@Coletrain Xbox had already increased the price of its consoles before Sony. I’d be surprised if they did it again.
In any case, the PS5 Pro at $899 is huge, especially for gains that are often minimal — when there are any at all. It’s €300 more expensive than a Series X…
I don’t even want to imagine the price of the next consoles.
Solid additions — the ones that stand out to me are Alien, Hades 2, The Expanse, Moosa, Stranger Than Heaven, Super Meat Boy 3D, and The Eternal Life of Goldman.
And all games are play anywhere ! I love it as I switch from pc to consoles et vice versa
the expanse, super meat boy 3d (It feels good to have games like this.), alien , artficial: detective, stalker 2. A solid 8/10 Almost everything is on Game Pass, and everything is Play Anywhere
@TheGameThrifter Please, don’t make excuses for the haters who say ‘Xbox is dead’ every week or every month. We both know we’re not talking about ‘people’ in general, as you put it — we’re talking about haters. And we also know very well that they use console sales as an excuse to claim that ‘nobody’ likes Xbox. Except that it’s simply not true. The lower Xbox console sales (relatively lower — we’re still close to 40 million consoles sold vs. 82 million for PlayStation) have nothing to do with whether people love Xbox or not. It’s a mix of many factors:
The ‘This is an Xbox’ marketing campaign, even though the decline actually started before that
The fact that Xbox didn’t release a mid‑gen refresh — yes, people don’t mention it often, but it does make a difference in the final numbers
Xbox releasing all its games on PC and some on PlayStation
Pricing
Weak marketing and communication mistakes around the consoles
The overall decline of the console market — PlayStation sales are also down, not as much as Xbox, sure, but still below PS4 levels
Despite all that, despite these handicaps, I actually think Xbox’s sales are doing pretty well. And we’re seeing a very strong engagement rate from console players (on games like Helldivers 2, Arc Raiders, Clair Obscur, etc.), even with a smaller install base. That shows a dynamic community, probably with fewer casual gamers than PlayStation. Console sales don’t automatically equal active players, and out of PS5’s numbers, at least 20 million consoles are probably collecting dust (that part is pure speculation, just an extrapolation based on what I’m seeing).
Anyway, console sales mean absolutely nothing on their own, and they’re definitely not a reliable indicator of whether a platform holder is healthy or not — whether it’s Xbox or PlayStation.
@Kezelpaso Yes, but you posted something about Epic… so… PureXbox mainly focuses on Xbox, but it also covers major news from the gaming industry. So it doesn’t seem strange at all to talk about a big story like this. And clearly there’s interest — the article got 151 comments on PushSquare, which shows there’s definitely potential.
Wait, I know what you’re going to say — that I should just go on PushSquare lol
@Kezelpaso Aren’t you going to talk about Sony’s studio closures? Dark Outlaw Games and Pixomondo? In just two years that makes eight studios shut down (Bluepoint Games, Pixomondo, Dark Outlaw Games, Firewalk Studios, Guerrilla Cambridge, London Studio, Neon Koi, Pixelopus), not to mention the job cuts at still existing studios like Naughty Dog, Insomniac, etc.
What’s great about these numbers is how they completely shut down the weekly “Xbox is dead” narrative. The data speaks for itself: Xbox isn’t just the biggest publisher in terms of output — it’s also outperforming the other console makers in overall quality.
Landing 5th place on Metacritic for 2025, ahead of Nintendo and PlayStation, proves that Xbox’s lineup isn’t just large, it’s consistently strong. With an average Metascore of 80 and a string of well‑received releases, Xbox has clearly found its stride this year .
And let’s be honest: the idea that “nobody likes Xbox” has never matched reality. Most players genuinely enjoy Xbox games, and the sales charts back that up. Xbox titles regularly show up in the top sellers on Steam, and even on the PlayStation Store — Starfield being the latest example — they perform extremely well.
So yes, these rankings are more than just numbers. They’re a reminder that despite the noise, Xbox is thriving in both volume and quality, and players across all platforms are proving it with their wallets.
With the next Xbox console, as explained during GDC, porting is supposed to become much reliable, easier and faster, and compatible across all platforms (cloud, console, PC, handheld console). We’re talking about a massive reduction in friction for developers: faster onboarding, a unified GDK, convergent PC/console tools, and improved performance on Windows 11.
What used to take a month or more to port is now going to take just a single day. That’s the real breakthrough here: one unified build that runs on PC, next‑gen console, old‑gen console, the cloud, and even handheld devices. In the end, that’s a massive hardware ecosystem for almost no extra effort.
For developers, the effort‑to‑reach ratio becomes incredible. It’ll cost them practically nothing to reach the maximum number of players. And when you combine that with the fact that Xbox is already the publisher releasing the most games, you can clearly see the strategy: make the ecosystem so simple and coherent that targeting Xbox becomes the obvious choice.
If Helix delivers on this vision, Xbox could genuinely become the easiest and most flexible platform to develop for — and that benefits everyone, devs and xbox gamers
@Banjo- Yes, absolutely! And honestly, the numbers don’t lie — Xbox is the publisher that has released the most games.
And for months now Game Pass has been delivering a ton of great titles. There’s really nothing comparable in other subscriptions, and saying otherwise is just bad faith.
If someone says Game Pass Ultimate is too expensive, I can understand that (because of paying for extra perks that not everybody use). But if you look at PC Game Pass, which has the same game catalog as Ultimate (or almost), it’s an amazing value for the price. Even the Premium tier has become very appealing for what it offers.
It’s not complicated: we need a subscription that gives access to the full game catalog with day‑one releases, but at a lower price — meaning without all the extras like Fortnite Crew, Ubisoft Classics, and so on.
