Xbox Series X vs PS5: Specs, games, features, price, release date, controller, backwards compatibility and more next-gen console comparisons

A recent PS5 event was very enlightening, with players now knowing more about what Sony's new console will have on the hardware side.

Microsoft has also announced the full specs for the Xbox Series X, which, depending on current circumstances, is due to be released towards the end of this year.

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But in the meantime, we thought it may be useful to lay out a guide of what we’ve learnt so far, and how past conferences that announced previous consoles could influence these next-gen ones.

PS5 vs Xbox Series X specs

Now that the specifications of both consoles are official, one can’t help but think that these new consoles are just as powerful as a futuristic PC from 2021.

With both consoles offering SSD storage, which has each been specifically designed by Sony and Microsoft, the difference between the two overall is minimal.

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But the Xbox Series X does slightly come ahead, with a 20% increase in power. The only similarities are in the GPU and Memory Architecture, so if a game was to be made available on both systems, there would be a challenge in seeing just which console the game is running on..

But let’s not forget; it’s not about the specifications that will make one of these consoles the winner in due time; it’s what they can offer.

PS5 vs Xbox Series X console design

After the PS5 reveal event on the 11th June, we finally got a glimpse at what the PS5 console looks like.

Sony has kept its fans in the dark for much longer than Microsoft did, who revealed the Xbox Series X console design in December at The Game Awards.

The consoles are aesthetically very different, with the PS5 going for a curved two-tone console that looks very futuristic. Microsoft, on the other hand, opted for a simplistic black cuboid design for the Series X.

Buy: Pre-Order the Series S from Amazon here.

Both consoles were mocked equally by memes online after their reveal.

Picking a winning design between these two consoles is ultimately a subjective choice. The Xbox Series X's design was a safe choice, offering very little in flair compared to the PlayStation 5. The black and white colours on the PS5 have divided fans, however, with many clamouring for a fully black PS5 instead.

READ MORE:Will the PS5 come in other colours?

PS5 vs Xbox Series X backwards compatibility

The PS5 will, apparently, be able to play the majority of the top 100 PS4 games when it launches, and it offers a considerable improvement to how the games run. This list is meant to grow, and it seems as though it will eventually include the majority of PS4 titles. And that's not all!

Sony also announced the 'PS Plus Collection' for launch, so games like Uncharted 4, God of War, Batman: Arkham Knight will be available to download and play on the PS5; a great deal for anyone who missed out previously on these classics.

The Xbox Series X also takes old games very seriously, which is unsurprising as the Xbox One already has backwards compatibility too.

The Xbox Series X will be able to (technically) run the entirety of the Xbox One catalogue of games with no emulation.

You see, it's all baked into the new console at a hardware level, but then each game gets boosted with the almighty new power of the upcoming console as well.

That's an impressive feat on its own, but it actually gets even better: the Xbox Series X backwards compatibility was shown to work with Fusion Frenzy, a game which released on the very first Xbox nearly twenty years ago.

PS5 vs Xbox Series X games - which have been confirmed?

Gears 5 Enhanced and Halo Infinitewere the two big first-party games which Microsoft touted for the the Xbox Series X's launch, but 343i has since delayed their Halo game until 2021.

Meanwhile, Sony has lots of exciting exclusives in the works: Spider-Man Miles Morales and Horizon Forbidden West are among the PS5 games that you won't find anywhere else.

Third-party games like Cyberpunk 2077, Assassin's Creed Valhalla and Watch Dogs Legion will launch on both PS5 and Xbox Series X.

Now that Microsoft have agreed to buy Bethesda, next year will be an interesting time to see which of their games from their massive library will appear on Game Pass, and as an exclusive.

READ MORE: Why will games still run in 30 FPS on next-gen?

PS5 vs Xbox Series X price

After Sony's event on the 16th September, we finally got confirmation of the release date for both variants of the PlayStation 5, and the prices.

The Standard Edition PS5 will cost £449.99, while in other regions there are prices of €499.99, and $499.99.

Meanwhile, the Digital Edition PS5 will cost £359.99, while in other regions translates to $399.99 and €399.99.

The Xbox Series X price was unveiled in September at £449, a very affordable price for a next-gen console, and making it head to head with the Disk Version of the PlayStation 5.

Meanwhile, Microsoft also confirmed the price for the Xbox Series S thanks to a leak on Twitter, the company's cheaper alternative in the next-gen console war. The Series S will cost $299 USD (or £249 GBP).

PS5 vs Xbox Series X features - are there any differences?

One key feature that Microsoft has announced is Xbox Series X Smart Delivery, which will allow you to take your old games with you into the next generation without having to pay for them again. Sony is yet to confirm if PS5 Smart Delivery is a thing.

Another ‘feature’ we've seen discussed so far is SSD. Sony has spoken of how it will cut down loading times, whereas Microsoft has been boasting about a 'quick resume' feature that can load up to three games at once and allow you to switch easily between them.

But there has been a lot of chat on both sides about SSD; a standard that’s been in many PC’s, laptops and tablets for years.

With these custom SSD drives in both consoles, they have spoken of the two points above, but it could also benefit movies, streaming, and multiplayer.

Downloading and installing a new Season of Fortnite while you’re in the middle of a match could be really appealing, and the impatience of loading times has really been superseded by the impatience of ‘installation times’.

Many people remember the wait of having to install Metal Gear Solid 4 on the PlayStation 3, but with these bigger, faster storage devices, there may finally be a path to not have this in any game, no matter how big.

Further reading: PS5 3D audio explained

PS5 vs Xbox Series X controller

Both companies have revealed their new controllers, so we compared them in a big article! Click here to read that one. We've also got specific info about the PS5 DualSense controller and the Xbox Series X controller at those links right there.

PS5 vs Xbox Series X release date

Microsoft blinked first in the console release date battle, revealing that the Series X would launch on November 10th, 2020. This was the first time either company have committed to a release date more specific than the 'Holiday 2020' time frame.

As for Sony and the PS5, it was announced to be released on November 12th in USA and other countries, followed by the UK and other countries on November 19th.

PS5 vs Xbox Series X - which new console to choose?

Ever since the two consoles became official last year, there has been speculation and hopes as to what they could improve upon on the Xbox One and the PS4.

We may know everything about the hardware, but all eyes are now on the software; from the operating system to the games that players will be buying.

Read more: PS5 vs Xbox Series X Comparison

There may still be hopes for a better effort from Sony on the backwards-compatibility front, but their relationships with indie-developers could stand them in good stead to have a wider lineup of launch games, both in stores and online once they come out.

Time will tell, but for now, we’ve got two of the most powerful consoles ever about to launch, and with the games so far being offered, we’re all in for a good time towards the end of the year.

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