DECEMBER 2020 T3 57Xbox Series X
This beautiful,
beautiful
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has its reasonsback three console generations, even
back to the original Xbox console, is
definitely something Microsoft needs
to be applauded for.
This ability to play the lion’s share
of past-gen Xbox games is then buoyed
by Xbox Game Pass, a monthly
subscription that gives you access to a
truck-load of great games to play at
any time. The launch library of new
and, specifically, exclusive games may
be a little underwhelming, but you
can’t say there is nothing to play on it.
Let’s talk Series X optimised games
first. A number of Xbox games have
been optimised for the system,
offering faster load times, higher
framerates at 4K resolutions, as well
as more eye candy, such as realtime
ray-tracing. You can see a list of these
games at the official Xbox website.
Forza Horizon 4, Ori and the Will
of the Wisps and Destiny 2 are a few
of these titles, and the optimisations
are really well implemented. The
games look better, run better and load
better on the new console.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, which
is arguably the new game that Xbox
Series X is being sold on, wasn’t
available as T3 went to press, and this
really hammers home the lack of new,
exclusive games to play on Series X
right now.
This flagship, next-gen, Microsoft
console isn’t even launching with a
new Halo game, let alone a new Gears
or Forza. There’s also no new
stand-out IP, and when the third
party offering is so tiny, it runs the
risk of disappointing those who buy
one expecting brand new games.
Instead, the system is launching
with a bunch of optimised past-gen
games and a few new cross-platform
third-party titles, which are cross-
gen and, in the nicest possible way,
tied at their core to last-gen consoles.
The experiences they deliver benefit
from the extra eye candy, loading
times and framerates that the Series X
is capable of, and while these enhance
immersion and gameplay, they don’t
raise the videogame bar significantly.
What you get with the Xbox Series
X right now is a way to play a lot of
great games in the best possible way
on console, while also securing the
ability to enjoy proper next-gen
games when they eventually appear.
It’s a shame we’re not all playing Halo
Infinite right now and seeing this
incredible system flex its muscles, but
the Series X is still the best Xbox
console you can buy today (maybe the
best console full stop) and will deliver
some truly astounding new game
experiences over its lifespan.
This could very well be the last
console generation we ever see with
this sort of traditional in-the-home
hardware, though, and if it is then
Microsoft has certainly swung for the
fences with the Xbox Series X. This is
a console that can go the distance
and, for that reason more than any
other, we warmly recommend it to
gamers the world over.WE’RE IMPRESSED
The most powerful console
hardware you can buy right now; Console
runs quiet; Setup is super slick;
Optimised games look and run greatWE’D IMPROVE
Launch line-up of new
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Console design is uninspired;
Vents plent y of hot air;
Optimised last-gen games don’t
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In creating this Xbox Series X review
one thing has become very clear – from
a hardware point of view Microsoft has
absolutely nailed it with its next-gen flagship.
This is a console that delivers massive
amounts of power and performance,
and one that does so in a really accessible
and transitionally sound way, too. The
evolution from Xbox One to Xbox Series
X is seamless, and because of this, and its
raw pixel-pushing prowess, it undoubtedly
acts as a superb base for a generation of
new jaw-dropping experiences. Those
new experiences, however, are not
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line-up of titles massively skewed toward
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on previous-gen hardware.