It appears that 2025 marked the worst year ever for Xbox console sales in the United Kingdom. The report comes from journalist Christopher Dring, who revealed that Xbox sales dropped by a massive 39%, describing it as an unprecedented low for Microsoft’s gaming platform.
Dring wrote, “Sales of Xbox consoles were down 39% in the UK during 2025, making it comfortably the worst year on record for Xbox consoles.”
He also wondered if the situation could improve in 2026, given the expected return of some of Xbox’s most beloved franchises and the lineup of strong first-party titles planned for release.
The Hope for Recovery in 2026
Several high-profile titles are scheduled to launch in the next twelve months, potentially helping to revive Xbox’s performance. Games like Gears of War: E-Day, Fable, Forza Horizon 6, Halo: Campaign Evolved, and Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy are expected to join the Xbox Game Pass catalog in 2026.
According to analysts, this lineup could significantly strengthen the console’s appeal and help Microsoft recover part of its lost momentum.
Interestingly, some industry observers believe that this decline in Xbox sales might not be accidental. Reports suggest that Microsoft may have made a deliberate decision to scale back its focus on hardware sales.
It’s rumored that the arrival of GTA 6 has pushed Microsoft to sign an agreement with Foxconn to boost console production. However, some believe this is part of a broader strategy — one where Microsoft aims to move away from the low-margin console business and focus instead on services like Xbox Game Pass and cloud gaming.
Dring himself hinted at this possibility, suggesting that Microsoft’s recent actions may reflect a shift in long-term priorities. Journalist Jez Corden also joined the discussion, saying he believes the upcoming 2026 releases will not be enough to reverse the situation and that the decline in hardware sales may indeed be intentional.