@NEStalgia When a console plus the software is more expensive than the alternative PC, it stops making sense, especially considering that PS subscriptions are expensive and much more limited than Game Pass and that you now get Sony's games on PC. The PS exclusivity was the main selling point of PS and that dies this generation.
@HonestHick Yeah, even Mercy admitted that gamers aren't asking for more when he said that 75% of players choose performance mode. I think that what they are asking for is more PS5 games. 😁
@NEStalgia I still don't get Sony's strategy now. Probably that, the Sony products for the enthusiasts, selling the brand as expensive as possible, as Apple, but they need Windows for staying in the business, so not as independent as Apple as they would like. Has PS become a pseudo-luxury mid-range PC-console or a full-priced budget Apple line-up?
I also noticed after the PS5 Pro announcement, not just the wrong inflation reasoning, but lots of comparisons were wrong, comparing the price to the standard PS5 instead of the digital PS5 and to the Series X Special Edition, that is not an upgrade but has double storage and keeps the disc drive.
Most importantly, if PS5 Pro is marketed as a backwards enhancements machine, why does it lack a disc drive? Sony has kept their games outside their own subscriptions and has offered a disc drive console until now. Not only the PS4 and PS5 disc drives are suddenly useless, but they need a separate disc drive and connect it to the newest console to enjoy their old games in AI-upscaled 4K-8K resolution.
@HonestHick The G4 is surprisingly bright because of the second-gen micro lens array, but still awesome quality and perfect contrast. It is the first time I use the dark room mode on OLED.
Jim Ryan is stubborn, but profits are driving the new CEO. Sony has already published some games for Xbox, but I agree that they mostly mean Windows when they say they are multiplatform now, but what if handheld PCs becomes more relevant or if the next Xbox can run PC games? I gotcha 😁.
Nintendo is stubborn, it's a nightmare for fans. Nintendo wouldn't hesitate to incarcerate them for playing roms of games they own on older consoles, uploading a video to Youtube or posting Nintendo art on Instagram, so of course they milk them to an unethical degree, illegally in EU. However, Nintendo has published games for Android and they will release games for Windows, Xbox and PS if their future consoles aren't successful, because the alternative would be disappearing... or becoming a Google/Apple store publisher?
The number of consoles sold is not important for Microsoft because their business is console, PC and cloud. They can sell 10m of consoles and still be all right if they can make billions yearly thanks to console, Windows, mobile and Game Pass. Sony has sold more consoles, not as many as some say (true numbers are 60m PS5 vs. 30m Series S|X, twice as much), but what does it really mean if last generation most people were using the super successful PS4 as a casual console for playing third-party FIFA, Call of Duty, Minecraft and GTA and this generation Sony's exclusives don't sell enough on PS5 either? Not to mention that Microsoft owns Minecraft and Call of Duty now. On top of this, Microsoft also makes desktop computers, laptops (I'm typing on Surface Laptop 4), tablets and even smartphones, so making Xbox consoles is a no-brainer.
Finally, I don't think that consoles are going anywhere, because they are convenient and mobile is not really the same, but I think that consoles will evolve and become gaming PCs, just like Xbox One and PS4 back in the day, but more than ever before, like the handheld-hybrid PCs we are seeing now. That would benefit Microsoft the most because of Windows.
@NEStalgia Nintendo became Apple but with old technology long ago, but what they really love about Apple is switching to white while it was the coolest thing ever and, most of all, how they are able to milk loyal fans and that's exactly what Nintendo loves to do, now Sony as well.
Don't you really hate when people use the inflation as the answer to everything? They even do the most basic maths, as if the inflation was a flat value you can apply to everything not considering any other variable. This must make you mad since your job is related to sales. Then, yeah, let's apply raw inflation since the first generation of consoles and let's be happy paying 6,000 for a 2024 console and 2,400 for each 2024 game.
@HonestHick I just got a LG G4. I already had a C1 and a C9. I love Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos and I'm a happy Series X owner. Reading the comments about Xbox, I think that, mostly, the complaints this generation are all about hypothetical situations and the always unknown future, not about Xbox itself.
I always try to understand the complaints that sound genuine and it's true that Microsoft's communication and marketing is its own enemy and they mess up, also because they talk more than Sony and Nintendo, but that is not that important. The game development, the most important thing, is stronger than ever at Xbox. The fact that they are releasing everything on Xbox and PC and that Xbox and Windows are part of the same ecosystem, the strongest gaming ecosystem (because most players are on Windows except for Android), makes the occasional PS and Switch ports not the main objective, but kind of a secondary objective in a video game.
They have confirmed that there is a next-gen console coming, a handheld/hybrid as well according to rumours. Our purchases are safe. Backwards compatibility is here since Xbox One. That's what I wanted to hear, that they have committed themselves to the Xbox players. We are getting all the software and they are number 2 worldwide after Tencent. They're not abandoning consoles because they are part of the business and important for the community and for revenue. There will be Xbox consoles as long as there is a consoles market. And then, there will be Windows "consoles" like the handheld PCs, I guess. PCs with Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo games, only difference you wouldn't have to buy Microsoft's games again.
Everything else, like this game coming to PS5 (or not) shouldn't matter that much. They know that they can't do business on PS alone. Even Sony can't do business on PS5 alone. Sony stated that they are officially multiplatform now. Square Enix stated that they have abandoned PS exclusivity. Microsoft won't leave Xbox behind because they can sell 1m of Sea of Thieves (that is a massive seller on Xbox and Windows) on PS5. It's like when Nintendo released games for mobile and Sony started publishing games for Xbox. It doesn't change much except extra cash for the three of them.
