The UK and other regions are running suspiciously low on Xbox Series X console stocks

Windows Central writes: "We know everything is an Xbox now, but what if you want an actual Xbox Series X console? If you're in the UK and looking to buy an Xbox Series X, you might have a struggle trying to find stock of the original console outside of Microsoft's own site, which alone wouldn't be an issue but it doesn't look good to the average consumer."

[Knightofelemia]

A person could always import one

[gold_drake]

and pay extra tax and shipping on it ?

nah.

[neutralgamer1992]

As we look to the future, it’s clear that Xbox is positioning itself as a software-first company. They will still have their own hardware, paired with Game Pass, but the big shift is that their flagship titles like Halo, Forza, and Gears of War are rumored to be coming to other platforms this year. This is a smart move in my opinion. By selling their Xbox hardware while offering Game Pass as a service, Microsoft can focus on providing the best value for consumers without limiting the reach of their games. At the same time, they still have the potential to sell full-priced games on other platforms—it's a win-win.

For us as gamers, it’s important to recognize the cost of developing AAA games—often $200-300 million or more, including marketing. When a company is investing that kind of money, why limit the market? It makes sense for companies to expand their reach rather than cut off potential customers. This shift will likely continue, and I wouldn't be surprised if we see some PlayStation games making their way to Xbox by 2025 (for example, Death Stranding already made the leap, though of course, Kojima now owns the IP).

Let’s consider the potential of PlayStation's beloved IPs. Take Uncharted, for instance. In 2025, how much revenue is the series still generating? If Sony were to release the Uncharted collection on PC and Xbox at full price, that could bring in significant extra revenue for a series that's currently not generating much. And for Sony, giving these iconic franchises exposure on additional platforms could boost the visibility of their gaming IPs, especially as they explore TV shows or movies based on them. The same argument can be made for other legendary PlayStation IPs like God of War. Even older titles from the PS3 era could see new life on other platforms, opening up even more revenue streams

[ZacultronTheFirst]

That's a good point of view!

[derek]

@Neutralgamer1992 Again with this "Sony to" arguments. Whenever I see a post claiming Sony will eventually release their games on xbox i never see a realistic financial argument that addresses as to why Sony doesn't do that now and how such a move could ultimately hurt playstation as a platform holder.

[neutralgamer1992]

derek

I understand your point of view, but I believe the landscape is changing in a way that will eventually lead Sony to put some of their games on Xbox. It's not something that will happen overnight, but as we've seen with their move to put games on PC, they’ve realized that there’s additional revenue to be gained without significant downsides.

The argument is quite simple: revenue equals profit. Sony saw substantial benefits from bringing their games to PC, and if you had told someone five years ago that PlayStation games would be available on PC, they probably would have disagreed too. But the data doesn’t lie—there's money to be made by expanding the reach of their games beyond the PlayStation console.

I’m not suggesting that Sony will immediately release all of their games on Xbox, but with the increasing cost of AAA games—often hundreds of millions to produce—it makes sense for Sony to explore new revenue streams. PlayStation and Xbox are competitors, yes, but Xbox has shifted their approach in a way that Sony may eventually see as less of a threat and more of an opportunity. With Microsoft already generating significant revenue from PlayStation by putting their games on playstation and rumors of other big franchises like Halo, Gears, and Forza cominf to other platform, Sony will have to recognize the value of the situation.

I don’t think this shift is far off. As the industry evolves, we will likely see fewer exclusives, which is something that all parties have acknowledged. So while it’s not going to happen tomorrow, we are definitely closer to the point where PlayStation games could make their way to Xbox. The financial data and results will eventually change Sony's outlook, especially as AAA game production costs continue to rise and they look for more ways to generate profits

we need to move forward from the old school POV of my plastic box is better, it's all about content, it's all about revnue and profits. Sony has the content and they can generate a lot of extra revnue by simply porting their older games to xbox just like they do for PC

[Knushwood Butt]

'The argument is quite simple: revenue equals profit.'.

Not necessarily.

[RauLeCreuset]

@neutral

I'm no Nostradamus, but there are things that often go unaddressed when people make the argument you're making.

"I’m not suggesting that Sony will immediately release all of their games on Xbox, but with the increasing cost of AAA games—often hundreds of millions to produce—it makes sense for Sony to explore new revenue streams."

A key difference between PS and post acquisitions Xbox is that PS is primarily a home console maker. They profit more from 3rd party licensing fees than 1st party sales. PS has the larger base and is dominating 3rd party sales compared to Xbox with its smaller base that is buying less because of Game Pass. PS has little to gain from releasing on Xbox and much to lose if PS fans respond as Xbox fans did. Would it not make more sense to scale back spending on exclusives or forgo them entirely than to put them on Xbox?

"It's not something that will happen overnight, but as we've seen with their move to put games on PC, they’ve realized that there’s additional revenue to be gained without significant downsides."

How many Xbox gamers who don't already play PS games on PS or PC are there going to be by that point to make it worth it?

[Asterphoenix]

Well it may be the case with some titles with MLB and Bungie but at the moment Sony still sees MS as a competitor.

Plus despite the cost issues of the industry now and in the future going on in the industry Sony won't release it on Xbox due to its current installment
base. Despite your thoughts of expanding their reach.

Nintendo hasn't bothered and it's doing the best of the lot. At this rate I don't think Xbox will get the installment base to get all PS games on it.

Whether it is now or later exclusives are so important in selling your brand whether it is permanent or timed.

[gold_drake]

they have been for the last 2 or 3 years

[VenomUK]

It sounds like it’s last orders for the hardware. I’m so glad I had the foresight to sell my Xbox Series X before Christmas. £330 on eBay. Not that I wanted to but I don’t want one day the value to collapse. Mind you, that might be exactly the reason Xbox hasn’t made a formal statement.

