Xbox One not designed to stand vertically

Console orientation has been something the last generation experimented with, all of them – Wii, PS3, Xbox 360 – offering either vertical, or horizontal as a potential option. Each of them had feet on the ‘side,' but could be mounted either way. Likewise, the Wii U has a stand and the PS4 can go upright or horizontal; the Xbox One though, not so much.

Admittedly, this isn't such a weird thing for Microsoft, since this is only its third official console and the original Xbox wasn't designed with a vertical stance in mind – it was huge and heavy too, so it would have been difficult. Perhaps that's one of the reasons that it hasn't offered that functionality with the Xbox One.

However we do know one reason for sure, thanks to senior director for the Microsoft Xbox division, Alber Panello, who said that it's down to the choice of disc drive. “We don't support vertical orientation; do it at your own risk”.

The Xbone doesn't stand up straight. Maybe it's time to invest in some blood pressure tablets?

When pressed, he reiterated that it's just not a good idea to do it with a slot loading drive: “It wouldn't be a cooling problem, we just didn't design the drive for vertical. Because it's a slot loading drive, we just didn't design it for both,” he said while speaking with Gamespot. Apparently this choice was made because only about 20 per cent of Xbox 360 users have their console vertically.

Hardly a deal breaker, but could be annoying for those that were planning on fitting their new Xbox One in a vertical space.

KitGuru Says: I have my Xbox 360 mounted vertical, but that's because it's inside one of those Lian Li aftermarket cases. What about the rest of you? Straight up, or across? 

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