It has been a big year for gaming fans. From the launch of a new generation of Xbox consoles, to a creatively diverse lineup of games that look and play best on Xbox, and a library of high-quality games available with Xbox Game Pass, there’s never been a better time than now to join the Xbox family!
We have seen overwhelming global demand from our fans for the next generation of Xbox consoles, and we encourage you to check in with your local retailers directly for more details on availability in your market. While Xbox Series X|S consoles are not part of our holiday deals, we’re thrilled to offer an incredible discount on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate – the must-have gift for the gamer in your life – and deals on games as well as Xbox controllers. As a reminder, at Xbox we’ve made a promise to compatibility; you can be assured that when you purchase Xbox One gaming accessories or a game on Xbox One today, your game library, progression and entire gaming legacy moves forward with you whenever you choose to jump into the next generation with Xbox Series X|S.
See below for the full lineup of Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals you need to know about, and be sure to check with Xbox.com, Microsoft Store and participating retailers worldwide for more details on availability and pricing as deals will vary between regions and retailers.
Gift Over 100 Games with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate – Save Up to 40% Off Three Months
Available on Sunday, Nov. 22 – Monday, Nov. 30 [1] (See retailer for offer details and code distribution info) at participating retailers, you will receive up to 40% off when you purchase three months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate! Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is the perfect way to discover your next favorite game. For just $14.99 a month, you can get all the benefits of Xbox Live Gold, over 100 high-quality games across Android mobile devices from the cloud (Beta), console and PC, and Ultimate Perks like a 30-day trial of Disney+.[2]
Also, EA Play is already available on Xbox consoles as part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and beginning December 15, members with an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or Xbox Game Pass for PC subscription will be able to download and play games from The Play List on EA Play using Windows 10 PCs via the EA Desktop app (beta). That means more than 60 of EA’s biggest and best console and PC games like Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, FIFA 20, Titanfall 2 and Need for Speed Heat are available for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and Xbox Game Pass for PC members at no extra cost. And, some of the best EA Play games will also be available for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members on Android devices via cloud gaming (Beta). Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is the gift that keeps on giving throughout the holidays and into the new year! It’s also the best way to have fun and stay connected with friends and family, together or apart.
Amp Up Your Library with the Hottest Titles for Console and PC – At A Discount
From Friday, Nov. 20 – Thursday, Dec. 3, on Xbox.com and Microsoft Store only, we’re offering up to 55% off select digital titles on some of the hottest games this season on your Xbox such as Far Cry 5, Forza Horizon 4, Marvel`s Avengers, Watch Dogs: Legion, FIFA 21 and NBA 2K21. And with Smart Delivery, supported titles like Forza Horizon 4 will deliver the best version when you’re ready to upgrade your console, at no additional cost.
To give you even more value in the leadup to the holidays, we’ll also be offering up to 60% off select PC titles such as Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, Forza Horizon 4 Standard Edition and Gears 5.
Take Your Gaming to the Next Level with a New Controller
This holiday, we have a new lineup of Xbox Wireless Controllers, giving you more options than ever to customize how you play. Available Sunday, Nov. 22 – Monday, Nov. 30 at the Microsoft Store and participating retailers, get up to $20 off select Xbox controllers including the new Carbon Black, Robot White, and Shock Blue, starting at $39.99.
Xbox has something for everyone on your list, at every price point. Be sure to scoop up these deals while they last and visit Xbox.com, Microsoft Store and participating retailers for more details on availability and pricing as deals will vary between regions and retailers.
[1] Valid through 11/22/20-11/30/20 at participating retailers while supplies last; exclusions apply. Limit 1 per person/account. See retailer for offer details and code distribution info.
[2] Valid for new Disney+ subscribers only. 18+ only. After trial, Disney+ automatically renews at the then-current monthly pricing until you cancel. Subject to Disney+ Subscriber Agreement https://www.disneyplus.com/legal/subscriber-agreement. Limited time offer. One per account. Available in AU, AT, BE, CA, DK, FI, DE, IE, IT, NL, NZ, NO, PT, ES, SE, CH, GB, US. Claim by 1/31/21. Redeem by 3/2/21.
Thanks to you, the launch of Xbox Series X|S is now the most successful debut in our history. While we missed the emotional spark of being together with you in person, it was incredible to celebrate a new generation of gaming with the millions on our celebration livestream and everyone who participated in our global launch across 40 countries.
