Microsoft
As much as we like the Xbox Series S as a cheap but powerful all-digital entry point into the Xbox console ecosystem, the machine’s 500GB of onboard storage can seem paltry when downloading and installing today’s massive games . And while we like that the system’s fast storage reduces load times, it also means that expanding that storage can be expensive.
That’s all the preamble to today’s announcement of the Carbon Black Xbox Series S, a version of the console with a full 1TB of storage and an MSRP of $349.99. That’s about $30 less than you’d pay today for the standard 512GB Xbox Series S and an additional 512GB expansion card.
Aside from that storage capacity, the Carbon Black console, which launches worldwide on September 1, has the same hardware power as the original Series S. On the outside, however, the low-end console now sports a brushed black finish like its larger Series X cousin . The design evolution is reminiscent of the Xbox 360 era, where the white launch consoles were eventually complemented by a gloss black redesign and increased storage years after launch.
Microsoft
In a roundtable discussion this weekend, Microsoft head of Xbox Phil Spencer said the company recognizes that “for some people around the world, $500 is too much for a console” and that the price for the Series S will bring more people into the console ecosystem. could bring. At the same time, he said that the company has heard a lot of feedback about the limits of the 512 GB storage capacity and the cost of expanding it.
Despite an increased focus on PC games in recent years, Spencer also said Microsoft “remains committed to that [console] style of play and the pillar that is for our brand.”
