After the calendar flipped to 2020, all eyes focused on Microsoft and Sony as speculation and rumor continued to swirl around their next generation console plans. With both companies continuing to stay fairly quiet for now, rumors have been largely the source to fill in information gaps, leading to plenty of fan speculation about what could or may not be in each of the new consoles. Recently, the discussion of a mysterious port has started surfacing from a leaked image of the Xbox Series X, leading to many wild theories of what it could be.
Attempting to put the speculation to rest, noted Microsoft insider Brad Sams has seemingly revealed what the mystery port is actually for. According to Sams, the Xbox Series X allows for expandable storage through usage of that port. Through this, Microsoft is offering a potential solution for the rising game install and finite hard drive sizes.
If this is an expandable storage port, the size of it has raised some eyebrows in the community. Unfortunately, there are no specific details but again, fans are speculating that it could be proprietary based around the dimensions of a CFExpress card instead of a more common option.While it's great Microsoft is offering a workaround for hard drive space, being proprietary means that owners will need to purchase very specific Microsoft accessories in order to use the port instead of being able to plug in a previously owned device.
While that may disappoint some consumers, others are dismissing the expandable storage theory entirely. Some have called it a debug unit port only and wouldn't appear on the retail version of the console. Regardless, fans should take the news with a grain of salt until Microsoft finally and officially shows off the console in full. With Sony expected to make an announcement in the coming weeks or months, that news may not be too far off.
For many fans, one of the more important features for either system, outside of first party exclusive games, will be the price. If the reports are to be believed, this aspect to the next generation consoles may not be set in stone as Sony waits to see how Microsoft ultimately prices the upcoming Xbox Series X. Sony's senior EVP and CFO, Hiroki Totoki admitted that the company is competing in the space and also has to consider costs before settling on an actual price.
Xbox Series X is on track for release Holiday 2020.
Source: thurrott.com