09 Aug
Blog

Xbox Recon Controller Review: Game Audio Mixing Made Easy

The Turtle Beach Xbox Recon controller is on a table.

Turtle Beach Xbox Recon Controller Review: Game Audio Mixing Made Easy

RRP $ 60.00

"The Turtle Beach Xbox Recon Controller is packed with imaginative and useful on-board features at a shockingly low price."

advantages

  • Great build quality

  • Robust audio control

  • Well placed buttons on the back

  • Useful pro-aim function

  • Excellent value for money

disadvantage

  • Wired only

  • Contradicting functions

Whenever a new video game console drops, third-party manufacturers get to work. There is always a race to see who can make indispensable accessories that trump the console manufacturers themselves. This is especially evident with controllers, where companies are taking on the impossible task of improving gamepads perfectly designed by giants like Sony and Microsoft.

It takes a lot of creative effort to achieve this lofty goal, but Turtle Beach struck gold with its Recon Xbox controller. Instead of trying to surpass the basic capabilities of a regular Xbox controller, it offers a whole new vision of what a controller can do. Turtle Beach essentially built a sound mixer into a controller that allows players to EQ audio, adjust game volume, and even control voice chat on the fly. It's exactly the kind of innovation you can expect from a company best known for their headsets.

The Xbox Recon is not just a niche product for the dedicated audiophile; It's an excellent console companion that rethinks the usefulness of a controller. Its wired setup and some complicated options keep it from being the ultimate Xbox controller, but a low price point makes it a serious alternative to Microsoft's baseline X Series controllers.

Reaching the baseline

With every third-party controller, there is always one major hurdle that must be met: It must have all of the basic functions of its first-party counterpart. Companies like PowerA have developed complex controllers for consoles like the Nintendo Switch that add extra functionality at the expense of rumble and amiibo support.

A close look at the buttons and joystick on the Xbox Recon controller.

The Recon does not cut off such corners. It has everything you'd expect from an Xbox Series X controller. The button layout is identical, with minor adjustments in some positions. The joysticks don't feel too different, it rumbles as expected, and even includes an eight-way D-pad that some other third-party Xbox pads lack. Even with small differences, everything is in its place.

In fact, the Recon even goes a little further in some places. It includes cooling handles and has two mappable buttons on the back, neither of which are found on the standard Xbox wireless controller. Since it doesn't use batteries, it's also a bit lighter than Microsoft's controller.

The Recon does not cut off such corners. It has everything you'd expect from an Xbox Series X controller.

The only downside to this is that the Recon can feel a bit more toy-like than the sophisticated Xbox Wireless Controller. However, that is hardly a blow. Turtle Beach easily passes the first test here by creating a controller that ticks each box and adds some tweaks of its own while maintaining a comparable price range of $ 60.

Superhuman sound

If the recon just stopped there, it would be a perfectly suitable third-party option. But the fact that I haven't even talked about its core functionality speaks to how robust this package ultimately is. The Recon is designed for audio and offers several ways to optimize the sound in a mini command center on top of the controller.

With a few carefully placed buttons, players can adjust game and chat audio separately. This allows anyone to essentially mix audio on the fly without delving into menus and making adjustments. Usually you would need external tools to do this, so the fact that it is built right into the Recon is extremely useful. It even has a mute button that players can use to mute their microphone without fumbling for a button on their headset.

I can't think of a video game controller that ever aimed to do what Turtle Beach achieved here.

I noticed that the chat controls didn't seem to work properly on the PC games I tested. When playing the Back 4 Blood Beta through in-game chat, turning down the chat volume had no effect. This made it unclear to me exactly where I could use this feature outside of playing on an actual Xbox.

When it comes to audio, the controller goes one step further and offers four equalization presets that players can use to switch between different sound profiles. Turtle Beach's Signature Sound option allows players to boost bass, prioritize game chat, boost treble, or get a smoother mix. There's also a one-press button that activates Superhuman Hearing, which amplifies soft noises like footsteps (although I've found it generally just crank everything up).

The sound mixer that appears on the Turtle Beach Xbox Recon controller.

All of this comes together to give players complete control over the game audio. While playing Last Stop, I was able to quickly switch my EQ to prioritize voices on the fly. During a music montage, I might as well turn up the bass to round off the orchestral score. Players will most likely pick their favorite presets and leave it at that, but I just turned the page for novelty.

I have to emphasize how impressive it is that all of this happens without any software or driver installation whatsoever. All of these options are housed in the controller itself. I can't think of a video game controller that ever aimed to do what Turtle Beach achieved here. The ability to set mic monitoring or boost the bass like pressing a button to jump is extremely impressive and makes the Recon a truly unique controller.

Perks and quirks

With all of its bells and whistles, the Recon still has a few notable quirks. Most importantly, it is a fully wired controller which is the main sticking point. For those who don't want to thread chicken wire from their Series X onto the couch, this might be a tough sell. It doesn't help that players have to use wired headphones here as well and add some cable juggling. That makes the Recon more of a focal point for my PC than my Xbox, as playing with tethering is more common in my own PC setup.

It's filled with great features, though each adds to the assembly complexity of the device.

The controller also has two mappable back buttons that are completely unobtrusive, although this is not without its problems. The triggers cannot be assigned to the back buttons for some reason, nor can button combinations. On the plus side, players can set up four different mapping profiles and quickly switch between them. For example, I had mapped A and B to one profile and set the right and left bumpers to a different one.

The back of the Xbox Recon controller, including its back buttons.

The back buttons also have some weird interactions with the Recon's other specialty feature (yes, there are more): Pro-Aim. When enabled, players can hold down the right backspace button to decrease stick sensitivity. For example, you could squeeze it while aiming down to drastically lower sensitivity in the blink of an eye and allow precise aiming. There are even four different presets for Pro-Aim. The only problem is, you can't actually map a control to the back button and use Pro-Aim at the same time, or you could jump every time you try to aim. It's an amazing feature for a controller, but one that bumps into the head with another option.