Basically, it’s the PC Game Pass. The only issue is that right now it only works on PC and not on consoles. And I really hope the PC Game Pass will be compatible with the next Xbox console, which logically should be the case, since it already works on the Xbox ROG Ally.
It’s fine for Game Pass Ultimate to be the all‑in‑one subscription that includes everything and sits at the highest price point — it’s called “Ultimate” for a reason. But we shouldn’t forget that Game Pass is, above all, a game catalog, not a bundle of extra services that many players won’t use, either because they’re not interested or simply don’t have the time.
I bought it as an Xbox Play Anywhere title and I was having some crash issues, so I hope this patch fixes them. And it should, if I go by one of the patch notes:
“Fixed several stability, performance optimization, and crash issues across PC and console platforms.”
Turn 10 remains an exceptional studio: even after the end of Forza Motorsport, their technical expertise continues to make a real difference. They’ve always managed to push physics, graphics, and precision further than Gran Turismo, and that mastery is still something Playground can rely on.
@FraserG Already used it, and it has helped me several times. That said, depending on the game’s popularity and the complexity of the question, the answers can vary, and sometimes I still have to go directly to Google. But overall, I think it’s a feature that’s heading in the right direction, useful, and something that can only get better over time.
It’s been a long time since I last played Sea of Thieves, but I admit that at the beginning I was completely lost, and Copilot probably would have helped me.
@themightyant To be fair and objective, you know very well that these are minor differences that don’t fundamentally change the game and don’t justify real differences in review scores. And that’s just one example among many — we could list dozens of them.
@shiny-enzo @Sindayl Thanks ! Yes, we shouldn’t fall into the opposite extreme either, but it’s real — and sometimes that’s enough to keep a game from reaching the 90 Metacritic mark.
Anyway, back to Starfield: the game was a success in terms of player numbers — 15 million players with an average of 40 hours played per person. It performed much better than plenty of games that are rated higher. At some point, all of this is very relative. What matters is that the game appeals to some people, even if it doesn’t please everyone.
And as for those who attack me, I’d rather just ignore them.
@ilyn @GeminiX53 That’s your opinion, and I don’t share it . Many others think the same way I do. I respect your opinion, so respect mine and theirs as well.. I’m trying to stay objective. I easily admit that the game didn’t launch in the state it should have, and that this probably contributed to the lower review scores. But at the same time, we have to acknowledge that it was unfairly attacked by some influencers and certain well‑known media outlets that tend to be harsh on Xbox — and that’s a real thing.
And it’s the same for other Xbox games, which generally get an average of two points less just for being Xbox titles. We even have proof with Hellblade 2: it got an 81 on PC and Xbox, and conveniently a 84 on PS5, even though it’s the exact same game.
I’m not the one bringing up the console war — it’s certain media that use it for clickbait and to attract an audience of haters. That’s the reality. I’m just trying to stay clear‑headed about it.
@VisitingComet1 I don’t like all Ubisoft games, but you have to admit they know how to make their games accessible and enjoyable — at least most of the time. I don’t like all their titles: I loved Assassin’s Creed Origins but hated Valhalla, and right now I’m having a lot of fun with Star Wars Outlaws.
I think Bethesda — and even other publishers — could sometimes take inspiration from certain Ubisoft mechanics that make games more accessible, more fun, and less needlessly complicated. For example, there are a few things in Star Wars Outlaws that I really wish we had in Starfield, especially for space exploration or ship landing/takeoff. I think that overall, the comments are sometimes unfair toward Ubisoft games.
@themightyant Honestly, the game is much better now. It still has its strengths and weaknesses, but they’ve fixed quite a lot of things. So objectively, it should get better scores now — and removing the whole ‘Xbox tax’ label helps as well.
That was kind of the fear I had with Crimson Desert. It really feels like the definition of the saying ‘perfect is the enemy of good’. By trying to do too much, they spread themselves across too many features, making the game unnecessarily complex and not fully polished — at least that’s what I gather from some of the comments
And honestly, I don’t have the time anymore to stress over games like this. I’m starting to ‘Ubisoft‑ify’ myself.
Cool, that’s great for Bethesda and it fills the coffers — more budget for Elder Scrolls VI.
Timed exclusives are good for Xbox and Xbox players: more budget to create quality games, more day‑one titles in Game Pass, whether first‑party or third‑party.
After that, as you already know, like many people I’m not in favor of day‑one exclusives on other platforms (which, in practice, never actually happens right now — at least for the moment - except gameas aleready multiplatform before acqusitions and Fable which is not yet released ).
With timed exclusive games, you get all the advantages: you prioritize the Xbox ecosystem while also making your game more profitable.
@IOI Yeah, I’ve had issues too, especially with multiplayer games or titles that rely heavily on online features, but those are still exceptions. Most of the time, it works perfectly.
After that, I guess it depends on the kinds of games each person plays.
@Balaam_ : It’s honestly the first time I’ve heard someone say they don’t use Quick Resume. It’s so convenient — between the moment I turn on the console and the moment I sit down on my couch, maybe 3–4 seconds pass (console waking from standby + game starting). It’s just so pleasant
I really hope they’ll implement it on the next Xbox console, or even on the Xbox ROG Ally
I feel the same way as Todd Howard: both sad and grateful for everything Phil Spencer has accomplished. He’s undoubtedly one of the most iconic leaders in the video game industry, someone who truly pushed it forward.
At the same time, I’m excited about the future and this new direction, with Matt Booty handling the creative side — games and content — and Asha Sharma overseeing the business, communication, and marketing aspects.
