Xbox Series X (coming 10 Nov 2020)

[piccolamela]

In all seriousness who will buy an expensive next xbox?

Casual gamers on series s won't upgrade since live service games will continue to be served on as many platforms as possible.

Series x owners are unlikely to buy it as they feel burnt that all exclusives are coming to ps5.

Ps5 owners won't buy it because they they will be able to play most major Xbox titles on ps5.

Pc gamers are unlikely to be interested if it cost almost as much mid range pc but is not upgradable or mod friendly.

Possibly me, a current Series S owner with a potato PC - provided it's actually a real first party Xbox device that can play Xbox console and PC games including from Steam/GOG.

Not everything is about exclusives. I'd argue the personal game libary and future release availability are more important factors for most.

The most played games are multiplatform.

Even PlayStation recently altered their strategy to release their big exclusives on PC. It's the only way to grow the userbase, market and sales.

the "new Xbox console PC" is rumored to being capable to play PC games, so also those from PlayStation.

Plenty of gamers want the most capable/best console.

If the PS6 is really behind on the "new Xbox console PC" and since well, their PS games are also starting to be available elsewhere on PC...

There are PC gamers who would be happy to switch or buy a dedicated gaming purposed PC/Console - no longer having to deal with OS and driver issues and sell a bunch of organs just for a GPU upgrade.

We don't know yet, if it's not mod or upgrade friendly. Maybe it's a dual boot console/PC or how the OEM devices will be. Xbox branded parts were rumored already.

They will eventually just license out the xbox brand and let others make the hardware, like 3DO...

the Xbox ROG Ally (X) are the first of those.

Microsoft is planning to change Xbox from just a console to a platform service with a dedicated Halo (pun intended) product, their "new Xbox console PC" and possibly more, while also getting OEM's like Asus ROG involved. It's similiar to what they do with Surface-Line for Laptop/Tablets/2-1s.

 

[piccolamela]

And since those reports are relevant to all the above and prior:

THIS is the reason for many terrible and boneheaded decisions Xbox has made in the last years... it explains a lot.

Here is a summary, non paywalled.

 

[Macalicious2011]

They will eventually just license out the xbox brand and let others make the hardware, like 3DO...

I look forward to Sony licencing the Xbox branding

Kidding aside. Today I felt nostalgic about Xbox and put a copy of Forza Horizon 2 in my Series X. It's set in Nice and i bought a physical copy two years ago. You can no longer buy it digitally.

 

[Pezimak]

In all seriousness who will buy an expensive next xbox?

Casual gamers on series s won't upgrade since live service games will continue to be served on as many platforms as possible.

Series x owners are unlikely to buy it as they feel burnt that all exclusives are coming to ps5.

Ps5 owners won't buy it because they they will be able to play most major Xbox titles on ps5.

Pc gamers are unlikely to be interested if it cost almost as much mid range pc but is not upgradable or mod friendly.

Well their plan is to basically sell ALL their games on EVERY platform, quite a few are even coming to the Switch 2 next year, and they will apparently licence others to manufacture Xbox consoles. Microsoft are moving to a brand that makes a few high end consoles itself, licences others to make them if they like too, and they will be a third party publisher. I have no interest in them personally, I will play the games I want from them on PlayStation or what ever else I have.

 

[Pezimak]

And since those reports are relevant to all the above and prior:

THIS is the reason for many terrible and boneheaded decisions Xbox has made in the last years... it explains a lot.

Here is a summary, non paywalled.

Yeap, it was obvious Spencer presented a plan promising if they let him spend, what ended up as over 90 billion US I believe, on acquisitions then the Game Pass subscriber base would grow exponentially to XX%, that has obviously NOT happened and so the CFO and board are coming down hard and demanding a fast return on that investment, as you would expect them to. The plan failed so now they are struggling and panicking to pay their investors back before they sell up, or kick the board out.

 

[piccolamela]

Microsoft's ambitious new Xbox: Your entire Xbox console library, the full power of Windows PC gaming, and no multiplayer paywall

 

[maflynn]

Wow so the console is in fact dead

https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/microsofts-ambitious-new-xbox-your-entire-console-library-the-full-power-of-windows-pc-gaming-and-more

What we know: The next-gen Xbox from Microsoft will be a curated Windows gaming PC, complete with your full native console library

 

[diamond.g]

Wow so the console is in fact dead

https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/microsofts-ambitious-new-xbox-your-entire-console-library-the-full-power-of-windows-pc-gaming-and-more

Kinda. This system may be the only one that can play the console games. Game licensing being an interesting beast.

