The Steam Box Mini is built for 4K living room gaming, hitting performance levels similar to PS5 thanks to its Zen 4 CPU and RDNA 3 GPU. Even with fewer compute units in the GPU (28 vs PS5’s 36), it delivers slightly better TFLOPs at around 10.5 to 11.5 TFLOPS (vs the 10.28TFLOPS on PS5) thanks to higher clocks and architectural gains. It’s compact, efficient, and leverages FSR 3 with frame generation to push high res gaming without needing massive power. If devs start optimizing for it directly, it could become a legit console class experience with SOME PC flexibility. That's honestly, the REAL question, will DEVS target this device when making games?
If we look at the Series X for example (or even the PS5 for that matter) the Series X consistently punches above its weight because Microsoft built more than just raw specs. The 12TF RDNA2 GPU and Zen 2 CPU give it a solid foundation, but the real secret sauce is the DEV optimizations and DEV tools. With DirectX 12 Ultimate, Velocity Architecture, and features like Sampler Feedback Streaming, developers get "closer to the metal access" to CPU/GPU resources. That means less wasted cycles, smarter asset streaming, and better memory management. Combine that with powerful profiling tools and cross platform synergy with PC, and you’ve got a box that delivers performance well beyond what the spec sheet alone suggests.
If the Steam Box Mini can bring DEVS on board it may be the perfect little living room console. Happy gaming ✌️
There's no way I'd pay $170 for a phone controller that has NO Hall Effect Analog sticks. I am currently utilizing the Gamesir X2S type C controller, it was $30 and has Hall Effect Analog sticks and hall effect triggers, the left and right bumper are clicky like a mouse & the D-pad is great. The ONLY downside is there's no back buttons but other than that it's been amazing.
The reason why Hall Effect Analog sticks with type-C are so important is because of the ZERO deadzone, low latency, and anti- stick drift. I previously had a Bluetooth mobile controller and Xbox Cloud Gaming was unplayable due to the latency caused by Bluetooth & alps sticks.
Once I got the Gamesir X2S type C controller with Hall Effect Analog sticks, I was genuinely shocked out how responsive Xbox Cloud Gaming had become. I couldn't race supercross on MX vs ATV legends due to latency, once I switched to the X2S I was running lap times that were closer to what I'd do on my Xbox Series X (obviously my Series X with my wired Gamesir G7 HE is creme de La creme lol).
Anyone looking for a cheap compact controller check out Gamesir, they just released a new controller for $35 that's even better than my X2S. I feel like the premium price tag of the backbone isn't worth it, not when you can get the Razer Kishi V3 for $99 that has full sized TMR thumb sticks + back buttons.
At the end of the day my little Gamesir X2S type C controller has allowed me to play some amazing games on the go. I'm currently obsessed with Halls of Torment, as well as deep rock galactic survivor.
@Cakefish I definitely agree with your sentiment, the game doesn't offer much replay value but it REALLY is an expression of artistic vision. I doubt it'll be a game I revisit but nonetheless I am glad to have experienced it.
@Titntin you're going to enjoy it, especially if you go in with an open mind. It's beautiful on Series X and has some REALLY cool environments littered with environmental storytelling. Also, my wife and I are back on GPU because it's still cheaper than buying 2 copies of a game at a wack. (We also only subscribe when we find good deals).
@Sol4ris I also went with a 9. It definitely had a journey vibe to it, the environmental storytelling was great. The more I played the more I enjoyed the game.
I personally give the game a 9 out of 10. I purposely went into the game with an open mind, with absolutely ZERO expectations (what can you really expect from a sentient lighthouse lol). This allowed me to experience the game for all it had to offer without being bummed about things I wish it was or could've been.
I played Keeper upon returning home from having emergency surgery to remove my gallbladder. It was a whole ordeal that was a literal nightmare, so coming home being sore AF I didn't really want to do much. The first 3 days of being home I was stuck in bed so I just played Keeper via Xbox Cloud Gaming. When I was finally able to move to my Series X I was even more impressed with Keeper. For some reason the game just kept me entertained, it was like I was in a trance or something (the pain meds may or may not have contributed to this lol) but I genuinely enjoyed the game.
Exploration was the coolest part for me, especially the clouds and the seas, solving puzzles were fun too. It was just cool to experience the chill vibe keeper had on offer. IDK if it's something I'll playthrough again, like I have with other Double Fine games, but it was good nonetheless. Happy gaming ✌️
The game hubs have really grown on me. They've offered me much better context of everything associated with a specific game. It's allowed me to find DLC I owned but didn't realize it wasn't installed (I'm looking at you The Witcher 3).
game hubs are also great for all my screenshots and videos associated with a specific game. That feature has been super helpful to me, opening a game hub and realizing, oh yeah I forgot I took that screenshot or I forgot to edit that clip.
Overall, I've definitely come to appreciate gamehubs. I've had them for a while now since I'm an Xbox insider currently enrolled in the Beta Preview Ring on my Xbox Series X. It's cool that people can turn the game hub features off if they want to but for me personally, I've found them more useful than not. Happy gaming ✌️
I'm really excited for Sledding Game lol that just looks like a good time! Also, Day Z: Badlands has my attention. The game is already good so any extra content and updates to make it better are all good in my book.
Awaysis also looks like a wacky good time, especially since the campaign can be completed with friends thanks to 1-4 player co-op. Some of my favorite games of all time are games that can be beaten with friends. There's not enough games that feature campaign co-op IMO. Happy gaming ✌️
The upcoming Xbox handheld with an Xbox Series S successor. It'll most likely be a hybrid device that can be docked (think Switch 2, Steam Deck, ROG Ally). My guess it'll serve as the "entry level next gen console" similar to what the Series S did.
This news makes me so happy! I'd love to own a 1st party Xbox handheld CONSOLE!
@mikeangry agreed 💯 percent! I don't care if they get creative with gun skins and military skins HOWEVER if it goes cartoon style or we see other IP characters (Beavis and Butthead, Family Guy, Nicki Minaj etcetera) that's where it's just too much for me!
That being said, I'd like to see some military style Halloween skins. For example, military camo with skulls all around it and a face mask with skeleton face (think Ghost from COD) stuff like that wouldn't bother me.
BF6 has a unique opportunity to be creative with their skins while still being firmly grounded in BF6. I don't want to see the same brown, green, and tan military skins over, and over again. Create different forms with different outfits and different colors but keep it militaristic and grounded. I think that's a recipe for proper creativity as well as keeping with the feel of Battlefield.
@BAMozzy Full Windows on the Next Xbox Would Be a Disaster
Let me be blunt: running full Windows 11 on the next Xbox would be the dumbest move Microsoft could possibly make. It would destroy everything that makes Xbox a console. It would introduce AWFUL fragmentation, cut into Microsoft’s profits, and alienate millions of players who chose Xbox because it’s not a PC.
Do I believe Xbox engineers are working closely with the Windows OS team? Absolutely. And I do think we’ll see more cohesion than ever? ABSOLUTELY! PCs playing Xbox games natively or through emulation, and Xbox consoles possibly supporting select PC titles the same way. That’s smart integration. But cohesion is not convergence. And I can’t stress this enough: Microsoft needs the Xbox console ecosystem to exist.
The Xbox ecosystem is driven by console first design. It’s where Microsoft profits from hardware sales, software sold through the Xbox Store, and Game Pass subscriptions. If they turned Xbox into a Windows 11 box, they’d open the door to third party storefronts like Steam, Epic, and GOG which essentially handing over their profits to competitors. That’s not just risky, it’s completely backwards. Putting third party stores on Xbox would be like opening a restaurant and letting other chefs sell food from your kitchen. You built the space, attracted the customers, and now you’re giving away the profits.
And let’s not forget the numbers. Over 35 million Game Pass subscribers. More than 40 million Series X|S consoles sold. Well over 100 million monthly active users across console, cloud, and PC. Microsoft has built an excellent ecosystem and that ecosystem would be shattered if they abandoned the console identity.
The whole point of a console is plug and play ease of use. You turn it on, launch a game, and you’re in. No drivers, no background processes, no clutter. That’s what makes consoles special. I genuinely can’t imagine Microsoft being short sighted enough to destroy that.
Xbox is a CONSOLE. It’s a platform. It's an ecosystem. It’s a promise. And it needs to stay that way.
@Banjo- I agree with that sentiment wholeheartedly! It will have more cohesion with Windows than EVER before HOWEVER it won't run full windows simple because that would destroy the point of an Xbox console.
the Next Xbox Won’t Run Full Windows and That’s a Good Thing!
There’s been some speculation lately about whether the next Xbox might run full Windows 11. As someone who’s been gaming on Xbox for years and owns a Series S, Series X, and a PS5, I can tell you right now, that would be a huge mistake. Consoles are built around plug and play simplicity. You turn it on, launch a game, and you’re in. No drivers, no background processes, no clutter. Full Windows would wreck that experience. It’s not just about the UI either, it’s about preserving the frictionless, optimized flow that makes console gaming what it is today.
Beyond usability, full Windows would introduce fragmentation. Right now, Xbox consoles offer a fixed hardware target, and that’s a developer’s dream. They can learn every nuance of the system (including OS) and optimize their games to run better over time. That’s why the Series X, even with Zen 2 and RDNA 2, still delivers visuals and performance that rival high end PCs running Zen 4 and RDNA 3. Developers squeeze every ounce of power out of the hardware because they know exactly what they’re working with. Windows would BREAK that pipeline and dilute the magic.
From a business standpoint, it makes even less sense. Microsoft profits from Xbox in three major ways: hardware sales, software sold through the Xbox Store, and Game Pass subscriptions. If they put FULL Windows on Xbox, they’d open the door to third party storefronts like Steam, Epic, and GOG. That would EAT into their own profits! (Putting third party stores on Xbox would be like opening a restaurant and letting other chefs sell their food from your kitchen!! you built the space, attracted the customers, but now you're handing over your customers and the profits).
Why would any company give up exclusive control of their storefront just to chase PC parity? Xbox is a closed ecosystem by design, and that’s what makes it sustainable.