It’s really astonishing what it can do — I’m especially blown away by the realistic lighting it brings and the textures. On faces, it’s actually almost too good: you go from a face that looks totally unrealistic to a truly realistic face, which makes some people say the face is completely different. They don’t understand what’s really happening: we’re moving from a dead, expressionless face to a living, realistic one — that’s the big difference. On starfield, Faces that looked pretty bad with dlss off become more realistic with dlss on. In any case, when you see what AI can do for graphical optimizations, it promises incredible things for video games in the future. And Nvidia’s DLSS is really far ahead of FSR or PSSR.
In any case, don’t forget that this is a technical demo. I think I read that they needed two of Nvidia’s latest‑generation GPUs to achieve this result, so even on PC, it’s not something the average user will have access to anytime soon.
Another new feature that goes in the right direction and helps you stay within the Xbox ecosystem without needing to leave it, even when launching external games or apps (Steam, software, etc.).
Yesterday, while using the Xbox app on PC, I noticed that the Library function has improved a lot, with several sorting and filtering options — all clean, simple, and without any clutter or ads. Or maybe it’s just me — I don’t go there often enough. Not sure if it’s actually that new, but anyway, I like it.
The new Xbox Mode looks like a solid step toward making Windows feel more consistent for gaming. It’s great to see Microsoft simplifying the experience and moving closer to a console‑style interface. Still, the real test will be how smooth and reliable it is in everyday use. If they can keep it stable and avoid the usual Windows interruptions, this could genuinely improve gaming on PC
From what I understand, the idea is really to turn it into a "full OS" (kind of) and make the traditional Windows background experience completely optional, at least for normal gaming use.
Another advantage of having a hybrid SoC and dedicated gaming hardware is that everything can be specifically optimized for that device. That means automated, dedicated, and hardware‑specific driver management. I think, following that logic, Xbox consoles will get their own dedicated updates, instead of receiving all the patches and fixes that a regular Windows machine gets. That’s already what Microsoft does with ARM‑based Windows devices: there’s a shared core, but also parallel update branches tailored to ARM machines. I expect the same here, since the CPU/GPU SoC of the next Xbox will be unique and not available in any PC.
This is definitely great news for the video game industry, for studios, for players, and for the Xbox ecosystem as a whole. In the end, it will encourage more studios to develop for Xbox.
I tried Minishoot’ Adventures, which is on Game Pass, and I immediately got hooked. There’s a real sense of progression, with your arsenal improving as you go. It’s a really good little game — careful, it’s addictive.
And of course Planet of Lana 2 , a beautiful evolution compared to the first one.
@themightyant ok thanks ! The big advantage of this PC‑based infrastructure is how easy and inexpensive porting becomes — it’s now very simple and almost cost‑free. The next Xbox will already have a huge game catalog, with PC games and Xbox console games, but on top of that, third‑party publishers will no longer have the excuse of cost to avoid bringing their games to the Xbox Store
Honestly, this GDC booth feels like a real turning point for Xbox. Instead of repeating the old ‘This is an Xbox’ messaging, Microsoft is finally embracing its history while showing it’s ready to move forward. The focus on the legacy of the brand — from the OG prototype to the iconic hardware moments — gives the impression of a company reconnecting with what made Xbox special in the first place. It’s a refreshing shift, and it really feels like the start of a new chapter.
We'll see tomorrow if there are any interesting announcements to sink our teeth into.
@IOI Most consoles are sold at a loss at launch. Then they make up for it with first‑party games, third‑party royalties, subscriptions (like Game Pass), accessories, and so on. And over time, as production costs drop, they can eventually break even.
So considering they have major partnerships and that consoles are typically sold at a loss (at least at launch), I think a price around $1000 — something like $990 — wouldn’t be unrealistic. It also lines up with what the insider in the article said, with Microsoft aiming for an aggressive strategy to stay competitive.
You mentioned the RAM crisis, but keep in mind that it doesn’t affect manufacturers the same way it affects consumers. Microsoft buys RAM in massive quantities for its datacenters and already has a partnership with SK Hynix to supply memory.
We’ll see how it goes — no need to get carried away, I’m just giving my opinion. But we also have to consider that this machine will be more powerful than a PS6, will have access to more games than a PS6, and will be capable of more things (like modding). So it makes sense that it would be more expensive — it’s not even a fair comparison.
Okay, so between $900 and $1500 — that’s a pretty safe prediction ! He is not taking much of a risk there
They really shouldn’t go over $1000, otherwise they’ll hit a psychological barrier. Logically, it should be cheaper than an equivalent gaming PC, because Microsoft can negotiate volume deals and partnerships — AMD for the SoC, SK Hynix for the RAM, etc. — something a regular consumer simply can’t do. And like with any console, the goal isn’t to make a big profit on the hardware, just to stay within reasonable margins.
We’ll see how it turns out, but it’s obviously a key point.
These are the right WORDS for Xbox fans and for the Xbox teams within MS, but they're cheap and we need to see actions that prove intent. I guess Nadella has seen the damage dropping exclusivity has done to hardware sales. In any case, we can already feel there’s a strategic shift happening, different from the Sarah Bond era, different from the "this is an xbox " message which implicitly suggested that Xbox consoles were not the priority.
Whether it’s Asha or Nadella, they’ve both mentioned the Xbox community, Xbox consoles, Xbox hardware several times, and the fact that “everything is being relitigated.”
