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		<title><![CDATA[Universal Gaming - Systems & Hardware]]></title>
		<link>https://universalgaming.net/</link>
		<description><![CDATA[Universal Gaming - https://universalgaming.net]]></description>
		<pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2026 14:59:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<generator>MyBB</generator>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Sony is Testing Dynamic Pricing on the PS Store]]></title>
			<link>https://universalgaming.net/showthread.php?tid=1916</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 12 Mar 2026 09:38:10 -0700</pubDate>
			<dc:creator><![CDATA[<a href="https://universalgaming.net/member.php?action=profile&uid=1">Moonface</a>]]></dc:creator>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://universalgaming.net/showthread.php?tid=1916</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[<blockquote class="mycode_quote"><cite>PS Prices Wrote:</cite><div class="quote_message"><ul class="mycode_list"><li>Sony has been running a large-scale A/B price test since November 2025 across 70+ regions, showing different prices to different users for the same games.<br />
</li>
<li>The US market was added to the experiment in March 2026, featuring 189 games, the largest set among all regions.<br />
</li>
<li>Japan remains the only major market that is not included in this testing.<br />
</li>
<li>Over 190 games across three programs: IPT_PILOT, IPT_OPR_TESTING, IPT_LTM.<br />
</li>
<li>Discounts in the US up to 27,8%, in Europe up to 17,6%.<br />
</li>
<li>Sony included its own AAA titles: Spider-Man 2, God of War, HELLDIVERS 2, Gran Turismo 7.<br />
</li>
<li>Among publishers: Sony, 2K Games, Focus Entertainment, Deep Silver, Bethesda, Rockstar, Ubisoft.<br />
</li>
<li>Personalized discounts during sales — a new stage of the experiment.<br />
</li>
</ul></div></blockquote><a href="https://psprices.com/news/sony-ab-testing-prices/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="mycode_url">Source: PS Prices</a><br />
<br />
<hr class="mycode_hr" />
I don't ever buy anything from the PS Store usually, but I can't see how this test doesn't end up with Sony getting a lawsuit filed against them. Imagine buying something from the PS Store and finding out later you paid more than someone else because you were placed into this A/B test with zero consent or knowledge? This whole thing is straight up bullshit and I'm surprised I hadn't heard anything about it until now. <img src="https://universalgaming.net/images/smilies/errm.png" alt="Errm" title="Errm" class="smilie smilie_36" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<blockquote class="mycode_quote"><cite>PS Prices Wrote:</cite><div class="quote_message"><ul class="mycode_list"><li>Sony has been running a large-scale A/B price test since November 2025 across 70+ regions, showing different prices to different users for the same games.<br />
</li>
<li>The US market was added to the experiment in March 2026, featuring 189 games, the largest set among all regions.<br />
</li>
<li>Japan remains the only major market that is not included in this testing.<br />
</li>
<li>Over 190 games across three programs: IPT_PILOT, IPT_OPR_TESTING, IPT_LTM.<br />
</li>
<li>Discounts in the US up to 27,8%, in Europe up to 17,6%.<br />
</li>
<li>Sony included its own AAA titles: Spider-Man 2, God of War, HELLDIVERS 2, Gran Turismo 7.<br />
</li>
<li>Among publishers: Sony, 2K Games, Focus Entertainment, Deep Silver, Bethesda, Rockstar, Ubisoft.<br />
</li>
<li>Personalized discounts during sales — a new stage of the experiment.<br />
</li>
</ul></div></blockquote><a href="https://psprices.com/news/sony-ab-testing-prices/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="mycode_url">Source: PS Prices</a><br />
<br />
<hr class="mycode_hr" />
I don't ever buy anything from the PS Store usually, but I can't see how this test doesn't end up with Sony getting a lawsuit filed against them. Imagine buying something from the PS Store and finding out later you paid more than someone else because you were placed into this A/B test with zero consent or knowledge? This whole thing is straight up bullshit and I'm surprised I hadn't heard anything about it until now. <img src="https://universalgaming.net/images/smilies/errm.png" alt="Errm" title="Errm" class="smilie smilie_36" />]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Project Helix - Xbox's Next Console]]></title>
			<link>https://universalgaming.net/showthread.php?tid=1915</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 11 Mar 2026 15:14:11 -0700</pubDate>
			<dc:creator><![CDATA[<a href="https://universalgaming.net/member.php?action=profile&uid=1">Moonface</a>]]></dc:creator>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://universalgaming.net/showthread.php?tid=1915</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[Following the recent leadership changes at Xbox, it was revealed that the next generation Xbox was in development, dubbed as Project Helix. Today at GDC, the company provided further details on Project Helix:<br />
<ul class="mycode_list"><li>Designed to play your Xbox console and PC games, delivering leading performance and ushering in the next generation of console gaming.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>Powered by a custom AMD SoC and co-designed for the next generation of DirectX and FSR to unlock what comes next.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>Plan to ship alpha versions of the hardware to developers beginning in 2027.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>Starting in April, Xbox mode will begin rolling out to Windows in select markets. It brings a familiar Xbox experience to players while keeping the flexibility and openness of Windows. <br />
</li>
</ul>
The full GDC conference summary can be read here: <a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/03/11/project-helix-building-next-generation-of-xbox/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="mycode_url">https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/03/11/p...n-of-xbox/</a><br />
<br />
<hr class="mycode_hr" />
I'm glad to see Xbox is staying in the console scene, for reasons I've shared before of just preventing other companies like PlayStation from doing anything they want to through providing competition. Not surprised to see they're going for a console/PC hybrid since it makes sense for them to go for that niche, which might benefit them over just trying to do a pure console because that side of the market is pretty much locked in to PlayStation and Nintendo.<br />
<br />
What they definitely need to do though is no X/S variants of the thing. Especially with their requirement that games must have parity on Series X and Series S, which is just knee-capping games from being as good as they could be on Series X. <img src="https://universalgaming.net/images/smilies/errm.png" alt="Errm" title="Errm" class="smilie smilie_36" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Following the recent leadership changes at Xbox, it was revealed that the next generation Xbox was in development, dubbed as Project Helix. Today at GDC, the company provided further details on Project Helix:<br />
<ul class="mycode_list"><li>Designed to play your Xbox console and PC games, delivering leading performance and ushering in the next generation of console gaming.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>Powered by a custom AMD SoC and co-designed for the next generation of DirectX and FSR to unlock what comes next.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>Plan to ship alpha versions of the hardware to developers beginning in 2027.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>Starting in April, Xbox mode will begin rolling out to Windows in select markets. It brings a familiar Xbox experience to players while keeping the flexibility and openness of Windows. <br />
</li>
</ul>
The full GDC conference summary can be read here: <a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/03/11/project-helix-building-next-generation-of-xbox/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="mycode_url">https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/03/11/p...n-of-xbox/</a><br />
<br />
<hr class="mycode_hr" />
I'm glad to see Xbox is staying in the console scene, for reasons I've shared before of just preventing other companies like PlayStation from doing anything they want to through providing competition. Not surprised to see they're going for a console/PC hybrid since it makes sense for them to go for that niche, which might benefit them over just trying to do a pure console because that side of the market is pretty much locked in to PlayStation and Nintendo.<br />
<br />
What they definitely need to do though is no X/S variants of the thing. Especially with their requirement that games must have parity on Series X and Series S, which is just knee-capping games from being as good as they could be on Series X. <img src="https://universalgaming.net/images/smilies/errm.png" alt="Errm" title="Errm" class="smilie smilie_36" />]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Sony Pulls Back From PlayStation Games on PC]]></title>
			<link>https://universalgaming.net/showthread.php?tid=1914</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2026 07:43:38 -0800</pubDate>
			<dc:creator><![CDATA[<a href="https://universalgaming.net/member.php?action=profile&uid=1">Moonface</a>]]></dc:creator>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://universalgaming.net/showthread.php?tid=1914</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[According to anonymous sources familiar with the company's plans, Sony no longer plans to release their big single player titles onto PC; those games will revert to being PS5 exclusive, while online-focused titles such as <span style="font-style: italic;" class="mycode_i">Marathon </span>and <span style="font-style: italic;" class="mycode_i">Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls</span> will remain multi-platform releases. Apparently, plans for <span style="font-style: italic;" class="mycode_i">Ghost of Yotei</span> and other internally developed games to have PC releases were recently scrapped. It's speculated that the shift in strategy may be due to recent PlayStation games not selling well on PC, as well as concerns that releasing games on PC risks damaging the console's brand and hurting PlayStation 5 sales numbers.<br />
