The next Xbox will be unmatched, even compared to a PS6, simply because it will be able to run ALL games — Xbox, PC, and even PlayStation titles (through PS games available on Steam). Let’s not forget that the PC game library is larger than that of any console, which opens the door to something far beyond the catalog of a traditional console. And also, we’ll be able to install any kind of application, meaning this hybrid console will go well beyond gaming alone. All of this while keeping the user‑friendly interface that consoles are known for. It’s basically the dream for any console gamer and any PC gamer alike. Of course, the question of price remains, but if we get both the user‑friendliness of a console and the versatility and power of a PC, that’s a very promising combination that may worth the price !
These days, anyone can throw out a random claim and news sites pick it up as fact—it says a lot about the state of today’s media. It’s always the same story anyway: as soon as there’s a piece of news that sparks backlash (like the Game Pass price hike), some people jump on the bandwagon and pile on with fake rumors. Classic move.
@Zenszulu “No, I don’t think so. First, a modular plan wouldn’t be for everyone — only for those who really want to fine‑tune their subscription. A lot of players wouldn’t bother with that. Second, it would actually bring more players to subscribe in the end. For example, a Fortnite player could just take a basic pack with the Fortnite Crew add‑on, it would cost them less, and Epic would still get their cut in the same way.
Excellent idea, I’ve said the same thing myself in some comments. It would be a solution for many players, because right now the bundles force players to pay for perks they don’t even use, which makes it an unnecessary extra cost. And with the sheer number of services included in Game Pass — day one releases, EA Play, Ubisoft Classics, cloud gaming, Fortnite Crew, etc. — at some point it just seems logical that they’ll have to go down this path. Creating dozens of fixed bundles to cover every type of player would quickly become unmanageable and confusing.
A modular model, where everyone builds their own plan, would avoid frustration and restore the feeling of paying only for what you actually consume.
@abe_hikura Why do they pretend they’re offering more choice? It’s not true! We still have the same three plans as before, there’s no extra choice — just a price hike and some added features that won’t necessarily interest everyone. I really don’t get it, it feels like just an excuse to raise the price. I can understand that higher‑quality cloud streaming costs them more, but they shouldn’t push that onto everyone, only on those who actually want better cloud quality.
The $10 increase for Game Pass Ultimate is really brutal. And this change is in total contradiction with Xbox’s own statement: “We know not everyone wants the same thing in their Xbox experience.”
So why add Ubisoft games to Game Pass Ultimate or offer higher‑quality cloud streaming in exchange for $10 more? What about those who just want a large game library without necessarily caring about cloud gaming or ubisoft games? Or who would be fine with just a basic cloud option? Why make players pay for features that many of them won’t even use in the end?
They should have added another subscription tier in that case, something like an “Ultimate+” , and kept the current Game Pass Ultimate as it is, at the same price. Luckily, I took advantage of some tricks to get Game Pass Ultimate at a lower cost until 2027, but after that runs out, I’ll seriously consider downgrading my subscription. At this point, the price has reached a threshold that’s becoming very difficult for many players who are already juggling multiple subscriptions.
I’m usually the first to defend Xbox when I see unfair criticism, but here, I just don’t understand what they’re doing. It makes no sense and it’s in total contradiction with what they claim. Phil, what are you doing?
@Cakefish Apple makes huge margins on their phones—that’s their secret. They sell them at inflated prices to begin with. When taxes went up, they just shaved a bit off their already massive margins, that’s all. Everyone knows what really sells iPhones is branding and marketing.
As for the Xbox ROG Ally, when you look closer, they’re actually not that expensive for what’s under the hood. Still, I wouldn’t mind a small price drop, and I’m glad to see Xbox and ASUS are working on it.
You have to compare what’s actually comparable. This is the Tokyo Game Show, so it’s focused on Japan-related games, which naturally limits the scope. You can’t compare this showcase to a full-fledged Xbox conference — you can only compare it to other TGS presentations, like PlayStation’s or previous Xbox TGS events. And in that context, I’d give it a solid B. There were a lot of games, including big ones like Ninja Gaiden 4, Bruce Lee in Hitman, Black Ops 7, Gungrave, 007, and some new titles that really piqued my curiosity like Fatal Frame II, Project Evilbane, and of course Forza Horizon 6.
The disappointment was not seeing any gameplay, but since it was the very first FH6 trailer, that was kind of expected. Plus, they’re clearly saving the gameplay reveal for a Developer Direct or a proper Xbox conference — not for TGS, which makes sense.
Now, when I compare it to PlayStation’s TGS, you honestly can’t give Xbox a D. Because if you do, then PlayStation deserves a G — they showed a bunch of uninteresting games, barely redeemed by Wolverine, which is just over-the-top gore and has already been announced years ago.
@Fiendish-Beaver Rest assured, we’re no longer in 2010 And even though I agree with you that this shift from a console‑focused approach to a more PC‑like logic will certainly bring some bugs, new problems, and new challenges to solve, it will remain marginal, and I have no doubt that the few bugs that remain will be fixed quickly. And in any case, issues with multiplayer, in particular, also exist on current consoles.
All in all, the advantages brought by this new Xbox console are, in my opinion, far greater than the few meagre drawbacks.
@Fiendish-Beaver Alright, I’ll try to keep it short — I don’t understand how anyone can find a PC complicated these days. If that were the case, there wouldn’t be so many people on Steam or using a Steam Deck. I’ve never heard anyone say they spent an entire night just trying to get a game to run on PC — if that were common, we’d know about it, and such cases are really very rare.
Secondly, let’s be clear: Xbox Next (sounds nicer than your nickname for it) will be a console, with the intuitive and simple nature of consoles and the versatility of a PC to access other stores and install other apps if needed.
That’s their goal, and we’re already starting to see it with the Xbox app for PC or the upcoming Xbox ROG Ally. Everything’s not perfect yet — it’s just the beginning — but by the time the next Xbox console arrives, they’ll have had time to get even closer to that goal. The idea is absolutely not to offer a complex experience, but to keep the ease of access of a console, of course.
Another goal is to have a unique experience no matter the device: console, PC, or handheld console, all with the same familiar interface. That also means economies of scale by having a single interface across all devices, since they won’t need to maintain multiple OSes or different apps anymore. That also means more resources going into one interface — better optimization, fewer bugs, more features, and so on.
I think your case and your concern are in the minority — I see a lot of hype online about the possibility of having a console that unifies all stores. Let’s not forget that at Microsoft, creating OSes and user interfaces is kind of their business, so I have no worries about their ability to deliver a smooth and intuitive experience, while adding the versatility of a PC with access to all stores.
For me, right now, the Xbox app is starting to surpass the Steam app in terms of ease of use. It’s not perfect yet, but I find Steam has, over time, become cluttered with ads and turned into a bloated mess. The fact that the Xbox app directly integrates Steam games alongside my Xbox games is a real plus, because I prefer the simplicity of their interface.
@Fiendish-Beaver In that case, I offer you my sincerest apologies if I may have compared you to a pony. I do, however, find some of your positions rather surprising, as they sound uncannily like the familiar tune we usually hear from those people. I can absolutely understand that one might criticize Xbox, but I simply expect honest and well‑reasoned justifications. That said, I’ll admit I take great pleasure in putting ponies in their place (which you are not, don’t get me wrong) — it’s generally quite easy, since their arguments usually don’t hold up and are based on nothing, and there are a few of them right here.
Ultimately, the main thing is that everyone can play all games — and quality games at that — and I believe that on this front, Xbox is moving things forward, in the interest of their business of course, but also in the interest of players, which is not incompatible — quite the opposite. If today PlayStation releases games like Death Stranding or Helldivers 2 on Xbox, it’s thanks to Xbox. If today almost all third‑party publishers release their games on Xbox, it’s thanks in part to Phil Spencer. It hasn’t always been that way — many franchises long remained the exclusive hunting ground of PlayStation — but that’s no longer the case. Publishers like Capcom, Square Enix, and others now release their games on Xbox. Almost no third‑party publisher leaves Xbox out these days. Even if sometimes there’s buzz around certain games not coming to Xbox, in reality those have become very rare exceptions. Looking back, Xbox has never had as many games as it does now, whether first‑party or third‑party. And I maintain that the Xbox brand has strengthened over time by diversifying its strategy.
On the contrary, I believe that if Xbox had stayed solely in the console market, they’d already be dead today. As it stands, they’re everywhere — not everyone necessarily owns an Xbox console, but there have never been so many people with a bit of Xbox in their lives, whether by playing Xbox games, through Game Pass, through the cloud, and soon through portable consoles like the Asus ROG Ally Xbox edition, etc.
