Xbox Apologizes for "Worst Decisions" in Major Franchises

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Xbox CEO Phil Spencer reflects on past strategic missteps and acknowledges significant missed opportunities within the ever-evolving gaming industry. This article explores his candid comments, focusing on key decisions and upcoming Xbox game releases.

Phil Spencer's Reflections on Missed Opportunities

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During a PAX West 2024 interview, Spencer discussed pivotal moments in his career, highlighting franchises that eluded Xbox. He cited Destiny and Guitar Hero as among the "worst" decisions, acknowledging the significant impact these omissions had.

Spencer shared his personal connection to Bungie, Destiny's developer, noting his initial lack of enthusiasm for the project, a sentiment that shifted only after the release of House of Wolves. Similarly, his initial skepticism toward Guitar Hero's potential proved to be a costly oversight.

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Dune: Awakening and Xbox Release Challenges

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Despite these setbacks, Spencer maintains a forward-looking perspective. He emphasizes Xbox's commitment to securing major franchises, citing Dune: Awakening as an example. While slated for release on Xbox Series S alongside PC and PS5, Funcom, the developer, has encountered optimization challenges specific to the Xbox Series S platform.

Funcom's chief product officer, Scott Junior, confirmed these difficulties, explaining the PC-first release strategy to address performance issues. However, he assured gamers that the game will ultimately perform well even on older hardware.

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Entoria: The Last Song Faces Xbox Release Delays

Indie developer Jyamma Games' Entoria: The Last Song experienced significant delays on Xbox due to a lack of communication and response from Microsoft. The game, reportedly ready for both Series S and X, is launching on PlayStation 5 and PC, leaving the Xbox release uncertain. Jyamma Games CEO Jacky Greco expressed frustration over the prolonged silence from Xbox, highlighting the financial investment made for the Xbox port. The situation underscores the challenges faced by smaller developers seeking Xbox platform releases.