With GTA 6, next-gen exclusives, and a console comeback on the horizon, Xbox risks sitting on the sidelines — here’s why

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Throughout this console generation, one persistent challenge for Xbox has been underperforming hardware sales. However, since its launch, the Xbox Series X|S has managed impressive sales figures, sometimes surpassing the PlayStation 5’s numbers in the United States as reported by Circana.

In the beginning, Xbox frequently claimed the top spot in sales during the holiday season. Yet, this early success didn’t last long.

Initially, the launch of PS5 was marred by significant stock shortages. However, after addressing supply problems, the situation improved. On the other hand, sales of Xbox Series X|S have experienced a steady decline for more than two years now, with nearly constant quarterly drops since their release.

In the fiscal quarter 3 of 2023, Xbox experienced a temporary boost in hardware expansion due to an increase in supply and demand stimulated by the pandemic.

Currently, you can purchase the Xbox Series X from Amazon for $598.99 and the Series S at $429.99. However, it’s important to note that supply across the globe, particularly in Europe and Asia, is fluctuating, making availability somewhat uncertain.

Alongside increasing costs due to tariffs enacted under the Trump administration, the Xbox Series X is now priced approximately $100 higher than its equivalent PlayStation 5.

It’s no surprise that Xbox’s hardware sales have been consistently decreasing for over two years. However, the upcoming year might introduce some significant improvements. The question remains: Will Xbox effectively take advantage of these changes, or has the opportunity passed them by already?

Developers are finally abandoning the Xbox One and PS4

Over the last several weeks (and indeed for a longer period), we’ve seen an increasing number of games transition away from previous generation consoles.

Compared to their predecessors, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 consoles have experienced an unusual amount of stickiness. The shared x86 architecture between these two consoles makes it simpler to release updates for multiple versions of a single game. Furthermore, the proliferation of service games has kept gamers engaged on older systems for longer periods than was typical with Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 during their time.

If an individual primarily utilizes their console for gaming experiences such as FIFA, Fortnite, Roblox, Minecraft, and others that run smoothly on older consoles, what benefits would they gain from upgrading?

Well, increasingly, they may soon have no choice.

Popular multiplayer games such as PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, Genshin Impact, Rust, Hunt: Showdown, and others have made the decision to stop providing updates for their versions on PlayStation 4 (PS4) and Xbox One platforms. For instance, PUBG will no longer offer support for PS4 and Xbox One starting November 13, 2025, while Genshin Impact is ending its support for PS4 later this year. Even upcoming games in well-known series like Battlefield 6 have decided not to continue supporting previous generation consoles, a change from earlier entries that were still supported.

An increasing number of prominent game publishers are eager to move away from last-generation consoles and capitalize on the enhanced capabilities offered by the Xbox Series X|S and PS5/Pro. Although it may not persuade a large number of players to switch until popular games like Fortnite, Roblox, and Minecraft no longer support their previous versions, the direction is clear.

However, it’s worth questioning whether Microsoft has the inventory and promotional strategies to capitalize on this situation? More and more, users can transfer their content across various platforms. If Epic Games were to discontinue support for the Xbox One version, there wouldn’t be any barriers preventing players from migrating from Xbox One to PS5, especially if Xbox Series X|S systems are out of stock.

In more straightforward terms: Microsoft hasn’t made much effort to make the Xbox Series X|S appealing lately. Prices have gone up, marketing has been almost non-existent, and now there’s a scarcity of exclusive games for the Xbox Series X|S. Even the cheaper Xbox Series S is only slightly less expensive than a digital PlayStation 5, while offering fewer performance capabilities.

With an increasing number of publishers leaving Xbox One and PS4 behind, Microsoft faces the potential loss of many console gamers to the PS5, as they appear to lack a solid game plan in response. Furthermore, there’s another significant industry event on the horizon that suggests Microsoft may be caught off guard and under-equipped to handle it effectively.

GTA 6 is going to be a huge moment in gaming history

Among current growth avenues for traditional core gaming, Windows PC and platforms such as Steam play significant roles. However, it’s worth noting that an imminent highly anticipated game will not be available on PC initially.

