Microsoft started its annual Xbox Games Showcase on Sunday, unveiling a new all-digital version of its Xbox Series X and S consoles. Microsoft also released trailers for more than a dozen games including the next installment of “Call of Duty.” The Games Showcase comes at a crucial time for Xbox and Microsoft as the gaming industry faces a downturn and publishers grapple with softer sales, layoffs and studio shutdowns.
Microsoft Xbox Games
Also, Microsoft is making the white version of the Xbox Series X game official today. The new console option would not include a disc drive, and will be all-digital. Inside it’s identical to the Xbox Series X, with the same performance for existing Xbox games. This new Microsoft model will be available with 1TB of storage later this year, priced at $449.99.
Xbox president Sarah Bond also revealed the new white Xbox Series X during the Xbox Games Showcase today. Also revealing a 2TB “Galaxy Black” version of the original Xbox Series X. There’s also a $349.99 1TB Xbox Series S coming in white, too.
Microsoft’s gaming console can boost sales
Microsoft showed off three gaming consoles including a disc-less version of the Xbox Series X and S consoles, and a special edition of the Series X with 2 terabytes of storage.
The hardware refresh could help Xbox boost sales of its consoles which compete with Sony’s (6758.T), PlayStation 5.
Games on display
Among the games on display was “Doom: The Dark Ages”, the latest installment in the long-running “Doom” franchise, as well as a sneak peek at the newest “Gears of War” title, ending a five-year wait for one of Xbox’s most popular properties.
A sizable number of games including the new “Doom” and “Call of Duty” will be available on Xbox Game Pass on the day of launch, indicating that Microsoft is making big bets on the subscription service as it tries to woo consumers grappling with a relatively softer economy.
The Games Showcase was followed by a special feature from Activision Blizzard’s studios that highlighted features, characters and gameplay of the new “Call of Duty: Black Ops 6”, which is slated for a release in October.
Developers Treyarch and Raven software showed clips from the campaign of the game that takes place in the early 1990s, touting features such as a new movement system allowing players to sprint in all directions, and a glimpse at the fan-favorite “Zombies” mode.
Special edition Xbox Series X
The new Galaxy Black special edition Xbox Series X will come with a disc drive for $599.99 when it launches later this year. “This new special edition Xbox Series X delivers the same speed, performance and features of Xbox Series X, but with twice the storage and a unique design,” says Xbox hardware chief Roanna Sones, in a blog post.
Microsoft cancels refreshed version
The existence of a white Xbox Series X appears to confirm that Microsoft has canceled or pushed back the refreshed version of the Xbox Series X console that appeared in FTC v. Microsoft documents last year.
Codenamed Brooklin, the unannounced Xbox Series X refresh featured a more cylindrical design than the existing console, and it also would have had no disc drive. Microsoft described that console as “adorably all digital” in internal documents, and it was supposed to ship with a new controller and Xbox Wireless 2 connection. Microsoft was tentatively planning to ship this Brooklin console in November, priced at $499.
Xbox chief Phil Spencer addressed the leaks around the refreshed Xbox Series X design last September, hinting that plans may have changed for Xbox hardware.
