Xbox Series X | S in 2025 – Still Worth It or Time to Move On?

by

The last five years have been noteworthy for Microsoft and Xbox. Their current consoles are powerful enough to play most top games quite well. However, the Xbox Game Pass subscription service isn’t as exciting as it once was, and some games that were previously exclusive to Xbox are now available on PlayStation.

As a longtime gamer, I’ve seen so many consoles come and go, and Xbox has always been a big rival for Sony. Honestly, it felt like the newest Xboxes had a tough battle ahead of them. But now that the PS5 is actually outselling them, I’m starting to wonder if it even makes sense to buy an Xbox Series S or X right now. It’s a legitimate question, and I’m curious to see how things play out.

It’s with some regret that we have to say this console, while still good, is being overshadowed. It remains a capable machine, but it’s being left behind through no fault of its own, and we’ll be taking a look back at its history.

A New Generation of Xbox

The Xbox Series X and S initially launched with a smart strategy: offering different price points to appeal to a wider range of gamers, and backing that up with the popular Game Pass subscription and exclusive games to thank existing fans. Both consoles are reliable and perform well. However, the PlayStation 5 and other competitors have ultimately offered more advanced features and capabilities.

Both consoles offer useful features, like Quick Resume. A recent update that lets you pin games to Quick Resume – keeping them ready to play even after you turn off the console – is particularly helpful. It’s great for quickly switching back to a new game after taking a break, letting you pick up right where you left off.

The Xbox consoles make it incredibly easy to return to older games, picking up right where you left off – something the PS5 doesn’t quite match in simplicity. Both Xbox and PlayStation deserve credit for letting you play games from previous generations, and Xbox’s Smart Delivery system automatically ensures you’re playing the best version for your console. The PS5, however, requires you to manually choose which version of older games you want to play.

The Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 were similarly powerful, and their impressive features had gamers eager to see how they compared. However, despite having the potential to compete with the PS5, the latest Xbox generation didn’t perform as well as expected due to strategic missteps.

A Gradual Decline

Early Xbox sales struggled because reviewers pointed out the console didn’t have many must-have exclusive games, leading some to choose the PS5 instead. However, as more exclusive titles became available for the Xbox, things improved. The console eventually offered something for all types of gamers, and the new Xbox hardware provided a great experience for playing them.

Let’s talk about Forza Horizon 5. As a racing fan, it totally blew me away – the graphics are incredible! It was a big reason I went with an Xbox Series X|S instead of a PS5 when I was upgrading consoles. It was a real system seller, you know? If you were on the fence, Forza Horizon 5 made the decision easy.

For open world fans, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla was a strong choice, and the opportunity to play as a Viking was a compelling reason to upgrade to a Series X. Ori and the Will of the Wisps delivered a fantastic adventure experience, demonstrating the power of the latest gaming consoles.

Xbox had a strong run until late 2021, boosted by popular games like Gears 5, Gears Tactics, Forza Horizon 5, and Halo Infinite. Its solid hardware and appealing design helped it thrive. Unfortunately, Microsoft’s inconsistent strategy weakened the Xbox brand, leading to games like Forza Horizon 5 eventually being released on PlayStation 5.

The once Xbox-exclusive Gears of War series, which was hugely popular during the console’s prime for shooter fans, surprisingly launched on PlayStation in 2025 with Gears of War: Reloaded. Marcus Fenix has quickly become a recognizable PlayStation character. However, with E-Day scheduled to release on Xbox Series X and PC next year, it’s unclear if the series will remain exclusive to Xbox.

The popular Xbox game Halo: Combat Evolved is confirmed to be released on PlayStation 5 in 2026, continuing a recent trend of Xbox titles becoming available on other platforms. Sea of Thieves and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle have also moved away from being exclusive to Xbox. Although both Sony and Microsoft pursued different strategies, it’s now clear that Sony made the better decision.

Internal Troubles, Public Consequences

Microsoft heavily invested in “Game Anywhere” and promoted Game Pass as a way to play games on any device. However, this initiative marked a turning point for their gaming division and the Xbox brand. Issues with the FTC, negative reactions to a Game Pass price hike, studio closures, and project cancellations all contributed to challenges.

By ending platform exclusivity, the company removed a key strength of the Xbox, leaving game developers with less incentive to keep their titles only on Xbox instead of releasing them on other systems. Even more troubling was the decision to limit the potential of promising games by requiring them to also work on the less powerful Series S console.

As a gamer, it really frustrated me that Microsoft tried to make games look and run the same on both the powerful Series X and the more affordable Series S. It meant some awesome games took way longer to finish, and honestly, it led to some performance hiccups on the Series S – things just didn’t run as smoothly as they should have on a few new releases, and that really impacted the experience.

Consider Black Myth: Wukong, which Game Science released on the PS5 well in advance. The team behind Control at Remedy has also discussed how difficult it is to develop games for the newest consoles that perform well on both versions.

As a big gamer, I’ve been hearing a lot about performance issues with the Series S. Apparently, some games just haven’t been running well on it, and it even sounds like it caused some trouble for the developers of Baldur’s Gate III! Thinking about it, the fact that the game didn’t have local co-op until Patch 8 makes sense – it must have been really hard to get everything running smoothly on both the Series S and the more powerful consoles. It’s a shame, but hopefully, things will improve with future updates.

Several challenges have held the Xbox Series X|S back from becoming the leading gaming console it could be. As Xbox prepares for its next generation of consoles, it makes you question whether buying an Xbox Series X|S right now is a good investment.

The Xbox Soldiers On

There’s been talk that the next Xbox might be closer to a PC than a traditional console, and with devices like the ROG Xbox Ally now available, it seems like Xbox isn’t entirely sure what direction to take. However, that doesn’t mean they won’t figure it out.

Microsoft plans to make the next Xbox a hybrid device, blending the features of a traditional console with the flexibility of a PC. This means it will run the Xbox operating system but also allow players to access games from platforms like Steam, and even play PlayStation games that Sony releases on PC. Essentially, Microsoft aims to create a more open and versatile gaming experience.

As a big gaming fan, I’m really excited to hear that games like Fable, Forza Horizon 6, and even a remake of Halo are coming to the latest consoles! What’s even better is they’re also planning to release them on the PS5 and the upcoming PS5 Pro. Honestly, with Xbox not having many exclusive games right now, and some uncertainty around Game Pass, Sony’s approach feels like the smarter move.

Just a few years ago, the idea of playing a Halo or Gears of War game on PlayStation seemed impossible. Now it’s actually happening. While the Xbox Series X and S are good consoles, they’re starting to feel like less significant successes for a brand that’s currently struggling to define itself.

Honestly, when it comes down to choosing between the Xbox Series X|S and the PS5, there isn’t a huge difference anymore. I wish I could say the Xbox was a better deal, but now that both consoles have been out for a while, I think putting your money towards a PS5 is probably the smarter move for most gamers. The Xbox consoles were great when they first came out, but right now, the PS5 just offers more for your money.

Even if a sale doesn’t have the specific console you want, like a PlayStation, you can still enjoy great deals and the games you do get.

Read More

2025-11-25 20:46