Microsofts Two New Consoles
This week, Microsoft released its two new Xbox consoles. Theres the $499 Xbox Series X, and a cheaper $299 Xbox Series S. You can read our reviews of both of them by following the links below.
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Xbox Series S review
Its not unusual for console manufacturers to offer a couple of different hardware options at launch, but normally, the differences are minor. The PS3, for example, was initially available in two models. There was a version with a 60GB hard drive as well as a cheaper version with a smaller 20GB 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 like including a wired rather than wireless controller and omitting a hard drive.
The differences between the Xbox Series S and Series X are more substantial and have a big impact on how games look. While Microsoft says the Series X is targeting running games at 60fps at a full 4K resolution, the Series S instead targets a lower 1440p resolution at 60fps. Its a big power disparity, similar to what we saw between the Xbox One and the Xbox One X, but this time, the two consoles were available on day one, rather than releasing years apart.
The Xbox Series X comes complete with a disc drive.Microsofts Series S is less powerful and digital-only.
How Does Backward Compatibility Work On Xbox Series S
Those that opt to pick up the digital-only and slightly weaker Xbox Series S will have a different backward compatibility experience from those that have an Xbox Series X. Firstly, and most obviously, you cannot use the physical copies of Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox One games you own for backward compatibility because the Series S does not have a disc drive. Also, while it doesn’t always hit the same heights as Microsoft’s previously released Xbox One X, Eurogamerstill highlighted how games will still be upgraded in their own way.
Original Xbox and Xbox 360 games will get upgraded to run at a 1440p resolution, which is a bit lower than the 4K the Xbox One X could achieve. This also means that when you play an Xbox One game on the Series S, you’re experience will be an upgraded Xbox One S game rather than the enhanced Xbox One X games that Xbox Series X players get to experience.
That said, many of the games will still come with performance enhancements on Xbox Series S that are better than what the Xbox One X could achieve. Eurogamer specifically points out better dynamic resolution scaling, texture filtering quality, HDR support, and loading times. It can also play some games at up to 120fps just like the Xbox Series X.
Will Xbox Series X Play Nice With Xbox One
While the general consensus on message boards seems to be yes, I cant find an official Microsoft answer on this point only crumbs that point to a mixed picture.
Its safe to say that some games will be playable between Xbox Series X and Xbox One. If youre playing your Xbox One disc of, say, Modern Warfare 2 in the Xbox Series X, then it stands to reason that youll be playing the game with Xbox One players filling the multiplayer lobbies. It is, after all, the same version of the game, and thus will connect to the same servers.
And I think we can safely say that in-game chat will work just fine between generations. The evidence for this? Xbox head honcho Phil Spencer tweeted back in May that he was 100% on XSX, which would be odd if using prototype hardware blocked him out of current-gen multiplayer lobbies, chat and so on.
We’re trying new things, listening/learning. We gave ourselves room to improve and we will. We believe in our plan. I’m 100% on XSX, playing games, watching platform tech land, seeing what’s ahead. Patience is the most difficult part for me, that’s not C19 related, that’s just me
Phil Spencer May 16, 2020
But what about games that have different versions for each generation? Well, presumably titles supported by Xbox Smart Delivery will work fine, but those that arent might be a bit trickier.
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Xbox Series X Vs Xbox One X Games
With the Xbox Series X now available, there are some exciting titles available right now and on their way soon. Between first-party titles like Halo Infinite, Hellblade 2 and third-party blockbusters like Cyberpunk 2077 there are a growing number of Xbox Series X games you can play today and many that are coming in the future, though the Xbox Series X launch lineup isn’t as fleshed out as we’d like.
Some of the games that are out now or coming soon to Xbox Series X/S in the near future include:
You can see the full Xbox Series X launch lineup here or check out our Xbox Series X games list for the full list of confirmed Series X titles.
The Series Xs impressive specs in combination with the excellent value of Xbox Game Pass gives early adopters a ready-made library that benefits from faster load times, better graphics, and higher resolution.
Backwards compatibility is also excellent on the Xbox Series X. You can play hundreds of games from previous Xbox generations on your new system, including original Xbox titles, but Microsoft has gone a step further with Smart Delivery. Consider this forwards compatibility in the sense that when you buy a compatible game, its unlocked on all supporting hardware. For example, Cyberpunk 2077 supports Smart Delivery, so owners of the game on Xbox One X will benefit from a free upgrade to Xbox Series X.
Will My Old Discs Work On Xbox Series X
This side of the question is a little more complicated. Microsoft made it clear from a very early stage that the Xbox Series X supports a massive degree of backward compatibility for older Xbox games, especially those for Xbox One.
With a 4K Blu-ray drive on board as part of the hardware, that means that you’ve got an extremely high chance of your Xbox One discs working without any hassle on your Xbox Series X, and in fact benefitting from potentially faster loading times and superior performance as a result of the upgraded hardware.
