But won't be reaching our shores when it starts to hit worldwide retail shelves on May 7 with a USD RRP of $249. According to Xbox Australia the new disc-free Xbox One will be "arriving in Australia later this year" with local pricing and availability to be announced in the coming weeks. As per the rumours leading up to its announcement the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition is indeed an Xbox One without a disc drive.

Where in addition to being bundled with first-party offerings Minecraft, Forza Horizon 3 and Sea of Thieves - the all digital console begins to make sense when you factor in the value of Xbox Game Pass. Microsoft's subscription service that features over 100 titles to download and play.


"Consumer appetite for digital content and experiences are stronger today than ever before. Gaming and technology have changed quite a bit since the first Xbox debuted in 2001. During this time, we’ve seen a digital transformation across gaming, music, TV and movies," notes Jeff Gattis, General Manager of Platform and Devices Marketing at Microsoft. "And closer to home, the success of Xbox Game Pass, which gives members access to over 100 great games, is just another example of how consumers today have grown to expect great digital content. The Xbox One S All-Digital Edition was created for those who prefer to find and play their games digitally and are looking for the most affordable way to play Xbox games."

Although disc-drive free the new console retains the same size and shape as the current Xbox One S. As the first mainstream console of its kind, the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition is a direct response to the shift towards digital - something that the PC market has seen for quite a while now. With just about every laptop or desktop today being built without an optical drive.

"We think of the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition as an option that caters to audiences who prefer to find and play their games digitally," added Jeff Gattis. "We’re not looking to push customers toward digital; it’s about meeting the needs of customers that are digital natives that prefer digital-based media and providing value with the most affordable Xbox One console.”

Although this means potential owners will lose out on the Xbox One S 4K UHD Blu-ray drive, they'll still be able to stream 4K content via Netflix and other services.