Project Scarlett Xbox console announced – release date, specs, launch titles, and more

Eli Becht

Microsoft unveiled their brand new Xbox console, named Xbox Project X, and here’s everything we know about the groundbreaking new console so far.

With news about the PlayStation 5 already out there, everyone was just waiting on Microsoft to see what their response to the impressive new console from Sony was.

Sony doesn’t have a presence at E3 this year, leaving Microsoft to steal the show with the announcement of their new Xbox. The Xbox One X may be the most powerful console available right now but all of that will be changing with the release of this console.

The Xbox One X will no longer be the most powerful console.

Microsoft stressed their new console will be built for the goal of having the best gaming experience possible. It’s clear the team has learned from the underwhelming response of the Xbox One, which was being marketed as an all-in-one entertainment device.

The team is looking to eliminate load times altogether so players are able to get right into the action. They have partnered with AMD to build a new hybrid CPU that is said to be four times as powerful as the Xbox One X.

It will come with a solid state drive built-in, lending itself to lightning-quick load times.  On top of this, the new console will support up to 120 FPS, 8K resolution gaming, and backwards compatibility.

When does Xbox Series X release?

Xbox’s Project Scarlett, which is now Xbox Project X, is set for a Holiday 2020 release with Halo: Infinite as a launch title. An exact date remains up in the air, but with plenty of time to go, an annoucement will come at some point.

With PlayStation also releasing the PS5 at this point in 2020, it may very well be a case of who blinks first and lets their release date out into the wider world.

Will Xbox Series X be backwards compatible?

The Xbox Series X will be backwards compatible, meaning you’ll be able to play plenty of Xbox One titles on the new console – provided that developers don’t re-release them with a remastered version.

One other wrinkle in the backwards compatibility fight is that next-generation controller will also work on the current systems. Meaning that if you adopt a new console early and still want to play at a friend’s house, you can do so with the new pad.

With so much time between now and when the new console is set to release, Microsoft will have ample opportunity to nail down the pricing, release date, and launch titles.
Unless they throw a spanner into the works with their own show, the next time we hear from the Xbox chiefs is likely E3 2020, but we’ll be sure to keep this post updated with any new information anyway.
This post was last updated on Friday, December 13 at 11:52 AM Eastern Time.