Not at all. https://www.metacritic.com/game/starfield/Starfield was kind of a critical flop
To be fair, this has been the promise since the Xbox One launch especially those MS journalists hyping it up
MS' public perception has completely changed with just a show
Maybe indirectly, but I don't know any Xbox lover who is going to buy a Switch 2 instead of an Xbox Next. Not gonna happen.
it would depend on what each of the consoles offer wouldn't it?I think most people will go with a Switch 2 over an Xbox next if it released 2025 or 2026. The half of gamers who bought into the current gen are already complaining about a PS5 pro yet they havent gotten the best deal in terms of content from the PS5. So we're just going into the second half of the current gen in the minds of consumers.
Goes to show the most important thing at the end of the day is the games. And when you deliver, it builds good will.MS' public perception has completely changed with just a show
I think you should take a hint at the Xbox FTC document for 2028 being a suitable year when most variables suit an actual next gen. There's a lot to consider before pushing out new hardware especially as a console. Its far harder than adding a Zen 6CPU RDNA 5 GPU, larger amount of ram, accelerators for AI. The most important question is actually what are the developers doing and you design the hw back from the software perspective. Thats the biggest lesson from the Xbox 360 gen and its what Sony and MS have been doing(exception being the Series S and some choices of on the Xbox One). You're looking at it from purely hw perspective and one which considers it as simply ordering components and putting them together.it would depend on what each of the consoles offer wouldn't it?
If xbox next is a sizable leap (zen6/rdna5/large ram jump/ npus) it could draw a lot of people. I'd have to imagine GTA6 running on such a system would run the game better than any console even the ps5 pro.
I think you should take a hint at the Xbox FTC document for 2028 being a suitable year when most variables suit an actual next gen. There's a lot to consider before pushing out new hardware especially as a console. Its far harder than adding a Zen 6CPU RDNA 5 GPU, larger amount of ram, accelerators for AI. The most important question is actually what are the developers doing and you design the hw back from the software perspective. Thats the biggest lesson from the Xbox 360 gen and its what Sony and MS have been doing(exception being the Series S and some choices of on the Xbox One). You're looking at it from purely hw perspective and one which considers it as simply ordering components and putting them together.
But these machines require a lot of software support and need to ride economies of scale to provide long lasting profitable machines. Not just churning out loss making machine after loss making machine. These machines have to be planned for years, data analytics taken from memory and processor usage on the consumer and devkit consoles, working with finance department to ensure the cost can be armortized over the life of the generation. It starts from the Software side first not the other way round. And even with GTA 6, MS making a "next" gen machine in 2026 wouldn't offer any meaningful advantage at all compared to the PS5 pro for the following reasons:
But in all this GTA 6 is going to be bound by the current gen for quite some time. Possibly age better than the previous game but after releasing it on consoles in 2025 I just dont see them giving a differentiated experience with a 2026 next gen Xbox. Even the launch PS6 version of the game is likely not to be that different from the PS5/PS5 pro version. Maybe the online parts of the title will be better, but the campaign is going to be bound by the current hw.
- Game is going to be designed around PS5 hw and that will limit what can be achieved on the next gen 2026 Xbox in 2025-2026 period
- Rockstar(like most serious devs) would not take time ramping up to new "next gen" SDK in 2026 when they're current engines are optimized for current gen requirements and are working on a PC release. The guys delayed the PC release to ensure they release an excellent title on the consoles first.
- In 2 years(2027) Rockstar would get a PS6 devkit to release a new GTA 6 at launch in 2028.
- If 2026 next gen Xbox gets a 2027 special edition GTA 6 then a year later they'd be an even better version of the game launching with a much more powerful PS6.
- A 2026 next gen machine would just hamstring Xbox again. They just need to focus on delivering great games for now and maybe launch 2027 or 2028.