@JokerBoy322 More that PS5 is overclocked. Basically, the Series X is more powerful than PS5. In order to reach a 10.3TFLOPS peak (Series has stable 12.16 TFLOPS), the PS5 has an overclocked mode that can't be running constantly because of the heat it produces. Technically, the Series X has some room to be overclocked via firmware update because it runs quietly and relatively cool, but I don't think that it will ever happen. Would I use the overclocked mode on Series X? Probably in games like Hellblade II, that needed a little boost. That said, now I think that it's likely that the next-gen Xbox arrives before the next-gen PS.
@HonestHick With the same CPU and overclocked GPU, I honestly think that you're going to be disappointed. People assume that all Xbox games will be on PS, but they don't know which ones and when. Maybe there's a next-gen Xbox console when it happens, much more powerful than PS5 Pro. Just trying to give you a small, well-intentioned reality dose. Perhaps, you'd be better off staying on Xbox, especially since Gears is your favourite IP.
@NEStalgia Yes, it will be a brute force mode to iron out the frame rate of old games but marketed in a Sony way. The CPU is the same as PS5, so it looks even less an upgrade than PS4 Pro, but PS4 Pro made more sense as un updated PS4, considering the pseudo-4K capabilities and its price. The PS5 Pro overclocks the GPU for 4K-8K graphics using AI upscaling and is shown with PS4 games but don't include a disc drive. I'm trying to make some sense of the whole thing, but I can't find the logic anywhere. Most importantly, PS5 has barely any new Sony games that aren't PS4 games and it no longer holds Square Enix nor Activision's keys. If Sony didn't have any competition on the console market, if this was the only console available, I'd definitely be playing on a Windows personal/handheld computer rather than on PS5Pro/6, especially considering the price of the hardware, software and subscriptions and everything concerning the modern Sony, not to mention Sony porting their games to Windows.
@TheLastHarbinger Exactly that. 1 and 2 are included in "up to 8500 games". As someone said elsewhere, "the fact that there were last-gen games being used to show off the power of this thing is laughable."
There was someone hoping for double frame rate on the upcoming current-gen GTA, but with the same CPU, it's also impossible. The presentations had a lot of blurb about AI upscaling that reminded me of the way that Sony sold something as ubiquitous as 3D audio as something unique and exclusive.
@BrandNewOldSchool Welcome and yes, you are absolutely right. I'd add that it's odd reading people complaining about getting hundreds of free dollars/pounds/euros via Microsoft Rewards. Xbox is just the best gaming platform: Play Anywhere, Game Pass (different tiers), excellent hardware, comfy controller, enhanced backwards compatibility (instead of full-priced remasters), third-party codes, Microsoft Rewards...
@JayJ Right, Cerny himself says that developers will need to update their games to make the most of PS5 Pro. He also said that 75% of users choose performance mode. He said both things trying to sell the Pro, but in mi opinion both statements make me think that it's not worth it, because:
1) Not many games will have an optimised Pro mode.
2) Most gamers don't care about visual fidelity as long as performance is good.
Besides, since it lacks a disc drive, the most enthusiastic PS fans will have lots of PS4 and PS5 discs that they won't be able to use, unless they also get a peripheral.
I don't think that they are the right studio, anyway. Same for Toys for Bob, unless they remake the existing games faithfully. I'd choose Rare (original director and designer Gregg Mayles still working there) or Rare and Playtonic (some of the original Rare staff work there). In any case, these don't need to target the original audience, that's a very limited perspective. As long as the games are good, a new game can find an old and new audience. For Banjo is easier, but I don't know how a extremely overreactive and hypocritical society like the current one would allow Conker to exist. However, I would love the Banjo and Conker games to be remade if they don't sugarcoat them.
Pricing aside, the added value of Xbox is that you get Windows PC versions of certain games for free and that the ecosystem is more open than PS, so it's more likely that you will keep your digital licences for future use on one or several platforms. For starters, PS5 Pro ($250 more expensive than the digital PS5) doesn't have a disc drive, so you're stuck with Sony's official prices for games. It's a possibility that next-generation consoles will all be digital only, but on Xbox you have gift cards, third-party codes and, of course, Rewards points. So it's not just the difference between the consoles what matters, but the value. Another company, Nintendo, releases weak and relatively cheap hardware, but the price of the games stays expensive, even for ports.
All things considered, PS5 Pro is really bad value, because it's a very closed ecosystem, you can't use physical games unless you buy a peripheral and you are living inside the PS bubble (and digital store). Compared to something Sony, PS4 Pro was better value.
@Balaam_ Sonic Generations and Sonic Frontiers have excellent controls, basic movement and camera. Sonic Generations, in particular, is one of the most enjoyable 3D platformers I have played. I'd agree if you say so about Sonic Adventure, Sonic Heroes, Sonic The Hedgehog 2006, Sonic Forces...
I have been saying this for years, that they would come. In the meantime, I've discovered other precious series on Xbox, like Persona. Tomorrow, the expansion of Persona 3 Reloaded will be available to Game Pass Ultimate subscribers for free. If you haven't played the game and you like RPGs, there is no better time.
This is not a rumour that Xbox users believe conveniently, "multiplatform" owner, but follows what Square Enix has stated.
@cragis0001 Right, but some people just gobble the click bait down and don't even think. That would be his second own studio and if he makes a new horror game, it would be his third horror IP after Resident Evil and The Evil Within.
