Tag Archives: Launch

"The Xbox Series X is an extremely powerful console, but the lack of next-gen titles has stalled its launch."

• Potential

• More memory than PS5

• Library accessible through Game Pass

• Good value

• Missing an outstanding starting game

• Difficult to assemble in most A / V cabinets

• The potential of the next generation is untapped

Timing is everything.

When a console starts up, this is critical. Every component of a new system – from hardware to software – must come together to meet the expectations of an eager and often over-critical fan base. But COVID-19 has ditched even the most laborious of schedules, much to Microsoft's frustration.

Xbox Series X is like an athlete who trained for the big game all year only to find the rest of the team wasn't there. It's a powerhouse that corrects many of the mistakes made in the early days of Xbox One. It undoubtedly has a bright future. However, due to important software delays, this system does not need to be purchased immediately or anytime in the coming months.

There is no discussion of the Series X without acknowledging the Halo Infinite lag. Microsoft pinned the game's launch to its new consoles around 17 months ago. Master Chief was the other superstar to be on the starting line alongside Series X.

It doesn't matter whether Halo's delay was due to the pandemic or quality issues. Without them, there would be no system sales game to support the X series this holiday season. And while Microsoft's Game Pass means that many games can be played on the system thanks to backward compatibility and tweaks to some third-party titles, the company urges players to spend $ 500 on a new console – if the same games are already on the system work old.

Digital Trends reviewed the Xbox Series X over the course of a week. (This review focuses solely on the X-Series, not the $ 300-S Series.) And in all frankness, realizing a consumer-level experience was challenging, as optimizations were only available for a handful of titles. For example, EA just says it will be detailing its tweaks for Madden NFL 21 "soon," and SquareEnix has no plans to tweak Marvel's Avengers until 2021.

Setup: Hurry up and download it

Players are expecting a patch for day one, but that doesn't make it any less frustrating. The initial download was less than 1GB, but Microsoft has not specified how large the final patch will be on launch day. (This is independent of the game updates required.) The controller also needs a patch.

The result is a setup process that will likely take 10 minutes to an hour of your time, depending on the speed of your internet connection. Obviously getting a patch is better than not, but the conflict between having major updates on launch day and wanting to load a game the moment you turn on the console is an issue that the brand new solid-state drive doesn't can fix.

Otherwise, setting up the console is a breeze. Microsoft is pushing to use the Xbox app. It's really a time saver as you can quickly copy your settings, GamerTag, Wi-Fi password (assuming you don't have a hardline internet connection for your console) and other information, which makes setup drastically easier.

Performance: A lot of performance in a big box

Microsoft has been shouting about its superior hardware on an almost deafening level since the first series X test (then called Project Scarlett). By now you probably know the technical data and keywords: 120 frames per second (fps), HDR, 12 teraflops of computing power, etc.

Despite its performance, the X Series is surprisingly quiet. The system's cooling structure is so efficient that you sometimes wonder if the console is actually turned on. The Xbox One is like a jet engine in comparison.

However, the X Series doesn't simply fit into most home entertainment centers. Microsoft (like Sony) designed its next generation system as a showcase. The X Series is smaller than the PlayStation 5, but still doesn't easily fit into the average living room A / V cabinet. This is due to its width, the result of a shape more like a box than a slate. It might be annoying for some owners.

You'd think there was more to be said about the performance, but that's not there, and that's due (again) to the lack of starting titles. This is the part of the review where amazingly beautiful new open world titles could be discussed. Unfortunately, this game is not available for Serie X at the start. No question about it, this is a powerful console – numerically it is (slightly) faster than the PlayStation 5. Unfortunately, the hardware is currently underutilized.

Storage: 1 TB is no longer what it used to be

The X series offers acceptable, if not optimal, storage space. The 1 TB hard drive (compared to 512 GB of the S series) is the same as the Xbox One X. However, after subtracting the amount used by the system's operating system, only 802 GB is available. That should be fine at first, but as this generation progresses and games require more space, this could be problematic.

Increasing the system memory to 2TB could have future-proofed the console, although that would certainly have affected the price of the X Series. The Xbox Series X console launches on November 10 for $ 499 (a major selling point for Microsoft).

However, Sony's PlayStation 5 is at a disadvantage. It comes with 825 GB of internal storage and, like the Xbox Series X, not everything is available for game installation. According to prelaunch reports, around 667 GB is available for games. This means that there is 135 GB less storage available on the PlayStation 5 than on the Xbox Series X.