There are only a few wrinkles here. Microsoft explained earlier this year that one area of complexity surrounds Kinect, its ill-fated exploration of motion-sensing. If you want to play a game that relies on Kinect, you’re out of luck – the Xbox Series X doesn’t support the peripheral, which means the game won’t work.
It’s also a little more complicated when it comes to older discs, from the Xbox 360 era, some of which are supported, but in the absence of a final list of these games we can’t be certain which ones work. However, it’s relatively safe bet that discs that work in your Xbox One should be happy with your Xbox Series X, too.
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‘many’ Xbox Series X/s Games Will Be Playable On Xbox One
The Xbox Series X and S might be Microsoft’s newest consoles, but you won’t need them to play the latest games. That’s because new titles are coming to Xbox One consoles, Microsoft has announced.
Now, there are a few caveats to this announcement. Not all games will be playable on the older consoles, as Microsoft has only said that “many” will. They will be playable through Xbox Cloud Gaming, rather than arriving on disc. And there’s not a lot of detail to dive into the announcement was relegated to a single sentence in a blog post following Microsoft’s showcase at the E3 gaming conference.
Here’s the announcement in full:
“For the millions of people who play on Xbox One consoles today, we are looking forward to sharing more about how we will bring many of these next-gen games, such asMicrosoft Flight Simulator, to your console through Xbox Cloud Gaming, just like we do with mobile devices, tablets, and browsers.”
That mention of Microsoft Flight Simulator as an example doesn’t exactly set our hearts aflutter either.
We look forward to hearing more details soon.
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Ps5 And Xbox Series X Backward Compatibility: Everything You Need To Know
Sony and Microsoft let you play many old games on their new consoles, but there are some limitations. Also, here’s how to transfer saves from your old console.
The PS5, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S all play old games, with a few limitations.
Playing your old games on a next-generation console is a huge deal in the quiet months after launch, when there aren’t many new titles to justify the hundreds of dollars you spent on a shiny new machine. Sony and Microsoft knew this as they launched their PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X last year, both having hyped up their consoles’ backward compatibility features.
The two companies have been battling other console makers for decades — Sony since 1994 and Microsoft since 2001 — so they’ve both built up magnificent back catalogs filled with classics. Let’s take a look at how much of each of those libraries you can play on the new consoles and how you can transfer your saves.
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New Games No Hardware
Say you dont own an Xbox or a gaming PC, but you do have an Android phone. Does Microsoft have any next-gen gaming options for you? Thanks to game streaming, it does. On September 15th, Microsoft added game streaming to Xbox Games Pass Ultimate, which costs $14.99 a month. The feature, which was known previously as xCloud, could give you a way to play many of the biggest Xbox Series X games without having to own any gaming hardware at all. You can stream them to a device as simple as an Android phone, for example .
Game streaming isnt an entirely new idea Sony launched its PlayStation Now service way back in 2014 to a muted response but Microsoft is taking a much more interesting approach. Rather than focusing on older titles, as Sony did with PlayStation Now, Microsoft says its new games will be available to stream the day they release and lists recent first-party titles like Forza Horizon 4, Gears of War 5, Tell Me Why, The Outer Worlds, and Ori and the Will of the Wisps as being among the 150-plus games available to stream at launch.
Microsoft promises to let you stream major Xbox games straight to your phone.Game streamings future on iPhones is uncertain
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Do Xbox Series X/s Gamers Get An Advantage When Playing Online Against Xbox One Players
Being able to play online with your last-gen/next-gen gamer friends is great news.
But theres a flabby fly floating in this particular soup of goodness.
The next-generation Xbox consoles are vastly more powerful than their last-gen cousins. For example, the Xbox Series X is, on paper anyway, over 9 times more powerful than the original Xbox One.
This vast gulf in graphical power will offer next-generation gamers a tangible advantage over last-gen gamers.
But what are those advantages?
Lets take a look
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How To Tell If Your Xbox Controller Is Bluetooth Ready
Plastic around the Xbox button is connected to the main body of the controller
Examples:
Xbox Wireless Controllers accompanying the Xbox Series X and Xbox One X, Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2, or Xbox Design Lab controller.
Plastic surrounding the Xbox button continues around the top of the controller
Examples:
Original controller accompanying the Xbox One console or the original Xbox Elite Wireless Controller
Maximizing Your Xbox Library
Microsoft also has a subscription service, the $10 a month Xbox Game Pass, that’ll get you access to a rotating library of older games. New Xbox exclusives also launch on the service, so you’ll get Halo Infinite and other upcoming games the day they become available. The $15 Game Pass Ultimate option will also get you access to Xbox Cloud Gaming, EA Play games and the ability to play many titles on PC.
Unlike the PS5, you’ll have plenty of controller options no matter what generation of games you’re playing — the Series X and Series S controllers are compatible with Xbox One games, the Xbox One console itself and PCs. You can also use your Xbox One controllers on your Series X and Series S.
