Another day, another news story about console shortages. This time, Microsoft has announced that Xbox Series X stock shortages are likely to continue well into next year.

More Bad News for Microsoft?

Microsoft has already been through the wringer several times since the launch of the Xbox Series S and Series X consoles. Supply and demand issues aren't the first problem it has encountered and they probably won't be the last.

There have been sporadic reports of Xbox Series X disc drive faults, alongside Xbox Series X pre-orders being delayed and scalpers charging small fortunes for Xbox Series X consoles immediately after launch.

However, despite all of this, Microsoft has reported its most successful console launch since the original Xbox, which is certainly no mean feat.

According to Xbox Wire, over 1 million Xbox One consoles sold on launch day in 2013, so we at least know that the Series X console sales have surpassed that.

Unfortunately, Phil Spencer, Head of Xbox, has confirmed that we won't be receiving any official sales figures post-release. In that case, we'll just have to make do with some rough statistics that are based on what we know already.

Xbox Series X Will Be in Short Supply Until April 2021

Tim Stuart, Xbox Chief Financial Officer (CFO), has stated when exactly we can expect to see an upturn in Xbox Series X supply. It doesn't look good for those who haven't bagged a launch day console or who are still awaiting their pre-orders.

Seeking Alpha published a transcript of the recent Jefferies Interactive Virtual Entertainment Conference. Dated November 13, the transcript covers Stuart's conversation with conference hosts.

When prompted on console shortages, Stuart delivers a blow for those looking to grab their own Xbox Series X. That being that the console isn't expected to start meeting demand until April 2021, at the earliest. He said:

I think we'll continue to see supply shortages as we head into the post-holiday quarter, so Microsoft's Q3, calendar Q1. And then when we get to Q4, all of our supply chain continuing to go full speed heading into kind of the pre-summer months.

Here, Stuart is suggesting that we will continue to see shortages until at least April 2021. He goes on to say:

And that's where I start to -- I expect to see a little bit of the demand -- the supply profile, meeting the demand profile. You'll be outside of a holiday window. We'll have supply cranking over the next, what, 4, 5, 6 months. And that's when I expect to see really that demand profile start to be met...

So, unless you already have your Xbox Series X, have pre-ordered one, or you manage to secure one when the next wave of consoles is released, you'll just have to wait. Possibly for six months.

You Might Have to Wait for Your Xbox Series X

So, there we have it, straight from the CFO of Xbox. If you don't already own an Xbox Series X or didn't get a pre-order console, then you could be in for a fairly lengthy hold-up.

Just don't, whatever you do, succumb to any scalpers and pay over the odds for a new console. Perhaps consider an alternative in the meantime, like a PlayStation 5 or a Nintendo Switch.