A new rumor suggests that Microsoft is ready to release a brand-new Xbox One console very soon. Windows Central refers to their sources that the device code-named Xbox Maverick is going to be a digital-only console, forgoing a disc drive entirely, and that preorders will be available as soon as next month.
Talks about new gaming consoles is ramping up lately. It’s only natural as this current generation has been going on for almost six years. But while the majority of attention is obviously on next-gen systems, Microsoft is pulling a quick-one on gamers by apparently planning to release new and quite unique Xbox One version on the market.
Unlike the Xbox One X which was meant to garner to attention of elite console gamers by being the most powerful system available right now, their rumored Xbox Maverick has entirely different ambitions. Namely, becoming a digital-only entry device into the Xbox One ecosystem. Doing away with a disc drive or any physical game medium is a first. Sure, the PSP Go tried that 10 years ago but it was a handheld system and it failed spectacularly as the infrastructure simply wasn’t there to support an all-digital future.
Things have changed a lot in the past decade however and more and more gamers prefer to purchase their games digitally. Whether it’s ease of life or not wanting to deal with the hassle that is keeping track of physical sales, digital gaming has firmly established itself and won’t be going away. If anything, it’s only going to gain more market share.
As such, Microsoft’s supposed move to introduce the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition – the name Xbox Maverick is going to have in the end – makes a lot of sense. Microsoft has been aggressively pushing their Xbox Game Pass and we know that the tech giant is hard at work on game streaming. Having a digital-only console fits perfect into that model. Sadly, there is no word on pricing but it’s likely that Xbox Maverick will be the cheapest Xbox One system by nature of having less parts.
If the rumor ends up true, we will be hearing more about this discless Xbox One very soon when Microsoft will open up preorders next month.
