Exhibit: Microsoft Xbox Series X (2020–Present)
Released: November 10, 2020 (Worldwide)
Manufacturer: Microsoft
Units Sold: Undisclosed (Microsoft no longer reports hardware sales)
Status: Microsoft's most powerful and ambitious console
The Black Monolith
The Xbox Series X arrived in November 2020 alongside Sony's PlayStation 5 — a simultaneous next-generation launch that hadn't happened since 2013. Microsoft's machine was the more powerful of the two on paper, with 12 teraflops of GPU performance versus the PS5's 10.28.
But raw power was only part of Microsoft's story. Game Pass — their subscription service offering hundreds of games for a monthly fee — had become their defining competitive advantage. The Series X was the hardware that delivered Game Pass at its best.
Defining Features
- 12 teraflops GPU — the most powerful console GPU at launch
- Game Pass — hundreds of games including day-one first-party releases
- Four generations of backward compatibility — original Xbox, 360, One, and Series games all playable
- Quick Resume — suspend and resume multiple games simultaneously
- Xbox Series S — a smaller, digital-only companion console at a lower price
Microsoft's Gaming Ambitions
The Series X represents Microsoft's most serious commitment to gaming. Their acquisition of Activision Blizzard — the largest gaming acquisition in history — brought Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and dozens of other franchises under the Xbox umbrella. Microsoft is building a gaming empire, and the Series X is its flagship.