JetmanUK

No purchases from me, my Xbox spend is still suspended (since sometime in 2024, I've only bought a couple of games on sale), pending next gen and how things work out on the platform.

I will continue to pay for the bottom tier Gamepass so my already existing library is fully functional (online is essential really). But I don't see me jumping back in again, I'm here for the nostalgia at this point, my former favourite platform. 🤷🏻🤣

@Runex2121 What? No online play? So basically the old "Gold" service part of Gamepass? This is crazy!
So you just get to play some old games, but then if you want online play Gold isn't an option any more so you have to subscribe to Gamepass, the thing you are getting free?! But actually... you aren't. 🤷🏻🤦🏻‍♂️🤣 There's no top up sub to add the online feature. People are going to be confused. This went from excellent to totally useless.

Thanks for letting me know a about this. 👍🏻

EDIT
Useless form an Xbox point of view, I guess it's nice that you get to play some Xbox games on your headset. But it's basically a promo to advertise Xbox and make you subscribe for console play. Smart marketing I suppose.
I am currently not planning on re-subbing to Meta, and I have an active lowest Gamepass sub via a code. I'll stick to that lowest sub, I just want online play really. If online was free that would be great, or maybe even a lower tier that was cheaper.
Regardless, this former Xbox whale realises not much is for me in Xbox land any more.

This is interesting. I had the Meta + sub, but cancelled it when I wasn't using my headset as much. If the price of the base level Gamepass is now included then I may re-sub and I'm getting two for one, both systems are low usage for me these days, but at least the value will be there, online services available to me when I do use the headset or console.

Ryse, the most underrated exclusive of it's generation. A viking sequel would still be great today. It's shame we probably won't see it.

@BacklogBrad Like on PlayStation? Nah mate, we are second class citizens over here.

This makes things right worth regards to content being free elsewhere, but the real parity we want is an Xbox One/Series version of BO1 and 2. The hacked 360 versions could really do with being replaced.

@Elbow Yeah it always struggled on last gen, but I still played the heck out of it.

TBF it actually got to a playable state, especially if you were around from the start - The melty buildings where it would spawn around you and you'd get stuck inside a table, 15 frames per second etc etc. 🤣

So yeah the 30fps was welcome! But they binned support of last gen a while ago so it's Series and PS5 consoles only now.

Nice updates to an amazing game.
I have sunk days and days of play time (weeks actually !😬🤣) into this game since launch, jumping in for months at a time. If I was more time rich I'd play it constantly now too.

@Mr-Cage The game supports zero cross play. The 360 version is hacked and must be kept separate.

The PS4 and PS5 version are also separate and don't even support cross play with each other, which is surprising, I would have thought they would be to increase the player base.

Even so, this should have been released on XB1 and XB series consoles. Just a disgrace that an MS owned franchise doesn't even get a release on its own consoles!

@Mr-Cage
I think you need to re-read my comment mate. Back compatibility is awesome, I never said it was a waste of time.

Putting words in my mouth. Well done. 👏🏻

@oopsiezz Yep, its a disgrace. The 360 versions, although great, are hacked to death. I would have bought these, at the launch discount prices anyway.

Thanks for treating us so well MS. Shove your Helix.

Ponies are in full meltdown. Always fun to watch.

(I have all three consoles, my comment is pointed a the large toxic Sony fanboy community).

Great option.

Basically Helix will be DOA, just like the Steam Machine. Best case they subside the box, but with Xbox on its arse that sounds unlikely.

It's game over guys, the writing is on the wall. An OG here can see this, yeah it hurts as I've invested so much in their ecosystem, but at this point, well it's a zombie brand....

Deadman walking!

No worries, everyone who wants an Xbox already has one so they can sit on an inventory of stock and polish them all if they like. Perhaps they can gut them to use the components in AI? 🤣

What a time for gaming. 🤷🏻🤦🏻‍♂️ How Sony and MS think they'll sell next gen consoles over the next year or two, it's laughable, no chance at the prices they'll be, we will all sit on our current hardware.

