Recent Developer Survey is Bad News for Xbox

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A recent survey of game developers reveals their opinions on various consoles, and the results aren’t looking great for Xbox. While it’s not a definite prediction, if the survey accurately reflects the feelings of developers overall, Xbox gamers might face challenges in the future.

Xbox is currently facing a unique situation. Lately, the company has been prioritizing games and making them accessible on various devices, not just the Xbox console itself. While Xbox leaders have reassured gamers that consoles remain important – and that they’re already working on the next generation – fans now have new things to worry about.

Video Game Developer Survey May Mean Trouble for Xbox

The GDC Festival of Gaming (formerly known as the Game Developers Conference) recently released its annual State of the Game Industry report. The report is based on a survey of over 2,300 game industry professionals, covering various topics including their interest in different gaming platforms. These platforms ranged from popular consoles like PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X to handheld devices like the Switch, ROG Xbox Ally, and Steam Deck, and even platforms like Netflix. Out of 22 platforms surveyed, the Xbox Series X/S received only 20% of the votes, placing it fifth overall. While this doesn’t guarantee fewer games for Xbox, the survey results aren’t encouraging.

Although 20% interest for Xbox consoles isn’t terrible given the competition, the gap between platforms is clear. Developers showed the most interest in PCs (80%), followed by PlayStation 5 (40%). The Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch 2 also performed well, both at 40% and 39% respectively. Older Xbox models lagged behind, with the Xbox One at 9%, the ROG Xbox Ally at 7%, and Xbox Cloud Gaming at just 5%.

This survey represents a small fraction of all developers, so it might not accurately reflect the entire industry. However, it adds to growing worries among gamers about the future of Xbox as a console. Just this January, two games – 1348 Ex Voto and Nickelodeon Splat Pack – had their Xbox versions canceled. Surprisingly, 1348 Ex Voto will now only be released on PlayStation 5, even though it was originally planned for Xbox. Nickelodeon Splat Pack is launching on almost every other platform, including PlayStation 5, Switch, and PC, but not Xbox.

2024 wasn’t without its challenges for Xbox. The highly anticipated game Contraband, developed by the creators of Just Cause, was announced in 2021, delayed in August 2025, and ultimately canceled. Although Xbox Game Pass remains popular, some game developers are worried that including games in the service reduces potential sales, which could affect future development. Adding to these concerns, a key figure from the original Xbox team voiced fears that Microsoft is prioritizing software over console hardware. Former Microsoft and Blizzard executive Mike Ybarra even publicly suggested that Xbox consoles may not have a long-term future.

Xbox sales of consoles and accessories fell by 25%, according to the latest company report. This likely adds to concerns among game developers about the platform’s performance. It’s uncertain whether Xbox hardware sales will recover before or after the next generation of consoles arrives, or if further game cancellations will worsen the situation. Currently, both gamers and developers appear worried about these recent trends.

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2026-01-31 20:04