2025 Is A Make Or Break Year For Xbox

The end of exclusives could mean the beginning of something else.

[MrDead]

Why do you need an Xbox?

You can get all Xbox games on PC, Playstation and some on Nintendo, and being unlocked form gamespass will mean devs get paid dividends for their work.

We will all still be hit from MS's massive industry consolidation and all the negatives that it's brought and will still bring to gaming, but at least we have slowed the MS rot for now.

$80 billion spent and thousands upon thousands fired to get no new games that weren't already coming just to f**k over the industry so a select few wealthy scumbags could get more wealthy. MS is the worst thing ever to happen to gaming

[Obscure_Observer]

"Why do you need an Xbox?"

Today? For the same exact reason why you need a Playstation console; console only gamer´s preference and/or brand loyalty!

Other than that, no reason to own a PS5 if everything will end up on PC in an year or so.

All those PS fans that were screaming that there´s no reason to own an Xbox because everything would be available on PC, are now facing the same reality.

No Playstation exclusive games anymore for the foreseeable future.

Yesterday they were swearing that they would leave Playstation if Sony ever followed MS porting Playstation exclusives to PC.

Now that Playstation followed MS in the PC realm, all PS fans that were claiming to own PCs from NASA suddenly disappeared!

As side effect, the goalposts have being moving since then:

"Oh but you have to wait 3+ years to play Playstation games on PC"
"Oh but you have to wait 2+ years to play Playstation games on PC"
"Oh but it´s just LS games hitting the PC day and date"

The release window just have being shrinking and now after Spider-Man 2 land on PC after one year and 3 months, the new excuse it´s because it´s not day and date, like it matters or makes any difference.

Back at 8th generation, Sony named the PC their main competitor.

https://metro.co.uk/2016/09...

Today, PC is Playstation main partner just like it is for Xbox.

Nowadays one year after the original release will be worth of nothing but updates, patches and fixes.

PC gamers will gladly wait for an year for the best and definitive version of PS games to land on PC free of bugs.

The console war is over but console gamers will prevail.

You narrative is dead as your nickname. You´ll just continue and support MS buying their games because that´s what you do. Pretend to hate the same company you love to support with your MONEY! Making the rich even richer!

Because we both know that you simply don´t have the courage to boycott Microsoft due your own greed interests. You´re no better than them! Period!

[MrDead]

Calm down little one, your idol is the worst thing to happen to gaming, I see the more you relise that the more you rage at other people... also you seem to forget that I want PlayStation games on PC, why would that be bad news to me? I'll be looking forward to playing them on my new 5090 build in a couple of weeks.

"You narrative is dead as your nickname. You´ll just continue and support MS buying their games because that´s what you do. Pretend to hate the same company you love to support with your MONEY! Making the rich even richer!"

I think you'll find it's "Your narrative" you're in such a rage you can't even type

Also learn about how divisions in businesses work and what boycotting games does to said divisions, you seem to think not buying games will hurt the multi-trillion dollar company and not the publishers they tried to take away from gamers.

"Because we both know that you simply don´t have the courage to boycott Microsoft due your own greed interests. You´re no better than them! Period!"

...do you know what courage means? What a mess this news is turning you into, touch grass kid.

[lukasmain]

Don't think GT7, Demon's Souls or Astro Bot will end up on PC.

[PapaBop]

Starting to wonder if you're Phil Spencer in disguise. Rough week?

[YourMommySpoils]

This is guy's triggered lol

[darthv72]

you are confusing need vs want. when it comes to this hobby... nobody "needs" anything because it is just a hobby, not a necessity. So shifting focus to the real topic of "want"... why would someone want an xbox? Maybe because they like the hardware, the controller, the store / UI, the online community, they have a large library of existing games that have carried over from years past. OR..... they just do (that one is a real surprise isnt it?)

My question is why does it matter if someone wants an xbox? What does it do to you if they do or dont? What sort of sleep are you losing at night wondering if there are others out there actually choosing to have one instead of going to the PC or other consoles... or maybe they support them all?