I'm glad I bought a Switch 2 near launch, it scratches the new console itch and will sit alongside my PS5 and XSX. It's good for another six years at least, perhaps the tech world will be less crazy by then?

So they really really aren't going to give us new versions on Xbox? 😱
That's all my Xbox spend done. The final straw... Series X will become a legacy machine, to play my thousands of games I've already bought on the platform...I think, thanks MS.

I'd already slowed down to almost a complete halt after the last couple of years, but yeah an OG here on the outs. This really could be the final straw. After all this time. Surely they wont do this?! 🤷🏻🤔😡🤬

@FraserG Evercade? A man of culture.

I cannot see a scenario where they would not also release these on Xbox. Yes we have the 360 versions and they are back compat, but they are old games with lots of hackers in the lobbies.

I think they will be free to current 360 version owners, or worst case a whole new purchase at a lowish price.

(If MS somehow mess this up and the above does not come to pass, wow, expect a final straw moment happening for many many long time Xbox gamers, like myself, since the OG. Not even MS are this stupid, so it won't happen....).

@BottleCapDave2021 Oh no. They should have left that, it had it's own unique boot up that was very cool.

Very nice. I will fire up the Series X later to check it out. I assume it's just current gen? I like the One X's unique bootup, I hope that is still in place.

Xbox
Makes the totally expected and correct decision

Me
Of course, well done.

Internet
Agghhhhhhh! wahhh wahhh wahh! Xbox is dumb and deader than dead.

@DojoMax
As I said in my comment I know I'm probably in a small percentage of users that actually utilise the port... but to be fair to this "grifter" I do have a good headset, with controls too.

That's not the point here, it's a lot more simple to use the buttons connected to the pad, a smaller hand movement, faster and more elegant for sure. Also, a feature that's been available for over a decade, across two console generations, just being taken away, well, isn't that a shame? Just because you don't use it it doesn't mean that it's not a valid thing to be disappointed about.

I doubt that anyone who has actually used the stereo adapter for some amount of time would say that using the dashboard controls or taking their hand up to their headset is a more intuitive, fast or efficient way to operate a headset.

I also use the stereo adapter and occasionally the chatpad, so this is a loss of some functions for me. I bet I'm in a super small percentage of people though, so it goes the way of Snap, on the scrapheap. Meh.

Yeah any ads should be gaming related, a fast food one is just insulting.
What's worse, and I'm no snowflake, but at least offer a survey to make them relevant ffs, I'm a veggie, advertising a crappy chicken product is of no interest to me. I don't get this on my Switch 2. Do better Microsoft.

I played this one on my Switch 2 and commented with my opinions over on Nintendo Life.

To add my thoughts here, well I played this last Saturday and enjoyed it. The music creates a great atmosphere and the sequences although very light on actual gameplay are enjoyable, with the graphics looking very nice.

On reflection, a few more days after completing it, the characters could have been more likeable and maybe a little more humour may have helped too.
Regardless I'd recommend playing this, although it is definitely being overrated, for me it's a 7.5/8 out of 10.

Playground managed to produce a locked 30fps with perfectly even frame pacing and excellent tight and responsive controls in the early FH games, they felt totally acceptable. It's tempting to play this at 30fps and get the extra eye candy. It'll play very well in either mode, so I will swap between them and see what I think.

Blur, now it's Microsoft IP, surely it will come. Then follow it with a sequel. 😁🤟🏻

All four with a cool animation would be nice, gotta love the 360 and One X boot animations, how about them too?

As someone who has owned all three leading consoles each generation I think I'll finally be out. I may not buy either the Sony or Microsoft machine, we will see. I have a Switch 2 and the cross gen will be so long that my PS5 (and XSX, if it still receives games, I think support will be quickly binned) will be just fine.

