@DonkeyFantasy I can see you’re pretty harsh on Microsoft, but that seems to make you lose some objectivity. I’m not trying to defend Microsoft or Xbox, I’m just pointing out the reality. As long as SteamOS is limited to translating Windows games into Linux, it will always have a major thorn in its side, and that won’t change despite what you say.
The issues with anti-cheat games are very complicated to solve and don’t even depend on Steam in reality. Regarding Linux’s lower versatility and software compatibility, that also seems like an unsolvable problem unfortunately. As for Windows-native technologies, adapting them to Linux will be complicated too—for example, Auto SR, which uses Windows’ native AI capabilities. I really don’t see how they could translate that to Linux; it seems outright impossible. The solution, as is already the case today for some games, will remain disabling certain features—like disabling DirectX 12, disabling ray tracing, etc... for instance—but that comes at the expense of graphical quality. And yes, I know what I’m talking about, because that’s what I’m forced to do on some games on my Steam Deck.
The only real solution would be for developers to start building natively for SteamOS. But as long as that doesn’t happen, all the problems I’ve mentioned won’t be easily solved, contrary to what you say—otherwise it would already be the case.
On performance, I wouldn’t be as categorical. The difference isn’t that big already, and with Xbox Full Experience, they’ve managed to be more efficient than before. But let’s not forget we’re comparing a system with huge software and hardware compatibility built up over many years, against a system that’s much more specialized and far less versatile. The advantage of the Steam Machine or even the Steam Deck is that there’s coherence between hardware and software, which helps a lot with optimization. With the upcoming Xbox Magnus, the hardware will be clearly defined, making it easier to have a system optimized for that specific hardware.
In any case, competition is a good thing—it pushes Valve and Microsoft to do better, to the great benefit of gamers
@BacklogBrad That’s exactly the problem, and why it will remain a niche machine. In the end it’s a tinkerer’s device: for unsupported games you need to use Proton GE, for other launchers you need tools like Heroic Games Launcher — not easy to configure for the average person. Modding is the same, it’s less straightforward.
If Microsoft manages to perfectly optimize the Xbox/Windows experience to match the smoothness and simplicity of SteamOS, the overall advantage will shift toward the Xbox Full Experience.
The advantage of the next Xbox, beyond all the already known ones — full compatibility with all games, launchers, software, complete backward compatibility with all Xbox console titles, etc. —
Is also that, just like the Steam Machine, The next Xbox console can rely on a single hardware configuration and therefore deliver optimization tailored to that hardware, without needing a bunch of drivers and unnecessary services.
What’s certain is that Microsoft still has work to do, but they also have time before launch. And I think they’ll at least reach the level of SteamOS in terms of performance, which isn’t that big today — we’re talking just a few FPS
@DonkeyFantasy What I’m saying is true and not really exaggerated, whether you like it or not — it’s just that few media outlets talk about it. I own a Steam Deck myself, so I know what I’m talking about. With some games that don’t run well, we’re talking about big titles, often with recent technologies. I’m certain GTA 6 will launch in a disastrous state on SteamOS, that’s obvious! Usually it’s the first months after release, then things improve, but rarely completely — it’s case by case.
Games with incompatible anti‑cheat are also a sad reality, and we’re talking about major titles missing from the lineup. Modding is also very complicated. Other launchers besides Steam? Either impossible or full of bugs — I’m not exaggerating.
On software compatibility issues that gamers might face, yes, there are alternatives — OBS Studio has a Linux version, for example — but that’s not the case for all software, far from it.
‘They aren’t trying to get people to give up their high‑powered PCs though’ — so what are they trying to do then? That’s why it will remain a niche machine, and why they’ve been trying for 10 years but it hasn’t really taken off! Steam on Windows is great, but Steam on SteamOS is less so. Steam works because it runs on Windows — that’s just reality. Steam only on Linux would never have taken off.
And PC gamers are used to playing in good conditions on a PC, so having to play on mid or low settings will feel strange to them, given the specs of the machine.
The Steam Deck works because it’s a different experience: you play on the go, and above all, they were the first to jump into this. In the end, it’s just a mini PC running SteamOS, that’s all!
