Step forward, Microsoft and Sony.
The formers consoles the Xbox Series S and X launched worldwide on November 10.
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The times right for new hardware.
So whats new with these new game consoles?
Two things: abigbump in processing power, and exponentially faster hard drives.
Ok but what does that mean in practice?
On the graphics end, both consoles can deliver 4K graphics at higher framerates with increased fidelity.
And the faster hard drives?
Well, they allow for near-instant load times.
A cool implementation of this can be found inAstros Playrooms time trials mode.
Whats ray tracing?
Should I buy these new consoles now?
Unfortunately you cant, even if you want to.
Pre-orders sold out instantly and its still unclear when theyll be back in stock again.
But lets assume theyre available for the sake of argument.
If you care a lot about graphics and load times, then go get a new console.
Should I buy an Xbox or a PlayStation?
Services-wise, Microsoft has the edge with its Game Pass subscription.
This means you wont have to pay $60 whenHalo Infinitecomes out next year.
Xbox Series S or X?
PlayStation 5 normal or digital edition?
Which model do I buy?
Get the one with a disc drive.
Both models come with a 1TB drive, which isnt expandable at launch.
On the Xbox side its a little bit more complicated.
On the high-end theres the $499 Series X, made for 4K TVs and packing a 1TB drive.
What do I need to look for when buying a new TV for these new consoles?
The PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X are both made for 4K TVs with HDR10 and HDMI 2.1.
The PS5 notably doesnt support 1440P, which is a standard a lot of gaming monitors use.
Can I play my old games on these systems?
Your old games will load faster and, in a lot of cases, theyll run better too.
Do my old save games transfer over?
On the Xbox they all magically transfer over through the magic of thecloud.
Still, not bad, right?
Do I need to buy new controllers?
The Xbox consoles fully support Xbox One controllers.
you might connect them and play whatever you like.
The PS5 supports PS4 controllers, but only for PS4 games.
Will these chonkers fit in my cabinet?
Idk, hope you have a big cabinet because these consoles are absolutely massive.
The Xbox Series X is a cute chubby little box that comes in at 15cm x 15cm x 30cm.
The Xbox Series S is a dwarf compared to its bigger brethren at 27.5cm x 6.5cm 15.1cm.
All three consoles can be placed vertically or horizontally.
How about the noise levels?
This might be my favorite thing about these new boxes: theyre all quiet as hell.
My PS4 Pro sounded like a jet engine while playing, so this change is more than welcome.
These are all the questions I could think off, but surely this isnt all there is to know.
And be sure to read Rachels hardware reviews of theXbox Series Xand thePlayStation 5for more details.
Happy gaming, friends.
