Microsoft Unveils the Xbox Series S: The Smallest Xbox Ever

[R0H1T]

Switch has its own target audience and it won't be undermined by a regular console.

Depends, admittedly there's still lots of free or cheap money floating around the globe. When the likes of $1499 GPUs fly off the shelves, why wouldn't a $299 full console? The price point makes it a direct competitor to the Switch, at least for now.

 

[Rahnak]

A little presentation video.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1303252607759130624

Looks like it'll support 1440p up to 120fps (4K through upscaling), ray tracing and it has a 512GB SSD. Pretty sweet.

 

[laszlo]

i'm curious how Sony will answer to this

 

[Vya Domus]

Different hardware from the same vendor within the same generation is perhaps one of the dumbest thing I have seen in a very, very long time. The one thing that you used to get with consoles, which is the fact that you'd get a consistent experience no matter which consoles you chose is now gone.

 

[R0H1T]

i'm curious how Sony will answer to this

$100 more, based on previous rumors

 

[Valantar]

Different hardware from the same vendor within the same generation is perhaps one of the dumbest thing I have seen in a very, very long time. The one thing that you used to get with consoles, which is the fact that you'd get a consistent experience no matter which consoles you chose is now gone.

The question is: does it matter when they aim at the same performance level at different resolutions? The experience can very well be consistent, just with the addition that cheaper looks a bit worse, but they play the same.

Also, the XOX and PS4 Pro already did the same thing (in reverse), and were massive successes.

 

[Rahnak]

$100 more, based on previous rumors

They can't, not with a weaker (on paper) system. At the very least they have to match it on price, even if it's just the digital edition.

Also, the XOX and PS4 Pro already did the same thing (in reverse), and were massive successes.

Those were kinda justified with the mass 4K TV adoption. I don't particularly mind the XSS, but I hope we don't get mid-cycle refreshes with spec bumps again.

 

[Lionheart]

Microsoft has basically given us a Steam Box, at a stupid price and the fans go wild.

How the hell is $299 stupid? Dafuq do you smoke.

 

[R0H1T]

They can't, not with a weaker (on paper) system. At the very least they have to match it on price, even if it's just the digital edition.

You're talking about the PS5 digital only edition? It's stronger (even) on paper than this $299 thing from MS last I checked. Unless of course the rumors are grossly inaccurate.

 

[Chomiq]

i'm curious how Sony will answer to this

They already have an answer to this. PS5 digital. Remember that consoles require subscription for online play. Ps store is also the only outlet for getting digital copies of games so they're all set.

 

[Rahnak]

You're talking about the PS5 digital only edition? It's stronger (even) on paper than this $299 thing from MS last I checked. Unless of course the rumors are grossly inaccurate.

Oh, my bad. I thought you were saying $100 more than the $499 XSX. $399 for the PS5 digital is pretty good if it happens.

 

[Vya Domus]

Also, the XOX and PS4 Pro already did the same thing (in reverse), and were massive successes.

I don't know what really qualifies as massive success but I am pretty sure the normal consoles outsold them by at least an order of magnitude. At least with those they were launched years after the base consoles but now they want to basically release them all at the same time.

The real question in my opinion is, what difference will consoles now have versus PCs ? You now have tiers of performance just as with PCs, exclusives seem to be less and less of a thing. Why buy a console ? They are willingly removing the only advantages these things had and they simultaneously make development harder.

 

[R0H1T]

They're cheap for starters, an equivalent gaming rig will cost you anywhere between $100~300 more depending on where you live. Then there's the foolproof, well not really, thing that none has to tinker with. That's enough pros for me or anyone really who's tried setting up systems for others (free of cost) & having them complain incessantly later on!

 

[seronx]

Why buy a console?

Why buy an Atari VCS?
Why buy an Xbox series S?

Btw, both are using processors from AMD's mainline.

 

[Lionheart]

Different hardware from the same vendor within the same generation is perhaps one of the dumbest thing I have seen in a very, very long time. The one thing that you used to get with consoles, which is the fact that you'd get a consistent experience no matter which consoles you chose is now gone.

How is it stupid, It's all AMD based hardware, ones aimed at 1080p/1440p the other 4K/8K the end.

