This thing is so small and quiet that you’d think he was a student at Milford School
One thing I’ve noticed in the last few launches of the console, something that became quite evident the day I pre-ordered the Xbox Series S, is that I no longer feel the enthusiasm I had when I moved in. -a new generation. Even last week, when I managed to secure a fully digital PS5 just minutes after I vowed not to try again until next year, it didn’t push me to jump for joy. I used to jump for joy with a new console. I remember being quite dizzy in line at Walmart to buy the GameCube on a cold November morning.
Maybe because the promise of better technology has led to declining profitability in the last two generations of consoles. Maybe “I don’t have to play now” because there are no release titles for Xbox Series or PS5 consoles. Or maybe, because games are so prolific now that it’s games, rather than the hardware you choose to play.
Whatever it is, I miss the excitement that comes with anticipating a new console. But with the Xbox Series S, that feeling has been replaced by something that might be just as satisfying: the satisfaction of knowing you bought quality hardware. I like the S Series not because I managed to buy the “hot new thing”, but because this console is built so well.
It is also much smaller than I thought it would be. This white box measures 10.8 “long, 5.9” deep and 2.5 “high when positioned sideways. It weighs less than five kilograms. You could fit two of them into an Xbox X series with a few square inches The current entertainment center is not suitable for many systems, so having a Wii U, PS4 Slim and Switch connected to it takes up a decent amount of usable space.Fortunately, the S series is so small that it sits comfortably next to My Wii U. And unlike the PS4 Slim, this one is quiet.
The setup took about five minutes to go through the Xbox app on my phone. Fully synced with my Xbox account, the console scanned my TV and showed me what S-Series options I can and can’t use. I know this is not a new technology, as some of my fellow writers rushed to explain it to me in Slack, but they taught me more about my TV and how to access HDR content on PS4. Getting 120 fps is out of the question because my TV doesn’t support it, but I can experience 4K video playback with any game that supports it (and yes, some games support 4K on the S series).
If you are looking for a power console, you should probably know what the S Series packs in its small body. Here are some of the specifications:
- CPU: 8x cores at 3.6 GHz (custom Zen 2 CPU)
- GPU: 4 TFLOPS, 20 CU @ 1,565 GHz
- Memory: 10 GB GDDDR6
- Internal storage: 512 GB (364 GB usable)
- Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby TrueHD with Atmos, DTS 5.1
In the last month, I’ve fallen in love with how fast the Xbox Series S gets me into my games. Fast replay is a remarkable feature. For games that support it, it will get you back into action in just a few seconds, rather than waiting for a game to load. And it does this on multiple titles simultaneously, rather than just one game in a suspended state. The console itself is fast and bootable. If you go on the eco-friendly route with energy saving mode, it will take about 22 seconds to start. If you choose Instant-On, it’s about four seconds.
I also really dig the redesigned controller. I’ve always preferred the look of the Xbox controller to the PlayStation, because I taste good, but the changes here make it even better than before. In particular, the directional pad has a “clicky” quality and is a little more comfortable to use than my Xbox One controller.
Since the publication of this article, I haven’t actually bought any games for the console. Instead, I immersed myself in the Xbox Game Pass. And it’s a deep dive because it exists years of games and franchises I missed not owning the Xbox. Games like Fable III and Halo 4 which were once out of reach are now out of my reach. I liked new games with this service, like The Call of the Sea, and the recent addition of EA Play will help complete it Star Wars gap between seasons of Mandalorianul. At $ 15, it’s more expensive than PS Now. But it’s cheaper than Gamefly, which is good because, with the S series and my fully digital PS5, I can no longer rent games.
And these games run magnificently. Are most of what I play in the latest generation? Sure, but it’s nice to have access to these titles without any hiccups you might have had on previous consoles. The games optimized for the S Series and X Series can be amazing, although this could have more to do with the incredible artistic direction used in these titles. There’s a good chance the Xbox Game Pass will run on your computer or TV in the near future, such as Stage or Moon, but until that happens, the S Series is a great point for service.
Depending on what you want from your next generation system, there are a few drawbacks to consider before buying an S series. As mentioned above, it has only 364 GB of built-in usable space. If you enjoy playing AAA Games a lot, expect those file sizes to start around 45 GB. Some games like Final Fantasy XV: Royal Edition and Quantum break, easily eclipses 100 GB each.
I have Phantasy Star Online 2, Yakuza 0, Planet Coaster: Console Edition, Alan Wake, Minecraft dungeons, Or the will of the strands, and Carion currently downloaded to my console, which takes up 39% of its usable space. I try to play each Game Pass title before moving on to the next, but there are a few games that I just won’t delete from the system. PSO2 it was a 75 GB download and there is no way to hell, with data limit, I will review this.
I’ve also repeatedly encountered a strange problem with streaming apps like Disney + and HBO Max. These applications will occasionally drop the image, and the screen will appear in black and white before continuing with any pursuit. While you enjoy The little horror shop, the problem persisted for more than half an hour until it finally stopped. And it does that whether I look at something or not. I can only browse the application itself and encounter this problem. Now that HBO Max is accessible via my smart TV, I don’t have to worry about using these video apps anymore. However, it is an incredibly strange and persistently ruthless problem.
We’ve seen some speculation that Microsoft could have made too many discounts on the Xbox Series S to actually sit around this generation of consoles. I don’t know if it’s true, but if this becomes a “transition console”, I’m fine with that. Because it gives me exactly what I want from it right now: it’s an easy gateway to those games I’ve missed in past generations, it’s quietly whispered, it’s small enough to fit nicely into my current booth. television and lets me play all games, just without the X-series bells and whistles.
Indeed, I can’t ask for much more here, apart from some valuable first-class titles. These will come eventually, but by the time they arrive, I have three generations of games to keep me busy. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to download Phantom Dust.
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