The next-generation console talks may not be as heated as many would expect at this point in time. So Microsoft dropped some new info regarding its next Xbox, the Xbox Series X.
In a post on Xbox Wire, head of Xbox Phil Spencer has revealed some more features packed into the console. Some we heard before back at the Game Awards reveal like Variable Rate Shading (VRS).
But there are new tidbits. First, a confirmation of computation power. The Xbox Series X has 12 teraflops of GPU compute power, which is true to the claim that it’s twice as powerful than the Xbox One X (6 teraflops), at least in terms of compute power, and definitely more powerful than Stadia.
While we know it’s using AMD’s Zen 2 architecture for the CPU, the GPU is using the RDNA 2 architecture. This is further ahead than AMD’s Radeon GPUs are offering like the RX 5600 RT right now. Which explains the hardware-based ray-tracing support- something AMD teased to be coming in next-generation of GPUs. Microsoft confirms ray-tracing is being done via DirectX- something being done already on PC.
The Xbox Series X also confirms a “next-generation SSD”, though details are scant in this regard. The console also has Quick Resume that allows multiple game instances to be suspended, not just one game. Other features include Dynamic Latency Input (DLI) to reduce input latency, HDMI 2.1 support, and 120fps support.
Microsoft confirms the Xbox Series X has backwards compatibility which allows it to play the OG Xbox, Xbox 360 and Xbox One games. And new to Series X is Smart Delivery. With this, should a developer support it, you only need to buy one copy of an Xbox game. Similar to Xbox Play Anywhere, but instead of Xbox One and PC, you share a copy for Xbox One and Series X.
Buy a copy of Cyberpunk 2077 on Xbox One and you’ll own the Xbox Series X version. CD Projekt Red confirmed that they are supporting Smart Delivery.
Xbox Series X is looking to be shaping up pretty well, though we don’t know how they are doing relative to the PS5 since there’s not much info from Sony’s side just yet. Both next-gen consoles are expected to drop this holiday season at the end of the year.
Source: Xbox Wire