Xbox Boss Phil Spencer Wants Games to Bring People Together; Feels They're a "Very Special Art Form"

Microsoft's Xbox Division head Phil Spencer talks about the importance of gaming as an art form that brings people together.

[PhoenixUp]

Gaming will always be an art form

[threefootwang]

Why does this article look like it was written by a 12 year old?

It's an OK read, but seriously, fix the obvious mistakes.

[spreadlove]

It fits the n4g community quite well, and is disproportionately of quality content on the scale.

[Eonjay]

@spreadlove
Have some respect for the community. N4G users aren't stupid and we can write. In fact, we often have better points and debates than the articles we fight about. Why are you here if you have such a low opinion of us?

[bluefox755]

@spread That is rich coming from you.

[spreadlove]

jay,

That is your problem right there. People here think their amateur stuff is good and have better points. The content here is pure clickbait and the people here are pure toxicity. Look at the comments around here.

[rainslacker]

Now let's see how they monetize it into a service.

[Zero_Suit_Samus]

“Xbox Boss Phil Spencer Wants Games to Bring People Together; Feels They're a "Very Special Art Form"

You mean GaaS is an art form? Until you drop that as you plans going forward I can’t take anything you say seriously. Gamers don’t want that crap.

[rainslacker]

Realistically there is nothing that says that art can't also be a commercial venture.

I do believe that gaming is a special kind of art, just like movies, books, or music can be.

I really don't disagree with the quote, I just don't really feel MS looks at games as art, but rather as a commercial venture, and they forgo the art of creating great games to focus on ways to make more money. It's one thing to shape the art to suit the audience, quite another to bastardize one's artistic vision to try and make more money off that art in the form of supplemental purchases or services.

[chrisx]

Gaming since the beginning has always been a special art form that brought people together. this is pretty much a case of stating the obvious.

[Deep-throat]

Mr. Negative.

Always negative!

[UCForce]

And you are always predictable and disrespectful to be honest.

[DrumBeat]

I would argue that gaming started off with quite the negative stigma. Seen as a hobby for pariahs, delinquents, the non-athletic and dropouts. It's always been an art form sure, but it's come a long way to being universally (for the most part) accepted.

[XiNatsuDragnel]

Gaming has always been an art form

[Ristul]

At least he considers games to be art, thats something.

[Aenea]

Gaming isn't an art form, games are...

[Sam Fisher]

...A new form of gambling considering how he these companies going about with their games

[alexg587]

So tell your studios to start making some art bruh

[ILostMyMind]

So genius 🙄

[tontontam0]

Unfortunately xbox fanboys don't agree, they have been bashing artsy fartsy ps4 games, for them xbox live is numba wan and gaming is a sport not an art they only play shooter games.

[Lennoxb63]

Gaming can be both a sport and an art. You guys don't even buy those artsy PS games anyway. You're playing the same games that Xbox gamers are playing.

[DarXyde]

Actually, those games are probably the only reason I still game. My favorite 2 titles this generation don't push hardware in exciting exciting ways, but have plenty of charm, vision, and theory.

Bit of a sweeping statement there, son.

[Lennoxb63]

@DarXyde

It's not a sweeping statement. It's supported by numbers. Most games that Xbox gamers are playing, PS gamers are also playing. What you play is irrelevant to that fact.

[LP-Eleven]

Then show us these "numbers".... Don't present a blanket statement and provide nothing to back it up. PlayStation gamers have always had a taste for those sorts of games. It's why Sony continues to provide them, while Microsoft continues to promise you the world, while handing you a sliver of a City. When they start making ANY more games besides their Xbox "Trinity", we can talk about numbers.

OT: Games are a form of art. Yes. That much is obvious.

[Lennoxb63]

LP-Eleven

The obvious fact that multiplatform; many of which are multiplayer games, sell a lot more than single player. I thought this was common knowledge amongst N4G frequenters. All of those games sell a lot more than any exclusives on the PS4 alone.

