It's been reported that some Xbox Series X consoles have been shutting off at random, preventing players from enjoying their next-gen games. The long-awaited console launched earlier this week, and is of course already sold out at most major retailers. Players have been anticipating the new console all year, and now that they've finally had the chance to get it, Xbox reports that the Series X has given it the best console launch it's ever had.
But it's not all good news for owners of the new system. Like any substantial piece of technology, the Series X is prone to any number of hardware issues. Some fans reported that their Series X consoles were catching fire, but these reports have largely been dismissed as fake, playing off of widespread fears of overheating that have plagued both the Series X and its competitor the PlayStation 5 in the months leading up to launch. Others have reported hearing frightening noises coming from their new consoles, in reports that are a bit harder to dispute.
A new report has come in of a much more serious issue plaguing some consoles. GameSpot reports that some machines have been shutting off completely without warning when fans try to use them. One user claims that the console is shutting down just a few seconds after starting a game. It's unclear how widespread the problem is, though GameSpot remarks that at least one employee has encountered the issue, with the console going down anywhere from a moment to twenty minutes after a game begins. Turning the console back on requires a hard reboot, meaning any progress made in the brief window of playability could be lost if the player doesn't have time to save first.
It can be difficult to keep a console in perfect condition after it's been unboxed. Sometimes unexpected issues can foil a user's best efforts to protect their new machine, and other times, sheer incompetence is to be blamed. For instance, Xbox has already had to warn players not to vape in their Series X consoles, since that's likely how the aforementioned fake fire footage was filmed. It's doubtful that every player who's suffering from this new issue has vaped into their new machine, though; this problem seems much more likely to be a design issue.
Just about every new product needs a few tweaks before it's perfect, and unfortunately, next-gen consoles are no better. That being said, the Series X shutting down completely when fans try to use it is a pretty major issue, and one that Microsoft needs to address as fast as possible. The Xbox Series X is meant to usher in a new generation of video gaming. No one should be turned away at the door.
Source: GameSpot