Xbox Series X (codenamed Project Scarlett) is an upcoming home video game console developed by Microsoft, scheduled for release in late 2020. It is the first announced system within Microsoft's fourth generation of the Xbox line. Announced on December 12, 2019, it is a successor to the Xbox One family and maintains backward compatibility with all existing Xbox One software and accessories.
History
Microsoft branded its fourth generation of Xbox consoles, to follow from the Xbox One, as simply "Xbox", of which the Xbox Series X is one product line within that branding. The head of Xbox development at Microsoft, Phil Spencer, explained that the naming "gives us freedom to do other things with that name so that we can create descriptors when we need to".[1][2] Microsoft first teased a new Xbox console during its E3 2019 press conference under the codename "Project Scarlett".[3] During The Game Awards 2019 on December 12, 2019, Microsoft officially unveiled Scarlett's design and name, Xbox Series X.[4] The console is expected to launch in late 2020.[4]
Hardware
The console's form is designed to be unobtrusive and minimalistic. It is approximately 6 inches (15 cm) wide and deep, and 12 inches (30 cm) tall; while configured in this vertical orientation, the unit can also be used on its side. Its forward-facing features present only the main power button and the optical media slot. The top of the unit is a single powerful fan. Xbox head Phil Spencer said that the Xbox Series X was as quiet as the Xbox One X.[5] Microsoft stated that the console CPU will be four times as powerful as Xbox One X; it features AMD's Zen 2 CPU architecture and RDNA graphics architecture, a custom-designed solid state drive, GDDR6 SDRAM, and support for real-time ray-tracing, up to 120 frames per second rendering, and 8K resolution.[4] Microsoft has also promoted "auto low-latency mode" and "dynamic latency input" technology—a new dynamic latency input pathway that allows developers to incorporate potential controller lag into their games and improve responsiveness.[4][6] The console will ship with an updated version of the Xbox One controller, with a slightly more compact ergonomic design, a concave circle pad similar to the existing Elite Controller, as well as a newly-added "Share" button. The new controller will be compatible with existing Xbox One consoles and Windows 10, and existing Xbox One controllers will be supported by the console.[6][7]