@101Force I'm of the opposite opinion. I don't think Microsoft wants to sell the next console. What I mean is that they are only concerned about creating a platform that will have Xbox library on a Windows device, so that the future Windows based third party OEM devices have some exclusivity in terms of games when compared to Linux based devices. Linux is becoming a rising alternative to Windows and having such exclusive software ensures that Microsoft maintains the flow of Windows licensing fees from third-party OEMs.
Since they were not planning to subsidize the hardware this time (making the whole thing as pricey as a same-spec'd PC), they probably didn't reserve memory and storage stock.
@Fiendish-Beaver GTA 6 is a behemoth, not just a gaming one, a cultural one. It is such a big deal that Sony and Rockstar Games consider it a platform seller pre-release. If it releases as planned on November 19 this year, no publisher (in their right mind) will release anything at least two weeks before and after its release. Some publishers will even make that a month before and after, just to make sure people have some money saved after reserving the amount for GTA 6. So, Forza Horizon 6 will never be released in the same month as GTA 6 on PlayStation, the biggest platform for a Grand Theft Auto game.
KCD Royal Edition was on sale for the first 3 weeks of January (I am GP Ultimate subscriber so it could be partially because of that). This new version isn't expected to be any better than the PC version (apart from maybe the Quick Resume benefit that comes from playing it on Series consoles) but will be significantly better than the current console versions.
I haven't bought it on Xbox because Xbox is moving away from consoles and it makes more sense to then invest in Steam or GOG libraries (I own the base version of KCD on Epic but Epic is not that good of a gaming service as Steam or GOG are).
My theory is that if we get another exceptional curated experience designed for every beat and precise hours you spend in the game (think Clair Obscur Expedition 33, God of War, etc.), the best open world game will never win that year (Kingdom Come Deliverance II, Red Dead Redemption 2, etc.)
I don't think Xbox/Microsoft is doing anything to develop AMD's software technologies. It is AMD all on its own doing stuff and Xbox just integrating it (like any other game developer into their games).
Instead, FSR Redstone was built using the research PlayStation and AMD collectively did for PSSR. So, Sony is much bigger contributor to this than Xbox/Microsoft.
Hear me out, corporate speech has no meaning. He also said only 4 games will go multi-platform. Nothing Phil says or said matters because the actions don't always follow the words. So we should stop reading too much into what one guy has to say when his actions are bound to his shareholders and not his beliefs.
@Questionable_Duck they spent that much developing the PC port, however, once a developer has made a PC port, the Xbox port is quite cheaper to make because all they need to change is the underlying API calls and defining what to limit based on the hardware. That is not easy and still takes time and effort, but is a lot cheaper than making a port for a completely different platform, which Xbox is not (wrt PC).
As @NishimuraX said, Game Pass has drastically changed buying habits on Xbox. Many game studios have backed up this claim, essentially saying it doesn't make sense to develop Xbox port unless they want to put it on Game Pass. Now the reason Sony has made this port is simple - they want the "whales" to buy this, and if these high spenders do, then Sony can earn large revenue from a small minority.
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Re: Valve Admits Its New Console Plans Have Been Affected By Component Crisis
@101Force I'm of the opposite opinion. I don't think Microsoft wants to sell the next console. What I mean is that they are only concerned about creating a platform that will have Xbox library on a Windows device, so that the future Windows based third party OEM devices have some exclusivity in terms of games when compared to Linux based devices. Linux is becoming a rising alternative to Windows and having such exclusive software ensures that Microsoft maintains the flow of Windows licensing fees from third-party OEMs.
Re: Valve Admits Its New Console Plans Have Been Affected By Component Crisis
Since they were not planning to subsidize the hardware this time (making the whole thing as pricey as a same-spec'd PC), they probably didn't reserve memory and storage stock.