That is the story of the Recon in general. It's filled with great features, though each adds to the assembly complexity of the device. Trying to flip through EQ presets or map buttons on the fly can be a bit of a circus, and you can't always use all of the functions at the same time. Compared to the elegance of a regular Xbox controller, the Recon can definitely feel confusing the first time you use it.

The Turtle Beach Xbox Recon controller is on a table.

But that's a necessary compromise when you consider how much the controller can do without external software. Turtle Beach loaded up a $ 60 controller with on-board features that other companies have yet to dream of. Considering the price and build quality at Microsoft are perfect, all you really need to do is take advantage of one extra feature to get your money's worth. Even if you just use Pro-Aim or something as small as the mute button, you get more functionality than a regular Xbox controller. It's shocking that this doesn't make players $ 100, but you won't hear me complaining about a good deal.

Our opinion

While third-party controllers can be a risky endeavor, the Xbox Recon reduces the noise by doubling the strengths of Turtle Beach. The audio-first controller offers gamers many practical functions that make it easy to optimize the sound mix in no time at all. Despite some notable quirks, Turtle Beach does something really unique here, which sets the Recon apart in a field that is only going to get more crowded.

Is there a better alternative?

For a simple wireless controller, the Xbox Series X baseline is still the best choice. The hybrid controller mixer setup is somewhat unique, however.

How long it will take?

It's always hard to tell when it comes to third-party controllers, but Turtle Beach is known for quality products. It'll surprise you if you don't spend a few years on it.

Should you buy it?

Yes. The Xbox Recon is a surprisingly useful controller for gamers who use headphones in-game or anyone looking for some extra button customization.

Editor's recommendations



01 Jul
Blog

Xbox Fusion Pro 2 Review: A Controller With Compromises

The Xbox Fusion 2 controller next to an Xbox Series X.

"PowerA's Fusion Pro 2 is great value at $ 90, but you get what you pay for with this third-party controller."

  • Great value

  • Feature-rich package

  • Practical volume control

  • Easy to customize

  • Loud rumbling

  • D-pad is a step down

  • Uncomfortable back paddles

Let's get something straight: the Xbox Elite Series 2 is the best video game controller on the market today. Unfortunately, it's also one of the most expensive. The third-party provider PowerA may have recognized an opportunity and, with the Fusion Pro 2, has risen with a direct competitor to Microsoft's own gamepad.

This wired controller is specially designed for the Xbox Series X | S and offers many of the same extras as the Elite Series 2 at a significantly lower price. It's a sturdy package with back paddles, trigger locks, volume controls and a lot more. At $ 90, it seems like an important value versus the $ 180 Elite Series 2 at first glance.

The Fusion Pro 2 is indeed a solid third-party option for those looking for an Xbox controller with some bells and whistles. Just prepare a classic "you get what you pay for" case here because it lacks the sleek design and cut of a proper Microsoft product.

An important value

It's hard to deny what a strong offering the overall package is. For $ 90, Xbox gamers get a ton of features here that aren't on a standard Xbox controller. For starters, it comes with a paddle pack that adds four back buttons to the controller. That alone is one of the main selling points of the Elite Series 2.

The Xbox Fusion 2 controller and its additional parts.

In addition, the controller has trigger locks that allow players to adjust the voltage on each trigger. There are three different settings each, each of which allows for some very specific controller settings. There is also a volume control at the bottom of the pad that allows players to easily turn the voice chat up and down. Pressing the rotary dial will also mute the chat, which is incredibly handy to have a click of your thumb away.

Those are the greatest features, but there's a lot more where that comes from. The package comes with removable front panels, anti-friction handles, additional joysticks and a carrying case to store everything. It doesn't have all of the interchangeable parts that come with an Elite Series 2, but it makes up for that with the bonus features.

It's hard to deny what a strong offering the overall package is.

The price point goes really far here. In comparison, PowerA's Nintendo Switch Fusion controller costs $ 100 and has far fewer extras. While $ 90 may seem expensive for someone who just needs a standard game controller, it's a real steal when you consider that a similar product costs twice as much.

to make compromises

While it's certainly more cost effective than an Elite Series 2, that doesn't mean it's inherently better. There are many tradeoffs players will make if they choose this route. Most notable is the fact that it is a wired controller, which in itself is a big catch in itself. The package comes with nice mesh wire, but it still means you have to stay tied to your Xbox to play.

There are many tradeoffs players will make if they choose this route.

These compromises also crop up in more subtle ways. The controller uses a regular four-way D-pad, which is a questionable step down from the Xbox Series X's more multi-directional pad. This part is also not interchangeable, so it cannot be replaced across the board.

The most noticeable difference comes from the rumble. The controller's dual rumble motors aren't subtle; This is one of the loudest controllers I've ever heard. Leave this on a coffee table and it will sound like it's piercing. The technology just feels a little cheap compared to the more precise rumble found in video game controllers today. It must be noted that the fact that it is rumbling at all is an improvement over the Switch's Fusion controller, which lacks overall feedback.

The Xbox Fusion 2 controller next to an Xbox Series X.

These quirks aside, the key layout itself is perfectly serviceable. There are a few differences in depth, but this feels like a regular Xbox controller. It's just these little details that bring the third-party character to the fore.

Just next to it

The biggest feature here is the paddle pack, which adds four back buttons to the controller. There's a lot to like about them. It's easy to assign buttons to them, the paddles feel responsive, and the backpack itself can be pulled out at any time.

It's still incredible value, but expect to feel the difference.

The positioning feels a bit off. although. For my hands, the backpack sits a little lower than I would like. That means I had to keep my back fingers higher, which made it difficult to find a comfortable position. After playing a few rounds of Knockout City, I felt like I wanted to throw the pack out entirely.

The back paddles of the Xbox Fusion 2 controller.

That's a shame, because the Fusion 2 has a lot to offer in terms of comfort. The rubber grips are especially nice compared to the cold suppleness of a standard Xbox controller. The trigger locks and interchangeable joysticks are also a welcome bonus that allows players to really customize the feel of the controller.