Now, will the next Xbox have more cohesion with Windows than ever before? Absolutely. We’re already seeing it with Xbox Play Anywhere, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and the Xbox app on PC. But cohesion doesn’t mean convergence. Xbox and PC will stay separate platforms, each with their own strengths, unified through services and SHARED libraries. That’s the brilliance of Xbox Play Anywhere! you get two optimized experiences, not one watered down compromise. And let’s be real, it’s called Xbox Play Anywhere for a reason. Xbox comes first. It's not PC play anywhere, it's XBOX Play Anywhere!
Finally, let’s not forget the importance of Xbox first party hardware. Microsoft has confirmed more handhelds are in development, and the Series S proved that entry level consoles have massive appeal! A hybrid handheld successor to the Series S makes PERFECT sense, but it still needs to be a CONSOLE. Not a PC. Not a Windows box. A CONSOLE. Because that’s what Xbox is, and that’s what millions of us signed up for. Happy gaming ✌️
@Banjo- couldn't agree more, Xbox truly is the most consumer friendly out of all the console ecosystems. Nowhere else can you buy a game and get a free copy to play on another platform (Xbox Play Anywhere)
I'm only interested in a 1st party Xbox handheld CONSOLE. I don't want a PC, I game on console because it's ease of use, plug and play nature. Xbox having a custom OS is part of the beauty of owning a console, I don't want a "full Windows" device. I personally own a Series X, a Series S, and a PS5. These consoles all serve my family and I in gaming, allowing us to easily meet up to play with friends and family. PC is great for people who want to play on PC but that's simply not me.
I am hoping we get the handheld Xbox Series S successor because that would literally be the best console ever for me personally lol happy gaming ✌️
@Seioni the truth is I would ABSOLUTELY love to get the Xbox Ally X, the problem for me is the price. I'm 32yo and have a small group of friends I play with and most of us are in their 30s and 40s. My group of friends are all console players. We all own Xbox Series consoles as well as PlayStation 5 consoles, however most of us spend most of our time on Xbox due to ecosystem and better party chats. Nobody in our group plays on PC, there's 2 guys that have laptops but they only play on them when they're away from home.
My wife and I each own a PS5, and I have a Series X while my wife runs the Series S. We have built extensive game libraries (again, most games we buy on Xbox however we do own PlayStation 5 exclusives but our libraries are mainly on Xbox).
That being said, the Xbox Ally X is cool BUT a large number of our Xbox games won't be playable. Yes, thankfully the Play Anywhere initiative has seen about 50% of our games have PC versions available at no extra cost HOWEVER it's not the same as having native Xbox game support. You'd be playing a PC port of the Xbox games you own. Again, that's cool but the cost is something I just couldn't afford unfortunately. I'd love to be an early adopted, shoot I'd be playing keeper on it right now lol (I had emergency surgery Monday afternoon and I'm in recovery mode where most my time is spent in bed) so the Xbox Ally X would be amazing right about now lolol.
In your situation I could see why it'd be a great console PC hybrid because it would allow you the versatility to play with your group of friends. That's a really cool bonus is being able to party up with friends on Xbox right on the handheld, I think that's cool as hell & the performance of the Xbox Ally X is good enough to actually run every game available on Xbox Series X|S so that's a massive win imo
I definitely enjoy the ID@Xbox indie showcase. I've played and beaten more indies in the last few years, than I ever had at any other time, mostly thanks to gamepass. indie games and especially AA games have really been great lately.
The Xbox Ally is woefully underpowered (you can get a WAY more powerful handheld PC for $599) and the Xbox Ally X is an over priced joke IMO. The device has the horsepower, battery life and overall specs to succeed HOWEVER it will ALWAYS remain a niche device. Even the most dedicated of gamers have a hard time justify a $1000 handheld PC when you can get a MUCH MORE POWERFUL gaming laptop for the same price, or even a dedicated gaming PC. I just don't feel like the Xbox Ally is a good measurement of player interest in handheld CONSOLES (not thousand dollar PC).
The Switch + Switch 2 show that gamers want a dedicated gaming handheld hybrid CONSOLE. This is why I'm excited for some of the recent leaks showing that a handheld hybrid CONSOLE is being planned for the Xbox Series S successor. In my mind it's a brilliant idea to make the Series S successor a hybrid handheld CONSOLE device. It can be played in handheld mode at 1080p and 120fps & in docked mode it could REALLY become the "entry level next gen console" for next generation.
We know about the AMD Magnus APU for the Series X successor, I've seen AMD leaks that suggested there's a lower TDP version that's being built for the Series S successor. I think the Series S successor would probably run between 15w-25w in a handheld mode & would possibly go up to 40w or 50w in a docked mode. Similar to how the Switch 2 is essentially a 1.8TFLOP (PS4 power) device in handheld mode that turns into a 3.8TFLOP device in docked mode (PS4 pro power) with obvious architecture gains that make the switch 2 punch above its weight.
I genuinely believe AMD Magnus APU that can be scaled up for a Series X successor and scaled down for a Series S successor is a brilliant idea that can probably offer remarkable performance per watts thanks to Zen 6 + Zen 6c + RDNA 5 + XDNA (dedicated NPU) architectures that results in massive gains & will allow next gen consoles to truly break free from computing limits.
I've read the dedicated NPU will offer 120 TOPS (AI power) at around 6 watts and will even have the ability to offer considerable TOPS at just 1w which I'm assuming is for a rest mode or something to that affect.
BELOW is a summary of the leaked AMD Magnus APU specs, if anyone is interested in the nitty gritty lol 😅
The rumored AMD Magnus APU powering the next-gen Xbox sounds like a monster in every sense. Built on a chiplet architecture, it reportedly pairs a 144 mm² SoC with a 264 mm² RDNA 5 GPU for a total die size of around 408 mm². The GPU is said to feature 68 Compute Units, 24 MB of L2 cache, and support for up to 48 GB of blazing-fast GDDR7 memory on a 192-bit bus. Its CPU combines Zen 6 and Zen 6c cores (3 performance + 8 efficiency) with 12 MB of L3 cache, offering a smart balance of power and efficiency. The standout, though, is the dedicated NPU—capable of 110 TOPS at just 6 W or 46 TOPS at 1.2 W, an incredible ratio that could supercharge AI-driven upscaling, latency reduction, and intelligent system features. With a TDP between 250 W and 350 W, the Magnus APU could represent the biggest generational leap in Xbox history, easily living up to its name.
Happy gaming ✌️
Had my copy pre-ordered shortly after the beta ended. The beta was pretty incredible considering it wasn't the final build of the game, and it proved that BF6 has a strong foundation & it took me back to the hyped up feelings I had for BF4 back in the day.
I got to play a little bit on launch day, and the day after but after that I had an emergency surgery that's left me pretty jacked up. I'm hoping that I can start moving around better in the next few days I can try to sit in a recliner and play on my Series X.
Right now I've just been playing Deep Rock Galactic Survivor via Xbox Cloud Gaming (it's so relaxing, so much fun & surprisingly deep when it comes to builds). Happy gaming ✌️
I thoroughly enjoyed Obsidian games over the years. Star Wars: Knights of The Old Republic 2, Fallout New Vegas, South Park: The Stick of Truth, Pillars of Eternity, Grounded, The Outer Worlds, and Avowed have ALL been games that I've either beaten, or at least played thoroughly (Pillars of Eternity) and I've enjoyed every single one of them.
That being said, The Outer Worlds felt more like a AA production than it did a big AAA game. Yes it had open areas but everything just felt like it could've been more refined. For example, gun play could've been better, movement left more to be desired. But other than that, it was a good game with some fun side missions.
The Outer Worlds 2 looks like the game The Outer Worlds wanted to be but now with proper funding the DEVs can achieve their goals. The Outer Worlds 2 will be taking advantage of Unreal Engine 5 so that should boost fidelity, frame rates, and overall performance, PLUS they've actually had the time and budget to put together a PROPER sequel but not just a sequel a games that's being rebuilt in Unreal Engine 5 and designed for CURRENT GEN CONSOLES ONLY which should mean we get a much cleaner, better looking, and better performance game.
I'm looking forward to The Outer Worlds 2! Happy gaming ✌️
@Kieduss agreed 💯 percent! I own games I've never played, that I really want to play (Assassin's Creed Mirage, Beyond Good and Evil remastered, & Star Wars Outlaws) but I get deep into other games to the point where I don't end up playing my back log at all I just keep playing whatever else I find intriguing.
It's actually funny now I'm 32, I've started playing through multiple games at once. For example, I beat Avowed and was playing through The Outer Worlds at the same time. I spent more time with Avowed, finished it first and then finished up The Outer Worlds as I was playing through Diablo 4 Vessels of Hatred. I've found I don't need to ONLY play one game til it's "done" I can enjoy multiple games at once, when I get tired of one thing I can pick up another and keep going, that way I don't get burned out of games I'm REALLY enjoying.
To my fellow Xbox enthusiasts who have crazy back catalogs, cheers and happy gaming ✌️
@Bimba Indiana Jones and The Great Circle is a game I definitely see myself playing through more than once. I'm still working on my first playthrough lol it's just a good game through and through. 👍
@dkxcalibur the gears of war trilogy is just too good not to revisit every once and a while, especially on Series X|S where the games get fps boosts and auto HDR
I enjoy replaying GTA 5 very 2 or 3 years, same goes for San Andreas, those are 2 classics I genuinely enjoy revisiting. I've played RDR2 a total of 3 times since release.
There's also series I'll go back and play though, BioShock 1, 2, and infinite I've beaten more than once each. Gears of War is an EXCELLENT trilogy that I adore and love going back to. Assassin's Creed Black Flag, Assassin's Creed Origins and my absolute favorite Assassin's Creed Odyssey I've beaten more than once. I still haven't beaten Valhalla yet, and I haven't even started on Mirage even though I own it.
So yeah there's definitely games I enjoy revisiting, and replaying. Happy gaming ✌️
Double Fine has never failed to impress me, this looks to be a smaller project (compared to the brillantly designed Psychnauts 2) so my expectations are in check. That being said, a walking lighthouse? Something good has to come from that right? lol right...?
