The Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S are the fourth generation of consoles in Microsoft's Xbox series, following the previous Xbox One. These consoles were released on November 10, 2020, and are part of the ninth generation of video game consoles, which also includes Sony's PlayStation 5, released the same month.
Both consoles use an AMD 64-bit x86-64 CPU and GPU. They include solid-state drives to reduce loading times and support features like hardware-accelerated ray-tracing, spatial audio, and Auto HDR, which uses machine learning to convert games to high-dynamic-range rendering. They also support HDMI 2.1 variable refresh rate and low-latency modes, as well as updated controllers. The Xbox Series X is designed to render games in 2160p (4K resolution) at 60 frames per second (FPS). The Xbox Series S, which is lower-end and does not include an optical drive, is designed to render games in 1440p at 60 FPS, with support for 4K upscaling and ray tracing.
The Xbox Series X/S are backwards-compatible with nearly all Xbox One-compatible games and accessories, including Xbox 360 and original Xbox games that were compatible with Xbox One. The newer hardware improves game performance and visuals. At launch, Microsoft promoted a "soft" transition between generations, similar to PC gaming, by offering the "Smart Delivery" framework. This allows publishers to provide upgraded versions of Xbox One titles optimized for Xbox Series X/S.
Critics praised the hardware improvements over the Xbox One and Microsoft's focus on cross-generation releases. However, they noted that launch games did not fully utilize the consoles' capabilities. As of June 2024, Xbox Series consoles are estimated to have sold over 28 million units worldwide.
History
Industry rumors about new Xbox hardware began as early as June 2018. Microsoft’s Phil Spencer confirmed at that time that the company was "deep into designing the next Xbox consoles." The hardware was expected to be a group of devices with the code name "Scarlett," including a low-cost version similar to the Xbox One family. This version focused on game streaming and backward compatibility, meaning older games could work on the new consoles. By March 2019, more rumors suggested two consoles in the Scarlett family, with code names "Anaconda" and "Lockhart," the latter being the low-cost model.
Microsoft officially announced Project Scarlett during its E3 2019 press conference. The company said it aimed for a smooth transition from Xbox One to Scarlett, with Scarlett supporting backward compatibility for all Xbox One games and hardware. At The Game Awards 2019, Microsoft revealed the design of Scarlett, which was later named "Xbox Series X," and set a release date for late 2020. A Microsoft spokesperson stated that Xbox Series X would be the fourth generation of Xbox hardware, branded simply as "Xbox" with no subtitle.
Microsoft planned to share details about the hardware and launch games for the Series X at the 2020 Game Developers Conference (GDC) and E3 2020. However, both events were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, Microsoft held online presentations in March 2020. Detailed specifications were shared by Microsoft, Digital Foundry, and Austin Evans of Overclock Media on March 16, 2020. From May until the launch, Microsoft planned a series of digital events called "Xbox 20/20," including an Xbox Games Showcase on July 23, 2020, which highlighted games from Xbox Game Studios.
On July 16, 2020, Microsoft announced it would stop producing the Xbox One X and the all-digital version of the Xbox One S to prepare for new products. The existence of the Xbox Series S, a lower-cost console, was guessed before E3 2019 based on a project called "Lockhart." The name "Xbox Series S" was confirmed through early hardware accessories. Microsoft officially announced the Series S on September 8, 2020, stating it would launch alongside the Series X in November 2020. Microsoft noted that the Series S had appeared in the background of previous videos featuring Phil Spencer in July 2020.
At Gamescom 2023, Spencer said Microsoft likely would not produce a mid-generation update for the Series X or Series S, as it could cause problems with game specifications. Instead, he explained that future hardware should be clearly different from previous models and that the next generation of consoles would likely be the tenth generation.
Hardware
When Microsoft's Xbox development team began working on the next version of the Xbox One consoles around 2016, they planned to create two different models, similar to the Xbox One X and Xbox One S, to meet the needs of different users. By designing both models at the same time, they ensured that games could be played on both systems without any problems. As with past Xbox projects, the consoles were given code names based on cities. The Xbox Series S was named Project Lockhart, after Lockhart, Texas, which Aaron Greenberg described as "the little city with the big heart."
