are Coming To Xbox Game Pass, Multiple Major Additions (January 21 - February 3)
I know there aren't many "day one" titles in this list, but I'm surprised how generous they're being with Premium members. Good to see!
Re: Two Games Are Available Today With Xbox Game Pass (January 20)
@RiverGenie @Fiendish-Beaver We'll look at adding that option going forward, there have been requests for it before as you say.
Re: Talking Point: Do You Think The Game Awards FPS 'Highguard' Will Actually Hit Xbox Next Week?
My instinct says they'll delay it later this week, but then I question why they'd wait until the very last minute to announce that.
Maybe they want it to be somewhat of a shadow drop for anyone who missed the TGA trailer.
Re: Bungie's Marathon To Release In March 2026, Exact Date & Pre-Order Trailer Revealed
Update: This article has now been updated with the exact date (March 5th) along with pre-order details. Not long to go!
Re: Five Things I've Learned After Using The ROG Xbox Ally X For Eight Hours Per-Day
@UltimateKGB @swedetrap Yep, absolutely! Xbox Play Anywhere is a real game-changer with devices like this, I even had a pretty substantial library ready to go from day one.
Re: Five Things I've Learned After Using The ROG Xbox Ally X For Eight Hours Per-Day
@Balaam_ Just to clarify, I'm not playing games on the Ally for eight hours per-day by any means. I'm working on it, using it as a PC.
When it comes to gaming, I'm splitting my time between the Xbox Series X and ROG Xbox Ally - it depends on the kind of mood I'm in.
As you say, the Series X is for when I want "the best possible experience I can afford at any given time" with Xbox games on a big TV. The Ally is for when I want to play different games (like Steam titles), as well as for when I want to cosy up on the sofa, lie in bed, play on something when the TV is in use, go on holiday, etc.
At first I was prioritising the Ally for gaming because it was shiny and new, whereas after three months it's more of a 50-50 situation (maybe 60-40 in favour of the Ally). Combined, they give me access to pretty much any game I want (Nintendo aside), while also serving my day-to-day needs in terms of my work on Pure Xbox.
Re: Five Things I've Learned After Using The ROG Xbox Ally X For Eight Hours Per-Day
@TrollOfWar The Windows experience is the same as on any other Windows PC handheld as far as I'm aware, and when you're docked with a proper mouse and keyboard, it feels just as good as using a dedicated PC.
In terms of navigating the Ally X as a handheld gaming device, you don't need to use Windows unless there's a specific reason to — it boots into the lightweight Xbox app, and you can access the likes of Steam and other storefronts from within that app without ever interacting with the Windows desktop. The app itself is fine albeit with plenty of room for improvement, but I know some people have been installing an alternative called "Bazzite" instead. Yet to try that myself.
Exiting out to Windows in handheld form does come with a few irritations at times, mainly just because it's a small screen and using the analog stick as a mouse isn't ideal, but I wouldn't say it's terrible either. I still do it now and again for browsing Pure Xbox, watching YouTube, and accessing games that don't work through the Xbox app.
Re: Five Things I've Learned After Using The ROG Xbox Ally X For Eight Hours Per-Day
@Cikajovazmaj @themightyant Thanks both!
To be honest, the original angle for this feature was just to focus on my experiences using the Ally as a PC, but then I wanted to mention about playing offline and Xbox Play Anywhere, so it evolved into something a bit different.
The original review and the one-month review contain more details about the games I was playing back then and how they performed, and there have been a few articles about individual games like Keeper, Black Ops 7, Final Fantasy 7 Remake and TimeSplitters Rewind in the months since.
When we get to the six-month review, I'll be sure to include more details about the specific games I've been playing.
Here are some of those articles I referenced:
https://www.purexbox.com/reviews/rog-xbox-ally-x-an-amazing-handheld-pc-with-plenty-of-console-like-potential
https://www.purexbox.com/features/a-month-later-the-rog-xbox-ally-x-has-totally-changed-my-gaming-habits
https://www.purexbox.com/reviews/xbox-series-x/keeper
https://www.purexbox.com/features/hands-on-black-ops-7-is-amazing-on-the-rog-xbox-ally-x-as-long-as-youre-not-offline
https://www.purexbox.com/news/2025/11/timesplitters-rewind-has-launched-for-free-on-pc-and-its-great-on-the-xbox-ally
https://www.purexbox.com/features/ive-never-played-final-fantasy-7-before-but-im-liking-the-remake-on-xbox-so-far
As I've mentioned before, not all games will run at a perfect 60FPS on the Ally X (the likes of Star Wars Outlaws, Expedition 33 and Keeper are all titles that I've somewhat struggled with), but with enough tweaking you can find a balance that works for you. That said, I'd generally rather prioritise the Series X for games like those.
Re: Five Things I've Learned After Using The ROG Xbox Ally X For Eight Hours Per-Day
@Vipor007 Totally depends on the game. It plays a lot of games well, but you're still going to want to tinker with settings for most of them to get the visual / performance balance you want.
