Xbox Series X Vs Xbox Series S Games
So heres what you need to know: both the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S are able to play exactly the same games, although theyll undoubtedly look best on Xbox Series X.
The kind of compromises we expect to see on Xbox Series S will focus on the drop to 1440p resolution from 4K, and maybe some more minor changes that probably wont be as noticeable.
Both consoles offer full backwards-compatibility with Xbox One, Xbox 360 and original Xbox games. So while we’re still waiting for some of the biggest next-gen exclusives like Fable 4 and Halo Infinite to launch, there’s still plenty to play, particularly if you have a large library of titles already. If you own a lot of physical copies, though, be mindful that these wont work on Xbox Series S due to the lack of disc drive.
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Xbox Series X Release Date
Microsoft announced that the Xbox Series X will go on sale during the holiday season of 2020, typically meaning between October and December, but an exact date has yet to be announced.
The Xbox 360 was released on November 22, 2005, and the Xbox One was released on November 22, 2013, so the Xbox Series X could arrive in November 2020.
Sony’s competing Playstation 5 is also pegged to be released around the end of 2020, so being first to market with a next-gen console will be top of mind for both companies.
Xbox Series S Release Date When Is It Out
Microsoft will release the Xbox Series S for sale on November 10.
That’s the same day that the full-fat Xbox Series X will come out.
Importantly, both consoles will arrive in time for Christmas.
They’ll also be on sale for Black Friday November 27 so we may see some tempting bundles available then.
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Xbox Series X Games Specs Price How It Compares To Ps5 Xbox Series S
All we know about Microsoft’s forthcoming game console, which is almost everything at this point.
Update, Nov. 5: Read our reviews of the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S.
Microsoft’s eagerly awaited new Xbox video game console is almost here, and you can shell out $500 for the Xbox Series X now that preorders have started. Or, you might decide to save a couple hundred and opt for the lesser — but still very appealing– Xbox Series S. We now have a clearer picture of what to expect from the Xbox Series X, short of the types of answers we can only get by booting one up and starting to play a final unit.
Entertain your brain with the coolest news from streaming to superheroes, memes to video games.
The Series X enters a scene that looks very different than when its predecessor, the Xbox One X, arrived three years ago. Though technically it’s competing with other living room game consoles, notably its sibling the Series S and the upcoming SonyPS5, in practice it’s now challenged for a share of your entertainment time and money by hugely popular phone-based mobile gaming and the Nintendo Switch handheld console, as well as nascent cloud gaming options and established PC gaming.
The End Of The Xbox One Family
Microsoft refers to the Xbox One, the S, and the X as part of one Xbox Family. This means that you can play your games on any one of these consoles and use your accessories on each of them too. No one gets left behind.
Its pretty exciting, especially when you look at the effort Microsoft has put into backwards compatibility. With a huge selection of Xbox 360 and original Xbox titles available to play on the current generation, the plan is to keep this compatibility moving forward.
Can they do it? Will they be able to transition to the Xbox 2 and still keep everything backwards compatible? If anyone can do it, its them. With Phil Spencer at the head of the charge, the possibilities are endless.
Come check out our page on The End of the Xbox One to see how we believe Microsoft will make this important transition into the future.
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Xbox Game Pass Comparison
| $9.99/£7.99/9.99 | $9.99/£7.99/9.99 |
Suffice it to say, if you dont have the cash to make a big upfront purchase, then Microsoft still wants to get you on board for its next generation of consoles. You wont own any of the games you can play , but thats the trade-off you make.
Microsofts plans for the next generation of gaming are sprawling. Two consoles that are available via subscription and can play a huge chunk of your existing Xbox games, a new roster of games that will be playable on your existing Xbox One, a continuing focus on PC gaming, and a game streaming service mean that, no matter what hardware you own, theres a decent chance youll be able to pay Microsoft to play its games.
Weve written before about how the focus on trying to sell subscriptions rather than premium hardware means that the true next-gen Xbox is the subscription itself, rather than the hardware it plays on. Microsoft is casting its net wide, and it doesnt want any hardware requirements to get in the way of you subscribing.
Sony, meanwhile, is doing what its always done: its making a new console, developing exclusive games for it, and selling it. Its hard to argue too much with the approach when its done so well for the company so far, especially with the PS4.
Update November 12th, 1:30PM ET: Added hands on impressions now that the Xbox Series S and Series X have launched.
Xbox Series X: Features And Improvements
Microsoft has made comments about improving load speeds and access to your games through the Xbox Series X, and Microsoft’s proprietary Xbox Velocity Architecture allows the SSD to offload computational scenarios that would typically be handled by other components, freeing them up for extra juice due to its speed and decompression tech.
