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

Xbox CEO Phil Spencer reflects on past decisions, acknowledging missed opportunities and some "worst decisions" impacting major franchises. This article explores his comments and provides updates on upcoming Xbox titles.

Xbox CEO Reflects on Past Mistakes and Future Plans

Missed Opportunities: Destiny and Guitar Hero

At PAX West 2024, Phil Spencer discussed pivotal moments in his Xbox career, including significant franchises that eluded Microsoft. He cited Bungie's Destiny and Harmonix's Guitar Hero as examples of regrettable decisions. While acknowledging his close relationship with Bungie during his early years at Xbox, Spencer admitted Destiny initially failed to resonate with him, only appreciating its appeal later. Similarly, he confessed to initial skepticism surrounding Guitar Hero.

Spencer emphasized his forward-looking approach, stating that dwelling on past decisions isn't his style, despite numerous missed opportunities.

Dune: Awakening Faces Xbox Release Challenges

Despite past setbacks, Xbox continues to pursue major franchises. Dune: Awakening, an action RPG from Funcom, is slated for release on Xbox Series S, PC, and PS5. However, Funcom's chief product officer, Scott Junior, acknowledged challenges optimizing the game for Xbox Series S, leading to a PC-first release strategy. Junior reassured gamers that the game will perform well even on older hardware.

Enotria: The Last Song Experiences Xbox Release Delays

Indie developer Jyamma Games' Enotria: The Last Song encountered significant delays on Xbox, just weeks before its scheduled September 19th launch. The studio reported a lack of communication and response from Microsoft, despite the game's readiness for both Xbox Series X and S. This resulted in the game launching on PlayStation 5 and PC only, with the Xbox release currently uncertain. Jyamma Games CEO Jacky Greco expressed frustration with the situation on the game's Discord channel and in interviews, highlighting the lack of communication from Microsoft and 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 response from Microsoft.