Xbox Series X review: A full year later, the Xbox Series X is proving its worth
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The start of something bigXbox Serial X review: A full year later, the Xbox Series X is proving its worth
Another await at the Xbox Series X, half dozen months on. 
Source: Matt Brown | Windows Central
On Nov. 10, 2022, Microsoft unleashed the Xbox Serial X onto the world, and millions have already purchased the console, and its sibling, the Xbox Series Southward.
For those taking a more than cautious "await and encounter" approach, you might have been put off past the Xbox Serial 10 launch lineup. You may have been wondering how the consoles held upwards over time. After over six months of near non-stop usage, I'm pretty confident to call the Xbox Serial X my favorite panel of all time.
For over a yr, my Xbox Series X has become my principal console of selection, and the cornerstone of my leisure time. And after Microsoft's E3 2022 showcase, I couldn't be more excited for the platform's future.
As the Xbox Series X passes its beginning birthday, we're going to cover the hardware and design, its capabilities as a gaming console, equally well as a centerpiece of your entertainment system. What are we losing, and what are we gaining? Are the tradeoffs worth it? Exercise the games honor Microsoft'south claim that this is the most powerful gaming console ever fabricated? And is the Xbox Series X a worthwhile gaming investment for the future?
True next-gen gaming
Xbox Serial X
Bottom line: The Xbox Series X hardware will non disappoint. Information technology's powerful, sleek and modernistic, and games that are optimized to take advantage of all the new hardware will truly shine. The launch lineup was looking sparse, but after E3 2022, we at present have a truly bright hereafter to expect forward to.
Pros
- Superb design in powerful hardware
- Efficient cooling and silent audio
- Quick Resume multiple games faster
- Xbox Games Pass future is heady
- Huge investments in exclusive content
Cons
- Disappointing media eye and smart home features
- Content sharing and social capabilities feel increasingly dated
Xbox Serial X review: Specs, hardware and blueprint
Source: Matt Brown | Windows Cardinal
| Category | Xbox Series 10 |
|---|---|
| Processor | viii cores @ 3.8GHz (3.66GHz w/ SMT) custom Zen 2 CPU |
| Graphics | 12.155 TFLOPS, 52 CUs @ ane.825GHz RDNA 2 GPU |
| Die size | 360.45mm2 |
| Process | 7nm enhanced |
| Memory | 16GB GDDR6 due west/ 320MB bus |
| Memory bandwidth | 10GB @ 560GB/s, 6GB @ 336GB/s |
| Internal storage | 1TB Custom NVME SSD |
| I/O throughput | 2.4GB/s (raw), 4.8GB/southward (compressed, with custom hardware decompression block) |
| Expandable storage | 1TB Expansion Carte du jour (sold separately) |
| External storage | USB 3.ii external HDD support |
| Optical bulldoze | 4K UHD Blu-ray drive (No 3D Blu-ray support) |
| Performance target | 4K @ 60 FPS, upwardly to 4K @ 120 FPS, 8K @ threescore FPS |
| Color | Matte Black |
| Size | 301mm 10 151mm 10 151mm |
| Price | $499 |
When the Xbox Series X design was first revealed, people were immediately shocked by its apparent size. Not likewise long after, nosotros learned that the PlayStation 5, the Xbox Series X'due south main contest, sports a similar volume. The reality of thermodynamics is catching up to console design; as PCs push always-increasing power, the form factor of consoles as well changed to suit necessary cooling technology.
With this in mind, it's difficult to find annihilation to mistake in the Xbox Series X's visual blueprint, unless you intend to lay information technology out apartment, that is. Clearly, this console was designed vertically showtime, with a contour that is at least superficially similar to modernistic smart speakers and compact PC towers. The blueprint is comfortingly familiar while also being undeniably Xbox.
Microsoft doesn't score any points for its horizontal configuration, though, which many may be exploring. The unsightly foot at the base just looks awful when exposed, as if the console had been toppled over. It at least remains functional, with pocket-size feet that keep the side panel from scraping on the surface of whatever it'south placed on. The anxiety are barely visible if yous're concerned about them beingness an eyesore when y'all exercise accept the console stood up vertically.
