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Xbox Series X is Microsoft's premier console for the ninth generation, alongside the cheaper alternative, the Xbox Series S. The system is a big technical upgrade to the Xbox One. In fact, it's the most powerful console in the Xbox family.

RELATED: Is Xbox Game Pass Worth It?

This means, in theory, that games look and run better on this system than any of the previous ones. It also boasts a few new features. However, does all of that mean it's worth forking out your hard-earned money for the console? To answer that, you must look at various different things, such as the price and peoples' opinions on the system. You can find those things here.

Review

Promo Shot Of Xbox Series X In Front Of A Black Background

Kirk Mckeand was the person responsible for reviewing the Xbox Series X for TheGamer. He did so in 2020 when the system first launched. So, not only did he give his opinion on what the system currently offers, but its future potential. In regards to the latter, he showcased a lot of belief in the system, predicting that "Xbox will rope-a-dope its way back into the gaming zeitgeist" in this new generation.

If you want hassle-free gaming with shorter load times, crisp textures, smooth frame rates, and a huge library - much of which is included as part of your online subscription - Xbox Series X is impossible to beat.

As for what it offered at the time, he was impressed with how it upped the quality of existing games through enhancement patches. He couldn't, however, judge what new titles were like on the system, as there weren't many in 2020. Many more have been released since, but there still isn't an abundance of Xbox Series X/S exclusive games yet.

However, Kirk was happy with what he did play in regard to frame rate and resolution. He also praised the console's speed claiming, "loading screens last seconds and fast travel is actually fast." He also lauded things such as the Quick Resume feature that lets you swiftly switch between games and the improvements Microsoft made to the controller.

Time Expenditure

Shot Of The Top Of Xbox Series X

The time you can spend with the Xbox Series X is infinite. You can play as much and as often as you desire. And if you get an Xbox Game Pass subscription alongside it, you will always have something to play.

Yet, even if you don't sign up for Game Pass, there are still plenty of games for you to buy for the console. Releases won't slow down until Microsoft brings out a new system, which won't be for many years.

Cost

Close-Up Of Xbox Series X Controller

The price of the Xbox Series X will slightly depend on your choice of retailer and whether you get a game with it. Also, you can get a refurbished one that will cost a bit less.

However, the standard retail price for a shiny new one with no additions is $499.99. If you don't want to pay all the money at once, you can purchase it through Xbox All Access, which is $34.99 per month.

Microsoft is typically offering bundles where you get a game with the console. These are typically a bit more expensive, but they're cheaper than getting the game and console separately. What titles are offered as part of these bundles varies.

This gets you the console, but you need to pay extra if you want to play multiplayer. The service used to be known as Xbox Live, but it now goes by the name Xbox Game Pass Core. That costs $10 a month, and you also get access to several different games in the process. Xbox Game Pass Core isn't a requirement, though, as plenty of Xbox Series X games are playable offline.

What Players Are Saying

Better Than Its Predecessor, But Not A Complete Game-Changer - Ben Jessey

Xbox Series X is an upgrade from the Xbox One. For starters, it's faster and provides better visuals. But besides its increased power, it isn't too different from what came before. So, if you already own an Xbox One or even PS4 and you're a more casual gamer, the upgrade might not be worth it. However, if you play a lot of games and are interested in many of the big releases in the future, then picking up the Series X is the right choice, as it'll bring the best out of those titles. Plus, it's an all-around good console. If you get Game Pass, too, it's a better deal than the PS5 unless you're particularly fond of Sony exclusives.

Paired With Game Pass It Is An Unparalleled Value - James Kennedy

These days picking between consoles is pretty easy. If you want those Sony exclusives, then the PS5 is the way to go, otherwise, Series X is just an astronomical value. And that is all thanks to Game Pass. With it, you get every single first-party release on day one. That is every game made by Id Software, Machine Games, Tango Gameworks, Double Fine, and Arkane. All for a very reasonable monthly subscription. The Xbox Series X itself is an impressive console, with a very solid controller, and some nice features (quick resume is especially nifty), but it is when the console is paired with Game Pass that it becomes the best value in gaming. Ever.

X-Tremely Good - Helen Ashcroft

As a Game Pass diehard fan the Series X was the obvious choice for this generation. However, it is more than just a way to use Game Pass. The console looks great, was easy to set up, and has simple menus to navigate. It's also great to be able to use the disc drive to play old backward compatible games from our hefty disc collection.

Absolutely Worth The Next-Gen Upgrade - Amanda Hurych

For Game Pass alone, the Xbox Series X is worth it, but there are also other features that set it apart from its competitors. Its shape is a tad more convenient than the awkwardly finned PS5, its got a superb backwards compatible library, and the performance it gives you for those games that have the potential to chug is undeniable.

A Great Introduction To The Xbox Ecosystem - Axel Bosso

My first Xbox ever was a Series S. It not only gave me the chance to play new games at much more affordable prices (we have a regional store here in Argentina) when compared to PS, but it also delighted me with the opportunity to try all the big games that I have been missing since the original Xbox. It was so great that it made me buy a Series X in less than a year. A terrific system that works incredibly well and has one of the best user experiences in the market. Definitely, one of the best purchases in recent memory.

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