It’s better for developers, who in the long run won’t need to create different versions for Xbox and PC, or not much. That means fewer bugs, less maintenance, and greater uniformity between the two—which is ultimately beneficial for players and gaming industry
I played it at a friend's and honestly, it looks great, with beautiful cutscenes (maybe too many?), but when it comes to gameplay depth… it feels pretty shallow and repetitive to me. I really struggle to enjoy it.
Regarding the survey, maybe the game is actually planned to come officially to Xbox, and this is PlayStation’s way of checking if Xbox players are interested. In any case, as soon as it comes out on PC , which won’t be long , I’ll be able to play it on my Xbox ROG Ally if i want.
If its true: Thanks Xbox, one more time, cross-buy is clearly trying to copy Xbox Play Anywhere. And no, this has nothing to do with the PS3/PS Vita era, because that was the same ecosystem. Here, we’re talking about PC , an open ecosystem.
Sony is way behind on PC, and launching yet another PC launcher feels like a guaranteed flop. People will keep buying their games on Steam , and for cheaper, not at €70 or €80 like console prices.
Unless they pull their games from Steam and make them exclusive to their own launcher, which would be bold and risky , but hey, maybe. Still, considering how clumsy they are with apps and security , it doesn’t look good for them.
Anyway, we’ll see… but it smells like a desperate move in response to the upcoming Xbox, which might be able to run absolutely everything , even PlayStation games.
What’s great with the Xbox ROG Ally is that we’re gradually seeing technologies that will likely be integrated into the next Xbox. The next steps include Auto Super Resolution (Auto SR), Default Game Profiles, AI Highlight Reels, improvements on UI, systeme performance, etc..... and support for the entire Xbox console catalog.
That said, regarding that last point, I’m not sure if it will be exclusive to the next-gen Xbox consoles, because from what I understand, a dedicated AMD chip would handle backward compatibility…
I also believe they’re working in parallel on some form of emulation, meaning traditional PCs could get access to emulated Xbox console games (those that aren’t yet Play Anywhere), while the next home Xbox would feature native hardware-level backward compatibility thanks to amd partnership — which would be far more efficient.
I’m not sure if anyone has more info on this topic.
@Titntin You just called yourself a ridiculous fanboy 😄, since you're the one who started this so-called "ridiculous fanboy outcries" as you put it. Just a little reminder to refresh your memory about who the "ridiculous fanboy" is — you're the one who said "You really want to compare the financials?" even though I never brought that up. I refer you to my comment #24 where I simply summarized that it makes no sense to compare console sales in 2025 between a more open ecosystem where you can play games across multiple platforms, and a historically closed ecosystem where owning the machine is almost essential to play.
I also said it’s normal to see a drop in console sales at the end of a generation, which is true for both Xbox and PlayStation. But one of your buddies disagreed and came in to defend PlayStation, and then you jumped in to talk finances — which was never my point.
So I’m fine with receiving lessons, but in this case, it’s clearly you who came in acting like a flustered fanboy, and despite what you say, you’re not fooling anyone — it’s clear as day
@Titntin **“Your bad faith betrays you, because you’re comparing Xbox’s +1% growth to last year, which was exceptional in terms of releases (as the article itself says). So just being at the same level this year, with fewer first‑party releases, is actually a very good result.
You’re making a lot of effort but fooling no one, and we all know why—but fine! At the start you’ll notice I wasn’t even talking about that, but clearly as soon as someone scratches at PlayStation, there’s an outcry from certain fanboys who spend their time on Xbox sites. But never mind.
You’re talking about revenue, which wasn’t my point, but fine! Yes, PlayStation makes more revenue in absolute value than Xbox from games and services—of course it does. But you’ll notice the difference isn’t that big: 30 billion for PlayStation vs 21 billion for Xbox (Q2 2025), thanks in particular to a better player engagement rate on Xbox, thanks to Game Pass and first party releases.
Overall, that difference is nowhere near the gap in hardware sales, which proves that selling plastic boxes means nothing when it comes to revenue generated.
Revenue is one thing, but profit margin is another. The fact is, PlayStation’s growth relies mainly on third‑party games, whereas Xbox relies more on first‑party titles—and we all know margins are higher on first‑party games.
Unfortunately I don’t have recent figures, but historically PlayStation’s margin has been very low, around 6% in the holiday quarter of 2023, versus more than 20% for Xbox. That’s the big difference, because Xbox actually relies on its own games.
The other big difference is in growth rate: Xbox is progressing faster than PlayStation in games and services. It’s obvious since Xbox produces more games, but it has to be said. Growth of 10% YoY for Xbox in Q2 2025 versus +2% for PlayStation in Q2 2025.
So, thanks for them, but Xbox is doing just fine and is actually in better health than PlayStation, contrary to what you claim. PlayStation’s market share is down compared to the PS4 era. Everything I’m saying is sourced, but since you don’t bother citing your sources either, I’ll let you look it up on Google or ChatGPT.
I assure you that I’m sorry for always being right, but you’re one of those people who speak without knowing, and without any objective data.
Year-over-year comparison: Sony reported a significant decrease in PS5 sales for the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2025, selling 2.8 million units compared to 4.5 million in the same period the previous year. (source: https://www.eteknix.com/sony-announces-ps5-has-sold-77-8-million-units-sales-decline-compared-to-last-year/)
That’s exactly what I’m saying, it’s normal to see a decline at the end of a generation. Anyway, it doesn’t matter as I’ve already said, selling plastic boxes means nothing at all—except for the fanboys who cling to it like it’s their last totem
Hogwarts Legacy is the one I’m grinding for now; I haven’t tested the other games on the list yet, but next up will be Outer Worlds 2 and Ninja Gaiden 4, then a little Keeper on the side to relax a bit. I’ve got Game Pass Ultimate at a bargain price until 2027, but after that I’ll switch to PC Game Pass (and hopefully with a promo code)
Considering all the first-party games released last year (Avowed, Doom, Oblivion, Forza, etc.), it's impressive to maintain the same performance level without launching as many first-party titles this time around.
As for hardware, we're at the end of the console generation—same goes for PlayStation, with declining PS5 sales. But that doesn't mean much, since Xbox games are available across multiple devices: portable consoles (like the Xbox-branded ROG Ally, which isn't counted in Xbox hardware sales), PCs, TVs, the cloud, and even on other consoles. Plus, thanks to Xbox Play Anywhere, players can enjoy the same game (with a single save file) across different platforms within the Xbox ecosystem.
It's not comparable to other manufacturers whose ecosystems are closed and force you to buy a specific device to access their games.
It's unfortunate we don't have metrics like engagement rate, time spent on Xbox games, or MAU (Monthly Active Users)—the kind of data that actually matters to professionals in the video game industry.
@Fiendish-Beaver When you say "How do you know when you have stopped someone watching Tik Tok, and converted them into an Xbox gamer?"
First of all, TikTok was just an example — he could’ve said social media more broadly. He also included movies and TV shows, which is absolutely valid. People spend more time on those forms of entertainment than on PlayStation — that’s an undeniable fact.
But the goal isn’t to convert a TikToker or a social media user into an Xbox gamer. People are free to enjoy multiple things and will continue to do so. The idea is simply to capture a bit more of that time so they spend more of it on Xbox and a bit less elsewhere. What he said isn’t groundbreaking — TV executives say the same thing. They’re trying to win back audiences who now spend more time on social media than watching TV. It’s a challenge shared across the entire entertainment industry.
The key metric is simple — it’s the same as today: MAUs (Monthly Active Users). Console sales mean nothing, especially when engagement among console owners is low — which is exactly the case with PlayStation, whose engagement is lower than Xbox’s.
What game industry professionals care about is user engagement. And it’s a metric they track and share. It’s just false to say they’re hiding those numbers — especially when they clearly favor Xbox.