And this is only the beginning. Diversification makes them stronger, not weaker. Some underestimate the power of the Xbox community, which is actually far more engaged and active than others — you only have to look at the number of active players on Xbox consoles, which is almost at the same level as active players on PlayStation consoles, despite a smaller console base. So I absolutely do not believe that in four years Xbox will stop making consoles, as you say. On the contrary, the revolution that’s coming with this so‑called “PCBOX” is the start of a renewal for Xbox hardware, because they are simply unbeatable in that area — they’re the only ones who can pull this off. It’s a huge game‑changer for players; you don’t seem to realize just how much it changes everything. And I know plenty of PC gamers who are ready to get this future PCBOX.
Happy gaming to everyone — and I do mean everyone!
@Fiendish-Beaver We don’t agree on the analysis or even on simple facts, clearly. Xbox absolutely did not start releasing games on PC only after the launch of the Xbox One in 2016 — Halo: Combat Evolved came out on PC in 2003, Halo 2 in 2007, Fable on PC in 2005, Gears of War in 2007, Alan Wake in 2012, Fable 3 in 2011, Halo Wars in 2016 on PC (at the same time as the Xbox One release), and plenty of other examples. We’re talking about major titles here, so this is absolutely nothing new. They just gradually increased the pace of PC releases, but it’s not specifically tied to poor Xbox One sales.
So you’re wrong again. You don’t realize that, to support your narrative, you’re making up arguments that don’t exist — and I’ve just proven it once again with concrete, indisputable examples.
As for Helldivers 2, more bad faith on your part — what you’re saying is false. When Helldivers 2 launched simultaneously on PC and PlayStation, it benefited from massive publicity because it’s an already well-known franchise, because it was a PlayStation console exclusive, and because numerous trailers had already whetted players’ appetites. It actually started doing extremely well on Steam very quickly. So you’re just finding yet another excuse to hide the simple fact that, in one week, Xbox sold more copies than PlayStation. And of course I’m talking about the same time frame — it makes no sense to even have to specify that, it’s obvious! More bad faith, clearly.
You can keep trying, but you’re only digging yourself in deeper and showing your ignorance.
Why are you a fanboy? I don’t actually care whether you are or not — I’m just pointing out that you’re using exactly the same arguments as the “ponies.” And by the way, I see you on PushSquare, PureXbox’s sister site — you’re not nearly as critical there, strangely enough… surely just a coincidence, right?
As for PC, yes, that's exactly what I'm saying, it's PC gamers who play it the most. So thinking that releasing games on PC is a mistake, as our friend Fiendish-Beaver believes, is pure heresy.
@Fiendish-Beaver You can keep convincing yourself that console sales are what matter, but as long as you’re stuck in that outdated mindset, your analysis will be wrong. No one in the industry uses console sales as a success metric anymore. It’s all about MAU—monthly active users. The more platforms a brand is on, the more potential players it reaches. Xbox currently has over 500 million monthly active users vs. 124 million on PlayStation. Even the ratio of active users on Xbox consoles is higher than on PlayStation consoles, because the latter is mostly casual gamers who barely play.
Take Helldivers 2—Xbox console players have already bought more copies than PlayStation players. Why? Because from the start, Helldivers 2 was played mostly by PC gamers. Crazy, right? Even though the PS console base is larger. A console base doesn’t equal a player base! We underestimate how many people own consoles but barely use them.
So if you still don’t get it after all this, you’re officially a hopeless case.
@Fiendish-Beaver And here we go again—you’re back to talking about console sales, still not getting it. But I understand now: that’s where your major analytical mistake lies. Fewer Xbox consoles sold doesn’t mean the Xbox brand is fading—it’s because Xbox offers more choices. It’s got nothing to do with erosion. They’re expanding their audience by not limiting themselves to the console market, which, let me remind you, is both limited and declining globally.
Xbox anticipated the rise of the PC market from the start, unlike PlayStation, which stuck to consoles. And now we see they were right: the PC market is growing at double-digit rates, while the console market is shrinking.
Instead of restricting the Xbox brand to a narrow audience, Xbox broadened its reach—PC, cloud, TVs, handheld consoles, and of course, Xbox consoles. The analysis you should be making is the exact opposite of what you’re thinking. Xbox has never been more present, never been stronger, precisely because it expanded its audience instead of clinging to a small, now-declining market. PlayStation eventually realized the same thing—but too late.
To help you understand better, it’s like an e-commerce site expanding from a local market to an international one. Who do you think gets more visibility—the one that stays in its little country or the one that’s everywhere? Let’s take an even clearer example: you’re a Canadian site selling coffee machines. Americans already buy from you, but it’s inconvenient—low visibility, higher costs due to taxes and shipping. So what does the Canadian site do? It launches a U.S. site for the American market. BOOM—tons of coffee machines sold on the U.S. site, plus pods. Sure, fewer machines sold in Canada now, because Americans buy directly from the U.S. site. But overall, the total sales skyrocket. The audience multiplies by ten.
Same thing with Xbox. Xbox is everywhere—on your console, your TV, your handheld, the cloud, your PC. That’s Xbox. You still haven’t grasped that it’s been this way for years. Xbox anticipated market evolution and diversified across platforms. And now we see they made the right call. Maybe at one point it seemed questionable, because the PC market hadn’t yet caught up to consoles, and Xbox was selling fewer consoles. But today, everyone knows the PC market has overtaken consoles. So who made the smart move by getting in early? Xbox’s PC revenue is booming—thanks to game sales and Game Pass for PC.
@Fiendish-Beaver Let’s stop here, because you’re really in complete denial. How exactly is the Xbox brand being eroded? All the numbers show you’re wrong — Xbox games have never sold this well. If the Xbox brand were eroded, they wouldn’t be selling this well. Four or five of the top ten best‑selling games on Steam are Xbox games — what are you even talking about? Xbox isn’t just a plastic box, it’s an ecosystem with games, subscriptions, cloud gaming and hardware.
And even on the hardware side, even if consoles aren’t selling as much because Xbox gives players more choice, Xbox machines are recognized for their interface, their power, and unique features like Quick Resume, etc.
But your narrow, simplistic mindset reduces the Xbox brand to a plastic box, when it’s not just that — it’s much more than that. And on all these points — whether it’s games, cloud, or subscriptions — the Xbox brand is far ahead and recognized for it. On Google Trends, people talk more about Xbox than PlayStation — surprising for a brand that’s supposedly “eroding,” isn’t it?
Even the CEO of PlayStation admitted that the future is no longer hardware‑centric. That’s just how things move forward. Your view of things is outdated — you need to update your way of thinking, because it’s a relic of the past.
You’re stuck in a narrative and refuse to see the facts. It’s not complicated — you just have to look at the game sales numbers, the revenue numbers, the active player numbers — all of which are growing.
You accuse me of “predicting the future”? That’s rich, coming from you — you’ve been speculating about the future from the start. You even admitted you think Xbox games on PC have been bad for Xbox! Bad in what way? You’ve convinced yourself of something that doesn’t even exist, man! Wake up — or stay in the Matrix, it’s up to you. I’m simply sticking to the facts and reality — you just have to look at what’s happening right now, plain and simple. I suggest you do the same!
@Fiendish-Beaver "Mark my words" lol, we’ve been hearing this kind of talk for years now—always the same troll memes and fanboy memes. You’re fooling no one, and certainly not me. Ever since Xbox started launching games on PC day one, we’ve been hearing that Xbox is going to become a third‑party publisher, that it’s going to leave the console market, etc. Aren’t you tired of saying the same thing over and over?
Has that been the case all this time? No! Do they sell fewer consoles than others? Yes! But it’s more or less at the same level as the previous generation, knowing that the entire console market is in decline (with 78 million units sold to date, PS5 will never reach the 128 million PS4 sold).
Since you have no arguments, you go into speculation, talking about this “PCBox thing” (you can feel the bitterness in your words), talking about a supposed price, etc. Do we know the price of the next Xbox? No! Yet another fake news story we’re used to.
Phil Spencer has said numerous times that a $1000 console is out of the question. They’re not going to sell a console at that price point—it would be insane. Consumers would just go for a PC or stick with their current setup. Their goal isn’t to make profit from hardware, but to sell a system that lets players buy games and play through their Game Pass subscription. Even if production costs are higher—especially with a high‑end APU and multi‑store support—even if they sell it at a loss, it won’t be more expensive than a standard console, or at least not much more.
Will they sell more or fewer units of this new console? We have no idea! Price is of course a factor, but don’t think it will be more expensive or much more expensive than a PS6. That’s never happened before, and there’s no reason it would happen now. Only those looking for arguments against Xbox believe that. The multi‑store question is also a major change that will attract a broader audience than before.
