Microsoft once considered shutting down Xbox for good; Reports

The beloved Xbox was reportedly just a single decision away from being shut down by Microsoft back in 2021. The company instead decided to buy more gaming studios and thanks to that, people can still purchase an Xbox console and try to keep the rivalry with PS5 alive. However, the current state of the console isn’t too good.

As told by Gamerant from a report by The Information, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella was considering shutting down Xbox once and for all before starting the current quest to popularize the Game Pass by acquiring multiple studios and adding more games to the service.

The decision was likely to boost the sales for the console with more exclusives. The company acquired Bethesda Studios for $7 billion in 2021 as a start. However, the Activision Blizzard acquisition was a bit messy. While the deal did go through, the $71.5 billion deal saw various negotiations with the EU and FTC resulting in Microsoft bringing games across multiple platforms.

Also Read:Microsoft is aiming to combine Xbox and Windows for better handheld gaming experience

What would have happened if Microsoft shut down Xbox?

Microsoft recently released a new campaign ‘This is an Xbox’ and the company is aiming to bring the Xbox experience across various devices via cloud gaming. The report reveals that the company had aimed to bring 100 million Game Pass users by 2030 which is triple the amount of its current subscribers.

It’s clear that even if the console was discontinued, gamers would still have the Xbox as a brand. However, with the company releasing its game across multiple platforms, it’s hard to imagine them hitting 100 million Game Pass subscribers. The recent release of Call of Duty Balck Ops 6 and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle saw a positive response, but the company also needs to sustain these users.

Microsoft's failure to convince multiple studios to put their game on the Xbox Game Pass adds another hurdle. For now, Microsoft’s next plan of action is currently unknown. One of the development studios under Microsoft has recently changed its name and switched to Unreal Engine with more Halo remakes coming in the future.