The NVMe SSD, coupled with some of Microsoft’s own tweaks near-eliminates loading. Games with loading times of anywhere up to a minute are reduced to mere seconds, with the SSD having anywhere up to 2GB/s read speeds. Microsoft confirmed this with a side-by-side comparison of the State of Decay 2’s loading times recently.
The Xbox Series X NVMe SSD will also provide developers with more power to use, offloading asset streaming tasks typically handled by the CPU thanks to new features in DirectX, called DirectStorage .
Microsoft is also planning to bring cloud gaming to the new Xbox consoles too. This will help circumvent installation times for some games. Ultimately, next-gen is all about saving you time. Microsoft also engineered this thing to be as quiet as possible, and we’ve heard that even under heavy load, it’s virtually silent.
Another benefit of the SSD is that games will be able to save in suspended states, as per a with Major Nelson.
As noted earlier, the proof is in the pudding, though. Microsoft has already shown off at least one game that is built from the ground up for these next-gen features, and that is Hellblade II.
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Upgraded Xbox Series X/s Models Rumored For 2022 & 2023
Moore’s Law Is Dead reports a trustworthy source has confirmed plans for Xbox Series X/S model refreshes to counter plans from Sony.
A rumor has surfaced that Microsoft will release refreshed versions of the Xbox Series Xand S between 2022 and 2023 or beyond to counter Sony’s planned PS5 Slim, with the new model of the Series S supposedly debuting first. The international chip shortage has had an adverse effect on console sales for Microsoft and Sony, but not so much to prevent either company from making sizable profits on their most recent systems. Sony’s executive vice president of hardware commented as far back as late 2019 on the likelihood of a PS5 Pro as part of the PlayStation 5’s six-to-seven year lifecycle, referencing the PS4 Pro as the precedent. Releasing an updated version of a pre-existing console with better hardware and graphics capabilities has become a regular practice in recent years among the Big Three.
Microsoft unveiled the Xbox One X in 2017 as a higher-performing, 4K alternative to the original Xbox One, which struggled in sales against its PS4 rival. But Microsoft’s unveil only arrived after Sony’s announcement of the PS4’s own 4K successor, the PS4 Pro. Nintendo has also repeated the practice to a lesser degree with the OLED version of the Switch, though fans still hope for a dedicated Nintendo Switch Pro. Now that rumors of a PS5 Pro model with 8K support have come to light, the same may pan out for updated versions of the Xbox Series X and S.
Xbox Series X Price: Streaming Apps
Pre-launch, Microsoft confirmed which streaming apps are available on the Xbox Series X. The big news? The list includes the Apple TV app. That puts the console on a par with Sony’s PS5.
The consoles also run all streaming apps currently available for the Xbox One consoles, with a few exceptions. The BBC iPlayer app didn’t work on Xbox Series X/S at launch but Microsoft has now rectified that.
So far the list includes :
- Sky Ticket
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Is The Xbox Series S Worth It
The Xbox Series S is absolutely still worth buying in 2022. Microsofts wallet-friendly console boasts many of the same quality features as the Series X, is much easier to actually buy in the first place, and is arguably the easiest entry point to accessing the incredible Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription services.
But it is worth noting that the Series S isnt without its drawbacks. As mentioned earlier, the relatively small amount of storage on the SSD is lamentable, especially considering the Series S is a digital-only machine. Thats really the biggest issue with the console in our minds, with the less powerful processor and 1440p resolution target for gaming are only slight drawbacks at best.
So if youre in the market for a new console, and either cant afford an Xbox Series X or are simply tired of waiting for stock to appear, dont count out the Xbox Series S. Not only will you save yourself a lot of money and time, youll end up owning one of Microsofts best consoles to date.
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.
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Where To Buy The New Xbox
Xbox Series X and S consoles go quickly, and while the Series X is in stock right now, it might not be forever. If you cant find it in stock from any of the retailers in our automated tools, there are other stores to try. These are the best UK retailers to check:
In the UK, Box is still running its ongoing ballot for the Series X, with hopeful buyers able to register in advance for free. Whenever Box gets Xbox stock in, it runs a ballot and draws names that get the chance to buy a console saving you from sitting in a queue to buy. You can sign up at any time, with the ballots themselves run at set points and announced 24 hours in advance. Even better, signing up once earns you a spot in every future ballot not just the next one.
Naturally, consoles are also available on eBay if you dont mind paying a little extra and taking a risk on a dodgy deal.
