Xbox has been having a tough time lately. The Xbox Series X and S just can't keep up with the PlayStation 5. It all started with a weak launch during the pandemic. Microsoft tried to make things better by buying other game companies. But that wasn't enough. Sony had better games and more people wanted to buy their consoles.

Things got worse in 2025. Microsoft canceled some exciting games. They also raised prices. The Xbox Series S now costs $400. The Series X costs $600. Even Costco stopped selling Xbox consoles. Microsoft didn't even try to sell more consoles during Black Friday.

Game Pass, which used to be a great deal, almost doubled in price. It now costs $30 a month. Microsoft tried to add more value. But without good exclusive games, it's not worth it. Avowed and South of Midnight were the only good exclusive games. But South of Midnight is coming to other consoles next year.

Microsoft tried to make a handheld gaming device. The ASUS ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X were too expensive. They cost $600 and $1, 000. Most gamers can't afford them. Windows also isn't good for portable devices. The Steam Deck is a better option. It costs less and works better.

Valve's Steam Machine could also be a problem for Xbox. It's a tiny gaming desktop for your TV. It runs SteamOS, which is good for playing games. You can also install Windows on it. This could compete with the next Xbox.

Only the Xbox 360 was successful. It had good online features and support. The Xbox One was a disaster. It was expensive and had bad features. Sony sold twice as many PS4s as Xbox Ones.

This generation, things are worse. Xbox Series S and X sold around 33 million units. Sony sold 84. 2 million PS5s. If this continues, Sony could sell three times as many consoles. Xbox sales are so slow that a family-focused console outsold it in November.

Microsoft might change things for the next Xbox. They partnered with AMD. This could lead to new handhelds or a compact gaming PC. Microsoft is already bringing new Xbox games to PCs. This could be the future of Xbox.

It's a risk, but it could save Xbox. It's also something Sony can't easily copy. There's still hope for Xbox.

Xbox's Struggle: Can It Bounce Back?

Actions