Of course, comfort is ultimately a question of subjectivity. The paddle package may be just right for some players while others may feel like it's just a bull's eye. No controller is a one-size-fits-all solution, but it's an area where Microsoft's expertise really becomes apparent. The company has spent decades creating the perfect Xbox controller, and that becomes evident when you switch to a third-party option that lacks those subtle tweaks. It's still incredible value, but expect to feel the difference.

Our opinion

The PowerA Xbox Fusion 2 is a great budget option for anyone who wants the extras of an Elite Series 2 without breaking the bank. It's a loaded package with an impressive array of features. Just be prepared for the third party nature. Loud rumble motors, awkward positioning of the back button and the wired condition make this controller a controller that accepts many compromises. If value is the primary concern, it is a strong option. It's just not the best available.

Is there a better alternative?

Microsoft's Elite Series 2 is the better piece of hardware, although it is available for twice the price.

How long it will take?

Since it's wired, you don't have to worry about battery life. The controller itself feels sturdy enough, but it's always difficult to say how a third-party product will hold up over time. However, expect it to be in use for a few years.

Should you buy it?

No. Anyone who really needs the extras is probably better off paying extra for the Elite Series 2. Otherwise, the standard Xbox Series X controller is perfectly designed for casual gamers.

Editor's recommendations



17 Nov
Blog

Xbox Series S review: Not Worth it in the Long Run

Xbox Series S.

"The limitations of the S Series become more apparent the longer you use them."

  • Incredibly portable

  • Good price

  • Great design

  • Not worth the savings

  • Not enough space

The Xbox Series S is an incredible piece of technology in many ways. Next-generation features like instant charging into an incredibly compact and affordable device are undoubtedly helping to fill a niche in the market that the more expensive PlayStation 5 or the heavily underloaded Nintendo Switch can't reach.

Despite the things I like about the Series S, I can't help but feel that the tradeoffs it makes aren't worth the $ 200 savings, especially if you're from an upgrade in the In the middle of the cycle like the Xbox switch to One X or the PlayStation 4 Pro.

The S series is initially a show stopper

I received my S Series in the same shipment as the X Series, and I was honestly more impressed with the former than the latter when I unboxed the two consoles. It brought me back when I moved to America and my original PAL PlayStation 2 wouldn't work here, so I had to get a PlayStation 2 NTSC Slim. I was impressed with how something so small can play all of these incredible games, and while the S Series doesn't shrink to nearly the same size as the slim PS2, it's still impressive to have something more compact than most textbooks.

Xbox Series S review

Then I booted it up and still it was as snappy as the Series X. I was able to download a system update in a flash and manage the entire setup via the much more handy Xbox app. Navigating the menus and downloading games from my library were just as quick, and to my delight, some of the titles were ten gigabytes smaller thanks to the lack of 4K textures.

I was impressed with how something so small could play all of these incredible games.

Then I came across the first catch in the S series. That annoying 512 GB SSD. It's not even 512 GB, but rather 370 GB of usable memory. I had six games installed and already ran out of space, even with the smaller installation files. Luckily I have unlimited gigabit internet in my apartment, but that's an incredible niche thing when you are talking about nearly half of the US population who play video games. Most people don't have the luxury of being able to conveniently delete and re-download games.

There is an option to save more games. However, it's a $ 220 Seagate expansion card that provides an additional 1TB. If you've spent the money on both this and the console, you're actually seeing more expensive value for money than if you just bought a Series X, which comes natively with 1TB of storage, a drive, and much better ones Hardware.

The severely limited memory allocation was more of a problem than I thought, but perhaps the system's performance would be impressive enough to make this a product I could recommend?

The differences in visual quality are palpable

The first game I played in my Series S was Assassin's Creed Valhalla, and at first I thought something was wrong. Not only did it look worse than the Series X, which was to be expected, it also looked worse than on my One X.

Xbox Series X versus S.

The One X was the system I had played the game on for review, so I was well acquainted with it at the time. This last generation system used dynamic resolution while gaming – sometimes it ran at 4K and sometimes closer to 1440p depending on what was happening on the screen. It seems that the game would run at 1740p on average.

However, the S series limits the game resolution to 1440p. I would have hoped Valhalla would then be able to push to 60 frames per second on the console, but it was locked at 30 fps. Switching to the Series X, which runs the game at a constant 4K60 value, was a drastic change, but even when I looked at them side by side on my last-gen One X, I was a little surprised at the limited performance.

The first game I played in my Series S was Assassin's Creed Valhalla, and at first I thought something was wrong. Not only did it look worse than the Series X, which was to be expected, it also looked worse than on my One X.

There is a way to run Valhalla on the S Series at 60 fps, but you'll need to change the system level resolution to 1080p. Not only is this inconvenient, but it's also a huge visual drop, especially since it also turns off the game's HDR.

The other games that I luckily tried didn't have as dramatic a difference as Valhalla. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War may have lacked ray tracing and 120 fps modes, but it still felt visually competent enough that it was an immersive console experience. And I was happy to see that the S series still offers the ability to expand the game's field of vision. This is a huge benefit that was only granted to PC gamers until this new generation.

Xbox Series S horizontal

Gears 5 was the most indistinguishable of all games when compared between the Series S and the Series X. And while Dirt 5 ran at a nice 120 fps on the smaller console, the drop in texture quality was pretty noticeable.

Only a handful of people should pick up the S series

Checking a device like the S series is something I have to change my mind about. I have to think about the wider range of gamers who don't make a living playing video games and may not have high speed internet or 4K OLED TV to enhance their experience.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War may have lacked ray tracing and 120 fps modes, but it still felt visually competent enough that it was an immersive console experience.

With all these factors in mind, I still think most people shouldn't pick up an S series. If you want an Xbox, go for the much more impressive X Series. Here is a list of the types of people who should pick up a Series S:

  • When you have extremely little space
  • If you have to travel a lot with it
  • When you buy it as a second console
  • When you buy it for your kids

I still have arguments for each of these Prople categories as to why they should still apply to Series X. The S series is small, but not so incredibly small compared to the X series that it can travel with you or find space in your home for that, it's much easier for that than the X series.

