Telstra brings Xbox All Access to Australia but without Scarlett next gen console upgrade option

Microsoft’s new Xbox All Access payment plan was officially announced today as coming to Australia, the UK, and the US over the next few weeks.

The program is pretty cool as it allows consumers to obtain and Xbox One S or Xbox One X console immediately and pay it off in monthly payments as they would a mobile phone plan. What’s particularly interesting is that those that select the Xbox One X console plan have the option to upgrade to the next gen Xbox console launching in late-2020 that’s currently going by the codename, Project Scarlett. This is a very clever way to make sure the launch of the next console has an even larger install base than it does already… but this option is only available in the UK and US.

Upon inspecting the official Xbox All Access page on the Telstra website, the exclusion of any reference to a next gen upgrade option becomes obvious. Also notable is the lack of any plan for the Xbox One S All-Digital console.

Australian gamers were quick to ask the official local Xbox Twitter account about the absent upgrade option and were quickly told that plans relating to an upgrade option, if it happens at all, will be shared next year.

We will share more news on upgrade options and offers for new and existing customers early next year.

— Xbox ANZ (@XboxANZ) October 29, 2019

It’s unclear why Telstra isn’t offering any plan for the Xbox One S All-Digital console, though an entirely likely reason could simply be that internet data plans and speeds in Australia are pretty awful and Telstra, despite being one of the major telco’s in Australia with a history of partnering with Microsoft, probably doesn’t want to be on the receiving end of numerous complaints from customers about slow download speeds and people reaching their monthly data caps after downloading a single game.

Are you an Australian disappointed by the lack of an upgrade or Xbox One S All-Digital plan? Let us know in the comments below and then follow us on Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook for more Xbox news.