Xbox One X versus PlayStation 4 Pro: Which high-end console brings the better hardware?

Microsoft’s new Xbox One X brings some beefy specs.

Tonight at E3 in Los Angeles Microsoft introduced the new Xbox One X and it’s time to compare their best to Sony’s latest and greatest.

The Xbox has become more than just a game console as Microsoft has focused on making it another part of the expansive Windows platform. Meanwhile, Sony has focused on adding features to the PlayStation to bolster the gaming experience as well, though they don’t have software expertise of Microsoft. But for many, the whole thing boils down to which console will play the games and movies we want, and look the best while doing it.

While the hardware won’t tell the whole story, here’s what we know so far.

Sounds like a beast! Your move, Sony.

We’ll keep updating as Microsoft reveals more information about the Xbox One X.

Xbox One X vs Xbox One S: What’s the difference?

Microsoft has officially unveiled the Xbox One X – its new Xbox console claimed to be the “most powerful” games machine yet.

It’s due to be released on 7 November, with the price yet to be revealed, but we know the internal specifications, which put it very much as a premium machine over the existing Xbox One S.

We look at just how different the two are to give you an idea of which you might want to adopt come this Christmas.

• Xbox One X: Release date, price, specs and everything you need to know
• PS4 Pro vs Xbox One X: What’s the difference?

Xbox One X vs Xbox One S: Graphics

One of the major differences between the two machines comes with graphical hardware and the ability to render full 4K visuals.

The Xbox One S is capable of up to 1080p graphics running at 60fps (as on games such as Forza Horizon 3). Not all games achieve those heady heights, but its 12 GCN compute units, running at 914MHz can reach it. The console also upscales all video output to 4K for compatible TVs, but games do not run in Ultra HD natively.

Xbox One X, on the other hand, will be capable of full 4K visuals running at 60fps, thanks to new graphics processing that consists of 40 customised compute units running at 1.172GHz. That’s much more powerful and faster than the currently available machine.

The new console will also be compatible with games featuring HDR (High Dynamic Range). The Xbox One S already has that functionality.

Xbox One X vs Xbox One S: CPU and memory

Like with the graphics, Xbox One X will be much more powerful than the Xbox One S in central processing. It will run on eight custom x86 cores, clocked at speeds of 2.3GHz. The Xbox One S also has eight cores, which run at 1.75GHz.

The One X also bosses things in RAM. There will be 12GB of GDDR5 RAM with bandwidth of up to 326GB/s. The Xbox One S has 8GB of DDR3 RAM and 32MB of ESRAM, with bandwidth of 68GB/s and 219GB/s respectively.

The upshot of this is that developers get far more memory and speeds of processing to play with on Xbox One X.

Xbox One X vs Xbox One S: Games

The great news for Xbox One S owners is that, at present, Microsoft is committed to making the same games for Xbox One S and Xbox One X (and the original Xbox One come to that). You buy an Xbox game and it’ll work on all three consoles, albeit with different grades of performance.

One X versions, therefore, will be far better graphically than their Xbox One S counterparts – with greater resolution, draw distances and the like. However, the gameplay will technically remain the same. As will the price considering the game is the same bought copy.

It’s a similar deal with the PS4 Pro. All PlayStation 4 games work on Pro and the standard PS4, they just look better on the Pro – for the most part.

By doing this, Microsoft also ensures that the One X launches with an enormous back catalogue of Xbox One games available from the off. It will also be compatible with backwards compatibility for Xbox 360 games.

• How Xbox One backwards compatibility works: The Xbox 360 games list and more

Xbox One X vs Xbox One S: Home entertainment

The Xbox One S was the first games console to offer 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray playback, with HDR picture tech to boot. It’s still the only one currently on the market too.

Xbox One X will follow suit when released in November.

All other major streaming apps and services are expected to be on board too.

Xbox One X vs Xbox One S: Price and release date

Here’s the million dollar question – almost literally: how much more does Xbox One X cost?

We’re still waiting for official UK pricing, but it will cost $499 in the States. We suspect that will translate directly as £499.

In contrast, the current Xbox One S can be bought for around £200 with a game (the 500GB version anyway). A version with a 1TB hard drive can be snagged for around £250.

Obviously, the Xbox One S is already readily available. But the One X isn’t too long from launch.

Xbox One X vs Xbox One S: Conclusion

There is little doubt that Xbox One X is a more powerful, more graphically competent games console than the Xbox One S. But you will have to pay a premium price for such a premium machine.

If you are content with Full HD gaming and want something to play games on right now, the Xbox One S is an excellent games machine and 4K Blu-ray player for just £200. Hardcore gamers might want to hold on though, as long as they have deep pockets.

