500°

Phil Spencer says indie launch parity clause is to ensure Xbox One owners don't feel second best

Describing the controversial parity clause for independent studios signing up to ID@Xbox, Phil Spencer emphasised to TiC Podcast that this wasn't to screw developers over (shock horror), but it is in-fact to prevent a mentality amongst developers that Xbox One is a second class audience due to market share.

"...I'll be honest, the thing I worry about is I look at all the people who buy an Xbox, who invest their time and their money in Xbox One, and as millions of people own Xbox One I want people to feel like they're first class, because they are."

3480d ago Replies(1)
Dudebro903480d ago

Makes sense. It also seems like they are willing to bend on that clause, and we already have heard the some companies simply talked to Phil and an agreement was made, and then title came out later. Such as Outlast

Yo Mama3480d ago

They make exceptions for games that would make them look silly to not have on their platform.

Volkama3480d ago

Plus that weird game nobody had really heard of, that just cancelled the xbox version on account of poor sales of the ps4 version. Must be pretty easy to get around the policy if a dev does have that conversation with ms.

Highlife3480d ago

Phil "hey ubi since we have a deal to show your game on our console and advertise as an Xbox game we can't have the ps4 version look better here's a truck load of money make the game the same."

True story

Maddens Raiders3480d ago

"Phil Spencer says indie launch parity clause is to ensure Xbox One owners don't feel second best..."

But what of the underlying facts Phil? This is where living in a world where everyone is declared a winner (even if they're not) gets you.

Mr Pumblechook3480d ago

Phil Spencer is asked why he has a parity clause (generally considered to be anti-gamer) and he gives an answer that is so smooth with PR grease he makes it sound like a good thing!

He has the media and public eating out of his hand and the advantage is that he won't get bad coverage when he makes another anti-gamer move.

MrPink20133480d ago (Edited 3480d ago )

Did everyone know Sony had a parity clause on the PS3? Any game released prior on a competing platform had to have additional content added to it. That's why games like Bioshock that came out a year later had exclusive content. Sony didn't want their syetem to be treated as second best either so they made sure the software that was already released on the Xbox 360 had additional content to make it more enticing for PS3 owners.

It makes sense for the hardware supplier because if a game comes out later it tends to sell less. Most game sales are front loaded.

BISHOP-BRASIL3480d ago

@MrPink

The difference with PS3 was that Sony didn't force anything if companies that were making multiplatform games, only if they were making a former exclusive now multiplatform by porting it over. And you said the reason yourself, they were missing out on the early sales. Basically Sony rewarded their costumers with content.

XB1 parity is the other way around, if you are developing a game for it and other platforms, MS demands you to limit what you can do instead of, if picking up later, asking you to expand content... Basically MS punish gamers on other platforms with limited performance.

The_Con-Sept3480d ago

Woah. Wait.. This clause is a double edged sword. And what it truly says is "don't leave us behind."

No console wants to be the port station. But at the same time developers don't want to write code for the same game twice. Microsoft is going to push developers away if this continues. Until someone figures out a way to "convert code" properly between the two consoles. Which means playstation will most likely be the ported code if indie devs can stomache Microsoft.

I would say that the parity clause only exhibits signs of animosity in the console business. And induces it so.

frenchtoast3480d ago

So whilst PS4 gets 10 games, Xbox One gets maybe 1 out of those 10 due to parity clause, and that's somehow to make them NOT feel second best? I don't know about anyone else, but I'd rather have more games than less.

MrPink20133479d ago

"Basically Sony rewarded their costumers with content."

And Microsoft wants to reward its customers with games coming out at the same time. Look at how upset fans are of Tomb Raider, they don't want to wait.

Not once did I say I agree with this parity clause. What I am saying is each will do what it takes to not make their hardware to customers and potential customers look inferior. Developers could have said to Sony we don't want to make new content, therefore Playstation fans would miss out on those games.

At the ned of the day money talks and that's all they really care about. If No Mans Land does well do you honestly think XB1 owners won't get it later on? Microsoft can easily ignore tyheir own parity clause, just like they have already with some other games. It's not set in stone and they had more leverage with the XBOX360. Now that the PS4 is doing better Microsoft isn't going to let some parity clause get in the way.

Did you know Nintendo had clauses too back in the SNES days? They used to try and control third party support and manhandle how they release games on their systems. Guess what? Once Nintendo lost leadership those clauses went bye bye.

