Xbox Series X six months later — here's what I love and hate
Xbox Series X half-dozen months afterward — here's what I love and hate
It's gone by in a flash, but this week marks six months since the release of the Xbox Series X. In that time I've put dozens of hours of play into Microsoft'southward powerful flagship gaming arrangement and tin barely remember the days before it nestled underneath my goggle box.
In Tom's Guide'south original Xbox Serial 10 review, we praised the panel for a wide variety of factors, including its impressive functioning, speedy loading times, and slick design (even more apparent now that the curiously shaped PS5 is also in our easily). In that location was no debate, the Xbox Serial 10 earned its Editor's Choice award.
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Reviewer, Roland Moore-Colyer, said in November last year: "The Xbox Series Ten is the 1 Xbox to rule them all. It's a unmarried auto that'll run generations of Xbox games, and run them well. Furthermore, it'll do and then without looking fussy or making a racket."
The question is now that the machine has been out in the wild for half a year, and the sheer novelty of having a new panel is starting to wear off, does the Xbox Serial X even so stack upwardly, or have its flaws become more apparent over time?
Nothing gets in the manner of playing
Considering the PS5 only has the ability to suspend a single game at a fourth dimension, the Xbox Series X managing up to five is a serious boon for Microsoft's panel.
One attribute of the Xbox Series X that remains extremely impressive even half-dozen months later, is how seamless a gaming feel it provides.
During Tom'south Guides review, loading speeds of under ten seconds were clocked for graphically intense games like Gears 5. Even massive open-globe games like Red Dead Redemption 2 had their loading screen cut downwardly from a minute and a half to less than xl seconds. That remains impressive to this twenty-four hour period.
New releases such every bit Resident Evil Hamlet (8 seconds of loading from menu to game) and Hitman 3 (9 seconds) are games that accept benefited greatly from the Xbox Series X booting up in an astonishingly quick time. The days of turning to my phone to mindless scroll while awaiting the end of a lengthy loading sequence are well and truly gone!
Quick Resume is another feature that removes barriers between the user and actually playing. It was heavily promoted as ane of the panel's biggest innovations prior to launch, and while it'south not a characteristic I find myself using daily, it'southward extremely convenient when the situation calls for it.
Considering the PS5 just has the power to suspend a single game at a time, the Xbox Series X managing upwardly to v is a serious boon for Microsoft'south console. I'm rarely playing three games simultaneously, but being able to jump into a multiplayer friction match with friends without needing to shut down whatever single-player RPG I'm currently working my way through remains revolutionary.
Backwards compatibility done right
Microsoft has invested heavily in astern compatibility tech, and while it was a fun distraction on the Xbox One, information technology'southward with the Xbox Serial 10 that the effort has truly paid off.
The Xbox Serial X really is the ultimate Xbox console, giving owners full access to the previous generation's library, as well as a significant portion of the Xbox 360's catalog and a large scattering of original Xbox games besides.
Being able to play classic games like the complete Expressionless Space trilogy, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, and the entire Halo saga, cheers to The Master Chief Collection, on a unmarried console makes the Xbox Series 10 borderline essential. Plus, equally someone who missed a fair chunk of Microsoft exclusives over the years, it's offered me an easy style to grab upwardly.
Microsoft hasn't stopped at just enabling classics games to be playable on its latest hardware, with its Game Boost initiative beloved titles from previous generations are actively being updated to accept advantage of the power of the Xbox Serial X. Auto-HDR, which was noted as a big pro in Tom's Guides review, is another way the console gives older games a new lease on life.
At that place has never been a console that has launched with a library as deep as the Xbox Series X'due south and in the last half-dozen months, where game delays accept unfortunately become very frequent, that has been a real advantage for Microsoft'due south bulky black box.
Game Pass is a gamechanger
I have yet to buy a single game for my Xbox Series Ten. Why would I? I take dozens of incredible experiences available to me for only the price of a couple of pints a month.
