Xbox Has Made the \"Worst Decisions\" with Big Franchises Says Phil Spencer

Xbox CEO Phil Spencer reflects on past strategic missteps and acknowledges significant missed opportunities within the dynamic gaming industry. This article explores his candid remarks regarding these decisions and provides updates on upcoming Xbox titles.

Phil Spencer's Reflections on Missed Opportunities

During a PAX West 2024 interview, Spencer discussed key franchises that eluded Xbox, including Destiny and Guitar Hero. He openly classified these decisions as among the worst of his career. Despite his early proximity to Bungie during his tenure at Xbox, Destiny's initial appeal eluded him, only resonating after the "House of Wolves" expansion. Similarly, his initial skepticism towards Guitar Hero's potential proved to be a costly oversight.

While acknowledging these past errors, Spencer emphasizes his forward-looking approach, choosing not to dwell on past regrets.

Challenges in Bringing Franchises to Xbox

Despite past setbacks, Xbox is actively pursuing major franchises. Dune: Awakening, an action RPG developed by Funcom, is slated for release on Xbox Series S, alongside PC and PS5. However, Funcom's chief product officer, Scott Junior, highlighted the challenges of optimizing the game for the Xbox Series S, necessitating a PC-first release strategy. He reassured players that the game will perform well even on older hardware.

Delays and Communication Issues Impact Entoria: The Last Song

Indie developer Jyamma Games' Entoria: The Last Song faced unexpected delays on Xbox due to a lack of communication and response from Microsoft. Despite the game being nearly ready for release on both Series S and X, the absence of communication from Xbox has prevented submission and launch. Jyamma Games CEO Jacky Greco expressed significant frustration over this situation, highlighting the financial investment already made in the Xbox port. The game will launch on PlayStation 5 and PC, with the Xbox release date currently uncertain. Greco's statements emphasize the significant impact of this communication breakdown on the game's release and the developer's financial standing.