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The next big leap in console hardware from Sony and Microsoft: if you can get one
Microsoft’s Xbox Series X and Sony’s Playstation 5 (PS5) are going into wide release this week, just days apart from each other. Xbox Series X was released to a furor and was instantly out of stock in some areas. The price of both consoles is $500. In addition each console will also have a less expensive version available; the PS5 Digital Edition for $400 and the Xbox Series S for $300.
Read More: Sony and Microsoft to launch new consoles- PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X by end of 2020
For gamers, the huge news is that both Microsoft and Sony have been very open about backward compatibility and have pledged to support almost all titles in the existing console platforms’ libraries. Meaning, every Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox One game currently playable on existing Xbox One hardware (minus Kinect) can also be played on new Xbox Series X / S. Sony has committed to supporting the majority of PS4 games (totaling more than 4,000 titles) that will be playable with the newest incoming PS5 version.
In addition to the console launch, there will be a handful of big-name franchise game releases. Two big names that we are excited about include: Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War and the new Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, both set for release right along with the Xbox and PS launch.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
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Also available on Amazon and Walmart.
- As Elite operatives, you will Follow the trail of a shadowy Figure named perseus who is on a mission to destabilize the global balance of power and change the course of history.
- Descend into the dark center of this global conspiracy alongside iconic characters woods, Mason and hudson and a new cast of operatives attempting to stop a plot decades in the making.
- Beyond the campaign, players will bring a cold war arsenal of weapons and equipment into the next generation of multiplayer and Zombies experiences.
- PS4 physical disc playable on PS5 system (will not include higher framerates, Hardware based rays-tracking and faster load times available on PS5 Edition). PS5 disc is not playable on PS4 system.
- PS4 physical version upgradable to PS5 digital version via $10 upgrade through PS store. PS4 disc required in PS5 system to access and play digital PS5 upgrade.
Click here to see “Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War” and help Independent Bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
and help Independent Bookstores.
Also available on Amazon.
- Lead epic Viking raids against Saxon troops and fortresses.
- Dual-wield powerful weapons and relive the visceral fighting style of the Vikings.
- Challenge yourself with the most varied collection of deadly enemies ever found in Assassin’s Creed.
- Shape the growth of your character and your clan’s settlement with every choice you make.
- Explore a Dark Age open world, from the shores of Norway to the kingdoms of England.
Click here to see “Assassin’s Creed Valhalla” and help Independent Bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
More game release titles set for release for the remainder of 2020
Below is a list of all the game titles thus far that have released dates until the end of the year. There are sure to be updates and many many more titles for 2021.
| Assassin’s Creed Valhalla | 11/10/2020 |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War | 11/13/2020 |
| Halo: The Master Chief Collection | 11/17/2020 |
| Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate Edition | 11/17/2020 |
| Poker Club | 11/19/2020 |
| Just Dance 2021 | 11/24/2020 |
| Haven | 12/3/2020 |
| Immortals Fenyx Rising | 12/03/2020 |
| FIFA 21 | 12/4/2020 |
| Madden NFL 21 | 12/4/2020 |
| Destiny 2: Beyond Light | 12/8/2020 |
| Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 | 12/8/2020 |
| Temtem | 12/8/2020 |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 12/10/2020 |
| The Medium | 12/10/2020 |
Xbox Series X Specs
| CPU | 8x Cores @ 3.8 GHz (3.6 GHz w/ SMT) Custom Zen 2 CPU |
| GPU | 12 TFLOPS, 52 CUs @ 1.825 GHz Custom RDNA 2 GPU |
| Die Size | 360.45 mm2 |
| Process | 7nm Enhanced |
| Memory | 16 GB GDDR6 w/ 320b bus |
| Memory Bandwidth | 10GB @ 560 GB/s, 6GB @ 336 GB/s |
| Internal Storage | 1 TB Custom NVME SSD |
| I/O Throughput | 2.4 GB/s (Raw), 4.8 GB/s (Compressed, with custom hardware decompression block) |
| Expandable Storage | 1 TB Expansion Card (matches internal storage exactly) |
| External Storage | USB 3.2 External HDD Support |
| Optical Drive | 4K UHD Blu-Ray Drive |
| Performance Target | 4K @ 60 FPS, Up to 120 FPS |
PS5 Specs
| Component | Specification |
| CPU | x86-64-AMD Ryzen Zen 8 Cores / 16 Threads at 3.5GHz (variable frequency) |
| GPU | Ray Tracing Acceleration Up to 2.23 GHz (10.3 TFLOPS) |
| GPU Architecture | AMD Radeon RDNA 2-based graphics engine |
| Memory/Interface | 16GB GDDR6/256-bit |
| Memory Bandwidth | 448GB/s |
| Internal Storage | Custom 825GB SSD |
| IO Throughput | 5.5GB/s (Raw), Typical 8-9GB/s (Compressed) |
| Expandable Storage | NVMe SSD Slot |
| External Storage | USB HDD Support |
| Optical Drive (optional) | Ultra HD Blu-ray (66G/100G) ~10xCAV BD-ROM (25G/50G) ~8xCAV BD-R/RE (25G/50G) ~8x CAV DVD ~3.2xCLV |
| PS5 Game Disc | Ultra HD Blu-ray, up to 100GB/disc |
| Audio | “Tempest” 3D AudioTech |
| Video Out | HDMI Out port Support of 4K 120Hz TVs, VRR (specified by HDMI ver 2.1) |
| Dimensions | PS5 – 390mm x 104mm x 260mm (width x height x depth) PS5 Digital Edition – 390mm x 92mm x 260mm (width x height x depth) |
| Weight | PS5 – 4.5kg PS5 Digital Edition – 3.9kg |
| Power | PS5 – 350W PS5 Digital Edition – 340W |
| Input / Output | USB Type-A port (Hi-Speed USB) USB Type-A port (Super Speed USB 10Gbps) x2 USB Type-C port (Super Speed USB 10Gbps) |
| Networking | Ethernet (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T) IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax Bluetooth 5.1 |
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