Actually, Xbox has put PlayStation in a complicated position by forcing them to pull their games from PC, since Project Helix is capable of running all Xbox and PC games. But that doesn’t change the fact that:
It doesn’t make much difference anyway, considering how few single‑player first‑party games PlayStation releases.
The PC game catalog is 30–40% larger than any console catalog.
The era when “PlayStation” was synonymous with exceptional, high‑quality games is over; third‑party studios are doing much better today. Sony’s latest releases have been average, and they’re sitting at 21st place on Metacritic, while Xbox is 5th.
In the past, PlayStation had a lot of third‑party exclusive titles. That’s no longer the case — almost all third‑party publishers now release their games on PC and/or Xbox. In reality, PlayStation has far fewer exclusives than before. In fact, Xbox has recovered more former PlayStation third‑party exclusives than Xbox has sent exclusives to other consoles.
As a consequence of all this, PlayStation is losing money, producing fewer games than before, making more remakes, and increasing subscription prices. PS+ was raised again recently, while Game Pass actually went down in price. They’re stuck in a corner and have to compensate by squeezing their player base.
But in the medium to long term, it’s not clear that this strategy is viable, because it means they will depend entirely on their own closed ecosystem — in an era where players are gaming across more and more different devices.
That said, Xbox must continue releasing its games on PC, the cloud, and Xbox consoles, and keep two‑year timed exclusives to other consoles. It's enough to make PlayStation a second‑tier console and push players to prioritize the Xbox ecosystem to play Xbox games.
@Kezelpaso I get it but Please, stop going on and on about the animations. For me, It’s a good thing that they’re subtle. What do you even want, seriously — fireworks every two seconds, cars jumping all over the place on a loop? Then people would complain that it’s too much, too distracting, too repetitive, etc. It’s just a background; it needs to blend nicely into the scenery without taking center stage, because the game tiles should remain the stars of the UI.
@Skinny-Pete Given the strategic changes initiated by Aasha, they won’t rush to release it on PlayStation. And FH5 came out four years later and still sold extremely well, so there’s no urgency to bring it to other platforms.
@Nic-Noc20th-C Maybe FH5 alone isn’t enough, but if several Xbox franchises remain exclusive — even temporarily for at least two years (Gears, Halo, Fable, FH, Blade, State of Decay, Hellblade, etc.) — that’s inevitably a system seller.
Moreover, if we look at exclusives as a whole (first‑party and third‑party), Xbox has received more formerly PlayStation‑exclusive games than the reverse: Final Fantasy, Kena, Sifu, Death Stranding and many others, and soon Stellar Blade, DS2, etc
@FraserG We agree that this isn’t a new subscription ? This ‘Starter Edition’ isn’t available to non‑subscribers — only to Discord subscribers. It’s a perk for Discord Nitro members, meant, I suppose, to encourage them to subscribe to one of the real Game Pass plans.
I’m saying this because it feels like there’s some confusion among your readers 🙂
@Tdx A new perk for free, that’s cool. I barely use Discord, but for people who use it a lot, it’s interesting.
It’s not a new subscription, but rather a benefit for Discord Nitro subscribers — they get a catalog of 50 games.
And for Game Pass subscribers with the existing plans, these are just Discord perks.
There’s no new subscription, whether you’re not subscribed or already have Game Pass
@FraserG The video is 1h25 long, so I’m not sure you had time to watch everything, because in reality there’s quite a lot of interesting information in it. It’s true that it’s basically a big summary of what we already know, but they go much deeper into certain topics like the implementation of DirectX, ray tracing, shaders, texture compression, PC development tools, and so on.
There are also some interesting stats, like the fact that more than 50% of players use more than one device, and that Xbox Play Anywhere titles are played 2.2× longer than non–Play Anywhere games, and are purchased 2.1× more often.
Basically, Xbox is explaining to game developers that bringing their games to Xbox will earn them more money, and that it will be easier, faster, and cheaper than before.
At least this has the merit of shutting up those who claimed Aasha was there to push more AI onto consoles because of her past. When in reality, she spent most of her career in marketing and product development.
Personally, I think having some AI assistance in games isn’t a bad idea in itself, as long as it’s relevant and actually useful of course.
@Coletrain ASUS is the first to let its players benefit from the Default Game Profile, but there’s no doubt this will push other manufacturers like Logitech, Lenovo, etc., to implement it as well so they don’t fall behind and let ASUS keep that advantage alone. Basically, Xbox provides the tools, and it’s up to the manufacturers to use them, knowing that it’s in their best interest and in the players’ best interest. For this kind of feature, it makes sense that the manufacturer is the one implementing it, since it depends on the hardware. We can also be sure that the Default Game Profile will show up on Project Helix and other Xbox first‑party handhelds.
