Phil Spencer: "If I were CEO we'd have 130K people building games"

Twitter: Phil Spencer commented that Microsoft would have "130.000" people building games if he were CEO. Obviously, he wasn't talking literally, but it might mean that he would make Microsoft to focus much more on games.

[Lior]

Right........ -_-

[SkippyPaccino]

Well... Good thing you're not CEO... Who would We hate on then? The gouvernement? The dude that break dances at the bus stop? The guy That's always blowing bubles with his spit at the Park? Jesus? I don't want to live in a world where I can't hate on Microsoft... (someone hold me I'm scared)

[Gazondaily]

Lol I know right? Well said.

People lump Phil Spencer in with the other suits and don't really know his background. He is really passionate about games but no, drones want to lap up regurgitated musing #984 from Mile Cerny but be critical of this. (Mike C is a G btw)

Let's all tar everyone with the same brush. It's the cool and easy thing to do, especially on the internet.

Anyway, I'm holding you tight.

[ShugaCane]

@Septic

You can't argue that he seems to be spending more time typing PR blah blah on Twitter, than actually working on games, though...

[Gazondaily]

@shuga

Yeah but are you asking him to work on games himself?

He has a gaming background and is always nice enough to answer questions. He's the only one at MS that seems to understand the value of exclusive games and also was kind of to answer my question along with those of others.

Why arent people hating on Shuhei Yoshida then? At one point, it seemed as if all he did was live on Twitter (exaggerating here).

Double standards and the childish responses on here speak more about the posters on here than Phil Spencer.

Its easy to be that condescending dismissive keyboard warrior on the internet. Sometimes I read comments on here and feel like im surrounded by hundreds of clones of the Comic book guy from The Simpsons.

[ShugaCane]

@Septic

Guy, I see what you mean. I really do.

But come one.. Take a look at the track record of the guy he replied to. Look at its tweets lol. Doesn't it look like it's a complete fake conversation, with the only purpose to give himself (and somehow MS) some artificial credit ?

[Gazondaily]

Yeah that guy was rather freaky no lie. But Phil could have answered to any number of other legit tweets to make that statement if he wanted.

He also replied to mine where I linked an article criticising Mattrick.

[cleft5]

The problem with that statement is that it ignores the fact that great games aren't made by a ton of people, but truly passionate people. It's more about small dedicated teams then massive amounts. But you know, his heart is in the right place when he made the statement.

[UltimateMaster]

Phil Spencer and Phil Harrison are the only 2 guys at Xbox that makes sense.
Everyone one else are just a bunch of jackasses that doesn't give a sh*t about gaming what-so-ever, just how much money they can screw people over with.

[Vanna]

@Septic

Huggie"

Windows 9 will be here before we know it, all will be kay and we can all hate again :p

[MazzingerZ]

To be that kind of CEO demands a very special and unique profile which he doesn´t have just like other hundreds/thousands in the industry

[DragonKnight]

@Septic: People lump Spencer in with the other suits because he does have his share of stupid things he's said/done in relation to the Xbox One.

But if he's really serious about having 130K people (kind of a random number, but ok) building games for the Xbox One, then he needs to be the CEO because that's the direction Microsoft needs for the Xbox One. That's what would make this gen the most heated, highly competitive gen since the SNES/Genesis day.

I personally would love to see that, especially if it meant more commercials like "Sega does what Nintendon't."

Why aren't there any humourous game commercials anymore?

[Sh0ckWav3]

we always have EA to hate on..lol

[UnholyLight]

@ShugaCane

......Wait wut??? Shuh gives one word answers, while Phil Spencer actually takes the time to formulate well thought out and introspective responses and you say that PHIL SPENCER is the one playing by PR rules...

Really???? Are you for real here??? I love Shuh and I think of his one word answers as being funny, but really, if there's someone playing the safe PR game it's Shuh.

Loving the double standard you have laid out for us.

[andibandit]

Twitter Yoshida, was tweeting??? Get out of here

[malokevi]

..... right! =)

I like spence. A likeable face for the Xbox division. Always seems to say the right thing. Videogames wooo.

[morganfell]

If he were CEO? Where have I heard this before?

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[malokevi]

Part of me was hoping you were linking to the song "if I had a million dollars".