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Xbox News: Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Members With Ea Play Can Join The Battlefield 2042 Open Beta Starting Today
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Today, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members with EA Play and those who have pre-ordered on the Xbox Store can get their first chance to experience the next generation of all-out warfare with Battlefield 2042, the latest entry in the acclaimed series that features massive open world battles, epic vehicular warfare, tons of class customization, and more to deliver one of the best multiplayer gaming experiences available across Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows PC.
Early access to the open beta for pre-orders and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members with EA Play kicks off today, October 6, followed by general access to all players on October 8, then concluding on October 10. You can find and install the open beta version of Battlefield 2042 here on the Xbox Store.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members on Windows PC can launch Battlefield 2042 open beta early access from the Game Hub on the EA app. To launch the open beta, go to the Battlefield 2042 Game Hub and click on Download. Once the download is complete you just click play to launch the beta. Note: The Battlefield 2042 open beta will not appear on the Xbox app. For more information, check out the official Battlefield 2042 FAQ.
For some additional tips and tricks to help you get started, be sure to visit Battlefield 2042s official Tips & Tricks site that covers a variety of topics, from how to capture sectors, how to heal and revive players, how Conquest works, and more. Visit it here.
Xbox Series X Vs Xbox One X Specs
When it comes to specs, this is where the Xbox Series X really differentiates itself. The console is packed with some seriously impressive hardware, many of which allow for technological advancements that you simply wont find on Xbox One X, such as graphically intensive ray tracing support and frame rates up to 120fps. Check out the Xbox Series X specs below:
- CPU: Eight-core 3.8GHz custom AMD 7nm
- GPU: 12 teraflops 1.825GHz
- RAM: 16GB GDDR6
- Optical: HD Blu-Ray disk drive
- Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD
The consoles GPU also dwarfs that of the Xbox One X when it comes to computational power. It boasts a 12 teraflop GPU instead of the Xbox One Xs 6 teraflop GPU, making it essentially twice as powerful as Microsofts older machine.
The Xbox Series X also comes with a super-fast 1TB NVMe SSD, which has a transformative effect on games. Its storage system can boost load times by up to 40 times higher than a regular mechanical hard drive, and the new storage format allows for features such as Quick Resume, where you can suspend and switch between multiple games at a time.
The SSD is used in conjunction with Microsofts new Xbox Velocity Architecture which, while in its early stages, promises to leave load times in the past and help overcome previous developer bottlenecks such as slow I/O performance and texture streaming.
The Xbox One X, while certainly showing its age, is no slouch, though. Check out the Xbox One X specs below:
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How To Do Xbox Series X/s Cross
Im not a big fan of jumping through technical mumbo-jumbo lined hoops when it comes to my gaming. I like an Apple-like simplicity to all that I do.
With that in mind, my wish was for cross-gen online gaming between Xbox Series X and S to be as smooth as possible. To the point of being invisible.
Fortunately, this particular wish was granted.
You dont have to do anything special to do cross-play between Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One games.
There are no options to tweak, no hacks to botch your way through while following an online tutorial.
Cross-gen gaming just works.
All you have to do to enable online cross-play between an Xbox Series console and an Xbox One is invite a friend, as you normally would do to form a multiplayer party.
Essentially, if you and your mate have the same game, and you both have Xbox consoles, you can play online together.
That player can then, like normal, accept your invite. It is essentially seamless and you shouldnt notice what console the other player is playing on.
That all sounds great. But before I move on, lets take a look at an example:
Lets take a look at an example:
Lets take the frankly awesome Xbox one game Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare .
A gamer on Xbox One is playing COD: IW. They see their Xbox Series X owning friend online and they invite them to a game.
The Friend on Xbox Series X gets an invite just as he would on Xbox One prompting them to join the game.
How To Toggle Cross
In competitive shooters, mouse and keyboard players generally have an advantage over controller players, purely due to the faster and more accurate turning capabilities of a mouse cursor. You can get a similar speed on an Xbox controller, especially on the Xbox Elite Controller Series 2 which allows you to customize the actuation and deadzone of the sticks, but adjusting to that can take a fair bit of practice. If you don’t fancy diving into controller customization and just want to play casually against other console players, there’s a setting on Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Series S that lets you turn it off completely.
From the Xbox dashboard, open the guide menu by tapping the Xbox button in the center of your controller.
Under You can play with people outside Xbox Live, select either Block or Allow depending on your preference.
Note: To ensure the setting has taken hold properly, restart your games after changing the setting.
Choosing Block will prevent your Xbox multiplayer games from connecting to PC and mobile players but may increase multiplayer games’ waiting times. Choosing Allow will connect your multiplayer sessions to PC and mobile players and will result in quicker matchmaking. However, mouse and keyboard players may have an advantage if you’re using a controller or a touch screen device to play.
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