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Microsoft has shared an Xbox Series X / S video tutorial, which could easily serve as a quick start guide for anyone who purchases one of these next-gen consoles on or after launch, at 10th Nov. Video is hosted by Xbox Community PM, Malik Prince, joined by Xbox Senior Program Manager Harrison Hoffman. This video shows the Xbox Series X in action, but most of the features shown would apply equally to the Series S.
The video doesn’t waste long before Hoffman turns on the Xbox Series X console. It starts up really fast and takes the opportunity to head straight to Quick Resume a game he was playing before. This will surely be a very common modus operandi for the buyer once everything is set up and they get used to the console.
It only takes a few moments before Hoffman returns to his 40K 60fps Gears 5 session. Also, confirms that Gears 5 on Xbox Series X features the same textures as on PC (Ultra settings). To take on human competitors, he says that Gears 5 runs at 120fps in multiplayer.
Users can interrupt the game at any time with the Xbox button to open the guide overlay menu (pictured above), and this is what Hoffman does next. In the menu, you can see icons and tabs for many console features, such as games, including a recent section, friends, chats, trophies, capture and share options, and more.
Gears 5 isn’t the only title Hoffman has been enjoying on the new Xbox Series X, he usually has 4 or 5 games on the go at the same time, he says. Now with Quick Resume you quickly switch between other new titles like Dirt 5 and older games like Subnautica. This underwater adventure experience is enhanced on the new consoles thanks to the Auto-HDR function. Auto-HDR enhances older Xbox One, Xbox 360, or even older Xbox titles, with improved color depth. Subnautica shows it in operation here, and it looks good. Thousands of four-generation games are backward compatible, and many can also take advantage of this enhanced color feature.
Next under the spotlight is the new controller, with its improved ergonomics, hybrid D-Pad, and quick share center button. Hoffman goes on to use the controller to play games remotely on his mobile phone. The new Xbox application allows this and this same application is used to configure and link your console from the moment you receive it. Another nice feature of the app is finding new games and installing them while you’re away, ready for when you get home (depending on internet speed).
Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass subscriptions are seamlessly integrated into the console’s user interface. The 10th Launching in November, EA Play’s game catalog and demos will be added to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
We’ve seen the benefit of fast advanced storage on loading and resuming games before, but Hoffman talked a bit more about this aspect of the new consoles. I noticed that Hoffman had 19 games installed, including 9 or 10 new AAA titles, a variety of older games, and a few casual games, but he still had 30% storage left (250GB). Here is the Seagate 1TB expansion card in action – it promises the same fast loads and fast resume that’s available on the integrated storage device. By plugging in this compact Seagate card, the game library was updated almost instantly. It was noted that older generation games will probably be happy enough on a pluggable USB 3 storage device, but it will be up to the end user.
It’s only fifteen days before Microsoft Xbox Series X / S consoles are available. Microsoft sells these consoles directly and through monthly subscriptions.
If you’re interested in Xbox Series X / S and PS5 design comparisons, The Verge just posted some great photos of them sitting next to each other from various angles. Below is a sample.
