Xbox Series X Review: Old Wine Made New

Xbox Series X is not seeking to wow you with its design. Just take a look at its direct rival, the PlayStation 5. Unlike Sony’s swanky dual-winged dual-tone console and its matching rebranded controller, Microsoft’s providing is as plain because it comes. The Series X is only a big black field. It does not have any fins nor any curves. It’s all flat surfaces and straight strains. The Xbox Series X appears to be like very very similar to a PC cupboard you’ll see in an workplace. As for the controller, it is roughly the identical — that is each good and unhealthy. The Xbox Series X looks like a product from an organization that is very assured in what it guarantees elsewhere.

Whether that confidence is misplaced or not, is a query that may take a number of years to reply absolutely. For now, it’s kind of unusual to witness provided that Microsoft misplaced the earlier technology — PlayStation 4 vs Xbox One — by a margin better than 2:1. It’s probably why it has a really totally different gameplan this time round. The Series X is a part of Microsoft’s twin technique for the brand new technology of consoles, because the premium 4K providing (the one one which goes toe to toe with PS5) that prices considerably greater than the Xbox Series S, which targets the non-4K crowd. While the Series X prices Rs. 50,000, the Series S is available in at Rs. 35,000. Sony has two consoles too and they’re priced Rs. 10,000 aside, however the one distinction between them is a disc drive. The Series X and S, alternatively, are like evening and day.

Microsoft says it needs to welcome avid gamers to the Xbox ecosystem irrespective of the place they’re. Do you might have a PC? You can be on Xbox, with the subscription service Xbox Game Pass for PC. Are you on Android? You too may be Team Xbox (in choose markets), because of sport streaming by way of Game Pass Ultimate. In truth, you possibly can go up to now to say that Xbox Game Pass is Microsoft’s true next-gen providing. With this new strategy, Microsoft is making an attempt to disrupt the ecosystem altogether. It’s just like the early days of the final decade. While main studios had been launching new film channels and making house media extra inexpensive in India, the likes of Hotstar and Netflix had been making ready to eat their lunch altogether — enjoyable truth: they did.

Xbox Series X efficiency, video games

If it is boring on the skin, the Xbox Series X is a beast inside. In purely technical phrases, it is bought a {custom} chip and graphics unit provided by AMD: an 8-core AMD Zen 2 CPU clocked at 3.8GHz (3.6GHz with SMT, or simultaneous multithreading), and an AMD RDNA 2 GPU with 52 CUs (compute models) and clocked at 1.825 GHz. The latter delivers 12.15 teraflops of energy, which is greater than what’s supplied by PlayStation 5 (10.28 teraflops). But it is not fairly an apples-to-apples comparability, as a result of the PS5’s GPU — additionally AMD RDNA 2, clocked sooner (2.23GHz) however with fewer compute models (36) — is able to variable frequency (GHz). The PS5 additionally has the identical CPU because the Series X within the custom-made 8-core AMD Zen 2, however it’s bought a decrease clocked velocity (3.5 GHz with SMT) albeit with variable frequency functionality in that division too.

What which means for video games is energy in spades. The environments on Gears 5 and Destiny 2 are lush, with the faces within the former and FIFA 21 significantly detailed on the Xbox Series X. Gears 5 is likely one of the few titles that assist ray-tracing. Forza Horizon 4 appears to be like stunning and runs easy, not like stunning (4K) or easy (60fps) on the Xbox One X. Gameplay is easy throughout the board — be it gunplay in Destiny 2 or operating round in Ori and the Will of the Wisps — so long as the title helps 60fps or an unlocked body charge. I did discover some texture pop-in with some titles — No Man’s Sky, Watch Dogs: Legion, and Forza, all of that are “Optimised for Xbox Series X|S”. But I am unable to say for sure that this can be a developer concern and never {hardware} limitation, although the previous appears extra probably.