[MaximusPrime_]

I've never seen other consoles have this kind of stock issue before. This Xbox Series shortage is weird. I'm guessing it's either tough to get the parts they need or those parts are getting expensive. The lowest possibility is a new console that MS is wasting it time working on.

[gold_drake]

im also very surprised that they been having stock issues for a few years now.
either MS is slowing down production for ... watever reason or .. i dunno. very odd tho

[Eonjay]

I think Microsoft would like to push users to its cloud streaming platform. Doesn't anyone find it odd that as stock starts to evaporate, we are getting hit with an 'everything with an internet connection is an Xbox' campaign?

[Knushwood Butt]

This.
Xbox 365
MS is moving to be a multi-plat publisher and dedicated game streaming service.
Big question is, can they deliver quality content?

[jznrpg]

It’s definitely not tough to get old parts

[Christopher]

Just to note, it's a Series X shortage, not a Series S shortage. The more powerful hardware with built-in storage versus the less powerful hardware that they want to use to push people toward streaming subscriptions. Seems like they're focusing where they want to focus.

[boing1]

They will not stock something that isn't selling, and MS won't produce more than is needed.

[MrDead]

It's because demand is low, it's not profitable to send a handful of consoles at a time and no one wants them in large quantities. MS has killed Xbox by offering gamers nothing for at least a decade.

MS is a disaster for gaming, they killed Xbox for a streaming service, the streaming service has killed game sales on their platform (I would like to see what's happened to workers dividends under this), reduced competition and innovation by consolidating three major publishers and fired thousands so that a handful of extremely wealthy people could get even more wealthy.

[anast]

Their original stock from the beginning of then gen. is finally selling out and retailers aren't getting more because no one is buying them.

[RauLeCreuset]

"Microsoft's hardware footprint has been under scrutiny in recent years, with near-routine quarterly declines. What if the declines are driven simply by a lack of access to supplies, though?"

"For parents or casual shoppers, the choice often comes down to what’s easiest to find—and right now, that’s the PlayStation 5."

There it is. The spin.

[Eonjay]

Yeah that crazy because if the hardware was selling Microsoft would still be supplying it. They would be able to use it to drive GamePass subs.

In the very same way, Microsoft is making the multiplayer push largely in part to the fact that PlayStation owners are buying the software. It's really not complicated.

[gold_drake]

yea, alot of people always forget tthat parents and casual players are the majority of people who grab what they know and whats readilyavailable.

its also branding.

[TriniOutsider]

They can use the PS5 as some sorter excuse. But everyone who's been gaming for as long as some have. They all know the PlayStation brand has more recognition than the Xbox brand.

Also, Microsoft is reeling from the mess that was E3 2013, which was the kick teeth that killed whatever momentum Microsoft had with the Xbox brand.

[Elda]

Retailers are probably not restocking due to slow sales. I'm quite sure the PS5 & Switch consoles are available.

[jhpadilla]

Exactly the same problem here in Mexico. Specially the Series X Galaxy Black edition. Its almost impossible to find except imported and that costs a lot more.

[XBManiac]

Xbox Series S is everywhere... BTW.

[Lighter9]

Probably supply and demand. There's no demand, so there's no need to supply. 👌🏻

[ocelot07]

Probably stores making warehouse and store space for the switch 2.

[DafunkyRebel]

MS might finally just throw in the towel and turn Xbox into a game service with game pass instead of a console competitor to Sony. Imagine they put Game Pass on PS5 and make the necessary controller conversions to allow PS5 to play Xbox games, now you don't need to port over Gears and Halo, you just stream it on PS5 through game pass as a service from MS's own cloud servers.

[MetroidFREAK21]

Interesting

[OpenGL]

It's probably going to be discontinued before the end of the generation similar to how the One X was discontinued before the Series X even released.

[TriniOutsider]

I think people are blowing this out of proportion. At least, I would like to think so.

[ocelot07]

My guess is production stopped of the series x until stock emptied in stores. No point producing more consoles just to sit around.

[SonOfOsiris]

LOL rip xbox

[Miacosa]

Now that all devices are an Xbox there should be no issues playing the games on those devices.

[jlove4life]

Let me help rip the band-aid off it's a wrap Xbox is officially 3 rd party hence empty stock in places no sense of wasting resources for You console sales that even after the consoles get bought, do the game pass. No one's really purchasing games on that platform far as the people that want to keep saying PlayStation to go third party PlayStation making enough revenue with PC and Playstation alone. If anything they could put some of their games on Nintendo switch. But Xbox/ Microsoft itself is giving up on releasing stuff on Xbox that's not via game pass as a subscription/ third party platform holder, what make you think Playstation will want to waste time or resources putting games on the console that people don't even A. want to buy console it's losing 5 to 1 vs PS5 B those that do have it Don't buy the games being accustomed to game pass C. Why anger fan base for a platform that wants to be a 3rd party publisher whose gamers been taught to rent don't buy games

[Profchaos]

Microsoft looks over at the Samsung phones and goes nuh uh this is an Xbox

[TheColbertinator]

It is a strategy to create demand through scarcity. Let me explain. The idea is that

[ActualWhiteMan]

Microsoft makes more profit selling digital games and subscriptions on every platform, vs Manufacturing and selling physical hardware at a loss. Plain and simple.

Microsoft is turning into Sega, just doing it more successfully.

[Profchaos]

Sega is still alive and have been releasing some great games lately Microsoft have a stance that if they can't have 100 million gp subscribers they will abandon gaming likely shuttering all studios because they seem to not bother with selling them