It's no secret that this generation's 'cross-gen' period is much extended in comparison to previous console cycles - massive games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 are still launching this year on Xbox One. However, as we approach that four-year mark for Xbox Series X|S, Digital Foundry has decided to have another look at how modern Xbox One games are holding up these days.
And the results are quite fascinating, to be honest. Now, this video is solely focused on Xbox One X and how those versions stack up to Series S - the team hasn't gone back to the base Xbox One here. Even so, DF is confident across the board in saying that Xbox Series S provides a far superior experience in 2024 - even as Microsoft's budget current-gen console.
In the video up above, the team tests out Diablo 4, Assassin's Creed Mirage, Persona 3 Reload, Like A Dragon: Ishin!, Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth and Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty across both Xbox One X and Xbox Series S - and it's only really AC Mirage that makes a case for One X due to the game's sizable resolution increase.
Here's how the video sums things up:
"Perhaps the most obvious takeaway is the Series S's improved CPU makes an enormous difference in most titles. We're seeing 60FPS targets in virtually every piece of cross-gen software - delivering a level of fluidity that last-gen consoles simply can't match.
The other discovery is that a good number of recent One X titles seem to treat the system as an afterthought. Most of the games here just provide a substandard experience, with the Series S sometimes delivering superior visuals at twice the frame rate - a bizarre situation considering the One X's GPU grunt.
So, the Xbox Series S provides a categorically better experience than the One X in 2024."
While this is perhaps an expected outcome, Xbox One X has always been known as a pretty beefy machine - and at the start of the cross-gen period it even matched up pretty closely to Xbox Series S. It's clear though that nowadays, Xbox Series S is the one to pick if you're looking for a modern Xbox console on a tighter budget.
Are you surprised by this video at all? Tell us what you make of these findings down below.
[source youtu.be]
Comments 46
i use series s more than series x unless 60 fps is only on series x. 4k looks blurry to me most of the time.
I went with the S during the pandemic because of the lack of inventory. But I am very glad I did. Because of SMART delivery I have 502 games downloaded on the system and an external HD.
The Series S is a great value and good entry point into the current generation. I started with a Series X in the living room, but bought my 14 year old his own Series S, and he loves it.
He was a little salty that his 3 disc games wouldn't work on it, but that's what the Series X is for. Though many gamers huffed and puffed when it was announced, I imagine it was a smart move on Microsoft's part, and the Series S (much like the Wii U for Nintendo) will lead to better development, as an almost predecessor to this portable device that has been rumored for most of 2024.
@rustyduck Same here.
@PopularCorpse I wouldn't mind a Series S for the office (I have a Series X in the living room), but if that handheld is legit, that's where I'm putting my money.
Xbox one X is better because it has a disc drive giving an owner more real options for the future of that devices physical life.
@Xbox_Dashboard I honestly think that is why the Series S is more popular the Series X: Microsoft seems to manufacture more Series S and were more readily available and people just "gave up" on trying to get a Series X.
I tried to get a Series X on...Black Friday...I believe(??) right after release and Game Stop had maybe...4 Series X and 10 Series S for purchase. I was 5th or 6th in line, so I left because everyone in front of me wanted Series X.
It still seems to be the case as I NEVER see Series X on store shelves, but I always see Series S.
My Series S library is 90% 360 and Original Xbox games and they all run better than ever before. I'm curious to see how Avowed runs on it.
I’m glad series s gamers are enjoying the console.
However from a business strategy they should have had as well a £350 discless series x.
This then would give gamers the choice of the top tier console at a cheaper all digital price.
Sony have done great with the all digital PS5 and it’s due to being able to have the top tier performance console at £350.
@AstraeaV Yeah, I have a USB flashdrive plugged into my Series S for the backward compat games and they run great.
I love the Series S. It perhaps shouldn't matter, but not everyone wants a giant box in their entertainment setup. I have a 55" LG C3 OLED tv and the Series S looks fantastic with it. I bought a PS5 and end up taking it back because I was so unimpressed with the visual leap over Series S. Love it!
