Cheapest ever price I believe for the XBOX Series S
Combine with discounted gift cards for an even better price (eg https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/709088)
More gaming deals happening at Harvey Norman - details can be found here https://press-start.com.au/bargains/2022/06/27/harvey-norman…
What’s wrong with my boy Gerry!
He is preparing for the tax refund…
Already done
What’s the benefit over HN?
Speed and cost of delivery + ease of returns.
Amazon prime is free and easier to return
@superforever: Free return on Prime? Is it listed anywhere?
I have Prime for few years and few times I wanted to return Prime item Amazon was charging me $7.
I wanted to return Prime item Amazon was charging me $7.
I returned many times never need to pay for delivery.
From my other post a few weeks ago regarding the Series S
Have had one of these for almost a year now..
Pros
Gamepass is great (especially buying via random countries with VPN for cheap)
1080p/1440p @ 60fps is great for the price
compact and near silent operation
price, $399 is crazy cheap
Cons
Limited storage (364GB Free)
Not 4K (but cant complain when there is a 4K option console)
ADS in the main UI with minimal customization
Expandable storage is pricey
Sorely lacking first party console exclusives
All in all, 8.5/10 would recommend
Wouldn't your last 3 cons apply to the X as well?
Yep, which is why I would recommend one of these :)
Expandable storage is less of a requirement with the Series X, so whilst that one technically still applies the difference is that additional storage is more or less mandatory with S unless you keep almost no games installed.
By ads do you mean suggestions for games/apps/movies in the store? or like actual corporate ads
It's just stuff that's on the xbox store - games, movies, discounts etc
Honestly wouldn't mind these too much since they're generally tailored to what you like. 100x better than samsung ads.
Additional cons not mentioned:
Yeah that too… no disc hurts when amazon has games like far cry 6 for cheap and its $59 on the store still..
Far Cry 6 was $39 on the Xbox Store last week.
I'm not sure if these apply given the S is really marketed towards use of the Game Pass more than anything else.
IMO, it's not worth getting unless the Game Pass has enough games that you like to keep you occupied. If it does, then this is a bargain.
If so, why is Microsoft trying to get a patent for an external disc drive for Series S (for disc game license check).
The quoted 4TFlops generally requires enhanced titles or patched titles is not important at all? Or, we are going to spin this one into a pro, since you don't need to download the high resolution asset files.
GamePass isn't an invincible card to hide cons for Series S. Forza Horizon 5 expansion 1 - Hot wheels is coming, if you just have GamePass Ultimate, you will not get to play that. We've been through that for Forza Horizon 4 (expansion packs not included in GamePass) already so I guess people are used to it by now. So, does GamePass Ultimate alone allow me to play first party exclusives I care about without any restriction? The answer is unfortunately no. I have purchased premium packs.
So Microsoft can continue to milk me for Forza Horizon series despite I have active GamePass Ultimate subscription. Since Forza games are time limited in GamePass, I generally buy them before they leave GamePass.
Since Forza games are time limited in GamePass, I generally buy them before they leave GamePass.
They're only time limited in the sense that when they are legally not allowed to distribute the game any more because of car and music licensing they remove them.
If so, why is Microsoft trying to get a patent for an external disc drive for Series S (for disc game license check).
They patent many things.
The quoted 4TFlops generally requires enhanced titles or patched titles is not important at all?
This doesn't even make any sense.
So, does GamePass Ultimate alone allow me to play first party exclusives I care about without any restriction?
Where does it say you can play all the games without any restrictions? You still get the games. If you want to play the add-ons then buy the add-ons.
@MrFunSocks: Sure, you will go with GamePass has so many games. However, I still have Red Dead Redemption 1 disc (which I paid $10). If Microsoft offered me a swap to digital version for free, then sure, no disc would be no issue. However, digital version of that game is still pretty expensive for some reason. Same goes for other XB1 games I have on discs.
