The Official Xbox Series X thread

[Aslanna]

“While ray tracing will be available as a downloadable title update on Xbox Series X, Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition will not support ray tracing on Xbox Series S,” an official statement yesterday on the Devil May Cry Twitter account reads.

This contradicts a Capcom press release from September 16, which said the Xbox Series S would receive ray tracing through a similar title update as the Xbox Series X. Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition on PlayStation 5 will support the high-end lighting technique without a separate update.

More proof that the S is gimped and shouldn't be considered "next gen". Smart marketing by Microsoft for sure but still disappointing at best and downright shady at the other end of the scale.

Save $100 more and buy the PS5 Digital or $200 more for the PS5 or Xbox Series X if you want a true Next Gen console.

[Winnow]

What about poor people that don't want to buy Switch and even though won't get same graphics quality will get to at least play the same games. Combined with Game Pass and rent to own, it's a great deal for the less fortunate.

[Aslanna]

If you're not poor enough to buy a $300 gimped console you can surely save a bit longer and spend more $100 on an actual Next Gen console.

But hey thanks to the Trump Tax Cuts everyone should be able to afford a new console.. Right?

[Winnow]

If you're not poor enough to buy a $300 gimped console you can surely save a bit longer and spend more $100 on an actual Next Gen console.

But hey thanks to the Trump Tax Cuts everyone should be able to afford a new console.. Right?

Pelosi is holding up the second wave of stimulus checks!

[Winnow]

https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2020/10/28/ ... -x-fridge/

Microsoft made an Xbox Series X fridge. Imagine how ugly a PS5 Fridge would be!

Xbox surprised music and gaming legend Snoop Dogg for his birthday with a custom cake and delivery of the world’s first-ever, fastest, most powerful Xbox Series X Fridge.

One lucky fan will have the chance to power their dreams and win their very own Xbox Series X Fridge (birthday cake and other contents not included), by simply retweeting the Xbox sweepstakes tweet from October 28 through November 4.

Complete with the latest next-gen cooling technology and inspired by one of the internet’s favorite console memes, the fridge is a 1:1 scale replica of the Xbox Series X, standing over 6 feet tall and weighing in at 400 pounds.

[Aslanna]

Wow, look how shit they designed these xboxes.. Can't even load a disc! I'm sure they will red ring a few months from now. Or not since that green light at the top is only paint. Hahah how fucking cheap, Microsoft.

https://www.polygon.com/2020/11/11/2156 ... -microsoft

[Aslanna]

https://www.polygon.com/2020/11/10/2155 ... ft-support

Holy shit. 300,000+ servers and they can't even keep their network up. Good job, Microsoft!

What a joke... I got my new PS5 today and no issues getting online.

PS: The Series S is garbo. Do not buy that under any circumstances. Microsoft should be ashamed they released that and called it "Next-Gen". It's sad that some peopel will fall for what is simply a marketing ploy to get people to waste $300 of their hard-earned dollars.

[Animalor]

Wow. This place is still running huh?

I got into a day one Series X through All Access and when I traded in my previous gen consoles ended up within about 75$ cdn from a Digital PS5 so I had em put me on that list and waiting for their stock to come in.

All and all, Next (current now?) Gen is pretty slick.

I just wish my entertainment console was high enough vertically to accommodate these consoles in that orientation.

How are you folks doing?

[Aslanna]

Hi! Doing well!

I hope you enjoy your new purchase. I think the Series X is fine. If you had gotten the S I would have questioned your mental stability.

[Funkmasterr]

Hey Dude! Living the dream over here. Good to hear from you - I think a decent number of people lurk, and a few people post on rare occasion. For the most part though it's me, Aslanna, and he whose name I won't speak.

Have fun with the Xbox! I intend to pick up a PS5 eventually, probably not an Xbox though - I'll likely build a computer again down the road and just play any of their games on that.

