Recently, reports started surfacing claiming that Microsoft was preparing to wind down sales of Xbox consoles in Saudi Arabia. In a post on social media that kickstarted the discussion, it was written that ‘even distributors won’t be able to get the device.’
This apparent revelation prompted Microsoft to get involved, and the Chief Consumer Sales Officer, Ami Silverman, set everyone straight.
No Plans
In a statement circulated amongst outlets, Xbox’s Ami Silverman said:
Xbox devices are available in all current Xbox hardware-supported countries, including Saudi Arabia. Console availability may vary by country but Xbox games can be played on consoles, PCs, and on phones, tablets or TVs where Xbox Cloud Gaming is available. Players can visit xbox.com/regions to learn more about how to play with Xbox.
Admittedly, it’s a pretty weak statement, but it eliminates the present concern that Xbox is preparing to pull out of Saudi Arabia. It doesn’t talk about the future of the market, but this should be enough to alleviate the concerns of Middle Eastern gamers.
It hasn’t been the smoothest sailing for Xbox over the last few years, but the goal of the company is to reach more gamers around the world, allowing for the Xbox platform to become the most accessible gaming service ever devised.
It was just about one year ago that Phil Spencer revealed immense growth in Asian markets, and in July 2024, it was referenced that Microsoft’s ‘gaming ecosystem’ boasts 500 million monthly active users – and that figure is growing exponentially.
Earlier this year, Xbox reported record growth amidst layoffs and studio shutdowns. At the same time, Microsoft hit a $3 trillion market valuation.
But I digress.
Xbox won’t stop selling consoles in Saudi Arabia.
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