If I were CEO of MS I'd do the same thing. He's just saying what we're all thinking. Give the guy a break! We're all friends, here.

.... =D

[ZodTheRipper]

A likeable face? Seriously?

[creatchee]

A snarky comment about anything Microsoft-related from morganfell? Where have I heard this before?
http://n4g.com/user/comment...

[SegaSaturn669]

If he were serious about gaming, he would leave Microsoft and get as far away a possible.

[TomShoe]

Omg wow, 4 Halo sequels in one year :P

I kid, I kid

[GamerzElite]

If He were a CEO then Microsoft doesn't exist in 2015.

[erathaol]

If I were CEO we would have Pumpkin Pie Thursday!

:D

[BallsEye]

They did open plenty of studios for XO and spent BILLIONS for upcoming games so what's to complain on?

[Ctiboi2010]

I'm not saying the amount of money they invested for upcoming games isn't great, in fact it's awesome. I will say that the general concern gamers who like the Xbox brand have is that they are using the money to invest in DLC and early exclusivity rather than true investments in new IP's and 1st party exclusives.

I think it stems from the track record Microsoft's Xbox division has with the Xbox 360...Great games and exclusives in the first few years and then the games started tricking down to the few repeats. Forza, Halo, Gears etc...

I am very excited with the upcoming games the Xbox One has, I just hope that they can truly invest differently in the future where it matters most instead of early exclusivity which just gives a system small bragging rights for a year or so.

[kopicha]

If i were the king, I will give everyone free next gen consoles. Yes I am serious :) Unless Phil is joking

[SonofGod]

This guy is a gamer to the core.

[Veneno]

Then why doesn't he put in an app for Sony? Since his "passion for games" is being wasted at Microsoft?

[Chrischi1988]

130k people working for games^^

First you would need like a market, that requires 130k people to work, just for one console, then you need 130k people, who are actually quallified to work on games, because just 130k people with no qualifications to create games, are worth nothing.

[denero1]

lmao i'd be the guy who walks across the office occasionally asking "how are things going guys" or "need something from Starbucks?"

[unkn0wn]

I've always been more neutral than not, but why at this point do xbox folks suddenly care about "the value of exclusives". Every one preaches about the evils of the opposition, calling to light the childish antics of fanboyism but fail to recognize their own no matter how subtle. This site is dominated by Sony product and news, and thus whenever there's a news story about a previously exclusive game going multiplat it's said to be a "win" for all gamers, and exclusives are bad. when it's the other way around exclusives are good; so tell me Xbox fans, when exactly are exclusives a good thing?

And believe it or not, a couple years ago when dem Sony supporters were hunted like witches and more rare than leprechauns you people were the same way. O' verily, how I lament the irony and contradictory ostracism. Everyone is the same, it doesn't work like "you Sony fanboys are all the same" or "you Xbox fanboys are all the same". You people are all the same. And there's nothing inherently wrong with that, except for the fact that being a hypocrite is a product of ignorance, one that we are all consumers of

[3-4-5]

He's in a position where he has to do all the things the other shyters in the company do, because he's that high up, but not high enough where his opinion matters I guess.

Sometimes he bothers me because he always looks like he's "up to something" or has to fart or something..

But at the same time, I feel like maybe him and maybe a few others are the only ones that "get it" at Microsoft, but they aren't high enough to have an impact.

Microsoft has done their own damage and can't blame anybody but themselves

[Eddie20101]

I think maybe he is a good guy, but the problem is there are not many that are in control at Microsoft that are like him. Even he has pushed a lot of PR bull out.

OMG I just read the tweets and came back from the twilight zone....WTF.

Looks like a fake conversation, I have never seen anyone gush over a company so much, I mean I like Sony, Nintendo and Valve but i would never gush like that over any of them.

[TBONEJF]

that's rich you will have to pay those workers a lot of good money for a lot of games Spencer keep dreaming.

[liquidhalos]

If i was CEO id want a secret HQ under a volcano with shark tanks and lasers

[GribbleGrunger]

victor vianna says all the right things ... just like a typical tweeter ...

