Phil Spencer says Microsoft is building Xbox consoles as fast as they can

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Phil Spencer and team Xbox are building new Xbox consoles "as fast as [they] can."

Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S (Image credit: Matt Brown | Windows Central)

What you need to know

  • Microsoft's Phil Spencer discusses gaming and the Xbox platform in 2020 on Larry Hryb's video podcast.
  • Spencer explains the stock shortages of the Xbox Series X.
  • Spencer discusses Microsoft's console launches, cloud gaming, and more in the podcast.

At the end of each year, the head of Xbox, Phil Spencer, joins Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb on a video podcast. Just before 2020 wrapped up, Spencer and Hryb discussed how gaming and the Xbox platform evolved throughout the year. With the launch of the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, the rollout of Xbox Game Pass cloud gaming, and plenty of new games, the pair had quite a bit to discuss.

While Microsoft's new hardware earned positive marks, including from our own Xbox Series X review, stock shortages have led to frustrations from people attempting to purchase new consoles. Spencer discusses these shortages and what Microsoft is doing to produce more consoles:

"I get some people [saying], 'why didn't you build more? Why didn't you start earlier? Why didn't you ship them earlier?' All of those things. It is really just down to physics and engineering. We're not holding them back. We're building them as fast as we can. We have all the assembly lines going. I was on the phone last week with Lisa Su at AMD [saying], 'How do we get more? How do we get more?' So it's something that we're constantly working on."

Building more Xbox Series X consoles isn't as simple as keeping factories running longer or ordering more supplies. As is the case with the best graphics cards, key components are in short supply.

"Hardware is in short supply, but we're working as hard as we can. The teams are incredibly dedicated. And I appreciate people's patience as we work to build more," said Spencer. He also discussed that shortages affect the gaming industry as a whole, including the PlayStation 5 and graphics cards from NVIDIA and AMD.

If you're on the hunt for a new console, make sure to check out our guide on where to buy the Xbox Series X.

Xbox Series X
Leading 4K
Xbox Series X

The full next-generation experience.

Xbox Series X is Microsoft's new flagship, as its most powerful console with over 12TF GPU performance and a custom SSD. It boasts up to 4K resolution and 120 FPS, full backward compatibility across four generations, and ray-tracing support.

Xbox Series S
Next-gen in HD
Xbox Series S

Experience next-gen gaming for less.

Microsoft serves the next-generation for less with its budget-friendly Xbox Series S. The console packs the same high-performance CPU and SSD technology as Xbox Series X, while scaling back the GPU and removing the disc drive.

Xbox Series X/S

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Sean Endicott
Sean Endicott
News Writer and apps editor

Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He's covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean's journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.