Leonid Melikhov: Join us on The Primal Podcast Episode #19 - Microsoft Next-Gen strategy is starting to get leaked and we discuss why Sony has been so quiet as well.
The next-gen Xbox will offer a "powerful experience", and will enable players to "take their library with them", according to Xbox president.
I'd bet good money it'll be Play Anywhere titles and cloud streaming for the rest. Basically what is available now. I think they lack the business case and commitment to get Xbox console games working on it natively.
Yeah, I'm with you on that.
Technically, it shouldn’t be hard to make Xbox games run on PC. But there’s just not enough rea$$$on for them to do it.
Actually, ignore my last post.
There is a huge rea$$on that I forgot. Currently, the Xbox Windows App and the Microsoft Store take a much lower revenue share from third-party releases. Since 2021, it's only 12%, compared to the 30% they get on Xbox (the industry standard). So they do actually have a motive to push Xbox versions of the games instead.
Of course, they could also simply change that revenue split at any moment, but I assume that wouldn’t go over well with developers, who generally already don’t like their store.
@vits, yeah the percentages are under their control. I imagine part of agreeing to a Play Anywhere license is unifying that percentage regardless of what version of the Xbox store the game was purchased on, but I'm just speculating.
Granted only a small % of their library is Play Anywhere
Depends where you buy the game. If it's from the xbox store, it'll be the console version. Steam or Windows the PC version.
Play anywhere works for select titles but it's highly limited in terms of saturation.
Many many thrid party games do not have play anywhere functionality.
Translation layer seems viable for series and one with emulation for 360 and lower
I just hope they don't lean on cloud as a solution
This will just mean games will work on the console and on PC / Handheld. It 100% does not mean access to your Steam library on an xbox console which will never happen.
If at that point you're buying Xbox hardware then you're a complete idiot. Just buy a Steam Machine or a laptop or make yourself a PC to your needs and rid yourself of having to deal with MS outside of having to deal with Windows.
Nothing wrong with xbox hardware. Some people still prefer the console experience. Now we can have both with one machine. Im excited to see what it can do.👍
and I think you'll end up being really happy with what MS delivers in their next console. But I suspect it'll become niche, but that doesn't matter, it'll be supported and the hardcore xbox fans will enjoy it I think. But I would suggest not buying any more game from Xbox stores, only start buying from Steam because Xbox days are numbered and everyone knows it. Better start building your Steam library sooner rather than later.
WC: The new Xbox platform is said to be a "premium" experience, and now we have some details on what it'll look like.
Original title : Microsoft's ambitious new Xbox: Your entire Xbox console library, full power of Windows PC gaming & no multiplayer paywall
After a weekend of negative reaction to Halo going to PlayStation Jez Corden shares this news of a powerful Xbox with no online fee. Assuming it has come direct from Microsoft, it demonstrates how companies feed information through their preferred bloggers/journalists as leaks to influence public sentiment. It also shows why Jez is uncritical off the hands that feed him.
I really dont see how they were gonna charge for MP when it's a PC and you can just load another store like Steam and buy there. It would be stupid.
But they been saying this, the only kinda new info is the no paying for online.
They have been say this almost all year now lol
That is the only possible way for MS to bring this to market at a price that makes any sense. They have to mass produce an SOC that targets upper-mid-tier PC graphics (e.g., a system build around a rtx 5070 or 5070 Ti today).
You have to also ask how upgradable is a modern PC these days.
Sure a GPU is easy to upgrade on its own but CPU, ram and mobo are all typically aligned.
If you have 32gb of ddr4 ram now and want a new CPU that means a new mobo that has the latest socket and upgrading the ram to ddr5 because the new mobos only support ddr5
The PSU and case are really the only constants these days.
IF this is true then Microsoft is just trying to force Sony to do the same at a later time claiming everyone is doing multiplayer for free and so should them.
Remember Microsoft was the one to open that door and now that they have failed in the consoles sale market they will try to take Sony with them as well.
At the end of this road it all comeback to the 360/ps3 era of one free one pay for online play and if it goes for free online play I’m all up for it but Microsoft have a sore looser stench to them with this move
Firstly there's no benefit for MS to make Sony lose money. Only lost revenue for MS in giving up those essential subs. I'm sure they're racking their brains over there to try and come up with a way to hold on to them as long as possible.
Secondly, Sony doesn't have to worry about this because customers could get free online already today via PC, this is no different. PS also provides pretty great games every month as part of their service so many won't want to leave that.
I wonder if this is just going to be built straight into windows? If that's the case then why be confined to this Xbox PC that may not be able to upgraded. When you can just build a potentially better pc at a cheaper cost.
