The gameplay is fantastic. The series pedigree is there, so that is an excellent start. The combos have been simplified (and reduced?) when compared to NG2, but the battles are still fantastic. The graphics are a little underwhelming and the new guy's design pales in comparison to Ryu.
I gave NG4 a 9/10 as the game is hugely challenging and a ton of fun. I've been a fan of the series since the 80's and the OG Xbox revival was one of the greatest returns ever. I'm playing on Hard difficulty, and I dare any of you try Purgatory on "Hell" difficulty. After hours, I got to the third wave. LOL
I bought this SH2 Remake on Steam at some point and haven't gotten around to playing it. The games are piling up! Silent Hill f will have to come first as I beat this on PS2 almost a quarter-century ago.
I don't like it, but what are we going to do about it? LOL. MS wants to make more money and there's no justification for exclusives that beats it in an argument. Besides, we knew it was coming — the rumor & "news" mill taunts these type of things daily.
These articles have become shameless. Sheer desperation for traffic. We are reporting on B-to-B pricing now? How much did each employee's PC cost? Let's complain about the supplier.
Dev kits are for running dev code on a machine close to the target. They are business tool used for generating MONEY.
Are any of you old enough to remember what PlayStation dev kits cost? Between $20k and $25k. Not ever developer needs a dev kit. The device is used for project after project. You only buy more when your studio has a need.
Xbox Series can be converted to dev kits. That has been a thing since the 360. ID@Xbox is another source for (free) dev kits.
I bought it and setup with most of my PC storefronts (forgot about Amazon Prime Gaming). While I have a couple Steam Decks, they don't handle other stores well and are not capable with every game, Steam or otherwise.
The price was no issue, though clearly any discount is always welcome. (Pay ME to take it!) I was able to shave off $60 between Best Buy rewards, CC discount, and Edge browser cashback.
@Vaako007 They complain because they feel entitled to launch-day releases from what has become the most prolific game publisher...for under $20/month. They complain because they're irrational and self-righteous. Some want to dump on Xbox and/or Microsoft, some can profit from it. Others are just Debbie Downers and complain about everything in life. The internet is mechanism to disseminate their overall dissatisfaction.
There have been Xbox "fans" on this very site complaining that "Ultimate doesn't include DLC" and "Ultimate releases are not really day-one because there is a 2-to-5-day early access in the premium option." You will never win with people that insist on being unreasonable and miserable. You have to leave them behind.
A large segment may think that if they complain enough, MS will roll back the price hike. IMO, with an increase that significant, new value added to the service, and several big games coming over the next year, it is not going to happen. The hike was deliberately large for both added value and coming added value. NTM, the price was low for 7 years to entice more people to join. PC Game Pass is cheaper for the same reason.
I paid for Ultimate for the first time since the 3-year conversion (which was an Xbox Live membership, which I was paying for anyway) a couple weeks ago. That was to push expiration from 11/2027 to 8/2028 after the price hike. From 6/2023 to 11/2027 are all (legitimately obtained) rewards points redemptions. Ultimate is worth it, but if they give you a path making it cheaper, why not take advantage?
@themightyant You have resorted to absolutism and false equivalency.
You, I, and everyone else here knows that the misinformation thrown out about MS/Xbox is deliberately negative and at high frequency. If and when there are rumors about Sony or Nintendo, they are positive (accurate or not, fabricated or not) and presented in a positive light. There is a concerted effort to erode perception of the brand no matter what they are doing.
Along with PS fanboys in threads, comment sections, and media, there are disgruntled and obtuse Xbox "fans". Anyone who still believes that Microsoft should force their recent game production purely through a console is obtuse. Yet these people are bitter, claim to understand that games need players, yet still clutch onto selling more Xbox consoles by force. Count a number of YTbers among them.
Some are angered by the Game Pass (ULTIMATE) price increase. These people are entitled. Xbox knows what games are coming Q4 and next year; they know what games were added this year. The reason for such a large jump is to push some people out of Ultimate tier as much as to set charge in line with its worth. No one has to park themselves in Ultimate all year — we are free to use rewards points and/or buy games individually.
