The Xbox Series X & S Aren't Quite The Home Run Xbox Needed

Rocket Chainsaw: The Xbox Series X and S come so close to being a home run for Xbox, but they fall just short.

[crazyCoconuts]

The XSX isn't even a base run. We'll see how the XSX does when we er... actually see things running on it.

[darthv72]

Obviously its neither a base hit nor homerun because it hasnt even been up to bat yet.

The baseball analogies can wait until after its had its turn at bat. Then you can use them.

[crazyCoconuts]

Good point. I would like to suggest a revision to the title of the article: The Xbox Series X & S Aren't Quite The Draft Picks Xbox Needed

[CaptainObvious878]

False.

The xsx has batted 2 times already. I'm of course referring to the two game showcases earlier this year.

Although, I'm not sure the analogy fits here. See, if a batter misses all 3 pitches he/her team score at least stays where it is, it doesn't go down. MS's second showcase actually did harm to the brand, they became the laughing stock of the internet are were memed on hard.

So I think a more accurate analogy would be if the batter suffered a stroke and start continuously hitting themselves in the face with their own bat.

[itsmebryan]

I would say the same about PS5. It has lower specs but, we don't know how it will translate to performance.

All of this is just speculation. But Xbox Series S running Gear 5 at 120 fps is a good sign for Next gen.

[anast]

They went to the plate, but revealed a shoddy Halo project that wasn't even in engine. That's a swing and a miss.

[TheProblem]

Sony is again about to show us what a true next gen console is

[RaLgEs]

LOL 🤣🤣🤣
29315;🤣

[crazyCoconuts]

@Koolaid - we always hold the door for MS to go through it first. Good manners and all...

[gamer7804]

its a base "hit"... anyways, hardware wise it looks fantastic, but that is only half the battle.

[hulk_bash1987]

The Series S is defintely a homerun as far as price to specs is concerned. Its an entry-level next gen console. That no one expected to be as affordable as it is. There may not be that many console launch exclusives to be excited about for me, but what a great move by Microsoft.

[cooperdnizzle]

How is it a great deal? From what I gather it’s pretty under powered and seems like a cash grab from m$.

[hulk_bash1987]

Where else can you get a 1440p 120fps gaming experience for $299?

[GamerRN]

rocketchainsaw.com.au is not the website that gamers need... What a weird article... Not biased at all

[anubusgold]

Today you can run at 1440P Max detail on Pc with a GTX 1080 on the latest call of duty at Max settings and get 80fps and it looks great. But that is maxed out turn it down to the next graphics settings and you get 100 fps. Turn it down to streamer settings and you get 140 fps. Multiplayer games like battlefield 5 runs over 100 fps i get 120 fps in 64 player matches with a Gtx 1080 at 1440P so the series S should be alot better than that. SO for 1440P it should better than a 1080. If they focus on texture detail and HDR the series S will be hard to beat. You people forget the cpu in both consoles were crap and the gpus. These cpus were 50 percent slower than a 7700K and the Gpu got destroyed by a RX 580. The series S should be a great 1080P or 1440P machine just turn up the detail and keep the fps high add in HDR or raytracing and you wont even care because it will still have so much eye-candy. Higher resolution does not fix a ugly game. As a pc player i will drop my 4k tv down to 2k on console if it means i get a locked 120fps at 1440P 4k is not worth it.

[TranceHop]

I'm looking forward to pre-ordering Series X on the 22nd. I apologize to the N4g community for being excited for the Series X lol

[potatoseal]

I downvoted you for your apology. No need to apologize man. Get what you like and be excited for it. Most console gamers own a PS4 and want to get a PS5 someday. So most people on N4G own a PS4 and want to get a PS5 someday. If N4G is pro-Sony, then everywhere is pro-Sony. They've got the most market share and mind share. If you apologize here, then you might as well apologize everywhere you go.

[chrisx]

Funny thing is those who have been here knows what it was like during the early 360 and ps3 days. It was all pro xbox anyone who supported sony got downvoted the hell out because of that $600 tag. I won't lie i found it ridiculous too,the price and I also got a 360...till the ps3 got cheaper when I got it. Sony did turn things around massively especially with those amazing games.