As for console sales, they’re meaningless in a world where gamers play across multiple devices. Should we also count people who buy PCs to play Xbox games? Or handheld consoles that run Xbox titles? That wouldn’t make sense, because those devices are used for other things too. Just like counting PlayStation sales doesn’t mean much if the console ends up gathering dust — which is the case for millions of units.
@Striker21 Exactly ! The shift from a dedicated console to a hybrid PC is the best move they’ve ever made: playing xbox games, PC games (and playstation games), a full native backwards compatibility for xbox console games, ...inside an Xbox full Experience, who don't want that ? It's just a dream for millions of pc and consoles gamers, simple as that !
That said, there’s still room for improvement, of course , but features like Auto Super Resolution, Auto Frame Generation, Default Game Profile, and native support for backward-compatible titles all the way back to the original Xbox are already on the roadmap. Let’s be honest: no other console maker is doing that , not Nintendo, not PlayStation.
@EdgarTheBug This is a false debate — the PC world moved away from physical media years ago, and most console players now buy their games digitally. Let’s not flip the narrative: it’s not Microsoft dictating player behavior, it’s the other way around. These companies adapt to what players want.
PlayStation added its disc drive as an optional accessory, and the next Xbox will likely allow an external drive too. That’s easy to implement. There’s no reason to force a higher base cost for something only a minority of users still need. Making it optional just makes sense — economically and practically.
It’s a good thing Windows is becoming more gamer-friendly — we can only welcome that.
I’m not particularly a fan of the guy, but when he says “It’s kind of funny that people think of console and PC as two different things,” he’s absolutely right. The concept of a console is being redefined — what is a console, really? For me, it’s simply a machine that plays games easily and in a plug-and-play way. Nothing more, and nothing to do with its internal components.
Plus, the next Xbox console will be natively backward compatible all the way to the first Xbox One games, and it’ll give access to the entire PC game catalog — including PlayStation titles. Who wouldn’t want that?
That said, there’s still work to be done to improve Windows performance for gaming and make it even more user-friendly. But the current Xbox Full Experience and its roadmap already look very promising.
@TheGameThrifter it’ll be the same version of the game, whether it’s on PC or console. The only difference is that the game will detect the hardware and automatically load a default game profile optimized for console use (while still letting the player adjust the settings if they want to).
@kmtrain83 It’ll be able to run your entire Xbox game library — something a regular PC won’t be able to do. From what I understand, Xbox consoles will include dedicated hardware for native backward compatibility. There will also be AI-powered features built into the hardware specifically for gaming (like Auto Super Resolution, etc.). The console will run the same OS as a PC, but its components won’t be exactly the same as what you’d find in a traditional PC.
@kmtrain83 I think you misunderstood , it’ll be the same version of the game, whether it’s on PC or console. The only difference is that the game will detect the hardware and automatically load a default game profile optimized for console use (while still letting the player adjust the settings if they want to).
Xbox Play Anywhere also includes cloud support, and yes — it’ll be much simpler for developers in the future since they won’t have to manage a separate console version.
@Medic_alert i guess backards compatibility is native (hardware) thanks to AMD partnership. For disc drive, It will most likely be optional, like PlayStation does. Since most players no longer play physical games, there’s no need to pass the cost on to those who don’t want physical editions.
@Fiendish-Beaver Great news, I suspected it but we now have confirmation that the next Xbox will be fully backward compatible, thanks to AMD partnership I guess.
The commitment that the user experience will remain that of a console suits me perfectly as well. It was logical, but it’s always good to have confirmation.
Free multiplayer: there had already been some rumors about it, and now it’s confirmed, which is really cool too.
As for PC Game Pass, since this console and a traditional PC will share the same OS, it also seems logical that the PC Game Pass will be enough. You may have noticed that the console Game Pass has been removed , I think they did it in anticipation.
Anyway, it’s better to play it on Xbox in every case , not only is the version better, but you also benefit from Xbox Play Anywhere (with a single purchase, you can play on your Xbox console, your PC, your handheld device, or via the cloud), no extra cost thanks to Game Pass (GPU or pc gamepass), Quick Resume (which is seriously underrated), and even the option to buy it cheaper (on code sites like CDKeys or ENEBA, it’s on average €10 less). And that applies to all Xbox games.
Reading through the comments, I realize just how low the overall IQ is here. It’s not just here, but across the web in general. And especially when it comes to Xbox, I feel like it attracts the worst idiots on the web. it’s disheartening. See my comment above.
If the metric is time spent by the target audience, then yes — he’s absolutely right. Time consumption is naturally limited, and people objectively spend more of it watching series, movies, and scrolling through social media than playing on PlayStation. That’s just obvious. On top of that, their engagement rate is significantly lower compared to Xbox or Nintendo. Owning a PlayStation console doesn’t necessarily mean you’re actually playing on it.
When will people finally understand that Xbox fans are far more mature than the toxic PlayStation community? But let’s be clear — we’re talking about a remake here, just like Gears of War: Reloaded, which came out over a decade ago. It’s obvious that Xbox is sticking to a strategy of timed exclusivity for new IPs, while sequels — like Forza Horizon 6, for example — follow a different path.
It’s all part of the plan: introduce the franchise to new players, and once they’re hooked, steer them toward the Xbox ecosystem if they want to play future installments on day one.
The Xbox ecosystem remains far more advantageous across the board — with Game Pass, Xbox Play Anywhere, and day-one access to new releases — rather than paying full price two years later for a single-device experience.
Let’s stop playing the naysayer. When it comes to the financial side, I can believe Microsoft is calling the shots. But creatively, I think Xbox still holds the reins. The quality of Xbox games keeps improving, and it’s clear that creativity remains a priority — just look at Obsidian, still delivering great titles like Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2, or Double Fine with their latest release, Keeper.
They’re the only ones who’ve taken real risks this generation by launching new IPs like South of Midnight, Starfield, Pentiment, etc... sometimes even niche titles. Creatively speaking, you really can’t say Xbox is lagging behind — quite the opposite, actually.
@DNortonX Calm down, brother. There are already more than 1,000 Xbox Play Anywhere games, and the plan is to eventually make all games compatible (through an emulation system or something similar). It’s an Xbox in the sense that it’s getting closer to the Xbox user experience, the ergonomics of an Xbox controller, with the (admittedly partial for now) integration of Xbox console games.
Switching from a console to a PC is no small task, but at least we can acknowledge the effort and even the speed with which they’re making this transition. Behind these small temporary flaws lie major advantages, with a versatility impossible on a traditional Xbox console and absolutely unique among all console manufacturers. The ability to play across all stores naturally comes with a few temporary inconveniences, but we can’t downplay all the benefits under this false controversy of “this is not an Xbox,” which isn’t true either.
For now, this Xbox ROG Ally is stuck between two chairs, but the goal and natural evolution is to ultimately make it a true Xbox. It’s also worth noting that this handheld console is a test bed for the next Xbox home console, which will check all these boxes, especially with full backward compatibility.
As of today, the ID@Xbox program will deliver an Xbox Series devkit free of charge.
Developers who don’t need extra processing headroom can use their local Xbox Series console as a devkit.
The GDK (Game Developer Kit) is free of charge on GitHub and officially supported by Microsoft. Developers can start on the GDK without applying for ID@Xbox or spending any money upfront.
Devkits used to be absurdly expensive, but that has changed in recent “generations.”
The price of a PS5 devkit is $4,000. and offers none of the above points
It’s crazy, hardly any media are talking about it.
You should make sure to mention each time: “Metacritic score of 85 — which is pretty good going for your third major release of the year”, and also highlight that this is despite the Xbox tax”. (Add 3-5 points for a proper score)
In any case, I loved Avowed, and I have a feeling I’m going to really enjoy this one too , thank you, Obsidian!
@themightyant Okay, I’ll admit I don’t know Bazzite that well, but it seems like it’s not that straightforward — unless I’m mistaken:
Game Pass titles don’t run natively on Linux systems, nor on SteamOS, right?