Now we need actions, but that shouldn’t take long — with the upcoming GDC, we should learn more soon.
yeah ! So cool ! Of course, you can’t build the entire menu like that, but it could work as a kind of quick-access menu highlighting the main features: Home, Game Pass, My Games, Store. I really like that idea
@BacklogBrad With these people, Xbox has already died and been resurrected a hundred times. I don’t know if you know DreamcastGuy, but this guy announces the death of Xbox every single week. Meanwhile, even if Xbox is behind in terms of hardware, that’s absolutely not the case for everything else — games, services, cloud, etc. They’re actually ahead in many areas. But let them talk. Even on this site, we’ve got some disciples ...
It’s becoming clearer and clearer. After Asha’s statements about being open to exclusive games, now we have Nadella saying:
“For those fans who have counted on us, I just want to make sure that we live up to what they expect of us. We have to really make sure, whether it's console, whether it's PC, whether it's the lover of Forza, Halo, we really want to make sure they love us for what they expect us to do.”
And Asha saying that “everything is being relitigated.”
Well, after all these nice words, we’re still waiting for concrete actions, but you can already feel there’s a strategic shift happening, different from the Sarah Bond era: More focused on Xbox fans, more focused on Xbox consoles, more focused on the brand’s DNA and especially its iconic franchises.
And it’s definitely not impossible that they roll back their exclusivity policy, finding a better balance between a multiplatform strategy and console exclusives, even if only temporary (for example, two years of exclusivity for major franchises).
@Kramlar ok fine, My bad — the time games stay on Game Pass varies a lot, and it’s true that Xbox could communicate a bit more early about when a game is going to leave
Sorry, but I’m not sure articles like this are useful. We already have enough speculation, no need to add more — especially when the accuracy is anywhere between 30% and 80%.
That said, I understand the point: it’s basically about hurrying to play these games before they leave Game Pass.
@betterthings I understand what you’re saying, but in my view, they’re actually expanding the pool of potential buyers, not shrinking it — assuming the final price is reasonable, of course.
Regarding the AMD vs. Nvidia debate, I don’t think players are particularly attached to one or the other. What they want is the best price‑to‑performance ratio. If AMD delivers the same performance or even better — which is likely, since this will be a machine specialized for gaming, unlike a PC — then it doesn’t matter if AMD is behind it.
Your comparison with the Steam Deck doesn’t apply here. We’re talking about a handheld console running Linux with its own limitations, and it’s not even the same audience.
As for Game Pass, I actually agree with you. It’s a crucial factor for the future success of this console, and they really need to rethink how the subscription tiers are structured
Comments 973
Re: Sony Announces Major PS5 Price Hikes, Here's How They Compare To Xbox Series X|S
@Coletrain Xbox had already increased the price of its consoles before Sony. I’d be surprised if they did it again.
In any case, the PS5 Pro at $899 is huge, especially for gains that are often minimal — when there are any at all. It’s €300 more expensive than a Series X…
I don’t even want to imagine the price of the next consoles.
Re: Xbox Announces 14 Titles Coming To Game Pass At March's Partner Preview Showcase
Solid additions — the ones that stand out to me are Alien, Hades 2, The Expanse, Moosa, Stranger Than Heaven, Super Meat Boy 3D, and The Eternal Life of Goldman.
And all games are play anywhere ! I love it as I switch from pc to consoles et vice versa
Re: Poll: How Would You Grade March's Xbox Partner Preview Event?
the expanse, super meat boy 3d (It feels good to have games like this.), alien , artficial: detective, stalker 2. A solid 8/10 Almost everything is on Game Pass, and everything is Play Anywhere
Re: It Was Asha Sharma's 'Direction' To Scrub 'This Is An Xbox' Marketing, Suggests Report
love you Asha, great Move ! Since she came in, everything has been positive so far
Re: Epic Games Lays Off 1,000 Staff, Announces Closure Of Fortnite Rocket Racing
@Kezelpaso Alright, thanks, I understand.
Re: Microsoft Beats Out Sony & Nintendo In Metacritic's 2026 Game Publisher Rankings
@TheGameThrifter Please, don’t make excuses for the haters who say ‘Xbox is dead’ every week or every month. We both know we’re not talking about ‘people’ in general, as you put it — we’re talking about haters. And we also know very well that they use console sales as an excuse to claim that ‘nobody’ likes Xbox. Except that it’s simply not true. The lower Xbox console sales (relatively lower — we’re still close to 40 million consoles sold vs. 82 million for PlayStation) have nothing to do with whether people love Xbox or not. It’s a mix of many factors:
The ‘This is an Xbox’ marketing campaign, even though the decline actually started before that
The fact that Xbox didn’t release a mid‑gen refresh — yes, people don’t mention it often, but it does make a difference in the final numbers
Xbox releasing all its games on PC and some on PlayStation
Pricing
Weak marketing and communication mistakes around the consoles
The overall decline of the console market — PlayStation sales are also down, not as much as Xbox, sure, but still below PS4 levels
Despite all that, despite these handicaps, I actually think Xbox’s sales are doing pretty well. And we’re seeing a very strong engagement rate from console players (on games like Helldivers 2, Arc Raiders, Clair Obscur, etc.), even with a smaller install base. That shows a dynamic community, probably with fewer casual gamers than PlayStation. Console sales don’t automatically equal active players, and out of PS5’s numbers, at least 20 million consoles are probably collecting dust (that part is pure speculation, just an extrapolation based on what I’m seeing).
Anyway, console sales mean absolutely nothing on their own, and they’re definitely not a reliable indicator of whether a platform holder is healthy or not — whether it’s Xbox or PlayStation.
