Microsoft
today announced the next generation of game console, the Xbox Series X.
Previously known as Project Scarlett, the Xbox Series X is the fourth major
console release from Microsoft and will be available for purchase this time
next year in Holiday 2020.
The
Xbox Series X is the successor to the Xbox One and the Xbox One X series of
consoles and today's announcement finally gives us a look at the final design
of the hardware. The Series X features a vertical, monolithic design that
eschews the AV rack friendly form-factors of previous generations. Microsoft
says the Series X can be placed horizontally as well.
The
front of the chassis houses a vertical disc slot with an eject button next to
it. Also found is a single USB-A port along with an unknown button next to it.
The glowing Xbox logo is in the top left corner and likely also acts as the
power button.
The
top of the device has what looks like ventilation grille with green lighting.
By the looks of it, the thermal and cooling solution is similar to the 2013
Apple Mac Pro, where the cool air is pulled in from the bottom and expelled out
the grille at the top. The
back of the console seems deliberately obscured in all the promotional material
so we are assuming there are some surprises back there that Microsoft wants to
hold on to for the final release.
Moving
on to the controller, the Series X comes with a new controller that does look
like the One X controller at first glance. However, the controller has been redesigned
to be more inclusive and now works well with a wider range of hands. The new
controller also features the D-pad from the Xbox Elite Series 2 Wireless
Controller and also adds a new DualShock 4-style Share button for sharing
screenshots and clips quickly and easily. The new controller will also be
compatible with Windows 10 and Xbox One X consoles.
Coming
back to the console, the new Xbox Series X features a new generation CPU and
GPU from AMD. The CPU is based on the brand-new Zen 2 architecture found in the
critically-acclaimed Ryzen 3000 series of desktop CPUs while the GPU is based
on the RDNA architecture found in the new Radeon RX 5000 series of desktop
GPUs. The new console will also feature integrated flash storage for
significantly faster loading times.
Microsoft
has some bold claims for the kind of performance we can expect from the new
console. The Xbox Series X is claimed to have 4x the performance of the current
console performance king, the Xbox One X. This means the Xbox Series X can do
things like 4K at 60fps consistent or even 120fps in some cases. The console
will also be able to output in 8K, although it's likely the actual rendering
will remain limited to 4K.
More
important than resolution, the Xbox Series X also packs in some other, more
relevant features. Variable Refresh Rate or VRR (also found on the Xbox One X)
will ensure your display refresh rate matches your output frame rate on
compatible monitors and TVs, so you get a consistent tear-free and stutter-free
gaming experience. Variable Rate Shading or VRS will dynamically limit the
shading in areas where it is not needed and focus the GPU resources in areas
where it matters so you can get better performance without a perceptible drop
in image quality.
The
Series X also harnesses the Auto Low Latency Mode or ALLM in HDMI 2.1 so that
the connected display will automatically switch to its lowest latency mode
(often called Game mode) when the console is plugged in. A new feature called
Dynamic Latency Input has also been added for developers to take advantage of
and reduce the input latency in their games. Microsoft claims this makes the
Xbox Series X the most responsive console, ever. These are useful additions, as
input latency even on current generation consoles is often quite high compared
to something like the PC.
Microsoft
showed off some of the graphical abilities of the Series X in a new trailer for
Senua's Saga: Hellblade II, a sequel to the excellent Hellblade: Senua's
Sacrifice. The trailer shows in-engine footage rendered on the Xbox Series X at
4K. The video showcases exceptional textures, lighting, material detail,
particle effects and animation. However, in-engine trailer isn't the same thing
as real time in-game footage and if anything this is more of a showcase of the
game engine than the Xbox. The trailer looks quite impressive but then they
usually do and we'll just have to wait for next E3 for some (hopefully) in-game
footage. Apart
from the new games, Microsoft is also promising backwards compatibility with
all three previous generations of Xbox games. This means you won't have to
leave your current and old games behind as you upgrade to the new console. The
console also features support for cloud gaming.
We
will find out all the other details regarding the console and the launch titles
closer to launch, possibly at E3 2020. Now all eyes are on Sony and the next
generation PlayStation announcement.
