Skip to main content

Leaked controller packaging points to possible Xbox Series S

 

Microsoft’s Xbox Series X may not be alone when it hits store shelves this holiday season.

Recommended Videos

A Twitter user with the name Zak S was able to buy an authentic next-generation Xbox controller from a reseller this weekend and shared pictures of the device’s box online. A description on the box, which was earlier reported on by The Verge, said the controller is compatible with all existing Xbox hardware and PCs, as well as Xbox Series X and an unannounced Xbox Series S.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

Microsoft has been rumored for months to be working on two next-generation consoles, but has so far only announced its Xbox Series X. The second, which is believed to be code-named Project Lockhart but could ultimately launch as Xbox Series S, will ship with the same CPU performance as the Xbox Series X, according to reports. However, the Xbox Series S could be discless and sell at a more budget-friendly price.

“We have a lot in store for Xbox in 2020 and can’t wait to share with you,” a Microsoft spokesperson said in a statement to Digital Trends about the apparent leak. “However, we have nothing to announce at this time.”

Microsoft competitor Sony has already committed to a dual-hardware strategy with its PlayStation 5. In addition to the standard console, Sony is manufacturing the Sony PlayStation 5 Digital Edition that ditches the disc slot and should provide for a more affordable price tag.

Still, several questions surround Microsoft’s ultimate plans for the Xbox Series S (and Xbox Series X, for that matter). So far, the company has only announced plans to launch the Xbox Series X this holiday season and hasn’t said how much it’ll cost or exactly when it’ll hit store shelves. While the Xbox Series S appears to be in the works, it’s unknown whether the hardware will launch alongside the higher-powered hardware this holiday season or if Microsoft plans to launch it at another time.

Microsoft has been holding regular livestreams to dole out its future Xbox plans, and last month, Xbox chief Phil Spencer hinted Microsoft could have another showcase sometime this month. It’s possible, though unconfirmed, Xbox Series S will factor into those plans.

Don Reisinger
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Don Reisinger is a freelance technology, video game, and entertainment journalist. He has been writing about the world of…
4 big predictions for where video games are going in 2025
Lucia and her partner rob a store in GTA 6.

Well, 2024 is officially behind us -- and thank goodness for that. The last 12 months has been a constant roller coaster ride, taking the world through a series of unprecedented events. While the video game industry wasn't as quite as volatile as, say, the American political landscape, it was certainly a whirlwind year. Mass layoffs left tens of thousands without jobs, hyped-up games flopped, and harassment was on the rise. In between those headaches, we got a surprisingly strong year of unpredictable games like Balatro and Black Myth: Wukong.

That makes 2025 a little difficult to predict. We saw the best and worst of the industry last year, and it's unclear which side the needle will fall on by December 2025. Are things going to stabilize and give us a year with less layoffs and more great games? Or is the industry going to decay further, giving us more studio closures and big-budget flops?

Read more
2024 gaming report card: How did PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo fare?
Living room with Microsoft Xbox Series X (L) and Sony PlayStation 5 home video game consoles alongside a television and soundbar.

After a long and busy 12 months, 2024 is officially in the books. Players have a few weeks to rest before the video game release calendar picks up in February with a barrage of major releases. That's a problem for next month, though. Until then, we've still got some time to reflect on what was a rollercoaster year for the gaming industry, full of surprise hits, total flops, and surprising no shows.

At the center of all that was the three pillars of mainstream gaming: Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo. While their power may be waning in the age of portable PCs like the Steam Deck, these platform holders are still the watercooler conversation starters whose every move generates buzz. This year, all three companies found themselves in a strange spot. PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X hit the awkward midpoint of their lifespans, while the Nintendo Switch was left to tread water after its much anticipated successor was pushed out of 2024. All three would have to get creative if they were going to end the year strong.

Read more
We predicted gaming’s 2024 last December. Here’s what we got right (and wrong)
Nintendo Switch.

It's my favorite time of the year at Digital Trends. Every time a year ends, I like play prognosticator and predict what's going to happen in video games the following year. I've run this series for the past few years and I often find that my guesses are spot-on come December. That's always a rewarding moment as I reflect on a long 12 months. On the flip side, sometimes I'm so embarrassingly wrong that I get a good laugh to end the year.

This year, it's the latter.

Read more