But what’s certain is that even if Xbox sells more or fewer consoles, Xbox will not leave the console market. It’s in their DNA to offer multiple different ways for players to enjoy their games, and as long as there’s consumer demand to play on consoles, Xbox will simply keep making consoles. It’s just common sense, and it’s just business. They’ve already created multi‑year partnerships with AMD for their own consoles and with partners like Asus. What you’re saying has absolutely no basis and makes no sense—it’s just the same old tune we’ve been hearing for years and that never comes true.
@Fiendish-Beaver You see, you just can’t help yourself — you still have to play the console war game, even though you claim otherwise. So tell me, what exactly has Sony won? They sold more consoles? Do you really think that’s where the revenue comes from? They haven’t won anything at all.
The real winner is the one who makes the most revenue and sells the most games! And, surprise surprise, it’s Xbox that sells the most games by selling more titles and subscriptions. There are different ways to look at things.
The console war no longer exists because Xbox has redefined the rules of the game and has mechanically made this war obsolete and absurd. Why? Because PlayStation is now following exactly the same strategy as Xbox, just a few years behind.
They’ve finally realized that the exclusivity strategy isn’t sustainable — in fact, no major third-party publisher wants to make PlayStation-exclusive games anymore, just like Capcom, Square Enix, and others. So, in a way, they have no choice to change their strategy. Whether it’s with their own first-party games, which you can count on one hand, or with third-party titles, that path is a dead end. The only way forward is multiplatform.
So, in this story, who’s following whom? Who’s leading? The answer seems pretty obvious to me!
@Coletrain Yes, thanks, sorry, that wasn't the right example And thanks for your other examples that confirm it's possible and thanks to @PhilKenSebben too.
By the way, Gears E-Day is announced on UE5, and knowing The Coalition, it's going to be a real graphical bomb—beautiful and smooth.
@Simu001 Power without control is nothing. UE5 makes it possible to create beautiful and well‑optimized games — if you know how to use it. It’s a bit too easy to put the blame on Epic instead of Konami. When you see games like Indiana Jones on UE5, it’s clear that it’s possible to make great, optimized games.
The game is actually very poorly optimized on all platforms, and the Series S is just a symptom of Konami’s sloppy work in general across all systems. Of course, it’s more noticeable on the Series S — that’s only logical!
And to think the original game dates back to 2006 — it really makes you realize that back then, developers did a lot with very little. Now it’s the opposite: they do very little despite having much more powerful machines and many more tools. That’s why so many recent games are poorly optimized and lazy. I’m not talking specifically about Xbox, but in general.
In any case, for those who’ve never played it, it’s a gem, and this remaster is the best way to experience it. For others, replaying the campaign if you’ve already played the original version not too long ago has little value. What’s left is the multiplayer and playing it in co‑op — I still need to try that, by the way.
@Millionski Yes, you're highlighting an important point—'if games arent coming to xbox or xbox-PC'—but the way things are going, they'll all end up on PC at the very least, and therefore, inevitably on Xbox as well.
Even in this generation, it's already noticeable—so-called exclusive games on PlayStation are very rare. Almost Everything is either on PC, on Xbox, or on both.
Of course, PlayStation has completely sacrificed this generation, releasing almost nothing in terms of games, except remasters and sequels. I would be less harsh with Xbox, which has launched many more titles and new franchises, trying to showcase the machine’s capabilities with games like Hellblade 2, Indiana Jones, Doom: The Dark Ages, Starfield, avowed, south of midnight, among others.
For the next generations, since PlayStation released a mid‑gen version, I don’t see any urgency in launching a new console, as studios will still be releasing games for the older consoles for a long time. As for Xbox, they didn’t make a mid‑gen and, above all, the next generation promises to be a true revolution — a genuine gaming hub that will include all stores. We can also mention Auto SR and the new ultra‑fast shader loading technology, which will even make a difference in current games.
In any case, it’s clear that I will choose the next Xbox console, both for its performance and for its versatility as a universal gaming hub (Xbox, Steam, Epic, etc.). But as for the next PlayStation, I see no use for it at all, since many games will also be released on Steam and will be playable on Xbox as well.
I’ve played for about an hour so far, and honestly, great work has been done, and on the sound too. Play it with headphones. The thing is, I played the original version a year ago, and the campaign is still too fresh in my mind, so I’m not sure I’ll go all the way through it again. I’ll try out the multiplayer version, and maybe even do a few co-op sessions in the campaign too.
@TrollOfWar Sure, you're absolutely right. It's just that when you look at the standards set by flagship PlayStation games like The Last of Us, God of War, Horizon, etc., it stands in stark contrast. But this is a multiplayer game, so it's not really comparable. Still, for a paid game, I expected more care to be taken with optimization. But times are changing...
I’m surprised the graphics are this bad — I thought PlayStation players were more demanding when it comes to visual quality. But I guess over time, with so few games, they’ve gotten used to settling for the bare minimum. Maybe it’s just an optimization issue, I don’t know, and it probably doesn’t take away from the fun of the game, but I have to admit these comments have put me off.
@Master_Cthulhu70 Thanks for your reply, it's nice to see that there are still people who think critically on this site, because when I see the level of some comments, it really makes you wonder.
But I also think there are a lot of people who just love to complain and criticize Xbox unfairly. It's either bitter individuals or fans of the other brand who have nothing better to do than come here and bash Xbox.
It’s a great entry point for someone who doesn’t know the franchise, and it will likely encourage PlayStation players to dive into the rest of the series, whether through Game Pass, buying other games on PC, or even getting an Xbox console.
Personally, I replayed the original version about a year ago and it was a blast, but I’m curious to see the quality of this remaster.
So many former playstation exclusive coming to Xbox, Right now, there are actually more exclusive games on Xbox than on PlayStation — which is kind of ironic, lol.
@Vaako007 I disagree. Up until now, the last 2 console generations were fairly similar. So players loyal to PlayStation didn’t really see the point in switching to Xbox. But the next generation will mark a major shift, with significant differences between the two consoles. One of the biggest differentiators is access to all stores, not just Xbox games, but also PlayStation titles via Steam, not to mention other platforms like Epic, GOG, etc.
It’s the same kind of major shift we saw with the Xbox One or Xbox 360 era.
For any gamer looking for a turnkey solution that’s simpler than a PC, Xbox is the obvious choice. Plus, PlayStation is gradually losing its biggest advantage—exclusives—so in the end, there’s not much left for PlayStation to stand on.
Of course, there will always be people who know nothing about video games and will keep buying PlayStation. But what percentage of the market do they really represent? Is that a profitable audience? Is it even the target for Xbox—or PlayStation, for that matter? Because these people aren’t “real” gamers. They’ll play Fortnite and FIFA, and that’s about it.
Personally, I feel like gamers are becoming more mature overall, thanks in part to better access to information. And any somewhat serious player who wants choice (multi-store), an affordable solution (thanks to Game Pass and Steam games), and a centralized game library will naturally lean toward Xbox. The reasons to stick with PlayStation are getting weaker and weaker.
Xbox vs PlayStation is starting to feel like casual gamers vs true gamers.
And this is just the beginning — the next console is shaping up to be absolutely incredible, combining power and versatility with full integration of all digital stores. Basically, it's the ultimate console.
The slight difference with other consoles really comes down to branding and marketing, because Xbox is clearly ahead in every aspect: Game Pass, Xbox Play Anywhere, stream your own games, Quick Resume, integration of Steam and all major stores for the next generation.
Anyone even remotely interested in gaming and looking for a console as a PC alternative will choose Xbox.
All that's left is to spread the word — Xbox needs to go all-in on marketing for the next generation. That’s the only missing piece to make it a true success.
I'm definitely going to buy one, I'm waiting to see some tests, but logically we should have better battery life and performance than a Steam Deck, and especially native Windows support, all stores support, with an Xbox-designed interface, which will make all the difference. Don't forget that Steam Deck with Proton is still a "sort of Windows emulation " * for games with the inherent performance and compatibility problems - none of that on this Xbox ROG Ally. The question remains about price, even the lite version seems a bit expensive to me, but I'm almost certain that launch prices won't stay the same for very long, they should drop quickly.
*: Technically, it's not an emulator, it translates Windows API calls into their Linux equivalents, but it’s still an additional compatibility layer that inevitably introduces some slowdowns—though less than a true emulator—and, above all, it doesn’t necessarily support every Windows instructions, many problems with directx8. This is why there can sometimes be compatibility issues (problems with the Epic Games Store, EA App, Rockstar Launcher, or with games that use restrictive anti-cheat or DRM systems: Destiny 2, Fortnite, Apex Legends, Valorant, League of Legends, certain Game Pass titles, etc.). Windows will always be more performant than Linux for gaming, simply because developers develop their games for Windows, not for Linux. The latter just uses a compatibility layer that has its limitations.
