Microsoft has revealed the name of the next Xbox. Previously known as Xbox Scarlett, the new console is called the Xbox Series X. According to the company, the Xbox Series X is designed to be Microsoft’s “fastest, most powerful console ever.” You can see an image of the console above, as revealed during 2019 Game Awards. For those wondering, while the console was first unveiled in an upright position, the Xbox Series X will support “both vertical and horizontal orientation.”
The Xbox Series X will also be compatible with “thousands of your favorite games across four generations of gaming, all your Xbox One gaming accessories, and industry-leading services like Xbox Game Pass.” Additionally, Microsoft is ensuring that first-party titles from Xbox Game Studios “support cross-generation entitlements and that your Achievements and game saves are shared across devices.”
The console will come with a new Xbox Wireless Controller, which looks very much like the Xbox One peripheral but with a few tweeks, including “a new Share button to make capturing screenshots and game clips simple and an advanced d-pad derived from the Xbox Elite Series 2 Wireless Controller.” The controller will also be compatible with Xbox One and PC!
The first reports of the Xbox Series X suggested that it was one of two next-gen consoles that Microsoft is working on. The other is reportedly called Lockhart and is supposedly being positioned as a budget next-gen console that won’t feature a disc drive (similar to the Xbox One S: All Digital Edition). That leaves the Series X as the premium powerhouse of Xbox’s next-gen plans.
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While Microsoft hasn’t confirmed all of the Xbox Series X’s specs, we know that the console feature a new enhancements that should improve the gaming experience, such as the addition of an SSD to eliminate load times. It’s a safe bet that the Xbox Series X will also utilize Microsoft’s xCloud service so that you can take your games anywhere.
Bethesda’s Todd Howard spoke briefly about what he’s seen of Xbox Series X and PS5, and he noted that neither company has “screwed up” its next-gen plans as of this time. Considering that Microsoft infamously botched the Xbox One debut with its controversial policies, Xbox fans should be glad to hear that the company isn’t making the same mistakes this time around.
Here’s everything else we know about Xbox Series X:
Xbox Series X Trailer
You can watch the Xbox Series X reveal trailer below:
Xbox Series X Release Date
Microsoft confirmed that Xbox Series X is set to release sometime during the Holiday 2020 season.
Xbox Series X Specs
At E3 2019, Microsoft confirmed that the Xbox Series X will have an SSD and will feature a Zen 2 processor from AMD. The company has also revealed that the console will be able to reach “up to 120FPS, including support for Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), and 8K capability.”
Rumors suggest suggest that the Xbox Series X will boast 12 GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD hard drive, and an 8-core CPU. Looking at the specs of the Xbox One X, the most powerful console in the world at the moment, we’d say that most of those stats make sense, but it’s likely that Microsoft will aim for 16GB of RAM if it’s cost-efficient.
You can learn more about its capabilities in this E3 2019 trailer:
Xbox Series X Price
There’s no official word on the Xbox Series X’s price, but there are some indications of what price range it may fall into. If Microsoft really does release a budget, disc-free, next-gen Xbox (aka Lockhart), then that will probably retail for about $300-$350 depending on its hardware. Xbox Series X, meanwhile, will likely retail for about $400-$450 and will be marketed as a premium device similar to how Microsoft approached the Xbox One X.
The general idea with Series X vs. its rumored budget alternative is that Microsoft will likely use the budget option to heavily push Game Pass and xCloud in order to get people on-board with what seems to be the future of the company’s games branch and perhaps the future of gaming itself.
Xbox Series X Games
Microsoft has confirmed that the Xbox Series X will launch with Halo: Infinite and Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II. We’ll make sure to bring you more news on launch games as we learn it!
Matthew Byrd is a staff writer for Den of Geek. He spends most of his days trying to pitch deep-dive analytical pieces about Killer Klowns From Outer Space to an increasingly perturbed series of editors. You can read more of his work here or find him on Twitter at @SilverTuna014.
John Saavedra is Games Editor at Den of Geek. Read more of his work here. Follow him on Twitter @johnsjr9.
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