Xbox Hardware is Dead,” Says Former Microsoft Executive

Microsoft Gaming just spilled the beans that they’re working on a bunch of different gadgets, like new Xbox consoles and even a new handheld thingy. But even with all that, folks are still saying Xbox’s time making its own hardware might be running out. Mike Ybarra, who used to run things at Blizzard and spent years at Xbox, even said that Xbox making its own hardware is pretty much a thing of the past. He’s basically saying what Laura Fryer hinted at in her recent video about the ROG Xbox Ally, that handheld made by Asus. Laura Fryer was actually on the very first Xbox team at Microsoft for ages. She even worked on those early Gears of War games and headed up the tech side before heading off to Warner Bros and Epic Games. Now and then, she pops up on YouTube to talk about the gaming world

So, in this video, she’s really worried about Microsoft slowly backing out of making consoles. She even calls out the “Xbox anywhere” idea and their whole marketing strategy, saying it just doesn’t have much behind it. She thinks the ROG Xbox Ally won’t really grab customers, and that new handheld device they’re planning? She feels it’s pretty useless. She’s actually pretty sad about where the company is right now, saying: “As one of the original team founders, I’m not pleased with the current console situation. I dislike seeing the value I helped build slowly erode.” Fryer also gave the new handheld a hard time for using old tech, running Windows 11, and not even playing regular Xbox console games. She pretty much sums it up by saying the Xbox hardware division is basically gone now: “I’m saddened as it seems Xbox no longer has the will or capability to launch hardware. Thus, this ROG Ally partnership represents a slow exit from the hardware business. And the new handheld serves no purpose in my eyes.” This Xbox veteran thinks the company might bring in outside help to revive some old favorite games, but she’s not so sure about their long-term chances. She wonders about the lack of big new hits and what Xbox will even look like in 25 years. Next year marks Xbox’s 25th anniversary, and I bet they’ll announce some cool stuff and plans to celebrate that big moment. Maybe next year will be the year things finally click. Maybe then, the confusion will clear up, and we’ll all see the good in these recent announcements. Guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

For all you Call of Duty fans out there, Carlos Mendoza has dug up some exciting news that was accidentally leaked on June 27, 2025. The official Call of Duty app revealed two new game modes for the highly anticipated Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, including a fast-paced Skirmish mode and an intense Overload mode. With its release scheduled for later this year, and potentially setting a new price point at $80, this title is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about games in the franchise. Head over to our blog (Activision Accidentally Leaks New Details About Call of Duty: Black Ops 7) to find out more about these thrilling details and what they mean for the future of Call of Duty. If you’re looking for a breath of fresh air in the gaming world, Sophie Laurent’s latest piece on Pragmata is definitely worth checking out. Published on June 27th, this insightful review delves into Capcom’s upcoming title, which promises a unique blend of tactical shooting and active hacking. Set against the backdrop of a lunar station, Pragmata challenges players to control both Hugh Williams and his enigmatic android companion, Pragmata, in an innovative cooperative gameplay experience. Sophie’s analysis not only highlights the game’s technical prowess but also its emotional depth, making it clear that Capcom still has plenty of exciting ideas up their sleeves. Don’t miss out on this fascinating exploration of Pragmata Pragmata: We Tested Its Two-Headed Gameplay, Capcom Still Has Great Ideas! While the future of Xbox hardware is up for debate, there’s some exciting news on the horizon that might just shake things up. Sophie Laurent over at Players For Life recently published a post titled “Delta Force on PS5 and Xbox Series in August” (2025-06-27), detailing how TiMi Studio’s Team Jade plans to bring their popular first-person shooter, Delta Force, to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles this August. With its free-to-play multiplayer modes and engaging PvE campaign, it could be the breath of fresh air many gamers are looking for. Check out Delta Force on PS5 and Xbox Series in August to learn more about this upcoming title and what it might mean for the future of console gaming.