Decker

I own both and play the PS5 a lot more. I like the Dual Sense controller more. I also use it and the Media Remote for the PS5 for my media center. I actually haven't purchased any XSX games. But the Game Pass is awesome and takes care of all my XSX exclusives. Glad I have it and will be more so as more exclusives roll out.

Dan

It's my primary console; if a game I want is cross-platform, I'm buying it to play on the Series X. I pay for Game Pass and generally think it's the best service going between getting all MS 1st party games, a bunch of EA games, and a healthy rotation of others constantly coming in. For anyone jumping in new, I don't think there's a better way to go. I don't play PC games anymore (save for the extremely rare exceptions), so the whole 'you can play all Xbox exclusives on PC' is a meaningless argument to me. If top performance/quality and a disc drive are not deal breakers, then the Series S is a decent option. I know folks who use it strictly as a Game Pass machine.
Downsides for me:
-it seems like my Store app constantly needs updating. It's frustrating.
- The UI is a bit unintuitive and I still find it to be laggy at times.

Some upsides:-
VRR compatible with my LG C1
.- Controllers are still better than the competition, IMO.
- multi-generation backwards compatibility is second to none.

​​​​​​- it's actually quiet. Can't say the same for my PS5, especially with a disc in the drive.

Regarding comparison directly to the PS5, I have found that for all the (well deserved!) hype of the DualSense features, it has proven to be an ultimately boring/underutilized or poorly implemented thing.
PS+ selection since the PS5 launch has been pretty weak (Xbox Gold is bad too, but Game Pass makes up for it in spades) but the dozen or so 'PS+ Collection' games are nice to have, even if some aren't even the most recent/updated versions of the games (P5 & FF7R, for example). You can't really directly compare PS+ and PSNow to Xbox Gold and Game Pass, but overall, I think it's pretty obvious that the latter is a better value to folks who jumped into either service with this new generation. Longtime PS+ members will say otherwise, I'm sure, because reasons.

davidh777

I like both XSX and PS5 but have played only a couple games on each. I also have Game Pass and PS+ but will probably cancel the latter because I don’t have enough time for both. Both controllers feel fine to me. Not as much of a difference as there was with the previous generation.

K&AJones

Thanks for the input and long detailed one at that......now, I might have asked this in the past....but does one still need a 12 Month Xbox Gold and also Game Pass?...that part there is still a bit of confussion...

I spent yesterday looking at PC Building Firms...we got one from Cyberpower a few years ago and frankly I would never ever go back to a Dell or HP which we've had before.....but the ones I saw with minimum features and specs was still around $1500.00...and then saw some "Reviews" on such units and showing some not-so-great building; bent cases, poor wire management, pathetic components, bent memory, loose screws rattling around, sorry airflow....at the end of the day I wasn't sure which company to seriously consider....and the good ones; well you're talking $2000.00 minimum....Love the Corsair Builds but out of my league....

And what's the options for Extended Storage...that small addon on the back or something. Putting the one inside the PS5 was a breeze and not too pricey either....

OldBoy

XBOX Gold should now be Ultimate and includes Gold and Game Pass. Ultimate = Gold plus Game Pass. Gold alone (if it still exists) won't do much for you.

as for storage you can get one SSD expansion that there is a slot for in back on XBSX. so in essence 2 SSD's (one included inside XBSX) and one external. you can also get other memory expansions for games that don't require an SSD. SSD storage are for your newer games and run faster and can be included with Quick Resume, where you can pause a game and go right back to same paused spot when turn XBSX back on. very good feature imo. other storage can be for your older bc games.

Gideon68

XBox Gold is still Gold which still gets you Games w Gold. XBox Game Pass gives you access to play a library of games with changing titles. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is a combination of Xbox Gold and Xbox Game Pass.

fujishig

So there is still an upgrade trick, which is why you should get Gold first if you are currently not a subscriber. Basically you buy Gold (up to three years) then you upgrade for a small fee (it's like a buck or something if you haven't done it before), and it's much much cheaper than buying Game Pass outright.

RichC2

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate also includes the PC version of Game Pass, as well as EA Play and Cloud Gaming.

And yeah, if you're not current subscribed to anything, buy a 3 year Gold membership and you'll be prompted to upgrade to Game Pass Ultimate for $1.

OldBoy

where can you buy a 3 year Gold membership?

RichC2

I meant to say "buy 3 years of Gold membership" not "buy a 3 year Gold membership"

Dan

Yep. That still works. But you have to ensure you don't have an active Game pass membership going. If you add your Gold codes while you already have Game pass, it'll redeem at a reduced rate. But the general idea is:
- buy and redeem 3 years of Gold
- take offer to upgrade Gold to Game Pass
- this will cost $1 if you've never done it, and $15 if you have.
- after your Game pass expires, you can redo the same process, assuming MS doesn't cancel the deal by then.

Alternatively, as I have noted here before, if you're willing to go through the daily motions to earn up MS rewards (bing searches, Xbox activities, etc.) you can earn enough points every three months to redeem a free three months of Game pass. It can be a bit of a grind at times, but there are always YouTube videos to show you how to get the 'harder' quests done faster.

asianxcore

If anyone is still looking for a Series X, Best Buy (YMMV) seems to have them in-stock for store pick-up next week.

More than a dozen stores in my area all show a pick-up date between Thursday-Saturday for orders.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/microso...0&mpid=1808408

Adam Tyner

Dan

today in "Games with Gold that Decker already owns:"

• Yoku's Island Express ($19.99 ERP): Available May 1 to 31
• The Inner World – The Last Wind Monk ($19.99 ERP): Available May 16 to June 15
• Hydro Thunder Hurricane ($9.99 ERP): Available May 1 to 15
• Viva Pińata Party Animals ($9.99 ERP): Available May 16 to 31

Decker

Hey, I don't own The Inner World yet, I think. ​​​​​​

Yoku's Island Express is a really fun little game. A pinball-based Metroidvania platformer Well worth checking out.

Dan

Alright, who's gonna buy one?
(just kidding, it's not for sale. It's a custom one-off mod.)

Deftones

An amazing thread

Deftones

Since we don't have a dedicated Starfield thread....

Adam Tyner

I know we'll have a clear(ish) idea next month, but I wonder what all Xbox has slated for 2022. I feel like Forza Motorsport is the only high-profile release that's even a possibility, and even that isn't a lock for 2022 (as far as we know).

Decker

Wow, for a video game company that's bought up AAA developers like they're Monopoly Hotels, they still are woefully low on exclusive AAA games for the rest of this year at least.

K&AJones

I'm going to pay attention and watch this with great interest......I look at all the acquisitions out there and still say this one has more bearing and importance than all the others. I'm a fan and played The Fallout, Elder Scrolls, Doom games and have kept my eye on Starfield but Elder Scrolls 6 is right there. I believe Starfield will be the next huge MMORPG.....but I wouldn't be surprised to see a peak of a next Fallout game....

Thanks for all the info on XB Gold and Pass...at this time I'm considering a PC first. Still researching and checking reviews on components

Dan

free coaster...

milo bloom

/\ digital download and an empty steelbook for the shelf?



Anyways, also saw this
https://www.windowscentral.com/gamin...eaming-console

A cloud based Xbox, all streaming.

Dan

Could be... but all previous Steelbook copies of this game included the disc, not a digital download. Maybe it's just the wrong placeholder image or a new SKU or something.

Adam Tyner

The conference Sunday will run 95 minutes (10 longer than last year).


And regarding my hopes of a Forza Motorsport this year…