The games media and YTbers are leaning into the profit motive. Some are all in — have no credibility. Their livelihood is directly tied to traffic & views, whatever scruples they once had are eroded on a daily basis. More channels means more competition, while gaming sites have been struggling for 25 years.
@themightyant The media and the internet actively campaign against Xbox and that is irrefutable. They show a disdain for the companies and their products. Sony and Nintendo are protected. The news driven 80-90% by MS, between the platforms. When these people don't get the traffic they need, they make something up.
If you don't think the Xbox Ally X is fairly priced at $1000, then don't buy it. Plain & simple. Every person is not meant to own every game and device just on a whim. Perhaps you and others are not familiar with Republic of Gamers, but that is ASUS's high-end line, and ASUS is already a higher end brand.
The same goes for Game Pass. So many feel entitled to the Ultimate tier. There are several avenues to playing those games. If any of those people were truly price-conscious, they would have earned MS rewards points and not paid at all...for years from now.
McCaffrey is a parasite, just like the others. He's 45+ year old man who remains awkward and uncomfortable in his own skin.
I was in my local Walmart's electronic section on Thursday or Friday for a different purpose. I did go into the PS/Xbox aisle, and everything seemed normal. Neither had a larger presence than the other. There were 2-3 Series X on the bottom and about 2 Series S I could see on the top (could be more behind those).
Expedition 33 is my pick. I believe it and Silksong will absorb most of the votes at this point. There a number of games coming late in the year, and that is not on their side. I really liked Rogue PoP, as well. This year saw a swath of good game released, with more to come.
@FrenchVaniIIuxe The device is expensive and most people here already have a Series S|X. NTM, all the people that are not Xbox fans that come here due to personal failings.
I'm good for 2+ years. Regardless, I would not be leaving; the price would have to jump way higher, and they can't hit that level safely.
For the record, I agree that the 50% jump was abrupt and clumsy. Personally, $10 a month is negligible, but a company can't make such a huge jump in a service price without friction and turmoil. Better to split it up "$3, $3, $3" or "$5, $5" over years.
What is sad is that so many of you are still focused on console sales, in 2025, on an Xbox site. "Growth" means increase in total presence. They're apparently making more money and more partnerships in Asia.
They don't make money on console sales; they are likely still losing money on each console sold. Xbox sought out other avenues to sell their games. Why put a $500 barrier at every turn between you and the customer? There's already the cultural barrier in Asia.
@SeaDaVie Yeah. For starters, if you examine the APU, the Series X has 16 more Compute units which are full RDNA2. The CPU is a faster version in the same class.
@somnambulance Expedition 33 was about the dangers of grief after tremendous loss. That was conveyed expertly throughout. Even when you know learn the truth, it only deepens your understanding of the despair the family has sunken into. The quest how holds up a mirror to it. The game is the total package and its development has the "underdog team shows up the big dogs", "David vs. Goliath" spirit the media loves, to boot.
The Writers faction is not missing — it simply a smaller budgeted game. We've seen this in plenty of games and even movies & TV. The game is focused on the realm of Lumiere.
As for the gameplay, are we really going to choose now to indict a game on using gameplay elements seen somewhere else before? Every PS game from Uncharted on through Astrobot is using gameplay (and story) elements distinctly seen somewhere else before. That certainly didn't hold them back in the eyes of the media.
Did Nintendo even develop the Mario & Luigi series you mentioned? Sea of Stars also has some similar mechanics, and that game is beloved by many. Similarities were not a held against it. My favorite part of that game was finding and defeating opponents in the "Wheels" board game.
I'll be playing all the games you mentioned at some point this year. Well, except for DS2 and the Nintendo titles. Silksong is excellent; I'm currently playing through on Steam Deck and Xbox. While I bought Hades 2 some time ago (May of last year), I haven't gotten around to starting it.
I use an Elite on PC, and it has not changed for me. Windows is up to date. The Xbox app is up to date (external Delta). Short tap brings up the game bar, long press does nothing, holding down shutdown the controller.
