Xbox Series

Microsoft launched the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S on November 10, 2020, marking the company’s entry into the ninth generation of consoles. Designed to compete directly with the PlayStation 5, these consoles brought significant hardware improvements, faster loading times, and support for technologies like ray tracing and FPS Boost.

The Xbox Series X was developed to be the most powerful console on the market, supporting native 4K resolution at up to 120 FPS. Meanwhile, the Xbox Series S was introduced as a more affordable option, with reduced performance and no disc drive, focusing on digital gaming and Xbox Game Pass.

Console Name: Xbox Series X / Xbox Series S
Release Date: November 10, 2020
Original Price: $499 (Series X) / $299 (Series S)
Country of Origin: United States
Manufacturer: Microsoft
Primary Media: Blu-ray (Series X) / Digital (Series S)
Units Sold: Over 21 million (estimated by 2023)
Predecessor: Xbox One
Successor: Not yet announced
Backward Compatibility: Xbox One, Xbox 360, and Original Xbox games

Technical Information

Xbox Series X

Processor: AMD Zen 2, 8 cores at 3.8 GHz
GPU: AMD RDNA 2 (12 TFLOPS, 52 CUs at 1.825 GHz)
RAM: 16 GB GDDR6
Storage: 1 TB NVMe SSD (expandable)
Maximum Resolution: 8K (native 4K)
Media: Ultra HD Blu-ray

Xbox Series S

Processor: AMD Zen 2, 8 cores at 3.6 GHz
GPU: AMD RDNA 2 (4 TFLOPS, 20 CUs at 1.565 GHz)
RAM: 10 GB GDDR6
Storage: 512 GB NVMe SSD (expandable)
Maximum Resolution: 1440p (upscaled to 4K)
Media: Digital only

Fun Facts

• The Xbox Series X was humorously nicknamed the “fridge” due to its blocky design, prompting Microsoft to release an mini-fridge inspired by the console.
• FPS Boost allows older backward-compatible games to run at higher frame rates, improving their performance.
• Quick Resume enables players to switch between multiple suspended games without restarting them.
• The Xbox Series S is the smallest console Microsoft has ever produced.
• The console was launched globally on the same day, an uncommon achievement in the gaming industry.

Impact and Legacy

The Xbox Series lineup redefined gaming experiences with high-speed NVMe SSD storage, ensuring ultra-fast loading times. The Xbox Velocity Architecture improved game fluidity, while technologies like DirectX Ray Tracing introduced more realistic graphics.

The Xbox Game Pass service became the platform’s key differentiator, offering a vast game library through a subscription model. Additionally, Microsoft’s acquisition of Bethesda and Activision Blizzard strengthened its gaming catalog, positioning the company as an industry powerhouse.

With backward compatibility for thousands of classic titles, the Xbox Series ensured that players could continue enjoying their favorite games from previous generations without needing to repurchase them.