It'southward basically impossible to talk about the pros and cons of the Xbox Series X without heaping praise on Xbox Game Pass.
This subscription service is arguably the best deal in gaming at the minute, and the inclusion of new releases as such MLB The Show 21 and Outriders on the service from day one has only increased its value in the months since the Xbox Series X launched.
The depth of the Game Pass library is truly staggering, which is proven past the fact that (aside from a couple of classic 360 games) I have yet to buy a single game for my Xbox Series 10. Why would I? I have dozens of incredible experiences available to me for simply the cost of a couple of pints a month.
Refinement, non revolution
While it comes to the core functions of a video game panel, the Xbox Series 10 took a fairly prophylactic arroyo. The PS5 aims for innovation with a controller blimp with new tech, and a fancy new UI built around a card system.
The Xbox Series X instead retains the UI of its predecessor, and while this did hateful upon outset booting up the system I was hardly wowed, equally it felt merely I'd only turned on my old Xbox One, over time the benefits of this approach have become apparent.
I've had quite a few bug with the PS5'due south UI since launch, it might look flashy but information technology's lacking a significant amount of basic functionality. The Xbox Series Ten instead has basically every UI feature I have ever needed and had them all since day one.
The controller is another area where Xbox Series X opted for refinement rather than revolution. Roland said this of the decision to use a very similar controller to the Xbox One: "that'south non a bad thing, equally information technology'south a fantastic controller. Small improvements like textured triggers and an improved D-pad take a familiar controller and simply arrive better."
It's a sentiment I somewhat hold with. While I tin't deny the Xbox Series X has a very solid pad, I do miss the next-gen features of the PS5's DualSense such equally adaptive triggers and haptic feedback. Though I take already had to ship one of my PS5 controllers for repair after the triggers broke.
Since launch, Microsoft has also released an official Xbox Series X headset, which over again follows the mantra of nailing the fundamentals rather than focusing on flashy tech like 3D Sound.
Still defective exclusives
While the PS5 already has Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Demon's Souls, Returnal, and the upcoming Ratchet & Clank: Rift-Apart, the Xbox Series X has a very underwhelming sectional lineup.
It's been a common criticism of the Xbox platform for years, but it'south definitely the biggest knock against the Xbox Series X for at present: The console desperately lacks killer exclusives.
While the PS5 already has the likes of Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Demon'south Souls, Returnal, and the upcoming Ratchet & Clank: Rift-Autonomously, the Xbox Series X has a very underwhelming lineup of exclusive titles.
Sure nosotros got The Medium in February, but that was a mid-tier game, and remarkably Halo Infinite is nonetheless not out nonetheless. Though rumors are swirling that Starfield, Bethesda's next massive RPG, could launch later this year and it'll likely be an Xbox exclusive now that Microsoft owns ZeniMax.
The lackluster lineup of exclusives does make the Xbox Serial 10 harder to recommend if you're non planning on using the system equally your primary gaming device. If you've already got a PS5 or a powerful gaming PC, and then you might be ameliorate off waiting till major exclusives like Fable 4 and Avowed are a little closer to launch.
Should you lot buy an Xbox Serial Ten?
Roland concluded his original review past saying, "the Xbox Series Ten is a triumph in the here and now. But I can't wait to run into what information technology will exist able to exercise in a year's time."
It's a sentiment that still rings true today. And then it'southward a trivial disappointing that Microsoft hasn't really moved the needle forward in any substantial way since release. Xbox Series X owners are still awaiting that first killer exclusive that volition really showcase the console's truthful potential.
Nevertheless, six months into its lifecycle the Xbox Serial 10 remains a fantastic gaming machine that does more than enough to justify the $499 entry cost. It doesn't brand the most compelling argument as a supplemental device, but if the Xbox Serial Ten will be your primary gaming machine and so you lot've no reason not to purchase i now — assuming y'all can find an Xbox Serial X restock of course.
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/features/xbox-series-x-six-months-later-what-i-love-and-hate
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