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

Xbox CEO Phil Spencer reflects on past missteps and the toughest decisions impacting major franchises, amidst the evolving gaming landscape. This article explores his candid comments and provides updates on upcoming Xbox titles.

Xbox's CEO Reflects on Past Regrets and Future Plans

Missed Opportunities: Destiny and Guitar Hero

At PAX West 2024, Phil Spencer shared insights into his career, highlighting key decisions—and some significant regrets. He acknowledged passing on major franchises like Bungie's Destiny and Harmonix's Guitar Hero, calling these among the worst choices of his career.

Spencer, who joined Xbox when Bungie was under Microsoft's umbrella, described his complex feelings about Destiny. He emphasized the learning experience from his time alongside Bungie developers, but admitted that the initial concept didn't resonate until the House of Wolves expansion. Similarly, he recounted his initial skepticism towards Guitar Hero's potential.

Dune: Awakening's Xbox Release Presents Challenges

Despite these past setbacks, Spencer maintains a forward-looking approach. Xbox is actively pursuing major franchises, including Funcom's Dune: Awakening, an action RPG adaptation of the iconic Dune universe. While slated for Xbox Series S, alongside PC and PS5, Funcom's chief product officer, Scott Junior, acknowledged challenges optimizing the game for the platform.

At Gamescom 2024, Junior explained the PC-first release strategy, citing optimization needs for Xbox. He confirmed, however, that Dune: Awakening will perform well even on older hardware.

Enotria: The Last Song Faces Xbox Release Delays

Indie developer Jyamma Games' Enotria: The Last Song encountered unexpected delays on Xbox, weeks before its scheduled September 19th release. The studio cited a lack of response from Microsoft regarding their submission, despite the game's reported readiness for both Series S and X. Jyamma Games CEO Jacky Greco expressed frustration over the communication breakdown, resulting in the game's launch on PlayStation 5 and PC only, with the Xbox release currently uncertain. Greco publicly voiced concerns about Microsoft's lack of communication and response to their submission.