<br />
Source: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-04/sony-pulls-back-from-playstation-games-on-pc?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTc3MjYzMTM4OSwiZXhwIjoxNzczMjM2MTg5LCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJUQkRNVTVLR1pBS0owMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiJCMUVBQkI5NjQ2QUM0REZFQTJBRkI4MjI1MzgyQTJFQSJ9.iJ25MhKjr88ECoSb_2cT3JX9MqYduN3JmMm63yusBVE&amp;leadSource=reddit_wall" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="mycode_url">Bloomberg</a><br />
<br />
<hr class="mycode_hr" />
I remember a long time ago seeing sales/player numbers for various PS5 games released on Steam, and although I can't recall where it was or what all the numbers were I do remember some of them were pretty dire. <img src="https://universalgaming.net/images/smilies/eyebrow.png" alt="Hmm" title="Hmm" class="smilie smilie_39" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[According to anonymous sources familiar with the company's plans, Sony no longer plans to release their big single player titles onto PC; those games will revert to being PS5 exclusive, while online-focused titles such as <span style="font-style: italic;" class="mycode_i">Marathon </span>and <span style="font-style: italic;" class="mycode_i">Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls</span> will remain multi-platform releases. Apparently, plans for <span style="font-style: italic;" class="mycode_i">Ghost of Yotei</span> and other internally developed games to have PC releases were recently scrapped. It's speculated that the shift in strategy may be due to recent PlayStation games not selling well on PC, as well as concerns that releasing games on PC risks damaging the console's brand and hurting PlayStation 5 sales numbers.<br />
<br />
Source: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-04/sony-pulls-back-from-playstation-games-on-pc?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTc3MjYzMTM4OSwiZXhwIjoxNzczMjM2MTg5LCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJUQkRNVTVLR1pBS0owMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiJCMUVBQkI5NjQ2QUM0REZFQTJBRkI4MjI1MzgyQTJFQSJ9.iJ25MhKjr88ECoSb_2cT3JX9MqYduN3JmMm63yusBVE&amp;leadSource=reddit_wall" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="mycode_url">Bloomberg</a><br />
<br />
<hr class="mycode_hr" />
I remember a long time ago seeing sales/player numbers for various PS5 games released on Steam, and although I can't recall where it was or what all the numbers were I do remember some of them were pretty dire. <img src="https://universalgaming.net/images/smilies/eyebrow.png" alt="Hmm" title="Hmm" class="smilie smilie_39" />]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Xbox Leadership Changes]]></title>
			<link>https://universalgaming.net/showthread.php?tid=1911</link>
			<pubDate>Sat, 21 Feb 2026 09:13:55 -0800</pubDate>
			<dc:creator><![CDATA[<a href="https://universalgaming.net/member.php?action=profile&uid=1">Moonface</a>]]></dc:creator>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://universalgaming.net/showthread.php?tid=1911</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[<a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/phil-spencer-retiring-sarah-bond-out-matt-booty-promoted-as-microsoft-ai-exec-asha-sharma-named-new-xbox-boss-exclusive" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="mycode_url">An exclusive report from IGN</a> has revealed sudden and notable changes to the leadership at Xbox that will see current Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer retiring, Xbox President Sarah Bond resigning, Matt Booty promoted to Chief Content Officer, and current President of Microsoft's CoreAI product Asha Sharma taking over as the new CEO of Microsoft Gaming. The changes will come into effect as soon as Monday, February 23, which will be when Spencer's retirement becomes effective and see Asha Sharma take over his role:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="mycode_quote"><cite>Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella Wrote:</cite><div class="quote_message">I want to thank Phil for his extraordinary leadership and partnership. Over 38 years at Microsoft, including 12 years leading Gaming, Phil helped transform what we do and how we do it.</div></blockquote><br />
<blockquote class="mycode_quote"><cite>Phil Spencer Wrote:</cite><div class="quote_message">Last fall, I shared with Satya that I was thinking about stepping back and starting the next chapter of my life. From that moment, we aligned on approaching this transition with intention, ensuring stability, and strengthening the foundation we’ve built. Xbox has always been more than a business. It’s a vibrant community of players, creators, and teams who care deeply about what we build and how we build it. And it deserves a thoughtful, deliberate plan for the road ahead.<br />
<br />
Today marks an exciting new chapter for Microsoft Gaming as Asha Sharma steps into the role of CEO, and I want to be the first to welcome her to this incredible team. Working with her over the past several months has given me tremendous confidence. She brings genuine curiosity, clarity and a deep commitment to understanding players, creators, and the decisions that shape our future. We know this is an important moment for our fans, partners, and team, and we’re committed to getting it right. I’ll remain in an advisory role through the summer to support a smooth handoff.</div></blockquote><br />
<blockquote class="mycode_quote"><cite>Asha Sharma Wrote:</cite><div class="quote_message">My first job is simple: understand what makes this work and protect it. That starts with three commitments. First, great games. Everything begins here. We must have great games beloved by players before we do anything. Unforgettable characters, stories that make us feel, innovative game play, and creative excellence. We will empower our studios, invest in iconic franchises, and back bold new ideas. We will take risks. We will enter new categories and markets where we can add real value, grounded in what players care about most. I promoted Matt Booty in honor of this commitment. He understands the craft and the challenges of building great games, has led teams that deliver award-winning work, and has earned the trust of game developers across the industry.<br />
<br />
Second, the return of Xbox. We will recommit to our core Xbox fans and players, those who have invested with us for the past 25 years, and to the developers who build the expansive universes and experiences that are embraced by players across the world. We will celebrate our roots with a renewed commitment to Xbox starting with console which has shaped who we are. It connects us to the players and fans who invest in Xbox, and to the developers who build ambitious experiences for it.<br />
<br />
Gaming now lives across devices, not within the limits of any single piece of hardware. As we expand across PC, mobile, and cloud, Xbox should feel seamless, instant, and worthy of the communities we serve. We will break down barriers so developers can build once and reach players everywhere without compromise.<br />
<br />
Third, future of play. We are witnessing the reinvention of play. To meet the moment, we will invent new business models and new ways to play by leaning into what we already have: iconic teams, characters, and worlds that people love. But we will not treat those worlds as static IP to milk and monetize. We will build a shared platform and tools that empower developers and players to create and share their own stories.<br />
<br />
As monetization and AI evolve and influence this future, we will not chase short-term efficiency or flood our ecosystem with soulless AI slop. Games are and always will be art, crafted by humans, and created with the most innovative technology provided by us.</div></blockquote><br />
<blockquote class="mycode_quote"><cite>Matt Booty Wrote:</cite><div class="quote_message">Looking forward, I’m excited to partner with Asha as our next CEO. Our first conversations centered on her commitment to making great games and the role that plays in our overall success. She asks questions, pushes for clarity, and wants our choices grounded in player and developer needs. That mindset matters as the industry around us is changing quickly: how players engage, how games are made, and how business models and platforms evolve.<br />
<br />
We have good reasons to believe in what’s ahead. This organization and its franchises have navigated change for decades, and our strength comes from teams who know how to adapt and keep delivering. That confidence is grounded in a strong pipeline of established franchises, new bets we believe in, and clear player demand for what we are building.</div></blockquote><br />
No statement was given from Sarah Bond, who may have resigned after not being Spencer's successor, despite many both inside and outside of Microsoft long believing she would be.<br />
<br />
<br />
<hr class="mycode_hr" />
Honestly I'm actually glad to see Phil Spencer retiring. He seems like a nice guy but for a long while now I feel like he's just really been coasting and doing nothing to strengthen the Xbox brand, particularly after that massive acquisition of Activision Blizzard which did absolutely nothing except paint a huge target on Xbox's back that attracted a ton of attention from Microsoft. Spending <span style="font-style: italic;" class="mycode_i">that much</span> money and as far as I know not making it back yet is just asking to have your parent company watch you like a hawk when before you were a side project to them they didn't need to be overly concerned about and were content to let it do what it was doing prior to that acquisition.<br />
<br />
