Personally, I feel like the whole Xbox Game Pass situation has been blown out of all proportion. Sure, Microsoft hasn’t helped themselves, but when you look around. Everyone is raising their prices in one way or the other. There are buyouts everywhere and even some (EA) going private.
For better or worse. None of us know what the future is until we get there and can have a balanced and principled view of what all this will mean for the gaming industry. At the same time, when people lose their jobs, in any setting, it is difficult for anyone to digest, but again, it’s something that’s been happening all over the gaming industry and that doesn’t mean it is agreeable.
It certainly means that this industry is not immune from the kind of takeovers that do that to people as in other industries far and wide. We just need to be more realistic in our expectations of these things as delicate as they are but especially since many (hopefully) would have found their feet again somewhere else with it being a specialised area. Not many in other industries have that same level of luck.
Personally, I feel that the next generation under Xbox has to get back to the positives and show why all these changes have happened and deliver to Xbox fans in a big way. With their current slate of games and going into 2026 and 2027 and beyond. They actually haven’t been in a better position to do this than they are in now.
We can all get our pitchforks out and we can all have opinions on matters outside our control. Fundamentally though, far and wide these things happen across businesses. Things we do not like or agree with, but ultimately, make sense for areas of the business where we do not understand.
That just doesn’t go for Microsoft, it goes for Sony, and even Nintendo or any business that has to toe the line to appease investors. The gaming industry has become bigger than ever. There are more choices in the way we play, and how we play, than ever before. Without having the full facts of business in front of us.
How can we actually assume one thing or the other without knowing the full picture? It’s a difficult balancing act but at the same time it’s this sort of speculation and bad press that Microsoft really needs to get under control as well. Especially in respect to the remaining fans that are still all in on Xbox or committed to them also on PC.
Everything is an Xbox, and in that sense the library of games that Xbox Studios will publish will always have a home. It’s also apparent that the future hardware isn’t going away anytime soon. Regardless of what people think when work to bridge consoles and PC together like never before has been ongoing for quite some time.
Despite this constant put-down of the brand, that honestly, hasn’t helped itself as of late. When you consider the competition and what’s been happening there as well. It stands to reason that we’re just in a different era of gaming that’s becoming more premium and isn’t necessarily centred on just your casuals anymore either.
Technology isn’t getting cheaper, no matter if you game on console or PC. Bringing them together is a relatively sound idea even if the cost of admission is going to be more than previous generations. There has to be a level of acceptance when you’re pushing the boundaries of graphics and technology which is what the next generation is seemingly offering.
It’s something that most will have to get on board with if they want to continue the hobby they love. The fact is there will always be ways in which we can bring the costs down. Some are more open in their ecosystem than others.
Personally, I feel like the whole Xbox Game Pass situation has been blown out of all proportion. Sure, Microsoft hasn’t helped themselves, but when you look around. Everyone is raising their prices in one way or the other. There are buyouts everywhere and even some (EA) going private.
For better or worse. None of us know what the future is until we get there and can have a balanced and principled view of what all this will mean for the gaming industry. At the same time, when people lose their jobs, in any setting, it is difficult for anyone to digest, but again, it’s something that’s been happening all over the gaming industry and that doesn’t mean it is agreeable.
It certainly means that this industry is not immune from the kind of takeovers that do that to people as in other industries far and wide. We just need to be more realistic in our expectations of these things as delicate as they are but especially since many (hopefully) would have found their feet again somewhere else with it being a specialised area. Not many in other industries have that same level of luck.
Personally, I feel that the next generation under Xbox has to get back to the positives and show why all these changes have happened and deliver to Xbox fans in a big way. With their current slate of games and going into 2026 and 2027 and beyond. They actually haven’t been in a better position to do this than they are in now.
We can all get our pitchforks out and we can all have opinions on matters outside our control. Fundamentally though, far and wide these things happen across businesses. Things we do not like or agree with, but ultimately, make sense for areas of the business where we do not understand.
That just doesn’t go for Microsoft, it goes for Sony, and even Nintendo or any business that has to toe the line to appease investors. The gaming industry has become bigger than ever. There are more choices in the way we play, and how we play, than ever before. Without having the full facts of business in front of us.
How can we actually assume one thing or the other without knowing the full picture? It’s a difficult balancing act but at the same time it’s this sort of speculation and bad press that Microsoft really needs to get under control as well. Especially in respect to the remaining fans that are still all in on Xbox or committed to them also on PC.
Everything is an Xbox, and in that sense the library of games that Xbox Studios will publish will always have a home. It’s also apparent that the future hardware isn’t going away anytime soon. Regardless of what people think when work to bridge consoles and PC together like never before has been ongoing for quite some time.
Despite recent reports of Microsoft pulling the plug on Xbox’s future next generation plans. Which simply isn’t true. They have concrete plans with AMD and are committed to the next generation. It could be their last throw of the dice in the way of carrying any momentum with gamers.
But nonetheless, they’re committed to creating console hardware that will differentiate from previous generations. One that will bring Xbox and PC full circle and with it hopefully find an audience where that particular vision resonates. When you consider what’s been happening with the Asus Rog Ally.
It seems to be a vision that resonates with a majority of people and I would guess that it will do the same to a core audience of Xbox fans.
Despite this constant put-down of the brand, that honestly, hasn’t helped itself as of late. When you consider the competition and what’s been happening there as well. It stands to reason that we’re just in a different era of gaming that’s becoming more premium and isn’t necessarily centred on just your casuals anymore either.
Technology isn’t getting cheaper, no matter if you game on console or PC. Bringing them together is a relatively sound idea even if the cost of admission is going to be more than previous generations. There has to be a level of acceptance when you’re pushing the boundaries of graphics and technology which is what the next generation is seemingly offering.
