Price xbox serie x: Xbox All Access: Xbox Console & Over 100 Games

Xbox Series X price is not really $499 — this is the true cost

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In our Xbox Series X review, we praised Microsoft’s new flagship games console for its power, neat design and long-term potential. And some six weeks later we’re still impressed by the $499 (£449 in the U.K.) machine, given it delivers 4K gaming at around a third of the price of an equivalent gaming PC. 

In fact, with 12 teraflops of graphics power and a fast 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD, the Xbox Series X has a lot of next-generation tech for its palatable price tag. But before we go ahead and declare it a bargain, there’s a catch. 

  • Xbox Series X vs. Xbox Series S: Which Xbox should you buy?
  • PS5 review: What we think of the competition
  • Plus: How I snagged an Xbox Series X at Walmart — and beat the bots

Not only is it very hard to find where to buy an Xbox Seires X, but $499 is also the bare minimum you’ll need to part with. That’s because getting the most out of the Microsoft machine requires you to spend a bit more. So here’s what we consider to be the true cost of the Xbox Series X.  

SSD upgrade: $219/£219 

(Image credit: Future)

After your Xbox Series X is up and running you’ll notice there’s only 802GB of storage space left. That’s because the console requires 198GB for its operating system. Now the Series X has more usable space than the PS5. But with modern games weighing in at anywhere between 30GB to 100GB — and at times more — that 802GB is going to fill up rather fast, meaning you’ll need a storage upgrade.

Enter the Xbox Series X’s proprietary 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD expansion card. Made by Seagate, the external SSD is neat and easy to install but costs $219/£219. That’s a hefty amount for some extra storage, but it’s the only way you’ll be able to upgrade your SSD space for Xbox Series X games. You can store next-gen games on cheaper external hard drives, but you’ll only be able to run older Xbox games directly from such storage. That makes the expansion card a near-essential upgrade. 

Today’s best Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X deals

$220

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$225.31

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$244.99

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Spare Xbox Wireless Controller: $59/£54  

(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)

The new Xbox Wireless Controller is a rather lovely gamepad, offering a neat upgrade over its predecessor. And that makes it one of our favorite ever controllers once again. But the Xbox Series X only comes with one controller in the box, so if you want to indulge in some split-screen co-op Halo, you’ll need to get another.  

That’ll set you back an extra $59/£54, which isn’t unreasonable for such a good controller. But it all adds to the overall price of the Xbox Series X; at least you get a choice of blue, black or white. Bear in mind older Xbox Wireless Controllers can be paired with the Series X, so if you’re coming over from the Xbox One, you could avoid this extra expense.  

Today’s best Microsoft Xbox One Wireless Controller deals

934 Amazon customer reviews

☆☆☆☆☆

$12.95

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$64.99

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Blue bundle

$68.95

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Xbox Rechargeable Battery: $24.

/£19 

(Image credit: Future)

One of the only real downsides to the Xbox Wireless Controller is it still uses AA batteries to power it rather than a rechargeable cell. Chemical batteries aren’t particularly elegant to use, not exactly great for the environment and can get quite expensive, as after a few lengthy game sessions they’ll run out of juice. So to avoid that inconvenience you’ll need the Xbox Rechargeable Battery. 

That means parting with $24/£19 if you want to have one controller with a rechargeable battery pack. It’ll save you money in the long run, but it’s a little disappointing Microsoft didn’t put a rechargeable battery pack in the new Xbox Wireless Controller by default. 

Today’s best Microsoft Rechargeable Battery for Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S deals

No price information

Check Amazon

Xbox Game Pass: $100 /£96 

(Image credit: Amazon)

Xbox Game Pass offers you access to more than 100 Xbox games, from modern Xbox One titles to classics from the original Xbox. And it now offers access to a suite of Electronic Arts games by bundling in an EA Play membership, all for a monthly fee of $9.99/£7.99. This is one of gaming’s best bargains. It will also get better as all future first-party Xbox games will be made available on Game Pass from the day of their release. With Microsoft buying Bethesda, you can also expect a suite of games from its studios to get added to the service. 