'When you can just build a potentially better pc at a cheaper cost.' ~ we dont know that. Final Price vs specs + features n all. (yes they can still mess it up coz MS but for now we don't know the final price)
(Although we can think it more like for eg, Steam Deck purchase: 500 bucks, still a PC, can't be upgraded / can build a better PC spec ~ but features portability)
@StoneTitan
More like intrigued (being a Steam fan) ~ coz a smol PC masquerading as an Xbox but will play both Steam library and native Xbox library seems abit interesting to me.
All while running on a new custom AMD all in one SoC (cpu, gpu, memory et al in single die)
{Even if its not that successful at the end, it's still interesting on paper right now}
I mentioned it before but modern PC's are not all that upgradable these days.
A GPU is easy to upgrade but CPU, ram and mobo change constantly and upgrading one will often mean upgrading all three at once because the CPU socket you have won't support a new CPU type and the new mobo won't support the old ram you already have e.g ddr4 to ddr 5
And looking at what's coming up towards the end of the year ddr6 ran is going to start coming out and again you're up for a new mobo and CPU if you want to use it
Not saying this has a chance of succeeding, but I think the idea based on AMD's announcement is that they'll develop a SOC for this (CPU, GPU, memory all on a single die).
That should be cheaper for a number of reasons, at the expense of upgradeability.
"If that's the case then why be confined to this Xbox PC that may not be able to upgraded. When you can just build a potentially better pc at a cheaper cost."
Clearly MS is betting there is a sizeable group of people who want to get into PC gaming but who are still intimidated by the prospect of building or even selecting the right one with the right specs. Obviously people who have built PCs won't buy this, but there are plenty of people who buy gaming laptops, despite the lack of upgradeability, for the simplicity, even if they don't really need the portability factor of a laptop. MS clearly believes they can sway this group with the prospect of an "easy" PC for a reasonable price. Valve had the same idea with Steam Machines, but never committed to it in a meaningful manner.
"Clearly MS is betting there is a sizeable group of people who want to get into PC gaming but who are still intimidated by the prospect of building or even selecting the right one"
That I 100% agree with. However, This is MS. They love to be confusing. No doubt their are going to be different selections of Xbox PC.
Xbox PC Series S 1080p PC.
Xbox PC Series X 1440p/4K PC.
Then if you have different partners like Dell and HP, Asus, Cyberpower, Lenovo.
It's what went wrong with the Steam machines. To many partners and configurations. I don't trust ms to be any different.
@ocelot07
Yeah I think to have any chance of having this work, they need to select a single hardware partner (seems like Asus is likely) and have limited SKUs of the device.
And yeah that was the issue with Steam Machines. There needed to be at most like 3 steam machines so people could clearly understand what they were and devs could have a specific target (or a few limited targets). The way Valve has handled Steam Deck has been far better, with the main differences in SKUs being storage space and screen quality.
I think there's a decent proportion of gamers that don't want to deal with the ins and outs of PC. So there's a marker there.
On the other hand, I think this Xbox is well outside of a console gamer's price sensitivity.
Ultimately, I think people are just looking for ways to play new games, which the PS6, Switch 2, and PC will do, with two of three definitely being cheaper.
Really, this Xbox is for people who want a higher end console experience without the driver updates or flexibility. A "simpleton PC", if you will.
However, there is something worth noting about this thing...
I think I've heard it's supposed to have multiple store fronts. If that's the case, it does defeat the incentive for Sony to launch a PS6 Pro because a lot of their games are on Steam now and the Xbox would play it better in theory. So if you're in the market for an upgrade, it almost doesn't make sense to buy a Pro console (unless Sony really delays Steam releases—I don't see them going full exclusive again).
I I'm not sure about that last part. Still no GT7 (rumours it was cancelled) still no Demon's Souls (rumours it was cancelled) and no Astro Bot, Uncharted Collection or even Bloodborne a game it feels like 99% of PC players have been asking for.
So MP being free right out of the gate. That just leaves GP with its games incentives. So they have to find another way to get ppl to GP now. It'll cost 1000$ the very less they can do is get ppl playing right out of the gate with out needing to pay for MP. As I said before they'll need stronger incentives to get ppl to retain to GP and especially grow GP.
I feel like millions will leave Game Pass because you don't need to pay to play online. All the Cod people. But I do feel like this "console" will be pretty cool for the hardest of hardcore Xbox gamers. They'll love it. But the casuals? Yeah I dont think they'll be buying into it. But it'll be a cool, niche and expensive console that will satiate hardcore Xbox gamers. Good for them. No exclusives, but they'll learn not to care.