Too expensive, not comfortable, and according to some Reddit comments, they feel very cheap. Far from matching the comfort and compatibility of Xbox controllers
It doesn’t change anything concrete for players, but it’s still an additional and tangible signal that reinforces Asha’s intention to strengthen the Xbox identity.
@Skinny-Pete Of course! If you were expecting a radically different logo, that’s not the case, but I think this is not what the vast majority of players were asking for. In my opinion—and according to the general consensus—this new logo refresh is really good. The color is a callback to the original Xbox logo, and the 3D effect is a nod to the Xbox 360. Overall, it’s much more modern thanks to the glassy 3D look and the way the light reflects through it.
So in the end, it’s not just the color that’s changing — this new logo actually has personality, unlike the very flat and impersonal look of the old one
I played final fantasy vii remake intergrade thanks to a good discount on xbox, and even though i didn’t find the gameplay exceptional, i loved the story. i’ll probably pick up this sequel as well
Thank you Asha — her arrival at Xbox really feels like a masterclass. She clearly listens to what fans are saying, that’s undeniable. We still want more concrete proof, but the direction she’s taking so far is very good.
As for COD coming a year later, that works perfectly for me. In the meantime there are already so many day‑one games and others that it won’t make any difference. And with the money saved, those who want it can still buy it, and those who aren’t big COD fans end up saving money.
Shawn Layden is honestly the last person anyone should listen to, in my opinion. He has never said anything constructive and has always shown deep bad faith toward Xbox and Game Pass. He was already claiming a year ago that Game Pass wasn’t good for developers, even though the opposite has been proven many times. Many developers have expressed their enthusiasm for Game Pass, especially for the visibility it gives them and ultimately for the boost in sales it brings across all platforms. And strangely, he never says a word about PS+, even though the model is exactly the same — except with a smaller catalog and no day-one releases.
He is neither impartial nor objective on this topic, probably paid by PlayStation to fuel the console war. He’s basically one of the gurus for PlayStation haters anyway
But faced with this cynicism and bad faith, Asha once again shows intelligence: instead of playing his unpleasant game, she turns it around by being open and willing to listen. That’s the best possible response to someone bitter like him.
Wow, there’s definitely a love story going on between Xbox and Ukraine — the game looks stunning! Ukrainian studios really have a special touch when it comes to making games.
@Fiendish-Beaver As far as I know, PlayStation doesn’t have a subscription that includes only first‑party games.
And regarding a Game Pass with old Xbox titles: yes, they already have a bunch of them, and honestly, why not do what EA and Ubisoft do with their older catalogs — maybe even offer it on PlayStation. As long as it’s not day‑one releases and doesn’t include games that are too recent, it wouldn’t really hurt the Xbox ecosystem.
But if they do that, it’s yet another subscription on top of everything else. We’re already at four plans (Essential, Premium, PC, Ultimate). If they add a customizable plan, that makes six. So I don’t know… they really need to rethink their whole offering, otherwise it’s going to be a mess.
It’s great to see that since Asha took over, things are finally moving in the right direction. And given how things are going, and the signals she’s sending, it’s pretty clear that with this new leadership, Asha is going to make more games exclusive and/or extend the exclusivity periods.
She just needs to be clear about which games are concerned and for how long, because it’s the lack of communication that creates confusion.
Replaced, hades 2 , vampire crawlers, and I’m going to try Kiln as well — curious to see how it turns out. I might even be pleasantly surprised.
It’s not really my thing, but games like Football Manager, NHL 2026, or Modern Warfare (already played it, excellent) are big titles that will definitely interest a lot of players.
A cult game that definitely deserves a sequel. And honestly, if Remedy is putting out this kind of message, I can’t help wondering if something might already be in the works.
And When you look at the technical quality of the game, it really doesn’t feel like it’s 10 years old.
You can really feel a surge of positivity around Xbox, but the fundamentals still need to be proven. For now it’s mostly smoke — we need to see the fire behind it and make sure it’s not just a flash in the pan. What’s missing are real, strong decisions, especially regarding Game Pass and their exclusivity policy.
@Sol4ris Yeah, exactly — I’ve always bought the Xbox mid‑gen upgrades. And since there wasn’t one this time, I went for the PS5 Pro… but I really didn’t feel the same technical jump I got with the Xbox One X. And yeah, it’s mainly for third‑party games anyway!
