@outswimmingtheflood MS gaming is making more money than it has ever done, and it has a brand new platform to sell even more software. They are a software and services company, and the new Xbox PC will only be a small factor in what is now gaming's largest publisher.
Sure, it is not what traditional console gamers want, but MS is very happy with things at MS gaming right now, with a pivot towards younger generations that will give them another 50 years in business.
Love my Series X and think the ecosystem is better than ever. It is nice being able to suspend multiple games and have free cloud saves across Xbox, Cloud and PC (unlike Switch 2 or PS5).
I think Xbox should just focus on non game related celebrations like a live stream, documentary on the history or maybe some marketing bits and a sale on Xbox games.
Maybe they could even do a gta6 anniversary discount haha
@TheMule1983 The Xbox console is very much dead, but the platform is very much alive and continues to grow In a direction towards PC gaming and software publishing.
People were confused that MS was marketing a perceived competitor in BF6 hard, but there are 1.2 million reasons why they did that. It paid off, and they had near full sales saturation on their 20% home console market share at 30% profit per copy.
To be honest, the marketing department needs a major overhaul, as the communication and optics have been poor.
It's clear that Xbox is slowly pivoting away from the dying console space, and the more hardcore 5% of gamers are lashing out at the change.
Right now, most Xbox gamers just play their games and are not engaged with the future of Xbox.
But Microsoft has to be careful because these YouTube videos and constant "Xbox is dead" messaging will seep through.
Someone at Microsoft or Microsoft Gaming needs to get this trend by the scruff of the neck and make it very clear that Xbox is here to stay (which it is going by the increasing yearly revenues).
One day Xbox will just publish games, and sell off their oem to 3rd party partners like Asus, and they will be making more money than they ever did in the expensive home console space.
I would rather get a decent gaming laptop than the Ally X, but the standard Ally at £500 is something I may consider depending on performance Vs something like the steam deck.
I will say, after reading the statement again, I do believe it's actually a clever way to keep things vague. The sad thing is that I genuinely do not trust Microsoft to follow through with what they say anymore due to the number of times they have pivoted in a matter of weeks.
It makes me feel unsafe in my investment over the last number of years. I know that seems a bit dramatic, but when you feel uncertain about the future and there is no clear reassurance, you start to wonder if it's worth investing your time and money into this ecosystem.
I cannot say I have ever felt uncertainty with Nintendo or Sony. I trust them to be around in 5 years.
For Xbox, it's more like I hope they are around in 5 years.
@Questionable_Duck The decision was apparently made pre promotion. Hopefully Microsoft clarify the situation soon as it's getting a lot of traction online now from various sources.
@Gunbeld I think they will only report something as big as that if they had corroborative evidence first. If it's 2 or 3 reports saying the same thing or someone at pure Xbox/hookshot has been told by someone they deem to be reliable.
Edit: Just seen judson althoff was is involved which is a big red flag.
The value is there but unfortunately Microsoft failed to realise that game pass is for mostly casual gamers who would never have time to play the 10-20 hours of day 1 games per week to make the subscription worth while.
For me maybe I could justify the £22.99 a month based on the amount of day one gamepass games I've played ahd saved money on buy I know I'm one of a rare few.
The only way I will be getting Game Pass Ultimate in the future is if I can continue to get those 30% off codes. Once they are done then I am done. I didn't think £14.99 a month was worth it let alone £22.99.
@Ricky-Spanish "Discover the breathtaking landscapes of Japan and become a racing Legend at the Horizon Festival in Forza Horizon 6, which will launch first on Xbox Series X|S consoles and PC in 2026, and PlayStation 5 post-launch. Wishlist now on the Microsoft Store and Steam!" - on the Xbox website
@OldGamer999 I think the strategy is to maximise Game Pass subscriptions for a set time period of 3-6 months for those premium AAA titles, then port them over to PS5 when that has run dry. It certainly makes the most business sense.
I can imagine that with this being out in the latter part of 2026, it will be a little too early to show anything off yet. The developer direct in January will be where this gets its full blowout.
I never knew Costco in the UK even sold Xbox consoles, haha. There is Argos, Smyths, Currys and Game where you can show up and buy an Xbox in store, so it's not really the bleak story like it seems for the UK at least. I do think they are now slowing down production ahead of the new Xbox console due next year.
@Cakefish This is mainly due to the performance levels—Switch 2 is locked at 30fps/ no split screen, while Xbox Series X/Ps5 offer 60fps and a split screen. The Series S version should be £60, but MS keeps price parity.
