XBOX SERIES X
Large and in charge, the new flagship Xbox hits higher graphical peaks than the PS5. But of course, raw power isn’t everything. Can it match up on must-play games too?
£450 / xbox.com
Take a look at this hulking block of a games console. Microsoft has abandoned the flatter footprint of past Xbox machines in favour of something more akin to a minimal PC tower, standing about 30cm tall and 15cm wide, and weighing in at 4.5kg. The PS5 is taller, but also curvier; the Xbox Series X looks like a dense brick.
But there’s no doubt Microsoft has packed every inch of that brick with top-tier components to deliver gaming experiences you’ve never seen outside of a scary-expensive PC rig. The Series X uses a custom 8-core AMD Zen 2 CPU and RDNA 2 GPU with up to 12 teraflops of raw graphics-processing power available. That’s double the total graphical output of the Xbox One X and about 1.7 teraflops more than the PS5.
The need for even more speed
What does that really mean, though? Microsoft is promising gaming at a native (not upscaled) 4K resolution and up to 120 frames per second, with the potential for 8K gameplay as well. So games will look crisper and more detailed than ever before, and with smoother motion to boot. Support for a 120Hz refresh rate also lends itself well to faster reaction times, ideal for twitchy online shooters.
While enhanced resolution and detail are expected upgrades with any new console, both Microsoft and Sony are also putting a major focus on improving speed this time around. Between the Xbox Velocity Architecture and custom 1TB SSD inside, the Series X will dramatically cut down on loading times, delays and framerate hitches.
Quick Resume is the big new feature that benefits from that hardware focus. You’ll be able to swap between active games in a matter of seconds, rather than quitting one and waiting for the other to load up from scratch. In the middle of a lengthy Assassin’s Creed Valhalla session and want to pop into FIFA 21 for a breather? You’ll be on the pitch within moments, and can then swap back at any time. Even older games will benefit from drastically reduced loading times and stabilised framerates.
Big game hunting
That’s especially good news because the Xbox Series X launch line-up is a bit sparse. You’ll get enhanced versions of the Christmas season’s biggest multi-platform games, such as Cyberpunk 2077 and Call of Duty: Black Ops – Cold War, along with upgrades to Forza Horizon 4 and others... but with Halo out of it for now, Microsoft is stuck with making promises on future exclusives.
Still, the Xbox Series X is packed with potential and there’s no shortage of greatness to play on Xbox Game Pass in the meantime. Could this be the Xbox’s generation to shine?
Key specs
● Native 4K @ 120fps ● 12 teraflops ● 16GB RAM ● 1TB SSD ● 4K Blu-ray drive ● Xbox Wireless Controller
● 301x151x151mm, 4.5kg