About lynxdugout7
Description
The Disc-free Xbox one Hits Stores on May 7th For $250
A disc-free, fully digital Xbox One is no longer just a rumored pipe dream for cord cutters and the Fortnite fans of the present who've never had to enter the GameStop. The Xbox One S All-Digital Edition will be available to purchase from retailers from May 7th, priced at $250. This is $50 less than the Xbox One S and is available for pre-order today.
The console includes three popular, Microsoft-owned titles including Sea of Thieves, Forza Horizon 3 and Minecraft -- and an exclusive offer on Xbox Game Pass, the monthly subscription service that provides access to more than 100 games.
Hardware-wise in terms of hardware, the All-Digital Edition of the Xbox One S is the Xbox One S without the optical drive. It isn't compatible with physical discs and Blu-ray. All of your Xbox One accessories, digitally purchased games and apps will work on this new console.
This baby has been a long-awaited. Rumors of a disc-less Xbox One started bubbling late in the year and Microsoft has kept the intrigue alive by insisting on its digital ecosystems, including Game Pass and Project xCloud which is a streaming service for games that is scheduled to launch in 2019. Microsoft is working to compete with Google Stadia. This ambitious social media-focused service that promises to stream games to all devices with up to 4K/60fps, is an ambitious social media-focused service offered by Google. Stadia will be launched in the next year.
Microsoft isn't ready to launch Project xCloud or any other streaming services however, it is setting the stage for gaming's future Netflix-style. This means that Xbox will increase the value of its subscription services. Monthly subscription fees are the mainstay for businesses like Netflix or Hulu. They generate billions of dollars each year and will be just as important for gaming companies operating in a digital-first world.
In reality this means that players have to add the cost of actually getting online and accessing games to the price of the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition. Microsoft offers online features to all gamers free of charge, including Skype and streaming apps, however multiplayer is restricted by the Xbox Live Gold paywall. The best deal on Xbox Live Gold is $60 for the whole year, or $5 per month.
Online multiplayer isn't just an "extra" feature in a lot of modern games, but rather a core aspect of gaming. Fortnite, Rocket League, PUBG, Overwatch, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Roblox, Rainbow Six: Siege and other most popular games that are played online or online-focused. All three of the games bundled with the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition -- Sea of Thieves, Minecraft and Forza Horizon 3 -- require Gold to access their complete experiences. Xbox Live Gold, it could be argued, is essential for anyone who wants to enjoy the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition.
The All-Digital Edition, which is an Xbox console that is disc-free and does not require physical discs, is a fantastic way to get the Xbox Game Pass. For $10 a month ($120 per year) users have access to the Xbox Game Pass library, which includes more than 100 games which they can download and play as long as their subscription is in good standing. Microsoft has recently bundled this service with Xbox Live Gold in the Game Pass Ultimate bundle, which costs $15 per month ($180 per year). After everything is done, Game Pass Ultimate costs the same as an annual Gold subscription as well as monthly Game Pass access.
The Xbox One S All-Digital Edition is built for an online ecosystem, though it costs just a little extra to use its entire range of online features. In response to Engadget's request to clarify subscription services on the All-Digital Edition, a Microsoft spokesperson sent the following statement:
To access multiplayer, Games with Gold, and Deals with Gold, you will have to purchase Xbox Live Gold. The Xbox One S All-Digital Edition does not come with an optical disc drive. The Xbox One S All-Digital Edition comes with a one-month subscription to Xbox Live Gold so that you can instantly play on the most advanced multiplayer network.
The Xbox One S All-Digital Edition was built for disc-free gaming and entertainment. As part of the Xbox One family you'll have the ability to exclusive Xbox memberships such as Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Live Gold and enjoy features such as Xbox One Backward Compatibility.
The gaming industry is in an infancy period major companies are trying to adapt their old business models to new scenarios. Plussoc Online play was not an expected or even a requirement in many games prior to recently. When Microsoft launched the Xbox One in 2013, it tried to promote the console as an "always online" console. It was so slammed that it reverted its plan and released a more traditional box that is less focused on digital features. Online play was still considered to be a premium experience, and it was logical to charge for multiplayer access and the cloud. It's a harder sell post-Fortnite with a console made specifically for digital gaming.
Selling hardware and charging for specific or extended services isn't a new concept - in fact, it's largely how the smartphone marketplace operates. The mobile market is beginning to reflect the gaming hardware cycle. Thanks to an expanded broadband ecosystem and rapid advancements in hardware, as well as the establishment of robust cloud networks and subscriptions, this is likely to be a major factor in the near future.
The disc-free Xbox One S hits stores on May 7th , for $250.