Microsoft used their annual E3 press conference to let the cat out of the bag on their upcoming Xbox One hardware variation on Sunday. That’s right, the system codenamed “Project Scorpio” that Microsoft announced at E3 last year has taken its final form. Say hello to the Xbox One X; set to launch on November 7th, 2017 for $499 and deliver more graphic power than any console out there.
The Xbox team also took this opportunity to make clear that, while Xbox One X is newer, more powerful hardware, the entirety of the Xbox One library of games will still play on every Xbox One, whether you have a day-one original console or plan to buy Xbox One X later this year.
However, Microsoft is betting hard on gamers seeing the value of the extra horsepower in Xbox One X. The beefier version of the Xbox One is set to help future-proof the console that has infiltrated so many living rooms by taking it into the 4K generation and giving it more graphic potential than any other gaming console currently on the market, including the Sony Playstation 4 Pro.
That means new games playing in native 4K resolution. That means 4K UHD Blu Ray playback, something Sony’s PS4 Pro isn’t currently capable of doing. Most importantly, that also means all the current accessories and games you already have will work with Xbox One X.
Even if you don’t have a 4K TV, the Xbox One X will also improve even 1080p versions of existing Xbox One games. And they managed to pack all of this in the smallest Xbox form-factor ever.
Using over 40 games, 22 of which are exclusive to Microsoft’s platforms, the Xbox team showed off brand new titles running on the Xbox One X hardware and every single one (even the purposefully pixelated Minecraft) looked jaw-dropping stunning, regardless of style or genre. (Here’s a link to the 49 biggest game available on the new Xbox One X).
No matter what you play, whether it be Anthem, Crackdown 3 or Metro: Exodus you can look forward to true 4K console gaming later this year once the Xbox One X hits streets.