Buying it as a second console for another TV in the house is also not worth it. The Series X boots up in seconds after a full shutdown, and a feature like Quick Resume, which lets you switch between games at the exact point where you left off, works even if you unplug the system. If you only move your Series X between rooms, there will be only the slightest inconvenience that would otherwise be avoided by an additional Series S.

Xbox Series S top to bottom

The category that I think best fits a Series S needs is the purchase for your children. That's the strongest argument in favor of the console, but for me there is one unanswered question that changes my thoughts about it. Will Xbox roll out more series consoles later or will there be another update during the cycle?

In this case, the S Series is a compelling buy when purchasing a system for your youth. As a teenager, Microsoft may have released an even more powerful console or a more powerful Series S that would turn a smaller investment into a smart move for just a handful of years.

The thing is, I'll be 50/50 if we get this update with this generation of consoles. By the time the original Xbox One and PS4 were released, the transition from 1080p to 4K was already underway, and those systems weren't equipped for it. That's why we have the One X and the PS4 Pro.

This time around, both systems support 8K, which is far from mainstream as 4K back in 2013. While both the Series X and PS5 may not be able to play native 8K games, companies are making advances in machine learning You upscaled 8K files that look as good as the native resolution. They are impressive to the point where this hardware can possibly perfectly meet those technical requirements.

Ultimately, new consoles are not going to be a given for the next few years, and while now, around four years later, your child may be more than happy with an S Series, this is going to be extremely nondescript.

Our opinion

I really like Serie S and if I had never played Serie X I might feel different. But I've played Series X, and I think for the majority of people the additional cost of $ 200 for everything the console can do that its younger siblings can't. If the S Series is $ 199 and additional storage isn't that expensive, we may have another conversation.

Is there a better alternative?

The Xbox Series X is superior in almost every way, even at a steeper price point.

How long it will take?

Years in theory, but over time its limitations will quickly become noticeable.

Should you buy it?

I really think that only parents with young children who are just starting out to play video games should invest in the console.

Editor's recommendations




05 Nov
Blog

Xbox Series X Review: Phenomenal Power, But No Launch Game

Xbox Series X Stylized Graphics

"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.

Gears 5 advantages

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.

Editor's recommendations




04 Oct
Blog

The Best Cheap Xbox Live Gold Deals for October 2020

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If you enjoy gaming, you are undoubtedly aware that playing your favorite game online can unlock additional features like multiplayer mode. However, you will need an active Xbox Live Gold subscription on an Xbox 360 or Xbox One to do this. To make your wallet a little lighter, we've scoured the internet and brought the best Xbox Live Gold deals in one place, including Xbox Live Gold 1 Month, Xbox Live Gold 3 Month, and Xbox Live Gold 12 Month Subscriptions.

Today's Best Xbox Live Gold Deals

similar products

What is Xbox Live Gold?

Xbox Live Gold is a subscription membership that is required if you want to play online games on Xbox One or Xbox 360. A regular subscription to Xbox Live Gold costs $ 10 per month or $ 60 per year. Xbox Live Gold also gives members access to additional benefits such as free monthly games and discounts on select digital games.

Whether you're playing solo, with a single friend, or as part of an online cooperative with a group of strangers, you need Xbox Live Gold to do it. Your subscription also gives you access to the party system and voice chat so you can communicate with your cohorts while you play.

Microsoft is offering free games to Xbox Live Gold members every month through the Games with Gold program. These games are only available for a limited time (two weeks or a month) and can be redeemed through the website on your Xbox console. You can then download and keep the game for free. The good news about this feature is that if you renew your subscription you get the game back even though you won't be able to play the game while the subscription is inactive.

If you have an Xbox 360 and you have games that you've redeemed through Games with Gold, you don't have to worry about losing those games if you choose to upgrade to an Xbox One. Microsoft has guaranteed that all Xbox 360 games released through Games with Gold will be playable on Xbox One through Backward Compatibility.

Your Xbox Live Gold membership also includes gold offers that give subscribers exclusive deals on Xbox One and Xbox 360 digital games. The offers change every week and you can view the latest offers on the Offers with Gold website. If you purchase a game through Deals with Gold, you can keep it even if your subscription expires or expires.

It should be noted that Xbox Live Gold is different from Xbox Live Silver (now called Xbox Live Free). The free version has limited features that allow you to create a friends list, profile and gamertag, preview games and stream video content from the Zune network, download games and add-ons from Xbox Live Marketplace Download, send and receive text or voice messages with other Xbox Live users, and make video calls to friends using Video Kinect (if you have a Kinect). The stark difference between the two services other than price is that Xbox Live Free does not allow you to play online.

Is Xbox Live Gold required to play Fortnite?

Fourteen days is one of the most popular games of the last decade. It's free to download and play, but you'll need Xbox Live if you want to do this on an Xbox One or Xbox 360. So, if you don't want to miss out on the hottest online game that everyone is playing, grab one of the Xbox Live Gold deals outlined above.

We strive to help our readers find the best deals on quality products and services, and we carefully and independently choose what we cover. The prices, details and availability of the products and offers in this post are subject to change at any time. Make sure they are still valid before making a purchase.

Digital Trends can earn commissions on products purchased through our links, which supports the work we do for our readers.

Editor's recommendations




02 May
Blog

Xbox One S Review 2020: Affordable 4K Entertainment

best cheap xbox one games 2017 s rating 9

"The Xbox One S is more than a console – it's a great Ultra HD Blu-Ray player."

  • Chic new look

  • Strong input / output selection

  • Ultra HD Blu-ray support

  • Improved compatibility with Windows 10

  • Attractive pricing

  • Not as small as expected

  • Hardware still slower than PlayStation 4

  • Cortana is disappointing

Xbox One S is Microsoft's cheaper update to Xbox One during the cycle. It offers both 4K media support and a better name for Xbox. On the hardware side, the miniaturization is said to overtake the PlayStation 4, which is still smaller and more subtle than the original Xbox One. On the software side, Xbox One S is the standard Microsoft carrier for Windows 10. While older Xbox One consoles can upgrade to the same software, there is still a lot of confusion about how Windows 10 and Xbox work together. The updated console ensures clarity.