No Xbox achievements, no Xbox social features…
FSR 4 support is still very poor at the moment.
Ray tracing is hit-or-miss depending on the game.
Some DirectX APIs (like DX12 Ultimate) technically work, but often with performance drops or bugs.
Games with DRM / anti-cheat / ...like already said
And as I already mentioned, other future innovations will be difficult to support on Linux — like Auto SR, which is an exclusive technology that relies on embedded AI integrated directly into the operating system.
That said, it’s great that these alternatives exist — they’ll probably push Xbox to do even better.
I do see some performance benefits, even if they’re not huge, but there are trade-offs. Linux often relies on translating Windows calls, and that process can introduce losses or instability.
@themightyant This is just the beginning — Xbox Full Experience is still in the early stages of its roadmap, and they’ll keep improving performance and stability while rolling out innovations like Auto SR, default game profiles, and a whole range of features that will simply never be available on a Linux system.
To me, installing Linux on an Xbox ROG Ally is pure heresy. Sure, you might squeeze out a few extra FPS for now, but it comes at the cost of a less optimized user experience and the loss of key features. It’s probably fun for tinkerers, but I don’t see it as a viable long-term solution.
Windows isn’t the problem — it’s actually the key to making all of this possible. It’s thanks to Windows that we get this level of versatility: being able to launch games from any store, install apps like Discord, and enjoy that kind of flexibility.
That kind of versatility simply isn’t achievable with a Linux system. Of course, the trade-off is that Windows is heavier by design, but given the direction Xbox Full Experience is heading — already solid and full of promise — the few remaining drawbacks will be ironed out over time.
Some people love to criticize Windows, but the truth is, there’s no system out there today that’s as simple and versatile — that’s just a fact. Of course, people are rarely satisfied, and in a way that’s good because it pushes innovation. But at some point, we need to stay grounded in reality.
I’ve personally tried working on a Linux Mint, and I quickly realized I was wasting too much time tinkering. I even managed to crash the system at one point — not to mention that many of the apps I rely on simply don’t have Linux equivalents.
I mean, of course it’s not perfect, it’s a massive undertaking to turn Windows into a truly dedicated gaming machine. But I find the direction they’re taking very promising: merging the versatility of a PC with the user experience of a console.
the xbox rog ally is a test run for The next Xbox console which is designed to deliver a console experience, easy to pick up, plug-and-play. It's not perfect, it's still early stage but already quite solid and The Xbox Experience UI roadmap for xbox rog ally reflects that direction, with features like:
Default Game Profiles (automatically adjust settings per game to balance performance and battery life)
Enhanced Docking Experience
Auto SR (AI-powered super resolution)
AI Highlight Reels (automatically captures gameplay moments worth saving)
All of this is meant to simplify the gaming experience as much as possible for console players who don’t want to mess with settings, while still allowing tinkerers to dive in if they want to.
@TheGameThrifter You’re touching on an important point, and that’s exactly where the AMD partnership comes into play. I’m almost certain this collaboration will allow Xbox to handle backward compatibility natively, at the hardware level.
Xbox has always heavily invested in backward compatibility, and I really don’t see them walking away from that. It seems highly unlikely.
@Fiendish-Beaver Yeah, I hadn’t considered older Steam games without controller support, but that’s clearly not the target here. Players who are attached to keyboard/mouse gameplay will stick to PC. Keyboard and mouse support will be optional, just like it is on current Xbox consoles.
When I said “all games,” I was mostly referring to games with controller support and future titles, which almost all include it. That already covers a massive number of games, you’d agree. I don’t think calling it a “PC box” makes sense, because by that logic, current Xbox consoles or even other consoles would fall into that category too, since they’re all built on PC components.
The next Xbox console is designed to deliver a console experience, easy to pick up, plug-and-play. The Xbox Experience UI roadmap reflects that direction, with features like:
Default Game Profiles (automatically adjust settings per game to balance performance and battery life)
Enhanced Docking Experience
Auto SR (AI-powered super resolution)
AI Highlight Reels (automatically captures gameplay moments worth saving)
All of this is meant to simplify the gaming experience as much as possible for console players who don’t want to mess with settings, while still allowing tinkerers to dive in if they want to.
@Sol76 No, current consoles simply can’t be manufactured for less, if that were possible, we’d know by now. You have to follow the news: even PlayStation has raised its console prices. Same goes for the Asus Xbox ROG Ally, and in that case, it’s not Xbox that sets the price.
As for Game Pass Ultimate, which is the real issue (pc gamepass is still a great value for money), the price is actually justified considering everything it includes. But that’s not the core problem. The issue is that some players are being forced to pay for features they won’t use, like Fortnite Crew, for example or ubisoft classics games, or xcloud, etc... .
They should let players choose their options "à la carte" instead of stuffing everything into one package. That’s the real underlying problem.
@Krzzystuff Of course she’s talking about a console built internally. The partnership with AMD is specifically to develop an in-house console. If Xbox were going through Asus, they wouldn’t need a partnership with AMD.
@Fiendish-Beaver to your question "Can the Xbox Rog Ally play every Steam game?" In any case, it’s capable of running more games than the Steam Deck itself. For example, the latest Battlefield is playable on Steam for PC and on Windows-based handheld consoles (including the Xbox ROG Ally), but not on SteamOS. Same goes for many other incompatible titles like Call of Duty, Fortnite, Destiny 2, etc. And plenty of games run poorly or are basically unplayable—like Helldivers 2, Cyberpunk 2077, Red Dead Redemption 2. Why? Not because of raw power, but simply because of SteamOS limitations.
Studios develop games to run natively on Windows, not on SteamOS. SteamOS is just a translation layer that converts Windows games to Linux (via Proton), but that translation often comes with bugs, compatibility issues, or performance problems.
The reality is that SteamOS will never rival Windows—especially when Windows is optimized for gaming, with the Xbox UI experience that kills non-gaming processes. It’s not perfect yet, it’s still early—but it’s already solid, and the roadmap promises major improvements (default game profiles, performance, stability, etc.).
I can see it’s hard for some people to have a calm conversation. All this doom and gloom around the Game Pass Ultimate price hike hasn’t stopped Xbox ROG Ally consoles from selling well—or Xbox games, for that matter. This controversy is confined to a small bubble fueled by a few haters, nothing more. I was personally disappointed by the Ultimate price increase, but I don’t mix everything together. The PC Game Pass, for example, remains extremely attractive given its value. And it’s likely the most widely used subscription today—and even more so in the future, since the next Xbox console will only require the PC Game Pass to play.
As for the console concept itself, some people don’t realize what a game changer it is: a console capable of playing everything while still delivering a console-like experience—that’s the dream. And I’m not talking about a niche dream, but one shared by millions of players—console gamers and PC gamers alike, whether as their main gaming hardware or a secondary setup. I see a lot of PC gamers around me genuinely excited about this Xbox console, and they’re far removed from the petty console wars.
@BaldB3lper78 A PC don't play your game console catalog, and the next console will play the full PC catalog as well as the entire Xbox console catalog, , thanks not only to Xbox Play Anywhere but also to the upcoming full console game emulation. Not to mention that a console will offer a xbox console experience much more plug and play than a regular PC
@VenomUK: Between choosing a console that can play the entire PC catalog (including PlayStation games on Steam) plus the full Xbox console catalog, versus a console limited only to the PlayStation game catalog—what would you choose? Personally, I’d go with the first option: Xbox.
I think it's quite logical: if it means a machine that runs games at the level of a good PC, that’s upgradeable (RAM, SSD, etc.), and has a longer lifespan than a traditional console, while still allowing access to all games: the full PC catalog as well as the entire Xbox console catalog. That seems to be the case, thanks not only to Xbox Play Anywhere but also to the upcoming full console game emulation.
