At long last, Microsoft has officially unveiled the Xbox One X, formerly known as the Xbox Project Scorpio, at E3 2017.
The Xbox One X, described as the world's most powerful console, will be released on Nov. 7 with a price tag of $499.
Meet The Xbox One X
In Microsoft's press conference for E3 2017, the company highlighted the power of the Xbox One X.
The specifications of the Xbox One X were revealed in April by Eurogamer's Digital Foundry. The harshest Xbox critic could not help but be blown away by what was then known as the Xbox Project Scorpio.
The Xbox One X packs a six-teraflop Polaris GPU that is 1.4 times more powerful than its rival, Sony's PlayStation 4 Pro. The upcoming console will play games in native 4K UHD at 60 frames per second, and will be powered by a 2.3 GHz octa-core CPU with 12 GB of RAM. The Xbox One X also features memory bandwidth of 326 GB/s, which is comparable to the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080. To keep the system running efficiently, Microsoft fitted the console with liquid cooling technology that is usually seen in servers.
Gamers who do not own a 4K TV will still be able to enjoy the graphical quality boost offered by the Xbox One X through a feature known as "supersampling." The Xbox One X renders games at a higher resolution and then downscales it to fit into the player's TV, which will allow new games to look better in 1080p TVs.
Microsoft also noted that the Xbox One X is the smallest Xbox ever, with a design that is very similar to the Xbox One S.
Xbox One X For $499: Worth It?
The $499 price tag of the Xbox One X was not a surprise, as that was the expected price point for the upcoming console. The burning question for now is whether gamers will see the Xbox One X as a console that is worth purchasing for $499.
The Xbox One X is Microsoft's way of future-proofing the Xbox One at what appears to be the halfway mark of its life. The new console will be able to support future games that will require more power, while also being able to play all existing Xbox One titles.
The games that will take advantage of the console's power remain one of the most crucial aspects for the success of the Xbox One X. While Sony has already churned out several amazing exclusives for the PlayStation 4 this year, including Horizon Zero Dawn, Nier: Automata, Gravity Rush 2, and Persona 5, Microsoft will need to match these titles to generate massive interest for the Xbox One X.
Microsoft appears to have understood this, and said that it will be showcasing 42 games at the event, 22 of which will be exclusive to the Xbox One platform. Among these exclusives are Forza Motorsport 7, Crackdown 3, State of Decay 2, and Sea of Thieves. Interested gamers should look forward to these titles, as they could spell the difference in the decision whether or not to purchase the Xbox One X.