[ShugaCane]

"I love MS now. Your products change my life. All is beautiful, fast, fluid, security, revolutionary and with spectacular integration"

I cracked up xD

[GribbleGrunger]

Yeah, I just came back to post that. Sounds legit!

[Baka-akaB]

"I wasn't a MS fan, but in 2010 when MS announces WP, metro interface and latter the Xbox Music, W8, Surface, Outlook bought Skype"

This part is the most ridiculous bit . You didnt like them but this changed your mind ? Yeah right ...

[Gazondaily]

Haha of man. I felt a little sick inside reading that. I bet even Spencer cringed at that.

[liquidhalos]

Its so pathetic, i just cant take anything that comes out of the MS camp seriously anymore

[Chaostar]

lol she's either an obvious shill or she has a crush on Mr Spencer :D

[Baka-akaB]

Sometimes people are just that stupid . Giving them a shill status is sometimes giving them to much credit and a reason , a purpose to be that silly online , when there is none .

[snake_eater]

PR clown that's what he is.

[DigitalRaptor]

He's not a clown, but all of this is for PR.

Notice how it's all of a sudden he's all over Twitter talking about the games. It kind of comes off as in-genuine when he didn't really start out with this attitude but feels like he needs to come out with exaggerated, forced statements about how much he loves games.

It just feels like he's rebounding off how PlayStation's executives are promoting their natural supreme focus on games, as if he needs to remove the stigma that Xbone was made with a lesser focus on gaming than its other purposes, which it was.

[PS4isKing_82]

Couldn't agree more. No wonder were already hearing about a rumored price cut. Microsoft is scared of sony's ps4 as they should be. Worldwide sales should be close to 6mil by the end of Feb with Japan launch three weeks away.

[tigertron]

Hell, I'll support his bid for CEO if it means the Xbox One gets more exclusives and MS ditches Windows 8...

[christocolus]

130k people working on games....lmao. this guy sure loves games.

I really like this new attitude. Wish Don mattrick left before they started working on the xbx one.

I vote Phil Spencer for office. next CEO of ms...lol

[Bolts-N-Rays1109]

Damn, accidentally hit disagree...

[christocolus]

Nah its alright.ive made the same mistake a couple of times.
Phil Spencer rocks. I love his focus on games.Dons ideology was so different and with him gone, Phil is determined to push games this time around. new and old ips alike.

[Bolts-N-Rays1109]

Yeah, I really like Spencer. He's one of the few good guys over at MS. They need more people like him.

[andibandit]

Apart from that fact he looks like a duck when hes on stage, he seems alright

[True_Samurai]

Rather have Phil Spencer be the new CEO at least he seems like he's actually interested in games

[Dude420]

I'm sure he was just kidding guys, ease down now :P.

[MightyNoX]

To be fair, he did sound like he was in a Monty Python but going "wink, wink, nudge, nudge know wot I mean?" :P

[SprigganN4G]

The Xbox brand can't be worse than now, so, maybe would be good for the brand if Spencer were the new CEO.

[Mystogan]

Uhm....Noh. Phil Spencer is right where he should be. Xbox brand is doing well.

[k3rn3ll]

Being ceo has a lot more shi to take care of thanjust games. Just cuz he's great at one division down doesn't mean he be great with all of them. Its probably best he stays at the xbox division so he can focus on just tn at alone. At least best for gamers

[TheKayle1]

so pls phil become CEO we will support u foreva

[4ShotKing]

I like Phil Spencer, he really does love video games and is the only likable figures at Microsoft IMO, I'd love if he was CEO and put more emphasis on the Xbox brand and brought more games for us GAMERS to play.

[DeadlyFire]

If he put emphasis on Xbox brand and PC brand as a game platform he would have my respect, but I am doubtful of that.

[Hicken]

I know he's not completely serious about the exact number, but I like that response. At the same time, though, I have to wonder how much of that response is just PR. He does seem more game-minded than most people at Microsoft, but he's also paid to say nice things that people will like.

[Mystogan]

According to N4G any good thing a Microsoft related person says is PR.

[TheKayle1]

according to neogaf/n4g/edge/dualshockers

thats for sure

[BOLO]

Well can you blame logical gamers who feel that way about M$FT? For the most part they have been quite schizophrenic with its dealings regarding the Xbone.

