Xbox Series X/S & Playstation 5 (PS5) Thread. Next-Gen 2020

[TFO]

Astrobot is just astonishingly perfect. The first time in forever that I am just smiling throughout.

Except for the hidden symbol levels. They can fuck off and never come back

[MattyP]

Astrobot is just astonishingly perfect. The first time in forever that I am just smiling throughout.

Except for the hidden symbol levels. They can fuck off and never come back

Tried one of those and I think my patience was wearing a bit thin after finishing up on it. Great game fourth boss was a bit annoying think it was more to do with the camera than anything else. Loved the credit sequence too .... One of the best games I've played for a while.

[Deckard]

You can now lease a PS5, along with the likes of a PS VR2 set and Sony's handheld remote player PlayStation Portal, here in the UK

[Jonesey]

Went on the Series X yesterday and there's something new (included with Gamepass) called Retro Classics.

Basically they've teamed up with Antstream, it's about 60 odd retro games and they're mostly Activision Atari 2600 games and also some old Sierra titles as well.

They do these daily challenges and whatnot (I tried the single life HERO challenge and was somewhat surprised to see my name second on the leaderboard).

Unfortunately it's not all good - some input lag and control changes but - hey, if it doesn't die a slow death it could be improved upon.

[MattyP]

I was playing this last night.. Its great fun!

Feel free to add me to your friends list if you want someone to (granted easy) to beat!

[SuperMappy]

$30 USD for Xbox Game Pass? HAHAhahaha... NO!

The last time I got a month of Game Pass was when Flight Simulator came out. I wanted to try it to see if it was worth buying — and it was, so I purchased it after the subscription ran out. This new pricing just feels like plain greed, in my opinion.

Now that Flight Simulator is coming to the PS5 in December, I can’t help but wonder if Microsoft is trying to inflate the brand’s value before selling it off and becoming a software-only company, like Sega did.

Personally, I miss the Xbox 360 days — especially the Summer of Arcade — when my kids and I spent countless hours playing games like Hydro Thunder Hurricane and Galaga Legions DX. But hey, I’m only 60 years old — what do I know?

Now I can play all those games on the Xenia emulator and the Xbox series S is just hanging on the wall behind me just taking up space.

[Misfit]

$30 USD for Xbox Game Pass? HAHAhahaha... NO!

Well, to be fair, it's between $10 and $30, but if you want all the day one releases it's $30 (I think they're claiming 75+ for next year).

The cheapest level now includes streaming, which goes to what you are saying about software. MS is still committed to another console, but its main focus now seems to be that any device is an Xbox, part of that will be by streaming, but part of that is making it so the PC world can have an Xbox interface and have a more console-like experience.

[MattyP]

$30 USD for Xbox Game Pass? HAHAhahaha... NO!

The last time I got a month of Game Pass was when Flight Simulator came out. I wanted to try it to see if it was worth buying — and it was, so I purchased it after the subscription ran out. This new pricing just feels like plain greed, in my opinion.

Now that Flight Simulator is coming to the PS5 in December, I can’t help but wonder if Microsoft is trying to inflate the brand’s value before selling it off and becoming a software-only company, like Sega did.

Personally, I miss the Xbox 360 days — especially the Summer of Arcade — when my kids and I spent countless hours playing games like Hydro Thunder Hurricane and Galaga Legions DX. But hey, I’m only 60 years old — what do I know?

Now I can play all those games on the Xenia emulator and the Xbox series S is just hanging on the wall behind me just taking up space.

Indeed. My GP expired March time this year and never re-subbed. Not MS have given me another reason not to.

Not really sure where the Xbox brand is going these days. There are even rumours abound that they are not making another Xbox console so as you say it might be going software only going forward.

Also agree... Xbox 360 was the high point of the brand loved my 360 and the games. However it was a different era. Still have one with a stack of physical disks. Still a great machine and when I use it reminds me how little really things have moved on. Shinier graphics and faster loading times.

Ah well. Haven't used my Series S for months now mainly Switch (2) and PS5.

[Deckard]

Classic Sony -

https://gizmodo.com/not-only-is-the-new ... 2000668063

"New PlayStation 5 Model Changes:

-Model CFI-2116

-825 GB, Less Storage, 667.2 GB Useable Same As Launch PS5

-All Matte Console

-USB Colours On The Back Now Blue

-2,433 Grams Compared To The 2,556 Grams Of The 2000 Model, 3,800 Grams Of Launch PS5

-Heatsink Structure Has Been Completely Redesigned, With An Apparent Streamlining Of The Heat Pipes Seen In X-Ray Analysis

-Voltage Regulator Modules Reduced From 7 To 5

-Power Draw Same As PS5 Slim 2000 Model

-Internal Steel Shielding Has Been Changed For Thinner Half Thickness Of Previous Model, More Stamped Metal, Contributing To Weight Reduction

-Cooling Fan Lighter

-No SoC Size Change"

Nice.