@OldGamer999 "It doesn’t matter who produces them."
That's my point, that I don't think that Nintendo and Sony are ahead of Xbox this generation in terms of quality games. Nintendo was first in the past in my opinion, but not anymore and Sony has some cinematic games that are impressive, but most of them are remasters and linear sequels, lately. Xbox has a lot of variety now, even though not all games are excellent nor appeal to everybody. My point is that I don't see that incredible level of quality you always attach to Nintendo and Sony, even less this generation. In the past, maybe, but mostly Nintendo.
@OldGamer999 But that's quite subjective, isn't it? I don't see that incredible level of quality in Nintendo and Sony's current-gen games that you always talk about 😅.
In three words, Kait ruined 5, but the DLC and multiplayer are awesome. She basically killed all the good vibes and energy from previous titles. Also, pointless open areas and that ending... I like 4 more than most people, but my favourites are 1, 2 and 3. Judgement (by another developer) didn't get it right, either. I'm very excited about E-Day and, overall, I like Gears of War more than Halo, but I love some Halo titles, including Infinite. Halo 5 is a mess, though. It's nice that both series received some kind of reboot after 5, because I disliked both 5s.
@IOI The truth is that the founder of the studio and, some time later, the main producers (his successor included) had left the company. What the founder is saying here is that he thought that the team would be okay so he didn't feel guilty when he left. Of course, he should do what he feels like, but that doesn't change the facts. We don't know what would have happened after that if Microsoft didn't own Zenimax. Besides, it was reported that Microsoft kept what was left of the studio alive until it found a new owner. Moreover, this studio is Japanese, so they couldn't move people to other teams like they did with the Western developers. It's not as simple as, "Oh, they made a great game, let's get rid of them." Lastly, it looks like Microsoft didn't keep the Hi-Fi Rush IP but the others so the studio could make a Hi-Fi Rush sequel, as they were planning. Then again, all your comments about Xbox on Pure Xbox are negative, so you probably know all this already.
@Steel76 Then play it on Series X. Starfield launched without a 60fps mode on any console, so not the best example to judge Series S, an optional, budget Xbox. He's not being defensive, he's using common sense, a rarity these days. 😊
@Hydralicmonkey Right. One of the reasons for Microsoft to release their own mobile store is to get rid of Apple's abusive policies. To those saying, "Apple will never allow a third-party store on their devices!", it's not what Apple wants, but what legal regulations state in the different regions. Remember, EU was the first to regulate loot boxes in video games.
For developers, there are significant changes to how they can charge customers and the fee structure. Developers can pay [Apple] no commission at all if they choose to distribute their apps using their own app store and payment system. Epic has announced that it will launch its own app store on iOS in the EU.
Apple created a "Core Technology Fee" for these developers, an annually fee that penalises popular apps outside their store, but that could also be modified if considered abusive by EU. Apple says that this fee is to ensure "security", but also says that they won't allow third-party stores outside EU for "security" reasons. Apple will also be forced to allow game streaming apps worldwide, but then each region would regulate or not the financial terms.
@smoreon That's insightful. Series S is the best value of the generation, but Series X is a gift from heaven, considering how expensive and limited today's computers are in terms of running current games properly. Microsoft would be wise to release a handheld PC as the next Series S next generation along with their next-gen home console.
@Dimey Yep, exactly as @Elbow said. Although Yooka-Laylee disappointed many Banjo fans like us for many reasons (that Snoman Gaming summarised in Youtube video "Banjo-Kazooie vs. Yooka-Laylee"), The Impossible Lair has tight 2D gameplay, great levels and even a surprisingly fun 3D overworld with a fixed camera. The graphics and music are excellent. The Impossible Lair looks and feels polished, the opposite of the first game, paradoxically.
@Dimey I liked that one, too! I would also recommend Hotshot Racing and Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair, much better than the disappointing Yooka-Laylee. Tomb Raider Anniversary and Underworld are also fine games.
@Markatron84 Yes, that authenticity is easy to identify because they sound genuine and not complaining every day about anything related to Xbox, yet don't even play the games they are complaining about. 😁
@Markatron84 I agree with that, especially at a time when people wanted to know what they were planning because they just had a few studios before that, around the time when Fable 4 was announced. Since Game Pass is their main focus now, the strategy is basically the same, though.
It doesn't bother me, but it's better to reveal games when they are almost ready because development is longer and more complicated than it used to be. I get the feeling that most of the internet users complaining about any game that is delayed are just being edgy. You can't be impatient about every single game, there are so many games to play and you can't possibly wish for every game to be rushed because it was announced a little too soon, especially if you really care about the game as much as you pretend.
State of Decay 2 was one of those games that launched prematurely and although I didn't expect it, it became one of the best games in recent years. They got most of the gameplay elements right and the graphics and performance became impressive. I hope that 3 is just bigger, better and with less radio communication.
@NostromoXP I have every Nintendo console since SNES, except Virtual Boy that was not released here (fortunately) 😁. If Nintendo remakes or remasters Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask, those would be the first ones I'd recommend you. Those and Twilight Princess HD.
@AccessibleDaydream More like yet another Ben's article about the hypothetical performance problems of games running on Series S. As I posted above, I have read the same users literally mocking the graphics and frame rate of Starfield and praising the graphics and performance of Tears of the Kingdom, plus those "impossible" ports that are kind of a joke for any serious techie person.
