It's time: Xbox's achievement system is due for an upgrade

The Xbox platform has grown and evolved into a polished powerhouse that is a far, far cry from what we had with the Xbox One launch in 2013.

[RazzerRedux]

"Sony's trophy system is a bit more granular, awarding different levels of achievements based on the difficulty, rather than a flat score. In addition, PlayStation's "platinum trophies" signify 100% completions of games — something Xbox doesn't have, and something that is often highly-requested. "

This is what makes trophy hunting (for me at least) fun on PlayStation. I really don't care about Xbox achievements. Or Steam achievements, for that matter. Going for that platinum gives PS gaming an extra level that just isn't elsewhere, but it really needs to be. The number of Platinum trophies is more meaningful to me than some arbitrary gamerscore number.

[NecrumOddBoy]

I thought Xbox does a special badge for getting the 1000g on a game. I am not sure if this is true or what.

[RazzerRedux]

I don't think badges are tied to achievements.

[Gaming4Life1981]

I like xbox achievement system alot better than ps trophy system. I do care about trophies on ps but not more than xbox achievements. On xbox achievements feel more meaningful and on ps it feels like an add on. Regardless I will always be an achievement/trophy hunter because im a completionist.

[Pocahontas]

Why elaborate. What’s great about an arbitrary number. I think you’re just an Xbox achievement person because that’s what came out first.

[Tacoboto]

I'd argue that if one's to feel like an add-on, why does the other not?

Developers weigh goals by points on Xbox; those same developers weigh the same goals by rank on PS. That scaling seems equally arbitrary to me.

So I like them both equally - for me it's just the satisfaction of accomplishing something with the time I put in. And even a bronze trophy in Demons Souls felt like a Gold to me.

[RazzerRedux]

How do PS trophies feel like an "add on"?

[rayford15]

My meaningless trophies on PlayStation allowed me to preorder and get a PS5 on day one, that shit really is useless

[DaveZero]

I like xbox achievos better I must admit, but both consoles achievements have some very annoying ones that only a lunatic would try do because of devs making some super tough or super tedious. I remember way back for battlefield 2, just 2 achievos alluded me and I never felt so mad, forgot what they were exactly again but I were super pissed lol.

[ChiefofLoliPolice]

Ohhh yeah going to have to strongly disagree with you on that one. Xbox achievements just fell empty to me I simply have no desire to get them. But fighting for those PS trophies to get that sweet platinum to top it off! It's just prefect.

But to each his own. I respect that you like achievements over trophy, but for me...trophies all day!

[Shiore2u]

It's all the same shit. You can't do anything with them.

[RazzerRedux]

The differences are exactly what are being discussed so no, it isn't all the same shit.

Not sure what I would "do" with any of it. It is the challenge.

[Shiore2u]

@RazzerRedux Cope

[RazzerRedux]

Shhh. You can go back to sleep now.

Edit: Repeating yourself? lol....irony

[Shiore2u]

@RazzerRedux Cope.

[Gaming4Life1981]

You get rewards from earning achievements and trophies. I always cash in on the rewards and you should too if your not doing so.

[Gaming4Life1981]

The trophies feel more like an add on because the trophy system is not in your face like achievements are at least not on ps4. Xbox achievements are always in your face and tracking and you feel rewarded as you unlock them, you get an unmissable notification that elaborates on what you did. On ps when you unlock a trophy its a small message or sound and nothing else. Like i said i like both but xbox achievements was the beginning and while im glad most companies have adopted it but xbox is still king in that department. Playstation trophies was an add on and they have constantly been trying to make it better which they have. Imo

[CYALTR]

G4L, you mention cashing in achievement points for Rewards, could you explain? I know you can get Reward points for completing some achievements, but I've never heard of "cashing in" achievement points for Reward points. Thanks

[strifeblade]

I prefer gamer score over trophies any day. Game score to me is a % completion of a game out of 1000. On ps what are you going to tell me? How many bronze silver and gold you got on a game? On Xbox is a simple score. Yes PlayStation has platinum and Xbox is if you got 1000/1000. It's less about your over all score and more about what you did on each game. Don't touch the achievement system.

[bujasem_89]

Not to touch your system, but Ps offers a %100 with all games and dlc along with the trophies.

[DaveZero]

I used to crazy achieve hunt on xbox and playstation but i now just play the games and if they happen they happen.s

Now if Microsoft offered some Microsoft credits for each achieve, I'd be on it like crazy up day and night completing them.

[Gaming4Life1981]

They do i cash my rewards in all the time so i always have money on my account. You have to goto the rewards app on xbox its actually really simple to build up points and get cash.

[Kurt Russell]

I am personally the other way. I like the xbox gamerscore setup. I treat it like an ongoing score of my gaming and I find the monthly competitions on who scores the most VS your friends list addicting.
Whilst on my PS4, I don't track what I get as much. I like the platinum trophy idea (of which I only have about 8 or 9)... but outside of that I mostly ignore them.

[anast]

I agree with Razzer on this one. I have one Plat. and that one trophy is meaningful to me. If it were just a score it would not be meaningful unless I knew what the score stood for, as in how do I "win".

