Xbox partner contacts customers with pre-order heads up

Australia’s largest telecommunications company has contacted its customers to let them know that Xbox Series X pre-orders will be opening imminently.

Telstra is Microsoft’s Australian partner for its Xbox All Access program, a 24-month subscription that gives customers access to an Xbox console, Xbox Live and Game Pass.

As reported by Press-Start, this weekend Telstra texted its customers to alert them that “preorders for the Xbox Series X with Xbox All Access will open soon.”

The message added: “This offer is exclusive to Telstra customers – so you need a postpaid mobile, mobile broadband or home internet service with us. For more information visit tel.st/XboxXeoi”

Xbox boss Phil Spencer said in June that the Xbox All Access subscription model will be “critical” to the Xbox Series X launch and the overall hardware generation.

More recently Microsoft’s head of gaming suggested the company could hold another of its regular Xbox events in August. Media reports had previously indicated that Xbox would use an August event as the platform to announce its second next-gen console, codenamed Lockhart.

As reported by multiple media outlets including VGC, Lockhart – or Series S, as it’s likely to be called – is a less powerful version of Series X that will likely target cost-conscious consumers.

August would also fit within the traditional timeline for pricing and pre-order announcements. This would also align with a potential Lockhart announcement since the console’s USP is likely to be its cheaper price.

Microsoft recently confirmed it would halt production of its Xbox One X and Xbox One S All-Digital Edition consoles, likely in anticipation for the cheaper next-gen hardware.

Xbox One X, originally billed as “the world’s most powerful console”, was launched in November 2017, while the disc-less All Digital Edition was launched only last year.

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