Isn’t the distinction that a PC is a general use computer, not optimized for any particular use case, whereas a console is a purpose-built, low-cost gaming computer with limited background tasks and a single development target for developers? With all the talk over the last year from Digital Foundry all about how terrible Windows is, I don’t understand the excitement for Project Helix. The last thing I want is a Windows PC running a skin that’s twice as expensive as a traditional console. I don’t want to have to download drivers. I don’t want to have to spend hours tweaking my settings. I want 60 FPS for a single-player game and 120 FPS for a multiplayer game. I want something that updates the OS and game software while it’s asleep and just works when I turn it on to play.
When I game with my PC friends, we invariably wait for updates to download, for shaders to load, and then have to deal with their games crashing. What a horrible experience. That never happens on a PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo. If the Asus ROG Ally X is any indication, Project Helix will be a significant step backward from a traditional console in that respect.
@GrizzleyPete Couldn’t agree more. Digital Foundry has been complaining about the state of Windows for years. Why is it a good thing that the next Xbox will run Windows with a skin on top? That sounds terrible.
Comments 2
Re: Is Xbox Project Helix a Console or a PC?
Isn’t the distinction that a PC is a general use computer, not optimized for any particular use case, whereas a console is a purpose-built, low-cost gaming computer with limited background tasks and a single development target for developers? With all the talk over the last year from Digital Foundry all about how terrible Windows is, I don’t understand the excitement for Project Helix. The last thing I want is a Windows PC running a skin that’s twice as expensive as a traditional console. I don’t want to have to download drivers. I don’t want to have to spend hours tweaking my settings. I want 60 FPS for a single-player game and 120 FPS for a multiplayer game. I want something that updates the OS and game software while it’s asleep and just works when I turn it on to play.
When I game with my PC friends, we invariably wait for updates to download, for shaders to load, and then have to deal with their games crashing. What a horrible experience. That never happens on a PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo. If the Asus ROG Ally X is any indication, Project Helix will be a significant step backward from a traditional console in that respect.
Re: Is Xbox Project Helix a Console or a PC?
@GrizzleyPete Couldn’t agree more. Digital Foundry has been complaining about the state of Windows for years. Why is it a good thing that the next Xbox will run Windows with a skin on top? That sounds terrible.