Yesterday marked the first day that a next-generation console was on the market following Microsoft’s Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S console launch. Microsoft celebrated the Xbox Series X launch with a six hour gameplay livestream featuring console giveaways and more.
Though Microsoft and Sony’s next-next generation consoles are technically competing with one another, the two companies briefly put that aside on the Xbox Series X’s launch day. The official PlayStation Twitter account replied to Xbox’s launch day tweet with a funny Mortal Kombat-oriented video, prompting a wholesome interaction between the two companies.
The leadup to the Xbox Series X over the past few weeks has been a whirlwind to say the least. With numerous retailers breaking down their plans for the console on launch day, there was quite a lot to keep track of for players who preordered the Xbox Series X online. Though Xbox Series X pre-orders have been chaotic, it seems that plenty of players were able to successfully receive their consoles on launch day. Naturally, Xbox celebrated its console launch on social media, with a heartwarming message saying, “However you choose to play, happy gaming.”
The message was a subtle nod to Xbox’s competitor, PlayStation, which is launching the PS5 just two days after the Xbox Series X launch. What followed was a funny and wholesome interaction between the two major gaming companies, after the official PlayStation Twitter account responded with a video of Jax from Mortal Kombat 11 playing a saxophone as confetti and balloons spelling out “friendship” fall down. Xbox responded with a funny gif of its own, showing the two companies shaking hands. The exchange between the two companies was brief, but plenty of gamers on social media got a real kick out of the two companies getting along.
Of course, Phil Spencer also had a launch day message of his own to share with players to celebrate the arrival of Xbox’s next-gen console. In the video, Spencer took the time to acknowledge that despite today being an amazing day for Xbox and its fans, it is a little bittersweet considering everything still going on with the world. Still, Spencer goes on to stress a point that really sums up the Series X’s launch: it isn’t just about Xbox launching its new console, but about taking time to celebrate the Xbox community all around the globe.
Xbox’s launch day tweet has over 3,500 replies of gamers and gaming companies reaching out to express their congratulations. Even Doug Bowser, the president of Nintendo of America congratulated Microsoft and the Head of Xbox Gaming Phil Spencer on a successful launch, with each sharing an exchange on Twitter as well. All in all, the Series X’s launch day actually turned out to be quite the celebration of gaming as a whole with companies and developers from all over the industry coming together to give kudos to Xbox on its launch.
The Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S are available now.