Xbox One X: Great Price, Terrible Value

$499 is a terrific price for the hardware inside the Xbox One X, but the complete package is a considerably worse value.

[ThePope]

The argument that you should "just build a PC" is lame and not well thought out. Consoles exist because LOTS and LOTS of people don't want to build/maintain/upgrade a PC. ANYONE who argues differently is just trying to spread a false narrative.

[Brave_Losers_Unite]

Maintain? I have had my pc for a few years already. What the hell is there to maintain?

[thekhurg]

Typically, console gamers use terminology like that because they don't know what the hell they're talking about.

[pleasuretokill]

As a PC owner, I will agree "maintain" is false unless you have a watercooled monster that needs some extra attention every once in awhile. However, Build and Upgrade are certainly concerns everyone who owns a console should consider. Don't get me wrong.... I love my 14TF 1080TI monster of a PC, but it certainly didn't cost $499. Steam is godly though. No platform on consoles can touch Gaben and his holyness.

[fatbastard11]

Completely agreed.Windows automatically updates everything for you.lmao

[Gh05t]

I feel sorry for all your computers... If maintaining servers and computers didn't exist I wouldn't have a job.

Registry errors
Disk errors and Disk fragments
dust and dirt
driver updates
bios updates
OS updates
AV definition updates

to name a few things off the top of my head, and that is nothing compared to what happens when your system starts to act up or run slow.

Some of us prefer a hands on approach to keep our system in tip top shape.

[bluefox755]

@gh5t Updates and hard drive errors? Dust? Consoles have those too. Aside from dusting, PCs more or less take care of the rest itself, via auto-updates, auto-scans. It isn't the 90's anymore.

[TFJWM]

@Gh05t
Not sure what your point is the majority of those you have to do in consoles now....

[denawayne]

Let's be honest, MOST people do know or have the patience to build a PC. I built my own PC about 10 years ago. It wasn't to game on but to do photo/video editing. It still works for me for what I need (barely) but I really don't feel like tearing into my computer every few years in order to game. Plug and play is the way most people want their devices.

Are there people who build their own cars? Yes, but most don't

[Brave_Losers_Unite]

@Ghost

OS Updates? Are you still rocking Windows 98?

[Cobra951]

There's nothing to maintain, if you're happy with your hardware and OS. The maintenance comes in when you decide to upgrade or update something.

@Ghost:

Registry errors that actually affect you are very rare. You can set an automated weekly schedule to defragment hard drives and optimize SSDs. Dust and dirt can get into anything (consoles too), but if you have a reasonably clean room and a filtered heating/cooling system, dealing with dust should be an infrequent exercise. You only need BIOS updates, driver updates and OS updates if you're unhappy with something in your system. Windows 10's automatic updates can be fully disabled at the services level.

AV definition updates can also be taken care of automatically, and they are independent of Windows Update, including Microsoft's own Windows Defender.

[KillBill]

@Brave_Losers_Unite - I myself have numerous PCs and if you find you yourself aren't maintaining your PC then you seriously have an issue.

[ProjectVulcan]

You're severely overstating the case against PC here Ghost, and we're not talking about constantly running servers or networked business machines. We're talking about a home computer used a couple hours a day perhaps.

Major registry errors- astoundingly rare on a home machine. Windows 10 is exceedingly stable and self correcting.

Disk errors and disk fragments - Also very rare. SSDs do not get fragmented and decent ones are rated to last for tens of thousands of operating hours. A modern OS automatically looks after their health. Automatic defrag for other drives has been normal for years.

Dust and dirt - Valid point. However consoles are not immune. Difference is a PC is usually easier to clean internally!

Driver updates - also valid, but only just. Most hardware level drivers are automatically kept up to date if critical on Windows 10. On the video side Nvidia Geforce Experience for example warns you automatically of a new update, you download it with one click, and install it with one click without even rebooting. This is literally the only driver you kind of want to update every month or so.

Bios updates - If it ain't broke don't fix it. This is the well known golden rule for bios updates. Most home machines I never touch bios for updates even after 5 years unless there is some crucial need. When I have (rarely) they are easily flashed today.

OS updates - Automatic in windows. Downloads in the background, installs in the background, if not warns you about restarting later and does so the next time you do. Consoles aren't any different.........

AV definition updates - Automatic. Who doesn't have this set to automatic when they turn their machine on or whatever?

Basically your arguments are that a modern PC will crumble and fail if it isn't constantly massaged and babied.

