Xbox claims Series S set a record for percentage of new players at launch

Xbox Series S has attracted a higher percentage of new players to the platform at launch than any of Microsoft’s previous consoles.

That’s according to Microsoft’s gaming platform boss Liz Hamren, who reiterated in a blog post on Friday that combined Xbox Series X and S launch sales were the highest in its history.

The Series S claim would suggest that the majority of existing Xbox users opted for the more powerful and expensive Series X model at launch, while Series S was favoured by new players.

At $300 / £250, the Xbox Series S console is significantly cheaper than the $500 / £449 Series X, thanks to lower specs than target 1440p gaming instead of native 4K.

Microsoft’s last full console launch for Xbox One in 2013 was also described as a company record at the time, with more than one million consoles sold in 24 hours.

Xbox did not share any sales figures for Series X and S. Not disclosing console sales numbers has been Microsoft’s policy for some years now and is something the company has suggested will continue during the Series era.

According to Hamren, 70 percent of Series X and S users at launch had a Game Pass subscription. The console also set a record for the most games played during an Xbox console launch, she said, with 3,594 played in total, spanning four generations.

“Thanks to you, the launch of Xbox Series X|S is now the most successful debut in our history,” she said. “While we missed the emotional spark of being together with you in person, it was incredible to celebrate a new generation of gaming with the millions on our celebration livestream and everyone who participated in our global launch across 40 countries.”

The experiences and platforms boss also acknowledged the shortage of console stock at launch and encouraged those struggling to find one to continue checking retailers.

“We know that not everyone was able to get an Xbox Series X|S immediately and are working tirelessly with our partners around the world to bring as many new consoles to as many of you as possible over time and encourage you to check in with your local retailers directly for more details on availability in your market.”

Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 scalpers are currently seeking to cash in on heavy demand for the new consoles by selling them at extortionate prices on marketplaces like eBay.

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PS5 and Xbox Series X scalpers are currently seeking upwards of $5,000 on eBay

Demand for next-gen hardware is expected to outstrip supply for the foreseeable future