Microsoft confirmed Xbox Series S after next-gen Xbox price leak [Updated]

On Monday evening, a door opened about plans to launch Microsoft’s next-generation console and multiple reports, along with a storytelling video excerpt, put an exclamation point at the leaked company’s aspirations to launch the “Xbox Series X” console (announced in Late 2019) alongside the cheaper and smaller Xbox Series S by the end of the year.

Hours after the reports were published, Microsoft confirmed this Xbox Series S already exists. Described by Microsoft as “the smallest Xbox ever,” this new console will be launched at $ 299.

Longtime Microsoft tracking reporter Brad Sams kicked off the news wave on Monday with a screenshot showing a crisp design for the Xbox Series S, roughly white and half the size of the Xbox Series X, next to pricing: $ 299. At the time, Sams did not provide an explanation for the source of his image, but he repeatedly reported the existence of Series S while developing it under the codename Lockhart, along with Series X (codenamed Scarlett).

S denotes the spot

If the previous reports come out, the S Series will emerge with many of the same technical leaps as the X Series – and these could include features such as “Velocity Architecture” for faster game loading or fancy graphic effects like ray tracing. But Series S will offer “next generation” perks with lower maximum power, dedicated to either lower pixel resolutions (such as 1080p) or lower frame rates, to reduce the console price. Sams and other reporters estimated the peak display level at nearly 4 teraflops for the Series S, compared to the 12 TF power and 4K resolution aspirations for the Series X. Microsoft has yet to provide details about the Xbox Series S’s capabilities beyond the vague description of “next” – Jinn. “

In August, Ars Technica was able to confirm the name of the cheaper console, thanks to sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans and early launch of its console (its “compatibility” list mentioned “Xbox Series X / S”).

Shortly after the Sams report was published, Windows Central reported the same price point for the S Series, along with the claim that the Xbox Series X would launch at $ 499. The WC report, citing “sources”, claimed that both devices will be launched on November 10, but the report did not clarify which areas would be launched. (Microsoft previously confirmed the “November” release of the X Series console.)

Pictures of the S-Series followed in the reports of the two Leaked excerpt from the Series S reveal video, as shared by Twitter user “_h0x0d. “This four-second video includes a smooth animation of each of the new consoles placed side by side, followed by the S Series sliding into a transparent version of the Series X chassis to emphasize size comparison. At this point, the narrator describes ‘how small’ it is. ” .

What the narrator does not say in this brief passage is that the S-Series appears to be missing a drive on its front or other visual aspects. It’s still unclear if the drive is on any other side, even after Microsoft’s Series S confirmed, but that would be a major departure from the design for Xbox, which has placed holes for the drive on the same side as its console’s power buttons for years. Hence, skipping the drive as a way to bring the price down to $ 299 – and emphasize more digital download subscription packages like the Xbox Game Pass – seems likely.

Instead, the video shows a bunch of dot-style upper holes on the edges of the Xbox One X, along with an all-black dotted circular plate on one of its sides – likely intended to enable more venting. Other than the large circuit-hole matter, the console design’s similarity to the Xbox One X isn’t entirely surprising, considering Microsoft removed all Xbox One X consoles earlier this year – leading us to speculate that the Xbox Series S might take Its place in the Xbox hierarchy.

The Windows Central report includes a proposal to launch Series S with an “Xbox All Access” funding option of $ 25 per month, while Series X will be available for $ 35 per month. The exact terms of such a contract have not yet been confirmed, and whether it includes franchises such as Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass.

As of press time, Microsoft had not responded to Windows Central’s report about a possible November 10 launch date or the $ 499 price tag for the Xbox Series X. It concluded its Twitter post early Tuesday with a promise of more information in the future: “We look forward to sharing more soon. promise. “

This article has been updated since its original publication. Xbox Series S endorsement by Microsoft now includes. In the Twitter post.

Image list by h0x0d