[gamer7804]

right, unlike hardware power, games are subjective, so get what you like and play with who you like. doesn't matter which corporation makes more money.

[morganfell]

People do not remember the day on N4G when every hot headline on top of the forum said something like, Sony is Dead, or Sony is Finished, or The PS3 is the last Console From Sony. Every one of them was about Sony doom. Those of us who knew better, knew what Sony meant are about to be rewarded. If you think last generation was mismatched, well in colloquial parlance, "You ain't seen nothin' yet." Sony is about to own this generation regardless of the price of the PS5.

It is laughable after the Microsoft CGI show, the death of HALO vid, the Series S multiplatform strangle machine, and the Phil Spencer infomercial gamers would still defend Xbox. Fact, if you are supporting MS at this point...hand in your gamer credentials.

[NeoGamer232]

@chrisx @morganfell
I remember those days on N4G as well, but, I am not sure going the other way (downvoting XB articles / comments for no reason is going to stop the cycle of stupidity.

Sony fans had their time in the sun with XBO. Now, gamers should become civil and respect each other regardless of platform. We should be united as gamers not company marketers when we don't get paid to market their products.

[Imalwaysright]

chrisx

I joined this website in 2007 and you are full of shit and so is anyone else repeating that lie.

[Julion0715]

Can’t wait to get mine preordered as well no apologies on my end

[Silly gameAr]

I don't think you have a reason at all to apologize at all. You like what you like. I'm just struggling to see what it is that you really like about the series x that makes you want to get it. But, that's my problem.

[Automatic79]

@Silly for myself on Xbox Series X. It's were my friends and family play. Xbox has games that cater to me especially mp titles. Day one looks good with a combination of exclusives and third party like Gears Tactics, Crossfire X Second Extinction, Call of the Sea, Medium, Assassins Creed Valhalla, Dirt 5, Yakuza like a Dragon, Tetris Effect, Cyberpunk 2077 and Call of Duty to name a few.

[CaptainObvious878]

@Automatic

Most of what you listed are 3rd party and you won't be able to tell the difference between the xsx and ps5 versions without a magnifying glass.

Tell your friends and family to get a ps5 and they you get the best of both worlds and don't have to miss out on the best exclusives. AND you'll be supporting a company that is pushing the industry forward in a positive direction that actually deserves your money.

[Koolaidude]

The most powerful console and new developers making games.

[LOGICWINS]

Apology accepted lol. The last Xbox I owned was the OG one. I also had a PS2 at the time, but I used the Xbox more simply because the games looked/ran better.

As potatoseal said, just because Playstation dominates the console market doesn't mean it's the right console for YOUR needs. Enjoy the Series X!

As for me, I need to see games actually running on the Series X before I invest $500 into one.

[isarai]

Hey man, get what you like. I just don't like when people spew BS to try and justify their decision or prove themselves. Spread of misinformation is like my biggest pet peeve in life. But if you just like Xbox cause you do, then have a blast man! What games you plannin on getting?

[TranceHop]

@isarai The Medium, Gears Tactics, CrossfireX, Cyberpunk 2077, and Assassin's Creed Valhalla

[isarai]

Cyberpunk is definitely one i'm getting on next gen, also waiting on the next gen version of Doom Eternal, i want to play those games with VRR/Gsync and faster loading the next gen consoles will offer right off the bat. UGH! i cant wait to see more of what these consoles are gonna be capable of!

Also of course i'm picking up Spider-Man and Ratchet & Clank. LET'S GO!!!

[Automatic79]

@TrenceHop

I am with you Xbox Series X day won.

[shinrock]

🤣

[danny818]

This community is ASS. I come here due to the news being faster than IGN and other interesting articles

[CaptainObvious878]

Hey man, if you want to go with the company that has a long history of abysmal exclusive support and that is basing all their decisions around their precious gamepass, so much so that they created a weak 'next gen' console that's going to hold back the other two actual next gen consoles, then be my guest. I don't need to downvote you.

[Kiwi66]

Why can't you just let people get the console that they want

[medman]

Buy them both and you never have to apologize to anybody.

