What’s Kind of the Same?
Games and Apps
For at least a few years, every game released on the Xbox Series X will also get an Xbox One version. So in a way, there’s technically nothing exclusive or new to the Xbox Series X.
The Xbox Series X isn’t bringing along any first-party exclusive games to launch either. Halo Infinite was supposed to be the big one, but that has been delayed into 2021.
There are, however, some exclusive games (PC notwithstanding) available. They include Bright Memory 1.0, Enlisted, and The Falconeer. You also have, of course, the Xbox One first-party games that are also available on the Xbox Series X such as Gears Tactics, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Gears 5, Sea of Thieves, and more.
If you played in the PlayStation ecosystem and missed out on any of those games, then you’ll have lots of solid titles to catch up on to hold you over until some of the new games start flowing in.
This is especially true if you decide to subscribe to Xbox Game Pass.
This is not exclusive to the Xbox Series X, so we won’t spend a ton of time talking about it in this review, but yes, Xbox Game Pass is on the Xbox Series X, and it’s still the best deal in gaming right now. Its library of high quality, timely, and first-party games is unmatched by any other competing service right now.
If, however, you’re coming from the Xbox or PC ecosystem, you will likely find the launch lineup extremely lacking. Sure it’s a better and prettier version, but it’s still effectively the same game.
App-wise, everything you would want or need is here or is on the way. Nothing much to report there.
Backwards Compatibility
Xbox Series X will feature backwards compatibility with every single Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox One game with the exception of certain Kinect-based games. This is what gamers have wanted since the beautiful, “fat” launch day PS3. For fans of Xbox at least, Microsoft has delivered on that request.
Just having the backwards compatibility is a sweet enough deal, but like the Xbox One X, games will take advantage of the improved hardware without even receiving upgrade updates. They will just look and play better on the Xbox Series X (and Series S).
Speaking of which, some games from last-gen will also be getting updates that allow them to even further leverage the increased horsepower. For example, Halo: The Master Chief Collection will feature support for 120 FPS on the Xbox Series X.
The Controller
The Xbox Series X controller is very similar to the Xbox One controller with a few differences.
It’s slightly smaller for starters. I have big hands and I definitely noticed the difference. I prefer the size of the Xbox One controller, but it wasn’t so small that I was uncomfortable holding it for long periods of time.
Second, it’s very… clicky, which I loved. The d-pad is the best yet on an Xbox controller, and it’s come so far since the days of that insulting 360 d-pad.
The top buttons and triggers feel snappier and the middle buttons are a bit more satisfying to hit. They don’t “smush” in like they used to. Also there’s mercifully a Share button now in the middle of the controller which brings the Xbox Series X up last-gen standards at least when it comes to getting clips and sharing screenshots. Going through OneDrive is still the path of least resistance it seems, though, to getting your content up onto a PC automatically.
Finally, the back has a textured grip now which feels great… unless you don’t like textured grips then I guess it won’t? In my opinion, everything should be textured… e v e r y t h i n g.
Other than those things, though, the controller is pretty much the same as the Xbox One controller.
Storage Issues
What’s also the same are the storage issues players are going to run up against very quickly this generation. The Xbox Series X only has 1TB free.
Here are the 13 games I have downloaded to my Xbox Series X right now: Bloodstained, Borderlands 3, Cuphead, Destiny 2, Doom Eternal, Fallout New Vegas, Forza Horizon 4, Gears 5, Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Phantasy Star Online 2, Sea of Thieves, Soul Calibur II HD Online and Tell Me Why Chapter 1.
That’s a healthy mix of large, medium and small games right? Nothing too crazy? Probably won’t take up that much space… well, it actually takes up 84.9% of my Xbox Series X’s hard drive. This equates to 120.9 GB free which is probably enough for one or maybe two more big games.
You have two options, really, in combating this issue. One, you could get into the habit of deleting games you’re not actively playing. Or two, you could purchase the storage expansion cards, which are not cheap. 1TB goes for $219.
To be fair, this is not an issue exclusive to the Xbox Series X. It’s something every gamer is going to have deal with in this day and age.
