In 2026, the Xbox One remains a viable option for gaming if found at a good price, but it is limited in support for new titles compared to current-gen consoles like the Xbox Series S and X. The Xbox One X offers the best performance among the older models, but the Series S provides the best value for current-generation gaming without a disc drive. Overall, buying an Xbox One in 2026 is worth it only if you find a significant deal, but upgrading to a newer console is recommended for the latest games and features.
The article previews 30 upcoming Xbox Series X|S games for 2026, including titles like Final Fantasy VII Remake, High on Life 2, Resident Evil Requiem, and others, with release dates ranging from January to March and some available on Xbox Game Pass.
Larian Studios released a free upgrade for Divinity: Original Sin 2 on Xbox Series X|S, boosting the game to 60FPS and enhancing visuals, though some players face online compatibility issues between Xbox Series and Xbox One versions. The upgrade has generally been well-received, but further details on visual improvements are awaited.
The upcoming upgrade of Red Dead Redemption for Xbox Series X and S offers 4K resolution at 60FPS on Series X and 1440p at 60FPS on Series S, with early footage showing improved visuals and performance, available for free or at a discount for owners of the Xbox 360 version.
Five years after their launch, the Xbox Series X and S consoles face a decline in consumer enthusiasm due to rising prices, lack of exclusive titles, and broader industry and political issues, leading to questions about the future of the Xbox brand despite the hardware's solid performance.
Square Enix's Naoki Hamaguchi states that the Xbox Series S has solid hardware specs, with few issues during the porting of Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, mainly related to memory limitations, and highlights successful optimization efforts. The game is set to release on Xbox Series S/X and Nintendo Switch 2 in January 2026, with the entire trilogy eventually available across multiple platforms.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake director Naoki Hamaguchi praised the Xbox Series S's solid hardware and discussed the challenges of developing for lower-spec systems, emphasizing optimization and a multi-platform approach by Square Enix to reach wider audiences, including Xbox.
DICE improved Battlefield 6's stability and performance by optimizing the game for Xbox Series S, addressing memory issues and making the overall experience better for players across platforms.
Battlefield 6 runs more smoothly across all platforms, including the Xbox Series S, thanks to recent optimizations that addressed memory issues and improved stability, resulting in a better gaming experience on release day.
Digital Foundry's review of Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater highlights significant performance issues on Xbox Series S, including low resolution and frame rate drops, making it hard to recommend the budget console version. In contrast, the Xbox Series X offers a near-PS5 quality experience with smooth 60FPS gameplay, though VRR technology is recommended. Overall, the Series S version is considered a less optimal way to play the game, but still playable if no other options are available.
Turok: Origins will run at 60 FPS on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, but only at 30 FPS on Xbox Series S due to hardware limitations, highlighting ongoing challenges in optimizing games across different console specs.
Microsoft is concluding its Xbox Series X|S generation, with a hardware chief hinting at new developments and upcoming devices, including the ROG Xbox Ally, as the company prepares for the next era of gaming hardware.
A comparison of Battlefield 6 on Xbox Series X and Series S shows the X version running at up to 4K with options for 60FPS and 120FPS, while the Series S runs at 1080p with mostly locked 60FPS, highlighting differences in resolution and performance between the two consoles during the beta phase.
Battlefield 6 will feature performance and quality modes on Xbox Series X|S, with the fidelity mode targeting 60FPS and a performance mode aiming for higher frame rates, with the full high-performance mode expected at launch on Xbox Series S. The game releases on October 10th.
According to AMD leaker KeplerL2, Xbox Series S and X have sold less than 30 million units, with sales range estimates between 21 and 29 million, and the consoles are now profitable, though their market share remains smaller compared to PlayStation 5, which has around three times the install base.
