I read somewhere that MS supposedly confirmed that Series S will not use One X Enhanced updates, but is limited to base Xbox One back-compat instead.
So if that's true a game like Red Dead Redemption 2 would stack up like this...
Xbox One S - 864p
Xbox Series S - 864p
PS4 - 1080p
PS4 Pro - 1920x2160p
PS5 - 1920x2160p (presumably)
Xbox One X - native 4K 3840x2160p
Xbox Series X - native 4K 3840x2160p
There's clearly murky waters here with regards to the SS back-compat capabilities. We know that Sony's PS4 Pro is similarily touted as a 1440p box vs. Xbox One X's often much closer reach for 4K.
There is the potential here for Sony to capitalise on Xbox's inadvertent early price reveal just by adjusting their PS5 price, and potentially pushing PS4 Pro as their '1440p 30fps box, upto 60fps' to add further confusion.
They might be able to break the price stranglehold Microsoft has with their Xbox Series S by having a marketed '1440p' PS4 Pro 100 notes cheaper, and the PS5 Digital Edition 100 notes more expensive - effectively boxing in the SS at both ends. With the PS5 Disc Edition matching XSX on price.
It's not a good look for the next-gen SS console, I don't think it overly matters as we look forward to next-gen games, and that scenario should change for 'next-gen upgraded' titles. For example, if GTA V's upgrade is 4K 60fps, then from what Microsoft is touting the framerate should be a match on the SS, but just at 1440p instead.
It's a double edged sword, resolution might be higher but things like load times will be significantly reduced. I think we will need to wait and see what the likes of digital foundry find when they review it. I get the feeling ms might have some special sauce to enhance these games but km not sure to what extent they can upscale, anti alias or improve frame rates on games without major work to patch them.To those above, I never claimed PS4 Pro would run next-gen games. I'm merely pointing out that base PS4 and PS4 Pro often outperform Xbox One S games, and the fact Series S appears forced to use these versions of games means that the next-gen Series S is in a very bizarre position of being outperformed by a current-gen rival for the large Xbox One back compat library.
Obviously Series X doesn't share this conundrum as that will use the One X Enhanced patches.
As for PS4 Pro pricing, I'm merely just speculating at the likely-hood of a 1440p30/60fps PS4 Pro console being 100 cheaper than the 1440p60/120fps Xbox Series S, with the potential for the PS5 DE coming in at 100 extra. Obviously the PS4 Pro plays last-gen games, but given cross-gen will be a big thing for at least another year or two, it can't hurt to speculate how Sony may roll the dice here.
Surely the series S will add next gen benefits like faster loading etc? I'd hope so but like I say are people really that bothered about the old games when surely you'd be buying it for the new games?To those above, I never claimed PS4 Pro would run next-gen games. I'm merely pointing out that base PS4 and PS4 Pro often outperform Xbox One S games, and the fact Series S appears forced to use these versions of games means that the next-gen Series S is in a very bizarre position of being outperformed by a current-gen rival for the large Xbox One back compat library.
Obviously Series X doesn't share this conundrum as that will use the One X Enhanced patches.
As for PS4 Pro pricing, I'm merely just speculating at the likely-hood of a 1440p30/60fps PS4 Pro console being 100 cheaper than the 1440p60/120fps Xbox Series S, with the potential for the PS5 DE coming in at 100 extra. Obviously the PS4 Pro plays last-gen games, but given cross-gen will be a big thing for at least another year or two, it can't hurt to speculate how Sony may roll the dice here.
To those above, I never claimed PS4 Pro would run next-gen games. I'm merely pointing out that base PS4 and PS4 Pro often outperform Xbox One S games, and the fact Series S appears forced to use these versions of games means that the next-gen Series S is in a very bizarre position of being outperformed by a current-gen rival for the large Xbox One back compat library.
Obviously Series X doesn't share this conundrum as that will use the One X Enhanced patches.
As for PS4 Pro pricing, I'm merely just speculating at the likely-hood of a 1440p30/60fps PS4 Pro console being 100 cheaper than the 1440p60/120fps Xbox Series S, with the potential for the PS5 DE coming in at 100 extra. Obviously the PS4 Pro plays last-gen games, but given cross-gen will be a big thing for at least another year or two, it can't hurt to speculate how Sony may roll the dice here.
