Microsoft’s Disc-Less Xbox One Arrives May 7th for $249.99

We knew it was coming and now it’s official, Microsoft has announced the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition console and it arrives on May 7th. But when it comes to pricing, the story isn’t quite as clean cut as many thought it would be when this console was first uncovered.

Microsoft says that this device will cost $249.99 and that it will come bundled with Minecraft, Forza Horizon 3 and Sea of Thieves. Further, the company says that this console will always be $50 less than the Xbox One S.

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It’s the second part of that statement that can be a bit confusing as there are many bundles of the Xbox One S available today that cost less than $249.99; for example, there is a bundle for $232 on Amazon that ship with one game (Battlefield V). Which makes the disc-less Xbox One S a lot less appealing unless you are specifically buying a console for Minecraft, Forza Horizon 3, and Sea of Thieves.

This makes me think that the $249.99 price point is simply the MSRP but that we will quickly see retailers slash the price to around $200 to have this console fit more logically into the Xbox family lineup. Keeping this in mind, until we see this practice applied, know that the console is $250.

And of course, there will be those out there who scream that removing the disc drive is a religious crusade against physical media but what Microsoft is doing is giving customers more options. The new console is not a required piece of hardware for anyone but only for those who only want to download their games; options are never a bad thing.

If I were to buy new hardware, the digital-only console is likely what I would pick up if I needed to replace a console as long as the actual price does eventually get close to, or below, $200. When the console does become available, it will be at select retailers which includes the Microsoft Store, Walmart, Best Buy, and Amazon; notably not on the list is GameStop.

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Conversation 21 comments

  • Elindalyne

    Premium Member
    16 April, 2019 - 5:19 pm

    <p>Thud…</p><p>That's the sound of this landing. </p>

  • HellcatM

    16 April, 2019 - 6:48 pm

    <p>I do like the idea of a diskless console, especially if its cheaper. To bad they're not doing it with the X version (unless this is a test to see if people want it…test it on the lower end console before bringing it to the higher end). When is the disk exchange program happening? Have you heard much about that?</p>

    • maethorechannen

      Premium Member
      17 April, 2019 - 9:32 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#421330">In reply to HellcatM:</a></em></blockquote><p>Is be surprised to see the trade in program launch before Xcloud. No one is going to be trading in a disc based console for a SAD, but people will need digital rights to old games if they want to stream non game pass games with Xcloud.</p>

  • Ron Diaz

    16 April, 2019 - 6:56 pm

    <p>lol, doa</p>

  • Ron Diaz

    16 April, 2019 - 6:57 pm

    <p>By the way, how about releasing some decent games MS?</p>

    • BoItmanLives

      16 April, 2019 - 8:03 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#421335">In reply to Hypnotoad:</a></em></blockquote><p>"Here's some crappy backward compat games from 2006 instead – we don't need firstparty titles"</p>

    • codymesh

      17 April, 2019 - 7:21 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#421335">In reply to Hypnotoad:</a></em></blockquote><p>exclusives are trash</p>

  • Slvrgun

    16 April, 2019 - 7:28 pm

    <p>$249 for the weakest hardware available and no disk player. </p><p><br></p><p>Why would anyone buy this when the market for used Xbox Ones is $199 and less plus extras?</p><p><br></p><p>Third party games still run pathetically. 720-900p-1080p ….lowered graphic fidelity and frame rate problems. </p><p><br></p><p>Not to mention MS has no exclusive content of their own worth a damn.</p><p><br></p><p>Save your money but an X used or wait.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

  • yoshi

    Premium Member
    16 April, 2019 - 7:37 pm

    <p>More options is always a nice thing.</p>

  • BoItmanLives

    16 April, 2019 - 8:01 pm

    <p>Who is this even for? Nevermind its the crappy and underpowered S model ..</p><p><br></p><p>They couldn've made a discless One X for $299 and it still wouldn't sell many. Everyone's waiting for nextgen now – MS should read the memo.</p>

  • Awhispersecho

    Premium Member
    16 April, 2019 - 8:39 pm

    <p>DOA at that price. I would have been all over this as a streaming media center in a 2nd or 3rd room of the house at 150, an entry level price for what is an entry level console at this point. My Father was actually considering it for that same reason but the price means he's out too. You can get regular S for less. </p>

    • FullyLoaded

      17 April, 2019 - 7:32 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#421359">In reply to Awhispersecho:</a></em></blockquote><p>Not sure how you figured just removing a Blu Ray drive would reduce the console MSRP by a 100 bucks. </p>

    • Patrick3D

      17 April, 2019 - 10:37 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#421359">In reply to Awhispersecho:</a></em></blockquote><p>Black Friday 2019 will bring sales prices and bundles. I wouldn't expect more games though, with the announcement of Xbox Live Gold Ultimate I'm guessing they will just bundle 3 months of ultimate for the holidays. They might do a sale during their Summer promotions.</p>

  • Rycott

    Premium Member
    16 April, 2019 - 9:33 pm

    <p>Looks like they passed on the 30 cent savings from removing the disc drive to the customer.</p>

  • anderb

    Premium Member
    16 April, 2019 - 9:39 pm

    <p>Courage.</p>

  • docpaul

    17 April, 2019 - 8:51 am

    <p>Bundled with three games helps. More options for which games would be nice.</p>

  • Darekmeridian

    17 April, 2019 - 11:55 am

    <p>Planned to get 2 of these out of the gate, but probably going to wait until later in the year. Are they still doing the disc trade-in program?</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

  • Lordbaal

    17 April, 2019 - 4:00 pm

    <p><span style="color: rgb(10, 10, 10);">They are not going to sell it for less then it cost to build. What third parties sell it for is different.</span></p><p>2 and a half years ago, the bill of materials for the Xbox One S was $325. </p><p>So without the drive, and parts gotten cheaper, the bom is maybe like $200.</p><p><br></p><p>It is not good business to sell something for less then it cost to make(unless you're a socialist.).</p>

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