[franwex]

Gotta admit that platinum trophies hit different.

[GamerRN]

Gotta admit, the diamond achievements that say only a certain percentage have completed hit the best

[franwex]

Yep. Those too. But Platinum are best for me.

[GamerRN]

Personally, I think the whole thing is a silly debate. The games are what matter

[Seraphim]

gotta love to see when only 70% of players even played the first 10-30 minutes to get that first trophy XD

[ChiefofLoliPolice]

True but the Plats are still better.

[Knightofelemia]

The ability to see the secret achievements would be nice I like that ability a lot on the secret trophies of the PS4 when I play game. Click on the secret trophy hit the square button and boom the PS4 tells what the trophies is.

[chiefJohn117]

It wouldn't be a secret if it tells you lol wtf?

[SamPao]

Its optional. You can look it up on the internet so its just annoying to not be able to do so

[P_Bomb]

They’re not worth being secret 90% of the time. Just annoying. Beat a chapter. Beat the game. Like duh. The ability to pull back the curtain has been great. Saves a trip to the Internet.

[chiefJohn117]

Most secret achievements are side quest or finding an easter egg.

[P_Bomb]

One of the only ones I’ve seen of value in recent years has been Kratos’ weapon upgrade. Big story spoiler. Saying hi to Rosie in Walking Dead: Final Season isn’t worthy imo.

Just a peeve of mine. The odd list with nothing but secret achievements? Ugh, lol!

[Pickledpepper]

Then it's not really a secret

[P_Bomb]

Probably why they’re called hidden on PS, not secret. Nevermind the word secret. FF7 remake has 18 some odd HIDDEN ones just for beating each chapter. What’s to hide?

[1Victor]

Well if no one complains how is Microsoft going to know it’s broken and need fixing.

You know what they say about if it isn’t broken 🤷🏿
Oh also I like how all the trophies show you a rarity percentage of people that got it

[Atticus_finch]

Xbox has more important things to worry about like how to raise the price for their sub services.

[Spartacus10]

I have PS+ and PS Now and it costs me more than game pass ultimate would if I had an xbox. And I still dont get to play EA access games.

[Atticus_finch]

With ps± you get the PS collection and amazing AAA titles every month including the launch of brand new games Day 1. With Ps now you get over 800 games to stream and download.
And EA access is incredible sad with like 4 games worth playing. It's 5 dollars and I still wouldn't pay it.
My initial comment is in reference to the fact that Xbox tried doubling their sub prices with no new or better offerings while the same service has been severely lacking any good games for the past months. Xbox GP is bleeding money and xbox started the gen with -7 billion. So you better believe those subs will go up in price substantially.

[Darkborn]

It's time for them to upgrade their controller.

[chiefJohn117]

Meh, nobody else care or worried about something so miniscule. It's fine as is
I do wanna see them do a gamer score tier system. And % tile of gamers with such score like they do achievements

[Killer73nova]

Xbox has a totally different approach to achievement. They are mixing it up with Microsoft rewards so you can get gift cards and other stuff like that. Sometimes it sucks because they are specific and you can't gain multiple rewards on one game rather you have to download and play a bunch of different games to get rewards. Feels like a chore but nice to try different games out

[aragon]

You also get 50 reward points for each achievement as long as you activate it in Microsoft rewards app so Ye I’ll take the free points/ money

[Killer73nova]

Really?? I didn't know that. I thought it was 50 points every time you play a game pass game

[aragon]

Killer no every time u unlock an achievement . Playing game pass games depends on daily and weekly quests some require more than just playing the game

[Father__Merrin]

I'm almost certain on xbox you unlock achievement that give of a rare sparkly diamond effect

[TheColbertinator]

Achievements on Xbox/Win10 are fine as they are.

[TrueViper]

I think they should remove them. Sony should ditch trophies. Its just there for psychology same as compulsion loops. Makes games less fun. I turned off notifications long ago and it made some games fun again. All the psychological garbage is ruining gaming or maybe I'm getting old and grouchy.

[P_Bomb]

Just think of it like the new wave of arcade leaderboards. Most games don’t have scores anymore, so it’s a way to keep a foot on the path.

[DeadManMMX]

Lol I said something to Jason Ronald about a Platinum equivalent a couple months ago. I’ve been pushing for a Master Achievement for years. Never gets much traction but I did get a like from him so I’m hoping that means him and his team are aware of the need for achievements to evolve already.

[Disccordia]

Either system is fine by me, but what I would say about Xbox is the way achievements are presented needs to be improved, at least from the dashboard app. Everything is too big and it takes a lot longer to look/scroll through a list.

Another thing that Sony did well was to separate out DLC and Expansions. On Xbox, everything is just lumped in together. You can 100% the vanilla game but end up with 35% completion and nobody will ever know you completed it. On PlayStation, it lists the base game and all additional content in separate lists and you get the Platinum icon next to the base game to show. It's a nice quality of life improvement that Microsoft should definitely make.

[ChiefofLoliPolice]

Which ever one you like really just comes down to personal preference. For the life of me I can't understand why some folks like achievements over trophies but I respect it and to each his own. But for me that platinum trophy is so desirable.