Thanks to a handful of game critics who have gotten their hands on Microsoft's next-generation console, we finally have an idea of how the Xbox Series X will perform and play in the real world. This first batch of Xbox Series X previews doesn't reveal any details about upcoming games, but new features like SSD fast loading and Quick Resume seem to be game changers, literally.

Those who were among the first to test the Xbox Series X presented their impressions of the Xbox Series X hardware and controllers in general while playing backward compatible Xbox One games. Below are the main opinions of the critics so far.

One thing that has been consistent in nearly all Xbox Series X previews is that GameSpot's Michael Higham noted a dramatic improvement in load times, with "Red Dead Redemption" taking 2 minutes 8 seconds to load on the Xbox One X, reduced to just 38 seconds on the Xbox Series X. Similarly, "Control" took approximately one minute to start up on the older Xbox, but was reduced to only 10 seconds on the Xbox Series X.

The Verge's Tom Warren recorded similar improvements, with "Sea of Thieves" going from 1 minute 21 seconds on the Xbox One X to 20 seconds on the Xbox Series X, and "Warframe" going from 1 minute 31 seconds to 25 seconds.7]

Loading Speaking of fast times, critics also praised the "Quick Resume" feature, which allows users to open and suspend multiple games and switch back and forth between them within seconds; Higham noted that he was able to suspend up to six games at once using this feature, and switching between them took 5 ～to 8 seconds to switch between them, he stated. A small "Quick Resume" icon appears on the game's startup screen, letting the user know that the game does not need to be started from scratch.

"With Game Pass, Quick Resume really shines because we often jump between multiple games we have downloaded," Higham said.

"Having played a lot of games with Quick Resume, for me this is like a game-changing feature for Series X," added Cnet's Jeff Bakalar.

VentureBeat's Jeff Grubb measured frame rates when running certain games on both the Xbox One X and Xbox Series X and found some noticeable improvements.

For example, "Final Fantasy XV" went from 42 frames per second on Xbox One X to 59 frames per second on Xbox Series X in Lite mode, which prioritizes frame rate over game fidelity; "Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice" showed an even more dramatic jump from 37 frames per second on the Xbox One X to 60 frames per second on the Xbox Series X. For a brutal, timing-intensive action game like "Sekiro," this could be a literal game changer.

Previews have so far been quite positive about the actual Xbox Series X hardware.

"It feels massive, but in a good way. When you hold it, it feels like a $500 luxury item, regardless of its value," wrote Ryan McCaffrey of IGN.

"When you turn it on, it makes the same startup sound as the Xbox One family of consoles.

McCaffrey also noted that the console remains quiet, even when playing a relatively heavy-loaded game like "Red Dead Redemption 2."

Grubb called the new Xbox wireless controller "the best-feeling gamepad in Microsoft history outside of the Elite controller," thanks to its improved grip, refined materials, and slightly heavier feel.

The Xbox Series X still needs a lot of testing, especially when it comes to handling true next-generation games at 4K. We also recommend keeping an eye on Digital Foundry for a more detailed breakdown of Microsoft's new console.

But according to these early impressions, Microsoft seems to have delivered a powerful machine that dramatically reduces load times and makes it easier than ever to move between favorite games. Grubb even says, "I don't want to go back to Xbox One or PlayStation 4."

We are eager to see if the PS5 can offer a similarly seamless experience and how both machines will handle proper next-gen gaming at launch. Stay tuned for further updates.