Moreover, Series S is often compared to Switch as a budget console. If we get technical, Switch was already dated at launch. DF were surprised when they found out that it was using an old and downclocked Tegra chip when its sequel was almost ready. While Xbox One had a weaker GPU (but more powerful CPU) than PS4 at launch, the Series S is likely the best value of the current generation and I say this as a Series X (not S) and Switch owner.
@NEStalgia Indeed. Last game I beat is Path of the Goddess (on Game Pass) and I loved it! I did the new game plus right away and got all the achievements. I didn't expect that. I do like some online games (Fortnite was my most-played game according to the Xbox user site for one or two years), but I like the simple and pure offline gameplay as well and Path of the Goddess nailed it. By the way, the number of concurrent players (on Steam, Sony doesn't reveal that) I posted is not a joke but real.
@NostromoXP I'm a huge fan of Zelda, Ocarina of Time is one of my favourite games ever, but I disliked both Breath of the Wild and its sequel. In spite of that, I have completed them both. The first time a friend showed me his brand new Tears of the Kingdom, I was shocked to witness the lowest frame rate I had seen in a long while and the ugly green-brown blurry visuals when fighting three or four chuchus, especially when he activated Ultrahand. I will never understand why these two games have been praised so much and I'm not talking about the graphics only.
@Utena-mobile @NEStalgia It was a "blockbuster game", indeed. Eight years in development, big marketing campaign and it was supposed to be Sony's Overwatch/Fortnite, main difference being that Concord peaked at 697 concurrent players.
@NostromoXP And the same people literally blurt out wow! at Tears of the Kingdom and all the "impossible" 25fps 360p last-gen Switch ports with all graphical effects off, reduced geometry, blurry textures and no anti-aliasing. 🤣
More seriously, although I'd like all games to have a 60fps mode at launch, at least most of them are updated to include it afterwards. 40fps would also be very interesting because most good TVs (like LG's Cs and Gs since 2019) support HDMI 2.1 and VRR.
@Utena-mobile More responsive and much easier to navigate, for sure! It seems that the problem is that someone forgot to update the prices of the Tomb Raider games. Either that or they included them in the weekly sale by mistake. 😅
@Elbow Good question. I only remember one specific backwards compatible DLC sale. I guess that they're not considered as important as modern DLC and they just promote the backwards compatible games. On the plus side, you can get backwards compatible games for very little, like 50-90% off, if you are patient. If you add them to your wishlist, you'll be notified whenever they're included in a sale.
@Utena-mobile Tomb Raider Anniversary and Underworld are officially included in the sale, but the prices haven't been updated. I know because I checked the weekly sales on Xbox and although I can't see the price because they are backwards compatible games that I already own, the website doesn't reflect any discounts.
Comments 6,853
Re: Xbox Series X Vs. PS5 Pro: What Are We Missing Out On?
@NEStalgia When a console plus the software is more expensive than the alternative PC, it stops making sense, especially considering that PS subscriptions are expensive and much more limited than Game Pass and that you now get Sony's games on PC. The PS exclusivity was the main selling point of PS and that dies this generation.
Re: Reminder: Persona 3 Reload Expansion Releases For Free On Xbox Game Pass This Week
Playing already, I love the Persona series so far.
@NEStalgia Redeeming the DLC code given as a Game Pass Ultimate perk is a definitive purchase, yes.
Re: Xbox Series X Vs. PS5 Pro: What Are We Missing Out On?
@HonestHick Yeah, even Mercy admitted that gamers aren't asking for more when he said that 75% of players choose performance mode. I think that what they are asking for is more PS5 games. 😁
Re: Xbox Series X Vs. PS5 Pro: What Are We Missing Out On?
@NEStalgia I still don't get Sony's strategy now. Probably that, the Sony products for the enthusiasts, selling the brand as expensive as possible, as Apple, but they need Windows for staying in the business, so not as independent as Apple as they would like. Has PS become a pseudo-luxury mid-range PC-console or a full-priced budget Apple line-up?
I also noticed after the PS5 Pro announcement, not just the wrong inflation reasoning, but lots of comparisons were wrong, comparing the price to the standard PS5 instead of the digital PS5 and to the Series X Special Edition, that is not an upgrade but has double storage and keeps the disc drive.
Most importantly, if PS5 Pro is marketed as a backwards enhancements machine, why does it lack a disc drive? Sony has kept their games outside their own subscriptions and has offered a disc drive console until now. Not only the PS4 and PS5 disc drives are suddenly useless, but they need a separate disc drive and connect it to the newest console to enjoy their old games in AI-upscaled 4K-8K resolution.
Re: Xbox Series X Vs. PS5 Pro: What Are We Missing Out On?
@HonestHick The G4 is surprisingly bright because of the second-gen micro lens array, but still awesome quality and perfect contrast. It is the first time I use the dark room mode on OLED.
Jim Ryan is stubborn, but profits are driving the new CEO. Sony has already published some games for Xbox, but I agree that they mostly mean Windows when they say they are multiplatform now, but what if handheld PCs becomes more relevant or if the next Xbox can run PC games? I gotcha 😁.
Nintendo is stubborn, it's a nightmare for fans. Nintendo wouldn't hesitate to incarcerate them for playing roms of games they own on older consoles, uploading a video to Youtube or posting Nintendo art on Instagram, so of course they milk them to an unethical degree, illegally in EU. However, Nintendo has published games for Android and they will release games for Windows, Xbox and PS if their future consoles aren't successful, because the alternative would be disappearing... or becoming a Google/Apple store publisher?
