Microsoft announces a disc-less Xbox Series X console in white, as well as a 2TB Xbox Series X in black
Microsoft is officially unveiling a white version of the Xbox Series X, as reported by The Verge.
This new all-digital console will be identical in performance to the original black Xbox Series X, but will forego the disc drive.
The white Xbox Series X will be available later this year with 1TB of storage, priced at $449.99.
Xbox president Sarah Bond showcased the new white console during the Xbox Games Showcase event.
Alongside the white Series X, Microsoft is also introducing a 2TB "Galaxy Black" edition of the standard Xbox Series X.
There’s also a $349.99 1TB Xbox Series S coming in white, too.
The new white Xbox Series X's exterior coating matches the "robot white" color scheme found on the smaller Xbox Series S console, which retails for $299.
Leaks prior to the official announcement had suggested that Microsoft may have made some internal upgrades to this white Series X model, potentially related to the cooling system and heatsink. However, the company has not confirmed any hardware changes.
The new Galaxy Black special edition Xbox Series X will come with a disc drive for $599.99 when it launches later this year.
“This new special edition Xbox Series X delivers the same speed, performance and features of Xbox Series X, but with twice the storage and a unique design,” says Xbox hardware chief Roanna Sones, in a blog post.
The existence of a white Xbox Series X appears to confirm that Microsfot has canceled or pushed back the refreshed version of the Xbox Series X console that appeared in FTC v. Microsoft documents last year.
Codenamed Brooklin, the unannounced Xbox Series X refresh featured a more cylindrical design than the existing console, and it also would have had no disc drive.
Microsoft described that console as “adorably all digital” in internal documents, and it was supposed to ship with a new controller and Xbox Wireless 2 connection. Microsoft was tentatively planning to ship this Brooklin console in November, priced at $499.
Xbox chief Phil Spencer addressed the leaks around the refreshed Xbox Series X design last September, hinting that plans may have changed for Xbox hardware.
“It is hard to see our team’s work shared in this way because so much has changed and there’s so much to be excited about right now, and in the future,” said Spencer in a post on X in September. “We will share the real plans when we are ready.”
