Microsoft's Xbox Series X will be releasing worldwide in November according to Xbox Wire, alongside "thousands of games to play, spanning four generations." It says over 100 of those titles are optimized specifically for the next-generation console, however Halo Infinite has been delayed and will instead release in 2021.
Among the games that will be available in lieu of Halo Infinite are over 50 multi-generation titles "this year," including Assassin's Creed Valhalla and Watch Dogs: Legion; at least 40 older games optimized for the new console, including Destiny 2 and Gears 5; and exclusive titles, such as The Medium and Tetris Effect: Connected. Game Pass members can play Xbox Game Studios titles on launch, and there will be backwards compatibility through the original Xbox with features like 4K resolution and improved frame rates.
This release window announcement puts Microsoft ahead of its main competitor Sony, which has yet to announce anything more than its upcoming PlayStation 5 still being on schedule for a holiday 2020 release during its first-quarter earning statement. However, there are still many details that prospective fans do not know about either console, including their price ranges.
Though Microsoft has narrowed down its console's release window, the actual day it will be available has not yet been confirmed. A leaked Xbox Series X controller unboxing suggests it will launch around November 5, as November 5, 2021 is when the hardware's Limited Warranty expires. Given today's official announcement from Microsoft it seems likely this could be the case, but any leaks and rumors should still be taken with a grain of salt.
As much as Microsoft emphasizes the amount of games that will be available for Xbox Series X around launch, the concurrent announcement of Halo Infinite's delay will likely be seen as a huge blow for those who expected it to be the new console's flagship title. According to Xbox Wire, the team at 343 Industries needs "more time to finish the critical work necessary" for what is described as the "most ambitious Halo game ever," which is warranted following criticism of Halo Infinite's graphics after its reveal at the Xbox Series X games showcase last month.
Microsoft promises, "Plenty to keep you busy until Chief arrives," and that certainly seems to be the case between features like backwards compatibility, Games Pass, and more. Gamers will have to wait until November to see whether the Xbox Series X lives up to these expectations.
The Xbox Series X will launch this November.
Source: Xbox Wire