Source: Matt Brown | Windows Cardinal
Having the console horizontal or vertical won't affect the thermals or usability of the system in any way from our testing. The ports' layout is a tad more annoying than they were on the Xbox One S and X. Instead of a line of ports, they're stacked on top of each other in an irregular design. Microsoft tried to go far easier by adding engravings next to the ports to feel them out with your fingers. It's a nice touch on, but when at that place are wires, USB devices, retentivity cards, and dongles plugged in, it doesn't help as much equally I'd like.
| Loading speed test | Xbox Serial X (SSD) | Xbox One 10 (HDD) |
|---|---|---|
| Monster Hunter: World | 4.7 seconds | 35.vi seconds |
| Gears 5 | 8.9 seconds | 47 seconds |
| Land of Disuse two | xiii.1 seconds | 1 minute, 3.4 seconds |
| Fortnite | 10.2 seconds | 24.iii seconds |
| Rocket League | iv seconds | v seconds |
Speaking of ports, Microsoft opted for a proprietary tech solution to expandable storage, in the class of the $220 Seagate 1TB NVME Expansion Bill of fare. The adjacent-gen consoles employ NVME SSD storage not only to speed upward loading times only also to give developers more than next-gen tools. The cards themselves are small and well built, and Microsoft says other manufacturers volition offer competing solutions, which should bring the price down. The metal parts of the cards practise get incredibly warm (as NVME storage would within your laptop also). Thankfully, they have thick plastic handles for removal and insertion. The cards are certainly easier to manage than typical NVME m2 drives we become for laptops. And the fact the cards are hot-swappable is too pretty awesome. Taking your games, saves, and Xbox Live profile to a friend'south place has never been easier, but that toll is going to be a tough sell for well-nigh.
Xbox Series Ten is the all-time console Microsoft has ever built.
NVME storage may get pretty toasty, but thankfully, the Xbox Series X itself doesn't. Microsoft built the Xbox Series 10 to direct air from one stop and out of the other, expelling warm air from the concave vent at the system'south top finish. The adroitness and engineering prowess hither is undeniable. I reviewed the Xbox Series 10 initially in the winter months of the U.k., simply even in the summertime I don't find the Xbox Series X getting unmanageably warm in an unconditioned room.
The Xbox Series 10 is not just mostly cooler than its predecessors, but also quieter. Using a $300 microphone and a sound meter, nosotros were effectively unable to detect any racket coming out of this system, which is impressive indeed.
Source: Windows CentralXbox Series Ten running 4K 60FPS Gears Tactics.
Getting PC-similar ability in such a compact, absurd, and repose device is just remarkable.
For a full rundown of how hot the Xbox Series X gets caput to this link. Only as you can run across from the to a higher place heat signatures, the Xbox Series X remains on the cooler end of computing hardware. By comparing, the Xbox Ane Ten and PS4 Pro get significantly warmer running games that max out their specs while also being noisier. Games optimized for the Xbox Series Ten like Gears 5 and Gears Tactics top the organisation out at around 52C, which is impressive for a 12TF organisation. Running astern-uniform titles designed for Xbox One, the heat expulsion was even lower, at around 35C.
When it comes to applied science and design, I'm pretty confident to state that the Xbox Serial Ten is the best Xbox panel Microsoft has ever built. It'due south really not as large equally information technology seems in pictures, and getting PC-like power in such a compact, cool, and tranquility device is simply remarkable. But a video game console is far more than its pattern.
Xbox Series X review: Features and Os
Source: Windows Central
The Xbox Series Ten is a tale of gains and losses, at least when it comes to features. On paper, this is an all-new generation, but the reality is more complicated. The Xbox Series S and 10 share an OS with Xbox One, and the 2022 Xbox One is a wildly different proposition than what we have today.
Xbox Series Ten media support is a scrap of a mixed bag.
For fans of the old schoolhouse Xbox vision every bit the center of your entertainment system, the reality is that the Xbox Series S and X are dropping many of the features that enabled that. HDMI laissez passer-through is gone, along with the IR Blaster. This means that the Xbox Serial S and X cannot command your Tv set/cable box for surfing channels seamlessly without switching hardware signals.
