State of Decay 3 is one of my most anticipated Xbox releases by far. State of Decay 2 was such a time sick for me lol I spent hundreds of hours kill zombies, looting and surviving with friends. The game had a really good gameplay loop imo and it was a ton of fun!
I seriously can't wait til we see more of State of Decay 3. My guess is we will either see the game at Xbox summer game fest or at the very least during The Game Awards. Happy gaming ✌️
I tried playing through Far Cry 3 a few years ago but I just couldn't stick with it. Hopefully this new update makes things a little easier on the eyes and more responsive.
I will say the 60fps update on Far Cry 5 made the game that much better, and Far Cry 6 looks and plays incredibly well on Series X and Series S. Happy gaming ✌️
@swedetrap now that's a nice setup right there! I have a 1TB Series X with a 1TB SSD expansion card, and I have a 512GB Series S with a 512GB expansion card installed in it. So between the 2 expansion cards + the internal SSD I have enough storage for most of my games.
For example on my Xbox Series X I currently have 15 games installed (AC: Shadows, BF6, BO7, Diablo 3, Diablo 4, Indiana Jones, GTA 4, Forza Motorsport, Fortnite, The Outer Worlds 2, RDR, RDR2, MX vs ATV Legends, Rocket League and Deep Rock Galactic Survivor) and under ALL Storage it has 83.3% full & it says I have 287GB free. So I have enough storage left over to download anything, I never fill my storage to max if I can help it.
When my wife and I got our Xbox consoles, about 3 months passed before we pulled the trigger on 1TB Western Digital Black C50 SSD expansion cards. She has a 1TB card in her Xbox Series S, I have a 1TB card in my Xbox Series X, and I decided to get a 512GB for my Xbox Series S for when I travel & I can honestly say the expansion cards are the biggest upgrades you can possibly make to your console and they are a thousand percent worth it!
I got my 512GB WD Black C50 SSD expansion card for just $70 and it's made my Xbox Series S incredibly more useful! Highly recommend it to anyone who owns a Series S or anyone who wishes they could hold more games simultaneously. Happy gaming ✌️
I've yet to play Death Stranding. As much as I loved the Metal Gear series, I'm not sure Death Stranding is my cup of tea. While visuals look good, the gameplay just doesn't look very fun to me, IDK maybe I'll give it a go at some point but as it sits, I've got a great back catalog I'm working through lol happy gaming ✌️
@KARTHLOR dude that's freaking awesome! I wish I'd kept my OG Xbox One but I ended up giving it to my little brother, he used it for quite a few years until it stopped working (teenagers are hard on electronics lol).
I'm personally playing through Assassin's Creed Shadows, The Outer Worlds 2 and Battlefield 6 is my go to multiplayer game ATM. I still have quite the catalog to get through, I've still never played Assassin's Creed Mirage even though I own it lolol I'm also planning another playthrough of Avowed once the new update goes live again. I still need to play Indiana Jones and The Great Circle DLC which is something I've been meaning to do because Indiana Jones is one of the BEST new major IP games i've played in a long time.
I'm also EXTREMELY excited for Forza Horizon 6, Fable, and The Outer Worlds 2 DLC lol Xbox in 2026 is STACKED! Happy gaming ✌️
@Jenkinss I would definitely have to agree with you 💯 percent. I would NOT recommend anyone getting a 13 year old console UNLESS they only care about playing last gen + backwards compatible games.
I personally own a PS5 + Xbox Series X and my wife owns a PS5 + Xbox Series S, so we're set for the current generation. I was considering getting a Xbox One X for my living room mainly for the 4K Blu Ray player because a used One X is cheaper than a 4K Blu Ray player lol. Happy gaming ✌️
The idea that the next Xbox will be a “PC hybrid” is built on misunderstandings and clickbait headlines. Microsoft is not replacing the Xbox OS with Windows desktop, nor are they turning the console into a general‑purpose PC. The next Xbox will use the Windows kernel and subsystems as its backend foundation—just like Xbox One and Series X|S already do—but the user experience remains a locked down, CONSOLE first Xbox interface. No desktop, no drivers, no Steam, no PC maintenance. It’s a modernized backend, not a change in CONSOLE identity.
The rumor falls apart the moment you look at Microsoft’s business incentives. Xbox consoles generate enormous revenue through the Xbox Store, Game Pass, DLC, and microtransactions. Steam takes a 30% cut of every sale. Allowing Steam on Xbox would mean Microsoft voluntarily hands its most profitable customers to Valve. That would be financially irrational and strategically disastrous. Xbox consoles are Microsoft’s highest spending users. there is no universe where Microsoft gives that up.
What the Windows integration actually accomplishes is developer cohesion, not a PC‑like experience. A unified Windows kernel makes it easier for developers to bring games between PC and Xbox, improves performance, and enables full backward compatibility through AMD’s hardware layer. None of this requires exposing Windows to the player. It’s backend engineering designed to strengthen the ecosystem, not dilute the console.
Meanwhile, the next Xbox remains a true console: fixed hardware, plug‑and‑play simplicity, and a massive generational leap powered by Zen 6 CPUs, RDNA 5 graphics, and a dedicated NPU. This is about performance, efficiency, and long‑term scalability..NOT turning Xbox into a PC.
And the broader ecosystem proves Xbox is far from “dead.” With ~40 million Series X|S units, tens of millions of active Xbox One users, PC Game Pass, and cloud gaming, Microsoft maintains over 100 million monthly active users. This is a thriving, diversified platform, not a collapsing one.
In short: the next Xbox is NOT a PC hybrid. It’s a CONSOLE first device with a modern Windows based backend that improves development and compatibility without sacrificing the simplicity, identity, or profitability of the Xbox platform. The Steam on Xbox fantasy is economically impossible, strategically irrational, and completely unsupported by credible reporting. The future of Xbox is a stronger, more cohesive, more powerful CONSOLE & not a PC in disguise.
@SalaciousCrumb I agree with this sentiment. Sony's new CEO plans to put ALL PlayStation games on PC around 12-18 months after release as he went in record stating " we want to shift to a software focused platform" which means they want to do EXACTLY what Microsoft is doing right now. There's too many ignorant people who refuse to see beyond the fanboy nonsense.. Xbox consoles will still exist, PlayStation consoles will still exist HOWEVER console sales are NO longer the metric for success. The PS5 has sold way more than Series X|S yet Microsoft makes more money from the Xbox ecosystem that Sony does from the PlayStation ecosystem. Why? Because Microsoft said, we can have 3 pillars of mass expansion. Consoles, Xbox on PC, and Xbox Cloud Gaming. This enables them to sell software across all platforms while still retaining their Microsoft Xbox store front revenue, plus Gamepass revenue, plus software sales on consoles regardless of what console it is. This is a brilliant strategy that allows them to expand beyond the current market cap of console sales, Sony is now realizing this is a money maker and they want to do the same thing.
I'll be on Xbox until it doesn't exist anymore. I'll still buy a PlayStation at some point just so I can enjoy the few games I enjoy on that console. That's what I've done for 20+ years now and that's what I'll always do. My main console is Xbox Series X, I use PlayStation 5 for the few series I enjoy from PlayStation and That's worked for my wife and I this generation so far.
The next Xbox is shaping up to be a massive generational leap, and honestly, the tech under the hood sounds incredible to me. With the AMD + Microsoft partnership cemented and that rumored custom AMD Magnus APU, we’re looking at serious CPU and GPU gains. Not just raw performance gains but massive efficiency gains that allowed more performance per watt. The most exciting part for me is the dedicated NPU (rumored at 100+ TOPS). Having a dedicated chip for AI upscaling and frame gen means the GPU doesn’t have to do all the heavy lifting. It frees up shader cycles for better visuals while keeping latency low basically, we get smoother, better looking games without the console sounding like a jet engine (lol yes I owned a PS4 pro)
Despite the rumors, this is going to be a CONSOLE first machine, not some weird PC hybrid. As much as I love technology, I want my Xbox to stay an Xbox, period. I want that locked down, snappy UI that just works when I pick up the controller. I don't want driver updates, windows drama, none of that. I want a CONSOLE not a PC.
Microsoft is likely going to bridge the gap with PC tools and shared APIs so devs can port games WAY more easily, but don't expect to see a full Windows desktop or Steam on the next Xbox. It wouldn’t make sense for them to hand over their Microsoft storefront revenue to Valve when Game Pass is the crown jewel of the ecosystem, and their digital storefront generates tons of revenue.
