Cheaper Xbox One Console Without Disc Drive Is Doing The Rumour Mill

Are Microsoft About To Release A Cheaper Xbox One?
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Update: Microsoft has now denied the reports:

Priced out of the latest games console releases and their £400 plus asking prices?

Well, Microsoft might be about to ship a cheaper version of its flagship Xbox One machine.

A number of sources claim a $399 (£244) version without an optical disc drive could be set to ship out.

VG247, CVG, The Verge and NeoGaf all cite "reliable" or "well-respected" persons who say it is the case.

However, Microsoft have yet to confirm and there are no rumours about a UK release date or price.

Xbox One Buyer's Guide
Xbox One FIFA 14 Special Edition(01 of06)
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If you're going to spend £429 on an Xbox One, you may as well chuck in an extra £20 and get a copy of FIFA 14 - which is brilliant - to go along with it. For more details on the package in the box, check out our full review.
Xbox Live(02 of06)
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A 12-month subscription to Xbox Live Gold costs £32.99, but gets you access to online gaming, all of the decent streaming and media apps, Skype, online video clip sharing and much more. It's great value, and it's going to get better once Microsoft brings its 'Games on Gold' promotion over to the One. Meanwhile, you can use the same subscription on the Xbox 360.
Samsung F8000 46-Inch TV(03 of06)
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This is the best telly we've ever tested in person, with amazing picture quality and genuinely useful Smart TV features. It's an excellent screen on which to play the Xbox One, and its range of included catch-up apps plugs the gaps in the One's app line-up at launch. The only problem? The price - which is about £1,450 for the 46-inch model.
Additional Xbox One Controller(04 of06)
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For another £45 you're getting the chance to play FIFA 14 side-by-side on the couch. If you've got a friend prepared to play you, it should be a no-brainer.
Turtle Beach X04(05 of06)
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The Xbox One has an included headset, but it's weedy and feels cheap. If you're serious about getting the best sound and voice performance from your console, go for the best pair of Turtle Beaches you can get. At £99 the X04 are a good compromise between price (which can get insane) and performance.
Apple TV(06 of06)
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On first boot you might feel obliged to plug your Sky or TV box into the Xbox One's HDMI-input. But while you should definitely make use of that great feature - which lets you jump from live TV to games and back in seconds - you might want to consider keeping your TV where it is and using the input for something else instead. Everything from other consoles to Roku boxes will work, but we recommend an Apple TV. With its Airplay integration, access to iOS photo and home movie apps, and a great range of movie rental services, it's a natural complement to the Xbox One until more apps are released for the console itself. And it's only £99.