The number of consoles sold is not important for Microsoft because their business is console, PC and cloud. They can sell 10m of consoles and still be all right if they can make billions yearly thanks to console, Windows, mobile and Game Pass. Sony has sold more consoles, not as many as some say (true numbers are 60m PS5 vs. 30m Series S|X, twice as much), but what does it really mean if last generation most people were using the super successful PS4 as a casual console for playing third-party FIFA, Call of Duty, Minecraft and GTA and this generation Sony's exclusives don't sell enough on PS5 either? Not to mention that Microsoft owns Minecraft and Call of Duty now. On top of this, Microsoft also makes desktop computers, laptops (I'm typing on Surface Laptop 4), tablets and even smartphones, so making Xbox consoles is a no-brainer.
Finally, I don't think that consoles are going anywhere, because they are convenient and mobile is not really the same, but I think that consoles will evolve and become gaming PCs, just like Xbox One and PS4 back in the day, but more than ever before, like the handheld-hybrid PCs we are seeing now. That would benefit Microsoft the most because of Windows.
Re: Xbox Series X Vs. PS5 Pro: What Are We Missing Out On?
@NEStalgia Nintendo became Apple but with old technology long ago, but what they really love about Apple is switching to white while it was the coolest thing ever and, most of all, how they are able to milk loyal fans and that's exactly what Nintendo loves to do, now Sony as well.
Don't you really hate when people use the inflation as the answer to everything? They even do the most basic maths, as if the inflation was a flat value you can apply to everything not considering any other variable. This must make you mad since your job is related to sales. Then, yeah, let's apply raw inflation since the first generation of consoles and let's be happy paying 6,000 for a 2024 console and 2,400 for each 2024 game.
Re: Xbox Series X Vs. PS5 Pro: What Are We Missing Out On?
@HonestHick I just got a LG G4. I already had a C1 and a C9. I love Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos and I'm a happy Series X owner. Reading the comments about Xbox, I think that, mostly, the complaints this generation are all about hypothetical situations and the always unknown future, not about Xbox itself.
I always try to understand the complaints that sound genuine and it's true that Microsoft's communication and marketing is its own enemy and they mess up, also because they talk more than Sony and Nintendo, but that is not that important. The game development, the most important thing, is stronger than ever at Xbox. The fact that they are releasing everything on Xbox and PC and that Xbox and Windows are part of the same ecosystem, the strongest gaming ecosystem (because most players are on Windows except for Android), makes the occasional PS and Switch ports not the main objective, but kind of a secondary objective in a video game.
They have confirmed that there is a next-gen console coming, a handheld/hybrid as well according to rumours. Our purchases are safe. Backwards compatibility is here since Xbox One. That's what I wanted to hear, that they have committed themselves to the Xbox players. We are getting all the software and they are number 2 worldwide after Tencent. They're not abandoning consoles because they are part of the business and important for the community and for revenue. There will be Xbox consoles as long as there is a consoles market. And then, there will be Windows "consoles" like the handheld PCs, I guess. PCs with Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo games, only difference you wouldn't have to buy Microsoft's games again.
Everything else, like this game coming to PS5 (or not) shouldn't matter that much. They know that they can't do business on PS alone. Even Sony can't do business on PS5 alone. Sony stated that they are officially multiplatform now. Square Enix stated that they have abandoned PS exclusivity. Microsoft won't leave Xbox behind because they can sell 1m of Sea of Thieves (that is a massive seller on Xbox and Windows) on PS5. It's like when Nintendo released games for mobile and Sony started publishing games for Xbox. It doesn't change much except extra cash for the three of them.
Re: Xbox Series X Vs. PS5 Pro: What Are We Missing Out On?
@JokerBoy322 More that PS5 is overclocked. Basically, the Series X is more powerful than PS5. In order to reach a 10.3TFLOPS peak (Series has stable 12.16 TFLOPS), the PS5 has an overclocked mode that can't be running constantly because of the heat it produces. Technically, the Series X has some room to be overclocked via firmware update because it runs quietly and relatively cool, but I don't think that it will ever happen. Would I use the overclocked mode on Series X? Probably in games like Hellblade II, that needed a little boost. That said, now I think that it's likely that the next-gen Xbox arrives before the next-gen PS.
Re: Xbox Series X Vs. PS5 Pro: What Are We Missing Out On?
@HonestHick With the same CPU and overclocked GPU, I honestly think that you're going to be disappointed. People assume that all Xbox games will be on PS, but they don't know which ones and when. Maybe there's a next-gen Xbox console when it happens, much more powerful than PS5 Pro. Just trying to give you a small, well-intentioned reality dose. Perhaps, you'd be better off staying on Xbox, especially since Gears is your favourite IP.
Re: Xbox Series X Vs. PS5 Pro: What Are We Missing Out On?
@NEStalgia Yes, it will be a brute force mode to iron out the frame rate of old games but marketed in a Sony way. The CPU is the same as PS5, so it looks even less an upgrade than PS4 Pro, but PS4 Pro made more sense as un updated PS4, considering the pseudo-4K capabilities and its price. The PS5 Pro overclocks the GPU for 4K-8K graphics using AI upscaling and is shown with PS4 games but don't include a disc drive. I'm trying to make some sense of the whole thing, but I can't find the logic anywhere. Most importantly, PS5 has barely any new Sony games that aren't PS4 games and it no longer holds Square Enix nor Activision's keys. If Sony didn't have any competition on the console market, if this was the only console available, I'd definitely be playing on a Windows personal/handheld computer rather than on PS5Pro/6, especially considering the price of the hardware, software and subscriptions and everything concerning the modern Sony, not to mention Sony porting their games to Windows.
