The discless Xbox One S will launch in the US on May 7.
The console comes bundled with 3 games.
The Xbox One S All Digital Edition is priced at $249.
The long rumoured discless Xbox One S is now a reality. Microsoft has officially unveiled the console and it will hit store shelves in the US on May 7, 2019, and will be priced at $249 (Rs 17,300 approx. directly converted). The console will come with three games (digital codes) in the box – Minecraft, Forza Horizon 3 and Sea of Thieves. As the name suggests, the only difference between the Xbox One S All Digital edition and the Xbox One S is the disc drive. The absence of a disc drive means that gamers will not be able to play physical games on this console. This All Digital Edition does not replace the Xbox One S but will be available alongside it. So, if you want to play your collection of physical games, you may want to consider the One S over the One S All Digital Edition.
Microsoft has confirmed that the One S All Digital Edition will always be $50 cheaper than the One S. it looks like the company is transferring their savings from the disc drive to you. Microsoft’s official website reads, “Consumer appetite for digital content and experiences are stronger today than ever before. Gaming and technology have changed quite a bit since the first Xbox debuted in 2001. During this time, we’ve seen a digital transformation across gaming, music, TV and movies. And closer to home, the success of Xbox Game Pass, which gives members access to over 100 great games, is just another example of how consumers today have grown to expect great digital content. The Xbox One S All-Digital Edition was created for those who prefer to find and play their games digitally and are looking for the most affordable way to play Xbox games”.
A lot of content consumption has moved to the digital realm. We now stream movies and TV shows rather than renting them physically, stream music and the reality of streaming games isn’t too far in the future. Analysts predict that game sales will be all digital by 2022 and that may seem like a far fetched thought right now but the rate at which Internet penetration is increasing and more people have access to good affordable broadband, we think an all digital gaming future isn't far. Of course, an all digital future means you won't be able to trade in your physical games and will have to preserve your old consoles to play the discs you have.
There are a lot of places in the world where it is hard to get physical lines for an internet connection. However, tech giants are working on solving that problem as well. Amazon is looking to provide broadband internet to the world from outer space. The company will launch thousands of satellites – 3236 to be precise, to help make broadband connectivity more accessible to consumers. SpaceX, OneWeb and other players are working on offering similar solutions to customers. So it looks like a completely connected world is on the horizon.
It’s too early for a diskless console to hit India as there are a lot of places with a high population density that does not have a good broadband connection. However, a service like Jio has made it possible to get the internet into the hands of those that did not have access to it earlier at an affordable rate.
There is no information on whether Microsoft will bring the All Digital Xbox One S to India.
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Sameer Mitha
Sameer Mitha lives for gaming and technology is his muse. When he isn’t busy playing with gadgets or video games he delves into the world of fantasy novels. View Full Profile