The coolest part of the rumor mill is the handheld Series S successor. Imagine a low power Magnus chip tuned for native 1080p Xbox gaming on the go, but then using that NPU/GPU combo to scale up to 4K/120fps when you dock it to the big screen. It’s the perfect entry level tier for the next generation (the Xbox Series S has been successful regardless of how people feel about it).
Microsoft is clearly doubling down on hardware. We’re getting a massive technical jump and better interoperability with PC for developers, all while keeping the "it just works" console vibe we’ve had since the OG Xbox days. Between the main powerhouse and a potential handheld, the future of the ecosystem looks stacked & I'm excited for it.
At the end of the day, I get a lot of joy from my Xbox consoles. My wife and I play Xbox with family and friends & to me that's what matters most. Am I upset at Microsoft execs who push for profits over everything? YES! Am I pissed at the price increases? YES! However, I feel like those things cloud the one thing we all enjoy and that's playing Xbox games by ourselves and with family and friends.
I'm excited for Developer Direct for sure! There's so many amazing Xbox games I'm looking forward to in 2026! Forza Horizon 6 Fable Gears of War: E-Day State of Decay 3 Diablo 4 DLC Halo: Campaign Evolved Clockwork Revolution High on Life 2
I'm glad I voted on this one, the results line up incredibly close to my personal picks for best Gamepass games of 2025. My personal picks are as follows:
1. Avowed - Truly a great game
2. The Outer Worlds 2 - Obsidian charm and RPG exploring at its best! Although the lvl 30 cap is frustrating AF.
3. DOOM: The Dark Ages - one of the most innovative DOOM games I've played. It completely reset my brain to learn the Stand and Fight mantra but the story was excellent, gameplay was stellar and graphics looked incredible on XSX.
4. Oblivion Remastered - this is a slow burn for me, I've only got about 15 hours into the remaster but it's a game I continue to dive into over and over again.
5. Gears of War Reloaded - I've owned Gears of War since Xbox 360, then I got the ultimate edition for Xbox One and now Reloaded on Xbox Series X|S lolol it now looks and plays better than ever HOWEVER my hope was for a trilogy remaster because Gears of War 2/3 definitely deserve remasters!
I'm only listing my top 5, instill haven't jumped into Clair Obscur Expedition 33 yet and I'm just barely starting my journey in Assassin's Creed Shadows lol incredible backlog I've got atm.
Xbox as an ecosystem is growing faster than ever, and that growth directly strengthens Xbox as a CONSOLE. Even with price hikes and shifting market dynamics (tariffs + component costs) millions of players are still buying Xbox hardware because the CONSOLE remains the best, simplest, and most valuable entry point into the ecosystem. As long as Xbox continues delivering its own high quality games (even if some arrive on other platforms later) the CONSOLE will thrive, Game Pass will thrive, and the broader Xbox platform will keep expanding. The next Xbox will follow that same philosophy: a true fixed spec CONSOLE first and foremost, with tighter PC cohesion layered on top, NOT a PC replacement, and definitely NOT a console replacement. The ecosystem grows, the console grows, and both can succeed together.
Xbox Consoles still have the best backwards compatibility of ALL time. My Series X can play 99% of all my OG Xbox + Xbox 360 + Xbox One discs. That's 4 generations of Xbox games available on 1 console. OG Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S all playable (plus a ton of older games got significant boosts that make them look and play better than ever).
I buy ALL my games digitally as my wife and I game share, however i bought Assassin's Creed Shadows on disc (it's my first Series X disc lol). I bought Battlefield 6 digitally but I can't remember if I bought any other games in 2025. I'd have to go through my collection to see. Happy gaming ✌️
Blade looks absolutely amazing! I want to see actual gameplay, if I had to guess this is a 2027 release. If it entered full production in late 2024 that means it's been 1 year in full production so I suspect another year will go by & come holiday 2027 we will be playing Marvel's Blade!
@FraserG I definitely couldn't agree more! I'm actually happy to see SoM getting so much love on Pure Xbox. It's one of my favorite Xbox games of 2025, next to Avowed, The Outer Worlds 2, DOOM the Dark Ages, and Battlefield 6
South of Midnight was fantastic. From beginning to end I was entrenched in it's story. So the combat is repetitive, the traversal, platforming, and storytelling more than make up for it. The story was so heartfelt, dealing with themes of trauma, loneliness, depression and anxiety it's one of those games that are FAR DEEPER than what's on the surface & for that I also give SoM a graceful 9 out of 10.
Happy gaming ✌️
I spend about 90% of ALL my gaming time playing on Series X (or Series S when I'm away from home). I spend about 10% of my play time on PS5 but that only happens when a new PlayStation exclusive launches.
My wife and I both own PlayStation 5 consoles, I have a Series X, a Series S, and my wife has a Series S. So game sharing is huge for us, we game share on Xbox and PlayStation, however we BOTH prefer Xbox over PlayStation so all 3rd party games we buy on Xbox. Basically our PlayStation 5 consoles are reserved for PlayStation exclusives, everything else is Xbox for us.
It really does come down to ecosystem cohesion and we feel Xbox has the best ecosystem. Only on Xbox can you purchase a game, get a PC copy for free (Xbox Play Anywhere), and have the ability to play a large amount of these Xbox games via Xbox Cloud gaming which has really been great especially as cloud gaming has become a lot more viable in recent years.
Long story short, Xbox is where we play and Xbox is where we plan to stay lol happy holidays, Happy gaming ✌️
@OldGamer999 trust me friend, I have made some terrible decisions in my playthrough lol 😆 but I figured I can rectify all these things in my next playthrough.
Luckily The Outer Worlds 2 is a game you can experience more than once and truly have a different experience the second go around.
Yeah man, the game is woefully underrated. I feel like a lot of people don't appreciate the complexities of rpg games nowadays, it's all about instant gratification, with no time dedicated to exploration and the sense of wonder you feel while exploring a world for the first time. At the same time, there's a good amount of people like you and I who do appreciate the small things, Happy gaming ✌️
So modern warfare 4 is what COD 2026 is going to be? Also Sledgehammer games had an incredible Zombies experience in COD WW2 Nazi Zombies, I'll be extremely disappointed if COD 2027 doesn't have zombies, although I must admit that BO7 Zombies while good, doesn't hit the same as Black Ops 6 Zombies did.
It's a shame but the only time I play COD is when a certain friend invites me to play Zombies, other than that all my online multiplayer time is devoted to BF6 because it really is the superior fps game. Happy gaming ✌️
@h3s Rockstar is still planning a current generation port / remaster for RDR2. If you remember a couple years ago they were already hard at work on a remaster but decided to "put it on hold, as well go ALL hands on deck for GTA VI".
I can't imagine a world where they don't milk RDR2 with a remaster or current gen port. I suspect that a RDR2 Remastered or current generation upgrade will launch either before GTA 6 or shortly after GTA 6.
I actually agree with your sentiment quite a bit, RDR2 is such a fantastic game but it's incredibly difficult for me getting used to 30fps. Once I play it for about an hour i stop noticing it. That being said, I can't freaking wait until the day we get to experience the glorious game this is RDR2 in buttery smooth 60fps!
@Sol4ris I'm still enjoying The Outer Worlds 2 as well. I've also been slowly exploring Red Dead Redemption Remastered, and I played Assassin's Creed Mirage for the first time last night lol (even though I've owned the game since early 2024).
I'm with you, my PS5 is setup but I haven't touched it much in 2025. The only games I played on it was Ghost of Tsushima and Helldivers 2. That was earlier this year, I genuinely have no desire to play anything on it atm, I'll end up getting Ghost of Yotei when the price drops in a year or two.
Astro's Play Room is amazing lol definitely a highlight of the PS5 for sure!
This weekend I'm juggling Battlefield 6 (with friends), The Outer Worlds 2, Red Dead Redemption Remastered and when I feel like switching it up I've been exploring Assassin's Creed Mirage! Pretty much a solid few games on my rotation atm. Happy gaming ✌️
@OldGamer999 yup, I chose The Outer Worlds 2 and DOOM: The Dark Ages as well. I'm still deep into The Outer Worlds about 60 hours into my game and still exploring lol the game is so much fun and I can't wait to dive back in for a new playthrough with a different character build! I hope we get New Game + or something, I can't wait to see what we get when it comes to DLC! Happy gaming ✌️
@Rangers420 I spent a TON of time with Avowed, that game was so much fun! I genuinely ADORED the world building, exploration, and character development (especially the characters within our party).
