Could Xbox Series X see a 2022 delay amid the coronavirus pandemic?

Xbox Series X Top Source: Microsoft

Microsoft continues to gear up its upcoming flagship Xbox Serial 10, currently on the agenda for late 2022 availability, and marking a bold leap into the side by side generation of consoles. But the platform holder now finds itself navigating the fallout of the COVID-19 outbreak, better known as coronavirus, with an ongoing global touch on filtering downwards all facets of the development pipeline.

Coronavirus cases have surged into the six figures worldwide, expanding beyond the epicenter in Prc, with rising cases now across the west. The influence on consumer electronics hasn't gone unnoticed, belongings back staple conferences like GDC and MWC (oh, and likely add E3 2022 to the list), postponing product unveilings, and delaying the devices themselves. Global stock markets also reflect economic business organization, recently posting the most pregnant falls in over a decade. It leaves a portion of the globe on agree, every bit countries establish countermeasures to incorporate and delay the virus' spread.

We've seen the expected speculation in recent weeks, as the ongoing suspension raises countless questions for Microsoft's 2022 plans — many still without answers. That includes the next-generation consoles, falling merely ahead of prime fourth dimension for Microsoft and Sony, both finalizing hardware designs and readying production. What it ways for the readiness of Xbox Serial X and PlayStation 5 hinges on developments over the coming weeks, even if the volatility of an epidemic makes that hard to predict.

Coronavirus has already hit Microsoft and its supply chains

Xbox Series X Reveal Source: Microsoft

The early on stages of the outbreak have changed everyday operations at Microsoft, equally the wellbeing of Microsoft employees and its partners falls forepart and center. With Washington among the worst-hit U.South. states, Redmond has encouraged some employees to work from home over the forthcoming days. Similar measures were adopted in other affected regions, including South korea and Italian republic. Several public conferences and showings have also been axed or postponed, with more probable to follow.

Xbox Series Ten could face shortages, typical for many consoles, but likely amplified in this climate.

Microsoft warns investors it expects to miss third-quarter guidance for its "More Personal Computing" segment, an event of supply chain issues at factories in China. It primarily attributes the shakeup to Surface and Windows OEM categories, referring to the production of its premium PC lineup and tertiary-party hardware from partners. With widespread factory closures in China, Microsoft states the supply concatenation is recovering at a "slower pace than anticipated."

With reduced output from China, we're hearing Microsoft could be looking elsewhere to deliver Surface hardware moving frontward. Nikkei reports Surface production may before long exist offloaded to northern Vietnam, on runway for midway through the year at the earliest. "The volume in Vietnam would be small-scale at the beginning, but the output will pick upward and this is the management that Microsoft wants," a supply concatenation executive reportedly told Nikkei. While scaling operations in the region will take fourth dimension, the shift could too help support the launch of the Xbox Serial X on schedule.

Firms like Microsoft have looked to diversify in recent months amid U.Due south.-China trade conflict, with southern asia only increasingly lucrative as coronavirus slows product. Merely equally, many materials and parts still come from China, with an unavoidable effect on the production roadmap to some degree.

Xbox Project Scarlett Reveal Source: Microsoft

We asked Microsoft if information technology can still commit to the Xbox Series X release during holiday 2022, still, declined to comment every bit of publication.

The latest on coronavirus continues to develop, as countries react to its spread, and irresolute the context effectually its touch on on global industries. For Xbox Serial X, the situation regularly evolves as new variables are introduced, making it hard to rule out possibilities this far from launch. If anything, AMD still referenced holiday 2022 availability for Xbox Series Ten and PlayStation v, talking next-generation silicon at its Financial Annotator Twenty-four hour period concluding week.

Microsoft has to practice a lot right to deliver Xbox Series X in holiday 2022.

But with components and assembly demanding assistance from countless partners, Microsoft could demand to tackle growing challenges to deliver upon that end-of-year target. That's not because the possibility of hardware shortages – typical for many consoles – merely likely amplified in this climate.

In an platonic setting, Xbox Series X production will stick to the schedule, navigating the troubles posed past the coronavirus and its industry effect. However, it could mean significant changes backside the scenes for the traditionally China-fabricated box, and a prospect to watch over the year ahead.