It’s been a few years since the Xbox Series X and Series S were released, and while the consoles haven’t broken any sales records, there are still quite a few of them in circulation. It’s time for a refresh, and Microsoft is releasing a new, all-digital version of the console (saying goodbye to optical drives). It launches on October 15th, but you can pre-order it now.
you Should That’s a whole other issue. Microsoft has been pretty open about how the company envisions an “every screen is Xbox” future. Whether it’s a gaming laptop or a handheld, PC gaming on Windows is just as important to the company as a console in your living room. Now, you can even stream Xbox games on a Fire TV stick. Still, there are plenty of reasons to buy an Xbox Series X/S. It’s the most convenient way to set up a Microsoft-centric gaming system for couch play. If you’re interested, here’s how to buy one.
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What’s different about the new Xbox consoles?
Like the recent PS5 Slim, there aren’t many differences with this mid-range refresh of the Xbox: Both the Series X and Series S have largely identical hardware under the hood.
But there are some small changes: the Xbox Series X no longer has a disc drive and has a white paint job. As an Xbox Series S fan, I prefer the white look, so it’s nice to see it available on more powerful hardware. Pricing for this “all-digital” Xbox Series X starts at $450, about $50 cheaper than its predecessor, a reasonable tradeoff for those who have never bought physical copies of Xbox games.
The smaller Xbox Series S didn’t have a disc drive, so there’s no drive to remove. Instead, with this refresh, Microsoft has doubled the storage from 512GB to 1 terabyte. The price has also increased by $50, to $350. This is no surprise, given that AAA games are going to be huge, but it’s worth noting that the storage on your current Xbox Series X or Series S can easily be increased with an expansion card.
Finally, Microsoft will release a special limited edition of the original Xbox Series X with a disc drive. This version will have a unique “Galaxy Black” paint job, a space-like white and green dot pattern, and a massive 2TB of storage. This model will cost $600 and will ship when the other upgraded consoles launch in mid-October.
Alongside these new consoles, Microsoft is testing a replacement for the Xbox Game Pass for Console tier of its subscription service. The new tier, called Xbox Game Pass Standard, includes the same library of console games and online console multiplayer services. However, you won’t have access to games that are released on day one, and you’ll have to wait a while to play certain games. Xbox Insiders can try out the new tier for $1 per month during the trial period, but it will cost $15 per month when it officially launches. Microsoft plans to increase the price of Game Pass Ultimate from $17 to $20 per month starting in September.
