Who is this even for?
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.
I hate Microsoft and I would consider buying it if I can purge it of windows and install Steam OS on it. :)
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.
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.
Shareholders
And they’ll get $0 from me. I wouldn’t touch a microslop product with a three-meter pole.
Can you imagine how awesome Roblox, Minecraft and Fortnight will look?
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.
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.
There was a time when PC had physical resellable games too.
PC gamers have always had easier time with “other ways” of saving on games.
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.
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.
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.
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
Project, heh it’s a pc
deleted by creator
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.
The shenanigans likely AI and constant microslop ads
It’ll all work great so long as you have a consistent subscription to the new version of GamePass.
