I admit honestly, I was a Microsoft console hater for a long time. But my opinion changed a lot by the end of the PS4 generation, and after the debut presentation of the PS5, I definitely decided for myself that this time I will, at least, start with buying an Xbox.
Actually, at the start of sales in 2020, my wife and I bought an Xbox Series S, in 2023 we exchanged it for a Series X, and in the spring of 2024 we bought a PS5 to go with it. And even after that, I didn’t play the Xbox minimally, but on the contrary, choose even more advantages of the platform for yourself.
Which I will now share with you.
1. Reverse competition is cool
Xbox currently stores a console where you can play almost all the classic parts of Call of Duty. Multiplayer also works in them and there are even people there. And I don’t cost much
Let’s start with one non-obvious fact: Microsoft has been makes an additional contribution to the development of backward compatibility on consoles. Yes, both Sony and Nintendo have also offered their solutions, but they cannot compare to how old games work on Xbox consoles, starting from the XONE generation.
When you launch a game from, say, an Xbox 360, a virtual environment is created on Series X that completely replicates the old console at the software infrastructure level, down to the smallest detail.
Many previous generation games run significantly better on Xbox.
This method not only allows you to play games as if they were running on the original hardware, but also improves them. Many Xbox One and Xbox 360 games use two technologies: FPS Boost and Auto HDR.
First, as the name suggests, it increases the frame rate to 60 or 120, which will significantly improve the gaming experience. Try running Sonic Generations at 60 FPS – it’s an exceptional experience. The second technology adds shine and contrast to the picture.
In addition, a targeted solution was provided. For example, the epic Gears of War 2, which, by the way, is not released on PC, runs in 4K and 60 FPS.
The iconic Titanfall 2 on PS4 and PS5 runs at 60 frames with drops. On Xbox Series X, it runs at a respectable 120
To summarize this segment – when you buy an Xbox, you get not only a powerful console for current games, but also a time machine in the past, and the opportunity to comfortably play what you missed earlier.
For example, The second part of the Witcher.
2. Xbox Game Pass is a great way to try something new
Nowadays, it’s hard to find a gamer who hasn’t heard of Game Pass. Some call it a killer, arguing that the more games are directly available, the more the user’s taste is spoiled and their attention is distracted. It sounds… Total nonsense, to be honest.
Xbox Game Pass is a great option for those who want to try something new but aren’t too keen on constantly buying games. I’m not a huge fan of indie games, but it was thanks to the subscription that I was introduced to Infernax, a hardcore platformer inspired by the early Castlevania games.
The subscription includes official games for every taste: from racing games to hardcore action RPGs. It’s a great way to discover genres you previously ignored.
And the subscription often considers completely new projects. For example, at the beginning of the year, Persona 3 Reload was released – a remake of the cult JRPG from PlayStation 2. And I personally know people who have never tolerated Japanese projects, but after Persona, they went on to play other representatives of the genre. I will spend $70 on this without consequences.
All purchases take place at the entrance platforms, but everything is very simple and safe. Everything is done for you
Subscription price (approximately 6 thousand per year on different sites) corresponds to the price of one AAA project.
But there are over 100 games to choose from, including Call of Duty, Tomb Raider, Resident Evil, almost all of the Yakuza saga, and more.
3. Halo, Forza, Gears and many more great games from internal studios.
On the Internet, some layers of users have a habit of shouting that there are no games on Xbox. This is not true. Over the years, Microsoft has created many cult franchises, most of which have passed by the average gamer from the CIS with great caution. But the same Halo in the West is a real cult.
And if you’ve never had an Xbox, you’ll be treated to a huge world of iconic titles. Personally, I downloaded Forza Horizon 4 the day I bought the Xbox Series S. This game brought back my long-lost love for arcade racing.
Forza Horizon looks absolutely stunning
I also finally got around to Gears of War, the series that defined the standard for third-person shooters, and fell in love with Halo, which in turn defined the console first-person shooter experience on many fronts. I still enjoy Halo Infinite’s multiplayer. I’m sure you don’t like those games either.
By the way, you probably heard about the purchase of Activision Blizzard and Zenimax Media? Now all the games of these companies belong to Microsoft, and this primarily means that they, like all projects, will be released immediately in Xbox Game Pass.
Yes, everything that the major studios release is free, the new Call of Duty, Doom and The Elder Scrolls will be available within the first minute of release if you are an Xbox Game Pass subscriber.
4. Consoles and gamepads for every budget
Our first Xbox. We bought it at the start of sales in 2020 and did not regret it
And finally, I would like to talk about variability. The fact is that in this direction, Microsoft unexpectedly released two different versions of Xbox. The premium and powerful Series X, as well as the budget and inexpensive Series S. It was from the very beginning and the beginning of my path into the world of consoles from “Mikes”.
The most important choice for the user: if you need a compact and inexpensive console to connect to a monitor and you are ready for the fact that the games will work a little worse (but not critically), then the Xbox Series S will be the best choice. This console for 24-30 thousand rubles opens the door to the current world projects of the 9th generation consoles. A PC that will pull games, it is almost impossible to collect this amount.
And if you have a large 4K TV with Dolby Vision and 120 Hz, then the Xbox Series X is your choice. Although, to be fair, I used the S series on such a TV and did not experience any inconvenience. The prices here are also simple. Due to the not very high popularity on the console market, you can find it from 34 to 45 thousand rubles.
By the way, there are quite a few different gamepads from manufacturers for Xbox. If you don’t want to use a standard gamepad or its elite version, you can pay attention to, for example, 8bitDO or Gamesir. These controllers are equipped with additional buttons and software for fine-tuning various parameters – from the “dead zone” button to the sensitivity of the touch trigger and the logic of the vibration motor.
Ultimately, the outsider market turns out to be an alternative offer upon closer inspection. Xbox in 2024 can be bought as a primary console, it has many games, the console line itself and accessories are flexible to the restrictions of any wallet, and the Game Pass subscription allows some gamers to forget about buying games at all for a long time.
I am expressing this thought to you. Have a nice day!
Source: Iphones RU
I am a professional journalist and content creator with extensive experience writing for news websites. I currently work as an author at Gadget Onus, where I specialize in covering hot news topics. My written pieces have been published on some of the biggest media outlets around the world, including The Guardian and BBC News.
