Xbox Series S, Microsoft’s less powerful next-gen console, has finally been announced. After weeks of speculation, the game industry’s worst kept secret has officially been unveiled by Microsoft following a report from Thurrott.
Now that Microsoft has confirmed its existence, we have a better idea of how it looks and compares to its more powerful sibling in Xbox Series X. Plenty of details have emerged about Xbox Series S, and you can find out everything you need to know about it below.
When is the release date for Xbox Series S?
The lower-priced next-gen console wull released on November 10, which Microsoft have confirmed via Twitter. This is the same date that Xbox Series X will launch, and pre-orders for each console will go live on September 22.
How much will Xbox Series S cost?
Xbox Series S is priced at $299 in the United States and £249.99 in the UK. The details on its price point in other regions of the world are not yet known.
Gamers will also have the chance to buy an Xbox Series S console as part of Microsoft’s Xbox All Access program. Xbox All Access will allow you to select an Xbox Series S system, along with 24 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, for a price starting at $24.99. Xbox All Access will be available in 12 countries this holiday, with more nations added to the program in 2021.
What are the size and specifications of Xbox Series S?
Despite its diminutive size, Series S is Xbox’s smallest console and is nearly 60% smaller than Series X, and comes with an impressive set of specifications. The console, which is 4x more powerful than Xbox Series S, contains:
- Custom 512GB NVME SSD powered by Xbox Velocity architecture
- 8x Zen 2 CPU at 3.6GHz (3.4GHz with SMT)
- 1440p at up to 120 FPS (designed for 60 FPS)
- 10GB GDDR6 RAM @ 224GB/s
- 4K upscaling for games, and 4K streaming media playback
- Variable rate shading and refresh rate
- DirectX Raytracing
- Ultra-low latency
- HDMI 2.1 support
- Spatial sound, including Dolby Atmos, and Dolby Vision for streaming apps including Netflix and Disney+
What features does Xbox Series S have?
Series S, like Series X, will load games faster than any previous Xbox console. Coupled with Quick Resume, its seamless game switching feature, you will be able to switch between different titles with little to no loading screens.
It won’t come with a disc drive, so gamers who buy it will have to digitally purchase their games through the Microsoft Store. Though, Series S should support Xbox Play Anywhere, which allows you to buy one version of a game — Xbox or PC — and play on any Microsoft system.
Xbox Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate are supported too. Subscribing to either program will allow you to play first-party Xbox titles on launch day, and third-party titles when added to the Xbox Game Pass library.
Finally, Microsoft has announced that Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and Xbox Game Pass PC members, will receive an EA Play membership at no additional cost starting in November. Subscribers to these programs will get EA’s subscription service for nothing and access over 60 games, including Titanfall 2 and Battlefield.
What games are available on Xbox Series S?
Series S will let you play the same titles as Series X. Upcoming releases, such as Halo Infinite, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, and Cyberpunk 2077, will launch on Series S. While owners of Xbox One’s console lineup can get free next-gen upgrades on titles, including Destiny 2, Marvel’s Avengers, and Gears 5 when they become available.
Lastly, Series S supports Xbox’s backwards compatibility feature, which will allow gamers to play four generations’ worth of Xbox games.
