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[Rocco Schiavone]

Strange.

Xbox has turned a corner — the future for Microsoft's gaming platform once again looks incredibly bright

With the next-gen Xbox formally revealed, how are you, Xbox customer, feeling about Microsoft's gaming direction as of June 2025?

www.windowscentral.com

What should I believe now? That sounded even more positive a few days ago.

I'm best off trusting Jez's objective opinion.

 

[Heisenberg007]

We will have to see what happens outside the US. Yes it will be expensive that's why I said they will have to pay. If they can funnel you to a device that functions just like a console that's a pretty good deal. Way better deal then I got when Sega exited the market. Listen will there be some issues that Xbox users have to deal with yes, but this is probably the best case scenario for them considering what's going on.

"a console" like device already exists. It's called ... a console. PlayStation.

"But it has to be a PC?" >> There are already PCs out there that offer much more flexibility and value.

"But a PC in a console-like form" >> Steam Deck and Rog Ally. Dock them anywhere, and they are closed PCs.

But, to be honest, a PC is supposed to be an open, upgradeable system. For people who don't to deal with that have consoles. That's exactly why gaming consoles are for.

 

[nowhat]

'this is an xbox':

I'm sure there were plenty of boxes before. No longer. Hence the "ex".

 

[RetroGamingUK]

I live in Brazil, and the way Microsoft handles our market nowadays is, to say the least, disrespectful. Ten years ago, they were doing an excellent job. The console was assembled here and sold at a great price. They distributed physical media, and all their games were fully localized into Brazilian Portuguese.

Today, it's been about two years since it's literally impossible to buy the Series X from official retailers (like Amazon, Kabum, etc.). They raised the price of the Series S to the point where it's priced similarly to the PS5 Slim Digital. Do you know those new models announced last year? They never officially launched here.

Based on my experience, my expectations for this next console aren't good. Doesn't matter if they create something for the fans if that thing ends up being an expensive device with limited distribution. At the end of the day, a lot of people simply won't be able to buy it.

Brazil was one of their top regions during the 360 era.

What a half arsed mess!

 

[MayauMiao]

resulting in some Xbox operations ceasing in some regions.

So much for Xbox everywhere.

 

[Fake]

Brazil was one of their top regions during the 360 era.

What a half arsed mess!

It was indeed. Xbox 360 here in Brazil was damn huge.

 

[GHG]

Klobrille got thrown in the Klobrille.

 

[Zacfoldor]

sounds like they're switching to a third party chip maker, and will be creating MS chips that have hardware backwards compatability built in, and then selling them to MSI, ASUS, etc, who will then make their own console with an xbox sticker.

If that is true, it's over. Asus Xboxes will be niche as fuck. MSI Xboxes will have to be given away or burned. I can see Acer Series S Xboxs doing well as they will be the cheapest, but we are talking 20-50k max. If Microsoft isn't, themselves, manufacturing another Xbox then it is over. Prebuilts with an Xbox sticker and traditional Xbox compatibility must seem like a genius idea over at Xbox. wtf.

I am not sure this is accurate though, I thought they were making their own units. Ignore this. I am reading thru the thread now and I know this has been asked.

 

[JohnnyFootball]

Klobrille got thrown in the Klobrille.

I hope so. I used to tolerate him, but he is awful now.

 

[Negotiator101]

Has this been confirmed?

Of course it hasn't, it's tales from the ass.

 

[EverydayBeast]

I would take a deep breath and prepare to find another job.

 

[gerth666]

So this is how it ends?......

To be fair, if you're going to get other companies to make Xbox s for you, you don't exactly need a distribution network

 

[gerth666]

I think most libraries will be safe the question comes into play if they will support whats on disc or not

Looks like I will have to keep my Xbox one x around for ever then, to play my Xbox disc collection will I?
Be a shame if they didn't do what playstation do and offer a external drive

 

[m14]

Imagine how low console sales in general will be in Europe once it is widely possible to just stream EAFC.

 

[Radical_3d]

So this is how it ends?......

 

[Rocco Schiavone]

I hope so. I used to tolerate him, but he is awful now.

He was always awful.

 

[PlayStaytion]

Microsoft planning “major” Xbox layoffs next week

The cuts are expected to be announced next week.

www.theverge.com

Gaming industry jobs are profitable but aren't real jobs. It sucks for many people in the job industry to understand and acknowledge real jobs and the real issue is many people find this topic offensive.