It simply isn't true, this isn't 2001 any more.

Besides this the other arguments are based on a few updates you need to install..

Show me a modern console that DOESN'T need crap loads of firmware updates, software/and game patches and installs? The gap between the simplicity of a console and the complexity of PC has narrowed to the point of near irrelevance. The days of slapping in a disc and playing right away on console are looooooooooooooong gone.

Nuff said.

[TheBrit]

Anti-virus software malware software, video card drivers to name a few

[bluefox755]

Sure, but the counter narrative is just as bad, because it perpetuates this idea that PC gaming is this super-complicated thing, where one needs to be very tech savvy, or constantly upgrade, or maintain it (what do you mean by this exactly?) It used to be that way, but not anymore. It's pretty easy to figure out. Everything kinda just plugs in and works the majority of the itme. Console gaming is fine too, I like both personally, but this misinformation that people spread about PC gaming is perhaps why more people don't get into it.

[fenome]

@ThePope

Agree 💯%, some people just don't care, and prefer a console. Just like some people don't care and prefer PC. Others enjoy all of it. End of the day, who cares? Lol

This is a hobby, how people want to spend their money and free time is up to them.

[Miss_Weeboo]

anyone who disagrees with me is just trying to spread a false narrative.

[ElementX]

As a PC gamer I'm tired of games on steam not getting achievements, being poorly optimized, other games requiring Origin or Uplay... The PC game prices are awesome though. I bought a ps4 for the exclusives, I will probably get an Xbox eventually to play the EA and Ubi games that don't support steam. I would like a combined achievement system but that'll never happen. I already have steam, live, and PSN achievements. I am not an achievement hunter but they are fun to get. Plus having separate friend lists sucks enough without adding those other services. Then there's Blizzard's service. Forget it. At least with a console I can keep things together somewhat.

[Aquanox]

Errr... upgrading a high end PC 4 years down the road will cost you around US$450... Also, this guy talks as if there was no gain in multiplatform games. Take Final Fantasy XV as an example. It runs terrible on PS4 Pro 4k, and it's been reported to run great on Xbox one X. That's the kind of value this console is adding up.

As for 1st party lineup, it's not as impressive right now, but keep in mind that the biggest titles for PS4 come in 2018, and MS just released the dev kit 1 month before E3. Hell they will have big stuff for 2018.

[kingjames18]

The thing is the PC argument could be made for any of the consoles EXCEPT Nintendo Switch. So the I sure hope Sony Fanboys aren't trying to make this argument for Xbox One X. When they have the pitiful PS4 Pro.

[Mbofa6om]

This is a loser fanboys article. They can't hold the pain of lose. Three years of ganging and dancing that they have the most powerful console (ps4) and a more powerful console than the most powerful console (ps4pro) "as they called it in my region"
Its hard to see a small scorpio poisoning their resulotion. Suddenly, they can't see the difference between 1080/30 and 4k native/60fps.
Last three years ago, they can see the difference between 900p/60fps and 1080/30 fps, 1080/54 fps and 1080/45, and before forgetting, in mario cart they saw the drop in framerate from 1080/60 to 1080/59 in multiplayer mode with siplit screen for four players.
I'm still wondring how they can't see the difference between pro and xox? Now they tell the gamers to build their pcwith less than 500usd. I suggest for them to save money and buy microsoft surface in 100usd, and you can enjoy all ps exclusives on microsoft windows. Its very cole tobplay playstation exclusives on microsoft windows.m via ps now.

[HeyNowChillax]

I agree with this. I have a gaming PC and pipe it to my living room via 50ft HDMI and USB cables for the bluetooth dongle using a dualshock 4. Despite being as close as I can get on PC to couch console gaming, I'm always having to fiddle with settings, some support is lacking depending on title and it's just wonky compared to powering up the consoles and just having everything work right. I've been saying MS should just release an Xbox UI for windows which would make things better, especially with the growing library of "Play Anywhere" titles. Problem is windows store games generally have their own set of problems and btw that damn Xbox live app STILL doesn't support blutooth headset chat support. SMH.

[KingKionic]

"It may cost around $900 to built a PC as powerful as the Xbox One X, but that PC will be able to do much more than play games, can be upgraded for much less than the price of a new console a few years down the line, and allows a user to play a substantial library of existing PC games as well as some current and upcoming Xbox One titles."

First he says....you cant match the price to performance...then says you will be able to upgrade the pc for a less price then a new console...

