My Series S Was Supposed to Be My Magic Game Pass Machine. So, Why Did I Just Buy a Series X?
Buying consoles this generation has been different for me. I was too young to buy myself an Xbox or an Xbox 360, and as fate would have it, my parents got me a PS2 and then a PS3. The Xbox One was utterly unmemorable for me because it never had any exclusives I liked, and it lacked the identity Sony and Nintendo had created for their consoles, so I skipped it entirely.
Sadly Microsoft didn’t include Bethesda’s best classic game, Wayne Gretzky Hockey.
My perception of Microsoft consoles changed completely with the Xbox Series S. Microsoft went for a two-pronged approach covering affordability and power. They had already seen the success of Game Pass and so pushed the S as the value Xbox, with an amazing price to performance ratio. Imagine having access to over 200 games, including the complete Microsoft catalogue, most of Bethesda and EA’s noteworthy and classic games and a myriad of releases from other big publishers and developers, for just £1 (to start). All this on a system that cost the relatively low amount of £250 and could play next-gen titles too.
Microsoft imagined it. They even went so far as to make it a reality.
Keen to capitalise on this bargain myself, I frantically scoured a Stock Checker website in hopes of acquiring a Series S as a secondary system to my PS5 and PC. Finally, in late May, I was able to buy one. The Series S is a brilliantly crafted console. For some people like myself, it will be their first Xbox, and a tremendous one at that. It packs an extraordinary amount of power for its size, especially when compared to the fridge like Series X and the gargantuan PS5, and the value for money just cannot be matched. Best of all, you’re playing the next generation of video games... just with a few caveats.
Usually we aren’t massive fans of themed technology but… Damn, that is a nice looking fridge.
Despite the glowing praise I have for the tiny Xbox, I had an opportunity to purchase the limited edition Halo Infinite Series X. Without a second’s thought, I snapped up the console and, finally, considered myself all set for the next generation of consoles. But why did I feel the need to get one when I already have my trusty Series S?
Honestly, if I can’t play Blood Wake at at least 100fps then what are we even doing here?
Well, because of those caveats I mentioned earlier. The first big reason is performance. I’m impressed by the Series S, but I’m left wanting with its long term viability. How will games manage to push the system over time? We are already seeing titles drop below 1080p just to maintain 120fps on the console, whilst “FPS Boost”, which allows for certain Xbox One titles to double or quadruple their frame rates on the new machines, omits 120fps or even 60fps bumps for certain titles on the Series S. There remains uncertainty regarding scalability between the Series S and X. Meanwhile, the X breezes through rendering even the most chaotic of scenes without any hiccups - it’s a tough as nails powerhouse.
On the topic of the console’s power, I see myself upgrading to 4K not long from now, making the Series S’s 4K upscaling a damp squib compared to the Series X which runs games at 4K, or near to 4K, effortlessly and natively. Running Xbox One titles without the ability to enjoy the Xbox One X enhancements, due to its RAM limitations, hurts a bit in terms of options for performance and image quality as well.
Backwards compatibility remained one of the key reasons why I saw the Series S as a must-have buy, but the lack of a physical drive really slams home how limited the console is. Particularly for Xbox 360 titles, where digital sales are largely few and far between, and dictated by Microsoft’s whims. With a Series X, I can load up eBay and grab far more games on disc and usually for a bit less cash to boot.
Remember when Black Ops was added to the backwards compatibility list for Xbox One and then it re-entered the NPD bestseller for the first time in like 8 years?
No wonder publishers keep selling us remasters.
Lastly, storage - another key factor in my choosing to upgrade to the X - the Series S only holds up to 512GB of data. This will fill up quickly if you choose to install the myriad of titles available on Game Pass or even one Call of Duty and Warzone. And buying a 1TB expansion card for £219 provides no panacea to the storage woes of the Series S - at that point, you are better off buying a Series X or even the PS5 for almost the same price!
Hey John… Or do you prefer Mr. Spartan? Anyway, please validate my purchase… I need this.
It’s no secret that the Series S is a brilliant console for those of us on a budget or who don’t care too much about performance.. It’s the perfect machine to take out on a trip with its compact size to experience the 200+ titles offered on Game Pass. But, its cracks are already showing, and I believe it’s well worth purchasing a Series X if you can. Mine doesn’t arrive for two months though...
