Time magazine has included Xbox Series S and PlayStation 5 in its Best Inventions of 2020 list.
The publication’sannual listcollates 100 “groundbreaking inventions” across multiple fields, which its correspondents feel are “making the world better, smarter and even a bit more fun.”
Xbox Series Swas chosen because of its power, silent operation and utilisation of the Game Pass subscription, Time said. It did not specify why the more powerful Series X didn’t make the list instead, but the Series S’s $299 price point is referenced.
“The tech giant’s new video console is more than just a next-gen gaming device—it’s the basis for what could become theNetflixof video games,” Time wrote.
“The Series S’s secret weapon is Game Pass: a subscription service where new hits likeHalo Infinitewill appear the same day as their traditional release.
“And those games will look even sharper—the Series S ($299) can run high-resolution games at 120 frames per second, a 100% increase over its predecessor, theXboxOne. What’s more, because there is no disc drive, the Series S operates almost silently, making it all the easier to concentrate on the action.”
Meanwhile, Time’sPlayStation 5entry praises the console for making “small advancements that combine to create a revolutionary experience.”
It adds: “Games load almost instantaneously, thanks to a solid-state hard drive. The graphics processor is almost 10 times faster than that of thePS4, which allows for beautiful visuals, and a new controller is full of haptic feedback sensors that add a new dimension to play.
“When a character walks on sand, players feel the grit in the controller; whenSpider-Mangrips a subway car, players feel the train’s rumble. Add it up, and it just may be the most powerful video-game console we’ve ever seen.”
The Best Innovations of 2020 list also includesLogitech’s Adaptive Gaming Kit, aMicrosoft-partnered product which includes an assortment of buttons and pads designed to help disabled video game players.