There is a heavy load on the shoulders of this console that is too heavy for an incremental upgrade. Sony has not only launched a "slim" PlayStation 4, but also a much improved version of its console, the PlayStation 4 Pro. Microsoft also has its own powerful Xbox One X, which is currently the most powerful console, but Xbox One S is the much cheaper alternative.

Despite its low price, with exciting new features like Game Pass that complement Microsoft's vision for Xbox One, the One S doesn't have the improvements you'd expect from a console upgrade, nor is it the beginning of a new generation .

Smaller, but not that small

We liked the look of the original Xbox One and found it to look better than the PlayStation 4, which never looks right with its awkward angles. In practice, however, the Xbox One had a big problem. It was big – the biggest thing most people put in a home entertainment cabinet next to an A / V receiver.

Microsoft fixed this by reducing the Xbox One S by 40 percent. Sounds great, doesn't it? Nevertheless, the number is deceptive. The box is only a few centimeters narrower and about one centimeter shorter than the original. The power supply is now also internal.

The less-than-expected miniaturization means that the new Xbox is just catching up with the slim PlayStation 4. The Xbox One S is wider and a hair bigger, but not quite as deep.

The new Xbox isn't as small as the numbers suggest, but it is undeniably attractive. It's minimalist, uniform, and simple, with clean, sharp lines. The two-sided design of the original returns here – half of the Xbox One S is flat, while the other half is littered with exhaust ports.

In contrast to the original, the ventilated half uses a pit grille instead of diagonal slats. This is reminiscent of pixels and feels like home on a game console. A large cutout for the fan pointing upwards slightly affects the appearance from above, but is hardly noticeable due to its position in an A / V housing. Most people will only look at the Xbox One S from the front, and from that point of view, it's definitely the best looking console of this generation.

Fun and functional

The original Xbox One can be difficult to use due to its touch-sensitive power button. Other buttons, such as the controller sync button, were physically but unfavorably arranged.

The new Xbox isn't as small as the numbers suggest, but it is undeniably attractive.

Fortunately, the Xbox One S solves these problems. On the front are a physical power switch, a controller sync button and a disc eject button. All are easy to find and use, even in a dark media room. There's also a USB 3.0 port in advance – a little disappointing. However, the PlayStation 4 has two. Finally, the lower right corner hides the IR blaster, which allows you to control other IR devices through your Xbox One S by repeating the IR signal detected by those devices.

On the back of the Xbox One S there are two HDMI ports (one on, one off), two additional USB 3.0 ports (one for Kinect), S / PDIF and Ethernet.

Overall, with a notable exception, the connectivity is almost identical to the original. The Xbox One S deletes the dedicated Kinect port. You will need a USB adapter to connect an earlier Kinect to the new console. Aside from the hassle of having to purchase an adapter (Microsoft distributes it for free, at least if you contact Xbox support), this change means that Kinect users are effectively one less USB than before.

Xbox One S.Bill Roberson / Digital Trends

Bill Roberson / Digital Trends

Still, Xbox One offers more connectivity than PlayStation 4. Microsoft has selected Xbox One as a one-stop solution for everything from games to television. While it's questionable whether its mainstream features have prevailed, they remain something that the PlayStation 4 doesn't even try to emulate.

Once again, a console undercuts Blu-ray players

While previous Xbox One consoles were limited to 1080p video output for both games and videos, the Xbox One S offers support for 4K video and a 4K Blu-ray player that is not found in either PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 4 is professional to find.

Of course, 4K resolution support doesn't affect games. They are rendered with the same frame buffer as before. Unlike the original system, the Xbox One S can do native 4K output for the user interface and media. You can play 4K and HDR Blu-rays on the new UltraHD TV you bought, or you can download Netflix for 4K streaming.

HDR, short for "High Dynamic Range", works against it and improves the picture quality if your TV supports HDR. Still, strangely, HDR mixes with this console's 1080p target, as TVS with HDR usually also offer 4K resolution. In this case, the Xbox One X would make more sense.

Support for 4K remains largely unnoticed after switching on – and that's a good thing. You can set the Xbox One S to 4K and leave it there without having to worry about your source content. 4K movies look as detailed as you'd expect, but games rendered in the resolution they were originally designed for look just as good as on a 1080p display. Even Hyper Light Drifter's pixel art style looked pin sharp.

Xbox One S.Bill Roberson / Digital Trends

Bill Roberson / Digital Trends

This makes the Xbox One incredibly attractive to anyone with a 4K display. There are few standalone Ultra HD Blu-ray players, and the ones available are expensive. Ultra 4K Blu-ray players can be sold for the cheapest models for $ 200 to $ 249. This suddenly makes the Xbox One S, which is regularly available for $ 200, an economical purchase.

Oddly enough, a full-fledged console has managed to undercut dedicated home media players, but that has happened before. Some players may remember that the PlayStation 3, the first console with a Blu-ray player, undercut most dedicated players at the time of its release. The Xbox One S does the same trick and should draw the attention of every home theater enthusiast for this reason alone.

It is still an Xbox One

The Xbox One S is a new design, but not a completely new console. Apart from what is above, everything else remains the same.

That's a problem. The Xbox One sold poorly compared to the PlayStation 4 for a simple reason. Most games are played on both consoles, but Sony's is more powerful and the games look a little better. Sony also has some premium exclusive products that the Xbox will never see.

The Xbox One S does nothing to fix that. It is slightly faster due to higher clock speeds on the GPU and the associated ESRAM. This is enough to get a few extra frames in titles that run at an unlocked frame rate, and it can make up for the tearing in some games, but the difference isn't usually noticeable in gameplay. We only know everything thanks to the Digital Foundry from Eurogamer, one of the few publications that are equipped for frame-by-frame analysis of a console. Microsoft said nothing about improved in-game performance in its official Xbox One S press release.

