Xbox One too noisy? Microsoft will replace it
A Microsoft forum is overrun with complaints of loud Xbox One consoles. Now, the company says it will replace offending units.
Microsoft will replace faulty Xbox One game consoles that have proven too noisy for some owners.
Consumers who recently purchased an Xbox One took to Microsoft's official forums over the last few weeks to complain of a loud buzzing or clicking noise when the console is running. The majority of the complaints appear to be from customers who purchased the Xbox One without a Kinect motion sensor. One user, who posted about the issue in August, called it a "terrible noise," adding that it "sounds like an old printer and lots of static."
Although the first complaint was published on August 5, over 800 similar stories hit the forums over the last month as more users experienced the same problem.
In a statement to CNET on Wednesday, Microsoft confirmed that some consoles were creating too much noise and it would exchange the consoles for fully operational models.
"We have heard that a small number of Xbox One owners in some situations may hear a noise from the console that is too loud," a Microsoft spokesperson told CNET. "While this does not affect the safety or functionality of the system, we're asking customers who believe they are experiencing this issue to contact Xbox Support. At the request of our customers, we are exchanging those consoles for new systems."
Microsoft launched its Xbox One console in November last year, the same time Sony's competing PlayStation 4 game console went on sale . Microsoft has so far sold more than 5 million Xbox One consoles to retailers worldwide, putting it in second place behind Sony which has sold more than 10 million PS4 units worldwide. Microsoft is currently providing a promotion to Xbox One buyers, offering a free game of their choice with the purchase of a new console. That deal ends later this week.
Xbox One owners who think they have a noisy console can contact Microsoft support now. It's not clear how long the exchange program will last. The company has also not confirmed how many customers might have been affected or the reason for the noise. We will update this story when we have more information.