Report: Xbox Considering Pulling Out From Middle-East, Will Only Focus on PC Game Pass and Accessories
Microsoft seems to be shifting its focus away from the Middle East market, largely due to low sales in the region, as recent reports suggest that it will not be releasing future Xbox consoles in the Middle-East.
In a recent tweet, Mohammed Al-Bassimi, the co-founder of the True-Gaming network, stated, “Microsoft is considering stopping the sales of Xbox consoles in the Middle-East.” Instead, the company plans to focus on promoting its Game Pass for PC and selling accessories. He also hinted that Microsoft may skip the Middle-East market with its rumored handheld Xbox device, which they haven’t officially announced yet.
Microsoft has not officially confirmed or denied these reports. However, the news gains credibility as the company recently decided not to release the updated Xbox Series X model with a 2TB hard drive in the Middle-East. This could be a sign that Microsoft is making big changes to its plans for the region.
From personal experience, the Xbox market in the Middle-East is almost non-existent at this point. Retailers struggle to sell consoles, and most stores only stock games they know will sell, like FIFA, Forza, and Halo. Even when the next generation of consoles launched, PS5 units had to be pre-ordered due to extremely high demand, while Xbox Series X consoles were easily available in both physical and online stores.
Globally, Microsoft is also facing challenges in the console market, as the PS5 has sold twice as much as the Xbox Series X|S worldwide. It was also reported that Microsoft may stop marketing Xbox consoles in the EMEA region and focus solely on Game Pass and accessories. If true, this is another blow for the Xbox brand, as the community is still reeling from Black Myth Wukong still not having a firm release window for Xbox, and the news that the platform’s former big-game exclusive Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is now confirmed to be also hitting the PS5 next year.
However, the big question remains whether Microsoft will leave the Middle-East out of its future Xbox plans. As we get more information, we’ll make sure to keep you informed here at MP1st.
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This is why I shake my head every time I see one of these articles about Microsoft’s next gen Xbox and how it is going to have a mini handheld like it is some sort of shuttle craft from the Enterprise. You don’t throw away customers and pull out of areas and then have to turn around and and reinstate personnel and infrastructure to try and win back those same people. There is not going to be a next gen Microsoft Xbox. Prepare yourselves for the MS version of the Steam machine. A reference design for other companies to make. MS will likely partner with one company just to say, “Look, we are investing.” and then that will die quickly. It’s over folks, move along. 3rd party is the Redmond future.