Microsoft with the new Xbox Series S Starter Bundle

Microsoft has announced a new bundle for the Xbox Series S console, which will be available on October 31st for €299.99. Pre-orders are now available at Microsoft Store, which also applies to European users.

Xbox Series S – Starter Bundle includes a 512GB Xbox Series S console, a three-month subscription to the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate cloud platform, and a wireless controller.

The bundle looks pretty attractive at first glance. The Xbox Series S is normally available for just $299. Microsoft said that three months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is a value of $50 – compared to the regular monthly price. The subscription automatically renews at the current regular monthly price unless you cancel early.

Microsoft will be looking to sell as many Xbox consoles as possible in the key holiday quarter and is desperately chasing Sony's rival PlayStation 5. In July, Microsoft reported a 13 percent year-over-year decline in revenue from its Xbox hardware, which it blamed on a general decline in consumer spending around the world.

Those numbers worry Microsoft as the Xbox Series X and S approach their third anniversary. Recently, leaked documents revealed that Microsoft doesn't expect to start production of its next-gen consoles until 2028. Big plans for this cloud-focused Xbox, also in 2028, have also been revealed.

Before that, they plan to refresh the Xbox Series X and S generations in August and October 2024. We can expect Microsoft to complete its acquisition of Activision Blizzard studios for $69 billion before then, making it the maker of Call of Duty, World of Warcraft and Candy games. Crush took under his wing. Activision Blizzard said they don't expect games like Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 and Diablo 4 to come to Game Pass this year. But they said they plan to launch their games in early 2024.