 

[piccolamela]

Wow so the console is in fact dead

https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/microsofts-ambitious-new-xbox-your-entire-console-library-the-full-power-of-windows-pc-gaming-and-more

Depends on how you look at it.

While both Xbox and PlayStation consoles are primary gaming machines, they have been media players, streamers, web browsers and with app stores since multiple generations.

Said report also indicated that you never have to interact or use to the "Windows PC" part if you don't want to.

Where the Xbox console will differ from a traditional Windows PC is that it will feel like a traditional Xbox console out of the box. The onboarding experience will be similar to what you get today on console, and if you choose, you can remain fully inside the Xbox ecosystem, never touching Windows itself. Exiting out to Windows will be for those who want to access games traditionally not available on Xbox, including PlayStation games on Steam, mouse and keyboard-first games

Kinda. This system may be the only one that can play the console games. Game licensing being an interesting beast.

Good point that is often overlooked. The game licensing thing probably applies to all past and most releases. It's already difficult to impossible to find old (game) code, let alone who holds the rights with studio closures, merges and whatnot. Even "trivial things" like expiring music/car rights after a couple of years are already a hassle. And even if that can all be tracked down and sorted, then there's the $ question.


Xbox legal argument probably being, it's still "a console" - it now just also has a PC mode, instead of just apps.

A while back it was reported Xbox was working on new game preservation things (likely Emulators and such).

 

[maflynn]

Depends on how you look at it.

If its going to be a PC running windows, then the console is dead. If its going to cost 1,500 or more and its running PC components like a 5070 GPU, then the console is dead.

At this point its all semantics and conjecture, but if Microsoft is going to give their console the Asus Rog Xbox Ally treatment, slap a label or button on someone else's product, then for all intents and purposes the console is dead.

 

[diamond.g]

If its going to be a PC running windows, then the console is dead. If its going to cost 1,500 or more and its running PC components like a 5070 GPU, then the console is dead.

At this point its all semantics and conjecture, but if Microsoft is going to give their console the Asus Rog Xbox Ally treatment, slap a label or button on someone else's product, then for all intents and purposes the console is dead.

Leaker claims the next Xbox console is reportedly 'stronger than the PS6', but it might be a bit more expensive

The next Xbox will reportedly feature the AMD Magnus APU, a processor that combines a CPU and a GPU

www.techradar.com

If we believe the rumor it is going to be a monster SOC/APU. Especially if the rumored performance metrics are true. Even if other OEM's use the chip it's still going to be wildly expensive.

 

[maflynn]

Even if other OEM's use the chip it's still going to be wildly expensive.

I'm thinking MS has decided that it doesn't need to sell the Xbox at a loss any more, previously they were content with selling it a loss because they made up for in game sales, but the landscape has since changed - thanks to them. Perhaps its along the lines of - here the hardware, we're still making it, but most people will rely on the gamepass and not play on the console.

I think it makes a ton of sense to merge the console/pc platform playing for live games. If I wanted to play fallout 76 on my PS5 or Xbox, i have to start over, where as on the PC, I'm at level 1400 and have end game gear. I don't want to lose that. So from that perspective I'm being a bit selfish

 

[Macalicious2011]

Leaker claims the next Xbox console is reportedly 'stronger than the PS6', but it might be a bit more expensive

The next Xbox will reportedly feature the AMD Magnus APU, a processor that combines a CPU and a GPU

www.techradar.com

If we believe the rumor it is going to be a monster SOC/APU. Especially if the rumored performance metrics are true. Even if other OEM's use the chip it's still going to be wildly expensive.

I think the next gen xbox will simply have the internals of flagship AMD gaming laptop: APU but with more unified memory, more powerful PSU and better cooling.

 

[maflynn]

I think the next gen xbox will simply have the internals of flagship AMD gaming laptop

That makes sense, and it allows the xbox to be completely non-upgradeable, just like any other console. Going the full desktop PC road with expansion cards would make it a pc as I initially stated.

 

[Macalicious2011]

That makes sense, and it allows the xbox to be completely non-upgradeable, just like any other console. Going the full desktop PC road with expansion cards would make it a pc as I initially stated.

The only upgradable part might be storage with an m.2 slot like the ps5. I don’t think they will repeat the diabolically expensive proprietary expansion system used by current consoles.

