Microsoft will be launching the 2TB model of their shiny new Xbox One S on August 2, for £350. I hope you’ve been saving.
Anyone who pre-ordered a console should get theirs on August 2 (postman permitting). There’s still time for you to get in on the pre-order hype if you haven’t already.
The Xbox One S is a redesigned, sleeker version of the Xbox One. It’s 40 percent smaller than the original console, and includes a built-in power supply as opposed to a cumbersome power brick.
Here’s what Microsoft has to say:
Beyond the fresh new design, Xbox One S is the first and only console that allows you to watch Blu-ray movies and stream video in stunning 4K Ultra HD with HDR. That means you’ll get to enjoy your favorite shows and movies in the clearest, most realistic video possible. With High Dynamic Range (HDR) support for video and gaming, Xbox One games like Gears of War 4, Forza Horizon 3, and Scalebound will look even better thanks to a higher contrast ratio between lights and darks, bringing out the true visual depth of your favorite games.
The August 2 launch date happens to coincide with the release of the upcoming Windows Anniversary Update for all Xbox One consoles, which will further merge Windows 10 and Xbox.
1TB and 500GB hard drive models are also on the way, and will cost £300 and £250 respectively. There’s no word on a release date for these versions yet, but we can expect to learn more soon.
The Xbox One S isn’t all Microsoft has up its sleeve though, as you probably know. Project Scorpio is on the horizon, which will support true 4K gaming, high-fidelity VR, and make toast (alright, probably not that last one).
Ewan Moore is a journalist at UNILAD Gaming who still quite hasn’t gotten out of his mid 00’s emo phase. After graduating from the University of Portsmouth in 2015 with a BA in Journalism & Media Studies (thanks for asking), he went on to do some freelance words for various places, including Kotaku, Den of Geek, and TheSixthAxis, before landing a full time gig at UNILAD in 2016.