Well, there's been a lot of chatter over the last few days about old consoles, new generations and chip shortages. Just yesterday, a report detailed that Sony is allegedly still making PS4 consoles, in part due to PS5 shortages. However, it looks like Xbox has taken a different approach.
Microsoft has told The Verge that the company halted Xbox One production in 2020, as the new generation arrived. Since late 2020, retailers have been clearing out existing Xbox One console stock, but no new systems have been manufactured. Here's what the company said in a statement:
"To focus on production of Xbox Series X / S, we stopped production for all Xbox One consoles by the end of 2020..."
As we said yesterday, a big reason for this could be the Xbox Series S. Microsoft had already baked a lower-cost solution into its next-gen console lineup, meaning Series X shortages haven't hit so hard.
Of course, there's also the popularity of both last generation consoles. PS4 took a clear lead over the generation, and Microsoft was probably pretty keen on leaving the Xbox One behind, all things considered.
Was this the right move for Microsoft? Let us know in the comments.
[source theverge.com]
Comments 41
I think it's good that they're focusing on current-gen systems now. It's also important that they stop selling Xbox One systems because people will confuse them with the Series models. Now there will only be two models to choose from in stores, which will makes things easier for consumers.
Seems the right and logical thing to do.
Move on and get your groove on.
I still have my base X1 that I've been meaning to plug into my secondary TV. Not a big deal they're stopping production since by November it will be 2 years after XS launched and they said they'd support X1 with game releases until then.
This is the right move for Xbox, Focus all your assets on the Xbox Series X/S
A year after launch it makes sense I guess to free up capacity. There's plenty of One consoles out second had as well if people need them. The focus on backwards compatibility this gen has been good so hopefully it means that people new to Xbox this gen can play the XBone games they missed out on.
With Series X/S that is backwards compatible with Xbox One and part of the Xbox 360 and Xbox library, they don't need Xbox One, that would just confuse buyers and Series S is the perfect budget model to market.
Looking back, it's funny that Microsoft seemed to be more focused on cross-gen games while Sony marketed the pure next-gen experience impossible to get on PS4 and now after over a year it seems that Xbox Game Studios are ready to leave Xbox One behind while PlayStation Studios are making cross-gen games and Sony is manufacturing more PS4 consoles.
The Series S is almost constantly in stock and super affordable, seems rather logical imo.
@Banjo- well playstation would be leaving 120 million ps4 users behind whilst xbox leaving around 40 million xbox one users behind, there's a huge difference and a huge potential loss of sales if sony just abandoned them straight away. I can't say it was a good move for me personally as I would like next gen games as I own a ps5 but it was definitely the right move financially for Sony by getting a LOT of money off those who don't own a ps5 yet by making the games cross gen
PlayStation have a lot more to lose by not supporting last gen
@UltimateOtaku91 Of course but isn't it funny that it's the opposite of what they said they'd do? In between, your numbers are too high for PS4 and too low for Xbox One. PS4 is around 116m and Xbox One around 50m.
That sounds perfectly logical. The XB1X stopped production over a year ago and the XB1 is over 8yrs old now. Whilst the last year has been a 'cross-over' year, the Software hasn't exactly ran 'well' in general on the 8yr old hardware with a lot of Visual cutbacks still not always able to maintain a consistent 30fps.
For all those still with HD TV's and/or limited gaming budget to upgrade to a 4k Console that doesn't really benefit their set-up, the Series S is a 'fantastic' and relatively low cost choice and could trade in their XB1's and 'Physical' games against the price of the Series S. Any Physical game can be purchased digitally if they want to keep playing - and Game Pass may well have many of them too.
An Xbox One S seems to be around the £200+ price (if you can find one 'new') and the Series S is about £250 so unless you want a bluray player at the expense of gaming (smaller library due to Series S playing ALL XB1 games and next gen titles, lower visual quality, lower frame rates and certainly less consistent, much longer load times etc etc), it makes much more sense to buy the Series S today than an XB1S so why make more XB1S consoles??
@Banjo- ah sorry just rough guesses from figures i read years ago but yeah it's like they were confident until the chip shortages happened and then they back tracked
@Banjo-
Can’t disagree with the initial PR of both companies.
Xbox cross generation
Sony we believe in generations
But the reality at the moment to date.
Is Returnal and Ratchet and Clank new generation
Exclusives PS5
Series consoles, no new generation exclusives.
So yes off track from Sony as HFW etc are cross generation, but at least they have a couple of big exclusives in the new generation camp.
Also being honest the day Microsoft bring a big AAA exclusive to series x that looks as good as HFW PS5 Will be the day I take Microsoft a bit more seriously.
