input latency falling from 97ms to 60ms – that’s around 2 whole frames at 60fps – versus the One X. In practice that meant we found it easier to track targets and hit our shots in games. If this plays out across all titles then the Xbox might legitimately be able to claim a competitive edge in cross platform games. On the downside, the controller doesn’t do anything to excite, there are no other new features, and the AA batteries, practical though they may be, feel a bit last decade. COMING SOON Exclusive next-gen content for the console was never really the plan for the Xbox Series X. As we revealed right back in January, its first-party Xbox Game Studios are planning to release all titles on both generations, at least initially. That said, we expected at least a couple of new cross-gen titles to come day-and-date with the new hardware. Instead we’ve had to wait until the very day of launch for enhanced updates to come to this season’s third-party big hitters. Watch Dogs: Legion, for instance with its ray-traced reflections of a rainy London looks superb. And it is just one of the 30-odd titles that had enhancements at launch. And there’s so much to come. As we write this we’re waiting to get our teeth into Call of Duty Black Ops: Cold War (at 120hz) and Cyberpunk 2077. Both of which will be key early benchmarks for the new hardware. It’s an incredible launch window lineup for a new console, a true game changer in how consoles are launched, compared to the spotty handful of launch titles (often one for each key genre) offered on launch day for generations of consoles gone by. The modern industry demanded this continuity, and based on what we’ve seen of titles so far, Microsoft has kept up its side of the bargain.
good. The controller is capable of stopping the trigger halfway through its pull – just like a trigger stop on a high-end SCUF controller – it can even push back against your finger, like a gun kicking back as it fires. It’s astounding and joyous and we really hope developers, beyond Sony’s own, make the most of it. Practically-speaking, Sony has moved to a USB type-C charger, and carries on with a built-in battery. Making for a sleeker appearance to its controller. All together we love the DualSense, it’s a great evolution of the DualShock tradition. There is one problem. Why did Sony cut-off DualShock 4 support on the new console? Yes, some retailers and Sony itself will be most pleased that there’s a whole new round of controller sales here. However, for developers looking to make couch co-op games over the next year or two, the lack of support for DS4 on new games is a serious setback. The only route around it is to launch your game on PS4, with compatibility for PS5, though we’re not yet certain how long that loophole will exist and Sony’s perception of it. We respect that Sony wants developers to move forward, and with the new haptics in particular they certainly have, but we can’t see any reason why supporting the old controllers (only for multiplayer titles) would overly limit innovation generally. PRE-PLAYED We’ve mentioned the pre-installed Astro’s Playroom, but it’s worth noting that there’s an awful lot more to this game than you’d imagine. It’s an extensive celebration not only of the DualSense controller but also of PlayStation’s incredible legacy – long-term fans will be delighted, and it’s a great reminder of just how long Sony have been getting things right when it comes to games and consoles. But beyond that title, the range of truly new games available to play on the PS5 at launch is somewhat limited. With the cross-gen title Spider-Man: Miles Morales being the main consideration – and with the greatest respect to Insomniac that largely builds on what has come before. The only true next-gen exclusive, a remake of Demon’s Souls by Bluepoint, looks amazing and will be available at launch, but sadly didn’t make it to us in time to write this piece and again, however impressively reworked, it’s not truly a new title. Also coming just in time for launch will be Sackboy: A Big Adventure, a lovely looking, and highly ejoyable, cross-gen platformer from Sumo Digital. The only other true PS5 exclusive, Destruction AllStars took a hard turn a couple of weeks back and will now see a PS+ launch early next year, with Sony presumably looking to replicate the success it saw with Fall Guys on the service.
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