If you've been waiting patiently for details about the next generation of games consoles, Phil Spencer just revealed a lot more about the next Xbox.
Posting on Xbox Wire, Head of Xbox Phil Spencer has made the case for why gamers will want to consider picking up the Xbox Series X later this year, and on paper there's a lot to like.
With every generation of hardware we expect a leap in performance, and this next gen is no exception. Spencer says the Xbox Series X offers four times the processing power (12 teraflops) of the Xbox One and twice that of the Xbox One X. Add to that Variable Rate Shading (VRS) allowing the GPU to concentrate on specific areas of the screen, and hardware-accelerated raytracing. With the right TV you're going to see a clear evolution in graphics over the previous gen hardware.
We already know this will be the first console generation to utilize SSD storage, which should all but remove loading times, but also unlocks a Quick Resume system. The Xbox Series X is also promising to improve input thanks to the use of Dynamic Latency Input, which users a proprietary wireless communication protocol to make controls "even more precise and responsive." Add to that support for HDMI 1.2, which allows for Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) as well as unlocking 120fps gaming
Away from the hardware, Spencer is keen to attract gamers to the platform through the software on offer, too. Backwards compatibility will continue to be a focus and the Series X will support four generations of games, going right back to the original Xbox. There's also Smart Delivery, which allows a game to work seamlessly regardless of which Xbox console you are playing on, be that the new Series X or the rapidly aging original Xbox One. Finally there's Xbox Game Pass, which will continue to offer access to hundreds of games to play for one monthly payment.
It's likely the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 will be very similar in terms of hardware as they both build on the same AMD base architecture. However, the two companies look to be taking quite different approaches to attracting games. Microsoft is focused on backwards compatibility, subscriptions, and making new games work on older hardware. So far, Sony's focus looks to be on PS5 exclusives, haptic feedback controllers, and a major overhaul of the user interface.
Further Reading
- Valve Blames Coronavirus for 'Far Fewer' Index VR Headsets
- Facebook and Sony to Skip Game Developers Conference over Coronavirus Worries
- Hasbro to Bring Back Tiger Electronics LCD Handhelds From the 90s
- Sony Pulls Out of PAX East Gaming Show, Citing Coronavirus
- More in Gaming
More Gaming Reviews
- Razer Raion Fightpad
- Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore (for Nintendo Switch)
- Nvidia GeForce Now
- My Arcade Retro Champ
- J5Create JVA04 HDMI to USB-C Game Capture Station