Xbox's CEO: Major Franchises Mismanaged

Xbox CEO Phil Spencer reflects on past strategic missteps, acknowledging significant missed opportunities and "worst decisions" impacting major franchises. This article explores his candid reflections, focusing on upcoming Xbox releases and the challenges faced by developers.

Missed Opportunities: Destiny and Guitar Hero

At PAX West 2024, Spencer discussed key franchises that eluded Xbox, notably Bungie's Destiny and Harmonix's Guitar Hero. He admitted these decisions rank among his career's most regrettable. While acknowledging his close relationship with Bungie during his early Xbox tenure, Spencer confessed Destiny's initial concept didn't resonate with him until later expansions. Similarly, he revealed initial skepticism surrounding Guitar Hero's potential.

Despite these setbacks, Spencer emphasizes a forward-looking approach, prioritizing current projects over dwelling on past mistakes.

Dune: Awakening – Xbox Release Challenges

While Xbox aims to secure major franchises, the upcoming Dune: Awakening from Funcom highlights the complexities of console releases. Funcom's chief product officer, Scott Junior, cited optimization challenges for the Xbox Series S as a reason for a staggered release, prioritizing PC initially. However, he reassured gamers of smooth performance even on older hardware.

Enotria: The Last Song – Xbox Release Delays

Indie developer Jyamma Games faced significant delays for their title, Enotria: The Last Song, due to a lack of communication and response from Microsoft regarding the game's submission. The Xbox version's release remains uncertain, while the PlayStation 5 and PC versions proceed as planned. Jyamma Games CEO Jacky Greco expressed frustration over the prolonged silence from Xbox, highlighting the financial investment already made in the Xbox port. The studio remains committed to an Xbox release but faces significant hurdles due to the lack of communication from Microsoft.