I'm looking forward to Keeper as it looks incredibly unique and interesting. My most anticipated gamepass release for not just October but all of 2025 is The Outer Worlds 2, I absolutely adored the Original The Outer Worlds & I fully expect the sequel to be far more enjoyable due to bigger budget plus being built from the ground up for current gen consoles with Unreal Engine 5 means the game will look and run a quite a bit better than the original.
I'm also super excited the game will be introducing the ability to play entirely in 3rd person. So far October slaps hard as hell when it comes to game releases, which is perfect for me as I just had emergency surgery yesterday & will be bed ridden for 2 weeks and will be recovering for 6-8 weeks. .
Battlefield 6 gains a massive edge by dropping last gen consoles, allowing its developers to raise the baseline performance across the board. Without the bottlenecks of HDDs and outdated CPUs, BF6 can fully leverage SSD speeds, advanced physics, and dynamic asset streaming to deliver richer, more immersive environments. Its destructible maps are more complex and reactive, thanks to Frostbite’s engine being unshackled from legacy constraints.
Multiplayer benefits too, with higher server tick rates, smoother hit registration, and support for 120 FPS modes on current gen hardware. Larger lobbies, smarter AI, and hybrid PvPvE modes are now viable, enhancing both scale and tactical depth. The devs have confirmed that leaving last-gen behind was essential to achieving these breakthroughs. It simplifies crossplay, improves matchmaking consistency, and strengthens anti cheat systems by focusing on secure, modern platforms.
BF6 is designed from the ground up to embrace the full power of PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, which is something I'm genuinely excited about. I'm looking forward to seeing what BF6 has to offer, especially the campaign as it looks amazing!
In contrast, Black Ops 7 remains tethered to last-gen consoles, and that decision forces compromises at every level. Asset streaming is limited by slow HDDs, which means smaller maps, fewer dynamic events, and longer load times. Server tick rates must be throttled to accommodate weaker CPUs, resulting in less responsive multiplayer and inconsistent hit registration. Innovative features like destructible environments, advanced AI, and seamless transitions are scaled down or removed entirely to maintain parity. Crossplay becomes a balancing nightmare, with input latency and performance gaps affecting matchmaking and competitive integrity. Even SSD benefits like instant respawns and fast travel are UNDERutilized to avoid giving next gen players an edge. (Which is just sad). Anti cheat systems are harder to implement on older hardware, leaving the ecosystem more vulnerable.
Ultimately, BO7 is designing for the lowest common denominator, which stifles innovation and holds the franchise back. If Call of Duty wants to compete with Battlefield 6 and push the genre forward, it must stop building for 2013 hardware and embrace the full potential of current-gen platforms.
As it sits, I am disappointed that we got BO7 right after BO6. I am also disappointed that we're now 5 years into current gen & COD is still releasing on last gen. I'd love to see a COD game released for current gen that shows an actual generational leap of what COD could be.
That being said, I've got BF6 preordered and I'm looking forward to jumping into a shooter that's fully embracing current gen tech. Happy gaming ✌️
For me it would have to have TMR analog sticks, hall effect triggers LT, RT, & micro switches for LB, RB, A, B, X, Y. It'd also need to have dedicated back buttons, wireless Xbox protocol, Bluetooth, and WiFi direct protocol to connect directly to cloud gaming servers (similar to the Amazon Luna controller & Google Stadia controller).
If Xbox can implement that into it's next Elite controller or even it's next gen controller then it'd be a day one buy for me.
Zombies is the ONE thing that kept me coming back to BO6 every time a new map dropped. Beating the map, finding easter eggs with friends is a blast and it's what I genuinely love about COD is that old school team up to take down the I dead!
The BO7 beta hasn't been bad TBH. I am frustrated with the weird removal of tac sprint but overall it feels very similar to BO6 but with wall jumps.
Zombies on the other hand feels different from BO6, I can't quite put my finger on it but it's different. Zombies feel great though, I am a bit disappointed that PHD slider is gone unless it's a perk augment you can get later I'm not sure. Overall BO7 will be another COD I play strictly for Zombies as I have zero interest in multiplayer (although I will say that CONSOLE ONLY cross play is a massive step in the right direction against cheaters).
I do think the direct sequels are BAD for the series. MW2 to MW3 was awful, Black Ops 6 to Black Ops 7 it just muddies the brand and makes the sub series less valuable.
The most irritating part is I genuinely believe Treyarc is the best dev out of all the ones who work on COD and this direct sequel has made it feel like their games aren't as good when in reality Black Ops 7 is somewhat of a miracle and just imagine what they could create if they were given a full 3 year dev cycle and didn't have to dumb down the engine to run on last gen consoles.
Yes, last gen holds games back. Black Ops 7 being held back by last gen consoles is a real concern. Slow HDDs limit asset streaming, forcing smaller maps and fewer dynamic events, while server tick rates are throttled to accommodate weaker CPUs, hurting hit registration and movement fidelity. Features like larger lobbies, advanced AI, and seamless transitions are scaled down to maintain parity, and anti-cheat systems are less effective on older hardware.
Even SSD benefits like instant respawns and fast travel are underused to avoid giving next gen players an edge (which is pretty pathetic). To truly evolve, Black Ops & COD as a whole needs to cut the cord and embrace the full potential of current-gen platforms. Until that happens, there really won't be any worthwhile upgrades unfortunately. Happy gaming ✌️
@Foxx_64740 I cancelled my PS+ subscription in order to make up the difference for Gamepass Ultimate. The only reason I still subbed to PS+ was to play Helldiver's 2 because I've been playing since day one on PlayStation but looking over everything I don't play enough to justify the subscription. Sure if there's a game I really want that's added to the PS+ essentially on a certain month I'll pay the $10 and add them to my account.
Now we only have Gamepass Ultimate, lowest Netflix, and HBO Max which is perfect for my wife and myself. The Gamepass Ultimate increase stings us pretty badly however since we game share, Gamepass Ultimate is still the best value in gaming for our family.
The $30 Game Pass Ultimate increase definitely stings, especially for my wife and me, since it’s how we play together and with friends. I still think it’s the best deal in gaming, but adding Fortnite Crew and Ubisoft+ instead of simply making it $25/month feels like a misstep. Or at the very least they should've spread the cost across Essentials, Premium and Ultimate instead of putting the brunt of the cost increase on Ultimate Subscribers. At this price, Xbox risks alienating the very people who helped make Game Pass successful.
That said, it’s unfair to paint Xbox as the sole villain here. Every platform is raising prices in a brutal economic climate. (Are we great again yet?) PlayStation hiked PS Plus without adding value, increased the cost of consoles, charges for cloud saves, and locks legacy backwards compatible content behind paywalls. By contrast, Xbox still delivers console, PC, cloud, Play Anywhere, cross-play, and four generations of backward compatibility under one ecosystem. It's still doing more for players than any other platform, when you realize Xbox offers cloud gaming on all tiers, Xbox Play Anywhere, and a catalog of games to play on every Gamepass tier.
Game Pass is NOT perfect, but it remains the most inclusive service in gaming. Microsoft does need to listen to feedback and avoid pushing loyal subscribers away, but let’s hold the whole industry accountable instead of piling only on Xbox.
I say this as someone who owns a PS5, an Xbox Series X, and whose wife owns both a PS5 and a Series S. I’m a gamer, NOT a fanboy. I’ll criticize decisions I disagree with (like this price increase), but I won’t join a hate bandwagon when Xbox is still doing more for players than most of the competition. Happy gaming ✌️
@Jenkinss ayy Helldiver's 2 is such a banger and REALLY hard to break away from lol in fact HD2 is the only reason I've been booting up my PS5 lately. Eventually I'll get it on Xbox too cuz it's just that good a game.
That being said Jump Space looks freaking amazing! I love the co-op nature of keeping the ship solid in fighting condition and then the fact you can dock places to run around with friends shooting and looting lol that's the cherry on top! Happy gaming ✌️
@Kaloudz agreed 💯 percent! I'm personally looking forward to Keeper, The Outer Worlds 2, and Ninja Gaiden 4. In all reality once The Outer Worlds 2 releases that's what'll be taking up most of my time lol although I do believe keeper is the type of game I can play on my phone via Xbox Cloud Gaming + my Gamesir X2S Type C mobile controller. Happy gaming ✌️
Xbox Gamepass Essentials blows PS+ essentials subscription out the water lol access to 50+ games, Xbox Play Anywhere for certain games you own and Xbox Cloud Gaming for certain games we own plus cloud gaming for titles within the 50 game catalog all for $9.99/month. The only reason I still subscribe to PS+ is so my wife can play certain games she enjoys with friends & I get to play Helldiver's 2.
Sorry I guess it just dawned on me how much more stuff you get on the lowest Gamepass tier compared to the lowest PlayStation plus tier. Happy gaming ✌️
I fully agree they should've been subsidized similar to how consoles are subsidized. As they sit they're way too expensive to be system sellers and the base Xbox Ally is woefully underpowered for its price considering you could get a OG ROG Ally with a Z1 extreme APU that would mop the floor with the base Xbox Ally for much less than $599.
All this being said, I genuinely hope that for next generation we get a Series S successor that's a hybrid handheld CONSOLE. I can't imagine Microsoft not wanting a Series S successor considering it makes up 49% of all Series X|S sold this far. I also take AMD and their leaked roadmaps to suggest it's more than plausible for there to be a hybrid handheld Xbox that utilizes a customized lower TDP version of the AMD Magnus APU (which is the rumored BEAST of an APU expected to power the Series X successor). Imagine an entry level next gen Series S successor that can be played on the go but also docked with boosted performance for it to fit the role of "entry level next gen" as the Series S did.
All I know is if Microsoft makes a handheld CONSOLE (not PC) that can play all my Xbox games, I will be there day one cash in hand lol. Happy gaming ✌️
@TrollOfWar of course it won't even come close to the same scrutiny as the ABK deal simply because it's not consolidation. The ABK deal saw Microsoft merge ABK into their studio portfolio. With this EA thing it's about transferring ownership. The biggest scrutiny will come from the committee on foreign investment because Saudi Arabia's PIF is involved, which could be viewed as a national security/geopolitical issue.