Boy PC platform is great...but this guys spin is god tier.

[leeeroythe3rd]

Same arguement can be made against ps4... hell can do psnow on it to play all those exclusives

[letsa_go]

You are comparing streaming games at 720p vs playing actual games at up to 4k? Stupid argument, I think.

[PunisherRevenge]

@lersa_go
It doesn't matter what resolution you can play the game in. The fact of the matter is you can still play the game without PlayStation hardware.

[Xb1ps4]

Good god.... so stay with your pc! Obviously ms doesn't care and are giving you games to play on your pc!

Xbx are for those that don't want to game on a pc..

[thekhurg]

The investment today will last longer than this generation of consoles, and will carry you into the next generation without the requirement of re-spending everything you did at the beginning of a build. Plus you save money on the lack of yearly online subscriptions and you have a larger pool of game sales thanks to the multitude of online outlets charging less than $59 for new games.

So yeah, it's cheaper in the long term - and depending on how patient you are, it's cheaper in the short term as well.

[Kiwi66]

Out of curiosity, if pc gaming is that good then why don't you just play on pc instead then because as like you said you don't have to pay a yearly online subscription etc so you can save money

[conanlifts]

The running costs are higher, you are also forced to go all digital ( no ability to resell games) and you don't get 4 free games every month. Its not true that gaming on pc is cheaper.
Having said this i also own a pc and the humble bundle deals are fantastic.

[thekhurg]

@kiwi66

I do play on PC..

@sd11

Humble bundle gives you tons of games for almost nothing.

[bluefox755]

Well, it doesn't cost $900 to equal Xbox One X power, far from it in fact, so they are wrong about that. What he was probably saying though is, you can get more life out of a PC because rather than buy a whole new one, you can upgrade one or 2 parts to make it to modernize it.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

Yeah probably a good $799.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

You can trade in Xbox One X that you paid $500 for in 2017 for the Xbox One Y of 2021 for close to half what you paid.

So if you keep rolling console into console you aren't spending all that much to upgrade especially with the push for backwards and forward compatibility.

[darthv72]

Price is fine and value is subjective. I find i get great value out of my xb1 as it provides me with fun and entertaining games. Isn't that what these boxes are supposed to do? Hell... I get great value out of my wii and ps4 as well. They also provide me with fun and entertaining games.

[UnHoly_One]

I have put so many thousands of hours onto my XB1 in the past 4 years it would have still been a good value at 2000 dollars.

I'm sure I'll never feel for a second like I spent too much on my XB1X.

[Brave_Losers_Unite]

The article title is spot on.

[leeeroythe3rd]

Keep on feedin g the tears... full of excuses and justification. God forbid anyone try to compete and raise tbe bar... quick pass judgement on a product that you never would buy.

[Smok91]

e

[TheColbertinator]

Its a great console and filled with a good roster of upcoming games but I'd rather they pack in a free hand sandwich to clinch the deal.

[darthv72]

Which hand... left or right?

[TheColbertinator]

Oops sorry I misspelled knuckle sandwich

[LexHazard79]

Lol...

[EyeAmTJ]

dumb article lol

[Omnislashver36]

I'd rather not play on PC, less current AAA exclusives, can't sit at couch to play unless you want to get beasted by those using mouse/keyboard while you use a controller, streamlined interface, and did I mention I'd much rather sit at a couch? Not to mention it costs more, does need maintenance because Windows 10 is shit, and games aren't nearly as optimized. We don't even have checkerboard 4K on PC yet do we? I mean I dislike Xbox but this is a trash argument regardless.

[GreenUp]

I prefer shooters on consoles because there are rarely ever hackers, and is harder to go through the process of cheating. PC is a simple pay amount and open a program and boom, done. ESP and have enemy tags on and have all the bullshit off like god mode or jumping in the air or headshot every half second. Way too many people play with ESP or wallhacks on rather than full out aimbot. Fullout aimbot will get you banned a lot quicker. So it's better to just use the ESP stuff.

[conanlifts]

Lets put the cost and specs aside for a moment. There are a few other things to note with xbox that you can not do on pc.

Firstly I own 2 xbox consoles and both myself and my son can game against each other using my digital games. So we can play online multiplayer against each other using my games. I cant do this on my pc with the digital games, in addition if I were to do it I would need 2 pcs that take up far more space than a console. Digital game sharing on xbox is a big benefit. Yes you can share on steam, but to my knowledge you are unable to game against each other at the same time when sharing. I believe you can also share games digitally on ps4, I am unsure though if you can play games at the same time though with 2 consoles ( maybe someone can tell me if you can).

