The first year of the Xbox Series gives us a lot of joy. When it comes to video games, the machinery is slowly starting to work and we already have some great titles on the way. In the short, medium and long term, Microsoft consoles are well covered, but there are other areas of great importance. The launch of new consoles is also synonymous with a multitude of new accessories and peripherals.. New compatible controllers, headphones, we even saw the first televisions with “Xbox label”, but if there is one device that has caught the attention of the community, it’s good. xScreen.
We already knew that the Xbox Series S is a compact, easy-to-carry console, but what we never imagined is what UPspec Gaming I was hatching to give it a much more wearable feel. The xScreen display surprised the media and fans alike, making a pleasant impression with its finishes and the possibilities it offers to users. Surprisingly, the project had to go through Kickstarter, and as some of you may already know, Australians they only needed 20 minutes to reach the goal On the platform.
Today we also offer you an interview with them, in particular with Andrew Upson (co-founder of UPspec Gaming) to learn more about the project. If this device interests you, we recommend that you stay to know the keys of this screen exclusively designed for the Xbox Series S, let’s go!
xScreen was born from a passion for video games
Before diving into your product, I would like to ask you how the idea came about. Have you ever worked in the video game industry before?
We’ve never worked in the industry before, but we’ve been playing for over 30 years since the days of the Atari 2600! We have always been involved in modifying devices Over the years, to improve its usability, and in recent years, we have developed 3D printing and design skills that have enabled a whole new world of possibilities. In recent years we have found ourselves traveling a lot more and have less time and flexibility to play games.
We have the Nintendo Switch and we think it’s cool, but their game selection is more limited compared to PlayStation and Xbox. We’ve looked at the various previous versions of attached screens and suitcase-style setups, but we think they were all too bulky and cumbersome to travel easily. With the launch of the Xbox Series S late last year, we first saw a console that had the power and the small size to make it the perfect mobile console. and we decided to bring all of our experience to create the best portable display possible.
xScreen will make the difference in terms of portability
The world of gaming console peripherals is quite large, and many years ago we saw displays that offered similar “portability” to yours. These screens were much smaller, but they were an innovative bet at the time. Have you been inspired by any of these ideas?
We knew of one designed for the PS4 that we thought was interesting. But due to the PS4’s larger size and the extra power required for the display and external cables, we still don’t find it attractive. Interestingly, since we announced xScreen people have shown us a lot of other iterations of dockable screens over the years that are really cool.. However, in most cases they still suffer from the same challenges as the PS4 in terms of needing additional cables. And they’re too big to easily carry in a backpack.
We are proud to offer a removable screen for the new generation of consoles. Due to the Xbox Series S’s small size and our built-in, patent-pending wiring connection method, it overcomes the limitations of the past and is a truly mobile full-power console.
A lot of people don’t know it, but xScreen is a project that is going to be successful thanks to Kickstarter. How was the reception of the public? How difficult was it to find support for your idea?
Yes that’s it. The reception so far has been incredible. Members of the Xbox community are very excited about this and our pre-order pools quickly ran out. We look forward to building on this momentum in the campaign with fantastic support from publications like Xbox Area!
As simple as it sounds
xScreen allows the gamer to turn the Xbox Series S into a portable console, but what will we need to be able to play this way? Is it as easy as it sounds?
Yes it is! Simply place the xScreen on the back of the Xbox Series S and put them together so that the HDMI and USB connections automatically connect to the Xbox. Then simply secure the accessory with thumbscrews on the side latches, open the cover, plug in power to the Xbox, and you’re good to go! We were able to integrate the wiring into the device and have the screen directly turn off the Xbox, so no additional cables are required (just use the original Xbox power cord). This is something that we are very proud of and that we have filed a patent to protect.
Technical specifications
Given the technical characteristics of the Xbox Series S and its dimensions, we understand that it will have been easier to develop xScreen for this console. What will be the maximum resolution of your screen? What about the refresh rate?
In order for the shape to perfectly match the Xbox Series S, a 11.6 inch is the maximum size we could use. At this screen size, the highest resolution and frame rate available in production is 1080p and 60hz, so that’s what we use. While this is less than the console’s maximum tech output of 1440p and 120hz, we don’t think this is a problem because:
a) At the 11.6-inch size, 1080p looks incredibly crisp and there would be no noticeable hardware benefit to scaling it up.
b) Due to the lower power of the Xbox Series S, few modern games will run above 60fps, which is still a fantastic improvement over the last generation and looks amazing on xScreen.
Search for components, price, how to buy xScreen …
For over a year we have seen a great shortage of stock in many electronic products. An example is what happens with consoles and PC graphics cards, how many xScreen can you give away in your first batch? Will there be enough to meet your high demand?
The global chip shortage has been a major issue for us, especially in terms of supplying displays. We were fortunate to find suppliers able to meet our expected demand, but this unfortunately resulted in a substantial increase in our production costs. However, we have tried to keep our prices at the levels we have indicated above. Since the most important thing for us right now is to launch our company, UPspec Gaming, and make xScreen accessible to as many people as possible.
Many Xbox fans will be wondering how and where to buy your screens. How will you buy xScreen? And its price?
Initially, xScreen will only be available through our Kickstarter campaign (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/xscreen/xscreen-for-xbox-series-s) July 7 to August 6. Once Kickstarter is complete, we will be announcing new channels where it will be available to order. The retail price of XScreen is US $ 249, but it will be available at a reduced price on the Kickstarter page.
XScreen is just the start!
Before ending the interview, one last question. You are now focusing on the production of xScreen, but are you thinking of other peripherals for the future?
Yes, we have a number of other products in the design phase that we’re excited to start developing on. But we wait to be sure that everything is ready to deliver xScreen to our customers. UPspec Gaming’s Goal Is To Make Video Game Accessories That Fills A Gap In The Market and, more importantly, creating things that we are excited to use ourselves. It’s too early to say more, but stay tuned!
If you liked this interview, don’t forget that you will find many more in the Xbox Space. All related to developers and the world of video games in general.
About the Author
I have traveled to worlds you would never believe, ended up with enemies that escape all mysticism. I felt my pulse quicken with each battle, and the sigh of who knows he will have to get up. There is always a villain waiting, an adventure around the corner. That’s why I never stopped living, because I keep playing.
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