Comments 480

Re: Review: Gears Of War: Reloaded - An Xbox Classic That Flourishes On Modern Hardware

fatpunkslim

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

fatpunkslim

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

fatpunkslim

@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

fatpunkslim

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: Microsoft 'Wraps Up' Xbox Series X|S Era As Hardware Chief Teases What's Next

fatpunkslim

@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

fatpunkslim

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'?

fatpunkslim

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: Ex-PlayStation Exec Still Not Convinced By 'Dangerous' Xbox Game Pass Model

fatpunkslim

@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

fatpunkslim

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

fatpunkslim

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

fatpunkslim

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: 'Days Gone' Tweet Attracts The Attention Of Xbox Fans, But Don't Get Your Hopes Up

fatpunkslim

@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: Report: Starfield PS5 Port Planned For Spring 2026 Alongside New Expansion

fatpunkslim

Two and a half years later on PlayStation, it confirms the strategy of timed exclusivity when it comes to new franchises and games that have historically been Xbox exclusives, because so far absolutely no game has launched day one on other consoles, except those that were already multiplatform. A gew years later is enough to maintain the ecosystem’s appeal and prioritize Xbox players, while making the franchise profitable again in order to fund future Xbox games.

@Millionski : As usual, the review scores will be better, and strangely even the media outlets that are usually critical of Xbox will find that, in the end, the game is actually very good. That said, the game has genuinely improved, and like millions of players, I’ve spent hundreds of hours on it, which is generally a sign of a good game, although there are always things that could be improved.

Re: Xbox Game Pass Annual Revenue Nears $5 Billion For First Time, Says Microsoft CEO

fatpunkslim

$5 billion is pretty impressive, definitely due to the rise of Game Pass, but also the increase in subscribers—I'd love to know how many there are. Either way, Xbox’s strategy is a win for Microsoft, for Xbox, and especially for the players. I've never enjoyed Xbox games and Game Pass this much. I just finished Still Wakes The Deep (which has been on Game Pass for a while), and I loved the atmosphere.

Funny how the article’s author seems surprised that 40 games are in development—it was already announced before, and it's no surprise given Xbox studios' production pace and the sheer number of them. The ecosystem offers multiple ways to play: on console, PC, cloud, Game Pass—plus the ability to play across platforms with a single purchase thanks to Xbox Play Anywhere. They’re the only ones doing that. It’s truly a game-changer, especially as more and more players switch between devices, like from console to PC or portable console to Xbox.

@Simu001: it's the entire industry, and Xbox is far from the worst—on the contrary. EA, Ubisoft, Epic have laid off far more people. Even PlayStation cut 10% of its workforce, which is proportionally more than Xbox. At the same time, Xbox hired and even created studios. It’s just the current state of the industry, nothing specific to Xbox.

With AI, it's the same story. You could mention the Aloy leak animated via AI. It’s obvious that to deal with production cost constraints across the video game industry, AI has become one of the solutions.

Re: PlayStation's Q2 2025 Sales Charts Are In, And Xbox Is Dominating The List (US)

fatpunkslim

@Coletrain You clearly haven’t been following the news closely—PlayStation recently posted a job listing for a head of multiplatform strategy, explicitly mentioning Steam, Xbox, and the Switch. And this isn’t actually new: Sony’s CEO had already expressed a desire to pursue a more multiplatform approach. We can already see that shift with games like Death Stranding and Helldivers 2. Sony’s shareholders have made their choice, and it’s the multiplatform path—even if the hardcore blue-brand fans aren’t too happy about it.

Re: Report: Two Of Xbox's Upcoming First-Party Titles Are In Development For PS5

fatpunkslim

@Vaako007 I both agree and disagree! Why be disappointed that Gears 1 is coming to PlayStation? It’ll definitely create desire among PS players — and that’s precisely why it won’t launch day one on PS, just like every former Xbox exclusive. This desire will push that player base to dive in on day one by joining the Xbox ecosystem: whether through Game Pass, buying it on Steam or Xbox, or playing via the cloud. Xbox offers multiple entry points, and that’s what makes it awesome.

Re: Report: Two Of Xbox's Upcoming First-Party Titles Are In Development For PS5

fatpunkslim

It’s either going to be games that are already multiplatform, or older titles that have already launched. But I don't believe it’ll be State of Decay 3 or Gears E-Day, which would completely contradict their strategy so far. Not a single game has launched day one on other platforms, except for titles that have historically been multiplatform. That’s just a fact. If it happens, it would mark a major shift in their strategy, contrary to what the article’s author claims.

But to me, it would make no logical sense. Until now, their historically exclusive titles have never released day one elsewhere; they benefit from temporary exclusivity, then cash in again a few years later on other platforms.

What’s funny is that this fake rumor came out at the exact same time as PlayStation’s official multiplatform pivot, which clearly shows that some media outlets are really in PlayStation’s pocket and trying to put out the fire.

What’s funny is that there’s absolutely no source or screenshot of this job description.