Your support, and what you accomplished in the first 24 hours of launch, inspire us and demonstrate the connective power of play is more important than ever.
More new consoles sold than any prior generation, with Xbox Series S adding the highest percentage of new players for any Xbox console at launch
More games played, 3,594 in total, spanning four generations, setting a record for the most games ever played during an Xbox console launch
Next gen means more ways to discover and play, 70 percent of Series X|S consoles are attached to new and existing Xbox Game Pass members
As none of this would be possible without great games to play, we also want to thank our development partners around the world and congratulate them on their own respective launches this week, including delivering more than 40 new and Optimized games like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Destiny 2: Beyond Light, Dirt 5, The Falconeer, Tetris Effect: Connected, Watch Dogs: Legion and Yakuza: Like a Dragon to players on day one, 30 of which support Smart Delivery.
We know that not everyone was able to get an Xbox Series X|S immediately and are working tirelessly with our partners around the world to bring as many new consoles to as many of you as possible over time and encourage you to check in with your local retailers directly for more details on availability in your market.
Your early reaction and excitement for the next generation of Xbox has us feeling grateful and energized to continue building the future of gaming with you. On the behalf of Team Xbox: Thank you.
Experience the thrill of gaming at 120 frames per second, with faster loading times, richer, more dynamic worlds and much more on Xbox Series X, our fastest most powerful console ever, and Xbox Series S, delivering next-generation performance at an affordable price in the smallest Xbox ever. Plus, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership on console now includes EA Play.
The future of gaming starts today with the launch of Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, bringing the most performant, immersive and compatible next-generation console gaming experiences to players around the world. The launch of these next-generation consoles is the continuation of our vision of an entirely new future for players – one that puts you and your friends at the center of your gaming experience.
Xbox Series X, the most powerful next-generation console, empowers developers to deliver on their creative visions and dreams. It packs an unprecedented 12 teraflops of GPU power and enables new technologies and features like framerates up to 120 fps, hardware-accelerated Direct X raytracing, variable rate shading, and Quick Resume, which enables players to resume exactly where they left off, across multiple titles, ensuring they can get right back to the fun in an instant. Xbox Series X delivers a new level of fidelity, immediacy, precision and accuracy never before seen in console gaming.
Xbox Series S, an all-digital next-gen console, is our smallest, sleekest Xbox ever. Designed to deliver everything that is core to next-generation gaming – faster load times, higher frame rates, and richer, more dynamic worlds – Xbox Series S offers next-generation performance at a more affordable price.
Xbox Series X|S are available in 40 markets around the world today with more to come.
The Best Place to Play the Biggest Games
The launch of Xbox Series X|S heralds a new generation of game experiences built to take full advantage of our fastest consoles ever. Today, when you power on your Xbox Series X|S, you will be greeted by the largest most diverse launch lineup in Xbox history. Games like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Watch Dogs: Legion, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Gears Tactics, and Tetris Effect: Connected will be some of the much-anticipated next-gen games you can play on day one. Xbox Series X|S launch with more than 40 new games playable today, including 30 with Smart Delivery, which will ensure that you always play the best version of the games you own for your console, across generations.
More incredible games are coming to Xbox Series X|S before the end of the year including Destiny 2: Beyond Lightlaunching November 10 (optimized for Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S on December 8) and Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War launching November 13. When Cyberpunk 2077 launches on December 10, it will look and play best on our next gen consoles and take advantage of Smart Delivery technology, giving you the best version for whatever Xbox console you own.
And there’s plenty more on the way. Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S have been embraced by the biggest names in game development, including our 15 Xbox Game Studios teams, ensuring Xbox Series X|S will power a new generation of blockbuster games for years to come.
Embrace the Full Power of the Console with Games Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Games optimized for Xbox Series X|S will showcase unparalleled load-times via the Xbox Velocity Architecture, heightened visuals and hardware-accelerated DirectX raytracing powered by our custom, next generation GPU, heightened visuals, and framerates of up to 120FPS. These include new titles built natively using the Xbox Series X|S development environment as well as recent blockbuster favorites that have been rebuilt specifically to take full advantage of our powerful new hardware.