The OneGuide TV app has been completely removed, and peradventure oddly, fifty-fifty the power to play 3D Blu-ray has been killed as well. Typically, Microsoft cites low usage as its master reason for removing features. In fairness, the trends certainly seem to suggest viewership is increasingly moving towards apps similar Netflix and Disney+, as over-the-air and cablevision Tv set viewership wanes. Notwithstanding, if you built upward your entertainment organisation around the Xbox Ane's features, information technology may sting to know that these are gone.
The Xbox Series S and X practise still accept an IR receiver, though, which ways you can still use media remotes similar the PDP Talon to command apps. If you lot have a modern TV that supports HDMI-CEC commands, you can even use those remotes to control your set as well. All of our recommendations for the best TVs for Xbox Series X practice utilize HDMI-CEC, alongside most modern TVs after around 2022 in general.
Just similar the Xbox One consoles, the Xbox Series X still supports 4K UHD Blu-ray, 4K playback for media apps, and videos, alongside HDR10 and now Dolby Vision, with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X surround for audio. The Xbox consoles also support Amazon Echo and Google Assistant voice commands too. When paired with HDMI-CEC, you can even gear up routines that are at least reminiscent of the skillful quondam Kinect days, that command your Xbox and Telly simultaneously.
While the Xbox Series X media back up is a bit of a mixed bag, Xbox doubles down on gaming features with considerable success.
Source: Windows CentralWhen emerging from Quick Resume, you'll get a small notification in the top right.
The offset headline act is Quick Resume, which is quite literally a game-changer. Cheers to the NVME SSD, the Xbox Series Ten storage is fast enough to take an unabridged game land and commit information technology to storage retention. This is like to how information technology works with apps on your smartphone, but to exist able to do it with a piece of software as large and complicated every bit a video game is no easy feat. When saved in a Quick Resume country, you tin can re-open your games in mere seconds after the panel has been close downwardly into standby, or even later being completely powered off and unplugged.
After having Quick Resume for a few months, it's simply incommunicable to get back to an Xbox I console.
The Xbox Serial X (and S) are too capable of doing this for several games simultaneously. Y'all can go on your favorite multiplayer game similar Overwatch or Monster Hunter: Globe suspended in the lobby while you await for friends to log on and bound over near-instantaneously to that single-player game in your backlog. The exact number of games bachelor for pause varies past their size and complexity, and as of writing, in that location aren't whatever tools for managing how Quick Resume works. For example, it would be overnice to requite certain games Quick Resume priority over others since if you're cycling through many different games in brusk succession, there's no way to know which is being kicked out of the Quick Resume state. Most gamers won't apply it this way, though, unless you're equally indecisive about what to play like I am.
An earlier downside I've encountered, is some games that resume out of Quick State have corrupted audio or lose audio completely. Thankfully, this has been rectified in recent updates. Microsoft has also added tools to manage how Quick Resume works, with the ability to view at a glance in your library which games are presently suspended. It can all the same be a bit inconsistent, though, which makes it an unreliable replacement for simply saving your game.
When a game is in a Quick Resume state, it has a couple of pointer icons over information technology in your game library and shows a "Quick Resume" message in the top correct corner on the title screen when information technology loads in. After having Quick Resume for a few months, issues aside, information technology's simply impossible to go back to an Xbox One console.
The Xbox Series X (and S) accept reward of many of the latest HDMI two.1 features, including Auto-Low Latency Manner or ALLM, which makes sure your TV is set to Game Manner when information technology detects that an Xbox console is connected. The Xbox Serial 10 tin can also take advantage of 4K 120Hz and 8K 60Hz outputs, which some games in the launch lineup are gunning for. Microsoft has also added a unique "FPS Heave" feature to the Xbox Series X and S consoles, giving astern-uniform games a frame rate heave, and in some cases, "Car HDR" besides. Microsoft's impressive push button for game preservation continues.
