Just a few days ago, Amazon accidentally revealed that Microsoft was working on upgrading its latest console. Now, just days before E3 takes over the gaming industry, Microsoft is confirming the rumors: a new, 1 terabyte model of the Xbox One is on its way.
Whether or not the announcement is in response to the leak or if Microsoft had planned on revealing it early all along is something only the publisher knows - either way, there's plenty of reasons to get excited about this latest hardware update. At first, it might sound like there's nothing really new about the system, save for increased storage space - but Microsoft is sneaking some other significant upgrades in on top of the bigger hard drive.
Of course, that's not to say that the hard drive isn't important: while more casual gamers might not run out of storage space all that quickly, players who want to keep their entire library installed on the console at once quickly realized that a 500 GB console just wouldn't be enough. Games are huge these days, and they need the storage space to match - thankfully, the 1TB model should fix those issues. At double the space, gamers shouldn't have much trouble keeping the vast majority of their library installed and ready-to-play.
While Microsoft may not be talking about the system's other upgrades quite as much, they're still significant: for instance, players have been stuck using Microsoft's Xbox One headset since launch, but that's finally about to change. The updated version of the console's controller now features a 3.5MM headphone jack, meaning that any microphone with the appropriate plug will work with the Xbox One controller.
The new controller won't be exclusive to the new system, either: Microsoft revealed that the new Matte Black controller, along with the 'Special Forces' model, will be available to purchase on their own. If you've been waiting for an excuse to ditch Microsoft's headset, now's your chance.
You might be thinking to yourself, "But what about the older version of the Xbox? Will it still be available?" The answer is a definite yes: while the 1TB model of the Xbox One will debut at the standard $400 price point, Microsoft's 500GB model will be permanently discounted to $350. For most gamers, spending the extra $50 for double the storage space will be worth it - but for more casual gamers (or those with lighter wallets), having the cheaper option available is a nice bonus.
Microsoft has been talking non-stop about how this year's E3 will be the biggest showing the company's ever had - and if the publisher is kicking things off with a new console reveal, they might actually be able to back those claims up.
You'll be able to see everything Microsoft has planned when E3 2015 begins next week.
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