For the many that don't have or care about 4k Resolution, its a fantastic Console outperforming ANY Console from last gen - inc PS4 Pro and XB1X.
Yes a few games may run at 'higher' resolution on a 1X but you sacrifice fluidity and responsiveness at the very least as the XSS targets 2x the Frame Rate. Not only that, the Series S often offers higher visual settings - more medium -> high+ settings where X1X often is Low to medium at best.
Yes compared to XSX/PS5 hardware running on the SAME 4K display, the Series S is somewhat softer and maybe lacking some 'modes/features', but the exact same can be said for the 1S vs 1X. You didn't get the High Res or 60fps Performance mode on 1S and XSS is similar.
The release of the Pro/X last gen certainly didn't mean everyone rushed out to buy. In fact, despite these both offering 'enhancements' over base Hardware, they still didn't 'outsell' the cheaper option. The 'majority' were happy to spend less and still get to play ALL the games...
And as this proves, its still an upgrade over the XB1 S/X and has a bigger library of playable games - as it plays all the same games as the 1S/X, but also the same games as the Series X.
I've got multiple Series Xs. And I'd buy another X before I'd ever consider a downgrade to an S. Used one for a little while and it was amazing how much worse my games were running. It is the desperate, odd sheep out, when compared to the Series X and the infinitely more successful PS5.
There's absolutely zero ways I could justify buying a Series S given how the rest of my hardware out paces it.
I get that can sound snobby. If the Series S is enough for you, great. For me, it has been the biggest blunders of this console generation.
The mere lack of an optical drive makes the S a no go for me. I’m one of those dinosaurs who still prefers his games on disc, and the moment we go to all-digital machines is the moment I FINALLY focus on my extensive backlog of games.
…part of me almost hopes it happens sooner so I can justify focusing on them quicker.
Series s works grand for me bought it day one because of the cheap price and I'll probably stay with it at least another year with a 512gb storage aswell I have no problems it sounds like basically the Xbox one x displays last gen games on higher resolution and lower FPS and the series s does lower resolution higher FPS and also plays this gen games and at I really low price it's easy to see why it has done well in terms of sales this gen
@OldGamer999 Perhaps too late or not launching at all, but there is a white Series X 1TB All--Digital Edition in addition to the black Series X 2TB All-Digital Edition and the new "Sebile" controller. Then, there are the handheld/hybrid rumours on top of that. The new controller launching this year would be great for more developer support in anticipation of the next generation. Optional this generation, the stock controller the next one.
@BowsersBuddy "or a massive whatever shape the Ps5 is supposed to be"
Praying mantis.
@Banjo-
Yes I believe so but the all digital series x I think will be the same price £450 ish as it has 2tb of memory.
They should have gone 1tb at £350 for options.
I have a white core controller as per my photo, and adjust the controller stick to max tension for me.
I don’t think the new controller will have that controller stick adjustment.
@OldGamer999 The white model should be cheaper than Series X because it's the same but without the disc drive. The black model will be the same price because it doesn't have a disc drive but has twice as much storage.
I hope that the Elite Controller Series 3 is also announced! The other two are the best I have ever used, random built quality issues aside. Moreover, I need that added to the Xbox Design Lab as soon as possible.
Correct me where I'm wrong?
This article is comparing a last gen, mid-gen upgrade console to basically a bottom tiered mid-gen upgrade being touted as next gen console?
I love the S. So small and quiet, doesn't overheat. I bought it mostly because Xs were constantly out of stock at the time. However I'm glad I did get the smaller machine now. Non, je ne regrette rien.
@theoryofeverywhere How is that LG G3 overall?
Am big Samsung TV guy and last couple TVs for me have been Samsung. Lucky my last Samsung TV purchased before they dropped DTS support.
Since am big home theater movie person too along with gaming, I'm thinking on 75 inch LG G4 for next purchase since supports DTX:S (via pass thru) which would allow me not to have worthless 4k Blu-rays with DTS.
