Xbox Series X/S rumours, info and Leaks

https://www.google.com/amp/s/kotaku.com/the-next-gen-xbox-is-called-xbox-series-x-1840401954/amp

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It looks like a computer tower, and series x will not be confusing for anyone at all with the one x

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not confusing at all. they have got to get a better naming dept

Probably because it is a tower. Just hope i can lay it on its side so i can fit it in my cabinet.

Which Potato from GRG named that? WTF?

XBox X is out now. XBox Series X is next gen…

gordon ramsay cooking GIF by Hell's Kitchen

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From what I’ve read you can lay it on its side no problem so you should be good

They asked I delivered, I name the best names

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I will probably wait on getting that one

I am assuming they will be calling it the X series so they can keep updating it. Not a fabulous name but I care more about what is in the box more than whatever they call it Makes sense to make it a tower. Making it a Series allows different price points. HOW Very PC of them

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Lol ya it’s very PC like for sure, I’m hoping for this to be awesome but we will see

Why The Name Xbox Series X And Vertical Design

You probably have questions about the name itself: Xbox Series X. It’s not the flashiest or boldest name, but it’s indicative of where Microsoft is going with its Xbox ecosystem. Phil Spencer explained the naming convention and philosophy in more detail.

You may also be wondering why the Xbox Series X deviates quite a bit from the Xbox One in terms of physical design. To be clear, it can be laid down horizontally and function properly even though it’s presented as a PC tower-style design.

What We Know About Performance And Specs

Considering how powerful the Xbox One X was (and still is), the Series X would have to go the extra mile to truly set itself apart. And by all accounts, the new console sounds like it’ll be powerful enough to do that. According to Spencer, the GPU will be eight times faster than the base Xbox One and twice as fast as the Xbox One X. The CPU is said to be about four times more capable than previous consoles; however, it’s unclear which model that comparison is being made with.

We also have a few details about the cooling system that’ll keep these powerful components running. The Series X will operate on a single fan with additional heatsinks, and Spencer touts that it’ll be as quiet as the Xbox One X.

But What Will Games Actually Look Like?

Alongside the Series X reveal was the first look at a brand-new game from Ninja Theory. It’s a sequel to Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice called Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, and it’ll be the first game from the studio since the Xbox Game Studios acquisition.

Judging from the teaser we saw, we’re convinced that Series X will make the generational jump quite clear from a graphical standpoint. Halo: Infinite is still set to be a launch title, though we still haven’t seen the game running explicitly on the Series X.

The New Controller

The Xbox One controller is arguably one of the best gamepads available. However, the Series X controller will feature some slight changes and additions. It’s a bit smaller overall and slightly reshaped (though not by much). It’ll feature a share button and a modular hybrid d-pad, and will still have like rumble triggers and haptic feedback. Additionally, the Series X controller can be used on the Xbox One, and Xbox One controllers can be used on the Series X.

The Xbox controller has been a gold standard in gamepads for quite some time, so you really shouldn’t expect Microsoft to reinvent the wheel for its next-generation Project Scarlett console, now officially known as the Xbox Series X. A redesign isn’t necessary, but some slight tweaks and additions certainly seem to be welcome additions to the upcoming Xbox controller that’ll come with the new console. We spoke to Xbox boss Phil Spencer about many things Xbox Series X related, including a few details about what’s changed for the new Xbox Series X controller.

“We think we have a good controller in the market today, so we didn’t really feel like we needed to go back to square one to build [a new controller]. But there were certain things that we’ve learned through doing the Elite controller and just listening to fans,” Spencer said. “One of them is on the d-pad. We have a new hybrid d-pad that we’ve been working and think is important.”

Another sensible addition is one that improves a system-level function, which competitors Sony and Nintendo have already done: a share button. Spencer understands that it’s an important feature, saying, “We’re not the first ones to do a share button, so we’re not going to say that we invented that, but we’ve heard feedback that sharing is such a part of a gaming experience now for many of our players. I wanted a dedicated button to share, so you’ll see that.”

The Xbox Series X controller

The Xbox Series X controller

It doesn’t seem like Microsoft is trimming anything either, as Spencer confirmed that rumble triggers and haptic feedback are still in the controllers. And in keeping with the Series X’s apparent unification of all things Xbox, the new controller is backwards compatible as well. This means you can use it on the Xbox One (it’ll also be PC-compatible). Likewise, you can use existing Xbox One controllers, including both iterations of the Elite, on the Series X.

You don’t need to fix what isn’t broken, but you can add some new bells and whistles, which seems to be the case for the new Xbox controller.

