UPDATED September 10th

Price and release date confirmed for the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S

Following months of hype, Microsoft has revealed the price and release date for the Xbox Series X and the newly announced Xbox Series S.

Both consoles will be available to pre-order at Mighty Ape on September 22 and will be officially released on November 10 in New Zealand and other regions around the world.

Pricing has been set at NZ$549 for the Series S, and NZ$799 for the more powerful Series X. The next generation of Xbox gaming is just around the corner, and we can't wait to experience it with you!

Be the first to know more about the Xbox Series X and Series S

Microsoft's next-generation consoles the Xbox Series X and Series S are releasing on November 10 2020 and fans all over the world are clamouring to get updates about the new systems. Sign up to our Xbox Series X newsletter to be the first to receive important updates and news about the Xbox Series X and Series S!

A superior balance of power and speed

Xbox Series X represents a superior balance of power and speed in console design, advancing on all technological fronts to delivering amazing, dynamic, living worlds and minimising any aspects that can take you out of the experience.

• Next Generation Custom Processor: Xbox Series X is the most powerful console ever powered by a custom-designed processor leveraging AMD’s latest Zen 2 and RDNA 2 architectures. Delivering four times the processing power of an Xbox One and enabling developers to leverage 12 TFLOPS of GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) performance – twice that of an Xbox One X and more than eight times the original Xbox One. Xbox Series X delivers a true generational leap in processing and graphics power with cutting edge techniques resulting in higher framerates, larger, more sophisticated game worlds, and an immersive experience unlike anything seen in console gaming.
• Variable Rate Shading (VRS): Microsoft's pa­tented form of VRS empowers developers to more efficiently utilise the full power of the Xbox Series X. Rather than spending GPU cycles uniformly to every single pixel on the screen, they can prioritise individual effects on specific game characters or important environmental objects. This technique results in more stable frame rates and higher resolution, with no impact on the final image quality.
• Hardware-accelerated DirectX Raytracing: You can expect more dynamic and realistic environments powered by hardware-accelerated DirectX Raytracing – a first for console gaming. This means true-to-life lighting, accurate reflections and realistic acoustics in real-time as you explore the game world.

Immersion in an instant

The next console generation will be defined by more playing and less waiting. And when play begins, we know many gamers demand ultra-low latency to be as immersed and precise as possible. To this end, Microsoft's team analysed every step between player and game, from controller to console to display, and asked how they could make it faster.

• SSD Storage: With Xbox Series X's next-generation SSD, nearly every aspect of playing games is improved. Game worlds are larger, more dynamic and load in a flash and fast travel is just that – fast.
• Quick Resume: The new Quick Resume feature lets you continue multiple games from a suspended state almost instantly, returning you to where you were and what you were doing, without waiting through long loading screens.
• Dynamic Latency Input (DLI): Microsoft are optimising latency in the player-to-console pipeline starting with the Xbox Wireless Controller, which leverages their high bandwidth, proprietary wireless communication protocol when connected to the console. With Dynamic Latency Input (DLI), a new feature which synchronises input immediately with what is displayed, controls are even more precise and responsive.
• HDMI 2.1 Innovation: Microsoft have partnered with the HDMI forum and TV manufacturers to enable the best gaming experience through features such as Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR). ALLM allows Xbox One and Xbox Series X to automatically set the connected display to its lowest latency mode. VRR synchronises the display’s refresh rate to the game’s frame rate, maintaining smooth visuals without tearing. Ensuring minimal lag and the most responsive gaming experience.
• 120FPS Support: With support for up to 120 FPS, Xbox Series X allows developers to exceed standard 60FPS output in favour of heightened realism or fast-paced action.

The next generation of game compatibility

The benefits of the next console generation extend in every direction, bringing greater visual fidelity and improved loading speeds to your existing gaming legacy, in addition to new games. Microsoft are continuing their commitment to compatibility with Xbox Series X and investing in technology that makes game ownership easier across generations.

• Four generations of gaming: Microsoft's com­mitment to compatibility means existing Xbox One games, including backward-compatible Xbox 360 and original Xbox games, look and play better than ever before. Your favourite games, including titles in Xbox Game Pass, benefit from steadier framerates, faster load times and improved resolution and visual fidelity – all with no developer work required. Your Xbox One gaming accessories also come forward with you.
• Smart Delivery: This technology empowers you to buy a game once and knows that – whether you are playing it on Xbox One or Xbox Series X – you are getting the right version of that game on whatever Xbox you’re playing on. Microsoft are making the commitment to use Smart Delivery on all their exclusive Xbox Game Studios titles, including Halo Infinite, ensuring you only have to purchase a title once in order to play the best available version for whichever Xbox console you choose to play on. This technology is available for all developers and publishers, and they can choose to use it for titles that will be released on Xbox One first and come to the Xbox Series X later.
• Xbox Game Pass: In addition to games from across four generations of consoles, Microsoft's leading game subscription service, Xbox Game Pass, will continue to have their first-party games, like Halo Infinite, included at their launch. Microsoft looks forward to millions of you experiencing the Xbox Game Pass portfolio and immersing yourselves in a deep library of high-quality games, playing those you love now and also discovering your next great adventure.