Re: Epic Games Lays Off 1,000 Staff, Announces Closure Of Fortnite Rocket Racing
@Kezelpaso Yes, but you posted something about Epic… so… PureXbox mainly focuses on Xbox, but it also covers major news from the gaming industry. So it doesn’t seem strange at all to talk about a big story like this. And clearly there’s interest — the article got 151 comments on PushSquare, which shows there’s definitely potential.
Wait, I know what you’re going to say — that I should just go on PushSquare lol
Re: Xbox Partner Preview Showcase March 2026: Date, Start Times & What To Expect
Can’t wait for tomorrow.
Re: Epic Games Lays Off 1,000 Staff, Announces Closure Of Fortnite Rocket Racing
@Kezelpaso Aren’t you going to talk about Sony’s studio closures? Dark Outlaw Games and Pixomondo? In just two years that makes eight studios shut down (Bluepoint Games, Pixomondo, Dark Outlaw Games, Firewalk Studios, Guerrilla Cambridge, London Studio, Neon Koi, Pixelopus), not to mention the job cuts at still existing studios like Naughty Dog, Insomniac, etc.
Re: Microsoft Beats Out Sony & Nintendo In Metacritic's 2026 Game Publisher Rankings
What’s great about these numbers is how they completely shut down the weekly “Xbox is dead” narrative. The data speaks for itself: Xbox isn’t just the biggest publisher in terms of output — it’s also outperforming the other console makers in overall quality.
Landing 5th place on Metacritic for 2025, ahead of Nintendo and PlayStation, proves that Xbox’s lineup isn’t just large, it’s consistently strong. With an average Metascore of 80 and a string of well‑received releases, Xbox has clearly found its stride this year .
And let’s be honest: the idea that “nobody likes Xbox” has never matched reality. Most players genuinely enjoy Xbox games, and the sales charts back that up. Xbox titles regularly show up in the top sellers on Steam, and even on the PlayStation Store — Starfield being the latest example — they perform extremely well.
So yes, these rankings are more than just numbers. They’re a reminder that despite the noise, Xbox is thriving in both volume and quality, and players across all platforms are proving it with their wallets.
Re: Xbox Exec Talks Project Helix And Why It'll Be 'Easier' Than Series X|S To Develop For
With the next Xbox console, as explained during GDC, porting is supposed to become much reliable, easier and faster, and compatible across all platforms (cloud, console, PC, handheld console). We’re talking about a massive reduction in friction for developers: faster onboarding, a unified GDK, convergent PC/console tools, and improved performance on Windows 11.
What used to take a month or more to port is now going to take just a single day. That’s the real breakthrough here: one unified build that runs on PC, next‑gen console, old‑gen console, the cloud, and even handheld devices. In the end, that’s a massive hardware ecosystem for almost no extra effort.
For developers, the effort‑to‑reach ratio becomes incredible. It’ll cost them practically nothing to reach the maximum number of players. And when you combine that with the fact that Xbox is already the publisher releasing the most games, you can clearly see the strategy: make the ecosystem so simple and coherent that targeting Xbox becomes the obvious choice.
If Helix delivers on this vision, Xbox could genuinely become the easiest and most flexible platform to develop for — and that benefits everyone, devs and xbox gamers
Re: New Xbox Boss Has Considered 'Pricing Revamp' For Game Pass, Claims Report
@Banjo- Yes, absolutely! And honestly, the numbers don’t lie — Xbox is the publisher that has released the most games.
And for months now Game Pass has been delivering a ton of great titles. There’s really nothing comparable in other subscriptions, and saying otherwise is just bad faith.
If someone says Game Pass Ultimate is too expensive, I can understand that (because of paying for extra perks that not everybody use). But if you look at PC Game Pass, which has the same game catalog as Ultimate (or almost), it’s an amazing value for the price. Even the Premium tier has become very appealing for what it offers.
Re: New Xbox Boss Has Considered 'Pricing Revamp' For Game Pass, Claims Report
@shiny-enzo I really like the marketing hook: “Build your own Game Pass.”
Re: New Xbox Boss Has Considered 'Pricing Revamp' For Game Pass, Claims Report
It’s not complicated: we need a subscription that gives access to the full game catalog with day‑one releases, but at a lower price — meaning without all the extras like Fortnite Crew, Ubisoft Classics, and so on.
Basically, it’s the PC Game Pass. The only issue is that right now it only works on PC and not on consoles. And I really hope the PC Game Pass will be compatible with the next Xbox console, which logically should be the case, since it already works on the Xbox ROG Ally.
It’s fine for Game Pass Ultimate to be the all‑in‑one subscription that includes everything and sits at the highest price point — it’s called “Ultimate” for a reason. But we shouldn’t forget that Game Pass is, above all, a game catalog, not a bundle of extra services that many players won’t use, either because they’re not interested or simply don’t have the time.
Re: Crimson Desert Patch 1.03 Is Making Major Improvements On Xbox & PC
I bought it as an Xbox Play Anywhere title and I was having some crash issues, so I hope this patch fixes them. And it should, if I go by one of the patch notes:
“Fixed several stability, performance optimization, and crash issues across PC and console platforms.”
Re: Forza Horizon 6 Dev Explains How Turn 10 Has Helped Since Dropping 2023's Forza Motorsport
Turn 10 remains an exceptional studio: even after the end of Forza Motorsport, their technical expertise continues to make a real difference. They’ve always managed to push physics, graphics, and precision further than Gran Turismo, and that mastery is still something Playground can rely on.
Re: Xbox 'Copilot' Demonstration Hints At How It'll Work On Your Series X|S
@FraserG Already used it, and it has helped me several times. That said, depending on the game’s popularity and the complexity of the question, the answers can vary, and sometimes I still have to go directly to Google. But overall, I think it’s a feature that’s heading in the right direction, useful, and something that can only get better over time.
