Phil Spencer Believes Xbox Console Supply Issues Will Continue Into 2022
Image: Microsoft

If you were hoping to easily grab an Xbox Series X|S before the year's end, then you might want to temper those expectations. Xbox boss Phil Spencer has said he believes the shortages will carry on into 2022.

Speaking to The Wrap (thanks VGC for the transcription), Spencer said there are multiple "pinch points" in the building process. As a result, he foresees the issues rolling into "the end of this calendar year and into the next calendar year".

"I think it’s probably too isolated to talk about it as just a chip problem. When I think about, what does it mean to get the parts necessary to build a console today, and then get it to the markets where the demand is, there are multiple kind of pinch points in that process. And I think regretfully it’s going to be with us for months and months, definitely through the end of this calendar year and into the next calendar year."

Spencer went on to say that the most upsetting part is "the fan disappointment", but mentioned the team is "working hard to bring them to [the] market".

"The thing that’s most disappointing is just the fan disappointment. People really want this new generation of consoles—they’re good consoles, both from us and the other platform holders—and they want the new functionality. We’re working hard to bring them to market but it’s going to be a challenge that we’ll work through for quite a while."

Earlier this year, Spencer stated that he believed the shortages would continue into the summer, but it seems that the situation is worse than initially feared. Another train of thought comes from the Japanese tech giant Toshiba, which believes the chip shortage issues throughout the tech industry could fall way into 2023.

It does seem to be a bit easier these days to grab one, but for many, it's still a fight against scalpers - especially with Xbox Series X prices still holding strong. Hopefully, next year sees more consoles available on the market.

Have you struggled to grab an Xbox Series X|S? Let us know in the comments below.

[source thewrap.com, via videogameschronicle.com]