Xbox's online services have suffered a major outage, disrupting sign-ins, the digital storefront, apps and even the ability to play disc-based games, just days after a similar widespread failure hit PlayStation's network. The disruption matters because it leaves large numbers of players unable to use consoles they own outright, highlighting how dependent modern gaming has become on constant online verification even for offline or physical media.

The outage began on Sunday evening and affects Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and Xbox 360 consoles. Microsoft's status page warns that players may struggle to sign into profiles, could be disconnected even if logged in, and may be unable to launch apps or browse the store, with the company saying engineers have identified the issue and are working on a fix. The timing is notable as it follows recent Xbox job cuts, with 1,600 roles already eliminated and another 1,600 planned by the end of June 2027.