1.) Its not at all when you're base hw isnt selling well enough. Notice Sony is going with the Raytracing and upscaling angle for the pro? Its marketing reallyWe will see what happens what happens. MS has a metric ton of data from all its xboxs and all the games being played on pc.
1) Doesn't matter if the game is designed around ps5 hardware. Pushing frame rates and effects over what the ps5/pro can do is still a major selling point
2) Rockstar didn't delay the pc release for noble reasons. They did it to get people to buy console versions and then rebuy on pc when it comes out later. They did this with GTA5 also.
3) Yes 2028. A 2025/26 Xbox next gen would give them 2-3 years of having the most powerful console by a large margin and would be the best way on consoles to play multiplatform games.
4) You just said 2028 now its 2027?
5) Why launch when Sony is launching? MS's most successful generation is when they set the start of the generation not sony. MS can release a 2025/26 console and then a 2029/2030 console. They can be on their own cadence.
A more powerful xbox console will allow games to run better than the competition. MS has what 30 studios or more that can continue to turn out 4-5 games a year that take advantage of it. MS needs to push this advantage.
Microsoft is going to launch so many games and new IP's in 2025, the biggest year in gaming since forever. We got PS5 pro, Switch 2, GTA 6. If I were them I would delay them, there's just too much. If only they had them ready a year or two before, they all would have had better chances.I think most people will go with a Switch 2 over an Xbox next if it released 2025 or 2026. The half of gamers who bought into the current gen are already complaining about a PS5 pro yet they havent gotten the best deal in terms of content from the PS5. So we're just going into the second half of the current gen in the minds of consumers. Its much easier to sell a pro console then get the half of consumers still on Xbox One/PS4 over to the base current gen machines. Than it is to push a new gen in 2025 or 2026.
Yeah I wonder why they dont space them out a bit more but I'm sure they've done the research and decided on the roadmap.Microsoft is going to launch so many games and new IP's in 2025, the biggest year in gaming since forever. We got PS5 pro, Switch 2, GTA 6. If I were them I would delay them, there's just too much. If only they had them ready a year or two before, they all would have had better chances.
Yeah I wonder why they dont space them out a bit more but I'm sure they've done the research and decided on the roadmap.
1) That is why MS needs a new generation like they did with the xbox to xbox 360 generation. Right now what is bigger than AI ?1.) Its not at all when you're base hw isnt selling well enough. Notice Sony is going with the Raytracing and upscaling angle for the pro? Its marketing really
2.) Rockstar is delaying for financial as well as technical reasons.
3.) A next gen Xbox in 2025/26 would give them the full weight and pressure of having to prove they can deliver a plethora of next gen titles when we live with the fact that cross gen titles are more prevalent.
4.) No I said 2028 but devs would get devkits in 2027. But launching end of 2027 is also plausible and makes sense.
5.) Its not about launching when Sony is launching, its about launching when conditions necessitate and facilitate next gen hw and software tools. 2028 is a good estimate, next best I'd say December of 2027. Again look into the FTC leaks and MS's own internal projections had next gen at 2028 for a myriad of reasons, most of which you havent considered or ignored.
A more powerful Xbox released too early will just put pressure on Xbox yet all the games will have to be released on the current gen Xbox Series as well as PS5 and PS5 pro!!. Its no longer the Xbox 360 days in terms of cost of development. Cross Gen titles make a lot more sense these days. Expect the first 3 years to have cross gen titles. So if Xbox release in 2025 it would really be a blunder of epic proportions. A handheld in 2025 makes more sense imho.
1.) You cant really just invent your own generation especially when you're in the position MS is in with hw. The last thing they need to be thinking of now is releasing new hardware(besides a handheld). That thing will flop so hard and put so much pressure on them yet most games they release on a "next gen" machine in 2025 will have to be available on the PS5/pro and the Series consoles. Imagine 5 years of cross gen titles from 2025 till around 2030. Who's going to buy it when there's already 2 Xbox consoles that consumers arent buying and you can play most of the games on the current gen?1) That is why MS needs a new generation like they did with the xbox to xbox 360 generation. Right now what is bigger than AI ?