Or maybe the idea is that it could attract PC gamers who keep their gaming rigs and also have a Steam machine for the living room. But even then, compared to the next Xbox with full compatibility across all games, all launchers, all software…
The only differentiating factor is the intrinsic performance of the OS (when the game is fully compatible and optimized). But with Xbox Full Experience, that advantage will shrink to almost nothing, so yeah…
No source is ever perfect, but I prefer to follow official sources rather than the rumors of random insiders. And Jez Corden is still one of the best informed , he was the first to talk about the Xbox ROG Ally, for example.
@Fiendish-Beaver " Sony still keep their exclusives for at least a year. "
Jez Corden apparently has reliable sources saying that Sony wants to release its games day one on PC.
At the same time, given how few first-party games they make — and therefore how few PlayStation exclusives they have — it doesn’t make much of a difference anyway.
They don’t really have a choice anyway because of SteamOS’s limitations. The paradox is that SteamOS can’t even run all Steam games precisely because of those limitations.:
Incompatible games (call of duty, battlefield, fortnite, etc... ) ,
games that run poorly due to recent technologies (ray tracing, dlss, AUTO SR will not be compatible, etc... ) like Elden Ring (especially early on), Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Red Dead Redemption 2 (which often crashes), Cyberpunk 2077, etc.........
modding being impossible, gaming software not supported,
launchers either incompatible or working badly (epic, GOG, battle.net,, Cbox app, etc...)
It’s no coincidence that Valve has been trying for over 10 years to launch a Steam Machine, and it has never really worked.
they don't have choice because regarding Xbox, SteamOS won’t be able to run all Xbox console games from the Xbox One to the Series X — unlike Xbox Magnus which will be full backwards compatible as it was confirmed.
So they’re forced to focus on Steam, without even being able to run all Steam games properly. That means it’ll remain a niche machine that will struggle to convince PC gamers to give up their PCs — especially since it’s very easy to hook up a PC to a TV, for example.
@OldGamer999 Don’t talk nonsense, Sarah Bond confirmed that the upcoming Xbox console will be fully backward compatible, so don’t speak without knowing. Xbox has always made backward compatibility a flagship feature, and of course all their games will be backward compatible , they even said it would go all the way back to the Xbox One. And it will be native
SteamOS faces more than just one challenge. Games with anti-cheat (call of duty, battlefield, fortnite). There are also many games with issues such as crashes, graphical bugs, and FPS drops, because DirectX calls are not properly translated. And I think this will only get worse over time, especially with the increasing use of specific technologies (ray tracing, DLSS, upcoming Auto SR, …). Studios develop natively for Windows, not for SteamOS, and that’s not going to change anytime soon, for a very simple reason: a PC is not just for gaming, and Linux will never be able to rival Windows in terms of versatility and software compatibility. This is both a strength for Windows and a challenge in terms of performance. So I don’t see the masses switching to Linux just for gaming.
And I’m not even talking about modding, which is very complicated on Linux, while many PC gamers are very attached to it. Or other gaming-related tools like Streamlabs, XSplit (no Linux equivalent), etc.
Many launchers don'y play well: epic, Xbox app, battle.net, EA app, ubsifit connect, rockstar games launcher, GOG, etc.... No native support for Game Pass.
Many recent DirectX 12 games run very poorly on SteamOS: The First Descendant, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (Epic version), Forspoken, Starfield, Elden Ring (especially at launch), Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Red Dead Redemption 2 (a game that often crashes on SteamOS), Cyberpunk 2077, etc.
I don’t even want to imagine GTA 6 when it comes out , it’s almost certain it will be nearly unplayable on SteamOS.
And I’m not even mentioning the weak power of the machine or their controller, which I really don’t like at all.
@DennisReynolds Seriously, Such bad faith, I gave a summary, I didn’t have the exact quote in mind, but it’s basically the same thing. You could’ve at least thanked me for doing all that sourcing work. De nada !
PlayStation's management isn't blameless. I think Bungie had its hands tied when it came to strategy and creative direction. PlayStation bought them specifically for multiplayer, and the cancellation of numerous projects—11 games—also created chaos within Bungie.
In any case, when you compare that to Xbox's integration of publishers like Activision and Bethesda, which include multiple studios, we're talking about entire publishers—not just a single studio. You could say things went very smoothly for Xbox. Even if there were a few bumps along the way, overall, it went really well.
The real question is: what are PlayStation's exclusive games? And where are the first-party titles?
@Balaam_ Wandering Sword and Tokyo Xtreme Racer are on Steam, so they're at least playable on Xbox (Xbox ROG Ally and Xbox Magnus). And since they're third-party games, like 99% of the titles shown at the conference, they'll probably come directly to Xbox too. It just hasn't been announced yet.
