Xbox One S release date: New, slimmer console will arrive on 2 August, Microsoft says

Pre-orders have already opened for the £349.99 console

Microsoft displays its Xbox One S console at the Xbox E3 2016 media briefing in Los Angeles, California, U.S., June 13, 2016 (REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson)

Xbox has finally announced the release date for its new Xbox One S.

The slimmer, much improved console will go on sale from 2 August, the company has said.

But not everyone might want to buy the new console, since Microsoft has already teased that a new “Project Scorpio” Xbox will be launched next Autumn. That console will feature huge amounts of power that will allow it to play virtual reality games.

Pre-orders for the console have already opened, and all that have already been made will be shipped before that date. They are still open, and the new console can be ordered for £349.99.

In the US, the Xbox One S will cost $399. It will arrive in “select regions”, including the US and the UK, at the beginning of August.

In all markets, only the 2TB launch edition of the console will be available at launch. The 1TB and 500GB version of the console will sell for £299.99 and £249.99, and Microsoft said it would announce when they would be available soon.

Microsoft released a new teaser trailer for the console alongside the announcement of the release date. The new video shows little about the console itself – beyond another look at its design – but includes a round-up of some of the features that will come with it.

The Xbox One S is 40 per cent smaller than the original Xbox One. It also adds support for 4K and HDR videos.

Alongside the new features, Microsoft will ship the new Xbox with the updated wireless controller, which has a textured grip and a better wireless signal for pairing with the Xbox. That controller will be available separately for £49.99 and will be released on the same date.