A brand new yr often means new alternatives, however for Microsoft, it is the identical previous battle for console market share. In keeping with Christopher Dring of The Sport Enterprise, it is no secret that Xbox gross sales have been declining each quarter, leading to 2025 being the corporate’s worst yr ever within the UK.
“Xbox console gross sales within the UK in 2025 are down 39%,” Doring tweeted, which means this yr was “comfortably the worst yr ever for Xbox consoles.” This follows the model’s worst November on file, with console gross sales within the U.S. down 70% yr over yr.
The previous is the previous and no matter else, the query now’s: will its fortunes enhance in 2026? For those who’re into first-party video games, Playground Video games definitely permits you to do this. fable and Forza Horizon 6of the Union Gears of Battle: E-DayHi there Studio’s Halo: Marketing campaign EvolutionAnd so forth. These will most likely be defined in additional element on this month’s Developer_Direct.
However given Microsoft’s dedication to bringing first-party titles to different platforms, and the “That is an Xbox” advert selling the whole lot however the console, you need to surprise if these may have a direct impression on {hardware} gross sales.
After all, this doesn’t essentially imply that the corporate will hand over on the identical. Xbox president Sarah Bond has touted the subsequent console as a “very premium, very high-end” machine, with rumors pointing to a 2027 launch (if RAM worth will increase aren’t a spoiler).