The companion side quests were incredible, they truly delivered deep emotional journeys that made the game feel more grounded.
South of Midnight was stellar as well, an unique adventure that was so much deeper than I had anticipated. Definitely a game that was worth playing.
Out of all the brilliant games Xbox has delivered to me in 2025, I've had the MOST FUN playing The Outer Worlds 2, Battlefield 6, DOOM: The Dark Ages, Avowed, South of Midnight and Deep Rock Galactic Survivor (a lot of gamepass games in 2025).
Okay, I just realized that I've played some stellar games this year lol 😆 that's not even mentioning Red Dead Redemption Remastered, Assassin's Creed Mirage DLC, and Oblivion Remastered.
Xbox’s backwards compatibility program is, in my eyes, one of the greatest achievements in modern gaming, letting me play FOUR generations of Xbox games (Original Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Series X|S) all on my Xbox Series X with enhancements that feel almost magical!
What makes it so special is that Microsoft didn’t just make old games run; they dedicated entire software engineering teams to preserving and improving the Xbox legacy for both current and future consoles. innovations like Auto HDR, FPS Boost, higher rendering resolutions (upscaling), and dramatically faster load times (thanks to SSD), classic games look and feel better than ever before, and most of this was achieved without any developer involvement (game patches), which makes the backwards compatibility even more remarkable!
the fact that all of this comes at no extra cost, respecting the games I already own, shows a level of care and commitment no other console maker offers. For me, Xbox’s backwards compatibility isn’t just a feature, it’s a promise that my gaming history MATTERS and will continue to matter for whatever generations may come.
I've ALWAYS been impressed with the 360 version on Series X|S however the new upgrade has truly gone beyond my expectations (I didn't think the upgrade would be much better than what the PS4 got a couple years ago, I was wrong). RDR looks and runs flawlessly on Series X! It's a game that holds up incredibly well given how old it is.
What has surprised me more than anything else is the quality of the Xbox Series S version of the game. The 1440p resolution and buttery smooth 60fps makes the game look and play incredibly well on the smallest Xbox ever made. I just spent the last week at my in-laws house, luckily for me I bring my Series S with me everywhere and so I spent my time playing BF6 with my friend, and diving into Red Dead Redemption Remastered. I can't stress enough how well the game runs on Series S the quality of the upgrade truly shines through!
A lot of people write off the Series S but it's still one of the coolest consoles I've ever owned. In fact it's the Xbox Series S that brought into the current generation of Xbox, I wouldn't own a Series X if I hadn't fallen in love with the mighty little beast that is the Series S first lolol.
Don't hate on the Xbox Series S hate on the devs who refuse to PROPERLY optimize for it. We've seen games that are stunningly beautiful on Series S thanks to PROPER optimizations! Forza horizon 5, Forza Motorsport 7, Alan Wake 2, Halo Infinite, Gears 5, DOOM Eternal, Psychonauts 2, Diablo 4, and Sea of Thieves are all games where the Series S was NOT just an afterthought but was PROPERLY optimized for and these games show what's capable when devs actually optimize for the hardware!
Let me put it this way, Rockstar games made GTA 5 on PS360! Imagine what they could accomplish with the Xbox Series S?
The Xbox 360 had just 0.24TFLOPS of GPU power (240 Gigaflops) and the Xbox Series S has 4.0 Teraflops of GPU power, this translates to the Series S possessing roughly 16.7× times more powerful graphics than what the 360 managed.
The CPU is the "brain" that handles AI, Physics, rendering calls, and game logic. This is where the Series S is arguably the most transformative (remember the Series X|S share the same CPU, the Series S is clocked just slightly lower than the Series X). The Xbox 360 featured a 3.2Ghz Tri-core (3 cores) CPU based on the Power PC (xenon) the Xbox Series S features an Octa-core (8 core) CPU clocked at 3.6Ghz and is based on the AMD Zen 2 architecture. Why this matters? Rockstar had an incredible hurdle on their hands with the Tri-core CPU being a major bottleneck on the Xbox 360, yet they managed to optimize the CPU, GPU, DVD drive and the HDD altogether to deliver what's still the most popular game of ALL time! Just imagine if Rockstar continues that aggressive optimization approach to GTA 6 and the Xbox Series X|S and PS5, we will be in for an incredible treat!
This comment kinda got away from me and for that I apologize lolol 😅 anyone who's made it this far, I appreciate you taking the time to read my stream of consciousness regarding the incredible feat of delivering GTA 5 on PS360 era consoles, and the modern marvel that is the Xbox Series S that gets hate for existing even though it truly is a remarkable little console! Happy gaming ✌️
Words cannot describe how excited I am for both Fable and Forza Horizon 6! The fable series is legendary and a proper reboot is extremely welcome and when it comes to Forza, I have spent a hundreds of hours playing Forza Horizon 5 and the fact Forza Horizon 6 will be current generation consoles ONLY means we can expect the bar to be elevated much higher than what we got with Forza Horizon 5 (which beats Gran Turismo as my favorite car racing game). Xbox 2026 is STACKED!
I would absolutely use AI on my Xbox especially for walkthroughs or voice commands. I already use copilot daily for research and if Microsoft could weave copilot into Xbox is be fine with that HOWEVER it would NEED to be built-in as a UI level integration. I'd want it to be seamless, I'd want access to it just as easily as I can tap a button to take a screenshot, copilot (AI) integration would NEED to be just as seamless for me. I'm stuck looking for something in game, I tap a button, tell copilot what I'm looking for and it gives me exactly what I need, nothing more nothing less.
I can see AI integration making a UI more seamless, being ready to deep dive into anything you ask of it. While that's great and all, I am personally more interested in what a LLM could offer random NPCs in a game. Imagine an open world game where talking to different people actually warrants deep conversations (obviously there would be guardrails in place, plus the LLM would need to be altered to specifically speak in regards to the context of the world itself, you wouldn't be able to talk random nonsense, everything would be game + lore + world + quest related). It would be very interesting indeed, never hearing phrases repeatedly forever and instead the NPCs would speak on current events within the game world itself lol IDK in my head it sounds much cooler than it probably would be in practice lol.
@jesse_dylan I played Avowed 5 days before release and it had a few bugs but nothing game breaking, by the time the Day 1 patch released most of bugs were gone and by the time it got its second patch most of the stability and performance issues were fixed.
The game is a GOOD game, I feel like the people who hate on it either never played it OR they spent an hour with it and gave up. Once you start getting deeper into it's systems the game REALLY starts to shine. Combat and exploration are a blast!
@Shinato2024 I genuinely enjoyed the game myself as well, it didn't deserve a fraction of the hate it got. The story was intriguing, the characters were good, the lore was even better and the side quests involving your squad mates was some of the best of the entire game!
This is great news as I genuinely enjoyed Avowed from beginning to end! I'd love to experience new game plus and see what else the new update has to offer! I hope we get DLC or confirmation of a sequel because there's so much lore inhabiting the world just waiting to be explored.
@Chip-Douglas couldn't agree more! RDR2 is absolutely stunning! I want a current generation remastered remake of RDR2 so bad lol think oblivion remastered but RDR2
@themightyant couldn't agree more. I'm still deep into The Outer Worlds 2, I recently completed DOOM: The Dark Ages, I may playthrough Avowed again, I've barely dipped my toes into Oblivion Remastered (I got a bug where my quest won't move forward and no matter what I do it won't fix it, the ONLY thing left is to start again and the 1st few hours of the game are so tedious lol), I still haven't touched Assassin's Creed Mirage (I own it so NBD), I also want to finish my playthrough Metaphor Refantazio, as well as a couple other games.
I actually revisited RDR earlier this year and was surprised at how well the game looked on my Series X. The 4K upscaling is REALLY good, the only thing that bugged me was the 30fps lock but after a while you get used to it.
Now that there's a native Xbox Series version, I'm going to have to play it! The 4K resolution with full HDR support combined with 60fps means this classic is going to shine like never before and I can't wait to play it!
