Microsoft Unveils Xbox Series X, The Next Generation Xbox
Tonight, Microsoft pulled off a surprise and announced Xbox Series X, a new Xbox console that will arrive holiday 2020. Along with the actual design, yes that cube shape is it, we are learning a bit more about the specs.
Phil Spencer penned a blog post, which you can read here, that gives us our first look at the next-generation console. According to Spencer, the Xbox Series X will be the powerful console ever and set a new bar for performance. Specifically, he states that it will deliver 4 times the performance of the Xbox One X.
The new console will support both horizontal and vertical orientations and that it was designed in the quietest and efficient way possible. Along with the new console, Microsoft is refining the Xbox controller with an updated shape and a new share button. Further, there is a new d-pad that was derived from the Elite V2.
Spencer notes that the console will support 4k games at 60FPS with a possibility of support up to 120 FPS including support for Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), and 8K capability. The CPU of the console is based on Zen 2 and supports the company’s patented Variable Rate Shading (VRS) technology will allow developers to get even more out of the Xbox Series X GPU and the company says they have virtually eliminated load times.
One thing worth pointing out is that they call this ‘Series X’, does this mean that there will be other series in the Xbox family? Rumors of Lockhart keep coming back to life and this may be how they plan to fit it into the Xbox narrative.
While the company still has many secrets to reveal, including actual raw performance, price, release date, and more, this was a surprise unveiling of the console and comes much earlier than many expected. That being said, with the device now out in the open, expect to see a lot more of it in the near future.