[LP-Eleven]

Which is irrelevant. Selling less than multiplatform games doesn't mean that companies shouldn't focus on their own exclusive software. On PlayStation, those kinds of games don't have to sell big numbers (even though most AAA Sony exclsuives sell what they need to continue to thrive). People invest in the platform because it offers those + many, many more (exclusively, at that). That is how you build a gaming portfolio. Not mostly depend on titles that your competitors will also have.

If the industry was built on that practice, we wouldn't have multiple consoles. It's not rocket science.

[Lennoxb63]

LP-Eleven

"Selling less than multiplatform games doesn't mean that companies shouldn't focus on their own exclusive software."

Never said nor implied that. And no, the real reason we have more than one console is so that one company doesn't have a monopoly over home gaming. Not exclusives. Nothing wrong with exclusives. That's the icing on the cake. People don't invest in PS for the exclusives cause only a small percentage of PS gamers actually buy them. Gamers buy PS for the same reason gamers buy Xbox. Plug and play access to the biggest games. Which are multiplats.

[LP-Eleven]

Exclusives are a HUGE cause for multiple machines, though I didn't say that was the only reason. However, if people bought PlayStation and Xbox for the exact same reasons, one of them wouldn't be battering the other so soundly. The Switch also batters the Xbox on a monthly and weekly basis. Pretty obvious why that is. Eliminating availability, accessibility, and price leaves us with exclusives. Many in the industry agree. Again, not rocket science.

But, you can continue to live in your bubble.

[Lennoxb63]

@LP-Eleven

PS is 'battering' Xbox because its initial reveal and the fact that PS is a much bigger name worldwide. Exclusives haven't been a huge reason for multiple machines since the 90s. Of course there are some big excluisves on every platform. But it's nothing like it used to be. Pretty obvious when you look at how similar each console's game list is. The exclusive argument is tired because PC has waaaay more exclusives than both consoles yet somehow, consoles still thrive.

[LP-Eleven]

"Much bigger name worldwide". Yeah, you don't build a brand without exclusives. You can't just call the PlayStation bigger without factoring in WHY it is bigger. It's exclusive software is a big reason for that.

As for PC, if they were only for gaming, I might agree. Since the primary purpose of a console IS gaming, that point is moot. Call it tired all you want. The experts agree with my view of things.

[Lennoxb63]

@LP-Eleven

Then explain iPhones. They aren't the most powerful phones on the market. Nor do they have any features/apps that other phones don't have.

[tontontam0]

"You're playing the same games that Xbox gamers are playing."

Yup I agree, but taking aside the games both ps4 and xbox gamers can play on either platform, ps4 has more to offer.

No matter how you spin it EXCLUSIVES matter.

[DarXyde]

Except it is relevant since, you know, I'm a PlayStation gamer and I do buy/play those games.

What you said is totally a sweeping statement. If those artsy games you're talking about *didn't* sell a single copy, you would have a point. Except that they did. Sales are just low (though, to be fair, you don't have any idea what the budget on these games are). For all you know, they've broken even or even profited. I do buy those artsy PS games. And save for some titles, no, I don't really play the same games Xbox gamers are playing, though the irony is that I own an Xbox. Last games I bought were Cuphead and Ori and the Blind Forest. Both of which can be considered artsy.

Again, you're making a sweeping statement, son.

[TheOttomatic91]

If you really believe that Phil then drop GaaS

[2cents]

I have enjoyed being a Xbox gamer since day one.
There have been ups and downs along the way and some points where i nearly jumped ship but I am glad I have stayed in the camp.
I'm much happier being able to game on all platforms rather than choose just one plastic box. The X is the most satisfying console I have owned, what will be the icing on the cake will be for team Xbox to deliver on the final promise and develop new experiences.

[Atticus_finch]

I do hope they do produce something because they already got your money.

[2cents]

lol, thanks for the concern!

[monkey602]

Of the last few generations I've owned all consoles with the exception of the original Xbox and Wii U. I find the Xbox one to be easily the most disapointing console I've owned in over a decade. It would be fine if I didn't have a ps4 I guess but there's just no truly redeeming features going for it for me to see it as essential. The ONLY reason I bought one was for the games I can't play elsewhere which are incredibly scarce.
I won't fall for the X this time. Fool me once, Fool me twice and all that

[2cents]

I hear that a lot. MS clearly have a lot of work to do to rebuild trust with many gamers like yourself.