Game Pass is basically the killer app for the Xbox Series X and one we’d deem essential. However, that means you need to part with some $100/£96 per year for the standard Xbox Game Pass subscription. Opt for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which throws in PC games and game streaming to Android phones, and you’ll need to part with $14.99/£10.99 per month; it’s a superb bargain, but still adds to the overall cost of owning an Xbox Series X. 

Today’s best Microsoft Xbox Game Pass Ultimate deals

$14. 99

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Reduced Price

$14.88

$3.99

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$14.99

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Next-gen games: $59/£59  

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

Speaking of games, much like those on the PS5, Xbox Series X games have risen in price. Take Assassin’s Creed Valhalla‘s $59 price tag as an example. 

While it’s a cross-platform game, it sports some next-gen graphics, as well as being rather good. So it’s one game you’ll want to get for your Series X given it’s not on Game Pass yet. That means you’ll need to fork out another chunk of change for a game that can show off the power of Microsoft’s flagship console.  

Today’s best Assassin’s Creed Valhalla deals

Reduced Price

$28.90

$20

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Reduced Price

$61.98

$24.09

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Reduced Price

$59.99

$24.99

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The true cost of the Xbox Series X: $960/£896  

(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)

With the above taken into account, getting the most out of the Xbox Series X is going to cost you $960/£896. That’s a fair bit for a dedicated gaming machine, but it’s still quite the bargain. 

To get equivalent 4K performance from a gaming PC, you’ll need to spend some $1,500, though we appreciate that gives you a far larger library of games to choose from. But in comparison to what we believe to be the true price of the PS5, the Xbox Series X is the winner given it’s that bit cheaper with all its extras added into the mix. Though for the performance they deliver, both consoles still offer impressive value for money. 

However, getting hold of an Xbox Series X is very difficult at the moment. So if you can hold off until 2021, you might be able to get yourself a well-priced Series X bundle, and you’ll have more games to tap into on Game Pass — hopefully in the form of Xbox Series X exclusives. After all, 2021 is looking like the year that these new games consoles come into their own. 

Today’s best Microsoft Xbox Series X deals

$499

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$499

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$499. 99

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Roland Moore-Colyer a Managing Editor at Tom’s Guide with a focus on news, features and opinion articles. He often writes about gaming, phones, laptops and other bits of hardware; he’s also got an interest in cars. When not at his desk Roland can be found wandering around London, often with a look of curiosity on his face. 

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Gaming

Xbox Series X price, bundles, and deals

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Xbox Series X deals are starting to filter down to the shelves, though we’re mostly seeing the lowest prices on refurbished models still. That said, with previous discounts shaving £10 off a new console at Amazon in the UK, there’s still hope for some straight price drops. It’s all to play for seeing as stock levels have evened out now, so we’re running through everything we could see from Xbox Series X bundles in the future and all the discounts live right now. 

If you’re in the US, rest assured, there are ways to save on your new console, through Xbox Series X deals on accessories, games, and services. Not only that, but All Access offerings can save you outright on your console, and Microsoft has started selling discounted renewed devices as well. That means there are plenty of offers out there for the discerning deal-hunter to enjoy. 

There are ways to save on your overall Xbox Series X experience — be it through deals on Xbox Series X accessories or Xbox Game Pass sales. You’ll find all our top tips for making the most of these offers just below, as well as all the retailers you should be checking for stock.

Of course, Black Friday Xbox deals are just around the corner, and we’ll be scouring all those Black Friday gaming deals for the latest discounts. Removing the cost of at Game Pass Ultimate membership from the final price, and you’re actually saving $20 on the console itself by taking this route.

Xbox Series X deals in the UK

Xbox Series X (Certified Refurbished) | £449.99 £419.99 at Microsoft
Save £30 — You can also save £30 at the UK Microsoft store, by opting for a certified refurbished console. Again, considering stock is so easy to get hold of at Amazon , we’d recommend picking up a brand new model for the best value. However, if you’re after the lowest price possible this is it.

Xbox Series X | 3 months Apple Music, Arcade & News+ free | £449 at Currys
You can claim up to five months of Apple Music, Arcade, and News+ for free with this Xbox Series X deal at Currys. If you’re new to these services, you’ll get the full three months, but if you’ve been subscribed in the past that timescale may be reduced.