 

[Barakov]

I was hoping for a bunch of drama but all we're getting is a wet fart and a whimper. Kind of a bummer when you think about it.

 

[Giallo Corsa]

Today I learned that "restructing distribution" can be used as a synonym for "shutting down."

Corpo speak, it's amazing, isn't it ?

Literally the mastery of bullshit talk/gaslighting

 

[RetroGamingUK]

I was hoping for a bunch of drama but all we're getting is a wet fart and a whimper. Kind of a bummer when you think about it.

Sega cancelling the Saturn and Dreamcast was quite a big deal, but then they just came out and announced it.

 

[bitbydeath]

Microsoft's next-gen code name is beginning to make sense. "Xbox Prime"

 

[Kacho]

The nations of Central Europe are Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, and Germany.

Are these what Microsoft considers tier 2 countries?

 

[Yekshemesh]

I like to thank the hardcore xbox community for making this happen. You guys are the real MVPs. You know who you are. Give yourselves a round of applause.

 

[mckmas8808]

To be fair, if you're going to get other companies to make Xbox s for you, you don't exactly need a distribution network

But surely, they know this will dilute the brand and turn the casuals off from buying those next-gen Xboxs.....right?

 

[mckmas8808]

Are these what Microsoft considers tier 2 countries?

Doesn't seem like Germany should be lumped in there with those other countries.

 

[gerth666]

But surely, they know this will dilute the brand and turn the casuals off from buying those next-gen Xboxs.....right?

I honestly don't think they care so much about hardware anymore, it's all about getting Xbox games and services to as many devices as possible.
It's obvious they're abandoning to traditional console market.
Personally I don't think this strategy is going to go anywhere, I don't see the point when you can just build a pc.

To give them credit at least they're providing a means for the hardcore faithful to carry their accounts with them.

 

[pudel]

To give them credit at least they're providing a means for the hardcore faithful to carry their accounts with them.

Yeah, that seems to be the main purpose of this next xbox thing.

 

[JPSLotus97T]

 

[SkylineRKR]

If you've followed the trends since the last year or so its obvious that MS abandoned hardware. They started to promote nearly everything as a vessel to play their games on, except for their actual console. They are going to bring all their prolific IP to other platforms as well, which they started doing a good while ago.

There is nearly no advantage for MS to release yet another Xbox, especially now that everyone knows their big hitters will come to Playstation anyway. Series already did bad without this fact.

MS should just sell software. They can be the biggest third party in the world. As for their subs, well, they can do stuff like EA etc do and push it onto every platform. I don't see why Sony should block this for example, especially when MS is no more competing with hardware. Sony also lets you sub to EA Play.

 

[Nydius]

MS should just sell software. They can be the biggest third party in the world.

You're spot on here. MS has always been a software and services company. Every foray into hardware has been a failure. Xbox has been their best hardware effort to date but they've been propping it up for two decades.

As much as I hate the corpo speak, Microsoft's core competency is software. Always has been, always will be. They'd do better to lean into that.

The biggest problem they face are the people who have built a digital library on the platform but I suspect that's why we see them making a push for emulation on PC and and APU that can natively play Xbox One and Series games. That way they can get out of hardware while still offering a path for people to retain their libraries beyond past hardware.

 

[Gameplay Gods Bless]

Seems to reflect reports coming out of the Middle East.

Aren't they launching new hardware next year?

No it's 2027 for the next gen console.

 

[Heisenberg007]

Sega cancelling the Saturn and Dreamcast was quite a big deal, but then they just came out and announced it.

Read some of his answers, and you'll notice that this is the exact type of gaslighting we see nowadays from Xbox journalists shills and fans.

• "Xbox is far ahead. They are adopting the future early."
• "Xbox future is bright."
• "Sega Microsoft is a software company."
• "Xbox is doing PC titles, online titles. They have Game Pass. PlayStation and Nintendo are behind."
• "Sony/Nintendo is not good at transition. They are stuck in the past."
• "We'll keep supporting Saturn Xbox consoles"

It's like the Playbook is repeating.

And the best one is when Bernard says, "I can tell you emphatically there will be another platform. We will be highly competitive with it."

Reminds me of the "next-gen traditional Xbox" that will be so competitive that it will have Steam, and PlayStation and Nintendo will struggle so much because of it.

Corporate speak. And people still fall for it.

 

[Rocky_Balboa]

Yeah, I think it might be time for me to start saving for a gaming PC.