Source: Windows Cardinal
For the launch of the Xbox Series X, Microsoft has too given u.s.a. a refreshed dashboard experience, which follows Microsoft'southward latest fluent pattern principles, while too pulling abroad a chip from Windows itself, taking on dissimilar fonts to give Xbox a scrap of its own identity. These new stylings are persistent beyond the Xbox Game Pass apps on PC and mobile, as well as the new Xbox app, which comes with a handy new characteristic for new Xbox Serial Ten console owners as well. While you wait for the Xbox Serial X to download its initial updates, you lot tin can sign in and install your games and settings via the mobile app on Android and iOS, streamlining the whole process. Microsoft also refreshed the Xbox store's pattern beyond the lath, making it incredibly speedy in the process.
The Xbox Series X and S dashboard is a painstakingly polished and responsive feel.
The Xbox Series Ten dashboard too sports Dynamic Themes, which are animated and stylish, just they aren't every bit sexy as they could be since they're blurred by 1080p HD limitations. This is one affair that continues to bug me well-nigh the Xbox Serial X, and it's the fact the dashboard is Hd and doesn't back up HDR. Flipping between a 4K HDR-enabled game and the dashboard will cause your set to go blank for a picayune while, which is an irritating, albeit minor issue. But when your TV media switching is slower than the Xbox Series Ten is to actually load a game, it sort of defeats the point of Quick Resume.
Diverse fan-favorite features from the former Xbox Ane days are however missing. Picture-in-picture for media apps is still gone, which was pretty handy for grinding segments in certain games. The Upload Studio app is nevertheless dead, which means making content out of your Game DVR clips still requires often-expensive 3rd-political party PC or mobile software. Things like party chat messaging too still feel quite sluggish compared to modern messaging platforms like Discord, WhatsApp, and Telegram, for no proficient reason. Microsoft has begun porting the new Edge browser to the Xbox Serial X and S consoles, though, and has improved its mobile app offerings a bit here and there, simply it's a slow process. But the issues are small, and don't hurt the overall experience.
What nosotros have is an Bone that refines upon all of the mistakes and forced-Windows 8 integrations of yesteryear, prioritizing speed, usability, and gaming above all else. Almost every best Xbox One accessory and all of your best Xbox headsets comport forward.
The Xbox Series 10 and S dashboard is a painstakingly polished and responsive experience, which is a far, far, far cry from the sluggish and clunky Kinect-first environs nosotros got dorsum in 2022.
Xbox Series X review: Games and ecosystem
Witcher iii's functioning mode hits 4K threescore FPS with ease, even without the future optimization patch CD Projekt Ruby is working on.
The Xbox Serial Ten has promised to be the "world'south most powerful console," just what does that mean in reality? At least, in theory, it means that games will hit threescore frames per second more consistently, at 4K resolution more consistently, while also bringing in some next-gen visual features. Some of those advanced features include ray-tracing reflections and shadows, which aims to cast light more dynamically, rather than artificially, elevating the visual fidelity of your games. Microsoft also offers FPS Boost and Machine HDR to enhance past-gen games, besides, while other companies are eager to sell those enhancements for a premium.
The architecture brings in some of the latest tech from AMD, with a massive CPU boost over the by-gen consoles. The way Microsoft has built its Xbox One and Xbox Series X/Due south platform enables past-gen games designed for Xbox 1 to proceeds natural performance boosts on Xbox Series X.
Games like Monster Hunter: Earth with uncapped frame rates go from thirty frames per second on average to anywhere upward to 60 frames per 2d (FPS), without any developer intervention. Various games with unlocked frame rates and dynamic resolutions should perform far ameliorate beyond the board on the Xbox Serial X. Others would need updates to "unlock" the frame rates, but various Xbox I games we've tested similar State of Disuse 2, Monster Hunter: World, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice see vast improvements. Fifty-fifty games that are capped at 30 FPS meet improvements, with a vast reduction in lost frames during circuitous sequences. Jedi: Fallen Order, for example, never drops beneath 60 or 30 in its respective performance modes on the Xbox Series 10 — this is a game that was notorious for performance problems.