Xbox E3 2017 press conference, watch the Xbox One X launch right here

Microsoft has announced its new console, now known as the Xbox One X during its E3 2017 press conference, which you can watch right here. It is also being streamed online in 4K.

The Xbox Media Briefing will be held today, Sunday 11 June, starting at 2pm PDT (so 10pm in the UK). It’ll run for approximately two hours and is expected to mainly focus on the all-new console – also promising 4K gaming.

The livestream is available below.

It will also stream in 4K on the official Xbox Mixer Channel. It will also be in 4K on YouTube.

Further livestreams of the event will appear on the Xbox Twitch Channel, Twitter and Facebook Live, albeit not in Ultra HD.

• E3 2017: Rumours, press conferences and what to expect from the world’s biggest games show

Microsoft has also revealed that it will be streaming daily shows from E3 2017 – Xbox Daily: Live @ E3 – on the Xbox Mixer Channel from Monday 12 June. The exact times it runs are below:

• Monday 12 June: 3pm to 4pm PDT (11pm to 12am BST)
• Tuesday 13 June: 1pm to 4pm PDT (9pm to 12am BST)
• Wednesday 14 June: 1pm to 4pm PDT (9pm to 12am BST)
• Thursday 15 June: 10am to 4pm PDT (6pm to 12am BST)

In previous years, the Xbox Media Briefing was held on the Monday morning of E3 week. However, the new Sunday time slot puts it on the same day as the Bethesda conference, rather than Ubisoft and PlayStation – thereby spreading the events out a little.

Xbox One X: Release date, price, specs and everything you need to know

Microsoft pulled a bit of a pleasant surprise during the E3 2016 games trade show by announcing Project Scorpio – a 4K-capable version of its console which it called the “most powerful console yet” – would go on sale in 2017.

At E3 2017 it’s confirmed the official name: Xbox One X. So here’s everything you need to know about Microsoft’s new monster console ahead of its worldwide release date on November 7 2017. 

Xbox One X: Hardware and specs

Microsoft’s mid-generation successor to the Xbox One was rumoured to be a far more powerful than Sony’s new, fully 4K-capable PS4 Pro before official specs were available. And now we know that to be true.

• Official Xbox One X specs revealed, most powerful console ever

The Xbox One X runs on what is called the Scorpio Engine, which uses a custom SoC (system on chip) with an enhanced version of the Jaguar core CPU adopted by the Xbox One S. Almost every other aspect is beefed up too:

• Processor: Eight custom x86 cores clocked at 2.3GHz
• Graphics: 40 customised compute units at 1,172MHz
• Cooling: Liquid cooled vapor chamber
• RAM: 12GB DDR5
• Memory bandwidth: 326GB/s
• Hard drive: 1TB 2.5-inch drive
• Optical drive: 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player

That’s powerful enough to run games at true 4K resolution (3840 x 2160) at up to 60fps.

Microsoft

The inclusion of a UHD optical drive is interesting because Sony decided against a 4K Blu-ray deck for its PS4 Pro. The Xbox One S has a 4K player, too. 

And all that in the smallest Xbox console ever. Yep, the One X is smaller and better looking than any Xbox before it.

Xbox One X: Does it replace the Xbox One?

Microsoft has been clear from the first mention of then-called Project Scorpio that it will be a part of the Xbox family. Games that run on Xbox One or Xbox One S will also run on Xbox One X, but with better graphics, higher frame rates or resolutions. It’s a similar story to the way the PS4 Pro plays PS4 games but often with enhancements and sometimes in 4K.

The message pushed by Spencer is that “no one gets left behind”, so as One X pushes things forwards, Team Xbox is keen to ensure that the humble Xbox One gamer doesn’t feel they have to go out an buy a new console to keep up. Equally, those who do get the One X will still be using the same services as they do now and be part of the same Xbox Live community.Microsoft confirmed at E3 2017 that all Xbox One accessories will also work on Xbox One X.

Xbox One X: True 4K gaming at 60fps and virtual reality

The Xbox One X is all powerful, capable of running true 4K gaming at up to 60fps, which you won’t get from the Xbox One S.

When then-called Project Scorpio was announced, there was also a fair amount of talk of VR – which the One X is more than powerful enough to handle. Bethesda has already shown off plans for Fallout 4 in VR – which we’ve had a chance to demo – so another aim of the Xbox One X will be to deliver high-fidelity VR gaming.

Since, Microsoft has confirmed that Project Scorpio will support the company’s own Mixed Reality headsets in the future. Devices that utilise the tech formerly known as Windows Holographic offer a mixture of VR and augmented reality (AR), and that means virtual reality games will eventually be part of the new console’s make-up.

