Xbox says console demand still outstrips supply despite falling sales

[Emily81]

Xbox says it cannot make enough consoles to meet demand, even six years into the generation. Kotaku reports that Xbox chief executive Asha Sharma made the claim during Microsoft's earnings call this week

Sharma posted that console sales remain constrained by supply, with more demand than consoles available. She said Microsoft is expanding a console refurbishment programme ahead of the holidays and the release of GTA VI, adding that progress is being made but there is a lot more work ahead

Owners who had not switched on their consoles for a long time received emails encouraging them to trade them in at retailers such as Best Buy. Microsoft makes no profit on used console sales, but could earn more later through platform spending from new owners

Kotaku points to a shortage of memory chips driven by AI demand, which is expected to last into 2027, as one likely cause. Sceptics note that consoles often seem to be in stock in the US. The next generation Xbox, reportedly called Project Helix, is rumoured for around the holiday season of 2028

Claiming supply constraints while hardware sales fall is an unusual message, and some players are sceptical. If memory shortages are real, though, they could affect every console maker. GTA VI will be a big test of whether Xbox can meet demand

Do you believe Xbox's supply explanation? And will GTA VI boost console sales this Christmas?

Microsoft Says It Still Can't Make Enough Xboxes To Meet Demandkotaku.com