The fourth round of the console competition between Sony and Microsoft has been going on for a good eight months.
For Microsoft, the Xbox Series X competes in the top class.
How good is the new console really?
Every few years, console gamers face the difficult situation of which console to choose. The winners change again and again. If the PlayStation 3 fell behind the Xbox 360 from the start due to its immensely high price and its incredibly complicated hardware to program, luck turned in the next generation. Microsoft put down a real belly landing at the launch of the Xbox One, from which the console should no longer recover.
Instead of giving the players what they want - a new, powerful console - Microsoft presented an expensive and overcomplicated device as a control center for home entertainment with Kinect motion control.
Too bad that Sony introduced a “normal” console with the PS4 under the motto “This is for the players”, which could calculate faster and was also cheaper than the Xbox One.
The rest is known: The PS4 dominated the market for years.
Xbox Series X versus PS5: Both manufacturers have done their homework
But now the cards are being reshuffled. And both manufacturers have done their homework. Normally, after eight months, you could be pretty clear about who got off to a better start in terms of sales. Usually. But the corona pandemic and the associated shortage of semiconductors * are currently ensuring that both manufacturers sell as many consoles as they can somehow produce and transport. Both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X are de facto
permanently sold out
. Even for this test we had to inquire about a test device from Microsoft because simply none was available on the free market. The device was made available on loan free of charge, but this has no effect on the content of this test.
The scarce availability of new hardware that after general fears
probably until the coming year
into it
is unlikely to improve, the launch phase extended immense.
And gives consumers more time to watch which platform is performing better.
The PS5, which we examined in detail in this test, scores with strong technology, the prospect of strong exclusive titles and a new controller that is as innovative as it is fun.
What can the Xbox Series X set against that?
Also read
: PS5 is better?
Xbox counters with a brilliant answer.
Xbox Series X in the test: the design
The Xbox Series X is - at least for the tester - unquestionably
the most beautiful console
that is currently on the market. In the beginning there was a lot of blasphemy about the black, upright cuboid. It has often been compared to a refrigerator, which Microsoft used for marketing purposes to advertise a real Xbox mini-refrigerator. However, if you have the console in your hand, feel the good, heavy workmanship, see the details and the chic matt black finish, then it quickly becomes clear that Microsoft has created a timeless beauty here that
fits
perfectly into any living environment
. And by the way, the chimney effect ensures that the hardware
is cooled as quietly as a whisper
becomes.
In contrast, the design of the PS5 looks a bit like a "drama queen".
In addition, it is a bit louder and the details are much cheaper.
+
Reduced, cool and really chic - the new XBox Series X is the most stylish console currently available.
© Amazon product image
Xbox Series X in the test: the technology
Technically, the PS5 and Series X differ far less than you might think.
Both rely on
chipsets from AMD and 16 GB of RAM
.
The Xbox processor clocks slightly higher.
On the other hand, the mass storage of the PS5 is faster, but with 825 GB of storage space it offers significantly less than the
Series X,
which is equipped with 1 TB
- and which, in contrast to the PS5, which still does not allow any expansion of the console memory, with (admittedly really expensive ) Plug-in cards can be expanded.
Both consoles feature a
4K UHD Blu Ray
-
drive
.
Read more
: Not enough storage space on the Xbox Series S?
Xbox spokeswoman explains how to get the most out of it.
+
As usual, the Series X controller turned out to be excellent.
From a purely technical point of view, however, it cannot keep up with the Playstation 5's dual sense.
© Xbox Press Media
This suggests that the consoles deliver a head-to-head race in terms of performance.
And indeed: when gaming, there is hardly any noticeable difference.
If you should really count the frames now, then one or the other device may have a slight edge.
Otherwise you get
extremely powerful hardware
here and there
, which is also cooled as quietly as a whisper.
The Xbox
is a bit quieter
than the barely perceptible whispering PS5
.
You simply don't hear anything.
Without a suitable 4K HDR TV, the new consoles make no sense
One thing you need in this context, but also to say very clearly once again: Who does not
4K
-
TV
has available (with proper HDR) at home, the investment in the new consoles can save or calculated in this context is still the same to buy a new Television. For the test, we operated the Series X on a 65-inch 4K OLED TV.
Because it can really flex their muscles and show
,
what they draufhat
. Connecting it to an old Full HD television would be like buying a Ferrari and then driving around town in first gear.
In the end, design is a matter of taste, technically the two consoles are more or less the same, as far as you can tell with the currently available game software.
So it is so that in the end, once again
, the games will decide
,
which platform will prevail
.
Also interesting
: Xbox Series X sold out?
This will notify you when the console is available to order again.
Xbox Series X in the test: The (exclusive) games
So far, both manufacturers have only partially covered each other with fame. That has a lot to do with the pandemic and the still blatant delivery problems. The former causes a
number of problems and delays for game manufacturers
thanks to home office;
titles originally planned for this period are postponed because they simply cannot be finished. But it is also a purely economic decision not to burn off a fireworks display of exclusive titles for the new consoles. Because currently far too few consoles have reached the people out there.
You just have to do the math: The production of a new exclusive blockbuster now costs a good 100 million dollars or more.
