Xbox's Franchise Choices Flopped, Says Phil Spencer

As the gaming industry evolves, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer candidly discusses critical missteps and opportunities the Xbox division has faced over the years. This retrospective reveals key developmental insights while looking ahead to upcoming Xbox titles.

Xbox Leadership Acknowledges Past Franchise Missteps

The Destiny and Guitar Hero Decisions That Haunt Xbox

In a revealing "Story Time with Phil Spencer" session at PAX West 2024, the Xbox chief reflected on franchise decisions he now considers career regrets. Spencer particularly emphasized missed chances with Bungie's Destiny and Harmonix's Guitar Hero - opportunities he called "some of the worst" judgment calls during his tenure.

Having worked alongside Bungie leadership during Microsoft's ownership era, Spencer shared complex feelings about Destiny's development. "Bungie's culture taught me so much when we shared offices in Redmond," he reflected. "Yet when Destiny launched, it didn't immediately resonate with me." The executive admitted the game's magic only clicked after its first expansion.

Regarding Guitar Hero, Spencer frankly acknowledged his initial skepticism: "Some of my early decisions haunt me when I see what these franchises became."

Dune: Awakening Pushes Forward Despite Xbox Optimization Hurdles

Rather than dwelling on past mistakes, Spencer emphasized Xbox's forward-looking strategy. A prime example is Funcom's highly anticipated Dune: Awakening, though its Xbox Series S version presents technical challenges.

Funcom CPO Scott Junior clarified at Gamescom 2024: "We're prioritizing PC launch to perfect Xbox optimization. The Series S hardware demands careful adjustment." However, Junior assured players the game will deliver solid performance across platforms, telling VG247: "Expect smooth gameplay even on aging hardware once we complete optimizations."

Enotria: The Last Song Faces Xbox Roadblocks

The upcoming Enotria: The Last Song from Jyamma Games encountered unexpected Xbox hurdles weeks before its September 19 release. Developer CEO Jacky Greco expressed frustration over Microsoft's unresponsive certification process, despite having Xbox-ready builds.

"We understand Xbox fans' disappointment," the studio stated. "Despite our team's tireless efforts, unforeseen platform challenges have delayed our launch."

Windows Central uncovered Greco's Discord comments alleging Xbox ignored submission queries for months: "Our Series X/S version is complete, but without Microsoft's cooperation we can't proceed." Speaking to Insider Gaming, Greco cited stalled communications preventing store page creation as the primary obstacle. The developer maintains commitment to an Xbox release pending resolution.