However, rumour has it that Microsoft will not be showing off Xbox VR content at E3 2017. So one to wait on until 2018.

Xbox One X release date and price

The Xbox One X will launch worldwide on 7 November 2017. No staggered launch from country to country, meaning there’s plenty of time to buy one ahead of the holiday season.

Price is confirmed as $499 for the US. We’re yet to learn of pricing in the UK and other territories. That marks the One X as pricier than the PS4 Pro – but we expected such, given the powerful components within.

‘Metro: Exodus’ brings post-apocalyptic gameplay to Xbox One X

Microsoft has plenty of Xbox One X exclusives to show at E3, but here’s one you might not have expected: a brand new Metro game. 4A Games has taken the wraps off of Metro: Exodus, the next installment in the post-apocalyptic franchise. There’s precious little to know about the plot line at this point, but it’s clear that the game will make good use of the One X’s hardware — even the devastated Russian landscape looks gorgeous. The title is a console exclusive on Xboxes, and it’ll also be available for Windows 10 when it arrives sometime in 2018.

Follow all the latest news from E3 2017 here!

Brave the nuclear winter of post-apocalyptic Russia in #MetroExodus [RP], departing 2018. https://t.co/UQ1Hm4LOgK #XboxOneX pic.twitter.com/74ZqBu2xUn

— Xbox (@Xbox) June 11, 2017

Source: Xbox (Twitter)

‘Assassin’s Creed Origins’ arrives October 27th

Gladiator battles, pyramids and hippos. Yes hippos. Assassin’s Creed Origins will tell you the story of how the assassin brotherhood began, with Bayek, an Egyptian sherif. While the rumors of an Egypt-based title have been around for weeks, we finally got to see how that will shape the stealthy-stabby series.

Besides a cinematic introduction, we also got to watch a few minutes of in-game footage, with Bayek on horseback, with his trusty bow, scouting an Egyptian town that appears more lively and richer than its predecessors. The protagonist also taps into a clever little ability that gives him (literally) a birds-eye view of areas in-game, without having to scale towers and walls.

Battles look relatively unchanged from older Assassin’s Creed titles, although arrows and other projectile weapons appear to stick around longer in the sides of your enemies and wildlife. Talking of wildlife, basing a game in Egypt offers up plenty of animals beyond the equestrian kind: Elephants, leopards, hyenas and something resembling a giant water snake all get a quick tease, and it appears that some animals will work with Bayek, while others (most of ’em) will want a fight. Expect to hear more details in the next few months, but you can expect to play Origins when it launches October 27th.

Zombies won’t invade ‘State of Decay 2’ until spring 2018

Microsoft may have teased the invasion of the undead at last year’s E3, but during the 2017 installment we’re still not getting a release date for the sequel to State of Decay. In fact, the game has been delayed. Next spring, you can enter the zombie apocalypse in the survival horror State of Decay 2 on Xbox One and Windows 10. After being slated to launch this year, the title won’t arrive until 2018.

As a refresher, the game is set a year and a half after the zombie apocalypse and centers on a group of survivors who were abandoned by the military. The people who remain from a refugee camp have to work together to keep the hoards at bay. From the looks of it, that’s going to be a tall order.

When Microsoft Studios’ State of Decay 2 finally hits Xbox One and Windows 10 though, it will be a “Play Anywhere” title. Buy that digital copy and you can play it on both your console and your PC. And yes, it’s also an Xbox and Windows exclusive title. While you’re waiting a few months to start your journey of survival fighting both zombies and the drama of being a non-infected human, have a look a new 4K trailer just down below.

Follow all the latest news from E3 2017 here!

Microsoft will unify most ‘Minecraft’ platforms this summer

Minecraft is about to enter its final form. In August, the Better Together update will land and unify the game across nearly every platform, from iOS and Android to Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. This unification comes courtesy of the Bedrock Engine, which currently powers all mobile, Windows 10, Amazon Fire and VR versions of the game. Now, it won’t matter which platform your friends use to play Minecraft — every version will be the same, they’ll share DLC and updates, and all players will be able to create new worlds together.

Well, nearly all. The PlayStation 4 and Xbox 360 versions of Minecraft are not included in the initial Better Together update.

“Beginning with Xbox One and Nintendo Switch, we’ll be expanding that code base so that all — the vast majority of our community is united,” marketing lead Emily Orrson says.

The Better Together update brings Bedrock to the Xbox One and Nintendo Switch versions of Minecraft, allowing them to play with nearly every other version of the game. With the update, participating consoles get Realms (the game’s multiplayer mode), plus the newly launched Community Marketplace. Any existing worlds will transfer directly to Bedrock, as will all DLC players have purchased. The Better Together update also brings infinite worlds to Xbox One and Switch, up from the current, limited grid of about 3 miles by 3 miles.