Xbox One S.Dan Baker / Digital Trends

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

Microsoft has lost this generation of so-called "console wars". The Xbox One S hasn't changed a thing.

Our opinion

Most players are unlikely to find the Xbox One S more attractive than before. It remains less powerful than its Sony rival. Aside from the smaller footprint, which, as mentioned earlier, is less impressive than suggested when it was released, there is nothing on the Xbox One S that could draw an enthusiast's attention.

Although Xbox One S isn't the best game console today, it's a great home theater appliance. The Xbox One S has a 4K-enabled Blu-ray player – a feature not available on the PS4 or PS4 Pro – that alone may be worth the price of admission, provided you have a 4K TV.

Is there a better alternative?

The Xbox One S achieves parity with the standard PlayStation 4 in almost every respect. However, the omnipresence of this console among gamers can cause the PlayStation 4 versions of multiplatform games to get more attention from their developers.

How long it will take?

It depends on how often you want to update your console. The more powerful version of Microsoft's Xbox One, the "Xbox One X", is already available at relatively low prices. And the next generation will appear later this year with the release of the Xbox X series. While most games like Halo Infinite will stay compatible with the Xbox One S for at least a year, time is ticking for this generation.

Should you buy it

No. The Xbox One S is an aging console that doesn't make sense for most players with a new generation along the way.

This article was last updated on April 27, 2020 by Cody Perez, a Digital Trends employee.

Editor's recommendations




02 May
Blog

Xbox One X Review 2020: The Most Powerful Console Around

Xbox One X test controller in front

"The hideous Xbox One X is the best way to play console games."

  • Improves performance for all games

  • Xbox One X Enhanced games look and run great

  • 4K UHD Blu-Ray player

  • Sleek design

  • Very easy to use

  • 4K recording options are limited

  • The timeliness of the Xbox One Enhanced Patches is unclear

  • Performance improvements can be unpredictable in non-expanded games

When Microsoft introduced Xbox One X, an updated version of Xbox One at an intimidating price of $ 500, the company claimed the new hardware was "the most powerful console ever made". Years later, with the console in hand, we can confirm that the Xbox One X is delivering on that promise. Well, at least until the Xbox Series X comes out later this year. However, performance does not always lead to improvements. Both loyal Xbox fans and potential PS4 owners want to know if the new Xbox really improves new and old games.

Short answer? It does.

Every game we played, regardless of whether it received an "Xbox One X Enhanced" patch or not, has seen a noticeable increase in performance over Xbox One and Xbox One S. This happens regardless of your setup – although the gain is most noticeable if you have a 4K HDR10 TV.

Even though games look better and run better, the differences aren't so big that you can't live without them. Like its PlayStation counterpart, the PS4 Pro, it is aimed at players who simply cannot tolerate a second best experience. Still, the Xbox One X is the best console for most multi-platform games until the next generation.

In the black box

The Xbox One X is a further development of the Xbox One design. It is, as Microsoft has often said, 40 percent smaller than the original Xbox One. It's about the size of the Xbox One S, though a little denser at 8.4 pounds. However, don't be fooled by the number "40 percent smaller". The PlayStation 4 Pro from Sony is about the same size and the PS4 Slim is even smaller.

We prefer the matte black finish of the Xbox One X over the white Xbox One S, which tends to show more wear over time. We also prefer the placement of the fans. The sides of the device are covered with small, subtle air holes, unlike the One S, which had numerous large fan holes over half of its case. This should make it easier to stack Xbox One X with other devices without restricting airflow.

Xbox One X verification controller on the system
Xbox One X test complete
Xbox One X verification ports
Xbox One X test logo "aria-descriptionby =" gallery-3-1267965

  • 4th
    The Xbox One X is the most power-hungry console of this generation.

Les Shu / Digital trends

However, you won't buy the Xbox One X because it looks like this. As previously reported, the Xbox One X has the most impressive console hardware to date. It has an 8 core 2.3 GHz x86 CPU, a custom AMD GPU that can produce 6 teraflops, and 12 GB DDR5 RAM. Even compared to the PS4 Pro, that's a lot of graphics processing power. The Pro, which is far more powerful than the standard PS4, has a GPU that calculates 4.2 TFLOPS and “only” 8 GB RAM.

The only disappointing hardware in the Xbox One X is the terabyte hard drive. Twice the storage space of the standard Xbox One model is an improvement, but it's still not enough to find storage space for anyone who frequently buys games online. Even if you only download the Xbox Live Gold games that the publisher provides every month, most players will fill this hard drive in no time. Even worse, 4K assets and uncompressed audio files can increase the file size of games. We recently saw several games slightly exceed the 100 GB mark. So it's fair to say that some big games take up this space pretty quickly.

Still a solid home theater device

The One X maintains all connections of the Xbox One S and for players who prefer to buy games in the store, it has a 4K UHD Blu-Ray player. The console has HDMI input and output if you want to filter your TV service via Xbox and want to switch channels with Cortana instead of your remote control. This function works just like the One S – and we still prefer a remote control. You will also find three USB 3.0 ports – two in the back and one in the front – which can be useful if you want to use the console's recently added mouse and keyboard support or if you want to connect an external hard drive to store more games. Finally, there are IR-Out and S / PDIF connections for advanced surround sound setups and of course a good, old-fashioned Ethernet connection.

Every game runs at least a little bit better on an Xbox One X.

Many of the above features don't directly contribute to games, but can be useful for your home theater setup. We liked how the Xbox One S can simultaneously serve as a 4K UHD Blu-Ray player, game console and TV streaming box. The Xbox One X can do the same. 4K Blu-Ray and HDMI pass-through are features you won't find on any PS4.

The console also supports advanced surround sound options like Dolby Atmos. Atmos, which reflects sound from walls and ceilings to simulate the effect of sound movements, can be spectacular, but an Atmos surround sound system is extremely expensive. There are headphones, including gaming headsets, that simulate the experience, but they are rare.

