Discless Xbox “Maverick” could arrive as soon as May

Enlarge / Prepare to say goodbye to this slot... (credit: Sam Machkovech)

A download-only Xbox One that doesn't include a Blu-ray optical drive could be on the market very soon.

Windows Central reports that the device, codenamed "Maverick" and carrying the pithy branding "Xbox One S All-Digital Edition," will be available for pre-order in April, with hardware shipping in May. Pricing hasn't leaked, but the removal of the optical drive should make it the cheapest Xbox One yet.

The discless Xbox has been rumored for a while. Online purchases and direct downloads have long been a part of the Xbox platform, and Microsoft has recently been taking advantage of the freedom that ditching physical media gives with the Xbox Game Pass, which offers access to dozens of downloaded games in return for a monthly fee. The cost of this flexibility is a greater dependence on Internet connectivity and the end of the ability to resell second-hand physical media.

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