2) Yes because they want people to double dip. For GTA 5 they sold the xbox 360/ps3 , xbox one/ps4 and then finally pc. They want as much money as they can get
4) If MS launches in 2025 That would give them 2-3 years of a head start. IF MS launches in 2026 that be 1-2 years of a head start. Like I said the xbox 360 launched early , it let ms set the stage and gave them their best selling generation
5) I haven't ignored anything. The MS slides are old at this point.
IF MS waits around until Sony is ready to launch a new console then nothing will change for MS. Sony will have access to the same technology as MS and they will launch hardware with similar features and performance just like this gen and we already know how well that is working for the
Imagine developers having to test the series x, series s, portable, series X2 and series S2. I can't see that happening. That's why the only thing I can see is a portable that plays series s versions of games and a "next gen" in 2026 that plays PC versions of games with a console UI + windows.1.) You cant really just invent your own generation especially when you're in the position MS is in with hw. The last thing they need to be thinking of now is releasing new hardware(besides a handheld). That thing will flop so hard and put so much pressure on them yet most games they release on a "next gen" machine in 2025 will have to be available on the PS5/pro and the Series consoles. Imagine 5 years of cross gen titles from 2025 till around 2030. Who's going to buy it when there's already 2 Xbox consoles that consumers arent buying and you can play most of the games on the current gen?
2.) Again you're only considering the financial side yet they have two reasons, one is for financial gain, the other is technical. Focusing on the consoles first and ensuring a stable release then putting the focus on PC to ensure a stable release.
4.) It would give them an extra 2-3 years offering titles that have to be available on the Series consoles and PS5 all while not offering a real generational leap because most of the software tools are geared towards current gen hw. It would be another blunder really
5.) The MS FTC slides are very pertinent to this discussion and are still relevant and largely accurate.
The challenge for MS isnt about releasing at the same time as Sony. The challenge for them is building enough good will by delivering great games and not making absurd decisions like they have done in the past. Releasing a new console that isnt a handheld in 2025 would be awfully expensive and honestly doesnt make sense when they have to put more of their games on Playstation in order to reach revenue goals. Adding another expensive piece of hw that you have to support while putting that new hw's titles on the current gen would be a huge blunder.
Few people are going to buy it over a $300 PS5 slim and $500 PS5 pro in 2025 or 2026. And it would definitely be selling at a loss for at least 2 years before Sony pushes out a more powerful PS6. Devs also wont be so enthusiastic on a 3rd Xbox console so soon tbh. Again you're looking at it purely from a PC parts perspective where they can buy X CPU and X GPU and X amount of RAM, but consoles are different. They need to interact with the devs and see what they are enthusiastic about, look at the market, look at what technological developments exist in the hw market(of which releasing in 2025 and 2026 arent good years). Earliest is 2027, latest is 2028 and MS FTC leaks prove this point with a 2028 next gen date.
They don't need a new S if they only launch a new X, and the old Series X would be the S to the X2. I also think the the Xbox portable will just be a portable PC like the ROG Ally, and not a traditional portable console. It can ship with PC Gamepass and thus be an Xbox branded portable, and wouldn't require developers to do any real work to get their games working on the device. Microsoft can just validate games on the back end (like Steam does with Deck verified games) and flag games that aren't playable to not show up in the app on the device.Imagine developers having to test the series x, series s, portable, series X2 and series S2. I can't see that happening. That's why the only thing I can see is a portable that plays series s versions of games and a "next gen" in 2026 that plays PC versions of games with a console UI + windows.
