Summary
- Xbox Series S is unexpectedly popular, with 74.8% of Xbox Series console owners choosing it over the Series X in 2022.
- The affordability of the Series S, priced at $299, makes it an attractive option for gamers on a budget.
- The smaller form factor and portable nature of the Series S appeals to gamers who want a convenient gaming experience on the go.
Microsoft recently experienced a spate of leaks, and one of the unintentionally released documents has revealed that the Xbox Series S is much more popular than many people might expect. The tech giant is currently going through a second trial in the FTC’s ongoing efforts to halt Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard acquisition. As a result, the Xbox creator had to submit a number of confidential documents, which were meant to have sensitive portions redacted.
Unfortunately for Microsoft, one of the documents contained a number of attachments that were not redacted at all, and they revealed a slew of information about Xbox and its plans through 2030. Some of the major tidbits included the fact that the next generation of Xbox, as well as the PS6, is expected to launch sometime around 2028. In the meantime, a mid-generation disc-less-refresh of the Xbox Series X is planned for 2025.
Also among the leaked documents was a slide that revealed that a remarkable number of gamers have purchased the Xbox Series S, the little brother to what many consider to be the “real” console, the Series X. The image dates back to April 2022, and it’s not clear whether the numbers cover a specific fiscal period or overall sales to date. It reveals that 74.8% of Xbox Series console owners actually bought the Series S, while only 25.1% got the Series X. Despite these 2022 numbers, industry analyst Mat Piscatella estimates that trends may have equalized in the time since, with the Xbox Series X and S splitting closer to a 50/50 market share.
The appeal of the smaller console is fairly obvious, and there are still strong reasons to buy an Xbox Series S in 2023. Its $299 price tag makes the Series S much cheaper than both the Series X and Sony’s disc-less PS5 Digital Edition. And while an increasing number of households have a 4K TV in 2023, many homes haven’t yet upgraded their displays, making the 1440p resolution of the Series S more than sufficient for a lot of gamers.
The smaller form factor is another huge selling point for the Xbox Series S. A lot of people have purchased a third-party IPS screen that essentially converts the console into a conveniently portable device. While it might not be as handy as the Nintendo Switch, numerous images have been shared on social media over the years, showing gamers playing their Series S in cars, on planes, or while relaxing on the beach.
One of the main complaints about the smaller Xbox console has been its extremely limited storage space, especially considering the growing installation sizes of modern games. But Microsoft somewhat addressed that issue with the release of the 1TB version of the Xbox Series S on September 1, 2023, which may render the slim console appealing to even more potential buyers.