How Microsoft built the world’s most powerful game console

An inside look at the development of the Xbox One X, and what it means for the future of console gaming

[raWfodog]

@ 1:25 - Looked like the white console was about to tip over. Where are the base stands? :)

[Skull521]

Just a little over a month left, this thing is gonna change console gaming forever, I’m sure we are gonna see this do some stuff we aren’t expecting with PC and Xbox coming together.

[TheVetOfGaming]

I wouldn't say that. It's just an upgraded Xbox. Does look promising for fans though.

[SierraGuy]

Keep dreaming bro...junk cpu...nothing PC or Pro hasn't done already...the verge junk article, junk website. Go Jaguar cpu! Not for me. I already have Jaguar mobile tech in a 4 year old console and it's crap.

[zackeroniii]

is it gonna change console gaming forever by having no worthy exclusives??? i hope no other company follows that suit :O

[Audioflix]

Will the power of 4k create games and turn bad games good?.......I think not. Little to excited there bud

[dirkdady]

whats with the hyperbolic statements like "its going change console gaming forever.."?? Its going to change it as much as the PS Pro did - which is nil. In a year or two a PS4 Pro2 will be out and that will be the most powerful console ever and im sure you will be on here saying the same garbage "its going to change console gaming forever.." well forever must mean a different thing in your mind.

[Genuine-User]

It looked steady. I'm not sure what you're seeing.

[raWfodog]

Alright, not exactly at 1:25 but keep watching...(around 1:27, 1:28)

[WePlayDirty]

It's not hard to build a powerful console if you want to lose money on it. Just sayin.

[Concertoine]

I assume youre talking about the profit margin on the hardware?

From the estimates weve seen it is probably losing money but not much. Hardware losses are kind of standard practice going back to the 6th gen. I think the impressive thing to witness is how sleek and efficient of a system their hardware guys can push out when theyre given the time they need.

The 360 was loud, big and had a brick bigger than a gameboy and that was the LEAST of its problems.

The One X is small, powerful as hell and doesnt even have a brick. For once i can get an xbox that isnt the gas guzzling american behemoth taking up the same space 3 japanese consoles do under my tv lol.

[WePlayDirty]

Right. Regardless of all of that, it’s not that hard to build ‘the world’s most powerful console’. That’s my point.

[jukins]

@WEPLAYDIRTY I'm primarily a PlayStation guy but you gotta give it up to Microsoft on the design on the Xbox 1 x. As far as consoles go it's far beyond anything anyone has ever done. And im not just talking power. For example vapor cooling in a console? This advanced cooling allows them to reach enthusiast level you speeds and bandwidth.

While I won't be getting the Xbox one x because I'm midway through saving for an actual high end pc rig, it is exciting to see consoles finally go beyond a typical console build aka "customized" downgraded low wattage pc components.

[WePlayDirty]

-_- again. It’s not hard to make the world’s most powerful console. At the time, the OG xbox was the world’s most powerful console. This article shouldn’t exist. The only reason why it does is to hype up a console that won’t be the most powerful in a few years.

[Weeblordbad]

It is and it isn't, it's not just about throwing money at it. You want it to be small, have no power brick, be quiet, low TDP, reliability at every potential point of failure and not cost an arm and a leg. All those things don't come with just spending money.

MS is barely straddling that line and I'm unwilling to say they've failed. What Sony and MS do with designing a console is so far beyond what you imagine, you should probably just cease speaking about it.

[MegamanXXX]

This new console should help Microsoft surpass the 30 million mark now. But still has a long ways to go. Hopefully they will put more focus on their internal studios next instead of third party deals.

[Genuine-User]

There is no way the Xbox One is still under 30 million.

[MegamanXXX]

You're right it just surpassed 30 million last month

http://www.vgchartz.com/art...

[zuul9018]

Thats an odd thing to say... some sort of weirdly cryptic backhanded insult about their sales?
Also youre implying that the xbox wouldnt surpass 30 mil without this? (Even though as you apprently say it already had)
Jeez i just have so many questions about your post.
A long ways to go til what? Do they have to reach a target number? Whats the reward for when they get there? If they reach wherever they have to go will it change your opinion? How long do they have to reach wherever they have to go? Its a long ways right, so do they get a long time? If they reach that point but others have moved in the time it took to reach that point is the point changed? Do they stop once they reach that point?

