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Microsoft's rumored Xbox One S All Digital may be released May 7 for about $260

The discless console is expected to be announced on April 16 for preorders.

Joshua Goldman Managing Editor / Advice
Managing Editor Josh Goldman is a laptop expert and has been writing about and reviewing them since built-in Wi-Fi was an optional feature. He also covers almost anything connected to a PC, including keyboards, mice, USB-C docks and PC gaming accessories. In addition, he writes about cameras, including action cams and drones. And while he doesn't consider himself a gamer, he spends entirely too much time playing them.
Expertise Laptops, desktops and computer and PC gaming accessories including keyboards, mice and controllers, cameras, action cameras and drones Credentials
  • More than two decades experience writing about PCs and accessories, and 15 years writing about cameras of all kinds.
Joshua Goldman
2 min read
xbox-one-s-all-digital-box-shot
Winfuture.de

Editor's note: This device was announced on April 16 during a livestream put on by Microsoft. The new Xbox One S All-Digital Edition will launch May 7.

Looks like the arrival is imminent of Microsoft's first Xbox to drop the disc drive.

Though the existence of the Xbox One S All Digital console wasn't exactly a well-kept secret, details including the preorder date, release date, pricing and marketing images have apparently been uncovered by German tech site Winfuture.de

The marketing images show an Xbox One S that looks almost identical to the current model, minus the black slot in front for the Blu-ray drive. It will have a 1TB hard drive for storage, support HDR and 4K UHD, and come with the games Minecraft, Sea of Thieves and Forza Horizon 3 preinstalled.

The leaked details supposedly confirm a May 7 release date and a preorder date of April 16 as well as pricing of 230 euros, which converts to approximately $260, £200 or AU$360. European pricing includes tax, though, so that dollar amount will likely be less.

Microsoft did not immediately respond to CNET's request for comment. 

Watch this: Xbox One S is the best Xbox yet

With no optical drive, the All Digital model will rely on downloads for games and other content. The move could mark a turning point for the video game industry, which has sold games on discs and cartridges for decades. Some people still prefer to buy physical copies of their games, to share them with friends or trade them in at retailers like GameStop.

Industry mainstays like Microsoft and Sony's PlayStation group have considered dumping disc drives for their consoles in the past. 

Read more: Discless Xbox One S 'all-digital' version ready for preorder in April, report says

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CNET Executive Editor Ian Sherr contributed to this story.