The run up to the launch of the Xbox One was something of a disaster for Microsoft. From DRM controversy to a hefty price tag due to Kinect, Microsoft seemed to create problem after problem in the run up to launch. Fortunately, however, the early signs are looking much healthier for the Xbox Series X, especially if the latest report is to be believed.
Fans were recently given a look at the back of the Xbox Series X console, complete with all of the various ports and inputs.
This includes space for two USB ports, the HDMI cable, power supply and ethernet. One port, however, was proving to be a bit more of a mystery.
But according to Brad Sams of Thurott – a site with an excellent track record when it comes to Microsoft leaks – the mysterious port could be used as a storage solution.
“That port is for storage expansion, according to people familiar with the company’s plans, and offers the series X a work-around as games continue to expand in size,” the post reads.
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“The bigger question, which I don’t know the answer to quite yet, is what technology is Microsoft using for the expandable storage.
“Considering that the internal drive is going to be of the ‘high-performance’ variety, a flavor of NVMe is expected and not a platter drive, external storage needs to be quick as well.
“While the back of the device does have USB ports that could be used for expansion, that mystery slot is a dedicated storage expansion for high-speed hardware.”
The fact that Microsoft is taking the storage problem seriously bodes well for the console, and should prevent problems further down the line.
It was recently revealed that the Xbox Series X would be powered by an AMD Ryzen Zen 2 CPU and an AMD Navi-based GPU with 12 TFLOPs of power.
It will provide “world-class” visuals with variable refresh rate support and 8K capabilities.
“We will also remove the technical barriers faced in previous generations and enable developers to create more expansive, immersive gaming worlds that invite more players to play,” Microsoft confirms.
“From a technical standpoint, this will manifest as world-class visuals in 4K at 60FPS, with the possibility of up to 120FPS, including support for Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), and 8K capability.
“Powered by our custom-designed processor leveraging the latest Zen 2 and next generation RDNA architecture from our partners at AMD, Xbox Series X will deliver hardware-accelerated ray tracing and a new level of performance never before seen in a console.
“Additionally, our patented Variable Rate Shading (VRS) technology will allow developers to get even more out of the Xbox Series X GPU and our next-generation SSD will virtually eliminate load times and bring players into their gaming worlds faster than ever before.”
Microsoft also claims it will be the most responsive console ever thanks to its auto low latency mode.
“We are minimising latency by leveraging technology such as Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) and giving developers new functionality like Dynamic Latency Input (DLI) to make Xbox Series X the most responsive console ever,” the post continues.
There’s no word on a price, although it’s believed Microsoft is working on two versions of the console, including a cheaper disc-less model.
Fans will be able to get their hands on the Xbox Series X console when it launches in late 2020.