While you ponder these things and dwell more over the XB side (as most PS fans do more than their own side) I'm going to keep playing the games that entertain me. Though watching PS fans lose their shit over everything XB is entertaining in itself... you don't earn any trophies or achievements in doing so.

[Lightning77]

"$80 billion spent and thousands upon thousands fired to get no new games that weren't already coming just to f**k over the industry so a select few wealthy scumbags could get more wealthy."

All true but what do you think about Sony's lay offs yesterday?

[MrDead]

Did it have anything to do with spending $80 billion to consolidate the industry and take away multiplatform games, if not then why would I care about Sonys internal workings? Will it effect multiplatform games and PC?

I'll look it up, Sony fired support team working on PS5, Portal, PSVR2, PS Apps as they are mature and no longer need fully staffed development... bit different from MS firing thousands of workers out of greed.

[Tacoboto]

What a stupid perspective to suggest any major player in this industry does something just to "f**k" it over.

And your core argument is a contradiction. Microsoft's consolidation, and all of us will be hit by it, but the result so far is the properties they own are going multi platform... Sooo scary, what a terrible thing, oh my.

And the layoffs? Nintendo might just be one of the only major tech-related companies in the entire world not doing massive reductions or layoffs.

No one needs an Xbox and Microsoft is leading the charge to prove that. No one needs any gaming device either, it's a hobby not a prison sentence. If Microsoft was the only offender buying things up or doing layoffs you might be onto something, but no this is just weird

[Lightning77]

No longer needed so it's ok to fire those staff anyway? Even the senior So excuses basically. Typical for your type.

[S2Killinit]

@Mr Dead
Exactly. MS is a cancer for console gaming.

[darthv72]

Ponies been saying that forever... it's all they have

[Lightning77]

Xbox games Games going multiplat yep so bad for the industry.... Some how... Some way according you ppl. Yet y'all were happy and listing other xbox games y'all want on PS.

You guys aren't too bright... Like at all...

[Obscure_Observer]

"Exactly. MS is a cancer for console gaming."

Interesting... You never had strike me as an Xbox hater before. Good to know.

I just hope you to not turn out a hypocrite and show up on Xbox topics cheering for its games to be on Playstation.

I mean, if MS is cancer, you should try your best stay away from it, right? Right?

[S2Killinit]

@above
“All ponies have” really?

“Xbox games going multiplatform”
Yeah because they are so generous. Right? Talk about taking things out of context. Hope I dont burst that bubble you inhabit . Oh and btw, MS going PC IS LITERALLY WHY they are a cancer to console gaming. But I guess you xbox people will never understand because you’ve been cooked in MS’s pot for too long to jump out. Or AT LEAST wake up and speak out against them. Just as you cheered theor acquisitions, now you cheer going multiplat and PC! Its insane. Stop them for the sake of consoles. If you xbox faitful dont speak out, who will? The casuals?

@Obscure
Never been one to hate outright. But I feel I’m justified. I’ve seen them operate to detriment of console gaming. Also, Ive never cheered them going multiplatform. I’ve talked about how they are going 3rd party, but it doesnt make me happy per se. I just dont want theor strategy to succeed. Check my history. Not because I dont want to play a game like Horizon, but because Im worried about the implications of what MS is doing. For all of us console gamers.

[Lightning77]

"Oh and btw, MS going PC IS LITERALLY WHY they are a cancer to console gaming."

Ok how so? Explain away.

"Or AT LEAST wake up and speak out against them."

Against what exactly? Xbox fans have always been vocal about Xbox stupidity for ages so what else don't get need ro speak about?

"Just as you cheered theor acquisitions, now you cheer going multiplat and PC! Its insane. Stop them for the sake of consoles"

So you want MS to gate keep these games on Xbox only? You know you would cry hard if they did that right? Your type is painfully predictable on your thoughts and reactionsDo you even know what you're even arguing or what you're even talking about anymore lol talk about reach.