[MegamanXXX]

Actually I want Microsoft to do better than Sony in the game department. Competition is healthy in the industry.

[tontontam0]

Yup xbox fans are going to buy an xbox again because of unacceptable performance of the original xbox one and xbox one s.

Same old hardcore xbox fans are going to buy xbox one x, no significant increase in userbase will happen. so basically ms is just milking their fanbase and not increasing it.

[thexmanone]

Let me fix that-

Yup Sony fans are going to buy an PS4 again because of unacceptable performance of the original PS4 and PS4 slim

Same old hardcore PS fans are going to buy PS4 Pro, no significant increase in userbase will happen. so basically Sony is just milking their fanbase and not increasing it.

See how that works

[tontontam0]

Let me fix that- again

Yup Sony fans are going to buy a PS4 again because they want better performance.

Same old hardcore PS fans are going to buy PS4 Pro, a slight increase in userbase because refurbished original ps4's will be bought by new users.

[PhoenixUp]

I noticed that Xbox Ones demo kiosks are being taken out of Gamestop, most likely to replace them with XOX models

[SierraGuy]

No it's because nobody plays them (no games) and scaring away customers.

[Genuine-User]

Yeah, most likely.

[Bigpappy]

some Gamestops already have them.

[tontontam0]

Yup because ms wants to forget the original xbox as soon as possible,

See the articles floating around they treating as if the original xbox one is non existent.

[EddieNX]

They used magic. Saved u a watch.

[Genuine-User]

The same magic Nintendo used to build the Switch? Yes? Ok.

[MunchMiller00]

Let's see here. They got some off the shelf parts, put them together, and called it a console.

Do we really need to drag it out in a video? Like there's some magic that MS made for these components to work better or something?

[SierraGuy]

It's the cloud remember? Duh!

[TejasTV]

I don't think Microsoft even wants to remember.

[TejasTV]

What do you do with it though?

[Godmars290]

Wait for 3rd parties to make games for you.

Pay 3rd parties to make games for you, mandating online multiplayer and later demanding other additional features which drive up production costs while refusing to pay more for them.

[Prince_TFK]

Wow you sure do know alot about the internal operation at MS. They should hire you to replace Phil.

[Godmars290]

@Kun_ADR:

Naw, too much of a SP fan to support their apparent MP focus.

[TejasTV]

I don't really play 3rd parties that much and don't have a 4K tv and probably won't for at least 3 years. Too little too lat imo. I used to love halo but I'm not really into sequels after a certain point and I'm not a racing game person. I just don't think the Xbox is for me personally. Crackdown looks fun but I think it will get old fast. I'm pumped for god of war though even though it is a sequel probably past the point I usually like but dem trailers doe.

[SierraGuy]

Watch porn in 4K. Oh and play Cuphead.

[TejasTV]

Meh cuphead isn't my cup of tea and I don't have 4K anything. Not really a graphics whore, probably why I don't have a problem with switch hardware being underpowered.

[thexmanone]

Lets see,
1.Enjoy playing the best version of 3rd parties games
2. Enjoy playing anyone of the 1354 games available right now
https://en.wikipedia.org/wi...
3. Enjoy the over 300 BC games available.
4. Enjoy playing UHD disk on my 4k LG OLED tv
5. Enjoy (in my opinion ) the best online service available

[TejasTV]

Can it play god of war? Which system do I get for that?

[slavish0]

Lmao u have 0 interest and r stealth trolling. Dont buy it we dont care 😂

[TejasTV]

Yep lol. You got me

[windblowsagain]

With glue, metal, a piece of string and a bobby pin.

[Godmars290]

By favoring then - business - popular polices regarding motion control, information gathering and DRM with the system that came directly before it that it's a reboot of?

[Chris12]

I have a tin foil hat that would fit you nicely.