If we take the ROG Ally Xbox as a kind of test run for the next generation of consoles, recent statements and rumors (especially around emulation) suggest that everything I mentioned is becoming reality.
In that case, yes: a premium hybrid console/PC with a premium price would be justified. As a comparison, the Xbox ROG Ally X is selling better than the xbox ROG Ally (white), proving that price isn’t a barrier when the value is there.
But if the next console really is a hybrid PC, I don’t see any issue with also releasing a less powerful and more affordable version as well, because it wouldn’t impact developers the way the Xbox Series S did. It would be just like any regular PC.
Lool, yet another proof that you shouldn’t listen to those rumors saying the games would come out on other consoles a few months later. And maybe that rumor isn’t even true either. What’s certain is that Xbox, from the very beginning ,and that hasn’t changed , has never launched its games day one on other consoles, except for titles that were already multiplayer= temprary exclusives and case by case knowing some games remains exclusive, sorry mike ybarra, you say BS.
What’s funny is that with the Xbox ROG Ally and the next Xbox home console basically being PCs, there will soon be just as many former PlayStation exclusives on Xbox as the other way around , maybe even more.
As for Game Pass, you no longer need Game Pass Ultimate to play on console , PC Game Pass will be enough. That’s actually why Console Game Pass doesn’t exist anymore.
Of course it’s ASUS — that’s only logical. They’re the manufacturer, so they’re the ones who know the cost of the components and the production process. People claiming it’s Xbox and their greed are, once again, just folks who don’t know what they’re talking about and love to bash Xbox for no reason.
Besides, the price is actually normal when you compare it to other similar handheld consoles like lenovo legion go 2 or MSI claw A8
And You can’t really compare it to a Steam Deck OLED cause it’s simply less powerful, It has less RAM, a smaller battery, and a 90Hz screen versus the 120Hz display on the Xbox ROG Ally, less ergonomic, etc... . Plus, it’s limited by its SteamOS, which isn’t compatible with a bunch of games — for example, the latest Battlefield isn’t playable on the Steam Deck.
@Coletrain I’m just repeating the words of their CEO. I’m not saying that Sony doesn’t care about hardware , I never said that. What I’m saying is that it’s no longer their top priority. In the same way for Xbox: hardware isn’t their main priority , but that doesn’t mean they’re abandoning it. Let’s just say it’s no longer the key success factor. Is that clearer now? https://www.gamingbible.com/news/platform/playstation/playstation-confirms-move-away-from-hardware-193055-20250808
@Coletrain "after all, that is their key platform, right?" : Not anymore. That’s something only Sony loyalists care about, not actual professionals in the gaming industry.
It’s logical. This is what all the professionals in the video game industry look at, including third‑party publishers. Engagement on Xbox is much stronger than on other platforms. It’s no coincidence that Helldivers 2 sold better there than on PlayStation in its first week, despite a smaller console base. And it’s also thanks to this high engagement rate that 99% of third‑party publishers develop games for Xbox, even though the console base is smaller (still more than 35 million Xbox Series consoles, not to mention previous generations, and other platforms like cloud, PC, and handhelds). More than 500 million active players on Xbox ecosystem
Even Sony’s CEO admitted that the future is no longer hardware‑centric. After realizing that their engagement rate is actually very low compared to the number of consoles sold, they had to face the fact that selling consoles that just gather dust doesn’t help them at all.
@MrStark You're comparing an action-adventure game with a FPS? As for the gameplay, I'm convinced it'll be modernized. But when it comes to the dialogue… that's not really what makes a FPS interesting, so I don't really see the point in changing that aspect. And the original dialogues are perfectly fine.
@Tomato_Goose No Battlefield on Steam Deck , it’s not compatible, just like many other games. And helldivers 2, The game occasionally drops to 20 FPS, The game is rated as "Playable" but not "Verified". At some point, SteamOS simply can’t compete with titles that run natively on Windows, not through a Proton layer.
@darkswabber That’s exactly how false rumors are born , from the mere possibility, however small, that they might be true. It’s that sliver of plausibility that makes a rumor seem credible. But that doesn’t change the fact that it’s still false. We should be used to it by now.
Xbox had a very strong year in terms of both first-party and third-party games, and even during that period, it still faced its share of fake rumors. But when Xbox enters a “doom and gloom” phase , like now, with the Game Pass price hike , some people, desperate for clicks, seize the moment to pile on and exploit the opportunity.
It’s not Xbox’s fault. It’s just the nature of today’s media system , and because of a certain community that spends its time spreading and sharing this kind of misinformation.
Console shutdowns, Xbox games disappearing from stores, Xbox is dead (how many times ? 100 ?)— we’re just used to these kinds of rumors. There’s a fake one every month or two.
@Vaako007 Yes, I think so. It’s still a console, and given the specs, it’s built to last for several years. In the end, today’s consoles already use PC components—it’s basically PC hardware. So the real difference isn’t in the hardware. The difference lies in how games are developed: developers won’t need to create separate Xbox console versions anymore. It’ll be the same game version, whether it’s on PC or this new Xbox console.
Overall, it’s better for everyone. Xbox saves money by no longer needing to develop and maintain a console-specific version. For players, it’s better too—it opens up a much larger game library with access to all titles (except Nintendo).
And it’s also better for the gaming industry: developers save money and reduce production costs since they no longer need to build Xbox-specific versions. They’ll just need to determine the optimal configuration based on the hardware of this new Xbox console—a quality mode and a performance mode—while still allowing players to tweak settings if needed, just like on PC
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Re: Rumour: Ex-Obsidian Dev Suggests Avowed 2 Is On The Cards, But 'No Plans' For Outer Worlds 3
Cool ! I love Avowed
Re: Xbox Highlights Four 'Exciting Updates' Added In Latest Development Kit Release
It’s better for developers, who in the long run won’t need to create different versions for Xbox and PC, or not much. That means fewer bugs, less maintenance, and greater uniformity between the two—which is ultimately beneficial for players and gaming industry
Re: Xbox Is Questioning Fans About PS5 Game 'Ghost Of Yotei' In New Survey
I played it at a friend's and honestly, it looks great, with beautiful cutscenes (maybe too many?), but when it comes to gameplay depth… it feels pretty shallow and repetitive to me. I really struggle to enjoy it.
Regarding the survey, maybe the game is actually planned to come officially to Xbox, and this is PlayStation’s way of checking if Xbox players are interested. In any case, as soon as it comes out on PC , which won’t be long , I’ll be able to play it on my Xbox ROG Ally if i want.
Re: Sony May Be Preparing Its Own Version Of Xbox Play Anywhere For PS5 & PC
If its true: Thanks Xbox, one more time, cross-buy is clearly trying to copy Xbox Play Anywhere. And no, this has nothing to do with the PS3/PS Vita era, because that was the same ecosystem. Here, we’re talking about PC , an open ecosystem.
Sony is way behind on PC, and launching yet another PC launcher feels like a guaranteed flop. People will keep buying their games on Steam , and for cheaper, not at €70 or €80 like console prices.
Unless they pull their games from Steam and make them exclusive to their own launcher, which would be bold and risky , but hey, maybe. Still, considering how clumsy they are with apps and security , it doesn’t look good for them.
Anyway, we’ll see… but it smells like a desperate move in response to the upcoming Xbox, which might be able to run absolutely everything , even PlayStation games.
Re: Xbox Game Pass: All Games Coming Soon In November 2025
Black Ops 7 — curious to see what it looks like. And Winter Burrow — that cozy little game that just feels good.
Re: Microsoft Shares Initial List Of ROG Xbox Ally Games That Support Advanced Shader Delivery
What’s great with the Xbox ROG Ally is that we’re gradually seeing technologies that will likely be integrated into the next Xbox. The next steps include Auto Super Resolution (Auto SR), Default Game Profiles, AI Highlight Reels, improvements on UI, systeme performance, etc..... and support for the entire Xbox console catalog.
