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[Parazels]

Pros:

• developers have no longer make dedicated games for Xbox;
• free multiplayer;
• more graphic settings;
• potentially more hardware options;
• easy integration with an Xbox handheld (same OS, same games; only different settings).

Cons:

• perhaps, digital only;
• worse optimization;
• no exclusives.

Did I miss something?

 

[Mister Wolf]

Pros
1. It can play all of the worthwhile Sony exclusives.
2. You can get worldwide game keys for cheap.
3. Customize your game's settings exactly how you want them.

Cons
1. You're all digital now exactly how Microsoft always wanted.

 

[GHG]

It can play all of the worthwhile Sony exclusives.

But I thought there weren't any of those anymore and we need to go back to the PS3 days?

 

[RetroGamingUK]

Microsoft lose control of that 30% cut of third party games.

Therefore the only way it would make business sense would be to sell hardware at a profit.

You essentially make Xbox a desktop Windows PC with an Xbox logo on the front.

 

[mayham2199]

Cons:

Stuck playing with tons of hackers on PC now.

 

[Generic]

Paid online wouldn't land well.

 

[Topher]

If it is an Xbox that plays PC games then the cons will be that it is still an Xbox and has the limitations of a console. Hopefully it is a PC than plays Xbox games.

 

[HerjansEagleFeeder]

Games cost half the amount than on PSN?

 

[bender]

Pros: We'll have to expand our vernacular in order to find new ways to call Xbox hardware irrelevant.

 

[LectureMaster]

Pro: My man adamsapple gets to play the latest and greatest PlayStation collection on Xbox

Con: My man adamsapple can't use Gamefly anymore.

 

[Mister Wolf]

But I thought there weren't any of those anymore and we need to go back to the PS3 days?

Depends on who you're asking. We are not a monolith.

 

[Shifty1897]

When you say that it "runs PC games", do you mean you can launch any EXE file and the Xbox will try to run it? Because that's a can of worms. Imagine getting a virus on your Xbox .

 

[Bojanglez]

Microsoft lose control of that 30% cut of third party games.

Therefore the only way it would make business sense would be to sell hardware at a profit.

You essentially make Xbox a desktop Windows PC with an Xbox logo on the front.

Or they just buy Valve, that's more their style

 

[adamsapple]

Pro: My man adamsapple gets to play the latest and greatest PlayStation collection on Xbox

Con: My man adamsapple can't use Gamefly anymore.

Another Pro: I can finally retire my 1060 laptop. That old girl is good for low-spec shit only now. Or games that don't have fancy graphics like the Trails of .. stuff

 

[Kataploom]

Pros: Everything
Cons: None

 

[MikeM]

Pro:
- You can pick your own settings and fps. Massive W for those who care about it.

Cons:
- None.

 

[IDKFA]

Pros:

• developers have no longer make dedicated games for Xbox;
• free multiplayer;
• more graphic settings;
• potentially more hardware options;
• easy integration with an Xbox handheld (same OS, same games; only different settings).

Cons:

• perhaps, digital only;
• worse optimization;
• no exclusives.

Did I miss something?

Does it have access to Steam? If so, Microsoft would struggle to make money with it.

Why buy your games from the Microsoft store if you can get the same games, probably cheaper as well, from Steam?

 

[Topher]

Does it have access to Steam? If so, Microsoft would struggle to make money with it.

Why buy your games from the Microsoft store if you can get the same games, probably cheaper as well, from Steam?

They would have to make money off the hardware which means it would expensive.

 

[Magic Carpet]

Pro's - Microsoft orders 1 Million Nvidia 5090 chips to put in each machine.
Cons - The chips keep getting scalped to AI farms and nothing ever gets released to a gamer.

 

[Parazels]

When you say that it "runs PC games", do you mean you can launch any EXE file and the Xbox will try to run it? Because that's a can of worms. Imagine getting a virus on your Xbox .

Why launch such files on a game console?

 

[HeisenbergFX4]

If it is an Xbox that plays PC games then the cons will be that it is still an Xbox and has the limitations of a console. Hopefully it is a PC than plays Xbox games.

When people were claiming Xbox was going 3rd party OEM route for their hardware I would have said it was more PC based with a console experience

This whole thing Jez brings up that it just got past the final pitch stage to me sounds more in house which leads me to believe its more console based playing Steam games.

Whenever I gamed one night with those people in charge (one no longer obviously) they were pretty adamant at that time they didn't want people leaving behind their Xbox libraries

Maybe that stance has changed I dunno

 

[IDKFA]

They would have to make money off the hardware which means it would expensive.

Which would be a hard sell in an already competitive market. If it's too expensive then why not just spend a little extra and get a PC?

At least with a PC you can do more than just play games.

 

[Parazels]

Why buy your games from the Microsoft store if you can get the same games, probably cheaper as well, from Steam?

Because it's an Xbox, not a Steam Machine.

 

[Astray]

Cons: It's mostly imaginary in nature and will only have Microsoft's store on it, and maybe itchio.

 

[Esppiral]

I see no cons.

 

[IDKFA]

Because it's an Xbox, not a Steam Machine.

I said that on the assumption it runs Steam.

If it’s just games from the Xbox PC store, then is it still a PC? What features make it more PC than console if it's tied to a walled garden?

 

[HeisenbergFX4]

Which would be a hard sell in an already competitive market. If it's too expensive then why not just spend a little extra and get a PC?

At least with a PC you can do more than just play games.