I personally don't trust PIF nor do I trust Affinity investment company, I'm not going to say much, just that history has shown that BOTH of these investment companies aren't in it for the "right reasons".
Lastly, I do worry about the cultural shift we may see as a direct result of this investment. EA is a cultural gaming entity with Madden, FIFA/FC, The Sims, Battlefield, and Apex Legends. Whoever owns EA will control a huge swath of global gaming culture and influence. Will these games remain as they were or will we see a shift in tones that align with the new owners?
This road map is absolutely stellar on so many levels! I'm super excited for the future of Xbox and these games are what I've been waiting for, it's nice to be an Xbox fan this generation lol we actually have GAMES to legitimately brag about! Forza Horizon 6, The Outer Worlds 2, Halo CE Remake, Clockwork Revolution, Marvel's Blade, Fable, The Elders Scrolls 6, State of Decay 3, and last but definitely NOT least Gears of War: E-Day! Damn, I just realized that the caliber of a lot of these games are S tier lol happy gaming ✌️
Doing the direct sequels MW2-MW3 and BO6-BO7 is the dumbest thing they could've done in my opinion. They've taken away the one thing that differentiates the yearly releases. The one thing that broke up the monotony of COD was that every year we had a different sub genre that was just different enough to justify itself being a separate experience.
With these direct sequels there's absolutely nothing that seperates the experience, in fact most people, myself included feel like MW3 should've just been dlc for MW2 or that BO7 should've been Black Ops 6 year 2 DLC. If Activision doesn't go back to releasing 3 different sub genre of COD every year, then there's ZERO doubt in my mind that COD will be on a collision course for failure worse than it already has been.
This is not me hating on COD either, I'm an avid zombies fan. I play and beat every maps easter egg when it releases but other than that I don't play anything else COD has to offer anymore. For me personally it's zombies or bust. Happy gaming ✌️
I really wish I could get the Xbox Ally X but I personally can't justify $1000 on a portable gaming PC. The base Xbox Ally is extremely underwhelming considering you can get a handheld gaming PC with a Ryzen Z1 Extreme that blows the Z2A powering the Xbox Ally out the water. The Xbox Ally X is a beast but I'm still out of by the fact it's a PC that can't play the majority of my Xbox games (although massive KUDOS to Microsoft for expanding their Xbox Play Anywhere initiative).
All that being said, I'm looking forward to the future of Xbox. The deal they made with AMD is very intriguing, plus the leaks about the AMD Magnus APU that'll power the Series X successor, is mind blowing. It'll truly be the biggest leap we've seen in a generation (just as Sarah Bond alluded).
Also intriguing is that there's a lower TDP version of the AMD Magnus APU that's expected to power the Series S successor. The most interesting part is that it's speculated to be a hybrid handheld gaming console. This would be brilliant on Microsofts part as the Series S has been EXTREMELY successful, it would allow them another entry level next gen device but it would also compete with the Switch 2. The lower TDP version of the AMD Magnus APU (the Magnus Lite if you will) would likely run at 15w-40w which makes perfect sense for a hybrid handheld. Obviously the TDP would be lower in handheld mode and then boosted in Docked Mode offering an entry level next gen Xbox. Of course all of this is speculation based on what we know about the Magnus APU as well as the AMD roadmap of products coming as well as the deal with Microsoft for chipsets powering "Console, Cloud, PC, and devices of different form factors" AKA mobile lol.
No matter what happens, I'm with Xbox next generation. I'll be running whatever the Series X successor ends up being and if they make the Series S successor a hybrid handheld console I'd most likely end up with one day one lol.
As always, everything with a grain of salt, speculation is fun and happy gaming everyone ✌️
@Ricky-Spanish that's REALLY the trend nowadays, instead of enjoying the game for what it is, people would rather go online and hate on it. Black Ops 6 is fun as hell, especially for a dedicated zombies player like myself. I've beaten all the main quest easter eggs on every zombies map in Black Ops 6 so far, I am bummed we're not getting any more Zombies content for Black Ops 6 but thankfully the zombies reveal for Black Ops 7 was released today lol and it looks pretty good so far 💯
Xbox has been on a savage tear in 2025. From excellent final fantasy games finally coming to Xbox to Gamepass offering PHENOMENAL titles like Avowed, Indiana Jones and The Great Circle, DOOM the Dark Ages, Persona 4, Gears Reloaded and Oblivion Remastered I've been EXTREMELY busy with my catalog lol plus we got Helldiver's 2 which is a super fun game that works extremely well on Xbox. Despite all the doom posting I see, people constantly hating on Xbox, I genuinely believe Xbox is the best platform for console gamers. The amount of freedom I have over my library is crazy, I can save a game on my Series X and pick up on Xbox Cloud Gaming essentially anywhere is brilliant.
Also, the fact Microsoft is investing heavily in Xbox Cloud Gaming as well as it's next gen consoles has me excited for the future.
Is this upgrade available for everyone right now? I've always been impressed with Xbox Cloud Gaming and I've noticed in the past few months it's been extremely consistent, I'm looking forward to testing 1440p and seeing how well the latency holds up.
Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra looks amazing, the cinematics are top tier! I'm just hoping that moving forward we get some gameplay deep dives. All the amazing cinematics in the world can never replace core gameplay. If gameplay is lacking then all my attention is lost.
I got my Series S in 2022 as a companion to my PS5 and it ended up becoming my console of choice, leaving my PS5 solely for playing a few PlayStation exclusives here and there. The Xbox Series S punches way above its weight in terms of performance, offering upscaled 4K gaming at 60fps and up to 1440p native gaming at 120fps (although most games that hit 120fps run at dynamic 1080p).
I got my Xbox Series X in 2024 & instead of getting rid of my Series S I decided to get a portable gaming monitor & now my Series S goes with me when I'm away from home and it's the perfect size for travelling.
When I was growing up (PS2 era-Xbox 360 era) I'd get PS2 demos from magazines, demos were everywhere on Xbox 360 and they really were a great way to learn about a game you're interested in purchasing, by actually trying it out before you buy it.
I'm actually glad to see Xbox embracing demos in the modern era, especially when we have launch disasters where games aren't even close to what's advertised. With a demo you're more likely to get a better representation of what's coming in the full release. Happy gaming ✌️
I'm apart of the insiders beta program and I got an update on my Series X and everything was smooth sailing, however my wife's Series S got stuck with the error code last night. Woke up this morning and everything is back to normal
I wasn't interested in another fps game but after reading the devs Q&A it's clear they're passionate about their product and it's something I may need to give a shot however it sounds like the game will get better with time as a lot of features are in their infancy or are planned for future updates.
@Ricky-Spanish honestly I feel the same way. It doesn't matter what it is nowadays, gamers will b'tch and complain. Black Ops 7 could've announced traditional boots on ground gameplay with ONLY army guy skins and people would've had a meltdown.
I feel like Black Ops 6 is the best COD experience released since Black Ops Cold War and MW19. The campaign was cool, the multiplayers solid, and the Zombies is the most fun I've had in Zombies in a long time. I've beaten the main Easter Egg in every zombies map in Black Ops 6 & I still go back to play the maps again looking for secrets and helping others who haven't beaten the boss fights. Although I hope we get OUTBREAK Zombies along side the traditional round based zombies because the community deserves to have the brilliant open area nature that Outbreak brings to the table with the vehicles and cool wonder weapons as well as the smaller round based experiences. I love them both and I know many zombies players who'd love to have both.
Anyways, I'm there with you man. People are going to whine ni matter what it is. Activision could announced a Black Ops 2 remake complete with modern engine upgrades running at 4K and 60fps with ALL the DLC included and people would stink whine and cry lol 😆 happy gaming ✌️
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Re: Steam Machine Specs Revealed, Here's How They Compare To Xbox Series X|S
The Steam Box Mini is built for 4K living room gaming, hitting performance levels similar to PS5 thanks to its Zen 4 CPU and RDNA 3 GPU. Even with fewer compute units in the GPU (28 vs PS5’s 36), it delivers slightly better TFLOPs at around 10.5 to 11.5 TFLOPS (vs the 10.28TFLOPS on PS5) thanks to higher clocks and architectural gains. It’s compact, efficient, and leverages FSR 3 with frame generation to push high res gaming without needing massive power. If devs start optimizing for it directly, it could become a legit console class experience with SOME PC flexibility. That's honestly, the REAL question, will DEVS target this device when making games?
If we look at the Series X for example (or even the PS5 for that matter) the Series X consistently punches above its weight because Microsoft built more than just raw specs. The 12TF RDNA2 GPU and Zen 2 CPU give it a solid foundation, but the real secret sauce is the DEV optimizations and DEV tools. With DirectX 12 Ultimate, Velocity Architecture, and features like Sampler Feedback Streaming, developers get "closer to the metal access" to CPU/GPU resources. That means less wasted cycles, smarter asset streaming, and better memory management. Combine that with powerful profiling tools and cross platform synergy with PC, and you’ve got a box that delivers performance well beyond what the spec sheet alone suggests.
If the Steam Box Mini can bring DEVS on board it may be the perfect little living room console. Happy gaming ✌️
Re: Backbone Pro: Xbox Edition Announced, And It's Available To Buy Today
There's no way I'd pay $170 for a phone controller that has NO Hall Effect Analog sticks. I am currently utilizing the Gamesir X2S type C controller, it was $30 and has Hall Effect Analog sticks and hall effect triggers, the left and right bumper are clicky like a mouse & the D-pad is great. The ONLY downside is there's no back buttons but other than that it's been amazing.
The reason why Hall Effect Analog sticks with type-C are so important is because of the ZERO deadzone, low latency, and anti- stick drift. I previously had a Bluetooth mobile controller and Xbox Cloud Gaming was unplayable due to the latency caused by Bluetooth & alps sticks.
Once I got the Gamesir X2S type C controller with Hall Effect Analog sticks, I was genuinely shocked out how responsive Xbox Cloud Gaming had become. I couldn't race supercross on MX vs ATV legends due to latency, once I switched to the X2S I was running lap times that were closer to what I'd do on my Xbox Series X (obviously my Series X with my wired Gamesir G7 HE is creme de La creme lol).
