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

Xbox Has Made the Xbox CEO Phil Spencer reflects on past missteps and the tough decisions that shaped Xbox's journey, amidst the ever-evolving gaming landscape. This article explores his candid remarks and provides updates on upcoming Xbox titles.

Xbox's CEO Reflects on Key Decisions and Missed Opportunities

Missed Opportunities: Destiny and Guitar Hero

Xbox Has Made the At PAX West 2024, Phil Spencer shared insights into his career, highlighting both successes and significant missed opportunities. He openly acknowledged passing on major franchises like Bungie's Destiny and Harmonix's Guitar Hero, labeling these decisions among the worst of his career.

Spencer, who joined Xbox while Bungie was under Microsoft's umbrella, described his complex feelings about Destiny. He emphasized the valuable experience gained from working alongside Bungie's team, but admitted that the game's initial appeal eluded him, only truly connecting with him after the House of Wolves expansion. Similarly, his initial skepticism towards Guitar Hero's potential proved to be a costly oversight.

Xbox Has Made the

Dune: Awakening Faces Xbox Release Challenges

Xbox Has Made the Despite these setbacks, Spencer maintains a forward-looking perspective. While acknowledging past mistakes, he focuses on future endeavors. One such project is Dune: Awakening, a Funcom-developed action RPG based on the iconic Dune franchise. Planned for release on Xbox Series S, PC, and PS5, the Xbox Series S port presents unique optimization challenges for the developers.

Funcom's chief product officer, Scott Junior, confirmed these difficulties at Gamescom 2024, explaining the PC-first release strategy. He assured gamers that the game will still perform well, even on older hardware.

Xbox Has Made the

Enotria: The Last Song Experiences Xbox Release Delays

Indie developer Jyamma Games' Enotria: The Last Song encountered unexpected delays on Xbox, weeks before its intended September 19th launch. The studio cited a lack of response from Microsoft regarding their submission, despite the game being reportedly ready for both Xbox Series S and X. CEO Jacky Greco expressed significant frustration over the lack of communication, resulting in a PlayStation 5 and PC-only release for now, leaving the Xbox version's future uncertain. Greco publicly voiced concerns on Discord and to gaming news outlets, highlighting the financial investment in the Xbox port and the lack of responsiveness from Microsoft.