Image via Microsoft
That period between next-gen consoles being released and gamers being able to see their true potential is a weird one. The obvious hope is that the $500(!) you're giving these companies will get you a console you can grow old with get through high school with you will be able to enjoy until the next next-gen consoles are released. But in the interim, what's really worth it to you? That's a question I asked myself when looking at Microsoft's entry into the next-gen console wars, the Xbox Series X.
Let me preface the rest of this review by saying that, yes, I know I mentioned that I've been a PlayStation owner since the first console dropped. That's not to say I've not rocked with or gamed on an Xbox; I've had an Xbox One in my home for almost seven years. It wasn't my primary gaming console, but it was my son's, so I've had more than enough experience in how the UI functions, actually playing games on it, and hearing the back-and-forth on "which console is better." It all comes down to preference...but you don't want to hear any of that. So without further ado, after about two weeks of having the console in my home, here is my take on Microsoft's Xbox Series X.
Inside the (X)box
Straight out of the box, I actually prefer the Xbox Series X's design to the PlayStation 5. The PS5 is a piece of pop art, but it's also taller and wider than the Xbox Series X. The Xbox Series X is still a massive-looking device, but the dimensions do matter when trying to comfortably fit it into your entertainment center. It's also much more unassuming; there are no reflective pieces to the hardware or odd shapes jutting out in weird angles. That's not a slight to the PS5 at all—I think they purposefully made those design choices to make a statement—but the Xbox Series X is a squat black box that you won't even notice if the Xbox logo isn't lit up on the console (or if you're standing at an odd angle and can't see the green coloring near the fan.
The new Xbox controller is intriguing as well; while not massively different than the previous controller, it does have some solid upgrades that will help hardcore gamers stay in the game. It comes two batteries, but also has a USB-C port, meaning you can grab an Xbox Rechargeable Battery Pack and never have to keep a box of AAs handy. It's a slightly smaller controller than the PS5's new DualSense controller, which I am not mad at, although I think the DualSense controller fits better in my hands. The new circular D-Pad was a nice touch (I found myself actually using that more to get around in some games), as is the Capture and Share buttons on the controller. Tap a button to get a screenshot, and that's it. Simple, intuitive, and in today's "pics or it didn't happen" culture, necessary.
The Xbox Series X comes with 1TB of storage, and Microsoft has also made sure that storage expansion is available for those who want—not sure if that means your spending $220 for this sleek Seagate 1TB expansion pack, but with Sony's PS5 not having storage expansion available at launch, this is a good tip for gamers who just need more space. Compared to the PS5, the Xbox Series X only really beats it out in two important spaces: the 1TB storage on board (compared to PS5's 825GB storage) and a better graphics processor, which is a 12.0 teraflop AMD RDNA 2 compared to the PS5's 10.3 teraflop AMD RDNA 2. I will say that I used the same 55" 4K HDR Roku television for each console, and to my eyes, one didn't seem to outperform the other, although I'd need to run tests on, say, both systems playing an updated version of Grand Theft Auto V.
I would also like to note that the UI on the Xbox Series X is...interesting. Sony made sure to scale things down on the Home screen, which is much better for someone like me, who gets frazzled when there's too much shit going on. Microsoft seems to have gone the opposite direction, with EVERYTHING about your Xbox Series X sitting in one space. You have the ability to adjust it to your own preferences, but seeing that off the bat, coming off of the cleaner PS5 UI, was frustrating, especially when it came to figuring out the things I would be using (quick access to Games and Apps) and things I wouldn't use (the Microsoft Rewards program, which is interesting but not necessarily something I need right in my face on Day One).
Getting your game on
The one thing that is definitely surprising is that the Xbox Series X will not launch with exclusive titles. That's right; at launch, the Xbox Series X will not have a game on it you can't play on PC or your Xbox One. The PlayStation 5 has three: Astro's Playroom (which comes pre-loaded), Demon's Souls, and Destruction AllStars. Only one of those PS5 launch exclusives—Demon's Souls—will really move any numbers, but it's just weird that there isn't something new that will entice players to cop. You'll definitely want to see what games like Gears 5 and The Falconeer look like on the Xbox Series X, but it's hard to say if those titles—again, all of which are already available on the Xbox One and PC—will move the needle. Meanwhile, Spider-Man: Miles Morales will be available on PS4, we imagine folks might end up just copping a PS5 to play it on day one.
A subscription to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate does help, though. Essentially, it's similar to the PlayStation Network, where those who tap in are allowed to basically lease games for as long as they are available in the service. For Xbox Series X gamers, that amounts to 100+ games—again, many of which you've played—including DOOM Eternal, the Five Nights at Freddy's series, Final Fantasy VII, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Destiny 2, the Fable series, and much more. There are even a bunch of Xbox 360 titles as well.
The most fascinating game I dove into was Grounded, which currently doesn't have a firm release. I wasn't up on this title, but it's essentially Stranger Things meets Honey! I Shrunk the Kids. After selecting one of the kids to play the game, I woke up as their guy Max. There was a case with four outlines of bodies and some kind of serum(?) next to me, and I was tiny AF in somebody's backyard. It was confusing; there's no real information you're given about the situation, and I died like five times before I realized how to avoid the weird area with the yellow mist long enough to grab my backpack and dip. Then I had to figure out why some bugs were chewing on a wire to make a laser more powerful. You get the hang of it eventually, but more importantly, this was the kind of game I was looking for when getting a new console: an immersive world that will show off what the console can do. They even take dope precautions; if you're arachnophobic, there's an option to turn off the spider animations. How dope is that?
Now sure, your favorite titles (including GTA V and NBA 2K21) will be available for play on the next-gen consoles, but what's a next-gen console with no new games to dive into at launch?
The verdict?
The question I've received over the last few weeks has been an obvious one: Xbox Series X or PS5? What a loaded question! A lot of you may side with one company over others. One may like first-person shooters versus sports titles. Your dad may have been a heavy gamer and said "no PlayStations in this house!" I say all of that to say: it's really a preference thing.
With the Xbox Series X, you aren't getting the flashy launch title. You aren't really getting any new titles, but that's fine. Halo: Infinite is on the horizon, as is the aforementioned Grounded. If new bangers are what you need to justify the purchase, then you may want to wait until next year, when more Xbox titles come out. The thing is, if you already own an Xbox One (similar to the PS5), your purchased games—and save data!—will transfer over to the Xbox Series X. Is that as fresh as a new title or two? No, but you will probably be too busy diving into the upgrades on NBA 2K21 than being that frustrated over Halo: Infinite being available right now.
All of that said, the biggest thing that sticks out, to me, about the Xbox Series X is its potential. With the upgrades to expansion and the teasing of titles on the way, this purchase is based more in faith than anything else. There's no doubt that the Xbox Series X will hold its own against the PlayStation 5—and could surpass, depending on how future titles shake up—but if you have an Xbox One, you may not need to grab an Xbox Series X right now. It's just not the same immediate satisfaction that you get from the PlayStation 5 experience at launch...and that's OK. Microsoft just needs to make sure that their next moves are truly their best moves.