Re: Xbox Series X Vs. PS5 Pro: What Are We Missing Out On?
@TheLastHarbinger Exactly that. 1 and 2 are included in "up to 8500 games". As someone said elsewhere, "the fact that there were last-gen games being used to show off the power of this thing is laughable."
There was someone hoping for double frame rate on the upcoming current-gen GTA, but with the same CPU, it's also impossible. The presentations had a lot of blurb about AI upscaling that reminded me of the way that Sony sold something as ubiquitous as 3D audio as something unique and exclusive.
Re: The Xbox Game Pass Conversion Ratios Have Gotten Worse This Week
@BrandNewOldSchool Welcome and yes, you are absolutely right. I'd add that it's odd reading people complaining about getting hundreds of free dollars/pounds/euros via Microsoft Rewards. Xbox is just the best gaming platform: Play Anywhere, Game Pass (different tiers), excellent hardware, comfy controller, enhanced backwards compatibility (instead of full-priced remasters), third-party codes, Microsoft Rewards...
Re: Xbox Series X Vs. PS5 Pro: What Are We Missing Out On?
Even the Series X Special Edition seems a bargain now.
Re: Reaction: PS5 Pro's Extortionate Price Justifies Xbox's Lack Of A New Console
@JayJ Right, Cerny himself says that developers will need to update their games to make the most of PS5 Pro. He also said that 75% of users choose performance mode. He said both things trying to sell the Pro, but in mi opinion both statements make me think that it's not worth it, because:
1) Not many games will have an optimised Pro mode.
2) Most gamers don't care about visual fidelity as long as performance is good.
Besides, since it lacks a disc drive, the most enthusiastic PS fans will have lots of PS4 and PS5 discs that they won't be able to use, unless they also get a peripheral.
Re: Xbox's 'Double Fine' Studio Dismisses Idea Of Making New Banjo Or Conker Games
I don't think that they are the right studio, anyway. Same for Toys for Bob, unless they remake the existing games faithfully. I'd choose Rare (original director and designer Gregg Mayles still working there) or Rare and Playtonic (some of the original Rare staff work there). In any case, these don't need to target the original audience, that's a very limited perspective. As long as the games are good, a new game can find an old and new audience. For Banjo is easier, but I don't know how a extremely overreactive and hypocritical society like the current one would allow Conker to exist. However, I would love the Banjo and Conker games to be remade if they don't sugarcoat them.
Re: Xbox's New 'Standard' Game Pass Tier Is Now Available To Everyone
@Utena-mobile Here.
https://www.purexbox.com/forums/xbox-game-pass/just_bought_an_xbox_and_have_questions_about_what_tier_of_game_pass_to_get#reply-19
Re: Reaction: PS5 Pro's Extortionate Price Justifies Xbox's Lack Of A New Console
Pricing aside, the added value of Xbox is that you get Windows PC versions of certain games for free and that the ecosystem is more open than PS, so it's more likely that you will keep your digital licences for future use on one or several platforms. For starters, PS5 Pro ($250 more expensive than the digital PS5) doesn't have a disc drive, so you're stuck with Sony's official prices for games. It's a possibility that next-generation consoles will all be digital only, but on Xbox you have gift cards, third-party codes and, of course, Rewards points. So it's not just the difference between the consoles what matters, but the value. Another company, Nintendo, releases weak and relatively cheap hardware, but the price of the games stays expensive, even for ports.
All things considered, PS5 Pro is really bad value, because it's a very closed ecosystem, you can't use physical games unless you buy a peripheral and you are living inside the PS bubble (and digital store). Compared to something Sony, PS4 Pro was better value.
Re: Xbox's New 'Sonic Legacy Bundle' Includes A Recently Delisted Classic
@Balaam_ Sonic Generations and Sonic Frontiers have excellent controls, basic movement and camera. Sonic Generations, in particular, is one of the most enjoyable 3D platformers I have played. I'd agree if you say so about Sonic Adventure, Sonic Heroes, Sonic The Hedgehog 2006, Sonic Forces...
Re: Rumour: 'Whole Slate' Of Modern Final Fantasy Games Expected To Release On Xbox
@kelomaniack Right. It's very funny to read that multiplatform games don't sell enough on Xbox when PS5 exclusives don't sell enough to begin with.
Re: Rumour: 'Whole Slate' Of Modern Final Fantasy Games Expected To Release On Xbox
I have been saying this for years, that they would come. In the meantime, I've discovered other precious series on Xbox, like Persona. Tomorrow, the expansion of Persona 3 Reloaded will be available to Game Pass Ultimate subscribers for free. If you haven't played the game and you like RPGs, there is no better time.
This is not a rumour that Xbox users believe conveniently, "multiplatform" owner, but follows what Square Enix has stated.
Re: Tango Gameworks Founder Thought Studio 'Would Be Safe' At Xbox Thanks To Hi-Fi RUSH
@cragis0001 Right, but some people just gobble the click bait down and don't even think. That would be his second own studio and if he makes a new horror game, it would be his third horror IP after Resident Evil and The Evil Within.
Re: Talking Point: Five Years Later, What Do You Think Of Gears 5 In 2024?
@OldGamer999 Yet lots of games are overrated and underrated, depending on who's publishing them. That doesn't mean much these days.
Re: Talking Point: Five Years Later, What Do You Think Of Gears 5 In 2024?
@OldGamer999 "It doesn’t matter who produces them."