I get that what I’m saying might bother some people, but the PS5 Pro was never unanimously praised — I’m far from the only one who feels this way. If some people think it’s good value for money, good for them. It’s just not the case for me, that’s all.
@FraserG So I checked as well, and apparently it’s inconsistent for backward‑compatible games. In theory it’s supposed to work, but it doesn’t on every title, and when it does, the results vary from game to game. Basically, from what I understand, VRR on PlayStation just isn’t as solid as on Xbox.
"VRR works for backwards compatible games on Xbox, whereas it doesn't on the PS5 Pro."
What a joke, seriously! I’m glad I sold my PS5 Pro — what a scam. (Yeah, I actually had it in my hands for a few weeks before getting rid of it.)
Of course, this isn’t the case for every game, but the number of titles where the PS5 is noticeably more powerful than the Series X is tiny. Most of the time, the differences are barely noticeable, identical, or even better on the Series X — like in this example.
Basically, for this game, the Series X is more powerful, and on top of that, cheaper.
As for backward compatibility, PlayStation has always been behind anyway. They clearly have no real intention of improving in that area — there’s just no financial incentive for them.
@Fiendish-Beaver @Shinato2024 I actually agree with both of you — we’re not talking about just any company here. But since this is for the 25th anniversary, Xbox had probably planned things on a large scale well in advance. That said, a company like Microsoft definitely has the resources to speed things up much more than most others.
I’m seeing the same thing on the Microsoft Store, and it’s actually pretty nice.
That said, honestly, I don’t find the difference with xbox pc app that striking either — it’s mostly the Game Pass section that really stands out on the Microsoft Store
Great news — it’s one of the most iconic games and one of the most anticipated by PC players. And to think that the next Xbox console will give access to this kind of game, knowing that 30–40% of all game releases are PC‑only.
That’s when you realize Xbox’s strategy is the right one: players will have access to far more games than any traditional console catalog could ever offer
@themightyant Honestly, if it’s free, there’s no reason to complain, i agree with @Globo . Watching ads in exchange for a free version of Game Pass would be totally fair.
But if something like that ever existed, let’s be realistic: even with ads, it wouldn’t give full access to the entire game catalog. That’s just not possible — ad revenue alone wouldn’t be enough to cover the costs.
@Shinato2024 Yes, definitely — it’s still worrying though. It’s not that I dislike Chinese games, but there’s a real risk of seeing more games pushed toward a certain kind of standardized format.
It just doesn’t stop these past few months: Eidos Montréal, the studio behind Highguard, Epic Games with over 1,000 layoffs, Bluepoint Games (PlayStation) shut down in February 2026, and Dark Outlaw Games (PlayStation) closed in March 2026.
Meanwhile, it feels like Chinese and correan studios are the ones really gaining momentum, while Western studios keep shutting down or laying off
The BG3 director should really stop saying nonsense, seriously. On one hand, players complain that Game Pass Ultimate is too expensive, and then he shows up acting all delicate saying the opposite. How exactly would cheaper pricing ‘hurt the industry’?
If a subscription tier is cheaper, its value is lower too — that’s all.
He also shouldn’t forget that Xbox games launch on Game Pass as well, so Microsoft has zero interest in hurting their own studios.
Honestly, he should stick to what he actually knows how to do and stop giving advice in areas he clearly doesn’t understand.
@Fiendish-Beaver $1500 is really the most pessimistic price I’ve heard based on the rumors. I really don’t think it will reach that level. And don’t forget there will be cheaper OEM versions.
Also, don’t forget that launching a new console with a strong lineup of games — especially if they’re exclusives — is a strategy that works. It has been proven time and time again across generations and across all console manufacturers.
Releasing Gears E-Day along with other games alongside the new console makes total sense from a business and marketing standpoint — that’s undeniable. For instance, PlayStation always keep their system sellers for the launch of new consoles (and then, not much followed).
Even back when the Xbox 360 launched, there was a strong lineup of exclusive games, and Gears of War came out less than a year later, which also helped boost the console.
But as usual, between You and me, it’s always pessimism versus optimism
Honestly, they should release Gears E-Day at the same time as the next console, and make it a timed exclusive (PC and Xbox consoles) for at least two years. They’d sell a ton of consoles that way
@fraserG I’d add two points that, for me, should be top priority.
> First, they need to rethink how the entire Game Pass offering is structured.
