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

Xbox CEO Phil Spencer recently opened up about some of the biggest regrets in Xbox's history, admitting to past "worst decisions" regarding major franchises. This candid reflection, shared at PAX West 2024, sheds light on missed opportunities and the challenges facing Xbox as it navigates the evolving gaming landscape. We'll explore Spencer's comments and delve into the status of upcoming Xbox titles.

Xbox's Missed Opportunities: Destiny and Guitar Hero

During a "Story Time" interview, Spencer discussed key moments in his career, highlighting significant franchises that slipped through Xbox's grasp. He specifically cited Bungie's Destiny and Harmonix's Guitar Hero as among his biggest regrets, labeling the decisions to pass on them as some of the worst of his career.

Despite his close relationship with Bungie during his early days at Xbox, Destiny initially failed to resonate with Spencer. He admitted it wasn't until the House of Wolves expansion that the game's appeal truly clicked. Similarly, his initial skepticism towards Guitar Hero's potential proved to be a costly oversight.

Challenges in Bringing Major Franchises to Xbox: Dune: Awakening and Enotria

While acknowledging past missteps, Spencer emphasized his forward-looking approach. However, the path to securing major franchises remains challenging. Dune: Awakening, developed by Funcom, exemplifies this. While planned for Xbox Series S alongside PC and PS5 releases, Funcom's chief product officer, Scott Junior, highlighted the optimization challenges presented by the Series S hardware. Despite this, Junior confirmed that the game will still perform well, even on older hardware.

Meanwhile, Enotria: The Last Song from indie developer Jyamma Games, has faced significant delays on Xbox due to a lack of communication from Microsoft. The game is practically ready for both Series S and X, but the developer reports no response from Microsoft regarding submission, leaving the Xbox release uncertain. Jyamma Games CEO Jacky Greco expressed considerable frustration over this situation, highlighting the financial investment already made in porting the game. The game will launch on PlayStation 5 and PC, but its Xbox future remains unclear.