Gaming X Gon' Give It To Ya: The Xbox Series X Discussion

I'm not convinced a new console solves MS / XB's problems. They started this generation yelling that they had the most powerful console - techically true - but what did they do with it? Not much.

Sure, they have some good stuff planned for this year but I'm sceptical any of them match Sony or Nintendo, even in a year where they are not doing stuff. They will make money by dropping ABK games onto GamePass, exploiting its FF XIV players, but will that be enough? I'm not sure, especially with Spencer's recent "number must go up" comments.

 

I agree. There’s a theory - possibly floated by Spencer himself(?) - that basically Xbox badly lost the “most important generation” from the digital pivot perspective with the Bone. Since both the PS5 and the SX are backwards compatible, people don’t want to give up their digital libraries, which have become firmly entrenched in the US (by far Xbox’s most important marketplace). Consequently people only looking to buy one console are hesitant to jump ship. From that perspective it’s like a really niche version of the phone ecosystem problem, and it could be difficult for Xbox hardware to ever recover.

 

Yeah, I don’t remember specifically what podcast he said it on, but those were pretty much his exact words.

And now for people like me who have been investing in the digital Xbox ecosystem since the Bone, we’re now in a constant state of ****, we backed the wrong horse, has all this been for naught? Those achievement points could’ve been trophies this whole time! But what about my Rock Band library??

Oh well. I’ll keep buying Xboxes if they keep putting them out. They have the best everything except first party software, IMHO. If I have to eventually switch over to the PlayStation Whatever, so be it.

 

The way XB has slung a double sub for Final Fantasy XIV is low - you have to have GamePass on top of the SE subscription. There's a huge amount of loyalty to XB, who seem to take advantage of it.

 

We'll there was just a leaked memo from Xbox this week about how they were going full steam ahead on a new console that they say is going be the biggest leap in a generation. I think the wheels are in motion for a next gen console but we probably won't hear anything about it officially until next year.

 

IMO that could realistically mean anything from 2026 to like 2030 (although that late won’t happen). My point regarding 2025 is that’s “soon enough” that people would have good information on a specific quarter and specs now-ish, not unlike with the next Switch.

 

Apparently no Gears six yet.

 

Yeah, im feeling Halo Infinite syndrome. “We wrote ourselves into a corner and cant figure it out so hard pivot. Don't look over there, your plot-lines dead son.”

Still, new gears is new gears. Best coop shooter there is imo.

Fable reveal looking awesome. Still my most looked forward to game in a few years. Please let me fart on random strangers and kick chickens at them.

 

That was an excelleng showcase for Xbox:

Games out in 2024:

• Dragon Age: Veilguard - really like the look of this. And it is out later in the year.
• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle - is there anyone who doesn't like decking Nazis?
• Avowed - looking very, very nice.

Expansions in 2024:

• Diablo IV - probably be fun but I need to finish the main campaign first.
• Starfield - really like the focus on House Va'Ruun, plus new content tonight. I clearly finished the main game at the right time.

Stuff for 2025:

• Doom: Dark Ages - This looks wonderfully bonkers.
• South of Midnight - I'm now far more interested in this one, neat design and gameplay.
• Clair Obscure: Expedition 33: Good world design and interesting take on turn-based combat.
• Perfect Dark - I have no history with this, really liked how it looked and played.
• Fable - ye gods, this looks fantastic.

Yep, that's 10 items I'm interested in.

 

They have an interview ready.
https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2024/06...y-interview-details-xbox-games-showcase-2024/

and agreed Ben this was a strong showing

 

Thanks for parsing it this way. It was definitely the best showcase of June by far.

 

Forza Horizon 4 is being delisted

Anyone UK-based should nab it as fast as they can, making sure to bag the Lego DLC.

Set in the Lake District / Scotland, the attention to detail is uncanny.

Not UK-based? Still buy it.

 

I think for a really cool console middle earth to be expansive of shadows of Mordor would be middle earth shadows of Isengard to see Rohan knights fight the uruks or Wilds men based on the two towers or before it and maybe shadows of dol Goldor console games too all for Xbox or PlayStation

Just a thought

 

Did anyone watch this interview?

They really aren’t making the argument for why you should invest in a Xbox. At this point if Halo and gears come to PlayStation I’ll probably just go all in on it next gen. I may even become a member of the PC master race!

 

So ends another Game Pass one month run, the final tally as it expires 6 Jan.

Two completed games:

Creatures of Ava
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

One major perk:

Persona 3 Reload Season Pass

Four games that didn't work for me:

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
Rage 2
Dungeons of Hinterberg
Sea of Theives

Of those, Hinterberg was the surprise.

Like Assassin's Creed III, it started well, then, like that game did very short, random severe penalty QTEs, Hinterberg did a dizzying minecart bit, followed by a lane switching section that was too fast for me. A Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart style slowdown would have solved that but alas.

Still, it's a good set of games, well worth doing.

Next run is March as by then there will be three, big new games and I may look to finally playing Hellblade so I can then boot up the sequel.

 

Which doth suck, just waiting for Sony to follow the herd.

 

Oh bloody hell

 

Welp, dedicated xbox’s were fun while they lasted.

Thankfully “This forum is an xbox.”

 

I mean I have Gamepass so the first party game increases don't directly impact me yet but this is still a horrible precedent.

 

Thanks Nintendo..

 

It was going to happen regardless of who did it first.