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XBox (Games) Microsoft

Microsoft Confirms Compact, $299 Xbox Series S Next-Gen Game Console (techcrunch.com) 57

Posted by msmash from the up-next dept.
Microsoft has confirmed via its official Xbox Twitter account that a discless, tiny Xbox called the Series S will be released alongside its forthcoming Xbox Series X. From a report: The Series S was initially leaked late Monday, first by Brad Sams on Twitter, and also by Walking Cat. The Xbox account tweeted an image fo the same small design dominated by a large, round vent grill, and said that the estimated retail price at launch for the new version of the console will be $299. The original leak from Sams also includes the $299 price, and Walking Cat's leaked trailer video inlaid more details -- including noting that the console is 60% smaller than the forthcoming Series X, but that it includes a high-speed 512GB NVMe SSD, with performance offering up to 1440p resolution at 120FPS, along with 4K upscaling. It'll also support DirectX ray tracing.
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Microsoft Confirms Compact, $299 Xbox Series S Next-Gen Game Console More

Microsoft Confirms Compact, $299 Xbox Series S Next-Gen Game Console

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  • My TV only has 2 inputs, one is my Roku and the other my PS4. I use the PS4 more for watching movies than I do loading games, most games just get downloaded from PSN.

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by Anonymous Coward

      Buy a switch box. Some will switch automatically or have a remote for $30 on amazon.

      You can get an ultrahd player for $100 now if you shop around. DVD is long dead.

    • Re: (Score:3)

      by gl4ss ( 559668 )

      well buy the xbox series x then instead. that one has the disc drive.

      it's not like you can watch movies from discs on the digital edition ps5 either.

  • Yes, but.... (Score:4, Funny)

    by Nidi62 ( 1525137 ) on Tuesday September 08, 2020 @10:11AM (#60484422)

    Will it come with the Epic store preloaded?

    (thought I was gonna say "will it run Crysis", didn't you?)

  • Yeah it’s cheaper, but if you have a One X it’s a minor upgrade and only when next gen games are released. I don’t know of any major titles that are being released in 2020 that requires a next gen Xbox. Now if you have an original Xbox One then it is an upgrade; however, you’ll have to upgrade again if you want 4K gaming. Am I missing something?

    • Yeah it’s cheaper, but if you have a One X it’s a minor upgrade and only when next gen games are released. I don’t know of any major titles that are being released in 2020 that requires a next gen Xbox. Now if you have an original Xbox One then it is an upgrade; however, you’ll have to upgrade again if you want 4K gaming. Am I missing something?

      Think of everyone who wants to play an xbox game, but is really more of a PS5 or switch person. Also, xbox one x is no longer sold, so that's no longer an option.

      This is an awesome option for a casual gamer, a secondary console, a console for a different room or anyone with less money to spend than you. I know I will be buying the full-priced option, but if I didn't love shooters, I'd much rather have a cheapo one. If PS5 offered one, I'd buy one to try out their first party games and there are some k

      • So you think that this is for casual gamers who don’t already own an Xbox One X but want an Xbox. That seems to be a small group. I mean people can get a used Xbox One X then.

        • So you think that this is for casual gamers who don’t already own an Xbox One X but want an Xbox. That seems to be a small group. I mean people can get a used Xbox One X then.

          Your average non-gamer parents don't know where to buy used consoles nor are they motivated to get one. When your 10yo wants the next gen xbox to play whatever equivalent of fortnite the kids will be playing, nothing is easier than going to Target, buying a $300 christmas present and having something nice to wrap under the tree. It's nicer to have a pretty box, new console, and full warranty. Being able to buy one from WalMart/Target on a grocery shopping trip at a non-painful price is huge.

          It's reall

          • :Your average non-gamer parents don't know where to buy used consoles

            I'm pretty sure the average person has heard of eBay and pawn shops not to mention that GameStop would sell them if it were not going under.

            . When your 10yo wants the next gen xbox to play whatever equivalent of fortnite the kids will be playing, nothing is easier than going to Target, buying a $300 christmas present and having something nice to wrap under the tree. It's nicer to have a pretty box, new console, and full warranty. Being able to buy one from WalMart/Target on a grocery shopping trip at a non-painful price is huge.

            My point again is they don't need a next gen Xbox to play Fortnite now. There are not a lot new games that you need a next gen Xbox for a while.

            It's really something that I don't think has ever happened before...cheap console, latest-generation games, and a vast library of legacy games...

            Again there are not a lot of "latest-generation" games coming within the next several months. There will be a lot in 2021.

    • It's for those who can't afford the $499+ price tag of the Series X

    • It's not meant to compete against the "xbonks" you mentioned, it's meant to divide the lineup of the "nextgen" systems, likely along the lines of:
      Xbox Series S PS5 Xbox Series X

      Microsoft has shown in the past that they're willing to manipulate the market to get an advantage over sony, and this is likely the same. They'll use the lower price point compared to the PS5 to lure in poor users and then sucker punch them on upgrades when their 500GB storage proves itself insufficient after installing 5 games.

