That trust is derived from the strength of the core system architecture.
Xbox 360 s disc drive Ps4#
Smart Delivery is another feature it is easily taken for granted but, given the problems PlayStation users have had with cross-generation games running between PS4 and PS5, it's one we shouldn't lose sight of – I'm always confident that the Xbox Series X will play the best version of a game available. Quick Resume is partially responsible for this, making bouncing between multiple games at once effortless – there's so little friction in resuming progress of recently-played games that it's easy to justify splitting your attention. I've played more games in the last 12 months than I have in quite some time. The Xbox ecosystem is becoming an irresistible value proposition, particularly when paired with the power, form, and functionality of the Series X hardware. That's beginning to seep into the services too – with high-profile Game Pass releases able to sidestep download times by launching directly from the Series X-powered Azure Cloud network. The Xbox Series X is quick and efficient, removing so much friction from the act of picking up your controller and immediately launching into the action. The flaw in this line of criticism is that, in spite of the gnawing sense of familiarity, everything just works. We're months, if not years out from playing new releases from the majority of the Xbox Game Studios, while the release schedule of the Bethesda group, following the high-profile acquisition of ZeniMax Media, is a little uncertain beyond Redfall and Starfield which are due to bring their lengthy production cycles to a close in 2022. Halo Infinite is just weeks away, but after Master Chief returns to action the first-party well begins to look a little dry.
Xbox 360 s disc drive simulator#
And it's still relatively awe-inspiring how Microsoft has been able to optimize Microsoft Flight Simulator with such little compromise on home console. Landing just within the year one release window, Forza Horizon 5 is a truly transformative racing game. Many of the best looking and playing games on the new-gen system system are Xbox One games optimized for Xbox Series X or releases that were previously optimized for One X I'm beginning to crave video games that will truly push the Series X, in the same way that Deathloop, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, and Returnal have already done for PS5.Īnd they are coming, albeit slowly.
As transformative as Microsoft's commitment to backwards compatibility has been, it means I've spent most of this year replaying Xbox One classics improved by reduced load times, more consistent framerates, and improved fidelity thanks to featuresets like Auto-HDR.