Should you buy an XBox Series S?

Microsoft's next gen consoles have launched, and while the majority of them have sold out globally, the company says more are on the way, as gamers scrabble to join the future of their hobby.

But should you choose the digital version?

The design: There's no denying the cuteness of the XBox Series S. Its sleek white thin design is one of the smallest consoles on the market. While some mocked its big black fan that sits on one side of it, making it look like the kind of turntable a FJ may have had in the 80s, its minimal appearance means it can sit comfortably in any home entertainment unit, and not look out of place. Better than the PlayStation 5's new look and the almost monolithic XBox Series X, the S is easily the design winner of the next gen launches.

The controller: Bit of a disappointment this one. Not only does it look like the last gen's controller, there's no real feeling it's been adapted for the next generation, which is massively underwhelming. While it does feel chunky, and not in any way clunky, the insistence on pursuing a battery-led solution for power feels more 2010 than 2020. And even though the batteries last for a long time, there will still come a time when the ominous empty battery logo will appear on screen.

The start-up and set up: Easy as to do, thanks to using the XBox app, the console can be up and running in moments alone once out of the box. There's a simplicity that's easy to appreciate here. It's noticeably quicker to power up than its last gen brothers, with a nice melting logo coming to life on the screen. And all you have to do is press the XBox button and away you go.

The HUD: Again, this feels slightly underwhelming for a next gen console. It's essentially the same as the last generation in terms of look and feel. You negotiate your way around as usual, and never the twain shall meet. It's still simple and clean, easy to use, and concentrated more on ensuring you can just get on and play. But it doesn't have any next gen bells and whistles.

Load times: They're a bit quicker admittedly, but most people won't really notice, as there's an expectation you launch a game and you're into it. It's not rocket science, but there is a noticeable difference when the custom SSD kicks in and makes sure you're at your destination rather than fiddling on your phone while you wait. Long term, as the games get bigger, and the graphics quality pushes the load times, you'll see a difference.

The storage: This is perhaps another minor issue with the "lesser" version of the console. With only 364GB of the 512GB available for use, the console's somewhat stymied by the lack of space to store games. It's even more noticeable when you remember this is a digital-only console and you can't pop out a game disc to load up later. And given some games these days are upto 150GB (Call of Duty, Destiny), this is a stinger that can't really be sweetened by the use of an external drive.

The games: Bit of a double-edged sword this one. Unless you have an aversion to launch titles. Whilst the last gen launched with a new Halo, and a range of other titles (Ryse: Son of Rome, Zoo Tycoon- all part of the 23 strong launch bunch back in 2014), this latest has launched on XBox at least with not a one. It's massively disappointing, and while Halo was delayed, it does make you wonder why a launch title couldn't have been procured. Most of the titles on the next gen are about upgrades - so if you already own it, then you can update to the next gen version. Watch Dogs: Legion and Assassin's Creed: Valhalla launched near to the XBox Series S launch, so that's an easy crossover. 

Where the digital XBox Series S comes into its own is with the Game Pass subscription. Essentially an instant library, the 100-plus titles will grow as time goes. And the fact you can use these titles anywhere across PC and XBox means Microsoft is positioning itself strongly as an enabler, not a destination for games, which is a big thing for the coming years.

Overall, if you're wanting to join the next generation, then the XBox Series S feels like a nice starter level entrant. It's becoming clearer that Microsoft is looking beyond traditional gaming models, from the use of its GamePass to the crossplay elements with PC and XBox, so perhaps in a strange way, the consoles themselves are becoming gradually redundant. 

While download times are still way too long on a XBox (even with fibre, some titles take upwards of a day to download), the pros just about outweigh the cons with the XBox Series S - that is, if you can find one before Christmas.