@Jaxx420 Yes, that’s true as well — he’s trying to stay relevant by reviving a concept that exists only in his head, and in the minds of a few hardcore fans and click‑hungry media outlets.
But I don’t really agree that they fundamentally have two different strategies. I’d say instead that Xbox got ahead with the right strategy to have. Xbox’s revenues are growing much faster than PlayStation’s.
PlayStation’s shift towards live‑service games and their move into multiplatform releases actually tend to contradict you. The latest statements from PlayStation executives, who are looking to move away from a purely hardware‑centric model, are also bringing them closer to Xbox’s vision.
As for the claim that Game Pass is only profitable because Xbox is sending games to PlayStation — that’s partly true and false at the same time, but let’s not forget that Game Pass was already profitable before that, and it’s mainly PC sales that make it profitable. And above all, let’s not forget that it’s historically multiplatform games that sell the most on other platforms — and more recently, older games sent to other platforms 4 or 5 years later. So Game Pass profitability isn’t really tied to any supposed openness of games to other platforms; it’s not that simple and it’s only a small part of the reality. The other part, and a major one, is that PC Game Pass subscribers have been growing at a double‑digit rate every year.
The console market is stagnant, no matter the brand. The only markets truly growing are PC and cloud — two areas where Xbox is far ahead. That’s where the real profitability is, not only in sending a few old games to PS. Also worth noting, as of today, absolutely no Xbox game has launched day‑one on other consoles, except for titles that were already multiplatform
Xbox Play Anywhere and Stream Your Own Game are two major differentiators compared to other stores. I strongly prefer buying my games on Xbox, because that way I can play Mafia: The Old Country, or others, on whatever device I want, via the cloud or even by switching between platforms seamlessly, for xbox play anywhere games.
With 100 games added just in the first half of August, Xbox is seriously ramping up this feature, considering that we’re already at over 700 ‘Stream Your Own Game’ titles and more than 1,000 Xbox Play Anywhere games , and the numbers just keep climbing.
How much was the ex-PlayStation exec paid to say 'nice things' about Xbox? lol
These guys just keep whining, even though PlayStation was the one who originally came up with PlayStation Now. But since it didn’t have the same success as Game Pass, now they’re crying about it. Game Pass actually helps support developers, especially indies with limited resources. It encourages creativity and diversity in gaming. Like many others, I’ve never played such a wide variety of games until Game Pass came along, it helped me discover franchises I’d never touched before, and I even ended up buying some of them or their DLCs.
Plus, what he's saying makes zero sense. How can he claim that developers whose games are on Game Pass aren’t creating value? More than half of the most-played games on Steam are also on Game Pass. If we follow this genius’s logic, then no game creates value at all.
Anyway, just another guy who missed a great opportunity to stay quiet, and who’s fueling this fake console war that PlayStation has already lost, simply because Xbox has a more open platform. And in the end, PlayStation is now following the same strategy… just five years late.
Currently, a PS5 Pro costs $699 and €799… So it has nothing to do with Xbox abandoning Europe or other nonsense you might hear.
You should do a little research before speaking. In the US, prices are shown without tax; the sales tax ranges from 0% to 10% depending on the state, and is only added at checkout. In Europe, prices are shown with tax included, which is around 20% depending on the country.
As for the exchange rate, $499 = €426. Because of fluctuations and to protect their margin, they have to increase the price in Europe.
Also, The logistics and distribution costs are, of course, higher in Europe.
We can also add the fact that prices in Europe are rounded to reach psychological price points like “.99”.
All of this explains the prices set outside the US, and it’s the same for all companies and all products — from a simple washing machine to a game console.
It’s pretty incredible what’s happening, and it’s also a brilliant marketing move that will surely help the game sell well on Xbox. And thanks to Xbox, which once again has initiated a positive change for gamers and the video game industry.
> Xbox officially adds Steam library integration : The Xbox PC App already allows Insiders to see their Steam games in the Xbox library.(https://www.gamingbible.com/news/platform/xbox/xbox-officially-adds-steam-171136-20250624)
> Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer wants PC gaming stores on Xbox (https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/microsoft-gaming-ceo-phil-spencer-wants-pc-gaming-stores-on-xbox)
> partnership with AMD to build chips to run xbox games, pc games on the same devices (https://www.techspot.com/news/108351-next-gen-xbox-support-steam-epic-more-ndash.html)
> And saving the best for last: a video of Sarah Bond clearly stating that the next console won't be limited to a single store: https://youtu.be/VOCtRanwXrA?t=59
I quote: "So you can play the games you want across devices anywhere you want, delivering you an Xbox experience, not locked to a single store or tied to one device"
I suggest you play the video on loop, in case you didn’t quite get it the first time.
At the same time, it's a perfect moment for Xbox to buddy up with China, especially since PlayStation is practically going to war with the Chinese by taking legal action against Tencent.
@Questionable_Duck What’s funny is that we've been hearing rumors about a Starfield PS5 port for two years! It just goes to show how big the gap can be between rumors and reality. Still, it seems like tossing out random leaks is what keeps a bunch of influencers and insiders going.
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Re: Xbox 'Magnus' Leak Suggests Next Console Will Be Powerful, Expensive & Maybe A Hybrid Device
The next Xbox will be unmatched, even compared to a PS6, simply because it will be able to run ALL games — Xbox, PC, and even PlayStation titles (through PS games available on Steam). Let’s not forget that the PC game library is larger than that of any console, which opens the door to something far beyond the catalog of a traditional console. And also, we’ll be able to install any kind of application, meaning this hybrid console will go well beyond gaming alone. All of this while keeping the user‑friendly interface that consoles are known for. It’s basically the dream for any console gamer and any PC gamer alike. Of course, the question of price remains, but if we get both the user‑friendliness of a console and the versatility and power of a PC, that’s a very promising combination that may worth the price !
Re: Xbox Issues Statement Denying Rumour That Next-Gen Console Could Be Cancelled
These days, anyone can throw out a random claim and news sites pick it up as fact—it says a lot about the state of today’s media. It’s always the same story anyway: as soon as there’s a piece of news that sparks backlash (like the Game Pass price hike), some people jump on the bandwagon and pile on with fake rumors. Classic move.
Re: Talking Point: How Do You Feel About Ubisoft+ Classics Being Added To Game Pass Ultimate?
Give us the choice instead of stuffing everything in just to justify price hikes.
Re: Xbox Fan Shares Their Concept For A Game Pass 'Select' Plan With Optional Add-Ons
@Zenszulu “No, I don’t think so. First, a modular plan wouldn’t be for everyone — only for those who really want to fine‑tune their subscription. A lot of players wouldn’t bother with that. Second, it would actually bring more players to subscribe in the end. For example, a Fortnite player could just take a basic pack with the Fortnite Crew add‑on, it would cost them less, and Epic would still get their cut in the same way.
Re: Xbox Fan Shares Their Concept For A Game Pass 'Select' Plan With Optional Add-Ons
Excellent idea, I’ve said the same thing myself in some comments. It would be a solution for many players, because right now the bundles force players to pay for perks they don’t even use, which makes it an unnecessary extra cost. And with the sheer number of services included in Game Pass — day one releases, EA Play, Ubisoft Classics, cloud gaming, Fortnite Crew, etc. — at some point it just seems logical that they’ll have to go down this path. Creating dozens of fixed bundles to cover every type of player would quickly become unmanageable and confusing.
A modular model, where everyone builds their own plan, would avoid frustration and restore the feeling of paying only for what you actually consume.
Re: Xbox Game Pass Is Getting A Major Overhaul With New Names, Games & Price Changes
Fortunately, it’s still possible to take advantage of discount codes — without them, Game Pass Ultimate would be way too expensive.
Re: Xbox Game Pass Is Getting A Major Overhaul With New Names, Games & Price Changes
It’s good that there are improvements, but they’re charging for upgrades that not everyone necessarily needs.
Re: Xbox Game Pass Is Getting A Major Overhaul With New Names, Games & Price Changes
@abe_hikura Why do they pretend they’re offering more choice? It’s not true! We still have the same three plans as before, there’s no extra choice — just a price hike and some added features that won’t necessarily interest everyone. I really don’t get it, it feels like just an excuse to raise the price. I can understand that higher‑quality cloud streaming costs them more, but they shouldn’t push that onto everyone, only on those who actually want better cloud quality.