Anyone looking for a cheap compact controller check out Gamesir, they just released a new controller for $35 that's even better than my X2S. I feel like the premium price tag of the backbone isn't worth it, not when you can get the Razer Kishi V3 for $99 that has full sized TMR thumb sticks + back buttons.
At the end of the day my little Gamesir X2S type C controller has allowed me to play some amazing games on the go. I'm currently obsessed with Halls of Torment, as well as deep rock galactic survivor.
Happy gaming ✌️
Re: Poll: A Few Weeks On, What Review Score Would You Give Keeper?
@Cakefish I definitely agree with your sentiment, the game doesn't offer much replay value but it REALLY is an expression of artistic vision. I doubt it'll be a game I revisit but nonetheless I am glad to have experienced it.
Re: Poll: A Few Weeks On, What Review Score Would You Give Keeper?
@Titntin you're going to enjoy it, especially if you go in with an open mind. It's beautiful on Series X and has some REALLY cool environments littered with environmental storytelling. Also, my wife and I are back on GPU because it's still cheaper than buying 2 copies of a game at a wack. (We also only subscribe when we find good deals).
Re: Poll: A Few Weeks On, What Review Score Would You Give Keeper?
@Sol4ris I also went with a 9. It definitely had a journey vibe to it, the environmental storytelling was great. The more I played the more I enjoyed the game.
Re: Poll: A Few Weeks On, What Review Score Would You Give Keeper?
I personally give the game a 9 out of 10. I purposely went into the game with an open mind, with absolutely ZERO expectations (what can you really expect from a sentient lighthouse lol). This allowed me to experience the game for all it had to offer without being bummed about things I wish it was or could've been.
I played Keeper upon returning home from having emergency surgery to remove my gallbladder. It was a whole ordeal that was a literal nightmare, so coming home being sore AF I didn't really want to do much. The first 3 days of being home I was stuck in bed so I just played Keeper via Xbox Cloud Gaming. When I was finally able to move to my Series X I was even more impressed with Keeper. For some reason the game just kept me entertained, it was like I was in a trance or something (the pain meds may or may not have contributed to this lol) but I genuinely enjoyed the game.
Exploration was the coolest part for me, especially the clouds and the seas, solving puzzles were fun too. It was just cool to experience the chill vibe keeper had on offer. IDK if it's something I'll playthrough again, like I have with other Double Fine games, but it was good nonetheless.
Happy gaming ✌️
Re: Here's What's Included In The Xbox October 2025 Update
The game hubs have really grown on me. They've offered me much better context of everything associated with a specific game. It's allowed me to find DLC I owned but didn't realize it wasn't installed (I'm looking at you The Witcher 3).
game hubs are also great for all my screenshots and videos associated with a specific game. That feature has been super helpful to me, opening a game hub and realizing, oh yeah I forgot I took that screenshot or I forgot to edit that clip.
Overall, I've definitely come to appreciate gamehubs. I've had them for a while now since I'm an Xbox insider currently enrolled in the Beta Preview Ring on my Xbox Series X. It's cool that people can turn the game hub features off if they want to but for me personally, I've found them more useful than not. Happy gaming ✌️
Re: Xbox Announces 12 Titles Coming To Game Pass At October's Indie Showcase
I'm really excited for Sledding Game lol that just looks like a good time! Also, Day Z: Badlands has my attention. The game is already good so any extra content and updates to make it better are all good in my book.
Awaysis also looks like a wacky good time, especially since the campaign can be completed with friends thanks to 1-4 player co-op. Some of my favorite games of all time are games that can be beaten with friends. There's not enough games that feature campaign co-op IMO. Happy gaming ✌️
Re: Microsoft Reportedly Still Has Plans To Make Its Own Xbox Handheld
The upcoming Xbox handheld with an Xbox Series S successor. It'll most likely be a hybrid device that can be docked (think Switch 2, Steam Deck, ROG Ally). My guess it'll serve as the "entry level next gen console" similar to what the Series S did.
This news makes me so happy! I'd love to own a 1st party Xbox handheld CONSOLE!
Re: Battlefield 6 Season 1 Brings Lots Of Free Content To Xbox, Starting This Month
@mikeangry agreed 💯 percent! I don't care if they get creative with gun skins and military skins HOWEVER if it goes cartoon style or we see other IP characters (Beavis and Butthead, Family Guy, Nicki Minaj etcetera) that's where it's just too much for me!
That being said, I'd like to see some military style Halloween skins. For example, military camo with skulls all around it and a face mask with skeleton face (think Ghost from COD) stuff like that wouldn't bother me.
BF6 has a unique opportunity to be creative with their skins while still being firmly grounded in BF6. I don't want to see the same brown, green, and tan military skins over, and over again. Create different forms with different outfits and different colors but keep it militaristic and grounded. I think that's a recipe for proper creativity as well as keeping with the feel of Battlefield.
Re: Poll: Are You More Interested In The ROG Xbox Ally Now That Reviews Are Out?
@BAMozzy Full Windows on the Next Xbox Would Be a Disaster
Let me be blunt: running full Windows 11 on the next Xbox would be the dumbest move Microsoft could possibly make. It would destroy everything that makes Xbox a console. It would introduce AWFUL fragmentation, cut into Microsoft’s profits, and alienate millions of players who chose Xbox because it’s not a PC.
Do I believe Xbox engineers are working closely with the Windows OS team? Absolutely. And I do think we’ll see more cohesion than ever? ABSOLUTELY! PCs playing Xbox games natively or through emulation, and Xbox consoles possibly supporting select PC titles the same way. That’s smart integration. But cohesion is not convergence. And I can’t stress this enough: Microsoft needs the Xbox console ecosystem to exist.
The Xbox ecosystem is driven by console first design. It’s where Microsoft profits from hardware sales, software sold through the Xbox Store, and Game Pass subscriptions. If they turned Xbox into a Windows 11 box, they’d open the door to third party storefronts like Steam, Epic, and GOG which essentially handing over their profits to competitors. That’s not just risky, it’s completely backwards. Putting third party stores on Xbox would be like opening a restaurant and letting other chefs sell food from your kitchen. You built the space, attracted the customers, and now you’re giving away the profits.
And let’s not forget the numbers. Over 35 million Game Pass subscribers. More than 40 million Series X|S consoles sold. Well over 100 million monthly active users across console, cloud, and PC. Microsoft has built an excellent ecosystem and that ecosystem would be shattered if they abandoned the console identity.
The whole point of a console is plug and play ease of use. You turn it on, launch a game, and you’re in. No drivers, no background processes, no clutter. That’s what makes consoles special. I genuinely can’t imagine Microsoft being short sighted enough to destroy that.
Xbox is a CONSOLE. It’s a platform. It's an ecosystem. It’s a promise. And it needs to stay that way.
Re: Poll: Are You More Interested In The ROG Xbox Ally Now That Reviews Are Out?
@Banjo- I agree with that sentiment wholeheartedly! It will have more cohesion with Windows than EVER before HOWEVER it won't run full windows simple because that would destroy the point of an Xbox console.
the Next Xbox Won’t Run Full Windows and That’s a Good Thing!
There’s been some speculation lately about whether the next Xbox might run full Windows 11. As someone who’s been gaming on Xbox for years and owns a Series S, Series X, and a PS5, I can tell you right now, that would be a huge mistake. Consoles are built around plug and play simplicity. You turn it on, launch a game, and you’re in. No drivers, no background processes, no clutter. Full Windows would wreck that experience. It’s not just about the UI either, it’s about preserving the frictionless, optimized flow that makes console gaming what it is today.
Beyond usability, full Windows would introduce fragmentation. Right now, Xbox consoles offer a fixed hardware target, and that’s a developer’s dream. They can learn every nuance of the system (including OS) and optimize their games to run better over time. That’s why the Series X, even with Zen 2 and RDNA 2, still delivers visuals and performance that rival high end PCs running Zen 4 and RDNA 3. Developers squeeze every ounce of power out of the hardware because they know exactly what they’re working with. Windows would BREAK that pipeline and dilute the magic.
From a business standpoint, it makes even less sense. Microsoft profits from Xbox in three major ways: hardware sales, software sold through the Xbox Store, and Game Pass subscriptions. If they put FULL Windows on Xbox, they’d open the door to third party storefronts like Steam, Epic, and GOG. That would EAT into their own profits! (Putting third party stores on Xbox would be like opening a restaurant and letting other chefs sell their food from your kitchen!! you built the space, attracted the customers, but now you're handing over your customers and the profits).
Why would any company give up exclusive control of their storefront just to chase PC parity? Xbox is a closed ecosystem by design, and that’s what makes it sustainable.
Now, will the next Xbox have more cohesion with Windows than ever before? Absolutely. We’re already seeing it with Xbox Play Anywhere, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and the Xbox app on PC. But cohesion doesn’t mean convergence. Xbox and PC will stay separate platforms, each with their own strengths, unified through services and SHARED libraries. That’s the brilliance of Xbox Play Anywhere! you get two optimized experiences, not one watered down compromise. And let’s be real, it’s called Xbox Play Anywhere for a reason. Xbox comes first. It's not PC play anywhere, it's XBOX Play Anywhere!
Finally, let’s not forget the importance of Xbox first party hardware. Microsoft has confirmed more handhelds are in development, and the Series S proved that entry level consoles have massive appeal! A hybrid handheld successor to the Series S makes PERFECT sense, but it still needs to be a CONSOLE. Not a PC. Not a Windows box. A CONSOLE. Because that’s what Xbox is, and that’s what millions of us signed up for. Happy gaming ✌️
Re: Poll: Are You More Interested In The ROG Xbox Ally Now That Reviews Are Out?
@Banjo- couldn't agree more, Xbox truly is the most consumer friendly out of all the console ecosystems. Nowhere else can you buy a game and get a free copy to play on another platform (Xbox Play Anywhere)
Re: Poll: Are You More Interested In The ROG Xbox Ally Now That Reviews Are Out?