All that being said, I am absolutely DESPERATE for a RDR2 upgrade for Xbox Series X|S! I own RDR2 on PlayStation and Xbox & the Xbox version is the best console version of the game. Playing RDR2 on PS5 means it's running the PS4 pro version via backwards compatibility & it's got completely BROKEN HDR, the game is so dark and no matter what you change your TV settings too it just doesn't look good, also the upscaled 4K on the PS4 pro version adds this weird foggy like blur to the image, I don't know how to explain it but yeah.
RDR2 on Xbox Series X reverts to the Xbox One X version of the game & it actually looks good thanks to native 4K resolution combined with full HDR support that makes the game look as good as possible on console. HOWEVER, the 30fps is the one thing that makes the game not look as good as it possibly could (it's still one of the best looking games ever made).
I truly believe if we get a current generation upgrade for RDR2 with updated textures, native 4K resolution combined with 60fps, RDR2 will easily become one of the BEST looking games on current generation consoles. We know Rockstar was working on a current generation upgrade for RDR2 but "paused" development in order to "get all hands on deck for GTA 6". I'm hoping that while we're waiting for GTA 6 we get a RDR2 upgrade because that'd literally hold me over for quite some time lol (there's so much hidden things to do in RDR2 it still surprises me to this day).
Geez that was longer than I wanted my comment to be lol happy holidays, happy gaming ✌️
Man that's one badass controller! They nailed that classic 2005 Xbox 360 launch era look for sure! I wish they'd make one that only had hall effect analog sticks and triggers + 2 mappable back buttons for like $50 because it's be a day one purchase for me!
lol at $200 I can't justify it especially when my Gamesir G7 HE has the same features minus the display & cost me just $50.
I voted for South of Midnight for Games for impact. I'm genuinely surprised it wasn't nominated for best sound design or musical score, or even artistic vision or something like that. The game is really good if given a proper chance.
South of Midnight was something I wasn't sure I was going to try. My wife ended up beating it and told me it's an absolute gem, so I decided to give South of Midnight a go and I'm glad I did!
The Southern Gothic Folklore, magical realism, and stop motion artistry gave South of Midnight an extremely surreal vibe. It's not sime big open world but its unique world is very artistic and fun to explore.
The storyline was surprisingly DEEP as hell. It captured the emotions of characters, each struggling through their own life's choices. They way the game shows different characters lives through their lenses was really cool and very impactful.
The game did a GREAT job exploring the South haunted by it's history. The game acknowledges that the region’s beauty is inseparable from its painful past. Slavery, poverty, and generational trauma. These themes seep into the atmosphere, making the haunting feel intellectual rather than purely spectral. The gothic monsters and creatures are metaphors that embody cultural anxieties that turn folklore in allegory. (Unfortunately I've come across reviews written on the Microsoft store that are beyond disgusting, teeming with racism and bigotry. Condemning the game for having a female lead that's mixed race, which is a shame).
The ONLY downside to the game itself was the combat gets a little bit repetitive. Other than that, South of Midnight was a joy to play and I'd recommend it to anyone who is interested and open minded enough to enjoy a game like this. Happy gaming ✌️
Expedition 33 was an incredible game, it took me a minute to get into it but once I did I was hooked. I voted it GoTY for The Game Awards today. Glad to see Oblivion Remastered get a win, also glad to see Xbox games being praised for their merit. Happy gaming ✌️
@Fiendish-Beaver I do believe Sony will publish their first party games across all platforms at some point (they're already confirmed that 1st party games will come to PC either at launch or about a year later, we've seen this with God of War Ragnarok, Horizon Forbidden West, and Spiderman 2). While IDK if we'll see 1st party PlayStation exclusives on Xbox ever, I do believe we will see more and more 2nd party times exclusives reaching Xbox. Square Enix themselves has been pretty vocal about their dismay with the performance of their games released solely on PlayStation & that from now on they plan on releasing across ALL platforms.
I think as time goes on and development costs continue to rise, it just makes the MOST sense to sell your games across as many platforms as possible. Spiderman 2 for example was absolutely spectacular of a game (I'm still sour we didn't get any DLC), but the cost it took to make the game and the money earned back from sales on PS5 weren't very good. (We know this to be true from the massive insomniac hack that detailed a bunch of behind the scenes stuff).
From my viewpoint exclusives really don't make sense in 2025 and beyond. Sony themselves even plans on becoming "more software focused" rather than hardware which tracks well because Microsoft has sold a fraction of the consoles yet makes just as much revenue (probably more now I'm sure) than all the other hardware manufacturers. What I'm saying isn't strictly just my opinion, there's a bunch of evidence that points to these being the trends the industry is moving towards & it makes sense.
Helldiver's 2 was the only reason I'd turn on my PS5 for all of 2024 lol now it's on Xbox the only reason I'll turn on my PS5 is if I end up getting Ghost of Yotei but I won't be buying it at full price, I'll be waiting for a discount of some sort.
Side note, I genuinely wish Helldiver's 2 had cross platform progression. I'm over 3 quarters of the way to platinum trophy and it'd be so cool for all my progress and ship upgrades to transfer over to Xbox. Happy gaming ✌️
I'm still surprised at how well some games look and run on my Xbox Series S! Games that are properly optimized for the Series S look incredibly good. Alan Wake 2, Halo Infinite, Forza Horizon 5, The Outer Worlds 2, Stalker 2, Resident Evil Village and Dead Space Remake all look and run fantastically on Series S.
I play on Series X at home but when I'm away from home, it's my Xbox Series S that I take with me alongside my 17inch gaming monitor and it's the perfect portable setup for when gaming away from home (especially when I'm stuck at my in-laws house lol)
Comments 307
Re: Six New Demos Have Been Added To Xbox In 2026 So Far, Including Three Major Ones
I'm glad to see demos are being utilized again, when I was growing up the best way to decide if a game was worth buying was by playing the DEMO lol
Re: Xbox Studios Boss Shares Update On Progress For State Of Decay 3
State of Decay 3 is one of my most anticipated Xbox releases by far. State of Decay 2 was such a time sick for me lol I spent hundreds of hours kill zombies, looting and surviving with friends. The game had a really good gameplay loop imo and it was a ton of fun!
I seriously can't wait til we see more of State of Decay 3. My guess is we will either see the game at Xbox summer game fest or at the very least during The Game Awards. Happy gaming ✌️
Re: Here's Your First Look At The 60FPS Far Cry 3 Upgrade On Xbox Series X|S
I tried playing through Far Cry 3 a few years ago but I just couldn't stick with it. Hopefully this new update makes things a little easier on the eyes and more responsive.
I will say the 60fps update on Far Cry 5 made the game that much better, and Far Cry 6 looks and plays incredibly well on Series X and Series S. Happy gaming ✌️
Re: Talking Point: Xbox Series X|S Owners, How's Your Storage Looking In 2026?
@swedetrap now that's a nice setup right there! I have a 1TB Series X with a 1TB SSD expansion card, and I have a 512GB Series S with a 512GB expansion card installed in it. So between the 2 expansion cards + the internal SSD I have enough storage for most of my games.
For example on my Xbox Series X I currently have 15 games installed (AC: Shadows, BF6, BO7, Diablo 3, Diablo 4, Indiana Jones, GTA 4, Forza Motorsport, Fortnite, The Outer Worlds 2, RDR, RDR2, MX vs ATV Legends, Rocket League and Deep Rock Galactic Survivor) and under ALL Storage it has 83.3% full & it says I have 287GB free. So I have enough storage left over to download anything, I never fill my storage to max if I can help it.
Happy gaming ✌️
Re: Talking Point: Xbox Series X|S Owners, How's Your Storage Looking In 2026?
@Balaam_ I'm the exact opposite lol I do all my 3rd party gaming on Xbox, while my PS5 is reserved for the few 1st party games I enjoy on PlayStation.
I'm definitely looking forward to Forza Horizon 6 and Fable. Both of those game series are near & dear to my heart lol
Re: Talking Point: Xbox Series X|S Owners, How's Your Storage Looking In 2026?
When my wife and I got our Xbox consoles, about 3 months passed before we pulled the trigger on 1TB Western Digital Black C50 SSD expansion cards. She has a 1TB card in her Xbox Series S, I have a 1TB card in my Xbox Series X, and I decided to get a 512GB for my Xbox Series S for when I travel & I can honestly say the expansion cards are the biggest upgrades you can possibly make to your console and they are a thousand percent worth it!