> And second, they need to rethink their exclusivity strategy. I’m not talking about reversing course on permanent exclusives, but about finding a balance — for example, using two‑year timed exclusives for the big franchises (not for already‑multiplayer games like COD or Doom)
> As for the other points in the article, I completely agree about the need for clear communication — something that leaves no room for interpretation and shuts down rumors before they even start
Otherwise, for now the early days of the Asha + Matt Booty duo are very encouraging, but we still need more confirmation — especially on the two points mentioned above.
@Fiendish-Beaver I’ve always said the same thing on this topic. And yes, without that little spark between us, it’s less fun , you need a bit of showmanship from time to time, it makes the conversation more lively.
In any case, since the short time she’s been in charge, she’s been sending positive and encouraging signals. She does seem open‑minded, and she doesn’t appear to have any preconceived ideas about Xbox’s strategy. She also seems ready to rethink things in depth, whether it’s Game Pass or the exclusivity policy.
Now I’m waiting to see how she adjusts Game Pass — that will be the real test to see whether she truly understands what players want and what’s best for Xbox overall.
Basically, they need to add a customizable subscription, and remember that Game Pass is above all a game catalog, not a bundle of services most people won’t use but will still end up paying for.
Same thing for the exclusivity strategy: they need to clearly return to timed exclusives (2 years for major first‑party franchises, 1 year for smaller first‑party titles, and keep things as they are for games that were already multiplatform before acquisitions, like COD, Doom, etc.).
Comments 973
Re: Digital Foundry Labels Sony's PS5 Exclusivity Pivot As A 'Defensive Move Against Project Helix'
Actually, Xbox has put PlayStation in a complicated position by forcing them to pull their games from PC, since Project Helix is capable of running all Xbox and PC games. But that doesn’t change the fact that:
As a consequence of all this, PlayStation is losing money, producing fewer games than before, making more remakes, and increasing subscription prices. PS+ was raised again recently, while Game Pass actually went down in price. They’re stuck in a corner and have to compensate by squeezing their player base.
But in the medium to long term, it’s not clear that this strategy is viable, because it means they will depend entirely on their own closed ecosystem — in an era where players are gaming across more and more different devices.
That said, Xbox must continue releasing its games on PC, the cloud, and Xbox consoles, and keep two‑year timed exclusives to other consoles. It's enough to make PlayStation a second‑tier console and push players to prioritize the Xbox ecosystem to play Xbox games.
Re: Two New Xbox Series X|S Backgrounds Added To Celebrate The Launch Of Forza Horizon 6
@Kezelpaso I get it but Please, stop going on and on about the animations. For me, It’s a good thing that they’re subtle. What do you even want, seriously — fireworks every two seconds, cars jumping all over the place on a loop? Then people would complain that it’s too much, too distracting, too repetitive, etc. It’s just a background; it needs to blend nicely into the scenery without taking center stage, because the game tiles should remain the stars of the UI.
A background is a back ground
Re: Xbox Execs Congratulate Forza Horizon 6 Dev On 'Exceptionally Rare' Success
Bravo Playground Games, we hope Fable will follow the same path — though I don’t really have any doubts, coming from such an exceptional studio.
Re: Forza Horizon 6 Is Immensely Popular Already, Even In Early Access
@Skinny-Pete Given the strategic changes initiated by Aasha, they won’t rush to release it on PlayStation. And FH5 came out four years later and still sold extremely well, so there’s no urgency to bring it to other platforms.
@Nic-Noc20th-C Maybe FH5 alone isn’t enough, but if several Xbox franchises remain exclusive — even temporarily for at least two years (Gears, Halo, Fable, FH, Blade, State of Decay, Hellblade, etc.) — that’s inevitably a system seller.
Moreover, if we look at exclusives as a whole (first‑party and third‑party), Xbox has received more formerly PlayStation‑exclusive games than the reverse: Final Fantasy, Kena, Sifu, Death Stranding and many others, and soon Stellar Blade, DS2, etc
Re: Discord Partners With Xbox For 'Starter Edition' Of Game Pass, Includes 50+ Titles
@Markatron84 Come on guys, make an effort — read the other comments. This isn’t a new subscription
Re: Discord Partners With Xbox For 'Starter Edition' Of Game Pass, Includes 50+ Titles
@FraserG We agree that this isn’t a new subscription ? This ‘Starter Edition’ isn’t available to non‑subscribers — only to Discord subscribers. It’s a perk for Discord Nitro members, meant, I suppose, to encourage them to subscribe to one of the real Game Pass plans.
