Xbox's Phil Spencer Slams Past Franchise Choices

Xbox CEO Phil Spencer reflects on past missteps and the toughest decisions impacting major franchises, amidst the evolving gaming landscape. This article explores his candid comments and provides updates on upcoming Xbox titles.

Xbox's CEO Reflects on Regrettable Franchise Decisions

Missed Opportunities: Destiny and Guitar Hero

During a recent PAX West 2024 interview, Phil Spencer discussed pivotal moments in his Xbox career, including significant franchises that slipped through the company's grasp. He cited Bungie's Destiny and Harmonix's Guitar Hero as among the worst decisions of his tenure.

Spencer, whose Xbox journey began while Bungie was under Microsoft's umbrella, shared his complex feelings about Destiny. He acknowledged the learning experience gained from working alongside Bungie's team, but admitted that the initial concept didn't resonate with him until the House of Wolves expansion. Similarly, he revealed his initial skepticism towards Guitar Hero when it was first pitched.

Dune: Awakening's Xbox Release: A Challenging Path

Despite these past setbacks, Spencer emphasized his forward-looking approach. Xbox is actively pursuing new opportunities, including Dune: Awakening, a Funcom-developed action RPG based on the iconic Dune franchise. While slated for release on Xbox Series S, alongside PC and PS5, Funcom has acknowledged challenges optimizing the game for the platform.

Funcom's chief product officer, Scott Junior, explained at Gamescom 2024 that the PC launch will precede the Xbox release due to necessary optimizations. He confirmed to VG247 that the game will ultimately run smoothly even on older hardware.

Enotria: The Last Song Faces Xbox Release Delays

Indie developer Jyamma Games' Enotria: The Last Song encountered significant delays on Xbox, weeks before its intended September 19th release. The studio reported a lack of response from Microsoft, despite having a nearly completed version for both Series X and S consoles. Jyamma Games CEO Jacky Greco expressed frustration with the lack of communication, resulting in the game's launch on PlayStation 5 and PC only, leaving the Xbox version uncertain. Greco further elaborated on the situation on the game's Discord, highlighting the prolonged silence from Xbox and the financial investment already made in the Xbox port. The studio emphasized their desire to release on Xbox but acknowledged the difficulties caused by the lack of communication.