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

Xbox CEO Phil Spencer reflects on past strategic missteps and the impact on major franchises, acknowledging some "worst decisions" in the company's history. This article explores his candid remarks, focusing on missed opportunities and the challenges faced in releasing upcoming Xbox titles.

Phil Spencer's Reflections on Missed Opportunities

At PAX West 2024, Spencer discussed pivotal moments in Xbox's history, highlighting significant franchises that eluded them. He cited Destiny and Guitar Hero as notable examples, admitting these decisions rank among his career's most regrettable. Despite his close relationship with Bungie during his early years at Xbox, Destiny's initial concept didn't resonate with him until later. Similarly, he expressed initial skepticism towards Guitar Hero's potential.

While acknowledging past mistakes, Spencer emphasized his forward-looking approach, choosing to focus on current and future projects rather than dwelling on regrets.

Challenges in Bringing Major Franchises to Xbox

Xbox is actively pursuing major franchises, including Dune: Awakening from Funcom. While slated for release on Xbox Series S alongside PC and PS5, Funcom's chief product officer, Scott Junior, highlighted the technical challenges of optimizing the game for the Series S. Despite these hurdles, Junior confirmed the game will perform well even on older hardware.

Further complicating matters, Enotria: The Last Song from Jyamma Games faced significant delays on Xbox due to a lack of communication and response from Microsoft. The game, nearly ready for release on both Series S and X, was ultimately delayed on Xbox, launching instead on PlayStation 5 and PC. Jyamma Games CEO Jacky Greco expressed considerable frustration over the situation, highlighting the lack of communication and the financial impact of the delay. The Xbox release remains uncertain.