Xbox CEO Phil Spencer Reflects on Past Mistakes and Future Plans

In a recent interview at PAX West 2024, Xbox CEO Phil Spencer openly discussed past decisions, admitting to some significant missteps regarding major gaming franchises. He highlighted missed opportunities with Destiny and Guitar Hero as among the worst choices of his career.

Despite his initial reservations about Destiny, stemming from a time when Bungie was under Microsoft's umbrella, Spencer acknowledged the game's eventual success. Similarly, he revealed his initial skepticism towards Guitar Hero's potential.

While reflecting on these setbacks, Spencer emphasized his forward-looking approach, prioritizing current and future projects rather than dwelling on past regrets.

Dune: Awakening and Xbox Release Challenges

Despite past setbacks, Xbox continues to pursue ambitious projects. Dune: Awakening, an action RPG developed by Funcom, is slated for release on Xbox Series S, along with PC and PS5. However, Funcom's chief product officer, Scott Junior, has acknowledged challenges in optimizing the game for the Xbox Series S, leading to a PC-first release strategy. Despite these difficulties, Junior confirmed that the game will perform well even on older hardware.

Entoria: The Last Song Faces Xbox Release Delays

Indie developer Jyamma Games' Entoria: The Last Song has faced unexpected delays on Xbox, due to a lack of communication and response from Microsoft. The game, reportedly ready for both Series S and X, has been delayed indefinitely on the platform, despite a planned September 19th release date. Jyamma Games CEO Jacky Greco expressed frustration over the situation, highlighting the lack of response from Xbox and the significant financial investment already made in the Xbox port. The game will still launch on PlayStation 5 and PC.

The situation with Entoria highlights potential challenges faced by smaller developers seeking to release their games on Xbox. While Xbox is actively pursuing major franchises, navigating the complexities of the platform's release process for independent studios appears to remain an ongoing issue.