The Xbox Series S console may not have the appearance of an on-the-go device, but entrepreneurial gamers have decided that isn't going to hold them back. In early June a company named Gaems Inc. revealed plans to launch a Kickstarter transforming the Xbox Series S console into a laptop-like platform with what it calls the xScreen. The xScreen Kickstarter launched just yesterday but it's already a success. Within an hour the campaign crossed its surprisingly low goal of just $9,739.
As of mid-day Wednesday, the xScreen for Xbox Series S Kickstarter project has brought in over $25,000 from over 170 backers. That stems from around 80 backers who pledged at the "Super Early Bird" level of around $187, 68 that pledged a dollar as they've already pre-ordered the xScreen prior to the launch of the Kickstarter, and thousands of dollars that appear to have been contributed without being attached to a product or in addition to a product's standard pricing.
Breaking $25,000 is obviously not a difficult-to-believe threshold. When Kickstarters for video games and board games are bringing in hundreds of thousands of dollars, $25,000 seems like a somewhat modest sum. It's important to keep in mind the scale of these projects, however. Not only is around $200 a lot to ask for a relatively niche piece of hardware, but this small business is ultimately responsible for manufacturing every single one of these pieces of hardware on its own. That's already over 125 xScreens purchased.
Also important to keep in mind is that the xScreen Kickstarter campaign is only just beginning. There are still 29 days left for the xScreen project to bring in more supporters and funding. Given its quick success, there's a high chance it raises significantly more funds by the end of July. Given that the xScreen project is relying heavily on word of mouth to share news about the project, it could even scale up significantly in support in the weeks to come. It is somewhat limited by the availability of the Xbox Series S, however.
The xScreen is overall just a very simple, fun idea, which may be why there's a good wave of interest. It's an 11.6-inch screen supporting 1080p resolution and a 60hz refresh rate. It slots into the back of the Xbox Series S and is latched on so that it can't fall off. It still requires power, but otherwise needs no additional cables. As such, Xbox Series S owners can take the device anywhere there's a power source handy.
The success of the xScreen as a small Kickstarter project is going to start a very interesting conversation going forward. Given the success of the Nintendo Switch, there's clearly still demand for gaming devices that aren't tethered to a single room's television. Perhaps the team at Xbox might see the xScreen as a prototype for what could be.
The Xbox Series S xScreen is tentatively planned to release January 2022.
Source: Kickstarter