@Dezzy70 "Series consoles, no new generation exclusives."
Microsoft Flight Simulator is the most new-gen game and you didn't even mention it. HFW hasn't been released yet and it's not a new generation exclusive either.
"The day Microsoft bring a big AAA exclusive to series x that looks as good as HFW PS5 Will be the day I take Microsoft a bit more seriously".
What this has to do with the topic?
@UltimateOtaku91 There is a BIG difference between stopping the production of an 'old' generation console and stopping the support for it. MS are not 'leaving' the XB1 behind, just like Sony won't leave their PS4 users behind. 120m consoles, does not mean 120m users - I bought 2 PS4's (OG and Pro) and still have both, despite not turning them on since I got my PS5. 10m+ PS5's could account for 15m PS4's (some upgrading to Pro or Slim) and all those used for sale on Ebay, CEX, Game etc.
Regardless, if Sony decided to stop making the PS4, that wouldn't mean they are 'abandoning' those users still on PS4, it just means that once the 'available' PS4's are sold, then no more 'new' will be available to buy.
Sony will still support the hardware for years and like 'every' new generation, the new releases will still continue where they can (I can see Fifa 26 releasing on PS4, XB1, Pro, X, Series S/X, PS5...) but the releases will dry up - but then they'd dry up regardless of whether or not those consoles were still in production because the old hardware is not able to run those games at an 'acceptable' (that's visual quality and performance) level.
Sony aren't 'losing' those players if they decide to stop making the PS4. Those PS4's won't suddenly be switched off, no more access to games, to online etc, no more updates, no more releases etc - they will continue to support it whilst they 'can' and there are sufficient numbers still engaged on PS4 to justify keeping the PS4supported. It just means that once all the 'new' PS4 consoles are sold out in shops, then you'll have to buy 'used' if you want one. It doesn't mean that those PS4 (or in this case XB1 gamers) have to upgrade immediately because their PS4 is now 'dead'...
The ONLY reason to keep making PS4's is really to try and beat PS2's sales. XB1 sales aren't going to beat the 360's and probably not selling well enough to justify making more - especially as BOTH PS5 and Series consoles offer complete Back Compat to their previous consoles. Why buy a PS4 (other than 'budget' limitations) today when you can buy a PS5 and play ALL of the PS4 library. Why buy an XB1S when a Series S for a little bit more plays ALL the XB1S games as well as 'next' gen only games...
@Banjo-
Fair enough a niche flying simulator.
But Returnal and Ratchet & Clank have released.
I don’t need HFW to release to see it, but when it does it will be true, open world adventure wise Microsoft graphically won’t touch it for years if at all.
That was my biggest moan about Halo Infinite the world was singular, lifeless and soulless and last gen to look at.
They stopped manufacturing XB1s in 2020 and no-one even noticed 😂🤣
@Dezzy70 A "niche" flying simulator with controller option and races. A "niche" game that is currently in the Most Popular list on Game Pass. The gameplay of Ratchet & Clank is more limited than the PS4 game so yes, it looks slightly better but nothing else. To highlight it and ignore Microsoft Flight Simulator... 🤨
"I don’t need HFW to release to see it, but when it does it will be true, open world adventure wise Microsoft graphically won’t touch it for years if at all".
That's just your opinion and your assumptions. The best-looking game of the last generation isn't Horizon Zero Dawn. The Tomb Raider games looked much better to me. Some Xbox Game Studios might look better, you don't know.
@BAMozzy yeah I understand that but my comment was aimed more at sony still carrying on supporting the ps4 in terms of new games/exclusives. It's been a year since the new gen yet Sony's new exclusives still hitting last gen is because they don't want to abandon the ps4 user base just yet as it's still a very large number of players and would be losing out of Lot money especially due to chip shortages which means all those current ps4 players can't easily get a ps5.
Where as xbox has way less consumers to think about on the last gen consoles so it's a less of a gamble for them to leave the last gen consoles behind
@Banjo- the best looking game of last generation was red dead redemption 2 in my opinion, then the last of us 2, tomb raider games then horizon zero dawn which was impressive considering it was a fully open world game which takes more power to run
@UltimateOtaku91 Of course, everyone has an opinion. To Digital Foundry, Rise of the Tomb Raider and Shadow of the Tomb Raider were the typical examples of high-end graphics last generation. To me, Sea of Thieves (the sky, the ocean, the weather, the islands, the HDR!), Rise of the Tomb Raider and Shadow of the Tomb Raider are the best-looking games of the last generation. Red Dead Redemption 2 as well, the level of graphical detail and realism is incredible. Also, Forza Horizon 4-5. Uncharted 4 was also very impressive but Naughty Dog's games are linear and the gameplay is scripted so it's easier to impress.
