Microsoft’s ‘Xbox One S All-Digital Edition’ Pre-Orders to Start in April
Microsoft’s ‘Xbox One S All-Digital Edition’ Pre-Orders to Start in April
At this time it is unknown what the new console will look like, as the removal of the console’s 4K Blu-Ray disk drive would enable Microsoft to significantly reduce the console’s form factor. Alternatively, Microsoft could opt to keep the console in the same Xbox One S shell as before, with the only major change being to the console’s front section, which will no longer include a disk slot, as shown in the edited Xbox One S picture above.Â
With Microsoft moving their focus onto their digital “Game Pass” subscription service and towards console streaming with “Project xCloud”, it is easy to see why creating a diskless console makes a lot of sense for Microsoft. This will also act as a great testing ground for Microsoft’s next console platform, which could also release with digital-only models.Â
The “All-Digital Edition” of the Xbox One S will include one huge downside (outside of the inability to use Xbox One game disks), which is the lack of 4K Blu-Ray playback, which is a big selling point for the Xbox One S, given the already high cost of a 4K Blu Ray players. 4K Blu-Ray players can cost £100 or more, a factor that makes the Xbox One S a great choice for 4K movie buffs who also want to game a little on the side. Â
At this time it is unknown how much the “Xbox One S All-Digital Edition” will cost, though it will no doubt cost less than existing Xbox One S consoles, given the lower material cost of the unit. The console is also likely to be bundled with a Microsoft Game Pass subscription, which comes with all of Microsoft’s first-party Xbox releases as well as a large number of 3rd party titles. This will allow the All-Digital Xbox One S to ship with a large digital game library out of the gate.Â
The Microsoft Xbox One S All-Digital Edition is expected to release in all major Xbox regions, which means that the UK and Europe should expect to see the all-digital Xbox One on store shelves.Â
You can join the discussion on Microsoft’s rumoured Xbox One S All-Digital Edition console on the OC3D Forums.Â