Please don't vape into your Xbox Series X, Microsoft says, after viral videos that appear to be faked show smoke billowing from the new $500 console

• "Please do not blow vape smoke into your Xbox Series X," Microsoft tweeted Wednesday night.
• It followed viral videos of the new $500 console, which was released Tuesday, showing smoke billowing from its vented top.
• Users claimed the Xbox Series X was overheating — but the videos appear to be fake.
• Others quickly pointed out that blowing vape smoke into Microsoft's console produced the same effect.

Microsoft issued an unusual safety warning to owners of its $4 Wednesday night.

"Please do not blow vape smoke into your Xbox Series X," the tech giant tweeted.

—Xbox (@Xbox) $4

It turns out some owners may have been doing exactly that.

Less than a day after the console's Tuesday release, videos cropping up across social media showed smoke billowing from the new consoles. Some of these have racked up millions of views.

—Arek Adamowicz (@Arek_Adamowicz) $4

At first glance, it looks as if the new Xbox console has problems with overheating or is even on fire. But the videos appear to be fake.

Other users cried foul, pointing out that if you turn off your Xbox Series X and smoke a vape into it, vapor soon rises out of the console, just as in the videos.

—Nibel (@Nibellion) $4

Social-media users have also shared photos and videos that appear to show ping-pong balls floating on the air gushing out of the Series X fans.

—TmarTn (@TmarTn) $4

Though this could be scientifically plausible, $4, too. IGN, for example, $4 from another Twitter user that showed the Xbox Series X's fans barely ruffling a feather.

Read more: $4

A Microsoft spokesperson told Business Insider that the company takes all product safety reports seriously and its products meet or exceed industry standards.

"Findings from our initial investigations do not align with some of the claims being broadly reported, however we are in the process of investigating further," they added.