If you planned to spend the upcoming holiday season hammering your new Xbox Series X games, you may be disappointed.
Stocks are so low that buying the new Xbox console on launch day might not be an option. In fact, Amazon is warning that even some pre-orders may not arrive until the end of the year.
No Xbox Series X Gaming Until New Year’s Eve
That’s right, the holiday season is set to be a glum one for some Xbox fans. Twitter has been set alight with screenshots of a blanket email sent out to those who have ordered an Xbox Series X from Amazon.
In the email, the online retail giant states that it expects to be shipping consoles to customers in the “coming weeks”. Which is bad news if you wanted (and expected) to receive it on launch day.
The email goes on to say that Amazon “anticipate[s]” gamers receiving their consoles by December 31, but hopefully earlier. That is New Year’s Eve. Not exactly the November 10 release date everyone was expecting, is it?
Hey @amazon thanks for overselling on the @Xbox Series X and now making me wait until possibly 12/31?! I thought I secured my console on pre-order day if not for launch then at LEAST for the month of Nov. Not cool. pic.twitter.com/ggHqmzrl4Z
— Ed Ulatoski (@DaedalusBC304) November 9, 2020
Buyers are, quite rightly, up in arms. The reason you pre-order a console, or anything for that matter, is so that you can use it as soon as it is released. Some people have even reported receiving their consoles already.
The email also states that customers can cancel their order if they wish. This is likely to be the last thing an Xbox fan wants to do and the last thing Microsoft wants them to do.
Are Initial Xbox Series X/S Sales Figures Under Threat?
Well, the likelihood that people are going to cancel their order is pretty slim. However, Microsoft and Amazon shouldn’t be taking this lightly.
Disappointed, frustrated, and angry people all do dumb things in the heat of the moment. It is totally plausible that a lot of people will be annoyed by this setback and just ask for a refund.
However, the console went on sale November 10 and sold out of current stock within minutes of sales going live. So, pretty much everyone is disappointed.
As with a lot of console releases over the past decade or two, new consoles have been oversold at pre-order and under-supplied at release. This inevitably means that a lot of gamers are left high and dry, come release day, and for some time afterwards as well.
Who Is to Blame Here?
Well, this is where schools of thought differ. OK, so Microsoft should ensure it has enough consoles to fulfill pre-orders. However, the past six months have been a difficult time for everyone. Supply chains have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns, meaning delays were always going to be possible.
For now, gamers are advised to keep checking outlets as Xbox Series X/S stock is replenished. Just keep refreshing that page!