Microsoft has now officially revealed that its latest gaming console, the Xbox One S in 2TB configuration, will be hitting store shelves in select regions this coming 2nd of August.
It’s been a bit of a whirlwind ride to date for Microsoft’s Xbox One S. We first heard about the upgraded Xbox One console in an official capacity only last month when the software giant announced its existence during the annual E3 conference. That announcement was relatively quickly followed by a pre-order listing on Amazon for a limited edition Xbox One S Gears of War 4 bundle with special edition Xbox One Wireless Controller.
The availability of the aforementioned pre-order of special edition Xbox One S via Amazon and the Microsoft Store not only raised excitement levels for the console, but also hinted at the possibility that an official announcement about a launch for regular version was fairly imminent.
Not wanting to disappoint and derail the pre-launch excitement, Matt Lapsen, Microsoft’s General Manager of Xbox Devices Marketing, has announced in an official blog post that the new console will be launched onto physical and digital shelves in select territories on August 2nd.
For those that are currently without a next-generation gaming console, and are sat well and truly on the fence about the Xbox One S, it’s worth noting that this isn’t just a rebranded standard Xbox One that’s being marketed as something that it isn’t. The Xbox One S will exist as Microsoft’s most “compact Xbox One yet”, coming in at a staggering 40-percent smaller size than the original Xbox One console. Microsoft has also moved some ports around on the console, as well as introduced an IR blaster for increased accessibility. There’s also a new Wireless Controller that now connects via Bluetooth.
If those changes aren’t enough to sway you, then worry not as they are relatively minor in relation to the hardware performance improvements. The Xbox One S will be the only gaming console when it comes out, that allows owners to watch Blu-ray movies and stream video in 4K UHD with “High Dynamic Range.” That feature set will directly benefit those device owners who love accessing and consuming video-based content through the platform, and should result in a much clearer and more realistic experience.
Limited quantities of the 2TB Xbox One S will be available this coming August 2nd in regions such as Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, Austria, the United States, the United Kingdom, and a host of other European countries, starting from $399. Microsoft also plans to release 500GB and 1TB versions of Xbox One S at a later date starting at $299 but an exact release date for those is currently not known.
Buy: 2TB Xbox One S from Amazon: $399
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