The Xbox Series X will usher in a new era in console gaming. The Microsoft-Sony console war is far from a novel feud, but the fifth generation of headbutting might just be the fiercest. As a result, both parties are pushing the limit of their console’s capabilities as anticipation builds ahead 2020's holiday-season release dates. As Sony and Microsoft continue to release information in bite-sized portions, a clear picture of each console is starting to develop. Here’s five new features that might just push the Xbox Series X ahead of Sony’s PlayStation 5.
Backwards Compatibility
Not only will the Xbox Series X feature backwards compatibility, Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty officially confirmed that all Xbox Series X games will be available on Xbox One for the first few years of production. The PS5’s backwards compatibility is limited to a select number of games, which has many fans worried that they’ll have to repurchase some of their favorite titles or wait even longer to purchase delayed titles, like The Last of Us Part II. Xbox loyals have nothing to fear.
Smart Delivery
Smart Delivery is a handy feature related to backwards compatibility that, essentially, ensures games purchased for Xbox One or Xbox Series X will be playable on both consoles. “We’re making the commitment to use Smart Delivery on all our exclusive Xbox Game Studios titles, including Halo Infinite,” says Microsoft. Keeping audiences informed is a factor that will weigh heavily into who comes out of the race ahead, and Microsoft remains vocal on the issues that fans care about. As reported by Polygon, other games that are to be included in the list of Smart Delivery games include:
- Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (Ubisoft)
- Call of the Sea (Raw Fury)
- Chorus (Deep Silver)
- Dirt 5 (Codemasters)
- Scarlet Nexus (Bandai Namco)
- Second Extinction (Systemic Reaction)
- The Ascent (Neon Giant/Curve Digital)
- Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 (Paradox Interactive)
- Yakuza: Like a Dragon (Sega)
Shorter Load Times
One thing that both Sony and Microsoft have touted as the fifth generation’s hallmark feature is faster load times. Sony quipped that the PS5’s SSD will virtually eliminate load times, loading 2GB of data in just 0.27 seconds. For comparison, the PS4 is capable of speeds close to 100MB per second. Microsoft claims that their console will also “essentially eliminate load times” using its Velocity Architecture.
Memory Cards
Microsoft joined forces with Seagate, a leader in data-storage solutions, to deploy a new expansion card alongside the launch of the fifth-generation console. The console will have 1TB of built-in storage space, with more space available thanks to a new removable storage option in the back of the console. The new expansion card slot will also contribute to improved loading speeds, as the cards will support a built-in NVME SD. The Xbox Series X will have the ability to load multiple games directly from standby, even after rebooting.
Windows Mode?
The Xbox Series X may be more than just a console. The console will already, ostensibly, feature performance capabilities that compete with mid-tier PCs, but a rumor from Italian gaming site Game Experience purports that the Xbox Series X will be able to run Windows 10. If true, the Xbox Series X will basically be a console-PC hybrid, possibly even giving players access to Steam and Epic Games. Microsoft hasn’t confirmed anything, but it isn’t too far-flung of an idea. The Xbox Series X is already considered a Windows device and even looks like a PC, after all. The fifth generation of consoles will clearly change the landscape of console gaming, but Windows Mode would close the door on the Xbox Series-PlayStation debate.