Secondly if you have friends/family that own xbox consoles you need an xbox console to play online against them. Windows 10 xbox games do not have all of the online features to do this. In addition multiplatform games ( Destiny, star wars, Cod, BF etc etc) do not allow cross play between xbox and pc. So if you actually have people you game against and want to keep gaming against them you all need to use the same platform.
Another point is that people often mention not having to buy a gold subscription to save money. Personally I resell many of my console games after using them. I can not do this on pc. The amount of games I resell far exceeds any cost of a subscription.
In addition if we are talking about small savings a pc costs far more to run than a console. I pay my electricity bill, this is not free, so again using my consoles actually save a small amount of money.

So specs and money aside these are 2 reasons why any xbox console is still great value and still needed.
Also just to be clear I do also own a good pc and do also game on pc, but we should not really be ignoring the benefits that buying a console has for gaming.

[fatbastard11]

Consoles are for families,PC gaming is for hardcore gaming.They each suit the individual that chose their respective platform.

[bigevil1x]

Me personally I don't wanna spend 1000$-2500$ for casual Gaming...competition or hardcore maybe other that that x1x will hold me over

[fatbastard11]

Why not? You're spending $60 per year for online play for the next 4 -5 years anyway until the next Xbox comes out.Instead you could spend that $720 on top notch PC specs.

[IndieFolk]

PC players... always with that "free online play" BS. At what cost? Almost every game has lots of cheaters ruining the fun. Who wouldn't love to get mad for free? :D

[conanlifts]

The ability to resell games and the lower elecricity costs more than offsets the cost of online play. Its a poor argument. That doesn't include the 4 free games every month.

[LgbtWarrior]

The exclusives don't warrant the upgrade. Great console but dismal exclusives.

[WelkinCole]

Its not good value because of the price.

At the end of the day X1X is still a console. A mid gen console at that that cost as much as a next gen console.

If the X1X is a next gen console then the price would be acceptable. However according to MS it is just a mid gen upgrade.

[franwex]

I care about that 4k uhd drive...

[Razzer]

Xbox One S is cheaper then

[Guyfamily999]

I'd argue to switch the words value and price in that title.

[jasonpugh]

Written by a sour PC fan I'm sure. It's okay, I'm sure the $1,000 you spent on your new gaming rig is better. No need to jump off the deep end just because a console is encroaching in your territory.

[jokerisalive]

Better value than the competition if you want to get picky.....more power AND comes with an actual 4K drive.

[DaGreatOne]

For what all it promises I think the price is right.

[kingjames18]

Whats up with all these "Opinion" hit pieces against the Xbox One X on this website?

[GrmpyolGamer]

Just more damage control from fanboys. Cant stand the fact the xbox fans are getting something nice

[Cobra951]

You have that exactly backward. The price is too high for a console, but the hardware is terrific for one.

[MagicBeanz]

Only its not a "great" price.

[DAEMONIFEAR]

Lol this is ridiculous!

[WilliamSheridan]

When you say "just build a pc", you are basically rendering all consoles worthless as every price point can be beaten...

[KillBill]

Sorry but gaming on PC versus gaming on a console is just not the same. Sure some experiences will be better but for many situations, the experience will be much worse.

Just as an example one of the latest games BF1 has such a smaller player base on PC that it has become an issue finding available servers in many regions. And the multitude of issues every single day that appears in forums by PC players simply trying to get the game to play is ridiculous.

And it isn't just BF games... you see it all the time. Games more often than not have to be tweaked just to function on your PC. And God forbid your hardware gets an update that suddenly causes your game to no longer function properly or at all. And then you find yourself having to roll back to a previous update to play. Or a game update that makes your games start playing like they poured molasses into your system.

Consoles are made for the simplest of reasons. It is the gaming equivalent of an automatic versus a standard vehicle. And the masses just simply prefer not having to deal with a clutch.

[lav_s]

Boooooring

[Felsager]

Yes the console is powerful and a great start for Microsoft.

Problem: The lack of exclusive games is severe. There's no reason for me to spend 500 dollars in a new Halo box.

[Clunkyd]

I always cringe when PC fanboys comment, "just build a PC."
You clearly don't know the main purpose of a console and what console gamers want. smh