Insider claims new Xbox consoles now in doubt after price increases spark criticism

Despite fading interest in its hardware, Microsoft had insisted that new consoles were on the way. However, according to an insider, the company may now be rethinking its future. SneakersSO predicted Microsoft’s shift toward becoming a multi-platform publisher. Following another price increase on the Series X|S, he claims retailers have also lost confidence in Xbox consoles.

On the NeoGAF forums, SneakersSO explains how “suddenly, really concrete plans for actual MS Xbox HW went from being definitive, to up in the air”. In 2024, a leaked email from Xbox President Sarah Bond raised expectations for a Series X successor. The “next-generation hardware” discussed by Bond may have also included an Xbox handheld, besides the Asus-made ROG Xbox Ally.

When Microsoft announced a partnership with AMD in June, it also suggested that a new Xbox console was inevitable. Nevertheless, SneakersSO believes that the company has abandoned plans that had been progressing. Gamers could still see Microsoft working with third parties on gaming systems. Even so, its focus would be on publishing on other consoles, Xbox Game Pass, and cloud gaming.

Retailers are showing a lack of faith in Xbox consoles

The leaker sees Costco’s abandonment of Xbox hardware as more than a temporary setback. With the price of five-year-old consoles rising, buyers struggle to find value in the systems. Likewise, discount chains would hesitate to stock even more expensive newer consoles. There is no evidence that Sony has delayed the PS6, but tariff concerns may make it challenging to attract buyers.

SneakersSO has a limited track record that justifies skepticism. Still, if he is correct, Microsoft would be following the advice of past executives. Laura Fryer was one of several former employees to declare Xbox hardware dead. She argues that without exclusive games, a new Xbox console would serve no purpose. The Activision Blizzard acquisition was another indication of changing priorities.