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Would you like to see Microsoft focus on making fun features for their next console instead of upping its power abilities?
Xbox with features instead of power?
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Thread started by Demon_Skeith
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Honestly, Xbox really does need to step up their feature game. Power is fine, but the platform feels bare compared to what it could be. We’ve lost Kinect, we never got any VR support, racing sim accessories are extremely limited, and third‑party integrations are almost nonexistent. Even basic hardware flexibility has gone backward; no optical out, fewer USB ports, and less consideration for home theater setups.
At this point, Xbox should almost lean into being a “Steam Machine” style device: a custom gaming PC with a console‑friendly OS. More controller support, more accessory support, more ways to customize the experience. They used to experiment with features like in‑game music apps (I loved running my own radio in Forza), but all of that has disappeared.
And that’s the bigger Xbox problem: they’ve made themselves the weakest platform when it comes to software, features, hardware variety, accessories, and even first‑party games. I’d love to say they should focus on features, but they also aren’t producing the kinds of games that would take advantage of those features. It really feels like a struggle over there right now.
At this point, Xbox should almost lean into being a “Steam Machine” style device: a custom gaming PC with a console‑friendly OS. More controller support, more accessory support, more ways to customize the experience. They used to experiment with features like in‑game music apps (I loved running my own radio in Forza), but all of that has disappeared.
And that’s the bigger Xbox problem: they’ve made themselves the weakest platform when it comes to software, features, hardware variety, accessories, and even first‑party games. I’d love to say they should focus on features, but they also aren’t producing the kinds of games that would take advantage of those features. It really feels like a struggle over there right now.
I just want my game console to play video games.
They ditched optical out because HDMI is better and supports more high end formats while optical only does surround sound. Might as well complain it doesn’t have coax out.
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I agree HDMI is better, but a lot of gaming sound systems, gaming headsets, bookshelf speakers, amps, etc. don't have HDMI pass-through, and optical is the easiest fallback without much reduction in audio quality. If they are going to push their console as the center of your home entertainment system, I should be able to plug my home entertainment system into it without adapters. We even lost the HDMI In over the years. It is mostly just that Xbox continues to give less and expects more.
You talked about home theater setups in your previous post and just listed off random things that aren’t part of a home theater. If you’re name dropping stuff like headsets and “gaming” sound systems (not actually a thing), it comes off like you don’t know what you’re talking about and are just plugging random things in as opposed to buying an actual home theater where most of these complaints are resolved.
If you buy a receiver, it’ll have HDMI in and out. So you plug the Xbox into your TV (or the receiver) and the TV into the receiver and it outputs to the speakers that are plugged into the receiver.
I have a 10 year old receiver that does all of this for me, and it’s so “old”, it doesn’t support HDR. Though if I plug my PS5 into the TV, the TV will route all audio from the TV to the receiver. All through HDMI.
I don’t know what setup you have, but your explanation sounds like you’ve got some jank setup that’s cobbled together and blaming Microsoft for not doing it the proper way a home theater is set up.
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My personal home theater setup works very well with my Xbox as it supports HDMI pass though, but I don't assume everyone has my setup or the money for a standard AV receiver. Many people run powered speakers or run through a sub and/or cheaper audio amps with great results. Our home gym setup runs audio through a standard speaker amp, so adapters would be needed to slot in an Xbox.
I try to include setups beyond my own as I do not believe my way is the only way. I get the problems can be bypassed by buying the more expensive solutions, like a full home theater receiver, but I do not expect everyone to be able to afford that path or even want to go that path. My gaming desk uses powered bookshelf speakers as I want an option for audio when not using a headset, and these are much cheaper than a AV receiver, take up less room, and just work. Unless it is an Xbox, then an adapter would be needed.
I'm not saying consoles NEED this stuff, but as my original post pointed out, Xbox is in last place and putting out the minimum to function is unlikely to fix that.
Receivers are cheaper than the Xbox. Most people that aren’t using their TV speakers just buy a sound bar (which you can get for like $100), which also does HDMI. So it’s like why continue on supporting optical audio?
I just brought up a home theater setup because you mentioned it, then you started mentioning “gaming” sound systems, which aren’t actually a thing, and gaming headsets. It makes one question what you’re talking about. So your attempt at being open minded instead just came off like you’re running some unorthodox setup and is upset that Xbox isn’t supporting it.