I'm only interested in a 1st party Xbox handheld CONSOLE. I don't want a PC, I game on console because it's ease of use, plug and play nature. Xbox having a custom OS is part of the beauty of owning a console, I don't want a "full Windows" device. I personally own a Series X, a Series S, and a PS5. These consoles all serve my family and I in gaming, allowing us to easily meet up to play with friends and family. PC is great for people who want to play on PC but that's simply not me.
I am hoping we get the handheld Xbox Series S successor because that would literally be the best console ever for me personally lol happy gaming ✌️
Re: Xbox Says It 'Defines Success' By How Much Time Players Spend On The Platform
@Seioni the truth is I would ABSOLUTELY love to get the Xbox Ally X, the problem for me is the price. I'm 32yo and have a small group of friends I play with and most of us are in their 30s and 40s. My group of friends are all console players. We all own Xbox Series consoles as well as PlayStation 5 consoles, however most of us spend most of our time on Xbox due to ecosystem and better party chats. Nobody in our group plays on PC, there's 2 guys that have laptops but they only play on them when they're away from home.
My wife and I each own a PS5, and I have a Series X while my wife runs the Series S. We have built extensive game libraries (again, most games we buy on Xbox however we do own PlayStation 5 exclusives but our libraries are mainly on Xbox).
That being said, the Xbox Ally X is cool BUT a large number of our Xbox games won't be playable. Yes, thankfully the Play Anywhere initiative has seen about 50% of our games have PC versions available at no extra cost HOWEVER it's not the same as having native Xbox game support. You'd be playing a PC port of the Xbox games you own. Again, that's cool but the cost is something I just couldn't afford unfortunately. I'd love to be an early adopted, shoot I'd be playing keeper on it right now lol (I had emergency surgery Monday afternoon and I'm in recovery mode where most my time is spent in bed) so the Xbox Ally X would be amazing right about now lolol.
In your situation I could see why it'd be a great console PC hybrid because it would allow you the versatility to play with your group of friends. That's a really cool bonus is being able to party up with friends on Xbox right on the handheld, I think that's cool as hell & the performance of the Xbox Ally X is good enough to actually run every game available on Xbox Series X|S so that's a massive win imo
Re: Xbox Indie Showcase Announced For October 2025
I definitely enjoy the ID@Xbox indie showcase. I've played and beaten more indies in the last few years, than I ever had at any other time, mostly thanks to gamepass. indie games and especially AA games have really been great lately.
Re: Xbox Says It 'Defines Success' By How Much Time Players Spend On The Platform
The Xbox Ally is woefully underpowered (you can get a WAY more powerful handheld PC for $599) and the Xbox Ally X is an over priced joke IMO. The device has the horsepower, battery life and overall specs to succeed HOWEVER it will ALWAYS remain a niche device. Even the most dedicated of gamers have a hard time justify a $1000 handheld PC when you can get a MUCH MORE POWERFUL gaming laptop for the same price, or even a dedicated gaming PC. I just don't feel like the Xbox Ally is a good measurement of player interest in handheld CONSOLES (not thousand dollar PC).
The Switch + Switch 2 show that gamers want a dedicated gaming handheld hybrid CONSOLE. This is why I'm excited for some of the recent leaks showing that a handheld hybrid CONSOLE is being planned for the Xbox Series S successor. In my mind it's a brilliant idea to make the Series S successor a hybrid handheld CONSOLE device. It can be played in handheld mode at 1080p and 120fps & in docked mode it could REALLY become the "entry level next gen console" for next generation.
We know about the AMD Magnus APU for the Series X successor, I've seen AMD leaks that suggested there's a lower TDP version that's being built for the Series S successor. I think the Series S successor would probably run between 15w-25w in a handheld mode & would possibly go up to 40w or 50w in a docked mode. Similar to how the Switch 2 is essentially a 1.8TFLOP (PS4 power) device in handheld mode that turns into a 3.8TFLOP device in docked mode (PS4 pro power) with obvious architecture gains that make the switch 2 punch above its weight.
I genuinely believe AMD Magnus APU that can be scaled up for a Series X successor and scaled down for a Series S successor is a brilliant idea that can probably offer remarkable performance per watts thanks to Zen 6 + Zen 6c + RDNA 5 + XDNA (dedicated NPU) architectures that results in massive gains & will allow next gen consoles to truly break free from computing limits.
I've read the dedicated NPU will offer 120 TOPS (AI power) at around 6 watts and will even have the ability to offer considerable TOPS at just 1w which I'm assuming is for a rest mode or something to that affect.
BELOW is a summary of the leaked AMD Magnus APU specs, if anyone is interested in the nitty gritty lol 😅
The rumored AMD Magnus APU powering the next-gen Xbox sounds like a monster in every sense. Built on a chiplet architecture, it reportedly pairs a 144 mm² SoC with a 264 mm² RDNA 5 GPU for a total die size of around 408 mm². The GPU is said to feature 68 Compute Units, 24 MB of L2 cache, and support for up to 48 GB of blazing-fast GDDR7 memory on a 192-bit bus. Its CPU combines Zen 6 and Zen 6c cores (3 performance + 8 efficiency) with 12 MB of L3 cache, offering a smart balance of power and efficiency. The standout, though, is the dedicated NPU—capable of 110 TOPS at just 6 W or 46 TOPS at 1.2 W, an incredible ratio that could supercharge AI-driven upscaling, latency reduction, and intelligent system features. With a TDP between 250 W and 350 W, the Magnus APU could represent the biggest generational leap in Xbox history, easily living up to its name.
Happy gaming ✌️
Re: Report: Battlefield 6 Sells Over 6 Million Copies, And A Good Chunk Of Those Are On Xbox
Had my copy pre-ordered shortly after the beta ended. The beta was pretty incredible considering it wasn't the final build of the game, and it proved that BF6 has a strong foundation & it took me back to the hyped up feelings I had for BF4 back in the day.
I got to play a little bit on launch day, and the day after but after that I had an emergency surgery that's left me pretty jacked up. I'm hoping that I can start moving around better in the next few days I can try to sit in a recliner and play on my Series X.
Right now I've just been playing Deep Rock Galactic Survivor via Xbox Cloud Gaming (it's so relaxing, so much fun & surprisingly deep when it comes to builds). Happy gaming ✌️
Re: The Outer Worlds 2 Is Bringing 'Big Sequel Energy' To Xbox Game Pass This Month
I thoroughly enjoyed Obsidian games over the years. Star Wars: Knights of The Old Republic 2, Fallout New Vegas, South Park: The Stick of Truth, Pillars of Eternity, Grounded, The Outer Worlds, and Avowed have ALL been games that I've either beaten, or at least played thoroughly (Pillars of Eternity) and I've enjoyed every single one of them.
That being said, The Outer Worlds felt more like a AA production than it did a big AAA game. Yes it had open areas but everything just felt like it could've been more refined. For example, gun play could've been better, movement left more to be desired. But other than that, it was a good game with some fun side missions.
The Outer Worlds 2 looks like the game The Outer Worlds wanted to be but now with proper funding the DEVs can achieve their goals. The Outer Worlds 2 will be taking advantage of Unreal Engine 5 so that should boost fidelity, frame rates, and overall performance, PLUS they've actually had the time and budget to put together a PROPER sequel but not just a sequel a games that's being rebuilt in Unreal Engine 5 and designed for CURRENT GEN CONSOLES ONLY which should mean we get a much cleaner, better looking, and better performance game.
I'm looking forward to The Outer Worlds 2! Happy gaming ✌️
Re: Talking Point: How Often Do You Replay Games?
@Kieduss agreed 💯 percent! I own games I've never played, that I really want to play (Assassin's Creed Mirage, Beyond Good and Evil remastered, & Star Wars Outlaws) but I get deep into other games to the point where I don't end up playing my back log at all I just keep playing whatever else I find intriguing.
It's actually funny now I'm 32, I've started playing through multiple games at once. For example, I beat Avowed and was playing through The Outer Worlds at the same time. I spent more time with Avowed, finished it first and then finished up The Outer Worlds as I was playing through Diablo 4 Vessels of Hatred. I've found I don't need to ONLY play one game til it's "done" I can enjoy multiple games at once, when I get tired of one thing I can pick up another and keep going, that way I don't get burned out of games I'm REALLY enjoying.
To my fellow Xbox enthusiasts who have crazy back catalogs, cheers and happy gaming ✌️
Re: Talking Point: How Often Do You Replay Games?
@Bimba Indiana Jones and The Great Circle is a game I definitely see myself playing through more than once. I'm still working on my first playthrough lol it's just a good game through and through. 👍
Re: Talking Point: How Often Do You Replay Games?
@dkxcalibur the gears of war trilogy is just too good not to revisit every once and a while, especially on Series X|S where the games get fps boosts and auto HDR
Re: Talking Point: How Often Do You Replay Games?
I enjoy replaying GTA 5 very 2 or 3 years, same goes for San Andreas, those are 2 classics I genuinely enjoy revisiting. I've played RDR2 a total of 3 times since release.
There's also series I'll go back and play though, BioShock 1, 2, and infinite I've beaten more than once each. Gears of War is an EXCELLENT trilogy that I adore and love going back to. Assassin's Creed Black Flag, Assassin's Creed Origins and my absolute favorite Assassin's Creed Odyssey I've beaten more than once. I still haven't beaten Valhalla yet, and I haven't even started on Mirage even though I own it.
So yeah there's definitely games I enjoy revisiting, and replaying. Happy gaming ✌️
Re: Keeper: Release Date, Launch Times & What To Expect From Xbox's Next First-Party Release
Double Fine has never failed to impress me, this looks to be a smaller project (compared to the brillantly designed Psychnauts 2) so my expectations are in check. That being said, a walking lighthouse? Something good has to come from that right? lol right...?
Re: These 12 Games Are Coming To Xbox Game Pass (October 8-21)
I'm looking forward to Keeper as it looks incredibly unique and interesting. My most anticipated gamepass release for not just October but all of 2025 is The Outer Worlds 2, I absolutely adored the Original The Outer Worlds & I fully expect the sequel to be far more enjoyable due to bigger budget plus being built from the ground up for current gen consoles with Unreal Engine 5 means the game will look and run a quite a bit better than the original.
