Xbox CEO Phil Spencer reflects on past strategic missteps, acknowledging significant missed opportunities and "worst decisions" impacting major franchises. This article explores his candid remarks, focusing on upcoming Xbox titles and the challenges they face.
Missed Opportunities: Destiny and Guitar Hero
During a PAX West 2024 interview, Spencer discussed pivotal moments in his career, including regrettable decisions to pass on franchises like Bungie's Destiny and Harmonix's Guitar Hero. He admitted these choices rank among his career's worst. While acknowledging close ties with Bungie during his early years at Xbox, Spencer revealed that Destiny's initial concept didn't resonate with him, only appreciating its potential with later expansions. Similarly, he expressed initial skepticism towards Guitar Hero's pitch.
Dune: Awakening – Xbox Release Challenges
Despite past setbacks, Spencer maintains a forward-looking perspective. Xbox is actively pursuing major franchises, including Funcom's Dune: Awakening. While slated for release on Xbox Series S, alongside PC and PS5, Funcom's chief product officer, Scott Junior, highlighted optimization challenges specific to the Xbox Series S. Junior confirmed that despite these hurdles, the game will perform well across various hardware configurations, including older consoles.
Entoria: The Last Song – Xbox Release Delays
Indie developer Jyamma Games' Entoria: The Last Song experienced significant delays on Xbox, weeks before its planned September 19th launch. The studio cited a lack of response and communication from Microsoft, despite having a completed version ready for both Xbox Series X and S. Jyamma Games CEO Jacky Greco expressed frustration over the situation, stating that the game's Xbox release remains uncertain due to this communication breakdown. The game will launch on PlayStation 5 and PC, leaving Xbox users in limbo. Greco publicly voiced his concerns, highlighting the lack of response and the financial investment already made in the Xbox port.