I can't say I trust Sharma's statement in regards to AI, but ultimately all I'm hoping for is that Xbox as a brand (especially as a console brand) continues in the wake of this change because otherwise Sony is just going to end up in a position where there is absolutely zero competition for them in the console market. I know in terms of sales Xbox isn't touching PlayStation at the moment, but I remember how cocky and arrogant Sony were with the PS3 and the only thing that allowed them to be humbled was Xbox, and ironically the roles immediately switched at the start of the following console generation when Xbox was humbled back in turn with the Xbox One announcement. Without Xbox there is no way the PS4 would have turned out the way it did, and if Xbox were in a stronger position for this console generation it might have made Sony give the PS5 reasons to actually be worth a damn. <img src="https://universalgaming.net/images/smilies/errm.png" alt="Errm" title="Errm" class="smilie smilie_36" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/phil-spencer-retiring-sarah-bond-out-matt-booty-promoted-as-microsoft-ai-exec-asha-sharma-named-new-xbox-boss-exclusive" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="mycode_url">An exclusive report from IGN</a> has revealed sudden and notable changes to the leadership at Xbox that will see current Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer retiring, Xbox President Sarah Bond resigning, Matt Booty promoted to Chief Content Officer, and current President of Microsoft's CoreAI product Asha Sharma taking over as the new CEO of Microsoft Gaming. The changes will come into effect as soon as Monday, February 23, which will be when Spencer's retirement becomes effective and see Asha Sharma take over his role:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="mycode_quote"><cite>Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella Wrote:</cite><div class="quote_message">I want to thank Phil for his extraordinary leadership and partnership. Over 38 years at Microsoft, including 12 years leading Gaming, Phil helped transform what we do and how we do it.</div></blockquote><br />
<blockquote class="mycode_quote"><cite>Phil Spencer Wrote:</cite><div class="quote_message">Last fall, I shared with Satya that I was thinking about stepping back and starting the next chapter of my life. From that moment, we aligned on approaching this transition with intention, ensuring stability, and strengthening the foundation we’ve built. Xbox has always been more than a business. It’s a vibrant community of players, creators, and teams who care deeply about what we build and how we build it. And it deserves a thoughtful, deliberate plan for the road ahead.<br />
<br />
Today marks an exciting new chapter for Microsoft Gaming as Asha Sharma steps into the role of CEO, and I want to be the first to welcome her to this incredible team. Working with her over the past several months has given me tremendous confidence. She brings genuine curiosity, clarity and a deep commitment to understanding players, creators, and the decisions that shape our future. We know this is an important moment for our fans, partners, and team, and we’re committed to getting it right. I’ll remain in an advisory role through the summer to support a smooth handoff.</div></blockquote><br />
<blockquote class="mycode_quote"><cite>Asha Sharma Wrote:</cite><div class="quote_message">My first job is simple: understand what makes this work and protect it. That starts with three commitments. First, great games. Everything begins here. We must have great games beloved by players before we do anything. Unforgettable characters, stories that make us feel, innovative game play, and creative excellence. We will empower our studios, invest in iconic franchises, and back bold new ideas. We will take risks. We will enter new categories and markets where we can add real value, grounded in what players care about most. I promoted Matt Booty in honor of this commitment. He understands the craft and the challenges of building great games, has led teams that deliver award-winning work, and has earned the trust of game developers across the industry.<br />
<br />
Second, the return of Xbox. We will recommit to our core Xbox fans and players, those who have invested with us for the past 25 years, and to the developers who build the expansive universes and experiences that are embraced by players across the world. We will celebrate our roots with a renewed commitment to Xbox starting with console which has shaped who we are. It connects us to the players and fans who invest in Xbox, and to the developers who build ambitious experiences for it.<br />
<br />
Gaming now lives across devices, not within the limits of any single piece of hardware. As we expand across PC, mobile, and cloud, Xbox should feel seamless, instant, and worthy of the communities we serve. We will break down barriers so developers can build once and reach players everywhere without compromise.<br />
<br />
Third, future of play. We are witnessing the reinvention of play. To meet the moment, we will invent new business models and new ways to play by leaning into what we already have: iconic teams, characters, and worlds that people love. But we will not treat those worlds as static IP to milk and monetize. We will build a shared platform and tools that empower developers and players to create and share their own stories.<br />
<br />
As monetization and AI evolve and influence this future, we will not chase short-term efficiency or flood our ecosystem with soulless AI slop. Games are and always will be art, crafted by humans, and created with the most innovative technology provided by us.</div></blockquote><br />
<blockquote class="mycode_quote"><cite>Matt Booty Wrote:</cite><div class="quote_message">Looking forward, I’m excited to partner with Asha as our next CEO. Our first conversations centered on her commitment to making great games and the role that plays in our overall success. She asks questions, pushes for clarity, and wants our choices grounded in player and developer needs. That mindset matters as the industry around us is changing quickly: how players engage, how games are made, and how business models and platforms evolve.<br />
<br />
We have good reasons to believe in what’s ahead. This organization and its franchises have navigated change for decades, and our strength comes from teams who know how to adapt and keep delivering. That confidence is grounded in a strong pipeline of established franchises, new bets we believe in, and clear player demand for what we are building.</div></blockquote><br />
No statement was given from Sarah Bond, who may have resigned after not being Spencer's successor, despite many both inside and outside of Microsoft long believing she would be.<br />
<br />
<br />
<hr class="mycode_hr" />
Honestly I'm actually glad to see Phil Spencer retiring. He seems like a nice guy but for a long while now I feel like he's just really been coasting and doing nothing to strengthen the Xbox brand, particularly after that massive acquisition of Activision Blizzard which did absolutely nothing except paint a huge target on Xbox's back that attracted a ton of attention from Microsoft. Spending <span style="font-style: italic;" class="mycode_i">that much</span> money and as far as I know not making it back yet is just asking to have your parent company watch you like a hawk when before you were a side project to them they didn't need to be overly concerned about and were content to let it do what it was doing prior to that acquisition.<br />
<br />
I can't say I trust Sharma's statement in regards to AI, but ultimately all I'm hoping for is that Xbox as a brand (especially as a console brand) continues in the wake of this change because otherwise Sony is just going to end up in a position where there is absolutely zero competition for them in the console market. I know in terms of sales Xbox isn't touching PlayStation at the moment, but I remember how cocky and arrogant Sony were with the PS3 and the only thing that allowed them to be humbled was Xbox, and ironically the roles immediately switched at the start of the following console generation when Xbox was humbled back in turn with the Xbox One announcement. Without Xbox there is no way the PS4 would have turned out the way it did, and if Xbox were in a stronger position for this console generation it might have made Sony give the PS5 reasons to actually be worth a damn. <img src="https://universalgaming.net/images/smilies/errm.png" alt="Errm" title="Errm" class="smilie smilie_36" />]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Console Sales vs. Respective Best Selling Game]]></title>
			<link>https://universalgaming.net/showthread.php?tid=1907</link>
			<pubDate>Sat, 10 Jan 2026 10:01:54 -0800</pubDate>
			<dc:creator><![CDATA[<a href="https://universalgaming.net/member.php?action=profile&uid=1">Moonface</a>]]></dc:creator>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://universalgaming.net/showthread.php?tid=1907</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[I was bored and for some reason felt like seeing what the percentage would be for the number of platform units sold vs. the number of copies of its best selling game. In other words, if a console sold 10 million units and its best selling game sold 1 million units, then that game sold 10% as many copies as its respective console. I wanted to do this to see how the top selling games per system compare to each other when measured in this way rather than by copies sold, since a game could have sold less copies than another but end up with a higher percentage if it sold a lot in comparison to its respective console units. So without further ado, here's the outcomes:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b"><span style="font-size: large;" class="mycode_size">Atari</span></span><ul class="mycode_list"><li>Atari 2600 - 30,000,000 units / Pac-Man - 8,095,586 copies = 26.99%<br />
</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b"><span style="font-size: large;" class="mycode_size">Nintendo</span></span><ul class="mycode_list"><li>Nintendo Entertainment System - 61,910,000 units / Super Mario Bros. - 40,240,000 copies = 65%<br />
</li>
<li>Super Nintendo Entertainment System - 49,100,000 units / Super Mario World - 20,610,000 copies = 41.98%<br />
</li>
<li>Nintendo 64 - 32,930,000 units / Super Mario 64 - 11,910,000 copies = 36.17%<br />
</li>
<li>GameCube - 21,740,000 units / Super Smash Bros. Melee - 7,410,000 copies = 34.08%<br />
</li>
<li>Wii - 101,630,000 units / Mario Kart Wii - 37,380,000 copies = 36.78%<br />
</li>
<li>Wii U - 13,560,000 units / Mario Kart 8 - 8,460,000 copies = 62.39%<br />
</li>
<li>Switch - 154,010,000 units / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - 69,560,000 copies = 45.17%<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>Game Boy - 118,690,000 units / Tetris - 35,000,000 copies = 29.49%<br />