So who in the end got harmed the most by these clauses? Looks to me like Nintendo still can't get good third party support while Microsoft continues to basiscally get the same games Sony does.

SilentNegotiator3479d ago

It's cute that Microsoft still thinks they have the ability to enforce such a policy without only screwing themselves over.

Bdub20003479d ago

All you need to do is read 10 comments here to see that all we need is for some of you PS4 fanboys to start a console business, because you know so much more about gaming and business than Sony and Microsoft.

Gaming is going to hell in a hand basket, apparently because of MS. Whatever...

darthv723479d ago

@highlife...I don't know whats worse. Your comment being unrelated to the topic or that you have so many agrees from like minded individuals who also don't know its unrelated.

You are confusing one thing for another...

True story

+ Show (9) more repliesLast reply 3479d ago
Volkama3480d ago

Finally someone actually got some solid info on the infamous parity clause. Props to the weird xbox site for putting forward more than conjecture.

Of course the answer is exactly what everyone expected, and the reactions will be equally predictable.

TFJWM3480d ago (Edited 3480d ago )

Its a good answer but didn't they announce ID@Xbox before the consoles were released. They would have had no idea that the market share would be as bad as it is now...

rainslacker3480d ago

His answer is what everyone expected or already stated was the case. I take issue with it's all about the customer part. Truthfully, if it comes down to getting the game later, or not at all, what do you think people who want those games would prefer. In the end, if they're into those kinds of games, they'd choose where most of those games go first. Because of this, it's in MS best interest, not the customers, to make sure there is launch parity.

Overall, this clause is forcing devs to decide if they want MS to be relevant for their game, and not MS courting developers to make their platform appealing enough to be the 1st(or in addition to others) choice.

Luckily, the parity clause seems to be an official bureaucratic thing which can easily be circumvented, and likely would be for any popular indie game.

user56695103479d ago

yeah its crazy all this time fanboys on this site has been saying that the parity clause was about gfx, but it turns out to be about the release date, go figure. i doubt that this will stop them from spread bs because they do it to every platform.

Magicite3480d ago

I feel this parity gonna hurt them more than help.

PrinterMan3480d ago

Absolute rubbish. No sense at all. The games will speak for themselves. Apparently this parity clause seeps places it does not belong too (*cough* Assassin's Creed *cough*).

It's Microsoft's ego plain and simple.

turdburgler10803480d ago

Can you produce a actual piece of info stating that ubisoft was paid by MS to "gimp" the ps4 version? This is getting thrown around alot but I see nothing to back this up and please don't try to use the parity clause as a excuse. It's not for "gimping" other consoles. It has to do with releasing across both consoles at the same time.

medman3480d ago

Talk about corporate p.r. speak. Phil is starting to spin faster than a pulsar. Say it ain't so Phil, say it ain't so...I thought he was one of the good ones. They got to him, damn it. He is now just another automaton.

DarXyde3479d ago

"Bend"? Sure, but this is still bad reasoning on his part. Sounds to me like they're assuming Xbox One and PlayStation 4 owners are mutually exclusive categories. Even so, second best beats not at all, wouldn't you say?

ChronoJoe3479d ago (Edited 3479d ago )

The ONE is going to be a second class audience until it ups its market share. People forget that publishers and developers are businesses, and for them the smaller the audience, the lower priority.

Why do you think the Vita get's very few games? Sucks to be an XBOX ONE owner but a 'parity' agreement isn't going to help. It's just going to deter developers further from the platform, yet occasionally harming competing platforms in the process.

If the XBOX ONE is falling behind in sales, then they need to address the cause of that. As is they're just addressing the symptoms of their hardwares problems, an ultimately futile effort to stem the tide.

Reaper29r3479d ago

LOL wow man look at all the fan boy disagrees. The conspiracy side of the force is strong with them lol.

Godmars2903478d ago

Still, in another sense this says that MS is entitled to hinder the performance of 3rd party product on competing platforms.

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 3478d ago
Insomnia_843480d ago (Edited 3480d ago )

"Phil Spencer says indie launch parity clause is to ensure Xbox One owners don't feel second best"

- Pays third party companies for timed exclusivity.

At least he admits where Xbox supporters stand, in SECOND best, so he needs to come up with all sort of things like parity clause and paying for all kinds of things like timed exclusives and bribing ppl left and right so that their worshippers don't get all salty.