What is the Xbox Series X price?

The official Xbox Series X price is $499 in the US and £449 in the UK. If you see a price higher than that without any extras, you are being overcharged and should avoid. Typically the inflated prices aren’t subtle either, we’re talking hundreds rather than tens extra. 

Some stores may take advantage in other ways by limited sellable stock to bundles, with extra games or headset. We’ve seen some with really naff hats and T-shirts too. Some stores might bump up the prices of these items, but one thing’s for sure, you won’t be saving a penny on the bundled items at this time.

Xbox Series X deals on accessories

(Image credit: Microsoft)

The Xbox Series X price might make you wince, but the console’s got one major advantage you may not have considered — backward compatibility for accessories and games.

After paying for a console, you’d normally have to factor in costs for games along with new controllers, subscriptions, and whatever extras the publishers are pushing. But with any Xbox Series X bundles, all of your existing Xbox One peripherals and services are forwards compatible. That means your achievements, progression, controllers, memberships, and Xbox One headsets move forward to Series X. Many of the top audio-brands have contributed to our guide to the best Xbox Series X headsets as a result.

The console also lets you play older Xbox One games via both the optical disc drive and digital download, not to mention Game Pass. That allows you to save a couple of hundred dollars right off the bat — you don’t need to buy specific ‘next-gen’ versions of a game, as they’re usually the same.

We’ve gathered the best Xbox Series X deals on games and accessories below. Check them out if you want a discount!

Today’s best Xbox Series X accessory deals

Microsoft Xbox Series X controller

£65.99

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Microsoft Xbox Elite Wireless Controller

£54. 99

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Reduced Price

Microsoft Xbox Wireless Headset

£109

£89.99

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SteelSeries Arctis 7X

£174.99

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Reduced Price

Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox

£254.99

£184.99

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Western Digital Black P10 Game Drive

£97. 62

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Reduced Price

Microsoft Xbox Game Pass Ultimate 3

£32.99

£23.99

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How to save on the Xbox Series X price

(Image credit: Microsoft)

The Xbox Series X price is still a hefty chunk of cash to spend. But you don’t necessarily have to pay it off in one go. Enter Microsoft’s fancy Xbox All Access system. This is a payment plan, and it allows you to get an Xbox Series X for a monthly fee spread over two years. It’ll set you back $34.99 per month in the US, £28.99p/m in the UK, and $46p/m in Australia. 

Interestingly, Xbox All Access doesn’t just get you the console. It also offers 24 months of Game Pass Ultimate as well. Because Game Pass is a bit like Netflix for gaming (with well over 100 games and counting), that’s a solid deal. Particularly due to the fact that new Xbox exclusive games like Halo will appear on Game Pass for free on the day of release. 

Thanks to this, Xbox All Access might be one of the more sensible options when it comes to buying an Xbox Series X. Indeed, it saves you money in the long run. Sure, you’re only getting a small amount knocked off the overall price, but it’s still cheaper than buying the console and two years of Game Pass separately.

However, be advised that you won’t find Xbox All Access in many stores besides Microsoft. GameStop and Walmart fill that role in the US, and Game or Smyths have the honor in the UK.


If you want to check out what you’ll be playing next-gen, head on over to our guide to upcoming Xbox Series X games. If you’re after more savings, we’re also rounding up all the latest Xbox Live Gold deals as well. If you’re torn between Microsoft’s consoles, we’re also showing you all the Xbox Series X vs Xbox Series S differences as well.

Managing Editor of Hardware at GamesRadar+, I originally landed in hardware at our sister site TechRadar before moving over to GamesRadar. In between, I’ve written for Tom’s Guide, Wireframe, The Indie Game Website and That Video Game Blog, covering everything from the PS5 launch to the Apple Pencil. Now, i’m focused on Nintendo Switch, gaming laptops (and the keyboards and mice that come with them), and tracking everything that suggests VR is about to take over our lives.

