Microsoft’s Xbox Series X may not be alone when it hits store shelves this holiday season.
A Twitter user with the name Zak S was able to buy an authentic next-generation Xbox controller from a reseller this weekend and shared pictures of the device’s box online. A description on the box, which was earlier reported on by The Verge, said the controller is compatible with all existing Xbox hardware and PCs, as well as Xbox Series X and an unannounced Xbox Series S.
Microsoft has been rumored for months to be working on two next-generation consoles, but has so far only announced its Xbox Series X. The second, which is believed to be code-named Project Lockhart but could ultimately launch as Xbox Series S, will ship with the same CPU performance as the Xbox Series X, according to reports. However, the Xbox Series S could be discless and sell at a more budget-friendly price.
“We have a lot in store for Xbox in 2020 and can’t wait to share with you,” a Microsoft spokesperson said in a statement to Digital Trends about the apparent leak. “However, we have nothing to announce at this time.”
Microsoft competitor Sony has already committed to a dual-hardware strategy with its PlayStation 5. In addition to the standard console, Sony is manufacturing the Sony PlayStation 5 Digital Edition that ditches the disc slot and should provide for a more affordable price tag.
Still, several questions surround Microsoft’s ultimate plans for the Xbox Series S (and Xbox Series X, for that matter). So far, the company has only announced plans to launch the Xbox Series X this holiday season and hasn’t said how much it’ll cost or exactly when it’ll hit store shelves. While the Xbox Series S appears to be in the works, it’s unknown whether the hardware will launch alongside the higher-powered hardware this holiday season or if Microsoft plans to launch it at another time.
Microsoft has been holding regular livestreams to dole out its future Xbox plans, and last month, Xbox chief Phil Spencer hinted Microsoft could have another showcase sometime this month. It’s possible, though unconfirmed, Xbox Series S will factor into those plans.
Acer’s Predator Atlas 8 finally has a US release date and price, several months after the company first showed off the handheld in May. The highlight is the Intel Arc G3 Extreme chip inside, which has been adopted by only a couple of other consoles besides the Atlas 8. This version will go on sale exclusively at Best Buy on November 1 for $1,299.99.
Acer originally said the Atlas 8 would arrive in North America in October, but left pricing open at the time. The launch came amid the ongoing DRAM crunch, which has made memory more expensive across the PC industry and complicated pricing for hardware makers.
Gaming laptops and I have a complicated relationship. One of my first gaming rigs was an Acer Predator that was already outdated when I bought it. I was a broke college kid, and that was the best I could afford. So trying out high-end gaming laptops is always fun. But ASUS' ROG Zephyrus G14 is a lot more than a laptop that can run AAA games. It is portable, so you're not lugging around a 2.5kg machine everywhere you go. It is built well, none of that plastic chassis, and can even function as a normal laptop outside of just gaming.
Google Play is borrowing one of the Nintendo Switch’s most useful little tricks. A new Sidekick tool called Playbacks captures a short clip after something interesting has already happened, sparing players from running a screen recorder throughout an entire game.
Playbacks is part of Google Play Store v53.8 and keeps saved clips on the phone. Google first announced it earlier this month, but the new Play Store update marks its arrival for players. Anyone who has watched a perfect win vanish because the record button came too late already understands the appeal.