Wait, what's Xbox All Access? A fair response, and the answer is pretty straightforward. It turns the concept of buying a console into that thing you do when you get a new phone - go on a monthly plan for 24 months. Hence the Microsoft and Telstra partnership. When you factor in the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription it begins to make sense.

And because we're about a year or so away from the release of the next-gen Xbox Scarlett console - there will be a buyout and upgrade option once details on the still-mysterious bit of hardware become available.

The current plans include - an Xbox One S package for $27 per month (the min cost here is $648 over 24 months) and an Xbox One X package for $38 per month (the min cost here being $912 over 24 months). And here's what you get:

Xbox One console (Xbox One X Forza Horizon 4 bundle or the Xbox One S Forza Horizon 4 bundle)

One Xbox Wireless Controller

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership (access to over 100 great games on console and PC plus all the benefits of Xbox Live Gold, including online multiplayer)

Full-game download of Forza Horizon 4 and the LEGO Speed Champions add-on

Again, with the addition of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate this makes sense when taking Microsoft's vision for Xbox into account - as the service (outside of discounts and free trials) is AU$15.95 per month. That said, a two year contract with a new console a year out does seem like the timing is a little off. We assume that getting this out there now is getting this all in place for the Scarlett and the planned rollout of Microsoft's game streaming service Project xCloud.

For more sign-up info - head here - for the official Telstra Xbox All Access page.