I might pick this up on a deep discount a couple of patches down the line. If they fix some bits, like entering different cars in free roam and performance bugs/AI, then it could be a half-decent story game.
It's only a console war if you can't afford all the devices. I have always enjoyed a broad range of gaming hardware to get the best of each platform's game library and features.
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Re: Xbox Boss Phil Spencer Shares His Thoughts On Valve's New 'Steam Machine'
@outswimmingtheflood MS gaming is making more money than it has ever done, and it has a brand new platform to sell even more software. They are a software and services company, and the new Xbox PC will only be a small factor in what is now gaming's largest publisher.
Sure, it is not what traditional console gamers want, but MS is very happy with things at MS gaming right now, with a pivot towards younger generations that will give them another 50 years in business.
Re: Valve Announces New Hardware, Including A Steam Machine That'll Compete With Xbox
@Blastfemur It has 8GB RAM, and the Series X has 16? unless I am missing something here.
Re: Valve Announces New Hardware, Including A Steam Machine That'll Compete With Xbox
This could work out very well for MS.
It can show them exactly what to do and what not to do, and it gives them time to position themselves accordingly to undermine Valve.
MS execs will be happy that Valve is taking the jump first. You don't need to be first to do it best.
Re: Talking Point: What Does The 'Steam Machine' Mean For Xbox's Next-Gen Console Plans?
I do wonder if Steam will allow its platform onto the new Xbox PC, given that it will be making a competing hardware product now.
Either way, MS and Value will be fine, but how will Sony and Nintendo fare with their dated business models in the shrinking home console market?
The key factors for my home PC purchase, like many, will be:
Price - Dependant on power level, but ideally under £999.99 for me (Or £599.99 for the mass market).
Power - Should be more powerful than the Series X (Seems like the Steam Machine is weaker with less RAM than a Series S).
Accessibility - Can I just run the game? Or do I have to mess with PC game settings?
Back Compatibility - Can I play my old Xbox game library on it?
Re: Poll: Now That The Dust Has Settled, Which Xbox Game Pass Tier Are You Subscribed To?
I have a long term ultimate subscription so I've just stayed on that
Re: Five Years On, Xbox Series S Is Still A Fantastic Place For Current-Gen Gaming
I really enjoyed my time with the Series S, great machine
Re: It's A Big Birthday For The Xbox Series X, So Let's Look Back At Our Review From 2020
Love my Series X and think the ecosystem is better than ever. It is nice being able to suspend multiple games and have free cloud saves across Xbox, Cloud and PC (unlike Switch 2 or PS5).
Re: The Timing Of Xbox's 25th Anniversary Just Got A Lot More Awkward
I think Xbox should just focus on non game related celebrations like a live stream, documentary on the history or maybe some marketing bits and a sale on Xbox games.
Maybe they could even do a gta6 anniversary discount haha
Re: It's Official, Rockstar Games Has Delayed GTA 6 To November 2026
I saw this coming a mile away haha
Re: Xbox Content & Services Revenue Sees Slight Increase In Q1 2026, Hardware Drops Almost 30%
@TheMule1983 The Xbox console is very much dead, but the platform is very much alive and continues to grow In a direction towards PC gaming and software publishing.
Re: The Outer Worlds 2: Release Date, Release Times & How To Get Early Access On Xbox
@Nightcrawler71 It's a way for a business to make more money - plenty of publishers do it.
Re: Microsoft Is Reportedly Increasing The Cost Of Xbox Dev Kits In Latest Price Hike
FYI MS also loan out FREE dev kits to certain partners just like PlayStation does.
This "news" is just silly, really. Sadly negative news is the only thing that will keep Pure Xbox from closing down again.
Re: Rumour: Xbox Won't Announce Starfield For PS5 Until 2026, It's Claimed
I really loved Starfeild and would definitely buy it again for PS5.
I think there is definitely a market of PS5 players who will enjoy this experience and will buy it as soon as it comes out.
Re: Report: Battlefield 6 Sells Over 6 Million Copies, And A Good Chunk Of Those Are On Xbox
People were confused that MS was marketing a perceived competitor in BF6 hard, but there are 1.2 million reasons why they did that. It paid off, and they had near full sales saturation on their 20% home console market share at 30% profit per copy.
Re: The Outer Worlds 2 Is Bringing 'Big Sequel Energy' To Xbox Game Pass This Month
I'm looking forward to this one! It looks like it will be a lot of fun to play.
Re: Absolum Studio Admits Xbox Release 'Wasn't A Priority' Due To Small Development Team
@eduscxbox I just decided to have a PS5 and Xbox, best of both worlds.
Re: Talking Point: How Often Do You Replay Games?