@Lup Ninja Gaiden 2 Black was fantastic. The story in the series doesn't matter much — there are demon lords coming to take over Earth, and Ryu must stop them. I've got to go back and finish OG Ninja Gaiden Black.
@somnambulance Expedition 33 is a fantastic game that nails graphics, story & sentiment, mood, gameplay, presentation, music. I think others have said as much. The game world is in a dire state, and your unlikely team of saviors have a true purpose. It deserves GoTY. Keighley will give it to Donkey Kong. LOL
@Sol76 A "couple" means two. Nothing is getting dropped in two or even three years. No platform holder is doing backwards compatibility and game preservation better.
@Fiendish-Beaver Yes, we don't know if the next consoles will support them. There could a faster variant next gen, or the ability to install PC NVMe SSD boards, or both. Ditching the port altogether would save some cost. We'll have to wait and see.
@VeganH Well, it's Windows — you can start multiple games simultaneously, they're applications. The user is expected to be aware and competent. On Series X, they go into hibernation (available in Quick Resume). Maybe that will come over.
The UI stuff I'm not worried about. They're working on it.
@BAMozzy Yes, time is limited between work and life. Many of us have deep backlogs that may never worked through...well, we may never get to play all the games we had interest in when we acquired them. Yet, we don't play games in chronological order. I'm still only a few hours into Elden Ring, despite completing over a dozen games and playing far more since its release.
However, you disagreed with the assessment of your tastes in games as "narrow", then you proceeded to list a litany of genres you don't have interest in. Deservingly popular games and genres. Game Pass isn't quite a rental service, more curated offering of games, with new titles added every month (all MS owned releases included), and some third-party titles rotating out.
It won't have every game released available for installation. Anyone subscribing to Game Pass and commenting on it online knows this. So, if you're aware of the service's content model, and you know you possess selective tastes, wouldn't you imagine the majority of months out of each year wouldn't have something for you?
@BAMozzy It sounds like you have a narrow interest in games. Game Pass is putting out great games all year; if you don't have an interest in the vast majority of games (on or off the service) then that is no indictment of the service.
Regarding exclusivity — after everything that has happened in the last two years, it seems as though you are sticking to the "force every game behind the console at all costs" mindset. That's over — these companies can't justify it anymore.
There's going to be another Xbox console because 30+ million people are console customers. All they daily trepidation is absurd and a waste of time. People have fallen prey to a media and YTbers who profit from rumormongering. What's ultimately inside the box (either software or hardware) is largely irrelevant; the worrywarts don't understand the technology either way.
@Fiendish-Beaver Yes, you can download and install PC games from any PC store on the device. It is an upgraded RoG Ally. All modern XB1 --> Series games from Microsoft are Play Anywhere (dual entitlement, cross-save, cross-play). Many third-party games are increasingly featuring Play Anywhere.
Download and install PC games
Stream games from console
Stream games from PC (multiple methods)
Stream games from XCloud (or any other service e.g. GeForce Now)
@Spider-Kev These will have lower compute than both, I would imagine. At least when on battery. You can place them in a dock which has HDMI to the TV. If you don't use a dock (the site says the "charger stand" is included), then you would need a USB-C to HDMI cable.
I've completed GoW1 5-6 times. The first one is my favorite, for whatever reasons. Same for Halo CE — multiple playthrough. Snake Eater and Subsistence have also had the distinction of 5-6 playthroughs.
Not really my m.o., though certain games at a certain time in my life were great for replaying. The CoD2 campaign is way up there, too.
@G1lbo I think it was Parris that said (years ago) that the Ascent was too difficult to play solo. I stopped playing for other reasons. One day I hope to return to the game and see how difficult it is. My time playing didn't get too crazy.
The Xbox controllers provide great battery life (so far) either way. I've used Eneloops since the XB1, so I just swap when the current batteries die. The Elite can be plugged in when it gets low.
Steam Deck was my first handheld, period. Outside of those one-game static LCD Nintendo devices from the early eighties. They never appealed to me. The Gameboy was released when I was about 11 and the technology did not impress me.
@EVIL-C I could see it (MAYBE) after Xbox has a couple more highly profitable years.
