Xbox One 2018 Review: A Much-Improved Console Missing One Big Thing

Five years ago, Microsoft launched the Xbox One to a mixed reception. Dogged by bad publicity leading up to launch day, the console gave gamers plenty of reason to be skeptical. But the big, black box had a lot to offer consumers willing to take a chance on the next-gen system; you just had to be prepared to play the waiting game.

Five years later, the Xbox One has evolved into two forms: the affordable Xbox One S and the Xbox One X, the latter of which is billed as the "world's most powerful console." And behind the eye-catching descriptor lies a console that's more than just another fancy gaming box. Capable of 4K gaming, with backward compatibility and cross-play for a laptop or desktop, the Xbox One and all its iterations constitute a love letter to evolution.

But with a dearth of first-party titles, the Xbox One constantly falls behind its main competitors. Here's where Microsoft nailed it and missed the mark over the past five years.

[corpsemaker]

We really need another article explaining the lack of first-party exclusives? I think anybody on this site understands that. Maybe we can stop arguing about it at the very least...

[Why o why]

If everyone just admitted it instead of making numerous excuses maybe people wouldn't get triggered. If a faction spent a fraction of the time bemoaning Sony's frailties like x play or bc maybe people wouldn't get triggered. This problem has followed MS since last gen. Despite being chastised for it by its fans it was left to the 'Sony ponies' or 'haters' to actually highlight Microsoft's biggest deficiency.

MS are trying to fix their issues albeit later than they should of been.

Next gen will be the ultimate proof to see if MS have turned the corner. Good luck

[danny818]

Everyone on this site gets a kick out of trying to convince others to buy a ps4 to raise their value of their Sony stock.

[rainslacker]

We don't need them. This past week alone, we've had 5-6 articles about how Xbox is doing so great, and it's setting itself up to dominate the future. Compared to one that says that it's actually lacking 1st party games. Even the ones that mention the criticism of 1st party games in those "lets make MS look good" articles, tend to down play it as if it's not a big deal and it'll be remedied real soon even though it could take years.

Seems the ratio isn't really even.

[Skankinruby]

Yeah it's this one thing that's mildly important to a gaming console.......GAMES

[william_cade]

Games and it will continue. I would almost bet that they double down on "games as a service" next gen.

[Artemidorus]

It's been a hard journey for Xbox.

They overspent over the generations, had major faults in hardware, lack of independence with gaming in certain points of it's timeline.

They deserve respect for taking the rough with the smooth.