Very enticing upgrades for sure. I got the premium upgrade for Starfield before it launched, I was going to do the same for Indiana Jones but I decided to just buy the ultimate edition or whatever it was called so I own Indiana Jones and I also did the premium upgrade for Avowed lol I guess I'm actually a fan of these premium upgrades for gamepass ultimate subscribers. Starfield was an excellent game and now I have Shattered Space to dive into (haven't had the time yet), Indiana Jones was GOTY for me, and Avowed has become one of my favorite Obsidian masterpieces of all time. Damn, Xbox is killing it lol I can't wait for DOOM the dark ages, it looks so good!
Control was a masterpiece IMO and if Remedy can make this game feel similar to the eeryness vibe that Control had I'm all for it. That being said I hope there's options for solo play as well as duos co-op. I hate being forced to have an extra player in a co-op game and I also hate when games are ONLY playable in co-op. I play with myself most of the time (haha yup i see it), so if there's a solo option chances are that's where I'll be, I do have a buddy I link up with about once a week.
I'm tired and rambling at this point lol 😆 Remedy is a top tier development studio and I'm ready for any and all things connected to control
Avowed is one of the best RPGs in recent memory, delivering a deeply immersive experience that excels in nearly every aspect. Built on Unreal Engine 5, the game features stunning visuals that bring its rich fantasy world to life. The gameplay mechanics are extremely solid, making combat and exploration feel both engaging and rewarding.
What truly sets Avowed apart for me personally, is its exceptional character development. Companions are not just side characters but fully realized individuals with unique backstories and personalities. The game strengthens these connections through well-crafted side missions that further develop their arcs, making interactions at camp and during missions feel meaningful. Obsidian has really developed a knack for giving us companions that go deeper than surface level co-op bots.
The story, while not groundbreaking, evolves based on your decisions, ensuring a level of agency that keeps the experience engaging. With its beautiful world, well-written characters, and strong RPG mechanics, Avowed is an outstanding entry in Obsidian’s lineup—an absolute must-play for anyone who appreciates Obsidians unique blend of the RPG genre.
@Tasuki same I'm about 35 hours in and still have stuff to do in Dawn shore. I've completed every bounty in the game, got the achievement, and yesterday I got an achievement for opening every certain type of chest that's in the game lol Avowed has been a phenomenal game that's kept me entertained the entire time. I've enjoyed it so much that I am already planning a second playthrough whenever I finish. I really hope we get some type of DLC in the future though.
March was a little quiet but we have Atomfall arriving March 27th directly into gamepass. I know Atomfall isn't a massive groundbreaking release but from everything I've read and seen the game looks like solid fun. Not every game needs to be the biggest, most advanced thing ever made (unless you're GTA 6 because I expect nothing less from Rockstar after the brillance that is GTA 5 and especially RDR2). I think Atomfall will be a decent game, it looks like fun so if everything works as good as it does in previews I think it'll be solid.
South of Midnight is a game I've been hyped for since it's revealing at the 2023 Xbox Games showcase. Compulsion games has been a studio that kinda does their own thing. Contrast was a gem that I wasn't sure about until I actually played it for myself. It was actually released as a PS+ monthly game which is how I got acquainted with the game. It's mix of 3D/2D platform puzzling was quite unique upon release.
We happy few was another game Compulsion games released that was really cool in thought, however it's execution didn't land as well. The concept of a dystopian society all around you but you can't see it due to the "happy" meds they provide to keep you content with how awful the world truly is. I very much enjoyed that concept however the gameplay for me just fell short. It was a little rough and clunky which is what ultimately kept me from finishing the game.
The reason I'm excited for South of Midnight is because it'll be compulsion games biggest title to date, with the backing of Microsoft. I'm a fan of 3rd person action adventure style games. I love the idea of exploring folk tales, and think the stop motion inspired animation looks great, along with the Southern Gothic aesthetic. If they nail the gameplay and storytelling I think South of Midnight will be a pleasant surprise for sure.
South of Midnight has been on my radar since being announced in 2023. It looks like Compulsion games is really coming into their own, I very much enjoyed Contrast. Shifting between a 3D world and 2D shadows resulted in a unique gameplay that was fun.
We happy few was on another level, it's unique art style with it's retro futuristic aesthetic, made it stand out amongst its peers. The games 1960s dystopian England was captivating but more than anything it was the games narrative that really shines. Citizens forced to take a happiness drugs really captured my imagination. The idea of society masking it's dark reality with forced joyous optimism created a sense of unease and wonder.
I'm definitely looking forward to jumping into South of midnight day one. It's aesthetic and overall artistic nature looks absolutely stunning and I'm looking forward to exploring the deep souths mythical creatures.
@Kaloudz people blame game "addiction" on all kinds of games. its crazy.
I'd love to try Warcraft on Xbox, I've never played the game but it looks like a ton of fun with friends. I love world building (playing a game to uncover secrets of the world and more within the game). I think it'd be an excellent addition to Xbox.
I've never played world of Warcraft, I saw friends play it when I was growing up in the early 2000s but I never had a PC so it was never in my gaming sphere. If we were to receive a native Xbox release there's no doubt in my mind I would absolutely give it a fair shake especially if I can find a buddy to play with, I'd love to go questing and unlocking the secrets of Warcraft. I genuinely hope we see a Xbox release, maybe even a gamepass ultimate tie in or bonuses, can you imagine how many people on Xbox who'd be like me and want to play World of Warcraft for the first time? Exciting to think about 🤔😁
This is so awesome to see, major props to Xbox for supporting the accessibility community. Their Xbox adaptive controller along with their new adaptive joy stick really does open up gaming to so many people which IMO is amazing. The amount of joy I get from gaming is insurmountable and the fact that others with disabilities can enjoy games as well thanks to initiatives like this is really cool to see.
@darylb24 it's funny, most people who've actually played the game seen to enjoy it. Others who sit there and hate in the game haven't even tried playing it, they just say it sucks based on what YouTubers say which is a massive detriment not only to amazing games, but to gamers as a whole because we're letting a vocal minority speak for the vast majority. I'm also hoping once it's on gamepass that people actually give it a fair shake. It's addition to PS+ seemed to have a positive impact as people who've played the game seen to really enjoy it. I'm definitely keeping an eye on it myself.
I would absolutely love to beat Dragon Age The Veil guard, I was going to wait until the game was on sale for about $20 (which is how I acquired Dragon Age Inquisition GoTY edition). With it being added to gamepass ultimate I would love to beat the game and I'd probably still acquire it later on depending if the game offers enough content to warrant another playthrough.
@Kaloudz I'm actually waiting for shadows to become cheaper even though I really want to play it at launch I'm forcing myself to wait for a sale, I'll be dodging spoilers like a crazed ninja lol. thankfully I'll have Atomfall ready just as I'm finishing up Avowed. Xbox is absolutely killing it as of late, Gamepass Ultimate is once again paying for itself in spades.
@Kaloudz I couldn't agree more, this is the best cadence of EXCELLENT Xbox releases I've personally experienced since the Xbox 360 days. If Xbox was able to release these kinda bangers at the beginning of the console generation we would be seeing a completely different narrative in my opinion. This is the resurgence of excellent games that Xbox desperately needed. Stalker 2, Indiana Jones, Avowed, Atom Fall, Doom the Dark Ages and South of Midnight all released or releasing within months of one another is truly remarkable for Xbox. That's not even taking into consideration the great games that are to be expected for the second half of 2025.
What's crazy to me is I went to Walmart the other day with my girl and they were completely sold out of Xbox consoles, I had asked the workers if they had any in the back, they said no we're waiting for more to restock and that they've seen an uptick in Xbox console sales. Now, of course I'm not naive enough to think this is a turn around for Xbox consoles based on 1 freaking store in Portland, Oregon. That being said, I do believe with excellent games releasing on Xbox people are much more inclined to purchase the consoles, I don't believe that's a coincidence.
P.S. funnily enough, the store had a few PS5 pros in the shelf and I asked if it was a popular console to which the fellow working in the tech department said no, he's only personally seen 1 PS5 pro sold since launch. I guess it's not too surprising but still, kinda funny to see how delusional Sony is to release a $700 console.
@mac_da_man Star Wars Outlaws isn't a bad game, I was lucky enough to get it on sale and I've put about 24 hours into the game and it's not amazing but it damn sure isn't a bad game either. I will circle back and finish the game at some point, right now Avowed is my main squeeze. I love that game, can't get enough of it and really hope we see Obsidian release DLC for it.
@Kaloudz I quite enjoy their games as well, I'm definitely looking forward to Atomfall. I'm almost done with Avowed, I've got a little over 3 days play time. With games like Avowed, I will do every possible side quest until I can't then I'll progress the main quest until I unlock more side missions. Right now I am at the last map and finishing the side quests there before continuing to the Avowed end game.
I'm kinda bummed to be done with Avowed. I've never played The Outer Worlds & I keep reading that it's similar but obviously a different type of setting and play style. I hear the writing is spectacular though so I may give it a try. Have you played The Outer Worlds? You have any input?