That said, regarding that last point, I’m not sure if it will be exclusive to the next-gen Xbox consoles, because from what I understand, a dedicated AMD chip would handle backward compatibility…
I also believe they’re working in parallel on some form of emulation, meaning traditional PCs could get access to emulated Xbox console games (those that aren’t yet Play Anywhere), while the next home Xbox would feature native hardware-level backward compatibility thanks to amd partnership — which would be far more efficient.
I’m not sure if anyone has more info on this topic.
Re: Xbox Content & Services Revenue Sees Slight Increase In Q1 2026, Hardware Drops Almost 30%
@Titntin You just called yourself a ridiculous fanboy 😄, since you're the one who started this so-called "ridiculous fanboy outcries" as you put it. Just a little reminder to refresh your memory about who the "ridiculous fanboy" is — you're the one who said "You really want to compare the financials?" even though I never brought that up. I refer you to my comment #24 where I simply summarized that it makes no sense to compare console sales in 2025 between a more open ecosystem where you can play games across multiple platforms, and a historically closed ecosystem where owning the machine is almost essential to play.
I also said it’s normal to see a drop in console sales at the end of a generation, which is true for both Xbox and PlayStation. But one of your buddies disagreed and came in to defend PlayStation, and then you jumped in to talk finances — which was never my point.
So I’m fine with receiving lessons, but in this case, it’s clearly you who came in acting like a flustered fanboy, and despite what you say, you’re not fooling anyone — it’s clear as day
Re: Xbox Content & Services Revenue Sees Slight Increase In Q1 2026, Hardware Drops Almost 30%
@Titntin **“Your bad faith betrays you, because you’re comparing Xbox’s +1% growth to last year, which was exceptional in terms of releases (as the article itself says). So just being at the same level this year, with fewer first‑party releases, is actually a very good result.
You’re making a lot of effort but fooling no one, and we all know why—but fine! At the start you’ll notice I wasn’t even talking about that, but clearly as soon as someone scratches at PlayStation, there’s an outcry from certain fanboys who spend their time on Xbox sites. But never mind.
You’re talking about revenue, which wasn’t my point, but fine! Yes, PlayStation makes more revenue in absolute value than Xbox from games and services—of course it does. But you’ll notice the difference isn’t that big: 30 billion for PlayStation vs 21 billion for Xbox (Q2 2025), thanks in particular to a better player engagement rate on Xbox, thanks to Game Pass and first party releases.
Overall, that difference is nowhere near the gap in hardware sales, which proves that selling plastic boxes means nothing when it comes to revenue generated.
Revenue is one thing, but profit margin is another. The fact is, PlayStation’s growth relies mainly on third‑party games, whereas Xbox relies more on first‑party titles—and we all know margins are higher on first‑party games.
Unfortunately I don’t have recent figures, but historically PlayStation’s margin has been very low, around 6% in the holiday quarter of 2023, versus more than 20% for Xbox. That’s the big difference, because Xbox actually relies on its own games.
The other big difference is in growth rate: Xbox is progressing faster than PlayStation in games and services. It’s obvious since Xbox produces more games, but it has to be said. Growth of 10% YoY for Xbox in Q2 2025 versus +2% for PlayStation in Q2 2025.
So, thanks for them, but Xbox is doing just fine and is actually in better health than PlayStation, contrary to what you claim. PlayStation’s market share is down compared to the PS4 era. Everything I’m saying is sourced, but since you don’t bother citing your sources either, I’ll let you look it up on Google or ChatGPT.
Re: Xbox Content & Services Revenue Sees Slight Increase In Q1 2026, Hardware Drops Almost 30%
I assure you that I’m sorry for always being right, but you’re one of those people who speak without knowing, and without any objective data.
That’s exactly what I’m saying, it’s normal to see a decline at the end of a generation. Anyway, it doesn’t matter as I’ve already said, selling plastic boxes means nothing at all—except for the fanboys who cling to it like it’s their last totem
Re: Poll: Which Was Your Favourite Xbox Game Pass Title From October 2025?
Hogwarts Legacy is the one I’m grinding for now; I haven’t tested the other games on the list yet, but next up will be Outer Worlds 2 and Ninja Gaiden 4, then a little Keeper on the side to relax a bit. I’ve got Game Pass Ultimate at a bargain price until 2027, but after that I’ll switch to PC Game Pass (and hopefully with a promo code)
Re: Xbox Content & Services Revenue Sees Slight Increase In Q1 2026, Hardware Drops Almost 30%
Considering all the first-party games released last year (Avowed, Doom, Oblivion, Forza, etc.), it's impressive to maintain the same performance level without launching as many first-party titles this time around.
As for hardware, we're at the end of the console generation—same goes for PlayStation, with declining PS5 sales. But that doesn't mean much, since Xbox games are available across multiple devices: portable consoles (like the Xbox-branded ROG Ally, which isn't counted in Xbox hardware sales), PCs, TVs, the cloud, and even on other consoles. Plus, thanks to Xbox Play Anywhere, players can enjoy the same game (with a single save file) across different platforms within the Xbox ecosystem.
It's not comparable to other manufacturers whose ecosystems are closed and force you to buy a specific device to access their games.
It's unfortunate we don't have metrics like engagement rate, time spent on Xbox games, or MAU (Monthly Active Users)—the kind of data that actually matters to professionals in the video game industry.
Re: Microsoft CEO Says Xbox 'Wants To Innovate' With Its Next-Gen Console
@Fiendish-Beaver When you say "How do you know when you have stopped someone watching Tik Tok, and converted them into an Xbox gamer?"
First of all, TikTok was just an example — he could’ve said social media more broadly. He also included movies and TV shows, which is absolutely valid. People spend more time on those forms of entertainment than on PlayStation — that’s an undeniable fact.
But the goal isn’t to convert a TikToker or a social media user into an Xbox gamer. People are free to enjoy multiple things and will continue to do so. The idea is simply to capture a bit more of that time so they spend more of it on Xbox and a bit less elsewhere. What he said isn’t groundbreaking — TV executives say the same thing. They’re trying to win back audiences who now spend more time on social media than watching TV. It’s a challenge shared across the entire entertainment industry.
The key metric is simple — it’s the same as today: MAUs (Monthly Active Users). Console sales mean nothing, especially when engagement among console owners is low — which is exactly the case with PlayStation, whose engagement is lower than Xbox’s.
What game industry professionals care about is user engagement. And it’s a metric they track and share. It’s just false to say they’re hiding those numbers — especially when they clearly favor Xbox.
As for console sales, they’re meaningless in a world where gamers play across multiple devices. Should we also count people who buy PCs to play Xbox games? Or handheld consoles that run Xbox titles? That wouldn’t make sense, because those devices are used for other things too. Just like counting PlayStation sales doesn’t mean much if the console ends up gathering dust — which is the case for millions of units.
Re: Microsoft CEO Says Xbox 'Wants To Innovate' With Its Next-Gen Console
@Striker21 Exactly ! The shift from a dedicated console to a hybrid PC is the best move they’ve ever made: playing xbox games, PC games (and playstation games), a full native backwards compatibility for xbox console games, ...inside an Xbox full Experience, who don't want that ? It's just a dream for millions of pc and consoles gamers, simple as that !
That said, there’s still room for improvement, of course , but features like Auto Super Resolution, Auto Frame Generation, Default Game Profile, and native support for backward-compatible titles all the way back to the original Xbox are already on the roadmap. Let’s be honest: no other console maker is doing that , not Nintendo, not PlayStation.
Re: Microsoft CEO Says Xbox 'Wants To Innovate' With Its Next-Gen Console
@EdgarTheBug This is a false debate — the PC world moved away from physical media years ago, and most console players now buy their games digitally. Let’s not flip the narrative: it’s not Microsoft dictating player behavior, it’s the other way around. These companies adapt to what players want.