Microsoft will never be classy. They will always stay MILITANT.

jmac533480d ago

They won't feel second best because with the parity clause they won't even get the game released on the Xbox.

Automatic793480d ago

How are Xbox supporters second class when they keep getting games that review high above the competition. If anything the quality shows throughout and we are giving first class treatment.

WeAreLegion3480d ago

So, if we buy an Xbox One AND a PlayStation 4, what are we?

Fireseed3480d ago

Possibly but it could also mean that we are poor.

3480d ago
WeAreLegion3480d ago

Can confirm. Am poor now.

Gamer7773480d ago

I have both and I'm nowhere near rich....I used tax returns to buy my consoles.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 3480d ago
Aussiebeachbabe3480d ago ShowReplies(4)
cyclindk3479d ago (Edited 3479d ago )

A hybrid organism... It is such a joke people up in arms forming "groups" and associstions because they bought a piece of hardware!!!

Im totally up for reviewing facts and the internal politics of it all, but as far as "sides" go....

People will find literally any reason in the world to set themselves against one another

Masterchief_thegoat3480d ago ShowReplies(3)
Show all comments (152)
340°

2024 Is A Chance At Redemption For Xbox & Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer

Xbox has been lagging behind PlayStation in terms of 1st party content, but 2024 offers the platform and Phil Spencer a chance at redemption.

Read Full Story >>
twistedvoxel.com
isarai13d ago (Edited 13d ago )

Nah, that time has passed for many, and with their words on future plans, i really don't see it ever happening.

shinoff218313d ago

It's a wrap. Now is the time they are slowly going to move on as to not to kill the base as is. Titles will slowly drip onto ps and Nintendo consoles, etc. Those 4 already had to of been in development for awhile already cause two of them released really soon after the announcement

VenomUK13d ago (Edited 13d ago )

There is no ‘last chance redemption’ for Phil Spencer - he’s going straight to hell for tanking the Xbox console platform.

_SilverHawk_13d ago

"2024 Is A Chance At Redemption For Xbox & Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer"

I thought that was supposed to be a decade ago

Ironmike12d ago

U do rel7se ps5 is at thr moment only getting g those titles that were mentioned nothing else as of yet

Obscure_Observer13d ago

"Nah, that time has passed for many, and with their words on future plans, i really don't see it ever happening."

Xbox has PLENTY of first party games this year while Playstation has none!

There´s more first party games from Xbox Games Studios on PS5 this year than Playstation Studios own games.

Those are the *facts* and if those facts is not something to Sony be ashamed of, they can´t feel shame at all.

VersusDMC13d ago

Granblue Fantasy versus, FF7REBIRTH, Helldivers 2, Rise of the Ronin and Stellar Blade will have launched on PS5 and not on Xbox by the time Hellblade 2 launches.

This only first party games count is cope.

And as a bonus meme...Microsoft will have published 3 first party games on PS5 (Hifi rush, Grounded and sea of thieves) before their first for the year on Xbox(hellblade 2). Glad they have their priorities straight...

lodossrage13d ago

It's funny when people like to say xbox has more games coming to playstation this year than sony does.

YET, they leave out the context that Microsoft literally bought the biggest (Activision) third party publisher and Bethesday (another big one). So congrats on having to buy giants in order to compete?

On topic, wasn't Starfield the "last chance" for redemption?

Am I to assume that if the games they have coming this year don't get positive, feedback then 2025 will be the year of redemption?

Obscure_Observer13d ago

@VersusDMC

"Granblue Fantasy versus, FF7REBIRTH, Helldivers 2, Rise of the Ronin and Stellar Blade will have launched on PS5 and not on Xbox by the time Hellblade 2 launches."

None of the games you mentioned are first party. None. There´re more Xbox first party games on PS5 this year then Playstation´s own first party games, undeniable fact!

The real bonus meme is Sea of Thieves a game which PS fanboys used to sh!t on

"And as a bonus meme...Microsoft will have published 3 first party games on PS5 (Hifi rush, Grounded and sea of thieves) before their first for the year on Xbox(hellblade 2). Glad they have their priorities straight..."

Imo, the real meme is Sea of Thieves, a 6 year Xbox first party game which diehard fanboys used to mock and sh!t on, making to the top of the most pre-ordered game at PS Store in a year where Playstation has zero first party games.

https://twitter.com/BenjiSa...