For the more powerful console, the Xbox Series X, Microsoft aimed to at least double the graphical performance of the Xbox One X, measured by how many calculations it could perform each second (FLOPS), and to increase CPU performance four times compared to the Xbox One X while keeping the same noise level as older Xbox models. As engineers studied the power needs for these goals, they found the parts would use a lot of energy (about 315 watts) and create a lot of heat. This led to the decision to place the CPU/GPU, memory, and power regulators on one circuit board, and slower input/output functions on a second board. Mounting the boards on opposite sides of an aluminum case helped direct airflow for cooling. Other parts, such as the heat sink, shielding, power supply, optical drive, and fan, were arranged in a way similar to the game Tetris to fit into a compact shape, creating the tower-like design. To control noise, the system uses sensors to adjust the fan speed, and the open top allows air to flow through the unit. While some parts, like the optical drive and heat sink, set fixed sizes, the team was happy to achieve a square shape for the console.
Xbox head Phil Spencer said Microsoft focused on high frame rates and faster game loading times rather than higher resolutions. The Series X achieves this by matching the CPU and GPU capabilities better. Compared to the Xbox One X, the Series X's CPU is about four times more powerful, and the GPU is twice as powerful.
The Xbox Series X uses a custom 7 nm AMD SoC combining Zen 2 CPU and RDNA 2 GPU. The custom Zen 2 CPU has eight cores running at 3.8 GHz, or 3.66 GHz when using simultaneous multithreading. One core is reserved for the operating system. The GPU is based on AMD's RDNA 2 architecture, with 56 compute units (3,584 cores), 52 of which are active, running at 1.825 GHz. This provides 12.155 teraflops of power. The console has 16 GB of GDDR6 SDRAM, with 10 GB used for graphics (560 GB/s) and 6 GB for other tasks (336 GB/s). After system software uses some memory, about 13.5 GB is available for games. The Series X is designed to render games at 4K resolution with 60 frames per second, though Microsoft did not deliver support for 8K resolution as promised.
The Xbox Series X has a compact, simple design. It measures 15.1 cm × 15.1 cm (5.9 in × 5.9 in) in width and height, is 30.1 cm (11.9 in) tall, and weighs 4.45 kg (9.8 lb). It can be placed vertically or on its side. The front has a power button and an Ultra HD Blu-ray drive. A large fan is on the top. Spencer said the console is as quiet as the Xbox One X. The Series X includes an HDMI 2.1 port, a storage expansion slot, three USB 3.2 ports, and an Ethernet port. It does not have an infrared blaster or HDMI pass-through, but supports HDMI-CEC. A TOSLINK port for audio was removed in the final design. The controller pairing button has an IR receiver.
The Xbox Series S has similar hardware to the Series X, like the Xbox One S compared to the Xbox One X, but with less power. It uses the same CPU but at slightly slower speeds and a slower GPU (20 compute units at 1.55 GHz, 4.006 teraflops). It has 10 GB of GDDR6 SDRAM, with 8 GB for graphics (224 GB/s) and 2 GB for other tasks (56 GB/s). It includes a 512 GB SSD with 2.4 GB/s speed but no optical drive, requiring all games to be downloaded from the Microsoft Store. It is intended to render games at 1440p with 60 frames per second, though some games can support native 4K resolution, like Ori and the Will of the Wisps. It costs $299.99 and has the same ports, expansion options, and game support as the Series X.
The Series S is designed to be portable, fitting into a small bag or backpack. It is about 60% smaller in volume than the Series X, measuring 275 × 151 × 63.5 mm (10.83 × 5.94 × 2.50 in) vertically. Its large side has an exhaust port for cooling, and vents are on the top. The front has one USB port and a controller pairing button with an IR receiver. The back includes a power connector, one HDMI port, two USB ports, and an Ethernet port. Like the Series X, the Series S can be placed horizontally with the exhaust port facing up. It launched in a matte white case with a matching controller, unlike the matte black used for the Series X.
Both consoles use a new storage system called the Xbox Velocity Architecture, which improves transfer speeds, reduces digital download sizes, and gives developers more flexibility. This includes a custom NVMe SSD. The Series X has a 1 TB SSD (802 GB available) with 2.4 GB/s speed, and a compression/decompression block that can reach 4.8 GB/s. A new DirectStorage API in DirectX helps developers manage input/output tasks. The Series S has a 512 GB SSD (364 GB available) with similar features. All SSDs use a PCI Express
Software
The Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X consoles have a user interface (UI) similar to the Xbox One but use 40% less memory to make the system faster. The UI development team reported that the Home section loads in about half the time it took on the Xbox One. Other changes include rounded UI elements, a clearer font for text, rearranged features, and improved sharing functions. These updates were added to the Xbox One system software, the Windows Xbox app, and the Xbox mobile app in September 2020. System previews showed that about 200 GB of space was set aside on the internal storage of the Xbox Series X for system files.
