Microsoft's supercharged new Xbox consoles are now available to order — and at a surprising price
Xbox Series X Galaxy Black is a Limited Edition new console with a beefier 2TB SSD and a interstellar-themed paint job
MICROSOFT PRESS OFFICE
All products and promotions are independently selected by our experts. To help us provide free impartial advice, we will earn an affiliate commission if you buy something. Click here to learn more
The refreshed Xbox Series X and Series S consoles are now available to preorder from the Microsoft Store.
These new machines were unveiled during the Xbox Games Showcase event on-stage in Los Angeles, California in June. Given the latest sales data shows Sony PS5 outselling Xbox Series X and Series S at a ratio of five-to-one, Microsoft executives will be hopeful these upgraded consoles can reverse that trend.
Be one of the first to own these refreshed Xbox consoles...
- Preorder the Xbox Series S 1TB for £299.99
- Preorder the Xbox Series X 1TB Digital Edition for £429.99
- Preorder the Xbox Series X 2TB Galaxy Black Special Edition for £549.99
Those hoping for a dramatic shake-up will be disappointed. Instead, Microsoft has ditched the disc drive, increased the onboard storage, and introduced new colours for its refreshed new consoles.
Until now, it's only been possible to upgrade to a 1TB SSD with the Series S if you bought the Carbon Black model released last year. With this latest refresh, you'll still be able to enjoy the trademark Robot White finish too
MICROSOFT PRESS OFFICE
First up, Xbox Series S in Robot White now boasts a 1TB hard drive for £299.99. That's double the built-in storage included on the standard Xbox Series S model, which costs £249.99. As always, there's no disc drive included with the Series S, so you'll need all the hard drive space you can find.
With Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III taking up 200GB of storage space alone, Microsoft addressed the lack of storage on its Xbox Series S with the introduction of the Carbon Black colourway in September last year, which also arrived with a 1TB SSD. With the latest shake-up to the line-up, you'll now be able to choose between Carbon Black and Robot White and still enjoy more storage capacity for your games, movies, and apps.
Like the Series S, the Xbox Series X is now available in Robot White with a colour-matched wireless controller. This colourway is only available on the all-digital version, which ditches the ability to play Blu-ray discs and physical game
MICROSOFT PRESS OFFICE
Next up, Xbox Series X is now available in a 1TB Digital Edition. This updated console ditches the disc drive, so you won't be able to play any Blu-ray discs. It keeps the same 1TB storage from the original Series X, but switches the Carbon Black finish for Robot White — like the more affordable Series S.
And Microsoft has dropped the price tag down to £429.99 compared to £479.99 for the standard Series X.
If you don't have a large collection of physical Xbox games or Blu-ray discs, prefer the Robot White finish, and want the more powerful Series X performance ...this is a nice £50 saving on Microsoft's answer to the PlayStation 5.
Lastly, Microsoft will offer the Xbox Series X 2TB Galaxy Black Special Edition for £549.99.
This is the most expensive console ever launched by Microsoft, but for that heftier price tag, you'll enjoy the biggest SSD we've ever seen in an Xbox and a new interstellar-themed paint job. It comes with an Xbox Wireless Controller with a matching finish too.
"Drawing inspiration from constellations and the spirit of exploration and adventure that outer space evokes, the special edition console in Galaxy Black features a silver, grey, and green celestial effect representing thousands of games and millions of gamers playing on Xbox," wrote Roanne Sones, Head of Xbox Devices, in a company blog postabout the new console.
Microsoft clearly thinks the Galaxy Black Special Edition will be popular as it's limiting 1 console per customer.
The team at Microsoft was inspired by the cosmos for the paint-job on its limited edition new Xbox Series X — and its matching wireless controller
MICROSOFT PRESS OFFICE
Like other Series X models, the Galaxy Black Special Edition console supports 120 frames-per-second and 4K HDR output.
All of these Xbox consoles support Game Pass — something you can play from Fire TV Sticks now too.
Starting from just £1 for the first fortnight, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is a Netflix-like subscription that offers access to a rotating catalogue of console and PC games from Microsoft's in-house studios, which now includes Bethesda and Activision Blizzard, as well as other popular developers, like EA.
Games from Microsoft-owned studios debut on Game Pass the same day as the titles launch in-store at full price, making it an affordable way to access the latest games.
After the £1 trial period, the subscription rises to £12.99 a month. The cheapest Game Pass tier (£7.99) only allows you to play games on PC — not Fire TV and other platforms.
- View Deal | Get started with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for £1
Microsoft has previewed a bevy of new titles coming to its Game Pass Ultimate subscribers soon, including Doom: The Dark Ages, the latest instalment in the long-running Doom franchise, as well as a new Gears of War title, ending a five-year wait for one of Xbox's most popular properties.
Almost all of the games announced during its summer preview event, including the new Doom, Indiana Jones And The Great Circle, South Of Midnight, Perfect Dark, and Call of Duty, will all be available on Xbox Game Pass on the day of launch, indicating that Microsoft is making big bets on the subscription service as it tries to woo consumers grappling with a relatively softer economy.
Microsoft also confirmed that Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will be offered as part of the Game Pass Ultimate subscription when it releases in the coming months. The popular shooter will launch on other consoles, like the PlayStation 5, but it will retail at the usual £69.99 price tag for a copy.