Like the Xbox One S, the One X does not have a dedicated Kinect port. Players upgrading from an original Xbox One will still be able to use it, but you'll need to purchase a Kinect USB port. It's a small but noticeable inconvenience to upgrade Xbox One players. Microsoft has already stopped producing the Kinect, so the lack of a port is not surprising.

Xbox One improved, but some games more than others

What does all the power do to make your video games better?

The important things first; The games that show the most improvements are the ones where developers spend extra time and are optimized for the hardware. These games, which Microsoft calls Xbox One Enhanced, show the maximum potential of the console. First and foremost, this means that you are working with 4K resolution in the high dynamic range without affecting the frame rate of the game. All Xbox One Enhanced Games we played showed great visual fidelity improvements and a smoother frame rate. At a time when it feels like bugs and performance issues are pulling games down, it's good to see games run better than before.

Xbox One X checks bothLes Shu / Digital trends

Les Shu / Digital trends

Microsoft has announced over 100 current and upcoming games that have or will have Xbox One X Enhanced Patches. While we have a handy list of enhanced games that are already available, you can use Microsoft to filter your game list to display only your Xbox One X Enhanced games. It may not help you decide what to play, but it's a nice touch, especially for new owners who want to put the console through its paces.

While playing Gears of War 4, one of the few games that we had access to and that received an Xbox One Enhanced patch before launching the console, we found that the game looked much sharper on the One X, even in the Compared to Xbox One S 4K upscaling. We found that non-essential details in the area, including brick walls and trees, retained their sharpness even when we weren't around. The face of JD Fenix, which usually has tremendous detail in cutscenes and is viewed from close up, retained its definition in combat sequences where the game's camera was further away.

The new console's increased fidelity can change the way you experience games in unexpected ways.

Super Lucky’s Tale, an Xbox One console-exclusive adaptation of the 3D platform by Oculus Rift, which is launched next to the One X, does not offer a high level of detail, but simply runs sharply with an incredibly high and uniform frame rate. It runs the way all games should run with no problems, stuttering or quirks. To be fair, it simply means that the game is well done. It's not like there have been significant issues with other Xbox One models – rather, the One X maximizes the game's colorful cartoon aesthetic.

The new console's increased fidelity can change the way you experience games in unexpected ways. In a section of Gears 4, we looked up at the moonlit sky and found that not only was the moon brighter and more detailed than on the Xbox One S, but we could also see streaks of light and energy around it. The Gears of War franchise takes place on a fictional, earth-like planet called Sera. When we first played the game, we ignored this fact – but with the increased fidelity of the Xbox One X, the game felt more like a fully realized world.

X will give it to you

Every game runs at least a little bit better on an Xbox One X. Even games that weren't optimized for Xbox One X and ran on a non-UHD monitor at 1080p ran a little better on the One X than on the One S. I think that's obvious, but it's anything but Of course. Even with the general "boost" mode added months after launch, the PS4 Pro's benefit is largely limited to platform-optimized games, and these benefits are often most noticeable only on a 4K screen. The Xbox One X does what most players expect from a more powerful device. This power is automatically used to make games run better.

Xbox One X Review Controller HandLes Shu / Digital trends

Les Shu / Digital trends

However, there is a catch. The way a game's performance improves, especially when playing on a 1080p television, varies from title to title. For example, DOOM showed slightly improved graphics and almost imperceptibly shorter loading times. But even on a monitor without HDR, the colors and lighting in Destiny 2 became brighter and the details on my ship were more clearly highlighted. Destiny 2 also showed a smoother frame rate on a 4K TV compared to the Xbox One S 4K upscaled graphics. Most games we tried showed one or two of the following – sharper graphics, improved frame rate, or slightly improved Loading time.

Would you rather buy the console with the best games or the console that great games can do their best with?

Simplicity is both a blessing and a curse. If you have a 4K HDR10 TV with a refresh rate of 60 Hz, the console automatically detects and adjusts your settings. At the system level, however, there are no options to customize or optimize how the console uses its additional performance. Especially for non-4K players, the option to choose between improving fidelity, smoothing a frame rate or minimizing loading times would be an advantage.

Since the PS4 Pro launched in 2016, some games have added additional options like this. None of the over 10 games we played on the console showed such options, although not all of them had received "Xbox One X Enhanced" patches that would likely add these features.

4K video recordings are possible and not easy to share

With Xbox One X, you can not only play games, but also take screenshots and record 30-second video clips in 4K. Although it's a nice touch, the functionality feels extremely limited. Video clips recorded in 4K will appear at a lower resolution when you publish them to Xbox Live. You can set your screenshots and videos to be recorded directly on an external hard drive. However, the hard drive must be NTFS formatted. This means that you cannot save your clips and videos on the same external hard drive that you would save additional Xbox One games on.

In other words, recording gameplay in 4K is primarily a feature for tech-savvy owners who are willing to take the extra steps required to bring their high-definition gameplay online.

Our opinion

Xbox One X is the best console for playing popular multi-platform games. Though the $ 500 price tag is hard to accept, the hardware is impressive enough to feel like it is money well spent, and it's regularly on sale for much, much less than that today, as the Xbox Series X is coming soon.

However, when we look at the players who are most likely to buy it – players who already have a game console – it becomes more difficult to sell. There are no exclusive Xbox One X games, and the console's greatest strength is an expensive peripheral: a 4K TV.

While we can absolutely recommend the Xbox One X at the hardware level over the $ 400 PS4 Pro, the PlayStation 4 platform offers a much larger number of exclusive games, including some of our favorite games of the year. In contrast, Microsoft software release from first-party vendors appears to have decreased in recent years.

Ultimately, the Xbox One X offers an interesting fold for serious gamers. Would you rather buy the console with the best games or the console that great games can do their best with? It's a decision console players have never had to make.

Is there a better alternative?

Not right now because we're still waiting for Xbox Series X and PS5 to be released. If all things are the same, Xbox One X offers the best technical experience of all game consoles. If you're ready to invest in a high-end gaming PC, this has its advantages, but it's also more complicated.