@DennisReynolds "Okay okay, calm down—Sony invested in it, got it. But if they don’t need to release it on other platforms, then why are they doing it?
And now the company is releasing its games on multiple platforms—PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch—which marks a major shift from its previous strategy of keeping most titles exclusive to PlayStation. You can count third-party games too, since 90% of PlayStation exclusives are third-party titles. Among them: Helldivers 2, Final Fantasy VII Remake and other FF titles, Silent Hill F, Silent Hill 2, Death Stranding, Genshin Impact, Sifu, Kena, MLB The Show, Viewfinder, Nioh and Nioh 2, Octopath Traveler 1 and 2, Kingdom Hearts series—and I’m forgetting plenty more. The reality is that PlayStation has very few exclusives today, far fewer than during the PS4 generation.
Xbox develops its own games and controls its first-party titles—they’re not dependent on third-party deals. Think Starfield, Avowed, South of Midnight, Halo Infinite, Grounded 2, Towerborne, Forza Motorsport, etc. Xbox still keeps many games exclusive, even if some eventually get ported—they remain timed exclusives. PlayStation doesn’t have permanent exclusives anymore either, since everything ends up on PC, and therefore playable on Xbox (via Xbox ROG Ally, Xbox Magnus, etc.).
The console war and the battle over exclusives is over—Xbox changed the rules, and PlayStation is now following them. The real war now is not just for attention, but for ecosystems, services, and games. That’s where the business is—not in a plastic box collecting dust by the millions. What matters is the player, the number of active players—that’s what counts. Xbox knows it, and PlayStation, even if they woke up a bit late, knows it too.
@Fiendish-Beaver I'm not saying the opposite, I was one of the first to express disagreement with the price hike, even if they added some extra value in return. The issue isn't so much the price increase itself, but how the offer is structured, overloading Game Pass ultimate with services that not all players will use (Fortnite Crew, better xCloud, Ubisoft Classics, etc.). They should have offered basic plans with an add-on system where you choose what you want and only pay for what you actually use.
As for the 40% cancellation rate, even though I know there were unsubscribes, if it really were 40%, Xbox would have backtracked. Let's be realistic. You can't confuse the small media bubble of video games with actual reality.
@DennisReynolds Stellar Blade wasn't developed by Sony, they only published it. And yes, Sony needs it to release on other platforms, just like the game's developer, the Korean studio Shift Up. I'm not making this up, Sony's CEO said it: 'The future is multi-platform.
Once again, despite a smaller console base, we can see that Xbox players’ engagement rate is higher than that of PlayStation players. It makes you wonder what’s the point of all those PlayStation consoles sold if nobody is actually playing on them.
"there’s always going to be a battle for attention and mindshare"
Beyond that, what I’d say is that the war now is about the ecosystem, the services, and the games. Whoever is the best in that area will earn the most revenue. The console war and exclusives no longer exist because the rules have changed — Xbox changed the rules, and now PlayStation is following those same rules, moving toward the end of exclusives, more multiplatform releases, and more cloud gaming beyond its own console. It makes sense, because that’s where the business is, not by staying locked inside a small ecosystem. But the problem for PlayStation is that outside of their console, they’re not on familiar ground, and PC players in particular aren’t as easily manipulated as their community that’s ready to swallow anything (PS+ price hikes with nothing in return, higher game prices, a generation sacrificed to remakes, etc.).
Still on Ultimate, I’m stacked until 2027. And given the number of pro‑PlayStation people in the comments, I don’t believe the cancellation figures at all — they must be much lower.
It’s still a very good plan, though less than before of course. But once my subscription ends, I’ll probably switch to PC Game Pass.
And yet another PlayStation game on Xbox, just like 90% of PlayStation exclusives, since 90% of their exclusives come from third‑party publishers. In fact, if you count third‑party titles, there are more former PlayStation exclusives on Xbox than the other way around. And there are fewer and fewer PlayStation exclusives because fewer publishers are willing to make exclusive games, due to production costs and simply because it’s not profitable to develop for a single platform.