A lot of people are saying that they are out, I wonder if it's just your time, lots of younger gamers will be coming in and taking your (and maybe my) place, buying the new hardware.
That's fine, I'm finding Atari 2600/7800, Evercade and Switch 2 more than meet my needs for games these days.

I think Forza is now the Horizon series, Motorsport needs to at least be put on hold indefinitely. Turn 10 could then be the Project Gotham studio. A new start, FM had become stale anyway and PGR is due a return.

@Globo Not really.
The question was what do you expect from Xbox over the next five years, I said "Dead as a pure console, all releases will be PC based". I stand by that, thats cleary what's going to happen, it'll be dead as a console, hopefully alive as a PC gaming mode. Let's see how people accept it.

You replied to me and I so replied to you. I stand by my first comment, I didn't say dead as a platform... Although that is also possible, but I hope not. 😬🤦🏻‍♂️🤣
Xbox being dead as a console is a positive thing anyway, they gave up trying to beat Sony so they needed to pivot to PC and we will see what happens.

To be clear, if you don't know my username I'm a reader of this site since the first time round (before it was shut down for years and then reborn) and own thousands of Xbox games so I'm not hating on Xbox. I rarely post these days as it's been a depressing couple of years being an Xbox fan, my spending went on hold as things went wrong and that's after Xbox being my main platform since the OG.

@Globo
There will be Xbox releases on an Xbox store, of course, but they won't be "console" releases, they will basically be PC releases as the new hardware is a PC with Xbox legacy compatibility via onboard hardware. They will run in an Xbox mode on a Windows PC, the next gen hardware.

Well, as you will be able to select between modes, I have a great name... Windows Switch

Joking aside who knows with Xbox naming, they should just let their imaginations go wild. What could possibly go wrong?

Xbox One U?

@Globo
Let me clarify for you.

In five years there will be no 'console' releases on Xbox, they will be PC based and run on the new PC/Console hybrid. They will run in a console like environment/front end, but they will be PC based games as the next machine is a PC hybrid.

So yeah, as a pure console Xbox will be dead in five years. This is not a bold prediction I am making here, but clearly what MS is morphing Xbox into.

Dead as a pure console, all releases will be PC based.

I enjoy playing the classic CODs, and with the multiplayer lobbies being hacked , sadly, I go Rambo and play solo in private games against a team of bots, great fun.
I will try this mode out, I don't recall ever playing it, it sounds like it will be right up my alley, thank you.

I am glad that this is seeming being buried, but this and the release of games on other formats has totally killed confidence in the brand. I say this as a long time reader of this site (from first time round before it was closed and resurrected) who's main console, you know an actual console, was an Xbox, since the OG.
When MS lost their minds I slowed spending down to an almost complete stop on the platform.

I'm sure MS have an Excel sheet somewhere noting how people like me, decades old customers with literally thousands of games, went down to spending almost nothing on games and the basic cheapest subscription. They scared off their most loyal customers, quite an achievement. The past couple of years have been worse than the Xbox One launch, it's been a monumental screw up. Can they come back from this? Sadly I don't think so.

Activision games are now possible, perhaps Blur will come, great game. There are a few others we may see now that licenses are less problematic. It will be a nice positive to see this, some good news. 😊👍🏻

Fixed it for you:
Microsoft's 2026 GDC Booth Showcases An Impressive Look At The History That Was Xbox Consoles

No thanks. Just awful. Nostalgia can blind people sometimes, this is one of those times.

I think Phil's just having a light hearted time now, the pressure is off. I'm glad he can stick around to assist the changeover and enjoy it himself too.

Yeah, they'll be a lot of new stuff:

Trophies

Playstation cloud saves

Dual sense features

Highest resolution graphics on PS5 Pro

It's too late now. The gap has been too long and third parties actually make great alternatives.

@Fiendish-Beaver
Agreed, that PS5 controller is awful. You can't beat an Xbox controller, although a Switch Pro 2 is pretty nice as well.