I got my 512GB WD Black C50 SSD expansion card for just $70 and it's made my Xbox Series S incredibly more useful!
Highly recommend it to anyone who owns a Series S or anyone who wishes they could hold more games simultaneously.
Happy gaming ✌️
Re: Xbox Partners With Kojima To Fix Major Save Bug In Death Stranding Director's Cut
I've yet to play Death Stranding. As much as I loved the Metal Gear series, I'm not sure Death Stranding is my cup of tea. While visuals look good, the gameplay just doesn't look very fun to me, IDK maybe I'll give it a go at some point but as it sits, I've got a great back catalog I'm working through lol happy gaming ✌️
Re: Is It Worth Buying An Xbox One In 2026?
@OldGamer999 the Xbox One X was a serious BEAST upon its release. I remember playing Assassin's Creed Odyssey and thinking OMG this is remarkable!
Re: Is It Worth Buying An Xbox One In 2026?
@KARTHLOR dude that's freaking awesome! I wish I'd kept my OG Xbox One but I ended up giving it to my little brother, he used it for quite a few years until it stopped working (teenagers are hard on electronics lol).
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (January 10-11)
I'm personally playing through Assassin's Creed Shadows, The Outer Worlds 2 and Battlefield 6 is my go to multiplayer game ATM. I still have quite the catalog to get through, I've still never played Assassin's Creed Mirage even though I own it lolol I'm also planning another playthrough of Avowed once the new update goes live again. I still need to play Indiana Jones and The Great Circle DLC which is something I've been meaning to do because Indiana Jones is one of the BEST new major IP games i've played in a long time.
I'm also EXTREMELY excited for Forza Horizon 6, Fable, and The Outer Worlds 2 DLC lol Xbox in 2026 is STACKED!
Happy gaming ✌️
Re: Is It Worth Buying An Xbox One In 2026?
@Jenkinss I would definitely have to agree with you 💯 percent. I would NOT recommend anyone getting a 13 year old console UNLESS they only care about playing last gen + backwards compatible games.
I personally own a PS5 + Xbox Series X and my wife owns a PS5 + Xbox Series S, so we're set for the current generation. I was considering getting a Xbox One X for my living room mainly for the 4K Blu Ray player because a used One X is cheaper than a 4K Blu Ray player lol. Happy gaming ✌️
Re: Is It Worth Buying An Xbox One In 2026?
The idea that the next Xbox will be a “PC hybrid” is built on misunderstandings and clickbait headlines. Microsoft is not replacing the Xbox OS with Windows desktop, nor are they turning the console into a general‑purpose PC. The next Xbox will use the Windows kernel and subsystems as its backend foundation—just like Xbox One and Series X|S already do—but the user experience remains a locked down, CONSOLE first Xbox interface. No desktop, no drivers, no Steam, no PC maintenance. It’s a modernized backend, not a change in CONSOLE identity.
The rumor falls apart the moment you look at Microsoft’s business incentives. Xbox consoles generate enormous revenue through the Xbox Store, Game Pass, DLC, and microtransactions. Steam takes a 30% cut of every sale. Allowing Steam on Xbox would mean Microsoft voluntarily hands its most profitable customers to Valve. That would be financially irrational and strategically disastrous. Xbox consoles are Microsoft’s highest spending users. there is no universe where Microsoft gives that up.
What the Windows integration actually accomplishes is developer cohesion, not a PC‑like experience. A unified Windows kernel makes it easier for developers to bring games between PC and Xbox, improves performance, and enables full backward compatibility through AMD’s hardware layer. None of this requires exposing Windows to the player. It’s backend engineering designed to strengthen the ecosystem, not dilute the console.
Meanwhile, the next Xbox remains a true console: fixed hardware, plug‑and‑play simplicity, and a massive generational leap powered by Zen 6 CPUs, RDNA 5 graphics, and a dedicated NPU. This is about performance, efficiency, and long‑term scalability..NOT turning Xbox into a PC.
And the broader ecosystem proves Xbox is far from “dead.” With ~40 million Series X|S units, tens of millions of active Xbox One users, PC Game Pass, and cloud gaming, Microsoft maintains over 100 million monthly active users. This is a thriving, diversified platform, not a collapsing one.
In short: the next Xbox is NOT a PC hybrid. It’s a CONSOLE first device with a modern Windows based backend that improves development and compatibility without sacrificing the simplicity, identity, or profitability of the Xbox platform. The Steam on Xbox fantasy is economically impossible, strategically irrational, and completely unsupported by credible reporting. The future of Xbox is a stronger, more cohesive, more powerful CONSOLE & not a PC in disguise.
Re: Five Xbox Game Pass Titles Get New Reveals At The New Game Plus Showcase 2026
I'm ecstatic to play Avowed again! New game plus with ALL the added updates looks like a blast! 💯
Re: Talking Point: How Much Would You Be Willing To Spend On The Next Xbox Console?
@SalaciousCrumb I agree with this sentiment. Sony's new CEO plans to put ALL PlayStation games on PC around 12-18 months after release as he went in record stating " we want to shift to a software focused platform" which means they want to do EXACTLY what Microsoft is doing right now. There's too many ignorant people who refuse to see beyond the fanboy nonsense.. Xbox consoles will still exist, PlayStation consoles will still exist HOWEVER console sales are NO longer the metric for success. The PS5 has sold way more than Series X|S yet Microsoft makes more money from the Xbox ecosystem that Sony does from the PlayStation ecosystem. Why? Because Microsoft said, we can have 3 pillars of mass expansion. Consoles, Xbox on PC, and Xbox Cloud Gaming. This enables them to sell software across all platforms while still retaining their Microsoft Xbox store front revenue, plus Gamepass revenue, plus software sales on consoles regardless of what console it is. This is a brilliant strategy that allows them to expand beyond the current market cap of console sales, Sony is now realizing this is a money maker and they want to do the same thing.
I'll be on Xbox until it doesn't exist anymore. I'll still buy a PlayStation at some point just so I can enjoy the few games I enjoy on that console. That's what I've done for 20+ years now and that's what I'll always do. My main console is Xbox Series X, I use PlayStation 5 for the few series I enjoy from PlayStation and That's worked for my wife and I this generation so far.
Happy gaming ✌️
Re: Talking Point: How Much Would You Be Willing To Spend On The Next Xbox Console?
The next Xbox is shaping up to be a massive generational leap, and honestly, the tech under the hood sounds incredible to me. With the AMD + Microsoft partnership cemented and that rumored custom AMD Magnus APU, we’re looking at serious CPU and GPU gains. Not just raw performance gains but massive efficiency gains that allowed more performance per watt. The most exciting part for me is the dedicated NPU (rumored at 100+ TOPS). Having a dedicated chip for AI upscaling and frame gen means the GPU doesn’t have to do all the heavy lifting. It frees up shader cycles for better visuals while keeping latency low basically, we get smoother, better looking games without the console sounding like a jet engine (lol yes I owned a PS4 pro)
Despite the rumors, this is going to be a CONSOLE first machine, not some weird PC hybrid. As much as I love technology, I want my Xbox to stay an Xbox, period. I want that locked down, snappy UI that just works when I pick up the controller. I don't want driver updates, windows drama, none of that. I want a CONSOLE not a PC.
Microsoft is likely going to bridge the gap with PC tools and shared APIs so devs can port games WAY more easily, but don't expect to see a full Windows desktop or Steam on the next Xbox. It wouldn’t make sense for them to hand over their Microsoft storefront revenue to Valve when Game Pass is the crown jewel of the ecosystem, and their digital storefront generates tons of revenue.
The coolest part of the rumor mill is the handheld Series S successor. Imagine a low power Magnus chip tuned for native 1080p Xbox gaming on the go, but then using that NPU/GPU combo to scale up to 4K/120fps when you dock it to the big screen. It’s the perfect entry level tier for the next generation (the Xbox Series S has been successful regardless of how people feel about it).
Microsoft is clearly doubling down on hardware. We’re getting a massive technical jump and better interoperability with PC for developers, all while keeping the "it just works" console vibe we’ve had since the OG Xbox days. Between the main powerhouse and a potential handheld, the future of the ecosystem looks stacked & I'm excited for it.
