The worst kept secret in gaming continues to be get even worst kept. Microsoft is continuing to leak the Xbox Series S, in packaging sent out to customers.
Yesterday, Twitter user @BraviaryBrendan posted an image showing his newly purchased Xbox One Midnight Forces II controller, and the Xbox Game Pass 14 day trial that came with it. Included on the trial card was the obligatory small print... which included references to the Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Windows as you would expect but also the Xbox Series S (presented as Xbox Series X | S). Here's the tweet to see for yourself:
I got a new controller for my Xbox since mine was broken. Interestingly enough, the Game Pass Ultimate trial code sheet mentions the unannounced @Xbox Series S. It’s definitely a thing. pic.twitter.com/GX1rOYG5g7
— Brendan (@BraviaryBrendan) August 31, 2020
What is the Xbox Series S?
While we don't have a formal announcement from Microsoft about what the Xbox Series S is, we do have a series of reports that have told us about it over the past year. Previously codenamed Lockhart (the Series X was codenamed Anaconda), the Xbox Series S is supposed to present an alternative to the presumably pricey Xbox Series X that can play next-generation games. According to reports, the Xbox Series S, will feature much of the same hardware as the Xbox Series X, aside from it will have a significantly less powerful GPU and will aim to display at lower resolutions like either 1080p or 1440p instead of 4k.
Reports have said that the Xbox Series S reveal was supposed to happen in June originally, and was delayed to August for reasons likely related to current affairs (which part of current affairs is less known given June 2020.) There were reports that it would be revealed in August 2020 after that, with the first party announcements happening in July, but Microsoft moved away from the monthly reveal plan and has yet to officially announce the Xbox Series S, or the Xbox Series X price.
This isn't the first showing of anything related to the Xbox Series S in the wild, previously retailers had leaked the Xbox Series X controller with similar Xbox Series S wording on it. That said, this time it is from Microsoft having shipped something directly to a consumer, revealing that perhaps they intended to have this well announced by now.
What do you think of the Xbox Series S leaks? Do you think Microsoft and Sony are playing too coy with the price and release dates of their next generation consoles? Let us know in the comments below
