The Modern/Current Era · 2012–today
Microsoft Xbox Series X/S
Sought After?
Not yet a collector item; the appeal today is more about Game Pass subscription value than hardware rarity.
Downsides
Microsoft's own first-party exclusive lineup was thin for years after launch relative to Sony's, leading many to buy it primarily for Game Pass rather than unique games.
Why It Faded
Still current, but Microsoft has signaled its next-generation hardware (reportedly codenamed "Project Helix") could arrive as soon as 2027, coinciding with Xbox's 25th anniversary.
Trivia
Microsoft's Game Pass subscription — often called "the Netflix of gaming" — fundamentally shifted Xbox's business model away from hardware profit margins entirely, betting the brand's future on subscription revenue instead.