@Fiendish-Beaver Yeah I buy the PS consoles too, and just play their exclusives on there (How do MS not understand this?). I must admit I have not enjoyed the PS5 that much, it's been a really poor generation for me. It's put me right off a PS6, so yeah here I am feeling like I am out on Sony and MS, maybe I am getting old and grumpy?! Or maybe gaming is just in a bad spot right now.

For next gen gaming I am going to be an observer, who knows what will happen.

@Fiendish-Beaver
I suggest we don't buy. Everyone should pause purchases, cancel subs if they want to too.

I have GP Essential, in case I want to pop on a COD or maybe PUBG. They will have no more of my money. Perhaps if they pull an absolute blinder of a turn around with a really compelling PCXbox, but really, who has any faith left in them to actually do that? I would not buy one at launch, and I say that as somneone who bought all their consoles at launch after the OG (the OG I was a bit later).

My suggestion to the Xbox community, pause all spending now, sit and wait.

@Fiendish-Beaver
I enjoy random indie games, and had a spell of achievement hunting as competition with friends, so that definitely swelled my library! All those quick cheevo games for a few quid. What was I thinking?! Haha. That and lots of deep sale purchases, but yeah a lot of games down the toilet if my Series X dies. I can't believe we are here, what a crap situation.

I guess I gambled and backed the losing horse. Ah well, I stopped buying games on Xbox when the writing was on the wall, it's a legacy machine and platform for me. I will enjoy my Switch 2 and if I want more advanced games then maybe I will look into a new PC, but I doubt it, that would be expensive and I feel more like playing retro and fun Nintendo style games right now, they work better for playing with my daughter anyway.

TBH if a new console gets released or not is totally irrelevant at this stage. They don’t release one, Xbox hardware is dead, they do release one, the death is prolonged. I say this as someone who has treated Xbox as his primary platform since the OG… It’s done, it’s over, they killed it.

When they went multiplatform with their big games they destroyed the need to own an Xbox, and without that need you get lower sales, and with lower sales you get less third party support. People will buy a PC or a PlayStation. It’s over, at this point it’s like watching a terminally ill relative die. There is no hope.

Their only strategy now can be a PC/Xbox hybrid that allows native access to everyone’s Xbox library (mine is literally thousands of digital games*). This is much rumoured, but I am probably better sticking with my Series X legacy machine for those games. Let’s see, maybe they will impress us all, but yeah, as a standard console Xbox is dead… and with all the moves MS has made they are making it a lot easier for even hardcore users of the platform to say goodbye.

*I just checked, 2,138 digital games. Add some physical (mostly a ton of 360 games) and all the GWG titles and yeah, I am in deep with a corpse console. This is why people are upset, that investment is in jeopardy.

I have a Core sub (now Essesnial), for the rare occasions I actually turn on my former favourite current console brand. Is this increasing in price? If so does this mean that my sub will be cut short? Or will the rest of it play out for the number of months left? Just give me XB Live Gold for £40 per year like the old days for online play only, I don't care about any of the other inclusions.

Anyway, another nail in the XBOX coffin, so sad to see, I am an Xbox 'whale', I have had all the consoles and have thousands of games, well they started to scare me off some time ago and the news keeps on getting worse and worse.

Sad to think that Xbox had a place in my heart alongside Atari, Sinclair and Commodore. I guess they are also a legacy brand now too. Well, you can still buy new hardware from the other three companies right now (the Next is licensed, but you get me) and they aren't a rip off! So I guess a dead legacy brand, poor old Xbox has been killed by MS.

Retro, Switch 2 and low end PC gaming on my laptop are my current choices. MS are getting no more of my pennies.

#FUMS

@BaldB3lper78 I was also hoping for a Switch 2 version, as with MS's business pivot I have now considered Nintendo my primary format. Fingers crossed. I will buy it on Xbox even if it does come to Switch, but only when discounted, to get the play anywhere PC version.