After months of wait, the Xbox Series and the Playstation 5 are just on the horizon, making their arrival on the 10th and 19th of November respectively. Microsoft will kick off this new wave of consoles with its Series X & S, armed with a new philosophy for a new generation, one that relies on the Xbox brand ecosystem and the services it offers. In this article, we will summarise our thoughts on Microsoft’s new console, having played the Series X for several weeks.
General Information
- Release date: 10/11/2020
- Price: $499
- Free HDD Space: 802 GB
- Technical Specifications
- Main features: Quick Resume, Smart Delivery, Auto-HDR
- Services: Game Pass, Game Pass Ultimate, Xbox Live Gold
- Backward compatibility: Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One ( List of Backwards Compatible games)
- Review Conditions: The console was reviewed on a LG OLED55B8 from 2018, which is compatible with HDR10 and Dolby Vision, two features supported by the Xbox Series X & S.
- This review solely concerns the Xbox Series X and its features.
The Features in Detail
Before we start seriously analysing this new console, let’s go over the different terms Microsoft is using for its new consoles’ main features, which should help make things a bit clearer.
Smart Delivery
To guarantee a smooth transition to the next generation, Microsoft has implemented the Smart Delivery system, an option that allows players to transfer compatible games from the Xbox One to the Series X & S. Players will be able to start their game on Xbox One, then move seamlessly to the Series X & S if they want to jump right into next-gen.
Backwards Compatibility and Optimisation Patches
Already a feature on the Xbox One, backwards compatibility will get even bigger with the arrival of the Series X & S. In essence, players will be able to get the most out of the previous generation of Xbox on a single console. Admittedly, this may not necessarily appeal to everyone, though anyone who’s been in gaming for a while will no doubt appreciate the chance to check out titles from older generations. In addition, be sure to keep in mind that some Xbox One games will come with an optimisation patch on the Series X which will offer numerous improvements now possible thanks to its next-gen hardware.
Quick Resume
The goal of Quick Resume is simple: when you swap between games, the console will save your position and allow you to pick up right where you left off, even if you’ve turned off your console between sessions. This allows you to quickly start up a game from the moment you power on your console – a useful feature for people who need to turn their machine off a lot.
Xbox All Access
This payment method allows you to get your hands on a Series X by subscribing to Xbox All Access, which enters you into a two-year commitment to pay $24.99 every month. All Access comes with a subscription to the Xbox Game Pass, as well as EA Play, which will be definitively integrated into Microsoft’s service from the 10th of November onwards. Due to the current COVID-19 health crisis, the rollout of All Access will be somewhat complicated and it won’t be offered by all distributors.
Auto-HDR
The Xbox Series X will automatically use HDR imaging on compatible screens to offer the most precise lighting possible. Although this wasn’t made particularly clear in Microsoft’s marketing, it remains a very attractive feature of the new console, and it’s almost compatible with every single backwards compatible title.
A Console That Makes It Easy on Its Players
Let’s get right to the heart of it and address some of the big claims that have continually pursued this new console: yes, the Xbox Series X is incredibly quiet, and no, it doesn’t overheat like some may have claimed several weeks earlier. Of course, the machine has a tendency to heat up during long sessions with demanding titles, but we wouldn’t necessarily describe it as excessive. We’ll have to wait and see if this is still the case a year or two down the line, when increasingly demanding titles designed to get the most out of the console begin to hit the shelves. In the meanwhile, we can focus on how responsive the console feels, with first-party titles and the console itself launching rather quickly. The rapid loading times play right into another of the console’s features, Quick Resume, which allows players to keep their place in the game even when the console is powered off.
While the Xbox One took a lot of pride from its dedication to multimedia and the utilities that go along with it, the Series X & S feels like a true return to a single-minded focus on the games themselves – a feeling that resonates from its tile-based interface, which feels a bit like a cleaner version of Windows 10, to its extensive library of games that is only ever three clicks away. The same goes for the controller, which doesn’t seek to reinvent the wheel, instead focussing on perfecting a tried and tested design. Thanks to some minor changes, the Series X pad manages to distinguish itself from previous iterations as it's now more comfortable to use and it boasts a much more convincing D-pad. It’s a controller that ultimately reflects its console: clean and continuing the precedent established by previous generations. The Xbox Series X is well suited for long play sessions and we can’t wait to see what it has in store once fully next-gen titles being to really get the best out of the console.
A Lack of First-Party Releases Masked by a Strong Game Pass
Ultimately, there is one significant absence in Microsoft’s line-up at launch: it should feature Halo Infinite, but it is now intended for a 2021 release. In its place, Microsoft is relying on high-profile third-party releases, such as Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, to give a sense of the new generation to early adopters. At this moment in time, it’s impossible to say whether it will be enough, but Microsoft are hoping that Game Pass’ substantial back catalogue is enough to paper over the cracks left by a lack of first-party AAA launch titles. Offering hundreds of games across a plethora of genres, from indie releases to titles from the biggest studios, this service is set up to be a must-have for anyone with Microsoft’s new console. All the games from the team at Xbox Game Studios will be available from day one, and in our opinion, Game Pass is simply the best offer of its kind right now.
This experience is set to spread to almost every platform, including Cloud Gaming and its 150 compatible titles, as well as Game Pass PC. It’s at the very heart of Microsoft’s strategy, and let’s not overlook other tactics like acquiring Bethesda to add another weapon to its arsenal. Of course, the lack of a true next-gen game – one that shows off all the console is capable of – is a bit of a shame, but that doesn’t mean that you’ll have nothing to do on the 10th – far from it, in fact.
Noticeable Improvements to Older Titles
At the time of writing, we were able to try out four games that have been confirmed to have received optimisations on the Series X & S: Sea of Thieves, Gears 5, Gears Tactics, and Forza Horizon 4, all of which were playable on Game Pass. For most of them, the updates they received provided native 4k at 60fps and considerably reduced loading times, which was honestly pretty striking. To tell the truth, it’s going to be hard to go back to the previous generation after having had the opportunity to feel the impact of these patches. Thanks to these optimisations, all four of the games we mentioned earlier ran just as they would on PC, showing off a fantastic resolution and an unwavering framerate during our playthroughs.
While you may think that these improvements only impact games released for the Xbox One, that’s just the tip of the iceberg, as all backwards compatible titles are able to benefit from native optimisations. Games that gave the Xbox One a hard time, like Final Fantasy XV, now maintain a steady 60fps. Although it should be said that the effects of the optimisation are more are less random, and while drawing up a complete list of improvements for each game is a task bordering on the impossible, some are already pretty noticeable, as can be seen in The Witcher 3, where fast travel is now instant. Picking up Microsoft’s new console may well just be the push some players are looking for to dive right back into their back catalogue.
Conclusion
It’s impossible to imagine the Xbox Series X without the Game Pass, which remains, for our money, Microsoft’s best offering from its next-gen console. For a well-priced monthly subscription, players can access a huge, constantly shifting collection of high-quality titles that benefit from the free improvements offered by the Series X. The Series X & S also boast guaranteed backwards compatibility with four generations of Xbox, all in a single machine, which ensures that fans will be treated with respect from launch. Early adopters must now be patient and wait for Xbox Games Studios to release titles specifically designed with the next generation in mind so that they can truly see what they’re working with. Whatever happens, the weeks we’ve spent with the console have left us with a very strong feeling. The Series X is clearly designed to offer the best user experience possible and there are plenty of reasons to be enthusiastic about its future.
Shortly before the official release of Ubisoft's next game and Microsoft's new console, the Xbox Youtube channel has released a gameplay video of Assassin's Creed Valhalla.
