This year will find gamers presented with a feast epic proportions, with the ficial launch a new console generation. Both Sony’s PS5 and Microst’s Xbox Series X are tapped to arrive before the holiday season, and while the former has kept ficial announcements close to the chest, Microst has been forthcoming about . This week, Head Of Xbox Phil Spencer penned a letter to the gaming community, revealing new information about some the key features Series X has to fer. 

Explaining that Series X will have quadruple the processing power its predecessor Xbox One, Spencer cites higher frame-rates and more expansive open-worlds as one the immediate benefits. The presence DirectX Raytracing will also help deliver hyper-realistic lighting and sound effects, music to the ears graphic-snobs worldwide. Not to mention the console’s Solid State Drive, which will render load-times all but obsolete. 

Yet some the most enticing features come by way quality–life changes. The newly implemented Quick Resume will allow players to run multiple games at once and switch between them at their load-free leisure; no closing necessary, making game-jumping a seamless process. Naturally, many are excited to see full Backward Compatibility, with Series X promising “four generations consoles” stretching back to the OG Xbox and the Xbox 360 — expect load-time benefits to shine here. Last but certainly not least is Smart Delivery, a truly appealing feature that ensues gamers will have to buy a game once and once alone; all subsequent improved versions will be included with the initial purchase. In other words, no more double-dipping on remasters — we can only hope Sony follows suit in that regard.

Check out Spencer’s full open letter right here, and sound f — are you ready and willing to shell out the major ducats when Xbox Series X lands later this year?