Re: Xbox Game Pass Is Getting A Major Overhaul With New Names, Games & Price Changes
The $10 increase for Game Pass Ultimate is really brutal. And this change is in total contradiction with Xbox’s own statement: “We know not everyone wants the same thing in their Xbox experience.”
So why add Ubisoft games to Game Pass Ultimate or offer higher‑quality cloud streaming in exchange for $10 more? What about those who just want a large game library without necessarily caring about cloud gaming or ubisoft games? Or who would be fine with just a basic cloud option? Why make players pay for features that many of them won’t even use in the end?
They should have added another subscription tier in that case, something like an “Ultimate+” , and kept the current Game Pass Ultimate as it is, at the same price. Luckily, I took advantage of some tricks to get Game Pass Ultimate at a lower cost until 2027, but after that runs out, I’ll seriously consider downgrading my subscription. At this point, the price has reached a threshold that’s becoming very difficult for many players who are already juggling multiple subscriptions.
I’m usually the first to defend Xbox when I see unfair criticism, but here, I just don’t understand what they’re doing. It makes no sense and it’s in total contradiction with what they claim. Phil, what are you doing?
Re: Rumour: Microsoft & ASUS Wanted To 'Further Subsidise' The Price Of The ROG Xbox Ally
@Cakefish Apple makes huge margins on their phones—that’s their secret. They sell them at inflated prices to begin with. When taxes went up, they just shaved a bit off their already massive margins, that’s all. Everyone knows what really sells iPhones is branding and marketing.
As for the Xbox ROG Ally, when you look closer, they’re actually not that expensive for what’s under the hood. Still, I wouldn’t mind a small price drop, and I’m glad to see Xbox and ASUS are working on it.
Re: Poll: How Would You Grade Xbox's Tokyo Game Show 2025 Event?
You have to compare what’s actually comparable. This is the Tokyo Game Show, so it’s focused on Japan-related games, which naturally limits the scope. You can’t compare this showcase to a full-fledged Xbox conference — you can only compare it to other TGS presentations, like PlayStation’s or previous Xbox TGS events. And in that context, I’d give it a solid B. There were a lot of games, including big ones like Ninja Gaiden 4, Bruce Lee in Hitman, Black Ops 7, Gungrave, 007, and some new titles that really piqued my curiosity like Fatal Frame II, Project Evilbane, and of course Forza Horizon 6.
The disappointment was not seeing any gameplay, but since it was the very first FH6 trailer, that was kind of expected. Plus, they’re clearly saving the gameplay reveal for a Developer Direct or a proper Xbox conference — not for TGS, which makes sense.
Now, when I compare it to PlayStation’s TGS, you honestly can’t give Xbox a D. Because if you do, then PlayStation deserves a G — they showed a bunch of uninteresting games, barely redeemed by Wolverine, which is just over-the-top gore and has already been announced years ago.
Re: Xbox & PlayStation's New Social Media Ads Make Fans Question Whether 'Console War' Is Over
@Fiendish-Beaver Rest assured, we’re no longer in 2010 And even though I agree with you that this shift from a console‑focused approach to a more PC‑like logic will certainly bring some bugs, new problems, and new challenges to solve, it will remain marginal, and I have no doubt that the few bugs that remain will be fixed quickly. And in any case, issues with multiplayer, in particular, also exist on current consoles.
All in all, the advantages brought by this new Xbox console are, in my opinion, far greater than the few meagre drawbacks.
Re: Xbox & PlayStation's New Social Media Ads Make Fans Question Whether 'Console War' Is Over
@Fiendish-Beaver Alright, I’ll try to keep it short — I don’t understand how anyone can find a PC complicated these days. If that were the case, there wouldn’t be so many people on Steam or using a Steam Deck. I’ve never heard anyone say they spent an entire night just trying to get a game to run on PC — if that were common, we’d know about it, and such cases are really very rare.
Secondly, let’s be clear: Xbox Next (sounds nicer than your nickname for it) will be a console, with the intuitive and simple nature of consoles and the versatility of a PC to access other stores and install other apps if needed.
That’s their goal, and we’re already starting to see it with the Xbox app for PC or the upcoming Xbox ROG Ally. Everything’s not perfect yet — it’s just the beginning — but by the time the next Xbox console arrives, they’ll have had time to get even closer to that goal. The idea is absolutely not to offer a complex experience, but to keep the ease of access of a console, of course.
Another goal is to have a unique experience no matter the device: console, PC, or handheld console, all with the same familiar interface. That also means economies of scale by having a single interface across all devices, since they won’t need to maintain multiple OSes or different apps anymore. That also means more resources going into one interface — better optimization, fewer bugs, more features, and so on.
I think your case and your concern are in the minority — I see a lot of hype online about the possibility of having a console that unifies all stores. Let’s not forget that at Microsoft, creating OSes and user interfaces is kind of their business, so I have no worries about their ability to deliver a smooth and intuitive experience, while adding the versatility of a PC with access to all stores.
For me, right now, the Xbox app is starting to surpass the Steam app in terms of ease of use. It’s not perfect yet, but I find Steam has, over time, become cluttered with ads and turned into a bloated mess. The fact that the Xbox app directly integrates Steam games alongside my Xbox games is a real plus, because I prefer the simplicity of their interface.
Re: Xbox & PlayStation's New Social Media Ads Make Fans Question Whether 'Console War' Is Over
@Fiendish-Beaver In that case, I offer you my sincerest apologies if I may have compared you to a pony. I do, however, find some of your positions rather surprising, as they sound uncannily like the familiar tune we usually hear from those people. I can absolutely understand that one might criticize Xbox, but I simply expect honest and well‑reasoned justifications. That said, I’ll admit I take great pleasure in putting ponies in their place (which you are not, don’t get me wrong) — it’s generally quite easy, since their arguments usually don’t hold up and are based on nothing, and there are a few of them right here.
Ultimately, the main thing is that everyone can play all games — and quality games at that — and I believe that on this front, Xbox is moving things forward, in the interest of their business of course, but also in the interest of players, which is not incompatible — quite the opposite. If today PlayStation releases games like Death Stranding or Helldivers 2 on Xbox, it’s thanks to Xbox. If today almost all third‑party publishers release their games on Xbox, it’s thanks in part to Phil Spencer. It hasn’t always been that way — many franchises long remained the exclusive hunting ground of PlayStation — but that’s no longer the case. Publishers like Capcom, Square Enix, and others now release their games on Xbox. Almost no third‑party publisher leaves Xbox out these days. Even if sometimes there’s buzz around certain games not coming to Xbox, in reality those have become very rare exceptions. Looking back, Xbox has never had as many games as it does now, whether first‑party or third‑party. And I maintain that the Xbox brand has strengthened over time by diversifying its strategy.
On the contrary, I believe that if Xbox had stayed solely in the console market, they’d already be dead today. As it stands, they’re everywhere — not everyone necessarily owns an Xbox console, but there have never been so many people with a bit of Xbox in their lives, whether by playing Xbox games, through Game Pass, through the cloud, and soon through portable consoles like the Asus ROG Ally Xbox edition, etc.
And this is only the beginning. Diversification makes them stronger, not weaker. Some underestimate the power of the Xbox community, which is actually far more engaged and active than others — you only have to look at the number of active players on Xbox consoles, which is almost at the same level as active players on PlayStation consoles, despite a smaller console base. So I absolutely do not believe that in four years Xbox will stop making consoles, as you say. On the contrary, the revolution that’s coming with this so‑called “PCBOX” is the start of a renewal for Xbox hardware, because they are simply unbeatable in that area — they’re the only ones who can pull this off. It’s a huge game‑changer for players; you don’t seem to realize just how much it changes everything. And I know plenty of PC gamers who are ready to get this future PCBOX.
Happy gaming to everyone — and I do mean everyone!
Re: Xbox & PlayStation's New Social Media Ads Make Fans Question Whether 'Console War' Is Over
@Fiendish-Beaver We don’t agree on the analysis or even on simple facts, clearly. Xbox absolutely did not start releasing games on PC only after the launch of the Xbox One in 2016 — Halo: Combat Evolved came out on PC in 2003, Halo 2 in 2007, Fable on PC in 2005, Gears of War in 2007, Alan Wake in 2012, Fable 3 in 2011, Halo Wars in 2016 on PC (at the same time as the Xbox One release), and plenty of other examples. We’re talking about major titles here, so this is absolutely nothing new. They just gradually increased the pace of PC releases, but it’s not specifically tied to poor Xbox One sales.
So you’re wrong again. You don’t realize that, to support your narrative, you’re making up arguments that don’t exist — and I’ve just proven it once again with concrete, indisputable examples.