How Cloud Gaming Fits In

Phil Spencer has made it very clear the Project xCloud isn’t here to replace local hardware and consoles. Rather, xCloud is built to be complementary to the Xbox ecosystem. The focus has been to make Xbox games accessible across different devices, and Microsoft has given its developer access to the multiple platforms to make sure all games run properly.

Pre-Orders And Release Date

Even if you’re already sold on the Xbox Series X, you’ll still have to wait to pre-order. Phil Spencer said that Microsoft would rather wait for folks to see all of what they’d be getting into before making a decision. Though we didn’t get any new information on a specific release date, this is your reminder that the Xbox Series X will launch in Holiday 2020.

Microsoft’s next-generation gaming console, formerly known as Project Scarlett, has been officially unveiled: the Xbox Series X. Since Scarlett was first confirmed, there have been numerous questions: What does it look like? What do the new games look like? How powerful is it going to be? We finally have the answers to those questions, and in talking with Xbox boss Phil Spencer, we got more insight into the power behind the Series X console.

With the launch of the Xbox Series X, it’s no surprise Microsoft has graphical capability on the mind. Spencer told us, “We wanted to have a dramatic upgrade from the Xbox One base console. So when we do the math, we’re over eight times the GPU power of the Xbox One, and two times what an Xbox One X is.”

And when we do the math too, the Series X seems to be hitting around 12 teraFLOPs (the general metric used as shorthand to indicate graphics processing power). It’s worth keeping in mind that hardware manufacturer AMD is leading the charge on the console’s GPU/CPU, and the Series X will be capable of ray tracing for more realistic lighting, reflections, and shadows. Microsoft also has its eyes set on the future beyond launch day as it’s accounting for 8K resolution down the line and 120Hz refresh rate.

It’s not all about GPU power alone–as expected, the Series X beefs up the CPU. Spencer explained, “On the CPU side, which is [something] we really wanted to push relative to previous generations, we have four times the compute power on the CPU in Project Scarlett.” Admittedly, not much was given in terms of specifics, but whether or not the reference point is Xbox One’s eight-core 1.75GHz CPU or One X’s eight-core 2.3GHz CPU, Series X looks to be a significant upgrade.

Harnessing increased power isn’t just about raw numbers; the architecture needs to be built to take full advantage of it. As Spencer continued, “I/O [input/output] is always an issue. How do we move both memory and bits around? So, we have a 40-times improvement in the I/O speed, [increased] bandwidth for us moving things around on the console [compared to] the past generation. And we’ve upgraded to GDDR6 memory inside of the box to ensure that the memory itself is able to keep up with the CPU, GPU, and the bandwidth requirements.”

It doesn’t end there, however. The Xbox Series X will utilize ultra-fast storage tech that’s been commonplace for high-end PCs in recent years. “We’ve invested in NVMe solid-state drives and we’re also giving developers a lot of new capabilities, and on top of that, try to virtually eliminate load times,” Spencer said.

While Microsoft has still not divulged the exact specs of the Xbox Series X, its general assertions point towards a distinct jump that truly sounds next-gen worthy. We did get a taste of what’s to come when we caught a glimpse of the Hellblade 2 trailer from Ninja Theory, which is a stunning visual showcase unlike anything previous consoles have done.

Graphical power isn’t the only thing Microsoft aims for, but it’s definitely something it cares about, which is apparent when Spencer stated, “Our goal has always been to build the most powerful console we can, and I think we’re there. We like leading in power and performance and I feel like we’re going to be there again.”

I am interested.
Waiting to hear more before I decide whether to buy PS or Xbox next-gen (if I buy both again it would be with a delay between).

For the Xbox Series X I hear there is a single fan which is at the top (when it is stood upright), plus the disc slot is horizontal at that point - so you might end up preferring to keep it standing.
Honestly I usually pick whichever orientation seems more stable, hate for it to fall over whilst running.

I’m for whatever they can do for cooling. CoD MW makes my X’s fan scream.

The Xbox Series X is Actually Called “Xbox” According to Microsoft

Microsoft’s next-gen console, the Xbox Series X was unveiled to the world last week at The Game Awards, and the name seemed to cause a bit of confusion amongst Xbox fans. Now Microsoft has clarified that the Series X is actually just a version of the Xbox and not the name of the new generation.

A Microsoft representative spoke to Business Insider, “The name we’re carrying forward to the next generation is simply Xbox, and at The Game Awards you saw that name come to life through the Xbox Series X.” Microsoft also confirmed that leaving the naming style open like this allows for different names for different iterations of the new Xbox console much like the Xbox One X and the Xbox One S, “Similar to what fans have seen with previous generations, the name ‘Xbox Series X’ allows room for additional consoles in the future.”