Forza Horizon 3 was never on GamePass, even when the license hadn't run out. So how true was every first party exclusive would be in there? The expansion pack rule is inconsistent. For Gears 5, it is tiered, GamePass, no expansion, GamePass Ultimate, you get expansion. For Forza Horizon series, no expansion included. Question is, what will be the rules moving forward with Bethesda and Activision? How about the quality of life benefits of the premium packs in Forza Horizon series?
They're only time limited in the sense that when they are legally not allowed to distribute the game any more because of car and music licensing they remove them.
Isn't that aiding to my argument? I did write I buy them before they leave GamePass. To keep time limited first party exclusive games, I have to buy them before they leave Microsoft store. So, for me, I have to purchase every Forza Horizon game being a fan. It's actually the need to buy the premium packs (because I want the quality of life improvements) pretty much when the games are first available which is more annoying. Can Microsoft offer another special tier for Forza fans?
So with XBox Series S|X, it is GamePass and digital version or the high way? Not allow to complain about the pricing structure on Forza Horizon series?
Forza Horizon 3 was never on GamePass, even when the license hadn't run out. So how true was every first party exclusive would be in there?
Forza Horizon 3 released in 2016. Microsoft announced in 2018 that all future first party games will be on game pass day one. Go look at a calendar to find why you're wrong.
By the time Forza games licenses expire the games go on a huge sale on top of already being like 5 years old and cheap - I bought Forza 7 digitally for like $11 directly from the xbox store when they announced it was being delisted (and they gave about 3 months warning, maybe more).
You're trying too hard.
If so, why is Microsoft trying to get a patent for an external disc drive for Series S (for disc game license check).
Someone should tell them external optical disc drives are already a thing…
I'm still not sure about this. I've been hesitant to pull the trigger on a console since I use Game Pass on my laptop to TV and I'm not sure what immediate benefit the console actually provides existing XGP gamers… more titles? I don't know.
@chrisandrew: You get the console version, not the PC version. Some games don't release on PC. Xbox Live on Xbox is better than on PC, with bigger player bases for almost every game, and better/easier features.
@MrFunSocks: Cloud titles on PC and Android are X-Box console versions (presumably streamed from optimised XBSX hardware in the cloud) anyway, I believe.
I guess it's a benefit to have the console if a given title isn't cloud-enabled…I wonder what % of the available library is/is not cloud-enabled…
EDIT: I should have specified in my earlier comment that (due to hardware limitations of my laptop) I'm using XBGP exclusively for cloud gaming.
Last night, I actually sideloaded it onto my Chromecast w/Google TV per someone else's comment in this thread. It seems to work well and eliminates laptop tethering. However, it looks like the max resolution may be capped via this method as its the Android APK.
I was about to jump on this deal before checking prices for digital games.
F1 2021 disc at Harvey Norman is $22, but to buy a digital copy from Microsoft Store is $99 despite the new one coming out this week.
Can’t bring myself to get one seeing those prices.
I think F1 2021 is in GamePass through EA Play (the lowest tier of EA Play is included in GamePass).
https://www.xbox.com/en-AU/games/store/f1-2021/9N6J02VPG635/…
F1 2021 is in GamePass (through EA Play) and is also in X-Cloud. So assuming the $1 deal is available, you could even try it on a PC, mobile or tablet.
If you don't want to get Game Pass or EA Play, the EA games go on special all the time. I bought F1 2020 on the store last year for about $25.
can you add a usb drive to the series S to play movie files (like you can with the xbox one with disk drive)
yes
Want one
Want 360
Not the cheapest price… was $364.65 with Afterpay at one point: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/634479
Best price in the past year anyway! :)
Valid point!
I cannot believe 1 year past and this is STILL somehow the price
Check the used market. Seen it for as low as 250 bucks.
These things are both great and also frustrating. Once a while, you'll find a game that won't utilise hardware properly. Comes with the territory of console games, I guess, but games like soul cal 6 is too blurry.
You might be able to get it cheaper than that with gift cards etc.
I think I paid $325 for mine last year with all the bnpl promos ($50 off $150 with HN / JM / DM)
Is devmode still accessible for my legal game backups?
If you mean emulation, yes dev mode is still available.