At the end of the day, I get a lot of joy from my Xbox consoles. My wife and I play Xbox with family and friends & to me that's what matters most. Am I upset at Microsoft execs who push for profits over everything? YES! Am I pissed at the price increases? YES! However, I feel like those things cloud the one thing we all enjoy and that's playing Xbox games by ourselves and with family and friends.
Happy gaming ✌️
Re: Xbox Game Pass: Two Games Announced For January 2026, And Here's When To Expect More
@Decimateh 💯 percent agreed lol Mio looks great
Re: Xbox Game Pass: Two Games Announced For January 2026, And Here's When To Expect More
I'm excited for Developer Direct for sure! There's so many amazing Xbox games I'm looking forward to in 2026!
Forza Horizon 6
Fable
Gears of War: E-Day
State of Decay 3
Diablo 4 DLC
Halo: Campaign Evolved
Clockwork Revolution
High on Life 2
Re: The Top 10 Xbox Game Pass Titles Of 2025, As Determined By Your Votes
I'm glad I voted on this one, the results line up incredibly close to my personal picks for best Gamepass games of 2025. My personal picks are as follows:
1. Avowed - Truly a great game
2. The Outer Worlds 2 - Obsidian charm and RPG exploring at its best! Although the lvl 30 cap is frustrating AF.
3. DOOM: The Dark Ages - one of the most innovative DOOM games I've played. It completely reset my brain to learn the Stand and Fight mantra but the story was excellent, gameplay was stellar and graphics looked incredible on XSX.
4. Oblivion Remastered - this is a slow burn for me, I've only got about 15 hours into the remaster but it's a game I continue to dive into over and over again.
5. Gears of War Reloaded - I've owned Gears of War since Xbox 360, then I got the ultimate edition for Xbox One and now Reloaded on Xbox Series X|S lolol it now looks and plays better than ever HOWEVER my hope was for a trilogy remaster because Gears of War 2/3 definitely deserve remasters!
I'm only listing my top 5, instill haven't jumped into Clair Obscur Expedition 33 yet and I'm just barely starting my journey in Assassin's Creed Shadows lol incredible backlog I've got atm.
Happy gaming ✌️
Re: Latest Sales Estimates Suggest Xbox Sold Over Two Million Series X|S Consoles In 2025
Xbox as an ecosystem is growing faster than ever, and that growth directly strengthens Xbox as a CONSOLE. Even with price hikes and shifting market dynamics (tariffs + component costs) millions of players are still buying Xbox hardware because the CONSOLE remains the best, simplest, and most valuable entry point into the ecosystem. As long as Xbox continues delivering its own high quality games (even if some arrive on other platforms later) the CONSOLE will thrive, Game Pass will thrive, and the broader Xbox platform will keep expanding. The next Xbox will follow that same philosophy: a true fixed spec CONSOLE first and foremost, with tighter PC cohesion layered on top, NOT a PC replacement, and definitely NOT a console replacement. The ecosystem grows, the console grows, and both can succeed together.
Happy gaming ✌️
Re: Opinion: Backwards Compatibility Still Adds So Much Value To Xbox Series X|S In 2025
Xbox Consoles still have the best backwards compatibility of ALL time. My Series X can play 99% of all my OG Xbox + Xbox 360 + Xbox One discs. That's 4 generations of Xbox games available on 1 console. OG Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S all playable (plus a ton of older games got significant boosts that make them look and play better than ever).
Re: Poll: How Many Xbox Games Have You Actually Bought In 2025?
I buy ALL my games digitally as my wife and I game share, however i bought Assassin's Creed Shadows on disc (it's my first Series X disc lol). I bought Battlefield 6 digitally but I can't remember if I bought any other games in 2025. I'd have to go through my collection to see.
Happy gaming ✌️
Re: Marvel's Blade Director Shares Brief End Of 2025 Update On The Game's Progress
Blade looks absolutely amazing! I want to see actual gameplay, if I had to guess this is a 2027 release. If it entered full production in late 2024 that means it's been 1 year in full production so I suspect another year will go by & come holiday 2027 we will be playing Marvel's Blade!
Re: Opinion: This Xbox Game Studios Gem Is My Game Of The Year For 2025
@FraserG I definitely couldn't agree more! I'm actually happy to see SoM getting so much love on Pure Xbox. It's one of my favorite Xbox games of 2025, next to Avowed, The Outer Worlds 2, DOOM the Dark Ages, and Battlefield 6
Re: Opinion: This Xbox Game Studios Gem Is My Game Of The Year For 2025
South of Midnight was fantastic. From beginning to end I was entrenched in it's story. So the combat is repetitive, the traversal, platforming, and storytelling more than make up for it. The story was so heartfelt, dealing with themes of trauma, loneliness, depression and anxiety it's one of those games that are FAR DEEPER than what's on the surface & for that I also give SoM a graceful 9 out of 10.
Happy gaming ✌️
Re: Talking Point: How Much Time Have You Spent Gaming On Xbox Consoles This Year?
I spend about 90% of ALL my gaming time playing on Series X (or Series S when I'm away from home). I spend about 10% of my play time on PS5 but that only happens when a new PlayStation exclusive launches.
My wife and I both own PlayStation 5 consoles, I have a Series X, a Series S, and my wife has a Series S. So game sharing is huge for us, we game share on Xbox and PlayStation, however we BOTH prefer Xbox over PlayStation so all 3rd party games we buy on Xbox. Basically our PlayStation 5 consoles are reserved for PlayStation exclusives, everything else is Xbox for us.
It really does come down to ecosystem cohesion and we feel Xbox has the best ecosystem. Only on Xbox can you purchase a game, get a PC copy for free (Xbox Play Anywhere), and have the ability to play a large amount of these Xbox games via Xbox Cloud gaming which has really been great especially as cloud gaming has become a lot more viable in recent years.
Long story short, Xbox is where we play and Xbox is where we plan to stay lol happy holidays, Happy gaming ✌️
Re: Poll: What Is Your Xbox Game Of The Year For 2025?
@OldGamer999 trust me friend, I have made some terrible decisions in my playthrough lol 😆 but I figured I can rectify all these things in my next playthrough.
Luckily The Outer Worlds 2 is a game you can experience more than once and truly have a different experience the second go around.
Yeah man, the game is woefully underrated. I feel like a lot of people don't appreciate the complexities of rpg games nowadays, it's all about instant gratification, with no time dedicated to exploration and the sense of wonder you feel while exploring a world for the first time. At the same time, there's a good amount of people like you and I who do appreciate the small things,
Happy gaming ✌️
Re: Rumour: COD 2027 Will Be A New Sub-Series With 'Completely New Characters' On Xbox
So modern warfare 4 is what COD 2026 is going to be? Also Sledgehammer games had an incredible Zombies experience in COD WW2 Nazi Zombies, I'll be extremely disappointed if COD 2027 doesn't have zombies, although I must admit that BO7 Zombies while good, doesn't hit the same as Black Ops 6 Zombies did.
It's a shame but the only time I play COD is when a certain friend invites me to play Zombies, other than that all my online multiplayer time is devoted to BF6 because it really is the superior fps game.
Happy gaming ✌️
Re: Digital Foundry Analysis Showcases 60FPS Versions Of Red Dead Redemption On Xbox
@h3s Rockstar is still planning a current generation port / remaster for RDR2. If you remember a couple years ago they were already hard at work on a remaster but decided to "put it on hold, as well go ALL hands on deck for GTA VI".
I can't imagine a world where they don't milk RDR2 with a remaster or current gen port. I suspect that a RDR2 Remastered or current generation upgrade will launch either before GTA 6 or shortly after GTA 6.
I actually agree with your sentiment quite a bit, RDR2 is such a fantastic game but it's incredibly difficult for me getting used to 30fps. Once I play it for about an hour i stop noticing it. That being said, I can't freaking wait until the day we get to experience the glorious game this is RDR2 in buttery smooth 60fps!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (December 13-14)
@Sol4ris I'm still enjoying The Outer Worlds 2 as well. I've also been slowly exploring Red Dead Redemption Remastered, and I played Assassin's Creed Mirage for the first time last night lol (even though I've owned the game since early 2024).
I'm with you, my PS5 is setup but I haven't touched it much in 2025. The only games I played on it was Ghost of Tsushima and Helldivers 2. That was earlier this year, I genuinely have no desire to play anything on it atm, I'll end up getting Ghost of Yotei when the price drops in a year or two.