[isarai]

Or just buy what you want and f#@k people's opinions 🤷‍♂️

[Valkron1]

I'm looking forward to buying PS5 and Series X. I apologize to the N4g community for not being poor

[Koolaidude]

Facts

[jznrpg]

That’s dumb . I’m not wasting my money on Xbox and I could buy a shitload of them .

[hiawa23]

No apology needed. I too am excited. I currently have a PS4 Pro and all of its exclusives and my X1X still gets played more so, I can't wait to pre-order and pick up my console. MS delivered with Xbox1X and I expect the same out of the Series X.

[waverider]

I think when gamers find out the price of expansion ssd cards....

[Teflon02]

I don't get why ms always uses some odd or inconvenient way to upgrade storage space. Especially since they're using a pretty slow NVMe drive they should have allowed to use any kind. Or authorized specific ones. Because ones that perform better are good prices now too

[SullysCigar]

Probably because money.

[anonymousfan]

I dont think its that big an issue just get a cheap regular USB external drive and transfer games back and forth to your SSD when you feel like you want to play them. How many games do you need to have installed at the same time?

[isarai]

Gamepass is though. I said it before and i'll say it again. I'm positive Xbox is trying to make Gamepass what they're all about and phase out of the hardware competition. I'd be super surprised if they return for another generation with a console front and center after this next one.

[CaptainObvious878]

We could be wrong, be anyone with 2 brain cells can see that.

That's why I'm so perplexed anyone would support them and the huge reduction in quality gaming experiences gamepass will bring

[Zhipp]

Or they're trying to make Gamepass their main thing and also just...keep selling Xboxes. Why would Gamepass mean they have to stop making hardware? Windows is available on every machine known to man, and office is even on Apple devices, yet M$ keeps their Surface line of products. Why is Xbox different?

[averagejoe26]

Cyberpunk 2077 not being on gamepass is a huge weak spot and a sign of things to come. A lot of major developers don't want their game sales being neutered by gamepass. Microsoft is going to have to figure something out.

[PhoenixUp]

“After the Xbox One, anything beyond a catastrophic failure could be considered a relative success.”

I wouldn’t call the XO a catastrophic failure. It received plenty of support from various publishers and sold close to SNES. Sure it could’ve done better, but it’s a real stretch to put it in the same territory as Wii U, Vita, N-Gage, Dreamcast, etc.

[Unknown_Gamer5794]

That's true. I'm sure MS would much rather sell more XSX units than they managed with the XB1 though. It's no Vita or WiiU in terms of lifetime sales, but it's no PS4 or what the Switch is shaping up to be either. So...sales purgatory?

[OB1Biker]

The quote was meant for the xb1 reveal.
It WAS more than a catastrophic failure for Ms who was targeting a billion consoles sales.

[System_Call]

So comparing the low sales of a handheld device is the consolation price for the Xbox One? Wow.

The author is referring as a catastrophic failure because of all the momentum Xbox had and how they destroyed all that themselves.

[Putnum]

I stand by my theory that Microsoft has secretly purchased Electronic Arts. EA Play included in Xbox Games Pass... The preview console trailer shows two Series S's going inside a Series X. SSX confirmed! It's Tricky!

[talocaca]

One is all about raw power, the other one is about being cheap.

Doesn't seem like MS can be bothered showing actual games anymore. They just care about marketing presentations.

[Automatic79]

3 game presentations including this past week (Series S) in last 5 months went right over your head. I guess one show would have been sufficient.

[ziggurcat]

... and the only gameplay was 10 minutes of Halo: Infinite running on PC.

[Father__Merrin]

The closer it comes to next week's ps5 reveal Fanboy web outlets will sludge over a shit ton of Xbox articles literally about anything to drown out playstation....

[Hakuoro]

Yes, history shows this is sadly true.

[darthv72]

Like what was happening with playstation articles during all this xbox news the past week? Both sides do it... if they didnt then we might think something is wrong.

[SegaGamer]

You're hardly one to complain about fanboys. You fanboy for Playstation and play down Xbox and PC every day.

[mrsolidsteel20]

I think we have to come to terms with the fact that MS are placing all of their bets on Gamepass and the consoles are secondary to them.

