Today is the first day to pre-order the new 2024 Xbox consoles. The new batch includes the all-digital Xbox Series X, a Special Edition Xbox Series X with 2TB of storage and a white Xbox Series S. They begin shipping to US customers on October 15.
Announced in June, the all-digital Xbox Series X is the first iteration of that model without a disc drive. Shipping in “robot white,” the new console includes 1TB of storage and costs $450. That’s only a $50 discount over the standard model, so it’s worth thinking about whether the disc-free tradeoff pays off for you. You can sometimes find the standard model on sale for that price, and Microsoft’s refurbished store has it for $450 right now.
Microsoft
Pre-order the new disc-less Xbox starting today.
In addition, the all-digital Xbox is the same size as the standard version with a disc drive. So, unlike the equivalent PS5, the new disc-less model won’t save space in your entertainment center.
If you’re on the opposite end of the spectrum and are down to spend more on an Xbox, Microsoft is also launching a 2TB special edition of Series X in “galaxy black” with a groovy space design. That variant, retailing for $600, includes the standard disc drive.
Meanwhile, the Xbox Series S has a new white model with 1TB to store more games in a new colorway. It follows the black version with the same storage that arrived in 2023.
Microsoft says the new consoles will arrive in most regions where Xbox hardware is currently supported, except Argentina, Brazil, Chile, India, Israel, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Turkey and UAE. The consoles land in the US on October 15, with “select countries” pushed back a couple of weeks to October 29.
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Xbox Series X (Galaxy Black Special Edition)
New Xbox accessibility options
Xbox continues to impress with its accessibility accommodations for gamers with disabilities. Alongside the console updates, Microsoft unveiled several new controllers on Wednesday to help more people experience the joy of frictionless gaming.
The Xbox Adaptive Joystick fills what Microsoft called a widely expressed “need for an affordable, singular joystick” to use with other Xbox controllers. Designed for people with limited mobility, it has four customizable button inputs on the front, a standard thumbstick and two more mappable bumper and trigger-style buttons.
You can plug the wired stick into the Xbox Adaptive Controller or the console. Alternatively, you can link it with a standard Xbox gamepad using Xbox Controller Assist (solo or couch co-op). The Xbox Adaptive Joystick also has a quarter-inch thread for mounting, adding to its versatility.
The joystick will only cost $30 when it arrives in early 2025.
Microsoft is also rolling out 3D-printable files for adaptive thumbstick toppers, designed for those who have trouble gripping the standard Xbox sticks. You can print adapters in the shapes of a plate, dome, narrow stick, “pull” (a deep, bowl-shaped surface), sphere and a custom base for adding materials like clay or moldable plastic.
Of course, you’ll need to own a 3D printer, use a friend’s or find a professional service to print them. The printable files are free from Xbox Design Lab.
In partnership with 8BitDo, the Lite SE 2.4G Wireless Controller is a gamepad with all inputs on its top surface. It has low-resistance buttons and “highly sensitive” Hall effect joysticks. It even includes a non-slip silicone mat to keep things steady. As a bonus, it includes 8BitDo’s coveted Super Buttons, first packaged with the Nintendo-inspired mechanical keyboard.
The 8BitDo Lite SE 2.4G is available starting today for $60.
Finally, the ByoWave Proteus Controller, revealed earlier this year for Global Accessibility Awareness Day, is now available to order. The innovative, modular gamepad has “snap and play” parts that offer over 100 million combinations tailored to your needs. The Proteus is available for $299 in the US, EU, UK and Canada.