Gears 5 is also re-releasing today, fully optimized for Xbox Series X|S with reduced load times, 4K HDR Ultra visuals on Series X, 120 frames per second in Versus multiplayer, variable refresh rate, Quick Resume, and features Smart Delivery for players to have the best version on day one. New content is also available for all platforms, including WWE’s Dave Batista now playable as Marcus Fenix in campaign mode, multiplayer skins being available in campaign for all playable characters, new achievements, and next month’s “Hivebusters” campaign DLC.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection has also been optimized and will boost all Halo games to run at 4K 120FPS on the system, along with improved split-screen play and FOV sliders for the most immersive Halo experience yet. Xbox Series X|S owners will also be able to enjoy campaign co-op cross play with friends on Xbox One, as well as input-based competitive matchmaking across both Xbox One and PC. Additional features, updates and new seasonal content for Halo: The Master Chief Collection will be launched throughout 2021, so there’s no better time to join in the Great Journey.
Playground Games’ Forza Horizon 4, which has been enjoyed by over 24 million players since launch, now features higher fidelity graphics and faster performance, allowing players to zip around beautiful, historic Britain and drive hundreds of the world’s greatest cars in native 4K Ultra HD at 60fps on Xbox Series X. Get behind the wheel faster than ever with quick game resume and dramatically improved load times. With Smart Delivery, the Series X update is a free download to all Forza Horizon 4 owners and Game Pass subscribers.
Gears Tactics is also now available on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One with Xbox Game Pass and Smart Delivery. The critically acclaimed fast-paced, turn-based strategy game from the Gears of War franchise has been Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, running at 60 FPS and 4K UHD on Xbox Series X, with enhanced textures, increased world detail and a choice of 60 or 30 frames per second for cinematics. On Xbox Series S, Gears Tactics runs at 60 FPS and 1440p. Xbox Series X|S will feature fast load times and smoother gameplay with the addition of Variable Rate Shading.
The Continued Evolution of Xbox Game Pass with the Addition of EA Play
Xbox Game Pass has fundamentally changed how people play games, and we’re continuing to grow Xbox Game Pass as the best way to discover and play games with family and friends. We want you to experience new ways to play on the console, PC, and your Android mobile device. And to provide the most compelling value in gaming, Xbox Game Pass is the only membership in gaming offering first-party game studio titles day one of launch, so you choose whether to play games as part of your membership or purchase them separately. With Xbox Game Pass, today, Xbox Series X|S owners have the biggest launch day library of games at their fingertips and all of these games load faster and look even more amazing than ever before.
Starting today, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members playing on Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S will receive an EA Play membership at no additional cost. Coming December 15, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and Xbox Game Pass for PC members will also be able to download and play games from The Play List on EA Play on Windows 10 PCs via the EA Desktop app currently in beta. And some of the best EA Play games will also be available for Ultimate members to play on Android devices via the cloud. In addition to the 100+ games in the Xbox Game Pass library today, Ultimate and PC members can play more than 60 of EA’s biggest and best console and PC games like Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, FIFA 20, Titanfall 2 and Need for Speed Heat, as well as titles from some of EA’s most popular franchises like Battlefield, Mass Effect, Skate, and TheSims.
The Most Compatible Next-Gen Consoles Ever
Xbox Series X|S are the only next-generation consoles empowering you to play thousands of games across four generations. Some of the greatest Xbox games of all time look and play best on the new Xbox consoles. We believe that gamers should be able to play all of their games from the past without needing to purchase them again, and they should play better than ever before.
Backwards compatible games run natively with the full performance of the Xbox Series X|S for each and every backward compatible game. This means that all titles run at the peak performance that they were originally designed for, many times even higher performance than the games saw on their original launch platform. These games will look better than ever thanks to improved texture filtering, higher and more consistent frame rates, faster load times and Auto HDR support.
Compatibility is about more than just making sure the games work. It also means being able to bring forward your game saves and progress, your Xbox career and friends, and your Xbox One gaming accessories with you when you upgrade. This process is seamless and straightforward – just pop in your backward-compatible game and go.
Join Us Today in Celebrating the Launch of the Next Generation of Gaming
Today, we invite you to celebrate, connect, and play together. We invite you to grab your device of choice and play alongside Team Xbox, your favorite creators, and our partners, right from your homes around the world. We invite you to take a glimpse behind-the-scenes of the next generation of games, hear the stories of people who make them, and play along with them. We invite you to tune in to our global livestream in celebration of play on today at 11 a.m. PT / 2 p.m. ET on YouTube,Twitch, and Facebook Gaming.
Xbox Series X is available now for $499, while Xbox Series S retails for $299. For the latest on where to buy Xbox Series X|S, visit https://www.xbox.com/en-US/consoles. You can also check in with your local retailer, including Microsoft Store, for more information.