Re: Microsoft CEO Comments On Recent Xbox Layoffs, Doubles Down On AI

fatpunkslim

"We'd like to add that we are still thinking about the thousands of jobs that have just been cut over at Xbox" ???

There's a major error in the article — the CEO is speaking about Microsoft as a whole. We have absolutely no figures specific to Xbox, and we're definitely not talking about thousands of job cuts. Where are these numbers coming from? Based on cross-referencing multiple sources, the layoffs on the Xbox side are more likely to be in the hundreds.

Re: Xbox Game Pass Contributed To 'An All-Time High' For Subscription Spending Last Month (US)

fatpunkslim

There are currently more games to play on Xbox than on any other platform. Xbox is the number one game publisher. PlayStation doesn't make games—what games are even worth playing on PlayStation that aren't already on Xbox? All the former PlayStation exclusives are coming to Xbox, even Black Myth: Wukong, and soon Silent Hill and Death Stranding 2. What’s honestly left on PlayStation? Don’t talk to me about old games you’ve already played ten times on PC.

Meanwhile, we get tons of day-one releases on Game Pass, and objectively even more exclusives on Xbox: Avowed, South of Midnight, MechaBreak, Grounded 2.

Some people still don’t get it—a timed exclusive is still an exclusive. If some want to be second-class players and play games years later, good for them. I’ve spent hundreds of hours on Starfield and moved on—great if others get to enjoy it years after, but they’re catching up late. And let’s be real: if you want to enjoy Gears E-Day, Fable, Forza Horizon 6, and a ton of other day-one titles, it won’t happen elsewhere. Not a single historically exclusive game has ever launched day one outside the Xbox ecosystem—go ahead, look it up, good luck! 99% of games released day one on multiple platforms were already multiplatform titles. Just facts !

Re: Rumour: Xbox Is Working On Next-Gen Cloud Gaming, Including PC-Based Streaming

fatpunkslim

The standardization between PC and console will allow cloud gaming to overcome one of its biggest limitations— up until now, cloud servers were based on Xbox hardware with their limits. That won’t be the case going forward, and this shift will truly allow Xcloud to take off, leave its beta phase behind, and compete effectively with players like GeForce Now, with 4K 60 FPS

@Kaloudz: A PC architecture is far more scalable than console hardware—both in terms of performance and cost. One of the key reasons Xcloud has struggled to stay competitive against services like GeForce Now is because its servers have been built around Xbox consoles.

With PC-based machines, everything becomes more efficient. Hardware between PC and console gets standardized, which not only boosts overall performance but also creates economies of scale that reduce costs. This shift could truly unlock the full potential of Xcloud.

Re: Microsoft Planning To 'Restructure' Xbox Distribution In Central Europe, Says Report

fatpunkslim

As usual, people are making assumptions based on nothing concrete, even though the article is well written and clearly cautious about potential hypotheses. On the other hand, the comments are full of the usual overreactions from the same familiar people. It reminds me of the fake rumor about Xbox pulling out of the Middle East, which turned out to be completely false. And even in Europe, it’s not the first time we’ve seen similar unfounded rumors. > > That said, it’s true that Xbox has very little retail presence compared to PlayStation or Nintendo. But beyond staffing, it mostly comes down to the financial investment and marketing Xbox is willing to make in physical distribution.

Re: According To Sales Estimates, Final Fantasy 16 Had A Rough First Week On Xbox

fatpunkslim

The main issue is that there are so many games to play on Xbox, especially thanks to Game Pass, that it's hard to find time to play FF16. It's not like Xbox is lacking in games. I also think the communication and marketing around the release of FF16 on Xbox weren't up to par. There are probably other reasons, like the fact that some Xbox owners also have a PC and could have played it there, or the price for a game that was released two years ago. All these factors contribute to the poor sales."

Re: ASUS Explains Why The ROG Xbox Ally Doesn't Have An OLED Screen

fatpunkslim

Absolutely agree: performance and price are more important than OLED, which only provides deeper blacks and differences that are barely noticeable in gaming.

That said, if it works well, it’s possible that a version with OLED and VRR may be released later, but for now, I fully support this choice.

Beyond that, we can see that Xbox and Microsoft have implemented data mining processes to truly consider consumer feedback and use it to optimize both software and hardware, which is excellent. Not sure that Nintendo or Sony take player feedback as seriously, given the decisions they make.

Re: MindsEye Releases To Zero Reviews, But Here's What The Players Are Saying

fatpunkslim

After watching a few gameplay videos, I can say that it doesn't look appealing at all. They put everything into the cinematics, but the game itself feels outdated—the technology is old, the gameplay is very weak, with even some absurd sequences like cardiac resuscitation, which has no real purpose. Tracking enemies from a drone is dull, and so on. They hid the game's weaknesses behind beautiful cinematics, but cinematics alone do not make a great game.

Those who enjoy the game are really not very demanding, and it's often the same people who criticize Ubisoft games. Say what you want, but Ubisoft knows how to create open worlds with solid technical execution. In MindsEye, you can't even get out of the car during a mission—it's a linear and heavily scripted game.

