Xbox Series X - What you can expect from the next generation of gaming
As the build up continues to rise for the next and possible last generation of console release there has been so much speculation around what each console will actually do.
Both sides of the console war fence have been slinging crap at each other with very little to no information to go on, well nothing officially anyway.
There is two very different marketing strategies on the pending release and I am happy to say Microsoft has been open and honest with the Xbox Series X details yet again with Phil Spencer penning the below for all those waiting with baited breath....
From PHIL SPENCER
The
future of gaming has never been more inspiring. Creativity in games is
flourishing. New services empower you to discover more games—and bring you
closer to the games and creators and streamers you love. The cloud creates a
massive opportunity to stream console-quality games and play with the people
you want, wherever you want. And for many of us, nothing is more inspiring than
the dawn of a new console generation.
We
know you expect the next generation of consoles to set new standards in
graphical power and processing speed, converging together in games that look
incredible and feel alive. This will be defined by worlds that are visually
astounding and immediately immersive, with innovative leaps in CPU, GPU and
storage technology to give you frictionless access to new stories and new
creators constantly.
We’ve
been using Xbox Series X in our internal Takehome program and are energised by
the feedback we’ve been receiving. At Xbox we value being open and transparent
with you, and I’m proud to be able to share details about some of the
technologies we are enabling for the next generation and look forward to boldly
sharing more as we head towards E3.
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 minimise 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 utilise the full power of the Xbox
Series X. Rather than spending GPU cycles uniformly to every single pixel
on the screen, they can prioritise 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 analysed 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 optimising 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 synchronises 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 synchronises 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
favour 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 favourite 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 centre
Xbox
Series X is our fastest, most powerful console ever, designed for a
console generation that has you at its centre. 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, fuelling 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.
We
can’t wait to share more details about the new Xbox with you in the coming
months.
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