Astro's Play Room is amazing lol definitely a highlight of the PS5 for sure!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (December 13-14)
@AverageJoseph is the Diabo 4 Paladin out now? Or is it coming out with the DLC?
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (December 13-14)
This weekend I'm juggling Battlefield 6 (with friends), The Outer Worlds 2, Red Dead Redemption Remastered and when I feel like switching it up I've been exploring Assassin's Creed Mirage! Pretty much a solid few games on my rotation atm. Happy gaming ✌️
Re: Poll: What Is Your Xbox Game Of The Year For 2025?
@OldGamer999 yup, I chose The Outer Worlds 2 and DOOM: The Dark Ages as well. I'm still deep into The Outer Worlds about 60 hours into my game and still exploring lol the game is so much fun and I can't wait to dive back in for a new playthrough with a different character build! I hope we get New Game + or something, I can't wait to see what we get when it comes to DLC! Happy gaming ✌️
Re: Poll: What Is Your Xbox Game Of The Year For 2025?
@Rangers420 I spent a TON of time with Avowed, that game was so much fun! I genuinely ADORED the world building, exploration, and character development (especially the characters within our party).
The companion side quests were incredible, they truly delivered deep emotional journeys that made the game feel more grounded.
South of Midnight was stellar as well, an unique adventure that was so much deeper than I had anticipated. Definitely a game that was worth playing.
Re: Poll: What Is Your Xbox Game Of The Year For 2025?
Out of all the brilliant games Xbox has delivered to me in 2025, I've had the MOST FUN playing The Outer Worlds 2, Battlefield 6, DOOM: The Dark Ages, Avowed, South of Midnight and Deep Rock Galactic Survivor (a lot of gamepass games in 2025).
Okay, I just realized that I've played some stellar games this year lol 😆 that's not even mentioning Red Dead Redemption Remastered, Assassin's Creed Mirage DLC, and Oblivion Remastered.
Re: Opinion: Backwards Compatibility Still Adds So Much Value To Xbox Series X|S In 2025
Xbox’s backwards compatibility program is, in my eyes, one of the greatest achievements in modern gaming, letting me play FOUR generations of Xbox games (Original Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Series X|S) all on my Xbox Series X with enhancements that feel almost magical!
What makes it so special is that Microsoft didn’t just make old games run; they dedicated entire software engineering teams to preserving and improving the Xbox legacy for both current and future consoles. innovations like Auto HDR, FPS Boost, higher rendering resolutions (upscaling), and dramatically faster load times (thanks to SSD), classic games look and feel better than ever before, and most of this was achieved without any developer involvement (game patches), which makes the backwards compatibility even more remarkable!
the fact that all of this comes at no extra cost, respecting the games I already own, shows a level of care and commitment no other console maker offers. For me, Xbox’s backwards compatibility isn’t just a feature, it’s a promise that my gaming history MATTERS and will continue to matter for whatever generations may come.
Happy gaming ✌️
Re: Digital Foundry Analysis Showcases 60FPS Versions Of Red Dead Redemption On Xbox
I've ALWAYS been impressed with the 360 version on Series X|S however the new upgrade has truly gone beyond my expectations (I didn't think the upgrade would be much better than what the PS4 got a couple years ago, I was wrong). RDR looks and runs flawlessly on Series X! It's a game that holds up incredibly well given how old it is.
What has surprised me more than anything else is the quality of the Xbox Series S version of the game. The 1440p resolution and buttery smooth 60fps makes the game look and play incredibly well on the smallest Xbox ever made. I just spent the last week at my in-laws house, luckily for me I bring my Series S with me everywhere and so I spent my time playing BF6 with my friend, and diving into Red Dead Redemption Remastered. I can't stress enough how well the game runs on Series S the quality of the upgrade truly shines through!
A lot of people write off the Series S but it's still one of the coolest consoles I've ever owned. In fact it's the Xbox Series S that brought into the current generation of Xbox, I wouldn't own a Series X if I hadn't fallen in love with the mighty little beast that is the Series S first lolol.
Don't hate on the Xbox Series S hate on the devs who refuse to PROPERLY optimize for it. We've seen games that are stunningly beautiful on Series S thanks to PROPER optimizations! Forza horizon 5, Forza Motorsport 7, Alan Wake 2, Halo Infinite, Gears 5, DOOM Eternal, Psychonauts 2, Diablo 4, and Sea of Thieves are all games where the Series S was NOT just an afterthought but was PROPERLY optimized for and these games show what's capable when devs actually optimize for the hardware!
Let me put it this way, Rockstar games made GTA 5 on PS360! Imagine what they could accomplish with the Xbox Series S?
The Xbox 360 had just 0.24TFLOPS of GPU power (240 Gigaflops) and the Xbox Series S has 4.0 Teraflops of GPU power, this translates to the Series S possessing roughly 16.7× times more powerful graphics than what the 360 managed.
The CPU is the "brain" that handles AI, Physics, rendering calls, and game logic. This is where the Series S is arguably the most transformative (remember the Series X|S share the same CPU, the Series S is clocked just slightly lower than the Series X). The Xbox 360 featured a 3.2Ghz Tri-core (3 cores) CPU based on the Power PC (xenon) the Xbox Series S features an Octa-core (8 core) CPU clocked at 3.6Ghz and is based on the AMD Zen 2 architecture. Why this matters? Rockstar had an incredible hurdle on their hands with the Tri-core CPU being a major bottleneck on the Xbox 360, yet they managed to optimize the CPU, GPU, DVD drive and the HDD altogether to deliver what's still the most popular game of ALL time! Just imagine if Rockstar continues that aggressive optimization approach to GTA 6 and the Xbox Series X|S and PS5, we will be in for an incredible treat!
This comment kinda got away from me and for that I apologize lolol 😅 anyone who's made it this far, I appreciate you taking the time to read my stream of consciousness regarding the incredible feat of delivering GTA 5 on PS360 era consoles, and the modern marvel that is the Xbox Series S that gets hate for existing even though it truly is a remarkable little console! Happy gaming ✌️
Re: Xbox's Playground Games Grew Substantially In 2024 To Prepare For Fable & Forza Horizon 6
Words cannot describe how excited I am for both Fable and Forza Horizon 6! The fable series is legendary and a proper reboot is extremely welcome and when it comes to Forza, I have spent a hundreds of hours playing Forza Horizon 5 and the fact Forza Horizon 6 will be current generation consoles ONLY means we can expect the bar to be elevated much higher than what we got with Forza Horizon 5 (which beats Gran Turismo as my favorite car racing game). Xbox 2026 is STACKED!
Re: New Microsoft Survey Suggests Five AI Features That Could Be Added To Xbox Game Pass
I would absolutely use AI on my Xbox especially for walkthroughs or voice commands. I already use copilot daily for research and if Microsoft could weave copilot into Xbox is be fine with that HOWEVER it would NEED to be built-in as a UI level integration. I'd want it to be seamless, I'd want access to it just as easily as I can tap a button to take a screenshot, copilot (AI) integration would NEED to be just as seamless for me. I'm stuck looking for something in game, I tap a button, tell copilot what I'm looking for and it gives me exactly what I need, nothing more nothing less.
I can see AI integration making a UI more seamless, being ready to deep dive into anything you ask of it. While that's great and all, I am personally more interested in what a LLM could offer random NPCs in a game. Imagine an open world game where talking to different people actually warrants deep conversations (obviously there would be guardrails in place, plus the LLM would need to be altered to specifically speak in regards to the context of the world itself, you wouldn't be able to talk random nonsense, everything would be game + lore + world + quest related). It would be very interesting indeed, never hearing phrases repeatedly forever and instead the NPCs would speak on current events within the game world itself lol IDK in my head it sounds much cooler than it probably would be in practice lol.
Re: Avowed Is Getting Its 'Biggest Update Yet' To Mark The Xbox Title's One-Year Anniversary
@jesse_dylan I played Avowed 5 days before release and it had a few bugs but nothing game breaking, by the time the Day 1 patch released most of bugs were gone and by the time it got its second patch most of the stability and performance issues were fixed.
The game is a GOOD game, I feel like the people who hate on it either never played it OR they spent an hour with it and gave up. Once you start getting deeper into it's systems the game REALLY starts to shine. Combat and exploration are a blast!
