It’s been a stressful few months for Xbox fans, with canceled games and closed studios, rounds of mass layoffs, the recent price hikes to the beloved Game Pass service, etc. And after last weekend’s leaked rumors that development on the next-gen Xbox console is uncertain, it’s become clear that players have reached their wit’s end.
The leaked Xbox console rumors quickly escalated, with Microsoft issuing an official statement (via Windows Central) confirming that they haven’t changed their plans at all. However, more significantly, Xbox fans have become reluctant to take Microsoft’s word as truth on the matter, exposing a serious distrust in the company and a troubling negative sentiment toward future Xbox hardware.
Xbox Fans Are Turning Coat After Being Burned Too Many Times
Public Trust Is At An All-Time Low With Microsoft & Xbox
After this weekend’s leaks regarding tumultuous development for the next-gen Xbox console, Microsoft issued the following statement to quash any rumors that plans had changed:
“We are actively investing in our future first-party consoles and devices designed, engineered and built by Xbox. For more details, the community can revisit our agreement announcement with AMD.”
Unfortunately, Xbox fans were reluctant to take Microsoft at their word considering various unkept promises revealed over recent months, with Reddit users like GooseSl4yer2003 stating, “Microsoft says many things before backtracking on them later on.” Or longtime Xbox fans such as Estevão Cavalcanti (via X) pointing out that “Microsoft has lost the trust of many gamers,“ and claiming they’ll “probably never buy another Xbox in my life.”
While there are various instances of Microsoft being “caught in a lie,” dating back to Phil Spencer’s 2023 claim (via YouTube) that only four Xbox exclusives would get cross-platform versions (many were subsequently added), the most glaring example is one that’s fresh on every Game Pass user’s mind at the moment.
Microsoft claimed at one point that Game Pass prices “will not increase as a result of Activision merger,” yet a price increase was announced just last week, sparking a wave of gamers canceling their Game Pass memberships after years of subscribing. Notably, Microsoft’s statement regarding the recent leaks doesn’t address anything specific that the original leaker (SneakerSO via NeoGaf) actually mentions.
Xbox Is Already Losing The Next-Gen Console Wars
At This Rate, Sony & Nintendo Will Continue To Dominate The Console Space
If there’s one thing that Microsoft’s statement regarding the now-debunked leaks reveals, it’s that fans are starting to catch on to the company’s tactics. It seems that Xbox’s investment in first-party hardware may be a moot point if they don’t take a step back and win over the hearts and minds of their core player base.
Ultimately, while Xbox has laid out an ambitious plan focused on letting gamers “play the games you want, with the people you want, and wherever you want,” it’s unclear if players want to be a part of it at all. With Playstation 5 setting console records this year and the Nintendo Switch 2 selling an incredible 6 million units at launch, Xbox is currently the clear loser in the never-ending console wars.
