The problem is that the original Xbox One S is just as good at being a digital gaming machine. Simply selling the same console with air where the optical unit used to go is a bad look, as there's no saving in physical space (in fact the console is larger than the Xbox One X, disc drive and all) and the saving in price is almost negligible. If the All-Digital was smaller, sleeker, significantly cheaper or added a built-in SSD drive, it might be attractive to those who don't mind giving up discs, but as it is paying a little extra for the disc option is a no-brainer.

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I've long since given up buying physical discs for the convenience of digital, but even I get use out of my Xbox's optical drive from time to time. For example it's a fine player of everything from CDs to 4K Blu-Rays, and you can insert certain older Xbox and Xbox 360 discs in order to download them to the machine without buying them again.

Sure these are not vital aspects of the console, but it goes to show that you only lose options for entertainment by dropping the disc drive, without gaining anything.

This is all compounded by the fact that, though the console seems designed to pair with Game Pass, it doesn't come with a subscription included. Instead it comes with downloadable copies of Sea of Thieves, Forza Horizon 3 and Minecraft. Great games, but all more than a year old and all already included in Game Pass, which you'll almost definitely be paying for if you're thinking of buying a digital-only Xbox.

Even if $350 is as far as your budget can go, the All-Digital isn't the best option. Currently you can get a 500GB Xbox One S on Amazon Australia for $268. Add a 500GB USB 3.0 hard drive and three or four months of Game Pass, and you'd have everything the All-Digital Edition offers, plus access to hundreds more games, plus a disc drive, for the same price.

Still, while it's tough to think of a scenario in which the All-Digital Edition makes sense right now, that's not to say it won't ultimately be a success. It's still a great console at heart, so with a significant price drop or a bundle with Game Pass (or, eventually, Xcloud), it could be very appealing as a no-fuss way to get access to all of Microsoft's games on day one, plus the huge back-catalogue. Assuming, that is, that similar bundles and price drops aren't also made available for the original Xbox One S.

The Xbox One S All-Digital Edition will be available in Australia from August 1.