Getting your hands on a next-gen console is almost like winning a lottery right now. I am fortunate enough to have got one this holiday season!
I got on to the console gaming bandwagon around 2008 and have been on the Xbox platform all along, starting with an Xbox 360. My last console upgrade was the Xbox One (500GB version) in 2015, which has served me well all these years. I had got a 4K UHD TV last year and was eagerly waiting for the launch of Xbox Series X. When the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the globe this year, it started getting clear before the next-gen console launch dates that it would be challenging to meet the initial demand.
As a gaming market, India has evolved over the years to be strong on PC and Mobile platforms. Console gaming is always considered an expensive hobby in India, with other factors like high entry price for the hardware, attributed to high customs duties and local taxes. Sony's Playstation enjoys undisputed popularity in India to the extent that if you ask a layman, do you know what a Playstation is? They would probably be able to relate it to gaming. Unfortunately, Sony has not come with a revised official launch date for India yet for Playstation 5.
Microsoft had included India in the list of countries where Xbox Series X and Series S would be available to purchase on launch day - November 10, 2020. I started checking on the pre-order status for Xbox Series X in Sep'20. Two major e-tailers in India - Flipkart and Amazon, ran out of Series X units within minutes. I was cursing myself for wasting a chance to pre-order Series X from another online seller Gameloot, where it was available for 1-2 days; additionally, from the time it went out of stock on Flipkart and Amazon.
I was met with disappointment losing my chance to order Xbox Series X on the Amazon India site post-midnight on 10 Nov'20. It simply did not allow me to process the transaction despite adding the console to my shopping cart twice. Ten days from the launch day, I happened to randomly find Xbox Series X in stock on the Amazon India site; as I attempted to place an order again, I was unable to move past adding the console to my cart. It was a sign that I had to give up hopes of securing a Series X console before the year-end.
I followed news articles and Twitter posts to be on the lookout for any update related to Series X's availability. In India, most mainstream media portals were publishing articles to amplify the launch hype; nobody reported the shortage of Series X console and tentative restocking status with retailers and online outlets.
IMO, Rishi Alwani from The Mako Reactor is the only credible handle on Twitter who gets insider news on next-gen console updates for Indian gamers. He continues to track and report ongoing developments related to the PS5 launch and Xbox Series X availability in India.
With bleak prospects of securing an Xbox Series X in India before early next year, I pinned my hope on expecting availability to improve post-Christmas and scaled-down frequent online search for one. On the 24th of Nov'20, I started seeing the PrepaidGamerCard (PPGC) portal listing on Google; pre-orders were opened up for the fresh stock of Xbox Series X, and my hope was rekindled again, thinking should I order from this website because I had not known much about this seller before. I was willing to risk placing my pre-order with PPGC as I was not sure 'If' and 'When' I'd be able to order Xbox Series X from Flipkart or Amazon next. A Customer support executive from PPGC confirmed over WhatsApp chat that I could get Xbox Series X tentative delivery by the end of January 2021.
I got an alert on 3rd Dec'20 that my Xbox Series X unit was ready to ship, packed, and shipped by the seller on 4th and received on 5th Dec'20. I could not thank my luck enough and the e-tailer who gained my trust by providing a hassle-free transaction and prompt shipping. So, is Xbox Series X worth the upgrade? For me, definitely yes!. I realized that the Xbox One base 500GB version I was playing on had started aging, frame rate drop issues started getting noticeable while playing Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War. I had pre-ordered Cyberpunk 2077, which is struggling at launch with bugs and performance issues on Xbox One and PS4. My Cyberpunk 2077 disc version is getting delivered tomorrow, and I hope I don't encounter too many glitches!
I am not the one to be swayed by platform exclusives hype, but I just wanted to experience the visual brilliance of 4K HDR gaming on a next-gen console. I have not played Modern Warfare and Black Ops campaign yet, as I was looking forward to the Xbox Series X upgrade. I'll probably put up a separate post on the Series X performance review. For now, it's 'game on' season going into year-end 2020; check out my unboxing video of the Xbox Series X below
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