It’s been a long time since I last played Sea of Thieves, but I admit that at the beginning I was completely lost, and Copilot probably would have helped me.
Re: Xbox's Starfield Is Already One Of The Top Three Pre-Orders On PS5
@themightyant To be fair and objective, you know very well that these are minor differences that don’t fundamentally change the game and don’t justify real differences in review scores. And that’s just one example among many — we could list dozens of them.
Re: Xbox's Starfield Is Already One Of The Top Three Pre-Orders On PS5
@shiny-enzo @Sindayl Thanks ! Yes, we shouldn’t fall into the opposite extreme either, but it’s real — and sometimes that’s enough to keep a game from reaching the 90 Metacritic mark.
Anyway, back to Starfield: the game was a success in terms of player numbers — 15 million players with an average of 40 hours played per person. It performed much better than plenty of games that are rated higher. At some point, all of this is very relative. What matters is that the game appeals to some people, even if it doesn’t please everyone.
And as for those who attack me, I’d rather just ignore them.
Re: Xbox's Starfield Is Already One Of The Top Three Pre-Orders On PS5
@ilyn @GeminiX53 That’s your opinion, and I don’t share it . Many others think the same way I do. I respect your opinion, so respect mine and theirs as well.. I’m trying to stay objective. I easily admit that the game didn’t launch in the state it should have, and that this probably contributed to the lower review scores. But at the same time, we have to acknowledge that it was unfairly attacked by some influencers and certain well‑known media outlets that tend to be harsh on Xbox — and that’s a real thing.
And it’s the same for other Xbox games, which generally get an average of two points less just for being Xbox titles. We even have proof with Hellblade 2: it got an 81 on PC and Xbox, and conveniently a 84 on PS5, even though it’s the exact same game.
I’m not the one bringing up the console war — it’s certain media that use it for clickbait and to attract an audience of haters. That’s the reality. I’m just trying to stay clear‑headed about it.
Re: No Crimson Desert Xbox Reviews Until Launch, But Here's How The PC Version Is Faring
@VisitingComet1 I don’t like all Ubisoft games, but you have to admit they know how to make their games accessible and enjoyable — at least most of the time. I don’t like all their titles: I loved Assassin’s Creed Origins but hated Valhalla, and right now I’m having a lot of fun with Star Wars Outlaws.
I think Bethesda — and even other publishers — could sometimes take inspiration from certain Ubisoft mechanics that make games more accessible, more fun, and less needlessly complicated. For example, there are a few things in Star Wars Outlaws that I really wish we had in Starfield, especially for space exploration or ship landing/takeoff. I think that overall, the comments are sometimes unfair toward Ubisoft games.
Re: 'Keep The Feedback Coming' - Xbox Boss Says New Console Features Were Built Two Weeks Ago
Asha: Cute and smart !
Re: Xbox's Starfield Is Already One Of The Top Three Pre-Orders On PS5
@themightyant Honestly, the game is much better now. It still has its strengths and weaknesses, but they’ve fixed quite a lot of things. So objectively, it should get better scores now — and removing the whole ‘Xbox tax’ label helps as well.
Re: No Crimson Desert Xbox Reviews Until Launch, But Here's How The PC Version Is Faring
That was kind of the fear I had with Crimson Desert. It really feels like the definition of the saying ‘perfect is the enemy of good’. By trying to do too much, they spread themselves across too many features, making the game unnecessarily complex and not fully polished — at least that’s what I gather from some of the comments
And honestly, I don’t have the time anymore to stress over games like this. I’m starting to ‘Ubisoft‑ify’ myself.
Re: Xbox's Starfield Is Already One Of The Top Three Pre-Orders On PS5
Cool, that’s great for Bethesda and it fills the coffers — more budget for Elder Scrolls VI.
Timed exclusives are good for Xbox and Xbox players: more budget to create quality games, more day‑one titles in Game Pass, whether first‑party or third‑party.
After that, as you already know, like many people I’m not in favor of day‑one exclusives on other platforms (which, in practice, never actually happens right now — at least for the moment - except gameas aleready multiplatform before acqusitions and Fable which is not yet released ).
With timed exclusive games, you get all the advantages: you prioritize the Xbox ecosystem while also making your game more profitable.
@GeminiX53 popcorn for you
Re: Xbox Series X|S Is Getting Its First Dashboard Update In Ages, Quick Resume Upgrade Included
@IOI Yeah, definitely — they had that bug in the first game too before the studio fixed it.
Re: Xbox Series X|S Is Getting Its First Dashboard Update In Ages, Quick Resume Upgrade Included
@IOI Yeah, I’ve had issues too, especially with multiplayer games or titles that rely heavily on online features, but those are still exceptions. Most of the time, it works perfectly.
After that, I guess it depends on the kinds of games each person plays.
Re: Microsoft's Next First-Party Release Officially Launches On Xbox Game Pass This April
Very curious to try this quirky little game — it could turn out to be a great surprise
Re: Xbox Series X|S Is Getting Its First Dashboard Update In Ages, Quick Resume Upgrade Included
Some really useful additions, thanks!
@Balaam_ : It’s honestly the first time I’ve heard someone say they don’t use Quick Resume. It’s so convenient — between the moment I turn on the console and the moment I sit down on my couch, maybe 3–4 seconds pass (console waking from standby + game starting). It’s just so pleasant
I really hope they’ll implement it on the next Xbox console, or even on the Xbox ROG Ally
Re: 'I'm Of Two Minds' - Todd Howard Gives His Thoughts On Xbox's Leadership Changes
I feel the same way as Todd Howard: both sad and grateful for everything Phil Spencer has accomplished. He’s undoubtedly one of the most iconic leaders in the video game industry, someone who truly pushed it forward.
