Microsoft has just announced a new Xbox One S that will start at $299. The new game console will support 4K for video and HDR for both video and games. It also features UHD Blu-ray.
Xbox One S
Microsoft has just unveiled the new Xbox One S at stage on E3. As rumored, it will be 40% thinner and have an integrated power supply. Microsoft calls the new color “robot white and adds that it can now stand vertically.
The biggest surprise is the addition of an UHD Blu-ray drive, meaning that you can enjoy UHD Blu-ray movies. In addition, it will support 4K resolution for video, and HDR (high dynamic range) for video and games; allowing gamers to enjoy games in far even better picture quality – at least if you have a HDR TV. Games in HDR include Gears of War 4 and Scalebound.
Microsoft says that Netflix and Amazon Video are supported in 4K resolution but it is not clear if HDR streaming is supported, too.
Xbox One S furthermore comes with a refreshed Xbox One controller. It is white and has a new texture on the handles for better grip. It also adds Bluetooth, meaning that the range can be extended ("up to twice the wireless range") and that it works with Windows PCs. The controller can be purchased separately for $59.99 USD.
On the stage Microsoft also announced ""Xbox Play Anywhere", which lets you buy a game once and own it on both Xbox One and Windows PC.
Microsoft has removed the dedicated Kinect port but you can still connect one via an USB adaptor.
- "For increased accessibility, we shifted one of the three USB ports and the pairing button to the front of the Xbox One S alongside the newly added IR blaster. Additionally, in order to make the Xbox One S as compact as possible and make all of these updates, we removed the dedicated Kinect port from the back. Kinect for Xbox One will still be compatible with Xbox One S via the Xbox Kinect Adapter for USB connection and offers the same great experiences as the current console," says Microsoft.
Xbox One S will launch in early August. A special edition with a 2TB hard drive will be available for $399, a 1TB version for $349 and a 500GB version for $299.