Re: Avowed Is Getting Its 'Biggest Update Yet' To Mark The Xbox Title's One-Year Anniversary
@Shinato2024 I genuinely enjoyed the game myself as well, it didn't deserve a fraction of the hate it got. The story was intriguing, the characters were good, the lore was even better and the side quests involving your squad mates was some of the best of the entire game!
Re: Avowed Is Getting Its 'Biggest Update Yet' To Mark The Xbox Title's One-Year Anniversary
This is great news as I genuinely enjoyed Avowed from beginning to end! I'd love to experience new game plus and see what else the new update has to offer! I hope we get DLC or confirmation of a sequel because there's so much lore inhabiting the world just waiting to be explored.
Re: Talking Point: Will You Be Revisiting Red Dead Redemption On Xbox Next Week?
@Chip-Douglas couldn't agree more! RDR2 is absolutely stunning! I want a current generation remastered remake of RDR2 so bad lol think oblivion remastered but RDR2
Re: Xbox Game Pass: All Games Coming Soon In December 2025
@themightyant couldn't agree more. I'm still deep into The Outer Worlds 2, I recently completed DOOM: The Dark Ages, I may playthrough Avowed again, I've barely dipped my toes into Oblivion Remastered (I got a bug where my quest won't move forward and no matter what I do it won't fix it, the ONLY thing left is to start again and the 1st few hours of the game are so tedious lol), I still haven't touched Assassin's Creed Mirage (I own it so NBD), I also want to finish my playthrough Metaphor Refantazio, as well as a couple other games.
Re: Talking Point: Will You Be Revisiting Red Dead Redemption On Xbox Next Week?
I actually revisited RDR earlier this year and was surprised at how well the game looked on my Series X. The 4K upscaling is REALLY good, the only thing that bugged me was the 30fps lock but after a while you get used to it.
Now that there's a native Xbox Series version, I'm going to have to play it! The 4K resolution with full HDR support combined with 60fps means this classic is going to shine like never before and I can't wait to play it!
All that being said, I am absolutely DESPERATE for a RDR2 upgrade for Xbox Series X|S! I own RDR2 on PlayStation and Xbox & the Xbox version is the best console version of the game. Playing RDR2 on PS5 means it's running the PS4 pro version via backwards compatibility & it's got completely BROKEN HDR, the game is so dark and no matter what you change your TV settings too it just doesn't look good, also the upscaled 4K on the PS4 pro version adds this weird foggy like blur to the image, I don't know how to explain it but yeah.
RDR2 on Xbox Series X reverts to the Xbox One X version of the game & it actually looks good thanks to native 4K resolution combined with full HDR support that makes the game look as good as possible on console. HOWEVER, the 30fps is the one thing that makes the game not look as good as it possibly could (it's still one of the best looking games ever made).
I truly believe if we get a current generation upgrade for RDR2 with updated textures, native 4K resolution combined with 60fps, RDR2 will easily become one of the BEST looking games on current generation consoles. We know Rockstar was working on a current generation upgrade for RDR2 but "paused" development in order to "get all hands on deck for GTA 6". I'm hoping that while we're waiting for GTA 6 we get a RDR2 upgrade because that'd literally hold me over for quite some time lol (there's so much hidden things to do in RDR2 it still surprises me to this day).
Geez that was longer than I wanted my comment to be lol happy holidays, happy gaming ✌️
Re: NACON Is Kicking Off The Xbox Birthday Celebrations With This 360-Inspired Controller
Man that's one badass controller! They nailed that classic 2005 Xbox 360 launch era look for sure! I wish they'd make one that only had hall effect analog sticks and triggers + 2 mappable back buttons for like $50 because it's be a day one purchase for me!
lol at $200 I can't justify it especially when my Gamesir G7 HE has the same features minus the display & cost me just $50.
Re: This Xbox Game Studios Adventure Deserved More Nominations At The Game Awards 2025
I voted for South of Midnight for Games for impact. I'm genuinely surprised it wasn't nominated for best sound design or musical score, or even artistic vision or something like that. The game is really good if given a proper chance.
South of Midnight was something I wasn't sure I was going to try. My wife ended up beating it and told me it's an absolute gem, so I decided to give South of Midnight a go and I'm glad I did!
The Southern Gothic Folklore, magical realism, and stop motion artistry gave South of Midnight an extremely surreal vibe. It's not sime big open world but its unique world is very artistic and fun to explore.
The storyline was surprisingly DEEP as hell. It captured the emotions of characters, each struggling through their own life's choices. They way the game shows different characters lives through their lenses was really cool and very impactful.
The game did a GREAT job exploring the South haunted by it's history. The game acknowledges that the region’s beauty is inseparable from its painful past. Slavery, poverty, and generational trauma. These themes seep into the atmosphere, making the haunting feel intellectual rather than purely spectral. The gothic monsters and creatures are metaphors that embody cultural anxieties that turn folklore in allegory. (Unfortunately I've come across reviews written on the Microsoft store that are beyond disgusting, teeming with racism and bigotry. Condemning the game for having a female lead that's mixed race, which is a shame).
The ONLY downside to the game itself was the combat gets a little bit repetitive. Other than that, South of Midnight was a joy to play and I'd recommend it to anyone who is interested and open minded enough to enjoy a game like this. Happy gaming ✌️
Re: Expedition 33 Wins GOTY As Xbox Takes Home Two Awards At The Golden Joysticks 2025
Expedition 33 was an incredible game, it took me a minute to get into it but once I did I was hooked. I voted it GoTY for The Game Awards today. Glad to see Oblivion Remastered get a win, also glad to see Xbox games being praised for their merit. Happy gaming ✌️
Re: Helldivers 2 On Xbox Helped Us 'Give The Players What They Want', Says Arrowhead CEO
@Fiendish-Beaver I do believe Sony will publish their first party games across all platforms at some point (they're already confirmed that 1st party games will come to PC either at launch or about a year later, we've seen this with God of War Ragnarok, Horizon Forbidden West, and Spiderman 2). While IDK if we'll see 1st party PlayStation exclusives on Xbox ever, I do believe we will see more and more 2nd party times exclusives reaching Xbox. Square Enix themselves has been pretty vocal about their dismay with the performance of their games released solely on PlayStation & that from now on they plan on releasing across ALL platforms.
I think as time goes on and development costs continue to rise, it just makes the MOST sense to sell your games across as many platforms as possible. Spiderman 2 for example was absolutely spectacular of a game (I'm still sour we didn't get any DLC), but the cost it took to make the game and the money earned back from sales on PS5 weren't very good. (We know this to be true from the massive insomniac hack that detailed a bunch of behind the scenes stuff).
From my viewpoint exclusives really don't make sense in 2025 and beyond. Sony themselves even plans on becoming "more software focused" rather than hardware which tracks well because Microsoft has sold a fraction of the consoles yet makes just as much revenue (probably more now I'm sure) than all the other hardware manufacturers. What I'm saying isn't strictly just my opinion, there's a bunch of evidence that points to these being the trends the industry is moving towards & it makes sense.
Happy gaming ✌️
Re: Helldivers 2 On Xbox Helped Us 'Give The Players What They Want', Says Arrowhead CEO
Helldiver's 2 was the only reason I'd turn on my PS5 for all of 2024 lol now it's on Xbox the only reason I'll turn on my PS5 is if I end up getting Ghost of Yotei but I won't be buying it at full price, I'll be waiting for a discount of some sort.
Side note, I genuinely wish Helldiver's 2 had cross platform progression. I'm over 3 quarters of the way to platinum trophy and it'd be so cool for all my progress and ship upgrades to transfer over to Xbox. Happy gaming ✌️
Re: Black Ops 7 Comparison Shows Difference Between Xbox Series X And Series S
I'm still surprised at how well some games look and run on my Xbox Series S! Games that are properly optimized for the Series S look incredibly good. Alan Wake 2, Halo Infinite, Forza Horizon 5, The Outer Worlds 2, Stalker 2, Resident Evil Village and Dead Space Remake all look and run fantastically on Series S.
I play on Series X at home but when I'm away from home, it's my Xbox Series S that I take with me alongside my 17inch gaming monitor and it's the perfect portable setup for when gaming away from home (especially when I'm stuck at my in-laws house lol)