0027 2704 vs 366

  • 2 TFLOPS above FLOPS?
    6 TFLOPS vs 4 TFLOPS
  • 2GB more RAM?
    12GB vs 10GB
  • 102GB/s higher memory bandwidth?
    326GB/s vs 224GB/s
  • 1280 more stream processors?
    2560 vs 1280
  • 20 more computing units?
    40 vs 20
  • 488GB more built-in memory?
    1000GB vs 512GB
  • Higher output resolution. ?
    4K vs 1440p
  • Why is Microsoft Xbox Series S better than Microsoft Xbox One X?

    • 1.57x higher CPU speed?
      8 x 3.6GHz vs 8 x 2.3GHz
    • GPU frequency 393MHz higher?
      1565MHz vs 1172MHz
    • Has a slot for memory cards?
    • Supports ray tracing?
    • Is this an NVMe SSD?
    • Supports quick update?
    • Uses multithreading?
    • 1 later versions of GDDR memory?
      6 vs 5

    Which comparisons are the most popular?

    Microsoft Xbox One X

    vs

    Microsoft Xbox Series X

    Microsoft Xbox Series S

    vs

    Sony PlayStation 4 Pro

    Microsoft Xbox One X

    vs

    Microsoft Xbox One S

    Microsoft Xbox Series S

    vs

    Sony PlayStation 4

    Microsoft Xbox One X

    vs

    Microsoft Xbox One

    Microsoft Xbox Series S

    vs

    Microsoft Xbox One S

    Microsoft Xbox One X

    vs

    Sony PlayStation 4 Pro

    Microsoft Xbox Series S

    vs

    Microsoft Xbox One

    Microsoft Xbox One X

    vs

    Sony PlayStation 4 Slim

    Microsoft Xbox Series S

    vs

    Sony PlayStation 5

    Microsoft Xbox One X

    vs

    Sony PlayStation 4

    Microsoft Xbox Series S

    vs

    Sony PlayStation 4 Slim

    Microsoft Xbox One X

    vs

    Valve Steam Deck 512GB

    Microsoft Xbox Series S

    vs

    Nintendo Switch

    8. 5 /10

    16 Votes

    Controller

    5.5 /10

    2 Votes

    8.8 /10

    5

    8.1 /10

    17 VOTES

    SIMENTION OF WORK

    5.5 /10

    2 VOTES

    8.2 /10

    9000 VOTES

    performance

    023

    1.CPU speed

    8 x 2.3GHz

    8 x 3.6GHz

    CPU speed indicates how many processing cycles per second a processor can perform, considering all its cores (processors). It is calculated by adding the clock speeds of each core or, in the case of multi-core processors, each group of cores.

    2.flops

    6 TFLOPS

    4 TFLOPS

    FLOPS is a measure of GPU processing power.

    3.Random Access Memory

    Random Access Memory (RAM) is a form of memory used to store work data and machine code currently in use. It is a temporary, fast-access virtual storage that can be read and modified in any order, allowing fast data processing.

    4.GPU clock speed

    1172MHz

    1565MHz

    The graphics processing unit (GPU) has a higher clock speed.

    5.supports ray tracing

    ✖Microsoft Xbox One X

    ✔Microsoft Xbox Series S

    Ray tracing is an advanced light rendering technique that provides more realistic lighting, shadows, and reflections in games.

    6.I/O bandwidth

    Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Microsoft Xbox One X)

    2.4GB/s

    I/O bandwidth is the internal memory bandwidth. Higher transfer rate internal memory reduces boot time.

    7. output resolution

    Resolution is the number of pixels that make up an image. This is a key indicator of image quality, higher resolution provides a clearer and more detailed image.

    8 versions of GDDR memory

    Later versions of GDDR memory offer improvements such as higher data transfer rates, which improve performance.

    9.This is an NVMe SSD

    ✖Microsoft Xbox One X

    ✔Microsoft Xbox Series S

    NVMe SSDs use the PCIe interface, which has a higher bandwidth than the SATA interface. This results in much faster read/write speeds compared to SSDs using the SATA interface.

    Connection

    1.has 3.5mm mini jack jack

    ✔Microsoft Xbox One X

    ✔Microsoft Xbox Series S

    You can use the standard mini jack plug to connect most headphones.

    2.has Wi-Fi

    ✔Microsoft Xbox One X

    ✔Microsoft Xbox Series S

    The device can connect to Wi-Fi.