[Funkmasterr]

https://screenrant.com/xbox-series-x-co ... hands/amp/

[Aslanna]

The DS5 doesn't seem all that larger than the DS4 to me although I guess the hand grip area is beefier. But I don't have a problem with either of them.

[Aslanna]

Xbox Live Gold now $120 a year. So if you see any of those 12 month cards for $60 might want to get a few since they are going away (if they haven't already). You'll only be able to buy 1/3/6 months for $11/$30/$60.

Obviously they are trying to push people to Game Pass Ultimate. Which is even more at $180 a year.

[Winnow]

Game Pass is a great deal. It makes sense that they'd be promoting that.

Ultimately a gaming service will win as consoles are on their way out. Microsoft seems to have been focused on this idea for quite some time. They own the servers that Sony Playstation uses.

Seems like it will be something like Microsoft vs Amazon vs Google with Sony merging or licensing their stuff to one of the three big hosters. Those three have the servers and support and way way way more money than Sony. Maybe Sony will merge with Nintendo since Japanese companies are pretty loyal to their own country.

As a refresher:

In an unlikely turn of events, Microsoft and Sony announced today that they are to tackle the future of entertainment. The companies are planning to work together to build future cloud solutions in Microsoft Azure that will support gaming and content streaming. Sony will also use Microsoft data centers for its existing game and streaming platforms. The agreement could open up the possibility of cross-play in the future, despite previous reluctance between the competing firms.

The partnership effectively allows Sony to tap Microsoft's technology to help with areas that the company has struggled with. Sony has taken heat for years over slow download speeds, something that typically hasn't plagued Xbox owners. Using Azure data centers and eventually moving over to Microsoft's cloud solutions should allow Sony to focus on its own platform rather than trying to solve technical issues. Sony will also tap Microsoft's artificial intelligence services to improve the user interface in its products.

So what does Microsoft get out of the deal? Aside from adding a major customer to its already very profitable cloud business, the company will gain access to Sony's image sensors, which it plans to use to create "new intelligent image sensor solutions." The companies appear primarily focused on how to improve the functionality of the sensors for enterprise customers, though consumer solutions -- an improved Kinect-style system, for instance -- are also possible.

[Aslanna]

Xbox Live Gold price hike reversed, service to no longer be required for free-to-play games

lol

[Winnow]

Hey a company that listens to its customers!

Following widespread customer backlash, Microsoft released a statement walking back its Friday morning announcement of sweeping price increases for the Xbox Live Gold subscription service.

According to the details outlined in this morning’s announcement, the minimum yearly cost of Xbox Live Gold would have soared from $60 to $120. But at 11:52 p.m. ET, Microsoft posted an update to its announcement in which it appeared to reverse course.

“We messed up today and you were right to let us know,” the update read. “Connecting and playing with friends is a vital part of gaming and we failed to meet the expectations of players who count on it every day. As a result, we have decided not to change Xbox Live Gold pricing.”

In addition, the statement announced that, reversing years of precedent, access to free-to-play games would no longer require an active subscription to Xbox Live Gold. The company will be working to implement that change in the coming months.

An active Xbox Live Gold subscription is required to play online games on Xbox consoles, and also unlocks monthly “Games With Gold” that can be played while the Xbox Live subscription remains active. And, until just now, access to free-to-play games.

The updated statement closed with some numbers.

“If you are an Xbox Live Gold member already, you stay at your current price for renewal. New and existing members can continue to enjoy Xbox Live Gold for the same prices they pay today. In the US, $9.99 for 1-month, $24.99 for 3-months, $39.99 for 6-months and $59.99 for retail 12-months.”

That's awesome. Microsoft getting it right and even making additional positive changes.

[Aslanna]

I wouldn't call it "listening to your customers" as it's more like stopping a PR fiasco. Every media site I saw reported this story as bad. Nobody said it was a good thing. Doubling the price yet still offering the same bare-bones service was terrible no matter how you looked at it.