And in the parallel conversation on the subject, yes, it was confirmed by Sarah Bond: the next Xbox will be fully backward compatible and will be able to play both versions (if there are two) of Xbox games, knowing that upcoming titles will be released much likely developpedin Xbox PC versions, with certinaly a trabsition phase and developpeld also on cross gen
Given the mess right now and according to leaks from a Rockstar employee, the release of GTA 6 will be delayed again. If this keeps up, it will really be for the next generation
The question is: ‘Isn’t this on purpose?’ Could it be a partnership between GTA6 and Xbox? Maybe a special GTA6 edition of Xbox consoles, GTA6‑branded controllers, GTA6 in Game Pass, lol, why not, it would be a huge move! Microsoft objectively has the means, but will they do it?
Or perhaps the launch of their new Xbox Magnus console at the same time as GTA6’s release, to play under the best conditions, that would be more likely, though!
In any case, I don’t really believe in coincidences.
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.
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Re: Valve Says It Focused On 'Own Audience' For Steam Machine Rather Than Xbox, PS5 & Switch
@DonkeyFantasy I can see you’re pretty harsh on Microsoft, but that seems to make you lose some objectivity. I’m not trying to defend Microsoft or Xbox, I’m just pointing out the reality. As long as SteamOS is limited to translating Windows games into Linux, it will always have a major thorn in its side, and that won’t change despite what you say.
The issues with anti-cheat games are very complicated to solve and don’t even depend on Steam in reality. Regarding Linux’s lower versatility and software compatibility, that also seems like an unsolvable problem unfortunately. As for Windows-native technologies, adapting them to Linux will be complicated too—for example, Auto SR, which uses Windows’ native AI capabilities. I really don’t see how they could translate that to Linux; it seems outright impossible. The solution, as is already the case today for some games, will remain disabling certain features—like disabling DirectX 12, disabling ray tracing, etc... for instance—but that comes at the expense of graphical quality. And yes, I know what I’m talking about, because that’s what I’m forced to do on some games on my Steam Deck.
The only real solution would be for developers to start building natively for SteamOS. But as long as that doesn’t happen, all the problems I’ve mentioned won’t be easily solved, contrary to what you say—otherwise it would already be the case.
On performance, I wouldn’t be as categorical. The difference isn’t that big already, and with Xbox Full Experience, they’ve managed to be more efficient than before. But let’s not forget we’re comparing a system with huge software and hardware compatibility built up over many years, against a system that’s much more specialized and far less versatile. The advantage of the Steam Machine or even the Steam Deck is that there’s coherence between hardware and software, which helps a lot with optimization. With the upcoming Xbox Magnus, the hardware will be clearly defined, making it easier to have a system optimized for that specific hardware.
In any case, competition is a good thing—it pushes Valve and Microsoft to do better, to the great benefit of gamers
Re: Talking Point: What Does The 'Steam Machine' Mean For Xbox's Next-Gen Console Plans?
@BacklogBrad That’s exactly the problem, and why it will remain a niche machine. In the end it’s a tinkerer’s device: for unsupported games you need to use Proton GE, for other launchers you need tools like Heroic Games Launcher — not easy to configure for the average person. Modding is the same, it’s less straightforward.
If Microsoft manages to perfectly optimize the Xbox/Windows experience to match the smoothness and simplicity of SteamOS, the overall advantage will shift toward the Xbox Full Experience.
The advantage of the next Xbox, beyond all the already known ones — full compatibility with all games, launchers, software, complete backward compatibility with all Xbox console titles, etc. —
Is also that, just like the Steam Machine, The next Xbox console can rely on a single hardware configuration and therefore deliver optimization tailored to that hardware, without needing a bunch of drivers and unnecessary services.
What’s certain is that Microsoft still has work to do, but they also have time before launch. And I think they’ll at least reach the level of SteamOS in terms of performance, which isn’t that big today — we’re talking just a few FPS
Re: Valve Says It Focused On 'Own Audience' For Steam Machine Rather Than Xbox, PS5 & Switch
@DonkeyFantasy What I’m saying is true and not really exaggerated, whether you like it or not — it’s just that few media outlets talk about it. I own a Steam Deck myself, so I know what I’m talking about. With some games that don’t run well, we’re talking about big titles, often with recent technologies. I’m certain GTA 6 will launch in a disastrous state on SteamOS, that’s obvious! Usually it’s the first months after release, then things improve, but rarely completely — it’s case by case.
Games with incompatible anti‑cheat are also a sad reality, and we’re talking about major titles missing from the lineup. Modding is also very complicated. Other launchers besides Steam? Either impossible or full of bugs — I’m not exaggerating.
