While it hasn't been the best kept secret, there will be another Microsoft console releasing alongside Xbox Series X presumably this holiday. Nothing's been confirmed as of yet, but as early as 2018 there's been rumors of two consoles releasing in Xbox's lineup in 2020. Now based on some recent rumors, it's practically confirmed outside of Microsoft's official announcement. With "Project Lockhart" presumably getting an official announcement this month, the Xbox Series S theoretically fits into an interesting niche for consumers.
Xbox Series X may be the big ticket/premium console kicking off the next console generation for Microsoft, but Series S could fulfill a similar role as the Xbox 360 did. Rather than jumping into the theoretically expensive Xbox Series X this fall, Microsoft is presenting some options to consumers. Practically every rumor or leak paints the Xbox Series S as a low-budget option to join the Xbox ecosystem, and falls in line with Xbox's consumer-friendly brand strategy. Here's what to expect from Xbox Series S should this system release alongside Xbox Series X.
Next-Gen Gaming on a Budget
Both Sony and Microsoft are playing chicken with pricing at the moment, but presumably the PS5 and Xbox Series X will have similar price points. Each console has similar hardware, with PS5 and Xbox Series X differing in a few areas other than visual design. The prevailing theory of price for the next-gen consoles is $500, but it could be over/under depending on a number of factors. For Microsoft, that's theoretically where the Xbox Series S comes in. Even if Xbox Series X and PS5 have similar or different price points, it'll be hard to undercut Xbox if there's a budget option readily available that can still play Series X games.
Which brings into question what kind of purpose a budget-Xbox serves in the new generation? Theoretically Xbox Series S would be the best of both worlds, or at least a solid middle ground. While Xbox Series X could almost certainly handle all next-gen games at 4K resolutions with 30-60 FPS, Xbox Series S could perhaps play next-gen games for 1080p resolution at 30 FPS. Plus, with Xbox pushing Game Pass and Project xCloud, this allows for a more affordable entrance to the Xbox ecosystem for casual gamers on a budget. Xbox Series S would be a solid all-rounder choice for casual gaming enthusiasts, playing all sorts of games without sacrificing the ability to play next-gen games too.
A Small Performance Compromise, Not a Barrier
Xbox Series S could perform a similar job to what the Xbox 360 did alongside Xbox One, though in a longer-lasting manner compared to the 360. Performance-wise, the hardware capability of an Xbox Series S is likely closer to an Xbox Series X than an Xbox One X. With Microsoft launching a new console generation with its flagship Xbox Series X, the company wouldn't want to compromise the Series S' ability to play next-gen games entirely. Otherwise nobody would buy the weaker system if all they could do was play old games. Fans and casual gamers would be willing to save up more money and wait, or spend the extra dollar on Xbox Series X if it was the only option to play new games.
It would make more sense to have what essentially becomes a mini-Xbox Series X, performance-wise or even in form factor as well. Rather than the 4K 60 FPS machine that Xbox Series X promises to be, Xbox Series S would likely be a machine for users on 720p/1080p TVs. That way, consumers can justifying purchasing the smaller console if they don't want or need a new 4K TV. Not to mention the types of gamers who simply don't care about frame rate or resolution, and just want to play the best games at the best value. More than likely Xbox Series S would fit that bill, presumably running games at up to 1080p/30 FPS in a potentially smaller package compared to Xbox Series X.
Appropriate Pricing for Xbox Series S
Value proposition would be the biggest selling point of the Xbox Series S, which means the price would have to be very competitive compared to PS5/Xbox Series X. Both the PS5 and Xbox Series X have yet to receive price points, but the running theory is that both Sony and Microsoft will likely sell their newest consoles at around the $499.99 mark. Whether it's a little higher or lower than that, Xbox Series S can't sell at any price point over $299.99, assuming it's designed as a budget-friendly machine. Ideally, a price like $199.99 - $249.99 would make a lot of sense for a low-end Xbox that's still able to play the next-gen games.
Reaching anywhere above the $300 level just wouldn't make sense for a budget-friendly system. In the hypothetical situation where the PS5/Xbox Series X launches at $499.99, Xbox Series S will not be a high seller if it's only around $100 difference. Nintendo gets away with this because the Switch Lite is strictly a mobile console that doesn't dock with TVs. The Xbox Series S would function just like a Xbox Series X, with the sole difference being game performance. $100 is not enough to make that compromise worth saving. Closer to a $150-$200 difference makes the most sense for both consoles, as it splits the difference of cost and performance for consumers.
As long as the price is justifiable, selling a slightly less powerful Xbox this holiday makes a lot of sense. Those looking to spend less on a new gaming console, or just simply don't have the right TV/monitor/gaming setup to justify the cost of the Xbox Series X, should theoretically have a viable option with Xbox Series S.
Xbox Series X launches this holiday 2020.