I really thought they were coming into next gen with a serious focus in competing with Sony when it comes to first party studios and exclusives, but as we see right now that is not the case.

I’m still little shocked how they dropped the ball so badly again.

I mean they showed their console first, they had a tear down of the system, they had everybody amp up with the spec sheet, etc.

However, when it came to that crucial moment to show the games, they slipped up not once, but twice.

It’s a shame, because they had everything going for them at one point, but they clearly lost that momentum.

[Zhipp]

They showed a lot of games, but they're all further out than we would have hoped. It'll still be a while before we see what those studio acquisitions are made of. Meanwhile, Sony has at least 2 big titles that are supposed to release in 2021.

Things aren't ideal for Xbox, but.it's a little too soon to count them out yet. Also, Gamepass and first party go hand in hand. MS needs their studios to deliver quality titles for Gamepass to succeed. Licenses are expensive. It makes more financial sense in the long term for them to develop games in house that they can keep indefinitely than it does to constantly renew increasingly expensive third party licensing for Gamepass. Deals like EA Play have got to be bleeding them dry at the moment.

I imagine that's why they're pushing backwards compatibility so hard too. It gives them nice, permanent additions to their library that they don't have to pay for.

[Knightofelemia]

I'd go Series X over S but I am going PS5 over Series X

[Koolaidude]

Nice, so go to the PS5 section then. Why are you here?

[Unknown_Gamer5794]

Because a link to the same article is on the homepage.

[Knightofelemia]

I am sure your mommy will buy you a Series S I bet if you're a real good boy and keep up your marks up in grade 4 and remember to do your homework maybe your mommy might buy you a Series X instead for Xmas.

[subzero1992]

Xbox needs to just keep doing what their doing. Delivering value.

[CaptainObvious878]

*visible confusion*

What?

[Unknown_Gamer5794]

I take it MS is like the KFC/Taco Bell of gaming? Sure, that might fit some definitions of "value", but it's not exactly fine dining.

[bumbleforce]

Last I saw Playstation hasnt shown a single game running a 120. I believe they only have 2 games totals. foralmost double the price you get 30 fps on ps5 as opposed to to 120 on series s

[TeamIcoFan]

120 fps on last gen games running at either 1440p or less...*slow clap*

[Charal]

What a pathetic vision a a game quality.....

[Felix313]

And we've seen how many games running on the Series X hardware?? At least Sony has shown actual on console gameplay...

[Putnum]

This is a really good article but I still want more information on GAMES!!!!!!! Where are the games!?!?!

[Bathyj]

Every time they're at the plate they bunt

[PappyQ]

I have a PS4 slim, and OG XBox One (Hand-me-down from a friend), an XBox One X (purchased when my PS4 Pro was on life support) and a Switch. While I’m excited to see what they’re all capable of, my current train of thought is to go with the All Access process and get a Series S (I don’t have a 4K/120hrtz tv). Maybe one day I’ll upgrade to a PS5 and a Series X, but for now, having access to all my XBox, 360 and XBox One libraries, game pass, xcloud and (to a far lesser extent) EA Play is what I’m interested in.

[DEEHULK88]

Rocket Chainsaw tells me all that I need to know.

[gold_drake]

yea its so weird. they market strategy is just so weird and not exciting at all somehow.

[Unknown_Gamer5794]

Lulz, and MS will need to sell enough Xbox units, or with the XSS holding back multiplats, some studios may just prefer to make PS5 exclusives instead.

[Sophisticated_Chap]

The Series S would be awesome if it weren't for the small 512 GB SSD. When you throw in a 1TB external SSD for what is rumored to be $219.99 USD, you're $20.00 more than the cost of the Series X. At this point it doesn't make any sense. The Series X on the other hand, is going to be an absolute beast of a console. Series S is for casuals only, or people who don't understand what they're buying.

[bamillington]

gamepass is so good its a no brainer with xcloud included with ultimate (i like sony also by the way) will be getting series x next gen and either best monitor or tv i can afford.

[YourMommySpoils]

The day xbox will have a home run. HA!

[keegamer80]

This is hard to say because Xbox is my jam. I wonder how many 360's they would have sold without the RROD.