Microsoft officially launches the 2TB Xbox One S, available now

Laurent Giret

Xbox One S

The wait for Microsoft’s new gaming console is finally over: Microsoft’s $399 2TB launch edition Xbox One S is now available in select markets at Microsoft Stores or your local retailer. If you can’t wait to get your hands on the new console, hurry up as it’s currently selling out fast, with Xbox Wire Editor in Chief Will Tuttle explaining in a new blog post today that “demand is extremely high and the 2TB launch edition is only available in limited quantities.”

As a reminder, here are the main highlights of the new gaming console:

  • Xbox One S offers a great value as one of the top 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray players on the market – which means you can watch your favorite movies in stunning 4K.
  • You can play over 100 console exclusives, and with High Dynamic Range (HDR) support for video and gaming, Xbox One titles like Gears of War 4, Forza Horizon 3, Scalebound andNBA 2K17 will look even better thanks to a higher contrast ratio between lights and darks, bringing out the true visual depth of your favorite games. And don’t forget about the growing library of backward compatible Xbox 360 games.
  • You can also stream movies or TV shows in 4K Ultra HD with content from partners like Netflix available now. More content from Amazon Video and others is on the way!
  • Xbox One S is 40 percent smaller than the original Xbox One, featuring a built-in power supply. No more brick!

While the Xbox One S improves the original Xbox One console in nearly every way, the new hardware lacks a dedicated port to plug in the Kinect sensor. However, it’s not all bad as Microsoft can offer you a free Kinect USB adapter if you currently own an original Xbox One with Kinect. According to Tuttle, “Kinect continues to play an important role in our Xbox ecosystem, especially with the introduction of Cortana on Xbox One this summer.”

Lastly, waiting a few more weeks to get a cheaper Xbox One S may be a good idea: Microsoft plans to release 1TB and 500GB Xbox One S options starting at $299 USD later in August, and the Xbox One S Madden NFL 17 Bundle and Xbox One S Halo Collection Bundles will also launch on August 23 (you can already pre-order them on the US Microsoft Store). If you will be able to spend some quality time with the console today, feel free to share your impressions with us in the comments below.