 

[laszlo]

They already have an answer to this. PS5 digital. Remember that consoles require subscription for online play. Ps store is also the only outlet for getting digital copies of games so they're all set.

if it cost more is not an answer from my point of view ; a potential buyer will look 1st to his wallet as with this strange covid economy every cent seems to matter...

 

[Fourstaff]

Wonder how this $25/35 per month couples with Game Pass, it can be a winner if properly managed.

 

[Chomiq]

Wonder how this $25/35 per month couples with Game Pass, it can be a winner if properly managed.

You get console + game pass ultimate for 24 months. Upgrade option after 18 months.

They already have it for current gen, they just didn't market it that heavily.
With pandemic going on this might indeed be a valid option for many folks.

 

[Mussels]

Console peeps help me out here

Is this just a disc-less version of the new Xbox, with slightly slower hardware aimed at lower res gaming?
Cause if so it totally makes sense for the 1080p crowd (or upscaled to 4k, which will still look better than the current gen ones)

 

[Chomiq]

Console peeps help me out here

Is this just a disc-less version of the new Xbox, with slightly slower hardware aimed at lower res gaming?
Cause if so it totally makes sense for the 1080p crowd (or upscaled to 4k, which will still look better than the current gen ones)

https://twitter.com/x/status/1303252607759130624

$299 €299 £249

 

[kayjay010101]

Console peeps help me out here

Is this just a disc-less version of the new Xbox, with slightly slower hardware aimed at lower res gaming?
Cause if so it totally makes sense for the 1080p crowd (or upscaled to 4k, which will still look better than the current gen ones)

pretty much, yeah. lower-end console for a cheaper price.

 

[BoboOOZ]

The real question in my opinion is, what difference will consoles now have versus PCs ? You now have tiers of performance just as with PCs, exclusives seem to be less and less of a thing. Why buy a console ? They are willingly removing the only advantages these things had and they simultaneously make development harder.

299 USD for 1080p gaming for the whole next generation? How do you get that in a PC? This is a brilliant idea, I imagine Microsoft will sell heaps of these.

As Valantar says, it's not about tiers, you get the same performance at 2 different resolutions, one is Full HD, other is 4k.

 

[Vya Domus]

How do you get that in a PC?

You know very well that argument is dumb. Yes consoles are always cheaper than equivalent hardware at launch, that's the point, but one is a console and one is a PC. In reality you get a lot more from a PC not the other way around, even if it's for a little more money.

it's not about tiers, you get the same performance at 2 different resolutions, one is Full HD, other is 4k.

That's the definition of having multiple tiers. Also, you don't "get the same performance", that's inaccurate and straight up false. You get two different levels of performance, that's why one needs to run at 1080p and one at 4K. Not to mention that 1080p is pretty fucking terrible for a console post 2020, most PS4 games have been 1080p and that's an old ass piece of hardware.

How is it stupid, It's all AMD based hardware

Btw, both are using processors from AMD's mainline.

Why does it matter that it's from AMD ?

 

[BoboOOZ]

You know very well that argument is dumb. Yes consoles are always cheaper than equivalent hardware at launch, that's the point, but one is a console and one is a PC. In reality you get a lot more from a PC not the other way around, even if it's for a little more money.

If all you want to do is just play, buying a more expensive PC is just a waste of money and an invitation for trouble (drivers, windows, etc.).
Yeah, PCs are fun, but for only gaming, they aren't that great. Not everybody is a hardware geek.

That's the definition of having multiple tiers. Also, you don't "get the same performance", that's inaccurate and straight up false. You get two different levels of performance, that's why one needs to run at 1080p and one at 4K. Not to mention that 1080p is pretty fucking terrible for a console post 2020, most PS4 games have been 1080p and that's an old ass piece of hardware.

1080p is enough for 95% of people on this planet. Yeah, some of us want more, but many people game on switch and android and if that's enough to float their boat, who is Microsoft to argue?
This console is brilliant because it will allow grandmas who don't know anything about PCs to make their grandsons hassle-free presents for Christmas, this might be what Micriosoft needs to gain an edge over Sony.

 

[Tomorrow]

Maybe it's just me but this thing is fugly. If you're gonna make it white it better be all white. Right now it looks like a speaker (Maybe that was the intention?)
The X model looks much better.

I generally don't like white electronics as any dirt etc will show up much faster on it and if there's a smoker in the room then few years down the line you'll have an ugly pale yellow box.