Biggest fear is, burn in, of course, with the OLED. Like super, major, Uber fear of it.
@InterceptorAlpha Series S absolutely the biggest blunder of this generation by light years. LIGHT YEARS!
Pretty much every week is an article saying how Series S can't play a game properly, or basically holding Series X back.
No doubt Series S has its fanboys. Sadly, if they owned a Series X they would be like, wow, this is just superior console, hopefully can trade Series S in for bag Doritos and used game.
Love our little S, never had any issues with it and it plays everything we throw at it perfectly fine. Thought about going to the X many times but just not really worth it for us. Even if it died not sure I would buy another one as they're so cheap nowadays. Glad MS gave us the option.
@GuyinPA75
If I had the choice I would Samsung S95D QD-OLED over the LG G4.
Just an enthusiast opinion.
@OldGamer999 Kinda weird to compare a TV and a phone, no? Atleast it came in leather though. Amirite? /s
In all seriousness, one of my favorite phone though.
@GuyinPA75 Yea. Definitely showing when the PS5 is absolutely demolishing it in sales despite being more expensive. Pricing clearly wasn't the reason people weren't buying Xboxes. I still feel they should have adopted the same model as Sony. Same hardware except one lacks a disc drive.
That would have provided consistency and elininated the parity issues we've seen repeatedly.
@InterceptorAlpha
I think they were chatting TVs like the LG G4.
@OldGamer999 They are. The /s meant "end of sarcasm". It was just a joke where LG is reusing names for different products.
@GuyinPA75 For some people series s is fine the biggest blunder in lightyears sells a lot better than the series x just because it wouldn't suit you doesn't mean its crap how can anyone think it's worth anything unless you're very young you know that's not how it works other people might not have as big a need for what it is your getting from the more powerful machines you have but I know you hate series s it's ok don't hate congratulate 🤯
@InterceptorAlpha
Ok me get it now 🤣
@Ricky-Spanish Series S was widely available due to Series X shortage. That's the reason it "sold". Inpatient people, in an inpatient society, often leads to an inferior experience.
@rustyduck if 4K looks blurry to you, you may have a TV problem or an eye problem.
@ZYDIO could be. i like 1080p the most. sometimes 1440p(for video games). 4k is great for tv shows on the same tv.
@Banjo- And all this time, I thought the PS5 shape was an inverted orograthahedron.
@rustyduck 4K technically should look four times clearer than 1080p. That's why I commented, because it just doesn't seem right.
@Banjo-
What’s going on, I’ve just Xbox advertising on UK main TV for the England friendly on the light boards.
They even mentioned gamepass and EA play and FC24.
I’m now in shock 🤣
@rustyduck Definitely sounds like an issue with the calibration of the port your game is on. TVs by default add a bunch of BS that makes games look awful, but can make TV look better, that you have to disable. 1080p hould never look better than 4K on the same panel.
@ZYDIO i know it should but something is wrong for me somewhere. so many xbox settings along with tv settings to deal with. i suspect tv settings.
@InterceptorAlpha Did you mean 1080p should never look better than 4K on the same panel?
@rustyduck I hope you get it figured out because 4K looks awesome.
@ZYDIO Yep. Got it fixed it now. Don't type comments while working. 😂
@InterceptorAlpha Awesome.
@GuyinPA75 An inferior experience to you that's why you didn't buy one and bought a series x not everyone is that bothered if it's the best experience possible id upgrade to a series x myself but I don't want or need to right now I'm sorry the series s offends you so much but I'm glad to have it around hopefully next gen has a s type version aswell I'll Jump on that day one
@FarmDog08You know you have to work in the office, right?
@TommyNL shhhhhhhhh, hahahaha.
I use the One X mainly for casual gaming or streaming
X and S are awesome. My X mainly gets used for downloads, 360 disc games, and a few X games. The S is obviously all downloads but that's fine. I bought the X first with S as the bedroom console and both are incredible.
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