I’m saying this because it feels like there’s some confusion among your readers 🙂
Re: Discord Partners With Xbox For 'Starter Edition' Of Game Pass, Includes 50+ Titles
@Tdx A new perk for free, that’s cool. I barely use Discord, but for people who use it a lot, it’s interesting.
It’s not a new subscription, but rather a benefit for Discord Nitro subscribers — they get a catalog of 50 games.
And for Game Pass subscribers with the existing plans, these are just Discord perks.
There’s no new subscription, whether you’re not subscribed or already have Game Pass
Re: Game Pass Platformer Replaced Sees Progression & Chapter Select Fixes In New Xbox Update
I’ve already finished it, didn’t run into any particular issues, this game is a little gem
Re: Xbox Teases More Project Helix News For 2026, Shares Full Presentation From GDC
@FraserG The video is 1h25 long, so I’m not sure you had time to watch everything, because in reality there’s quite a lot of interesting information in it. It’s true that it’s basically a big summary of what we already know, but they go much deeper into certain topics like the implementation of DirectX, ray tracing, shaders, texture compression, PC development tools, and so on.
There are also some interesting stats, like the fact that more than 50% of players use more than one device, and that Xbox Play Anywhere titles are played 2.2× longer than non–Play Anywhere games, and are purchased 2.1× more often.
Basically, Xbox is explaining to game developers that bringing their games to Xbox will earn them more money, and that it will be easier, faster, and cheaper than before.
Re: Xbox CEO Reveals New Start-Up Animation Coming To Consoles Next Week
The subtle little lighting effects, the new logo, the small lens flare on the right side. Even the sound has changed slightly. I’m a fan!
Re: Xbox To Retire Features That Don't Align With Future Plans, Starting With Copilot AI
At least this has the merit of shutting up those who claimed Aasha was there to push more AI onto consoles because of her past. When in reality, she spent most of her career in marketing and product development.
Personally, I think having some AI assistance in games isn’t a bad idea in itself, as long as it’s relevant and actually useful of course.
Re: Xbox Series X's 4K Mode Gets Resolution Increase For Gamerpics & Other Artwork
It makes the dashboard look much cleaner
Re: Xbox Reveals List Of 28 Titles With New Improvements For The ROG Xbox Ally
@Coletrain ASUS is the first to let its players benefit from the Default Game Profile, but there’s no doubt this will push other manufacturers like Logitech, Lenovo, etc., to implement it as well so they don’t fall behind and let ASUS keep that advantage alone.
Basically, Xbox provides the tools, and it’s up to the manufacturers to use them, knowing that it’s in their best interest and in the players’ best interest. For this kind of feature, it makes sense that the manufacturer is the one implementing it, since it depends on the hardware.
We can also be sure that the Default Game Profile will show up on Project Helix and other Xbox first‑party handhelds.
Re: Steam Controller Vs. Xbox Controller: What The Critics Are Saying So Far
Too expensive, not comfortable, and according to some Reddit comments, they feel very cheap. Far from matching the comfort and compatibility of Xbox controllers
Re: Microsoft Issues Xbox Email Addresses As Part Of 'Strengthening The Xbox Identity'
It doesn’t change anything concrete for players, but it’s still an additional and tangible signal that reinforces Asha’s intention to strengthen the Xbox identity.
Re: 'Working On It' - Asha Sharma Confirms Dynamic Background For New Xbox Logo Is In The Works
@Skinny-Pete yeah, I get it — I’ve got my own little obsessions sometimes too
Re: 'Working On It' - Asha Sharma Confirms Dynamic Background For New Xbox Logo Is In The Works
@Fiendish-Beaver 😂 "the way the light reflects through it" I know you liked this part... 😂
Re: 'Working On It' - Asha Sharma Confirms Dynamic Background For New Xbox Logo Is In The Works
@Skinny-Pete Of course! If you were expecting a radically different logo, that’s not the case, but I think this is not what the vast majority of players were asking for. In my opinion—and according to the general consensus—this new logo refresh is really good. The color is a callback to the original Xbox logo, and the 3D effect is a nod to the Xbox 360. Overall, it’s much more modern thanks to the glassy 3D look and the way the light reflects through it.
So in the end, it’s not just the color that’s changing — this new logo actually has personality, unlike the very flat and impersonal look of the old one
Re: Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Headlines Batch Of New Free Demos On The Xbox Store
I played final fantasy vii remake intergrade thanks to a good discount on xbox, and even though i didn’t find the gameplay exceptional, i loved the story. i’ll probably pick up this sequel as well
Re: Call Of Duty Titles Will No Longer Join Xbox Game Pass On Day One
Thank you Asha — her arrival at Xbox really feels like a masterclass. She clearly listens to what fans are saying, that’s undeniable. We still want more concrete proof, but the direction she’s taking so far is very good.
