Confused Xbox gamers don’t need to worry anymore about which console to buy. Microsoft announced Friday that it would stop making the Xbox One X and Xbox One S All-Digital Edition. This decision allows Microsoft to focus all efforts on its upcoming Xbox Series X. To tide you over, Microsoft also said they’re still going to make the Xbox One S.
Why Did Microsoft Discontinue the Xbox One X?
A Microsoft spokesperson told CNN that quitting the Xbox One X and Xbox One S All-Digital Edition was a “natural step” before stepping “into the future.” Currently, Microsoft is preparing to release the Xbox Series X later this year.
CNN reports that despite the Xbox One X’s hefty specs, it failed to sell as many units as the Sony Playstation 4 and the Nintendo Switch. The machines are now the top players in the console market. Meanwhile, Microsoft had sold the Xbox One X as a flagship product.
Microsoft is already stopping production of Xbox One X:https://t.co/wp9f91jYoH pic.twitter.com/lJbZkms0v4
— Kotaku (@Kotaku) July 17, 2020
The Xbox One X could run games at 4K resolution. Microsoft had considered it the higher-end cousin of the Xbox One.
What About the Xbox One X’s Rivals?
During quarantine, lots of people resorted to gaming as a pastime. Sony’s Playstation 4 remains the most popular video game console, with hundreds of exclusive games selling lots of copies. The Playstation 4 is Sony’s current-gen entry and boasts much better graphics and a faster system.
Released in 2017, the Nintendo Switch also found a sizeable market. Its exclusive games like Animal Crossing and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild have become video game bestsellers in the past few years. The Switch’s selling point is its hybrid form. You can play it as a handheld, and you can also play it docked to your TV. And if you don’t want either, you can play it as a tabletop console.
What’s in the Future for Microsoft and the Xbox?
Joost van Dreunun told CNN that stopping the Xbox One X was “an effort to reduce the number of consoles in the market.” Van Dreunun founded New Breukelen, a video game investment firm. Microsoft’s rival Sony will be releasing its next-gen console, the Playstation 5, during the 2020 holiday season.
CNN also reports that Microsoft may be planning to produce a cheaper next-gen console, codenamed “Lockhart.” Rumors abound of its launch next month.
If you’re craving for an Xbox console, you can still run to select stores to buy the Xbox One X. Make sure to check your local retailers for availability.