On software compatibility issues that gamers might face, yes, there are alternatives — OBS Studio has a Linux version, for example — but that’s not the case for all software, far from it.
‘They aren’t trying to get people to give up their high‑powered PCs though’ — so what are they trying to do then? That’s why it will remain a niche machine, and why they’ve been trying for 10 years but it hasn’t really taken off! Steam on Windows is great, but Steam on SteamOS is less so. Steam works because it runs on Windows — that’s just reality. Steam only on Linux would never have taken off.
And PC gamers are used to playing in good conditions on a PC, so having to play on mid or low settings will feel strange to them, given the specs of the machine.
The Steam Deck works because it’s a different experience: you play on the go, and above all, they were the first to jump into this. In the end, it’s just a mini PC running SteamOS, that’s all!
Or maybe the idea is that it could attract PC gamers who keep their gaming rigs and also have a Steam machine for the living room. But even then, compared to the next Xbox with full compatibility across all games, all launchers, all software…
The only differentiating factor is the intrinsic performance of the OS (when the game is fully compatible and optimized). But with Xbox Full Experience, that advantage will shrink to almost nothing, so yeah…
Re: Talking Point: What Does The 'Steam Machine' Mean For Xbox's Next-Gen Console Plans?
@OldGamer999 the partnership with AMD will enable native support for backward compatibility fox all xbox console games (source: https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/microsofts-ambitious-new-xbox-your-entire-console-library-the-full-power-of-windows-pc-gaming-and-more)
No source is ever perfect, but I prefer to follow official sources rather than the rumors of random insiders. And Jez Corden is still one of the best informed , he was the first to talk about the Xbox ROG Ally, for example.
Re: Valve Announces New Hardware, Including A Steam Machine That'll Compete With Xbox
What’s funny is that PlayStation isn’t even a competitor — it’s the only console that won’t be able to run PC games.
Re: Valve Announces New Hardware, Including A Steam Machine That'll Compete With Xbox
@Fiendish-Beaver " Sony still keep their exclusives for at least a year. "
Jez Corden apparently has reliable sources saying that Sony wants to release its games day one on PC.
At the same time, given how few first-party games they make — and therefore how few PlayStation exclusives they have — it doesn’t make much of a difference anyway.
Re: Valve Says It Focused On 'Own Audience' For Steam Machine Rather Than Xbox, PS5 & Switch
They don’t really have a choice anyway because of SteamOS’s limitations. The paradox is that SteamOS can’t even run all Steam games precisely because of those limitations.:
It’s no coincidence that Valve has been trying for over 10 years to launch a Steam Machine, and it has never really worked.
they don't have choice because regarding Xbox, SteamOS won’t be able to run all Xbox console games from the Xbox One to the Series X — unlike Xbox Magnus which will be full backwards compatible as it was confirmed.
So they’re forced to focus on Steam, without even being able to run all Steam games properly. That means it’ll remain a niche machine that will struggle to convince PC gamers to give up their PCs — especially since it’s very easy to hook up a PC to a TV, for example.
Re: Talking Point: What Does The 'Steam Machine' Mean For Xbox's Next-Gen Console Plans?
@OldGamer999 Don’t talk nonsense, Sarah Bond confirmed that the upcoming Xbox console will be fully backward compatible, so don’t speak without knowing. Xbox has always made backward compatibility a flagship feature, and of course all their games will be backward compatible , they even said it would go all the way back to the Xbox One. And it will be native
Re: Talking Point: What Does The 'Steam Machine' Mean For Xbox's Next-Gen Console Plans?
SteamOS faces more than just one challenge. Games with anti-cheat (call of duty, battlefield, fortnite). There are also many games with issues such as crashes, graphical bugs, and FPS drops, because DirectX calls are not properly translated. And I think this will only get worse over time, especially with the increasing use of specific technologies (ray tracing, DLSS, upcoming Auto SR, …). Studios develop natively for Windows, not for SteamOS, and that’s not going to change anytime soon, for a very simple reason: a PC is not just for gaming, and Linux will never be able to rival Windows in terms of versatility and software compatibility. This is both a strength for Windows and a challenge in terms of performance. So I don’t see the masses switching to Linux just for gaming.
And I’m not even talking about modding, which is very complicated on Linux, while many PC gamers are very attached to it. Or other gaming-related tools like Streamlabs, XSplit (no Linux equivalent), etc.