Pick a small team (e.g. 5 people) to assess what can be salvaged. Select a single leader/producer who is open to new ideas. Use a commercial engine if you weren't already. Map out the base gameplay and a handful of levels before greenlighting the project and ramping up staff (or hiring/assigning a studio).
Proper payment functionality is critical. You can't just put up a web site and start taking people's credit card info and money. There are legal approvals and paperwork that take time. The site switched to a different payment method, so that means a new payment partner (negotiation, rates, contracts), backend coding & testing, etc. Could be MS had a falling out with a previous partner.
I worked at a relatively small SaaS company that built solutions for hotel management and offered a customizable booking engine. We had a small team working on Stripe integration, and that took most of the 12 months I was working there. Microsoft has thousands of engineers, but that doesn't mean they toss more and more at each task. Other changes to the site could have been completed without downtime.
Comments 1,051
Re: Poll: Now That The Dust Has Settled, Which Xbox Game Pass Tier Are You Subscribed To?
Ultimate. I've always been on Ultimate and shall remain on Ultimate tier for years to come.
Re: Poll: How Much Are You Enjoying Ninja Gaiden 4 On Xbox Game Pass?
The gameplay is fantastic. The series pedigree is there, so that is an excellent start. The combos have been simplified (and reduced?) when compared to NG2, but the battles are still fantastic. The graphics are a little underwhelming and the new guy's design pales in comparison to Ryu.
I gave NG4 a 9/10 as the game is hugely challenging and a ton of fun. I've been a fan of the series since the 80's and the OG Xbox revival was one of the greatest returns ever. I'm playing on Hard difficulty, and I dare any of you try Purgatory on "Hell" difficulty. After hours, I got to the third wave. LOL
Re: Xbox Store Accidentally Leaks November Release Date For Silent Hill 2
I bought this SH2 Remake on Steam at some point and haven't gotten around to playing it. The games are piling up! Silent Hill f will have to come first as I beat this on PS2 almost a quarter-century ago.
Re: Marvel 1943: Rise Of Hydra Has Been Delayed Again By Skydance Games
I can't say that I'm surprised to hear this or about the GTA VI delay.
Re: Five Games Are Leaving Xbox Game Pass In Early November 2025
I bought S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2 Ultimate edition on Xbox and Steam. Otherwise, there 's no way I could finish it in time.
Re: Talking Point: How Do You Feel About Halo: Campaign Evolved Launching Day One On PS5?
I don't like it, but what are we going to do about it? LOL. MS wants to make more money and there's no justification for exclusives that beats it in an argument. Besides, we knew it was coming — the rumor & "news" mill taunts these type of things daily.
Re: Microsoft Is Reportedly Increasing The Cost Of Xbox Dev Kits In Latest Price Hike
These articles have become shameless. Sheer desperation for traffic. We are reporting on B-to-B pricing now? How much did each employee's PC cost? Let's complain about the supplier.
Dev kits are for running dev code on a machine close to the target. They are business tool used for generating MONEY.
Are any of you old enough to remember what PlayStation dev kits cost? Between $20k and $25k. Not ever developer needs a dev kit. The device is used for project after project. You only buy more when your studio has a need.
Xbox Series can be converted to dev kits. That has been a thing since the 360. ID@Xbox is another source for (free) dev kits.
Re: These 10 Games Are Coming To Xbox Game Pass (October 22 - November 4)
@Lup This game is fun. I have it on Steam.
Re: Poll: Are You More Interested In The ROG Xbox Ally Now That Reviews Are Out?
I bought it and setup with most of my PC storefronts (forgot about Amazon Prime Gaming). While I have a couple Steam Decks, they don't handle other stores well and are not capable with every game, Steam or otherwise.
The price was no issue, though clearly any discount is always welcome. (Pay ME to take it!) I was able to shave off $60 between Best Buy rewards, CC discount, and Edge browser cashback.