      Th

      • I think your critique is on point in a narrow way however though. There's really no point in upgrading from an xbonks at least in the near future, and given its cost new it's no surprise that microsoft discontinued its sale because purchasing it today will be a poor value long term.

        Yes this is why I used "right now". Next year, the Series S might be a compelling buy once there are titles. But speaking of titles, this has really put developers in a tough spot as they have to code for two different Xbox Series consoles due to the performance differences whereas they only have to code for 1 PS5 model essentially.

  • What ill happen later a Series 3 and a Series Y
    so together they can be the XBox S3XY

    Sigh I really do Miss old version numbers I know I am really old. Back in them old days there were version numbers like
    Major Version.Minor Version.Patch Level.
    So instead of having Xbox S it would be something like Xbox 4.2.122

    I know the marketing people want to make the next version of the product pop by creating a big name around it. Because some products may technically still be on that 1. or 2. version. Like I think Go

    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      by DontBeAMoran ( 4843879 )

      This is one thing Sony is doing right and both Microsoft and Nintendo are doing wrong.

      PlayStation X? I know it's the Xth generation, no confusion there.

      Nintendo's consoles names are sufficiently different between each of them, apart from Wii vs Wii U. However it doesn't tell you in which order they go chronologically. You could deduce that "SNES" came after "NES" but that's it.

      Microsoft's consoles names are all over the place, changing only one stupid letter or adding useless and confusing marketing nonsens

      • ...Microsoft's consoles names are all over the place, changing only one stupid letter or adding useless and confusing marketing nonsense to confuse people. You need a freakin' look-up table to know which Xbox is which. The only thing you can deduce with 99% certainty is that "Xbox" was the first one because it's the shortest name.

        This is like being worried you're not going to remember if Tesla released the Roadster, Model 3, or the Model X first.

        In 20 years, no one is going to give a shit.

        • In 20 years no, but trying to decipher Microsoft's Xbox console naming schemes is a fucking nightmare if you're in the market for one right now.

          And how does this new low-cost console compare with the bigger one? Will they play exactly the same games? Do they have the same amount of processing power, RAM, etc?

          • In 20 years no, but trying to decipher Microsoft's Xbox console naming schemes is a fucking nightmare if you're in the market for one right now.

            And how does this new low-cost console compare with the bigger one? Will they play exactly the same games? Do they have the same amount of processing power, RAM, etc?

            Gosh, if only humans had some kind of ability to market product. I mean, it would be nice if companies could advertise which products to buy.

            I wonder if they have a website? Call me crazy, but I think Frequently Asked Questions is gonna be HUGE in the future when we finally invent it...

            • Re:Copying Tesla? (Score:4, Insightful)

              by DontBeAMoran ( 4843879 ) on Tuesday September 08, 2020 @01:35PM (#60485082)

              The Xbox consoles names are a fucking mess because of Microsoft's marketing department. It's also in their best interest to confuse people so they buy the low-end console, get frustrated with it, then buy the higher-end model.

              And if I have to fucking search a fucking FAQ just to know which fucking Xbox model I should be buying, then Sony has already won my hard-earned dollars.

              • The Xbox consoles names are a fucking mess because of Microsoft's marketing department. It's also in their best interest to confuse people so they buy the low-end console, get frustrated with it, then buy the higher-end model.

                Ah, so marketing by design to maximize profits. What exactly is surprising about that, finding that companies are still doing it, or finding that consumers are still dumb enough to fall for it?

                And if I have to fucking search a fucking FAQ just to know which fucking Xbox model I should be buying, then Sony has already won my hard-earned dollars.

                Regardless of the global pandemic, corporate arrogance will continue to get worse. They don't give a shit about you. Funny thing about turning customers into addicts; you never have to care about having enough of them ever again.

                And...uh, well:

                "If I have to fucking look at a sales brochure or talk to a salesman ju

                • Except all cars are compatible with all roads. Engine specifications are clearly labeled, etc.

                  Even Apple isn't that bad. You know by name alone that a "Mac mini" is not going to be as powerful as a "Mac Pro".

        • Well I expect after the Model S 3 X Y
          You have the Cyber Truck C
          A model 4 or a Model 2 4
          The Roadster R
          and the Semi S
          So you have a product line of S3XY C4RS

          I am not that clever I saw someone else point out those future versions.

  • Should be free (Score:3)

    by fluffernutter ( 1411889 ) on Tuesday September 08, 2020 @10:39AM (#60484536)
    I have to say, the amount of advertising in these machines is getting sickening. They should be letting people have them for free.

