Gamer83

I'm having two issues. Doing a replay of the Halo Infinite campaign and I've collected a couple Spart Cores that didn't register, still says I have 0. And on the rewards app, I activated the Forza Horizon 5 punch for this month's challenge and I've recorded 7 achievements since. Still haven't gotten credit for those 500 points. Wondering if these are related to the server issues or not? I can still play all my games, physical and digital, DLC for all of them work and achievements are still popping.

I do think what's going on is a big problem, and not just an MS issue but one throughout the industry, I don't love the all-digital, online-heavy focus. You can make online an integral part of the console without the other nonsense, Xbox 360 is a perfect example.

Built up enough MS Rewards points last month that I got one of the $10 gift cards so I bought Lumines Live. Can't believe I waited so long because I've always liked the other Lumines games I played.

One of my favorite 360 games. A surprise hit in 2012, imo. I thougth it would be ok but there were other racing games that year I was more hyped about. Then the games released and FH 1 simply destroyed the competition.

Always appreciate free games so I will add all these. Not sure I'll ever play any of them but I know Braid got great reviews.

Would definitely recommend Hydro Thunder Hurricane to anybody who hasn't played it, terrific game. Also since it's a 360 game I believe you get to keep it even if you let your XBL Gold subscription run out, unless that policy has changed.

Both very longshots (more like slim to no chance) but I'd love to see a new Splinter Cell or Ninja Gaiden 4.

Perfectly fine with how this works.

While I'm sure there are casual gamers who might, the majority of people aren't going to drop $500 on a console just because they can get it now. If somebody wants a PS5 they won't 'settle' for an Xbox Series X/S, especially if they have a sizeable PS4 library built up which can be played on PS5. Stock does play a role but I don't think it's the only factor, MS has done a pretty decent job turning things around from the dreadful start of the Xbox One era. Backwards compatibility, great hardware, Game Pass, all this stuff has put Xbox in a better light. I don't think, when it's all said and done, that Series X/S will outsell PS5 once stock issues are sorted but I do think this gen is going to be a lot closer, and that's a good thing. We've already seen Sony back off some decisions this gen that I don't think it would have during the PS4 days and that's because MS, and Nintendo for that matter, are much more serious competition than back in 2013-2017.

@awp69
Yeah, certainly not impossible. I believe 360 actually ended up as the top selling console, even ahead of the original Wii, here in NA. This market loves that brand, Xbox One also sold reasonably well considering how that gen started. MS does have to start pumping out some more heavy hitting exclusives, imo, when it does that's when things should really take off.

On Xbox Series X, the game I've gone back to the most (on any platform) this year... The King of Fighters XV. Really been enjoying SNK's fighters again in recent years. Also love the Samurai Shodown reboot.

Hope he enjoys the time off. Helped bring us Sunset Overdrive, I'm thankful for that.

I won't be buying, was interested but I already have Genesis copies of Sonic 1 and 2 and the nice thing about Xbox is you can play the XBLA versions of 1-3, Knuckles and CD through backwards compatibility (believe they can still be bought through the old 360 marketplace or 360 itself as well). Still interested in Frontiers, hoping they don't mess that up.

Xbox Series X - Sonic Colors Ultimate

Switch - Kirby and the Forgotten Land

Perfect Dark

If MS is working with Kojima I hope it found a way to also get Konami in a deal and that we get a real MGS 5.

I say he continues through this generation and into the very beginning of the next, either late 2027 or early 2028. I went with 2027. MS seems to be on a seven year cycle with consoles now so I think that will be when the next Xbox launches, he'll see that through and then leave, hopefully with the Xbox brand in the best position it's ever been. He's done a great job turning things around.

Knights of the Old Republic, followed closely by Jedi Fallen Order and Force Unleashed 1. Top 5 SW games along with Rogue Squadron 1 and 2.

@Dezzy70
Much like Nintendo after the Wii U disaster, I'm not looking at the competition, all I care about is MS doing much better with the Series consoles after the debacle that was the Xbox One. Seems like things are off to a good start, now if it could just get the big exclusives out quicker, the situation would be even better.

Awesome news, if true. Not really sure I'll be getting the new NFS as I feel the series hasn't been that great after Hot Pursuit back in 2010, I think it was, but the fact EA might be moving to current-gen only is big and hopefully means other companies are looking at doing the same.

With everything getting remakes or remasters these days, it only makes sense that two of the great action games of all-time would get the same treatment. Hopefully it's just graphics and performance bumps and fixing some of the gameplay flaws from the early 2000s. Leave out the modern-day bs like microtransactions.

Xbox Series X - The King of Fighters XV and F.E.A.R.

PS5 - Horizon: Forbidden West and Gran Turismo 7

Unfortunately I have to agree with most here, doesn't seem like this will be a 2022 release. The debut trailer got me really interested but it's been too quiet since.

