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Former Microsoft executive has told Xbox fans “Your console is dead” while heaping praise on Sony as they announce the PS5 is their “most successful generation”. It’s been a rough year for Microsoft loyalists as the Xbox has seen several significant price increases, meanwhile, earlier this year there was 9,000 layoffs plus the cancellation of projects such as Perfect Dark and Everwild. Now some retailers are no longer selling Xbox consoles, meanwhile, the PS5 is continuing to be a huge success for Sony.
Former Microsoft executive tells Xbox “Your console is dead” while praising the PS5
Mike Ybarra was previously at Microsoft for 20-years, ending up as the Vice President on Xbox Live and Xbox Game Pass before becoming Blizzard President in October 2019, a role he stepped down from in January 2024. Since stepping away from Blizzard, Ybarra has frequently been critical of Xbox.
On September 28th, Ybarra responded to an IGN post about Sony declaring that the PS5 is their “most successful” generation ever with $136 billion in sales so far. This announcement was made by Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO, Hideaki Nishino, during a keynote speech at Tokyo Game Show.
Regarding Sony’s milestone with the PS5, Ybarra posted, “But hey, the console market isn’t a successful business. It is if you do it right”. In addition to praising Sony for doing the console market right, Ybarra responded to a comment calling him a “bitter ex,” referring to his time at Microsoft. In his response, Ybarra bluntly said, “Your console is dead,” referring to the Xbox.
Mike Ybarra is not the only former Microsoft figure to call Xbox’s console business dead. Earlier this year, former Microsoft Gaming developer, Laura Fryer, said “as one of the founding members of the Xbox team, I’m not pleased with where things are today” and “I don’t love watching all of the value that I helped create slowly get eroded away”. Mike Ybarra’s comments also come in light of the news that Costco is reportedly no longer selling Xbox hardware, calling it a “business decision”.
While Ybarra’s comments are likely to inflame the Xbox community, Windows Central’s Jez Corden did point out that this is also “Xbox’s most successful console generation ever”.
Whether your team PlayStation or team Xbox, the console war is largely over with Xbox exclusives coming to PS5 and vice versa in some instances. As for what’s beyond the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, leaks have possibly revealed specs for the PS6 and its handheld companion, meanwhile, Xbox are reportedly planning their next-gen console to launch in 2028.
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