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

Xbox CEO Phil Spencer reflects on past missteps and the difficult decisions shaping Xbox's future in a rapidly evolving gaming landscape. This article explores his candid comments on missed opportunities and the upcoming Xbox game releases facing unexpected challenges.

Xbox's CEO Reflects on Key Decisions and Missed Opportunities

Missed Chances: Destiny and Guitar Hero

During a recent PAX West 2024 interview, Phil Spencer discussed pivotal moments in his Xbox career, highlighting significant franchises that eluded Microsoft. He openly acknowledged passing on Bungie's Destiny and Harmonix's Guitar Hero, calling these decisions among the worst of his career.

Spencer, whose Xbox tenure began while Bungie was under Microsoft's umbrella, shared his complex feelings about Destiny. He described his initial lack of connection with the game, a perspective that only shifted with the release of House of Wolves. Similarly, he recalled his initial skepticism towards Guitar Hero's potential.

Dune: Awakening's Xbox Release: A Development Challenge

Despite these past setbacks, Spencer emphasized his forward-looking approach. While acknowledging past missed opportunities, he remains focused on future endeavors. One such project is Dune: Awakening, an action RPG developed by Funcom, slated for release on Xbox Series S, alongside PC and PS5. However, Funcom has encountered difficulties optimizing the game for the Xbox Series S.

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

Enotria: The Last Song Faces Xbox Release Delays

Indie developer Jyamma Games' Enotria: The Last Song experienced unexpected delays on Xbox, weeks before its planned September 19th launch. The studio cited a lack of communication and response from Microsoft regarding their submission, despite the game's reported readiness for both Xbox Series S and X.

Jyamma Games CEO Jacky Greco expressed his frustration publicly, highlighting the lack of communication from Xbox and the financial investment already made in the port. The game will launch on PlayStation 5 and PC, with the Xbox release remaining uncertain. The studio has stated their desire to release on Xbox as soon as possible but faces significant hurdles due to the lack of communication from Microsoft.