Ray-tracing has been touted as vital function with next-gen consoles, however at launch, not many video games truly assist it. Big names embrace Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition (not on Xbox Series S), Gears 5, NBA 2K21, and Watch Dogs: Legion. The in-development Forza Motorsport and Halo Infinite are additionally on the record, however they will not be accessible for months or years. Microsoft can be leaving it as much as the builders how they want to implement raytracing. Neither of Watch Dogs: Legion, Gears 5, or NBA 2K21 will let you flip it off. Bot Watch Dogs and NBA are caught with a 4K 30fps expertise consequently, regardless that the Series X is greater than able to 60fps. Gears 5 manages to eke out 60fps whereas delivering ray-traced graphics.

Forza Horizon Four on Xbox Series X
Photo Credit: Microsoft/Playground Games/Panic Button

All the aforementioned Xbox Game Studios titles — Gears 5, Forza Horizon 4, and Ori and the Will of the Wisps — are a part of Xbox Game Pass, and the Series X upgrades can be found to anybody who purchased the Xbox One model of the video games too. Microsoft has been upgrading lots of its first-party titles — Gears, Forza, and Halo Guardians amongst others — totally free, whereas some PlayStation Studios have been charging further (hiya, Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered) or not offering upgrades in any respect for PS4 period video games on the PS5. To enable you to get the most effective out of them, video games will immediate you if they’ve a Series X improve while you hearth them up. Microsoft calls this complete bundle “Smart Delivery”.

If you have already got an Xbox One, you too can copy them over utilizing Xbox’s “Network Transfer”, as I did for a lot of titles. This saves you each ready time and gigabytes off your Internet cap. Unfortunately, the function will not be as useful for “Optimised for Xbox Series X|S” video games as a result of they want an replace. In at the least three circumstances (Forza Horizon 4, Watch Dogs Legion, and Immortals Fenyx), this replace ended up being near the dimensions of the sport, which means that it was primarily re-downloading the total sport. But early into the brand new console period, most video games should not have a Series X improve, permitting you to straight copy and play your Xbox One video games. They will nonetheless carry out higher in your new Xbox, with Microsoft tech serving to them ship larger decision or body charge (with no assist from the developer).

Xbox Series X is the top of backward compatibility within the console period. While the PS5 is restricted to operating PS4 video games (until you are fortunate sufficient to entry PlayStation Now that has a restricted number of PS2 video games), Microsoft’s counterpart is able to operating video games from each Xbox period that has existed: Xbox One, Xbox 360, and the unique Xbox. Only titles developed for Kinect is not going to run, since they require particular {hardware}. Of course, the extent of the advantages do considerably depend upon the developer. Red Dead Redemption 2 runs at a greater decision however is locked to 30fps by Rockstar Games. The newer Cyberpunk 2077 fares higher. Even although the sport is poorly optimised typically, the Series X has a lot uncooked energy that it delivers the best available experience for Cyberpunk 2077, outdoors of high-end gaming PCs.

This is all with “last-gen” video games although. Once builders begin making video games with solely the Series X (and the PS5) in thoughts will we get to see the total potential of its {hardware}. That will most likely not occur for a few years, given the 160 million of Xbox Ones and PS4s on the market at the moment dwarfs the full of their next-gen iterations.

Xbox Series X SSD storage

The different large {hardware} change on Xbox Series X is the inclusion of a solid-state drive (SSD) — a primary for consoles, at par with the PS5 — taking on from the mechanical laborious disk drive (HDD) that had been current till the Xbox One X days. The impact is apparent. Games load blazingly quick, with most reaching the primary display in beneath 30 seconds. The in-game loading screens cling round for lots much less too. I complained about them in my review of Watch Dogs: Legion, as a result of there have been a number of and they’d take a couple of minute every on my Xbox One X. But on the Series X, they disappear in about 5 seconds or so. Thanks to the SSD, Microsoft has additionally constructed a “Quick Resume” function for the Series X, which helps you to decide up proper the place you left off, even after a full shutdown and taking part in different video games. Unfortunately, builders should allow it themselves to utilize it, and proper now, Quick Resume does not work in most locations.

