Xbox Series X hands-on review roundup: What the critics are saying

(Image credit: Microsoft)

We finally have an idea of how the Xbox Series X performs and plays in the real globe, cheers to a handful of games critics that have gotten their hands on Microsoft's next generation panel. And while this first wave of Xbox Series X previews doesn't spill whatever details about upcoming games, it already appears like new features such as fast SSD loading and Quick Resume are literal game changers.

Those who tested the Xbox Series Ten early on did and so with a range of backwards uniform Xbox Ane games, while as well delivering impressions on the overall Xbox Series X hardware and controller. Here are the large takeaways from the critics then far.

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Crazy fast load times

At that place was one consistent takeaway with nearly every Xbox Series X preview — this thing loads games extremely fast. Michael Higham at GameSpot noted some dramatic improvements to load times, with Ruby Dead Redemption going from two minutes and 8 seconds to load on Xbox 1 X to just 38 seconds on Xbox Serial Ten. Similarly, Control went from taking about a infinitesimal to kicking upwardly on the older Xbox to only ten seconds on Xbox Series X.

Tom Warren at The Verge recorded similar improvements, with Sea of Thieves going from ane:21 on Xbox One X to 20 seconds on Xbox Series X, and Warframe improving from 1:31 to 25 seconds. The lesser line: information technology looks like your Xbox One games volition load up dramatically faster on the Xbox Series X.

Quick Resume is a real game-changer

Speaking of fast load times, critics were quick to gush about Quick Resume, which lets y'all open and suspend multiple games and hop betwixt them inside seconds. Higham was able to suspend up to half dozen games at in one case using the featured, and noted that switching between them took five to eight seconds. You'll even run into a small "Quick Resume" icon on a game'southward boot screen to let you know you won't exist starting it upwards from scratch.

"In conjunction with Game Laissez passer, where I'g oftentimes jumping betwixt multiple games I have downloaded anyway, Quick Resume truly shines," said Higham.

"Having played a bunch of games with Quick Resume, right now, for me, this is the sort of game-irresolute characteristic of Series 10," added Jeff Bakalar from Cnet.

Xbox Series X performance

Many outlets likewise highlighted the overall performance boosts of playing Xbox One games on Xbox Series X. Jeff Grubb at VentureBeat measured the framerates of running certain games on both Xbox One 10 and Xbox Series X, and discovered some notable improvements.

For example, Last Fantasy XV went from 42 frames per second on Xbox One 10 to 59 frames per second on Xbox Series Ten in the game'southward Lite manner, which prioritizes framerate over allegiance. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice saw an even more than dramatic jump from 37 frames per second on Xbox One X to a solid threescore on Xbox Series X. For a brutal, timing-based action game similar Sekiro, that can exist a literal game changer.

Xbox Series X hardware impressions

Previews seem pretty positive and then far on the actual Xbox Serial Ten hardware, which is a big and fairly subdued black brick that will sit down abreast your TV or desk.

"It ishefty, but in a expert way. When you concur information technology, information technology feels like a premium, $500 thing, for whatever that's worth," wrote Ryan McCaffrey at IGN. "When you turn it on, the box makes the same startup chinkle the Xbox One family of consoles do, and I'1000 a scrap disappointed in that, honestly."

McCaffrey besides noted that the console stays quiet, even when playing a relatively demanding game like Reddish Dead Redemption 2.

Grubb calls the new Xbox Wireless Controller "Microsoft's best-feeling gamepad ever, outside the Elite controllers," thank you to its improved grips, refined materials and a slightly heftier feel.

Xbox Series X outlook

There's still much of the Xbox Series X that needs to be tested, especially when information technology comes to how the console handles true side by side-gen games at 4K. We besides recommend keeping an eye on Digital Foundry for a more nitty gritty breakdown of Microsoft'due south new panel.

But based on these early impressions, it seems like Microsoft has delivered a powerful machine that dramatically cuts downward load times and makes information technology easier than ever to bound between your favorite games. Grubb even went as far every bit to say that "I don't want to go back to Xbox Ane or PlayStation 4."

We're eager to encounter if the PS5 tin can deliver a similarly seamless experience, and to find how both consoles handle proper next-gen games at launch. Stay tuned for more.

Mike Andronico is Senior Writer at CNNUnderscored and was formerly Managing Editor at Tom's Guide. When not at work, you can usually catch him playing Street Fighter, devouring Twitch streams and trying to convince people that Eagle is the all-time Avenger.

Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/news/xbox-series-x-hands-on-review-roundup-this-is-a-huge-step-up

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Xbox Series X hands-on review roundup: What the critics are saying