But you don’t even need dev mode at all https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/693927
If you mean backups of Xbox games, dev mode doesn’t enable that.
Yeah emulation was what I meant. Thanks!
Don't need dev mode, I'm running in retail on my x
If you had half decent internet I'd wait for them to release a dedicated streaming box for Game Pass before picking up a Series S.
Input lag entered that comments (even with FTTP).
I don’t play online but doom eternal I felt was very playable on a wifi connection (1000/40 abb)
I reckon my daughter could play Minecraft pretty comfortably over a stream… I’ve tried it out and it’s not to bad but I still much prefer playing a game on the console.
I've played online multiplayer shooters (Halo Infinite, Gears 5) and racers (Forza Horizon 5) via XCloud and had no problems finishing top of the scoreboard. I'm on 100/40 and the latency is almost imperceptible. Your mileage will vary, but for me it has been better than I ever thought it would be. I get < 15ms ping to their servers.
Maybe because everything is smooth to you and jittery to other players they can't shoot you
@TEER3X: That’s not how streaming works. From other players’ perspectives they’ll have great ping because the actual hardware is hosted in a MS data centre.
@TEER3X: Nah, to other players I'm basically playing on the server so I'll have the lowest possible lag out of everyone.
@MrFunSocks: Yeah I was joking
it makes sense if will implemented
If you're getting 15ms to the actual game servers (eg a specific halo infinite server), then that's lightning fast
If you know that Game Pass is all you will ever use, then it's great.
Otherwise, you'll be spewing having to spend RRP on some brand new games on release. Unless you're patient of course.
you can also buy keys from places like cdkeys etc. works fine
i buy digital keys online all the time through various sites
https://www.xbox-now.com/en/game-comparison discord is the BEST
+1 for this
How do you buy through Discord or are you part of a group?
If u have google chromecast tv with game pass subscription this is not really necessary IMAO
Is Chromecast TV supported for xbox cloud gaming? (I gather that's what you mean).
Are you sideloading the app? How well does it work?
The alternative, is buying a Nvidia Shield Pro (from harvey norman right now @ $248) - with more versatility
I sideloaded and works great. Bit of lag once in a moon.
I subscribed 3 months for a $1.
May be because I'm not a gamer, would love to play car race and kill zombies once a while when I get time. This is great for me.
Which app do you sideload, it was slow for me
@Azif: this is interesting, because you have some people say it works great, then others say not great. perhaps due to internet connectivity.
I've also tried the PC web-browser (using the $1 trial) and agree - works surprisingly well! not noticeable lag, at least for a non-hardcore gamer (using 100mbit line with 16ms latency via speedtest)
But not all games on XBox cloud.
tempted but i wouldn't use it for xbox S games, i would install retroarch on it (non dev mode available now).. or maybe the nvidia shield at half the price.. mmm..
Some have pointed out that this doesnt have a disc drive - obviously a big issue if you buy, play, sell games. However, if you are like me and love the fact that you dont need to swap discs when using digital games, id highly suggest you join the xbox-one discord and buy keys from sellers there. https://www.xbox-now.com/en/game-comparison
Is buying from another country straightforward? Any issues?
The best/cheapest method is do join their discord, request a price from a seller (typically based in turkey or argentina), they pm you a price with a payment method (normally paypal family), and then they send you the download code. They are effectively "gifting" the game to you. Just need to hop onto a VPN (free ones work) and add it to your account. No messing around with countries/accounts etc needed.
So long as they're not using stolen credit cards to "gift" you the game. In which case you're putting your Xbox account at risk.
@JuryWheel: There's examples all over Reddit.
eg.
https://www.reddit.com/r/xboxone/comments/8ulwxp/how_two_inn…
Basically, it depends how legit the key seller is. Personally, I wouldn't be trusting some random dudes on Discord.
@PainToad: I think that is very very very rare…..the benefit with the discord method is that i buy from the same 1-3 guys over and over again but it certainly isnt for everyone!