I know its a small market but I know people who would buy this thing if they get to keep their Xbox libraries that don't want to game on a PC

There will be other console options for those who don't want to spend $1000 on an Xbox/PC hybrid

 

[Fbh]

If it's basically just going to be a PC then...why not just buy a PC?
People will say "it's going to be cheaper" but is it really? If they can no longer make money from paid multiplayer and the walled garden approach then they are going to have to make money from the hardware, which means they'll need to sell it a higher price.

Even assuming it ends up being a bit cheaper than building a PC, is it actually going to be fully upgradeable like one?

 

[tTHANOSs]

Pros - none

Cons - DOA

how would pc console hybrid even work?!

 

[Parazels]

I said that on the assumption it runs Steam.

If it’s just games from the Xbox PC store, then is it still a PC? What features make it more PC than console if it's tied to a walled garden?

I think it's a PC architecture + console interface and form-factor for comfortable gaming on TV.

 

[Topher]

Which would be a hard sell in an already competitive market. If it's too expensive then why not just spend a little extra and get a PC?

At least with a PC you can do more than just play games.

I imagine it will coincide with modifications to Windows to make it more living room friendly. Still, it won’t sell in big numbers and I think MS is ok with that. I agree though. They are going to need some other hook to make it a compelling product over just getting a PC.

 

[Pedro Motta]

LOL, so they stopped competing against Sony, but want to compete against Valve and SteamOS and PC handhelds?

 

[JayK47]

Should call it the Xbox Pro. Since it will be 100% pros.

 

[Parazels]

If it's basically just going to be a PC then...why not just buy a PC?

Because it would be free of annoying PC flaws. Everything optimized for comfortable gaming by default.

Likewise many people love branded products, not MOCs.

 

[rodrigolfp]

If an Xbox can run PC games natively, it's not an Xbox but a PC.

 

[S0ULZB0URNE]

I don't believe another traditional "console" is coming from them, so a device with higher than home console price that is capable of more would put it in the niche market.
This gens Neo-Geo...

So capabilities would be a Pro.
Price would be a Con.

 

[Topher]

Pros - none

Cons - DOA

how would pc console hybrid even work?!

I think they would have to make it so all digital Xbox software runs on any PC, not just Xbox PC. At that point, it is just a matter of the DRM being used, I'm thinking. Doubt it would include disc versions though.

 

[Parazels]

If an Xbox can run PC games natively, it's not an Xbox but a PC.

PC is a more universal thing.
Xbox is for games.

 

[Guardian Monkey]

I think it would surprise some people if they can get it working somewhat seamlessly with other vendors/stores.

 

[Mr Moose]

You mean if the next Xbox is a PC?

It already has no exclusives, they are all day one on PC.

 

[DeltaPolarBear]

Whenever I gamed one night with those people in charge (one no longer obviously) they were pretty adamant at that time they didn't want people leaving behind their Xbox libraries

Maybe that stance has changed I dunno

Well there is the current Xbox Gamepass Ultimate, where you get PC Gamepass automatically if you have the highest tier Xbox Gamepass.

Maybe the higher ups decided that is enough. That the lower tier customers don't pay enough to cater to.

 

[AJUMP23]

Consoles are personal computers just for gaming.

 

[cireza]

Cons : compiling shaders.

 

[Beechos]

Loads and loads of sexy time games for the big screen!
Emulation for archival purposes!

I guess the con would be shitty performance and interface.

 

[viveks86]

Whenever I gamed one night with those people in charge (one no longer obviously) they were pretty adamant at that time they didn't want people leaving behind their Xbox libraries

Given MS' approach to backwards compatibility with virtual machines, they can still pull this off with just software. So whether it's a console with PC like capabilities or vice versa, it wouldn't really matter. The approach that I assumed they were taking was similar to Surface laptop. Create a reference design for a hybrid, sell an MS branded Xbox and let other OEMs make their own version, with the MS software/VMs handling the Xbox features.

 

[bitbydeath]

If it's basically just going to be a PC then...why not just buy a PC?
People will say "it's going to be cheaper" but is it really? If they can no longer make money from paid multiplayer and the walled garden approach then they are going to have to make money from the hardware, which means they'll need to sell it a higher price.

Even assuming it ends up being a bit cheaper than building a PC, is it actually going to be fully upgradeable like one?

It’s the gateway to try move people from consoles to PC.

 

[IDKFA]

I know its a small market but I know people who would buy this thing if they get to keep their Xbox libraries that don't want to game on a PC

There will be other console options for those who don't want to spend $1000 on an Xbox/PC hybrid

A four figure sum will be too much for the average consumer. Even most hardcore gamers would be eyeing a PC as an alternative.

I take it the other console options would be a dedicated handheld and maybe an entry console like the Series S? If so then offering all those hardware options might pay off.

 

[Holammer]

Pros: MS sells a bunch of boxes with Windows 11.
Cons: They are already laid low, this can only make it better.

 

[CliffBronger]

I would imagine if Xbox did go this route then it would be locked to only be able to access the MS Store.

This way MS still gets it 30% cut, and they will also be able to block access to games that do not work correctly.

 

[Rawbutt Jellybean]

If it's basically just going to be a PC then...why not just buy a PC?
People will say "it's going to be cheaper" but is it really? If they can no longer make money from paid multiplayer and the walled garden approach then they are going to have to make money from the hardware, which means they'll need to sell it a higher price.

Even assuming it ends up being a bit cheaper than building a PC, is it actually going to be fully upgradeable like one?

Convenience. The same reason the large percent of people who buy consoles just to play COD, Fortnite, GTA Online, Sports games, etc don't just buy a PC.