Xbox has turned a corner — the future for Microsoft’s gaming platform once again looks incredibly bright

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To say that Microsoft’s Xbox efforts have been controversial would be an understatement.

As a researcher, I’ve been closely observing the gaming market, and it’s clear that this console generation, the PlayStation 5 has outperformed Microsoft’s Xbox Series X|S in terms of sales. The struggles of the Xbox One have, unfortunately, led to a significant number of gamers aligning themselves with Sony’s digital ecosystem.

Over the last decade, concerns about the quality and frequency of Microsoft’s first-party games, doubts about their dedication towards Xbox hardware, and the strategy that sees beloved exclusives like Forza and Gears of War migrating to other platforms have left customers feeling perplexed and disgruntled.

However, it appears that we are witnessing a change in fortunes. The turbulent times seem to be easing up.

As an analyst, I can confidently say that following a series of strategic acquisitions, Microsoft has significantly improved the quality and diversity of its offerings, outshining any other publisher currently on the market. Notably, these games are all included in the Xbox Game Pass on day one, granting subscribers immediate access. Furthermore, each title comes with a dual license for both Xbox and PC platforms, as well as cloud saves through Xbox Play Anywhere, ensuring seamless gameplay across devices.

The Xbox Series X continues to be a formidable force, while the budget-friendly Xbox Series S offers an economical route to enjoy the newest games. Xbox Game Pass is experiencing an unprecedented surge of high-quality additions. Lastly, Microsoft has made it clear that they are dedicated to future Xbox hardware developments, announcing a long-term collaboration with AMD for next-generation console technology. Could this mark a significant shift for Xbox?

Has Xbox turned a corner?

In a less formal, easy-to-understand way, Gaming isn’t just about buying and using a product; it’s a pastime, and it has a dedicated community with strong emotions involved. At times, it seems like Microsoft might overlook this when planning Xbox’s strategy and communication, as it’s different from products like Microsoft 365 for Business or Windows Azure where sentiments play a smaller role.

When Microsoft decided to release their games on PlayStation, fully aware that Xbox users would receive no benefits from Sony in return, many Xbox enthusiasts felt deceived. This action left a sour taste among fans, as it seemed like cold business calculations were driving decisions rather than passion or loyalty for the platform.

According to Xbox itself, Sony reportedly utilizes revenue from games such as Minecraft to restrict Xbox users from playing third-party titles like Black Myth Wukong, Silent Hill 2, and Final Fantasy 16 at the same time as other platforms. This often results in these games being released on Xbox later than on other systems. Such a situation can’t help but make Xbox gamers feel somewhat overlooked in this gaming ecosystem.

In terms of its history, Xbox has been associated with incidents such as Sega’s disappointing departure after Dreamcast and Microsoft’s unsuccessful consumer pledges like Windows Phone. This has led many to believe that Xbox was on a path towards becoming an ordinary, unremarkable publisher. However, over the last few months, Xbox has made significant efforts to reassure us that it won’t follow this trajectory.

Friends, as I look ahead from this year’s lineup to the plans for next year – with Xbox Game Pass releases, the upcoming Xbox Games Showcase, promising hardware developments, and the continuation of backward compatibility… A sense of anticipation and excitement is beginning to build within me. 🥹June 17, 2025

Xbox Game Pass has been experiencing a remarkable run lately, consistently adding popular games such as Blue Prince, Clair Obscur, DOOM: The Dark Ages, and many others to its library. The upcoming months seem equally promising, with titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, The Outer Worlds 2, Keeper, and additional releases scheduled for later in the year.

Earlier this month’s Xbox Showcase offered a tantalizing peek into an extraordinary future for Microsoft’s in-house studios such as InXile and Obsidian, who have raised the bar on production quality. There are numerous other exciting projects in the pipeline, including State of Decay 3, Fable, Gears of War: E-Day, and the support from third-party publishers is more robust than ever. Even Square Enix and other Japanese publishers appear eager to participate in Xbox’s festivities, showcasing an increased enthusiasm towards teaming up with Microsoft.

I think the real turning point was the recent flurry of hardware commitments, above all.

Reflecting on the games industry, it’s tempting to see other companies that abandoned hardware and make similar comparisons. However, when considering Microsoft’s Xbox sales figures, it’s essential to remember that these represent only a fraction of the broader ecosystem they’re constructing.

This week, we received a firm pledge for the upcoming next-gen Xbox hardware, which includes guarantees that it will be compatible with your existing Xbox games library through backward compatibility. This has significantly boosted faith in the platform for those skeptical of Microsoft’s dedication. Moreover, Microsoft hinted at its collaboration with AMD potentially leading to Xbox devices not only in the living room but also handheld, suggesting that the dream of a portable Xbox console gaming experience may still be within reach.

As an analyst, I can confirm that the recent announcements have effectively quelled speculations about Microsoft outsourcing the entire production of future Xbox hardware to third-parties, sparked by the unveiling of the Xbox Ally PC gaming handheld in collaboration with ASUS. However, it’s essential to note that Microsoft remains committed to bridging the gap between Xbox and Windows 11 more closely than ever before.

Hints suggesting that the next-generation Xbox could potentially incorporate Steam and other PC stores signify a significant expansion of possibilities and flexibility, often unavailable to console gamers and even some PC gamers when it comes to playing comfortably from the living room, desk, or without a keyboard. This development has garnered positive responses from mainstream content creators who typically overlook Xbox offerings.

Over the Xbox Cloud Gaming platform, third-party PC gaming equipment branded by Xbox, first-party Xbox consoles that support backward compatibility, and Windows 11 itself – Microsoft’s vision for a digital gaming environment where your games, saved data, and community can be accessed seamlessly across devices is becoming increasingly tangible.

The journey ahead seems difficult and prolonged, but for the first time in a while, it appears that the end goal is within sight, as far as I’m concerned.

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2025-06-18 16:39