Title really. Xbox messaging as of late has been pretty good (outside of that Inside Xbox lol.) I love Game Pass. xCloud seems cool. And certain Xbox first-party games are my most anticipated games this year, period. Psychonauts 2 (!!!!!!!!!) and Halo Infinite.
But for me, as a primarily PC dude, the excitement for Series X just isn't there.
I think the big reason why is because that feeling of familiarity is still there. The same controller (basically), same UI, same game boxes etc. If it ain't broke don't fix it, right? Well sure, but you can't really shake off the fact that it all just feels like an extension of this (pretty bad) gen for Xbox instead of a fresh new start, free of all the baggage.
I know this is MS' cross-generational strategy for the coming gen, it works with their focus on services + software and it definitely has its perks but man, from someone who has no real stake in consoles, it realllllllllly does not feel like a new generation is on the horizion when you look at the Xbox camp. Well, at least compared to Sony.
The VP of UX Design at PlayStation has talked about how the UI for PS5 will be a 100% overhaul, the PlayStation 5 itself has a bold new look (when was the last time the default PlayStation console was white?), game covers match the new black, white and blue colors, Sony completely ditched the DualShock branding for PS5 in favor of the DualSense etc...
All of this just comes together and helps it stand out from the previous generation. I really don't want to gas Sony up more than I have to >_> but the point is, the PS5 has a distinct design language that is set to mark the start of a new generation and define the rest of it. You don't even have to like it (I'm still not fully on board myself) but you can't deny the effort to shake things up is there. The transition feels major, but I don't get that vibe at ALL with Xbox's handling of the Series X.
Like I said above, I understand Microsoft's approach and in a way, it helps them stand out as they're the only real console manufacturer that has placed this huge of an impact on their history, being able to play original Xbox, Xbox 360 and Xbox One games on a single system but me personally I'm more in tune with Sony's approach of looking to the future (considering I can already play a lot of these games on PC.)
All in all... It's just a tiny gripe tbh. It's not a deal breaker by any means as software is king at the end of the day but new console generations have this special enthusiasm and anticipation to it. We're months away from the launch of a new generation and I'm slowly starting to feel that in the Sony camp. Can't say the same for Xbox though :/
Next-gen should be interesting. This gen felt pretty clear cut as to who was offering the better value (at least at the start) but MS have been bringing the heat in more ways than one and look to be carrying that momentum forward.
But for me, as a primarily PC dude, the excitement for Series X just isn't there.
I think the big reason why is because that feeling of familiarity is still there. The same controller (basically), same UI, same game boxes etc. If it ain't broke don't fix it, right? Well sure, but you can't really shake off the fact that it all just feels like an extension of this (pretty bad) gen for Xbox instead of a fresh new start, free of all the baggage.
I know this is MS' cross-generational strategy for the coming gen, it works with their focus on services + software and it definitely has its perks but man, from someone who has no real stake in consoles, it realllllllllly does not feel like a new generation is on the horizion when you look at the Xbox camp. Well, at least compared to Sony.
The VP of UX Design at PlayStation has talked about how the UI for PS5 will be a 100% overhaul, the PlayStation 5 itself has a bold new look (when was the last time the default PlayStation console was white?), game covers match the new black, white and blue colors, Sony completely ditched the DualShock branding for PS5 in favor of the DualSense etc...
All of this just comes together and helps it stand out from the previous generation. I really don't want to gas Sony up more than I have to >_> but the point is, the PS5 has a distinct design language that is set to mark the start of a new generation and define the rest of it. You don't even have to like it (I'm still not fully on board myself) but you can't deny the effort to shake things up is there. The transition feels major, but I don't get that vibe at ALL with Xbox's handling of the Series X.
Like I said above, I understand Microsoft's approach and in a way, it helps them stand out as they're the only real console manufacturer that has placed this huge of an impact on their history, being able to play original Xbox, Xbox 360 and Xbox One games on a single system but me personally I'm more in tune with Sony's approach of looking to the future (considering I can already play a lot of these games on PC.)
All in all... It's just a tiny gripe tbh. It's not a deal breaker by any means as software is king at the end of the day but new console generations have this special enthusiasm and anticipation to it. We're months away from the launch of a new generation and I'm slowly starting to feel that in the Sony camp. Can't say the same for Xbox though :/
Next-gen should be interesting. This gen felt pretty clear cut as to who was offering the better value (at least at the start) but MS have been bringing the heat in more ways than one and look to be carrying that momentum forward.
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