October 11th 2024.
Is Xbox starting to withdraw from the Middle East? There have been reports claiming that Xbox is planning to stop selling consoles in Saudi Arabia, but a statement from Microsoft has not been able to convince people otherwise. It's no secret that Xbox is struggling at the moment. With low sales of the Xbox Series X/S and stagnant Game Pass subscriber numbers, the company's only saving grace this generation has been its acquisition of Activision Blizzard, which cost a whopping $75.4 billion. We've already seen Xbox shift its marketing focus away from the console, as its executives try to generate excitement for its next generation plans, Game Pass, and its push towards multi-platform releases on PlayStation and Nintendo hardware.
In light of Xbox's shifting priorities, a new report has surfaced claiming that Microsoft is planning to no longer sell Xbox consoles in Saudi Arabia, which could potentially result in a complete exit from the Middle Eastern region. According to journalist Mohammed Albisimi, the managing director of Saudi Arabian gaming website TrueGaming, Microsoft has officially informed major retailers that it will stop selling Xbox consoles in the country. When Albisimi reached out to Microsoft for a statement a few weeks ago, he was met with a refusal to comment. However, a statement has now emerged via Windows Central.
Xbox Chief Consumer Sales Officer, Ami Silverman, responded to the reports by saying that Xbox devices are currently available in all Xbox hardware-supported countries, including Saudi Arabia. While console availability may vary by country, Xbox games can be played on consoles, PCs, and even on phones, tablets, or TVs where Xbox Cloud Gaming is available. While some have taken this as a denial of Albisimi's report, the statement does not directly address the claims about retailers, leading some to believe that the company is trying to avoid the issue. Windows Central reporter Jez Corden has claimed to have other sources who deny that Xbox is pulling out of the region, but The Verge's Tom Warren and Albisimi have both noted the vague wording in the statement.
Warren has suggested that Xbox may be focusing on other regions when it comes to its hardware stock. He speculates that this does not necessarily mean that Xbox consoles will not be available in Saudi Arabia, but rather that the low sales in the region have resulted in stock not being replenished once it runs out. This is not the first time we have heard about Microsoft potentially shifting priorities in certain regions. Albisimi previously claimed that the company is considering not selling Xbox consoles in the entire Middle East, including its rumored new hardware. Back in May, The Verge reported that Microsoft is planning to stop marketing Xbox Series X/S consoles in certain markets due to poor sales, specifically in EMEA, and will be allocating less console stock in these territories as a result. However, Microsoft has never officially commented on these reports.
It remains to be seen if this will have any impact on the release of future Xbox consoles, but it seems that Microsoft is stepping back from certain territories where it has historically struggled. Whether this means a complete retreat from the hardware business is yet to be seen, but even if it is, it will likely take a considerable amount of time. In the meantime, we can look forward to Indiana Jones And The Great Circle as the next big Xbox game. Don't forget to email us, leave a comment, follow us on Twitter, and sign up for our newsletter to stay updated on all the latest gaming content and releases. You can also submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily by using our Submit Stuff page.
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