Xbox gamepass ultimate has changed the way my wife and I enjoy games forever. We get to try amazing games that we never would've bought otherwise, then on top of that any game we fall in love with we get a 20% discount with gamepass to make the game ours. This is how we acquired the brilliant Indiana Jones and the Great Circle as well as the phenomenal Avowed. These games may exist in gamepass forever but if not I find comfort knowing I've got them in my digital library, it's funny enough that both Indiana Jones and Avowed are both games that can be played multiple times. I'd definitely say gamepass has made a massive impact on our gaming hobby this generation. I haven't even begun to discuss the brillance that is Xbox Cloud Gaming lol.
@Kaloudz I played the 33 immortals pre-alpha via Xbox insiders program. It wasn't bad however there were some things that needed to be ironed out but that's what the play test was for lol. That was almost a year ago so I'm sure the game is in a much better state now.
Now when it comes to Atomfall I am very much intrigued. It reminds me out 360 era fallout games meets the British world. I was taken back by it's "T for Teen" ESRB rating as I thought it was going to be a little more mature and gritty. That being said, I'm excited for the game. The gameplay looks fun, the world looks interesting to explore and I think it'll be decent as long as the gameplay is solid. It doesn't matter how good a game looks, if the gameplay is janky and doesn't feel good it completely destroys the experience for me.
At the end of the day, Xbox Game pass is absolutely killing it. I've got 2 days played in Avowed already and it's become my number 1 played game since release. Before that, the game that completely shocked me by it's insane fun quality was another Xbox game pass banger and that was Indiana Jones and the Last Circle. Xbox is keeping the hits coming and I am so here for it 😁
@BacklogBrad I think the snapshot feature was definitely ahead of its time. I do wish we had the feature on Series X and S just because I believe the new consoles and their SSDs could really make the feature worthwhile. I liked pulling up tutorials and watching the videos as I played, it made Easter eggs smooth.
I think a modern version of snapshot would be a cool feature, is it something I desperately need? No. Is it something that's cool that I'd like to use again? Yes, absolutely. The Series X and S are already some of the best consoles ever made imo, one more badass feature would just be another plus in my book.
Avowed has been amazing. I'm genuinely enjoying everything about it. I'm about 25 hours in and I am exploring everything and completing bounties and side quests as much as possible then when I run out of things to do I continue on the main quest line. It's definitely a game I recommend to my buddies who enjoyed Skyrim, enjoyed The Outer Worlds and ultimately enjoys Obsidians uniqueness lol happy gaming ✌️
@Kaloudz thanks my friend! I try to execute due diligence before commenting because I can't stand when people spout nonsense and when asked about their opinions they have no facts to stand on. Probably why I hit the head on the bail multiple times lol anyways I'm glad you agree, and I share the same excitement for the next Xbox as you do.
IDK if you saw but the upcoming Xbox Sebile controller popped it's head up again. It was supposed to launch in early 2024 but we know plans change all the time.
The controller itself is expected to have advanced haptics as well as VCA tactile motors enable full haptics similar to the Dual Sense controller. It will also offer a lift to wake feature possibly enabling better battery life as the controller will sleep when not in use. It's also said to be the first Xbox controller to feature built-in gyroscopes (possibly for lift to wake and maybe even gameplay features). One of the most exciting features for me is the ability for the controller to connect directly to the Xbox cloud gaming servers which would make cloud gaming latency even lower as well as making inputs sync better. I'm not sure how I feel about a built-in battery, my rechargeable AA batteries offer superior battery life compared to my dual sense controller that lasts only 5 hours (I even have my haptics on low and my trigger effects turned off!). Last but definitely not least is the modular design. It's said to support customizable back buttons as well as the ability to swap out thumb sticks enabling better longevity.
I just SINCERELY HOPE the Xbox Sebile controller comes with Hall Effect analog sticks and triggers. My right recently got my the new Gamesir G7 HE controller for my birthday, it's the best controller I've ever experienced. The analog sticks have zero Dead zones which is jarring at first (I even set my deadzones to 5 via the Xbox app just because it's that sensitive). The Hall Effect triggers are also incredibly accurate and beyond what I was expecting for a $50 wired controller. It's latency is superior to that of a wireless controller. It also features tactile face buttons that are click and even that has been such a positive experience. Even the face buttons are rater higher as they don't use the typical mesh system. I'm hoping Microsoft looks at controllers like this and realizes they need features like Hall Effect analog sticks and triggers to remain competitive with their competitors. Once again happy gaming ✌️
@bert0503 Xbox is doing better now than every before. Here's a comprehensive list of the FACTS that prove Xbox isn't going anywhere. Your comment is based on no factual information.
1. Revenue Growth – The Xbox Series X|S generation has made over $80.8 billion for Microsoft, proving the brand is financially successful. Around $14 billion has come from console sales the rest from software and services proving the Xbox ecosystem is stronger now than ever.
2. Hardware Commitment – Microsoft has confirmed a next-gen Xbox, it's said to be the biggest technological leap ever witnessed in a console generation. They've also created a team dedicated to backwards & forward compatibility ensuring our libraries are playable on the new console. Microsoft is also developing an Xbox handheld! Needless to say they’re not leaving the hardware business.
3. Game Pass & Ecosystem – Game Pass is a massive success, driving engagement and console sales. Xbox cloud gaming has brought gamers into the ecosystem allowing them to experience the Xbox ecosystem themselves which turns into gamepass ultimate subs or even console sales.
4. 35M+ Consoles Sold – While behind PlayStation, Xbox Series consoles are still selling well, outpacing the Xbox One in the same time frame which shows growth in Xbox's hardware market. Even with fewer console sales than PS5, Xbox's revenue is at an all time high ($80 billion). Microsoft has greenlit their next Xbox console, ensuring Xbox continues into the next hardware generation.
I quite like the Xbox UI it's easy to navigate and see everything I need at a glance. I personally have gamepass added to my home screen that shows me all the recently released gamepass titles. This makes it nice for me to see what's been added at glance.
The one thing I'd like to see is the ability to put everything out of sight so we can see our awesome custom backgrounds. Like if we can hit a button like down on D pad to hide everything and when we want it to go back to normal we just press up on D pad and everything is as it was. Overall though I'd give the Xbox UI a solid 4/5
@Kaloudz I agree that watch dogs 1 was an incredible adventure that still holds up today. Watch Dogs 2 somehow went backwards in my opinion and I've never played legions so I'm curious to see how the game lands.
I'm currently enamored with Avowed, Obsidians take on fantasy action adventure has surprised the hell outta me. I'm having a ton of fun exploring completing side quests, running into trouble trying to kill bounties, and idk the game feels good to play & it looks great too so I'll probably be playing Avowed for quite sometime lol.
@Kaloudz I'm actually in agreement with you 💯 percent. We know AAA games can't sustain on exclusive console sales alone. We saw this with Spiderman 2 on PS5 barely breaking even, which is why we're seeing most PlayStation "exclusives" releasing on PC as well. Xbox is doing the same thing, expanding their horizons to increase software sales which in turn helps support the Xbox ecosystem grow stronger. In order for the console market to grow changes have to be made.
I do believe Xbox is in the best position it's been in the past decade as far as making a compelling argument to switch as they have a solid lineup of incredible games, Xbox Series hardware is truly amazing with features like quick resume and backwards compatibility that is unmatched by any other console manufacturers, and it's ecosystem is brilliant because it allows you to access games across 4 Xbox generations, you can stream hundreds of games via Xbox cloud gaming & now we're getting the ability to stream games we own via Xbox cloud gaming, this allows us to continue playing games even when we're away from our consoles at home and it's allowed for growth by bringing gamers into the Xbox ecosystem via Xbox cloud gaming making the barrier for playing great games extremely low.
As far as the doom and gloom click bait nonsense, it's getting so ridiculous. Xbox isn't going anywhere. Xbox hardware isn't going anywhere, it's really frustrating especially when there's people out there rooting for the death of Xbox, that would leave PlayStation as the sole high end console makes essentially allowing them to corner the market which would be BAD for gamers.
When I see comments about the doom and gloom, I don't argue anymore, I just simply state the FACTS that counter misinformation;
1. Revenue Growth – The Xbox Series X|S generation has made over $80.8 billion for Microsoft, proving the brand is financially successful. Around $14 billion has come from console sales the rest from software and services proving the Xbox ecosystem is stronger now than ever.
2. Hardware Commitment – Microsoft has confirmed a next-gen Xbox, it's said to be the biggest technological leap ever witnessed in a console generation. They've also created a team dedicated to backwards & forward compatibility ensuring our libraries are playable on the new console. Microsoft is also developing an Xbox handheld! Needless to say they’re not leaving the hardware business.
3. Game Pass & Ecosystem – Game Pass is a massive success, driving engagement and console sales. Xbox cloud gaming has brought gamers into the ecosystem allowing them to experience the Xbox ecosystem themselves which turns into gamepass ultimate subs or even console sales.