PlayStation added its disc drive as an optional accessory, and the next Xbox will likely allow an external drive too. That’s easy to implement. There’s no reason to force a higher base cost for something only a minority of users still need. Making it optional just makes sense — economically and practically.
Re: Microsoft CEO Says Xbox 'Wants To Innovate' With Its Next-Gen Console
It’s a good thing Windows is becoming more gamer-friendly — we can only welcome that.
I’m not particularly a fan of the guy, but when he says “It’s kind of funny that people think of console and PC as two different things,” he’s absolutely right. The concept of a console is being redefined — what is a console, really? For me, it’s simply a machine that plays games easily and in a plug-and-play way. Nothing more, and nothing to do with its internal components.
Plus, the next Xbox console will be natively backward compatible all the way to the first Xbox One games, and it’ll give access to the entire PC game catalog — including PlayStation titles. Who wouldn’t want that?
That said, there’s still work to be done to improve Windows performance for gaming and make it even more user-friendly. But the current Xbox Full Experience and its roadmap already look very promising.
Re: Huge Xbox Report Details 'Ambitious' Next-Gen Console With Free Online Play
@TheGameThrifter it’ll be the same version of the game, whether it’s on PC or console. The only difference is that the game will detect the hardware and automatically load a default game profile optimized for console use (while still letting the player adjust the settings if they want to).
Re: Huge Xbox Report Details 'Ambitious' Next-Gen Console With Free Online Play
@kmtrain83 It’ll be able to run your entire Xbox game library — something a regular PC won’t be able to do. From what I understand, Xbox consoles will include dedicated hardware for native backward compatibility. There will also be AI-powered features built into the hardware specifically for gaming (like Auto Super Resolution, etc.). The console will run the same OS as a PC, but its components won’t be exactly the same as what you’d find in a traditional PC.
Re: Microsoft Reportedly Still Has Plans To Make Its Own Xbox Handheld
Yes, they’ve always said they would make one , they just mentioned they’re deprioritizing it for now because of the ROG Xbox Ally, that’s all.
Re: Huge Xbox Report Details 'Ambitious' Next-Gen Console With Free Online Play
@kmtrain83 I think you misunderstood , it’ll be the same version of the game, whether it’s on PC or console. The only difference is that the game will detect the hardware and automatically load a default game profile optimized for console use (while still letting the player adjust the settings if they want to).
Xbox Play Anywhere also includes cloud support, and yes — it’ll be much simpler for developers in the future since they won’t have to manage a separate console version.
Re: Huge Xbox Report Details 'Ambitious' Next-Gen Console With Free Online Play
@Medic_alert i guess backards compatibility is native (hardware) thanks to AMD partnership. For disc drive, It will most likely be optional, like PlayStation does. Since most players no longer play physical games, there’s no need to pass the cost on to those who don’t want physical editions.
Re: Huge Xbox Report Details 'Ambitious' Next-Gen Console With Free Online Play
@Fiendish-Beaver Great news, I suspected it but we now have confirmation that the next Xbox will be fully backward compatible, thanks to AMD partnership I guess.
The commitment that the user experience will remain that of a console suits me perfectly as well. It was logical, but it’s always good to have confirmation.
Free multiplayer: there had already been some rumors about it, and now it’s confirmed, which is really cool too.
As for PC Game Pass, since this console and a traditional PC will share the same OS, it also seems logical that the PC Game Pass will be enough. You may have noticed that the console Game Pass has been removed , I think they did it in anticipation.
Re: Digital Foundry Delivers Its Verdict On The Outer Worlds 2, With Xbox The Clear Console Winner
Anyway, it’s better to play it on Xbox in every case , not only is the version better, but you also benefit from Xbox Play Anywhere (with a single purchase, you can play on your Xbox console, your PC, your handheld device, or via the cloud), no extra cost thanks to Game Pass (GPU or pc gamepass), Quick Resume (which is seriously underrated), and even the option to buy it cheaper (on code sites like CDKeys or ENEBA, it’s on average €10 less). And that applies to all Xbox games.
Re: Xbox Has More Competition From TikTok Than PlayStation, Claims Microsoft Exec
Reading through the comments, I realize just how low the overall IQ is here. It’s not just here, but across the web in general. And especially when it comes to Xbox, I feel like it attracts the worst idiots on the web. it’s disheartening. See my comment above.
Re: Xbox Has More Competition From TikTok Than PlayStation, Claims Microsoft Exec
If the metric is time spent by the target audience, then yes — he’s absolutely right. Time consumption is naturally limited, and people objectively spend more of it watching series, movies, and scrolling through social media than playing on PlayStation. That’s just obvious. On top of that, their engagement rate is significantly lower compared to Xbox or Nintendo. Owning a PlayStation console doesn’t necessarily mean you’re actually playing on it.
Re: Talking Point: How Do You Feel About Halo: Campaign Evolved Launching Day One On PS5?
When will people finally understand that Xbox fans are far more mature than the toxic PlayStation community? But let’s be clear — we’re talking about a remake here, just like Gears of War: Reloaded, which came out over a decade ago. It’s obvious that Xbox is sticking to a strategy of timed exclusivity for new IPs, while sequels — like Forza Horizon 6, for example — follow a different path.
It’s all part of the plan: introduce the franchise to new players, and once they’re hooked, steer them toward the Xbox ecosystem if they want to play future installments on day one.
The Xbox ecosystem remains far more advantageous across the board — with Game Pass, Xbox Play Anywhere, and day-one access to new releases — rather than paying full price two years later for a single-device experience.
Re: Phil Spencer Addresses AI & Developer Creativity At Xbox Game Studios
Let’s stop playing the naysayer. When it comes to the financial side, I can believe Microsoft is calling the shots. But creatively, I think Xbox still holds the reins. The quality of Xbox games keeps improving, and it’s clear that creativity remains a priority — just look at Obsidian, still delivering great titles like Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2, or Double Fine with their latest release, Keeper.
They’re the only ones who’ve taken real risks this generation by launching new IPs like South of Midnight, Starfield, Pentiment, etc... sometimes even niche titles. Creatively speaking, you really can’t say Xbox is lagging behind — quite the opposite, actually.
Re: Microsoft's 'This Is An Xbox' Ad Evolves As Holiday Marketing Ramps Up
@DNortonX Calm down, brother. There are already more than 1,000 Xbox Play Anywhere games, and the plan is to eventually make all games compatible (through an emulation system or something similar). It’s an Xbox in the sense that it’s getting closer to the Xbox user experience, the ergonomics of an Xbox controller, with the (admittedly partial for now) integration of Xbox console games.
Switching from a console to a PC is no small task, but at least we can acknowledge the effort and even the speed with which they’re making this transition. Behind these small temporary flaws lie major advantages, with a versatility impossible on a traditional Xbox console and absolutely unique among all console manufacturers. The ability to play across all stores naturally comes with a few temporary inconveniences, but we can’t downplay all the benefits under this false controversy of “this is not an Xbox,” which isn’t true either.
For now, this Xbox ROG Ally is stuck between two chairs, but the goal and natural evolution is to ultimately make it a true Xbox. It’s also worth noting that this handheld console is a test bed for the next Xbox home console, which will check all these boxes, especially with full backward compatibility.
Re: Microsoft Is Reportedly Increasing The Cost Of Xbox Dev Kits In Latest Price Hike
Proof that Xbox tax is real:
It’s crazy, hardly any media are talking about it.
Source: https://x.com/GameOverThirty/status/1980708492064559329
Re: Roundup: Here's What The Reviews Are Saying About Xbox's The Outer Worlds 2
You should make sure to mention each time: “Metacritic score of 85 — which is pretty good going for your third major release of the year”, and also highlight that this is despite the Xbox tax”. (Add 3-5 points for a proper score)
In any case, I loved Avowed, and I have a feeling I’m going to really enjoy this one too , thank you, Obsidian!
