Microsoft appears positioned to launch its first disc-less console in the near future, and it’s reported to be named the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition. A newly reported leak of Xbox One S All-Digital Edition promotional images and documents claim that the console will launch as soon as May 7. The leaks also show that the new Xbox One will be bundled with three different high-profile games, including Minecraft, Sea of Thieves, and Forza Horizon 3.

According to the leaks, the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition looks nearly identical to the existing Xbox One S. The white, box-shaped console will be half-glossy and half-pin spotted and will sit on a black box-shaped base. The console will, obviously, be lacking a disc slot as well as an eject button, but will otherwise be not just visually but functionally identical to its predecessor. All use of the platform will come through an online connection.

The promotional images acquired show not only the console itself, but also the box it will be sold in. The box lists the bundled-in games, as well as clear notification that the console is for “Disc-Free Gaming.” Along the bottom edge of the box, there’s also a new symbol next to 4K and HDR featuring a disc shape with a slash through it.

Oddly enough, there’s no indication from the promotional material that a subscription to Game Pass will be included in the package. However, it’s still probably likely given the nature of the console, as it could be distributed through a code added to the box later rather than via the box itself.

The coming years are going to be increasingly experimental with regards to the industry’s focus on online services. The Xbox One S All-Digital Edition will be Microsoft’s hardware experiment into such territory, though its relative success is unlikely to pull the company from its given path.

The Xbox One S All-Digital Edition will apparently come next, with Microsoft’s Project xCloud streaming service and a potential next-gen all-digital console to follow. Expect Microsoft to share more information about its future plans throughout 2019.

Source: Windows Central