[DrumBeat]

I'll definitely be playing all my 3rd party games on the Xbox One X. Since the PS4's had the better hardware I've been playing on it and the Pro, but now Xbox has the raw power, so that's where I'll be playing my 3rd party titles. My PS4 Pro will still get attention, just not as much. First party game machine only.

[bluefox755]

The same way you build any console, or the same way Sony built the current most powerful console, and the same way the next one will be built. It's just like any other console, only with updated components. This sort of thing has been happening for decades...

[PCgamer98]

If this thing plays most games especially open worlds at 60 fps then I would gladly call it a game changer.

[jznrpg]

Like they did something special lol, they waited a year big deal

[LiamKreptic]

What’s with this “most powerful” BS? Every fu***** console iteration is the new “most powerful” console. It’s like when they say “GTX 1080 Ti is the worlds most powerful graphics card!!!!” Only to have that change in literally 12 months. It’s stupid. I just don’t get it...

[DrumBeat]

That's how marketing is. Even though something better is always around the corner, there's always a 'best option' for a moment. So, companies make the claim.

Welcome to life.

[LiamKreptic]

Like idk it feels deceptive. Cause nothing will ever be “most powerful” until nothing is made anymore. Its like people saying “THE BEAST” well yeah until the new Xbox comes out.

[tontontam0]

I don't get the fans who are so "AMAZED HOW POWERFUL THE XBOX ONE X", it's more powerful because it came out later than ps4 pro and it is more expensive nothing special about that.

I would be amazed and I would have become an xbox fanboy if the xbox one x was priced at a lower price than ps4 pro.

PC fanboys are more rational than these console only users. every year a "MOST" powerful gpu or processor comes out but you don't see them bashing mid range pc users.

[LiamKreptic]

I’m a PC and PS4 gamer. I agree that PC gamers don’t bash mid range (instead they do it to consoles which is confusing too), but yeah it’s just a confusing iteration for Xbox imo.

[tontontam0]

@LiamKreptic

well right now pc gamers are too busy bashing each other intel vs amd, nvidia vs. amd.

[Chris12]

Sony did the same with PS4 Pro, it's par for the course in this sector.

[LiamKreptic]

I really didn’t read up on the pro since it didn’t seem that interesting to me, but the X has been marketed as literally “the worlds most powerful console.” Well duh, it better be cause it’s coming out in 2017. If it wasn’t then Microsoft would be digging their grave. But I just don’t get it cause the next Xbox will be most powerful...

[timotim]

This fall, X and a LG OLED...unbeatable combination. 😘

[Trekster_Gamer]

I disagree with the article I may not have a 4K TV but there will be definite benefits using the Xbox One Scorpio my 1080p TV until I get a 4K TV in part this article sounded like a Sony Fanboy sneaking into Microsoft...

[_LarZen_]

I'm excited for the new Xbox One X. But what got me even more excited is that this has a 6 tflops GPU. When the PS5 or the next Xbox comes they will hopefully be around 10 tflops. Meaning most games will be native 4K. And 4K will be the new standard. And it's the models that come after that is truly exciting.

Because when they have hit that 4K wall. Hopefully the next focus will be to go from 30 to 60 fps with focus on CPU.

[DrumBeat]

The focus after that will be half-assed 8K iterative consoles, like today's PS4 Pro and Xbox One X for 4K. Then after that we'll get 'True 8K.' Then after that we can finally focus on detail over resolution, and maybe we'll even be able to focus on frame rate. For now though, we're stuck in the resolution rage. May as well relax, we're not leaving this station for awhile.

[_LarZen_]

Hehe, yeah I can sadly see it happening c^,

[ClanPsi1]

They waited a year and then release it. Bam, most powerful. Pretty simple. It isn't some sort of f**king meaning of life conundrum. The next console that comes out after this one will be the new most powerful console, and the cycle will continue indefinitely as it always has.

[Nodoze]

It will be VERY interesting to see how this thing stands the test of time. There is LOTS of heat building up inside this box. MS had issues last generation with this (RROD anyone). While they are talking up the Vapor Chamber Heat Sink only time will tell.