Re: Sarah Bond: Our Next-Gen Console Will Be 'Very Premium' & Informed By ROG Xbox Ally
@themightyant Okay, I’ll admit I don’t know Bazzite that well, but it seems like it’s not that straightforward — unless I’m mistaken:
Game Pass titles don’t run natively on Linux systems, nor on SteamOS, right?
No Xbox achievements, no Xbox social features…
FSR 4 support is still very poor at the moment.
Ray tracing is hit-or-miss depending on the game.
Some DirectX APIs (like DX12 Ultimate) technically work, but often with performance drops or bugs.
Games with DRM / anti-cheat / ...like already said
And as I already mentioned, other future innovations will be difficult to support on Linux — like Auto SR, which is an exclusive technology that relies on embedded AI integrated directly into the operating system.
That said, it’s great that these alternatives exist — they’ll probably push Xbox to do even better.
I do see some performance benefits, even if they’re not huge, but there are trade-offs. Linux often relies on translating Windows calls, and that process can introduce losses or instability.
Re: Sarah Bond: Our Next-Gen Console Will Be 'Very Premium' & Informed By ROG Xbox Ally
@themightyant This is just the beginning — Xbox Full Experience is still in the early stages of its roadmap, and they’ll keep improving performance and stability while rolling out innovations like Auto SR, default game profiles, and a whole range of features that will simply never be available on a Linux system.
To me, installing Linux on an Xbox ROG Ally is pure heresy. Sure, you might squeeze out a few extra FPS for now, but it comes at the cost of a less optimized user experience and the loss of key features. It’s probably fun for tinkerers, but I don’t see it as a viable long-term solution.
Windows isn’t the problem — it’s actually the key to making all of this possible. It’s thanks to Windows that we get this level of versatility: being able to launch games from any store, install apps like Discord, and enjoy that kind of flexibility.
That kind of versatility simply isn’t achievable with a Linux system. Of course, the trade-off is that Windows is heavier by design, but given the direction Xbox Full Experience is heading — already solid and full of promise — the few remaining drawbacks will be ironed out over time.
Some people love to criticize Windows, but the truth is, there’s no system out there today that’s as simple and versatile — that’s just a fact. Of course, people are rarely satisfied, and in a way that’s good because it pushes innovation. But at some point, we need to stay grounded in reality.
I’ve personally tried working on a Linux Mint, and I quickly realized I was wasting too much time tinkering. I even managed to crash the system at one point — not to mention that many of the apps I rely on simply don’t have Linux equivalents.
Re: Digital Foundry Analyses ROG Xbox Ally X In New Review-In-Progress
I mean, of course it’s not perfect, it’s a massive undertaking to turn Windows into a truly dedicated gaming machine. But I find the direction they’re taking very promising: merging the versatility of a PC with the user experience of a console.
Re: Digital Foundry Analyses ROG Xbox Ally X In New Review-In-Progress
the xbox rog ally is a test run for The next Xbox console which is designed to deliver a console experience, easy to pick up, plug-and-play. It's not perfect, it's still early stage but already quite solid and The Xbox Experience UI roadmap for xbox rog ally reflects that direction, with features like:
Default Game Profiles (automatically adjust settings per game to balance performance and battery life)
Enhanced Docking Experience
Auto SR (AI-powered super resolution)
AI Highlight Reels (automatically captures gameplay moments worth saving)
All of this is meant to simplify the gaming experience as much as possible for console players who don’t want to mess with settings, while still allowing tinkerers to dive in if they want to.
Re: Sarah Bond: Our Next-Gen Console Will Be 'Very Premium' & Informed By ROG Xbox Ally
@TheGameThrifter You’re touching on an important point, and that’s exactly where the AMD partnership comes into play. I’m almost certain this collaboration will allow Xbox to handle backward compatibility natively, at the hardware level.
Xbox has always heavily invested in backward compatibility, and I really don’t see them walking away from that. It seems highly unlikely.
Re: Sarah Bond: Our Next-Gen Console Will Be 'Very Premium' & Informed By ROG Xbox Ally
@Fiendish-Beaver Yeah, I hadn’t considered older Steam games without controller support, but that’s clearly not the target here. Players who are attached to keyboard/mouse gameplay will stick to PC. Keyboard and mouse support will be optional, just like it is on current Xbox consoles.
When I said “all games,” I was mostly referring to games with controller support and future titles, which almost all include it. That already covers a massive number of games, you’d agree. I don’t think calling it a “PC box” makes sense, because by that logic, current Xbox consoles or even other consoles would fall into that category too, since they’re all built on PC components.
The next Xbox console is designed to deliver a console experience, easy to pick up, plug-and-play. The Xbox Experience UI roadmap reflects that direction, with features like:
Default Game Profiles (automatically adjust settings per game to balance performance and battery life)
Enhanced Docking Experience
Auto SR (AI-powered super resolution)
AI Highlight Reels (automatically captures gameplay moments worth saving)
All of this is meant to simplify the gaming experience as much as possible for console players who don’t want to mess with settings, while still allowing tinkerers to dive in if they want to.
@Sol76 No, current consoles simply can’t be manufactured for less, if that were possible, we’d know by now. You have to follow the news: even PlayStation has raised its console prices. Same goes for the Asus Xbox ROG Ally, and in that case, it’s not Xbox that sets the price.
As for Game Pass Ultimate, which is the real issue (pc gamepass is still a great value for money), the price is actually justified considering everything it includes. But that’s not the core problem. The issue is that some players are being forced to pay for features they won’t use, like Fortnite Crew, for example or ubisoft classics games, or xcloud, etc... .
They should let players choose their options "à la carte" instead of stuffing everything into one package. That’s the real underlying problem.
Re: Sarah Bond: Our Next-Gen Console Will Be 'Very Premium' & Informed By ROG Xbox Ally
@Krzzystuff Of course she’s talking about a console built internally. The partnership with AMD is specifically to develop an in-house console. If Xbox were going through Asus, they wouldn’t need a partnership with AMD.
@Fiendish-Beaver to your question "Can the Xbox Rog Ally play every Steam game?" In any case, it’s capable of running more games than the Steam Deck itself. For example, the latest Battlefield is playable on Steam for PC and on Windows-based handheld consoles (including the Xbox ROG Ally), but not on SteamOS. Same goes for many other incompatible titles like Call of Duty, Fortnite, Destiny 2, etc. And plenty of games run poorly or are basically unplayable—like Helldivers 2, Cyberpunk 2077, Red Dead Redemption 2. Why? Not because of raw power, but simply because of SteamOS limitations.
Studios develop games to run natively on Windows, not on SteamOS. SteamOS is just a translation layer that converts Windows games to Linux (via Proton), but that translation often comes with bugs, compatibility issues, or performance problems.
The reality is that SteamOS will never rival Windows—especially when Windows is optimized for gaming, with the Xbox UI experience that kills non-gaming processes. It’s not perfect yet, it’s still early—but it’s already solid, and the roadmap promises major improvements (default game profiles, performance, stability, etc.).
Re: Sarah Bond: Our Next-Gen Console Will Be 'Very Premium' & Informed By ROG Xbox Ally
I can see it’s hard for some people to have a calm conversation. All this doom and gloom around the Game Pass Ultimate price hike hasn’t stopped Xbox ROG Ally consoles from selling well—or Xbox games, for that matter. This controversy is confined to a small bubble fueled by a few haters, nothing more. I was personally disappointed by the Ultimate price increase, but I don’t mix everything together. The PC Game Pass, for example, remains extremely attractive given its value. And it’s likely the most widely used subscription today—and even more so in the future, since the next Xbox console will only require the PC Game Pass to play.
As for the console concept itself, some people don’t realize what a game changer it is: a console capable of playing everything while still delivering a console-like experience—that’s the dream. And I’m not talking about a niche dream, but one shared by millions of players—console gamers and PC gamers alike, whether as their main gaming hardware or a secondary setup. I see a lot of PC gamers around me genuinely excited about this Xbox console, and they’re far removed from the petty console wars.