1.) You cant really just invent your own generation especially when you're in the position MS is in with hw. The last thing they need to be thinking of now is releasing new hardware(besides a handheld). That thing will flop so hard and put so much pressure on them yet most games they release on a "next gen" machine in 2025 will have to be available on the PS5/pro and the Series consoles. Imagine 5 years of cross gen titles from 2025 till around 2030. Who's going to buy it when there's already 2 Xbox consoles that consumers arent buying and you can play most of the games on the current gen?
2.) Again you're only considering the financial side yet they have two reasons, one is for financial gain, the other is technical. Focusing on the consoles first and ensuring a stable release then putting the focus on PC to ensure a stable release.
4.) It would give them an extra 2-3 years offering titles that have to be available on the Series consoles and PS5 all while not offering a real generational leap because most of the software tools are geared towards current gen hw. It would be another blunder really
5.) The MS FTC slides are very pertinent to this discussion and are still relevant and largely accurate.
The challenge for MS isnt about releasing at the same time as Sony. The challenge for them is building enough good will by delivering great games and not making absurd decisions like they have done in the past. Releasing a new console that isnt a handheld in 2025 would be awfully expensive and honestly doesnt make sense when they have to put more of their games on Playstation in order to reach revenue goals. Adding another expensive piece of hw that you have to support while putting that new hw's titles on the current gen would be a huge blunder.
Few people are going to buy it over a $300 PS5 slim and $500 PS5 pro in 2025 or 2026. And it would definitely be selling at a loss for at least 2 years before Sony pushes out a more powerful PS6. Devs also wont be so enthusiastic on a 3rd Xbox console so soon tbh. Again you're looking at it purely from a PC parts perspective where they can buy X CPU and X GPU and X amount of RAM, but consoles are different. They need to interact with the devs and see what they are enthusiastic about, look at the market, look at what technological developments exist in the hw market(of which releasing in 2025 and 2026 arent good years). Earliest is 2027, latest is 2028 and MS FTC leaks prove this point with a 2028 next gen date.
The series X can't become the new S, it's too costly to manufacture.They don't need a new S if they only launch a new X, and the old Series X would be the S to the X2. I also think the the Xbox portable will just be a portable PC like the ROG Ally, and not a traditional portable console. It can ship with PC Gamepass and thus be an Xbox branded portable, and wouldn't require developers to do any real work to get their games working on the device. Microsoft can just validate games on the back end (like Steam does with Deck verified games) and flag games that aren't playable to not show up in the app on the device.
If people leave the Xbox market they will either go PC or PS. If you actually believe they would go Nintendo you haven't understood anything about the Xbox customer base.I think most people will go with a Switch 2 over an Xbox next if it released 2025 or 2026. The half of gamers who bought into the current gen are already complaining about a PS5 pro yet they havent gotten the best deal in terms of content from the PS5. So we're just going into the second half of the current gen in the minds of consumers. Its much easier to sell a pro console then get the half of consumers still on Xbox One/PS4 over to the base current gen machines. Than it is to push a new gen in 2025 or 2026.
You mean nothing is bigger than the AI hype. It's already so painful even the fan scene pundits are sick of it and are poking fun at it.1) That is why MS needs a new generation like they did with the xbox to xbox 360 generation. Right now what is bigger than AI ?
2) Yes because they want people to double dip. For GTA 5 they sold the xbox 360/ps3 , xbox one/ps4 and then finally pc. They want as much money as they can get
4) If MS launches in 2025 That would give them 2-3 years of a head start. IF MS launches in 2026 that be 1-2 years of a head start. Like I said the xbox 360 launched early , it let ms set the stage and gave them their best selling generation
5) I haven't ignored anything. The MS slides are old at this point.
I mostly agree. But the problem is releasing earlier while providing the performance for next generation. That's not a trivial problem and can IMHO only be solved by "money". That needs to be paid by somebody in the end which nobody might want.IF MS waits around until Sony is ready to launch a new console then nothing will change for MS. Sony will have access to the same technology as MS and they will launch hardware with similar features and performance just like this gen and we already know how well that is working for the
