Xbox CEO Phil Spencer reflects on past decisions, acknowledging missed opportunities and some "worst decisions" regarding major gaming franchises. This article explores his comments and provides updates on upcoming Xbox game releases.
Xbox Chief Reflects on Past Mistakes, Highlights Missed Opportunities
Destiny and Guitar Hero: Significant Regrets for Xbox
During a recent PAX West 2024 interview, 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 among his biggest regrets, labeling these decisions as some of the worst of his career.
Spencer, who joined Xbox while Bungie was under Microsoft's umbrella, shared his complex feelings about Destiny. He acknowledged the valuable learning experience gained from working alongside Bungie's developers, but admitted that the initial vision of Destiny didn't resonate with him until the release of House of Wolves. Similarly, he expressed initial skepticism towards Guitar Hero when Harmonix initially presented the concept.
Dune: Awakening: Xbox Release Presents Challenges for Funcom
Despite these setbacks, Spencer emphasized his forward-looking approach, choosing not to dwell on past regrets. However, Xbox is actively pursuing major franchises, including Dune: Awakening, an action RPG developed by Funcom. While planned for Xbox Series S alongside PC and PS5, the Xbox release has proven challenging.
Funcom's chief product officer, Scott Junior, explained at Gamescom 2024 that PC will receive the initial release due to necessary optimizations for the Xbox platform, particularly the Series S. He reassured fans that the game will run smoothly even on older hardware, stating, "We'll be able to do it!"
Enotria: The Last Song Faces Xbox Release Delays Due to Communication Issues
Indie developer Jyamma Games' Enotria: The Last Song experienced unexpected delays on Xbox, just weeks before its planned September 19th release. The studio cited a lack of response from Microsoft regarding their submission, despite the game's readiness for both Series X and S. CEO Jacky Greco expressed significant frustration over the lack of communication, resulting in the game's launch on PlayStation 5 and PC only, with the Xbox release currently uncertain.
Jyamma Games publicly acknowledged the disappointment for Xbox fans and explained the situation on their official website and Discord, highlighting the lack of communication from Microsoft as the primary cause of the delay. Greco's comments indicate a significant communication breakdown between the developer and Xbox, impacting the game's release and leaving the Xbox community in limbo.