What about adjacent-gen games, though? Well, what about them indeed. As of writing, there aren't really a huge amount of games that are fully congenital from the basis up for the Xbox Series 10, simply that is about to change very soon. Microsoft'due south E3 2022 showcase offered a wide-ranging glimpse at some of its futurity games, and they look admittedly heed-blowing. Forza Horizon 5 has some of the almost impressive visuals ever seen, and Halo Infinite's notorious delay has yielded great results for the game'south graphical quality. Flying Simulator also pushes the boundaries of cutting-edge photorealism, while even games from smaller studios like The Rise print with their detail and lighting quality. Microsoft's purchase of Bethesda last year is really starting to conduct fruit in the exclusives department besides, with Starfield, the adjacent game from the legendary creators of The Elder Scrolls, now touted as a permanent Xbox panel exclusive.
Gears 5 is staggering in its beauty, a monument to the skill and passion of The Coalition.
As of right this infinitesimal, we practise have a decent variety of games that take advantage of the performance overhead from the Xbox Series Ten. Gears five for instance, has been given a next-gen makeover. Ray-tracing appears on puddles and certain cogitating surfaces, and Microsoft has pushed the multiplayer out to 120 frames per second. Gears 5 is staggering in its beauty, a monument to the skill and passion of The Coalition game studio. Other games like Falconeer and DiRT5 are likewise pushing 120Hz modes, but neither game is specially heed-blowing in visual complexity, even if they have neat art styles.
Equally we move deeper into the Xbox Series 10 generation, we should meet fifty-fifty more games that are more optimized effectually the system that hitting 4K60 without compromising on things like ray-tracing, every bit is the example with Gears five. There is a range of smaller improvements across the board, though, which makes the gaming feel far meliorate than what we always had on the Xbox 1.
Source: Windows Primal
The NVME SSD alone has massive implications for game development. Fast traveling in Watch Dogs: Legion is nigh-instantaneous. Loading screens have become brief to the point of irrelevancy. Monster Hunter: World maps went from anywhere up to a minute'due south worth of loading down to around 10-15 seconds. The vast majority of games nosotros've tested see similar speed enhancements, too.
Save for the SSD loading speeds, the large difference betwixt the Xbox Series 10 and the Xbox Ane from 2022 is that Microsoft didn't really have anything gear up to showcase the technology at launch, instead very largely on Watch Dogs: Legion and the Xbox One-enhanced version of Gears 5. In the example of Gears 5, is it worth going back to for a bump in visual quality? I'yard not sure, simply I'd guess nearly would rather play something new. Into the summer and towards winter of 2022, though, we'll have Battleground 2042, Halo Space, Forza Horizon v, The Ascent, Flying Simulator, Far Cry 6, and various other games that truly showcase the tech. Many of them will also exist included in Xbox Game Pass, at no additional cost. This ultimately brings us to the time to come.
Xbox Series X and the future
Source: Matt Brown | Windows Primal
A console is only as good as its ecosystem, and when it comes to Xbox, Microsoft certainly has a few tricks up its sleeve. Microsoft has purchased Bethesda Softworks and ZeniMax Media, which would give it controlling buying of DOOM, Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, Dishonored, Prey, and various highly anticipated games like Starfield. Later on E3 2022, we practically have confirmation that the vast majority of these games volition also be exclusive to platforms where Xbox Game Pass exists, effectively making them Xbox console exclusive.
You likewise have Xbox Game Laissez passer, which is undeniably one of the best deals in gaming.
Microsoft has been investing in its offset-party portfolio more than it e'er has in the past. Hellblade 2's in-engine trailer from 2022 is tantalizing. Microsoft is arresting major industry talent in California with its studio, The Initiative, to build Perfect Nighttime. Fable is coming back, built past a large team at Playground Games. And Forza Motorsport eight is in the pipeline likewise.
Microsoft continues to bask robust support from major third-party publishers, including Ubisoft, 2K, and EA. Microsoft as well invests in projects from second-political party studios, with Asobo'south Flight Simulator 2022, and Moon Studios' Ori the Will of the Wisps. A cursory glance at our best upcoming Xbox games list reveals dozens of titles worth looking frontwards to.