    3.DLNA

    ✔Microsoft Xbox One X

    ✔Microsoft Xbox Series S

    All DLNA certified products are compatible with each other. When different devices are connected to the same network, data can be easily transferred between them.

    4. USB connectors

    With more USB connectors, you can connect more devices.

    5.Supports Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)

    ✖Microsoft Xbox One X

    ✖Microsoft Xbox Series S

    Wi-Fi 6, released in 2019, is based on the IEEE 802.11ax wireless networking standard. Designed to operate in all frequency bands from 1 to 6 GHz, it offers faster data rates and lower latency than previous Wi-Fi technologies.

    6.802.11ac WiFi

    ✔Microsoft Xbox One X

    ✔Microsoft Xbox Series S

    802.11ac wireless operates on 5 GHz as well as 2.4 GHz (dual-band WiFi). Offers higher data transfer rates, increased reliability and more optimal power consumption. Benefits for gaming and HD video streaming.

    7.802.11n WiFi interface

    ✔Microsoft Xbox One X

    ✔Microsoft Xbox Series S

    802.11n is a wireless standard released in 2009. Higher data transfer speed, better security than its predecessors a , b and g.

    8.has HDMI output

    ✔Microsoft Xbox One X

    ✔Microsoft Xbox Series S

    Devices with HDMI or mini HDMI ports can stream HD video and audio to the connected display.

    HDMI 9 version

    HDMI 2.0b

    HDMI 2.1

    Newer versions of HDMI support higher bandwidth for higher resolutions and frame rates.

    Functions

    1. number of games

    Devices that have more games provide more options for users. This is also an indicator of how popular this device is.

    2.number of exclusive games

    Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Microsoft Xbox Series S)

    Exclusive games available only on this device.

    3.has voice commands

    ✔Microsoft Xbox One X

    ✔Microsoft Xbox Series S

    You can use your voice to control key device functions and also easily access your device without pressing buttons.

    4.Backwards compatible

    ✔Microsoft Xbox One X

    ✔Microsoft Xbox Series S

    Backward compatible allows you to play games from previous generation consoles (or multiple generations). Can play games at the same time as downloading them during the game.

    6.Supports quick update

    ✖Microsoft Xbox One X

    ✔Microsoft Xbox Series S

    Quick update is a feature that allows you to switch between multiple running games with almost zero load time.

    7.Supports Discord Voice Chat

    ✖Microsoft Xbox One X

    ✔Microsoft Xbox Series S

    Supports Discord Voice, which allows you to chat with people on other platforms such as PC and mobile devices.

    8.Supports 3D sound

    ✖Microsoft Xbox One X

    ✔Microsoft Xbox Series S

    3D sound provides a soundscape that is more immersive than traditional surround sound technologies and allows you to accurately determine the direction of the sound source.

    9. Dolby Vision compatible display

    ✖Microsoft Xbox One X

    ✔Microsoft Xbox Series S

    The display supports Dolby Vision, an HDR format that supports greater color depth and brightness than HDR10/HDR10+. It uses dynamic metadata so each frame can have its own contrast, brightness, and color settings, allowing you to create realistic images.

    Controllers

    1. Number of controllers

    Multiple controllers allows you to have more people playing at the same time.

    2.has adaptive triggers

    ✖Microsoft Xbox One X

    ✖Microsoft Xbox Series S

    Special motors in the controller can adjust the tension of the trigger buttons, adding a sense of reality. For example, pressing triggers becomes more difficult when the player character runs fast and gets tired.

    3. Can be used with Motion Detection Control

    ✖Microsoft Xbox One X

    ✖Microsoft Xbox Series S

    Motion Detection Control allows you to get more realism when participating in some games, such as sports.

    4. Has wireless control

    ✔Microsoft Xbox One X

    ✔Microsoft Xbox Series S

    Control devices connect to the game wirelessly, allowing you to play freely.

    5. number of analog sticks

    The more analog sticks, the more difficult the game options can be.

    6.Integrated touchpad

    ✖Microsoft Xbox One X

    ✖Microsoft Xbox Series S

    Users can control the touchpad device by simply moving their fingers across the surface.