Re: Xbox Release Windows Teased For Halo, Gears, Kiln & New Starfield Content In 2026
@Fiendish-Beaver GTA 6 is a behemoth, not just a gaming one, a cultural one. It is such a big deal that Sony and Rockstar Games consider it a platform seller pre-release. If it releases as planned on November 19 this year, no publisher (in their right mind) will release anything at least two weeks before and after its release. Some publishers will even make that a month before and after, just to make sure people have some money saved after reserving the amount for GTA 6. So, Forza Horizon 6 will never be released in the same month as GTA 6 on PlayStation, the biggest platform for a Grand Theft Auto game.
Re: Xbox Is Reportedly Releasing A Brand-New Controller Revision In 2026
Probably a cloud first controller to go along with the free tier of Game Pass Ultimate. That combo can act as the cheapest access to gaming.
Re: Xbox's New Dashboard Is Going Down Well, And Some People Want It On Console & PC
Just because they don't have ads now doesn't mean it won't get those later. Remember, enshittification runs deep at Microsoft.
Re: Last-Gen's Kingdom Come: Deliverance Expected To Get Free Xbox Series X|S Upgrade Very Soon
KCD Royal Edition was on sale for the first 3 weeks of January (I am GP Ultimate subscriber so it could be partially because of that). This new version isn't expected to be any better than the PC version (apart from maybe the Quick Resume benefit that comes from playing it on Series consoles) but will be significantly better than the current console versions.
I haven't bought it on Xbox because Xbox is moving away from consoles and it makes more sense to then invest in Steam or GOG libraries (I own the base version of KCD on Epic but Epic is not that good of a gaming service as Steam or GOG are).
Re: Fable Could Finally Be Xbox's Big 'Game Of The Year' Contender, But There's One Problem
My theory is that if we get another exceptional curated experience designed for every beat and precise hours you spend in the game (think Clair Obscur Expedition 33, God of War, etc.), the best open world game will never win that year (Kingdom Come Deliverance II, Red Dead Redemption 2, etc.)
Re: Xbox Working 'Very Closely' With AMD To Improve Ray Tracing & Other FSR Features In Games
I don't think Xbox/Microsoft is doing anything to develop AMD's software technologies. It is AMD all on its own doing stuff and Xbox just integrating it (like any other game developer into their games).
Instead, FSR Redstone was built using the research PlayStation and AMD collectively did for PSSR. So, Sony is much bigger contributor to this than Xbox/Microsoft.
Re: Xbox & Bethesda Shadow Drop Another Switch 2 Game, And You'll Never Guess What It Is
@PsBoxSwitchOwner Dave The Diver is not a mass market game like Skyrim, Oblivion, etc are. So your points doesn't stand.
Re: Hands On: Red Dead Redemption For Xbox Series X Makes A Great First Impression
GTA IV needs a remaster more than a port at this point.
Re: Phil Spencer Was Asked About Xbox's 'Unusual Strategy' In 2019, And The Answers Are Still Relevant Six Years Later
Hear me out, corporate speech has no meaning. He also said only 4 games will go multi-platform. Nothing Phil says or said matters because the actions don't always follow the words. So we should stop reading too much into what one guy has to say when his actions are bound to his shareholders and not his beliefs.
Re: Poll: Helldivers 2 Isn't On Xbox Game Pass, So Will You Be Buying It?
@Questionable_Duck they spent that much developing the PC port, however, once a developer has made a PC port, the Xbox port is quite cheaper to make because all they need to change is the underlying API calls and defining what to limit based on the hardware. That is not easy and still takes time and effort, but is a lot cheaper than making a port for a completely different platform, which Xbox is not (wrt PC).
As @NishimuraX said, Game Pass has drastically changed buying habits on Xbox. Many game studios have backed up this claim, essentially saying it doesn't make sense to develop Xbox port unless they want to put it on Game Pass. Now the reason Sony has made this port is simple - they want the "whales" to buy this, and if these high spenders do, then Sony can earn large revenue from a small minority.