Next week, gamers around the world will be able to jump into the next generation of gaming with the release of the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. We’re very excited about the launch of our latest and greatest consoles, and used it as an excuse for celebrations, both live and virtual, around the globe. Don’t have that new console yet? Not to worry – you won’t need one to join us as we kick off the next generation in style!
Global Celebration Livestream
The biggest of our launch day events is our official livestream, which gives us an opportunity to celebrate and connect with our fans by doing what we all love to do: play games. On November 10, we’re inviting all Xbox fans around the world to celebrate, connect, and play together. So grab your device of choice and play alongside Team Xbox, your favorite creators, and our partners, right from your homes around the world. You’ll get to take a closer look at the next generation of games, hear the stories of people who make them, and play along with them.
We invite you to tune in to our global livestream in celebration of play on November 10 at 11 a.m. PT / 2 p.m. ET on YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook Gaming.
During the livestream, you’ll see more on lots of next-generation games, includingGears Tactics, Gears 5, Destiny 2, Forza Horizon 4, Watch Dogs: Legion, Tetris Effect Connected, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, The Falconeer, Grounded, The Medium, Dirt5, Halo MCC, Bright Memory, and Scarlet Nexus.
We’ll also be highlighting some of the member of the Xbox community, with testimonials from Xbox Ambassadors, MVPs, Xbox FanFest attendees, and our very own Team Xbox members about what this moment means to them.
Cyberpunk 2077 fans won’t want to miss Johnny Silverhand’s induction into the Xbox Walk of Fame. To celebrate the occasion, viewers will be able to control a 20-foot replica of Johnny’s iconic Silverhand live during the stream, using nothing but emojis.
Want to look fresh in some new gear? We’ll be sharing a first look at our new Xbox Gear Launch Collection, complete with timed discounts, exclusive products, and free gear drops. We’ll also be highlighting partners such as Taco Bell, Monster Energy Drink, Samsung, and the Foot Locker family of brands .
We’ve also got a special treat for fans who attend our virtual FanFest. Login or Register as an Xbox FanFest fan at https://www.xbox.com/fanfest and opt-in for a chance to win exclusive prizing such as a custom Xbox Series X Fridge, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S.
During the livestream, we’re partnering with our friends at Make-A-Wish® International to support communities around the world through Softgiving™. We’re bringing back #GiveWithXbox, and starting at 11 a.m. PT / 2 p.m. ET on November 10, every donation made to Make-A-Wish International during the livestream will automatically enter them for a chance to win a Game Pass Ultimate 3-month subscription or one of three HyperX Cloud Alpha headsets. For more information and to join in giving back to families, please visit the event donation page.
Finally, while we can’t be together in person, we will bring our fans together virtually. Fans will upload a selfie to create our launch fan mosaic, with the final image being revealed during the livestream.
Xbox Launch Celebrations Around the World
In addition to the global launch livestream, we’ll also have a number of events kicking off around the globe that fans can participate in. These include:
New Zealand: Due to international time zones, New Zealand will be the first country to globally celebrate the launch of the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. Xbox ANZ is hosting a livestream countdown for its fans on both sides of the Tasman in Australia and New Zealand, as well as across the world. The live event will begin at 11 p.m. NZDT on November 9 and continue through midnight to officially usher in the next generation of gaming. An official Xbox takeover will also take place during the stream, where Queenstown will be transformed into ‘Greenstown’ to officially launch the Xbox Series S and Xbox Series S. Fans can tune in via Xbox ANZ’s Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Twitch.
France: On November 9, Xbox France will host a local livestream event, Xbox Dream Live. From 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. CET there will be a celebration with the community on Xbox France’s Twitch and Twitter, including Q&A, contest for prizes, and more. From 8:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. CET on November 10, the Xbox team will celebrate the new generation of gaming with takeovers from game streamers and entertaining activations.
Germany: Xbox Germany will celebrate the launch of Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S with the Xbox Dream Stream event on November 9 at 7 p.m. CET on Xbox Germany’s Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube. Join the digital party with the local German, Swiss and Austrian gaming communities to celebrate the transition into the next gen with a spectacular livestream full of highlights and surprises.
Sweden: Xbox Sverige (Sweden) invites the world to tune in at 8 p.m. CET to Xbox Sverige: Launch Night Live as we bring a show packed full of content to celebrate the arrival of Xbox Series X and S. In partnership with DreamHack and Elgiganten, along with a roster of other amazing partners, the stream will serve to showcase every part of the next generation of Xbox gaming – from console, to PC and Mobile. Additionally, viewers are invited to preview games that are playable at launch, along with some special guests throughout the show. Be sure to tune in for all this and some exciting prizes to be won.
