Story Highlights
  • Despite a much better year with more games, Xbox hardware sales are still lower than anticipated in the UK.
  • Xbox Series S|X sales are down by 50% year-on-year.
  • However, this might not matter too much since Xbox is focused on software sales.

This year has been massive for Xbox as they released many first-party titles compared to previous years. Microsoft also completed its acquisition of Activision Blizzard this year.

While Xbox appears to be on an upward trajectory, its console sales are less impressive. The latest data suggests that hardware sales are poor in the UK, with Microsoft’s figures much worse than in 2022.

Why it matters: As Xbox struggles, PS5 has shown no signs of stopping, conquering the UK market with better sales results each month.

Xbox Series S
 

According to Games Industry, Xbox Series S|X sales are down by 50% year-on-year.

This is a poor result since overall console sales were 16% higher in the UK than in last year. Nintendo also saw a 20% decline in year-on-year sales, but its console is reaching the end of its lifespan.

For a more accurate comparison, the PS5 went through a massive 143% boost in sales when compared to October 2022. Fortunately, it’s not all bad news for Xbox in this part of the world.

In September, the consoles went through a 2x sales boost after the release of Starfield. Therefore, through a consistent lineup of similarly interesting games, Microsoft can strengthen its position in the market.

Xbox Series S|X

We believe the major reason the Xbox Series S|X struggle in the UK market is due to a lack of focus. Microsoft seemingly prioritizes the US as its primary market, ignoring the other parts of the world.

All three gaming giants released impressive first-party titles in October. Forza Motorsport, Spider-Man 2, and Super Mario Bros Wonder were all quite enjoyable, so the discrepancy in hardware sales is odd to see.

Still, Microsoft’s overall aim to become a gaming ecosystem rather than a platform likely means that such losses don’t matter much in the grand scheme of things. It will continue to invest in games and establish itself as a massive publisher in the future.

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Abiyan
[How-To Guides Expert] Laiba, our tech guru at HI Digital, simplifies and crafts How-To Guides with a Google IT Support Certificate. Beyond tech, she captures the city's aesthetics through her lens. Join her journey where tech meets creativity! Get In Touch: Laiba@hidgt.com Google IT Certificate Shehryar Khan