Xbox Series X: Microsoft is ‘investigating’ reports of smoking consoles – but they may be fake

Microsoft says it is "investigating" reports of smoking consoles, after videos emerged of fumes coming out of the top of a new Xbox Series X.

But the videos may well be fake. Users have already pointed out that it's unlikely such a device would emit such billowing, white fumes – but, notably, that a vape pen would be able to.

As such, it appears that the video might actually be a prank by someone who has breathed smoke into the holes in the top of the console and then recorded it as it came back out.

Early users who did the same found that the effect was indistinguishable from those videos that claimed to show smoke coming from inside the Xbox.

Nonetheless, Microsoft said that it was investigating the reports.

“We take all product safety reports seriously and our products meet or exceed industry standards," a spokespersons said. "We are in the process of investigating further.”

While the consoles were released yesterday (10 November)  – and as such some issues are likely to be expected – they had been in the hands of reviewers for some time. In use, the consoles do not seem to run especially hot, and there had been no reports of any Xboxes letting out any kind of smoke.

The videos take advantage of the fact that the Xbox Series X has prominent holes in the top, through which the heat created by the system is expelled. As such, while it is true that any smoke coming out of the Xbox would come out of those holes – it is also the case that blowing smoke from a vape into them leads to a pleasant effect.

There have been no similar videos of the Xbox Series S, which does not have the same holes and so would presumably not be as easy to breathe from a vape into.