    7. Dual feedback amplification

    ✔Microsoft Xbox One X

    ✔Microsoft Xbox Series S

    With double feedback amplification, the control has a realistic vibration, which allows you to feel which side the impact is coming from.

    8.controller

    Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Microsoft Xbox One X)

    Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Microsoft Xbox Series S)

    Lighter control means less strain on your hands while playing.

    9.number of buttons

    Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Microsoft Xbox Series S)

    The more buttons on the device, the more complex the input information can be.

    Other

    1st pixel speed

    Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Microsoft Xbox One X)

    50.08 GPixel/s

    The number of pixels that can be displayed on the screen every second.

    2.textured units (TMUs)

    Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Microsoft Xbox One X)

    TMUs take texture units and bind them to the geometric location of the 3D scene. More TMUs generally means texture information is processed faster.

    3.GPU memory speed

    Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Microsoft Xbox One X)

    1750MHz

    Memory speed is one aspect that determines memory bandwidth.

    4.memory effective speed

    Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Microsoft Xbox One X)

    1750MHz

    The effective memory clock speed is calculated from the size and data transfer rate of the memory. A higher clock speed can give better performance in games and other applications.

    5.max memory bandwidth

    Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Microsoft Xbox One X)

    224GB/s

    This is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored in memory.

    6.memory bus width

    Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Microsoft Xbox One X)

    128bit

    Wider memory bus — this means it can carry more data per cycle. This is an important factor in memory performance, and therefore the overall performance of the graphics card.

    7. Number of transistors

    Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Microsoft Xbox One X)

    800 million

    A higher transistor count usually indicates a newer, more powerful processor.

    8.texture size

    Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Microsoft Xbox One X)

    125.2 GTexels/s

    The number of textured pixels that can be displayed on the screen every second.

    Price match

    Cancel

    What are the best game consoles?

    all about next generation Xbox consoles • AIN.UA

    September 25, 2020,
    16:01

    15010

    Microsoft’s approach to this new generation is very different from how console launch worked before. We usually saw Sony and Microsoft only release one new console at launch, and each came with an exclusive library of games. But in this generation, everything has changed — Microsoft has almost no exclusives and the company introduced two devices at the same time.

    The Verge has collected all the information about the new generation of Xbox Series X and S consoles — from a detailed analysis of backward compatibility to a comparison of the estimated FPS. The editors of AIN.UA made the translation.

    Two new Microsoft consoles

    At launch, Microsoft plans to release two variants of the console, the Xbox Series X and the cheaper Xbox Series S. Console manufacturers often offer several different hardware options at launch, but the differences are usually minor. The PS3, for example, was initially available in two models. There was a version with a 60 GB hard drive, as well as a cheaper version with a smaller 20 GB hard drive, no Wi-Fi support, and fewer ports.

    Meanwhile, Microsoft also originally sold a Core version of the Xbox 360 in 2005, which included compromises such as the inclusion of a wired rather than wireless controller and no hard drive.

    The differences between the Xbox Series S and Series X are more significant and will likely have a big impact on how games look. While Microsoft says the Series X is aiming to run games at 60fps at full 4K resolution, the Series S is instead aiming for the lower 1440p at 60fps. It’s a big power difference similar to what we’ve seen between Xbox One and Xbox One X, but this time the two consoles will be available on day one rather than being released years apart.

    Both versions of the company have 8-core processors, although the maximum clock speed of X is slightly higher — 3.8 GHz, not 3.6 GHz for Series S. Both support expandable storage up to 1 TB using an expansion card, both have HDMI 2.1 release and both are backwards compatible with «thousands» of games from Xbox One, Xbox 360 and the original Xbox. Both support hardware-accelerated ray tracing for more realistic lighting in games, Dolby Atmos audio technology, and Dolby Vision HDR.

    They are also backwards compatible with all officially licensed Xbox One accessories such as controllers and headsets, although there are no plans to support the Kinect camera.

    However, there are big differences between them. The X series comes with a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray drive, while the S series is digital-only, so you’ll have to download your games instead of buying them on disc. Disk X also has twice the amount of internal storage (1TB compared to 512GB) and more RAM (16GB compared to 10GB). Physically, the S is also much smaller than the X. Microsoft calls the Xbox S «the smallest Xbox ever.»