4. 35M+ Consoles Sold – While behind PlayStation, Xbox Series consoles are still selling well, outpacing the Xbox One in the same time frame which shows growth in Xbox's hardware market. Even with fewer console sales than PS5, Xbox's revenue is at an all time high ($80 billion). Microsoft has greenlit their next Xbox console.
The negativity is irritating and largely driven by clickbait headlines, but the numbers tell a different story, Xbox is growing stronger. Happy gaming ✌️
@Kaloudz I'm right there with you, gamepass ultimate is by far the BEST value in gaming, pint blank period. The fella arguing with you is either a PlayStation fanboy or is purposely trying to get a rise because he says everything released in the last 18 months or so has been "mid AF" which is absolutely ridiculous. We've gotten some many spectacular games added that it's not even funny. From incredible games like Diablo lV, AC Origins, AC Odyssey, AC Valhalla, COD MW3, The Outer Worlds, Control Ultimate Edition, Skyrim Special edition, Dead Island 2, Dead space, Doom Eternal, Far Cry 6, Forza Horizon 5, Gears of War series, Halo Series and MANY, MANY others.
We even got incredible DAY ONE releases; Persona 3, High on Life, Age of Empires lV, Lies of P, Black Ops 6, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, Ninja Gaiden Black, Starfield, Hellblade 2, Palworld, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and Stalker 2 and MANY more I can't even think of at the moment.
Needless to say, Xbox Gamepass Ultimate is unmatched when it comes to the best gaming library for you buck. Not only do you get access to hundreds of great games, there's backwards compatible Xbox One and 360 games in the mix, plus you get Xbox cloud gaming which allows you to play so many amazing games anywhere you are on almost any device you own & now we even get the ability to stream games we own that aren't even available on gamepass which is another fantastic perk, and any game that's on the service that you want you buy you get a 20% discount for being gamepass subscribers.
TLDR; that guy has to be a troll because he has ZERO argument lol gamepass ultimate is by far the BEST value in gaming. It really puts Xbox on another level. Happy gaming ✌️
Atomfall looks like a good time, I get British fallout vibes lol although the Teen rating has me a little concerned. I hope it plays as well as it looks cuz it looks pretty good.
@Kaloudz I was just about to say, this year I have a massive backlog of phenomenal games thanks to gamepass and Xbox lol. Replaced looks great but I'm okay to wait if it means the game gets the polish it deserves.
@Ricky-Spanish I agree 💯 percent. The worst part is so many articles are written about the failures and shortcomings of Xbox. It's extremely frustrating, it's click bait that's used to cause panic. We know for a FACT that Xbox is one of Microsoft's biggest money makers. We know for a FACT Xbox is developing a new Xbox that it says will be the greatest technological leap ever seen in a console generation. Xbox isn't going anywhere, if you do research Xbox is doing better than ever across console, streaming, game sales and subscription services.
The amount of anxiety I see in the Xbox community is really SAD, a lot of that anxiety could be mitigated but Microsoft apparently has a horrible PR team. People need to understand it's not just Xbox that is turning away from the normal console exclusives, Sony is also doing the same thing. They can't recoup development costs on consoles alone, we saw this with Spiderman 2 during the insomniac leaks and how much it cost to make vs how much money it's made. Sony is bringing MOST of its 1st party "exclusives" to PC (which in turn helps support Microsoft, which supports Xbox lol).
As time goes on, we will start to see MOST games going the multiplatform route. It's not a bad thing, in fact it's good that games can expand beyond a single platform enabling the creation of better games thanks to the ability to invest in games knowing their success rates are much greater when combining all consoles + PC.
I am personally sick of the "Xbox is dead narrative" it's NOT, in fact it's only growing stronger. GTA 6 will undoubtedly sell Xbox consoles especially since the Xbox Series S will be the cheapest way to access GTA 6 day one. Happy gaming ✌️
@Kaloudz I know a lot of people who play GTA online on PlayStation 4. I imagine large numbers of people picking up the Series S just to play GTA 6. Also, the fact GTA 6 won't be coming to PC any time soon there means there's a lot of PC players who will be eager to play GTA 6 & the cheapest most effective way to play will be via the Xbox Series S.
@OldGamer999 it was confirmed by Obsidian themselves. Avowed will feature a 30fps quality mode, a 60fps performance mode, and for those playing on 120Hz TV's the game will feature a 40fps balanced mode. I can't wait for Avowed!
I'm genuinely excited for Avowed! I think that the extra dev time truly helped with extra polish and optimizations. We know it was only going to have a locked 30fps mode but since that extra allotment of time, it's now been announced that Xbox Series X will feature a 60fps performance mode. I wasn't too upset with the 30fps new but I'm glad we're getting 60fps. It just goes to show with more time and proper optimizations a lot more can be achieved than initially realized. If we look at games released late last generation (think Last of Us part 2, and Gears 5) those titles were truly remarkable especially considering they were built on underpowered PS4/Xbone hardware. I think we've yet to see truly remarkable current Gen games, we've come close with Ratchet and Clank Rift apart, Hellblade 2 and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, however I think in the next year or so we're going to see truly remarkable current Gen games that truly utilize what these consoles are capable of.
Eternal strands has been a pleasant surprise for me. I wasn't expecting it to keep my attention but it's allowed me to step away from my role as Indiana Jones for enough time to enjoy it's clever strand magic weaving. The graphics are decent and I've been pleasantly surprised by the story. Overall after 3 hours in I'd say this is a solid 8/10 and just one more reason I'm genuinely happy with my subscription Xbox gamepass ultimate.
@OldGamer999 it's been confirmed avowed will have a 60fps option on Xbox Series X! When I saw this news I was pretty stoked, Avowed is already one of my most anticipated games of 2025. I love Obsidian and the work they do delivering excellent RPGs
All these fools saying Xbox is dying are obviously brainwashed or something. Xbox is extremely profitable for Microsoft and has been for quite sometime. In the first 9 months of FY2022, Xbox had an accountability margin of over $1.5 billion. This mean xbox's revenue minus its costs resulted in a profit margin around 12%. This profit has only increased over the last 3 years with Xbox revenue in FY2024 reaching over $7 billion. They are continuing to make money from Xbox.
Also, Xbox has over 100 million active users across its Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S consoles as well as PC. That number is nothing to sneeze at and it's only growing thanks to brilliant strategic planning with Xbox cloud gaming. Those 100 million+ players are actively buying and playing games on Xbox services which results in great profits for Microsoft.
As far as a gaming handheld goes, I absolutely believe Xbox will release a dedicated gaming handheld. They've seen first hand how successful the switch was and how people are willing to buy steam decks and Asus ROG Ally in order to play their game libraries on the go. Xbox is an EXCELLENT position to use its brilliant ecosystem to bring a dedicated gaming experience to a handheld console.
If Xbox can deliver a handheld gaming console that costs around $399 and can play entire Xbox libraries (which is absolutely in the realm of possibilities thanks to the excellent work the Xbox team did in regards to backwards compatibility).
Also, if Xbox were to team up with AMD for their gaming handheld chipset it would allow for an easier transition to get their Xbox libraries running on a handheld. Also the APU featured in an Xbox handheld will most definitely be a successor to the AMD Z2 Extreme APU which is already fully capable of running modern AAA games at 60fps+ with ease. The Z2 Extreme APU is based on strix point and features a 12 core 24 thread CPU that combines 8 performance Zen 5 cores with 4 efficient performance Zen 5c cores. It also features Radeon 880m GPU that based on RDNA 3.5 and features 16 compute units clocked at 2.9Ghz.
So let's break this down, the Xbox Series S APU features an 8 core 16 thread Zen 2 CPU clocked at 3.5Ghz If features an RDNA 2 GPU with 20 compute units clocked at 1.55Ghz
Of the Xbox handheld were using the Z2 Extreme it would rival the Series S. The APU features a 12 core 24 thread Zen 5/Zen 5c CPU combined with an RDNA 3.5 GPU with 16 compute units clocked at 2.9Ghz. this chipset has a TDP of 28 watts HOWEVER it's believed most of the time it'll be ran at 15watts-25watts.
I believe an upcoming Xbox handheld gaming console will be able to outperform the Xbox Series S. I believe the handheld will feature a 1080p display with a minimum of 120Hz refresh rate. That combined with upcoming APUs that can easily outperform the Series S I believe we'll get an Xbox handheld capable of running entire Xbox libraries which will be such a badass feature! Long Live Xbox, happy gaming ✌️
@Ricky-Spanish I probably won't pre-order until the week before it's release. The main reason is I like to preload games before they release so I don't have a massive download when the game goes live. Also, the new Xbox update that allows for preemptive downloads for updates means that a possible day one patch will already be installed by the time the game goes live.
Until we get closer to launch I'm not going to pre-order anything.
@Kraven I'm really wanting to buy Dragon's Dogma 2, I've never played the first game BUT I'm a massive fan of RPG games. I've recently beat my 1st playthrough of Starfield that I spent about 170 hours on, I've also beaten Cyberpunk 2077 and Phantom Liberty twice now.
