The Xbox Series X is above all a much faster game console, which also makes old games more beautiful. Handy for anyone who had a PlayStation during the previous generation of consoles and missed Microsoft’s big titles.
Microsoft is catching up in the Netherlands. Because the Xbox One was only sold in the Netherlands a year later, Sony was able to conquer the majority of the market with its PlayStation 4. That is a lead that the Xbox maker has not yet overtaken, but the new generation of game consoles offers opportunities. Both the new Xbox and PlayStation will be released in November this year, as a result of which the Dutch may switch to Microsoft’s camp.
Microsoft is releasing two new models: the Xbox Series S and the Series X. Of the two, we tested the latter – the Series S is mostly identical, but cheaper and less powerful. The new hardware makes better games possible that also start up faster.
The visual upgrade is the smallest of those two innovations. Optimized games use more realistic lighting effects and are more beautiful at higher resolutions, but they are differences that only become noticeable when you compare them directly with the old model. The visual leap is less than with the introduction of the Xbox 360 and Xbox One.
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The Xbox controller has largely stayed the same. Source: NU.nl/Rutger Otto
Games load much faster
The difference in loading times is much greater with the new game console. Games start up two to four times faster compared to an Xbox One game console, which makes a huge difference with some games. Red Dead Redemption started in 40 seconds, instead of more than two minutes. Final Fantasy XV no longer takes a minute, but only fifteen seconds.
Waiting times are further shortened by the introduction of Quick Resume. The previous Xbox and PlayStation 4 could already hold one game in memory, so you can continue playing immediately after starting the hardware. The Series X remembers your place in multiple games at the same time. This means you no longer have to navigate through the main menu and load a save game.
With this, Microsoft responds to frequently heard complaints about long loading times for games. In addition, the tech giant seems to be listening to feedback about old game consoles. Where old, compact game consoles sounded like helicopters due to hard-blowing fans, the Series X can handle heat better thanks to its somewhat larger design. This makes it very quiet.
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The Xbox is bigger and therefore quieter. Source: NU.nl/Rutger Otto.
Old games are nicer
The Xbox One ran almost no older games on day one, but on the Series X almost all previously released titles work immediately. Those who run older games on the new hardware often have nicer versions of those games.
Games are automatically adjusted for more modern televisions with HDR screens, which provides a higher contrast and color range. Some titles are getting updates that increase the resolution and refresh rate of the picture.
The improved support for older games is badly needed, because the range of games specially made for the Series X is scarce when the console appears. In time, exclusive titles such as Halo Infinite in Fable for the machine, but until then gamers have to make do with old titles. Some recent games are popping up for Series X as well as Xbox One and PlayStation 4, such as Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.
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The exclusive Xbox game Halo Infinite will not be released yet. Source: Microsoft.
Game Pass partly makes up for the lack of new games
But where there is a lack of new exclusive titles, the Series X does offer access to a large library of games via a subscription service. Microsoft offers a subscription to Game Pass from 10 euros per month, which gives you access to a library with over a hundred titles.
In between are also major, exclusive Xbox titles that were previously released on the Xbox One. Since that game console in the Netherlands was overshadowed by the PlayStation 4, there is a lot in Game Pass that many have not played. That offer alone makes the Series X very interesting. It offers enough fun until the first truly unique games appear.
Xbox Series X
- CPU: Zen 2 (AMD) with 8 cores at 3.8 GHz (3.6 GHz with SMT)
- GPU: 12 teraflops, 52 cu’s op 1,825 GHz
- Memory: 16 GB GDDR6 with a 320 bit memory bus
- Bandwidth: 10 GB at 560 GB / s, 6 GB at 336 GB / s
- Storage capacity: 1 TB
- SSD bandwidth: 2.4 GB / s (raw), 4.8 GB (compressed)
- Performance target: 4K at 60 fps, up to 120 fps
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Conclusion
The Xbox Series X not only makes new, but also old games more beautiful. In addition, the much faster loading times are impressive. There are not many exclusive games yet, but the wide range of classics on Game Pass makes up for a lot for now.
The Xbox Series S and Series X will be on sale from November 10 for 299 and 499 euros respectively.
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