Back at Microsoft’s E3 press conference in June, the company revealed the Xbox One S, an updated, slimmer, and more capable console with a planned launch sometime in August. We now know that it’s arriving sooner rather than later, with the “launch edition” model going on sale in just two weeks.
“Today, we’re excited to announce that the highly-anticipated 2TB Xbox One S launch edition will begin hitting shelves in select regions on August 2,” Xbox Devices Marketing general Manager Matt Lapsen says.
The 2TB hard drive size is a welcome improvement to the 500GB and 1TB limits found on previous Xbox One systems, and the $400 price tag means the slimmer system will effectively replace the original chunky console. However, only the 2TB model will be releasing on August 2. Xbox One S consoles with smaller storage capacity (and a smaller price) will be releasing as well, but they won’t be available initially.
This is a similar strategy that Microsoft took when the Xbox One first launched back in 2013. The only available bundle came with a Kinect sensor and retailed $500, but a cheaper, Kinect-free bundle went on sale several months later.
Speaking of Kinect, if you do plan on using the accessory with the Xbox One S, you’ll want to contact Microsoft about getting an adapter. If you’ve owned a previous Xbox One and Kinect, you’re eligible to receive the adapter for free. Should you purchase the adapter on your own, it will set you back $40.
The Xbox One S’ sleek design certainly impressed us at E3, and its smaller size should help it fit better in any entertainment system, but with Project Scorpio coming next year, you might want to hold off on switching out your old Xbox One. But if you haven’t jumped on the Xbox train yet this generation, it definitely looks like your best choice.