As for Helldivers 2, more bad faith on your part — what you’re saying is false. When Helldivers 2 launched simultaneously on PC and PlayStation, it benefited from massive publicity because it’s an already well-known franchise, because it was a PlayStation console exclusive, and because numerous trailers had already whetted players’ appetites. It actually started doing extremely well on Steam very quickly. So you’re just finding yet another excuse to hide the simple fact that, in one week, Xbox sold more copies than PlayStation. And of course I’m talking about the same time frame — it makes no sense to even have to specify that, it’s obvious! More bad faith, clearly.
You can keep trying, but you’re only digging yourself in deeper and showing your ignorance.
Why are you a fanboy? I don’t actually care whether you are or not — I’m just pointing out that you’re using exactly the same arguments as the “ponies.” And by the way, I see you on PushSquare, PureXbox’s sister site — you’re not nearly as critical there, strangely enough… surely just a coincidence, right?
Re: Xbox & PlayStation's New Social Media Ads Make Fans Question Whether 'Console War' Is Over
@Ricky-Spanish Helldivers 2 shifted 926k copies on Xbox six days after its release. To compare, the PlayStation version of Helldivers 2 sold 633k copies six days after its own launch last year. gladly accept your apology. Source: https://www.eurogamer.net/former-ps5-console-exclusive-helldivers-2-now-tops-xbox-sales-chart-as-sony-continues-to-dabble-with-its-multi-platform-strategy
As for PC, yes, that's exactly what I'm saying, it's PC gamers who play it the most. So thinking that releasing games on PC is a mistake, as our friend Fiendish-Beaver believes, is pure heresy.
Re: Xbox & PlayStation's New Social Media Ads Make Fans Question Whether 'Console War' Is Over
@Fiendish-Beaver
You can keep convincing yourself that console sales are what matter, but as long as you’re stuck in that outdated mindset, your analysis will be wrong. No one in the industry uses console sales as a success metric anymore. It’s all about MAU—monthly active users. The more platforms a brand is on, the more potential players it reaches. Xbox currently has over 500 million monthly active users vs. 124 million on PlayStation. Even the ratio of active users on Xbox consoles is higher than on PlayStation consoles, because the latter is mostly casual gamers who barely play.
Take Helldivers 2—Xbox console players have already bought more copies than PlayStation players. Why? Because from the start, Helldivers 2 was played mostly by PC gamers. Crazy, right? Even though the PS console base is larger. A console base doesn’t equal a player base! We underestimate how many people own consoles but barely use them.
So if you still don’t get it after all this, you’re officially a hopeless case.
Re: Xbox & PlayStation's New Social Media Ads Make Fans Question Whether 'Console War' Is Over
@Fiendish-Beaver And here we go again—you’re back to talking about console sales, still not getting it. But I understand now: that’s where your major analytical mistake lies. Fewer Xbox consoles sold doesn’t mean the Xbox brand is fading—it’s because Xbox offers more choices. It’s got nothing to do with erosion. They’re expanding their audience by not limiting themselves to the console market, which, let me remind you, is both limited and declining globally.
Xbox anticipated the rise of the PC market from the start, unlike PlayStation, which stuck to consoles. And now we see they were right: the PC market is growing at double-digit rates, while the console market is shrinking.
Instead of restricting the Xbox brand to a narrow audience, Xbox broadened its reach—PC, cloud, TVs, handheld consoles, and of course, Xbox consoles. The analysis you should be making is the exact opposite of what you’re thinking. Xbox has never been more present, never been stronger, precisely because it expanded its audience instead of clinging to a small, now-declining market. PlayStation eventually realized the same thing—but too late.
To help you understand better, it’s like an e-commerce site expanding from a local market to an international one. Who do you think gets more visibility—the one that stays in its little country or the one that’s everywhere? Let’s take an even clearer example: you’re a Canadian site selling coffee machines. Americans already buy from you, but it’s inconvenient—low visibility, higher costs due to taxes and shipping. So what does the Canadian site do? It launches a U.S. site for the American market. BOOM—tons of coffee machines sold on the U.S. site, plus pods. Sure, fewer machines sold in Canada now, because Americans buy directly from the U.S. site. But overall, the total sales skyrocket. The audience multiplies by ten.
Same thing with Xbox. Xbox is everywhere—on your console, your TV, your handheld, the cloud, your PC. That’s Xbox. You still haven’t grasped that it’s been this way for years. Xbox anticipated market evolution and diversified across platforms. And now we see they made the right call. Maybe at one point it seemed questionable, because the PC market hadn’t yet caught up to consoles, and Xbox was selling fewer consoles. But today, everyone knows the PC market has overtaken consoles. So who made the smart move by getting in early? Xbox’s PC revenue is booming—thanks to game sales and Game Pass for PC.
Re: Xbox & PlayStation's New Social Media Ads Make Fans Question Whether 'Console War' Is Over
@Fiendish-Beaver Let’s stop here, because you’re really in complete denial. How exactly is the Xbox brand being eroded? All the numbers show you’re wrong — Xbox games have never sold this well. If the Xbox brand were eroded, they wouldn’t be selling this well. Four or five of the top ten best‑selling games on Steam are Xbox games — what are you even talking about? Xbox isn’t just a plastic box, it’s an ecosystem with games, subscriptions, cloud gaming and hardware.
And even on the hardware side, even if consoles aren’t selling as much because Xbox gives players more choice, Xbox machines are recognized for their interface, their power, and unique features like Quick Resume, etc.
But your narrow, simplistic mindset reduces the Xbox brand to a plastic box, when it’s not just that — it’s much more than that. And on all these points — whether it’s games, cloud, or subscriptions — the Xbox brand is far ahead and recognized for it. On Google Trends, people talk more about Xbox than PlayStation — surprising for a brand that’s supposedly “eroding,” isn’t it?
Even the CEO of PlayStation admitted that the future is no longer hardware‑centric. That’s just how things move forward. Your view of things is outdated — you need to update your way of thinking, because it’s a relic of the past.
You’re stuck in a narrative and refuse to see the facts. It’s not complicated — you just have to look at the game sales numbers, the revenue numbers, the active player numbers — all of which are growing.
You accuse me of “predicting the future”? That’s rich, coming from you — you’ve been speculating about the future from the start. You even admitted you think Xbox games on PC have been bad for Xbox! Bad in what way? You’ve convinced yourself of something that doesn’t even exist, man! Wake up — or stay in the Matrix, it’s up to you. I’m simply sticking to the facts and reality — you just have to look at what’s happening right now, plain and simple. I suggest you do the same!
Re: Xbox & PlayStation's New Social Media Ads Make Fans Question Whether 'Console War' Is Over
@Fiendish-Beaver "Mark my words" lol, we’ve been hearing this kind of talk for years now—always the same troll memes and fanboy memes. You’re fooling no one, and certainly not me. Ever since Xbox started launching games on PC day one, we’ve been hearing that Xbox is going to become a third‑party publisher, that it’s going to leave the console market, etc. Aren’t you tired of saying the same thing over and over?
Has that been the case all this time? No! Do they sell fewer consoles than others? Yes! But it’s more or less at the same level as the previous generation, knowing that the entire console market is in decline (with 78 million units sold to date, PS5 will never reach the 128 million PS4 sold).
Since you have no arguments, you go into speculation, talking about this “PCBox thing” (you can feel the bitterness in your words), talking about a supposed price, etc. Do we know the price of the next Xbox? No! Yet another fake news story we’re used to.
Phil Spencer has said numerous times that a $1000 console is out of the question. They’re not going to sell a console at that price point—it would be insane. Consumers would just go for a PC or stick with their current setup. Their goal isn’t to make profit from hardware, but to sell a system that lets players buy games and play through their Game Pass subscription. Even if production costs are higher—especially with a high‑end APU and multi‑store support—even if they sell it at a loss, it won’t be more expensive than a standard console, or at least not much more.
Will they sell more or fewer units of this new console? We have no idea! Price is of course a factor, but don’t think it will be more expensive or much more expensive than a PS6. That’s never happened before, and there’s no reason it would happen now. Only those looking for arguments against Xbox believe that. The multi‑store question is also a major change that will attract a broader audience than before.
But what’s certain is that even if Xbox sells more or fewer consoles, Xbox will not leave the console market. It’s in their DNA to offer multiple different ways for players to enjoy their games, and as long as there’s consumer demand to play on consoles, Xbox will simply keep making consoles. It’s just common sense, and it’s just business. They’ve already created multi‑year partnerships with AMD for their own consoles and with partners like Asus. What you’re saying has absolutely no basis and makes no sense—it’s just the same old tune we’ve been hearing for years and that never comes true.
But you’re free to keep singing it.