Re: Five Reasons Why I'm Incredibly Excited For The ROG Xbox Ally Handheld

fatpunkslim

after checking comments here and there on YouTube and social media, I see a huge hype for this ROG Xbox Ally. Many people say they're happy to skip the Switch 2 in favor of the Xbox handheld. And honestly, I feel the same way. It's the only console offering a unified game library, where you can access on the same place all your Game Pass titles, Xbox games, Steam, Epic, and Battle.net. Xbox Play Anywhere is a major selling point, making it more appealing to keep buying games on the Xbox store. Add to that better performance, longer battery life, and an interface that kill all non-gaming processes, it’s a brilliant idea. Plus, with the ergonomics of Xbox controllers and haptic feedback, this really feels like the ultimate console.

Re: Here's Everything That Was Revealed At The Xbox Games Showcase 2025

fatpunkslim

It's pretty crazy that even without showcasing big AAA titles like Fable, Gears E-Day, Forza Horizon, Blade, Perfect Dark, state of decay 3, and others, Xbox still managed to deliver the best conference of the Summer Game Fest. There were huge announcements, like the Indiana Jones DLC, Black Ops 7, Plague Tale Resonance, Final Fantasy, Clockwork Revolution, Ninja Gaiden 4, Outer Worlds 2, and High on Life 2.

Everything is Xbox Play Anywhere, proving that third-party publishers are willingly embracing the ecosystem—great news for Xbox players. Almost everything is coming to Game Pass, and there were even some exclusives: Clockwork Revolution, Grounded 2, There Are No Ghosts at the Grand, Solo Leveling Arise, Animo, and Keeper.

So, yes, it could have been better—not quite as amazing as last year, which was exceptional—but it's impressive to see how much Xbox still has up its sleeve. A very solid conference. And It's pretty normal that they're saving some of the really big games for Xbox's 25th anniversary.

Re: Surprise! Black Myth: Wukong Finally Has A Release Date For Xbox

fatpunkslim

@Dimey Or maybe it’s a date that suits them well and allows them to blur the lines—and you fell for it. A port takes time to prepare, and exactly one year? That’s no coincidence. I think Game Science is more concerned with business, money, and the contract signed with Sony than with a symbolic date.

You're free to believe in this anniversary date theory to mislead people, but we all know the truth.

Re: Surprise! Black Myth: Wukong Finally Has A Release Date For Xbox

fatpunkslim

Of course, it was only a temporary exclusivity—who seriously doubted that? The real question is why they hid it and why even the studio lied about it. I feel like it was meant to cast doubt on the idea that publishers are abandoning Xbox, and that's exactly what some media outlets implied. I think it was a strategy orchestrated by Sony to tarnish Xbox's reputation—that's the only logical explanation I see.

What’s certain is that PlayStation has fewer and fewer exclusives because it heavily relies on third-party publishers and almost no third-party publisher wants to make exclusives for a single console anymore. Just look at their latest State of Play, which had practically no exclusives and 11 games coming to Xbox. Even Xbox currently has more exclusives than PlayStation, even if some are temporary. And the next Xbox Showcase will once again prove it.

Re: Sony Has Approached Subscriptions 'Healthier' Than Xbox, Says Former PlayStation Boss

fatpunkslim

PS+ is so "healthy" that they keep losing subscribers and are miles away from Game Pass. And let's talk about how difficult and expensive it is for third-party developers to get visibility on the PlayStation store.

Xbox, on the other hand, supports the gaming industry by injecting billions into third-party studios to foster creativity and innovation. You certainly can't say PlayStation is doing the same...

This is just the statement of a bitter guy who probably got a little check from PS to say this kind of nonsense.

Re: How To Unlock Forza Horizon 5's New Xbox / PS5 Lamborghini For Free

fatpunkslim

@Sindayl 90% of Sony's exclusives are third-party games, so they can't lock anything down except by spending colossal amounts of money to maintain exclusivity.

And it's clear—many former PlayStation exclusives are already on Xbox, like several Final Fantasy titles, with more to come. Square Enix has stopped making exclusives for Sony like most third-party publishers for whom it is no longer profitable, and other games like Death Stranding—the franchise now owned by Kojima—have followed suit. The first game DS is available on Xbox, and DS 2 will make its way on Xbox after its temporary exclusivity ends. Silent Hill 2 Remake is also set to release on Xbox this fall.

There are plenty of other PlayStation exclusives that have landed on Xbox, including Sifu, Kena, Forspoken, Genshin Impact, Predator: Hunting Grounds, the Persona series, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, MLB The Show, Tchia, Solar Ash, Nioh, Kingdom Hearts, Tales of Arise, Octopath Traveler, and more.

Looking at it closely, PlayStation has lost a significant number of exclusives because it relies heavily on third-party publishers for whom it is no longer profitable making exclusivities for PS. By comparison, there are very few PS first-party exclusive games in the end.

In fact, if we consider third-party titles, there are even more former PlayStation exclusives now available on Xbox than the reverse.

And right now, Xbox has released more exclusive games than PlayStation, like Stalker 2, Avowed, South of Midnight, etc... What has PlayStation released recently? Nothing.