What it’s like to join Xbox in 2020

I am now the proud owner of an Xbox One X and a satisfied subscriber of Gamepass Ultimate. 

So, what is it like jumping into the Xbox ecosystem from the outside, in 2020, at the tail end of the current generation? Pretty good, so far.

First, a brief look at my gaming history:

Born in 1985, I remember well opening up the NES for Christmas in 1990. Through the years, I’ve had at least one console each generation: Sega Genesis, PS1, Dreamcast and PS2. Following the PS2, I jumped over to Wii because it offered something different, and because PS3 was prohibitively expensive.

After getting jealous of watching my friends hop into the HD era — and wooed by the promise of the first Mass Effect game — I got an Xbox 360 in late 2007. I really liked the console, hopping into Mass Effect, Rock Band 2, the NBA 2K series and more.

And then my 360 died. I sent it away and it came back, good as new.

Then it died again. And again. After the third Red Ring of Death, I decided to jump ship. My time within the Xbox ecosystem was over. I bought a PS3 and never looked back.

This generation, I hopped into PS4 on day one, then the Switch a few years later after joining the Play Some Video Games crew. (I think having some Nintendo console is a requirement over there…)

I love my PS4. The exclusive library is awesome; I’m familiar with the ecosystem; my friends are there; and it’s truly a great system. I even upgraded to the PS4 Pro when it came out.

But from the outside, Xbox has been doing some great things for its customers, and to try to attract new players. I’ve kept an eye on the system, but just couldn’t bring myself to make the jump — while I love games, there just isn’t enough time to really get the most out of owning multiple consoles that play essentially the same games (a thought I still stand beside as a married father of 3 with a full-time job).

But…enter the pandemic, an injury, and a kind group of friends, and I suddenly have an Xbox One X and a year’s worth of Gamepass Ultimate and a fresh backlog of games to play. So, how’s it going?

That New Console Smell

So, part of the impetus behind getting an Xbox One X was an eBay special for a refurbished console priced at $200. I made the jump, opted for the “free” shipping and had to wait for about 10 days for the package to arrive.

Getting a new console is always an exciting time. Even at 34, with a gimpy leg, I was excited about opening up this used system. The setup was relatively simple — and I even was able to attach it to my old Xbox account that I abandoned in 2009. (Had to keep my achievements from that TNA Impact! game!)

While the console downloaded the requisite updates, I went ahead and activated my Gamepass Ultimate and started looking at games to download. My first choice? Ori and the Will of the Wisps. I also downloaded Forza Motorsport 7, thanks to a gift from a friend, because I love racing games.

I spent the rest of the time scrolling through Gamepass and marking future games to download. Now I’ve got something like 45 games on my console, all waiting to be played.

For a gamer with a budget — something of an oxymoron — Gamepass is the ultimate deal, even if you’re paying the full $15/month for Ultimate. Me? I just bought 6 months of it for $40 thanks to a deal. I knew this beforehand, but now that the box is in my living room? It’s real.

(As an aside: PlayStation Now is actually cheaper and has more games, including plenty of great games. It’s just not marketed as well; isn’t the center of the console experience like Gamepass is; and doesn’t have the first party exclusives readily available. But it is absolutely a great value for a budget gamer who doesn’t need to play the latest releases.)

To date, I’ve still only played Ori and Forza. Both games are lookers and are fun in their own ways. I love Ori’s music, environment and platforming controls; and I love the variety in Forza’s tracks, and how each car handles appreciably different from one another.

My favorite gaming experience on my X1X so far is when I manhandled a 1930s Ferrari open wheel car around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s Grand Prix circuit. On PS4, I love GT Sport. Forza Motorsport 7 is a different game; slightly less sim-focused; and, ultimately, a lot of fun.

Once I’m done with Ori, I’m looking forward to diving into the plethora of experiences available on Gamepass. I want to play through all of Halo. I want to check out Gears 4 and 5. Outer Wilds. Zoo Tycoon. Untitled Goose Game. Fable. Descenders.

I’m not breaking any ground in saying that Gamepass is an awesome value. I’m glad I have it, and I’m excited to be able to jump into a whole lot of games I never would have tried without it.

So, yes, 2020 is a great time to jump into the Xbox One ecosystem.

And, if you’re on Xbox, I need some friends so I can crush your driveatars in Forza: Add my gamer tag at Sethisthegoat.

I’ll see you on the racetrack! ~Seth Roy