Re: Xbox & PlayStation's New Social Media Ads Make Fans Question Whether 'Console War' Is Over
@Fiendish-Beaver You see, you just can’t help yourself — you still have to play the console war game, even though you claim otherwise. So tell me, what exactly has Sony won? They sold more consoles? Do you really think that’s where the revenue comes from? They haven’t won anything at all.
The real winner is the one who makes the most revenue and sells the most games! And, surprise surprise, it’s Xbox that sells the most games by selling more titles and subscriptions. There are different ways to look at things.
The console war no longer exists because Xbox has redefined the rules of the game and has mechanically made this war obsolete and absurd. Why? Because PlayStation is now following exactly the same strategy as Xbox, just a few years behind.
They’ve finally realized that the exclusivity strategy isn’t sustainable — in fact, no major third-party publisher wants to make PlayStation-exclusive games anymore, just like Capcom, Square Enix, and others. So, in a way, they have no choice to change their strategy. Whether it’s with their own first-party games, which you can count on one hand, or with third-party titles, that path is a dead end. The only way forward is multiplatform.
So, in this story, who’s following whom? Who’s leading? The answer seems pretty obvious to me!
Re: Digital Foundry 'Just Can't Recommend' Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater On Xbox Series S
@Coletrain Yes, thanks, sorry, that wasn't the right example And thanks for your other examples that confirm it's possible and thanks to @PhilKenSebben too.
By the way, Gears E-Day is announced on UE5, and knowing The Coalition, it's going to be a real graphical bomb—beautiful and smooth.
Re: Digital Foundry 'Just Can't Recommend' Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater On Xbox Series S
@Simu001 Power without control is nothing. UE5 makes it possible to create beautiful and well‑optimized games — if you know how to use it. It’s a bit too easy to put the blame on Epic instead of Konami. When you see games like Indiana Jones on UE5, it’s clear that it’s possible to make great, optimized games.
Re: Digital Foundry 'Just Can't Recommend' Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater On Xbox Series S
The game is actually very poorly optimized on all platforms, and the Series S is just a symptom of Konami’s sloppy work in general across all systems. Of course, it’s more noticeable on the Series S — that’s only logical!
Re: Xbox's PS5 Strategy Pays Off As Gears Reloaded Easily Passes 1 Million Players In Under A Week
And to think the original game dates back to 2006 — it really makes you realize that back then, developers did a lot with very little. Now it’s the opposite: they do very little despite having much more powerful machines and many more tools. That’s why so many recent games are poorly optimized and lazy. I’m not talking specifically about Xbox, but in general.
In any case, for those who’ve never played it, it’s a gem, and this remaster is the best way to experience it. For others, replaying the campaign if you’ve already played the original version not too long ago has little value. What’s left is the multiplayer and playing it in co‑op — I still need to try that, by the way.
Re: Final Fantasy Boss Says 'There's No Real Need' For Next-Gen Consoles Like A Series X Successor
@Millionski Yes, you're highlighting an important point—'if games arent coming to xbox or xbox-PC'—but the way things are going, they'll all end up on PC at the very least, and therefore, inevitably on Xbox as well.
Even in this generation, it's already noticeable—so-called exclusive games on PlayStation are very rare. Almost Everything is either on PC, on Xbox, or on both.
Re: Final Fantasy Boss Says 'There's No Real Need' For Next-Gen Consoles Like A Series X Successor
Of course, PlayStation has completely sacrificed this generation, releasing almost nothing in terms of games, except remasters and sequels. I would be less harsh with Xbox, which has launched many more titles and new franchises, trying to showcase the machine’s capabilities with games like Hellblade 2, Indiana Jones, Doom: The Dark Ages, Starfield, avowed, south of midnight, among others.
For the next generations, since PlayStation released a mid‑gen version, I don’t see any urgency in launching a new console, as studios will still be releasing games for the older consoles for a long time. As for Xbox, they didn’t make a mid‑gen and, above all, the next generation promises to be a true revolution — a genuine gaming hub that will include all stores. We can also mention Auto SR and the new ultra‑fast shader loading technology, which will even make a difference in current games.
In any case, it’s clear that I will choose the next Xbox console, both for its performance and for its versatility as a universal gaming hub (Xbox, Steam, Epic, etc.). But as for the next PlayStation, I see no use for it at all, since many games will also be released on Steam and will be playable on Xbox as well.
Re: Review: Gears Of War: Reloaded - An Xbox Classic That Flourishes On Modern Hardware
I’ve played for about an hour so far, and honestly, great work has been done, and on the sound too. Play it with headphones. The thing is, I played the original version a year ago, and the campaign is still too fresh in my mind, so I’m not sure I’ll go all the way through it again. I’ll try out the multiplayer version, and maybe even do a few co-op sessions in the campaign too.
Re: Helldivers 2 Has No Xbox Reviews Yet, So Here's What The Players Are Saying So Far
@TrollOfWar Sure, you're absolutely right. It's just that when you look at the standards set by flagship PlayStation games like The Last of Us, God of War, Horizon, etc., it stands in stark contrast. But this is a multiplayer game, so it's not really comparable. Still, for a paid game, I expected more care to be taken with optimization. But times are changing...
Re: Helldivers 2 Has No Xbox Reviews Yet, So Here's What The Players Are Saying So Far
I’m surprised the graphics are this bad — I thought PlayStation players were more demanding when it comes to visual quality. But I guess over time, with so few games, they’ve gotten used to settling for the bare minimum. Maybe it’s just an optimization issue, I don’t know, and it probably doesn’t take away from the fun of the game, but I have to admit these comments have put me off.
Re: ROG Xbox Ally Infographic Appears Alongside Early Amazon Listing
@Master_Cthulhu70 Thanks for your reply, it's nice to see that there are still people who think critically on this site, because when I see the level of some comments, it really makes you wonder.
But I also think there are a lot of people who just love to complain and criticize Xbox unfairly. It's either bitter individuals or fans of the other brand who have nothing better to do than come here and bash Xbox.
Re: Gears Reloaded On PS5 'Thrills' Cliffy B As Series Creator Remains 'Open' To Return
It’s a great entry point for someone who doesn’t know the franchise, and it will likely encourage PlayStation players to dive into the rest of the series, whether through Game Pass, buying other games on PC, or even getting an Xbox console.
Personally, I replayed the original version about a year ago and it was a blast, but I’m curious to see the quality of this remaster.
Re: Former PS3 Exclusive 'Tales of Xillia' Is Getting Remastered For Xbox Series X|S
So many former playstation exclusive coming to Xbox, Right now, there are actually more exclusive games on Xbox than on PlayStation — which is kind of ironic, lol.
Re: Microsoft 'Wraps Up' Xbox Series X|S Era As Hardware Chief Teases What's Next
@Vaako007 I disagree. Up until now, the last 2 console generations were fairly similar. So players loyal to PlayStation didn’t really see the point in switching to Xbox. But the next generation will mark a major shift, with significant differences between the two consoles. One of the biggest differentiators is access to all stores, not just Xbox games, but also PlayStation titles via Steam, not to mention other platforms like Epic, GOG, etc.
It’s the same kind of major shift we saw with the Xbox One or Xbox 360 era.
For any gamer looking for a turnkey solution that’s simpler than a PC, Xbox is the obvious choice. Plus, PlayStation is gradually losing its biggest advantage—exclusives—so in the end, there’s not much left for PlayStation to stand on.
Of course, there will always be people who know nothing about video games and will keep buying PlayStation. But what percentage of the market do they really represent? Is that a profitable audience? Is it even the target for Xbox—or PlayStation, for that matter? Because these people aren’t “real” gamers. They’ll play Fortnite and FIFA, and that’s about it.
Personally, I feel like gamers are becoming more mature overall, thanks in part to better access to information. And any somewhat serious player who wants choice (multi-store), an affordable solution (thanks to Game Pass and Steam games), and a centralized game library will naturally lean toward Xbox. The reasons to stick with PlayStation are getting weaker and weaker.
Xbox vs PlayStation is starting to feel like casual gamers vs true gamers.
Re: Microsoft 'Wraps Up' Xbox Series X|S Era As Hardware Chief Teases What's Next
And this is just the beginning — the next console is shaping up to be absolutely incredible, combining power and versatility with full integration of all digital stores. Basically, it's the ultimate console.
The slight difference with other consoles really comes down to branding and marketing, because Xbox is clearly ahead in every aspect: Game Pass, Xbox Play Anywhere, stream your own games, Quick Resume, integration of Steam and all major stores for the next generation.
Anyone even remotely interested in gaming and looking for a console as a PC alternative will choose Xbox.