Get a Series X. This is still overpriced at $400 IMO given the long list of downsides of this model and if you play anything other than “free” games on GP this will likely cost you more in the long run since you’re locked in to buying those games digitally at higher prices.
Yer, it’s about the same price. Right?!
I really don't wanna offend anyone but please ppl just save your money get the X
I think it really just depends on the use case. Personally, this is connected to a smaller tv (under 50 inch), not a 4k screen, i mainly play gamepass games and if i do want to play a game that isnt on it, i would normally wait for a discount. I would also rather not play via disc due to kids playing around with them.
In on a 1080p 144 hz monitor and never buy dics I have smooth frame rates and low input lag it's crisp but I couldn't imagine have only 33% of the power and half the storage future proof yourself ppl don't just palm off crap to your kids
"palm off crap" - you are talking to someone whose Switch is their most played console by far. Again, different strokes for different folks
@JuryWheel: Apples and oranges all Nintendo units are shit but we have no choice because there games are fun i have a switch OLED btw
Hard to get an objective view on this, especially if the person providing the view owns a Series X, a Series S or both. Given Series X (like the XB1X) can do FSAA from 4K down to 1080p when the display is 1080p, it's not completely without benefit even if you connect to a 1080p screen. Obviously, most of the time, you probably won't notice it on a smaller tv. However, the higher chance to get 60fps in older games could be a factor. The 1TB SSD makes it slightly more manageable without the expansion storage.
Yes, Series S has its place, but it doesn't really feel next gen (though technically, we should be referring to it as current gen by now). And, do bear in mind, when people recommend get Series X, they are basically also indicating: you are worth it.
Too late already butt hurt someone ok enjoy half the storage a third of the graphics power and no disc options which removes any trade ins for future purchases.
Lol yeah my comment saying much the same thing is copping downvotes too. The Series S is poor value and grossly deficient compared to a Series X.
I don't know what's wrong with these sook's it doesn't affect me in any way I have 2 series X units just trying to help people
@BiG BoY: "Just trying to help people" - i think maybe just put your case forward and leave it at that. I think everyone is well aware that the console that is basically twice the price is more powerful and has larger storage. As i have said, i think the Series S really suits lots of buyers - ESPECIALLY ones like families with young kids who havent had an XBOX before and dont want to buy 10-15 AAA $70+ games each year, and would rather stick to a yearly gamepass sub. I dont think anyone is "butthurt", they just recognise that their is value in both consoles - especially at this price.
@JuryWheel: Why down vote facts if your not butt hurt simply put stop being a tight ass and buy the proper one so you don't regret it later take it or leave it
stop being a tight ass
Maybe they’re not a tight ass?
Maybe the S suits their use case?
Maybe they have more important things to spend their money on than video games to justify $750 on a console?
Maybe the S is all they can afford and it will still make them and their kids happy?
I have an X, but that’s because I had some gift cards to use I had received as a present and used the cash back deal. Otherwise, there’s no way in hell I would of spent $750 on a video game console in my 30s.
My main issue with the S is the inability to play my old OG, 360 and One disks. If I was new to the Xbox ecosystem I would of considered the S.
@PainToad: Maybe they don't have a idea and they think a Xbox is a Xbox it's advice from someone who's knows
@JuryWheel: Series S is good enough for some people, but again, it is relative. Series X is better and by going Series S, you remain in the S path.
For some OZBers previously on the One X path, they took advantage of the EB trade in offer when Series X launched, basically paid the $100 deposit, then traded in One X and some old games (& maybe extra controller(s)) to cover the rest of the console. The guy who was next to me doing that trade in, walked out with an additional $900 EB World credit (obviously he had lots of games to trade in with the extra bonus).
The One X to Series X upgrade path / deal did feel better than the One S to Series S deal at the time.
With this gen of consoles, so far, what we are experiencing is mostly quality of life improvements. We are still in the cross gen phase, so Series S feels fine. When more titles start to take advantage of the hardware, could Series S suffer the same fate as One S?
@netsurfer: Good enough depends on who you are for the people who don't know much I say the X is good enough better future proof purchase
Waiting for Amazon price match