Re: Xbox Journalist Says Latest Rumours Are 'A Huge Challenge For The Brand Right Now'
@Vaako007 They complain because they feel entitled to launch-day releases from what has become the most prolific game publisher...for under $20/month. They complain because they're irrational and self-righteous. Some want to dump on Xbox and/or Microsoft, some can profit from it. Others are just Debbie Downers and complain about everything in life. The internet is mechanism to disseminate their overall dissatisfaction.
There have been Xbox "fans" on this very site complaining that "Ultimate doesn't include DLC" and "Ultimate releases are not really day-one because there is a 2-to-5-day early access in the premium option." You will never win with people that insist on being unreasonable and miserable. You have to leave them behind.
A large segment may think that if they complain enough, MS will roll back the price hike. IMO, with an increase that significant, new value added to the service, and several big games coming over the next year, it is not going to happen. The hike was deliberately large for both added value and coming added value. NTM, the price was low for 7 years to entice more people to join. PC Game Pass is cheaper for the same reason.
I paid for Ultimate for the first time since the 3-year conversion (which was an Xbox Live membership, which I was paying for anyway) a couple weeks ago. That was to push expiration from 11/2027 to 8/2028 after the price hike. From 6/2023 to 11/2027 are all (legitimately obtained) rewards points redemptions. Ultimate is worth it, but if they give you a path making it cheaper, why not take advantage?
Re: Xbox Journalist Says Latest Rumours Are 'A Huge Challenge For The Brand Right Now'
@themightyant You have resorted to absolutism and false equivalency.
You, I, and everyone else here knows that the misinformation thrown out about MS/Xbox is deliberately negative and at high frequency. If and when there are rumors about Sony or Nintendo, they are positive (accurate or not, fabricated or not) and presented in a positive light. There is a concerted effort to erode perception of the brand no matter what they are doing.
Along with PS fanboys in threads, comment sections, and media, there are disgruntled and obtuse Xbox "fans". Anyone who still believes that Microsoft should force their recent game production purely through a console is obtuse. Yet these people are bitter, claim to understand that games need players, yet still clutch onto selling more Xbox consoles by force. Count a number of YTbers among them.
Some are angered by the Game Pass (ULTIMATE) price increase. These people are entitled. Xbox knows what games are coming Q4 and next year; they know what games were added this year. The reason for such a large jump is to push some people out of Ultimate tier as much as to set charge in line with its worth. No one has to park themselves in Ultimate all year — we are free to use rewards points and/or buy games individually.
The games media and YTbers are leaning into the profit motive. Some are all in — have no credibility. Their livelihood is directly tied to traffic & views, whatever scruples they once had are eroded on a daily basis. More channels means more competition, while gaming sites have been struggling for 25 years.
Re: Xbox Journalist Says Latest Rumours Are 'A Huge Challenge For The Brand Right Now'
@Jenkinss Do they stock laptops?
Re: Xbox Journalist Says Latest Rumours Are 'A Huge Challenge For The Brand Right Now'
@themightyant The media and the internet actively campaign against Xbox and that is irrefutable. They show a disdain for the companies and their products. Sony and Nintendo are protected. The news driven 80-90% by MS, between the platforms. When these people don't get the traffic they need, they make something up.
If you don't think the Xbox Ally X is fairly priced at $1000, then don't buy it. Plain & simple. Every person is not meant to own every game and device just on a whim. Perhaps you and others are not familiar with Republic of Gamers, but that is ASUS's high-end line, and ASUS is already a higher end brand.
The same goes for Game Pass. So many feel entitled to the Ultimate tier. There are several avenues to playing those games. If any of those people were truly price-conscious, they would have earned MS rewards points and not paid at all...for years from now.
McCaffrey is a parasite, just like the others. He's 45+ year old man who remains awkward and uncomfortable in his own skin.
Re: Microsoft Issues Statement Denying Target & Walmart Are Pulling Xbox Products
I was in my local Walmart's electronic section on Thursday or Friday for a different purpose. I did go into the PS/Xbox aisle, and everything seemed normal. Neither had a larger presence than the other. There were 2-3 Series X on the bottom and about 2 Series S I could see on the top (could be more behind those).
Re: Talking Point: As We Approach GOTY Season, What's Your Pick As Things Stand?
