The day following Developer_DirectPhil Spencer confided at length in the columns of
IGN. Interviewed by Kat Bailey, the boss of Xbox addressed many topics. Layoffs at Microsoft at the release of Forza Motorsport or the situation at Xbox two years following the launch of the new generation of consoles, here is what to remember.
“2022 was too light in terms of games”
Among the first points raised during the interview, it was notably asked how Phil Spencer envisaged the year 2023, and how to create a positive dynamic following a year 2022 very poor in releases for Xbox.
The boss of Xbox first said that the feeling was obviously quite different internally, since the teams know what is going on behind the scenes and which games are in development; they also know what’s in store Showcase Xbox of the month of June. Nevertheless, he takes responsibility for a year 2022 that is too poor for the brand:
Our commitment to our fans is that we must have a regular release of great games for people to play on our platform, and we haven’t done enough of that in 2022, there’s no doubt. And basically, it’s my fault. I am the head of the company.
The commitment we have to our customers to continue to deliver quality games is something that I take seriously, that teams take seriously, and 2022 was too light in terms of games. So we’re excited to be able to move to 2023, to have Developer Direct. I felt really good with the games we were showing. And then also to know that Starfield is a game that we would be able to showcase in its own show and start 2023 with a good boost, like you said, I think we needed that.
Forza Motorsport will release well in 2023
The Developer_Direct was an opportunity to unveil the release dates of Minecraft Legends and of Redfallbut also mark the occasion with the surprise launch of Hi-Fi Rush. For Phil Spencer, it was important to show games, gameplay and give dates at the start of the year. If he says he is happy to have been able to launch Hi-Fi Rush, he also admits he hesitates to advance on the release dates:
I’m hesitant to go ahead with launches, because I know there’s some fatigue, and rightly so, in the community regarding us saying, “Hey, wait a minute, wait a minute . So that was one of the reasons it was nice to be able to run Hi-Fi Rush during the show to show that we can get games out.
Many players were worried and disappointed to see that Forza Motorsport had not been entitled to its release date.
While Jeff Grubb spoke yesterday regarding the possible report of the title in the third quarter of 2023, Phil Spencer simply confirmed that it was indeed a game planned for this year, also wanting to be reassuring as to its quality, without giving details on its launch period:
I know there have been questions regarding the date of Forza Motorsport because we only talked regarding the year 2023. Everyone should know that the quality that Turn 10 puts into Motorsport, if you look at the story, will be present in this game. This is the most important thing, above all, and we will give a date, no doubt when we are a little closer to the release. But we just wanted to reassure people that this is a 2023 game.
An important year 2023 for Xbox
Although it seems to be repeating itself for some time, it seems more true than ever that the year 2023 will be decisive for Microsoft. When Phil Spencer is asked where we are in the console generation and how things are going for Xbox, which seems to have seen a lot of upheaval, he replies:
As for where we are as Xbox, I’m incredibly confident in the plan we have, the strategy we have, and the teams. Just today we had a meeting with the whole team, and we talked regarding the way forward. We’re in the entertainment industry, and the entertainment industry is an industry built on successes that aren’t always predictable. As you said, we’re seeing it right now with Hi-Fi Rush. It’s a business that’s driven by the hearts of people falling in love with the things you build and also by persisting in being brave as an organization.
This team did things we might not expect them to do, like Game Pass and xCloud. When I look at the games we’re building and the platform ambition we have, it gives me more and more confidence in the direction we’re headed.
But it is certain that the gaming sector is not made for the faint of heart, nor for teams that want to play it safe. I love the ambition of the Xbox team, and it’s a privilege to be part of this team.
“My commitment is to the company, the customers and the teams”
As we know, the Microsoft company is going through difficult times and recently announced the loss of 10,000 employees in various sectors, including Xbox. On the subject of the difficult period currently experienced, he specifies:
As someone who has been with Xbox for a very long time, it’s always a challenge when a colleague, a team member, won’t be around in the future. I take the impact on individuals to heart. I consider it my commitment and responsibility as a business leader to create a safe place where people can perform at their best. Obviously we had drops for some people there. So I did not completely succeed at this level.
When asked what assurances he can give fans and gamers that Xbox is on the right track, he then replies:
My commitment is to the company, to the clients, to the teams. I think running a successful business is part of creating a stable place for our team members. The long-term vision we have on Xbox is to build our experience around the gamer, to enable creators to create games that can reach gamers on any screen they want to play, to give gamers different ways to build their library, whether it’s buying their games, subscribing to their games, seeing things like xCloud and the work we do on PC. I strongly believe in this vision.
It is of course hoped that the situation can improve quickly internally for those affected by recent events.
On the public side, Microsoft and Xbox were able to enjoy a successful Developer_Direct during which we were treated to reassuring information on upcoming games, as well as the surprise release of Hi-Fi Rush. Tango Gameworks’ game not only delights Xbox players, but also PC players via the Steam platform, on which it enjoys an extremely positive reception.
It goes without saying that we can’t wait to see what the firm has in store for us this year and if the big games that are Redfall, Forza Motorsport and obviously Starfieldwill keep their promises.