At the same time, I’m excited about the future and this new direction, with Matt Booty handling the creative side — games and content — and Asha Sharma overseeing the business, communication, and marketing aspects.
Re: Bethesda Says Starfield Looks 'Amazing' With Nvidia's DLSS 5, But Don't Expect It On Xbox
It’s really astonishing what it can do — I’m especially blown away by the realistic lighting it brings and the textures. On faces, it’s actually almost too good: you go from a face that looks totally unrealistic to a truly realistic face, which makes some people say the face is completely different. They don’t understand what’s really happening: we’re moving from a dead, expressionless face to a living, realistic one — that’s the big difference. On starfield, Faces that looked pretty bad with dlss off become more realistic with dlss on. In any case, when you see what AI can do for graphical optimizations, it promises incredible things for video games in the future. And Nvidia’s DLSS is really far ahead of FSR or PSSR.
In any case, don’t forget that this is a technical demo. I think I read that they needed two of Nvidia’s latest‑generation GPUs to achieve this result, so even on PC, it’s not something the average user will have access to anytime soon.
Re: With Project Helix On The Horizon, Xbox Is Now Letting You Add Games Manually On PC
Another new feature that goes in the right direction and helps you stay within the Xbox ecosystem without needing to leave it, even when launching external games or apps (Steam, software, etc.).
Yesterday, while using the Xbox app on PC, I noticed that the Library function has improved a lot, with several sorting and filtering options — all clean, simple, and without any clutter or ads. Or maybe it’s just me — I don’t go there often enough. Not sure if it’s actually that new, but anyway, I like it.
Re: Talking Point: What Should Xbox Call Its 'Project Helix' Console?
Xbox 720: To remind people of the roots of Xbox and the Xbox 360. Besides, back then there were rumors that the Xbox One could have been called that
@Fiendish-Beaver: Honestly, don’t pretend you’re not trolling after your last comment. Your remarks are getting ridiculous at this point
Re: 'Xbox Mode' For Windows 11 Is Progress, And It Could Shape Microsoft's Project Helix Console
The new Xbox Mode looks like a solid step toward making Windows feel more consistent for gaming. It’s great to see Microsoft simplifying the experience and moving closer to a console‑style interface. Still, the real test will be how smooth and reliable it is in everyday use. If they can keep it stable and avoid the usual Windows interruptions, this could genuinely improve gaming on PC
From what I understand, the idea is really to turn it into a "full OS" (kind of) and make the traditional Windows background experience completely optional, at least for normal gaming use.
Another advantage of having a hybrid SoC and dedicated gaming hardware is that everything can be specifically optimized for that device. That means automated, dedicated, and hardware‑specific driver management. I think, following that logic, Xbox consoles will get their own dedicated updates, instead of receiving all the patches and fixes that a regular Windows machine gets. That’s already what Microsoft does with ARM‑based Windows devices: there’s a shared core, but also parallel update branches tailored to ARM machines. I expect the same here, since the CPU/GPU SoC of the next Xbox will be unique and not available in any PC.
Re: 'Every Xbox Game Gets To Use This' - Microsoft Announces Free Cross-Platform Tools For Developers
This is definitely great news for the video game industry, for studios, for players, and for the Xbox ecosystem as a whole. In the end, it will encourage more studios to develop for Xbox.
Re: 10 New Xbox Indie Games That Should Be On Your Radar In March 2026
I tried Minishoot’ Adventures, which is on Game Pass, and I immediately got hooked. There’s a real sense of progression, with your arsenal improving as you go. It’s a really good little game — careful, it’s addictive.
And of course Planet of Lana 2 , a beautiful evolution compared to the first one.
Re: Microsoft's 2026 GDC Booth Showcases An Impressive Look At The History Of Xbox Consoles
@themightyant ok thanks ! The big advantage of this PC‑based infrastructure is how easy and inexpensive porting becomes — it’s now very simple and almost cost‑free. The next Xbox will already have a huge game catalog, with PC games and Xbox console games, but on top of that, third‑party publishers will no longer have the excuse of cost to avoid bringing their games to the Xbox Store
Re: Microsoft's 2026 GDC Booth Showcases An Impressive Look At The History Of Xbox Consoles
@Kezelpaso “Another interesting conference is this one: ‘Press Start: Get Your PC Game Ready for Xbox in One Day (Presented by Microsoft Xbox)’: https://schedule.gdconf.com/session/press-start-get-your-pc-game-ready-for-xbox-in-one-day-presented-by-microsoft-xbox/917901
It shows how easy it will be to bring games to Xbox: ‘in one day’.
Re: Microsoft's 2026 GDC Booth Showcases An Impressive Look At The History Of Xbox Consoles
@Kezelpaso @themightyant Can we watch Jason Ronald talk live?
Re: Microsoft's 2026 GDC Booth Showcases An Impressive Look At The History Of Xbox Consoles
Honestly, this GDC booth feels like a real turning point for Xbox. Instead of repeating the old ‘This is an Xbox’ messaging, Microsoft is finally embracing its history while showing it’s ready to move forward. The focus on the legacy of the brand — from the OG prototype to the iconic hardware moments — gives the impression of a company reconnecting with what made Xbox special in the first place. It’s a refreshing shift, and it really feels like the start of a new chapter.
We'll see tomorrow if there are any interesting announcements to sink our teeth into.