I talked a lot more about this in our initial review:
https://www.purexbox.com/reviews/rog-xbox-ally-x-an-amazing-handheld-pc-with-plenty-of-console-like-potential
Re: Five Things I've Learned After Using The ROG Xbox Ally X For Eight Hours Per-Day
@Fiendish-Beaver Haha, the intent wasn't necessarily to sell you on it — I think it's a great device for some people and probably unsuited for others — but I do really enjoy it for sure.
The Play Anywhere thing isn't a strict rule, it's not like I'm never going to buy a console-only game again, but it's just changed how I look at the Microsoft Store now.
It's a bit like if Nintendo suddenly started making Switch games dock-only or handheld-only — I'd still buy Mario Kart if it was dock-only, but in general I'd want to prioritise the games that worked across both.
It's not going to stop me buying GTA 6 in November. It didn't stop me completing Despelote (a non-Play Anywhere title) on the Series X last month. But if I'm weighing up a bunch of games that I'm only somewhat interested in, the priority will go to the XPA titles.
Re: Five Things I've Learned After Using The ROG Xbox Ally X For Eight Hours Per-Day
@Titntin @GotRedOnMe73 Thanks both! Glad you enjoyed it.
Re: 50 Backwards Compatible Xbox Games That Are 'Disc Only' In 2026
@SMJ It is indeed, and I've just added it into the list in place of Raiden IV which I've since discovered is still purchasable digitally in the US.
@Shiryu Yes, Ace Combat 6 is back compat! As I say, there are a few more titles that can fit into the list if you go looking for them, with AC6 being a good example.
@Jenkinss Good idea! I'll keep it in mind.
Re: These 20+ Games Are Coming To Xbox Next Week (January 19-23)
@Fiendish-Beaver It's taken from the official Xbox Store description, with the asterisk part explaining the following:
"*This game is a partial remake of FINAL FANTASY VII, first released in 1997. It is the first title in a multi-part series based on the original game. It reimagines the Midgar portion of the story with expanded scenes, new characters, and additional narrative layers."
I've now taken it out of our version just to avoid any confusion.
Re: Seven Games Are Jam-Packed Into The First Xbox Free Play Days Of 2026
@Lup Good idea! 💪
Re: Seven Games Are Jam-Packed Into The First Xbox Free Play Days Of 2026
@Lup It's honestly decent, and that's coming from someone who's traditionally preferred PES. The addition of an "authentic" gameplay style really improved things for me.
Re: These Are The 10 Highest-Rated Original Xbox Games Of All Time, But Do You Agree?
@themightyant And Burnout 3 for that matter.
Re: These Are The 10 Highest-Rated Original Xbox Games Of All Time, But Do You Agree?
@Cakefish Not far behind! 90 average rating on Meta.
@BenIsJammin138 Of course it was! Apologies 🤦♂️
Re: 10 New Xbox Indie Games That Should Be On Your Radar In January 2026
@jesse_dylan Yeah, they're not sorted newest to oldest anymore. No idea why, it makes discoverability way harder.
Re: Xbox Partners With Kojima To Fix Major Save Bug In Death Stranding Director's Cut
@OskarRex I'm aware of it now! Leave it with me, I'll try and get around to covering this at some point if possible.
Re: Xbox Might Have Just Revealed Forza Horizon 6's Release Date
VGC is also now reporting that it's likely legit:
"Sources have told VGC this is the correct release window."
Re: Star Wars Genesis Creator Explains Why Viral Starfield Mod Is 'Never' Coming To Xbox
@HeavyHoggJP In that case, be aware that you also need the Shattered Space expansion for it.
Details here:
https://genesismodlist.com/install/
Re: 10 New Xbox Indie Games That Should Be On Your Radar In January 2026
@SodaPop6548 You're welcome!
Re: Xbox Gives Refunds For Red Dead Redemption Following Recent Upgrade Issues
@cornholio005 Hey, good for you! No idea why that's the case, but my advice is to just enjoy it
Re: Xbox Gives Refunds For Red Dead Redemption Following Recent Upgrade Issues
@GuyinPA75 Did you ever see a "Just For You" banner next to the game on Xbox? The upgrade was only for 14 days I believe, or at least that's what it was initially saying.
Worth contacting Xbox Support to see if they can help.
Re: Xbox Drops Multiple Games To Their 'Lowest Price Ever' In New Publisher Spotlight Sale
@Fiendish-Beaver Excellent! It may not become a permanent fixture for every deals article, but thought it would prove useful in this case.
Re: Xbox Gives Refunds For Red Dead Redemption Following Recent Upgrade Issues
@Fiendish-Beaver Unfortunately not! It's only for people who owned the digital 360 version and then bought the new one too.
(I'm in the same boat as you)
Re: This New RPG Is Heavily Inspired By Paper Mario, And It's Releasing On Xbox Next Week
@Ken_Kaniff I'm really glad to hear that! 😊
Re: Three Games Are Available This Week With Xbox Game Pass (January 12-15)
@Fiendish-Beaver Great game though! Worth having for keeps.
