The unannounced Xbox Series S has been leaked by Microsoft's own controller boxes, and a holiday 2020 release is rumored

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• The Xbox Series S, an unannounced version of Microsoft's new video game console, has been revealed by the packaging for Microsoft's new Xbox controller.
• The packaging says the controller is for use with the "Xbox Series X/S," according to The Verge and other gamers who were able to find the new Xbox controller.
• Microsoft announced the Xbox Series X in December 2019 and plans to launch the console during the 2020 holiday season, but the existence of the Xbox Series S has not been officially confirmed.
• Based on past rumors, the Xbox Series S will be cheaper and slightly less powerful than the Series X, and may not feature a disc drive.

The Xbox Series S, an unannounced version of Microsoft's next generation Xbox, was inadvertently revealed by never-before-seen Xbox controllers found in the US. Ads offering the controllers for sale appeared on the website OfferUp and reporters for The Verge verified the device as genuine.

Packaging for a white version of the next generation Xbox controller said it was for use with the "Xbox Series X/S " as well as the Xbox One, clearly indicating that two new Xbox consoles are in production. The Xbox Series X, which Microsoft unveiled in December 2019, has only been seen in black so far.

Microsoft has yet to officially confirm the existence of the Xbox Series S, and the Xbox Series X is still awaiting an exact release date, so it's unclear why controllers for the next gen consoles are already being sent to stores.

Microsoft's Xbox Series X is set to launch during the holiday season, replacing the company's flagship Xbox One X console. Microsoft has been solely promoting the arrival of the Series X for months but rumors have long suggested that the company was working on a more affordable, though less powerful console without a disc drive to launch alongside the Series X.

Sony has already confirmed that it will launch the PlayStation 5 this fall with a "digital edition" that omits the console's disc drive. It's presumed that the digital PS5 will be cheaper, but both Sony and Microsoft have yet to release pricing details for their upcoming consoles.

Microsoft adopted a multi-tiered pricing strategy for Xbox consoles with the Xbox One X and Xbox One S in 2017. In July 2020, Microsoft confirmed that Xbox One X and Xbox One S All-Digital consoles would be ending production, though the Xbox One S will remain in production.

Games designed for the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S will continue to work with all versions of the Xbox One thanks to a feature Microsoft is calling Smart Delivery. Smart Delivery provides the appropriate digital version for whichever Xbox console is being used by the player, so they'll have the best possible quality for their machine.

Xbox Series S specs

Until Microsoft releases specifics, it's unclear how the Xbox Series S will compare to the Series X.      Microsoft

The Xbox Series X was codenamed Project Scarlett during development, while Microsoft's weaker console was reportedly codenamed Lockhart. The more powerful Scarlett was said to target 60 frames per second at 4K resolution for Xbox games, while Lockhart targeted 60fps at 1440p.

Months later, it seems likely that Lockhart has become the Xbox Series S, though the console's technical specifications haven't been confirmed. We'll update this section with more details once they're announced.

Xbox Series S price and release date

Xbox Game Pass and Project xCloud are vital to Microsoft's Xbox strategy.      Microsoft

Pricing and specific release date details for the Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X are unknown, but rumors suggest that Microsoft will provide more information on the consoles during an August showcase. The Xbox Series X is expected to arrive this fall, and it's possible that the Series S will launch alongside it.

Microsoft is planning the official launch of its mobile video game service, Project xCloud, on September 15 and several third-party controllers and peripherals are set to release on the same date.