The Xbox Series X Review: Ushering In The Next Generation of Game Consoles
by Brett Howse on November 5, 2020 9:00 AM ESTGameplay Analysis: Gears 5
As one of the few titles available pre-launch that is “Optimized for X|S” platform, Gears 5 is a great chance to see what some of the optimizations might bring about for the Xbox Series X. With the Xbox Series X offering about double the GPU performance, and far more CPU power on tap compared to the Xbox One X, we should be easily able to see games that ran at 4K 30 FPS jump up to 60 FPS, and 4K60 jump up to 4K120.
Gears 5 Cutscenes
The first optimization that is instantly noticeable moving between the Xbox Series X and the Xbox One X is how much smoother the cutscenes were. With the additional hardware the newly optimized game jumps from 30 FPS on the Xbox One X to 60 FPS on the new console.
Xbox One X Texture Sample
Xbox Series X Texture Sample
Zooming in on individual frames, the Xbox Series X is also able to leverage more detailed textures as well, as everything in the scene is much sharper than it was on the Xbox One X.
Gears 5 Gameplay
Gameplay was a different story, as both the Xbox One X and Xbox Series X both allow for 60 FPS gameplay, although the Xbox Series X will offer 120 FPS multiplayer, at the expense of visual quality. The Unreal Engine 4 used in Gears 5 uses dynamic resolution to keep the framerates at or close to 60 FPS on both consoles, but with the more powerful hardware on the new console it is able to keep the average resolution higher and with a higher framerate.
Gears 5 was first released over a year ago on PC and console, so it is interesting to see Microsoft choose it as a launch title for the Series X. The move to 120 FPS multiplayer should be a boon for smoothness and latency, although it will almost certainly require a new television to get the most out of, and with variable refresh rate available as well. Still, this is a nice update for the Gears 5 game. The optimizations have been around both visual quality, as well as framerate and latency, and show off what tweaking existing titles can do with the new hardware.
Here's a clip of Gears 5, showing the new 60 FPS cutscenes with the high-detail textures on the Series X.
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edzieba - Thursday, November 5, 2020 - link
I think the weirdest thing about this console generation is the near total lack of enthusiasm, either organic or marketed.I haven't seen a single advert for either console, this is the first I've heard that one of them is available, and couldn't tell you when the PS5 will be launching either. Nobody I know is in the "yeah, new <Console>! I'm gonna get it so I can play <Game>!", and can't think off he top of my head of any of the launch titles for either (again, no adverts).
Stuka87 - Thursday, November 5, 2020 - link
I have seen tons of buzz online. But you are right that I have not seen a single commercial for them. And the video commercials I have seen, all mention the XBox One. Definitely very different than the last time new consoles launched.nitram_tpr - Thursday, November 5, 2020 - link
I saw my first ad for the XBox Series X yesterday on UK TV, it looked impressive but it wasn't a really hyped up advert. Not like the ads for the new iphone (the most powerful iphone ever, well duh, it's new!)dmoros78v| - Monday, November 9, 2020 - link
phones have gotten ridiculous as of late, and we are guilty... we cry foul when a new console costs more than 500 bucks, but are happy to pay 1000 for a phone? iphone prices have become really distorted, the hardware on an iphone cant be twice as expensive a the hardware in a fully fledged gaming console for 4K HDR ray tracing etcstar-affinity - Tuesday, November 10, 2020 - link
I think you are comparing apples to oranges here. Saying that a phone is expensive compared to a gaming console isn't fair since there are quite a lot of more complex technology in a (modern) phone which can do *a lot* more than play/stream games and play/stream media.A (flagship) phone has
-Camera (multiple) built-in.
-Face recognition.
-Multi-touch display built-in.
-Speakers built-in.
-GPS built-in.
-Gyro built-in.
-NFC built-in.
-Battery built-in.
Plus many more things in a tiny packages which requires a lot of R&D.
By your reasoning, how do you motivate a graphics card for $2700?
d0x360 - Wednesday, November 18, 2020 - link
The bill of materials on a phone is 1/4 their price. What you're paying for is the short sales shelf life and r&d. My note 10+ was NOT worth $1200+. I liked my note 9 much better and it was $600 cheaper.How do you justify a $2700 gpu? You don't because the most expensive one is only $1500. If you're paying ebay prices for one then you're a fool. Wait until after December and save yourself money.
dotjaz - Tuesday, November 10, 2020 - link
Mobility carries a premium, that's the name of the game. Plus phone companies can't profit after they sold you the phone while consoles can be sold at a loss and still viable.How dumb are you to compare those? A fair comparison is a ohone on contract! And they are still cheap.
dotjaz - Tuesday, November 10, 2020 - link
*phoned0x360 - Wednesday, November 18, 2020 - link
Yea they can profit, who are you kidding. They have apps and services that they use to sell information. They make way more than the cost of the phone back off ever owner..unless they use adguard. Adguard.com version, not the fake one in the play store or ios store.wrongfuljesus - Wednesday, February 10, 2021 - link
Well buckaroo, tell me, is your battery life dying? Is your phone on it's last legs in 6 months of usage? Well, the phone company is here tell *YOU* that you can come to their repair shop for a good and "safe" repair! For the low price of your self dignity and your yearly salary, you can pay to get your battery replaced. Boom, company profit buddy. Serializing parts, can't repair on your own. Tell me now, tell me, how is the phone company NOT profiting after they sold you this device?