Xbox is Dead and Microsoft Knows It

In 2013, Microsoft revealed the Xbox One and it might’ve been the most disastrous console reveal in history. From the infamous DRM policies and the always-on Kinect spy cam, to Adam Orth’s “#dealwithit” tweet, Xbox spent years trying to undo the damage.

Fast forward to 2025, and somehow, history is repeating itself. The new Xbox Game Pass price hikes have fans furious, with the Ultimate tier skyrocketing in cost. Microsoft’s studio acquisitions, layoffs, and confusing messaging have left gamers wondering what Xbox even stands for anymore. Is Xbox still a console brand — or just a subscription machine?

In this video, I break down the entire fall of Xbox, from the Xbox One DRM controversy and the legendary “Xbox 180”, to the Game Pass backlash of 2025. We’ll cover the good ideas that died, the greed that survived, and why Microsoft can’t stop tripping over its own feet.

If you’ve ever owned an Xbox 360, Xbox One, or Xbox Series X|S, this is your full crash course in how a once-beloved console brand became a corporate punchline.

My PC Build:
GPU - Gigabyte RTX 5090 Gaming OC
CPU - Ryzen 7 9800X3D
CPU Cooler - Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB
Motherboard - Asrock Phantom Gaming X870E Nova Wifi
Ram - G.SKILL Trident Z5 Neo RGB Series DDR5 2 x 32 GB
SSD - Samsung 990 Pro 4TB
Power Supply - Lian Li Edge Series 1300W
Case - Lian Li O11D EVO RGB E-ATX
Case Fans - 7 Arctic P12 Pro A-RGB

💬 Timestamps:
00:00 – The Xbox One Reveal Disaster (2013)
01:00 – The Mandatory Kinect and Microsoft’s $499 Mistake
01:35 – Xbox One DRM Controversy and Used Games Policy Outrage
02:05 – Adam Orth and the #DealWithIt Meltdown
02:45 – The Xbox 180: Microsoft’s Public Apology Tour
03:15 – Xbox Loses Its Only Good Ideas
03:32 – Xbox Series X|S and the Rise of Game Pass
03:56 – Developers vs the Xbox Series S
04:39 – Microsoft Buys Everyone: Bethesda, Activision, and More
05:02 – Xbox Identity Crisis and Hardware Uncertainty (2025)
05:14 – Xbox Game Pass Price Hike 2025 and Community Backlash
05:31 – The State of Xbox in 2025: From DRM to Desperation
06:06 – My Xbox Story: From Red Ring to Game Pass
06:37 – The Xbox Live Gold Loophole and Game Pass Deal
07:25 – From Microsoft to Nvidia: Building a 5090 PC
07:37 – New Xbox Game Pass Update if It Was Honest

💡 Topics Covered: Xbox Game Pass price hike 2025, Xbox One DRM controversy, Xbox 180 story, Xbox Game Pass backlash, Microsoft gaming mistakes, Xbox Series S limitations, Xbox history failures, console wars Xbox vs PlayStation.