[Obscure_Observer]

"I see the more you relise that the more you rage at other people... also you seem to forget that I want PlayStation games on PC, why would that be bad news to me? I'll be looking forward to playing them on my new 5090 build in a couple of weeks."

That´s awesome! Congratulations! I hope you really enjoy it, and start to play more, be excited and talk more about games, support Sony and don´t buy games from MS. Stand for your own opinions and principles for once.

New PC. New life!

"Also learn about how divisions in businesses work and what boycotting games does to said divisions, you seem to think not buying games will hurt the multi-trillion dollar company and not the publishers they tried to take away from gamers."

Spare from this nonsense, man. There´s no independent publishers or studios under MS´s wings anymore, and you know it! They´re all Microsoft employees now! They no longer have the power to decide which game will be next! They no longer have the power to decide if they want their games to be on Gamepass or even PS Plus anymore! That´s MS!

Take Sony for instance. They bough the freaking Bungie for 3.7 Billion! And what is Bungie today under Playstation´s management after 3 years? Literally a shadow of its former self!

Sony fired people by the thousands, reallocated many developer to other studios and sectors, promoted several budge cuts to the point that Destiny will no longer able to produce larger expansions for Destiny like they used to. In case Marathon fails to deliver and be a huge success, that studio might die on Sony´s watch.

Microsoft is no different! Austin screw up with Redfall? Closed! Tango didn´t screew up and MS sold them. Toys for Bob is independent now.

MS is the one paying all those people. Ms is the one approving and paying for those games to be developed. They don´t need a reason to shut down ANY studio, being said studios successful or not!

So you can quit your fake heroic act. You´re buying MS games to help no others but yourself and MS! So don´t mind when I call you out on your hypocrisy and fake concerns with MS´s employees. You don´t care for them the same way you don´t care for developers getting fired at Sony which promoted yet another wave of layoffs and unsurprisingly you didn´t show up on the topic, because Sony´s employees don´t deserve sympathy because Sony is the best company in the world, and they have their justified reasons, right?

"...do you know what courage means? What a mess this news is turning you into, touch grass kid."

You clearly don´t know what it is once you won´t stand for your own values and opinions. You´re the on complaining while gladly filling MS´s pocket full of money! Making the rich even richer! Those are the facts.

Be better. Grow a spine and stop support Xbox games!

[thesoftware730]

MrDead,

You should look in the mirror before you tell someone to "calm down" or to "touch grass."

Did you read your post?

"To F**k over the industry" "... "But at least we have slowed the MS rot for now"

We? Are you on a mission? who are you talking to? do you have an underground group trying to stop MS?
And we can't forget your super exaggerated tag line, that you might as well make your signature,

"MS is the worst thing ever to happen to gaming".

Wow, how much do you think about this? and what have they done to you? did you want Starfield? How has the acquisitions they made so far affected you?

Seriously, you almost sound one step away from storming MS offices and going mental/postal, I say to you sir, chill a bit it's not that serious. As far as a layoff, everyone was laying off people in almost every sector of gaming, Sony laid off almost an equivalent percentage of workers, relative to workforce size, Sony also made acquisitions,
and it doesn't matter how big or small, because your argument is, that a company shouldn't spend a bunch of money if they are gonna fire people, but they did just that, they are in no way better.

I get it, man, You don't like MS, you should focus less on them, and be more outraged as a Sony-only fan with the
the direction the company has been going, the whole Live service game push.

[Lightning77]

Been hearing this since 2014 15 now Ok, this isn't just an Xbox issue anymore it's a Industry wide problem. Ubisoft could go under if Assassins Creed fails, previous title Outlaws failed EA is going LS after DA failed (yeah... Surprise) and heavily betting on BF now. Xbox shutting down Arkane Austin and Tango despite them LYING and saying Hifi needed to do what it did (then why shut them down?) Concord studio is no longer around. It's a industry wide issue not a single company.