As for COD coming a year later, that works perfectly for me. In the meantime there are already so many day‑one games and others that it won’t make any difference. And with the money saved, those who want it can still buy it, and those who aren’t big COD fans end up saving money.
Re: Xbox Boss Wants A 'Chat' With Ex-PlayStation Exec Over Criticisms Of Game Pass
Shawn Layden is honestly the last person anyone should listen to, in my opinion. He has never said anything constructive and has always shown deep bad faith toward Xbox and Game Pass. He was already claiming a year ago that Game Pass wasn’t good for developers, even though the opposite has been proven many times. Many developers have expressed their enthusiasm for Game Pass, especially for the visibility it gives them and ultimately for the boost in sales it brings across all platforms. And strangely, he never says a word about PS+, even though the model is exactly the same — except with a smaller catalog and no day-one releases.
He is neither impartial nor objective on this topic, probably paid by PlayStation to fuel the console war. He’s basically one of the gurus for PlayStation haters anyway
But faced with this cynicism and bad faith, Asha once again shows intelligence: instead of playing his unpleasant game, she turns it around by being open and willing to listen. That’s the best possible response to someone bitter like him.
Re: Multiple New Screenshots Revealed For Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, Coming To Xbox Game Pass
Exclusive? Usually they mention at the end of the trailer if it’s multiplatform, but here they don’t. Interesting! Maybe timed exclusive ...
And yeah, it looks gorgeous !
Re: Metro 2039 Is Coming To Xbox This Winter, Gorgeous In-Engine Gameplay Revealed
Wow, there’s definitely a love story going on between Xbox and Ukraine — the game looks stunning! Ukrainian studios really have a special touch when it comes to making games.
Re: Report: New Game Pass Tier Exclusive To First-Party Games 'Under Consideration' At Xbox
@Fiendish-Beaver As far as I know, PlayStation doesn’t have a subscription that includes only first‑party games.
And regarding a Game Pass with old Xbox titles: yes, they already have a bunch of them, and honestly, why not do what EA and Ubisoft do with their older catalogs — maybe even offer it on PlayStation. As long as it’s not day‑one releases and doesn’t include games that are too recent, it wouldn’t really hurt the Xbox ecosystem.
But if they do that, it’s yet another subscription on top of everything else. We’re already at four plans (Essential, Premium, PC, Ultimate). If they add a customizable plan, that makes six. So I don’t know… they really need to rethink their whole offering, otherwise it’s going to be a mess.
Re: Xbox Is Having 'Very Big Discussions' About Exclusivity, Says Reporter
It’s great to see that since Asha took over, things are finally moving in the right direction. And given how things are going, and the signals she’s sending, it’s pretty clear that with this new leadership, Asha is going to make more games exclusive and/or extend the exclusivity periods.
She just needs to be clear about which games are concerned and for how long, because it’s the lack of communication that creates confusion.
Re: These 19 Games Are Coming To Xbox Game Pass (April 7-23)
Replaced, hades 2 , vampire crawlers, and I’m going to try Kiln as well — curious to see how it turns out. I might even be pleasantly surprised.
It’s not really my thing, but games like Football Manager, NHL 2026, or Modern Warfare (already played it, excellent) are big titles that will definitely interest a lot of players.
Re: Quantum Break Actor Celebrates 10th Anniversary Of The 2016 Xbox Console Exclusive
@Banjo- "I still have to play the Alan Wake and Control games, that I also own"
Seriously? What are you waiting for? They’re not even that long to finish!
Yeah, I know… your backlog is huge... But still — we’re talking about Remedy cult classics here, and they’re pretty short!
Re: Quantum Break Actor Celebrates 10th Anniversary Of The 2016 Xbox Console Exclusive
A cult game that definitely deserves a sequel. And honestly, if Remedy is putting out this kind of message, I can’t help wondering if something might already be in the works.
And When you look at the technical quality of the game, it really doesn’t feel like it’s 10 years old.
Re: Opinion: XBLA Was Amazing, But Xbox's Indie Program Is Better Than Ever Right Now
@FraserG State of Decay 3 | Official Alpha Playtest Announce https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iBYOVNC9Uw
Re: 'We're Just Getting Started' - Xbox Employee Hypes Up 'Momentum' Of 2026 So Far
You can really feel a surge of positivity around Xbox, but the fundamentals still need to be proven.