UK: At 6 p.m. GMT on November 9, Xbox UK and Xbox On will host a six-hour livestream, counting down to launch at midnight. Viewers are invited to preview games that are playable at launch, complete live interactive challenges, all while experiencing a spectacular installation that will be featured throughout the show. The rooftop display, set against the backdrop of London’s iconic skyline, will feature a countdown that will begin two minutes before midnight and includes a holographic installation to showcase the innovative features of the Xbox Series X.
Brazil: The Next Gen is Now two-hour streaming event will begin at 5 p.m. BRT on November 9. Catering to the local Xbox community in Brazil, the livestream is hoping to engage tech enthusiasts as well as casual and hardcore gamers of the like. Attendees will have the chance to interact with the stream in real time and decide what will be shown, whether it be an unboxing, gameplay with content creators, trailers (Cyberpunk 2077 & Assassin’s Creed Valhalla) or an extended view of the new console features for the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S.
Mexico: Xbox Mexico will welcome the next generation of Xbox gaming during a live stream event on November 9 at 7 p.m. CST. This digital event has been inspired by the dreams of the Mexican community and will be packed with great surprises, fun dynamics, important announcements, and appearances from influential gaming opinion leaders and content creators throughout the country.
Canada: In Toronto Ontario, Xbox Canada will usher in the Xbox Series X as we Power Your Dreams through a showcase of local artists’ dream interpretations depicted on a 40 ft console floating in the Toronto Harbour on November 9 and 10, in a nod to the iconic Xbox Series X reveal from last year’s Game Awards. Stay tuned to @XboxCanada and @Xbox for more information.
United States: A mysterious 40 ft monolith appearing in the dreamlike landscape of Washington State USA, in a nod to the recent Xbox Power your Dreams campaign creative. It will feature local artist’s dream-work imagery. The structure and it’s ever-changing content will be featured in companion streams, social content and giveaways hidden throughout the day. We will also make select artwork available to fans digitally following launch. Stay tuned to @Xbox for more information.
Tune in to the global livestream in celebration of play on November 10 at 11 a.m. PT / 2 p.m. ET on YouTube,Twitch, and Facebook Gaming.
We know our players love to catch up on the latest shows or listen to their favorite artists on their Xbox consoles when they aren’t gaming. At Xbox, our goal is to make the transition from playing games and streaming media on Xbox One to Xbox Series X|S as seamless as possible, so that you’re not missing out on the content you love when you jump into the next generation of gaming.
Just as we’re bringing forward all the games that play on Xbox One* today, we’re excited to announce that your favorite entertainment apps you enjoy today on Xbox One will be available on Xbox Series X and Series S. That means your favorite streaming apps like Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube TV, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, NBC Peacock, Vudu, FandangoNow, Twitch, Sky Go, NOW TV, Sky Ticket and more, will be waiting for you when you boot your new Xbox console on November 10.
Apple TV is coming to Xbox Consoles
When our all-new Xbox family of consoles launch worldwide on November 10, you’ll have more than just the entertainment apps you enjoy today on Xbox One. We’re excited to share that the Apple TV app is coming to Xbox One and Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S on November 10.
The Apple TV app gives you access to thousands of shows and movies from one convenient location, allowing you to enjoy Apple TV+, Apple TV channels, brand-new and popular movies, and personalized entertainment recommendations.
Apple TV+ is your home for Apple Originals — award-winning shows, premiere movies, and stunning documentaries — from the world’s most creative storytellers.
Binge your heart out with hilarious, heartfelt and powerful shows like Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet, Ted Lasso, The Morning Show, See, Servant and Tehran. Grab your popcorn for movie night featuring Tom Hanks in Greyhound or the documentary Beastie Boys Story.
There’s so much more available on the Apple TV app. You can also subscribe to channels like Showtime, CBS All Access and AMC+. You can browse to buy or rent more than 100,000 movies and shows, with access to your library of previous movie and TV show purchases from Apple. You can watch online, ad-free and on demand through the app. In addition, Family Sharing lets six family members share subscriptions to Apple TV channels using their personal Apple ID and password.
