We are witnessing the end of Xbox in real-time, and it is a heartbreaking sight – Reader’s Feature. After one of the worst weeks in its 25-year history, Xbox appears to be on the ropes, and a reader is uncertain about watching what comes next.
I initially hesitated to write about Xbox’s recent troubles, feeling I had little to add. It is clear that Microsoft is acting with its usual indifference toward thousands of livelihoods, that their interest in gaming is solely about domination, and that leadership lacks direction. These facts are evident to all. All I can contribute are memories of loving the Xbox 360 and the golden era of Halo. Many readers likely share those memories, but I must break it to you and Microsoft: that was 20 years ago, and those days will not return.
A Legacy of Missed Opportunities
Realizing how long it has been since Xbox was on top highlights the mess they have made. Phil Spencer, despite seeming knowledgeable, only worsened the situation. At least he wanted growth, but it appears the new boss has been instructed to wind things down. Game Pass, while ambitious, is a major cause of Xbox’s downfall—it is expensive and fails to attract enough subscribers to justify the cost. The Xbox Series X was doomed from the start, launching without Halo or any compelling games. Worse, Microsoft proudly announced no Xbox Series X exclusives for two years. If you bought the console at launch, you could guarantee it would not be used to its full potential for years. When Halo Infinite finally arrived and was subpar, it hardly mattered—the Xbox Series X was already bleeding out.
The Death of a Console
The console was effectively dead on arrival, never looking like a contender. When Starfield launched as a dud, Microsoft gave up and decided to release everything on PlayStation 5. This is a sad way for Xbox to go out, but we have seen it before with Sega. However, Sega shrugged and immediately transitioned to a third-party publisher. Xbox’s death will be slow and agonizing, filled with denial and false hope.
I do not entirely blame the new Xbox boss for the recent chaos. She was hired despite having no gaming background, and she is trying to engage with fans for ideas. The exclusivity rules are nonsensical, and even hardcore Xbox fans have lost hope. It is a death by a thousand cuts—massive job cuts and studio closures. As I write, news suggests Ninja Theory may be shut down or sold, along with two or three smaller studios like Double Fine, which produce art-house games that rarely sell. Why Microsoft bought them in the first place is baffling.
The Human Cost
Thousands of talented people—from Bethesda, Activision, and smaller developers—are being laid off because Microsoft’s graphs are not rising quickly enough. What remains are crippled studios with insufficient staff, constant fear of job loss, and employees planning to leave as soon as possible. Good job, Microsoft: you have killed Xbox. It is not a quick death, and I am not sure I have the stomach to watch it unfold over the coming weeks.
By reader Xane. The reader’s features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro. You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Contact us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk or use our Submit Stuff page.
