Rumor: Microsoft will release Xbox One console without disc tray in 2019

Microsoft will reportedly release an updated console next year that will no longer have a disc drive. It would be an Xbox One of the current generation; the future Xbox of the new generation is not expected before 2020.

The Thurott website reports that multiple sources, who are said to be familiar with Microsoft’s plans, have said that Microsoft plans to release an Xbox One in 2019 without a tray for physical discs. Microsoft’s goal is to bring the costs down for the console considerably; it could potentially go down by up to $100. It’s not clear yet if the new console will actually come out, but if it does, it could reportedly happen in Spring 2019.

The fact that the new console no longer offers space for physical discs should not be a problem for Xbox gamers who have a large collection of physical games. For them there will be a so-called ‘disc-to-digital’ program, with which the physical games can be converted into digital downloads.

Whether these plans of removing the disc tray will also make its way to the new, future Xbox console is unclear. This project of the new Xbox would be codenamed Scarlett and it may involve two consoles: a regular console that performs the calculations locally and a cheaper box that uses Microsoft’s upcoming game streaming service.