Free to play games on PlayStation never required PS+ to play them online. So good job finally getting with the times.

[Winnow]

I wouldn't call it "listening to your customers" as it's more like stopping a PR fiasco. Every media site I saw reported this story as bad. Nobody said it was a good thing. Doubling the price yet still offering the same bare-bones service was terrible no matter how you looked at it.

Free to play games on PlayStation never required PS+ to play them online. So good job finally getting with the times.

Depending on how deep you want to analyze things, it may have been a strategy designed to cause Sony issues if they had plans to raise their PS+ annual fees. (you're welcome!) The goal still being ultimately to get people over to XBox Game Pass.

"One does not simply double a subscription fee" I'm sure there was more behind it.

As with everything else, movies, tv shows, music, things are moving toward subscription models. Ultimately, I'm sure most people would like to be able to buy a box (pc/console) and be able to use it to subscribe to whatever they choose (just like movies, music, etc already have in place). You could still buy the controller of your choice (if you like your thumbs jammed close together etc).

The excitement for new consoles isn't there anymore. They are just pieces of hardware that play games a little faster or higher resolution but mostly weaker than PCs almost right at their release. As with digital downloads in the past, Microsoft is ahead of the game and already offers it's games on both PC and Xbox while Sony is still trying to sell consoles and make their games Playstation only.

For the consumer, the subscription model is great. You pay the same price as a game or two and can play everything all year. Or, even better, if you're a casual gamer, you don't even pay that as you can pay for a month or two whenever a game is released that you like then cancel your sub which is very easy to do on Game Pass. So you save money from buying a console by using your PC and save money on games by subbing/unsubbing for games you want to play, but even with a constant subscription it's a good deal.

[Aslanna]

Depending on how deep you want to analyze things, it may have been a strategy designed to cause Sony issues if they had plans to raise their PS+ annual fees.

...

If anyone believes that they are the sort of idiot that believes QAnon conspiracy theories. Then again, you haven't stated what you think about QAnon so I wouldn't be surprised if you were waiting on "The Storm" to happen last week. Spoiler: It didn't.

Yeah.. It was a clever ruse for them to take a PR hit AND give XBL Gold members even more than they had before once they reversed it. Great strategy, Microsoft!

The only strategy here was a) force people to go to Game Pass or b) gouge their existing XBL Gold members. That is as deep as you need to analyze this. Microsoft is a corporation. Here's another spoiler: They don't give a shit about you. They just want your money. Just like every other corporation out there (including Sony).

[Winnow]

Then again, you haven't stated what you think about QAnon so I wouldn't be surprised if you were waiting on "The Storm" to happen last week. Spoiler: It didn't.

I was a bit out of it when I wrote that last post yesterday.

As for QAnon, they are a bunch of morons. They are the violent version of the white middle aged female protesting with BLM. I believe QAnon has already been designated as a terrorist group. BLM should be next.

[Winnow]

Microsoft is continuing to attract people to its Xbox Game Pass service. The “Netflix for video games” service now has 18 million subscribers, up from the 15 million previously reported in September. Xbox Game Pass is a subscription service that offers access to a growing selection of more than 100 Xbox games for $9.99 per month.

Microsoft has been pushing Xbox Game Pass for more than a year now, and it’s clear the company is heavily invested in its future. Bungie’s Destiny 2 title appeared on Xbox Game Pass late last year, and Control is also available on the service for both Xbox and PC.

On an earnings call today, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella also revealed that Xbox Live has more than 100 million monthly active users. Nadella also said the launch of the Xbox Series X and S was the most successful in Microsoft’s history, with “the most devices ever sold in a launch month.”

Microsoft also appears to be focused on studio acquisitions to bolster the content available on Game Pass. Microsoft’s ZeniMax Media acquisition, the parent company of Doom and Fallout studio Bethesda Softworks, is a big deal that will boost Xbox Game Pass in the future.

FTW! Now lets get that Game Pass up to 100M subs.