The wait is over, folks! The Xbox One S was finally launched today in India to an overwhelming response from the crowd. The launch event was held in Microsoft’s cosy yet classy office in Gurgaon, where a horde of gamers had shown up to experience the new console first-hand. We had also been invited to witness the Xbox One S in action, and needless to say, it’s quite impressive. Without further ado, let’s get right to it.
In terms of design and looks, the Xbox One S is simply stunning. The console is about 40% smaller than the original Xbox One, and looks twice as better. One of the biggest and the most welcome change is that it comes with a built-in power supply, so you can say goodbye to that hefty power brick. The chassis comes in a classy white finish with black highlights, with the backlight Xbox logo sitting on the front side towards the left. It feels quite premium, and the compact body means it looks great when vertically too. It’s sleeker, slimmer and sharper. Not to mention edgy AF (see what I did there?)
A major upgrade that the new console adds over the original is support for 4K UHD video playback, meaning that when you’re not busy playing something, you’ll be equally busy watching your favourite TV shows on Netflix. Not to mention, there’s HDR support as well, which means titles like Forza, Gears of War and Halo are going to look A LOT better. And these are some great looking titles to begin with.
Personally, what I love the most about the Xbox One S is the controller that comes with it. It is hands down the best controller I’ve used yet. I’ve always been a fan of Microsoft controllers, be it the 360 controller or the Xbox One controller, but this one here, with a textured grip and improved connectivity feels simply amazing. It fits easily in your hands and is really comfortable to hold even for long periods of time, meaning that you can sit for hours and play without discomfort. I mean, just look at those glorious curves.
At the launch event we played Battlefield 1, Gears of War and Forza Horizon 3. I kinda suck when it comes to aiming with a controller, so my attention was mostly on Forza, but the games looked gorgeous, and it was incredible to see all the people go head-to-head with each other. Also, there was a tournament in Forza Horizon 3, and the top 3 scorers got to take the Xbox One S home! Now that’s how you launch a new console. A full review of the Xbox One S will be coming soon, so stay tuned!
For those looking to buy the Xbox One S, it’s available on Amazon for INR 29990 (500 GB) and INR 34990 (1 TB).