@Would_you_kindly
Pretty much. Remasters of the first two (with no unnecessary changes to the content to appease 'modern audiences') with a graphics engine built ground up for the current consoles is all I need from this series. I thought I wanted a new entry then I saw what the new team at Volition is doing.

Awesome. Hopefully we get some RE Village DLC this year as well...

Shouldn't apologize at all. If the game doesn't click with somebody that's fine, that person can go find something else to play. These type of games are for a specific audience but they continue to be made and generally sell well. Must be doing something right. The moaning about lack of difficulty options is pathetic at this point.

Xbox Series X - The King of Fighters XV

PS5 - Horizon: Forbidden West

Not buying the game but if I was PS5 would be totally out of the question, censorship of an M-rated game when the developer went through all the right channels is, frankly, beyond ridiculous. I do think an option to give people the chance to skip over scenes is a good idea, or even an option just for them to be viewable but non-interactive. Forcing changes to the point where a person buying on one console can't play a scene, eventhough it's only a slight change, isn't something I'm for. More options is always better. At least from the descriptions, the game seems disturbing, but no sh*t, it's a horror game.

I'll give Sacred 2 a try now, been interested for a while but never made a purchase.

I was a bit nervous about Gears of War 4 but thought it turned out great and really enjoyed Gears 5 as well. It's my favorite Xbox series so the sooner Gears 6 is on the way, the better.

I always get concerned when a big game is announced and platforms aren't announced along with it.

The big 2 that launched the last couple days, which also happened to be two of my most-anticipated games for the year...

Xbox Series X - The King of Fighters XV (hope to see a review both here and PushSquare at some point)

PS5 - Horizon: Forbidden West

I'm just happy MS is smart enough not to make this cannon for the games.

Edge of Eternity, Crossfire X Operation Catalyst, Halo Infinite and Forza Horizon 5.

Eventhough I'm old enough to have played and enjoyed these games on PS1 and 2, I didn't play any Klonoa game until getting the Wii version around the time it released. Awesome game, will be getting this collection for the Switch.

It's pretty clear (especially given how it's already been stated by MS) that MS and Sony, both which showed pretty good restraint for a long time when it came to making acquisitions, are spooked by the potential of other companies entering the business and buying up everything. As I posted on PushSquare, I'd rather MS and Sony own companies like Bethesda, Activision and Bungie but in the long term I'm not sure consolidation is good for the gaming industry.

We'll see how everything plays out. I don't love the direction it's going, tbh.

Not the most popular name among the suits who help run the Xbox division but I remember hearing about her a few times. Nice, long career, best of luck to her.

No shock. The person who plays GTA and not much else simply doesn't care about bugs or glitches. They see a new Grand Theft Auto game, they buy.

A couple 360 games on the Series X through backwards compatibility, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe and MK 9.

@FraserG
Thanks for this article. It helped me get Aegis Wing. For whatever reason the game was telling me I needed to login into my Xbox account when I tried to get it from the store on my Series X. This round about method ended up working instead.

I'll try the campaign for sure, don't know if I'll buy it, though. Cautiously optimistic. I like Remedy but concerned that we haven't heard much.

@russbeer
There's no real thought process behind it. For certain games, it depends on the series. Resident Evil, for example, I've always viewed as more of a PlayStation series. When it comes to Tomb Raider, I didn't start playing those games until Legend on the 360, so my experience there is more on Xbox. For something like KoF XV, it's just more of a convenience thing. I'm gaming more on Xbox these days so that's the console I'm getting the game for.

Agree about the controllers. The Xbox Series one is good but of any controllers I've ever used the DualSense is easily my favorite.

Other: The King of Fighters XV.

Big game of February for me is Horizon: Forbidden West, which will be the first time PS5 game I've bought in a while. On the Xbox side, Crossfire X and King of Fighters XV are the ones I'm planning to get.

Halo Infinite has been my go-to game since it came out, don't play the multiplayer but love the campaign, first Halo campaign I've really been into since Reach. Other than that, I've been on a 360 kick lately. Dead or Alive 4 is one of my favorite fighting games of all-time, I've been playing that a lot since it was added to the backwards compatibility list, and I went nuts in the bc sale, so I'll probably start one of those games... Thinking either Split/Second or Killer is Dead.

I don't like seeing big publishers get purchased and I haven't been thrilled with where I've seen the gaming industry going for a while now. But it is what it is. Nothing I can do about it other than hope for the best. On the plus side, MS might actually clean up some of the nonsense that happened at Activision/Blizzard.

I actually don't think this month's selection is terrible. None of these are blockbuster games but Hydrophobia is pretty decent.

Bought it just for the campaign and glad I did. Wasn't the biggest fan of 4 and couldn't stand 5 but this campaign was extremely good. Best one from 343 by far and worthy of standing next to Bungie's work on the series.

His mistake here is acknowledging these idiotic fanboys at all.

Another killer sale, just bought Split/Second and Deus Ex: Mankind Divided.

@FraserG
Split/Second is one of the games I was considering, think I'm going to pull the trigger on a purchase after reading your reply.