@oliverp we won't be getting a new Xbox until 2028 at the earliest, you have to remember the Series X|S are already 4 years old now and by 2028 they'll be 8 years old. I agree the Series X is a fantastic console, that being said the hardware inside the console is from 2020. It's already outdated but thankfully consoles have the stability of using set hardware which is why games are sometimes optimized much better on consoles.
Look at how good God of War Ragnarok looks on PS4 and that's on extremely outdated hardware. Point is the Series X will get great games for years to come and when the next console arrives it'll be worth the upgrade. I whole heartedly believe when we got the Series X we were in desperate need of an upgrade & this generation has been a great leap from last generation.
This generation will still see better and better games released as is with every generation of consoles. I personally love my Series X and I'm so HYPED for an Xbox handheld and the next gen Xbox will be phenomenal! Definitely glad Xbox is looking to the future 💯
I'm a thousand percent all for it. This generation of Xbox consoles are so much better than last gen! I started this generation in 2021 with a PS5. Great console, don't get me wrong, I love the PlayStation exclusives but I'm not a huge fan of the ecosystem.
After watching the 2022 Xbox Showcase I went out and got a Series S. Immediately fell in love with gamepass ultimate, started playing games I would've never experienced otherwise, plus almost every digital title I'd ever purchased on Xbox 360 or Xbox One was immediately in my library ready to play better than ever!
Here in 2024 I finally got an Xbox Series X. It's by far the best console I've ever owned. It's performance is great, the UI is good, the ecosystem is absolutely brilliant, especially when it comes to backwards compatibility. The fact I can pop in an OG Xbox, Xbox 360, or Xbox One disc and play older games better than ever thanks to upscaling and fps boost, it really has become my favorite console lol.
I kept my Series S and it's become my take anywhere console. I have a portable gaming monitor so when it's time for a visit with the inlaws I just setup my Series S in a corner and continue playing.
ALL this explanation leads to my next hopefully not as long winded point. Xbox lost me during the Xbox One generation, I gave my Xbox One to my little brother and played exclusively on PS4 pro. I went into this generation believing I only needed a PS5. Xbox has really been great this generation, aside from all the doom and gloom, along with poor marketing strategies, Xbox has been a whole lot better this generation. The consoles are extremely solid, the games are finally starting to prove themselves (Indiana Jones is my pick for GOTY 2024 lol FTW!).
With this guy at the helm along with all the other engineers, I'm pretty confident for next gen Xbox. If they continue their partnership with AMD I think we will see some massive improvements (just based on what AMD has planned for its Zen 6 CPU's and RDNA 5 GPU's plus the fact their making APUs with integrated graphics that are so powerful they eliminate the need for a dedicated graphics card). I'm excited to see where Xbox goes from here!
@TheGiraffe I completely understand this sentiment. I left the last generation only owning a PS4 pro after I gave my Xbox One to my little brother. Then at the start of this generation I got my PS5 in 2021. After watching 2 Xbox showcases I realized I need Xbox back in my life so I got a Series S in 2022. Over the coarse of 2 years I started playing my PS5 less and less. I would platinum PlayStation exclusives like God of War Ragnarok and Spiderman 2, then go back to my Series S for gamepass and everything else. Finally I got my Series X in 2024 and it's my daily driver, my PS5 is delegated to PlayStation exclusives only & only games I'm interested in so it's gotten much less usage these last couple years.
My advice is get a digital PS5 as they're a little cheaper but make sure you have a slew of must have games lined up so that you're not buying a $400 console for just a few games. Games I've personally completed on PS5 are;
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart God of War (2018) God of War Ragnarok Horizon Forbidden West Spiderman remastered Spiderman Miles Morales Spiderman 2 Ghost of Tsushima (PS5 version)
I'm genuinely excited to play Indiana Jones and the great circle. I've always been a fan on Bethesda and specifically Machine Games. Wolfenstein: New Order was fantastic blend of 1st person shooting action with compelling storytelling and great world building.
If they can make Indiana Jones and the great circle as well as they made Wolfenstein New Order I think we're in for a treat. Just one more reason I love my Xbox Series X and gamepass ultimate subscription lol.
Xbox has been killing it, I've been enjoying the hell out of my Xbox lately. With Diablo 4 vessels of hatred DLC being so much fun, plus I got Starfield Shattered Space DLC which has been a pleasant surprise for me (people love to hate Starfield but I think it's good fun), then I've Black Ops 6 launching into gamepass ultimate day one! BO6 has been great, especially the Zombies. I love round based Zombies (although I REALLY hope they bring back Outbreak, that was the best open world Zombies ever) especially when it comes to solving Easter eggs. It's super fun. I have been enjoying Black Ops 6 on both my Series X and Series S. I've been at my in-laws for the last 10 days, I always take my Series S with me, and to my surprise Black Ops 6 runs incredibly well on the Series S. I beat my highest round of Zombies getting to level 71 on liberty falls and being able to exfil with no problem. I also beat the Terminus Easter egg on the Series S as well. The game is exceptionally smooth at 120fps and the only hiccups I ever get has to do with the fact I'm on WiFi instead of a dedicated LAN. My Series S is hooked up to a 32inch 1440p LG monitor that has a 170Hz refresh rate.
For me personally Black Ops 6 is the best COD game since MW2019.
@Quickbeamx I used the New Zealand method to play black ops 6 zombies all day yesterday, I knew I wouldn't be able to play today. It was super easy to do and I was EXTREMELY surprised at how well the game was running on launch day. I only lost connection to host twice and lagged out once. I switched everything back to normal before I went to bed last night so when I finally get back online Friday evening everything will be Gucci lol happy gaming ✌️
@Ricky-Spanish I'm right there with BO6 is going to be a good time for me, especially the zombies aspect. I'm a zombies goon that literally did everything possible in MW3 zombies lol. I have every schematic known to man, I've done all the Easter eggs & now I'm spending my zombies play time helping n00bs learn the dark aether rifts and stuff like that. It's a blast, I'm hoping BO6 zombies is good. I love round based but I also REALLY loved outbreak in Cold war. I hope we get that back later on.
@Ricky-Spanish bro I played the hell out of this game as a little kid. I was 7 or 8 years old when I went in this adventure and it's always stuck with me and it's a games I constantly mention to loved ones as one of the games that really got me as a child and now it's coming to Xbox. Man, I'm stoked to play this again! The last time I played this game was 1999 or so, I don't remember if I got the sequel or not but I do know that I got a PS2 in October of 2000 for my 9th birthday. Anyways, excellent to see this on Xbox! Happy gaming ✌️
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Re: PSA: DOOM: The Dark Ages Has An Early Access Upgrade For Xbox Game Pass Players
Very enticing upgrades for sure. I got the premium upgrade for Starfield before it launched, I was going to do the same for Indiana Jones but I decided to just buy the ultimate edition or whatever it was called so I own Indiana Jones and I also did the premium upgrade for Avowed lol I guess I'm actually a fan of these premium upgrades for gamepass ultimate subscribers. Starfield was an excellent game and now I have Shattered Space to dive into (haven't had the time yet), Indiana Jones was GOTY for me, and Avowed has become one of my favorite Obsidian masterpieces of all time. Damn, Xbox is killing it lol I can't wait for DOOM the dark ages, it looks so good!
Re: Remedy Announces New Showcase For Its Xbox Game Pass Title FBC: Firebreak
Control was a masterpiece IMO and if Remedy can make this game feel similar to the eeryness vibe that Control had I'm all for it. That being said I hope there's options for solo play as well as duos co-op. I hate being forced to have an extra player in a co-op game and I also hate when games are ONLY playable in co-op. I play with myself most of the time (haha yup i see it), so if there's a solo option chances are that's where I'll be, I do have a buddy I link up with about once a week.
I'm tired and rambling at this point lol 😆 Remedy is a top tier development studio and I'm ready for any and all things connected to control
Re: Three Classic Activision Games Listed For Xbox Game Pass By Microsoft
Definitely excited for Crash 4 to arrive on Gamepass. It's about time lol I had to 😅
Re: Avowed Update 1.31 Now Live, Includes Improved Performance On Xbox Series X|S
@FarmDog08 the game is so good and it gets even better 😋
Re: Avowed Update 1.31 Now Live, Includes Improved Performance On Xbox Series X|S
My personal review
Avowed - (9/10, Excellent)
Avowed is one of the best RPGs in recent memory, delivering a deeply immersive experience that excels in nearly every aspect. Built on Unreal Engine 5, the game features stunning visuals that bring its rich fantasy world to life. The gameplay mechanics are extremely solid, making combat and exploration feel both engaging and rewarding.
What truly sets Avowed apart for me personally, is its exceptional character development. Companions are not just side characters but fully realized individuals with unique backstories and personalities. The game strengthens these connections through well-crafted side missions that further develop their arcs, making interactions at camp and during missions feel meaningful. Obsidian has really developed a knack for giving us companions that go deeper than surface level co-op bots.
