Former Xbox exec says the “console is dead” after praising PS5

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After being called a “bitter ex” regarding his departure from Microsoft’s console team, former Xbox leader Mike Ybarra responded strongly. He didn’t shy away from addressing the accusation.

Before moving to Blizzard in 2019, Ybarra held the position of VP for Xbox Live and Game Pass. He then left Blizzard in 2024 following Microsoft’s acquisition of both Blizzard and Activision.

Following that, the executive often spoke highly of Sony and the PlayStation 5, but also expressed worries about what the future holds for Xbox. Back in June, Ybarra stated that despite his lifelong loyalty – saying he would always “bleed green” – Xbox needed to make changes “fast.”

Console wars never die

On September 27th, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), Ybarra responded to news that Sony considered the PS5 their most successful console generation by stating, “The console market isn’t generally a successful business-unless you approach it strategically.”

But hey, the console market isn’t a successful business. It is if you do it right.

— Mike Ybarra 😇 (@Qwik) September 27, 2025

Someone commented that Ybarra seemed to harbor ill feelings towards his previous workplace, jokingly writing, “Ah, the bitter ex.” Ybarra responded sharply, simply stating, “Your console is dead.”

Your console is dead.

— Mike Ybarra 😇 (@Qwik) September 28, 2025

Whether on purpose or not, Ybarra’s statements after departing from Microsoft have sparked discussions on multiple levels – not only among people who prefer different gaming consoles, but also among enthusiasts of well-known game series.

In August, he confidently predicted that Battlefield 6 would outperform Black Ops 7 as the leading first-person shooter of 2025. He added that a win for Battlefield would encourage Call of Duty to improve their game and avoid becoming complacent.

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2025-09-30 13:18