Former Blizzard president and ex-Microsoft executive Mike Ybarra has ignited controversy with his declaration that Xbox consoles are ‘dead.’ He made this remark while commending the gains of the PS5, stating:

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

This statement seems to allude to criticisms of traditional consoles being out of sync with the evolving gaming industry.

Since 2025, Xbox sales have been falling due to price increases and declining demand. In contrast, the PS5 continues to thrive, boasting over 80.3 million units sold. Microsoft, in response to low demand for Xbox consoles, has seen a consistent drop in Series X/S sales over several quarters, even beginning to port Xbox games to PS5, which some perceive as conceding defeat.

Ybarra’s comments pointedly criticize Microsoft’s marketing strategy, calling their approach ‘confused.’ He left Blizzard shortly after Microsoft acquired the company.

Other industry veterans share Ybarra’s concerns, including Laura Fryer, a founding member of the original Xbox project, who also expressed doubt about the platform’s future. This growing sentiment suggests that the strategy for Xbox may be in jeopardy as major competitors like Sony and Nintendo continue to flourish.