Markusb3313d ago

and all will end up on playstation, and nintendo, if xbox was doing amazing they would not need ps or nintendo, if gp was amazing they wouldnt need pc. PS has multiple first party games in development that we dont know about. Look at how halo was treated, look at redfall, and look at starfield. Its fine to be loyal and prefer one platoform but to be wilfully ignorant about it just ridiculas.

badz14913d ago

LOL se we are moving from "exclusives" to "console exclusives" to now only "1st party exclusives" matters just after MS has bought 2 publishers for $77B??

Moving goalpost to always favor MS i. Your argument is getting tiring! Exclusives are exclusives! 1st or 3rd party, they are still exclusives. You do remember the PS2 literally killed the Dreamcast, Gamecube and the first xbox due to mostly 3rd party exclusives, right?

InUrFoxHole13d ago

Observe is actually correct. Sony paid to play. But we don't mention when they do it. When they do it we're totally cool with it. N4G 4lyfe!

Skuletor13d ago

Are they still counted as first party though?

fr0sty13d ago

“This notion that Xbox can only be this one device that plugs into a television isn’t something we see in the Gen Z research. Because nothing else is like that for them.

Some of them will have an iPhone, some will have an Android, but all the games and everything is the same. I can still get to TikTok on both of them, at least for now." - Phil Spencer

Read it and weep... all Xbox games are coming to as many platforms as they can put them on, and this is the first step towards them getting out of hardware entirely, just like Sega did.

Xbox has been Dreamcast out of the industry. You can deny it all you like, but it's happening.

northpaws13d ago

@Obscure_Observer

You certainly have more faith in Xbox than Phil Spencer does, I will give you that.

rpvenom13d ago

It's actually quite impressive watching you defend xbox. I respect the loyalty

wiz719113d ago

@VersusDMC here yall Sony fans go moving the goalpost again lol now this only first party things is a cope when yall was the one who started that crap in the first place. When Sony had all the first party games and Xbox was relying on third party , yall was shouting they had no first party games. Now the tables turn and suddenly it’s a cope. lol

wiz719113d ago

@lodossrage and so it’s also funny that the majority of Xbox first party games this year aren’t coming from any of those big studios lol except for Indy .. the biggest one this year is coming from a studio that Sony left and almost let that studio die after releasing two big exclusives on their console first. Now MS swoop in and saved them , then here they are with the best looking game this generation. Now that’s ironic , but you mention buying studios like Sony biggest studios weren’t BOUGHT my brother.

Yall need to be more worried about Sony closing studio after studio , the PSVR 2 dying , Sony losing billions , and the fact that yall biggest game this year as in Stellar Blade was once being developed as a multi platform game until Sony paid for them to be a second party studio. lol but you want to mention things being bought , your delusional

Crows9013d ago

Shame in the competitor buying up tons of dev teams in order to make that a reality? Yeah...there's no shame in that on the PlayStation side....

andy8513d ago

So now you're shifting the goal posts so only first party exclusives count. Amazing 😂

Profchaos13d ago

There's probably tons of games exclusive to Xbox that won't be on PS because of their early access clause.

However list the games that count helldivers 2 I'd argue has done more for gaming this year than any other title will.
It could be their only game and it would still be a great year because it was that unexpectedly good even haters of love service games are playing it

TheTony31613d ago

Still at it? Doesn't matter at this point. The games will eventually launch on PS5.

mkis00712d ago (Edited 12d ago )

I see you ignored his" only first party games count" line as if preordained. Is it on xbox? No...then it is ammunition. Meanwhile sony gets to passively soak up 30% of all ms game studios sales.

1Victor12d ago (Edited 12d ago )

@obscured: “There´s more first party games from Xbox Games Studios on PS5 this year than Playstation Studios own games.

Those are the *facts* and if those facts is not something to Sony be ashamed of, they can´t feel shame at all.”
That says more about Xbox than PlayStation that they have to release games on rival consoles to stay afloat, Microsoft and YOU SHOULD NOT BE ASHAMED OF THAT FACT.

Edit After thought: it took Microsoft 6 years to finally fix their sea of bugs just in time to release it on PlayStation 🤷🏿

S2Killinit12d ago (Edited 12d ago )

On topic:
MS’s last chance was Starfield…
How many last chances are there?

@Osbscure
You’re moving the goal posts into places that have no basis in reality anymore.