The Xbox Series S and Series X support "Quick Resume," which lets users pause and restart up to three games at the same time. Games can also be restarted after the console is turned off and back on. The March 2022 update added the ability to "pin" up to two games to Quick Resume, keeping them paused unless the user closes them manually or the game needs an update.
Like earlier Xbox consoles, the Xbox Series S and Series X use the Xbox network platform for online services. They support Xbox Game Pass, which lets subscribers download games from an on-demand library. In October 2021, Xbox Cloud Gaming—part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which streams games from Microsoft servers to Xbox consoles, PCs, and mobile apps—was upgraded to use Xbox Series X-based servers instead of Xbox One S-based servers, improving loading times.
Apps for streaming media services are available through the Microsoft Store. The Apple TV app was first released on Xbox platforms with the launch of the Xbox Series S and Series X.
Microsoft allows all retail Xbox Series X and Series S consoles to use a special environment called "Dev mode," which lets developers test games and applications in a sandbox environment.
Games
At the launch of the Xbox Series X/S, Microsoft announced that new games would be available for both the Xbox One and the new consoles. Matt Booty, head of Xbox Game Studios, stated that Microsoft wanted to ensure players who had recently purchased Xbox One consoles would still feel they made a good choice and that the company would continue to provide content for them. Phil Spencer noted that many Xbox Game Studios subsidiaries had experience developing games for personal computers, where games must work on a wide variety of hardware. This approach allows games to perform well on Xbox One consoles while also taking advantage of the new hardware’s improved graphics, faster frame rates, ray tracing, and support for the consoles’ storage systems.
For some games, improvements from the Xbox One version to the Xbox Series X/S version can be made using the new console’s capabilities. These games are marked with an "Optimized for Series X" logo. Microsoft introduced a feature called "Smart Delivery," which automatically downloads the Xbox Series X/S version of backward-compatible games when available. This feature is aimed at publishers planning to release versions of games for the new consoles after their Xbox One releases and for users upgrading from Xbox One to the new consoles.
Microsoft does not prevent developers from creating games that can only be played on the Xbox Series X/S. However, the company prefers a "soft" transition similar to PC gaming, where games can be optimized for high-end hardware but still playable on lower-end hardware like older Xbox One consoles.
Initially, Phil Spencer said that first-party studios would support both Xbox One and Xbox Series X platforms for the next few years. However, some first-party games introduced in the Xbox Game Showcase in July 2020 did not mention Xbox One support, and their websites later removed references to the Xbox One. Aaron Greenberg, general manager of Xbox Games Marketing, clarified that these games were being developed for the Xbox Series X first, with the choice to add Xbox One support left to the development studios. In June 2023, Matt Booty stated that in-house studios had moved on to "Gen 9" and no longer created new games targeting the Xbox One.
Microsoft has not required third-party developers and publishers to follow the same "soft" transition rules. Publishers can offer games exclusive to the Xbox Series X/S or choose other methods to upgrade from Xbox One versions. However, Microsoft encouraged publishers to keep upgrade paths free if they chose this option. CD Projekt RED and Ubisoft committed to using Smart Delivery for their upcoming releases. Electronic Arts confirmed that Madden NFL 21 would have a free update patch from the Xbox One version to the Xbox Series X version before the next Madden NFL game’s release.
The Xbox Game Preview program, which allows games to be released through an early access model, continued with the Xbox Series X/S line, including Spacebase Startopia in January 2021.
Microsoft stated that the Xbox Series X and Series S would support all existing games playable on the Xbox One (excluding those requiring the Kinect sensor), including Xbox 360 and original Xbox games currently supported through backward compatibility on the Xbox One. This allows the new consoles to support four generations of games. To achieve this, Microsoft announced in June 2019 that they would no longer add new Xbox 360 or original Xbox games to the Xbox One backward compatibility program. Instead, they focused on ensuring older games worked on the Xbox Series X. Backward compatibility was a launch feature, with Microsoft investing over 500,000 hours to test thousands of games from the Xbox One library. Phil Spencer mentioned he helped test backward compatibility games in December 2019. As the launch approached, Microsoft reopened the option for players to suggest additional games for backward compatibility, stating, "Resurrecting titles from history often presents a complex mix of technical and licensing challenges, but the team is committed to doing everything we can to continue to preserve our collective gaming legacy."