 

[pdoherty]

I have an Xbox X and a PS5, I use the PS5, not the Xbox. I think I missed the boat in trying to sell it. Its sitting there not doing anything at this point

I was the opposite. I had an XBox Series X and a PS5 and never used the PS5 so I traded it with someone for a second XBox Series X.

 

[pdoherty]

In all seriousness, what motivation is there to buy an Xbox, when exclusives are not longer?

Just for fairness, Sony has been bringing their games to the PC, after a while, but I think MS has been pushing this far greater and harder.

I know they tried to say that a new console is going to be coming, I do wonder if about it, and I do wonder if they really have the dedication to make a great console

My motivation for XBox over PS is the types of games that are available. I have near-zero interest in the Japanese/anime-themed games that seem so prevalent on the PS platform. And I have a large library of past purchases on XBox that keeps me there.

 

[pdoherty]

Microsoft is planning to change Xbox from just a console to a platform service with a dedicated Halo (pun intended) product, their "new Xbox console PC" and possibly more, while also getting OEM's like Asus ROG involved. It's similiar to what they do with Surface-Line for Laptop/Tablets/2-1s.

I'll be a buyer, too. I'm hoping that MS is working on input such that mouse and keyboard functions can be handled since the console will be capable of playing Epic/Steam games as well as console games.

 

[MacRazySwe]

I think I'm more likely to opt out of gaming altogether, than buying a "PC-Xbox"... This generation is already a mess, with forced updates, restarts, et.c..

Game Pass was the only thing I enjoyed this generation, but I think pricing has gotten out of hand.

 

[maflynn]

I think I'm more likely to opt out of gaming altogether, than buying a "PC-Xbox"... This generation is already a mess, with forced updates, restarts, et.c..

Game Pass was the only thing I enjoyed this generation, but I think pricing has gotten out of hand.

I agree that things have gotten messy. Kind of reminds me of when I got a PS3, for the simple reason of just wanting a device to game on without any headaches. I moved on to a PC and built my own PC, but things are messy, confusing, and tbh, too expensive.

I'm rather pleased with how my Mac Studio is performing in crossover for the games I want, so for now I'm ok with just living with what I have. I can also fall back on my PS5.

 

[wlossw]

So from my point of view the reason I like xbox over a gaming pc is simple: compatibility and ease of use. I absolutely refuse to give the Nvidia guys thousands for a GPU, so that leaves badly supported amd/intel gpus that games don't take advantage of. MY hope is that whatever AMD apu they put in the next gen xbox has reasonable performance per dollar, and the kind of compatibility we expect from a console.

I don't care what OS it runs, as long as it is headache free, runs my xbox library and is not a ripoff in terms of performance per dollar.

 

[diamond.g]

I think I'm more likely to opt out of gaming altogether, than buying a "PC-Xbox"... This generation is already a mess, with forced updates, restarts, et.c..

Game Pass was the only thing I enjoyed this generation, but I think pricing has gotten out of hand.

If you don’t play online, put the console in offline mode and you shouldn’t be bothered with updates.

 

[pdoherty]

I think I'm more likely to opt out of gaming altogether, than buying a "PC-Xbox"... This generation is already a mess, with forced updates, restarts, et.c..

Game Pass was the only thing I enjoyed this generation, but I think pricing has gotten out of hand.

Didn't they leave the price as-is for anyone who was already a subscriber to GamePass?

 

[maflynn]

Interesting insights on the happensing over at Redmond.

At the 12:40 mark, he sums it up, why bother buying an Xbox, as its foolish. You can buy a PS5, its a better console with better games library, and you will be getting the microsoft catalog anyways.

 

[Macalicious2011]

You can buy a PS5, its a better console with better games library, and you will be getting the microsoft catalog anyways.

More importantly, if the next console is just a windows PC with an Xbox skin, I don't think software will be problem free. ROG Ally Xbox is the first version of it. Plenty of optimisaiton left to do but if it's a PC, it will never be as problem free as using an Xbox.

My Series X has bene lovely. Love the UI and quick resume. Since launch day it has frozen or crashed a game less than 5 times. Best microsoft device that I have ever owned.

The biggest pitfall of the $1,200 console is if it:
-Priced like an entry-mid tier PC but isn't 100% modfriendly or support all PCpheriperals.
-Looks like a console but isn't as bug free.

This is all a big gift to Sony. GT6 comes out next year. There will be millions of people who will want to play it but down't own a console. Guess what 80% of them will buy?