Ahead of the Microsoft’s next-gen launch with the Xbox Series X this holiday, the company is discontinuing certain consoles. Both the Xbox One X (the top of the line, 4K console) and the digital-only One S will not be made anymore
“As we ramp into the future with Xbox Series X, we’re taking the natural step of stopping production on Xbox One X and Xbox One S All-Digital Edition,” says a Microsoft spokesperson in a statement to The Verge. “Xbox One S will continue to be manufactured and sold globally.”
As noted, you can still buy a One S with the disc drive but that’ll be the only Microsoft console from this generation that will be available come this holiday. Microsoft will not be pulling the consoles off shelves, so if you can find one, you should be fine but shortages have already been reported.
This isn’t a terribly surprising move. There has been concerns that there will be confusion for casual shoppers/family members with the naming convention. This will surely eliminate any possible concern by only making one Xbox One variant available and putting mostly Series X units on shelves.
That said, Microsoft is making a conscious effort to blur the lines between the generational leap. For at least the first year or two, Microsoft has committed to making sure their first-party games will play on both current-gen and next-gen. Games like Halo Infinite which will surely make good use of the Series X will not be exclusive to the console.
Features like Smart Delivery also allow you to upgrade your current-gen versions of games to the next-gen versions free of charge. This is a choice that a developer can make but is being strongly encouraged by Microsoft to ensure gamers don’t have to pay $60 for two copies of the same game on two different platforms.
Xbox Series X will release this holiday season. We’ll be getting our first look at their next-gen line-up next week with Halo Infinite’s first gameplay reveal.