Advanced graphic features not originally programmed into older games can be added when played on the new consoles, such as automated high-dynamic-range rendering (HDR) support using machine learning, framerate doubling, 16x anisotropic filtering, and resolution upscale. Work by the Xbox Advanced Technology Group focused on how far these improvements could be applied to backward-compatible games, including original Xbox titles, by adding features like HDR or improving frame rates for games locked to specific frame rates. Backward-compatible games are also supported under the Quick Resume feature. Cloud saves can be used to transfer data from the Xbox One, and Microsoft added free cloud saves for the Xbox 360 to allow migration to the Series S/X.
The Xbox Series S can play Xbox One games with improved performance, texture filtering, and auto HDR support but does not support Xbox One X-specific enhancements. Microsoft provides tools for developers to check the performance of their Xbox One games on the Series X and S consoles, which can suggest optimizations "as easy as changing three lines of code" to support backward compatibility improvements. In February 2021, Microsoft introduced FPS Boost, a feature for select backward-compatible games that can improve frame rates on the Xbox Series X and S by two to four times. This feature requires Microsoft engineers to prepare each game individually, with five games supported initially and more to be added over time. Microsoft developed FPS Boost after finding that the newer consoles’ CPUs and GPUs often went unused even with other enhancements in place, so they sought ways to use unused processing power to improve older games. As of May 2021, about 97 games were updated to support FPS Boost.
In March 2021, Microsoft began testing the Auto HDR feature with Windows-compatible games and computers meeting minimum requirements supported through DirectX.
Release and promotion
In March 2020, Microsoft said that even though the COVID-19 pandemic was happening, they still planned to send the Xbox Series X to stores by the end of 2020. However, they were checking how supplies were moving and making sure their workers were safe. Later, Spencer said that while the hardware would still be sent on time, some games that were supposed to come out with the console might be delayed because of the pandemic. By August 2020, Microsoft confirmed that the Xbox Series X would be released in November 2020, which meant the console was still on schedule.
The Xbox Series X and Series S consoles were released on November 10, 2020. The Series X cost $499 in the United States, £449 in the United Kingdom, and €499 in Europe. The Series S cost $299, £249, and €299 in those regions. In China, the consoles were released on June 10, 2021. Microsoft said that 31 games would be available when the consoles launched, including games from its own studios, other companies, and games that could be played on older Xbox One consoles. Although Halo Infinite was originally planned to come out with the Xbox Series X, Microsoft and 343 Industries decided to delay its release until after the console launched because of problems making the game related to the pandemic.
Microsoft will continue its Xbox All-Access program for the Series X. This program lets customers pay a monthly fee to get the console, online service, and game subscriptions together. People who had All-Access plans for the Xbox One can upgrade to the Series X, and Spencer said similar upgrades will be available in the future. The All-Access plan for the Series X will cost $35 each month for 24 months, and the Series S will cost $25 each month for 24 months.
After the Xbox Series X was shown, people online joked that it looked like a small refrigerator. Before the console launched, Microsoft made a few refrigerators that looked like the Xbox Series X, including a disk drive handle, green lights, and the Xbox startup sound. Some of these were given to celebrities, and others were used in contests. In March 2021, Dwayne Johnson, with help from Microsoft, gave out smaller refrigerators shaped like the Xbox Series X to promote his Zoa Energy drinks. Microsoft’s Greenberg said this was a test to see if selling mini-fridges could work beyond the promotion. After Microsoft’s Twitter account won a marketing contest in April 2021, Greenberg said the company would make Xbox Series X mini-fridges for sale. During E3 2021, Microsoft announced that these fridges would be available for purchase by the end of 2021. Pre-orders started in October 2021, with plans to sell them in North America and Europe by December 2021.
In September 2023, Microsoft released a 1 TB Xbox Series S model in carbon black. It was sold for $349.
Reception
At launch, critics praised the new console hardware and noted improvements in graphics, faster loading times, and support for older games. However, they were unsure about the console's true power because there were no exclusive games available at launch. Many people believed the consoles did not fully represent the next generation of home consoles. Some were disappointed because there were no major new games to showcase the hardware's capabilities, and the controller and user interface looked similar to older models. The Xbox Series X was generally seen as better than the Series S because the Series S had limitations in processing power and storage, making it harder to use. Eurogamer's Richard Leadbetter said, "I like the hardware and its features, but a console is defined by its games, and I still don’t feel I know the machine well." Keza MacDonald of The Guardian noted that while there was no strong reason to buy the consoles at launch, they performed well and did everything they promised. Gamasutra's Kris Graft and Chris Kerr said Microsoft created two appealing options that could attract long-term customers and reduced the idea of "generations" by offering access to games from the past, present, and future.