Question to X users: How often do you play your games? lol.
Re: Xbox Journalist Says Latest Rumours Are 'A Huge Challenge For The Brand Right Now'
To be honest, the marketing department needs a major overhaul, as the communication and optics have been poor.
It's clear that Xbox is slowly pivoting away from the dying console space, and the more hardcore 5% of gamers are lashing out at the change.
Right now, most Xbox gamers just play their games and are not engaged with the future of Xbox.
But Microsoft has to be careful because these YouTube videos and constant "Xbox is dead" messaging will seep through.
Someone at Microsoft or Microsoft Gaming needs to get this trend by the scruff of the neck and make it very clear that Xbox is here to stay (which it is going by the increasing yearly revenues).
One day Xbox will just publish games, and sell off their oem to 3rd party partners like Asus, and they will be making more money than they ever did in the expensive home console space.
Re: AMD's Partnership On PS6 Will Benefit 'Every Gaming Platform', Says General Manager
I am looking forward to seeing what AMD cooks up for Xbox and PS for next gen. It might be the first time there is a divergence in power.
Also its pretty normal for AMD to work with Microsoft and Sony, they have done it for years.
Re: ROG Xbox Ally X Continues To Sell Out, While Standard Version Remains More Readily Available
I am looking into the £499.99 Xbox Rog Ally as an option but I will wait for full reviews to come out first.
Re: Ninja Gaiden 4 Is Now Available To Preload On Xbox Game Pass
I am looking forward to checking this out on Game Pass.
Re: New Silent Hill F Xbox Advertisement Makes It Clear You're Only Buying A 'License'
@FrenchVaniIIuxe My advice to you is to purchase digital games only, haha.
Re: New Silent Hill F Xbox Advertisement Makes It Clear You're Only Buying A 'License'
A physical disc is nothing more than something nice to look at on a shelf and a license on a disc.
Sometimes, you even have some or most of the game on the disc.
But you don't own it any more than a digital licence.
True media format ownership would mean you can copy, transfer, or redistribute these games.
In this life, the only thing we truly own is ourselves, and even that is up for debate.
You don't need to own things to be happy. You just need to enjoy and appreciate things that come your way.
Re: Seven Games Tested On ROG Xbox Ally X In 45 Minutes Of Impressive Pre-Release Footage
I would rather get a decent gaming laptop than the Ally X, but the standard Ally at £500 is something I may consider depending on performance Vs something like the steam deck.
Re: Xbox Issues Statement Denying Rumour That Next-Gen Console Could Be Cancelled
I will say, after reading the statement again, I do believe it's actually a clever way to keep things vague. The sad thing is that I genuinely do not trust Microsoft to follow through with what they say anymore due to the number of times they have pivoted in a matter of weeks.
It makes me feel unsafe in my investment over the last number of years. I know that seems a bit dramatic, but when you feel uncertain about the future and there is no clear reassurance, you start to wonder if it's worth investing your time and money into this ecosystem.
I cannot say I have ever felt uncertainty with Nintendo or Sony. I trust them to be around in 5 years.
For Xbox, it's more like I hope they are around in 5 years.
Re: Xbox Issues Statement Denying Rumour That Next-Gen Console Could Be Cancelled
@Hapless The difference is one is making more money than ever on gaming revenue alone and the other had significant financial troubles.
MS don't need to exit the console business, it would be a choice from them if they felt they could make more money another way.
Re: Multiple Xbox Games Temporarily Delisted Due To Security Issue With The Unity Engine
@Gunbeld I guess we'll have to wait and see both have gotten things right and wrong.
Re: Multiple Xbox Games Temporarily Delisted Due To Security Issue With The Unity Engine
@Questionable_Duck The decision was apparently made pre promotion. Hopefully Microsoft clarify the situation soon as it's getting a lot of traction online now from various sources.
Re: These 30+ Games Are Coming To Xbox Next Week (October 6-10)
The best of Game Pass will be the last week of October with Ninja Gaiden 4 and TOW 2. I saved myself £120 right there.
Re: Black Ops 7 Beta Review (Xbox) - A Bit Of A Re-Skin, But Zombies Mode Shines
Im not really into the online stuff but I will check out the campaign when it comes to Game Pass.
Re: Multiple Xbox Games Temporarily Delisted Due To Security Issue With The Unity Engine
@Gunbeld I think they will only report something as big as that if they had corroborative evidence first. If it's 2 or 3 reports saying the same thing or someone at pure Xbox/hookshot has been told by someone they deem to be reliable.
Edit: Just seen judson althoff was is involved which is a big red flag.
