The rumours are real, and an Xbox One slim is on the way. The Xbox One S is billed as the most compact Xbox ever made; it's 40% smaller than current Xbox One hardware, supports 4K output and HDR visuals, the option of a 2TB hard drive, and various other small but important hardware tweaks over the model that debuted in late 2013. Here's everything you need to know about Microsoft's new console.
Xbox One S specs, and how it compares to the existing Xbox One
The redesign changes the hardware in a number of ways:
What's new in the Xbox One S:
- 40% smaller form factor with a new "robot white" colour scheme
- HDR visuals for supported games and video, 4K video support for Blu-rays, apps and movies, and 4K upscaling for games
- A New Xbox Wireless Controller with a revamped design and Bluetooth connection
- The console can now be stood upright with an optional vertical stand
- The 'On' button at the front of the console is physical, instead of being touch sensitive
- The device pairing button and one of the three USB ports are now located to the front of the device
- Offers up to 2TB storage, depending on the SKU
- An IR Blaster on the front of the device, similar to the Kinect's IR Blaster, allowing you to turn on other devices like your TV and set top boxes without traditional remotes
What the standard Xbox One offers that the Xbox One S does not:
- The Kinect port is no longer available in the Xbox One S, but compatibility is still available through an external adapter for existing users
- The external power brick, which is now housed inside the console
What is the same between Xbox One S and Xbox One:
- All existing Xbox One games, apps, and supported backwards compatible Xbox 360 games are playable on Xbox One
- All existing peripherals - including Kinect, though not out of the box - are supported on Xbox One S
- The HMDI In port - which allows you to connect set-top boxes into your Xbox One - remains
In terms of hardware specs, while there is additional processing power, the Xbox One S won't give games a performance boost. Instead, the extra oomph is restricted to HDR support and 4K up-scaling of standard HD images.
To quote Phil Spencer in our E3 interview, "I don't want anybody to think [Xbox One S offers] a performance boost for Xbox One games. That's why we said HDR on-screen, and that's what we want to be explicit about. Outside of that, you should expect your Xbox One games to run exactly the same."
In short, outside of HDR support, all Xbox One S games will run exactly as they do on a standard Xbox One - so don't expect developers to offer a distinct 'Neo' mode that will be offered for PS4 games with the upcoming 4K upgrade.
What is HDR gaming?
Televisions with HDR - or High DYNAMIC Range - allows visuals to display a richer array of colours across the entire spectrum, including stronger blacks and whites, that are touted to be much closer to real-life colours than non-HDR content.
It's important to note that not only will you need a TV that supports it, but HDR is something that has to be mastered at the source - so not everything you play on an Xbox One S will support HDR visuals.
Supported games right now include Gears of War 4, Forza Horizon 3 and Scalebound. HDR will also be supported with 4K video, but again, only content that have been mastered to do so; the main source of HDR right now is on UHD Blu-ray, but the likes of Netflix and Amazon Instant Video are getting in on the act too.
So for games that support it, how much BETTER would they look? Digital Foundry has had a theoretical look on what HDR means for games and movies based on the information available and the possibilities are promising, providing a "tangible boost in graphical quality in areas where pixel counts are less important", even if the final image isn't native 4K and is being upscaled to a full 4K resolution.
Xbox One S is also a UHD 4K Blu-ray player, and supports 4K streaming video
While Xbox One S won't support native 4K gaming - it will upscale existing HD games to the higher resolution - there is wide-ranging 4K video support, from Ultra HD Blu-ray discs to 4K streaming through apps like Netflix and Amazon Instant Video. With 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray players only just entering theMARKET, the Xbox One S stands as an affordable way of getting one underneath your television.
The new Xbox One S wireless controller is more PC friendly
The console also arrives with a revamped, streamlined controller - the third for the Xbox One to date, if you include last year's improved bumpers and headphone jack revision - with some tangible upgrades.
The most noticeable is a textured grip on the underside of the controller, while new thumbsticks are said to be harder wearing to last over the life over the console's lifespan. The range is almost twice as much as previously, too.
Most interestingly, as well as the Xbox One's propitiatory wireless connection to Xbox One, it can also connect via Bluetooth to PC, going hand-in-hand withMICROSOFT's push for gaming onWINDOWS 10, and the ability to continue playing select games like Gears of War 4 from one system to the next with its new cross-buy, cross-play initiative.
Not only does Xbox One S come with this new controller as standard, but it's also available for purchase for £50 / $59.99 for existing Xbox One owners.
How to use Kinect with the Xbox One S using a free adapter
Xbox One S drops the Kinect port as part of the Slim redesign, but still supports it with the Xbox Kinect Adapter, a USB peripheral that is free to existing Xbox One users.
To receive one, you need to supply Microsoft the serial numbers of all three devices - your original Xbox One console, the Kinect, and your new Xbox One S - through the Xbox support website.
How does Xbox One S compare to Xbox Project Scorpio?
Despite the addition of 4K output and HDR support, the Xbox One S offers no power increase compared to the existing Xbox One, so consider it more along the lines of a traditional slim redesign we've seen on previous consoles than proper mid-generation upgrades Xbox Project Scorpio and PlayStation 4K.
Xbox One S games and peripherals will all be forward compatible however - there won't be any Project Scorpio exclusives - so all hardware andSOFTWARE you buy will be playable on the new hardware come release in late 2016.
Xbox One S price and release date
The Xbox One S is available in three models, which are releasing in waves starting in early August:
- 2TB Launch Edition (includes Xbox One S Vertical Stand) for £349 / €399 / $399, releasing first in August (specific date TBA)
- 1TB edition for £299 / €349 / $349 (Xbox One S vertical stand sold separately for $20), release TBA
- 500GB edition for £249 / €299 / $299 (Xbox One S vertical stand sold separately for $20), release TBA
Xbox One S pre-order: When is it available in the UK?
The 2TB Xbox One S is available to pre-order ahead of its August release in the US from theMICROSOFT Store. In the UK, pre-orders are currently available from GAME and Amazon.
If you can't wait for that, then you can always pick up a cheaper original Xbox One, which got a post-E3 discount to between £209 and £249.
0 comments:
Post a Comment