</li>
<li>Game Boy Advance - 81,510,000 units / Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire - 16,220,000 copies = 19.9%<br />
</li>
<li>Nintendo DS - 154,000,000 units / New Super Mario Bros. - 30,800,000 copies = 20%<br />
</li>
<li>Nintendo 3DS - 75,940,000 units / Mario Kart 7 - 18,990,000 copies = 25.01%<br />
</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b"><span style="font-size: large;" class="mycode_size">PlayStation</span></span><ul class="mycode_list"><li>PlayStation - 102,490,000 units / Gran Turismo - 10,850,000 copies = 10.59%<br />
</li>
<li>PlayStation 2 - 160,000,000 units / Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - 17,330,000 copies = 10.83%<br />
</li>
<li>PlayStation 3 - 87,400,000 units / Grand Theft Auto V - 29,520,000 copies = 33.78%<br />
</li>
<li>PlayStation 4 - 113,500,000 units / Grand Theft Auto V - 24,660,000 copies = 21.73%<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>PlayStation Portable - 80,000,000 units / Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories - 8,000,000 copies = 10%<br />
</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: large;" class="mycode_size"><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b">Sega</span></span><ul class="mycode_list"><li>Genesis - 30,750,000 units / Sonic the Hedgehog - 15,000,000 copies = 48.78%<br />
</li>
<li>Saturn - 9,260,000 units / Virtua Fighter 2 - 2,500,000 copies = 27%<br />
</li>
<li>Dreamcast - 9,130,000 units / Sonic Adventure - 2,500,000 copies = 27.38%<br />
</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b"><span style="font-size: large;" class="mycode_size">Xbox</span></span><ul class="mycode_list"><li>Xbox - 24,000,000 units / Halo 2 - 8,460,000 copies = 35.25%<br />
</li>
<li>Xbox 360 - 84,000,000 units / Kinect Adventures - 24,000,000 copies = 28.57%<br />
</li>
<li>Xbox One - 58,000,000 units / Grand Theft Auto V - 10,980,000 copies = 18.93%<br />
</li>
</ul>
<br />
A few notes on these stats:<ul class="mycode_list"><li>Technically the best selling game for the Wii is Wii Sports, but because it was bundled with a large majority of the consoles I am not counting that as the consoles best selling game.<br />
</li>
<li>Oddly, there were no stats for the PS Vita for its best selling game, so I wasn't able to include it here.<br />
</li>
<li>Units sold for consoles were based on that actual number where possible, but some had to use units shipped as it was the only given statistic.<br />
</li>
</ul>
<br />
Now onto pointing out some fun things with these stats that I learned from doing this:<ul class="mycode_list"><li>PSP has the lowest percentage of any system listed, with its best selling game being only 10% of the consoles total sales.<br />
</li>
<li>PS1 has the lowest percentage of any home console, with only 10.59%.<br />
</li>
<li>Overall, the worst performing best selling games in comparison to console sales are on PlayStation platforms, with 3/5 of games on the listed systems being only 10-11%.<br />
</li>
<li>While Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the best selling game of any listed in terms of copies sold, it ranks 4/23 in terms of copies/units percentage.<br />
</li>
<li>Nintendo holds the most spots for highest percentages, with NES at #1, Wii U at #2, Switch at #4 and SNES at #5.<br />
</li>
<li>While the Dreamcast is the worst selling console in the list and joint lowest copies sold of its best selling game, it still ranks in at 13/23. This particular stat (and Saturn being 14/23) is a key reason I chose to do this, as it demonstrates that despite having the lowest game sales it doesn't have the worst ranking when viewed as game copies vs. console units sold.<br />
</li>
</ul>
<br />
Maybe some of you will find some of this interesting, but if not I had fun doing this and learning some neat facts that I don't think many people would know about. <img src="https://universalgaming.net/images/smilies/^_^.png" alt="^_^" title="^_^" class="smilie smilie_29" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[I was bored and for some reason felt like seeing what the percentage would be for the number of platform units sold vs. the number of copies of its best selling game. In other words, if a console sold 10 million units and its best selling game sold 1 million units, then that game sold 10% as many copies as its respective console. I wanted to do this to see how the top selling games per system compare to each other when measured in this way rather than by copies sold, since a game could have sold less copies than another but end up with a higher percentage if it sold a lot in comparison to its respective console units. So without further ado, here's the outcomes:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b"><span style="font-size: large;" class="mycode_size">Atari</span></span><ul class="mycode_list"><li>Atari 2600 - 30,000,000 units / Pac-Man - 8,095,586 copies = 26.99%<br />
</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b"><span style="font-size: large;" class="mycode_size">Nintendo</span></span><ul class="mycode_list"><li>Nintendo Entertainment System - 61,910,000 units / Super Mario Bros. - 40,240,000 copies = 65%<br />
</li>
<li>Super Nintendo Entertainment System - 49,100,000 units / Super Mario World - 20,610,000 copies = 41.98%<br />
</li>
<li>Nintendo 64 - 32,930,000 units / Super Mario 64 - 11,910,000 copies = 36.17%<br />
</li>
<li>GameCube - 21,740,000 units / Super Smash Bros. Melee - 7,410,000 copies = 34.08%<br />
</li>
<li>Wii - 101,630,000 units / Mario Kart Wii - 37,380,000 copies = 36.78%<br />
</li>
<li>Wii U - 13,560,000 units / Mario Kart 8 - 8,460,000 copies = 62.39%<br />
</li>
<li>Switch - 154,010,000 units / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - 69,560,000 copies = 45.17%<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>Game Boy - 118,690,000 units / Tetris - 35,000,000 copies = 29.49%<br />
</li>
<li>Game Boy Advance - 81,510,000 units / Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire - 16,220,000 copies = 19.9%<br />
</li>
<li>Nintendo DS - 154,000,000 units / New Super Mario Bros. - 30,800,000 copies = 20%<br />
</li>
<li>Nintendo 3DS - 75,940,000 units / Mario Kart 7 - 18,990,000 copies = 25.01%<br />
</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b"><span style="font-size: large;" class="mycode_size">PlayStation</span></span><ul class="mycode_list"><li>PlayStation - 102,490,000 units / Gran Turismo - 10,850,000 copies = 10.59%<br />
</li>
<li>PlayStation 2 - 160,000,000 units / Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - 17,330,000 copies = 10.83%<br />
</li>
<li>PlayStation 3 - 87,400,000 units / Grand Theft Auto V - 29,520,000 copies = 33.78%<br />
</li>
<li>PlayStation 4 - 113,500,000 units / Grand Theft Auto V - 24,660,000 copies = 21.73%<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>PlayStation Portable - 80,000,000 units / Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories - 8,000,000 copies = 10%<br />
</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: large;" class="mycode_size"><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b">Sega</span></span><ul class="mycode_list"><li>Genesis - 30,750,000 units / Sonic the Hedgehog - 15,000,000 copies = 48.78%<br />
</li>
<li>Saturn - 9,260,000 units / Virtua Fighter 2 - 2,500,000 copies = 27%<br />
</li>
<li>Dreamcast - 9,130,000 units / Sonic Adventure - 2,500,000 copies = 27.38%<br />
</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b"><span style="font-size: large;" class="mycode_size">Xbox</span></span><ul class="mycode_list"><li>Xbox - 24,000,000 units / Halo 2 - 8,460,000 copies = 35.25%<br />
</li>
<li>Xbox 360 - 84,000,000 units / Kinect Adventures - 24,000,000 copies = 28.57%<br />
</li>
<li>Xbox One - 58,000,000 units / Grand Theft Auto V - 10,980,000 copies = 18.93%<br />
</li>
</ul>
<br />
A few notes on these stats:<ul class="mycode_list"><li>Technically the best selling game for the Wii is Wii Sports, but because it was bundled with a large majority of the consoles I am not counting that as the consoles best selling game.<br />
</li>
<li>Oddly, there were no stats for the PS Vita for its best selling game, so I wasn't able to include it here.<br />
</li>
<li>Units sold for consoles were based on that actual number where possible, but some had to use units shipped as it was the only given statistic.<br />
</li>
</ul>
<br />
Now onto pointing out some fun things with these stats that I learned from doing this:<ul class="mycode_list"><li>PSP has the lowest percentage of any system listed, with its best selling game being only 10% of the consoles total sales.<br />
</li>
<li>PS1 has the lowest percentage of any home console, with only 10.59%.<br />
</li>
<li>Overall, the worst performing best selling games in comparison to console sales are on PlayStation platforms, with 3/5 of games on the listed systems being only 10-11%.<br />
</li>
<li>While Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the best selling game of any listed in terms of copies sold, it ranks 4/23 in terms of copies/units percentage.<br />
</li>
<li>Nintendo holds the most spots for highest percentages, with NES at #1, Wii U at #2, Switch at #4 and SNES at #5.<br />
</li>
<li>While the Dreamcast is the worst selling console in the list and joint lowest copies sold of its best selling game, it still ranks in at 13/23. This particular stat (and Saturn being 14/23) is a key reason I chose to do this, as it demonstrates that despite having the lowest game sales it doesn't have the worst ranking when viewed as game copies vs. console units sold.<br />
</li>
</ul>
<br />
Maybe some of you will find some of this interesting, but if not I had fun doing this and learning some neat facts that I don't think many people would know about. <img src="https://universalgaming.net/images/smilies/^_^.png" alt="^_^" title="^_^" class="smilie smilie_29" />]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The RAM Shortage]]></title>
			<link>https://universalgaming.net/showthread.php?tid=1902</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 16 Dec 2025 13:50:36 -0800</pubDate>