That's my point, that I don't think that Nintendo and Sony are ahead of Xbox this generation in terms of quality games. Nintendo was first in the past in my opinion, but not anymore and Sony has some cinematic games that are impressive, but most of them are remasters and linear sequels, lately. Xbox has a lot of variety now, even though not all games are excellent nor appeal to everybody. My point is that I don't see that incredible level of quality you always attach to Nintendo and Sony, even less this generation. In the past, maybe, but mostly Nintendo.
Re: Talking Point: Five Years Later, What Do You Think Of Gears 5 In 2024?
@OldGamer999 But that's quite subjective, isn't it? I don't see that incredible level of quality in Nintendo and Sony's current-gen games that you always talk about 😅.
Re: Talking Point: Five Years Later, What Do You Think Of Gears 5 In 2024?
@OldGamer999 Remember when doing the math that The Coalition has been helping other Xbox Game Studios, same as Rare and Id.
@Elbow @jikflet Right. Hivebusters was unexpected fun after the awful campaign.
Re: Talking Point: Five Years Later, What Do You Think Of Gears 5 In 2024?
In three words, Kait ruined 5, but the DLC and multiplayer are awesome. She basically killed all the good vibes and energy from previous titles. Also, pointless open areas and that ending... I like 4 more than most people, but my favourites are 1, 2 and 3. Judgement (by another developer) didn't get it right, either. I'm very excited about E-Day and, overall, I like Gears of War more than Halo, but I love some Halo titles, including Infinite. Halo 5 is a mess, though. It's nice that both series received some kind of reboot after 5, because I disliked both 5s.
Re: Tango Gameworks Founder Thought Studio 'Would Be Safe' At Xbox Thanks To Hi-Fi RUSH
@IOI You are confusing defending with simply stating the facts.
Re: Tango Gameworks Founder Thought Studio 'Would Be Safe' At Xbox Thanks To Hi-Fi RUSH
@IOI The truth is that the founder of the studio and, some time later, the main producers (his successor included) had left the company. What the founder is saying here is that he thought that the team would be okay so he didn't feel guilty when he left. Of course, he should do what he feels like, but that doesn't change the facts. We don't know what would have happened after that if Microsoft didn't own Zenimax. Besides, it was reported that Microsoft kept what was left of the studio alive until it found a new owner. Moreover, this studio is Japanese, so they couldn't move people to other teams like they did with the Western developers. It's not as simple as, "Oh, they made a great game, let's get rid of them." Lastly, it looks like Microsoft didn't keep the Hi-Fi Rush IP but the others so the studio could make a Hi-Fi Rush sequel, as they were planning. Then again, all your comments about Xbox on Pure Xbox are negative, so you probably know all this already.
Re: Starfield's 60FPS Mode Put Through Its Paces On Xbox Series S
@Steel76 Then play it on Series X. Starfield launched without a 60fps mode on any console, so not the best example to judge Series S, an optional, budget Xbox. He's not being defensive, he's using common sense, a rarity these days. 😊
Re: Starfield's 60FPS Mode Put Through Its Paces On Xbox Series S
@NostromoXP Exactly! That's the crux.
Re: Microsoft Says Native Xbox Cloud Gaming App Remains 'Impossible' On Apple Devices
@Hydralicmonkey Right. One of the reasons for Microsoft to release their own mobile store is to get rid of Apple's abusive policies. To those saying, "Apple will never allow a third-party store on their devices!", it's not what Apple wants, but what legal regulations state in the different regions. Remember, EU was the first to regulate loot boxes in video games.
Apple created a "Core Technology Fee" for these developers, an annually fee that penalises popular apps outside their store, but that could also be modified if considered abusive by EU. Apple says that this fee is to ensure "security", but also says that they won't allow third-party stores outside EU for "security" reasons. Apple will also be forced to allow game streaming apps worldwide, but then each region would regulate or not the financial terms.
Re: Starfield's 60FPS Mode Put Through Its Paces On Xbox Series S
@smoreon That's insightful. Series S is the best value of the generation, but Series X is a gift from heaven, considering how expensive and limited today's computers are in terms of running current games properly. Microsoft would be wise to release a handheld PC as the next Series S next generation along with their next-gen home console.
Re: Lots Of Games Are Reduced By 90% On Xbox This Week (September 3-10)
@Dimey Yep, exactly as @Elbow said. Although Yooka-Laylee disappointed many Banjo fans like us for many reasons (that Snoman Gaming summarised in Youtube video "Banjo-Kazooie vs. Yooka-Laylee"), The Impossible Lair has tight 2D gameplay, great levels and even a surprisingly fun 3D overworld with a fixed camera. The graphics and music are excellent. The Impossible Lair looks and feels polished, the opposite of the first game, paradoxically.
Re: Lots Of Games Are Reduced By 90% On Xbox This Week (September 3-10)
@Dimey I liked that one, too! I would also recommend Hotshot Racing and Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair, much better than the disappointing Yooka-Laylee. Tomb Raider Anniversary and Underworld are also fine games.
Re: Deals: The Xbox Store Is Stacked With New Sales To Kick Off September
@Utena-mobile Back to mention that Tomb Raider Anniversary and Underworld have the discount live now, 85% off.
Re: Hogwarts Legacy Sequel A 'Big Priority' For Warner Bros In The Next Few Years
The existing game is on sale now (70% off!), but unfortunately not the deluxe edition.
