Xbox Series X Vs Ps: Specs
When it comes to specs, both Sony and Microsoft have taken a similar approach, though there are a few key differences to point out.
The PlayStation 5 is powered by a custom-built version of the third generation AMD Ryzen chipset, packing in eight cores with the company’s new Zen 2 architecture and Navi graphics. The CPU runs at 3.5GHz. The GPU offers 36 compute units running at 2.23GHz and offering 10.28TFLOPs. Those parts are paired with 16GB of GDDR6 with a bandwidth of 448GB/s. It means the PS5 is able to support features like ray tracing a performance-intensive lighting technique that has previously been reserved to expensive high-end PC GPUs, and which we now know will be “built into the GPU hardware” for the PS5.
The PS5 will also support screen resolutions of up to 8K far higher than the standard 1080p HD of most peoples televisions, let alone that of the increasingly popular 4K. Itll also work at 120Hz refresh rates, allowing for super-smooth movement in games if you have a HDMI 2.1 compliant display. These are incredibly performance-intensive specs, so we wouldnt expect a game to hit these standards regularly , but the PS5 will at least make 4K/60fps a more common sight.
The controller also still has a headphone jack but now includes a built-in microphone. If you don’t have a headset to hand, you can party chat just using the controller or send a voice message to a friend.
The Xbox Series X, meanwhile, is incredibly impressive on paper.
Xbox Series X Entertainment
Microsoft understands that acting as an all-encompassing entertainment portal is a redundant ambition in 2020. This is a console designed to be played through new 4K televisions, and few of those are going to come without robust, built-in support for Smart TV and entertainment applications. The loss of support for HDMI-In makes OneGuide redundant. As Kinect stirs six feet under, so too does the need to beg and plead with your Xbox to pause a show. In an age where the use of second-screen devices is ubiquitous and so the Xbox One’s Snap functionality the ability to run an app or watch television side-by-side with a game was removed from the OS back in 2017, and no picture-in-picture solution has been re-introduced for Series X.
Instead, the Xbox Series X keeps it simple and comes loaded with just about every application that you could need. There are over 28 entertainment apps available through the store, so if any of your favourites are missing on Xbox One they will be missing here too. Media control for 4K UHD, Blu-Ray, and DVDs also shares the same underlying architecture with the Xbox One player, which is to say that it is functional and inoffensive. While the console is quiet in just about everything that it does, expect to hear a little bit of noise when using physical media as the disk drive whirrs into action.
Xbox Series X Restock Tracker: Halo Edition Consoles May Appear At Gamestop Soon
The next Xbox Series X restock might be something special.
After the membership-only Xbox Series X restock at Costco Thursday, the next best place to look is GameStop. Twitter user Lord of Restocks first noticed the listing for the Halo Edition Xbox Series X had returned to the site as a bundle, though it’s currently marked unavailable, with few details regarding price or what other accessories will be added. This could mean a restock is headed to GameStop shortly, and for more than just the standard Series X.
Outside of this potential restock, nothing official has been announced. Here are some quick tips for catching a surprise Xbox restock:
- Timing: Unannounced restocks typically happen after 10 a.m. PT unless they come from Target, which tends to drop them before 6 a.m. PT .
- Walmart, GameStop and Best Buy have membership subscriptions that frequently offer early access to restocks, but they’re not always required. Even if you don’t pay for early access, you should still create an account with these retailers for faster checkout.
- Install the app for your preferred retailer, which is often faster to use than the websites, but it’s better to use both.
Want to know how to better your chances of getting a console? Here’s what we’ve got.
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Why Is The Xbox Tough To Find
Essentially, Microsoft hasn’t been able to get the materials it needs to make enough Xbox consoles to meet demand. As with the PlayStation 5 and most PC video cards, there’s a chip shortage right now that is slowing supply. The pandemic affected production for a lot of chip manufacturers, and industry watchers currently don’t expect the issue to be entirely resolved for months to come.
As a result, Microsoft makes as many consoles as it can and distributes them among its retail partners. Each retailer releases its available consoles in whatever way it deems appropriate. Most of the time, this means announcing ahead of time when you’ll be able to buy the console online and then releasing it for anyone to buy.
Check out this full breakdown on the chip shortage by CNET’s Stephen Shankland for more details.
Where To Buy Xbox Series X Buying Tips And Resources
Apart from refreshing retailer websites, there are other tips you can use to increase your chances of scoring an Xbox Series X. One which we tested allowed us to put an Xbox Series X in our shopping cart four times without fail. In addition, there are other online channels you can check to see when a unit might become available.
On Twitter, we suggest following . The handle is known for updating users on the latest deals and restocks faster than anyone else on the platform.
Shopping forums
Slickdeals, the online deal repository, has a forum thread dedicated to ordering an Xbox Series X through Microsoft. The thread is constantly being updated, so jump to the last page and click refresh for the latest intel on when units will become available.
PopFindr
PopFindr is a site that checks local retail inventories based on your zip code. For example, you can check local Target stores in your area to see if any Xbox Series X’s are available. Do note, that just because it shows in stock, it might be out of stock by the time you arrive at the store.
Its also not a bad idea to make an account on Slickdeals and set a deal alert for Xbox Series X. Youll get an email alert when a new thread is made about replenished stock. But weve found that sometimes Slickdeals doesnt email users fast enough. So it might be better to type in Xbox Series X in the search bar and sort by new. Be willing to check in multiple times a day.
Facebook and Reddit
Wholesale retailers
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Where Is Xbox Series S In Stock In The Uk
If youre looking for the more affordable version of Microsofts latest console, then youre in luck. The Xbox series S is generally available across most of the big retailers.
