Katarzyna Petru
Microsoft is gearing up for one of the hottest moments in the industry's history — the release of GTA 6 in 2026 — and according to new information, it plans a massive increase in the availability of Xbox Series X|S consoles. This is in response to the issues of recent years: rising production costs, tariffs on equipment from China, and dwindling supplies, which have forced the company to raise prices and made competition with PlayStation more difficult.
Xbox production is set to take off. Foxconn and Luxshare enter the game
According to Reuters, Microsoft is working intensively to build a larger capacity buffer. Two giants — Foxconn and Luxshare — are set to assist. Foxconn plans to expand factory capacities by as much as 4.8 million devices annually, covering not only Xbox Series X|S consoles but also controllers and other accessories. Meanwhile, Luxshare is preparing its own production lines, which will also add “a few million” pieces of equipment annually to the global pool.
This is an important change in strategy — Microsoft aims to move a larger portion of production to Vietnam, which is quickly emerging as a new hub for consumer electronics. Lower tariffs, reduced costs and increased flexibility are expected to help the company stabilise prices and avoid the issues that have long plagued the availability of Xboxes.
Why is it so important?
In recent years, Xbox has clearly lagged behind Sony in terms of console availability. The PlayStation 5 returned to stores faster after global component shortages, while Xbox often recorded drops in sales and in some regions raised prices to compensate for import costs.
Microsoft wants the launch of GTA 6 — the biggest hit of the decade, which will instantly boost interest in gaming — to not catch the company without stock on the shelves. For many gamers, this is the moment when they can decide to purchase a new console.
What does this mean for prices?
If Microsoft's plans succeed, the availability of Xbox consoles in the second half of 2025 and in 2026 should significantly improve. Practically, this could mean:
stabilisation of Series X|S prices,
more promotions in stores,
less risk of fluctuations caused by import costs.
In other words: the more consoles there are on the market, the harder it will be to justify their inflated prices.
Microsoft aims to rebuild its position
Increasing production is the first step towards Xbox competing better with PlayStation at a crucial moment for the entire industry. The release of GTA 6 could trigger the biggest console boom in years — and Microsoft intends to be ready for it. If the plan with Vietnam and new suppliers works out, Xbox could get back on track and regain some of the market it has lost in recent years.
