The Xbox Series S is Microsoft’s first game console released without an optical drive. This decision seemed logical, as games increasingly become tethered to online updates and quality-of-life improvements. It builds on the foundation of downloadable games that grew in popularity during the seventh generation of game consoles.
However, the decision to opt for a console without a disc drive notably weaker than its more powerful optical drive-included Xbox Series X made it all the more interesting. What exactly was the point of making a weaker console, especially when Microsoft’s main competitor also released a disc-less version of its PS5 console? But that one experienced no performance downgrade. Despite these apparent shortfalls, the Xbox Series S is a great console, as we shall explain.
Xbox Series S – Simple and Powerful Next-Gen Gaming
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When it comes to buying a new console, there are several factors that go through the minds of potential buyers. Going back to late 2020, the price point was of little concern. Hence, the bigger and more powerful option would have been the order of the day.
This is providing you were not among those desperate to get their hands on a next-gen console. The Xbox Series X is a monster of a console and easily the most powerful ever. But then there was the Xbox series S: a gaming machine that was smaller and lighter, and for those who had made the move from physical discs, it was digital-only.
Then there was the price. Upon its release, the Xbox Series came in only at $399, a full $100 less than its bigger sibling. Now, the console sells for around $299. So, provided you were not already in or planning to go into Sony’s ecosystem, the Xbox Series S was a great choice.
Given its all-digital nature, the buyer needed to monitor internet speeds. Depending on what part of the world you were from, full game downloads could take hours. But, given the nature of modern game releases with countless updates and fixes, this is a headache that affects even disc drive-included consoles.
Xbox Series S – A Great Selling Point for Xbox Game Pass
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One of the main selling points for the then-next-gen consoles Microsoft was counting on was the appeal of the Xbox Game Pass: the software giant’s entry into gaming as a service. Building on the success of Xbox Live, which has now become Xbox Game Pass Core, Microsoft aimed to give gamers access to its vast library of games. The ‘Xbox Game Pass Console’ at $ 10.99 is becoming a great selling point when combined with the low price point of a smaller next-gen console.
In addition, for those who were not in the habit of going out and buying games, that is, actual discs at the store, the convenience of having access to a larger and growing library of games was attractive. This was attractive, particularly for those who were stepping into Microsoft’s gaming world. Particularly for those who had missed the 360 era of games, the Xbox Series S was a good entry point.
Xbox Series S – A Different Kind of Next-Gen Console
If you do not have a next-gen console and are pondering the idea of getting one, should you go for the Xbox Series S? This is a tricky question to answer. For a long time, the choice was not between different consoles from the same gaming platform but between different consoles from different platforms, i.e., Sony or Microsoft and, to a lesser extent, Nintendo or Sony or Microsoft.
With the Xbox Series S, the choice is an interesting one. Since we are halfway through this console generation, Sony and Microsoft haven’t had many platform exclusives. But there are a lot of good games out there. So, if you are not bothered by getting the highest frame rates and playing at 4K resolutions, and you love the Xbox controller, then this choice is logical. As for Sony exclusives, given how PS5 and PS4 games have been hitting PCs, you will not miss out on too much.
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