Source: Microsoft
Where Microsoft has struggled a fleck more is with some of the "trending" games that nosotros come across pop up from time to time, simply Microsoft has been improving in this expanse likewise. Targeted exclusivity deals for Xbox Game Laissez passer including MLB: The Show, Outriders, and STALKER two keep to smooth a spotlight on the value of the service. Microsoft has fifty-fifty started gradually improving its JRPG offering, grabbing Octopath Traveler and Dragon Quest 11.
With ZeniMax's properties on board, and effectively confirmed every bit exclusive, the state of affairs has changed very chop-chop. So, y'all also have Xbox Game Pass, which is undeniably one of the all-time deals in gaming. Games like Elderberry Scrolls 6 are guaranteed to launch day one as part of a $10-per-month subscription on Xbox Game Laissez passer, alongside all of Microsoft's other games. Gears of War, Halo, Forza, Fable, Hellblade, Fallout, DOOM, The Elder Scrolls, Dishonored, Prey, Wolfenstein, The Evil Within, and many hundreds of others comprise this vast library of content, which is exclusive to Xbox on consoles right at present. Ultimate-tier subscribers can even have their games onto Android and the web with Project xCloud via Xbox Game Pass Cloud Gaming. EA has as well brought dozens of games from its back catalog into Xbox Game Pass Ultimate also.
The Xbox Series X didn't necessarily have a compelling lineup when information technology launched, only Microsoft is ramping up rapidly. A huge library of content awaits but around the corner, and for merely $ten per calendar month, rather than the $70-per-game statement competitors offering.
Xbox Serial X review: Terminal thoughts and summary
Source: Matt Brown | Windows Fundamental
The Xbox Series X is a spectacular console. Every aspect of information technology is dripping with the dearest of a massive team that clearly cared about every millimeter, every line of code that was poured into this monolithic whole. Waiting for the full-blown feature ready of RDNA 2 may cost Microsoft the sales race in Q4, but for those who are lucky enough to become their hands on it, the Xbox Series 10 is console gaming at its near first-class and most refined.
Xbox Series Ten is console gaming at its near excellent and most refined.
In terms of the ecosystem the Xbox Series X is attached to, Microsoft has struggled to change the narrative over its exclusive game offering, but that's beginning to change. A tidal wave of investment has brought the entire ZeniMax portfolio exclusively under Xbox, alongside a robust lineup of satellite studios which include heavyweights similar Obsidian, Playground, 343i, and many more.
The backward-compatibility endeavour on the Xbox Serial 10 cannot be understated for its meticulousness and execution. Thousands upon thousands of games are launching with this console, from your favorite service-blazon experiences like Rocket League and Fortnite, to unmarried-histrion classics like DOOM and Fallout iv. Hundreds of games are finer getting free "remaster" handling, additional to their maximum resolutions and frame rates thanks to the forward-looking design of the Xbox ecosystem architecture.
Pros
- Great design meets powerful hardware
- Well cooled and silent
- Quick Resume multiple games and boosted loading speeds
- Xbox Game Pass and future first-political party investment bring exciting possibilities
- Vast roadmap of sectional content
Cons
- Media middle capabilities are degraded
If you're a hardcore Xbox gamer, y'all're likely already sold on this thing. If you're looking to jump in for the first time with the best the ecosystem has to offering, the Xbox Series X will not disappoint. Unmatched value, a truly huge stable of studios building exclusive content, and power that rivals some of the near powerful gaming PCs out there. The Xbox Series X is the best video game console Microsoft ever made. And honestly, it's now my personal choice for the best console e'er fabricated.
Leading 4K
Xbox Series X
The total next-generation experience.
Xbox Series 10 is Microsoft'southward new flagship, equally its nigh powerful console with over 12TF GPU performance and a custom SSD. It boasts up to 4K resolution and 120 FPS, total backward compatibility beyond 4 generations, and ray-tracing support.
Side by side-gen in Hd
Xbox Series S
Experience next-gen gaming for less.
Microsoft serves the next-generation for less with its budget-friendly Xbox Series Southward. The console packs the same high-performance CPU and SSD technology as Xbox Series X, while scaling back the GPU and removing the disc drive.
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Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/will-xbox-series-x-support-steam
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