Microsoft is reportedly planning to launch a new Xbox Series X console without a disc drive, according to a document accidentally revealed from the FTC Vs Microsoft court battle. These leaks contradict Microsoft’s past claims that it does not plan to launch any mid-gen console refresh. The documents suggest that Microsoft is working on not one but three new consoles.
The leak reveals that the new Xbox Series X will have a number of other changes, including a new design that is more cylindrical than the current model. The console is also expected to have a larger 2TB SSD, a USB-C port on the front and a new “more immersive controller.” It is codenamed Brooklin. It will come without disc-drive.
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The new controller is codenamed Sebile and could be announced early next year for $69.99. It will have an accelerometer which will be used to wake the gamepad. The Verge reports that the device will support direct connection to cloud, Bluetooth 5.2, and likely an updated “Xbox Wireless 2” connection. The specs sheet reveal that the controller will also support “precision haptic feedback” and “VCA haptics double as speakers.” Buttons and thumbsticks will be quieter and battery will be swappable and rechargeable.
In the fresh Xbox Series X iteration, Microsoft is incorporating Wi-Fi 6E capabilities, integrating a Bluetooth 5.2 module, and optimising the existing semiconductor process to a more efficient 6nm fabrication technology.
The launch of a new Xbox Series X console without a disc drive would be a significant step for Microsoft. It would make the Xbox Series X more accessible to gamers who are on a budget.
The second console, codenamed Ellewood, is a refresh of the Xbox Series S and will launch around September 2024 while another model dubbed XDL shares specs with Brooklin.
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