			<dc:creator><![CDATA[<a href="https://universalgaming.net/member.php?action=profile&uid=1">Moonface</a>]]></dc:creator>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://universalgaming.net/showthread.php?tid=1902</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[So if you haven't heard, or like me you haven't been really following it much, there is currently a severe shortage of RAM for consumer products which has caused it to see a <span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b">massive</span> price hike. Here's the simple summary of the events, reasons, and consequences behind this:<br />
<ul class="mycode_list"><li>The biggest names in the AI industry, including Google, Meta, OpenAI, and Anthropic, are buying up DRAM for their data centers in huge amounts. To make matters worse, the big companies that produce this DRAM such as Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron, are shifting their resources away from consumer-focused products in favor of lucrative deals with these AI companies for DRAM.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron control 93% of the entire global DRAM market. Any other company has a market share of less than 5%.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>Micron went so far as to announce they are winding down their long-standing consumer facing brand Crucial in favor of providing DRAM to AI companies.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>A key component for making DRAM is silicon wafers; however, these wafers are <span style="font-style: italic;" class="mycode_i">also </span>used for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) which are used heavily by AI companies. <a href="https://nand-research.com/analyst-note-semiconductor-memory-market-supply-constraints-and-rising-prices/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="mycode_url">Per NAND Research</a>, “wafer capacity consumed by <span style="text-decoration: underline;" class="mycode_u">HBM exceeds that of standard DRAM by a factor of three</span>.” Obviously, this further exacerbates the shortage of DRAM as the AI companies don't just require tons of it, but there are also less silicon wafers that can be used to make DRAM.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>Among the obvious things like consoles and PC's, DRAM is used in practically everything nowadays, including smartphones, smart TVs, and cars. It is basically the backbone of modern computing of any kind.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>SSD's are also being affected, as AI companies are also buying up data storage for their centers as well.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>As a result of this increased demand and shift in supply priority, RAM kit prices have <span style="text-decoration: underline;" class="mycode_u">increased by 252%</span> from September to December, while the average price for SSD's has seen a <span style="text-decoration: underline;" class="mycode_u">42% increase</span> in the same time period.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>For some perspective, the Nintendo Switch 2 uses 12 GB LPDDR5X modules which have increased in price by 41%, and NAND flash which has risen by 8%. The likelihood that Nintendo will be able to absorb that increased cost is very low, and could force the company to increase the price of the Nintendo Switch 2.<br />
</li>
</ul>
Source: <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/839353/pc-ram-shortage-pricing-spike-news" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="mycode_url">The Verge | RAM price hikes: the latest on the global memory shortage</a><br />
<br />
As if there wasn't enough reasons to hate AI already, we now all get the joy of it screwing us no matter how much we try to avoid it. I avoid using AI like it's the damn plague but sooner or later the greed of the AI companies and the companies supplying them is going to creep in and infiltrate things I use in terms of price, supply and quality even if AI itself isn't even part of those things. <img src="https://universalgaming.net/images/smilies/errm.png" alt="Errm" title="Errm" class="smilie smilie_36" /><br />
<br />
I guess it's a good thing I got a Switch 2 at launch and don't need a new laptop any time soon, and although there probably wasn't going to be a new console generation announced any time soon I really can't see Sony or Microsoft putting out a PS6 or new Xbox respectively when this shortage is going to make it a bastard to even make more of their current consoles. On the bright side, maybe this forcing a longer console generation again will push developers to eventually start optimizing their games to get more out of the hardware because there won't be new hardware to rely on.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[So if you haven't heard, or like me you haven't been really following it much, there is currently a severe shortage of RAM for consumer products which has caused it to see a <span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b">massive</span> price hike. Here's the simple summary of the events, reasons, and consequences behind this:<br />
<ul class="mycode_list"><li>The biggest names in the AI industry, including Google, Meta, OpenAI, and Anthropic, are buying up DRAM for their data centers in huge amounts. To make matters worse, the big companies that produce this DRAM such as Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron, are shifting their resources away from consumer-focused products in favor of lucrative deals with these AI companies for DRAM.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron control 93% of the entire global DRAM market. Any other company has a market share of less than 5%.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>Micron went so far as to announce they are winding down their long-standing consumer facing brand Crucial in favor of providing DRAM to AI companies.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>A key component for making DRAM is silicon wafers; however, these wafers are <span style="font-style: italic;" class="mycode_i">also </span>used for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) which are used heavily by AI companies. <a href="https://nand-research.com/analyst-note-semiconductor-memory-market-supply-constraints-and-rising-prices/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="mycode_url">Per NAND Research</a>, “wafer capacity consumed by <span style="text-decoration: underline;" class="mycode_u">HBM exceeds that of standard DRAM by a factor of three</span>.” Obviously, this further exacerbates the shortage of DRAM as the AI companies don't just require tons of it, but there are also less silicon wafers that can be used to make DRAM.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>Among the obvious things like consoles and PC's, DRAM is used in practically everything nowadays, including smartphones, smart TVs, and cars. It is basically the backbone of modern computing of any kind.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>SSD's are also being affected, as AI companies are also buying up data storage for their centers as well.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>As a result of this increased demand and shift in supply priority, RAM kit prices have <span style="text-decoration: underline;" class="mycode_u">increased by 252%</span> from September to December, while the average price for SSD's has seen a <span style="text-decoration: underline;" class="mycode_u">42% increase</span> in the same time period.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>For some perspective, the Nintendo Switch 2 uses 12 GB LPDDR5X modules which have increased in price by 41%, and NAND flash which has risen by 8%. The likelihood that Nintendo will be able to absorb that increased cost is very low, and could force the company to increase the price of the Nintendo Switch 2.<br />
</li>
</ul>
Source: <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/839353/pc-ram-shortage-pricing-spike-news" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="mycode_url">The Verge | RAM price hikes: the latest on the global memory shortage</a><br />
<br />
As if there wasn't enough reasons to hate AI already, we now all get the joy of it screwing us no matter how much we try to avoid it. I avoid using AI like it's the damn plague but sooner or later the greed of the AI companies and the companies supplying them is going to creep in and infiltrate things I use in terms of price, supply and quality even if AI itself isn't even part of those things. <img src="https://universalgaming.net/images/smilies/errm.png" alt="Errm" title="Errm" class="smilie smilie_36" /><br />
<br />
I guess it's a good thing I got a Switch 2 at launch and don't need a new laptop any time soon, and although there probably wasn't going to be a new console generation announced any time soon I really can't see Sony or Microsoft putting out a PS6 or new Xbox respectively when this shortage is going to make it a bastard to even make more of their current consoles. On the bright side, maybe this forcing a longer console generation again will push developers to eventually start optimizing their games to get more out of the hardware because there won't be new hardware to rely on.]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Steam Machine]]></title>
			<link>https://universalgaming.net/showthread.php?tid=1894</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 12 Nov 2025 13:48:26 -0800</pubDate>
			<dc:creator><![CDATA[<a href="https://universalgaming.net/member.php?action=profile&uid=1">Moonface</a>]]></dc:creator>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://universalgaming.net/showthread.php?tid=1894</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[<div style="text-align: center;" class="mycode_align"><iframe class="ytmobile" width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/JhTvaRogQp8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;" class="mycode_size"><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b">Your Games on the Big Screen</span></span><br />
Powerful PC gaming made easy, in a small and mighty package.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b"><span style="font-size: large;" class="mycode_size">Your Steam Library in more places</span></span><br />
With over six times the horsepower of Steam Deck, Steam Machine has the power to play your whole Steam library, including your favorite AAA titles. Just sign in with your Steam account and your entire library is there.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b"><span style="font-size: large;" class="mycode_size">It's also a PC!</span></span><br />
