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For the fourth time, Microsoft will launch a new generation of Xbox consoles in the coming weeks. What a time to be alive.
And this time it’s special: for the first time, Microsoft launches two consoles together, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. And it is doing so amid the greatest expansion of Xbox, a platform that now includes subscriptions for Xbox Game Pass, the cloud game streaming service on mobile devices, games and the industry’s largest family of in-house game studios. All of those additions mean that Microsoft’s consoles are no longer alone, and the combination of subscription and cloud services suggests a very different future for Xbox.
We’ll see. Today, Xbox Series X | Yes, the awkward way we should refer to this generation of unnamed consoles is still very important. They are arguably the most important parts of Microsoft’s recently expansive gaming strategy. They are certainly for me.
I’ve been aboard every generation of Xbox, but it’s a funny fact that the original Xbox console didn’t completely beat me at first due to my focus on first-person shooter games; At the time, such games required a PC due to its precise mouse and keyboard controls. But games like Halo: Combat Evolved It showed me that shooters can work well on a console, and I made the switch with the release of Xbox 360 and Call of Duty 2 and I haven’t looked back since. I have owned all Xbox One consoles (the original, Xbox One S and Xbox One X) and will review both Xbox Series X consoles | S in the next few weeks.
Each of these generations of consoles made and will bring changes. As originally shipped, the Xbox 360 only supported 720p and 1080i resolutions, but Microsoft later added 1080p support through a software update. Xbox One progressed through time and new console releases via 1080p, 1440p, 4K / UHD, and HDR. And with Xbox Series X | Yes, we get more formal support for what I’ll call 4K / 60fps (X Series) and 1440p / 60fps (S Series) games, not to mention support for Dolby Vision HDR, Dolby Atmos, variable refresh rates, and more.
These changes may require some updates beyond the simple purchase of a new console.
In my case, those updates include a new screen, which I have already purchased, and a new sound system, which I am currently researching. The display I chose, a kind of compromise of capabilities and cost, is the BenQ EL2870U 28-inch gaming display, which I bought from Amazon for $ 300. It hits most, but not all, of the improvements that come in the Xbox Series. X in particular, with support for 4K / UHD (3840 x 2160 resolution), HDR10 and AMD FreeSync, with a 60Hz refresh rate.
This purchase has been literally eye-opening. My previous display was an older 32-inch HP 1440p display, and the higher resolutions and pop HDR the new display provides is like having a new pair of eyes. It reminds me of the first time I saw HD content in the past. Or, of course, 4K / UHD content more recently. But better. Better. I played Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, and they both look decidedly better than the previous screen, with more detail, contrast, and HDR pop. I also tried the Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War open beta and I’m feeling good about the next few months. I can’t wait to compare the Xbox One X to the Xbox Series S and Series X, respectively.
The BenQ display has built-in speakers, but they are terrible. I’m not a fan of headphones, although I do recognize the advantages of gaming. So I’m trying to find a speaker setup that makes sense. I can reuse the Edifier speakers that I am currently using with my PC. We’ll see.
Still, I’m not sure when the review units will arrive, which is frustrating. But if I were to buy a new Xbox, I would change my mind thanks to the Xbox All Access program, which allows you to pay for either console for two years, while getting an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, with its gaming capabilities at Cloud. -for the duration. An Xbox Series S costs $ 24.99 per month for two years through Xbox All Access, but an Xbox Series X costs only $ 10 more, or $ 34.99 per month, making it an obvious and more future-proof purchase. .
The problem for now, of course, is finding one. Microsoft really screwed up Xbox Series X pre-orders | Yes, leaving many fans, including me, in the cold. The company says it will have more consoles for sale when they launch on November 10, less than a month from now. But anyone who wants to put one of the new consoles under a Christmas tree this holiday season will be sweating at the possibility that it won’t happen. Hopefully it won’t be a total disaster.
Anyway, that’s where I am. If you are interested in Xbox Series X | Yes, let me know what you expect from the upcoming reviews or other articles. I have ideas, of course, but this is a huge wave of products and I want to make sure I give it the attention it deserves. I can not wait.
