A new rumor suggests Microsoft’s next-generation Xbox, codenamed Project Helix, could cost between $999 and $1,200 while delivering major performance gains over the Xbox Series X.
  • arcine@jlai.luEnglish
    20·
    3 days ago

    I don’t understand why people still buy consoles. There used to be so many reasons to do so, that are all evaporating away…

    • Convenience, plug and play…
    • Much cheaper hardware
    • Games optimised for that hardware
    • Unique features for each generation
    • Cool exclusive games
    • Physical, resellable games

    I don’t think there is a point anymore.

    • kittykillinit@lemy.lolEnglish
      1·
      1 day ago

      Stupidity. I call it the “mitigating factor.”

      So many things make more sense when we include it.

    • THE_GR8_MIKE@lemmy.worldEnglish
      4·
      2 days ago

      Convenience is the sole reason the majority of my friends own consoles but no PC, still today. I have tried to convince them and they just will not. And now they can’t get a PC, so… eh.

    • yermaw@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      3·
      2 days ago

      The only real reason now is guaranteed performance for the price. At $1200 consoles might just have come as far as they’re going to get.

    • Tigeroovy@lemmy.caEnglish
      2·
      3 days ago

      I do play a lot on my PS5, but besides that it’s my 4K disc player. I’ve got both that and the Xbox Series X, as the secondary 4K disc player. Plus y’know there’s all the old games I have on disc that are backwards compatible.

      And to be honest I do prefer to game on my couch with my nice huge TV, where my main work and gaming PC isn’t.

      I do have an older PC connected to the tv but it’s more for streaming and torrented content than gaming these days.

      At some point I’ll bite the bullet and switch that one over to Linux and see if I can get some more gaming life out of it.

      All that said, I don’t see myself buying whatever the hell this next Xbox/PC will be.

      I’m more inclined to grab that Steam Box whenever the hell that is able to come out and whenever the hell I can afford it.

      • thermal_shock@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        2 days ago

        If you already have a capable PC, use steam link or sunshine. Both work well, sunshine better for Linux, but works perfectly fine to play PC games on your couch with a controller.

  • Lfrith@lemmy.caEnglish
    26·
    3 days ago

    Is this locked down hardware that is priced like a PC or a PC with a console/PC OS that can be reinstalled with another OS?

    Because if its locked down then for PC gaming I don’t see the appeal of paying PC prices for a neutered PC that won’t let me install another OS. And for console gaming I don’t see the appeal of paying PC hardware prices to play games.

    • Eggyhead@lemmings.worldEnglish
      18·
      3 days ago

      My assumption is that it’s a living room PC with a windows equivalent of steam big-picture mode on it.

      But knowing Microsoft, there will be shenanigans.

    • Ulrich@feddit.orgEnglish
      16·
      4 days ago

      They’re going to do what Steam is doing and just open up Xbox branding for licensing on PC hardware, much like they did with XBOX Ally. So there will be something for everyone.

      Except people who hate Microsoft, but they were never going to buy it anyway.

      • Eggyhead@lemmings.worldEnglish
        10·
        3 days ago

        I hate Microsoft and I would consider buying it if I can purge it of windows and install Steam OS on it. :)

        • Dariusmiles2123@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          1·
          3 days ago

          That would feel even sweeter if they were losing money on every Helix sold.

          To be honest, my Linux daily driver is a Microsoft Surface Go 1 and it has served me well for the last 6 years.

          Still it’s not what I’d get if I had to choose again.

          So if I have to upgrade from my Steam Deck/Playstation 5 gaming combo, it’s probably be a Steam Machine, even if it’s way less poweful than Helix.

          • Ulrich@feddit.orgEnglish
            0·
            3 days ago

            That would feel even sweeter if they were losing money on every Helix sold.

            They wouldn’t lose money for the same reason Steam doesn’t lose money; they sell them at market value. That’s (part of) why they’re so expensive.

            • Dariusmiles2123@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
              1·
              3 days ago

              Yeah I know. What I wanted to say is that it would be an incentive to buy one (and convert it to Linux) if they were losing money on every unit.

  • network_switch@lemmy.mlEnglish
    4·
    3 days ago

    I’m interested in what levels of locked down it may be. Fully open software platform where I can install any OS on it. Maybe locked soley to Microsoft/Windows signed OS image. Open to install any software or only open to a selection of software stores so like Windows/Xbox store, Steam, EGS, etc. Expectations low. Microsoft and hardware devices have no consistent long term vision or identify so they keep pivoting strategies