![]() ![]() As a gamer who plays predominantly on PC, I’m used to short loading times care of fast SSDs, so it’s great to see the fast-loading trend has finally landed on console. Whichever game I played as part of my review – Yakuza: Like a Dragon, The Touryst, Gears Tactics, Gears 5, Dirt 5 and Forza Horizon 4 to name a handful – I was constantly impressed with speedy loading times. ![]() I spent a chunk of my review time with a game that’s unfortunately under embargo, so I can’t name it, but I will say that the 4K resolution made for gorgeous visuals and the 60fps gameplay felt great. That said, the next-gen games you’ll be able to play at launch are third-party ones, which means they’re also available on other platforms. When those big-name next-gen first-party games do come, they’ll be available on Xbox Game Pass on day one, so its value continues to be highlighted. For people with active Xbox Game Pass subscriptions, there are hundreds of games to choose from, and this subscription carries over from Xbox One to Xbox Series X. If, for instance, you’re a massive Gears 5 fan or missed it at launch, this game is a no-brainer purchase or one of the first games you should download (or transfer over) from the absolutely killer ![]() The plan was to, at the very least, have Halo Infinite ready for the Xbox Series X 10 November release date, but COVID-19 put an end to that, which means you’re left with zero big-budget first-party next-gen games that you haven’t played before. This is the big sticking point and, after the Xbox One X launch, one that Microsoft was clearly keen to address in the lead-up to the Xbox Series X release date. In terms of the Xbox Wireless Controller, it’s also great that it can connect to PC via Bluetooth without a dongle. The disclaimer there is that you’ll need a TV or monitor that supports HDMI 2.1 if you want to play at 4K 120fps, but it’s a nice future-proofing step. While developers will have the option of releasing 30fps games that prioritise fidelity over frame rate, you won’t want to go back, and with the pledge of 120fps multiplayer for Halo Infinite, fans of competitive online play in particular are going to appreciate the low-latency feel of Series X. Now that 4K resolution at 60 frames per second (fps) is the new standard, Microsoft has sagely put effort into ensuring that playing on the Xbox Series X feels more responsive than ever. More importantly, especially for competitive gamers, is the Xbox Wireless Controller’s emphasis on lower latency, both for the controller and for the Xbox Series X. Your hands will appreciate the improved grip and the superior D-pad, as well as a dedicated Share button, but that’s about it in terms of the obvious new. Not a lot has changed between controller generations, at least not in terms of look. Plus, it also means you can use neat old tricks to access international streaming content. Once it’s ready to go, it looks very familiar to the Xbox One user interface, but while that familiarity misses the mark with a novel next-gen sheen, it does make for straightforward already-learnt navigation. I was up and ready to play in a few minutes and, refreshingly, the controller was connected out of the box, so I didn’t even need to sync to get started. ![]() I already had the app installed, so it migrated my account settings to the Xbox Series X and prompted me when it needed my input. Not only has Microsoft gamified the process of using this app, you can also use it to install games, chat with friends, or even stream games to a compatible mobile device. You can go through manual setup on your TV with the controller, or install the Xbox app to guide you through the steps. Now that Microsoft has ditched the HDMI-in port of the Xbox One, there’s only one HDMI port to connect the cable to, and then it’s simply a case of connecting power. ![]()
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