At the moment, we have several consoles under the Xbox One naming system, the first Xbox One, the powerful Xbox One X and the less powerful variants the Xbox One S and the Xbox One S All Digital.

This naming convention allows Microsoft the room to again create variants of consoles with this new generation. We could get an Xbox Series S much like how we did with the Xbox One S. There have been reports that Microsoft’s Lockhart is, in fact, a second less-powerful Xbox console that will be all-digital, although none of this is yet to be confirmed.

So, we have a new Xbox that’s not an original Xbox, but a next-generation Xbox — the most powerful Xbox. We could have another Xbox to go along with the new Xbox, much like the Xbox One family where we had many Xboxes including an Xbox One and another Xbox called the Xbox One X which was the sibling to another Xbox called the Xbox One S which had another brother called the Xbox One S All Digital. Xbox. Xbox. Xbox. Xbox. Xbox.

Microsoft has published a news post on the Xbox Wire providing some additional details on the next-generation of Xbox called Xbox Series X.

The company revealed first details on the console back during The Game Awards, including giving fans a look at the actual console.

In the Xbox Wire post, the company has revealed that Xbox Series X will support ray-tracing, cross buy of games with current generation of consoles, and more.

A superior balance of power and speed

Compared to the previous generation, Xbox Series X represents a superior balance of power and speed in console design, advancing on all technological fronts to delivering amazing, dynamic, living worlds and minimize any aspects that can take you out of the experience. Our job at Team Xbox is to give teams the tools they need to achieve their ambitions and tap into the console’s power with efficiency, a few of which we’re detailing today. Raw power is just part of the story:

  • Next Generation Custom Processor: Xbox Series X is our most powerful console ever powered by our custom designed processor leveraging AMD’s latest Zen 2 and RDNA 2 architectures. Delivering four times the processing power of an Xbox One and enabling developers to leverage 12 TFLOPS of GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) performance – twice that of an Xbox One X and more than eight times the original Xbox One. Xbox Series X delivers a true generational leap in processing and graphics power with cutting edge techniques resulting in higher framerates, larger, more sophisticated game worlds, and an immersive experience unlike anything seen in console gaming.
  • Variable Rate Shading (VRS): Our patented form of VRS empowers developers to more efficiently utilize the full power of the Xbox Series X. Rather than spending GPU cycles uniformly to every single pixel on the screen, they can prioritize individual effects on specific game characters or important environmental objects. This technique results in more stable frame rates and higher resolution, with no impact on the final image quality.
  • Hardware-accelerated DirectX Raytracing: You can expect more dynamic and realistic environments powered by hardware-accelerated DirectX Raytracing – a first for console gaming. This means true-to-life lighting, accurate reflections and realistic acoustics in real time as you explore the game world.

Immersion in an instant

The next console generation will be defined by more playing and less waiting. And when play begins, we know many gamers demand ultra-low latency to be as immersed and precise as possible. To this end, the team analyzed every step between player and game, from controller to console to display, and asked how we could make it faster.

  • SSD Storage: With our next-generation SSD, nearly every aspect of playing games is improved. Game worlds are larger, more dynamic and load in a flash and fast travel is just that – fast.
  • Quick Resume: The new Quick Resume feature lets you continue multiple games from a suspended state almost instantly, returning you to where you were and what you were doing, without waiting through long loading screens.
  • Dynamic Latency Input (DLI): We’re optimizing latency in the player-to-console pipeline starting with our Xbox Wireless Controller, which leverages our high bandwidth, proprietary wireless communication protocol when connected to the console. With Dynamic Latency Input (DLI), a new feature which synchronizes input immediately with what is displayed, controls are even more precise and responsive.
  • HDMI 2.1 Innovation: We’ve partnered with the HDMI forum and TV manufacturers to enable the best gaming experience through features such as Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR). ALLM allows Xbox One and Xbox Series X to automatically set the connected display to its lowest latency mode. VRR synchronizes the display’s refresh rate to the game’s frame rate, maintaining smooth visuals without tearing. Ensuring minimal lag and the most responsive gaming experience.
  • 120 fps Support: With support for up to 120 fps, Xbox Series X allows developers to exceed standard 60 fps output in favor of heightened realism or fast-paced action.

The next generation of game compatibility

The benefits of the next console generation extend in every direction, bringing greater visual fidelity and improved loading speeds to your existing gaming legacy, in addition to new games. We’re continuing our commitment to compatibility with Xbox Series X and investing in technology that makes game ownership easier across generations.