Re: Starfield's 60FPS Mode Put Through Its Paces On Xbox Series S
@NostromoXP Same here! 😊
Re: Starfield's 60FPS Mode Put Through Its Paces On Xbox Series S
@NostromoXP Genuine conversations like this are more interesting than what is usually posted on the threads, though. 🙌
Re: Undead Labs Is Shifting Its Full 'Focus And Resources' To State Of Decay 3
@Markatron84 Yes, that authenticity is easy to identify because they sound genuine and not complaining every day about anything related to Xbox, yet don't even play the games they are complaining about. 😁
Re: Undead Labs Is Shifting Its Full 'Focus And Resources' To State Of Decay 3
@Markatron84 I agree with that, especially at a time when people wanted to know what they were planning because they just had a few studios before that, around the time when Fable 4 was announced. Since Game Pass is their main focus now, the strategy is basically the same, though.
Re: Undead Labs Is Shifting Its Full 'Focus And Resources' To State Of Decay 3
It doesn't bother me, but it's better to reveal games when they are almost ready because development is longer and more complicated than it used to be. I get the feeling that most of the internet users complaining about any game that is delayed are just being edgy. You can't be impatient about every single game, there are so many games to play and you can't possibly wish for every game to be rushed because it was announced a little too soon, especially if you really care about the game as much as you pretend.
State of Decay 2 was one of those games that launched prematurely and although I didn't expect it, it became one of the best games in recent years. They got most of the gameplay elements right and the graphics and performance became impressive. I hope that 3 is just bigger, better and with less radio communication.
Re: Starfield's 60FPS Mode Put Through Its Paces On Xbox Series S
@NostromoXP I have every Nintendo console since SNES, except Virtual Boy that was not released here (fortunately) 😁. If Nintendo remakes or remasters Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask, those would be the first ones I'd recommend you. Those and Twilight Princess HD.
Re: Starfield's 60FPS Mode Put Through Its Paces On Xbox Series S
@AccessibleDaydream More like yet another Ben's article about the hypothetical performance problems of games running on Series S. As I posted above, I have read the same users literally mocking the graphics and frame rate of Starfield and praising the graphics and performance of Tears of the Kingdom, plus those "impossible" ports that are kind of a joke for any serious techie person.
Moreover, Series S is often compared to Switch as a budget console. If we get technical, Switch was already dated at launch. DF were surprised when they found out that it was using an old and downclocked Tegra chip when its sequel was almost ready. While Xbox One had a weaker GPU (but more powerful CPU) than PS4 at launch, the Series S is likely the best value of the current generation and I say this as a Series X (not S) and Switch owner.
Re: Reaction: Xbox Focusing On 'Blockbuster Games' Should Be No Surprise After The Failure Of Concord
@NEStalgia Indeed. Last game I beat is Path of the Goddess (on Game Pass) and I loved it! I did the new game plus right away and got all the achievements. I didn't expect that. I do like some online games (Fortnite was my most-played game according to the Xbox user site for one or two years), but I like the simple and pure offline gameplay as well and Path of the Goddess nailed it. By the way, the number of concurrent players (on Steam, Sony doesn't reveal that) I posted is not a joke but real.
Re: Starfield's 60FPS Mode Put Through Its Paces On Xbox Series S
@NostromoXP I'm a huge fan of Zelda, Ocarina of Time is one of my favourite games ever, but I disliked both Breath of the Wild and its sequel. In spite of that, I have completed them both. The first time a friend showed me his brand new Tears of the Kingdom, I was shocked to witness the lowest frame rate I had seen in a long while and the ugly green-brown blurry visuals when fighting three or four chuchus, especially when he activated Ultrahand. I will never understand why these two games have been praised so much and I'm not talking about the graphics only.
Re: Reaction: Xbox Focusing On 'Blockbuster Games' Should Be No Surprise After The Failure Of Concord
@Utena-mobile @NEStalgia It was a "blockbuster game", indeed. Eight years in development, big marketing campaign and it was supposed to be Sony's Overwatch/Fortnite, main difference being that Concord peaked at 697 concurrent players.
Re: Starfield's 60FPS Mode Put Through Its Paces On Xbox Series S
@NostromoXP And the same people literally blurt out wow! at Tears of the Kingdom and all the "impossible" 25fps 360p last-gen Switch ports with all graphical effects off, reduced geometry, blurry textures and no anti-aliasing. 🤣
More seriously, although I'd like all games to have a 60fps mode at launch, at least most of them are updated to include it afterwards. 40fps would also be very interesting because most good TVs (like LG's Cs and Gs since 2019) support HDMI 2.1 and VRR.
Re: Deals: The Xbox Store Is Stacked With New Sales To Kick Off September
@Utena-mobile More responsive and much easier to navigate, for sure! It seems that the problem is that someone forgot to update the prices of the Tomb Raider games. Either that or they included them in the weekly sale by mistake. 😅
@Elbow Good question. I only remember one specific backwards compatible DLC sale. I guess that they're not considered as important as modern DLC and they just promote the backwards compatible games. On the plus side, you can get backwards compatible games for very little, like 50-90% off, if you are patient. If you add them to your wishlist, you'll be notified whenever they're included in a sale.
Re: Microsoft Says Native Xbox Cloud Gaming App Remains 'Impossible' On Apple Devices
@Elbow You are welcome!
Re: Deals: The Xbox Store Is Stacked With New Sales To Kick Off September
@Utena-mobile Tomb Raider Anniversary and Underworld are officially included in the sale, but the prices haven't been updated. I know because I checked the weekly sales on Xbox and although I can't see the price because they are backwards compatible games that I already own, the website doesn't reflect any discounts.