josephfogh764737

p>A disc-free, digital Xbox One is not a fantasy for cord cutters or current Fortnite players who have never been to a GameStop. The Xbox One S All-Digital Edition will be available from retailers from May 7th, priced at $250. This is $50 less than the Xbox One S and is available for pre-order now.

/p>

p>The console includes three well-known, Microsoft-owned games including Sea of Thieves, Forza Horizon 3 and Minecraft -- and an exclusive deal on Xbox Game Pass, the monthly subscription service that provides access to more than 100 games.

/p>

p>Hardware-wise it's hardware-wise. All-Digital Edition is the Xbox One S without the optical drive, meaning it can't play Blu-ray discs or physical discs. However it does have all of your Xbox One accessories and digitally purchased games and apps will work on the new console.

/p>

p>This baby has been a long-awaited. Rumors of disc-less Xbox One started bubbling late last year and Microsoft has kept the rumors alive by focusing on its digital ecosystems, such as Game Pass and Project xCloud which is a streaming service for games that is scheduled to launch in 2019. Microsoft is preparing to compete with Google Stadia, an ambitious, social-media-focused service from the Big G that promises to stream games to any device at speeds of up to 4K and 60fps. Stadia is expected to launch this year.

/p>

p>Microsoft isn't quite ready to roll out Project xCloud or any other streaming service yet, but it's laying the groundwork for gaming's Netflix-style future. For Xbox this means double down on subscription services. Monthly subscription fees are the foundation of companies like Netflix and Hulu that generate billions of dollars for each business, and they'll be just as important to gaming companies operating in a digital-first economy.

/p>

p>In practice this means that gamers have to add the cost of connecting to the internet and playing games to the price of the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition. Microsoft offers a few online features to all users for free, such as streaming apps and Skype but multiplayer is locked behind the Xbox Live Gold paywall. The best deal on Xbox Live Gold is $60 for the entire year, or $5 per month.

/p>

p>Online multiplayer isn't an "extra" feature in a lot of modern games it's a fundamental aspect of gameplay. Fortnite, Rocket League, PUBG, Overwatch, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Roblox, Rainbow Six: Siege and other most popular games of the day are online-only or online-focused. https://forums.com.bz/ The three games that are included with the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition -- Sea of Thieves, Minecraft and Forza Horizon 3 -- require Gold to play their full experience. Xbox Live Gold, it could be said is essential for everyone who wants to fully enjoy the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition.

/p>

p>The All-Digital Edition, which is an Xbox console that is disc-free and does not require physical discs, is an excellent option to access the Xbox Game Pass. Players have access to a library of more than 100 games for just $10 per month ($120 per year). After the subscription is in place they can download and play the games. Microsoft just combined this service with Xbox Live Gold in the Game Pass Ultimate bundle, which costs $15 per month ($180 per year). Game Pass Ultimate is the same price as an annual Gold subscription as well as a monthly Game Pass access.

/p>

p>The Xbox One S All-Digital Edition was designed for an online-based ecosystem. However it doesn't cost extra to access all its online features. In response to Engadget's request for clarification on subscription services for the All-Digital Edition, a Microsoft spokesperson issued the following statement:

/p>

p>Yes, you'll need to purchase Xbox Live Gold just like you would with any other Xbox One console to access features such as multiplayer, Games with Gold and Deals with Gold. The only difference with the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition is that it doesn't come with an optical disc drive. The Xbox One S All-Digital Edition comes with a one-month subscription to Xbox Live Gold so that you can immediately join the most advanced multiplayer network.

/p>

p>The Xbox One S All-Digital Edition was designed for disc-free gaming and entertainment. You will be able to join the Xbox One family and take advantage of exclusive Xbox memberships like Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold, as and take advantage of features such Xbox One Backward Compatibility.

/p>

p>The gaming industry is in an era of change and major companies are trying to adapt their old business models to modern scenarios. Online play was not an expected or necessary feature in most games prior to recently. In fact, when Microsoft announced the Xbox One in 2013, it tried to sell the new hardware as an "always-online" console, but was ridiculed so harshly that it changed its strategy completely and released the Xbox One as a traditional console with a lesser emphasis on digital features. With this new hardware, and with online play still viewed as a premium experience it was logical to charge extra for access to multiplayer or cloud. It's harder to sell after Fortnite and a console that was designed specifically for gaming on the internet.

/p>

p>Selling hardware and then charging for specific or extended services isn't a new concept -- in fact, it's largely how the smartphone marketplace operates. The gaming hardware industry is starting to mirror this mobile landscape, thanks to an expanded broadband ecosystem, rapid advancements in hardware, and the emergence of robust cloud networks, and subscriptions are likely to play a major part in the future.

/p>

p>The Xbox OneS with no discs will be available in stores on May 7th, for $250.

/p>