Xbox Series X video games sorted by measurement
Photo Credit: Akhil Arora/Gadgets 360

At the identical time, there’s additionally a draw back to together with an SSD in a console. Owing to the value constraints, Microsoft has solely been ready to slot in a 1TB SSD. The PS5’s is even tinier at 825GB. The quantity of storage capability is on par with what was supplied by PlayStation Four and Xbox One. Except each sport now has 4K textures so it fills up quick. There’s round 800GB of usable storage on the Series X which I used up after putting in 15 video games. For what it is value, they had been largely AAA titles (Red Dead Redemption 2, Gears 5, Forza Horizon 4, Marvel’s Avengers, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Watch Dogs: Legion, Cyberpunk 2077, and FIFA 21) alongside just a few indie and smaller video games (Ori and the Will of the Wisps, The Touryst). I feel it is unlikely that you will have so many main titles in your console on the identical time.

That stated, in the event you do want to have all of it, you possibly can develop storage capability by utilizing the Series X’s proprietary “Expansion Slot”. Seagate is the one official producer for now, and its Series X storage card — priced at $220 (about Rs. 16,250) within the US — is unavailable in India as but. You may hook up a suitable USB 3.zero HDD and retailer your video games on there, as you possibly can with Xbox One, however there are caveats on Xbox Series X. You can play Xbox One video games off a related laborious drive, however you possibly can solely retailer Series X video games on a tough drive. Think of it as chilly storage. If you need to play Series X video games, they have to be moved to the interior SSD. Of course, you too can play video games off the included 4K Blu-ray disc drive, however I am unable to communicate to how bodily video games work by way of set up and storage, as we did not have any discs readily available to check.

Xbox Series X controller

The solely objects that got here with my Series X evaluation unit are precisely what you may get together with your Series X retail unit at buy. Apart from the console itself, that features the brand new Xbox Wireless Controller, a pair of Duracell batteries (for the controller), and an HDMI 2.1 suitable cable (you may want this for a 4K HDR TV with assist for prime refresh charges).

Microsoft hasn’t modified the controller a lot not like Sony. That’s why it is nonetheless known as the Xbox Wireless Controller, as earlier than. It’s bought the identical total form, besides it is much less angular and extra streamlined across the glowing Xbox emblem and the set off buttons. The latter even have a grainy texture in lieu of the unique shiny end on the Xbox One controller. That texture is replicated throughout the again of the controller, which appears to make it much less slippery — a great factor for decent and humid markets like India the place your palms are certain to sweat over lengthy periods. The entrance of the controller can be much less susceptible to sweat formation.

The solely main modifications are a USB-C connector (extra on that in a bit) and the D-pad. Borrowed from the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller, the brand new D-pad is extra clicky and audible than the Xbox One variant. And there’s only one introduction within the “Share” button. Borrowed from the DualShock 4, it joins the “View” and “Menu” buttons in the midst of the controller. Obviously, it helps you snap an in-game screenshot or document an in-game clip with the, nicely, press of a button. This cuts brief what was as soon as an elaborate course of: hit the Xbox button, go to the “Capture & share” part, after which decide from the accessible choices.

Xbox Wireless Controller
Photo Credit: Akhil Arora/Gadgets 360

I really like the Xbox controller and I’ve at all times most well-liked it over the DualShock 4, which feels tiny and is much less snug for me over lengthy intervals of play. The enhancements with the brand new Xbox Wireless Controller are welcome, however there’s one factor lacking: in-built rechargeable batteries. Sony has at all times included them, together with with the brand new DualSense for PS5 (whilst they’ve their very own drawback of depleting in single-digit hours.) AA batteries are a nuisance at the moment. The new Xbox Wireless Controller is the most effective accessible controller in the present day, I consider, however it’s incomplete with out the Xbox Plug and Play Charge Kit, now often called Xbox Rechargeable Battery + USB-C Cable (which appears to be not accessible in India).

You may use your present Xbox One controllers on the Series X, showcasing that Microsoft’s backward compatibility is not restricted to video games. Yes, the DualShock Four works on the PS5 too, but only for PS4 games. Xbox One controllers are absolutely suitable on the Series X. During my time reviewing the Series X, I’ve used each my Xbox (One) Wireless Controller and Xbox Elite Wireless Controller on the Series X with none points. It’s allowed me to convey a few mates into video games previous and new. That would not be doable on the PS5, the place my two present DualShock 4s would primarily be ineffective with all trendy titles.

