With Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, Microsoft is starting a new console era at the end of 2020. Date, technology, price, pre-order – the most important details are known. Wadav presents everything you need to know about the new Xbox consoles.
The Xbox Series X will appear like the PlayStation 5 for Christmas 2020. But what does it look like, what does it have under the hood and what does it cost? Fans speculated for months – now most of the questions have been answered. In addition, on September 8, 2020 Microsoft announced a slimmed-down version of the X model with the Xbox Series S – the details can be found below. Just one day later, the company announced the date and price of the Xbox Series X.
Xbox Series X: price and date
Microsoft took a lot of time with the most important information: As a company spokeswoman announced via tweet on September 9, 2020, the Xbox Series X will appear on November 10, 2020 at a price of 600 dollars. The group will accept pre-orders from September 22, 2020.
Xbox Series X: It’s Inside
When developing the new console, Microsoft stated that it was based on three pillars that the company considers to be particularly important. Those are the points of performance, speed and compatibility. In terms of performance, in addition to the improved components CPU and GPU, the issue of ray tracing counts. As a result, games like “Minecraft” and “Gears 5” should receive another update. When it comes to performance, Microsoft uses a quick resume system, among other things, which improves the ability to start games immediately. In addition, Microsoft wants to expand the compatibility of older games with the new console. In order to achieve the desired goals such as ray tracing and quick resume, the Xbox Series X needs a lot of power. 4K gaming at 60 frames per second (frames per second, fps) shouldn’t be a problem with the hardware. Here are the specifications at a glance:
- CPU: eight-core processor, 3.8 GHz custom Zen 2 CPU
- GPU performance: 12 teraflops
- Processor design: 7 nanometer enhanced
- RAM: 16 gigabytes GDDR6
- Internal storage: 1 terabyte (TB) SSD
- Expandable storage: 1 TB “expansion card”
- Optical drive: 4K UHD Blu-ray (Series X model; Series S without drive)
- External storage: USB 3.2
- Memory bandwidth: 10 GB
Xbox Series X: port for memory expansion?
At the end of January 2020, several unofficial pictures of the console appeared on the network – they gave a view of the connections. There are seven ports on the back, they offer standard fare: two USB-A ports, an HDMI output, an optical audio output, an Ethernet port and a conventional power connection – nothing that is not found on the current Xbox One there. Only one slot could not be identified by the network community. Insiders spoke of an interface for diagnostic devices that is only relevant for developers. But it is now clear that the rectangular connector is used to connect external high-speed storage devices. This allows the internal SSD storage of the Xbox Series X to be expanded with 1 terabyte (TB) external plug-in modules.
Xbox Series X: Strong graphics, high speed
In view of the fact that almost the same processors and graphics chips from AMD are working under the hood of the Microsoft console, the question quickly arises to what extent the two devices still differ from one another at all. Like the PS5, the Xbox Series X is capable of hardware-accelerated ray tracing in real time thanks to Ryzen processors of the third generation (7 nanometers, Zen 2) and the new Radeon Navi graphics card. According to Marketing Director Aaron Greenberg, things like an increased frame rate, reduced loading times and more computing power are the focus of development. They want to make these advantages available to developers without compromise.
Xbox Series X: New design in the tower case
As part of the game award ceremony on December 13, 2019, Microsoft published a short teaser trailer, which you can find above this message. In it, the manufacturer grants a first look at the Xbox Series X. Here at the latest, the differentiation from previous console models becomes clear. Instead of a horizontally aligned housing, Microsoft is using a vertically standing tower case for the upcoming Daddelkiste, which is reminiscent of a mini PC. The case looks chunky – for good reason. Due to the angular design, the airflow should meet less resistance – and thus pull more forcefully through the interior, which, according to the manufacturer, keeps the console cooler and works more quietly.
Xbox Series X: which games are coming?
At the same event, Microsoft announced that all 15 in-house development studios are currently working on exclusive games for the Xbox Series X. Among other things, ” Senua’s Saga – Hellblade 2 ” is officially announced. The sequel to the celebrated “Hellblade – Senua’s Sacrifice” is currently being produced by Ninja Theory. Bitter for fans: The Xbox draft horse ” Halo Infinite ” will remain in the stable for a while: Microsoft postponed the release to 2021, originally the shooter was supposed to be on the shelves at the start of the new Xbox consoles. In addition, the group surprised at the beginning of 2020 with the statement that the first Xbox Series X-exclusive game will go on sale at least one to two years after the console’s release. Before that, all titles should also appear on the PC and – if possible – on the Xbox One. An unusual approach, since exclusive titles are the strongest selling point for a console.
Xbox Series X: Full backward compatibility
Owners of an Xbox One are happy because they can still benefit from their discontinued model for longer. But the change to the Xbox Series X is particularly worthwhile for owners of the predecessor: The new console is fully downward compatible – with games for the Xbox One, the Xbox 360 and even the original Xbox! Anyone who has already amassed large collections on the previous consoles is well looked after on the new model. And that doesn’t just apply to the games. Like Microsoft’s product manager for Xbox accessories, James Shields, on request via Twitter confirmed, all Xbox One controllers also work on the upcoming Daddelkiste. Accordingly, the new hardware not only supports the expensive elite controllers of the Xbox One, the conventional gamepads of the current console also work without any problems. It remains unclear how other accessories such as steering wheels are ordered.
per month. Especially with the aggressive pricing of the Xbox Series S Microsoft is putting the rival Sony under pressure. So far, it leaves open what the PlayStation 5 will cost (as of September 9, 2020).
Xbox Series X: No VR support
In one area, Microsoft surrenders to Sony’s supremacy without a fight: As Xbox boss Phil Spencer explained in an interview with an online magazine, there will be no VR games on the Xbox Series X in the long term either. According to Spencer, there is currently no demand for a VR headset. In addition, he personally does not think too much of the approach to isolate yourself from the outside world and other players while gaming through glasses. Spencer admits that there are financial reasons for not using your own VR technology. No VR manufacturer is currently selling its devices in millions. Accordingly, according to Spencer, these products are currently not suitable for the mass market.