For me, MS bought Halo, my fav fps.
MS bought Gears, my fav cover shooter.
MS own Forza, my fav open and circuit racer.
MS own Rare.... Erm... Moving on, oh yeah Sea of thieves!
They focused on indie, online multiplayer and rewards long before others, XNA, XBLA, Live, Achievements.
They also seem to understand the definition of multimedia better than the others with 4k streaming, 4k Bluray, apps and games.
They now claim to have total focus on new experiences....

These are just my reasons for sticking with them. I dont expect these reasons to be as important to others.

[monkey602]

As much as I hate to admit it because I want it on the ps4 where my friends are, keeping PUBG is a big thing for microsoft.
Gears is my favourite. Forza i dont like the curcuit games but Horizons are incredible. Even the hot wheels expansion was genius. Cuphead is amazing. But they're the games I've looked forward to until now.
Sea of thieves I don't like the look of. Crackdown was a terrible series. And I hated Halo 5 so much I lost any interest in the series.

State of Decay and the last night are the only games I am excited for on the Xbox next year. Which is massive shame. So yeah I agree with you. MS have some making up to do

[2cents]

I wonder if the next E3 will bring some new news om their supposed new focus. I really do hope so...

Sony walk all over them when it comes to risk vs. Reward. I'm a mostly offline, story driven, single player so Sony really delivers for me on that front.

[PEEPer]

Battlefront II is the proof that gaming is art.

[CP_Company]

Yes, kinect, vr and loot boxes will brings us together :D

[thisismyaccount]

Xbox Boss Phil Spencer Wants Games to Bring People Together aka GaaS Games .... ya aint fooling nobody Phil.

[inxine]

huh, sounds awfully familiar what the Sony Boss said not so long ago.

but hes talking like we didnt know that already. i know hes trying to be nice and good and i know he means well, but sometimes its best not to say say anything.

[Max-Zorin]

Microsoft fire this man already.

[SkippyPaccino]

Phil's BS is an art form... It takes a special type of person to turn a turd into a polished turd...

[Atticus_finch]

Yea typical smiling suit.

[TheColbertinator]

Bring people together to fork over the $$$

[sampsonon]

meaning Multiplayer only plus micro-transactions = how much can we steal your money.

[sk8ofmnd]

Who gaf what you want Phillip Spencer. How about you do good on your promise of Xbox 1st party games that you've been saying are coming since 2014 and we might start listening to you.

[Tross]

Wasn't Nintendo rambling about this sort of thing before they became irrelevant beyond the handheld market? It took them until the Switch to get their lost momentum back. How much time does MS have? I know they have deep pockets, but I think they've stumbled over an omen.

[LoveSpuds]

Those who missed out on WiiU missed some utterly fantastic games, I bought my WiiU ahead of the XB1 because the games were better and in my opinion, the games on WiiU are still better than anything on the XB1.

[patterson]

Talk is cheap.

[GoodnessGreatness]

Whatever you say Phil. In the meantime, he's trying his best to keep PUBG away from PS4 players.

[LoveSpuds]

Games are an art form.........as long as we can milk them for as much profit as possible. Nobody listens to your bullshit anymore Phil.

[sprinterboy]

Ms are all talk, I like healthy competition from all 3 tbh but ms had a a great 360 period was was like wow but since 2009 ish onwards they've just lost total focus on what they had built, they've lost all that now imo

[RommyReigns]

Flip Flop yes-man Phil with the PR BS again, in a vain attempt to boost figures for stockholders.

[Auron]

Azurik is not art...

[bluefox755]

*eyeroll*

[bigmalky]

More conditioning, pushing multiplayer over single player to lube Xbox fans up for games as a service.

You really all should be aware that this is Microsoft's plan, probably in cahoots with the GaaS publishers that are trying their damnest to convince us that this is the future of gaming.

You can keep your constantly paid, little effort gaming style, Phil. I'm not buying into screwing myself over.

[CKPan]

Save it! we know you want to develop online games.