Yes, Steam Machine is optimized for gaming, but it's still your PC. Install your own apps, or even another operating system. Who are we to tell you how to use your computer?<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b"><span style="font-size: large;" class="mycode_size">Tech Specs</span></span><ul class="mycode_list"><li><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b">CPU</span><br />
Semi-custom AMD Zen 4 6C / 12T<ul class="mycode_list"><li>up to 4.8 GHz, 30W TDP<br />
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b">GPU</span><br />
Semi-custom AMD RDNA3 28CUs<ul class="mycode_list"><li>2.45GHz max sustained clock, 110W TDP<br />
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b">RAM</span><br />
16GB DDR5 + 8GB GDDR6 VRAM<br />
</li>
<li><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b">Power</span><br />
Internal power supply, AC power 110-240V<br />
</li>
<li><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b">Storage</span><br />
Two Steam Machine models, 512GB NVMe SSD / 2TB NVMe SSD, both with a high-speed microSD slot<br />
<br />
</li>
<li><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b">Wi-Fi</span><br />
2x2 Wi-Fi 6E<br />
</li>
<li><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b">Bluetooth</span><br />
Bluetooth 5.3 dedicated antenna<br />
</li>
<li><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b">Steam Controller</span><br />
Integrated 2.4 GHz Steam Controller wireless adapter<br />
<br />
</li>
<li><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b">Displays</span><br />
DisplayPort 1.4<ul class="mycode_list"><li>Up to 4K @ 240Hz or 8K@60Hz<br />
</li>
<li>Supports HDR, FreeSync, and daisy-chaining<br />
</li>
</ul>
HDMI 2.0<ul class="mycode_list"><li>Up to 4K @ 120Hz<br />
</li>
<li>Supports HDR, FreeSync, and CEC<br />
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b">USB</span><br />
Two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports in the front <br />
Two USB-A 2.0 High speed ports in the back<br />
One USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port in the back<br />
</li>
<li><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b">Networking</span><br />
Gigabit ethernet<br />
</li>
<li><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b">LED Strip</span><br />
17 individually addressable RGB LEDs for system status and customizability<br />
<br />
</li>
<li><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b">Size</span><br />
152 mm tall (148 mm without feet), 162.4 mm deep, 156 mm wide<br />
</li>
<li><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b">Weight</span><br />
2.6 kg<br />
<br />
</li>
<li><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b">Operating System</span><br />
SteamOS 3 (Arch-based)<br />
</li>
<li><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b">Desktop</span><br />
KDE Plasma<br />
</li>
</ul>
<br />
<hr class="mycode_hr" />
No price yet, but I remember back when Steam Machines tried to be a thing years ago and never really panned out too well. Depending on price maybe I'll get one to play games with on my TV since right now I just use my laptop, which is fine but has its limits.<br />
<br />
I know either way I can't say I'm a fan of that new Steam Controller. It looks so weird and bulky; it reminds me of the original Xbox controller a bit. <img src="https://universalgaming.net/images/smilies/tongue.png" alt="Tongue" title="Tongue" class="smilie smilie_56" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div style="text-align: center;" class="mycode_align"><iframe class="ytmobile" width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/JhTvaRogQp8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;" class="mycode_size"><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b">Your Games on the Big Screen</span></span><br />
Powerful PC gaming made easy, in a small and mighty package.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b"><span style="font-size: large;" class="mycode_size">Your Steam Library in more places</span></span><br />
With over six times the horsepower of Steam Deck, Steam Machine has the power to play your whole Steam library, including your favorite AAA titles. Just sign in with your Steam account and your entire library is there.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b"><span style="font-size: large;" class="mycode_size">It's also a PC!</span></span><br />
Yes, Steam Machine is optimized for gaming, but it's still your PC. Install your own apps, or even another operating system. Who are we to tell you how to use your computer?<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b"><span style="font-size: large;" class="mycode_size">Tech Specs</span></span><ul class="mycode_list"><li><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b">CPU</span><br />
Semi-custom AMD Zen 4 6C / 12T<ul class="mycode_list"><li>up to 4.8 GHz, 30W TDP<br />
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b">GPU</span><br />
Semi-custom AMD RDNA3 28CUs<ul class="mycode_list"><li>2.45GHz max sustained clock, 110W TDP<br />
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b">RAM</span><br />
16GB DDR5 + 8GB GDDR6 VRAM<br />
</li>
<li><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b">Power</span><br />
Internal power supply, AC power 110-240V<br />
</li>
<li><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b">Storage</span><br />
Two Steam Machine models, 512GB NVMe SSD / 2TB NVMe SSD, both with a high-speed microSD slot<br />
<br />
</li>
<li><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b">Wi-Fi</span><br />
2x2 Wi-Fi 6E<br />
</li>
<li><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b">Bluetooth</span><br />
Bluetooth 5.3 dedicated antenna<br />
</li>
<li><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b">Steam Controller</span><br />
Integrated 2.4 GHz Steam Controller wireless adapter<br />
<br />
</li>
<li><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b">Displays</span><br />
DisplayPort 1.4<ul class="mycode_list"><li>Up to 4K @ 240Hz or 8K@60Hz<br />
</li>
<li>Supports HDR, FreeSync, and daisy-chaining<br />
</li>
</ul>
HDMI 2.0<ul class="mycode_list"><li>Up to 4K @ 120Hz<br />
</li>
<li>Supports HDR, FreeSync, and CEC<br />
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b">USB</span><br />
Two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports in the front <br />
Two USB-A 2.0 High speed ports in the back<br />
One USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port in the back<br />
</li>
<li><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b">Networking</span><br />
Gigabit ethernet<br />
</li>
<li><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b">LED Strip</span><br />
17 individually addressable RGB LEDs for system status and customizability<br />
<br />
</li>
<li><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b">Size</span><br />
152 mm tall (148 mm without feet), 162.4 mm deep, 156 mm wide<br />
</li>
<li><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b">Weight</span><br />
2.6 kg<br />
<br />
</li>
<li><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b">Operating System</span><br />
SteamOS 3 (Arch-based)<br />
</li>
<li><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b">Desktop</span><br />
KDE Plasma<br />
</li>
</ul>
<br />
<hr class="mycode_hr" />
No price yet, but I remember back when Steam Machines tried to be a thing years ago and never really panned out too well. Depending on price maybe I'll get one to play games with on my TV since right now I just use my laptop, which is fine but has its limits.<br />
<br />
I know either way I can't say I'm a fan of that new Steam Controller. It looks so weird and bulky; it reminds me of the original Xbox controller a bit. <img src="https://universalgaming.net/images/smilies/tongue.png" alt="Tongue" title="Tongue" class="smilie smilie_56" />]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Would You Keep Your Games if You Lacked the Console to Play Them?]]></title>
			<link>https://universalgaming.net/showthread.php?tid=1885</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 19 Aug 2025 09:44:39 -0700</pubDate>
			<dc:creator><![CDATA[<a href="https://universalgaming.net/member.php?action=profile&uid=1">Moonface</a>]]></dc:creator>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://universalgaming.net/showthread.php?tid=1885</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[Recently @<a id="mention_5" href="member.php?action=profile&amp;uid=5" class="mentionme_mention" title="Maniakkid25's profile">Maniakkid25</a> has made a couple of posts about how <a href="https://universalgaming.net/showthread.php?tid=120&amp;pid=36056#pid36056" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="mycode_url">first his N64 needed new RAM</a>, and now that <a href="https://universalgaming.net/showthread.php?tid=786&amp;pid=36264#pid36264" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="mycode_url">his GameCube has a dead clock battery</a>. Although fixable, thinking of those made me wonder about how there will inevitably come a time where old consoles can't be repaired anymore because the parts they need just don't exist anymore. So assuming a console you own were to break beyond repair and can't be replaced either, would you keep the library of games you have for that system even though you can't play them anymore?]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Recently @<a id="mention_5" href="member.php?action=profile&amp;uid=5" class="mentionme_mention" title="Maniakkid25's profile">Maniakkid25</a> has made a couple of posts about how <a href="https://universalgaming.net/showthread.php?tid=120&amp;pid=36056#pid36056" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="mycode_url">first his N64 needed new RAM</a>, and now that <a href="https://universalgaming.net/showthread.php?tid=786&amp;pid=36264#pid36264" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="mycode_url">his GameCube has a dead clock battery</a>. Although fixable, thinking of those made me wonder about how there will inevitably come a time where old consoles can't be repaired anymore because the parts they need just don't exist anymore. So assuming a console you own were to break beyond repair and can't be replaced either, would you keep the library of games you have for that system even though you can't play them anymore?]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[New PC build]]></title>