The story, while not groundbreaking, evolves based on your decisions, ensuring a level of agency that keeps the experience engaging. With its beautiful world, well-written characters, and strong RPG mechanics, Avowed is an outstanding entry in Obsidian’s lineup—an absolute must-play for anyone who appreciates Obsidians unique blend of the RPG genre.
Re: Opinion: It's Been A Quiet March, But Next Month Looks Awesome For Xbox Game Pass
@Tasuki same I'm about 35 hours in and still have stuff to do in Dawn shore. I've completed every bounty in the game, got the achievement, and yesterday I got an achievement for opening every certain type of chest that's in the game lol Avowed has been a phenomenal game that's kept me entertained the entire time. I've enjoyed it so much that I am already planning a second playthrough whenever I finish. I really hope we get some type of DLC in the future though.
Re: Opinion: It's Been A Quiet March, But Next Month Looks Awesome For Xbox Game Pass
March was a little quiet but we have Atomfall arriving March 27th directly into gamepass. I know Atomfall isn't a massive groundbreaking release but from everything I've read and seen the game looks like solid fun. Not every game needs to be the biggest, most advanced thing ever made (unless you're GTA 6 because I expect nothing less from Rockstar after the brillance that is GTA 5 and especially RDR2). I think Atomfall will be a decent game, it looks like fun so if everything works as good as it does in previews I think it'll be solid.
South of Midnight is a game I've been hyped for since it's revealing at the 2023 Xbox Games showcase. Compulsion games has been a studio that kinda does their own thing. Contrast was a gem that I wasn't sure about until I actually played it for myself. It was actually released as a PS+ monthly game which is how I got acquainted with the game. It's mix of 3D/2D platform puzzling was quite unique upon release.
We happy few was another game Compulsion games released that was really cool in thought, however it's execution didn't land as well. The concept of a dystopian society all around you but you can't see it due to the "happy" meds they provide to keep you content with how awful the world truly is. I very much enjoyed that concept however the gameplay for me just fell short. It was a little rough and clunky which is what ultimately kept me from finishing the game.
The reason I'm excited for South of Midnight is because it'll be compulsion games biggest title to date, with the backing of Microsoft. I'm a fan of 3rd person action adventure style games. I love the idea of exploring folk tales, and think the stop motion inspired animation looks great, along with the Southern Gothic aesthetic. If they nail the gameplay and storytelling I think South of Midnight will be a pleasant surprise for sure.
Re: Xbox's Early Access DLC Returns For South Of Midnight, But It's A Lot Cheaper This Time Around
South of Midnight has been on my radar since being announced in 2023. It looks like Compulsion games is really coming into their own, I very much enjoyed Contrast. Shifting between a 3D world and 2D shadows resulted in a unique gameplay that was fun.
We happy few was on another level, it's unique art style with it's retro futuristic aesthetic, made it stand out amongst its peers. The games 1960s dystopian England was captivating but more than anything it was the games narrative that really shines. Citizens forced to take a happiness drugs really captured my imagination. The idea of society masking it's dark reality with forced joyous optimism created a sense of unease and wonder.
I'm definitely looking forward to jumping into South of midnight day one. It's aesthetic and overall artistic nature looks absolutely stunning and I'm looking forward to exploring the deep souths mythical creatures.
Re: World Of Warcraft Plays Surprisingly Well On Xbox Thanks To GeForce Now
@Kaloudz people blame game "addiction" on all kinds of games. its crazy.
I'd love to try Warcraft on Xbox, I've never played the game but it looks like a ton of fun with friends. I love world building (playing a game to uncover secrets of the world and more within the game). I think it'd be an excellent addition to Xbox.
Re: World Of Warcraft Plays Surprisingly Well On Xbox Thanks To GeForce Now
I've never played world of Warcraft, I saw friends play it when I was growing up in the early 2000s but I never had a PC so it was never in my gaming sphere. If we were to receive a native Xbox release there's no doubt in my mind I would absolutely give it a fair shake especially if I can find a buddy to play with, I'd love to go questing and unlocking the secrets of Warcraft. I genuinely hope we see a Xbox release, maybe even a gamepass ultimate tie in or bonuses, can you imagine how many people on Xbox who'd be like me and want to play World of Warcraft for the first time? Exciting to think about 🤔😁
Re: Xbox Joins New Gaming Accessibility Initiative As Founding Member
@themightyant it really is great to see this expanded of gaming to a community that often struggles to be seen or heard.
Re: Xbox Joins New Gaming Accessibility Initiative As Founding Member
@Onlyboxmatters agreed 💯 percent
Re: Xbox Joins New Gaming Accessibility Initiative As Founding Member
@RadioHedgeFund the Xbox actually does let you swap buttons and triggers around via the Xbox accessories app.
Re: Xbox Joins New Gaming Accessibility Initiative As Founding Member
This is so awesome to see, major props to Xbox for supporting the accessibility community. Their Xbox adaptive controller along with their new adaptive joy stick really does open up gaming to so many people which IMO is amazing. The amount of joy I get from gaming is insurmountable and the fact that others with disabilities can enjoy games as well thanks to initiatives like this is really cool to see.
Re: Xbox Could Be Preparing To Add Two Big EA Releases To Game Pass
@darylb24 it's funny, most people who've actually played the game seen to enjoy it. Others who sit there and hate in the game haven't even tried playing it, they just say it sucks based on what YouTubers say which is a massive detriment not only to amazing games, but to gamers as a whole because we're letting a vocal minority speak for the vast majority. I'm also hoping once it's on gamepass that people actually give it a fair shake. It's addition to PS+ seemed to have a positive impact as people who've played the game seen to really enjoy it. I'm definitely keeping an eye on it myself.
Re: Xbox Could Be Preparing To Add Two Big EA Releases To Game Pass
I would absolutely love to beat Dragon Age The Veil guard, I was going to wait until the game was on sale for about $20 (which is how I acquired Dragon Age Inquisition GoTY edition). With it being added to gamepass ultimate I would love to beat the game and I'd probably still acquire it later on depending if the game offers enough content to warrant another playthrough.
Re: Roundup: Here's What The Reviews Are Saying About Atomfall On Xbox Game Pass
@Kaloudz I'm actually waiting for shadows to become cheaper even though I really want to play it at launch I'm forcing myself to wait for a sale, I'll be dodging spoilers like a crazed ninja lol. thankfully I'll have Atomfall ready just as I'm finishing up Avowed. Xbox is absolutely killing it as of late, Gamepass Ultimate is once again paying for itself in spades.
Re: Talking Point: Xbox Is Two Months Away From Making Its Mark On Another Legendary FPS
@Kaloudz I couldn't agree more, this is the best cadence of EXCELLENT Xbox releases I've personally experienced since the Xbox 360 days. If Xbox was able to release these kinda bangers at the beginning of the console generation we would be seeing a completely different narrative in my opinion. This is the resurgence of excellent games that Xbox desperately needed. Stalker 2, Indiana Jones, Avowed, Atom Fall, Doom the Dark Ages and South of Midnight all released or releasing within months of one another is truly remarkable for Xbox. That's not even taking into consideration the great games that are to be expected for the second half of 2025.
What's crazy to me is I went to Walmart the other day with my girl and they were completely sold out of Xbox consoles, I had asked the workers if they had any in the back, they said no we're waiting for more to restock and that they've seen an uptick in Xbox console sales. Now, of course I'm not naive enough to think this is a turn around for Xbox consoles based on 1 freaking store in Portland, Oregon. That being said, I do believe with excellent games releasing on Xbox people are much more inclined to purchase the consoles, I don't believe that's a coincidence.
P.S. funnily enough, the store had a few PS5 pros in the shelf and I asked if it was a popular console to which the fellow working in the tech department said no, he's only personally seen 1 PS5 pro sold since launch. I guess it's not too surprising but still, kinda funny to see how delusional Sony is to release a $700 console.
Re: Pure Xbox's Game Of The Year 2024
@mac_da_man Star Wars Outlaws isn't a bad game, I was lucky enough to get it on sale and I've put about 24 hours into the game and it's not amazing but it damn sure isn't a bad game either. I will circle back and finish the game at some point, right now Avowed is my main squeeze. I love that game, can't get enough of it and really hope we see Obsidian release DLC for it.
Re: Atomfall Dev Reveals Overall Runtime Ahead Of Xbox Game Pass Release
@Kaloudz I quite enjoy their games as well, I'm definitely looking forward to Atomfall. I'm almost done with Avowed, I've got a little over 3 days play time. With games like Avowed, I will do every possible side quest until I can't then I'll progress the main quest until I unlock more side missions. Right now I am at the last map and finishing the side quests there before continuing to the Avowed end game.
I'm kinda bummed to be done with Avowed. I've never played The Outer Worlds & I keep reading that it's similar but obviously a different type of setting and play style. I hear the writing is spectacular though so I may give it a try. Have you played The Outer Worlds? You have any input?
