The Xbox One is a large, hulking mass of a console, looking for all the world like a great big modern VHS player. I happen to be one of the (apparently) few people who actually like the aesthetics of the console – because it fits in and looks nice as part of my entertainment system.
Many find the console too damned large though, especially considering it still has a great big external power supply, yet dwarfs the sleeker and slimmer PlayStation 4. A new, though very improbable rumour suggests that Microsoft will soon be launching an Xbox One Mini.
The news comes courtesy of Chinese Blog WPDang (Dang!), which says Microsoft will be hosting an event in October to launch a range of new hardware from across its entertainment and devices division. The focus of the event will be the new Surface Pro 4 and two new models of Lumia phones, says the blogger – something that’s since been confirmed by tech site The Verge.
According to the blogger though, Microsoft will also be launching a newer, smaller Xbox One, which eschews the Blu-Ray playback functionality and is, they say, a third of the size of the current Xbox One. The rumour doesn’t say whether the entire drive is gone or if it’s just video playback that’s nixed, but the speculation would be that it could be a digital-only console.
There’s a time that I would have moaned about that, but truth is, I don’t have a single physical copy of a game for the Xbox One; I’ve been getting everything digitally. I don’t have an optical media drive in my PC either.
I highly suspect the rumour is just that, and should be taken with great big boulders of salt. If it does end up being true though, this would end up being the first major digital distribution only console since the ill-fated PSP Go.
Would you consider buying a smaller, cheaper discless Xbox One?
Last Updated: August 21, 2015
CypherGate
August 21, 2015 at 08:41
I still prefer my physical copies
Jonah Cash
August 21, 2015 at 08:47
If they allowed me to use a portable blu ray drive if I wanted to do physical as well then I would consider it. But to download 50 gigs for one game is still not for me. Most I would download is 15-20 gig for a game. And it doesn’t really look like games will get smaller.
Geoffrey Tim
August 21, 2015 at 09:07
I downloaded Rare REplay (60 gigs, all in) and a new games that may or my not rhyme with Tears of yore: Multimate Scchmedition (45Gb). The Xbox One is not a cap friendly console.
Pariah
August 21, 2015 at 09:11
Caps are so 90’s anyway.
http://www.ownc.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/ownc-new-zealand-streetwear-fashion-label-02.jpg
Jonah Cash
August 21, 2015 at 09:35
I have a capped account because uncapped is just too unstable in my area. My 10mb line would not even open youtube videos at 720p on uncapped.
My 10mb line is still only giving me a yellow bar in Destiny… I think I need to move or something!
Also I heard that the thing just updates gigs after gigs after gigs all on its own, any truth in that?
Gardos
August 21, 2015 at 10:03
If it’s set to “instant on” then yes, it updates in the background while the console is ‘off’. I think if you don’t select this option then you’ll simply get a message that a game needs to update when you try to open it and you’ll need to update the system software manually. The updates are pretty unavoidable though unless you take it offline.
Jonah Cash
August 24, 2015 at 12:03
Good to know. Thanks.
Gardos
August 21, 2015 at 10:03
If it’s set to “instant on” then yes, it updates in the background while the console is ‘off’. I think if you don’t select this option then you’ll simply get a message that a game needs to update when you try to open it and you’ll need to update the system software manually. The updates are pretty unavoidable though unless you take it offline.
Gardos
August 21, 2015 at 10:03
If it’s set to “instant on” then yes, it updates in the background while the console is ‘off’. I think if you don’t select this option then you’ll simply get a message that a game needs to update when you try to open it and you’ll need to update the system software manually. The updates are pretty unavoidable though unless you take it offline.
Gardos
August 21, 2015 at 09:53
Quick question about Rare Replay (unrelated to the article): I downloaded it but every time I try to play one of the xb360 games, it tells me to sign in. It then asks me to “download my profile” and attempts to connect to the internet, after which it just fails. My XB1 is already signed in and online so I don’t understand the clash! Apparently a few people are having the same issue but most seem to be in the preview program and are testing backward compatibility (which I’m not). Any similar experience from your side? I’m at a total loss as I can’t play any of the 360 games.