Xbox Series X Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision

Microsoft’s next-gen consoles — each Series X and S — even have two software program options that Sony does not hassle providing on PlayStation 5: Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. Of course, you’ll need suitable {hardware} to utilize them.

The former is Dolby’s proprietary HDR (high-dynamic-range) providing that affords 12-bit color depth, versus the 10-bit color depth supplied by the open normal HDR10. In layman phrases, which means Dolby Vision is able to 68 billion colors, considerably greater than the 1 billion doable with HDR10. The PS5 makes use of HDR10.

The latter gives three-dimensional / spatial sound, a leg up from the times of encompass sound. Sony has its personal proprietary “Tempest 3D AudioTech” for the PS5, however it’s at the moment centered on headphones, and it is unclear the way it works together with your present speaker setup. Dolby Atmos enjoys a lot wider assist.

As of now, Dolby Atmos is accessible on the Series X with all supported video games, whereas Dolby Vision is due in early 2021. But you possibly can get pleasure from Dolby Vision in the meantime together with your leisure content material. Netflix and Disney+ are the one apps that assist each Atmos and Vision on Xbox Series X, with the likes of Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+ falling behind.

Dolby Vision on Xbox Series X
Photo Credit: Akhil Arora/Gadgets 360

But there is a a lot larger drawback right here, and that has to do with Microsoft’s implementation of Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision on Xbox Series X. It forces each audio stream to be up-converted to Atmos, and packages each video stream in Vision/ HDR10. It’s even taking part in round with the soundstage, and by placing SDR (standard-dynamic-range) movie in an HDR bundle, it is establishing potential issues with sure shows.

Creators ought to get to determine in the event that they need to supply an Atmos audio observe for his or her movie, or grasp their TV present in Dolby Vision. For occasion, Christopher Nolan has proven no real interest in together with Atmos tracks on any 4K Blu-rays of his movies, together with the latest Tenet.

To make issues worse, Microsoft does not supply an possibility to show off this auto-upgrade to Dolby Atmos and Vision. The solely possibility you might have is to show off each of them altogether.

A 3rd software program function brings the Series X on par with the PS4: HDMI-CEC. Conspicuously lacking from all Xbox One fashions, it is now accessible, permitting you to manage your TV — flip it on / off — together with your console. And vice versa, the TV distant can be used to flick thru the Series X menus.

Xbox Series X UI, navigation

Speaking of menus, the Series X’s consumer interface appears to be like the identical in the event you’re coming from one other Xbox. Again, Microsoft is not pushing for a flashy change as Sony has done with the PS5, assured in what it had on the Xbox One. It made some UI enhancements that rolled out in October and are therefore accessible to each Xbox One proprietor as nicely.

The fundamentals stay the identical. Your not too long ago used video games and apps seem within the high carousel, and you may leap into the “My Games & Apps” part from the house web page. There are additionally three areas subsequent to that, which Microsoft makes use of to spotlight in-game achievements you possibly can full, or promote new choices from Xbox Game Pass and ongoing gross sales or restricted free-play occasions within the Microsoft Store. You can scroll under to search out devoted hubs for Microsoft Store, Xbox Game Pass, group posts, and in-game occasions — you possibly can take away any and all of them — and you may add hubs on your favorite video games.

The Xbox Guide, accessible throughout the system by hitting the Xbox button in your controller, is the cornerstone of navigation. You can pull it as much as leap into/ drive shut video games and apps, pause music taking part in from Spotify or elsewhere, verify in your mates, ship messages and invite them to events, flick thru in-game achievements, not too long ago captured screenshots and in-game movies, add new profiles, signal out of logged-in accounts or leap into the settings part. The Xbox Guide permits you to leap to house display, and has devoted buttons for notifications, Game Pass, Store, search, and audio and music controls.

If you maintain down the Xbox button relatively than urgent it, it can convey up the ability off menu, the place you possibly can flip off your controller, restart your Series X, or shut it down.