Re: Microsoft Rewards & Xbox: How To Make 10,000 Points Per-Month (2026 Edition)
Update: Hello everyone! This guide has now been updated for 2026. Let me know if you find it useful, if there's anything else you want to know about, and how you're getting on with the program!
Re: Xbox Game Pass: All Games Coming Soon In January 2025
Update: This article has now been updated with all the latest reveals — we finally have a lot more than just two games!
Re: Is It Worth Buying An Xbox One In 2026?
@Balaam_ The "best of the best" line means the best Xbox console you can buy right now.
People can obviously feel free to make comparisons to PlayStation and Nintendo, but this article was just meant to be focused on Xbox.
Re: Another Source Reveals What They Know About The 'Secret' Xbox Developer Direct Game
@ILuvGames Yeah they do, so you never know. The fact VGC says a first-party "studio" rather than "game" suggests to me they're referring to an in-house developer though.
I know a few people are speculating it might be Double Fine's "Kiln", which is a multiplayer brawler that was prototyped many years ago.
https://www.doublefine.com/dftv/kiln
Re: Another Source Reveals What They Know About The 'Secret' Xbox Developer Direct Game
@ILuvGames Toys for Bob isn't technically a first-party studio (their next game is being published by Xbox, but they haven't been acquired), so I don't think it'll be them. They're rumoured to be making a new Spyro game anyway.
Double Fine is very possible, Obsidian too. We'll see!
Re: Another Source Reveals What They Know About The 'Secret' Xbox Developer Direct Game
Update: It's apparently a first-party game and not a third-party one:
"CORRECTION: VGC has since been told this is a smaller original game from a first-party studio, and not a third-party game, as first reported. Apologies for the mix-up."
Re: Industry Insider Teases 'Secret' Fourth Game For The Xbox Developer Direct Showcase
@Fiendish-Beaver I should have sat through the 3 hours!
Re: Industry Insider Teases 'Secret' Fourth Game For The Xbox Developer Direct Showcase
@Fiendish-Beaver I wanted to watch that but it's 3 and a half hours long!
Will recap in the morning if anything major was announced.
Re: Report: Xbox Working On 'Major Updates' To PC App For Next Console's Dashboard
It's also worth noting here that Xbox One & Series X/S games will reportedly carry over to the next console.
That potentially means great things for all Xbox hardware moving forward, as theoretically the likes of the ROG Xbox Ally and even Windows 11 PCs could be able to support console games natively in the future, considering they're likely to use the same interface as each other and all support Windows.
Windows Central does say a bit about back compat in here:
"Existing Xbox console users' libraries will come forward with them to the new Xbox, as Microsoft continues to commit to backward compatibility in a big way."
Microsoft has confirmed it previously as well:
https://www.purexbox.com/news/2025/06/xbox-and-amd-are-delivering-on-a-promise-by-making-existing-libraries-work-on-next-gen
Re: Xbox Has Begun Licensing Old Games For Physical Cartridges, And More Are Coming In 2026
@TrollOfWar You're welcome, and I agree!
I'm also having a ton of fun with Evercade right now, it's so addictive collecting those cartridges! I assume a Rare Collection 2 is on the cards, but as you say, Blizzard Arcade makes sense too.
Double Fine would be amazing 🙏
Re: Xbox Has Begun Licensing Old Games For Physical Cartridges, And More Are Coming In 2026
@BionicDodo Fair enough, I don't think they've ever really spelled it out, although I'd argue that Xbox definitely isn't just about console anymore — they're pushing this massive campaign about how everything is an Xbox and how PC / cloud is a massive part of the brand now.
We still refer to Phil Spencer as the "Xbox boss" quite a lot, even though he's technically "Microsoft Gaming CEO" these days, because quite honestly we're not sure how the two roles differ!
Re: Xbox Has Begun Licensing Old Games For Physical Cartridges, And More Are Coming In 2026
@BionicDodo I know what you mean, but I don't really think there's a difference between "Microsoft Gaming" and "Xbox". They're one and the same for all intents and purposes.
Re: New Xbox Hardware Is Reportedly Set To Arrive In 2026
@Balaam_ I'm sure it'll have plenty more improvements than just direct-to-WiFi connectivity, they're just not known right now.
Re: New Xbox Hardware Is Reportedly Set To Arrive In 2026
@Martsmall Windows Central generally has a good track record with reports. Who knows if it'll all pan out like this, but it's coming from a big outlet and it's interesting stuff 🤷♂️
We always make sure we say "rumour" when it's coming from Jez's podcast, but in this case it's more of a report.
Re: New Guitar Hero-Style Game Announced For Xbox Alongside 'Telecaster Edition' Controller
@Deadcorpse66 So, what I've seen suggests it'll be a "curated Core library" for free players with one premium track a month, and then single tracks will cost just over $1 to buy on top.
Maybe that'll change for the launch, but it's in the marketing materials that have been provided to us.
Re: Xbox Reporter Teases What Might Be Shown At Developer Direct, Including A Potential Surprise
@awp69 He also put "baking" in italics. Take that for what you will.