All that's left is to spread the word — Xbox needs to go all-in on marketing for the next generation. That’s the only missing piece to make it a true success.
Re: Talking Point: Will The ROG Xbox Ally Be Your First 'Handheld Gaming PC'?
I'm definitely going to buy one, I'm waiting to see some tests, but logically we should have better battery life and performance than a Steam Deck, and especially native Windows support, all stores support, with an Xbox-designed interface, which will make all the difference. Don't forget that Steam Deck with Proton is still a "sort of Windows emulation " * for games with the inherent performance and compatibility problems - none of that on this Xbox ROG Ally. The question remains about price, even the lite version seems a bit expensive to me, but I'm almost certain that launch prices won't stay the same for very long, they should drop quickly.
*: Technically, it's not an emulator, it translates Windows API calls into their Linux equivalents, but it’s still an additional compatibility layer that inevitably introduces some slowdowns—though less than a true emulator—and, above all, it doesn’t necessarily support every Windows instructions, many problems with directx8. This is why there can sometimes be compatibility issues (problems with the Epic Games Store, EA App, Rockstar Launcher, or with games that use restrictive anti-cheat or DRM systems: Destiny 2, Fortnite, Apex Legends, Valorant, League of Legends, certain Game Pass titles, etc.). Windows will always be more performant than Linux for gaming, simply because developers develop their games for Windows, not for Linux. The latter just uses a compatibility layer that has its limitations.
Re: 90+ 'Stream Your Own Game' Titles Added To Xbox Cloud Gaming Lineup
@WildConcept6 Yes, it’s coming — it can’t happen overnight, but at this pace your wish is on track to come true, and then some
Re: Ex-PlayStation Exec Still Not Convinced By 'Dangerous' Xbox Game Pass Model
@Jaxx420 Yes, that’s true as well — he’s trying to stay relevant by reviving a concept that exists only in his head, and in the minds of a few hardcore fans and click‑hungry media outlets.
But I don’t really agree that they fundamentally have two different strategies. I’d say instead that Xbox got ahead with the right strategy to have. Xbox’s revenues are growing much faster than PlayStation’s.
PlayStation’s shift towards live‑service games and their move into multiplatform releases actually tend to contradict you. The latest statements from PlayStation executives, who are looking to move away from a purely hardware‑centric model, are also bringing them closer to Xbox’s vision.
As for the claim that Game Pass is only profitable because Xbox is sending games to PlayStation — that’s partly true and false at the same time, but let’s not forget that Game Pass was already profitable before that, and it’s mainly PC sales that make it profitable. And above all, let’s not forget that it’s historically multiplatform games that sell the most on other platforms — and more recently, older games sent to other platforms 4 or 5 years later. So Game Pass profitability isn’t really tied to any supposed openness of games to other platforms; it’s not that simple and it’s only a small part of the reality. The other part, and a major one, is that PC Game Pass subscribers have been growing at a double‑digit rate every year.
The console market is stagnant, no matter the brand. The only markets truly growing are PC and cloud — two areas where Xbox is far ahead. That’s where the real profitability is, not only in sending a few old games to PS. Also worth noting, as of today, absolutely no Xbox game has launched day‑one on other consoles, except for titles that were already multiplatform
Re: 90+ 'Stream Your Own Game' Titles Added To Xbox Cloud Gaming Lineup
Xbox Play Anywhere and Stream Your Own Game are two major differentiators compared to other stores. I strongly prefer buying my games on Xbox, because that way I can play Mafia: The Old Country, or others, on whatever device I want, via the cloud or even by switching between platforms seamlessly, for xbox play anywhere games.
With 100 games added just in the first half of August, Xbox is seriously ramping up this feature, considering that we’re already at over 700 ‘Stream Your Own Game’ titles and more than 1,000 Xbox Play Anywhere games , and the numbers just keep climbing.
Re: Ex-PlayStation Exec Still Not Convinced By 'Dangerous' Xbox Game Pass Model
How much was the ex-PlayStation exec paid to say 'nice things' about Xbox? lol
These guys just keep whining, even though PlayStation was the one who originally came up with PlayStation Now. But since it didn’t have the same success as Game Pass, now they’re crying about it. Game Pass actually helps support developers, especially indies with limited resources. It encourages creativity and diversity in gaming. Like many others, I’ve never played such a wide variety of games until Game Pass came along, it helped me discover franchises I’d never touched before, and I even ended up buying some of them or their DLCs.
Plus, what he's saying makes zero sense. How can he claim that developers whose games are on Game Pass aren’t creating value? More than half of the most-played games on Steam are also on Game Pass. If we follow this genius’s logic, then no game creates value at all.
Anyway, just another guy who missed a great opportunity to stay quiet, and who’s fueling this fake console war that PlayStation has already lost, simply because Xbox has a more open platform. And in the end, PlayStation is now following the same strategy… just five years late.
Re: ROG Xbox Ally Infographic Appears Alongside Early Amazon Listing
Currently, a PS5 Pro costs $699 and €799… So it has nothing to do with Xbox abandoning Europe or other nonsense you might hear.
You should do a little research before speaking. In the US, prices are shown without tax; the sales tax ranges from 0% to 10% depending on the state, and is only added at checkout. In Europe, prices are shown with tax included, which is around 20% depending on the country.
As for the exchange rate, $499 = €426. Because of fluctuations and to protect their margin, they have to increase the price in Europe.
Also, The logistics and distribution costs are, of course, higher in Europe.
We can also add the fact that prices in Europe are rounded to reach psychological price points like “.99”.
All of this explains the prices set outside the US, and it’s the same for all companies and all products — from a simple washing machine to a game console.
Re: Helldivers 2 'Bring The Boom' Trailer Teases Halo ODST Crossover On Xbox
It’s pretty incredible what’s happening, and it’s also a brilliant marketing move that will surely help the game sell well on Xbox. And thanks to Xbox, which once again has initiated a positive change for gamers and the video game industry.
Re: 'Days Gone' Tweet Attracts The Attention Of Xbox Fans, But Don't Get Your Hopes Up
@PitchShifter Until then, you're pretty much the only one who still thinks the next Xbox won't support Steam games!
Re: 'Days Gone' Tweet Attracts The Attention Of Xbox Fans, But Don't Get Your Hopes Up
@PitchShifter No, you keep trying — but bad faith doesn’t count.
Re: 'Days Gone' Tweet Attracts The Attention Of Xbox Fans, But Don't Get Your Hopes Up
@PitchShifter So, nothing to say? Maybe a “sorry” would be appropriate? Or at the very least, a thank you for the research.
Re: 'Days Gone' Tweet Attracts The Attention Of Xbox Fans, But Don't Get Your Hopes Up
@PitchShifter Ok, you want some sources:
> Official mock up from microsoft which has Steam game integration: https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/microsoft-just-leaked-an-xbox-interface-mock-up-which-has-steam-game-integration
> Xbox officially adds Steam library integration : The Xbox PC App already allows Insiders to see their Steam games in the Xbox library.(https://www.gamingbible.com/news/platform/xbox/xbox-officially-adds-steam-171136-20250624)
> Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer wants PC gaming stores on Xbox (https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/microsoft-gaming-ceo-phil-spencer-wants-pc-gaming-stores-on-xbox)
> partnership with AMD to build chips to run xbox games, pc games on the same devices (https://www.techspot.com/news/108351-next-gen-xbox-support-steam-epic-more-ndash.html)
> And saving the best for last: a video of Sarah Bond clearly stating that the next console won't be limited to a single store:
https://youtu.be/VOCtRanwXrA?t=59
I quote: "So you can play the games you want across devices anywhere you want, delivering you an Xbox experience, not locked to a single store or tied to one device"
I suggest you play the video on loop, in case you didn’t quite get it the first time.
Re: 'Days Gone' Tweet Attracts The Attention Of Xbox Fans, But Don't Get Your Hopes Up
@PitchShifter lool, seriously !
Re: 'Days Gone' Tweet Attracts The Attention Of Xbox Fans, But Don't Get Your Hopes Up
Anyway, before long, Xbox consoles will be able to run all PlayStation games available on Steam, so yeah...
Re: Xbox's Phil Spencer & Sarah Bond Make Surprise Appearance At ChinaJoy 2025
At the same time, it's a perfect moment for Xbox to buddy up with China, especially since PlayStation is practically going to war with the Chinese by taking legal action against Tencent.
Re: Report: Starfield PS5 Port Planned For Spring 2026 Alongside New Expansion
@Questionable_Duck What’s funny is that we've been hearing rumors about a Starfield PS5 port for two years! It just goes to show how big the gap can be between rumors and reality. Still, it seems like tossing out random leaks is what keeps a bunch of influencers and insiders going.