Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gaming
  3. News

Xbox Series X owners experience bugs — and hoaxes — after launch day

Add as a preferred source on Google

The Xbox Series X is officially out in the world and owners are sharing a few quirks and problems with the system. Some issues seem to be real, while others may be viral hoaxes.

The biggest launch day hiccup came from Xbox Live, which experienced issues on Tuesday. The Xbox Support Twitter account confirmed the problem, which prevented users from logging into Xbox Live, and pushed out a fix just a few hours later.

Recommended Videos

We're aware that users are currently unable to sign into Xbox Live. Our teams are already on it. We'll provide updates here and on our status page. https://t.co/PzAdjUFMJj

— Xbox Support (@XboxSupport) November 10, 2020

On a hardware side, Series X owners have reported a wealth of issues that range in scale. That’s not uncommon for new console launches. After the Nintendo Switch launched in 2017, the internet was flooded with videos showing off doomsday scenarios like bricked consoles and loud noises.

The same has been true for the Xbox Series X so far. A thread on the console’s subreddit collected a list of videos and posts about certain issues that have been popping up around the internet. Multiple Series X owners have shown off a bug where the console appears to shut off immediately after turning on. Others have reported overheating, console shutdowns, and loud noises coming from the system.

The console’s disc drive has come up a few times, with users showing that they’re unable to insert a disc. Some of these videos are accompanied by loud clicking noises as the console blocks the discs.

Hey @XboxSupport!

I think my #XboxSeriesX might have a defective disc drive. I've tried inserting a few different compatible games (both Xbox One & 360) & the drive won't let me insert it. Nothing is in there (to my knowledge). I just set it up.

Any help is appreciated! 😊 pic.twitter.com/2r1mQkYSLY

— Trav (@Travless_) November 10, 2020

Some of the more viral issues may not be real at all. At least two videos have surfaced showing a plume of white smoke emitting from the top of the console. In a comical twist, other users have theorized that the “problem” is actually caused by users blowing vape smoke through the console to achieve the effect.

how to get your Xbox Series X to blow up:

1) buy a vape
2) blow vape into bottom of Xbox
3) feel proud of the smoke you created
4) post to Twitter and profit

video via @XboxStudio 👇pic.twitter.com/RxLI62uxmg

— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) November 11, 2020

Both legitimate issues and hoaxes are expected when a new console launches, and the Xbox Series X doesn’t seem to be out of the ordinary in that regard. While there do seem to be some real quirks with Microsoft’s latest system, potential buyers should remember to take individual videos with a grain of salt.

Giovanni Colantonio
As a veteran of the industry who first began writing about games professionally as a teenager, Giovanni brings a wealth of…
Dell’s new Alienware monitors are brighter, sharper, and cost less than expected for OLED upgrade
This 34-inch QD-OLED curved gaming monitor is much cheaper than expected
Alienware OLED gaming monitor on a desk

OLED has been one of the clearest upgrades gaming monitors have received in years, but the problem has always been the price. Cutting-edge OLED gaming monitors have mostly lived in enthusiast territory, especially if you wanted a panel larger than 30 inches. Dell’s Alienware is now making that jump a little easier with its new 34-inch ultrawide QD-OLED gaming monitor, the AW3426DW.

The monitor was first shown at CES 2026 and is now available as part of Alienware’s 30th-anniversary lineup, alongside two more affordable VA models. At $799.99, the AW3426DW is still expensive, but for a 34-inch ultrawide with a 5-stack Penta Tandem QD-OLED panel, the price is lower than expected.

Read more
Criterion says Burnout isn’t forgotten… but that’s exactly what worries me
Battlefield's success makes EA's decision easy to understand, but it also leaves a huge hole in arcade racing.
Burnout Paradise Remastered Featured

As part of its recent interview with IGN, Criterion reflected on its 30-year journey, from Burnout and Need for Speed to helping revive Battlefield. The studio made it clear that Burnout remains an important part of its identity, but it also acknowledged that its future now lies firmly with Battlefield. Fittingly, Criterion's new 30th anniversary logo proudly carries the tagline: "Criterion: A Battlefield Studio."

On paper, that makes perfect sense. Battlefield 6 has already become one of EA's biggest success stories in years. It revived a franchise many had written off, delivered the biggest launch in Battlefield history, and reminded everyone why the series was once Call of Duty's fiercest rival. As a Battlefield fan, I genuinely couldn't be happier. As a Burnout fan, though? That realization stings a little.

Read more
My favorite multiplayer survival sandbox is finally getting the mobile port it deserves
Don’t Starve Together comes to iOS and Android on July 21
Person, Face, Head

Don’t Starve Together is finally coming to iOS and Android on July 21, and this one has me genuinely excited. I have spent a lot of time with the PC version, and it remains one of my favorite multiplayer survival sandbox games because of how quickly a normal session can turn into complete chaos.

Klei Entertainment’s gloomy, strange, and unforgiving survival game is being ported to mobile by Playdigious. Preorders and preregistrations are live now, and the game is available at a 10 percent launch discount, bringing the price down to $8.99 from the usual $9.99.

Read more