    Perhaps the most significant difference in is in the graphics chip. While both consoles use the AMD RDNA 2 graphics architecture, the Series X has 52 compute units. Not only is this twice as many as the 20 compute units shipped with the Series S, but they also run at a higher frequency of 1.825 GHz compared to 1.565 GHz. Overall, this translates to 12.15 teraflops of Series X graphics power, compared to 4 teraflops for the Series S.

    While Sony’s consoles are also based on AMD’s RDNA 2 architecture, both PS5 clock models have 10.28 teraflops of GPU power. They have fewer compute units (36), but their maximum limit is higher at 2.23 GHz. They also have 8-core processors, but they run at 3.5 GHz. Thus, the Xbox Series X is more powerful than the PS5. However, it’s important to note that the PS5’s CPU and GPU clock speeds vary based on overall workload, so this isn’t a completely accurate comparison.

    The PS5 is otherwise identical on paper to the Series X, with 16GB of RAM, 825GB of flash storage and a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray drive.

    Like Microsoft, Sony also has a downgraded digital version of its next console, but here the differences are much more straightforward. The lack of a disc drive means the digital console is a little thinner, but otherwise, PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan said the two consoles are «identical products.» 94 1 TB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD (2.4 GB/s uncompressed, 4.8 GB/s compressed) 512 GB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD (2.4 GB/s uncompressed, 4, 8 GB/s with compression) Expandable storage Expansion 1 TB map Xbox One accessories. Xbox One, Xbox 360, original Xbox games. Xbox One accessories. (although it will technically support resolutions up to 8K). Despite the differences in resolution, Microsoft says both consoles are capable of 60 frames per second, and some games will be able to support 120 frames per second.

    If Microsoft’s claims are correct, then games should feel just as smooth no matter what console you’re playing on, but they won’t be as detailed. This may not matter much if you’re playing on an old 1080p TV, but it will be more obvious if you’re using a modern 4K setup.

    It’s important to note that these resolution and frame rate claims have historically differed from what we’ve seen in games on release. Although Microsoft claimed that the Xbox One X was capable of running games in 4K at 60 frames per second, in reality, many of the most popular games did not run in full 4K. Fortnite , for example, runs at 1728p on Xbox One X, while Doom: Eternal runs at 1800p. Games on both modern consoles also feature dynamic resolution scaling to keep frame rates consistent. Digital Foundry found that Gears of War 5 sometimes downsized to 1584p even though it could run at 2160p. Resolution isn’t everything, and these games often looked amazing no matter how many pixels were visible on the screen, but it’s worth keeping in mind.

    Xbox One X games also frequently run at 30fps, especially when running at native 4K. For example, Middle Earth: Shadow of War ran at 2160p but at 30 fps. Meanwhile, Rise of the Tomb Raider could run at 60fps on Xbox One X at 1080p, but in 4K mode it hung closer to 30fps. However, the more powerful hardware in the X-series — and, to a certain extent, the S-series — means that such compromises should, in theory, be less necessary going forward.

    Legacy Controller

    While the Xbox One controllers will work with the Xbox Series X and Series S, there is also an updated controller for the new consoles, which is available in white, black and blue. While it’s broadly similar to the design Microsoft has used for its previous controllers, it’s slightly smaller and has a dedicated share button to simplify the process of uploading screenshots and video clips. Its D-pad is also a circle, like the recent Xbox Elite Series 2 controller, rather than a cross like on the Xbox One.

    New games on new consoles

    Microsoft and its partners have announced many games that will appear on its new console and will be able to fully exploit its potential.

    Unfortunately, Microsoft recently delayed the release of Halo: Infinite , the game will be released in 2021, not with the new console. News of the delay, which Microsoft attributed in part to the pandemic, came after the game’s visuals were met with criticism following their initial introduction.

    Other Xbox games like Fable and Forza Motorsport don’t have a release date yet, forcing third party publishers to fill in the rest of the launch lineup, including Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Marvel’s Avengers, Dirt 5, Watch Dogs Legion and Tetris Effect : Connected .

