It might have cost me $7.500 billion to stream, but Microsoft's Xbox Series S suddenly makes sense. Almost to the point where I would consider it a real threat to Sony's PS5. The Xbox Series S was designed to be an affordable entry point into the Xbox ecosystem and next-gen gaming, and while some might argue that a 1080p resolution commonly found in most titles isn't a true generation leap, it is. hard to deny. that Microsoft's all-white Xbox fell short of its lofty goal. The Xbox Series S can run the graphically intensive lighting and reflection technology known as ray tracing; it's capable of rendering games at 120fps and offers super-fast load times thanks to its 512GB internal SSD (although I wish there were a lot more available). You can buy and play all the latest titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, Assassin's Creed Valhalla, and even true next-gen Xbox exclusives like The Medium. Resolution and frame rate aside, the Xbox Series S really is a fantastic proposition for those who want a next-gen console that won't break the bank, as long as you're willing to accept some of its caveats.
Fly under the radar
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(Image credit: Microsoft) But despite the appeal of the Xbox Series S, I don't think it will resonate as well with consumers as it might have. After all, if you're a fan of Xbox games or already subscribed to Xbox Game Pass, wouldn't you just go with Xbox Series X for the best possible experience? It was certainly part of my thought process leading up to the release of Microsoft's next-gen consoles, though I love the almost unbelievably small form factor of the Xbox Series S. You could also argue that the Xbox Series S isn't doing enough for bring fans of PlayStation hardware to the green side. The price difference between Sony's PS5 Digital Edition and the Xbox Series S isn't big enough to justify choosing Microsoft's machine over the PS5 Digital Edition, which is essentially a PS5 without a disc drive. Why would you pay $299 / £249 / AU$549 for the Xbox Series S, when for over $100 more you can buy a digital edition of PS5?
The rise of Xbox Game Pass
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(Image credit: 343 Industries) However, if there's one investment that Microsoft has absolutely nailed in recent years, it's Xbox Game Pass. I don't need to write any more superlatives about what many rightly call "the best deal in the game", and it still seems too good to be true and just keeps getting better. Therefore, the Xbox Series S will always be compatible with Xbox Game Pass. And I'm sure being able to access all of Xbox Game Studios' titles from day one, like Halo Infinite, will have made a lot of people buy the cheapest Xbox from Microsoft for that fact alone. But the defining moment for the Xbox Series S came when Bethesda's games were added to Microsoft's service as part of the acquisition of Bethesda's parent company, ZeniMax Media. It wasn't a small selection, either, with a staggering 20 titles, some of which are already performing better than ever thanks to FPS Boost, a new Xbox Series X and S feature that can sometimes quadruple the frame rates of older titles. There's also the tantalizing promise that future Bethesda titles like Starfield and The Elder Scrolls 6 will hit the service on day one, just like Microsoft's first-half launch.
The value within
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(Image credit: Bethesda) Whether you're a fan of exclusives or not, there's no question they're still the best way to sell consoles and get gamers to turn their loyalty into a piece of plastic. And with Bethesda games now on Xbox and PC, PlayStation owners are suddenly faced with the prospect of games and series they might have been excited about not being available anymore. And that, in itself, is a much bigger draw than Microsoft's release of yet another Forza Motorsport game or Gears. Now, I'm not saying that people will start trading in their PS5 consoles in droves, but what the Xbox Series S could become is the perfect console for Sony's machine. Like every Xbox 360 and PS3 home you'll often find a Wii in, the Xbox Series S has the potential to reach an audience that simply wouldn't pay £499 / £449 / AU$749 for a box that looks fairly good. same thing, sort of like the PS5 they already own.
Bethesda Box
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(Image credit: Microsoft/Bethesda) I've seen a number of people pick up an Xbox Series S to play their "Bethesda Box," which is a testament to how beloved series like Fallout, Skyrim, Doom, Wolfenstein, and The Evil are. Within. And when you also know that you're getting all of Microsoft's first-party releases, great third-party games like Outriders, and more as part of your subscription, it's no surprise that the Xbox Series S entered the equation. Suddenly, the console isn't just a cheap entry point into the next generation and Xbox ecosystem: it's an avenue for PlayStation (and potentially Nintendo Switch) fans to ensure they can still play future Bethesda games. without making another considerable investment. As a result, they'll also be exposed to countless Xbox games they may have overlooked and the incredible value proposition that is Xbox Game Pass. This should worry Sony, not because they risk missing out on a PS5 sale, but because the prospect of paying $70/$70 for a game compared to $10/$8 a month is hard to justify. It will also bring more people to the already 18 million Xbox Game Pass subscribers that Microsoft is so eager to build rather than change Xbox Series X consoles. Perhaps that was Microsoft's plan all along? Today's best Xbox Game Pass deals