If you’re ready to dive in, you can subscribe to Apple TV+ on the Apple TV app directly from your Xbox for $4.99 per month with a seven-day free trial starting November 10.See here for more details on everything Apple TV has to offer.
Watch like never before
It’s not just your games that play better than ever before on our new consoles, your favorite movies and shows are about to sound and look more immersive on Xbox Series X and Series S.
With our new consoles, immerse yourself with fuller colors, enhanced dynamic range, and spatial sound just as the filmmakers and creators intended on Xbox Series X|S with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, which are supported on apps like Netflix, Disney+, and Vudu. Together, these advanced audiovisual technologies will take your favorite entertainment to new heights through ultravivid picture quality – incredible brightness, contrast, color, and detail – alongside immersive moving audio that will transport you to new worlds.
It’s never been easier to browse the hundreds of entertainment apps available with the new Microsoft Store on Xbox, which was rebuilt with your feedback in mind. The Microsoft Store is twice as fast as before. We’ve cut the launch time of the Microsoft Store app to about two seconds so you can find your next favorite game, app, or movie easier than ever. As a reminder, you can access your apps in the refreshed Xbox dashboard experience (UX) in the My Games & Apps.
We also recently introduced a new Entertainment block for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S that showcases the latest content in movies, TV, and music across popular entertainment apps. For new Xbox owners, the Entertainment block is automatically pinned to Home. Existing gamers can scroll down to Add more > See all suggestions, select Entertainment, and add it to Home.
Eight days to go until you can experience everything we have in store for the next generation of gaming.
*Except for a handful of titles that require Kinect
Gaming connects us even in the most difficult of times. In a year that’s consistently thrown challenge and change our way, games told us new stories, enriched our lives, and brought us together across physical and social distances. Your actions in games showed the power of play and the imaginative feats we can accomplish together.
To honor the launch of the new Xbox generation, we invite you to celebrate this power of play with us. On November 10, we invite you, players of all identities and backgrounds, console generations and devices, skill sets and tastes, to celebrate, connect, and play together. We invite you to grab your device of choice and play alongside Team Xbox, your favorite creators, and our partners, right from your homes around the world. We invite you to take a glimpse behind-the-scenes of the next generation of games, hear the stories of people who make them, and play along with them. We invite you to tune in to our global livestream in celebration of play on November 10 at 11 a.m. PT / 2 p.m. ET on YouTube,Twitch, and Facebook Gaming.
Think of our livestream celebration as a companion to your gaming plans for the day. We’ll host “Let’s Play” segments with the creators, showcase special launch highlights from around the globe and harness the power of gaming to raise vital funds for great causes. This will be a moment of play, not press releases, as next generation consoles begin to land in the hands of players around the world. Instead of big announcements, we will mark the beginning of a new era by gaming alongside one another. We will take this moment to have some fun and look forward to having you join us.
November 10 marks a formative moment, the very beginning of the new generation of play.
You will be able to experience many of its benefits right away – like the incredible look and feel of movement at 120fps, faster load times, richer gaming libraries, the mobile reach of cloud gaming, and new unforgettable game experiences. As creators tap into the power of the new Xbox console generation over the next decade, you will see gaming shake free from its former limits. Unique custom-designed innovations will make Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S highly coveted this holiday season, and we are working hard with partners around the world to bring as many new consoles to as many players as possible over time.
With the goal of empowering everyone to join this new generation and experience the power of play everywhere on the planet, gaming with Xbox will transform throughout the next decade as our investments across content, console, cloud gaming and PC evolve in harmony – with each other and with what players want. For the gaming industry, there’s no better measure of success than more people playing, and more players discovering games they love.
I can’t wait to celebrate with you on November 10, and I’m looking forward to experiencing what we will all create through play. See you on Xbox soon.
During the video, you’ll get a closer look at how we’ve made it faster than ever to get into your games, how games on the next generation of Xbox look better and play better than ever before, and how the Xbox app keeps you connected to your console and friends, even when you’re not home. From the new dashboard experience and our new Xbox Wireless Controller to next-gen game optimizations and storage solutions, this video will give you a look at everything you can expect from Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S.
The launch of a new generation of games is the culmination of epic creative and technical endeavors from developers around the globe, all focused on a single goal: delivering immersive new experiences and rich new worlds to explore. The Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S day one lineup reflects this incredible ingenuity– bringing you a creative, diverse and deep collection of iconic, inventive, and critically-acclaimed games from amazing creators around the world.
