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At Least One Version Of Xbox One S Confirmed For August 2

By Oliver VanDervoort
Published on: 06:55 PST, Jul 18, 2016

After a few months of rumored release dates, Microsoft announced on Monday morning that the 2TB version of the Xbox One S is going to launch on August 2. Whether or not that means you’ll be able to get your hands on the device on that date might still be up in the air, depending on where you’re located.

The company announced the Xbox One S will be launching in “select regions” on that date. It seems as though there will be other areas that might be waiting a bit longer.

The 2TB version of the Xbox One is going to be costing $399, and the lower storage space and lower cost consoles release dates have not yet been announced. It seems likely they may not be far behind, but Microsoft is definitely wanting to get the larger, more expensive versions in the public eye first.

The Verge reports you can still preorder this redesigned version of the Xbox One, despite launch only being a couple of weeks away. That might not be great news for a console that offers a couple of upgrades over its predecessor. It is possible some have held off going to Amazon.com or the Microsoft store directly until they knew when to expect their preorders to be shipped.

As has been talked about almost unendingly, the Xbox One S will offer the ability for 4K video playback. There are a few other bells and whistles included under the hood, but the biggest draw is likely the fact that it’s slimmer and lighter.

There is also the fact that people can buy an Xbox One S that has twice the hard drive space of the previous version of the console. The other big draw for this device, which is 40 percent smaller than its predecessor, is a revamped controller.

This controller is going to make it easier for Xbox One S users to hold with a brand new grip. Even better is that the controller is going to have Bluetooth connectivity. This means it will be able to work with the console and Windows 10 PCs that offer the feature.

While Microsoft has talked a good game when it comes to wanting to make it easier for gamers to use both the Xbox One and the PC, this controller is the first tangible step towards attaining that goal. There’s still a ways to go on that front, but the company is moving closer with the revamped controller.

As Engadget points out, the cheaper versions of the Xbox One S are going to come with the option to either get a 1TB or the more traditional 500GB versions. The real question with all of these new versions is whether any of them are worth the money.

Microsoft is rolling this version out about one year before the new Scorpio hits the market. There’s a reason Microsoft has dubbed its newest version of the flagship console with an ‘S’.

The company has seemingly followed the pattern of Apple by using that appendage to show this Xbox One is different, but not substantially. The Scorpio is considered a genuine revamp, with more power under the hood.

Because a more powerful version of the Xbox One is coming next year, Microsoft has offered a couple of different price tiers for this version. In other words, the company hopes you spend at least a little money this year and then also spend another couple hundred dollars next fall.

The gaming industry as a whole might be forever changed if both Sony, which is bringing the Neo later this year and Microsoft continue to launch slightly updated versions of their consoles. Are you going to be buying the 2TB version of the Xbox One S when it launches on August 2? Let us know in the comments below.

[Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images]

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