Atif Qazi
It’s no secret that the gaming world is constantly evolving. This has almost everything to do with the fact that technology evolves at a swift pace and the gaming world’s evolution is directly tied to the rapid technological advancements.
With each passing year, technologies grow exponentially, pushing boundaries and redefining our gaming experiences.
One term that has been creating a buzz recently is 8K gaming. It’s a tantalizing concept, one that promises an almost surreal level of detail and immersion.
But as with any emerging technology, there’s a great deal of confusion and misconception surrounding it. For Xbox gamers, the big question on their mind is, does Xbox Series X support 8K resolution?
After all, the gaming console has the infrastructure for supporting 8K resolution with its HDMI 2.1 interface.
Unfortunately, though, the answer to this question is a big no. Xbox Series X, like its competitor PS5, does NOT support 8K resolution.
Plus given the fact that even 4K gaming is too much of an ask these days, 8K is a dream that perhaps will be realized at least not with the current generation of gaming consoles.
The Xbox Series X: Powerhouse of Potential With An HDMI 2.1 Port
Let’s first understand the Xbox Series X’s capabilities. Xbox Series X is certainly a huge step forward compared to the previous-gen consoles. It offers a whopping 12 teraflops of graphics power.
In addition to that it offers several new innovations including a custom SSD for ultra-fast load times, cutting-edge ray tracing, and immersive 3D spatial sound.
But, quite interestingly, it even features an HDMI 2.1 port. While the intended use of this port is to support up to 4K @ 120Hz as well as support VRR and HDR features, it is even theoretically equipped to handle 8K resolution.
The following table compares the different HDMI interfaces:
| HDMI Version | Max Resolution | Refresh Rate | HDR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 | 1440P | 1080P = 60Hz 1440P = 30Hz | No |
| 1.3-1.4 | 4K (4096 x 2160) | 1080P = 120Hz 1440P = 60Hz 4K = 30Hz | No |
| 2.0 | 4K (4096 x 2160) | 1080P = 240Hz 1440P = 144Hz 4K = 60Hz | Yes |
| 2.1 | 8K (7680 x 4320) | 1440P = 240Hz 4K = 144Hz 4K = 240Hz (DSC) 8K = 120Hz (DSC) | Yes |
Does this mean your Xbox Series X is ready to propel you into an 8K gaming adventure?
Not quite so!
Xbox Series X is But a Drop In the Ocean of Teraflops
While it was certainly a beast when it was first released in 2020, with the rapid advancement in technology, the console is comparable to nothing more than a good mid-range gaming PC.
Take the following table for instance as it compares the Teraflops of current-gen consoles with the latest PC graphics cards.
| Device | Teraflops |
|---|---|
| PS4 | 1.84 |
| NVIDIA GTX 1650 | 3 |
| Xbox Series S | 4 |
| PS4 Pro | 4.2 |
| NVIDIA GTX 1660 | 5 |
| AMD RX 5500XT | 5.2 |
| NVIDIA GTX 1660Ti | 5.4 |
| AMD RX 6500 XT | 5.76 |
| Xbox One X | 6 |
| AMD RX 5600 XT | 7.19 |
| AMD RX 6600 | 8.93 |
| NVIDIA RTX 3050 | 9.1 |
| AMD RX 5700 XT | 9.75 |
| PS5 | 10.28 |
| AMD RX 6600XT | 10.6 |
| NVIDIA RTX 2080 | 10.6 |
| NVIDIA GTX 1080Ti | 11.3 |
| AMD Radeon RX 6700 | 11.29 |
| Xbox Series X | 12 |
| NVIDIA RTX 3060 | 12.7 |
| AMD RX 6700XT | 13.21 |
| NVIDIA RTX 2080Ti | 14.2 |
| NVIDIA RTX 4060 | 24 |
| NVIDIA RTX 3080 | 29.8 |
| NVIDIA RTX 4090 | 100 Power Overwhelming |
The top-of-the-line GPU, albeit super expensive, is at least 9 times as powerful as Xbox Series X and the ratio will only increase with each passing year.
Therefore, while 8K gaming may sound reasonable for top-of-the-line PC gamers, it is a far-off reality for the current-gen gaming consoles.
This might be a tough pill to swallow for those yearning for the ultra-high-definition gaming experience, but it’s vital to know that the current state of console gaming technology does not support this resolution.
Also Read: Xbox Series X PC Equivalent
8K is a Funny Ask Given That Even 4K is a Stretch
“But what about 4K?” you might ask. In truth, even 4K resolution is pushing the envelope. While the Xbox Series X can technically support NATIVE 4K at up to 120FPS on certain games, the vast majority of the current game titles are already stretching the console’s limits.
Take the game ‘A Plague Tale: Requiem’, released in 2022 this game does not support 4K at all.
This is not a singular example. The trend in game development points towards the harsh reality: even 4K is a tall order for current generation consoles, let alone the ambitious 8K.
In fact, many games are turning toward optimizing themselves for QHD gaming over 4K gaming.
It’s either that or running 4K @ 30 FPS. 30 FPS! That is like taking one step forward and two steps back!
for the vast and overwhelming majority of new, modern games, 4K/60FPS is not possible and will not be possible at stable framerates on PS5/Series X – Whathifi.com
So Does Xbox Series X Support 8K?
The short and simple answer is NO. Xbox Series X DOES NOT support 8K resolution.
Firstly, the hardware is not capable enough to support any game at 8K resolution.
Secondly, there are no games designed to work at 8K resolution even at 30 FPS.
Thirdly, Xbox Series X has not enabled 8K resolution output at all, despite it having an HDMI 2.1 port.
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