@Tasuki I need to go back and complete Avowed. The combat and aesthetic were awesome.
Re: Talking Point: As We Approach GOTY Season, What's Your Pick As Things Stand?
Expedition 33 is my pick. I believe it and Silksong will absorb most of the votes at this point. There a number of games coming late in the year, and that is not on their side. I really liked Rogue PoP, as well. This year saw a swath of good game released, with more to come.
Re: ROG Xbox Ally X Continues To Sell Out, While Standard Version Remains More Readily Available
@FrenchVaniIIuxe The device is expensive and most people here already have a Series S|X. NTM, all the people that are not Xbox fans that come here due to personal failings.
Re: Talking Point: How Do You Feel About Ubisoft+ Classics Being Added To Game Pass Ultimate?
I own and/or have beaten most of those games on some storefront. There are a couple I could try. Generally, this was not added for me.
Re: Here's What Might Leave Xbox Game Pass In November 2025
I own STALKER 2 on Steam and Xbox, and Alen: Dark Descent...somewhere. No sweat. I'll try Nine Souls some time soon.
Re: Poll: What Are Your Plans For Xbox Game Pass After This Week's News?
I'm good for 2+ years. Regardless, I would not be leaving; the price would have to jump way higher, and they can't hit that level safely.
For the record, I agree that the 50% jump was abrupt and clumsy. Personally, $10 a month is negligible, but a company can't make such a huge jump in a service price without friction and turmoil. Better to split it up "$3, $3, $3" or "$5, $5" over years.
Re: Asia Is Now The Fastest Growing Region For Xbox, Says Sarah Bond
What is sad is that so many of you are still focused on console sales, in 2025, on an Xbox site. "Growth" means increase in total presence. They're apparently making more money and more partnerships in Asia.
They don't make money on console sales; they are likely still losing money on each console sold. Xbox sought out other avenues to sell their games. Why put a $500 barrier at every turn between you and the customer? There's already the cultural barrier in Asia.
Re: Poll: Are You Buying Silent Hill F Next Week?
I bought it on Steam, not realizing it was Play Anywhere on Xbox.
Re: Microsoft Announces New Price Increases For Xbox Series X|S In The US
@SeaDaVie Yeah. For starters, if you examine the APU, the Series X has 16 more Compute units which are full RDNA2. The CPU is a faster version in the same class.
Re: After Silksong, These Are The Top 10 Highest-Rated Games Of 2025 So Far
@somnambulance Expedition 33 was about the dangers of grief after tremendous loss. That was conveyed expertly throughout. Even when you know learn the truth, it only deepens your understanding of the despair the family has sunken into. The quest how holds up a mirror to it. The game is the total package and its development has the "underdog team shows up the big dogs", "David vs. Goliath" spirit the media loves, to boot.
The Writers faction is not missing — it simply a smaller budgeted game. We've seen this in plenty of games and even movies & TV. The game is focused on the realm of Lumiere.
As for the gameplay, are we really going to choose now to indict a game on using gameplay elements seen somewhere else before? Every PS game from Uncharted on through Astrobot is using gameplay (and story) elements distinctly seen somewhere else before. That certainly didn't hold them back in the eyes of the media.
Did Nintendo even develop the Mario & Luigi series you mentioned? Sea of Stars also has some similar mechanics, and that game is beloved by many. Similarities were not a held against it. My favorite part of that game was finding and defeating opponents in the "Wheels" board game.
I'll be playing all the games you mentioned at some point this year. Well, except for DS2 and the Nintendo titles. Silksong is excellent; I'm currently playing through on Steam Deck and Xbox. While I bought Hades 2 some time ago (May of last year), I haven't gotten around to starting it.
Re: Xbox Is Changing How The 'Guide' Button Works On Windows 11 PCs
I use an Elite on PC, and it has not changed for me. Windows is up to date. The Xbox app is up to date (external Delta). Short tap brings up the game bar, long press does nothing, holding down shutdown the controller.
