KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM PHIL SPENCER’S X019 INTERVIEWS
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM PHIL SPENCER'S X019 INTERVIEWS
Phil Spencer had some really insightful interviews at X019. His interviews with IGN and Eurogamer were particularly full of important information. Below are the key takeaways from each interview, separated to keep the information concise, and easy to identify its source.
PHIL SPENCER’S IGN INTERVIEW
- Software, hardware, & services all need to be key focuses for Xbox going forward.
- Xbox has a couple more game reveals coming this year.
- They will talk more about Scarlett next year.
- All controllers, accessories, and games will carry over to Scarlett (Backwards Compatibility is a big thing for Xbox.)
- The studios they’ve acquired have been about diversifying the content of the Xbox platform, by adding new creators.
- Studios are allowed and encouraged to create whatever they wish, including smaller passion projects like Bleeding Edge and Grounded, to go along with their bigger titles.
- Phil is a huge fan of DONTNOD Entertainment, having really enjoyed the Life Is Strange series. When he was presented the opportunity to work directly with them on Tell Me Why, he was all in.
- Tell ME Why is an important story that Phil felt needed to be told.
- The presence of many Japanese games at X019 was the direct result of long expressed fan requests. Phil listens to the Xbox userbase, and understands that even more work needs to be done to improve presence of Japanese games on the Xbox Platform, among other things that the Xbox community wants. He has been to Japan many times to work with publishers and developers overseas to improve relationships, and bring content to Xbox.
- They are committed to Day One launches into Gamepass for all of their First Party titles.
- Xbox is committed to keeping their IP’s and experiences in the Xbox Ecosystem and believes that they are best on Xbox. xCloud helps broaden the devices on which they appear, but it’s only an extension of the platform.
- Gamepass libraries, save files, etc. will all carry over to Scarlett.
PHIL SPENCER'S EUROGAMER INTERVIEW
- Gamepass is all about diversity, not every game is for everyone. Different game types allow for different experiences.
- Gamepass is a safe place for single player games. Not all titles have to be long, drawn out games as a service experience. Many games have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Gamepass ensures that single player narratives, and smaller titles are able to thrive and continue to exist.
- Gamepass is not a hinderance for sales of big First Party titles. In fact, Gears 5 outsold Gears 4, even as a title which launched in Gamepass.
- Phil views having First Party titles launching into Gamepass Day One as a positive, unlike his counterpart at Sony, who currently refuses to include their exclusives in PS Now at launch.
- Xbox is not done acquiring studios. Satya Nadella, Amy Hood, and the Board at Microsoft have given Xbox a ton of support, viewing them as a key pillar of Microsoft’s business. Phil has their blessing to go out and acquire more studios, and further grow the Xbox brand.
- Diversity in the Xbox lineup is key, so additional studio acquisitions will be with that in mind.
- Asia, in particular is a region in which Phil would like to grow Xbox’s presence. Studio acquisitions there, and further expanding the Xbox Brand in the region, would greatly benefit them.
- Phil mentions that he has privately talked with Matt Booty about acquiring studios in Asia.
- Phil again reaffirms his past public comments that Asia is a particular focus for acquisition.
- Xbox will talk more about Scarlett next year.
- They are not ruling out having multiple versions of the Scarlett console.
- Phil guarantees that they will not repeat the mistake of this this generation, launching the Xbox One at $100 more, and less powerful than the PS4.
- Scarlett will not sacrifice power for price.
- Streaming is not a replacement for the Xbox console experience.