Wednesday, September 09, 2020
While you can't lock down your Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S quite yet, preorders are just around the corner.
Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S lead Microsoft into the next generation of home consoles, and while each vastly different devices, both deliver a slice of the future of Xbox. The Xbox Series X remains the leading flagship, pushing the best available hardware specifications, with performance and overall graphical fidelity to match. Its accompanying Xbox Series S provides much of the same for less, securing a more affordable entry point while retaining many next-gen features.
Preorders for Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S are now closing in, with Microsoft readying the opportunity to purchase both boxes this September. Here's what you need to know about upcoming preorders for the Xbox Series family, including start dates, pricing, and where to buy.
Jump to:
- Preorder start date and time
- Where to buy
- Xbox Series X preorder sign-ups
- Xbox Series S preorder sign-ups
- How much do they cost?
- What you need to know
Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S preorders date and time
Microsoft plans to open Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S preorders on September 22, providing the first chance to lock down your next-generation console. The company has committed to giving budding owners opportunities to purchase both its top-tier Xbox Series X and entry-level Xbox Series S consoles, available for standalone purchase or through its Xbox All Access financing program.
Where to preorder Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S
Microsoft plans to sell Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S directly via the Microsoft Store, with third-party favorites like GameStop, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart also set to allow buyers to preorder. While formal preorders are yet to surface, many storefronts planning to stock the console already provide email sign-ups.
Sign-ups provide the opportunity to receive the latest on placing a preorder from your favored retailer, registering your interest, and subscribing to future email updates.
Xbox Series X pre-order sign-ups
- Microsoft Store (Global)
- Amazon (US)
- Best Buy (US)
- Target (US)
- GameStop (US)
- Walmart (US)
- EB Games (CA)
- Walmart (CA)
- GAME (UK)
Xbox Series S pre-order sign-ups
Coming soon
All retailers will likely notify budding buyers in advance of preorders going live, with additional details as Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S further progresses.
Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S price: How much do they cost?
Microsoft has revealed that the Xbox Series X will be priced at $499, while its smaller sibling the Xbox Series S will only cost $299, confirming our earlier reports. This brings both consoles in-line with the Xbox One S and Xbox One X when they first released to the public.
Microsoft is also offering both consoles through a 24-month financing plan called Xbox All Access. Players can purchase an Xbox Series X for $35/month or an Xbox Series S for $25/month, with no interest. Xbox All Access includes EA Play, Project xCloud game streaming, and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, meaning you'll get access to online multiplayer with Xbox Live Gold and have access to a rotating catalogue of hundreds of games on demand. Xbox Game Studios exclusives launch into Xbox Game Pass the day they release.
Both Xbox One and Xbox One X were positioned at $500 from launch, so this isn't a surprising move on Microsoft's part. This also ends the stand-off between Sony and Microsoft, both waiting to see who would announce a price first. Sony has yet to reveal the price of its PS5 or PS5 Digital Edition, but the company is expected to break its silence soon.
Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S: What you need to know
While Microsoft put the spotlight on Xbox Series X for the majority of the year, September surfaced the long-rumored sister console, Xbox Series S. It now positions Microsoft with a two-pronged approach headed into the next generation, catering to enthusiasts demanding cutting-edge performance, while still providing a more budget-friendly alternative for the average consumer. Check our full breakdown of Xbox Series X versus Xbox Series S for additional context.
Xbox Series X represents Microsoft's next-generation Xbox flagship, ushering hugely revamped hardware to increase performance, reduce loading times, and more. The console features top-tier hardware, including the latest AMD Zen 2 processor and Navi GPU architectures, flanked by a custom NVMe solid-state drive (SSD) with speeds up to 40 times faster than Xbox One X.
The Xbox Series S arrives with a similar premise, but scaled back to the core values of Microsoft's next-generation vision, and near half the retail cost. The compromise comes with the hardware inside the box, with a lower-spec GPU, reduced RAM, and smaller-capacity NVMe SSD. That still delivers supports for up to native 1440p resolution, 120 frames-per-second, and even baked-in ray tracing. The console also pulls the disc drive, making this a digital-only variant.
While the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S provide a firm divide in the Xbox console family, much of the Xbox One experience still translates. The consoles feature full backward compatibility with games that work on Xbox One and all accessories like controllers and headsets. The only difference comes with the Xbox Series S' disc-less design, cutting off any physical disc-based media.
Games designed around Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S will feature exclusive upgrades, outpacing their Xbox One counterparts. And while upcoming titles like Halo Infinite will offer a cross-generation experience bridging Xbox One and the Xbox Series family, future projects will eventually be exclusive to the next generation of consoles.
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