“They’ve been asking for some relief there for a long time, and now they’ll be able to walk right up inside of those worlds and continue generating them infinitely,” executive producer Jesse Merriam says.

But players on PS4, arguably the most popular current-gen console on the market, won’t be moved to Bedrock right away.

“Our goal is to unite all Minecraft players,” Merriam. “Today we’re able to confirm Xbox One and Nintendo Switch, but all of our current-gen partners — we’re interested in connecting all of the Minecraft players. It’s just about what we can confirm today.”

The PS4 and Xbox 360 versions of Minecraft will retain their platform-specific names, while the Java version will formally be named Minecraft: Java Edition, which is what most players call it anyway. So, now, there’s the core Minecraft game and three fragmented editions (PS4, Xbox 360 and Java) that aren’t guaranteed to receive the same updates or cross-platform capabilities as the main version. It’s a welcome step toward unity, but not a complete leap just yet.

“We’re partnered very closely with Apple, Google, PlayStation, Nintendo, Amazon, our VR partners — a lot of that, it just is a lot to make sure we’re always working in everyone’s store and everything else,” Orrson says. “Right now we are doing our best to get everybody connected, but it is work to work through all of the scenarios we encounter.”

Microsoft bought Minecraft in 2014 for $2.5 billion, so it makes sense the Xbox One version is getting some love in the Better Together update. Of course, Sony builds the PS4.

“It’s not for lack of wanting to or effort on our part,” senior global communications manager Aubrey Norris says. “We are in discussions with our partners right now. We want PlayStation and we invite Sony to bring PlayStation players onto Bedrock, but we can’t get any further into — these are confidential discussions.”

Microsoft and developer Mojang are far from done with Minecraft. Better Together is part of a larger push to transform Minecraft into a “creative platform.” Developers want it to be more than a game. They want it to be the foundation for community-driven innovation, connection and creativity.

The Community Marketplace, which hit Pocket and Windows 10 editions in June, was a big part of this transition, allowing players to search for, buy and sell their own in-game creations.

Servers are also getting some attention in Better Together. These allow players to mess around in completely unique worlds built by dedicated fans. Now, there’ll be a Servers tab next to the “Worlds” and “Friends” tabs at start-up, introducing a whole new community of players to fan-favorite universes like Lifeboat, an endeavor created by a 14-year-old and his dad that boasts 6 million players per month. Initial servers landing on Bedrock are Lifeboat, CubeCraft, Mineplex and InPvP.

One final update makes Minecraft even more self-contained: A built-in crafting recipe book.

“We want to bring the strengths of all the existing crafting systems together,” Merriam says. “Today, the Java edition is really known for discovery and experimentation as you go to the crafting grid and try things out and see what actually turns out to be a recipe.”

The recipe book will allow fans to toggle recipes directly in the crafting grid, eliminating the need to set down the game and find the relevant Wiki page. But, those who like to experiment with recipes are free to ignore the book completely.

“Anyone who’s interacted with a hardcore Minecraft fan will know there’s a lot of pride a kid will feel if they know the recipe for a boat,” Merriam says.

Follow all the latest news from E3 2017 here!

‘Minecraft’ makes the leap to 4K this fall

Minecraft isn’t just getting unified online play this year — it’s also receiving a huge image quality boost. Microsoft and Mojang have unveiled a Super Duper Graphics Pack (no really, that’s the name) that will give the building game a major visual upgrade, including 4K resolution, high dynamic range, sharper textures and loads of special effects (including light rays and fancier water). Logically, you’ll need an Xbox One X or a beefy Windows 10 PC to get the 4K HDR experience. The add-on is free when it arrives this fall, and the developers are quick to stress that it’s strictly optional — you can stick to the regular graphics if the Super Duper pack feels blasphemous to you.

Follow all the latest news from E3 2017 here!

Source: Minecraft

Cyberpunk game ‘The Last Night’ revealed as Xbox ‘launch exclusive’

It’s been a couple of years since we checked in on The Last Night, but the indie game just popped up during Microsoft’s E3 2017 briefing, now tagged as a “launch exclusive.” The Studio Ghibli-inspired dark fantasy game is looking as beautiful as ever and of course, the trailer is presented in Xbox One X-ready 4K resolution. Deemed a “cinematic platformer” it brings equal amounts of rain, neon and atmosphere — sort of like an 8-bit Frame City Killer. Check back later this week when we have its developers, Odd Tales, join us for a live interview.

Follow all the latest news from E3 2017 here!

Source: Xbox (YouTube)