I'm also super excited the game will be introducing the ability to play entirely in 3rd person. So far October slaps hard as hell when it comes to game releases, which is perfect for me as I just had emergency surgery yesterday & will be bed ridden for 2 weeks and will be recovering for 6-8 weeks.
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Re: Battlefield 6 Dev Explains Why It Isn't Following Black Ops 7 With Xbox One Version
Battlefield 6 gains a massive edge by dropping last gen consoles, allowing its developers to raise the baseline performance across the board. Without the bottlenecks of HDDs and outdated CPUs, BF6 can fully leverage SSD speeds, advanced physics, and dynamic asset streaming to deliver richer, more immersive environments. Its destructible maps are more complex and reactive, thanks to Frostbite’s engine being unshackled from legacy constraints.
Multiplayer benefits too, with higher server tick rates, smoother hit registration, and support for 120 FPS modes on current gen hardware. Larger lobbies, smarter AI, and hybrid PvPvE modes are now viable, enhancing both scale and tactical depth. The devs have confirmed that leaving last-gen behind was essential to achieving these breakthroughs. It simplifies crossplay, improves matchmaking consistency, and strengthens anti cheat systems by focusing on secure, modern platforms.
BF6 is designed from the ground up to embrace the full power of PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, which is something I'm genuinely excited about. I'm looking forward to seeing what BF6 has to offer, especially the campaign as it looks amazing!
In contrast, Black Ops 7 remains tethered to last-gen consoles, and that decision forces compromises at every level. Asset streaming is limited by slow HDDs, which means smaller maps, fewer dynamic events, and longer load times. Server tick rates must be throttled to accommodate weaker CPUs, resulting in less responsive multiplayer and inconsistent hit registration. Innovative features like destructible environments, advanced AI, and seamless transitions are scaled down or removed entirely to maintain parity. Crossplay becomes a balancing nightmare, with input latency and performance gaps affecting matchmaking and competitive integrity. Even SSD benefits like instant respawns and fast travel are UNDERutilized to avoid giving next gen players an edge. (Which is just sad). Anti cheat systems are harder to implement on older hardware, leaving the ecosystem more vulnerable.
Ultimately, BO7 is designing for the lowest common denominator, which stifles innovation and holds the franchise back. If Call of Duty wants to compete with Battlefield 6 and push the genre forward, it must stop building for 2013 hardware and embrace the full potential of current-gen platforms.
As it sits, I am disappointed that we got BO7 right after BO6. I am also disappointed that we're now 5 years into current gen & COD is still releasing on last gen. I'd love to see a COD game released for current gen that shows an actual generational leap of what COD could be.
That being said, I've got BF6 preordered and I'm looking forward to jumping into a shooter that's fully embracing current gen tech. Happy gaming ✌️
Re: Talking Point: Would You Still Buy An Elite Series 3 Controller For Xbox Series X|S?
For me it would have to have TMR analog sticks, hall effect triggers LT, RT, & micro switches for LB, RB, A, B, X, Y. It'd also need to have dedicated back buttons, wireless Xbox protocol, Bluetooth, and WiFi direct protocol to connect directly to cloud gaming servers (similar to the Amazon Luna controller & Google Stadia controller).
If Xbox can implement that into it's next Elite controller or even it's next gen controller then it'd be a day one buy for me.
Re: Black Ops 7 Beta Review (Xbox) - A Bit Of A Re-Skin, But Zombies Mode Shines
Zombies is the ONE thing that kept me coming back to BO6 every time a new map dropped. Beating the map, finding easter eggs with friends is a blast and it's what I genuinely love about COD is that old school team up to take down the I dead!
The BO7 beta hasn't been bad TBH. I am frustrated with the weird removal of tac sprint but overall it feels very similar to BO6 but with wall jumps.
Zombies on the other hand feels different from BO6, I can't quite put my finger on it but it's different. Zombies feel great though, I am a bit disappointed that PHD slider is gone unless it's a perk augment you can get later I'm not sure. Overall BO7 will be another COD I play strictly for Zombies as I have zero interest in multiplayer (although I will say that CONSOLE ONLY cross play is a massive step in the right direction against cheaters).
I do think the direct sequels are BAD for the series. MW2 to MW3 was awful, Black Ops 6 to Black Ops 7 it just muddies the brand and makes the sub series less valuable.
The most irritating part is I genuinely believe Treyarc is the best dev out of all the ones who work on COD and this direct sequel has made it feel like their games aren't as good when in reality Black Ops 7 is somewhat of a miracle and just imagine what they could create if they were given a full 3 year dev cycle and didn't have to dumb down the engine to run on last gen consoles.
Yes, last gen holds games back. Black Ops 7 being held back by last gen consoles is a real concern. Slow HDDs limit asset streaming, forcing smaller maps and fewer dynamic events, while server tick rates are throttled to accommodate weaker CPUs, hurting hit registration and movement fidelity. Features like larger lobbies, advanced AI, and seamless transitions are scaled down to maintain parity, and anti-cheat systems are less effective on older hardware.
Even SSD benefits like instant respawns and fast travel are underused to avoid giving next gen players an edge (which is pretty pathetic). To truly evolve, Black Ops & COD as a whole needs to cut the cord and embrace the full potential of current-gen platforms. Until that happens, there really won't be any worthwhile upgrades unfortunately. Happy gaming ✌️
Re: Xbox Ditches Majority Of Its Game Pass DLC Discounts As Part Of Service Revamp
@Foxx_64740 I cancelled my PS+ subscription in order to make up the difference for Gamepass Ultimate. The only reason I still subbed to PS+ was to play Helldiver's 2 because I've been playing since day one on PlayStation but looking over everything I don't play enough to justify the subscription. Sure if there's a game I really want that's added to the PS+ essentially on a certain month I'll pay the $10 and add them to my account.
Now we only have Gamepass Ultimate, lowest Netflix, and HBO Max which is perfect for my wife and myself. The Gamepass Ultimate increase stings us pretty badly however since we game share, Gamepass Ultimate is still the best value in gaming for our family.
Re: Xbox Ditches Majority Of Its Game Pass DLC Discounts As Part Of Service Revamp
The $30 Game Pass Ultimate increase definitely stings, especially for my wife and me, since it’s how we play together and with friends. I still think it’s the best deal in gaming, but adding Fortnite Crew and Ubisoft+ instead of simply making it $25/month feels like a misstep. Or at the very least they should've spread the cost across Essentials, Premium and Ultimate instead of putting the brunt of the cost increase on Ultimate Subscribers. At this price, Xbox risks alienating the very people who helped make Game Pass successful.
That said, it’s unfair to paint Xbox as the sole villain here. Every platform is raising prices in a brutal economic climate. (Are we great again yet?) PlayStation hiked PS Plus without adding value, increased the cost of consoles, charges for cloud saves, and locks legacy backwards compatible content behind paywalls. By contrast, Xbox still delivers console, PC, cloud, Play Anywhere, cross-play, and four generations of backward compatibility under one ecosystem. It's still doing more for players than any other platform, when you realize Xbox offers cloud gaming on all tiers, Xbox Play Anywhere, and a catalog of games to play on every Gamepass tier.
Game Pass is NOT perfect, but it remains the most inclusive service in gaming. Microsoft does need to listen to feedback and avoid pushing loyal subscribers away, but let’s hold the whole industry accountable instead of piling only on Xbox.
I say this as someone who owns a PS5, an Xbox Series X, and whose wife owns both a PS5 and a Series S. I’m a gamer, NOT a fanboy. I’ll criticize decisions I disagree with (like this price increase), but I won’t join a hate bandwagon when Xbox is still doing more for players than most of the competition. Happy gaming ✌️
Re: Jump Space Is Dominating The Xbox Charts Right Now, And There's A Good Reason For It
@Jenkinss ayy Helldiver's 2 is such a banger and REALLY hard to break away from lol in fact HD2 is the only reason I've been booting up my PS5 lately. Eventually I'll get it on Xbox too cuz it's just that good a game.
That being said Jump Space looks freaking amazing! I love the co-op nature of keeping the ship solid in fighting condition and then the fact you can dock places to run around with friends shooting and looting lol that's the cherry on top! Happy gaming ✌️
Re: Xbox Game Pass: All Games Coming Soon In October 2025
@Kaloudz agreed 💯 percent! I'm personally looking forward to Keeper, The Outer Worlds 2, and Ninja Gaiden 4. In all reality once The Outer Worlds 2 releases that's what'll be taking up most of my time lol although I do believe keeper is the type of game I can play on my phone via Xbox Cloud Gaming + my Gamesir X2S Type C mobile controller. Happy gaming ✌️
Re: Xbox Game Pass Essential: Full List Of Games (October 2025 Update)
Xbox Gamepass Essentials blows PS+ essentials subscription out the water lol access to 50+ games, Xbox Play Anywhere for certain games you own and Xbox Cloud Gaming for certain games we own plus cloud gaming for titles within the 50 game catalog all for $9.99/month. The only reason I still subscribe to PS+ is so my wife can play certain games she enjoys with friends & I get to play Helldiver's 2.
Sorry I guess it just dawned on me how much more stuff you get on the lowest Gamepass tier compared to the lowest PlayStation plus tier. Happy gaming ✌️
Re: Rumour: Microsoft & ASUS Wanted To 'Further Subsidise' The Price Of The ROG Xbox Ally
I fully agree they should've been subsidized similar to how consoles are subsidized. As they sit they're way too expensive to be system sellers and the base Xbox Ally is woefully underpowered for its price considering you could get a OG ROG Ally with a Z1 extreme APU that would mop the floor with the base Xbox Ally for much less than $599.
All this being said, I genuinely hope that for next generation we get a Series S successor that's a hybrid handheld CONSOLE. I can't imagine Microsoft not wanting a Series S successor considering it makes up 49% of all Series X|S sold this far. I also take AMD and their leaked roadmaps to suggest it's more than plausible for there to be a hybrid handheld Xbox that utilizes a customized lower TDP version of the AMD Magnus APU (which is the rumored BEAST of an APU expected to power the Series X successor). Imagine an entry level next gen Series S successor that can be played on the go but also docked with boosted performance for it to fit the role of "entry level next gen" as the Series S did.
