(Credit: Microsoft)
Microsoft has announced three new refreshes of its Xbox Series X and S gaming consoles. Two new versions of the Xbox Series X console and a new version of the Series S will be available late this year, hitting shelves in time for the holiday season.
The new "Robot White" Xbox Series X is an all-digital console without a disc drive, offering 1TB of SSD storage instead. The console will cost $449.99.
The new "Galaxy Black" Series X is a special-edition console with a Blu-ray disc drive and 2TB of SSD storage for $599.99. It has a green and gray speckled look and comes with a matching special-edition controller that is only available by purchasing the console itself.
The Series X refreshes are expected to offer the same interior specs and 4K gameplay resolution.
The Xbox Series S with 1TB of SSD storage, which currently comes in carbon black, will soon be available in the robot white color. Considering the original Series S consoles come with about 500GB of storage, the 1TB upgrade could be ideal for those looking for more space on a disc-free gaming console (games like Call of Duty can easily take up over 100GB on their own). The upcoming white Series S with 1TB of storage is priced at $349.99.
Microsoft hasn't shared the exact release date for the console refreshes just yet, but promises they'll launch sometime in "holiday 2024." General availability and more regional pricing details are also expected to be announced in the the near future, according to the Xbox blog post.
Last year, details of an early stage, all-digital refresh of the Xbox Series X leaked online via documents that were part of the FTC's lawsuit with Microsoft. The leaks suggested Microsoft was working on an all-digital cylindrical version of the Series X that could launch as soon as October this year and cost around $500. The officially announced refresh, however, offers a boxier look and a slightly lower price point, along with its bright white color.
Earlier this year, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer hinted that the company wasn't going to fully ditch the disc drive just yet—a sentiment that's been confirmed with this latest refresh announcement.