This console generation is ending already? Like, logically I know it's been six years, but it still feels short for a console generation. Curious to see if the handheld rumors pan out and what confusing name they give it.
At this point what would make the most sense is an “Xbox Series Z” for people that want higher-performing games. I just don’t see thousands of people buying another $600 console for like 5 games, when most will continue to support the Xbox One. (Yes, Xbox One - most games on the front page of their store still support their old console)
PS5 Pro wanted to do RT at smooth framerates but turned out to be way too undercooked. We’re seeing glimpses of that on XSX too with Indiana Jones and Dragon’s Dogma 2 (that 40 FPS VRR window makes it work). It’s working as a tech demo that’s building appetite for more because of how transformative to the experience in both games that is. If Microsoft could deliver it at this timing it would be extra awkward for Sony who need to keep on going with current hardware for a couple more years not to look like Sega with 32X and Saturn. Even if Nvidia shows something revolutionary with new line of GPUs it will be prohibitively expensive in the context of consoles anyway.
Yes, I think it’s going to be quite expensive. They’ve been saying it’s going to be an enormous leap in performance, and that’s not going to come cheap.
IF 2026 was a real date that wouldn’t matter that much. Microsoft wants to be the first one to sell you the last console you will need be able to afford to. People will get it for generationally better experience but there’s not much else to look out for on the horizon. Hardware got too expensive for the consumer and games beyond certain budgets are much too risky. Consider upcoming trade wars and overall bleak economic outlook and you have to assume every player is looking for a survival strategy. Market analysts say that Microsoft is going to become software publisher primarily again but this makes no sense to me. Game Pass Cloud and Xbox are the only places where they don’t have to share the spoils with owners of other platforms. Obviously they’ll want to keep it going regardless of circumstances. Microsoft could be banking on getting high-end market for now and transition with revisions of the same hardware into lower segments with time as market conditions improve.
I’m very stoned currently so I can’t vouch for the quality of my analysis long term but I will stand by it for now.
I don’t fancy their odds with the switch 2 coming out and eating their hype cycle. Have a feeling people would view this more as an xsx pro than a full generational upgrade. I honestly don’t think Xbox stock has ever been lower so they better hope this doesn’t flop (or perhaps hope that Sony does something really dumb with the PS6 launch, which admittedly is far from out of the question).
Well we still don’t have a date on it and many previous Nintendo launches have had demand way outstrip supply, leading to the new console being a pretty hot item way past initial launch date.
shrug I guess we’ll see but I don’t think it’s at all far fetched to think that more people will be lining up and saving for a switch 2 compared to a new xbox, even a year after the launch. The switch is one of the most successful consoles of all time and I don’t see any indication that demand for the switch 2 will be softer.
I dunno that the "Prime" name is that hard to get. If a couple of YouTubers can name their energy drink "Prime" and get away with it, then I imagine Microsoft wouldn't have much trouble using it.
A third Xbox? I thought Microsoft was pivoting to mostly cross platform stuff, I’m surprised they want to try and push more Xbox consoles after their sales. Like another shitty console is gonna tank so hard unless they have a real reason for this new one lol. At least the handheld sounds interesting.
You can run UWP executables! If you publish to the MS store, distribution on Xbox is automatic unless you opt-out. But you’re right that you can’t run an arbitrary exe.
If it is a PC like many of us expect, then its use case is that they want to outdo the SteamOS experience and also provide compatibility with games that rely on kernel-level anti cheat.
Perhaps for people who want gamepass but don’t want to deal with PC gaming. But I can’t really think of anyone I’d recommend buying an Xbox to currently. Really the last place platform this generation, by a lot.
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