Leaked files in June suggested that Microsoft is working on more than one version of its next-gen console, the Xbox Series X. One of the rumoured, unannounced next-gen Xbox was codenamed Lockhart which is supposed to be a less powerful but cheaper entry into next-gen gaming. We now might have a name for Lockhart. According to leaked images obtained by The Verge, this cheaper next-gen Xbox will be named Xbox Series S.

The naming was seen in the packaging of a next-gen controller, which mentions compatibility with both Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles.

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According to an earlier report from The Verge, Lockhart or Xbox Series S will have as specs "7.5GB of usable RAM, a slightly underclocked CPU speed, and around 4 teraflops of GPU performance". The known Xbox Series X on the other hand includes 13.5GB of usable RAM, and targets 12 teraflops of GPU performance.

SOURCE

 

[Jayro]

I guess you can just call it XSX or XSS. The silly name "Xbone" (as in X-bone) was and still is used by many, though I prefer XO.

I'm calling it Xbox SeX, for short. (Seriously, how did they miss that and think it would be okay?)

 

[Xzi]

Not enough changes or improvements to warrant buying an XBSX controller for my PC, and I can't believe they're sticking with AA batteries for yet another generation.

 

[osaka35]

if it's 200 or 250, it'll be great for playing 360/xboxone games, and being entry level for next-gen. I'll probably get one to sit at my folks house so the nephews and nieces can play it.

 

[Deleted User]

I'm calling it Xbox SeX, for short. (Seriously, how did they miss that and think it would be okay?)

Don't forget Xbox SAD. lol!

 

[HideoKojima]

FLOPS = floating point operations per second, which is basically a measurement of how many mathematical calculations a processor can make in a single second. It's one of the more accurate measurements of a processors speed (much more so than frequency, these days) because the formula to find FLOPS takes into account things like the number of CPUs, the number of cores, the frequency, and the number of cycles the processor runs. This is mainly important for GPUs, as rendering graphics uses a lot of mathematical equations, so you'll commonly see TFLOPS as a measurement for comparing GPUs more than anything.

Tera in this case = trillion. So the Xbox Series S, according to the Verge, will only be able to process 4 trillion floating point operations per second, which is quite low compared to the Xbox Series X which is reported to have a 12 TFLOPS GPU, or 12 trillion floating operations per second.

Impressive explanation skills! makes sense now thanks a lot.

 

[Noctosphere]

On facebook, some guy said that this cheaper version of XBSX, the XBSS, would be sold around 200usd (ok ok 199.99USD)
if it is true, I think it would run all games of XBSX at same quality except the resolution, which will be maximised to 1080p

 

[Pokemon_Tea_Sea_Jee]

Yet, it will be more than enough.

No.

 

[Xzi]

I definitely expected a cheaper Series S to come out for sure, but I'm not quite sure I believe the Verge's potential specs that it'll have. Mostly the gimped GPU specs I think are wrong, it makes no sense for MS to release a next gen "option" console that's weaker than their last-gen "midstep" Xbox One X, especially if they plan on supporting the Xbox One consoles with first party titles for the first couple years of launch.

Unless they price it super competitively, at like $200 or something and then include a few months or something of Xcloud, then I could kind of see it, but even then I'm still iffy at those specs. I'd expect at least 6TFLOPs, to match the XbonerX anyways.

OTOH it makes sense if they're planning to support XB1X through next gen anyway. Two different Microsoft consoles with roughly the same amount of power and in roughly the same price range would be a nightmare from a marketing/consumer standpoint.

 

[nashismo]

Nintendo did it 37 years ago, but Microsoft simply cannot get the DAMN DPAD RIGHT

Now the dpad seems even worse than before...

 

[sibio]

Thank you Microsoft.
This move is going to hold back an entire gaming generation. Coders will have to design games able to run on this kind of hardware and even with scalable performances the visual quality will most probably be affected. Now I can undrstand why up to now nothing shown on PS5 or New XBX seems really next gen but have image quality of last 2 years PC...

 

[nashismo]

Thank you Microsoft.
This move is going to hold back an entire gaming generation. Coders will have to design games able to run on this kind of hardware and even with scalable performances the visual quality will most probably be affected. Now I can undrstand why up to now nothing shown on PS5 or New XBX seems really next gen but have image quality of last 2 years PC...

I see a lower spec Xbox S completely doable. Simply use the same CPU on both, and then a lower GPU on the S with exact half the performance, then turn down the resolution half the one on the Xbox X and it will be exactly the same. Performing exactly the same, if not slightly faster in some games (due to lower resolution).

 

[DarthDub]

I have a question for you Microsoft, WHY?

 

[Nostalgia]

microsoft is going to hold all of next gen back.

weak ssd, then that.

every single game is going to run better on the xbox

so i doubt it

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

Not enough changes or improvements to warrant buying an XBSX controller for my PC, and I can't believe they're sticking with AA batteries for yet another generation.

hopefully they stick with AA batteries forever

 

[Moon164]

I have a question for you Microsoft, WHY?

Not everyone cares about graphics, frame-rate and etc... (I included, that's why I buy Nintendo consoles), to be honest, between paying something costing $200 or something costing $500 that run the same games, I will prefer to buy what costs $200 even if it has worse graphics.

I just want to play the new games that are coming, that is enough for me, besides that I live in Brazil, the new consoles should come costing a fortune here anyway, it is good to have a cheaper option.

But I'm really wondering how it will be applied in practice, I really don't want this move to hold the entire generation of gaming as they said above and I don't even know if this hardware would be able to run all the games that are coming for years.

 

[Moon164]

https://twitter.com/tomwarren/status/1295638725272141825/photo/1