Is A Smaller Xbox One In The Works?
If recent rumors carry any weight, Microsoft may be working on a slimmer and cheaper version of its current generation gaming console, the Xbox One.
According to a report in Apple Insider, Microsoft is planning to develop a console that is able to stream online content as well as play online games.
This is not the first time a rumor like this has circulated. In early 2015, speculations also came out that Microsoft was considering the development of an Xbox One Slim, as the company was looking for ways to improve sales of the console and catch up with its more popular competitor, the Sony PlayStation 4.
The Apple Insider report cited sources that were privy to Microsoft's plans for the console. Sources said that the slimmer Xbox One will require lower power than the bigger Xbox One and will likely be hosting lightweight apps and games that are available on the online Windows Store. This may also mean lower on-board storage compared to the Xbox One which is able to store gigabytes of games.
One of the reasons why Microsoft is considering such a device is that it wants to catch up with its competitors, like Sony. The Japanese company recently released a smaller set-top device called the PlayStation TV or PS Vita TV as it is known in Japan. The device is able to play games for PS Vita, PSP and PS One, as well as stream PlayStation 3 titles through the service that is currently on beta at PlayStation Now.
The other competitor which is already ahead in the game is Apple TV. The fourth generation Apple TV has a dedicated App Store where iOS games and other games can be bought by consumers. With the device connected to a TV, consumers are no longer limited to their smaller iOS devices to play their favorite games.
According to a Tech Times report, this may be the model that Microsoft is looking at for the slimmer Xbox One. The device will be much like the Apple TV and will be able to stream content such as movies and TV shows. In terms of gaming, it will be limited to basic games that are available on the Windows Store, which for hardcore gamers may not be that enticing.
Microsoft has not yet made any official announcement about these reports.
