Xbox Series S leaked with $299 price, Microsoft responds

What you need to know

• Xbox Series S console design has leaked.
• The leak also reveals a possible $299 price tag.
• Xbox Series S will launch alongside Xbox Series X later this year.

Update, September 8 (3:18 a.m. ET) — Microsoft unveils Xbox Series S with $299 price tag

Microsoft has responded to recent reports, officially unveiling the Xbox Series S with a $299 retail price in the U.S. The company states the next-generation console comes in its "smallest" footprint to date, with more details to come "soon."

A leaked render has revealed the design and price of Microsoft's unnanounced and upcoming Xbox Series S, a cheaper next-generation alternative to the Xbox Series X. The console's appearance is somewhat more traditional, featuring a slightly flatter design when laid horizontally.

The console is white, and features a black cooling grill in the top portion of the unit when standing upright. It has a USB-A port on the front, and while it's hard to see in the render itself, our sources have confirmed that Xbox Series S does not have a disk drive.

In addition to the design, the leaked render also reveals that the console will cost $299 when it launches later this year. That should undercut the upcoming PlayStation 5 considerably, and allow Microsoft to price the Xbox Series X higher to accomodate for the additional GPU power.

Xbox Series S is just one part of Microsoft's next generation console strategy. The company is also launching the Xbox Series X, a more powerful, more expensive option for die-hard Xbox gamers who want the most power they can get in a console. Pricing has not yet officially been revealed for the Xbox Series X, but my sources tell me it will cost $499.

What are your thoughts on the Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X designs? Let us know in the comments.