			<link>https://universalgaming.net/showthread.php?tid=1857</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 24 Apr 2025 10:20:31 -0700</pubDate>
			<dc:creator><![CDATA[<a href="https://universalgaming.net/member.php?action=profile&uid=14">aerodynamik</a>]]></dc:creator>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://universalgaming.net/showthread.php?tid=1857</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[My current 8 year old laptop is due for a change. Went with something budget-friendly, yet future proof. Nothing too fancy, but I'm happy to finally be able to play some games again. I couldn't be bothered to build it myself, knowing me, in my excitement I'd break something.  <img src="https://universalgaming.net/images/smilies/rofl.png" alt="ROFL" title="ROFL" class="smilie smilie_34" /> Should arrive sometime next week.<br />
<br />
Specs:<br />
Case<br />
LIAN LI O11DYNAMIC EVO RGB<br />
<br />
Processor (CPU)<br />
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D 8 Core (4.2 GHz–5.0 GHz / 104 MB w/3D V-CACHE / AM5)<br />
<br />
Motherboard<br />
GIGABYTE X870E AORUS ELITE WIFI7 (AM5, DDR5, M.2 PCIe 5.0, Wi-Fi 7)<br />
<br />
Memory (RAM)<br />
64 GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR5 6000MHz CL30 (2 x 32 GB )<br />
<br />
Graphics Card<br />
16 GB GIGABYTE RADEON™ RX 9070 XT GAMING OC – 2 x HDMI, 2 x DP<br />
<br />
Primary M.2 SSD Drive<br />
4 TB CORSAIR MP600 PRO NH NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD (up to 7000 MB/s read, 6500 MB/s write)<br />
<br />
Power Supply<br />
CORSAIR 850 W RMx SERIES™ ATX 3.1, MODULAR, CYBENETICS GOLD<br />
<br />
Processor Cooling<br />
CORSAIR ICUE LINK TITAN 240 RX LCD RGB HIGH PERFORMANCE CPU COOLER<br />
<br />
Thermal Paste<br />
APPLICATION OF ARCTIC MX-4 EXTREME THERMAL COMPOUND<br />
<br />
Monitor<br />
Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 LS32BG850NPXEN 32" 4K Ultra HD 240Hz Curved VA Gaming monitor<br />
<br />
Still looking into a new keyboard, and maybe a mouse too.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[My current 8 year old laptop is due for a change. Went with something budget-friendly, yet future proof. Nothing too fancy, but I'm happy to finally be able to play some games again. I couldn't be bothered to build it myself, knowing me, in my excitement I'd break something.  <img src="https://universalgaming.net/images/smilies/rofl.png" alt="ROFL" title="ROFL" class="smilie smilie_34" /> Should arrive sometime next week.<br />
<br />
Specs:<br />
Case<br />
LIAN LI O11DYNAMIC EVO RGB<br />
<br />
Processor (CPU)<br />
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D 8 Core (4.2 GHz–5.0 GHz / 104 MB w/3D V-CACHE / AM5)<br />
<br />
Motherboard<br />
GIGABYTE X870E AORUS ELITE WIFI7 (AM5, DDR5, M.2 PCIe 5.0, Wi-Fi 7)<br />
<br />
Memory (RAM)<br />
64 GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR5 6000MHz CL30 (2 x 32 GB )<br />
<br />
Graphics Card<br />
16 GB GIGABYTE RADEON™ RX 9070 XT GAMING OC – 2 x HDMI, 2 x DP<br />
<br />
Primary M.2 SSD Drive<br />
4 TB CORSAIR MP600 PRO NH NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD (up to 7000 MB/s read, 6500 MB/s write)<br />
<br />
Power Supply<br />
CORSAIR 850 W RMx SERIES™ ATX 3.1, MODULAR, CYBENETICS GOLD<br />
<br />
Processor Cooling<br />
CORSAIR ICUE LINK TITAN 240 RX LCD RGB HIGH PERFORMANCE CPU COOLER<br />
<br />
Thermal Paste<br />
APPLICATION OF ARCTIC MX-4 EXTREME THERMAL COMPOUND<br />
<br />
Monitor<br />
Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 LS32BG850NPXEN 32" 4K Ultra HD 240Hz Curved VA Gaming monitor<br />
<br />
Still looking into a new keyboard, and maybe a mouse too.]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Nintendo GameCube - Nintendo Classics]]></title>
			<link>https://universalgaming.net/showthread.php?tid=1854</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 02 Apr 2025 10:13:16 -0700</pubDate>
			<dc:creator><![CDATA[<a href="https://universalgaming.net/member.php?action=profile&uid=1">Moonface</a>]]></dc:creator>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://universalgaming.net/showthread.php?tid=1854</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[<div style="text-align: center;" class="mycode_align"><iframe class="ytmobile" width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/0MvkSVs8f_w" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack will be getting a new service <span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b">exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2</span> users: Nintendo GameCube - Nintendo Classics. Enjoy clearer image quality, with higher screen resolution than the original GameCube releases. Up to 4 players can play together in supported titles, either locally or online with friends.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;" class="mycode_i"><span style="font-size: large;" class="mycode_size"><span style="text-decoration: underline;" class="mycode_u">LAUNCH TITLES</span></span></span><br />
The following titles will be available when the service launches on June 5, 2025:<ul class="mycode_list"><li>The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker<br />
</li>
<li>SOULCALIBUR II<br />
</li>
<li>F-Zero GX<br />
</li>
</ul>
<span style="text-decoration: underline;" class="mycode_u"><span style="font-style: italic;" class="mycode_i"><span style="font-size: large;" class="mycode_size">FUTURE TITLES</span></span></span><br />
These games will be coming to the service at a later date:<ul class="mycode_list"><li>Super Mario Sunshine<br />
</li>
<li>Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance<br />
</li>
<li>Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness<br />
</li>
<li>Super Mario Strikers<br />
</li>
<li>Chibi-Robo! Plug Into Adventure!<br />
</li>
<li>Luigi's Mansion<br />
</li>
<li>Pokémon Colosseum<br />
</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: large;" class="mycode_size"><span style="text-decoration: underline;" class="mycode_u"><span style="font-style: italic;" class="mycode_i">GAMECUBE CONTROLLER</span></span></span><br />
A Nintendo Switch 2 GameCube controller will be available on the same day as Nintendo Switch 2, and will be exclusively available to Nintendo Switch Online members. It features a C Button to support the new Game Chat feature of the Nintendo Switch 2.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div style="text-align: center;" class="mycode_align"><iframe class="ytmobile" width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/0MvkSVs8f_w" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack will be getting a new service <span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b">exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2</span> users: Nintendo GameCube - Nintendo Classics. Enjoy clearer image quality, with higher screen resolution than the original GameCube releases. Up to 4 players can play together in supported titles, either locally or online with friends.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;" class="mycode_i"><span style="font-size: large;" class="mycode_size"><span style="text-decoration: underline;" class="mycode_u">LAUNCH TITLES</span></span></span><br />
The following titles will be available when the service launches on June 5, 2025:<ul class="mycode_list"><li>The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker<br />
</li>
<li>SOULCALIBUR II<br />
</li>
<li>F-Zero GX<br />
</li>
</ul>
<span style="text-decoration: underline;" class="mycode_u"><span style="font-style: italic;" class="mycode_i"><span style="font-size: large;" class="mycode_size">FUTURE TITLES</span></span></span><br />
These games will be coming to the service at a later date:<ul class="mycode_list"><li>Super Mario Sunshine<br />
</li>
<li>Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance<br />
</li>
<li>Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness<br />
</li>
<li>Super Mario Strikers<br />
</li>
<li>Chibi-Robo! Plug Into Adventure!<br />
</li>
<li>Luigi's Mansion<br />
</li>
<li>Pokémon Colosseum<br />
</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: large;" class="mycode_size"><span style="text-decoration: underline;" class="mycode_u"><span style="font-style: italic;" class="mycode_i">GAMECUBE CONTROLLER</span></span></span><br />
A Nintendo Switch 2 GameCube controller will be available on the same day as Nintendo Switch 2, and will be exclusively available to Nintendo Switch Online members. It features a C Button to support the new Game Chat feature of the Nintendo Switch 2.]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[My Nintendo Gold Coins to be Discontinued]]></title>
			<link>https://universalgaming.net/showthread.php?tid=1842</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 18 Feb 2025 08:43:53 -0800</pubDate>
			<dc:creator><![CDATA[<a href="https://universalgaming.net/member.php?action=profile&uid=1">Moonface</a>]]></dc:creator>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://universalgaming.net/showthread.php?tid=1842</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[Nintendo has announced that My Nintendo Gold Coins will be discontinued as of <span style="text-decoration: underline;" class="mycode_u"><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b">March 24, 2025</span></span>.<br />
<br />
After this date, the following will occur:<ul class="mycode_list"><li>Digital game purchases will no longer reward Gold Coins.<br />
</li>
<li>Physical game purchases will no longer reward Gold Coins if that game was released after March 24, 2025.<br />
</li>
<li>Physical games released between March 24, 2024 and March 24, 2025 can be registered to redeem Gold Coins within one year of that games original release date.<br />
</li>
<li>Gold Coins will be valid for use for 12 months after their initial issue.<br />
</li>
</ul>
Source: <a href="https://my.nintendo.com/news/97495f34d09fb076" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="mycode_url">https://my.nintendo.com/news/97495f34d09fb076</a><br />
<br />
<hr class="mycode_hr" />
