Skip to main content

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

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

— Travless (@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 Digital Trends' Senior Gaming Editor, Giovanni Colantonio oversees all things video games at Digital Trends. As a veteran…
When is Stardew Valley 1.6 coming to consoles? Switch, PS5, Xbox, more
A player fishes in their local pond.

 

There are few cozy games as successful and beloved as Stardew Valley, so it's no wonder it has received regular updates since its 2016 release. If you're a fan of the game, you've no doubt been looking forward to its new 1.6 update, which brings some pretty substantial changes and bug fixes to improve the gameplay experience. Unfortunately for some players, the update has only been released on PC so far, meaning console players have been left wondering when they'll get an opportunity to see all of the fresh changes in the game. Here's when console players will be able to enjoy all the new content on their farms
When is Stardew Valley update 1.6 coming to consoles?
https://x.com/ConcernedApe/status/1837953798289199323

Read more
3 new Xbox Game Pass games to check out this weekend (September 20-22)
Key art for Frostpunk 2.

As the fall season approaches, the number of high-profile Xbox Game Pass additions is rising. That said, the service also does a great job of appealing to players who are fans of more specific, niche genres. September 2024 has been particularly kind to Xbox Game Pass subscribers who are fans of simulation or strategy games that require a deeper level of engagement and dedication. These are the kinds of games I'm recommending to you this week, especially because one of them launches right into Microsoft's video game subscription service today.
Frostpunk 2

Later today, Frostpunk 2 will get its wide release on PC and be available to Game Pass subscribers. It is a more ambitious sequel to an enthralling yet stressful city-builder in which players try to survive in a harsh, snowy apocalypse. Frostpunk 2 increases the scale of things as players try to maintain the restored civilization they built from scratch in the first game. It exacerbates the already stressful nature of real-time city-builders but in a way that works perfectly in its postapocalyptic world. Frostpunk 2 is only available on PC, and you can play it there with a PC Game Pass or Game Pass Ultimate subscription.
Expeditions: A MudRunner Game

Read more
The best RPGs for Xbox Series X
Kiryu and Kasuga stand side by side in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth.

It is easy to make a list of the best games on Xbox Series X, but there's no denying it has struggled to find great RPGs. Typically, people look to the Xbox Series X for the best multiplayer games instead of deep role-playing experiences, but that has never been the full picture. There are tons of amazing RPGs in all styles console, from fantasy to sci-fi to anime. If you're ready to take a break from the best Series X FPS games and are feeling the itch for a new RPG, we've picked out the best from a range of titles that should fill the exact experience you're looking for.

On the other hand, you can always go in the opposite direction and check out the best fighting games for Xbox Series X, too.

Read more