SMJ

I use Game Pass as a try before you buy service. There are so many games I've bought purely because I tried it on Game Pass and liked it. I don't think I've ever loved a game on Game Pass and not bought it.

On the other hand, I cancelled my PS+ subscription over a year ago because there was never any games that interested me that I didn't already own. It was a complete waste of time and money for me.

This has me believing that we may never see another Xbox at all.

I really like the current layout. I have no issue whatsoever with the advert tiles or current space.

Don't release a disc if there's virtually nothing on the disc. It's that simple.

@Brigurugi Microsoft have done far more to preserve games than Sony or Nintendo combined.

From a personal point of view, I have less time to spend gaming these days so I prefer linear games more and more.

I've said it before and I still believe that the next generation of consoles will be the last from both Sony and Microsoft. There won't be a PS7 or Xbox whatever in my opinion because there won't be a need.

Bespoke hardware costs billions of £+$ to develop, build and ship.

I can see a future where we all have a disguised PC in a box under our TVs that allows us to access each individual store front to buy, stream or subscribe to.

If this happens, Microsoft's strategy makes perfect sense. They are already building loyalty from PlayStation only gamers by porting their games to PS5 and those players will have no other option but to buy or subscribe directly from the Xbox store when PlayStation hardware is obsolete.

I've never owned the Middle Earth Shadow games before. £5.99 for both is a great deal.

So is IGN getting exclusive access to Xbox games? 😂

But they hate Xbox!

Quake 4, Buffy 1&2, Wet, Ninja Blade.

@themightyant Yeah, because shareholders are famous for saying "that's enough money thanks". Sony are already licensing out their IP to other companies and releasing games for other systems. They are already a third party publisher and will continue to release more and more games on other platforms.

I'm going 100% digital for next gen. Not because I believe it's better but because I don't have the space anymore.

I have hundreds of discs and cartridges across multiple systems I've owned over the last 40 years and can't deal with any more or I may be facing divorce.

I think it's really important to see a disc option for those who want it though.

I keep all of my consoles so any disc only games I'll play on my original Xbox, 360, One X or Series X.

@LogicStrikesAgain I'm not even talking about streaming. Companies will only get away with streaming only if consumers allow them to.

PS6 and Xbox Prime will be digital focussed consoles (with optional disc drives) and after that I still think we'll have the option to "buy" games digitally.

@Fiendish-Beaver Absolutely there will be a PS6 and Xbox Prime. I really don't see why anyone would want to make a bespoke piece of hardware after that.

Let's say that the PS6 releases in 2027. Given the 7 year time on the market for the PS5, that would mean potential launch of 2034 for the PS7. By that time I believe that neither Sony or Microsoft will want to spend the billions of dollars it takes to create bespoke hardware.

This next Xbox is the first step towards that goal as it will unify platforms and store fronts into one easily accessible ecosystem.

I would just love to have a world where I can have a console-like experience from a box under my TV that can access all stores and allow me to buy what I want.

I think this will be the future of gaming whether Sony likes it or not and this is the first step towards that.

Selling bespoke console hardware will be an irrelevant business after next gen.

I can't see how Sony could do this without breaching their agreement with Valve.

I'm sure that Microsoft have studied the contract in place to make sure that PlayStation games will be part of the deal by default.

@LogicStrikesAgain I'm sure they'd try to do something but it's difficult to see what that would be if the games are available on Steam.

@Dalamar73 I'm sure they would. However, I also believe that there will be a PS6 and next Xbox and then that will be it for bespoke home consoles.

We will have the equivalent of what Microsoft are doing with the next Xbox - a user friendly PC in a console shell under your TV.

Once that happens, all store fronts will be available to buy and download from. This final Xbox is just a bridge to that future.

@LogicStrikesAgain I mean, you'll be able to play key PlayStation games without buying a PlayStation.

It's also another step towards a hardware agnostic future. Which is where, I believe, the industry needs to head.

@RiverGenie I really want it to have a built-in air fryer now. ☹️

I have been saying here, and elsewhere, that the next generation of Xbox will be a disguised PC in a box and that Asus would be the first partner with hardware.

But nobody listens to me. ☹️

If you had bought any of those games you would still have access to them though.

@shoeses What games are you talking about?

I'll be glad if there's one more "traditional" Xbox console and a PS6. Then I can retire from modern gaming and focus entirely on my back catalogue of retro games and systems. My Sega Saturn and Dreamcast don't get nearly the attention they deserve.

@Fiendish-Beaver Because Sony insists on things being on separate discs. Any Xbox disc you ever buy is basically a digital key. PlayStation games are pretty much all there on the Blu-ray you paid for.

@Fiendish-Beaver Smart Delivery means whatever Xbox you put the disc into, it will install that version of the game. I think the game case says both Xbox One and Xbox Series X. I'm so glad this is getting a physical release btw.

