Xbox’s Strange Turn

Xbox just slapped gamers with a 50% Game Pass price hike, triggering a wave of fury—even as its gaming division rakes in record revenue. Microsoft is promising new console hardware while quietly pivoting toward mobile and Windows gaming, closing studios, and leaning hard into subscription services instead of dedicated boxes.

With console sales down and many fans crying “enshittification” of Game Pass, it feels like Xbox might be abandoning its core audience in pursuit of quarterly profits. Yet, despite self-inflicted wounds, Microsoft is making more money than ever. The big question: can killer new titles like the next Forza and a renewed focus on great games (rather than just growth numbers) help Xbox rise from the ashes?

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