Re: Opinion: Thanks To Xbox Game Pass, I've Just Changed My GOTY For 2024
Xbox gamepass ultimate has changed the way my wife and I enjoy games forever. We get to try amazing games that we never would've bought otherwise, then on top of that any game we fall in love with we get a 20% discount with gamepass to make the game ours. This is how we acquired the brilliant Indiana Jones and the Great Circle as well as the phenomenal Avowed. These games may exist in gamepass forever but if not I find comfort knowing I've got them in my digital library, it's funny enough that both Indiana Jones and Avowed are both games that can be played multiple times. I'd definitely say gamepass has made a massive impact on our gaming hobby this generation. I haven't even begun to discuss the brillance that is Xbox Cloud Gaming lol.
Re: Xbox Game Pass: All Games Coming Soon In March 2025
@Kaloudz I played the 33 immortals pre-alpha via Xbox insiders program. It wasn't bad however there were some things that needed to be ironed out but that's what the play test was for lol. That was almost a year ago so I'm sure the game is in a much better state now.
Now when it comes to Atomfall I am very much intrigued. It reminds me out 360 era fallout games meets the British world. I was taken back by it's "T for Teen" ESRB rating as I thought it was going to be a little more mature and gritty. That being said, I'm excited for the game. The gameplay looks fun, the world looks interesting to explore and I think it'll be decent as long as the gameplay is solid. It doesn't matter how good a game looks, if the gameplay is janky and doesn't feel good it completely destroys the experience for me.
At the end of the day, Xbox Game pass is absolutely killing it. I've got 2 days played in Avowed already and it's become my number 1 played game since release. Before that, the game that completely shocked me by it's insane fun quality was another Xbox game pass banger and that was Indiana Jones and the Last Circle. Xbox is keeping the hits coming and I am so here for it 😁
Re: Random: Xbox Fans Want Microsoft To Bring Back 'Snap Mode' On Series X And S
@BacklogBrad I think the snapshot feature was definitely ahead of its time. I do wish we had the feature on Series X and S just because I believe the new consoles and their SSDs could really make the feature worthwhile. I liked pulling up tutorials and watching the videos as I played, it made Easter eggs smooth.
I think a modern version of snapshot would be a cool feature, is it something I desperately need? No. Is it something that's cool that I'd like to use again? Yes, absolutely. The Series X and S are already some of the best consoles ever made imo, one more badass feature would just be another plus in my book.
Re: Xbox Exec Thanks Fans For Helping Avowed Go Number 1 On Steam
Avowed has been amazing. I'm genuinely enjoying everything about it. I'm about 25 hours in and I am exploring everything and completing bounties and side quests as much as possible then when I run out of things to do I continue on the main quest line. It's definitely a game I recommend to my buddies who enjoyed Skyrim, enjoyed The Outer Worlds and ultimately enjoys Obsidians uniqueness lol happy gaming ✌️
Re: Phil Spencer Says Xbox Is Done Trying To Convince PS5 & Switch Players To Move Over
@Kaloudz thanks my friend! I try to execute due diligence before commenting because I can't stand when people spout nonsense and when asked about their opinions they have no facts to stand on. Probably why I hit the head on the bail multiple times lol anyways I'm glad you agree, and I share the same excitement for the next Xbox as you do.
IDK if you saw but the upcoming Xbox Sebile controller popped it's head up again. It was supposed to launch in early 2024 but we know plans change all the time.
The controller itself is expected to have advanced haptics as well as VCA tactile motors enable full haptics similar to the Dual Sense controller. It will also offer a lift to wake feature possibly enabling better battery life as the controller will sleep when not in use. It's also said to be the first Xbox controller to feature built-in gyroscopes (possibly for lift to wake and maybe even gameplay features). One of the most exciting features for me is the ability for the controller to connect directly to the Xbox cloud gaming servers which would make cloud gaming latency even lower as well as making inputs sync better. I'm not sure how I feel about a built-in battery, my rechargeable AA batteries offer superior battery life compared to my dual sense controller that lasts only 5 hours (I even have my haptics on low and my trigger effects turned off!). Last but definitely not least is the modular design. It's said to support customizable back buttons as well as the ability to swap out thumb sticks enabling better longevity.
I just SINCERELY HOPE the Xbox Sebile controller comes with Hall Effect analog sticks and triggers. My right recently got my the new Gamesir G7 HE controller for my birthday, it's the best controller I've ever experienced. The analog sticks have zero Dead zones which is jarring at first (I even set my deadzones to 5 via the Xbox app just because it's that sensitive). The Hall Effect triggers are also incredibly accurate and beyond what I was expecting for a $50 wired controller. It's latency is superior to that of a wireless controller. It also features tactile face buttons that are click and even that has been such a positive experience. Even the face buttons are rater higher as they don't use the typical mesh system. I'm hoping Microsoft looks at controllers like this and realizes they need features like Hall Effect analog sticks and triggers to remain competitive with their competitors. Once again happy gaming ✌️
Re: Phil Spencer Says Xbox Is Done Trying To Convince PS5 & Switch Players To Move Over
@bert0503 Xbox is doing better now than every before. Here's a comprehensive list of the FACTS that prove Xbox isn't going anywhere. Your comment is based on no factual information.
1. Revenue Growth – The Xbox Series X|S generation has made over $80.8 billion for Microsoft, proving the brand is financially successful. Around $14 billion has come from console sales the rest from software and services proving the Xbox ecosystem is stronger now than ever.
2. Hardware Commitment – Microsoft has confirmed a next-gen Xbox, it's said to be the biggest technological leap ever witnessed in a console generation. They've also created a team dedicated to backwards & forward compatibility ensuring our libraries are playable on the new console. Microsoft is also developing an Xbox handheld! Needless to say they’re not leaving the hardware business.
3. Game Pass & Ecosystem – Game Pass is a massive success, driving engagement and console sales. Xbox cloud gaming has brought gamers into the ecosystem allowing them to experience the Xbox ecosystem themselves which turns into gamepass ultimate subs or even console sales.
4. 35M+ Consoles Sold – While behind PlayStation, Xbox Series consoles are still selling well, outpacing the Xbox One in the same time frame which shows growth in Xbox's hardware market. Even with fewer console sales than PS5, Xbox's revenue is at an all time high ($80 billion). Microsoft has greenlit their next Xbox console, ensuring Xbox continues into the next hardware generation.
Re: Talking Point: Are You Happy With The Current Xbox UI As It Stands In 2025?
I quite like the Xbox UI it's easy to navigate and see everything I need at a glance. I personally have gamepass added to my home screen that shows me all the recently released gamepass titles. This makes it nice for me to see what's been added at glance.
The one thing I'd like to see is the ability to put everything out of sight so we can see our awesome custom backgrounds. Like if we can hit a button like down on D pad to hide everything and when we want it to go back to normal we just press up on D pad and everything is as it was. Overall though I'd give the Xbox UI a solid 4/5
Re: One Of The Most Impressive Open Worlds Of This Generation Hits Xbox Game Pass Next Week
@Kaloudz I agree that watch dogs 1 was an incredible adventure that still holds up today. Watch Dogs 2 somehow went backwards in my opinion and I've never played legions so I'm curious to see how the game lands.
I'm currently enamored with Avowed, Obsidians take on fantasy action adventure has surprised the hell outta me. I'm having a ton of fun exploring completing side quests, running into trouble trying to kill bounties, and idk the game feels good to play & it looks great too so I'll probably be playing Avowed for quite sometime lol.
Re: Phil Spencer Says Xbox Is Done Trying To Convince PS5 & Switch Players To Move Over
@Kaloudz I'm actually in agreement with you 💯 percent. We know AAA games can't sustain on exclusive console sales alone. We saw this with Spiderman 2 on PS5 barely breaking even, which is why we're seeing most PlayStation "exclusives" releasing on PC as well. Xbox is doing the same thing, expanding their horizons to increase software sales which in turn helps support the Xbox ecosystem grow stronger. In order for the console market to grow changes have to be made.
I do believe Xbox is in the best position it's been in the past decade as far as making a compelling argument to switch as they have a solid lineup of incredible games, Xbox Series hardware is truly amazing with features like quick resume and backwards compatibility that is unmatched by any other console manufacturers, and it's ecosystem is brilliant because it allows you to access games across 4 Xbox generations, you can stream hundreds of games via Xbox cloud gaming & now we're getting the ability to stream games we own via Xbox cloud gaming, this allows us to continue playing games even when we're away from our consoles at home and it's allowed for growth by bringing gamers into the Xbox ecosystem via Xbox cloud gaming making the barrier for playing great games extremely low.
As far as the doom and gloom click bait nonsense, it's getting so ridiculous. Xbox isn't going anywhere. Xbox hardware isn't going anywhere, it's really frustrating especially when there's people out there rooting for the death of Xbox, that would leave PlayStation as the sole high end console makes essentially allowing them to corner the market which would be BAD for gamers.
When I see comments about the doom and gloom, I don't argue anymore, I just simply state the FACTS that counter misinformation;
1. Revenue Growth – The Xbox Series X|S generation has made over $80.8 billion for Microsoft, proving the brand is financially successful. Around $14 billion has come from console sales the rest from software and services proving the Xbox ecosystem is stronger now than ever.
