Microsoft powers up its console game with the Xbox One X

Xbox One X console and controller

While Sony went with brightening up its PlayStation 4 this week, Microsoft has used the 2017 E3 conference to announce a powered-up version of its Xbox console – the Xbox One X.

There’s no bling or radically altered exterior. Yes, it’s a little more svelte, but the big story with the Xbox One X is in its specs.



Microsoft claims this console to be 40% more powerful than any console currently on the market. This step up in power is courtesy of:

  • 2.3GHz 8-core AMD custom Jaguar CPU
  • Integrated AMD graphics with 6 teraflops of performance
  • 12GB GDDR5 graphics memory
  • 8GB Flash memory

Its Scorpio Engine runs so fast, and so hot, it requires liquid cooling, along with a supercharger-style centrifugal fan.

All of this throws 4K images to the screen for newer games, via the UHD Blu-ray Optical Disc Drive. For older games, the Xbox One X will upscale images to 4K UHD.

Ports include 2 x HDMI (1 HDMI 1.4b in,1 HDMI 2.0b out), 3 x USB 3.0, IR Out, S/PDIF, and ethernet.

Xbox One X Console exploded view

Xbox One X price and availability

Microsoft’s Xbox One X has a worldwide release date of 7 November 2017. Its Australian RRP will be $649.

The Xbox One X will ship with a 1TB hard drive, and also in the box will be an Xbox Wireless Controller, HDMI cable, 1-month free Xbox Game Pass subscription, and a 14-day free Xbox Live Gold membership.

At launch there will be a range of Xbox One X-enhanced games, including:

  • Gears of War 4
  • Forza Horizon 3
  • Minecraft
  • Resident Evil 7
  • Final Fantasy 15
  • Rocket League