But if only a million consoles have been sold worldwide (the manufacturers do not give exact figures) and everyone who has such a console also buys the new game for 70 to 80 euros, the proceeds are not even enough to cover the production costs to cover, let alone make a profit.
That is why it is economically understandable that the manufacturers are
currently pressing a little on the brakes
and ensuring that the new game still runs properly on the last generation of consoles.
Exclusive blockbusters have to show what the hardware can really do
Real, exclusive blockbusters, which show what the new generation is really capable of, are currently still nil. While Sony with "Returnal" and "Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart" has published at least two titles in which the PS5 could ever play properly with the muscles,
currently underway at Microsoft still quite empty at Exclusive
-
shelf
. "Halo Infinite", for which the fans are desperately waiting, has been postponed for a year until this fall, then "Forza Horizon 5" will also show what the Series X can really do.
Obviously, Microsoft does not want to make at least one mistake from the last generation of consoles: To offer too little exclusive material for its console.
In the past few years, the company went on an intensive shopping tour and incorporated numerous top-class developer companies that will now produce exclusively for the Xbox.
The thickest fish that was pulled ashore is undoubtedly "Bethesda", which
stand
for series of games like
"Fallout"
or
"The Elder Scrolls"
, which were million
sellers
in the past.
Since then,
"Doom"
and
"Wolfenstein"
also belong
to the Microsoft portfolio.
A development that could make the console race really exciting.
Because Microsoft still has a real ace up its sleeve.
For further reading
: Xbox Bethesda Deal: Exclusive title confirmed - Playstation players are losing out.
Xbox Series X in the test: The Xbox Game Pass as a deal breaker
Game flat rates are a dime a dozen.
And everyone who is new to the start is of course the “Netflix for games”.
The promise
to pay a small monthly fee and for that gamble everything
,
everything there was
.
The problem: Most of the game flat rates mainly offer older, unknown and mediocre games - or those that you already have on the shelf anyway.
That has now changed.
+
The most important blockbusters that will be available in GamePass from day 1 this year.
© Xbox / Microsoft
Microsoft launched Game Pass some time ago. Recently, there is also a (very recommended)
Game Pass Ultimate for 12
,
99 euros a month
. If you keep your eyes open for offers and are ready to commit yourself in the long term, you can dust it off much cheaper. The Ultimate package not only
includes
the normal Game Pass, but
also Xbox Live Gold
- so you can play online with anyone at any time. In addition, you can use
Xbox Cloud Gaming
to
conjure up
a virtual Series X
on your mobile phone or tablet
at any time
and play everything you like to play at home in the best quality (provided you have a decent internet connection).
For further reading
: Xbox Game Pass: All information about Microsoft's game subscription.
Wide selection of prominent EA titles for free on top of that
On top there is
EA Play
with an extensive library of games from the manufacturer "Electronic Arts". In the end
, that adds up to
well over 100 games
that you can simply download and play for as long as you want. This includes not only titles from Microsoft and its studios and Electronic Arts, but also blockbusters from other well-known manufacturers that are temporarily available. Of course there are classics like
“Black”
or
“Day of the Tentacle”
,
“Dead Space”
or several old
“Final Fantasys”
. But there are also
"Destiny 2"
including all expansions (for DLCs and the Season Pass alone, 60 euros per year are due here),
“FIFA 21”
or the surprisingly fun “Outriders” (here in the test).
Plus lots of exclusive titles like the phenomenal
"Gears Tactics"
or the wonderful multiplayer pirate vehicle "Sea of Thieves".
In-house productions available in the Game Pass from day 1
The special thing about the Game Pass: Especially with the in-house productions from Microsoft and its purchased studios, the titles are
also included in the Game Pass
from
day 1
. That means: When the new sci-fi role-playing game "Starfield" from Bethesda comes onto the market at the end of 2022, you can either pre-order it for 70 euros and play it on the release day. Or you can subscribe to the Game Pass and get started at the same time without paying extra. You don't have to be an Einstein to work out how quickly the 12.99 euros a month pays off in this way.
If you play two blockbusters a year for the release
,
you basically have the money back in it
.
This is a real selling point, which makes the Xbox Series X a game pass machine and
a real advantage in the competition with Sony
.
The PS5 also has free monthly games for Playstation Plus subscribers and an extensive library of PS4 classics to download - but the offer is not comparable to the Game Pass.
Read more
: Xbox Game Pass Cloud Gaming: How It Works on PC, Android, iPhone & iPad.
Xbox Series X in the test: the conclusion
Microsoft has found its way back on the road to success with the Series X.
The hardware is fast, quiet and stylish, and the price of 499 euros is absolutely reasonable.
Good prerequisites to emerge as the winner of the permanent duel with Sony in this round.
But Microsoft has to step up now.
It takes exclusive titles
that really take advantage of the capabilities of the Series X and that are included
in the Game Pass from day 1
.
Because as exciting as the new hardware is: With the Game Pass Ultimate, Microsoft is holding the future of gaming in its hands.
Now all they have to do is play their trump cards in a concentrated manner.
* tz.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA.
Also interesting
: Xbox: Microsoft dares to make a risky change - gamers won't take part.
Playstation 5 and Xbox Series at a glance
Playstation 5 and Xbox Series at a glance
