Featured image: Thurrott.com
Editor’s Note (09/08/20): Story has been updated to include further official confirmation from Microsoft about the Xbox Series S and its launch date of November 10th.
The latest rumors surrounding Microsoft’s upcoming Xbox consoles offer what could be our first real look at the cheaper Series S, along with potential price points for both the Series S and the high-powered Series X. Thurrott posted an image purported to depict Microsoft’s frequently rumored Xbox Series S, the cheaper companion console to the high-end Series X.
Thurrott also reported a launch price of $299 for the Series S. Compared to the Series X’s boxy design, these shots indicate the Series S will follow a more traditional console form factor — though it appears to sport a massive circular grille on one side.
From the angle available, it’s unclear whether this console sports an optical disc drive, but it’s obviously much smaller than the Series X. That’s most likely because the Series S isn’t quite as powerful a console and, therefore, needs a less-demanding cooling setup than its high-powered stablemate.
As for the pricing rumor, $299 for the Series S would likely undercut Sony’s currently unannounced pricing for its upcoming PlayStation 5. Thurrott speculates the Series X could come in around $499 or $599.
Meanwhile, Windows Central also reported on the leaks, claiming a $499 launch price for the Series X. Until now, Microsoft had only specified November as a time frame for its newest consoles, but Windows Central says we can expect both consoles to launch on November 10th, 2020. Microsoft may also offer financing options via its Xbox All Access subscription plan — $25 per month for the Series S and $35 per month for the Series X. That program reportedly spreads the cost of the console over time and ties it to associated Xbox subscription plans, like Xbox Live.
It’s currently unclear what streaming apps these consoles will support, but even the cheaper Series S would potentially be a more-than-capable streaming device. While gaming will no doubt be the primary focus of these next-gen consoles, both the PlayStation and Xbox platforms continue to be popular options for streaming entertainment. Samsung’s TVs took the top spot in Strategy Analytics’ recent data, but analysts reported both PlayStation (7%) and Xbox (4%) rival dedicated platforms like Roku and Fire TV.
As for Microsoft itself, there was no immediate confirmation or denial of the rumors and leaks, although the official Xbox Twitter account did muster something of a response late in the evening.
The company followed up in the early hours of Sept. 8 to confirm at least some of the details.
Update: On Sept. 8th, Microsoft shared an official reveal video for the Series S, perhaps earlier than it anticipated due to the leaked details.
In any case, key details about the upcoming console generation are slowly trickling out as we inch closer to the holiday season. And we’ll keep you up to date as we learn more.
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