All I know is if Microsoft makes a handheld CONSOLE (not PC) that can play all my Xbox games, I will be there day one cash in hand lol. Happy gaming ✌️
Re: EA To Be Acquired By Consortium Of Investors For $55 Billion USD
@TrollOfWar of course it won't even come close to the same scrutiny as the ABK deal simply because it's not consolidation. The ABK deal saw Microsoft merge ABK into their studio portfolio. With this EA thing it's about transferring ownership. The biggest scrutiny will come from the committee on foreign investment because Saudi Arabia's PIF is involved, which could be viewed as a national security/geopolitical issue.
I personally don't trust PIF nor do I trust Affinity investment company, I'm not going to say much, just that history has shown that BOTH of these investment companies aren't in it for the "right reasons".
Lastly, I do worry about the cultural shift we may see as a direct result of this investment. EA is a cultural gaming entity with Madden, FIFA/FC, The Sims, Battlefield, and Apex Legends. Whoever owns EA will control a huge swath of global gaming culture and influence. Will these games remain as they were or will we see a shift in tones that align with the new owners?
Re: Here's A Look At The Updated Xbox Game Studios Roadmap From September 2025
@Ricky-Spanish which game are you speaking of ?
Re: Here's A Look At The Updated Xbox Game Studios Roadmap From September 2025
This road map is absolutely stellar on so many levels! I'm super excited for the future of Xbox and these games are what I've been waiting for, it's nice to be an Xbox fan this generation lol we actually have GAMES to legitimately brag about! Forza Horizon 6, The Outer Worlds 2, Halo CE Remake, Clockwork Revolution, Marvel's Blade, Fable, The Elders Scrolls 6, State of Decay 3, and last but definitely NOT least Gears of War: E-Day! Damn, I just realized that the caliber of a lot of these games are S tier lol happy gaming ✌️
Re: Call Of Duty Dev Admits 'Worry' About Franchise Fatigue With Black Ops 7
Doing the direct sequels MW2-MW3 and BO6-BO7 is the dumbest thing they could've done in my opinion. They've taken away the one thing that differentiates the yearly releases. The one thing that broke up the monotony of COD was that every year we had a different sub genre that was just different enough to justify itself being a separate experience.
With these direct sequels there's absolutely nothing that seperates the experience, in fact most people, myself included feel like MW3 should've just been dlc for MW2 or that BO7 should've been Black Ops 6 year 2 DLC. If Activision doesn't go back to releasing 3 different sub genre of COD every year, then there's ZERO doubt in my mind that COD will be on a collision course for failure worse than it already has been.
This is not me hating on COD either, I'm an avid zombies fan. I play and beat every maps easter egg when it releases but other than that I don't play anything else COD has to offer anymore. For me personally it's zombies or bust. Happy gaming ✌️
Re: Where To Buy The ROG Xbox Ally & ROG Xbox Ally X Handhelds
I really wish I could get the Xbox Ally X but I personally can't justify $1000 on a portable gaming PC. The base Xbox Ally is extremely underwhelming considering you can get a handheld gaming PC with a Ryzen Z1 Extreme that blows the Z2A powering the Xbox Ally out the water. The Xbox Ally X is a beast but I'm still out of by the fact it's a PC that can't play the majority of my Xbox games (although massive KUDOS to Microsoft for expanding their Xbox Play Anywhere initiative).
All that being said, I'm looking forward to the future of Xbox. The deal they made with AMD is very intriguing, plus the leaks about the AMD Magnus APU that'll power the Series X successor, is mind blowing. It'll truly be the biggest leap we've seen in a generation (just as Sarah Bond alluded).
Also intriguing is that there's a lower TDP version of the AMD Magnus APU that's expected to power the Series S successor. The most interesting part is that it's speculated to be a hybrid handheld gaming console. This would be brilliant on Microsofts part as the Series S has been EXTREMELY successful, it would allow them another entry level next gen device but it would also compete with the Switch 2. The lower TDP version of the AMD Magnus APU (the Magnus Lite if you will) would likely run at 15w-40w which makes perfect sense for a hybrid handheld. Obviously the TDP would be lower in handheld mode and then boosted in Docked Mode offering an entry level next gen Xbox. Of course all of this is speculation based on what we know about the Magnus APU as well as the AMD roadmap of products coming as well as the deal with Microsoft for chipsets powering "Console, Cloud, PC, and devices of different form factors" AKA mobile lol.
No matter what happens, I'm with Xbox next generation. I'll be running whatever the Series X successor ends up being and if they make the Series S successor a hybrid handheld console I'd most likely end up with one day one lol.
As always, everything with a grain of salt, speculation is fun and happy gaming everyone ✌️
Re: Black Ops 7's Game Pass Upgrade Is Already One Of The Top Sellers On The Xbox Store
@Ricky-Spanish that's REALLY the trend nowadays, instead of enjoying the game for what it is, people would rather go online and hate on it. Black Ops 6 is fun as hell, especially for a dedicated zombies player like myself. I've beaten all the main quest easter eggs on every zombies map in Black Ops 6 so far, I am bummed we're not getting any more Zombies content for Black Ops 6 but thankfully the zombies reveal for Black Ops 7 was released today lol and it looks pretty good so far 💯
Re: Microsoft Has Made Its 'Largest Investment' In Xbox Game Pass Ever This Year
Xbox has been on a savage tear in 2025. From excellent final fantasy games finally coming to Xbox to Gamepass offering PHENOMENAL titles like Avowed, Indiana Jones and The Great Circle, DOOM the Dark Ages, Persona 4, Gears Reloaded and Oblivion Remastered I've been EXTREMELY busy with my catalog lol plus we got Helldiver's 2 which is a super fun game that works extremely well on Xbox. Despite all the doom posting I see, people constantly hating on Xbox, I genuinely believe Xbox is the best platform for console gamers. The amount of freedom I have over my library is crazy, I can save a game on my Series X and pick up on Xbox Cloud Gaming essentially anywhere is brilliant.
Also, the fact Microsoft is investing heavily in Xbox Cloud Gaming as well as it's next gen consoles has me excited for the future.
Re: Xbox Cloud Gaming Quality Bump Shows 'Dramatic Improvement' Says Digital Foundry
Is this upgrade available for everyone right now? I've always been impressed with Xbox Cloud Gaming and I've noticed in the past few months it's been extremely consistent, I'm looking forward to testing 1440p and seeing how well the latency holds up.
Re: Marvel 1943: Rise Of Hydra Delayed Out Of 2025, Now Arriving On Xbox In 'Early 2026'
1943 is going to look phenomenal on my Xbox Series X and my 65inch 4K tv lol
Re: Marvel 1943: Rise Of Hydra Early Footage Leaks Ahead Of 2026 Release
Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra looks amazing, the cinematics are top tier! I'm just hoping that moving forward we get some gameplay deep dives. All the amazing cinematics in the world can never replace core gameplay. If gameplay is lacking then all my attention is lost.
Re: Opinion: The Value Proposition Of Xbox Series S Is Better Than Ever In 2025
I got my Series S in 2022 as a companion to my PS5 and it ended up becoming my console of choice, leaving my PS5 solely for playing a few PlayStation exclusives here and there. The Xbox Series S punches way above its weight in terms of performance, offering upscaled 4K gaming at 60fps and up to 1440p native gaming at 120fps (although most games that hit 120fps run at dynamic 1080p).
I got my Xbox Series X in 2024 & instead of getting rid of my Series S I decided to get a portable gaming monitor & now my Series S goes with me when I'm away from home and it's the perfect size for travelling.
Re: Xbox Demo Fest Now Live, 40+ Games Available To Play For Free
When I was growing up (PS2 era-Xbox 360 era) I'd get PS2 demos from magazines, demos were everywhere on Xbox 360 and they really were a great way to learn about a game you're interested in purchasing, by actually trying it out before you buy it.
I'm actually glad to see Xbox embracing demos in the modern era, especially when we have launch disasters where games aren't even close to what's advertised. With a demo you're more likely to get a better representation of what's coming in the full release. Happy gaming ✌️
Re: Xbox 'Problem With The Update' Error Is Plaguing Insiders, But There's A Workaround
I'm apart of the insiders beta program and I got an update on my Series X and everything was smooth sailing, however my wife's Series S got stuck with the error code last night. Woke up this morning and everything is back to normal
Re: Delta Force Dev Announces Plans For Lots More Xbox Features And FPS Improvements
I wasn't interested in another fps game but after reading the devs Q&A it's clear they're passionate about their product and it's something I may need to give a shot however it sounds like the game will get better with time as a lot of features are in their infancy or are planned for future updates.
Re: High On Life 2's Xbox Game Pass Launch Will Include 'More Than Five' Extra Games
I can't wait to play High on Life 2! The first game was fun as hell, I beat it twice.
Re: Black Ops 7's Game Pass Upgrade Is Already One Of The Top Sellers On The Xbox Store
@Ricky-Spanish honestly I feel the same way. It doesn't matter what it is nowadays, gamers will b'tch and complain. Black Ops 7 could've announced traditional boots on ground gameplay with ONLY army guy skins and people would've had a meltdown.
I feel like Black Ops 6 is the best COD experience released since Black Ops Cold War and MW19. The campaign was cool, the multiplayers solid, and the Zombies is the most fun I've had in Zombies in a long time. I've beaten the main Easter Egg in every zombies map in Black Ops 6 & I still go back to play the maps again looking for secrets and helping others who haven't beaten the boss fights. Although I hope we get OUTBREAK Zombies along side the traditional round based zombies because the community deserves to have the brilliant open area nature that Outbreak brings to the table with the vehicles and cool wonder weapons as well as the smaller round based experiences. I love them both and I know many zombies players who'd love to have both.
Anyways, I'm there with you man. People are going to whine ni matter what it is. Activision could announced a Black Ops 2 remake complete with modern engine upgrades running at 4K and 60fps with ALL the DLC included and people would stink whine and cry lol 😆 happy gaming ✌️