Re: Six Games Are Confirmed For Xbox Game Pass In October 2025 So Far
@Lup Ninja Gaiden 2 Black was fantastic. The story in the series doesn't matter much — there are demon lords coming to take over Earth, and Ryu must stop them. I've got to go back and finish OG Ninja Gaiden Black.
Re: After Silksong, These Are The Top 10 Highest-Rated Games Of 2025 So Far
@somnambulance Expedition 33 is a fantastic game that nails graphics, story & sentiment, mood, gameplay, presentation, music. I think others have said as much. The game world is in a dire state, and your unlikely team of saviors have a true purpose. It deserves GoTY. Keighley will give it to Donkey Kong. LOL
Re: Microsoft Rewards Might Be Ditching The 'Auto-Redeem' Offer For Xbox Game Pass
I thought this happened already...or the auto-redeem became a worse deal than manually redeeming 12000 points for 1-month of G.P.U.
Re: Xbox Fans Are Again Talking About All The Microsoft Games Missing From Game Pass
@Sol76 A "couple" means two. Nothing is getting dropped in two or even three years. No platform holder is doing backwards compatibility and game preservation better.
Re: Talking Point: As Bethesda Teases Starfield DLC, What Do You Want From The Xbox RPG In Year 3?
Low-hanging fruit:
Mid-tier requests:
Longshots
Re: WD 2TB Xbox Expansion Card Drops To Lowest Price Ever At Best Buy
@Fiendish-Beaver Yes, we don't know if the next consoles will support them. There could a faster variant next gen, or the ability to install PC NVMe SSD boards, or both. Ditching the port altogether would save some cost. We'll have to wait and see.
Re: WD 2TB Xbox Expansion Card Drops To Lowest Price Ever At Best Buy
@Fiendish-Beaver There is a 4TB card. it is $430, so not really worth it.
Re: ROG Xbox Ally X Can Reach 'Insane' FPS In DOOM: The Dark Ages, Says Analysis
@VeganH Well, it's Windows — you can start multiple games simultaneously, they're applications. The user is expected to be aware and competent. On Series X, they go into hibernation (available in Quick Resume). Maybe that will come over.
The UI stuff I'm not worried about. They're working on it.
Re: Talking Point: Next Month Is A Big One For Xbox Game Studios, And We're Here For It
@BAMozzy Yes, time is limited between work and life. Many of us have deep backlogs that may never worked through...well, we may never get to play all the games we had interest in when we acquired them. Yet, we don't play games in chronological order. I'm still only a few hours into Elden Ring, despite completing over a dozen games and playing far more since its release.
However, you disagreed with the assessment of your tastes in games as "narrow", then you proceeded to list a litany of genres you don't have interest in. Deservingly popular games and genres. Game Pass isn't quite a rental service, more curated offering of games, with new titles added every month (all MS owned releases included), and some third-party titles rotating out.
It won't have every game released available for installation. Anyone subscribing to Game Pass and commenting on it online knows this. So, if you're aware of the service's content model, and you know you possess selective tastes, wouldn't you imagine the majority of months out of each year wouldn't have something for you?
Re: Talking Point: Next Month Is A Big One For Xbox Game Studios, And We're Here For It
@BAMozzy It sounds like you have a narrow interest in games. Game Pass is putting out great games all year; if you don't have an interest in the vast majority of games (on or off the service) then that is no indictment of the service.
Regarding exclusivity — after everything that has happened in the last two years, it seems as though you are sticking to the "force every game behind the console at all costs" mindset. That's over — these companies can't justify it anymore.
Re: 'I Am Your Beast', A Fast-Paced FPS, Has Just Shadow Dropped On Xbox Game Pass
This game is pretty fun. Great on Steam Deck, just sitting down to play while watching TV (or just to pick up and 30 minutes or so).
Re: Talking Point: It's Not On Xbox Game Pass, So Will You Be Buying The Indiana Jones DLC?
Is any DLC on Game Pass? Don't be unreasonable (especially for clicks).
Yes, I bought the upgrade pre-release last year, and the DLC is included.