For now it’s mostly smoke — we need to see the fire behind it and make sure it’s not just a flash in the pan.
What’s missing are real, strong decisions, especially regarding Game Pass and their exclusivity policy.
Re: Xbox Series X Is Even Better Than PS5 Pro For Assassin's Creed Unity, Suggests Report
@Sol4ris Yeah, exactly — I’ve always bought the Xbox mid‑gen upgrades. And since there wasn’t one this time, I went for the PS5 Pro… but I really didn’t feel the same technical jump I got with the Xbox One X.
And yeah, it’s mainly for third‑party games anyway!
I get that what I’m saying might bother some people, but the PS5 Pro was never unanimously praised — I’m far from the only one who feels this way.
If some people think it’s good value for money, good for them. It’s just not the case for me, that’s all.
Re: Xbox Series X Is Even Better Than PS5 Pro For Assassin's Creed Unity, Suggests Report
@FraserG So I checked as well, and apparently it’s inconsistent for backward‑compatible games.
In theory it’s supposed to work, but it doesn’t on every title, and when it does, the results vary from game to game.
Basically, from what I understand, VRR on PlayStation just isn’t as solid as on Xbox.
Re: Xbox Series X Is Even Better Than PS5 Pro For Assassin's Creed Unity, Suggests Report
"VRR works for backwards compatible games on Xbox, whereas it doesn't on the PS5 Pro."
What a joke, seriously! I’m glad I sold my PS5 Pro — what a scam.
(Yeah, I actually had it in my hands for a few weeks before getting rid of it.)
Of course, this isn’t the case for every game, but the number of titles where the PS5 is noticeably more powerful than the Series X is tiny. Most of the time, the differences are barely noticeable, identical, or even better on the Series X — like in this example.
Basically, for this game, the Series X is more powerful, and on top of that, cheaper.
As for backward compatibility, PlayStation has always been behind anyway. They clearly have no real intention of improving in that area — there’s just no financial incentive for them.
Re: Xbox Announces Eight 'FanFest Tour' Events Taking Place Across The World In 2026
@Fiendish-Beaver @Shinato2024 I actually agree with both of you — we’re not talking about just any company here.
But since this is for the 25th anniversary, Xbox had probably planned things on a large scale well in advance.
That said, a company like Microsoft definitely has the resources to speed things up much more than most others.
Re: Xbox Announces Eight 'FanFest Tour' Events Taking Place Across The World In 2026
That’s really cool! Once again, it shows a real intention to reconnect more deeply with the Xbox community.
That said, there are still other decisions that need to be made regarding the structure of the Game Pass offering and the exclusivity policy.
Physical events alone won’t be enough — but it’s definitely a step in the right direction.
Re: Is It Us, Or Did Xbox Just Get A Major Makeover On The Microsoft Store For Windows?
@FraserG Yeah, it’s quite possible that they’ll unify it at some point
Re: Is It Us, Or Did Xbox Just Get A Major Makeover On The Microsoft Store For Windows?
I’m seeing the same thing on the Microsoft Store, and it’s actually pretty nice.
That said, honestly, I don’t find the difference with xbox pc app that striking either — it’s mostly the Game Pass section that really stands out on the Microsoft Store
Re: Ubisoft Teams With Xbox To Bring 'Heroes Of Might And Magic: Olden Era' To PC Game Pass
Great news — it’s one of the most iconic games and one of the most anticipated by PC players. And to think that the next Xbox console will give access to this kind of game, knowing that 30–40% of all game releases are PC‑only.
That’s when you realize Xbox’s strategy is the right one: players will have access to far more games than any traditional console catalog could ever offer
Re: 'Xbox Game Pass Flex' Is An April Fools' Joke, But Could It Actually Happen One Day?
@themightyant Honestly, if it’s free, there’s no reason to complain, i agree with @Globo . Watching ads in exchange for a free version of Game Pass would be totally fair.
But if something like that ever existed, let’s be realistic: even with ads, it wouldn’t give full access to the entire game catalog. That’s just not possible — ad revenue alone wouldn’t be enough to cover the costs.
Re: Fable, Grounded 2 Co-Developer Loses Studio Head Following Mass Layoffs
@Shinato2024 Yes, definitely — it’s still worrying though. It’s not that I dislike Chinese games, but there’s a real risk of seeing more games pushed toward a certain kind of standardized format.
Re: Fable, Grounded 2 Co-Developer Loses Studio Head Following Mass Layoffs
It just doesn’t stop these past few months: Eidos Montréal, the studio behind Highguard, Epic Games with over 1,000 layoffs, Bluepoint Games (PlayStation) shut down in February 2026, and Dark Outlaw Games (PlayStation) closed in March 2026.
