The next-generation of Xbox consoles is coming later this year in the form of the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. With that in mind, we’ve gathered up as much information as possible about its upcoming launch and where you can place an Xbox Series X/S pre-order right now.
Microsoft decided to cut it fine on giving us some clear info about both the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. The latter we didn’t officially know about until just a few weeks ago when the console leaked and Microsoft was forced to confirm it. That said, the Series S had been heavily rumoured for a while so we were all just waiting for a confirmation.
Along with that announcement, Microsoft confirmed the price for both consoles ahead of their release on 10th November. The Xbox Series X will cost £449/$499. Meanwhile, the Xbox Series S will be priced at £249/$299. Quite a considerable drop in price for the lesser-powered console, but an excellent saving if you don’t mind a smaller hard drive while losing a disk drive and native 4K support.
Maybe you’ve never owned an Xbox console before and you’re super keen for the Series X to be the first? Or maybe you’re looking to tap into the best value deal out there on a Game Pass machine and go for the Xbox Series S instead? Whatever the reason, we have everything you could possibly need to know if you’re considering an Xbox Series X/S pre-order in this handy guide.
On this page:
Where can I place an Xbox Series X/S pre-order?
Microsoft has confirmed the list of retailers who will be offering a Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S pre-order. Once these are live, we’ll be sure to update to this page with all the latest availability at the named retailers – and any others we spot.
Xbox Series X ($499.99/£449.99/€499.99):
Microsoft Store
Amazon UK – out of stock
Currys PC World – out of stock
Argos
Game
Very
AO
ShopTo
Simply Games
Smyths Toys – out of stock
The Game Collection
Amazon US – coming 8am PT / 11am ET
Walmart – coming 8am PT / 11am ET
Best Buy – coming 8am PT / 11am ET
Sam’s Club – coming 8am PT / 11am ET
GameStop – coming 8am PT / 11am ET
Xbox Series S ($299.99/£249.99/€299.99):
How much will the Xbox Series X/S cost?
The Xbox Series X will set you back £449/$499, while the slightly lower-powered Xbox Series S will cost £249/$299.
When is the Xbox Series X/S release date?
Xbox Series X/S will be released on 12th November. Both consoles will launch on the same day.
What is the Xbox Series X/S?
The Xbox Series X is the next games console from Microsoft. Following the phenomenal success of the Xbox One – and the Xbox 360 and original Xbox before it – the Xbox Series X is aiming to be newer, bigger, and better than any of its predecessors. Originally known as Project Scarlett, Xbox Series X may have a lot of the letter ‘x’ in its name, but we’ll forgive it that quirk.
For the most complete a conclusive look at the Xbox Series X specs we’d encourage you to visit our pals at Digital Foundry. They had the opportunity to visit Microsoft to get up close and personal with the forthcoming console. They’ll have all the specifics you could possibly need.
We’re going to cover the essentials right here, though. Inside the six-inch-wide and 12-inch-tall Xbox Series X, you can expect a custom AMD CPU and GPU and 16GB of GDDR6 SDRAM that make it a powerful piece of kit. The target performance is 4k resolutions at 60fps with real-time ray-tracing, though it should support 8k resolutions and up to 120 fps rendering.
Similar to the PS5, there will be a 1TB NVMe SSD included for lightning-fast load times. This storage can be expanded by a propriety 1TB SSD – much like the memory cards of old. However, you can also add more HDD storage through USB, though it obviously won’t be as fast.
Digital Foundry has an incredible look at all the individual components when they were able to build the Xbox Series X.
Meanwhile, an updated version of the Xbox Wireless Controller is also on the way. You’d be forgiven if you thought it was just the same controller of old as the differences do look minimal. However, it’s going to be smaller and more accessible – plus there will be a reworked share button and improved d-pad.
What Xbox Series X/S games have been confirmed?
In May, Microsoft made the first move and revealed a number of Xbox Series X/S games in it’s Inside Xbox live event. For the first time, we were given a better idea of the types of games and experiences that would be coming to Xbox Series X/S during the launch window. At least, in addition to the like of Halo Infinite and Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II that we already knew about. Here are all the Xbox Series X games currently confirmed:
Halo Infinite
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
Cyberpunk 2077
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
Bright Memory Infinite
Call of the Sea
Chorus
Dirt 5
Madden NFL 21
Scarlet Nexus
Scorn
Second Extinction
The Ascent
The Medium
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2
Yakuza: Like a Dragon
Quite a strong and varied list, we think you’ll agree!
It’s also worth pointing out that Microsoft has gone an unusual but beneficial route with the Xbox Series X/S. It has introduced a ‘Smart Delivery’ system. With this, you’ll be able to upgrade any compatible games you buy on Xbox One to their Xbox Series X/S version for free. Microsft has confirmed that this will be in place for all of their first-party games. Other publishers will be able to decide if they want to participate in a case-by-case basis. For example, CD Projekt Red has announced that Cyberpunk 2077 will support this scheme. It’s excellent news for fans on current-gen consoles looking to upgrade to the Xbox Series X in the future.
Of course, some Xbox Game Studio games like Halo Infinite and Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II are offering enhanced features and performance on Xbox Series X, too. The nitty-gritty of resolutions and frame rates will be dependant on the game, though Microsoft wants to achieve 4K at 60fps where possible – at least for first-party games. Recent news suggests that Assassin’s Creed Valhalla will be limited to 30fps at 4K resolution on the Xbox Series X, though.
What accessories do I need?
One of the best things about the Xbox Series X/S is that all existing Xbox One controllers and accessories will be supported.
However, the new console will ship with an updated version of the Xbox One controller. This features a more ergonomic design and a concave circle pad that looks a lot like the Elite Controller. There’ll also be a new ‘Share’ button. Otherwise, it’s a lot like an Xbox One controller which explains why it’s backwards compatible with the Xbox One.
That covers just about everything for now. If you’re thinking about going for an Xbox Series X/S pre-order then now is the perfect time to stock up on accessories like a new Xbox One external hard drive or grab the best Xbox Game Pass Ultimate deal just in time for the new console. You can always use them on your existing Xbox One (or PC!) while you wait.
Source: https://www.jelly.deals/2020/04/16/xbox-series-x-pre-order-guide/
