Here's where you can preorder your Xbox Series S today - CNET

Microsoft has changed the gaming-platform calculus. Until recently, you probably assumed you'd be plunking down $500 for an Xbox Series X, but now there's a potentially more attractive option, especially if you don't have a 4K TV: The Xbox Series S will set US gamers back a much more modest $300. Xbox preorders are now underway.    

Read more: Here's where you can preorder your Xbox Series X for $500  

The Series S is a digital-only (no optical drive) console that packs less power under the hood (mainly because it doesn't support native 4K resolution like the Series X) and promises to be a much better deal for most gamers. Check out CNET's comparison of the two consoles for more details. 

There's been a lot of news that might affect your console purchase decision. GameStop is running a deal in which you can get up to $200 in trade-in credit when you buy an Xbox Series X or Series S. Your old Xbox One X or PS4 Pro is worth $200, for example, while trading in a 500GB Xbox One can lop $100 off the price of your new Xbox. At the same time, Microsoft is inviting you to buy your next console more like a smartphone -- on an installment plan. As a part of Xbox All Access, you can get a Series S for $25 per month for 24 months, no up-front cost. 

And if you're still on the fence between the Xbox and PS5, you should know that Microsoft has just announced a deal to buy ZeniMax Media, the parent of Bethesda Studios. Should the deal close as planned, it would make Microsoft the owner of Doom, Fallout, Skyrim and other A-list franchises. It's currently unclear how that will affect the future gaming landscape, but it could mean the Xbox getting future Bethesda games first -- or maybe getting them exclusively, or seeing them fast-tracked to Xbox Game Pass. There are a lot of possibilities, to be sure.  

Ready to lay down some plastic and preorder? You can choose from among a half dozen retailers. We'll be keeping track of these stores and updating their status below.

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