Microsoft has shared a new trailer showcasing the Velocity Architecture of its upcoming Xbox Series X system. The trailer digs deep into some of the technical specifications of the new Xbox, and helps explain what it will be capable of. Of course, exactly how powerful the console is can't be known until it releases.
The Xbox Series X has been using the term Velocity Architecture for a while now, but this is the first in depth look fans have gotten at it. The trailer mixes clips from upcoming Xbox Series X games with a aesthetically pleasing breakdown of the Xbox Series X itself.
If the claims in the trailer hold true at release, the Xbox Series X is shaping up to be an absolute powerhouse of a console. Whether or not that will be enough to finally let the Xbox surpass the PS5 remains to be seen, but it is certainly a step in the right direction.
The first claim made in the trailer is that the Xbox Series X's Velocity Architecture is a "revolutionary breakthrough in speed and performance beyond just hardware." This is likely a jab at the PS5, as the inclusion of an SSD was a major selling point for that console. As if to nullify that point, the Xbox Series X shows off its own custom NVME SSD, which it says will result in 40x faster storage throughput than the Xbox One. The "beyond hardware" claim comes into play when the Next Gen Direct Storage API is brought up, which will minimize latency.
Dedicated Hardware Accelerated Decompression aims to maximize throughput and CPU performance, while Sampler Feedback Streaming provides texture details only when they are needed, resulting in even faster load times for next gen games. On average, all of this will work together to create a 2.5x increase of the SSD's already impressive performance, and memory. It's very clear at this point that the Next Gen Direct Storage API is going to be very integral to the Xbox Series X, and may be just what it needs to set itself apart from the equally as impressive PS5.
In general, fan reception has been extremely positive, with those that understand the technical aspects finding themselves particularly thrilled. Thankfully, the trailer is still informative enough that those that don't fully comprehend those sorts of things can still understand what's going on and how these new Xbox Series X features will affect the next gen console in practice.
The Xbox Series X releases this holiday season.