    These games support various Xbox Series X and Series S features. Watch Dogs Legio , for example, will run in 4K and support ray tracing for more realistic lighting, according to Microsoft’s site, but on page Assassin’s Creed Valhalla no mention of ray tracing support. Another interesting title in the launch lineup is Dirt 5 , which can run at 120fps on the Xbox Series X. This high frame rate is especially important in a fast-paced racing game, and should make Dirt 5 more responsive.

    One of the things that these games have in common is that they will also be available for current generation consoles such as Xbox One and PS4. Microsoft has also said its own flagship games will also be released on current generation consoles. If Microsoft keeps that promise, it will be a big departure from how console makers have treated new games at launch in the past, when these «exclusives» were a big part of new console sales.

    New games on older consoles

    Microsoft says you won’t have to buy a new console to enjoy its upcoming games, as they will also be coming to Xbox One. Here’s how Xbox head Phil Spencer described the company’s approach back in July, where he said every Xbox Game Studios game would be playable on Xbox One in the next couple of years.

    “You are not forced into the next generation. We want every Xbox player to play every new game from Xbox Game Studios. That’s why the Xbox Game Studios games we’re releasing in the next couple of years, like Halo Infinite, will be available and play great on Xbox Series X and Xbox One. We won’t force you to switch to Xbox Series X at launch to play Xbox exclusives,» Phil Spencer said.0003

    And if you’re more of a PC gamer and don’t have an Xbox One, then Microsoft usually releases its main games there as well and says it plans to continue this policy this year.

    You should be aware of some cautions. First, these promises only apply to games from Microsoft , also known as Xbox Game Studios. Microsoft makes no promises about how other publishers like EA, Ubisoft or Activision will handle their new games. And secondly, you are probably will see a very different game in terms of graphics if you decide to play on the base 2013 Xbox One compared to the new Xbox Series X.

    New games without a console

    With game streaming, even if you don’t have an Xbox or a gaming PC, but you have an Android phone, you will be able to play the games of the new generation of consoles.

    On September 15, Microsoft added game streaming to Xbox Games Pass Ultimate, which costs $14.99 per month. Previously known as xCloud, this feature can give you the ability to play many of the biggest Xbox Series X games without having to own any gaming hardware. You can stream them to your Android phone (but not iOS) and play anywhere.

    Cloud gaming isn’t a new idea — Sony launched PlayStation Now back in 2014 — but Microsoft is taking a much more interesting approach.

    Instead of focusing on older games like Sony did with PlayStation Now, Microsoft says its new games will be available for streaming the day they come out and lists recent in-house games like Forza Horizon 4 , Gears of War 5, Tell Me Why, The Outer Worlds and Ori and the Will of the Wisps , which are part of a collection of over 150 games available for streaming at launch.

    New level of backward compatibility

    The ability to play previous generation games on new hardware varied between consoles and generations. Nintendo’s Wii U could run any Wii game, and the Wii could play all previous GameCube games. In contrast, the PS4 cannot natively play games released for previous PlayStations, although some of them can be streamed via PlayStation Now.

    With its new consoles, Microsoft has outlined three ways in which old games can be played on new hardware. Some games will be backwards compatible, some will receive improvements, and others will receive a free update when new versions are released. With the release of Xbox Series X, Microsoft promises that you will be able to play older Xbox games on new hardware. «Thousands» of games released for the original Xbox, Xbox 360 and Xbox One will be available on its future consoles. This includes almost all games released for Xbox One, with the exception of those that required a Kinect camera.

    The Xbox Series S will still be able to run older games, but Microsoft has confirmed that they won’t include Xbox One X enhancements such as higher resolutions. So in most cases, you will essentially be playing a version of the game that was designed for the less powerful Xbox One S. However, in some cases, these older games may still benefit from more modern hardware, such as more fast drive, and games with dynamic resolution scaling can run at higher resolutions. Backward compatible original Xbox and Xbox 360 games will also run at enhanced 1440p. And in some cases, Microsoft says that games will be improved to run at higher resolutions and frame rates than they were originally released, as well as support for new technologies such as HDR. In particular,

    Finally, there is «smart delivery», which is essentially a free upgrade of the program to the current level. This means you don’t have to re-purchase an Xbox Series S or X re-release game if you’ve already purchased it for Xbox One.