While Microsoft"s next generation of Xbox consoles - codenamed Scarlett - is right around the corner, it seems that the firm isn"t done producing new hardware for the current generation. According to a report from Brad Sams of Thurrott, the company will be releasing an Xbox One console without a disc slot in 2019.
According to the report, this should lower the price by at least $100, meaning that the new console will come in at under $200. There should also be a new version of the Xbox One S on the way that does have a disc slot, and that"s also aimed at lowering the barrier of entry.
But perhaps that"s burying the lede, as Microsoft is also working on a program that will allow you to take all of your discs to a participating retailer and make them downloadable. This is worth noting, as there are surely some gamers out there that purchased discs when the Xbox One first came out, only to find out that they"d still have to download tens of gigabytes worth of data anyway.
Sams also reported that Microsoft was working on an Xbox streaming stick back in May 2016, a device that was later scrapped. It"s notable though, as the company really doesn"t have a proper streaming device that has a low barrier of entry. While you can get an Amazon Fire TV Stick for $49, the price for being able to play your Microsoft Movies & TV content in 4K in your living room starts at $299 for an Xbox One S.
With the new consoles, the price is lowered significantly, into a price range that"s much more affordable, and it"s closer to being in line with set top boxes. For example, an Apple TV 4K starts at $179, and it doesn"t have the same gaming capabilities as an Xbox One console.
Microsoft"s new Xbox One hardware should arrive in 2019, presumably at E3, just a year before the firm launches the next generation of Xbox consoles.