Microsoft Xbox Series X review: You’re going to want a Game Pass subscription

digitaltrends.com:

Xbox Series X MSRP $500.00 Score Details Pros

• Gobs of potential
• More storage than PS5
• Accessible library through Game Pass
• Good value

• Lacking big exclusives
• Difficult to fit in most A/V cabinets
• Next-gen potential is untapped

Timing is everything.

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When a console launches, it’s critical. Every component of a new system — from hardware to software — has to come together to meet the expectations of an eager and often hypercritical fan base. And when the Xbox Series X first launched in 2020, it didn’t have the art of timing on its side due to COVID-19 spoiling Microsoft’s big launch plans.

At first, the Xbox Series X felt like an athlete who spent the year practicing for the big game, only to find the rest of the team didn’t show up. It was a powerhouse that corrected many of the wrongs from the early days of the Xbox One. The future was undeniably bright, but, due to key software delays, it just wasn’t a system that was worth purchasing immediately – or any time in the ensuing months.

That’s changed in the years since the console’s release … but not by much. Major releases like Halo Infinite and Forza Horizon 5 have helped give Microsoft’s powerful sports car a little more gas, but the Series X still struggles when it comes to delivering big exclusives that truly put its power to the test. Big gambles like Starfield and Redfall have yet to pay off some of Xbox’s pricier investments that were meant to reinvigorate its first-party efforts. Instead, Microsoft has doubled down on Xbox Game Pass to fill the gaps. When you’re fully bought in to the full Microsoft ecosystem, the Xbox Series X feels like the best console on the market today.

But that’s the catch — you’ll need to pay that monthly subscription fee to make the system feel worthwhile. Game Pass means there are plenty of