In regard to the Xbox One support, Microsoft still support the Xbox 360 store and online servers. The level of active consoles could be measured by online activity or subscriptions and I mean active PS4 and active Xbox One consoles. Not all those PS4 and Xbox One are active. There must be much fewer active Xbox 360 and PS3 consoles. What is clear is that Sony drastically changed their strategy or at least their public stance on the PS4 and PS5.
@UltimateOtaku91 Those 'games; GT:7, H:FW, GoW:R were all planned to release on PS4 and all were expected before 2022 - within the first year of release.
MS have a Solution to XB1 users but they also said that their games would be 'cross-gen' for the first year or so too - but still we got Flight Sim - a 'next gen only' game. Halo, with its very troubled development, was a XB1 game that 'delays' and problems kept pushing it back and back so that the Series S/X consoles then came into the Picture.
Microsofts Primary Platform is Game Pass and if you have Game Pass Ultimate on XB1, you can play some next gen only games via Streaming and streaming may well provide other benefits to 'cross gen' games too - like 1080/60fps low latency streaming vs sub 900p up to 30fps playing the XB1S version.
MS numbers are not 'console' driven like Sony's. Yes they may have 'fewer' numbers on that one specific platform, but their users include PC and Game Pass for Mobile numbers too. Its a case of the hardware sales not justifying the production - nothing to do with 'abandoning' those users. If anything, the fact that Game Pass and streaming is an 'option' on XB1 means that games like Flight Sim and Starfield could be played on that hardware and unless Sony does something similar, good luck trying to play R&C, Returnal and whatever games they finally release on PS5 exclusively.
BOTH Sony and MS will continue to support those platforms long after they stop manufacturing them, long after they stop releasing 'first party games' on that hardware, long after the last 'big' AAA title gets ported down. Back Compat too means that 'any' new PS4/XB1 game will play on PS5/XSX anyway.
Sony will want you to upgrade to their 'new' hardware and that means having 'exclusive' games you have to buy a PS5 for but whilst there are 'active' users, they will 'support' the hardware and allow 3rd Party devs who want the 'maximum' users so had to make their games cross-gen to release games (like Fifa, CoD, BF etc) on that antiquated (from a technology perspective) hardware - the same will happen on XB1 too regardless of whether or not they are still manufacturing. I can see some 3rd party devs maybe not bothering to release old gen versions on XB1 because the number of active users, therefore potential buyers, is greatly reduced - but with Smart Delivery, they could knowing that when those XB1 users do upgrade, those games will be upgraded too so maybe more inclined to buy where as on PS5, you could face a £10 charge for that...
The PS2 started production in 2000, ceased production in 2013 but continued to be 'supported' by Sony until August 31 2018 - a remarkable 18yrs and well into the PS4 generation. They continued making PS2's throughout the PS3's lifespan, and stopped to start making PS4's. The PS3 stopped in 2016 but is still being supported. If you recall, they backtracked on closing the PS3/Vita store and continue to support those 'for now' despite those consoles both no longer in production!!
@UltimateOtaku91
The problem with any vendor selling last gen consoles still (especially the dominant vendor) is that it holds back developers from building fully next generation games (because they see that there is a large user base, and it is continuing to grow).
What is good for Sony is not necessarily good for consumers. There is no advantage to buy a PS4 right now. Next year new games will hopefully stop getting made for PS4. Once they are consumers who buy PS4 will only have a console to play old games, nothing new. Is Sony putting that warning sticker on their PS4 boxes?
@NeoRatt I don't think sony are making their games cross gen to sell more ps4 hardware, it's to sell more software to those who already own a ps4. Why try to sell horizon forbidden West to just 15 millions ps5 users when you can also try to sell it to potentially over 90 million ps4 users aswell
@NeoRatt Dude there's 3356 (and counting) games published for PS4. There's NO shortage of games for that platform.
If they were going to put a warning sticker on a console for lack of games it should be PS5! (and I say that as a happy Day 1 consumer)
This makes sense. With BC, the low install base of X1, and the fact that they already have a budget priced console among the next-gen consoles, they're uniquely able to cut the old gen without really abandoning any consumer. Sony is in a rougher position there. A $400 digital console isn't going to fill the gap of their $199 console like a $299 XSS that goes on sales and comes in bundles will.
@UltimateOtaku91 "Best looking game of the generation"
I'm sorry, have you SEEN the HDR implementation in that thing?!
It makes sense that they wouldn't keep making Xbox One's as they can make Series S consoles. It helps the S that it's not the same inside the box as the X unlike the two PS5 models (less a disc drive obviously)
NOOOOOOOOOooooooo.......!