Microsoft

If 1TB isn't enough, you can expand the X-series storage. Players can connect an external hard drive to the system. Tests by Digital Foundry showed that, at least for backwards compatible titles, an external solid-state drive was almost as fast as the storage on the device.

The console also has a memory expansion card slot that can double the memory size. However, at $ 220, this is not inexpensive. The PlayStation 5 can be upgraded with a wider range of third-party PCIe 4.0 SSDs, which can be purchased for just $ 200 (for 1TB of storage).

The controller: if it's not broken, don't fix it

Controllers are our connection to the games we play and they have become increasingly important over the past generations. Microsoft has kept almost the same design for the past two generations, and this time around there are no significant changes.

The X series controller sits comfortably in your hands and has been ergonomically optimized to make it a little more comfortable. It's a bit more social than previous Xbox controllers, as the record and share button has been added that allows players to take screenshots and video clips and quickly post them online.

It continues to use AA batteries instead of internal rechargeable batteries, but it's far from a power hog. We didn't even have to change the batteries during the testing process. The PlayStation 5 controller comes with an internal battery. Xbox Series X owners must pay for this upgrade as an add-on.

Games and software: the lack of launch titles

Given the lack of games designed for the Series X and the few that were tweaked during the review window, evaluating the game potential is – frustratingly – the most TBD part of the Xbox Series X experience.

Yes, the games currently available look fantastic. Gears 5 runs incredibly smoothly at 120 FPS, which raises hopes for future titles. The visual fidelity is only part of the gaming experience, of course, but it's a catch that draws players in. However, Gears 5 at 120 FPS is nowhere near enough to sell a new console as a next-gen. A new console needs a launch title to really show off, and with Halo Infinite being postponed until next year, Series X doesn't have one.

The promise of faster loading times also remains unproven. Loading from game start to gameplay in Gears 5 (for a new campaign) still takes well over a minute. Guard Dogs: Legion, while not optimized, took a little less time. These are better results than an Xbox One X, but not the suggested immediate availability. Hopefully games that are designed for the next generation will offer loading times that feel like the next generation.

Quick Resume, the touted feature that pauses games similar to pausing an app on your smartphone, seems to work flawlessly, although it's difficult (again) with a few optimized titles to put them through their paces. In general, games you navigate away from will reopen more quickly after a brief splash screen.

The Smart Delivery feature, which ensures players get the best version for their system, is a nice touch that saves frustration, but the fact that it isn't available every game is annoying. It's not even available for every Xbox Game Studios game, which is very confusing.

The promise

The Xbox Series X is Microsoft's bet on the future. It's an insanely powerful system that could excite the gaming world once the company's internal teams begin to demonstrate its capabilities.

Microsoft believes that there is something that proves this generation of consoles. The Xbox One stumbled out of the gate and never fully recovered. This is not the case this time. While the lack of software is disruptive, the company is difficult to fault completely as the pandemic has weighed on everyone in the gaming world.

It's an insanely powerful system that could excite the gaming world once the company's internal teams begin to demonstrate its capabilities.

Microsoft makes a compelling case for the Series X value proposition with Game Pass. There's a reason the huge library of backward compatible games and the Smart Delivery option are being touted. No, you don't have a new Forza, Halo, or Gears to play with your Series X this year. And you can't for some time. However, Microsoft believes this is a perfect opportunity to play games that you've never seen or are currently enjoying (as well as the numerous third-party games coming out this vacation) in an expanded environment.

It's by no means a bad argument, but it's more reasonable and practical than emotional. Console launches were once an opportunity to reveal new gaming experiences that were simply not possible before. Currently, the Xbox Series X is insufficient in this department.

Our opinion

The Xbox Series X is a powerful system that has nothing yet to really demonstrate its capabilities. With sharp graphics, a familiar user interface, and fast load times, it is a strong competitor to this generation of consoles. However, a lack of showcase games means you don't have to rush to buy anything.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes. The Sony PlayStation 5, unlike the Xbox Series X, has launch titles that are worth your attention. Astro & # 39; s Playroom and Demon & # 39; s Souls are the standout features. Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales is also eagerly awaited, but can also be purchased for PlayStation 4.

How long it will take?

The Xbox Series X should prove to be a solid investment, eliminating unforeseen problems (which have historically impacted first-generation console models). Despite the lack of starting titles, the X series is a very powerful system that should remain relevant for at least five years.

Should you buy one?

No not yet. The X Series is a solid console, but it lacks a launch title that requires immediate purchase of the console.

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