Xbox Series X/S release

For all you gamers out there, your 2020 is about to become a lot better!

The new Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S is officially out! The next generation console from Microsoft claims to be the fastest, most powerful Xbox ever! Despite both versions of Microsoft’s next-generation console being near-impossible to get your hands on, we wanted to talk about the highly anticipated release.

What can you expect from the new consoles?

• True 4K Gaming
• Up to 120 frames per second
• 8K High Dynamic Range

The new consoles boast state of the art features including a processor that is four times the power of the Xbox One. So, players can expect a superior playing experience! The Xbox Series X is also as quiet as a mouse- perfect for those secret gaming sessions!

Although a lot of the new features on the new Xbox Series X/S are broadly similar to the new PlayStation 5(released next week) the Xbox Series X and S have a number of unique features:

Smart Delivery – This is a system that ensures that whatever version of a game you buy it automatically gets upgraded when you buy a new console. So, if you buy an Xbox One Game that is also available on the new consoles you will get the next generation version for free when you purchase the new console.

Backwards Compatibility – This feature gives you the ability to play games from a previous generation console. So, if you currently own a Xbox One, then no need to worry about not being able to play your favourite game again because almost every Xbox One game will work on this new console alongside a significant proportion of Xbox 360 and original Xbox games. Most games are then enhanced from their original format, often in terms of loading times, resolution and frame rate. This feature has been turned into a key selling point for the Xbox Series X/S.

Game Pass – This is a subscription service that is very similar to Netflix but for gaming.  You can download the games rather than stream them and includes a mix of over 100 games which you are free to play for as long as your subscription lasts. The Xbox Game Pass subscription is £7.99 a month. There is also a £1 trial as well, so you do not have to commit straight away and is excellent value for money especially after just spending all that money on a new console.

The new XBOX Series X console starts from £450.

What is the Xbox Series S?

The Xbox Series S is Sony’s smallest, sleekest Xbox console. This console is all-digital and is disc free, giving gamers no worries about scratching their favourite games. The Xbox Series S also offers similar graphics and all the speed and performance of a next-gen console at an accessible price point of £250. The main difference between the Xbox Series X and S is that the Xbox Series S has maximum resolution of 1440px and not 4k, although you don’t need to worry about this if you don’t own a 4K television. Another obvious difference is that the Xbox Series S doesn’t have a disc drive, so you wouldn’t be able to use this as a DVD player.

Where to buy the new Xbox Series consoles?

Sadly, both consoles sold out over a month ago on pre-order alongside the additional consoles that have been made available on launch day.  Since England is in lockdown again, you may struggle to get your hands on the consoles. Due to the lockdown rules, supermarkets probably won’t sell them until the lockdown is over, so in the meantime your only real option is to keep checking online and major stores like Amazon, GAME, Argos and Smyths.