There’s nothing better than a racer that nails physics, presentation, and that itch to push further. I’ve mainly gotten that out of the Forza Horizon series in recent years, but have played a ton of Forza Motorsport and Gran Turismo in the past. Of course you’ve also got your older series like Test Drive, Burnout, and one off titles that died way too soon like Driveclub. And that’s the kicker – it’s damn sad to see the genre flatten out as time goes on.
So when Need for Speed Unbound recently hit Xbox Game Pass I had to at least try it out. It kind of approaches the aspects I look for in a racing game but never really gets there (at least in the first few hours). But it’s scarce for new arcade racers and you can’t exactly be choosy.
For as much hype as Halo Infinite generated on release, 343 has been in a state of perpetual catch up since. I couldn’t believe the way the development team had nailed it – mixing the old with the new – to bring the best Halo game since the Bungie years. And this is what hurt the most. Halo Infinite was (and is) an incredible game, but its lack of content has always been a reminder of ruined potential.
You’re either someone who lives for shaving off milliseconds on lap times in racer’s like Forza Motorsport, or you’re bored to tears by the thought of playing anything that approaches a simulator. It seems like most people fall into the second category these days, and Microsoft definitely read the room with their recent Xbox Showcase.
For all of the costs of console gaming, it’s no wonder so many want to eek out as much value as possible. Preventing damage is par for the course. And if you’re someone who grew alongside the Xbox 360, you know just how much console defects, namely bad thermals, can add to overall cost (the infamous Red Ring of Death).
Thankfully, Microsoft course corrected with the Xbox One. Compared to the PS4, it’s much quieter and cooler. But you’re still going to want to keep certain factors in mind to prevent it from running too hot.
How long can you keep the Xbox One on until it overheats? Theoretically speaking, it’s going to depend on a lot of factors. In most cases, you’ll be absolutely fine with extended gaming sessions going well beyond 5 hours. The Xbox One, along with the Xbox Series X|S, were built with longevity in mind. In fact, the Xbox One was designed to be powered on continuously for 10 years.
Keep reading for our guide on how to minimize the risk of overheating, best practices, and what causes a console to run too hot.
Gaming today is a lot of the unthinkable of yesterday. From the ability for Xbox One players to play with PS5 players to transferring progress from one platform to another, things are a lot more open than they were just 10 years ago.
But if you’re someone looking to change platforms there are still some stubborn restrictions. And if you’ve got a catalog of games, whether physical or digital, you’re probably wondering – can I transfer games from one platform to another?
Unfortunately, whether you’re moving from Xbox One to PS4 or PS5 (or PlayStation to Xbox), you won’t be able to transfer your discs or digital licenses. Neither Sony or Microsoft allow consumers to play the competing version of a game on their platform.
Halo has always had a certain flavor to the hype behind it. Most notable for me was the run up to Halo 3. Bungie enveloped my teenage mind with visions of expansive sci-fi settings and the ways in which I’d get lost in its multiplayer. Halo 3’s marketing was simply something to be felt. In many ways, it was also the peak of the Halo hype machine.
Each release of Halo has left its mark on my gaming career, but it’s also become murkier ever since the release of Halo Reach. I had my fill of over 100 hours with Bungie’s last hoorah, but 343’s entries never truly got their hooks in me. I didn’t feel the connection with my gut that earlier titles provided. Punctuated by the latest release of Halo Infinite’s campaign overview, this lapse in loyalty seems to finally be coming to an end. For the first time in years, it feels fantastic to be invested in the Halo franchise.
For all of the advantages of Ethernet, sometimes WiFi is a must in the world of console gaming.
I’ve been solely using WiFi ever since picking up my Series X and despite the odd hiccup it’s been more than serviceable.
The built in WiFi card offers everything I could need. Better yet, I haven’t found my connection to Xbox live to be throttled.
What can you expect from the Xbox Series X|S WiFi performance?
As it turns out, almost everything you could need streaming, online gaming, and downloading the latest titles.
The authenticity and fidelity of Red Dead Redemption 2 blew me away on the PS4. I had never experienced anything quite like it. Interwoven systems, emergent gameplay, idyllic landscapes – it felt like next-generation gaming had come a little early. But going back to it now, after buying an Xbox Series X, puts into perspective something that was sorely lacking at times on the PS4 and Xbox One – performance.
Microsoft’s newest console has been an utter treat in this department. Games new and old are performant and look incredible. This standard was touched on with the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X, but not nearly to the extent that the Xbox Series X|S have cleaned up performance.
Not all games have gotten the next-gen treatment. But by and large I’ve never had as great of a time diving into a back catalog as I have with my Xbox Series X. New titles have only upped the ante of performance and visuals.
A lot of people have been comparing Halo Infinite to Halo 3, and in a lot of ways I agree. Its array of equipment and sandbox at large make it something of a virtual playground. I can’t help but feel it’s just right in its dance between modern and old.
Halo Infinite is simply fun, and a lot of it seems to be coming from the community. It’s been a long, long time since I’ve been wrapped up in the excitement for a Halo game. And the cheers for Infinite are palpable. Old fans, new fans – it seems like most were blindsided by the most recent beta in the best way possible.