Xbox Series X: Price And Costs
We revealed exclusively via our sources that the current intended retail price of the Xbox Series X is going to be $499, matching the launch price of the Xbox One X of yesteryear. Microsoft later confirmed it to be official. The Xbox Series S is expected to cost $299, similar to the Xbox One S. Microsoft has now confirmed these reports.
Microsoft has been expanding its Xbox financing program, Xbox All Access, and we expect Microsoft will leverage these financing options more broadly to try to help people manage costs, making next-gen more accessible than ever.
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When Will The Xbox Series X And Series S Be Easy To Find
The Xbox Series X and Series S launched on November 10, 2020, and have been in short supply ever since. This supply shortage, which also affects Sonys PlayStation 5, PC graphics cards and other components, as well as microprocessors used in vehicle production and other electronics-based devices, is widespread, related to Covid-19 and other production problems, and is likely to persist throughout 2021. The Xbox Series S has recently become easier to find, though its often out of stock. We expect it will be difficult to find an Xbox Series X until some time in 2022.
Choosing The Right Xbox: Series X Or Series S
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Weve added new information on user interface and usability improvements, the new Xbox Wireless Headset, and other additions to the platform.
A new generation of video game consoles has been out for more than a year, though stock shortages continue. The Xbox One is no more, replaced by a pair of new Xbox consoles. The $500 Xbox Series X and the $300 Xbox Series S are both based on a similar foundation, and both will play all of the same games for years to come. But each model targets a different level of speed and graphics performance, and with that in mind, were here to help you figure out which one you should buyor, if you need to buy one at all.
Youre going to hear a lot about 4K if youre shopping for video games or a TV. It represents the next big step in high-definition video, with 3840×2160 pixelsfour times the resolution of 1080p.
Our pick
Get the Series X if youll use it with a 4K TV , want the absolute best in graphics like raytraced lighting effects, or if you want a disc drive for games and movies.
Buying Options
May be out of stock
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Xbox Series X Restock Update: Track On Twitter Gamestop Walmart And More
Xbox Series X restock is still available at Walmart via All-Access. You’ll need to open a new line of credit and pay via monthly installments. .
Meanwhile, if you’re looking for Xbox Series S consoles, Amazon still has stock of the Series S Fortnite & Rocket League Bundle for $299. .
While we search for more Xbox Series X restock, we suggest you check the retailers listed below. Make sure to bookmark and regularly refresh this page, as that should put you in a good position to secure fresh Xbox Series X stock when it arrives. Also, make sure to check out our Xbox Series X restock tips guide and our pick of the best Xbox Series X alternative available now.
Xbox Series S Price How Much Will It Cost
The new Xbox Series S is the cheaper of Microsoft’s next-gen consoles.
It’ll cost you £249 in the UK, or $299 in the states.
That’s far cheaper than the Xbox Series X, which is set to retail at £449/$499.
However, we’re still in the dark about something very important: the PlayStation 5 price.
The PS5 is Sony’s big rival to the Xbox Series S and Series X, and comes in two variants one with a disc tray, and one without.
That means we could see a major price war, with Sony undercutting the Xbox.
You’ll probably want to hold off making a final decision until you find out how much the PS5 costs too.
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Microsoft’s New Flagship Xbox Series X Elite Console Teased In New Renders And Man It Looks So Good
The new Xbox Series X Elite console render was made by graphic designer Jermaine Smit aka Concept Creator and was developed in collaboration with Phone Industry. The render has some awesome LED lighting on both sides of the Xbox Series X Elite console, with a large power button and Xbox logo — on the left, we have the Blu-ray slot, an eject button, and 4 x USB ports.
On the back we have 6 ports: for power, an Ethernet power, 2 x USB 3.1 ports, and 1 x HDMI 2.1 connector that is finished up with an expansion port for storage. Ventilation wise the faster flagship Xbox Series X Elite console will run hotter, so ventilation is taken care of with one on the top, and both sides as well as the back with ventilation holes that make sure under those all-day, all-night gaming sessions that your Xbox Series X Elite console runs cool.
We should see Microsoft’s new Xbox Series X Elite console released in 2023 with AMD’s new APUs on the fresh 6nm process, with higher CPU and GPU clocks. There’ll also be an updated Xbox Series S console that will reportedly be more powerful than its predecessor, but we’ll have to wait until the end of 2022 and more into 2023 before we see those.
Sony will be fighting back with a faster PlayStation 5 Pro console, something we’ve heard a bit about so far… again, we’ll have more news on that in 2022 before its release sometime in 2023.