One of the biggest concerns when it comes to console orientation is overheating. If you’ve ever touched your Series X after even just an hour of playtime, you know that it gets pretty hot. That’s with proper ventilation, too. Imagine if the vents were blocked and the fan couldn’t do its job.
With that in mind, in general, ventilation is not a concern for the Xbox Series X. At least, not when it comes to console orientation. According to Microsoft, the console was designed to be placed in either direction without risk of damage to either the console or any discs.
However, even in a horizontal positioning, you can inadvertently block vents by crowding the console in a small cubby or putting too much stuff around it. Microsoft suggests a minimum of 4 to 6 inches on all sides to allow for proper ventilation. It may be tempting to store something light on top of the horizontal unit, as its plain facade looks like it’s meant to be decorated with trinkets and doodads. However, this is still a $500 device that shouldn’t double as a shelf.