Many launchers don'y play well: epic, Xbox app, battle.net, EA app, ubsifit connect, rockstar games launcher, GOG, etc.... No native support for Game Pass.
Many recent DirectX 12 games run very poorly on SteamOS: The First Descendant, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (Epic version), Forspoken, Starfield, Elden Ring (especially at launch), Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Red Dead Redemption 2 (a game that often crashes on SteamOS), Cyberpunk 2077, etc.
I don’t even want to imagine GTA 6 when it comes out , it’s almost certain it will be nearly unplayable on SteamOS.
And I’m not even mentioning the weak power of the machine or their controller, which I really don’t like at all.
Re: Hit PS5 Exclusive Stellar Blade May Be On The Way To Xbox In The Near Future
@DennisReynolds Seriously, Such bad faith, I gave a summary, I didn’t have the exact quote in mind, but it’s basically the same thing. You could’ve at least thanked me for doing all that sourcing work. De nada !
Re: Sony's Purchase Of Former Xbox Studio Bungie Isn't Exactly Going To Plan
PlayStation's management isn't blameless. I think Bungie had its hands tied when it came to strategy and creative direction. PlayStation bought them specifically for multiplayer, and the cancellation of numerous projects—11 games—also created chaos within Bungie.
In any case, when you compare that to Xbox's integration of publishers like Activision and Bethesda, which include multiple studios, we're talking about entire publishers—not just a single studio. You could say things went very smoothly for Xbox. Even if there were a few bumps along the way, overall, it went really well.
Re: Roundup: All The Xbox Reveals From November 2025's State Of Play
The real question is: what are PlayStation's exclusive games? And where are the first-party titles?
@Balaam_ Wandering Sword and Tokyo Xtreme Racer are on Steam, so they're at least playable on Xbox (Xbox ROG Ally and Xbox Magnus). And since they're third-party games, like 99% of the titles shown at the conference, they'll probably come directly to Xbox too. It just hasn't been announced yet.
Re: Hit PS5 Exclusive Stellar Blade May Be On The Way To Xbox In The Near Future
@DennisReynolds "Okay okay, calm down—Sony invested in it, got it. But if they don’t need to release it on other platforms, then why are they doing it?
There are multiple sources proving this. First, they said: 'in gaming business and moving away from a hardware-centric business to more to the community-based engagement business' (source: https://www.purexbox.com/news/2025/08/sony-svp-discusses-moving-away-from-a-hardware-centric-business-model).
Also, Sony hired a Senior Director of Multiplatform Account Management to build and execute a strategy for PlayStation Studios software on digital platforms beyond PlayStation hardware, including Steam, Epic Games Store, Xbox, and Nintendo (source: https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/sony-is-hiring-to-expand-playstation-studios-games-beyond-playstation-hardware-including-xbox-steam-nintendo-switch-and-more).
And now the company is releasing its games on multiple platforms—PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch—which marks a major shift from its previous strategy of keeping most titles exclusive to PlayStation. You can count third-party games too, since 90% of PlayStation exclusives are third-party titles. Among them: Helldivers 2, Final Fantasy VII Remake and other FF titles, Silent Hill F, Silent Hill 2, Death Stranding, Genshin Impact, Sifu, Kena, MLB The Show, Viewfinder, Nioh and Nioh 2, Octopath Traveler 1 and 2, Kingdom Hearts series—and I’m forgetting plenty more. The reality is that PlayStation has very few exclusives today, far fewer than during the PS4 generation.
Xbox develops its own games and controls its first-party titles—they’re not dependent on third-party deals. Think Starfield, Avowed, South of Midnight, Halo Infinite, Grounded 2, Towerborne, Forza Motorsport, etc. Xbox still keeps many games exclusive, even if some eventually get ported—they remain timed exclusives. PlayStation doesn’t have permanent exclusives anymore either, since everything ends up on PC, and therefore playable on Xbox (via Xbox ROG Ally, Xbox Magnus, etc.).
The console war and the battle over exclusives is over—Xbox changed the rules, and PlayStation is now following them. The real war now is not just for attention, but for ecosystems, services, and games. That’s where the business is—not in a plastic box collecting dust by the millions. What matters is the player, the number of active players—that’s what counts. Xbox knows it, and PlayStation, even if they woke up a bit late, knows it too.
Re: Poll: Now That The Dust Has Settled, Which Xbox Game Pass Tier Are You Subscribed To?