2. Hardware Commitment – Microsoft has confirmed a next-gen Xbox, it's said to be the biggest technological leap ever witnessed in a console generation. They've also created a team dedicated to backwards & forward compatibility ensuring our libraries are playable on the new console. Microsoft is also developing an Xbox handheld! Needless to say they’re not leaving the hardware business.
3. Game Pass & Ecosystem – Game Pass is a massive success, driving engagement and console sales. Xbox cloud gaming has brought gamers into the ecosystem allowing them to experience the Xbox ecosystem themselves which turns into gamepass ultimate subs or even console sales.
4. 35M+ Consoles Sold – While behind PlayStation, Xbox Series consoles are still selling well, outpacing the Xbox One in the same time frame which shows growth in Xbox's hardware market. Even with fewer console sales than PS5, Xbox's revenue is at an all time high ($80 billion). Microsoft has greenlit their next Xbox console.
The negativity is irritating and largely driven by clickbait headlines, but the numbers tell a different story, Xbox is growing stronger. Happy gaming ✌️
Re: Just One Game Is Confirmed For Xbox Game Pass In March 2025 So Far
@Kaloudz I'm right there with you, gamepass ultimate is by far the BEST value in gaming, pint blank period. The fella arguing with you is either a PlayStation fanboy or is purposely trying to get a rise because he says everything released in the last 18 months or so has been "mid AF" which is absolutely ridiculous. We've gotten some many spectacular games added that it's not even funny. From incredible games like Diablo lV, AC Origins, AC Odyssey, AC Valhalla, COD MW3, The Outer Worlds, Control Ultimate Edition, Skyrim Special edition, Dead Island 2, Dead space, Doom Eternal, Far Cry 6, Forza Horizon 5, Gears of War series, Halo Series and MANY, MANY others.
We even got incredible DAY ONE releases; Persona 3, High on Life, Age of Empires lV, Lies of P, Black Ops 6, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, Ninja Gaiden Black, Starfield, Hellblade 2, Palworld, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and Stalker 2 and MANY more I can't even think of at the moment.
Needless to say, Xbox Gamepass Ultimate is unmatched when it comes to the best gaming library for you buck. Not only do you get access to hundreds of great games, there's backwards compatible Xbox One and 360 games in the mix, plus you get Xbox cloud gaming which allows you to play so many amazing games anywhere you are on almost any device you own & now we even get the ability to stream games we own that aren't even available on gamepass which is another fantastic perk, and any game that's on the service that you want you buy you get a 20% discount for being gamepass subscribers.
TLDR; that guy has to be a troll because he has ZERO argument lol gamepass ultimate is by far the BEST value in gaming. It really puts Xbox on another level. Happy gaming ✌️
Re: Just One Game Is Confirmed For Xbox Game Pass In March 2025 So Far
Atomfall looks like a good time, I get British fallout vibes lol although the Teen rating has me a little concerned. I hope it plays as well as it looks cuz it looks pretty good.
Re: Two Xbox Game Pass Titles Have Received Significant Delays This Week
@Kaloudz I was just about to say, this year I have a massive backlog of phenomenal games thanks to gamepass and Xbox lol. Replaced looks great but I'm okay to wait if it means the game gets the polish it deserves.
Re: Microsoft Is Assisting Development On Xbox Console Launch Exclusive 'Mecha BREAK'
@PsBoxSwitchOwner exactly thank you 💯
Re: Take-Two CEO Believes GTA 6 Will Help Sell Xbox Consoles In 2025
@Ricky-Spanish I agree 💯 percent. The worst part is so many articles are written about the failures and shortcomings of Xbox. It's extremely frustrating, it's click bait that's used to cause panic. We know for a FACT that Xbox is one of Microsoft's biggest money makers. We know for a FACT Xbox is developing a new Xbox that it says will be the greatest technological leap ever seen in a console generation. Xbox isn't going anywhere, if you do research Xbox is doing better than ever across console, streaming, game sales and subscription services.
The amount of anxiety I see in the Xbox community is really SAD, a lot of that anxiety could be mitigated but Microsoft apparently has a horrible PR team. People need to understand it's not just Xbox that is turning away from the normal console exclusives, Sony is also doing the same thing. They can't recoup development costs on consoles alone, we saw this with Spiderman 2 during the insomniac leaks and how much it cost to make vs how much money it's made. Sony is bringing MOST of its 1st party "exclusives" to PC (which in turn helps support Microsoft, which supports Xbox lol).
As time goes on, we will start to see MOST games going the multiplatform route. It's not a bad thing, in fact it's good that games can expand beyond a single platform enabling the creation of better games thanks to the ability to invest in games knowing their success rates are much greater when combining all consoles + PC.
I am personally sick of the "Xbox is dead narrative" it's NOT, in fact it's only growing stronger. GTA 6 will undoubtedly sell Xbox consoles especially since the Xbox Series S will be the cheapest way to access GTA 6 day one. Happy gaming ✌️
Re: Take-Two CEO Believes GTA 6 Will Help Sell Xbox Consoles In 2025
@Kaloudz I know a lot of people who play GTA online on PlayStation 4. I imagine large numbers of people picking up the Series S just to play GTA 6. Also, the fact GTA 6 won't be coming to PC any time soon there means there's a lot of PC players who will be eager to play GTA 6 & the cheapest most effective way to play will be via the Xbox Series S.
Re: Xbox Game Pass: All Games Coming Soon In February 2025
@OldGamer999 it was confirmed by Obsidian themselves. Avowed will feature a 30fps quality mode, a 60fps performance mode, and for those playing on 120Hz TV's the game will feature a 40fps balanced mode. I can't wait for Avowed!
Re: Talking Point: February Marks Microsoft's First Xbox Game Studios Release Of 2025
I'm genuinely excited for Avowed! I think that the extra dev time truly helped with extra polish and optimizations. We know it was only going to have a locked 30fps mode but since that extra allotment of time, it's now been announced that Xbox Series X will feature a 60fps performance mode. I wasn't too upset with the 30fps new but I'm glad we're getting 60fps. It just goes to show with more time and proper optimizations a lot more can be achieved than initially realized. If we look at games released late last generation (think Last of Us part 2, and Gears 5) those titles were truly remarkable especially considering they were built on underpowered PS4/Xbone hardware. I think we've yet to see truly remarkable current Gen games, we've come close with Ratchet and Clank Rift apart, Hellblade 2 and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, however I think in the next year or so we're going to see truly remarkable current Gen games that truly utilize what these consoles are capable of.
Re: Poll: What Do You Think Of Eternal Strands On Xbox Game Pass?
Eternal strands has been a pleasant surprise for me. I wasn't expecting it to keep my attention but it's allowed me to step away from my role as Indiana Jones for enough time to enjoy it's clever strand magic weaving. The graphics are decent and I've been pleasantly surprised by the story. Overall after 3 hours in I'd say this is a solid 8/10 and just one more reason I'm genuinely happy with my subscription Xbox gamepass ultimate.
Re: Xbox Game Pass: All Games Coming Soon In February 2025
@OldGamer999 it's been confirmed avowed will have a 60fps option on Xbox Series X! When I saw this news I was pretty stoked, Avowed is already one of my most anticipated games of 2025. I love Obsidian and the work they do delivering excellent RPGs
Re: Xbox Handheld: Everything We Know So Far, Including The Latest Rumours
All these fools saying Xbox is dying are obviously brainwashed or something. Xbox is extremely profitable for Microsoft and has been for quite sometime. In the first 9 months of FY2022, Xbox had an accountability margin of over $1.5 billion. This mean xbox's revenue minus its costs resulted in a profit margin around 12%. This profit has only increased over the last 3 years with Xbox revenue in FY2024 reaching over $7 billion. They are continuing to make money from Xbox.
Also, Xbox has over 100 million active users across its Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S consoles as well as PC. That number is nothing to sneeze at and it's only growing thanks to brilliant strategic planning with Xbox cloud gaming. Those 100 million+ players are actively buying and playing games on Xbox services which results in great profits for Microsoft.
As far as a gaming handheld goes, I absolutely believe Xbox will release a dedicated gaming handheld. They've seen first hand how successful the switch was and how people are willing to buy steam decks and Asus ROG Ally in order to play their game libraries on the go. Xbox is an EXCELLENT position to use its brilliant ecosystem to bring a dedicated gaming experience to a handheld console.
If Xbox can deliver a handheld gaming console that costs around $399 and can play entire Xbox libraries (which is absolutely in the realm of possibilities thanks to the excellent work the Xbox team did in regards to backwards compatibility).
Also, if Xbox were to team up with AMD for their gaming handheld chipset it would allow for an easier transition to get their Xbox libraries running on a handheld. Also the APU featured in an Xbox handheld will most definitely be a successor to the AMD Z2 Extreme APU which is already fully capable of running modern AAA games at 60fps+ with ease. The Z2 Extreme APU is based on strix point and features a 12 core 24 thread CPU that combines 8 performance Zen 5 cores with 4 efficient performance Zen 5c cores. It also features Radeon 880m GPU that based on RDNA 3.5 and features 16 compute units clocked at 2.9Ghz.
