Xbox One S All-Digital Edition console announced

Microsoft has officially announced the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition console.

The latest entry in the Xbox One family of consoles is now available to pre-order at selected retailers for $249.99/£199.99 ahead of its launch on Tuesday May 7.

Confirming previous reports, the disc-free console will come with a 1TB hard drive, a wireless controller and three games — Minecraft, Sea of Thieves and Forza Horizon 3.

“We realize price plays an important role in providing the opportunity to make console gaming more accessible to more gamers around the world,” Jeff Gattis, GM of platform and devices marketing at Xbox, said in a post on Xbox Wire.

“The Xbox One S All-Digital Edition is $50 USD less than Xbox One S, and we expect to maintain at least that price difference between the two consoles going forward.”

Microsoft is hoping that customers who pick up the new console will be inclined to try Xbox Game Pass, the Netflix-style subscription service for games it launched in mid-2017.

Xbox Games Pass offers unlimited access to around 200 Xbox One and Xbox 360 games, including new first-party titles when they launch, for $9.99/£7.99 per month.

The Xbox One S All-Digital Edition console was announced alongside the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription service, which combines Xbox Live Gold with Xbox Game Pass.