Xbox Series X house display
Photo Credit: Akhil Arora/Gadgets 360

Xbox Series X evaluation

The Series X is undoubtedly a really highly effective console. But it is also the primary of them — alongside PlayStation 5 — that observe mid-gen upgrades in Xbox One X and PlayStation 4 Pro. Hence, it is not fairly a generational leap we’re witnessing, as we did once we went from Xbox 360 to Xbox One. Of course, that will depend on the place you are coming from. I used to be much more impressed by Xbox Series X after I performed video games that I had beforehand performed on my PS4 Slim. But the scenario was much more totally different for video games that I had already skilled on my Xbox One X. In these circumstances, they appeared a bit higher, delivered larger and extra steady body charges, and booted up a lot faster.

That’s as a result of the OG Xbox One and Xbox One S have been outdated for some time now. Forget buttery easy 60fps gaming, these two have been struggling to ship even full-HD 1080p decision for the previous few years. With Xbox Series X, you’re looking at a large improve on each fronts — it targets 4K at 60fps. If that is the leap you are making, the Series X improve is well value it. But it turns into a lot tougher to justify the expenditure for these already with an Xbox One X (or PS4 Pro). They debuted in late 2017 at over Rs. 40,000, and the Series X prices Rs. 50,000. If you are going to make such investments each three years within the console area, you would possibly as nicely get thinking about the PC route.

That does not imply it is not sufficient of an improve. After all, the Xbox One X’s CPU bottleneck meant it by no means actually gave us precise 4K, with most video games using the usage of dynamic decision and checkerboard rendering strategies. Additionally, video games corresponding to Forza Horizon Four that delivered 1080p at 60fps on the One X now supply 4K at 60fps on the Series X. In some circumstances — together with the likes of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, Dirt 5, Rocket League, and the upcoming Halo Infinite — you are even 120fps gaming. Assuming your tv can deal with it, in fact.

That truth is necessary in itself in the event you’re contemplating an improve. To profit from Xbox Series X, you want a TV that helps Dolby Vision and 120Hz refresh charge (these typically price one lakh rupees or extra), and devoted Dolby Atmos audio system on the ceiling (this may be cumbersome) or upward firing audio system / soundbar (these may be pretty costly too). With a future replace, the Series X may even be capable of output 8K. Microsoft hasn’t enabled that but due to a scarcity of 8K content material.

Xbox Game Pass on Xbox Series X
Photo Credit: Akhil Arora/Gadgets 360

If it is a next-gen console you are after, the Xbox Series X is a stable proposition. Game Pass is a good money-saving thought in a world the place Rs. 5,000 games are becoming the norm. Microsoft’s new console additionally permits you to play video games from each console Microsoft has ever made. New video games look and carry out higher than ever, with out breaking the financial institution. And the Series X belongs to the one console household that helps Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos for gaming.

Yes, Xbox does not match PlayStation within the legacy and identify recognition of its exclusives, however Microsoft appears decided to enhance upon that this technology. It announced the acquisition of The Elder Scrolls and Doom maker ZeniMax Media late final yr, which suggests Xbox Game Studios has now grown to 23 in-house studios. Together, they’ll launch tons of recent video games for the Series X, and because of Microsoft’s new strategy, all of them shall be accessible at no further price as a part of Xbox Game Pass. Sony in the meantime will cost PS5 house owners Rs. 5,000 per title.

The Xbox Series X does not look something particular by itself — it is only a drab field — however that does not matter as a result of the true marvel is in your display. It’s meant to be tucked right into a nook and forgotten. Assuming you possibly can match it, anyway. Or even get your hands on one right now.

Pros:

• Really highly effective
• Delivers fixed 4K 60fps
• Reduced loading instances
• Great backward compatibility
• Support for Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos
• Capable of 8K / 120fps
• Network switch function

Cons:

• Expensive
• Lack of actually next-gen exclusives
• Not a technology leap over Xbox One X at launch
• Proprietary storage growth
• No rechargeable battery with controller
• Implementation of Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos

Rating (out of 10): 8