@Fiendish-Beaver I'm not saying the opposite, I was one of the first to express disagreement with the price hike, even if they added some extra value in return. The issue isn't so much the price increase itself, but how the offer is structured, overloading Game Pass ultimate with services that not all players will use (Fortnite Crew, better xCloud, Ubisoft Classics, etc.). They should have offered basic plans with an add-on system where you choose what you want and only pay for what you actually use.
As for the 40% cancellation rate, even though I know there were unsubscribes, if it really were 40%, Xbox would have backtracked. Let's be realistic. You can't confuse the small media bubble of video games with actual reality.
Re: Hit PS5 Exclusive Stellar Blade May Be On The Way To Xbox In The Near Future
@DennisReynolds Stellar Blade wasn't developed by Sony, they only published it. And yes, Sony needs it to release on other platforms, just like the game's developer, the Korean studio Shift Up. I'm not making this up, Sony's CEO said it: 'The future is multi-platform.
Re: Helldivers 2 Is Doing 'Extremely Well', Thanks In Part To 'Attracting New Users On Xbox'
Once again, despite a smaller console base, we can see that Xbox players’ engagement rate is higher than that of PlayStation players. It makes you wonder what’s the point of all those PlayStation consoles sold if nobody is actually playing on them.
Re: Ex-Nintendo Boss: Xbox Isn't 'Directly' Competing Anymore, But There'll Always Be A War
he said the same thing as satya nadella:
"there’s always going to be a battle for attention and mindshare"
Beyond that, what I’d say is that the war now is about the ecosystem, the services, and the games. Whoever is the best in that area will earn the most revenue. The console war and exclusives no longer exist because the rules have changed — Xbox changed the rules, and now PlayStation is following those same rules, moving toward the end of exclusives, more multiplatform releases, and more cloud gaming beyond its own console. It makes sense, because that’s where the business is, not by staying locked inside a small ecosystem. But the problem for PlayStation is that outside of their console, they’re not on familiar ground, and PC players in particular aren’t as easily manipulated as their community that’s ready to swallow anything (PS+ price hikes with nothing in return, higher game prices, a generation sacrificed to remakes, etc.).
Re: Poll: Now That The Dust Has Settled, Which Xbox Game Pass Tier Are You Subscribed To?
Still on Ultimate, I’m stacked until 2027. And given the number of pro‑PlayStation people in the comments, I don’t believe the cancellation figures at all — they must be much lower.
It’s still a very good plan, though less than before of course. But once my subscription ends, I’ll probably switch to PC Game Pass.
Re: Hit PS5 Exclusive Stellar Blade May Be On The Way To Xbox In The Near Future
And yet another PlayStation game on Xbox, just like 90% of PlayStation exclusives, since 90% of their exclusives come from third‑party publishers. In fact, if you count third‑party titles, there are more former PlayStation exclusives on Xbox than the other way around. And there are fewer and fewer PlayStation exclusives because fewer publishers are willing to make exclusive games, due to production costs and simply because it’s not profitable to develop for a single platform.
Re: The Timing Of Xbox's 25th Anniversary Just Got A Lot More Awkward
And in the parallel conversation on the subject, yes, it was confirmed by Sarah Bond: the next Xbox will be fully backward compatible and will be able to play both versions (if there are two) of Xbox games, knowing that upcoming titles will be released much likely developpedin Xbox PC versions, with certinaly a trabsition phase and developpeld also on cross gen
Re: The Timing Of Xbox's 25th Anniversary Just Got A Lot More Awkward
Given the mess right now and according to leaks from a Rockstar employee, the release of GTA 6 will be delayed again. If this keeps up, it will really be for the next generation
Re: The Timing Of Xbox's 25th Anniversary Just Got A Lot More Awkward
The question is: ‘Isn’t this on purpose?’ Could it be a partnership between GTA6 and Xbox? Maybe a special GTA6 edition of Xbox consoles, GTA6‑branded controllers, GTA6 in Game Pass, lol, why not, it would be a huge move! Microsoft objectively has the means, but will they do it?
Or perhaps the launch of their new Xbox Magnus console at the same time as GTA6’s release, to play under the best conditions, that would be more likely, though!
In any case, I don’t really believe in coincidences.
Re: Xbox Highlights Four 'Exciting Updates' Added In Latest Development Kit Release
@Coletrain In your opinion, which is the bigger market, PC or PlayStation? If you can answer that question, you’ll also have your answer.
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.