[MattyP]

Wonder if this is going to be the way forward with consoles? No price drops and spec drops to keep the price the same over the years? Once you accepted that the consoles were cheaper but you payed more for the games (razor/razor blade model). But now the games are expensive and the consoles are not dropping in price. Perhaps it's probably the economic climate and the fact that they are more generic PC based hardware rather than bespoke designs by the manufacturer so difficult to cost reduce. Not sure.

Think I'm eventually going down to one console. Haven't really got the time to play on more than one these days and usually have difficulty choosing something when I do get the time.

[MattyP]

Lots of talk of the next iterations of consoles heading out not sure about you guys but it still feels too early with the current hardware!

I mean because of COVID and short supply it took a fair while to get the current crop into the hands of people.

Personally not ready and to be fair not sure what will be next. Loved the idea of VR as something to drive new tech however less interested in a PC like upgrade in terms of APU updates. Feels very iterative since the PS4/Xbox One.

Quite happy with my PS5 and Switch 2 if I'm honest and it'll take something fairly substantial to get me to buy a PS6 or whatever MS come up with. VR seems to be dead to Sony going forward as they seem to have lost interest in the PSVR2.

I'm actually mostly playing older games these days anyway (or game concepts/designs) which will run perfectly fine on current hardware.

How about everyone else? Will you be getting the new hardware when it makes an appearance?

[Misfit]

I'm actually mostly playing older games these days anyway (or game concepts/designs) which will run perfectly fine on current hardware.

How about everyone else? Will you be getting the new hardware when it makes an appearance?

Older stuff on the Steam Deck is my main way of playing right now, such a huge backlog to look at.

I won't kid myself and say I'm not going to buy any new consoles, but I think my main desire is some kind of Steam box for under the TV. With the huge backlog, and being happy to wait for newer things to drop in price, it feels the way forward especially if I feel the need to give up Game Pass when my current year ends (will depend on the deals as never paid close to the old pricing)

I haven't turned the PS5 on in over a year (Xbox gets continual use from my son), and the only way I will is if I can get a cheap copy of Astro Bot.

PS 5 Pro and Switch 2 are probably the first consoles I've not bought in the first month of release. The latter, I will wait for an OLED version, the former, meh.

[MattyP]

I'm actually mostly playing older games these days anyway (or game concepts/designs) which will run perfectly fine on current hardware.

How about everyone else? Will you be getting the new hardware when it makes an appearance?

Older stuff on the Steam Deck is my main way of playing right now, such a huge backlog to look at.

I won't kid myself and say I'm not going to buy any new consoles, but I think my main desire is some kind of Steam box for under the TV. With the huge backlog, and being happy to wait for newer things to drop in price, it feels the way forward especially if I feel the need to give up Game Pass when my current year ends (will depend on the deals as never paid close to the old pricing)

I haven't turned the PS5 on in over a year (Xbox gets continual use from my son), and the only way I will is if I can get a cheap copy of Astro Bot.

PS 5 Pro and Switch 2 are probably the first consoles I've not bought in the first month of release. The latter, I will wait for an OLED version, the former, meh.

Indeed kind of finding the PS5 a PS4 Pro Pro for me at least as I only really play PS4 games on it. Which is fine as it makes them super accessible and convienient to play (SSD speed etc) and updates sometimes to visuals and framerate. Astrobot and perhaps the Silent Hill 2 remake have been the only PS5 exclusive standouts for me. GT7 was much nicer to play on PS5 however it was a essentially a PS4 targeted game.

Switch 2 so far has been a rinse and repeat of the PS5 experience. Runs some original Switch games better with a few exclusives. Mario Kart World is OK and really enjoyed Donkey Kong Bananza.

A Steambox is an interesting idea however not sure how compatible it would be with my Steam library. Moved away from PC gaming this year as I didn't want a Windows box as a home PC (tired of using Windows at work and didn't wanting it invading my home life too!).

More than happy with what I currently have pretty much covers all bases. My Mac even runs MAME and emulation stuff fine so happy days there too.

[venusian]

I have very little interest in new consoles for the same reason as everybody else here, it seems. Unless they can do Something New, then they'll pass me by. I don't need faster, shinier, louder. I want interesting experiences, engaging stories, not to have my time wasted. Right now, medium sized indies seem to be doing a better job of that than the big boys who would be driving the latest and greatest hardware.

Three years ago I bought a thin'n'light laptop with a very specific AMD processor (6800HS) because it was (at the time) in the sweet-spot of price and performance but, more importantly, it got me a system which was a little bit faster all-round than the Steamdeck. So, all those games which are optimised to just about run on the Deck are pretty slick on my little laptop. It's been a good buy, along with a Switch for sitting in bed with. Not feeling much need to upgrade either of them.

[Deckard]

Didnt even know the PS5 could be hacked ....

https://www.eurogamer.net/ps5-jail-brea ... er-revenge