[jznrpg]

I think that ship has sailed. This was the narrative for a decade so I think it’s time to give up on this make or break thing

[Lightning77]

That's what I'm sayin. Obviously it's still make or break for them. If Avowed, South Of Midnight, Outerwolds 2 etc suck. Then expect the studios and staff gone, just like every other company out there. Nobody can afford flops anymore. This industry is too expensive for that.

[CrimsonWing69]

That was said last year, and the year before, and the year before, and…

[Elda]

I will continue to use my XBSX with my Gamepass subscription. With that said this year Gamepass will have some interesting games to play on the rental service this year in the Spring such as South Of Midnight & the new multi-plats Doom & Expedition 33, for me that's a $160 plus tax savings. Though I could purchase the later 2 to play on my PS5 Pro but again it's money saved. Once my XBSX no longer supports next gen games through Gamepass I will continue to use Gamepass if it's still a service but I won't be buying a next gen XB, I'll use the service through TV or a PC.

[Obscure_Observer]

But you said *many* times that you don´t game on PC. What happened? Are you having a change of heart, because of Game Pass? Interesting...

[FortWaba]

Every year since 2013 has been make or break for Xbox.

[MaximusPrime_]

True. It shows how terrible Microsoft's gaming business has been

[mark_parch]

I thought 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020 were make or break for xbox ?

[Inverno]

It's been make or break since 2010 and somehow with year after year of drought, milking to death the same 3 games, horrible dlc practices, paying to keep games off other platforms, trying to force kinect on people, hyping up the lie that was cloud gaming, horrible naming schemes, buying up half the industry to further keep games off other platforms, hindering themselves with weaker hardware, they've managed to stay in the industry. The Xbox brand is hard to like when the people behind it have completely killed it's image. Xbox is just something that exists and that unfortunately now has 2 major publishers along with some interesting franchises forever bound to it. MS sucks.

[Bathyj]

Xbox are masters of erroding your expectations. They are currently in the process of making the console so irrelevant, that by the time they ditch the hardware all together no one will even care. It's the box Afterall that's keeping them from being full 3rd party. They will remove that obstacle soon.

[Lightning77]

Yet they said over a million times now they're making another console.

[Bathyj]

They also said just 4 games. It's not just flicking a switch. They say a lot of stuff. Their strategy changes every 6 months.

Besides, they said “the largest technical leap you will have ever seen in a hardware generation.”. they never said console.

I'll believe it when I see it.

[Lightning77]

They do say allot of things. Having new a new platform they always seem to show up for. Not saying they won't ever exit the console buissness next gen could be their last. I feel like they'll announce if they ever exit it. Just like they announced the Series X and S and no Mid gen refresh or another S and X variant.

[Obscure_Observer]

"They also said just 4 games. It's not just flicking a switch. They say a lot of stuff. Their strategy changes every 6 months."

Interesting commentary from a person who swore that Playstation games would remain exclusive to consoles.

"Besides, they said “the largest technical leap you will have ever seen in a hardware generation.”. they never said console."

Lol. And what others proprietary gaming hardware Microsoft have to compare to? Please, make sense.

Also, FYI, R&D costs BILLIONS and take many years until be ready to production lines.

And last, but no least, since you´re so "worried" about an actual next gen Xbox *console*, I´m gonna give you some peace of mind by keeping you on the loop and up to date.

Phil Spencer last month:

"On our own hardware, I think it's fundamental to what Xbox is. It's not lost on me that "box" is in the name of our brand. I say from the position that I'm in, I look at hardware as a critical part of what we do, while not trying to gatekeep the games off of other places."

https://news.instant-gaming...

You´re welcome, buddy.

[Lightning77]

"My issue is not that they will hold these games exclusive, but the fact they get to be in control of so much of gamings revered IP that they had no hand in creating."