How long it will take?

The original Xbox One remains relevant even after the Xbox One X is introduced. The Xbox Series X will be released later this year. Fortunately, almost all games are expected to be compatible with the Xbox Series X at least in the first year the new generation comes out. However, it is getting faster and faster when the Xbox One X is not worth it, how backwards compatible the upcoming consoles are.

Should you buy it

Yes, if you don't have a console in this generation. The Xbox One X is regularly on sale. The price is easily justified by incredible performance, a wide range of functions and a huge library. However, the Xbox Series X will be available later this year and will be compatible with most if not all Xbox One games. So better wait for it or for the PS5.

This article was last updated on April 27, 2020 by Cody Perez, a Digital Trends employee.

Editor's recommendations




01 Mar
Blog

Xbox Elite Controller Series 2 Review: The Best Game Controller

Xbox Elite Controller Series 2 Review Microsoft 3

Xbox One Elite Controller Series 2

"The Xbox Elite Controller Series 2 is the best game controller we have ever used."

  • Huge buttons and triggers

  • Excellent control pad

  • Fully customizable rear paddle

  • Adjustable analog sticks

  • Very solid build

  • Case has lots of bells and whistles

Microsoft's standard Xbox One controller lacks the fancy DualShock 4 touch bar on the PS4 or the "HD Rumble" of the Nintendo Switch Joy-Con, but its reliability and design make it undoubtedly great. There is very little to improve – either by correcting features or adding new ones – but Microsoft has found a way with the Xbox Elite Controller Series 2.

With a price tag that matches the impressive design and build quality, it costs the equivalent of three Xbox One games at full price. Even so, it's easy to see why within a few minutes of using it. This is the best video game controller ever made and a simple recommendation for competitive gamers.

What is the same?

The Series 2 Xbox Elite Controller is based on the regular Xbox One controller, so the placement of buttons and sticks feels familiar. Both shoulder buttons and the triggers feel almost identical to the standard Xbox One controller in terms of driving distance and pressure required.

The connectors on the base of the controller reflect the normal model with a 3.5mm jack and the proprietary connector that came with the controllers of the 2013 console. Accessories provided for the standard controller should fit without any problems, unless they need to be wrapped around the back.

This is the best video game controller ever made.

Although the charging port is still next to the sync button, it's USB-C instead of micro-USB, so cable compatibility may be an issue.

Classic Xbox design

Lisa Marie Segarra / Digital Trends

The look can be deceptive, and although the Xbox Elite Controller Series 2 looks like a standard Xbox One controller at first inspection and feels like a standard Xbox One controller, it offers a lot of bells and whistles that you won't find in the standard design.

The players will immediately notice that the directional pad is circular, which is strange. Fortunately, it is removable and can be replaced with a traditional cross-style directional pad. After toggling, it becomes the best d-pad I've ever used, with a firm tactile click that doesn't require excessive force. This design will be used for the upcoming Xbox Series X console, so it will be more common by the end of 2020.

Similar to third-party offerings like the Scuf Vantage, the Xbox Elite Controller Series 2 has removable analog sticks that are held in place by magnets. They can be easily removed and replaced with the alternatives contained in the carrying case. Players who prefer a convex design can switch easily, as can those who want a shorter or larger racket.

However, the adjustable voltage regulator below is more impressive than the options offered. With an included key, players can move their sticks looser or tighter, depending on their preferences. I found it a bit loose by default, but it took less than a minute to repair and didn't require disassembly other than popping the stick out.

The tension of the triggers themselves cannot be adjusted as with the Scuf Vantage, but they do have a three-stage hair release system. By default, they move roughly to the standard controller, but flipping the switch can reduce that by more than half. For first person shooters, a short travel distance can increase the competitiveness of players and it is possible to leave them in different settings.

New features and customization

Lisa Marie Segarra / Digital Trends

The Series 2 corresponds to the first Elite Controller design from Microsoft and has four removable paddles on the back. By default, they are programmed on each of the four face buttons so you can keep your thumbs on the analog sticks while performing other functions. With the Xbox Accessories app on Xbox One or PC, these can be reprogrammed for other functions, including pressing a button on the analog sticks.

Multiple profiles for specific games or multiple users can be saved. If you hold down the special profile button on the front of the controller, the paddles are completely deactivated. This came in handy when playing hectic games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, so I didn't have to worry about accidentally swapping a weapon by pounding a paddle. Removing the paddles is a breeze as they are also magnetically connected. If a guest is against it, the removal takes only a few seconds.

The paddles can be completely reprogrammed.

Since the paddles work by pressing a smaller hidden button underneath, they leave a small hole when removed, which is hardly noticeable. No wires are visible inside, and dust or crumbs are unlikely to accumulate if left out permanently. Spending almost $ 200 on a failed controller and removing its biggest feature may seem silly, but the customization is valued above all.

The tote bag is great

Lisa Marie Segarra / Digital Trends

A carrying case is usually no longer considered once the controller has been removed, but Microsoft has chosen the Xbox Elite Controller Series 2. The bag has magnetic slots for all the accessories included. Aside from being easy to store, it improves the transportation of the controller without worrying about one of the small parts rolling around or falling out when the case is opened.

The housing has slots for all the accessories supplied.

It also has an integrated charging station and a hidden cable connection, so you don't have to remove the controller to charge it. It's not a necessity, but it does add a bit of flair to justify the cost.

Our opinion

Yes, it's expensive, but the Xbox Elite Controller Series 2 is a phenomenal controller. You will find it difficult to use something else after spending a few hours playing it, and it was difficult for us to find bugs.

Is there a better alternative?

Provided that the price does not matter, there is no better alternative.

How long it will take?

The battery can last up to 40 hours when fully charged. The controller is designed to withstand abuse and is much harder than the standard Xbox One controller.

Should you buy it

Yes, unless you are a very occasional player who doesn't need the frills or doesn't care. It is the best video game controller I have ever used.

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