It’s something that most will have to get on board with if they want to continue the hobby they love. The fact is there will always be ways in which we can bring the costs down. Some are more open in their ecosystem than others.
Personally, I feel like the whole Xbox Game Pass situation has been blown out of all proportion. Sure, Microsoft hasn’t helped themselves, but when you look around. Everyone is raising their prices in one way or the other. There are buyouts everywhere and even some (EA) going private.
For better or worse. None of us know what the future is until we get there and can have a balanced and principled view of what all this will mean for the gaming industry. At the same time, when people lose their jobs, in any setting, it is difficult for anyone to digest, but again, it’s something that’s been happening all over the gaming industry and that doesn’t mean it is agreeable.
It certainly means that this industry is not immune from the kind of takeovers that do that to people as in other industries far and wide. We just need to be more realistic in our expectations of these things as delicate as they are but especially since many (hopefully) would have found their feet again somewhere else with it being a specialised area. Not many in other industries have that same level of luck.
Personally, I feel that the next generation under Xbox has to get back to the positives and show why all these changes have happened and deliver to Xbox fans in a big way. With their current slate of games and going into 2026 and 2027 and beyond. They actually haven’t been in a better position to do this than they are in now.
We can all get our pitchforks out and we can all have opinions on matters outside our control. Fundamentally though, far and wide these things happen across businesses. Things we do not like or agree with, but ultimately, make sense for areas of the business where we do not understand.
That just doesn’t go for Microsoft, it goes for Sony, and even Nintendo or any business that has to toe the line to appease investors. The gaming industry has become bigger than ever. There are more choices in the way we play, and how we play, than ever before. Without having the full facts of business in front of us.
How can we actually assume one thing or the other without knowing the full picture? It’s a difficult balancing act but at the same time it’s this sort of speculation and bad press that Microsoft really needs to get under control as well. Especially in respect to the remaining fans that are still all in on Xbox or committed to them also on PC.
Everything is an Xbox, and in that sense the library of games that Xbox Studios will publish will always have a home. It’s also apparent that the future hardware isn’t going away anytime soon. Regardless of what people think when work to bridge consoles and PC together like never before has been ongoing for quite some time.
Despite recent reports of Microsoft pulling the plug on Xbox’s future next generation plans. Which simply isn’t true. They have concrete plans with AMD and are committed to the next generation. It could be their last throw of the dice in the way of carrying any momentum with gamers.
But nonetheless, they’re committed to creating console hardware that will differentiate from previous generations. One that will bring Xbox and PC full circle and with it hopefully find an audience where that particular vision resonates. When you consider what’s been happening with the Asus Rog Ally.
It seems to be a vision that resonates with a majority of people and I would guess that it will do the same to a core audience of Xbox fans.
Despite this constant put-down of the brand, that honestly, hasn’t helped itself as of late. When you consider the competition and what’s been happening there as well. It stands to reason that we’re just in a different era of gaming that’s becoming more premium and isn’t necessarily centred on just your casuals anymore either.
Technology isn’t getting cheaper, no matter if you game on console or PC. Bringing them together is a relatively sound idea even if the cost of admission is going to be more than previous generations. There has to be a level of acceptance when you’re pushing the boundaries of graphics and technology which is what the next generation is seemingly offering.
It’s something that most will have to get on board with if they want to continue the hobby they love. The fact is there will always be ways in which we can bring the costs down. Some are more open in their ecosystem than others.
Personally, I feel like the whole Xbox Game Pass situation has been blown out of all proportion. Sure, Microsoft hasn’t helped themselves, but when you look around. Everyone is raising their prices in one way or the other. There are buyouts everywhere and even some (EA) going private.
For better or worse. None of us know what the future is until we get there and can have a balanced and principled view of what all this will mean for the gaming industry. At the same time, when people lose their jobs, in any setting, it is difficult for anyone to digest, but again, it’s something that’s been happening all over the gaming industry and that doesn’t mean it is agreeable.
It certainly means that this industry is not immune from the kind of takeovers that do that to people as in other industries far and wide. We just need to be more realistic in our expectations of these things as delicate as they are but especially since many (hopefully) would have found their feet again somewhere else with it being a specialised area. Not many in other industries have that same level of luck.
Personally, I feel that the next generation under Xbox has to get back to the positives and show why all these changes have happened and deliver to Xbox fans in a big way. With their current slate of games and going into 2026 and 2027 and beyond. They actually haven’t been in a better position to do this than they are in now.
We can all get our pitchforks out and we can all have opinions on matters outside our control. Fundamentally though, far and wide these things happen across businesses. Things we do not like or agree with, but ultimately, make sense for areas of the business where we do not understand.
That just doesn’t go for Microsoft, it goes for Sony, and even Nintendo or any business that has to toe the line to appease investors. The gaming industry has become bigger than ever. There are more choices in the way we play, and how we play, than ever before. Without having the full facts of business in front of us.
How can we actually assume one thing or the other without knowing the full picture? It’s a difficult balancing act but at the same time it’s this sort of speculation and bad press that Microsoft really needs to get under control as well. Especially in respect to the remaining fans that are still all in on Xbox or committed to them also on PC.
Everything is an Xbox, and in that sense the library of games that Xbox Studios will publish will always have a home. It’s also apparent that the future hardware isn’t going away anytime soon. Regardless of what people think when work to bridge consoles and PC together like never before has been ongoing for quite some time.
Written by Craig Clark
From gaming industry headlines to all things Manchester United and entertainment, Craig covers the stories everyone's talking about — alongside his own published works.