All-Digital Edition
The All-Digital Edition
The Xbox One S All-Digital Edition is a variant of the One S that ships without an optical drive. Microsoft released it as a lower-cost, download-only console. For homebrew, it behaves almost exactly like a standard One S.
What Is Different
- No disc drive. You cannot play disc-based games or movies, and you cannot rip your own discs for backup.
- Same internals otherwise. The processor, graphics, HDR support, and Dev Mode behavior match the regular One S.
Because there is no drive, any guide step that involves discs simply does not apply. This does not block Dev Mode, sideloading, or emulation in any way.
Homebrew Impact
Dev Mode activates and runs the same as on a disc-equipped One S. You sideload apps through Device Portal, store games and ROMs on USB or internal storage, and run emulators identically. The missing drive only matters if your workflow depended on optical media.
Identifying It
The All-Digital Edition has a flat front face with no slot and no eject button. If you see no disc opening, you have this model.
In short, the All-Digital Edition is a fully capable homebrew machine. Plan around USB and network transfers rather than discs and you lose nothing on the software side.