Xbox Review: Is It Still Worth It in 2025?
Ah, the Xbox. The console that’s been giving PlayStation a run for its money since the early 2000s. But here we are in 2025, and the thing that has changed most is not the hardware — it is what you pay for and what you get.
The short version: the Series X is still a capable machine and the specs have not moved, but the subscription around it has been rebuilt. Xbox Live Gold is gone, Game Pass now runs four tiers instead of one, and the day-one promise that sold the whole idea carries an exclusion most people do not notice until after they subscribe. If you are weighing an Xbox on the strength of Game Pass, read the tier section before the hardware one.
Hardware: A Beast or a Bust?
First things first, let’s talk hardware. The Xbox Series X is an absolute beast. With specs that could make your gaming PC blush, it’s got everything you need to run the latest and greatest games without breaking a sweat.
| Feature | Xbox Series X |
|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Zen 2 8 cores |
| GPU | 12 Teraflops |
| RAM | 16GB GDDR6 |
| Storage | 1TB NVMe SSD (expandable) |
The reality? While the specs are impressive, the real question is: can it handle the heat of your mom’s basement during an intense gaming session? That remains to be seen.
Exclusives: Who Has the Best Games?
- Xbox Series X:
- Halo Infinite
- Fable
- Forza Horizon 5
- Everwild
My opinion? The exclusives are like that friend who always brings the best snacks to the party. They’re fun, they’re enticing, but sometimes you wonder if you should’ve just ordered a pizza instead.
Game Pass: four tiers now, and Gold is gone
This is the part most older Xbox advice gets wrong. Xbox Live Gold no longer exists as a separate subscription — online console multiplayer is folded into Game Pass, starting at the cheapest tier. If you are comparing against a guide that still tells you to weigh “Game Pass or Gold”, that guide predates the change.
There are four plans, and the differences that actually matter are the library size and how soon new games arrive:
| Plan | Library | New releases |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | 50+ games | No day-one titles |
| Premium | 200+ games | Xbox-published games within a year of launch |
| Ultimate | 500+ games | Day one |
| PC Game Pass | 300+ games, PC only | Day one |
Essential and Premium both include online multiplayer and cloud streaming; Ultimate adds the shortest cloud queues, EA Play, Fortnite Crew and Ubisoft+ Classics, and 4x Rewards points. PC Game Pass is exactly what it says — no console or cloud benefits.
Two caveats worth knowing before you subscribe. The day-one promise and Premium’s one-year window are both marked “select games” and explicitly exclude Call of Duty, which is the franchise many people subscribe for after the Activision purchase. And library counts move: games rotate out, so the number on the box is a snapshot, not a guarantee.
Which to pick. Ultimate only pays for itself if you genuinely play new releases at launch — otherwise you are paying a premium for a queue you do not join. Premium is the sensible default for most console players, since a year’s wait on first-party titles costs nothing if your backlog is already deep. Essential makes sense if what you actually wanted was online multiplayer and the games are a bonus.
Community and Ecosystem: The Xbox Vibe
The Xbox Series X isn’t just about specs and services. It’s also about the community and ecosystem. Game Pass creates a robust environment for gamers to thrive in, and cross-platform play lets you team up with friends on PC. Plus, the Xbox Series X is backward compatible, so you can still enjoy your favorite classics from the Xbox One and Xbox 360 days.
The reality? It’s like a high school reunion where you see all your old friends… and maybe avoid the ones you disliked. But overall, it’s a blast.
Design: Sleek or Geek?
The Xbox Series X is often compared to a mini-fridge, but it’s far more than a kitchen appliance. It’s sleek, modern, and designed to fit right into any gaming setup. Just make sure you have a strong enough shelf to hold this beast.
My opinion? If it looks like a fridge and keeps your mom happy by not cluttering the living room, then who cares? Plus, it’s a conversation starter at parties!
Conclusion: Should You Buy an Xbox in 2025?
If you’re searching for a powerful console with a plethora of games, the Xbox Series X is a solid choice. Its hardware is impressive, the exclusives are exciting, and the online services are top-notch. Plus, the Xbox community is as vibrant as ever. The console’s integration with Windows PCs through Xbox Play Anywhere means many purchases work across both platforms, effectively doubling the value of compatible titles for households with both a gaming PC and a console in the living room.
But if you’re still on the fence, take a gander at our review of the PS5 to see how it stacks up against the competition.
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