Former Xbox Executive: "Microsoft's Console Business is Dead"

The current direction of Xbox puts an end to the future of Microsoft consoles, according to Laura Fryer — a veteran of the corporation who led the Xbox Advanced Technology Group in the early 2000s.

Laura Fryer

Fryer released a video critiquing Microsoft’s strategy. She recalled that in the early days of Xbox, the focus was on innovation, quality content, and console development. Now, Microsoft is increasingly promoting the Play Anywhere concept, suggesting that gamers can play Xbox games on any device. Fryer acknowledged that the idea sounds great, but it remains mostly marketing for now. While it potentially benefits Game Pass, it diminishes the importance of consoles.

Additionally, Fryer disapproved of Microsoft’s decision to create a portable PC in partnership with ASUS. In her view, it simply isn’t needed by the audience.

“As a co-founder of the Xbox team, I don’t like this state of affairs. It’s sad to see everything I helped build gradually lose value. It seems as if Xbox no longer wants or is able to focus on hardware,” Fryer concluded.