  • Four generations of gaming : Our commitment to compatibility means existing Xbox One games, including backward-compatible Xbox 360 and original Xbox games, look and play better than ever before. Your favorite games, including titles in Xbox Game Pass, benefit from steadier framerates, faster load times and improved resolution and visual fidelity – all with no developer work required. Your Xbox One gaming accessories also come forward with you.
  • Smart Delivery: This technology empowers you to buy a game once and know that – whether you are playing it on Xbox One or Xbox Series X – you are getting the right version of that game on whatever Xbox you’re playing on. We’re making the commitment to use Smart Delivery on all our exclusive Xbox Game Studios titles, including Halo Infinite , ensuring you only have to purchase a title once in order to play the best available version for whichever Xbox console they choose to play on. This technology is available for all developers and publishers, and they can choose to use it for titles that will be release on Xbox One first and come to the Xbox Series X later.
  • Xbox Game Pass: In addition to games from across four generations of consoles, our leading game subscription service, Xbox Game Pass, will continue to have our first party games, like Halo Infinite , included at their launch. We look forward to millions of you experiencing the Xbox Game Pass portfolio and immersing yourselves in a deep library of high-quality games, playing those you love now and also discovering your next great adventure.

A generation with players at the center

Xbox Series X is our fastest, most powerful console ever, designed for a console generation that has you at its center. This means a high-fidelity gaming experience enclosed in a quiet and bold design, with the ability to discover thousands of games across four generations, all with more playing and less waiting.

Whether it’s empowering amazing creators at our 15 Xbox Game Studios, fueling game discovery with Xbox Game Pass, or expanding what and where you can play with Project xCloud, Team Xbox stands for frictionless pathways between players and the best experiences our remarkable art form has to offer. Xbox Series X represents that same commitment for players who want immediate immersion in games that also look and feel better than ever.

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Just in case you have not seen the update to the upcoming Xbox Series X, here is the stuff accounted today.


Smart Delivery: This technology empowers you to buy a game once and know that – whether you are playing it on Xbox One or Xbox Series X – you are getting the right version of that game on whatever Xbox you’re playing on. We’re making the commitment to use Smart Delivery on all our exclusive Xbox Game Studios titles, including Halo Infinite , ensuring you only have to purchase a title once in order to play the best available version for whichever Xbox console they choose to play on. This technology is available for all developers and publishers, and they can choose to use it for titles that will be release on Xbox One first and come to the Xbox Series X later.

shut up and take my money GIF

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Xbox Series X quick resume will even work after a console reboot, says Major Nelson

This Monday, Phil Spencer casually threw out some impressive Xbox Series X specs including a powerful 12 TFLOPS GPU. Also in the list was a Quick Resume feature, allowing players to hop between multiple paused games without having to quit any of them. Larry Hryb (Major Nelson) has hinted that the Quick Resume feature is even more powerful than Spencer described, with paused game states surviving a system reboot.

T3 spotted the extra detail asHryb was describing his own experience with the Series X on his Major Nelson podcast. It was an episode during which Hryb spoke about the revealed Xbox Series X tech specs with Xbox Director of Program Management Jason Ronald. Hryb and Ronald are two of the lucky Xbox employees who have been able to try out the Series X at home.

While talking about the seamless transition between multiple paused games – which Ronald attributed to the custom SSD in the Series X – Hryb mentions a scenario in which he had to reboot the console for an update. His paused game state was still there and ready to go when the Series X came back on. Ronald called his experience with Quick Resume “transformative”, making it difficult to return to the old way of gaming.

The reboot situation is good news for everybody. However, even the basic ability to switch between several games could have an impact for dedicated gamers, especially those of us in the achievement hunting community. We can easily imagine scenarios where we might want to pop into a different game for a moment to grab a quick achievement without losing progress in another game.

There are plenty of TA Gaming Sessions that involve waiting patiently for a generous player to help a whole bunch of people grab an achievement by sharing an item or performing an interaction. It’d be great to carry on with another game while you wait in the queue. There’s also plenty of times where a Gaming Session participant might be delayed – being able to keep the session open while you wait but kick back with another game in the meantime sounds very appealing. Even beyond achievement hunting, we might want to have a game queued up ready for a timed event to kick off, but don’t want to be stuck hanging around in the menus.

What at first glance seems like a niche gimmick might turn out to be pretty useful to dedicated gamers. What do you think? Could you find a good use for the Quick Resume feature?

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Personally, when I am working from home, I try to squeeze in some game time on my break, and having to wait a couple of minutes for the game to load and get ready and such, that is a little less time I have to get a quest/online match, whatever done.
So for me, quick resume is a major plus.
I am also excited about the less lag between the console and controller; one less cord is a big win.