After a torrent of leaks revealing the design and price seemed to have forced Microsoft's hand for a proper announcement, the Xbox Series S has finally been officially unveiled.
While we have known about the Xbox Series X since late 2019, the long-rumored Series S, also known as Project Lockheart, had proved more elusive. However, a leak from Thurrott has finally shown the world what Xbox's new entry-level console will look like.
First, images of the Series S were revealed for the first time. Unlike the cube-shaped Xbox Series X, this one is more standard rectangular, with a large black mesh circle on the side reminiscent of the Xbox Adaptive Controller buttons. The unit comes in a classic all-white color scheme, but it is expected to be available in black, like previous consoles.
This was only a convincing rumor, but now Xbox has confirmed the existence of the Series S on Twitter and a price of $299. Xbox UK tweeted the same announcement, but revealed that the price in the UK will be £250.
This low price and the claim of the "smallest Xbox ever" will make it an attractive option for gamers who don't have the space for a full-size Series X by their TV or the funds to buy the next generation of Xbox's best.
A video shared on Twitter by WalkingCat shows just how compact the Series S is. The leaked video, which appears to be from Xbox's console introduction video, shows the entire console fitting comfortably inside the Xbox Series X with room to spare.
If you don't want to pay the $299 upfront, the Series S can be purchased for $25 per month through Xbox All Access. This is Xbox's subscription-based system, which can be used without having to purchase the console.
That's all the officially confirmed rumors, but there is more to these leaks.
The Xbox Series X is apparently set at $499 ($35/month with Xbox All Access), which seems about right compared to some of the wild numbers seen in previous leaks. version with drive could be $599.
As for the release date, the key date for both consoles will apparently be November 10. This is the timing that the gaming industry had anticipated, just in time for the Black Friday sales season. However, we may not be able to expect significant discounts on these new Xbox consoles.
Xbox has not yet commented on the Series S hardware, but it will have a graphics output of about 4 teraflops (compared to the Series X's 12 teraflops) and 60 fps at 1080p (not 60 fps at 4K like the Series X). The device is expected to be a target device. It won't look as good as its more powerful siblings, but it will still have access to all the same games playable on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows 10 via Microsoft's Smart Delivery system.
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