this post was submitted on 05 Mar 2026
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I'm confused by the pessimistic reactions, though.
Companies converging towards the semi-open platform is a good thing. The locked down hardware and exclusives are not something we as customers asked for. It was something the cartel just shoved down our throats.
What bothers me is the backwards compatibility that microsoft has always just hand-waved in regards to the sunsetting of the xbox HW. A clear yes or no would be nice.
I, for a long time, wanted Microsoft to delete the difference between PC and Console. They are the same hardware, they can run the same software. Valve achieved this with the Steam Deck. I just wonder how Microsoft is going to fuck it up.
Microsoft has done an amazing job of destroying good-will. And it's why I and an increasing share of people stopped using Windows (I still have to suffer with it at work though). For any gaming PC that runs Windows:
Why is there a pre-installed Xbox app in Windows? It doesn't help play Steam, or Epic, or GOG, or even Amazon games. I don't think it even helps with Windows Store games...
Why are there ads in the start menu?
Why are there two control panels? Why do I always have to hunt to find the old one because the new one doesn't do what is needed?
Why are there popup ads in the notification area?
Why do I need an online account, or a hidden fucking terminal, just to get the OS going?
Why is Copilot fucking everywhere?
Why does the OS hoover fuckloads of data and send it to Microsoft?
Why is there pre-installed bloatware?
No, but seriously, why are there ads?
These are all questions that are relevant when you ask about why people are pessimistic about Windows as a gaming system. But with the merge of Windows and Xbox, all of the above questions apply, but you also get to add:
How locked down will this merged thing be?
Will multiplayer require monthly payments?
Will it have backwards compatibility?
Will they find another place to shove copilot?
How many extra ads will there be?
In emulation and retro gaming forums I frequent the reactions seem mostly positive. Lots of questions surrounding backwards compatibility of course.
Oh God I know this will go over many people's heads but I was listening to a podcast where they where talking about the renewal of CUSMA (or USMCA for you Americans) and a senator said "I'm half inclined to think Donald Trump is ready to make a decision" to which Rob Russo, a journalist, rightly pointed out that was not clarity it is infact the absence of clarity. He then said, and this is why I laugh and the yes/no comment is so true.
"If I told my wife 'Im half inclined to take the garbage out today' she would not say that is a clear answer as to if I was going to do it"
Political and Business language needs to fuck off.
Microsoft was already releasing games on PC. All this does is removes any dedicated hardware. Officially forcing windows down Xbox gamers throats. One less option in the space not really one more.
Windows is not the future for gaming. Windows shouldn’t be anyone’s future
You realize PC is not just Windows, right? It's Windows, Linux, Mac.
Windows might be the most used PC platform but game developer are well aware attaching their success to Windows is not the right move. And that's exactly the kind of freedom PC gives that consoles do not.
I’m not sure if you understand the point of my post. Yes PC is not just Windows. But the whole point of this product will be the “Xbox experience” which is installed on WINDOWS. Sure you can buy this box and then just install Bazzite or whatever. But why wait for this “box” to do it ? Just build a custom PC which is guaranteed to be better value and something you can do right now ?
I’m not attacking PC gaming. I love PC gaming. But this is in the context of an dedicated gaming console. Which for Xbox is going away.
My point is I see little value in the move. My point is I believe it’s the wrong approach. Valves approach with their baked in software is much better.
I mean, your post says "Forcing windows down Xbox gamers throats". So people that are already in the locked down Xbox ecosystem, not people that already know that and avoid Xbox. Xbox is just Windows but locked down. It's both Microsoft.
I completely agree people should just go for a PC, but if someone was buying Xbox already, they aren't in the mindset. So if they're going to buy Xbox anyways, having a device that's not locked down to some console OS means they can switch at any time and rid themselves of Xbox, since it's your device. To me that's definitely an improvement over the status quo, even if other better options were already available.
But think of the AI agents that need to work on it!!!