"By releasing it at an affordable $300, the same price as a Switch and somehow cheaper than a PlayStation 4, the Series S was the best machine for those who just wanted to play some games in their free time. Sure, the comparatively less capable Series S caught flak from some in the development community. But ultimately, it was a machine that benefited customers."
"Convenience was the real star of the show in the first few months. Smart Delivery ensured the best version of a game was available at no extra cost or steps, regardless of which version you bought. When upgrading a PlayStation 4 game to its PlayStation 5 version meant spending extra money or complicated multi-step processes, Smart Delivery was a real difference maker."
Gaming popularity surged during a global crisis, creating an opening for Xbox after Xbox One missteps. The Xbox Series X and S delivered a powerful, gaming-focused reboot with two distinct models: the high-end Series X and the affordable, all-digital Series S priced at $300. The Series S appealed to casual players and returned lapsed gamers by offering convenience and value despite developer criticisms. Smart Delivery provided seamless upgrades to the best game versions at no extra cost, differentiating Xbox from more costly or complex upgrade paths. Over five years, mixed messaging, price hikes, and identity shifts have eroded the initial promise to customers.
Read at Inverse
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