Some bundles include additional hard-drive storage, controllers and Game Pass subscriptions. Here are some of the best deals right now.
- Xbox series S console: £249, Currys.co.uk
- Xbox series S console: £249,
- Xbox series S bundle with extra controller: £289.98, Xbox.com
Senuas Saga: Hellblade Ii
Announced at The Game Awards 2019, this game is as visually stunning as it is exciting. It will release alongside the new console later this year. This will be an Xbox exclusive game, releasing simultaneously on Xbox 2 and PC. Theres no word yet on whether it will only be available through the Microsoft store, though.
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Xbox Series X Review: Performance
There are now more Xbox Series X optimized games than there were at launch, showcasing what the 12 teraflops of graphics power can do when its applied to patched games, both old and new.
One of the standout titles is Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. While not a Xbox Series X exclusive it’s a game with impressive visuals and graphics setting, and is best played on new games console hardware. When it first launched on the Xbox Series X its performance left something to be desired as there were frame rate drops, some screen tearing and an overall performance profile that didn’t stand up to the PS5 version.
But after a major patch, the game runs a lot more smoothly on the Xbox Series X. It targets 60 frames per second, and in my experience mostly reaches that. But it uses a dynamic resolution, which can scale from 4K down to 1440p when there’s a lot of action on the screen. So its not delivering a true 100% native 4K experience.
Maybe its a testament to the quality of the upscaler in my 4K TV, but I can’t really tell when there was a resolution drop. And for a game that looks as good as Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, its impressive that a $500 box is pumping out crisp visuals and a steady frame rate similar performance on a PC would require an investment of at least $1,000.
Gears 5 is one title that has been given the full Xbox Series X optimization treatment. That means it can run at 4K resolution and 60 frames per second, or 120 fps if you have a compatible TV.
What Are The Confirmed And Rumored Xbox Series X Games
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Listen You’re Being Surrounded
3D Spatial Sound is the next evolution in audio technology, using advanced algorithms to create immersive lifelike worlds that put you at the center of your experience.
Xbox Series X|S are the first game consoles to support gaming in Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, which enhance gameplay with both full-spectrum visuals and immersive audio.
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.
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How Can I Improve My Chances Of Getting An Xbox Series X
It can be a little chaotic, constantly refreshing the screen and hoping to see a checkout link. And as many can attest, it’s pretty painful to punch in your payment information only to see that the purchase can’t be completed because all the consoles are already gone. Here are some of our tips:
- Open multiple browsers: Got a laptop? A phone? Maybe a tablet? Use them all to try to make the purchase. Set yourself up ahead of time with multiple browsers open to the retail site of your choice and be ready to buy from all of them.
- Don’t give up: Many of these retailers have started releasing the consoles over the course of 30 minutes, to keep bots from buying them all and reselling them at a price increase. If you see everything is sold out after the first 5 minutes, keep refreshing because your chance probably isn’t gone yet.
- Have an account set-up and signed-in: The time it takes to enter your payment and shipping information can be the difference between getting your console and getting left in the dust. Avoid that delay by setting up an account on the websites you’ll be shopping on.
- Make sure you have a confirmation email: There have been many reports of a purchase getting “stuck” and even though the website said the sale was complete, no confirmation email arrived and then no Xbox arrived. Keep an eye out and make sure you actually have an Xbox Series X headed your way before celebrating.
Is Xbox One Dead
No. Its true that the Xbox one sold poorly compared to Sonys PlayStation 4, but in many ways the Xbox series X marks a shift in how Microsoft views the traditional console cycle. Rather than thinking in generations and hardware, the company is now focusing on providing ongoing access to games as a subscription service, similar to how Netflix or Spotify operates.
Game Pass is Microsofts on-demand games platform, giving players access to over 100 full games for a monthly fee. Microsoft is investing heavily in its subscription offering, snapping up large games publishers like Bethesda in a bid to bolster its library of titles and lure players away from Sonys rival PlayStation Now service.
Even the very latest games on Game Pass are designed to be compatible with previous consoles as well as next-generation ones, so that over time, owning the newest hardware becomes less important for the majority of players. Older generations of Xbox are expected to dodge the landfill for a while yet.
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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.
How The Xbox One X Factors Into Everything
When does the next generation Xbox become the current generation of technology? The Xbox One and the PlayStation 4 have taken console gaming on a great leap forward, but what will their next generation look like? The PS4 Pro and the Xbox One X are wildcards for the gaming industry. Were not used to seeing consoles that exist within a generation. An Xbox slim, sure, but not a new console with more power.
The Xbox One X is Microsofts first attempt at an iterative console. Its not the Xbox 2, but it is something new within the same generation. Microsoft calls it the Xbox Family. Your games will play on any version of the Xbox One, backwards and forward compatible.
The Xbox One X versions will offer 4K resolution and various enhancements that the developers can choose to add based on the extra power the system has over the standard Xbox One. It plays the same games, just a little better.
If Microsoft sat on the Xbox One hardware for another 2-3 years, they would be incredibly far behind the curve. The Xbox One X is meant to close that gap a little, but ultimately, there will be an Xbox 2 in the form of Project Scarlett.
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Xbox Series X Controller
Microsoft is releasing a new controller with the console. The new Xbox Wireless Controller has a refined shape and size. The idea is to make it more accessible following on from the Xbox Adaptive Controller. Theres also a dedicated share button that lets you share screenshots and videos with friends. As well as that theres a new feature called Dynamic Latency input which lets you synchronise input immediately with what is displayed making it more precise and responsive.