In November 2021, Jordan Ramée of GameSpot said the Xbox Series X and S had more high-profile exclusive games since launch, such as Forza Horizon 5, and that Smart Delivery was a key feature. He praised the system for automatically handling game versions, unlike the PlayStation 5, where the user interface sometimes made it unclear which version of a game was being downloaded. He also said switching from an older Xbox One was easier than switching from a PlayStation 4 to PlayStation 5, thanks to Smart Delivery, automatic save data syncing, and a similar user interface.
Microsoft announced that the Xbox Series X/S was the largest Xbox console launch, selling more units in more countries in its first 24 hours than any previous Xbox. The previous record was held by the Xbox One, which sold over one million units at launch. The Xbox Series S attracted more new players than any other Microsoft console. Microsoft's CEO, Satya Nadella, confirmed in July 2021 that the Series X and S were the fastest-selling Xbox consoles ever. Microsoft has not shared exact sales numbers for the Series X/S, but estimates from analysts and regional sales data are available.
Daniel Ahmed of Niko Partners estimated that worldwide sales of the Xbox Series X/S reached 3.5 million by December 31, 2020. Sales increased to 6.5 million by June 30, 2021, outpacing the Xbox One and Xbox 360 in the same period. By September 30, 2021, sales were estimated at 8 million, and by the end of 2021, 12 million units. By the end of 2022, sales were estimated at 18.5 million. In June 2023, Microsoft revealed that the Series X/S had sold over 21 million units, but this was fewer than the PlayStation 5, which had sold 40 million units by July 2023. During an Activision Blizzard acquisition hearing in June 2023, Microsoft admitted that Xbox consoles ranked third in sales behind PlayStation and Nintendo. In 2021, Xbox had a 16% market share, and by 2023, it had 21% of the installed base of consoles in use.
Certified sales data are available in some regions, such as GfK in Europe and Famitsu in Japan. In the UK, 155,000 units were sold on launch day, with two-thirds being Xbox Series X consoles. Sales reached 310,000 by the end of 2020, over one million by the end of 2021, and 1.8 million by the end of 2022. The Series X made up 43% of all Xbox Series consoles sold in the UK in 2021. In Japan, 20,534 units were sold during the launch week, with 16,247 being Series X and 4,287 Series S. Sales reached 116,000 in Japan by November 2021, surpassing the lifetime sales of the Xbox One in under a year. By the end of 2022, 400,000 units were sold in Japan. In Spain, 14,100 units were sold during the launch week, with 30,850 sold by the end of 2020 and 96,000 sold in 2022.
As of June 2024, the Xbox Series X and S had sold 28.3 million units worldwide.
The global chip shortage from 2020 to 2023 limited Microsoft’s ability to produce enough consoles. Both models sold out quickly at launch, leading to scalping on online marketplaces, with some consoles selling for as much as $5,000. Microsoft started manufacturing the console later in 2020 while waiting for key AMD chip technology and reached full production capacity by launch but still struggled to meet demand. In November 2020, Xbox’s CFO, Tim Stuart, said shortages would likely end by the second quarter of 2021. Starting in May 2021, Microsoft allowed Xbox Insiders to join a priority list for purchasing consoles, though only a limited number were available. Despite not meeting demand in 2021, console revenue increased because the consoles had higher prices.
Microsoft encouraged game developers to create games with similar features for both the Series X and S, even though the Series S had limitations. In March 2023, Remedy Entertainment, the developer of Control, said that games must be optimized for the Series S, as it has the lowest specifications, and that this process is more complex than just lowering resolution. Microsoft’s head, Phil Spencer, said that split-screen co-op is one feature that some games, like Forza, cannot support on the Series S, which limited their first-party releases. In January 2025, Spencer said the requirement to support the Series S was unlikely to be removed, as targeting the Series S allows games to be ported to other systems like the Steam Deck or ROG Ally.
Larian Studios, the developers of Baldur’s Gate 3, did not officially announce an Xbox Series X/S version due to technical issues with split-screen co-op on the Series S. This led to rumors that the game was a PlayStation exclusive. Larian Studios denied this, stating that Baldur’s Gate 3 might still be available on Xbox.