Interesting they're only discontinuing the Gold Coins and not the Platinum ones. I've never earned any Gold Coins to use them nor know off hand what they can actually be used for, so I can't say I'll miss them at all. I'm just curious if Nintendo are planning to introduce a different system alongside the Switch 2 or not.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Nintendo has announced that My Nintendo Gold Coins will be discontinued as of <span style="text-decoration: underline;" class="mycode_u"><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="mycode_b">March 24, 2025</span></span>.<br />
<br />
After this date, the following will occur:<ul class="mycode_list"><li>Digital game purchases will no longer reward Gold Coins.<br />
</li>
<li>Physical game purchases will no longer reward Gold Coins if that game was released after March 24, 2025.<br />
</li>
<li>Physical games released between March 24, 2024 and March 24, 2025 can be registered to redeem Gold Coins within one year of that games original release date.<br />
</li>
<li>Gold Coins will be valid for use for 12 months after their initial issue.<br />
</li>
</ul>
Source: <a href="https://my.nintendo.com/news/97495f34d09fb076" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="mycode_url">https://my.nintendo.com/news/97495f34d09fb076</a><br />
<br />
<hr class="mycode_hr" />
Interesting they're only discontinuing the Gold Coins and not the Platinum ones. I've never earned any Gold Coins to use them nor know off hand what they can actually be used for, so I can't say I'll miss them at all. I'm just curious if Nintendo are planning to introduce a different system alongside the Switch 2 or not.]]></content:encoded>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Playstation Network is down.]]></title>
			<link>https://universalgaming.net/showthread.php?tid=1840</link>
			<pubDate>Sat, 08 Feb 2025 06:55:26 -0800</pubDate>
			<dc:creator><![CDATA[<a href="https://universalgaming.net/member.php?action=profile&uid=315">Galra Keith</a>]]></dc:creator>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://universalgaming.net/showthread.php?tid=1840</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[Yesterday it work all day till the evening. Then it went down It's still down right now  <img src="https://universalgaming.net/images/smilies/angry.png" alt="Angry" title="Angry" class="smilie smilie_40" /><br />
<br />
So much of Friday night gaming  <img src="https://universalgaming.net/images/smilies/hmph.png" alt="Hmph" title="Hmph" class="smilie smilie_41" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Yesterday it work all day till the evening. Then it went down It's still down right now  <img src="https://universalgaming.net/images/smilies/angry.png" alt="Angry" title="Angry" class="smilie smilie_40" /><br />
<br />
So much of Friday night gaming  <img src="https://universalgaming.net/images/smilies/hmph.png" alt="Hmph" title="Hmph" class="smilie smilie_41" />]]></content:encoded>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[ABXY or BAYX - Which Order?]]></title>
			<link>https://universalgaming.net/showthread.php?tid=1838</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 30 Jan 2025 16:42:22 -0800</pubDate>
			<dc:creator><![CDATA[<a href="https://universalgaming.net/member.php?action=profile&uid=1">Moonface</a>]]></dc:creator>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://universalgaming.net/showthread.php?tid=1838</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[I saw an image earlier today of an Xbox and a Nintendo controller and noticed how they both have a different approach to the order of the ABXY buttons, and wondered whether anyone here has a particular preference on the order of those buttons. <img src="https://universalgaming.net/images/smilies/tongue.png" alt="Tongue" title="Tongue" class="smilie smilie_56" /><br />
<br />
So, which are you?<br />
<br />
 --Y--<br />
X----B<br />
 --A--<br />
<br />
or<br />
<br />
 --X--<br />
Y----A<br />
 --B--]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[I saw an image earlier today of an Xbox and a Nintendo controller and noticed how they both have a different approach to the order of the ABXY buttons, and wondered whether anyone here has a particular preference on the order of those buttons. <img src="https://universalgaming.net/images/smilies/tongue.png" alt="Tongue" title="Tongue" class="smilie smilie_56" /><br />
<br />
So, which are you?<br />
<br />
 --Y--<br />
X----B<br />
 --A--<br />
<br />
or<br />
<br />
 --X--<br />
Y----A<br />
 --B--]]></content:encoded>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Physical Game Sales Have Declined by 85% Since 2008]]></title>
			<link>https://universalgaming.net/showthread.php?tid=1837</link>
			<pubDate>Sat, 25 Jan 2025 10:55:58 -0800</pubDate>
			<dc:creator><![CDATA[<a href="https://universalgaming.net/member.php?action=profile&uid=1">Moonface</a>]]></dc:creator>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://universalgaming.net/showthread.php?tid=1837</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[<img src="https://i.imgur.com/pHAig4P.png" loading="lazy"  alt="[Image: pHAig4P.png]" class="mycode_img" /><br />
<br />
Physical game software spending in the US saw an accelerated decline in 2024, dropping by more than 50% since 2021 and more than 85% since 2008, which was the peak period for spending.<br />
<br />
Source: <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/matpiscatella.bsky.social/post/3lgj4qutmo22y" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="mycode_url">Mat Piscatella on Bluesky</a><br />
<br />
<hr class="mycode_hr" />
Not surprised to see this drop really, even if I dislike it. 2008 was a couple of years into the generation where consoles began offering digital purchase options for games, and also since then there's also a lot more games that are exclusively digital due to the boom of the indie scene. I suspect Xbox focusing on Game Pass over game sales plays some factor too because I can't imagine an entire console becoming a minor player in the physical game space to not have a noticeable effect. People being home during the height of Covid might have also encouraged them to check out digital storefronts more and deciding to buy more of their games via that method than before?<br />
<br />
If this decline keeps at its current pace then we'd see another 50% drop by 2027 or so, and that's probably the time Sony would be considering a new console. I wonder if this will encourage them to make the PS6 primarily digital and just offer a disc drive add-on like they've already done with the PS5 Pro? Like the social media post says, maybe Switch 2 will boost the numbers a bit but I doubt it'll be enough to stop the decline entirely.<br />
<br />
Not sure how I feel about a future where consoles go entirely digital. I don't hate digital at all, but I would miss having physical copies of games. <img src="https://universalgaming.net/images/smilies/sad.png" alt="Sad" title="Sad" class="smilie smilie_27" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="https://i.imgur.com/pHAig4P.png" loading="lazy"  alt="[Image: pHAig4P.png]" class="mycode_img" /><br />
<br />
Physical game software spending in the US saw an accelerated decline in 2024, dropping by more than 50% since 2021 and more than 85% since 2008, which was the peak period for spending.<br />
<br />
Source: <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/matpiscatella.bsky.social/post/3lgj4qutmo22y" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="mycode_url">Mat Piscatella on Bluesky</a><br />
<br />
<hr class="mycode_hr" />
Not surprised to see this drop really, even if I dislike it. 2008 was a couple of years into the generation where consoles began offering digital purchase options for games, and also since then there's also a lot more games that are exclusively digital due to the boom of the indie scene. I suspect Xbox focusing on Game Pass over game sales plays some factor too because I can't imagine an entire console becoming a minor player in the physical game space to not have a noticeable effect. People being home during the height of Covid might have also encouraged them to check out digital storefronts more and deciding to buy more of their games via that method than before?<br />
<br />
If this decline keeps at its current pace then we'd see another 50% drop by 2027 or so, and that's probably the time Sony would be considering a new console. I wonder if this will encourage them to make the PS6 primarily digital and just offer a disc drive add-on like they've already done with the PS5 Pro? Like the social media post says, maybe Switch 2 will boost the numbers a bit but I doubt it'll be enough to stop the decline entirely.<br />
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Not sure how I feel about a future where consoles go entirely digital. I don't hate digital at all, but I would miss having physical copies of games. <img src="https://universalgaming.net/images/smilies/sad.png" alt="Sad" title="Sad" class="smilie smilie_27" />]]></content:encoded>
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			<title><![CDATA[Does anyone else have a ROG Ally?]]></title>
			<link>https://universalgaming.net/showthread.php?tid=1834</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 03 Jan 2025 13:37:30 -0800</pubDate>
			<dc:creator><![CDATA[<a href="https://universalgaming.net/member.php?action=profile&uid=324">Little Matcha Girl</a>]]></dc:creator>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://universalgaming.net/showthread.php?tid=1834</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[I have this Windows handheld, had it since the initial release, it's been amazing for playing PC games in handheld mode. A little lighter than the Steam Deck and quite a bit more powerful, so I definitely don't regret my decision of getting it. Anyone else have this, or a similar Windows gaming handheld? <img src="https://universalgaming.net/images/smilies/gasp.png" alt="Gasp" title="Gasp" class="smilie smilie_53" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[I have this Windows handheld, had it since the initial release, it's been amazing for playing PC games in handheld mode. A little lighter than the Steam Deck and quite a bit more powerful, so I definitely don't regret my decision of getting it. Anyone else have this, or a similar Windows gaming handheld? <img src="https://universalgaming.net/images/smilies/gasp.png" alt="Gasp" title="Gasp" class="smilie smilie_53" />]]></content:encoded>
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