    • the name of the game is lowering the barriers of entry to get the largest userbase. Ads are a way to lower the sticker price of a console and get you in the door to spend more money once you're invested. I see them following cellphone plans where you can sign up for xbox game pass and get a free* xbox if you buy a year subscription of xbox game pass for only $35 a month. I think growth in smartphones, internet connectivity and cloud offerings is going to make the upfront investment of PCs and gaming consol

  • I don't see widespread adoption. No drive is a problem. Only a minority has useful broadband internet. This is more people moving to the Switch.

    I sort of hoped that MS learned from the XBox One launch disaster, but I'm getting my doubts. That's a shame. When it comes to consoles, I actually am in the XBox camp. The last 360 and the XBone S are very neat machines. The XBOne X has a serious analog audio flaw (bad isolation) but that aside is resonable value for money, especially for the reduced prices availab

  • This is a system with no disc drive that will have only 512GB storage, the OS will use some of this storage. Additional internal storage is proprietary through Microsoft.

    The specs will be low end. As we have seen this generation there were mid-generation upgrades. When this happens this generation, this system will be even further behind.

    Microsoft has stated they will still be supporting the One, One S, and One X with their games (including Halo in 2021). Why not keep those systems and wait for a price drop

    • "Additional internal storage is proprietary through Microsoft" Since when? Any USB 3.0 drive can be added to an Xbox One (insert version letter here) for extra storage.

      • Are you seriously comparing USB3 with NVMe SSD?

        • No, I miss-read your comment. I am saying you can add external SSD storage storage via USB3.0.Obviously not as fast but the average customer could not replace an HDD in the current Xbox today so it being "proprietary" is a none-issue for 99.999% of owners.
  • Predicting it will be jailbroken with an XSS attack.
  • I get the business model, and it will likely be successful in getting the xbox into more hands. Unfortunately, what this also means is that developers will always have to program to the lowest common denominator. E.g. This removes the possibility of a future game so complex/detailed, or physics-oriented etc. that it could only run at 60fps at 1080p *on the Series X*... instead they'll have to dumb it down to run on the Series S. Further... there's such minor difference in fidelity between 1440p and 2160p

    • Yeah, this is why I hate PC games. I paid a ton for a great gaming PC, but then all the game developers make their games to run on the lowest common denominator, so they look like shit on my PC. If only there was some way for developers to allow games to adjust their settings so they run on variable hardware systems. Maybe someday.

      • Either that is a failed attempt at sarcasm or you've never seen the dozens/hundreds of configuration options in a modern PC game.

        • How can my ironic comment that mocks the previous one be called a "failed attempt at sarcasm"? That's what sarcasm is...

          My bad. If I was replying to this on reddit, I would have used a /s to denote sarcasm because I don't really have faith that users there are intelligent enough to know the difference.

  • Give us the full OS already (Score:3)

    by stikves ( 127823 ) on Tuesday September 08, 2020 @12:56PM (#60484970) Homepage

    The Xbox specs are actually very good for a basic PC. The price is right too.

    In the older (current?) gen, they brought keyboard and mouse support. There is already a web browser included, and some sort of sideloading is possible for custom apps: https://github.com/Aftnet/Libr... [github.com]

    What is more, everything runs on almost-standard AMD hardware, and with a Windows kernel on top of a hypervisor. So in theory there should be no issues for compatibility, or security for running a custom OS, including Linux there.

    • I agree, even if you had to pay extra for and "unlocked" version because there is no way this hardware could be this cheap without being subsidized by game licencing and on-line membership fees.

  • Sorta explains few release Xbox titles (Score:3)

    by UnknowingFool ( 672806 ) on Tuesday September 08, 2020 @02:25PM (#60485248)
    For the next gen, developers have to code not only for a new console but for the Xbox, two different graphics performances. For some titles that doesn't matter like Minecraft but this sorta explains why there are going to be few release titles. It is going to take some time for developers to work this out. On the other side, the main different between the two PS5 models is the optical drive so developers have a single target to hit.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by tlhIngan ( 30335 )

      For the next gen, developers have to code not only for a new console but for the Xbox, two different graphics performances. For some titles that doesn't matter like Minecraft but this sorta explains why there are going to be few release titles. It is going to take some time for developers to work this out. On the other side, the main different between the two PS5 models is the optical drive so developers have a single target to hit.

      Yeah, but with the same SDK you can code for Windows too, so now you have to

      • That seems like a lot more effort for developers to meet the new release timeline. One of the main advantages in developing for console was the fixed hardware profiles. If developing for the Xbox is more like developing for PC then I could understand why it would take longer and why developers would not be happy about it.

        Also some development isn’t using the SDKs directly, Many developers especially smaller ones use a game engine like Unreal which works cross platform with PlayStation, Switch, iOS, a

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