Re: Crimson Desert Has Three Different Performance Modes On Xbox Series X
@darylb24 Yeah me too ! And Xbox play anywhere ...
Re: Tech Journalist Predicts A Price Of 'At Least $1,000' For Xbox Project Helix
@IOI Most consoles are sold at a loss at launch. Then they make up for it with first‑party games, third‑party royalties, subscriptions (like Game Pass), accessories, and so on. And over time, as production costs drop, they can eventually break even.
So considering they have major partnerships and that consoles are typically sold at a loss (at least at launch), I think a price around $1000 — something like $990 — wouldn’t be unrealistic. It also lines up with what the insider in the article said, with Microsoft aiming for an aggressive strategy to stay competitive.
You mentioned the RAM crisis, but keep in mind that it doesn’t affect manufacturers the same way it affects consumers. Microsoft buys RAM in massive quantities for its datacenters and already has a partnership with SK Hynix to supply memory.
We’ll see how it goes — no need to get carried away, I’m just giving my opinion. But we also have to consider that this machine will be more powerful than a PS6, will have access to more games than a PS6, and will be capable of more things (like modding). So it makes sense that it would be more expensive — it’s not even a fair comparison.
Re: Tech Journalist Predicts A Price Of 'At Least $1,000' For Xbox Project Helix
Okay, so between $900 and $1500 — that’s a pretty safe prediction ! He is not taking much of a risk there
They really shouldn’t go over $1000, otherwise they’ll hit a psychological barrier. Logically, it should be cheaper than an equivalent gaming PC, because Microsoft can negotiate volume deals and partnerships — AMD for the SoC, SK Hynix for the RAM, etc. — something a regular consumer simply can’t do. And like with any console, the goal isn’t to make a big profit on the hardware, just to stay within reasonable margins.
We’ll see how it turns out, but it’s obviously a key point.
Re: Xbox Must Live Up To Expectations Of Fans Who Have 'Counted On Us', Says Microsoft Boss
These are the right WORDS for Xbox fans and for the Xbox teams within MS, but they're cheap and we need to see actions that prove intent. I guess Nadella has seen the damage dropping exclusivity has done to hardware sales. In any case, we can already feel there’s a strategic shift happening, different from the Sarah Bond era, different from the "this is an xbox " message which implicitly suggested that Xbox consoles were not the priority.
Whether it’s Asha or Nadella, they’ve both mentioned the Xbox community, Xbox consoles, Xbox hardware several times, and the fact that “everything is being relitigated.”
Now we need actions, but that shouldn’t take long — with the upcoming GDC, we should learn more soon.
Re: Xbox Superfan Shares Blades Dashboard Concept For 'Project Helix' Console
yeah ! So cool ! Of course, you can’t build the entire menu like that, but it could work as a kind of quick-access menu highlighting the main features: Home, Game Pass, My Games, Store. I really like that idea
Re: Microsoft CEO On Xbox's Future: 'We'll Always Invest In Gaming'
@BacklogBrad With these people, Xbox has already died and been resurrected a hundred times. I don’t know if you know DreamcastGuy, but this guy announces the death of Xbox every single week. Meanwhile, even if Xbox is behind in terms of hardware, that’s absolutely not the case for everything else — games, services, cloud, etc. They’re actually ahead in many areas. But let them talk. Even on this site, we’ve got some disciples ...
Re: Microsoft CEO On Xbox's Future: 'We'll Always Invest In Gaming'
It’s becoming clearer and clearer. After Asha’s statements about being open to exclusive games, now we have Nadella saying:
“For those fans who have counted on us, I just want to make sure that we live up to what they expect of us. We have to really make sure, whether it's console, whether it's PC, whether it's the lover of Forza, Halo, we really want to make sure they love us for what they expect us to do.”
And Asha saying that “everything is being relitigated.”
Well, after all these nice words, we’re still waiting for concrete actions, but you can already feel there’s a strategic shift happening, different from the Sarah Bond era: More focused on Xbox fans, more focused on Xbox consoles, more focused on the brand’s DNA and especially its iconic franchises.
And it’s definitely not impossible that they roll back their exclusivity policy, finding a better balance between a multiplatform strategy and console exclusives, even if only temporary (for example, two years of exclusivity for major franchises).
Re: Here's What Might Leave Xbox Game Pass In April 2026
@Kramlar ok fine, My bad — the time games stay on Game Pass varies a lot, and it’s true that Xbox could communicate a bit more early about when a game is going to leave
Re: Here's What Might Leave Xbox Game Pass In April 2026
Sorry, but I’m not sure articles like this are useful. We already have enough speculation, no need to add more — especially when the accuracy is anywhere between 30% and 80%.
That said, I understand the point: it’s basically about hurrying to play these games before they leave Game Pass.
Re: Talking Point: Will 'Project Helix' Be A Niche Device, Or An Xbox Console For The Masses?
@betterthings I understand what you’re saying, but in my view, they’re actually expanding the pool of potential buyers, not shrinking it — assuming the final price is reasonable, of course.
Regarding the AMD vs. Nvidia debate, I don’t think players are particularly attached to one or the other. What they want is the best price‑to‑performance ratio. If AMD delivers the same performance or even better — which is likely, since this will be a machine specialized for gaming, unlike a PC — then it doesn’t matter if AMD is behind it.
Your comparison with the Steam Deck doesn’t apply here. We’re talking about a handheld console running Linux with its own limitations, and it’s not even the same audience.
As for Game Pass, I actually agree with you. It’s a crucial factor for the future success of this console, and they really need to rethink how the subscription tiers are structured