You no longer have an issue with these games being exclusive is what you mean. Who cares everyone gets to play Xbox PS, PC and Switch. Doesn't matter if they made those games from the ground up or not. Ninja Gaiden exists thanks to the publishing that Xbox did, other wise we probably would never see that type of IP of old come to light. Or it would be a long whole until we see it.

[Bathyj]

Lighting.
I'm not concerned about specific games. They are coming. I'm concerned that they control so much legacy they didn't create. This quote from Jurassic Park somes it up pretty well.
Dr. Ian Malcolm:
I'll tell you the problem with the scientific power that you're using here: it didn't require any discipline to attain it. You read what others had done and you took the next step. You didn't earn the knowledge for yourselves, so you don't take any responsibility for it. You stood on the shoulders of geniuses to accomplish something as fast as you could and before you even knew what you had you patented it and packaged it and slapped it on a plastic lunchbox, and now you're selling it, you want to sell it!

If you still don't understand how I feel then never mind will just leave it at that.

Obscure
I don't recall ever saying PlayStation games wouldn't come to PC so to you I say you're a bald faced liar.. but you idolise a company liars so I guess that makes sense.

[Lightning77]

"buying up half the industry to further keep games off other platforms,"

That's clearly a joke

Remind me again where can you play Doom Dark Ages, Expedition 33, Ninja Gaiden 4, Forza Horizon 5, Indiana Jones, Sea Of Thieves, Hifi Rush, Grounded and Pentiment?

[Bathyj]

Yeah even I don't agree with that.
Maybe that was the plan when they bought Bethesda, but from the moment they bought ABK multiplat was their only option.

My issue is not that they will hold these games exclusive, but the fact they get to be in control of so much of gamings revered IP that they had no hand in creating.

Why should the worst platform holder have so much power and responsibility just because they're rich? Anyway, it's a me problem.

[Inverno]

I was speaking on their plans in somewhat chronological order. They may have made a 180 on keeping games off platforms but that was their idea from the start and even Phil admitted to it. Xbox is seen as a failure to MS, if not for that then they wouldn't be pushing for multiplatform releases. Y'all pretending not to know MS strategies, as if they don't gobble up everything they can. Because of the juggernauts that are Ninty and PlayStation, MS are kept at bay.

[Dandalandan117]

Just wait for E3

[Ninver]

Nothing they do will be of any significance at this point. Even if they somehow manage to develop the greatest game on earth (not likely) no one is buying an Xbox console.

[gold_drake]

I think we've been hearing that since the xbox one days.

if the halos and forzas havent done it yet, what else should do be able to do it.

[anast]

The last 2 generations weren't, but this year is...They are transitioning to streaming, mobile, and 3rd party. They will do find in the MS sphere.

[ironmonkey]

All breaks no makes

[BehindTheRows]

Sounds familiar...

https://bgr.com/entertainme...

https://www.digitaltrends.c...

https://www.digitaltrends.c...

Each year, there is some variance of this viewpoint. The bottom line is Xbox, as a platform, is moving closer and closer to irrelevance. As a publisher, Microsoft is going to thrive, however, thanks to the efforts of Nintendo, Sony, and Valve. That's the bottom line and any denial of that is a denial of reality. That's where things are headed.

[glenn1979]

aahhh every year is make or break for xbox

[Abear21]

I honestly hope Fable is amazing and they can get some truly great exclusives. I was planning on buying Series X more towards the end of the generation as I prefer gaming on console

[DefenderOfDoom2]

Definitely buying DOOM the Dark Ages and most likely when it comes out on PS5 , Indiana Jones new game . So, I guess this will help? .

[Christopher]

Xbox is fine. Now the most powerful publisher there is. Is it going to be what it once was? Maybe not. But Xbox isn't going anywhere.

[Sciurus_vulgaris]

Most of the people on this site want Xbox to drop hardware apparently. If that happens good luck to them as consumers. Sony and Nintendo would jack up their prices.

[Christopher]

Sony and Nintendo are like Comcast and AT&T, they carve out their market on equal terms. We absolutely need a Verizon in the console hardware.