The buzz around Grand Theft Auto 6 is already intense! There are rumors circulating that the game could retail for over $100. Notably, some investment firms and analysts have high hopes for

Of course, you won’t find Grand Theft Auto 6 on Windows PCs right away; instead, we anticipate its release to come later, just like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Grand Theft Auto V before it. This delay is bound to create a sense of intense anticipation among the numerous players still using PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles.

As an analyst, I find it plausible to assert that a significant number of individuals, who are new to current-generation consoles, may be enticed to acquire these gaming devices primarily due to the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6 release. In past years, the Xbox Series S was a popular choice due to its affordability as the gateway to playing GTA 6. However, recent price hikes have somewhat diminished this label. Instead, for a slightly increased investment, one could opt for the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition, which I believe would not only provide an accessible entry point for GTA 6 but also offer a potentially superior visual experience for the game.

It’s uncertain if GTA 6 will feature exclusive marketing events for specific consoles, but it’s likely that PlayStation will be involved given Sony’s history of securing major console marketing deals. For instance, Sony has often outmaneuvered the Call of Duty marketing agreements in past years. However, now that Microsoft owns Call of Duty, Xbox hasn’t effectively utilized the popular first-person shooter series to promote its hardware as much as Sony has with its PlayStation platform.

The portrayal hints at a certain ambiguity, to some extent. Although Microsoft’s gaming sector has progressed beyond merely promoting its ecosystem, according to their own reports, Xbox Game Pass, an exclusive offering for Microsoft platforms, has emerged as a significant pillar of their total earnings. Notably, most of these users primarily utilize Xbox consoles.

wouldn’t it make sense for Microsoft to seize these seldom-occurring chances to expand its assured hardware environment?

Is Xbox prepared for ANY of this?

Absolutely! Microsoft is expanding its gaming universe beyond just Xbox consoles. We’re looking forward to the upcoming Xbox Ally, which appears to be a Windows PC. Microsoft has been suggesting that the next-gen first-party Xbox will have a stronger resemblance to a Windows PC than ever before – featuring compatibility with Steam and other PC gaming platforms, as well as backward compatibility with the current Xbox console environment. Additionally, it’s rumored that Microsoft may collaborate with OEMs to manufacture traditional pre-built PCs adorned with an Xbox aesthetic. While nothing is officially confirmed yet, we can speculate that such a product could hit the market as early as 2026.

With Microsoft’s partnership with AMD, there are numerous opportunities arising for hybrid APUs (Accelerated Processing Units). Interestingly enough, the head of Xbox hardware previously led Microsoft’s Windows OEM business, and I am currently exploring various hardware rumors, ranging from Xbox-compatible desktop PCs to even customizable graphics cards that could allow you to construct your own “console” PC-hybrids.

In simple terms, even though the future is uncertain, Microsoft needs to keep in mind that they still have the Xbox Series X|S available for a few more years to continue attracting developers. The availability of these consoles, especially outside the US, has been unpredictable, and Microsoft appears to be underprepared for the upcoming transition period as the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 approach their end-of-life phases.

Devices such as the Xbox Ally and potential Xbox OEM PC in 2026 are promising, but they won’t be able to play Xbox games until the AMD partnership matures, which is expected in 2027 and later. Additionally, they will not run GTA 6 anytime soon.

Microsoft has a number of possible strategies they might employ. For instance, could we anticipate discounted prices around Black Friday and the 2025 holiday season? Might Microsoft adjust their strategy for Call of Duty in 2026, possibly phasing out Xbox One and PS4? Is it conceivable that Microsoft would negotiate an Xbox Cloud Gaming agreement for Grand Theft Auto 6 to expand Xbox’s reach in that area?

While it’s uncertain, we can only cross our fingers that Microsoft doesn’t overlook the uncommon chances presenting themselves for their next-gen Xbox Series X|S systems. These opportunities are beneficial not just for developers but also for users, as they offer a chance to expand the ecosystem.

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2025-08-16 18:48