Meanwhile, it feels like Chinese and correan studios are the ones really gaining momentum, while Western studios keep shutting down or laying off
Re: Super Meat Boy 3D Reviews Go Live Ahead Of Xbox Game Pass Launch
I was hoping for better scores, but whatever — I’ll still try it on Game Pass. It’s a niche game anyway, made for controller masochists.
Re: 'Race To The Bottom Pricing' Isn't Advisable For Xbox Game Pass, Suggests BG3 Director
The BG3 director should really stop saying nonsense, seriously. On one hand, players complain that Game Pass Ultimate is too expensive, and then he shows up acting all delicate saying the opposite. How exactly would cheaper pricing ‘hurt the industry’?
If a subscription tier is cheaper, its value is lower too — that’s all.
He also shouldn’t forget that Xbox games launch on Game Pass as well, so Microsoft has zero interest in hurting their own studios.
Honestly, he should stick to what he actually knows how to do and stop giving advice in areas he clearly doesn’t understand.
Re: Xbox Games Showcase Announced For June 2026, Featuring Gears Of War: E-Day Direct
@Fiendish-Beaver $1500 is really the most pessimistic price I’ve heard based on the rumors. I really don’t think it will reach that level. And don’t forget there will be cheaper OEM versions.
Also, don’t forget that launching a new console with a strong lineup of games — especially if they’re exclusives — is a strategy that works. It has been proven time and time again across generations and across all console manufacturers.
Releasing Gears E-Day along with other games alongside the new console makes total sense from a business and marketing standpoint — that’s undeniable. For instance, PlayStation always keep their system sellers for the launch of new consoles (and then, not much followed).
Even back when the Xbox 360 launched, there was a strong lineup of exclusive games, and Gears of War came out less than a year later, which also helped boost the console.
But as usual, between You and me, it’s always pessimism versus optimism
Re: Xbox Games Showcase Announced For June 2026, Featuring Gears Of War: E-Day Direct
Honestly, they should release Gears E-Day at the same time as the next console, and make it a timed exclusive (PC and Xbox consoles) for at least two years. They’d sell a ton of consoles that way
Re: Three Final Xbox Game Pass Additions For March 2026 Are Available Early This Week
Super Meat Boy 3D looks like so much fun and probably a bit rage‑inducing too
Re: Five Things We Want To See From Xbox's New Leadership Team In 2026
@fraserG I’d add two points that, for me, should be top priority.
> First, they need to rethink how the entire Game Pass offering is structured.
> And second, they need to rethink their exclusivity strategy. I’m not talking about reversing course on permanent exclusives, but about finding a balance — for example, using two‑year timed exclusives for the big franchises (not for already‑multiplayer games like COD or Doom)
> As for the other points in the article, I completely agree about the need for clear communication — something that leaves no room for interpretation and shuts down rumors before they even start
Otherwise, for now the early days of the Asha + Matt Booty duo are very encouraging, but we still need more confirmation — especially on the two points mentioned above.
Re: Microsoft Issues Statement On Why 'This Is An Xbox' Campaign Has Been Retired
@shiny-enzo @IOI Yes, I agree with both of you, but I lean a bit more toward Shiny‑Enzo’s position on the question of exclusive games.
Re: Microsoft Issues Statement On Why 'This Is An Xbox' Campaign Has Been Retired
@Fiendish-Beaver I’ve always said the same thing on this topic. And yes, without that little spark between us, it’s less fun , you need a bit of showmanship from time to time, it makes the conversation more lively.
Re: Microsoft Issues Statement On Why 'This Is An Xbox' Campaign Has Been Retired
In any case, since the short time she’s been in charge, she’s been sending positive and encouraging signals. She does seem open‑minded, and she doesn’t appear to have any preconceived ideas about Xbox’s strategy. She also seems ready to rethink things in depth, whether it’s Game Pass or the exclusivity policy.
Now I’m waiting to see how she adjusts Game Pass — that will be the real test to see whether she truly understands what players want and what’s best for Xbox overall.
Basically, they need to add a customizable subscription, and remember that Game Pass is above all a game catalog, not a bundle of services most people won’t use but will still end up paying for.
Same thing for the exclusivity strategy: they need to clearly return to timed exclusives (2 years for major first‑party franchises, 1 year for smaller first‑party titles, and keep things as they are for games that were already multiplatform before acquisitions, like COD, Doom, etc.).