Xbox CEO Phil Spencer Reflects on Past Mistakes and Future Plans
In a recent interview at PAX West 2024, Xbox CEO Phil Spencer openly discussed past decisions, admitting some were among the "worst" in his career. He highlighted missed opportunities with major franchises like Bungie's Destiny and Harmonix's Guitar Hero. Despite his early involvement with Bungie during their time at Microsoft, Destiny initially didn't resonate with him, a realization that only came later. Similarly, he expressed initial doubt about the potential of Guitar Hero.
Spencer emphasized his forward-looking approach, stating he doesn't dwell on past regrets. He acknowledged numerous missed opportunities but focuses on current and future projects.
Challenges in Bringing Big Franchises to Xbox
One significant upcoming title is Dune: Awakening, an action RPG developed by Funcom. While planned for release on Xbox Series S, along with PC and PS5, Funcom's chief product officer, Scott Junior, acknowledged challenges in optimizing the game for the Series S. He confirmed at Gamescom 2024 that a PC launch will precede the Xbox release to allow for necessary optimizations. Despite this, he assured gamers that the game will perform well even on older hardware.
Indie Developer Faces Xbox Release Delays
Indie developer Jyamma Games encountered significant delays with their Xbox release of Entoria: The Last Song. Weeks before the planned September 19th launch, the studio reported a lack of communication and response from Microsoft, despite having a completed game ready for both Xbox Series S and X. Jyamma Games CEO Jacky Greco expressed frustration over the situation, highlighting the financial investment in the port and the lack of support from Xbox. As a result, the game will launch on PlayStation 5 and PC, with the Xbox release currently uncertain.
This situation underscores the complexities faced by both large and small developers in bringing their games to the Xbox platform. While Xbox looks to the future with ambitious titles, the experiences of Funcom and Jyamma Games highlight the ongoing challenges in navigating the process.