WitWolfy
August 21, 2015 at 10:34
That worries me… Another thing that grinds my gears is if you havent updated the game recently you cant play it either. What a BS move.
Gardos
August 21, 2015 at 11:32
I don’t think my issue is a common one but maybe hold off on buying it for a while (if you haven’t already). And yes, MS has made plenty BS decisions!
Gardos
August 21, 2015 at 11:32
I don’t think my issue is a common one but maybe hold off on buying it for a while (if you haven’t already). And yes, MS has made plenty BS decisions!
Geoffrey Tim
August 21, 2015 at 12:00
I have no idea. It just worked for me. It took ages to download my 360 profile..but it did, and it my Rare Replay 360 games all work just fine.
Geoffrey Tim
August 21, 2015 at 12:00
I have no idea. It just worked for me. It took ages to download my 360 profile..but it did, and it my Rare Replay 360 games all work just fine.
Geoffrey Tim
August 21, 2015 at 12:00
I have no idea. It just worked for me. It took ages to download my 360 profile..but it did, and it my Rare Replay 360 games all work just fine.
WitWolfy
August 21, 2015 at 10:32
That must’ve taken AGES.. Even on a 4MB it feels like my Xbone downloads at 50KB/s
Guava_Eater
August 21, 2015 at 09:14
yeah even 20gb is a huge gamble for us in ZA. It took me almost a week to get D3:RoS from Sony and with loadshedding and ZA internet connectivity I’m really shocked I got it all….
Alien Emperor Trevor
August 21, 2015 at 08:48
A digital-only console. Does it come with mandatory Kinect, online connection and 24 hour check-in as well? Because that would sure sound familiar.
Hammersteyn
August 21, 2015 at 08:54
http://selectabet.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/darts180.jpg
Alien Emperor Trevor
August 21, 2015 at 09:00
Games are permanently linked to your account.
CAN I GET A BULLS EYE!?
Hammersteyn
August 21, 2015 at 09:09
XD
RinceThis
August 21, 2015 at 09:11
…
Hammersteyn
August 21, 2015 at 08:50
discless? Might as well call it dickless then.
RinceThis
August 21, 2015 at 09:10
I call BS. The blogger says they are launching “Surface Pro 4” which, abbreviated, is SP4… BWAHAHAHAHA
Gardos
August 21, 2015 at 10:07
I’ve got uncapped internet running at 8mbps download and about 6mbps upload which I pay R205.10 each month for. At this point, I’m too scared to question my luck and I feel guilty every time I download something.
WitWolfy
August 21, 2015 at 10:37
Thats insane I pay about R500 by MWEB for a 4MB uncapped “Premium” package. I cant see what makes it so “premium”… I’m throttled atm. 😛
Brady miaau
August 21, 2015 at 11:22
Sjoe. I pay R1100 for 10mb premium and we got, to Xbox Live, between 6mb and 8mb when all is good (most of the time).
Gardos
August 21, 2015 at 11:29
This is like a shared apartment wifi thing as far as I understand it. One wireless dish on the building which is then distributed to each apartment that signs up. I then got a wireless router from them (which I don’t have access to in terms of settings) and that was it! The company is called Connected Space and I think they only operate in Cape Town, not sure? I just hope my speeds stay this way for quite a while! XD
Gardos
August 21, 2015 at 11:29
This is like a shared apartment wifi thing as far as I understand it. One wireless dish on the building which is then distributed to each apartment that signs up. I then got a wireless router from them (which I don’t have access to in terms of settings) and that was it! The company is called Connected Space and I think they only operate in Cape Town, not sure? I just hope my speeds stay this way for quite a while! XD
WitWolfy
August 21, 2015 at 10:31
Sure its a rumor but kinda holds water seeing that the Xbox one dropped so much in price recently..
Brady miaau
August 21, 2015 at 11:22
Mine is just locked in a cupboard anyway. Have no clue what it looks like anymore.
Big, small. It works.
Irated Gamer
August 23, 2015 at 10:44
I didn’t like the design, but that halo edition coming out in October was worth getting for the cool color scheme.