I'm a huge fan of VR and have been since I got my PSVR1. For me there have been plenty of killer apps. Astro Bot, Until Dawn: Rush of Blood, Beat Saber, Blood and Truth, Wipeout Omega Collection, Batman: Arkham Shadow, Walking Dead Saints and Sinners 1&2, Pistol Whip, Half-Life Alyx, Behemoth, Asgard's Wrath 2.

I'm forgetting a load more but you get the drift.

@GoldenPants I also think the next gen of consoles will be the last. Microsoft has already promised another console and I'm sure Sony is planning for a PS6 but, after that I just can't see the need.

I do think we'll have disguised PCs in a set top box that will be able access the Xbox Store, PS Store etc. but these will most likely be made by traditional PC manufacturers.

@dodgykebaab ABK is part of Xbox and you need to move on. Of course those figures are included because they are part of the same company.

Do you strip away all of the sales figures for every studio Sony has bought over the years? No.

Selling lots of consoles isn't the future of the industry and Microsoft know it. They are planning for a future without consoles where they are the biggest developer and publisher in the industry.

Eventually, all of those PlayStation and Nintendo players will have to buy directly from Microsoft or subscribe directly from Microsoft to access Xbox games.

Releasing them on other platforms now is a huge, money spinning Trojan Horse to retain those players in the future.

Whoever voted "1/10 Abysmal" really needs to grow up.

@Utena-mobile But it's better than any solution Nintendo or Sony have come up with so far.

DLC that wasn't available on Wii U. 48 new courses.

@Jenkinss To be fair, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe did double the number of tracks and added a huge amount of new racers.

I'm happy that Xbox definitely will be making another console. That and PS6 will probably be the last consoles I buy.

@LogicStrikesAgain What did my original point say? It mentioned 2 games that I think will demonstrate scores will go higher when they release on PlayStation. Do you agree?

What about that do you disagree with? That is an example of Xbox tax.

You are the one who brought a ton of other games into the conversation. Concord in particular.

It's okay to only want to play games on PlayStation. But trying to start a boring console war is just stupid.

@LogicStrikesAgain I like the way you have clearly missed the point I was making (or have chosen to ignore it).

Are you actually kidding? I hope this is parody because you brought Concord into the conversation.

The ratings for Starfield and Indiana Jones will spike when they release on PlayStation. I'm glad you refused to mention those, even though I mentioned them specifically.

Concord is the biggest £400 million Sony have ever spunked into a wall. Nobody wanted it. Nobody liked it. Nobody bought it. Nobody played it.

Redfall is an absolute success and best game ever made compared to Concord! 😂

For those claiming "Xbox tax" isn't real, just watch the Starfield and Indiana Jones soar when they're on PlayStation.

@Ralizah Sony don't develop games. The studios they bought develop games.

It will get review bombed until it arrives on PlayStation.

I managed a Game store between 2004 and 2006 and was there for the 360 launch. How time flies. ☹️

I can't see both of them being properly remade. I'm assuming these will just be 4K updates.

As long as they make another Xbox I'll be happy. That, PS6 and my Switch 2 will see me through as my last hardware purchases. Then I can retire from modern gaming and focus my time on my retro consoles. 🙂

@NattyKing If you're absolutely convinced there will be a PS7 then great! I'm so happy for you!

However I know it won't happen. But you can absolutely cry if you want to.

@Fiendish-Beaver MLB and Lego Horizon. I don't think I have to explain myself further.

I genuinely believe that Microsoft will keep all of our purchases safe for a long time after we even care to play them.

Bespoke hardware will be irrelevant after PS6 and Xbox Prime anyway.

@NattyKing Sony shareholders will look at the money being made by Xbox and put pressure on the business.

I also wasn't talking about streaming at all. I'm talking about a generic PC box under a TV not made by Sony or Microsoft. At that point Xbox has the better lineup.

You didn't answer my question. Do you think there will be a PS7?

@NattyKing Do you genuinely think that there will be a PS7? I don't.

I believe that Sony and Microsoft will give up on bespoke hardware after PS6 and Xbox Prime.

Once bespoke hardware disappears, it all comes down to software. Xbox has the far more profitable IP and are currently conditioning PlayStation players to invest and stay invested.

Sony are currently only focussing on the number of PlayStation consoles they can sell. That's a losing strategy.

Sony is already testing the water by releasing MLB and Lego Horizon on Switch.

Their ecosystem, long term, will be an app to access their storefront. That's it. It will be the same for Xbox. You'll be able to buy whatever games you want and play them on whatever devices you want.

@TanaDax PS6 and Xbox Prime will be a thing. Then once everything is digital there's no need for Microsoft and Sony to spend billions of dollars on R&D for new consoles.

@mac_da_man I'm convinced that the next generation will be the last bespoke hardware from Sony and Microsoft. It just won't be needed after that.

At that point it will all be about the games and the current Xbox strategy is a Trojan horse to make sure that as many people as possible are invested in their IP when that happens.

I simply cannot see there being a PS6 or Xbox whatever being necessary in 2035.