‘Papa Oui’ Gamers! Microsoft has finally revealed the name of their 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.”
Microsoft confirmed that Xbox Series X is set to release sometime during the Holiday 2020 season.
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 tweaks, 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!
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 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.
While Microsoft hasn’t confirmed all of the Xbox Series X’s specs, we know that the console feature 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.
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