Re: Jump Space Is Dominating The Xbox Charts Right Now, And There's A Good Reason For It
Looks interesting! I might have to check this one out.
Re: 'Price Increases Are Never Fun For Anybody' Says Xbox Exec Defending Game Pass Changes
The value is there but unfortunately Microsoft failed to realise that game pass is for mostly casual gamers who would never have time to play the 10-20 hours of day 1 games per week to make the subscription worth while.
For me maybe I could justify the £22.99 a month based on the amount of day one gamepass games I've played ahd saved money on buy I know I'm one of a rare few.
Re: Poll: What Are Your Plans For Xbox Game Pass After This Week's News?
This will only be bad news for PS players in the future
Re: Xbox Game Pass Is Getting A Major Overhaul With New Names, Games & Price Changes
Price rises for Xbox and lack of competition equals price rises for Playstation. Nobody wins in this situation.
Re: Xbox Game Pass Is Getting A Major Overhaul With New Names, Games & Price Changes
The only way I will be getting Game Pass Ultimate in the future is if I can continue to get those 30% off codes. Once they are done then I am done. I didn't think £14.99 a month was worth it let alone £22.99.
Re: Forza Horizon 6 Devs Discuss Why Japan Was 'Right Fit' & When To Expect Gameplay
@Ricky-Spanish "Discover the breathtaking landscapes of Japan and become a racing Legend at the Horizon Festival in Forza Horizon 6, which will launch first on Xbox Series X|S consoles and PC in 2026, and PlayStation 5 post-launch. Wishlist now on the Microsoft Store and Steam!" - on the Xbox website
Re: Forza Horizon 6 Devs Discuss Why Japan Was 'Right Fit' & When To Expect Gameplay
@OldGamer999 I think the strategy is to maximise Game Pass subscriptions for a set time period of 3-6 months for those premium AAA titles, then port them over to PS5 when that has run dry. It certainly makes the most business sense.
Re: Forza Horizon 6 Heads To Japan In 2026, Day One On Xbox Game Pass
Another great game to add to Game Pass!
I can imagine that with this being out in the latter part of 2026, it will be a little too early to show anything off yet. The developer direct in January will be where this gets its full blowout.
Re: These 40+ Games Are Coming To Xbox Next Week (September 22-26)
@Hawklord22 Just so you know, for the console, you can only add previous routes from the full launch on the 30th at 4 pm GMT.
Re: ROG Xbox Ally Spotted With Price And 'Pre-Order Now' Banner At UK Retailer
£499.99 is a decent price for this device overall
Re: Roundup: All The Xbox Reveals From September 2025's State Of Play
Wolverine is the only one I will get on PS5; all the 3rd-party stuff I can get much cheaper digitally via Xbox codes.
Sony is still at it with the exclusive armour skins for Crimson Desert.
Re: Major Retailer Seemingly Clearing Out Xbox Series Stock In Certain Regions Right Now
I never knew Costco in the UK even sold Xbox consoles, haha. There is Argos, Smyths, Currys and Game where you can show up and buy an Xbox in store, so it's not really the bleak story like it seems for the UK at least. I do think they are now slowing down production ahead of the new Xbox console due next year.
Re: Microsoft Announces New Price Increases For Xbox Series X|S In The US
I feel grateful I live outside the US, where prices are still reasonable for now
Re: Roundup: Here's What The Reviews Are Saying About Borderlands 4
@Cakefish This is mainly due to the performance levels—Switch 2 is locked at 30fps/ no split screen, while Xbox Series X/Ps5 offer 60fps and a split screen. The Series S version should be £60, but MS keeps price parity.
Re: MindsEye 'Update 4' Now Live On Xbox, Includes Multiple Performance Upgrades
I might pick this up on a deep discount a couple of patches down the line. If they fix some bits, like entering different cars in free roam and performance bugs/AI, then it could be a half-decent story game.
Re: Football Manager 26 Unveils New Match Engine With Huge Graphical Improvements
Is this coming to Xbox? I can only see PC platforms listed at the moment, which is a concern.
Re: Hollow Knight: Silksong Is Crashing The Xbox Store, Here's How To Install It
Expedition 33 is under severe threat of not winning GTOY for 2025.
Re: Xbox & PlayStation's New Social Media Ads Make Fans Question Whether 'Console War' Is Over
It's only a console war if you can't afford all the devices. I have always enjoyed a broad range of gaming hardware to get the best of each platform's game library and features.
Re: These Six Games Are Coming To Xbox Game Pass (September 2-16)
RoadCraft and Silksong are great additions for Game Pass.