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It feels like a long time since Microsoft finally unveiled the Xbox One X at the E3 gaming event in Los Angeles this summer.

Under the codename Project Scorpio the company had built a huge amount of hype over what was to be the most powerful games console on the market.

The final product is a sleek black box packed with top-tier specs and a brimming catalogue of games.

It's available to pre-order now for eager gamers that want to get hold of one on launch day.

If you're still undecided on whether to pick up the new Xbox, here's everything you need to know in order to inform your decision.

Pre-orders and release date

Microsoft is making pre-orders available on its official UK store as well as through a number of third-party retailers.

The console is due to be released on November 11th, 2017 - just in time for the run up to Christmas. However, there's no telling how quickly the pre-orders will last before selling out, so it might be an idea to get in there quick if you want to nab the new console.

Price

The Xbox One X pricing is set at £449 for the console and a controller without any bundled games.

That's more expensive than the PS4 Pro, which can currently be had for around £350.

However, as we get closer to Christmas, it's likely that retailers will start offering special deals and bundles that mean you can pick up the console and a couple of games at a lower price.

What's under the hood?

(Image: Microsoft)

The Xbox One X makes some impressive leaps forward over the current Xbox One S console.

At the heart of the new machine is a significant upgrade in the processor - leaping from an eight core chip running at 1.75ghz to an octo-core chip performing at 2.3ghz.

Microsoft have matched this with a serious upgrade in graphics (GPU) from 853mhz to a new 1.17ghz processor.

It's also got increased and faster memory - up to 12gb GDDR5 - and full 4K UHD Blu-ray support.

At this point, Microsoft doesn't appear to have a VR headset of its own in development. But a more powerful console could also open the door to work with a third party device like the Oculus Rift or HTC Vive.

Games

Microsoft is keen to point out that games will run across both the One X and the slightly cheaper One S - the only difference being a slight graphical and performance boost for the more expensive console.

However, there are certain games - currently 130 - that are "optimised for Xbox One X". This includes the latest entry in the Forza racing franchise, Forza 7.

While these optimised games will run on the Xbox One S, they will run natively in 4K (providing your TV can handle it) on the Xbox One X.

Microsoft says it is committed to the whole Xbox family so it's likely we'll see more of these optimised games appearing in the future.

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Xbox One X vs PS4 Pro

Its the one question that every tech spec fan will be asking - which 'upgraded' console is better? The PS4 Pro aimed to give Sony gamers a boosted experience but across the board Xbox Scorpio seems to have it out matched. CPU, GPU, memory and true 4K support.

That said, it's not all about specs and both gaming giants will be throwing everything at consumers to gain new players.

The real test for the One X will be games that take advantage of every bit of the new console's power, whilst also accommodating (not alienating) existing Xbox One and One S owners.

We'll keep this page updated as we learn more about the new console, so remember to keep checking back to see the latest news.