5 Xbox Gifts on My Christmas Wishlist

Having cleared my workload for another year, I thought I’d take a break and write something purely for the fun of it. It’s something I haven’t done in a while, and what better way to start than with a piece of Xbox-themed musings? It’s a lighthearted romp from my razzle-dazzle Razer keyboard to your device’s screen, no matter if it’s a flashy monitor or a slick smartphone.

The Xbox we’re familiar with today feels like a direct evolution of the Xbox One OS introduced back in 2013. As we gaze into the horizon with hints of a new era, perhaps we’ll see a fresh take on the Xbox platform with a new operating system. Or maybe we’ll inch closer toward something akin to a full-on Windows-like experience. The future could go many ways. One thing’s for sure: fresh Xbox hardware is on its way. While we’re unlikely to find it in our stockings for 2024, the Xbox team could certainly surprise us with some nifty additions or features come 2025.

So here are my somewhat practical wishes for a more festive Xbox experience this holiday season. What would you like to see under the tree? Drop your thoughts in the comments—I’m all ears!

1. Success Markers for Xbox/PC Cloud Saves

The improvement in the Xbox PC app has been notable, but there’s still work to do.

I’m deeply invested in Microsoft’s "This is an Xbox" initiative. I now find myself battling foes in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 from places as unexpected as my Samsung Smart Fridge. But there’s a hiccup: my Xbox Cloud Save files occasionally fail to sync between my various "This is an Xbox" devices.

In 2024, wouldn’t it make sense to have a clear cloud save state indicator, or even a more robust cloud save management system? Xbox has been a trailblazer in all things related to gaming cloud services. It’s baffling that it still doesn’t offer a way to manage or view the status of our cloud saves. Those cloud saves are the backbone of the "This is an Xbox" experience, after all—look at how Steam nails it.

More often than I’d like, I’ll shut down my Xbox too hastily, only to find my save state out of sync on another device. It would be nice if Xbox Claus could rectify this for us by 2025.

2. Embrace More Third-Party Xbox Play Anywhere Games

Being a dedicated "This is an Xbox" user means jumping between my numerous devices like the Lenovo Legion Go, Xbox Cloud Gaming, my gaming rig, and the Xbox Series X. Yet, a scarcity of my games supports Xbox Play Anywhere, especially when it comes to cross-platform save progression.

It’s become so crucial that I actively seek out games that offer device-agnostic saving. While some games have their own systems, like Baldur’s Gate 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, which are fairly decent, Xbox’s first-party games typically allow it through Xbox login. And sure enough, Blizzard, despite making you buy the game for each platform (that Vessel of Hatred!), does save your progress via its Battle.net account system.

However, countless Xbox games don’t. Think of the vast array of indie titles I’d engage with more if they came with Xbox Cloud Saves support—titles like Cult of the Lamb, Blasphemous, and Tails of Iron. I was pleasantly surprised to see Death Stranding come to Xbox Play Anywhere, complete with cloud saves, as well as the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Collection. And here’s hoping I could take my save files across devices, even if I have to buy the games twice. Please, Santa, make it happen!

3. Revamp the Xbox Achievement System

Though I’m no passionate gamer hunting for each achievement, I can’t resist using my wish list to plead on behalf of a persistent request from Xbox enthusiasts—overhaul the Xbox Achievement system.

Once at the forefront of "fun" gamification features that elevated the ecosystem, the achievement system has been left to gather dust. It’s still mandatory for Xbox games to include achievements, but platforms like PlayStation and Steam have evolved their systems far beyond Xbox’s current offerings.

Microsoft should consider introducing something akin to PlayStation’s platinum trophies, which celebrate full completions and motivate gamers for extended playtimes. This refined system could stretch across cloud and Xbox PC games too, all under the same umbrella. There’s no reason why Xbox’s expansive catalog of mobile games shouldn’t feature achievements, like back in the Windows Phone days.

With Xbox shedding many fun platform features like Avatars over time, enhancing achievements could reiterate that Xbox is more than just hardware—it’s a connected ecosystem.

4. A New Xbox Elite Controller Series 3

In recent years, I’ve had three Xbox Elite Controller Series 2 gamepads, with a couple from the Xbox Design Lab and one review unit. Sadly, each succumbed to the same ailment: a faulty right bumper after a few months of play.

While titles like Monster Hunter and Elden Ring may demand rigorous use of bumpers, the wear shouldn’t devastate such a premium device. STALKER 2’s past deadzone issue starkly highlighted how game-breaking stick drift can be when developers overlook it.

My go-to controller has been the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro. With Hall Effect sticks eliminating joystick drift and Razer’s commendable buttons and triggers, it’s a delight. Yet, what I miss most is the Xbox Elite Controller’s formidable battery life and that fantastic charging dock—a game-changer. If only it could magically fix the bumpers as well.

Imagine an Xbox Elite Controller Series 3 addressing its long-standing quality concerns, introducing features like Hall Effect sticks, haptic enhancements, and other ingeniously crafted technology from Microsoft. We’re due for an upgrade, don’t you think, Santa?

Xbox made strides with Asian games in the last quarter, securing titles like HoYoverse’s Genshin Impact and bringing Kojima’s Death Stranding into the fold. We’ve seen support from Square Enix, with classic Final Fantasy titles arriving. There’s a promising line-up from Sega and ATLUS ahead—an exciting time for Xbox players.

Even so, I’ve been excellent this year, and I wish for more.

Games like Falcom’s Ys and Trails are high on my wishlist. Despite the growth of these titles, they remain absent from Xbox. It’s equally disheartening that Monster Hunter Stories 1 and 2, optimized for touch controls and perfect for Xbox Game Pass, remain nowhere to be found on Xbox.

Yes, Xbox’s presence in Japan is modest (one might even say chilly). However, titles like Metaphor: ReFantazio, Persona, and Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters have fared well in the West nonetheless. Genshin Impact has become a fan-favorite, and Final Fantasy 14 secured a top spot among Xbox’s 2024 sellers.

In light of these successes, there’s ample reason for Xbox to expand its library with more regional titles. Let’s hope Santa takes note.

What Are Your Wishes for Xbox This Christmas?

As we step into 2025, it wouldn’t be accurate to say Xbox hasn’t had its share of peculiar moments. With exclusivity dwindling, doomsayers anticipate an Xbox downfall, but the data shows a broader user base than ever before.

As an Xbox enthusiast, you shouldn’t be grappling with gloom during the festive season. Xbox Santa must see my list of suggestions and realize the potential they hold for fans everywhere.

So, what would you like Xbox Santa to gift you this Christmas? Join the conversation in the comments, and together, let’s hope our needs—err, gentle requests—are considered.