The original Xbox One was first released almost five years ago. Since then, the system has seen numerous iterations that aimed at either improving the hardware or making the console more affordable. Although Microsoft fully admitted back at E3 that they are already working on a next-generation console, it seems the company is not quite done with the Xbox One yet.
According to tech enthusiast website Thurrott, Microsoft is currently working on a new Xbox One console that will not have a disc drive. This digital-only console is reportedly slated to arrive in 2019 and will carry a smaller price tag. Buying into the current generation of Xbox One systems will run you about $299, although some Black Friday bundles are seeing temporary prices as low as $199.
This new disc-less Xbox One will provide a more permanent price tag of $200 or less. Microsoft has been keen on a digital-only future with a focus on streaming, so this really isn't much of a surprise. Even the original Xbox One flirted with the idea of an always-on connected functionality, which they scrapped almost immediately based on consumer backlash. Over the years, it seems gamers have since warmed up to the idea of digital-only, so perhaps Microsoft is willing to test the waters once again.