Remember the previously rumored completely digital Xbox One? It’s no longer a rumor. The Xbox One S All-Digital Edition will hit stores on May 7th for $250, which is $50 less than the Xbox One S. It is available for pre-order starting today.
Being an All-Digital Edition, you can expect the following popular games to be on the console: Sea of Thieves, Forza Horizon 3 and Minecraft. There’s also a special offer on Xbox Game Pass. It’s a monthly subscription service that includes access to more than 100 games ready to play.
How is it different from normal Xbox One S?
The All-Digital Edition of the Xbox One S is similar to the normal edition, with the exception of an optical drive. The console will not play physical discs or Blu-ray. All of your Xbox One accessories and digitally purchased games and apps will work on the All-Digital console, rest assured.
Microsoft is doubling down on its Xbox Game Pass and All-Digital efforts. While the company is not ready to roll out Project xCloud, its Netflix-style gaming service, it is paving the way for more digital gaming efforts. It’s well known that subscription services like Hulu and Netflix generate billions of dollars for their companies, and this is carrying over into gaming.
The Xbox One S All-Digital Edition is made for online ecosystem. It may cost a bit more to have a complete suite of services and access lots of games, it may be worth it. It’s worth mentioning that Xbox Live Gold will still be required to access features like multiplayer, Game with Gold and Deals with Gold. The All-Digital Edition comes with a 1-month membership for Xbox Live Gold, so you can give it a test drive.
