When is the Xbox Series X coming out and how much will it cost? That’s been the question from gamers since the console was announced at E3 2019 as Project Scarlett, and though information about the console has been leaked over the past few months, Microsoft finally confirmed the details Wednesday.
The Xbox Series X, the company’s flagship console for the upcoming generation, is coming out worldwide Nov. 10 for $499. Inside the box, players can expect the console, which has a custom 1TB NVME SSD, an HDMI 2.1 cable and a power supply. Preorder will begin Sept. 22.
The news comes on the heels of the Xbox Series S announcement. That’s the more affordable version of the next-generation hardware. The most obvious difference between the two is the ability to play physical disc. The Xbox Series X comes with an optical drive so you can play games or watch movies the traditional way. It can also stream and record clips at 4K resolution at 60 FPS. This would likely be viable for those with extremely fast internet connections that won’t have a data cap. That kind of bandwidth is expensive.
The most important technical difference between the Xbox Series S and the Xbox Series X is the hard drive space. The Custom SSD in the Xbox Series X is 1TB and that means players can hold more games. It also has three times the processing power at 12 teraflops compared to 4 teraflops. That lets it pump visuals at 4K instead of the Series S top resolution of 1440p.
So which one should you get? I’d always opt for the more powerful hardware because it offers the best experience. No one yet knows how games will play on one system versus the other. We can probably expect Digital Foundry video after launch date. Xbox Series S hints at a better value but performance is always tantamount in gaming. To avoid slowdowns in gameplay or a poor experience, it’s better to go with the better hardware and the Xbox Series X looks like it can handle anything this upcoming generation. It’s also the console you should get if you have 4K television.
The console’s biggest challenge will be against the PlayStation 5. Given Microsoft’s rollout, it will be interesting to see how Sony unveils the price and release date of its own next-generation console. At $499, the Xbox Series X sounds pricey but it’s on par with what the Xbox One cost at launch.
This time around, Microsoft’s secret weapon in this console war is the Xbox All Access. This is one of those packaged long-term deals similar to a smartphone plan. By paying $24.99 per month for 24 months, gamers will get an Xbox Series S and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Pass. If they want the Xbox Series X, it will be $34.99 per month for 24 months and the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is included. The Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will also include EA Play. This is just another way to buy the console but it comes packaged with the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and that’s the more enticing part of the equation.
Although technically both consoles are expected to be comparable, one of the major differences between the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles will be the games. Sony has an edge with its first-party titles and exclusives, but Microsoft with the Xbox All Access with the included Xbox Game Pass Ultimate looks like its ow its way to being a Netflix-style service for gamers, and that could mean more over theyears. If players end up hooked on that service, it could make more money for Microsoft in the long run.