Re: ASUS Shares Footage Of Loads Of Games Being Tested On ROG Xbox Ally
There's going to be another Xbox console because 30+ million people are console customers. All they daily trepidation is absurd and a waste of time. People have fallen prey to a media and YTbers who profit from rumormongering. What's ultimately inside the box (either software or hardware) is largely irrelevant; the worrywarts don't understand the technology either way.
Re: Talking Point: Has This Week's ROG Xbox Ally News Sold You On The New Handheld?
@Fiendish-Beaver Yes, you can download and install PC games from any PC store on the device. It is an upgraded RoG Ally. All modern XB1 --> Series games from Microsoft are Play Anywhere (dual entitlement, cross-save, cross-play). Many third-party games are increasingly featuring Play Anywhere.
Re: Talking Point: Has This Week's ROG Xbox Ally News Sold You On The New Handheld?
@Spider-Kev These will have lower compute than both, I would imagine. At least when on battery. You can place them in a dock which has HDMI to the TV. If you don't use a dock (the site says the "charger stand" is included), then you would need a USB-C to HDMI cable.
Re: Talking Point: Has This Week's ROG Xbox Ally News Sold You On The New Handheld?
I'm there, day one. Just tell me when preorders will open.
Re: Poll: With 'Reloaded' On The Horizon, How Many Times Have You Completed Gears Of War 1?
I've completed GoW1 5-6 times. The first one is my favorite, for whatever reasons. Same for Halo CE — multiple playthrough. Snake Eater and Subsistence have also had the distinction of 5-6 playthroughs.
Not really my m.o., though certain games at a certain time in my life were great for replaying. The CoD2 campaign is way up there, too.
Re: Stylish Xbox Game Pass Platformer REPLACED Gets New Preview Ahead Of 2026 Launch
@G1lbo I think it was Parris that said (years ago) that the Ascent was too difficult to play solo. I stopped playing for other reasons. One day I hope to return to the game and see how difficult it is. My time playing didn't get too crazy.
Re: Microsoft Explains Target Audiences For ROG Xbox Ally And ROG Xbox Ally X
@VoidPunk How so? Just play the Windows store version. I do it every day. It's called "Play Anywhere". Are you talking about 360 games?
Re: Official PlayStation Website Adds Big Xbox Advertisement For Helldivers 2
There is a video explicitly confirming the ODST crossover this morning. Two Helljumper skins, assault rifle and shotgun, first person mode.
Re: Poll: Should The Next Xbox Controller Support AA Batteries Again?
The Xbox controllers provide great battery life (so far) either way. I've used Eneloops since the XB1, so I just swap when the current batteries die. The Elite can be plugged in when it gets low.
Re: Talking Point: Will The ROG Xbox Ally Be Your First 'Handheld Gaming PC'?
Steam Deck was my first handheld, period. Outside of those one-game static LCD Nintendo devices from the early eighties. They never appealed to me. The Gameboy was released when I was about 11 and the technology did not impress me.
Re: Talking Point: What Should Xbox Do To Celebrate Its 25th Anniversary Next Year?
@EVIL-C I could see it (MAYBE) after Xbox has a couple more highly profitable years.
Pick a small team (e.g. 5 people) to assess what can be salvaged. Select a single leader/producer who is open to new ideas. Use a commercial engine if you weren't already. Map out the base gameplay and a handful of levels before greenlighting the project and ramping up staff (or hiring/assigning a studio).
Re: Roundup: Here's What The Reviews Are Saying About Mafia: The Old Country
I picked this up on GMG for $42.
Re: Xbox Design Lab Officially Returns After Being 'On Hold' For All Of 2025
@JayJ It's not that simple.
Proper payment functionality is critical. You can't just put up a web site and start taking people's credit card info and money. There are legal approvals and paperwork that take time. The site switched to a different payment method, so that means a new payment partner (negotiation, rates, contracts), backend coding & testing, etc. Could be MS had a falling out with a previous partner.
I worked at a relatively small SaaS company that built solutions for hotel management and offered a customizable booking engine. We had a small team working on Stripe integration, and that took most of the 12 months I was working there. Microsoft has thousands of engineers, but that doesn't mean they toss more and more at each task. Other changes to the site could have been completed without downtime.