[LexHazard79]

Or just maybe he could be thinking out loud you know? Like, man if I was CEO guys, I would have all MS employees making games...an exaggerated thought!
I like his attitude and MS have kept it all about the games like they said they would! I like that!

[Convas]

So we can naturally assume that any nice things that Shuhei Yoshida says on Twitter are also becuase he's paid to say them, knowing that playstation people will like them Hicken?

[Hicken]

If Sony were prone to the sort of PR disasters that Microsoft has suffered as of late, then yes, we'd be wise to question him.

Oh, but there's one other thing. You see, Shuhei and Sony have been pretty upfront when addressing the public. They've done a very good job of not having confusing messages and such.

In short, Sony has been more trustworthy, so there's no reason to "naturally" assume Shuhei would be likely to just give us lip service.

[LexHazard79]

MS already picking CEO and if what I read about the dude is true. Xbox is safe, plus im thinking why would MS ok a $100,000,000 purchase if it was planning on selling Xbox division. Idk..but Phil Spencer just needs to keep doing a good job as microsoft game studio head!

[MegaRay]

Well building strong 1st party Iis better than buying 3rd party exclusive.
So where to vote for him?

[Ratty]

It's only a tweet that wasn't meant to be taken seriously. Stop flipping out. This shouldn't be news.

[Tzuno]

if i were ceo i would made that kinect optional, drop the price to 399 and put that RARE ass to work on some serious games. Boring businessmen that play one game per year and do not understand what gaming is and what gamers want. Go sell potatoes at market.

[cruzngta]

Phil is the one saving grace MS has left representing the XB1. If he ever left.... they are dead in the water in a big way.

[StockpileTom]

So you are saying they would be left4dead?

[helghast102]

Just want to remind everyone that there were over 600 people working on Resident Evil 6.
Quality > quantity.

[AnEwGuY]

If you took what he said literally, you need to be slapped with a dead tuna.

[k3rn3ll]

Plus he's not saying just one game. U guys.... I mean really.... smh

[kewlkat007]

Not sure why people hate on this guy...

[Veneno]

Well what reason is there to like him?

[stamps79]

Upgrade this guys title and make it happen. More Jobs, More Games= happy consumer. :)

If anything, MS needs more Phil Spencer's in the Xbox Division.

[Evil_Ryu]

Phil spencer the only guy at microsoft keeping the xbox division upfloat...respect.

[XiSasukeUchiha]

Phil Spencer please save the Xbox division! by give'em a fresh new coat of paint!

[MadMen]

Phil Spencer great guy, the reason the Xbox can be respected if he leaves, I leave.

[NeloAnjelo]

All this talk about games is to get the focus away from the frame rate and resolution talk.

If MS cared about games, they would have made a gaming console first and foremost. Instead they focused on the main stream, TV and Sports with sub standard performance. Now they're trying to change tact saying games are their focus... Enough BS and 180s. Just invest and develop exclusives, and wasting money on content first on XBONE.

Give us games and not words... Like the 360 in it's last three years.

[UltraAtomic]

man if phil spencer was ceo i can already see how many games xbox will be getting

[SynestheticRoar]

Old Philly, he's still a double agent. Trust his as far as you can throw him.

[denero1]

that could be said for anybody in any industry though >.>

can't a guy just have an opinion without some underlying meaning

[_FantasmA_]

Yeah and they'd be overworked to meet strict deadlines only to have to make yearly game with minimal changes until they can't take it anymore and decide to leave and start their own company where they can make something other than a casual, no skills required shooters.

[assdan]

I would invest in first parties, but that's about it. MS needs more studios if they want to compete with Sony for number of games.

[JohnS1313]

They got rid of those people the last generation. Now they have almost nothing left.

[JohnS1313]

The shareholders would like that. Not!!! Microsoft would go broke for sure if he was running them. You can't just do dumb things like that. They wouldn't sell enough games to pay all of those people.

[Silly gameAr]

Phil wants to be MS's version of Jack Tretton. So cute.

[Rustynail]

Phil Spencer for ceo!

[palaeomerus]

GUys making tweets is not really news. It's social media gossip.

[cell989]

The only guy I don't hate at xbox team hq