So let's break this down,
the Xbox Series S APU features an 8 core 16 thread Zen 2 CPU clocked at 3.5Ghz
If features an RDNA 2 GPU with 20 compute units clocked at 1.55Ghz
Of the Xbox handheld were using the Z2 Extreme it would rival the Series S.
The APU features a 12 core 24 thread Zen 5/Zen 5c CPU combined with an RDNA 3.5 GPU with 16 compute units clocked at 2.9Ghz. this chipset has a TDP of 28 watts HOWEVER it's believed most of the time it'll be ran at 15watts-25watts.
I believe an upcoming Xbox handheld gaming console will be able to outperform the Xbox Series S. I believe the handheld will feature a 1080p display with a minimum of 120Hz refresh rate. That combined with upcoming APUs that can easily outperform the Series S I believe we'll get an Xbox handheld capable of running entire Xbox libraries which will be such a badass feature!
Long Live Xbox, happy gaming ✌️
Re: GTA 6 'Likely' To Make More Than $1 Billion Before It Launches In 2025, Say Analysts
@Ricky-Spanish I probably won't pre-order until the week before it's release. The main reason is I like to preload games before they release so I don't have a massive download when the game goes live. Also, the new Xbox update that allows for preemptive downloads for updates means that a possible day one patch will already be installed by the time the game goes live.
Until we get closer to launch I'm not going to pre-order anything.
Re: Four Xbox Games We've Given 'Outstanding' 10/10 Scores To In 2024
@Kraven I'm really wanting to buy Dragon's Dogma 2, I've never played the first game BUT I'm a massive fan of RPG games. I've recently beat my 1st playthrough of Starfield that I spent about 170 hours on, I've also beaten Cyberpunk 2077 and Phantom Liberty twice now.
Re: Xbox Series X|S Architect Officially Named 'VP Of Next-Generation' At Microsoft
@oliverp we won't be getting a new Xbox until 2028 at the earliest, you have to remember the Series X|S are already 4 years old now and by 2028 they'll be 8 years old. I agree the Series X is a fantastic console, that being said the hardware inside the console is from 2020. It's already outdated but thankfully consoles have the stability of using set hardware which is why games are sometimes optimized much better on consoles.
Look at how good God of War Ragnarok looks on PS4 and that's on extremely outdated hardware. Point is the Series X will get great games for years to come and when the next console arrives it'll be worth the upgrade. I whole heartedly believe when we got the Series X we were in desperate need of an upgrade & this generation has been a great leap from last generation.
This generation will still see better and better games released as is with every generation of consoles. I personally love my Series X and I'm so HYPED for an Xbox handheld and the next gen Xbox will be phenomenal! Definitely glad Xbox is looking to the future 💯
Re: Xbox Series X|S Architect Officially Named 'VP Of Next-Generation' At Microsoft
I'm a thousand percent all for it. This generation of Xbox consoles are so much better than last gen! I started this generation in 2021 with a PS5. Great console, don't get me wrong, I love the PlayStation exclusives but I'm not a huge fan of the ecosystem.
After watching the 2022 Xbox Showcase I went out and got a Series S. Immediately fell in love with gamepass ultimate, started playing games I would've never experienced otherwise, plus almost every digital title I'd ever purchased on Xbox 360 or Xbox One was immediately in my library ready to play better than ever!
Here in 2024 I finally got an Xbox Series X. It's by far the best console I've ever owned. It's performance is great, the UI is good, the ecosystem is absolutely brilliant, especially when it comes to backwards compatibility. The fact I can pop in an OG Xbox, Xbox 360, or Xbox One disc and play older games better than ever thanks to upscaling and fps boost, it really has become my favorite console lol.
I kept my Series S and it's become my take anywhere console. I have a portable gaming monitor so when it's time for a visit with the inlaws I just setup my Series S in a corner and continue playing.
ALL this explanation leads to my next hopefully not as long winded point. Xbox lost me during the Xbox One generation, I gave my Xbox One to my little brother and played exclusively on PS4 pro. I went into this generation believing I only needed a PS5. Xbox has really been great this generation, aside from all the doom and gloom, along with poor marketing strategies, Xbox has been a whole lot better this generation. The consoles are extremely solid, the games are finally starting to prove themselves (Indiana Jones is my pick for GOTY 2024 lol FTW!).
With this guy at the helm along with all the other engineers, I'm pretty confident for next gen Xbox. If they continue their partnership with AMD I think we will see some massive improvements (just based on what AMD has planned for its Zen 6 CPU's and RDNA 5 GPU's plus the fact their making APUs with integrated graphics that are so powerful they eliminate the need for a dedicated graphics card). I'm excited to see where Xbox goes from here!
Re: Roundup: Here Are All The Xbox Reveals From The Game Awards 2024
@TheGiraffe I completely understand this sentiment. I left the last generation only owning a PS4 pro after I gave my Xbox One to my little brother. Then at the start of this generation I got my PS5 in 2021. After watching 2 Xbox showcases I realized I need Xbox back in my life so I got a Series S in 2022. Over the coarse of 2 years I started playing my PS5 less and less. I would platinum PlayStation exclusives like God of War Ragnarok and Spiderman 2, then go back to my Series S for gamepass and everything else. Finally I got my Series X in 2024 and it's my daily driver, my PS5 is delegated to PlayStation exclusives only & only games I'm interested in so it's gotten much less usage these last couple years.
My advice is get a digital PS5 as they're a little cheaper but make sure you have a slew of must have games lined up so that you're not buying a $400 console for just a few games. Games I've personally completed on PS5 are;
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
God of War (2018)
God of War Ragnarok
Horizon Forbidden West
Spiderman remastered
Spiderman Miles Morales
Spiderman 2
Ghost of Tsushima (PS5 version)
Re: Two Huge Free-To-Play Games Are Releasing On Xbox This Week
I'm genuinely excited to play Indiana Jones and the great circle. I've always been a fan on Bethesda and specifically Machine Games. Wolfenstein: New Order was fantastic blend of 1st person shooting action with compelling storytelling and great world building.
If they can make Indiana Jones and the great circle as well as they made Wolfenstein New Order I think we're in for a treat. Just one more reason I love my Xbox Series X and gamepass ultimate subscription lol.
Re: Xbox Game Pass Is Getting A Massive Black Ops 6 Update Next Week
Xbox has been killing it, I've been enjoying the hell out of my Xbox lately. With Diablo 4 vessels of hatred DLC being so much fun, plus I got Starfield Shattered Space DLC which has been a pleasant surprise for me (people love to hate Starfield but I think it's good fun), then I've Black Ops 6 launching into gamepass ultimate day one! BO6 has been great, especially the Zombies. I love round based Zombies (although I REALLY hope they bring back Outbreak, that was the best open world Zombies ever) especially when it comes to solving Easter eggs. It's super fun. I have been enjoying Black Ops 6 on both my Series X and Series S. I've been at my in-laws for the last 10 days, I always take my Series S with me, and to my surprise Black Ops 6 runs incredibly well on the Series S. I beat my highest round of Zombies getting to level 71 on liberty falls and being able to exfil with no problem. I also beat the Terminus Easter egg on the Series S as well. The game is exceptionally smooth at 120fps and the only hiccups I ever get has to do with the fact I'm on WiFi instead of a dedicated LAN. My Series S is hooked up to a 32inch 1440p LG monitor that has a 170Hz refresh rate.
For me personally Black Ops 6 is the best COD game since MW2019.
Re: Black Ops 6 'New Zealand Trick' Is Going Viral For This Week's Xbox Launch
@Quickbeamx I used the New Zealand method to play black ops 6 zombies all day yesterday, I knew I wouldn't be able to play today. It was super easy to do and I was EXTREMELY surprised at how well the game was running on launch day. I only lost connection to host twice and lagged out once. I switched everything back to normal before I went to bed last night so when I finally get back online Friday evening everything will be Gucci lol happy gaming ✌️
Re: Six Games Are Confirmed For Xbox Game Pass In November 2024 So Far
@Ricky-Spanish I'm right there with BO6 is going to be a good time for me, especially the zombies aspect. I'm a zombies goon that literally did everything possible in MW3 zombies lol. I have every schematic known to man, I've done all the Easter eggs & now I'm spending my zombies play time helping n00bs learn the dark aether rifts and stuff like that. It's a blast, I'm hoping BO6 zombies is good. I love round based but I also REALLY loved outbreak in Cold war. I hope we get that back later on.
Re: 1997 PS1 Classic 'Croc' Is Getting A Remaster For Xbox This Year
@Ricky-Spanish bro I played the hell out of this game as a little kid. I was 7 or 8 years old when I went in this adventure and it's always stuck with me and it's a games I constantly mention to loved ones as one of the games that really got me as a child and now it's coming to Xbox. Man, I'm stoked to play this again! The last time I played this game was 1999 or so, I don't remember if I got the sequel or not but I do know that I got a PS2 in October of 2000 for my 9th birthday. Anyways, excellent to see this on Xbox! Happy gaming ✌️