Why Did I Sell My Xbox Series X?

Alright, Xbox fans, let's talk. I did it. I sold my Xbox Series X. And before you accuse me of blasphemy or treachery, hear me out.

Remember when the Xbox Series X was the ultimate flex? That sleek black box of power, 12 teraflops of graphical muscle, and the promise of gaming greatness. But somewhere along the way, that shine started to fade. It wasn't the hardware – the Series X is still a beast. It was everything else.

First, let’s talk exclusives. What exclusives? That’s the point. Microsoft has basically turned its biggest hitters into multi-platform ambassadors. You don’t need an Xbox to play 'Halo Infinite' or 'Forza Horizon 5'. Hell, some of them are even showing up on the freaking Nintendo Switch.

Look, back in the day, exclusives were the reason you chose sides. PlayStation had 'God of War,' 'Uncharted,' and 'Spider-Man.' Xbox had 'Halo,' 'Gears of War,' and 'Fable.' Now? Xbox exclusives are like unicorns – rare and mostly myth. Meanwhile, PlayStation keeps pumping out bangers that make you feel like you’re missing out if you’re not on their platform.

But here’s the kicker: Microsoft isn’t just giving up on exclusives – they’re practically giving away the entire Xbox experience. Enter Game Pass. Yes, it’s the best value in gaming. Yes, it’s got a ton of great games. But guess what? You don’t need an Xbox for it. You can play those same games on PC or even through cloud streaming. Suddenly, my $500 Series X started to feel more like a subscription box than a must-have console.

And don't even get me started on cloud gaming. Microsoft is betting big on the future of gaming being screen-agnostic. You could be playing on your TV, your phone, your toaster, who cares? As long as you’re paying for Game Pass, they’re happy. Meanwhile, my Xbox is just sitting there, gathering dust like a futuristic relic that hasn’t even aged yet.

Microsoft is clearly shifting gears. They’re focusing on services and subscriptions, not consoles. And while that’s great for their bottom line, it left me wondering – what’s the point of owning an Xbox? It’s the Betamax of gaming consoles – powerful, impressive, but ultimately unnecessary.

And yeah, it’s not just about the games either. Look at the marketing. Xbox is no longer positioning itself as a console you must own. They’re pushing Game Pass as the Netflix of gaming. It’s like they’re saying, "Don’t buy our hardware – just buy our service." Meanwhile, PlayStation is still hammering home that sense of exclusivity, making you feel like you're part of something bigger when you own their console.

So yeah, I sold it. And I don’t regret it. I’m still playing all the games I love, just on other devices. Xbox isn’t dead – far from it. But the Xbox console? That might be another story.

What do you think? Is Xbox still worth holding onto, or are you ready to let it go too?