Xbox was dying long before the RAM shortage started. The writing has been on the wall for a long time now. The infamous and confusing "This is an Xbox" marketing campaign started over a year ago.

So why didn't Microsoft buy up ram while it was cheap too? They should have had a far clearer picture of how AI datacenter build-outs would affect ram prices than Sony since they are deeply connected with OpenAI.

I think it's more than that, Microsoft doesn't want to participate in making game hardware anymore. Even before the xbox one was released, MS wanted it to be an online-only console and reneged on that due to fan backlash. Just like with their OS, they have made it harder and harder to operate offline, with the eventual goal that you don't have your own hardware, you don't own your own games, you will rent everything indefinitely. They massively hiked prices for their online passes too.

At least customers asked for Xboxes.

It will be interesting to see how bad the AI bubble burst kicks MS.

Consoles have a 7 year life, the Xbox One came out in 2013; it should have seen a fully new hardware design in 2020. So they're 5 years overdue ("series" are hardware refreshes, not a true "next gen" redesign) Microsoft has never been able to turn around the story of the failed launch the product is likely dead at this point. Microsoft wanted to own the media landscape and at this point they've given up on that vision for 5+ years.

That already happened. Windows 11 has an XBox app that lets you stream console games from your PC if you have an XBox Game Pass Gold subscription.

It really seems like Microsoft is just giving up on new hardware and leaning in hard to cloud streaming.

> Microsoft is probably looking at integrating Xbox into Windows 11 somehow.

They don't even need to go that far. Virtually all the Xbox games are no longer console exclusives, including formerly flagship games like Halo. They're all available cross-platform now, mostly for PC (though some are also on other consoles too). PC-wise they're either through the Microsoft Store or often via 3rd-party stores like Steam and such--the entire Halo series is on Steam for example.

Viewed in that context, buying an Xbox console only makes sense if you aren't the type to have your own gaming

I am not sure about that.

Microsoft isn't a hardware company, going back to add on cards in mice for XTs, Microsoft has always used hardware to push software.

We see the ROG Xbox Ally and the pushing of Xbox branded content in Windows 11. I think all suggests that while XBox as brand and XBox 'titles' are not going away Microsoft is testing the waters for options that don't include them sell hardware. Those options range from pure PC based / Windows software plays to partnering with OEMs to build gaming ori

I've always wondered if the XBox unit is net profitable over the past 25 years. The red-ring-of-death problem had to consume multiple years of profits.

Except many actions of MS says otherwise. For example, MS and Asus just released their new gaming handheld Asus ROG Xbox Ally X. It does not play Xbox games. It plays PC games. MS has been telling the consumer that ”Everything is an Xbox" from smart phones to PCs.

Xbox has always been weak, and likely has never been profitable, and hardware has never really been Microsoft's thing. Xbox getting only 10% market share, however, is new territory. This may be leading to more pain than Microsoft is willing to take. Back in the Genesis days, would you have thought that Sega would ever walk away from consoles?

I own a current gen Xbox and the hardware seems ok.

The previous gen was ok too.

They made that one mouse everyone liked. Remember that?

This works well-ish on Nintendo Switch. I have access to almost all of the Nintendo titles from the old days, plus a lot of independent games that are retro-style.

I pay for a few months of subscription here and there, not all the time since I don't play games all the time.

All of the past titles should be playable on new consoles, since it should be bytecode compatible. I don't see the problem with a subscription service where you can play any and all titles whenever you want.

Playstation screwed up entirely

That's even worse for them. None of the studios that they bought are making games that anyone really loves or will fondly remember twenty years from now. They paid a shit ton of money for studios cashing in on past successes are the ones who will be left holding the bag. Some might still manage to sell titles in the millions, but they really on exist until something better comes along and disrupts the market. Halo, GoW, or other Xbox mainstays haven't been relevant in years and none of the studios they boug