This intentionally vague video is just tickling us with more confusion about what the future of xbox looks like.
There are no solid statements anywhere saying the Next-Gen Xbox will NATIVELY play PC AND Xbox games, or that PC will NATIVELY play Xbox games, although this is exactly what the video seems to be hinting at.
^^^ This right here is what is causing the most anxiety and confusion amongst Xbox players/fans. Not only because it is difficult to fathom a device that is versatile enough to play PC games in all the ways that people play PC games (different launchers, mods, streaming setups, speedrunning, emulation etc.), but also because of how the restrictions on the xbox library will transfer to a device that is also a "PC".
Will there be more DRM shoehorned into PC games on this new Xbox device(s)? Will this device only play games from specific storefronts or from specific eras of PC gaming? Will i be able to use this device as more than just a gaming console if it also plays PC games?
Are Streaming and Play Anywhere the only pitiful solutions you actually have to cross-compatibility between Xbox and PC???
The biggest question of all is of course about the money. Not about how much the device(s) will cost either, but...
How will subscriptions work?!?!
Is Xbox going to try to charge me money to play my multiplayer PC games online? Are they going to relinquish their death-grip on Xbox Live Gold(now Gamepass Core) and say goodbye to all of that subscription money? I wont hold my breath. Will they lock EVERYTHING behind a Gamepass Paywall?
I bet they learn alot of lessons and make alot of mistakes along this path, but I am very glad they are at least staring down the barrel and thinking about it.
Hopefully soon they can provide some more clarity about what this process will look like. We want to know how this will benefit us dedicated Xbox console fans, because right now it feels like we are getting the short end of the stick. Paying more and getting less.
Does anyone else have burning questions about the evolution of xbox?
Like I said they will likely emulate. But frankly I don’t think they give much of a rats ass of making some obscure game from the Og Xbox available. The majority of the market won’t care either. And you already bought the game so they don’t care either. What are you gonna do, not buy the consoles they won’t be making anymore? I think this is the mental block for a lot of Xbox hardcore fans, that Xbox is no longer a console platform. It’s a games publisher and storefront with a subscription service , who will happen to manufacture hardware that is preconfigured to offer a hassle free experience with their platform.
As to this being a PC with more steps. Have you seen the GPU market? Microsoft is positioning itself in a unique niche in which they can sell a gaming PC, that plays like a console, with no GPU pricing shenanigans. Your description is about as good as calling the SteamDeck a laptop with less keys.
Yeah it all makes sense from their business perspective, but from a current xbox users perspective, losing compatibility for new hardware isnt appealing.
The extra steps are for current pc/xbox users that already have hardware. Why upgrade without increased functionality? A streamlined experience could be enough for some, but definitely not for me at $700+.