Microsoft Announces October Release Date for All-Digital Xbox Series X

The Special Editon Xbox Series X is available in black but speckled with green and white, and its 2TB hard drive and inclusion of a disc drive ramps the price up to $599.99. The controller has a black front and green back, though the speckled design seeps into the directional pad too.

These console variants don’t come with any extra power or features but are simply alternatives to Microsoft’s current offerings, likely targeted at brand new buyers. Increased hard drive space is becoming increasingly more relevant, however, as the size of video games continues to rise.

The release of these three new Xbox consoles comes amid plummeting sales of the Xbox Series X and S, which lag behind competitor PlayStation 5 as both sets of consoles near their fourth birthday, and tough questions over Microsoft’s committment to the console business from its hardcore fans.

At gamescom 2024, Xbox boss Phil Spencer explained Microsoft’s decision to release upcoming first-party game Indiana Jones and the Great Circle on PS5, and indicated more Xbox games will make the multiplatform jump.

In our 8/10 launch review of the Xbox Series X, IGN called it “a quiet, compact, laser-targeted games machine that should make 4K/60fps gaming the wonderful new norm” that “still lacks as many must-play games as the competition.”

The Xbox Series S received a 7/10 in our review, though its base storage of 512GB was raised as an issue even then. “The Xbox Series S has its place and could shine as a second console, but it’s hard to recommend as your primary gaming platform due to its 1440p resolution and claustrophobic storage capacity,” we said.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.