What We Know about Microsofts New Xbox
With the announcement of the upcoming PlayStation 5, Microsoft too has announced that they will be releasing an upgraded version of their popular console. The Xbox Series X is a vertical machine that resembles a modern gaming PC more than a standard console. That hasn’t, however, stopped Xbox fans from getting excited for the new machine, as from what information we know so far, it’s going to be their most powerful one yet, enough to rival that of some modern, high-spec gaming desktops. This is what we know so far about the Series X.
Performance
The specs of the Series X were first released earlier this year in February, while more information was added a month later in March. From the hardware specs confirmed by Phil Spencer, Xbox CEO, it boasts enough horsepower to outperform even the PS5, even if it’s only slightly. They have promised that gamers can expect 60 FPS at 4K, while even claiming that a handful of games will be able to reach as high as 120 FPS. So far, the specs are as follows:
- Graphics: AMD RDNA 2 at 12 teraflops
- CPU: AMD Zen 2 8 core at 3.8Ghz
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD
- Resolution: Up to a maximum of 8K
- Ray Tracing: Confirmed
With AMD currently leading the industry in terms of raw processing power, the Xbox’s firmware should be fairly snappy, and with an NVMe drive combined with 16GB of RAM means that it should run just about any game at the framerates they claim, although 120 FPS might only be in the optimal conditions. Regardless, the Series X has a better core and GPU than the PS5, not to mention almost 200 gigabytes more storage than Sony’s offering.
The Series X Controller
Microsoft will also be releasing a revised version of the Xbox Wireless Controller, which, in terms of aesthetics, is almost identical to its predecessor, perfect for just about any game. Functionally, too, it’s similar, although it does come with its own Share button that can be used to make videos and for taking screenshots . Textured dots have been added to the triggers and bumpers, and the D-pad provides a matt finish.
Microsoft has also explained that they have reshaped the controller, saying that it will now be more comfortable for a greater range of people. Furthermore, they’ve confirmed that it will be fully functional with the Xbox One, Windows 10, as well as Android and iOS through Bluetooth
Release Date and Price
Microsoft has yet to put an official price on the Series X. And while the last two retailed in the United States for $499, it’s believed that the new version will cost more due to its much higher specs. In terms of a release date, Microsoft has confirmed that it will be out by the end of the year, around September, just before the start of this year’s holiday season is set to begin.