I can definitely see that. I can see quite a bit of ppl leaving GP since they don't need it for MP. I have no idea what they'll do to retain. What shiny new incentives could they add. Probably not much. It's only gonna be for hardcore ppl. I already know how it's gonna go. The first few years it's gonna sell well. Specifically that first year. X guys are gone brag about it then sales are gonna fall off s cliff and be stuck at 20 million sold,
Less than OG Xbox. Then they'll shift the goal post to something else.
GP was so popular because it was a steal.
They raised the GP price so drastically because it was a steal (cannibalizing sales).
When it's not a steal, it won't be popular.
Nobody uses the Xbox store on PC unless they're using GP.
MS making GP a linchpin for their success was a mistake imo.
Former PlayStation exec Shuhei Yoshida believes Sony "cannot do the same thing they have been doing" with PS6.
They may have a dual option.
Handheld and a console. I don’t want a handheld with no physical. It’s not just about lighting and graphics.
Idk. Where was everyone when the vita existed? I don't think sony should ever do both a handheld and console at the same time again. If they were to do both, that'd mean 2 separate platforms to support and time and money wasted on working on 2 different platforms as obviously the handheld version would need downgrades and work meaningblonger dev times for both 1st and 3rd party devs, the handheld version will be given less priority.
And no way will the handheld be cheap if it will play ps6 games. Don't be surprised and look the other way if the handheld is $600+ and plays ps6 games at a much lower quality. Ya better be there day one...
If Switch 2 can somewhat handle most modern games then Sony can surely handle a new portable with ease that's integrated and bc into the ps4/5/6 ecosystem . I highly doubt ps6 is gonna push the bounds what gaming is already capable of let alone most developers but more so how we play our games (I think tech has mastered the art of peachfuzz by now lol) . With that said technology is exponentially getting smaller and more efficient that the power of a console and handheld is gonna get blurred that the only difference is a preference of features .
Honestly I'm cool with my ps5 , it fixed the slow loading gripe I had with my ps4 but if ps6 is just more framerates, ray tracing and AI I'll pass ..... but a handheld that I can play my already existing library on I'm sold .. play GTA6 on the go LET"S GO
Im not sure if VR is a separate platform or an enhancement to console. They hardly even supported it. I share your apprehension to a separate handheld given how little support they give to things that aren’t the main console. Even that this gen was a bit weak.
Nah, we don't want them to get complacent. That will not force them to innovate and capitalize on their market share. They also don't need to make stupid decisions to turn more gamers away from consoles.
Whatever they do I hope it’s innovative to where it’s not just a gimmick. They have made good progress with their controllers. The PS5 Dualsense was one of my favorite interactions this generation when playing games. Also the 3D audio playing games on my headset was very immersive.
They made good with the hardware and new features but my only complaint this gen was the games were so spaced out and we had fewer first party entries compared to other generations.
They want perfection and I’m all supportive for that. If they can cut the development time next gen that to me would be the biggest achievement.
Agreed. I don't know how much more they can pack into that controller at this point lol.
If I were them I'd try to sway more PC gamers by putting in Steam-style input mapping capabilities and require K/M support on all new games. Maybe tweak gyro aiming to close the skill gap between controller and k/m?
I agree 100% graphics CAN improve but there's not much room for improvement, focus should be added to things like physics, interactivity, AI (as in npc behavior) and optimization. The fact that PS3/360 has just about every best example of interactivity, physics and destruction is sad.
Sony's quiet because they're in the lead. They know they don't have to say or do anything just yet. Xbox had a poor performance this gen. They need to openly make moves and discuss next gen in order to change brand perception before next gen starts.
I would assume it's because running your mouth early is not an advantage in this industry. Sony can now hear what MS is doing and either carry on or decide to tweak their strategy accordingly. Given that this is MS we're talking about, they will probably go with the former, but it still gives them a leg up that MS doesn't have. Also, is there a rule that a company needs to talk about what it's planning? I get that we live in an age of instant gratification, but just because a lot of people post their whole life story on Facebook and Twitter doesn't mean corporations are obligated to do so. They can announce stuff when they see fit, but it's a perfectly valid decision if they choose not to spill everything, especially not this far in advance.
Sony let’s their actions speak for themselves. They have nothing to prove since people know their console will provide most of the year’s best games on it once again
The leaks about MS have been been pretty much the same just reported constantly by different sites.
We know that the rumor is a discless cheap Xbox One S, a probable new redesign of the Xbox One S that will make it cheaper to manufacture. And then we have the obvious next gen Xbox and a next gen higher end model.
Then on Sony basically just that a PS5 is in the works. And more than likely (speculation on my end) a higher end PS5 also.
Quiet = true plans