After much anticipation, Microsoft has officially launched the Xbox One X, giving players access to 4K gaming and huge visual upgrades to existing titles. But some players say that they are unable to enjoy the new hardware as their consoles are dying on them.
Some Xbox One X owners are writing on social media that their consoles have stopped working or haven't started working in the first place. One owner explained that after plugging their console in, they pressed the power button and "nothing happened. The console wasn't booting. It didn't even make the boot sound. Just silence and nothingness." Even unplugging the console and changing outlets did not solve the issue.
One Xbox One X player said that they played on it for two to three hours before powering it down and went to do other things. "When I try to turn it on it doesnt start now," wrote the player. Another user said that they had been playing Quantum Break when their console "just shut off like it was a power outage. No warning or anything, the controller was just flashing."
It's unclear exactly what is causing the issue. The cited reports about bricked Xbox One X consoles state that the console stopped working out of nowhere, that it was totally unexpected, and there had been nothing to indicate technical issues.
Although the Quantum Break player did say that their Xbox One X became quite warm, the room it's situated in is cool. Their PS4 Pro also works in that room with no issues and so environmental temperature is unlikely to be the culprit in that specific case.
It's also unclear exactly how widespread the issue is. There have only been a few reports about Xbox One X problems so far and it seems unlikely that a lot of players have been or will be affected by this. Rather, the visibility of the console just means that it's easier for these stories to come to light. As the Xbox 360 famously suffered from the Red Ring of Death, players are just more vigilant about technical issues with a Microsoft console.
It's worth noting that many new consoles face a (usually) small amount of technical issues. For example, a small amount of Nintendo Switch launch units were affected by the blue screen of death and it seems likely that only a small batch of Xbox One X units are faulty. But in any case, those affected by the problem should request a replacement from the retailer they purchased the console from.
Xbox One X is available now.
Source: ResetEra