Wait, I meant, coo.
*MEANWHILE over at the headquarters of Sony, "MORE PS4s! cuz..uhh, generations". Just kidding, no I'm not, make more ps5s!
Good night sweet prince. Your started off on completely the wrong foot but damn if I love my One X.
The XBONE walked so Series X/S could run.
Makes sense, I am actually surprised they were still manufacturing them. The One X is probably one of the most underrated consoles of all time, I totally love it and still have one hooked up even though I got a Series X.
With being able to find a Series S everywhere in stores now it makes sense.
At least now some poor kid wanting a Series X won't end up with an Xbox One X because they have confused parents.
@Banjo-
I hope they do look better some of the new top Xbox games, especially adventure action type games.
Because then one will push the other to further the boundaries of what we see now.
It’s all a bit strange as the best selling console at the moment and who knows all time maybe, is the lesser power hybrid, the Switch.
I think though it’s because only they make Mario Kart, Mario Odyssey, BOTW. They are games that define what they are some how without mega graphics.
Me a visual graphical junkie, enjoys those came beyond belief.
No wonder you can't find them in stores anymore. I sold my Project Scorpio console recently for $100 more than I paid for it day one and a stock XB1X for retail price - and it was 2 years old. Crazy times we live in where more than a full year later, new consoles are still rare finds in local stores.
@themightyant
There is a difference between playing a current library of games and being able to play all the new games coming out.
I said this over on PushSquare but I'll say it again. Microsoft have always shuttered their last gen consoles fairly quickly. I worked in retail when the 360 launched and original Xbox consoles we had in stock were recalled by Microsoft pretty much immediately.
On a side note, I boxed up my One X the other day to make room in my main console space. Hopefully I'll actually get round to setting up a proper games room in my house to have all of my retro consoles set up so I can free it from its cardboard coffin.
@NeoRatt Depends who you are. Not everyone is chasing the latest thing. Good games are good games and last gen has a LOT of them.
But yes, I was being flippant too Next/Current gen is backwards compatible.
@themightyant I quickly realised during the Xbox One/PS4 gen, that not only are new games not worth buying on launch, but that I have missed some fantastic games that completely passed me by, that I can pick up for pennies in a sale.
I just picked up Nioh complete with all DLC for around £12, which I've never played before. And I've been having some strong urges to replay the Bioshock games, and since they were on sale on PS4, I've also picked those up so that I can earn some trophies while I re-experience some classics.
So that's how I do my hobby now.
@Richnj 100% you get a better version of the game for a lower price.
The only sacrifice is you don't play it at launch. IF you are someone who want's to stay with the zeitgeist and discuss things at launch this doesn't work. There's nothing wrong with that view but for everyone else waiting is often the better option.
Really enjoying replaying games with FPS boost like Prey, Dishonoured, Skyrim at 60fps whereas they all ran sub 30 on last gen.
@Dezzy70
Sony’s PR has been dreadful and they’ve even been ripped apart by the users over on Pushsquare for it. That ‘we believe in generations’ line was extremely foolish when they planned to release almost everything for the first two years of the systems life on PS4. At least MS were honest about bringing games out on older hardware.
What were seeing is a transition similar to last gen where the likes of Watch Dogs, MGSV, Rise of the Tomb Raider, various Assassins Creeds and CODs straddled both generations. Real exclusives aren’t that big of a deal early on in a generation as long as cross gen games see a significant enough improvement to demonstrate the increase in power.
@electrolite77
Yes I was upset when Sony back tracked.
But I’ve cooled now, they did R&C and Returnal.
And I know not released yet but HFW looks stunning for an open world adventure, even though it could have been probably better if PS5 only.
But a couple of Sony studios are graphical magicians and I doubt any game this year or next graphically open world adventure will look better than HFW on PS5.
The same as FH5 won’t be beaten open world adventure racer wise for a long time.
Third parties will always support old generation until the time is right for them, maybe 2 years into the new generation roughly.
I thought we might see a real new generation fps in Stalker 2 but it’s December 2022 now hopefully.
Dishonoured 2 backed me out because of the choppy frame rate even after the Xbox One X patch but I haven't tried it on Series X. I skipped some games because of this during the last generation.
@Dezzy70 It's not just Sony's studios that make good nor the best graphics but hey we have discussed this before. Any game from Crystal Dynamics, Capcom, Square Enix or Playground will probably look better. However, Naughty Dog in particular knows how to create cinematic games with the right animations, pre-backed lighting and camera angles but the gameplay is usually scripted because of that. But hey, I know how much to love Guerrilla Games.
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