30Optimized games on day one that look and play best on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S
When you power on your Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S on November 10, you will be greeted by the largest launch lineup in Xbox history. Games like Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, Watch Dogs: Legion, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Gears Tactics, and Tetris Effect: Connected will be some of the much-anticipated next-gen games you can play on day one. The Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S will launch with 30 new games playable day one, 20 of them with Smart Delivery that are upgraded automatically and thousands of backward compatible titles across four generations.
Looking forward to this holiday, there will be more incredible games coming to Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S before the end of the year including Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War launching November 13, Destiny 2: Beyond Light launching November 10 and optimized for Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S on December 8,and Xbox console launch exclusive The Medium onDecember 10. When Cyberpunk 2077 launches on November 19 it will look and play best on our next gen consoles and take advantage of Smart Delivery technology giving fans the best version for whatever Xbox console you own.
There is truly a game for everyone on Xbox. And we can’t wait to enter the future of console gaming with you.
The list of games available starting on November 10 that look and play best on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S includes:
As gamers, we know how important it is to preserve and respect your gaming legacy. We believe your favorite games and franchises, your progression and achievements, your Xbox One gaming accessories and the friendships and communities you create through gaming should all move with you across generations. We also fundamentally believe that not only should you be able to play all of your games from the past without needing to purchase them again, but they should also look, feel and play better on the next generation of Xbox consoles. Preserving and improving the thousands of games you know and love, or have yet to discover, has been a core objective since the beginning of the backward compatibility program in 2015, and with years of learnings and successes – and over 500,000 hours of gameplay testing across four generations of Xbox in the last year alone getting ready for Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S – we couldn’t be more proud of the results you will be able to experience beginning November 10.
Games play best on Xbox Series X and Series S
Backward compatible games run natively on the Xbox Series X and S, running with the full power of the CPU, GPU and SSD. No boost mode, no downclocking, the full power of the consoles for each and every backward compatible game. This means that all titles run at the peak performance that they were originally designed for, with significantly higher performance than their original launch platform, resulting in higher and more steady framerates and rendering at their maximum resolution and visual quality. Backward compatible titles also benefit from significant reductions in load times due to the massive leap in performance from our custom NVME SSD at the heart of the Xbox Velocity Architecture.
Auto HDR for everyone
Modern games often implement high dynamic range (HDR) to improve overall visual quality. HDR allows a game to render a much larger range of brightness values and colors. This gives an extra sense of richness and depth to the image when compared to a standard dynamic range (SDR) image. For example, the light from a flashlight looks much brighter and red flowers look much more vibrant.
However, thousands of Xbox games shipped before HDR was first introduced with Xbox One S, and even for some Xbox One games, developers simply didn’t have the development resources or time to implement HDR. With Xbox Series X and Series S we are introducing a new feature named Auto HDR. Auto HDR automatically adds HDR enhancements to games which only shipped with SDR. Auto HDR enhances the visual quality of an SDR game without changing the original artistic intent of the game. Auto HDR is implemented by the system so developers don’t have to do any work to take advantage of this feature. Also, since Auto HDR is enabled by the console’s hardware, there is absolutely no performance cost to the CPU, GPU or memory and there is no additional latency added ensuring you receive the ultimate gaming experience.
The below images show how Auto HDR can improve the visual quality without changing the overall look of the game. The HDR images are brighter and more colorful only in the naturally expected areas, while the rest of the image retains its original intent.
Amazing innovations for some of the classics
By the time the new Xbox consoles launch this November, the team will have spent well over 500,000 hours of gameplay across the entire backward compatibility catalog to ensure your experience is the best possible, no matter which game is your favorite. Beyond the improvements all backward compatible games will see due to increased hardware performance, our team of backward compatibility engineers continue to innovate and push the limits of game preservation and enhancement to make your current game library look and play even better, at no additional cost and with no work from developers while still respecting the artistic intent and vision of the original creators.
Newtechnology to double framerates
Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S bring next-gen performance to your favorite games. Higher, steadier framerates make games feel smoother, resulting in more immersive gameplay. Many improvements are the result of the custom designed processor that allows compatible games to play and leverage the increased CPU, GPU and memory from the new consoles. In addition however, the backward compatibility team has developed new methods for effectively doubling the framerate on select titles. While not applicable for many titles due to the game’s original physics or animations, these new techniques the team has developed can push game engines to render more quickly for a buttery smooth experience beyond what the original game might have delivered due to the capabilities of the hardware. Fallout 4 framerate, shown below, is effectively doubled from 30fps to 60fps on Xbox Series S, delivering a new way to preserve and enjoy this legendary title.
