Xbox Shoots Down Another Hardware Rumor

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Xbox fans might be feeling uneasy about the console’s future, especially with recent price hikes and some games previously exclusive to Xbox now appearing on PlayStation 5. Over the holiday weekend, rumors spread that stores like Target and Walmart were stopping sales of Xbox consoles and games, so Microsoft had to quickly clarify that these reports weren’t true.

I was a little worried about Xbox’s future with all the talk about potential price increases, but it sounds like Target and Walmart are still totally on board with carrying Xbox consoles, games, and accessories! A Microsoft rep told Windows Central that they’re still strong partners. Apparently, the rumors started because Costco took all the Xbox stuff off their website before the price changes, which made people think something bigger was up. It’s good to know things are still looking solid with those other major retailers, though!

There have been rumors that Xbox might stop making its own consoles, especially with Asus releasing the ROG Ally handheld. But Jason Ronald, a VP at Xbox, recently confirmed the company is still planning to create new gaming hardware.

Xbox consoles are becoming more expensive at the same time Microsoft is raising the price of its Game Pass subscription service. Laura Fryer, an original Xbox team member and former Microsoft employee, criticized these price increases, calling them a “betrayal” of gamers’ trust. While Microsoft has said the price hikes won’t be applied to everyone right away, the more expensive Game Pass plan will no longer include a popular bonus perk from Call of Duty.

There’s also talk among industry experts that Microsoft might introduce a cheaper version of Game Pass that includes ads, but currently, this is just a rumor.

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2025-10-14 14:39