Re: Sarah Bond: Our Next-Gen Console Will Be 'Very Premium' & Informed By ROG Xbox Ally
@BaldB3lper78 A PC don't play your game console catalog, and the next console will play the full PC catalog as well as the entire Xbox console catalog, , thanks not only to Xbox Play Anywhere but also to the upcoming full console game emulation. Not to mention that a console will offer a xbox console experience much more plug and play than a regular PC
@VenomUK: Between choosing a console that can play the entire PC catalog (including PlayStation games on Steam) plus the full Xbox console catalog, versus a console limited only to the PlayStation game catalog—what would you choose? Personally, I’d go with the first option: Xbox.
Re: Sarah Bond: Our Next-Gen Console Will Be 'Very Premium' & Informed By ROG Xbox Ally
I think it's quite logical: if it means a machine that runs games at the level of a good PC, that’s upgradeable (RAM, SSD, etc.), and has a longer lifespan than a traditional console, while still allowing access to all games: the full PC catalog as well as the entire Xbox console catalog. That seems to be the case, thanks not only to Xbox Play Anywhere but also to the upcoming full console game emulation.
If we take the ROG Ally Xbox as a kind of test run for the next generation of consoles, recent statements and rumors (especially around emulation) suggest that everything I mentioned is becoming reality.
In that case, yes: a premium hybrid console/PC with a premium price would be justified. As a comparison, the Xbox ROG Ally X is selling better than the xbox ROG Ally (white), proving that price isn’t a barrier when the value is there.
But if the next console really is a hybrid PC, I don’t see any issue with also releasing a less powerful and more affordable version as well, because it wouldn’t impact developers the way the Xbox Series S did. It would be just like any regular PC.
Re: Rumour: Xbox Won't Announce Starfield For PS5 Until 2026, It's Claimed
Lool, yet another proof that you shouldn’t listen to those rumors saying the games would come out on other consoles a few months later. And maybe that rumor isn’t even true either. What’s certain is that Xbox, from the very beginning ,and that hasn’t changed , has never launched its games day one on other consoles, except for titles that were already multiplayer= temprary exclusives and case by case knowing some games remains exclusive, sorry mike ybarra, you say BS.
What’s funny is that with the Xbox ROG Ally and the next Xbox home console basically being PCs, there will soon be just as many former PlayStation exclusives on Xbox as the other way around , maybe even more.
As for Game Pass, you no longer need Game Pass Ultimate to play on console , PC Game Pass will be enough. That’s actually why Console Game Pass doesn’t exist anymore.
Re: Microsoft Passes The Buck To Asus For ROG Xbox Ally's Price Tag
Of course it’s ASUS — that’s only logical. They’re the manufacturer, so they’re the ones who know the cost of the components and the production process. People claiming it’s Xbox and their greed are, once again, just folks who don’t know what they’re talking about and love to bash Xbox for no reason.
Besides, the price is actually normal when you compare it to other similar handheld consoles like lenovo legion go 2 or MSI claw A8
And You can’t really compare it to a Steam Deck OLED cause it’s simply less powerful, It has less RAM, a smaller battery, and a 90Hz screen versus the 120Hz display on the Xbox ROG Ally, less ergonomic, etc... . Plus, it’s limited by its SteamOS, which isn’t compatible with a bunch of games — for example, the latest Battlefield isn’t playable on the Steam Deck.
Re: Xbox Says It 'Defines Success' By How Much Time Players Spend On The Platform
@Coletrain I’m just repeating the words of their CEO. I’m not saying that Sony doesn’t care about hardware , I never said that. What I’m saying is that it’s no longer their top priority. In the same way for Xbox: hardware isn’t their main priority , but that doesn’t mean they’re abandoning it. Let’s just say it’s no longer the key success factor. Is that clearer now? https://www.gamingbible.com/news/platform/playstation/playstation-confirms-move-away-from-hardware-193055-20250808
Re: Xbox Says It 'Defines Success' By How Much Time Players Spend On The Platform
@Coletrain "after all, that is their key platform, right?" : Not anymore. That’s something only Sony loyalists care about, not actual professionals in the gaming industry.
Re: Xbox Says It 'Defines Success' By How Much Time Players Spend On The Platform
It’s logical. This is what all the professionals in the video game industry look at, including third‑party publishers. Engagement on Xbox is much stronger than on other platforms. It’s no coincidence that Helldivers 2 sold better there than on PlayStation in its first week, despite a smaller console base. And it’s also thanks to this high engagement rate that 99% of third‑party publishers develop games for Xbox, even though the console base is smaller (still more than 35 million Xbox Series consoles, not to mention previous generations, and other platforms like cloud, PC, and handhelds). More than 500 million active players on Xbox ecosystem
Even Sony’s CEO admitted that the future is no longer hardware‑centric. After realizing that their engagement rate is actually very low compared to the number of consoles sold, they had to face the fact that selling consoles that just gather dust doesn’t help them at all.
Re: Rumour: Halo Remake To Feature 'Modern Mechanics', Could Be Announced This Month
@MrStark You're comparing an action-adventure game with a FPS? As for the gameplay, I'm convinced it'll be modernized. But when it comes to the dialogue… that's not really what makes a FPS interesting, so I don't really see the point in changing that aspect. And the original dialogues are perfectly fine.
Re: Battlefield 6 Boss: 'The Only Reason COD Exists Is Because EA Were D*cks'
I correct: 'The Only Reason COD Exists Is Because EA are D*cks' (not were)
Re: New ROG Xbox Ally X Footage Shows Battlefield 6, Helldivers 2, Forza Motorsport & More
@Tomato_Goose No Battlefield on Steam Deck , it’s not compatible, just like many other games. And helldivers 2, The game occasionally drops to 20 FPS, The game is rated as "Playable" but not "Verified". At some point, SteamOS simply can’t compete with titles that run natively on Windows, not through a Proton layer.
Re: Microsoft Issues Statement Denying Target & Walmart Are Pulling Xbox Products
@darkswabber That’s exactly how false rumors are born , from the mere possibility, however small, that they might be true. It’s that sliver of plausibility that makes a rumor seem credible. But that doesn’t change the fact that it’s still false. We should be used to it by now.
Xbox had a very strong year in terms of both first-party and third-party games, and even during that period, it still faced its share of fake rumors. But when Xbox enters a “doom and gloom” phase , like now, with the Game Pass price hike , some people, desperate for clicks, seize the moment to pile on and exploit the opportunity.
It’s not Xbox’s fault. It’s just the nature of today’s media system
, and because of a certain community that spends its time spreading and sharing this kind of misinformation.
Re: Microsoft Issues Statement Denying Target & Walmart Are Pulling Xbox Products
Console shutdowns, Xbox games disappearing from stores, Xbox is dead (how many times ? 100 ?)— we’re just used to these kinds of rumors. There’s a fake one every month or two.
Re: Xbox 'Magnus' Leak Suggests Next Console Will Be Powerful, Expensive & Maybe A Hybrid Device
@Vaako007 Yes, I think so. It’s still a console, and given the specs, it’s built to last for several years. In the end, today’s consoles already use PC components—it’s basically PC hardware. So the real difference isn’t in the hardware. The difference lies in how games are developed: developers won’t need to create separate Xbox console versions anymore. It’ll be the same game version, whether it’s on PC or this new Xbox console.
Overall, it’s better for everyone. Xbox saves money by no longer needing to develop and maintain a console-specific version. For players, it’s better too—it opens up a much larger game library with access to all titles (except Nintendo).
And it’s also better for the gaming industry: developers save money and reduce production costs since they no longer need to build Xbox-specific versions. They’ll just need to determine the optimal configuration based on the hardware of this new Xbox console—a quality mode and a performance mode—while still allowing players to tweak settings if needed, just like on PC