On the Xbox One, we were able to provide a curated list of titles that were enhanced for the Xbox One X via the Heutchy method. This allowed titles from Xbox 360 that rendered at 720p and original Xbox games that ran at 360p to play at 4K on Xbox One X, well beyond the capabilities of their original platform. The Heutchy method continues to be used to bring a variety of titles to 1440p on Xbox Series S and 4K on Xbox Series X.
Improved texture filtering is also coming to backward compatible titles on both Xbox Series X and Series S. On Xbox One X, a portion of the catalog benefited from increased anisotropic filtering, improving image quality of games. On Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, 16x anisotropic filtering has been enabled for nearly all backward compatible titles so you can experience the very best visuals the games have to offer.
Delivering on our promise
The backward compatibility team has been working hard to make all the games you love and remember available to you on Xbox Series X and Series S. Playing the games will be just as easy and magical as it’s always been. Simply insert your favorite backward compatible Xbox One, Xbox 360 or original Xbox disc into your Xbox Series X, install the game, and you’ll be ready to play. Your digital library will instantly appear and ready for download on the console when you sign in. If you’ve already installed your games to an external drive, you can bring that with you to the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. This all happens with no additional cost to you. And, with cloud saves, you’ll jump right back in where you left off. For those of you still enjoying Xbox 360, cloud saves will soon be free to all Xbox 360 users, making transferring your favorite games to Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S even easier.
Preserving the games of our past is fundamental to our DNA at Xbox and our continued promise to you. Backward compatibility lets you experience your cherished gaming memories again and in new ways. Your favorite games retain everything the original developer intended, while experiencing enhancements and exciting new features. There’s no need to look back, because your games are ready to move forward with you to the next generation of Xbox.
As we approach the launch of a new generation of gaming, there comes a renewed source of joy and inspiration for gamers around the world. We invite you to come on this journey with us. To dream of more vibrant and living gaming worlds. To dream of being instantly transported to your games at blazingly fast speeds. To dream of discovering your full gaming potential through high visual fidelity and even higher framerates, never experienced on consoles before.
With the all-new Xbox family of consoles launching worldwide on November 10, 2020, no matter how ambitious the dream, the power exists to turn your dreams into reality.
Power Your Dreams
With the global launch of the Power Your Dreams campaign, we turn to the positive experience that gaming provides us all. Power Your Dreams speaks to the idea that when we game – whether on console, PC or phone, we dream. Sometimes we dream about being someone else or about being our true selves. Sometimes we dream of an epic win with a group of friends or a solo adventure that challenges what we think we’re capable of. And sometimes we dream of first place or making this world a better place.
We’re excited to debut our launch trailer titled, “Us Dreamers.” In “Us Dreamers,” hero protagonist Daniel Kaluuya (Academy award nominated actor from blockbusters like “Get Out” and “Black Panther”) leads us all on an inspirational journey about what it means for gamers to dream and reach our potential, together.
The story begins with Daniel picking up his Xbox Wireless Controller after returning home. He is greeted by online friends and is quickly transitioned into his gaming dream, moving from live action to CG. Daniel travels through his dream, passing through spectacular and immersive visuals of dream-inspired gaming worlds before discovering another gamer and her representation of her own gaming dream. Together, they realize that while each of our gaming dreams and journeys are unique, there are many gamers and many individual dreams that all come together with the power of Xbox.
Beyond the compelling visuals and relatable story, the true soul of “Us Dreamers” comes through with the featured track, “No Ordinary” a new song by Labrinth – a multiplatinum-selling singer, songwriter, Grammy nominated producer and Emmy award winning composer of one of 2019’s biggest shows, HBO’s Euphoria. “No Ordinary” provides an inspirational audio experience that uplifts the storytelling and complements the visual spectacle seen in “Us Dreamers.”
As we debut the world premiere of “Us Dreamers” on our Xbox channels today, coinciding with the first-time release of Labrinth’s “No Ordinary” track, Xbox fans can check out the broadcast debut during Sunday Night Football on Sunday, October 11, 2020 when the Minnesota Vikings take on the Seattle Seahawks. Kick-off is estimated for 5:30 p.m. P.T.
Thank you to the Xbox fans who have been on this journey with us since the beginning and welcome to the fans who may be joining us for the first time. The incredible reception and energy surrounding Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S has been simply inspiring to all of us at team Xbox.
