Xbox CEO Asha Sharma Blames Series X|S Supply Constraints Amid Record US Hardware Declines

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma claims Xbox Series X|S consoles remain supply constrained, even as major US retailers like Best Buy, Target, Walmart, and Microsoft's own store show available stock. In a social media post discussing Microsoft's Q1 results, Sharma noted a 2% year-over-year Xbox revenue decline and said 'more demand than consoles available,' while highlighting record performances from Minecraft, World of Warcraft, and Call of Duty. However, Circana analyst Mat Piscatella pushed back, stating data does not suggest stock is the biggest driver of Xbox hardware performance. The supply argument comes as Xbox Series X|S sales continue to set record lows in the US, following a price hike in August. These developments unfold during Sharma's broader 'reset' of Xbox, which has already cut roughly 1,600 jobs, with more planned, and led to studio closures like Ninja Theory and Double Fine going independent. Meanwhile, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4's launch was touted as a success, with the franchise reaching $40 billion in lifetime revenue. As Xbox navigates leadership changes—including the exit of its first COO Helen Chiang—the company faces mounting pressure to prove its hardware strategy can reverse the downward trend.