I agree, it's more about next-gen games than back compat. Maybe I shouldn't have brought up PS4 into the discussion with comparisons. It just crossed my mind with the news of being limited to One S versions of games. But remove base PS4 and Pro from the equation, it's still a little surprising to me that the SS back compat can't match the Xbox One X.Surely the series S will add next gen benefits like faster loading etc? I'd hope so but like I say are people really that bothered about the old games when surely you'd be buying it for the new games?
Be interested to see if the upscaling is a regular style or an AI based one like Nvidias DLSS. I'm not sure how easy it would be but considering Microsoft made software to implement backwards compatibility on the Xbox one to be able to make more games available I wouldn't be surprised if they find a way to automatically update Xbox one games in some way without developers involvement.The S does do upscaling 4K for games so I'm sure it won't be that bad.
I agree, it's more about next-gen games than back compat. Maybe I shouldn't have brought up PS4 into the discussion with comparisons. It just crossed my mind with the news of being limited to One S versions of games. But remove base PS4 and Pro from the equation, it's still a little surprising to me that the SS back compat can't match the Xbox One X.
On a positive note I believe some Xbox One S games have uncapped framerates like RE2 and RE7, so even unpatched the SS will likely max that 60fps target out, and if a game uses dynamic scaling then that'll work in the SS' favour too. Besides this it seems SS owners can also look forward to other games that get a next-gen upgrade, like GTA V and Witcher 3, which once enhanced for next-gen will then obviously surpass the back compat S versions.
If you're not coming from a One X then I guess it doesn't really matter, you don't miss what you don't have.The S does do upscaling 4K for games so I'm sure it won't be that bad.
In simple terms yes. I guess it’s confusing because it’s more powerful than the One X but because of a quirk in how BC works it can’t play the One X versions of games. But if you made Halo 5 for it or worked specifically on an enhancement for it you would get a better version of Halo 5 on the Series S than the One X....I honestly dont know whats so confusing about the whole xbox series S resolution thing it doesnt play any games at 4k, last gen, next gen current gen no games at 4k
In simple terms yes. I guess it’s confusing because it’s more powerful than the One X but because of a quirk in how BC works it can’t play the One X versions of games. But if you made Halo 5 for it or worked specifically on an enhancement for it you would get a better version of Halo 5 on the Series S than the One X....
I am sure many games will receive Series S tailored patches to crank them up to beyond One X levels, some might be stuck in One S states but titles like Red Dead IMO will definitely get optimised.
I guess the real question is how many will be ready on November 10th? my gut says quite a lot as devs have said it’s very straight forward porting Xbox One games to work on Series X so come release week I expect MS to publish a long list of ‘Optimised for Series S/X’ games similar to the list they put out before the One X launch.
I read somewhere that MS supposedly confirmed that Series S will not use One X Enhanced updates, but is limited to base Xbox One back-compat instead.
So if that's true a game like Red Dead Redemption 2 would stack up like this...
Xbox One S - 864p
Xbox Series S - 864p
PS4 - 1080p
PS4 Pro - 1920x2160p
PS5 - 1920x2160p (presumably)
Xbox One X - native 4K 3840x2160p
Xbox Series X - native 4K 3840x2160p
There's clearly murky waters here with regards to the SS back-compat capabilities. We know that Sony's PS4 Pro is similarily touted as a 1440p box vs. Xbox One X's often much closer reach for 4K.
There is the potential here for Sony to capitalise on Xbox's inadvertent early price reveal just by adjusting their PS5 price, and potentially pushing PS4 Pro as their '1440p 30fps box, upto 60fps' to add further confusion.
They might be able to break the price stranglehold Microsoft has with their Xbox Series S by having a marketed '1440p' PS4 Pro 100 notes cheaper, and the PS5 Digital Edition 100 notes more expensive - effectively boxing in the SS at both ends. With the PS5 Disc Edition matching XSX on price.
It's not a good look for the next-gen SS console, I don't think it overly matters as we look forward to next-gen games, and that scenario should change for 'next-gen upgraded' titles. For example, if GTA V's upgrade is 4K 60fps, then from what Microsoft is touting the framerate should be a match on the SS, but just at 1440p instead.
I’m just going to stick with the One X for a while. Similar performance to the S. If I was to get a new one, it would be the Series X.