+ Show (17) more repliesLast reply 12d ago
darthv7213d ago

Life is too short to hold onto grudges. Grudges against a console, game or company is just petty.

isarai13d ago (Edited 13d ago )

Has nothing to do with a grudge. Ive been waiting 12yrs for them to get back to their greatness, im done waiting and have moved onto just watching that ship sink as i play on literally every other platform

darthv7213d ago

^^... I still play on it, as well as the other platforms. Which is why I am not someone who dwells on the negativity like others do. there is always something for me to enjoy in this hobby.

isarai13d ago (Edited 13d ago )

@darth

Again, not dwelling on negativity, they legit haven't made anything i want to play since like gears 3 and halo reach. I did play Crackdown 3 and gears 5 cause i had hope given i was a huge fan of the older games, but that was a dud on both cases.

You're thinking it's way deeper than it is 🤣 make something worth playing and ill play it, i was hoping starfield would be that but again, dud.

darthv7213d ago

^^...I never said YOU were doing that... but its obvious others (here) do. Its all they seem to do is dwell on negativity, especially if its XB related. all im saying is there is more to enjoy than there is to complain about. And this is exactly why I play all the platforms instead of just one. You say you do the same... so just enjoy it.

neomahi13d ago

It's fanbots making their last stand in an attempt to save the Xbox, what more can one expect that the most optimism they've ever had. Xbox can't get a lock in Japan, still, and Europe is about to abandon it as well. What're you gonna do? And what happens IF Japanese generates interest? They'll see Europe losing interest and decide it's not worth it either. And it's not just Xbox, Microsoft as a whole is losing their footing. They've backed on subscriptions with everything they have to offer and it's tanking. Xbox needs to port to PlayStation and Nintendo while they can stay relevant and try to stay relevant, the longer they delay, we could see a complete Microsoft nose dive

S2Killinit12d ago (Edited 12d ago )

And you think MS fans are just dandy? Besides, is it a grudge if MS continues to give reasons for people to despise them?

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 12d ago
Markusb3313d ago

when you cant make enough from your own platform and pc and you have to go to ps and nintendo you know its a slow transition to 3rd party publishing, and that is fine. Xb never had the thurst or ambition after the 360

JackBNimble13d ago

The second they decided to put exclusives on the ps5 they blew any chance of redemption

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 12d ago
-Foxtrot13d ago

Even if they managed to get a win this year it dosent overthrow 10 years of mostly disappointments from Phil’s leadership.

RaidenBlack13d ago (Edited 13d ago )

Then this way, no company can redeem themselves. The very concept of redemption arc becomes impossible if the past is refused to be forgiven, even if the company manages to better themselves.
Then the now popular redemption arc of No Mans Sky or Phantom Liberty wouldn't exist in the gaming community if the same logic is also applied there.
Not defending anyone here but I want gaming to improve, companies to better themselves and most importantly competition to exist so that we get offered the best products to enjoy.
(I know in typical N4G fashion, this comment will be downvoted to oblivion, but I want good games offered from every studios irrespective of publishers.)

staticall13d ago

@RaidenBlack
IMO, what @-Foxtrot means, one years doesn't mean much. It's a start, yes, but they need more, much more.

Look at your own example, No Mans Sky - they didn't just release one patch and everyone started praising them, no. They've been doing this consistently. If Microsoft will start releasing good games consistently, that'll be great, no ifs and/or buts! But hyping them up in advance (no worthy releases yet is what i mean) - dunno, i might be wrong, but i don't think it's healthy or helps anyone.

rippermcrip13d ago

Your analogies are terrible. A company releasing a single game that failed to meet expectations.

Isn't the same as Phil Spencer making mistake after mistake after mistake after mistake, telling lie after lie after lie after lie for 10+ years.

isarai13d ago

Your whole comparison makes no sense. It literally took years for both of those to "redeem" themselves in the container of a single game. MS has been lacking for 12yrs starting with the halo/gears/forza criticism begining in the latter half of the 360. So even by YOUR logic, he's right, it's gonna take a lot more than one game to be redeemed ESPECIALLY after fumbling what many were already holding as their chance at redemption with starfield

Chevalier13d ago

It's not Playstation or Nintendos fault that Xbox poses no competition. They've had more support and more money behind them than Playstation and Nintendo combined!

You say you aren't defending Xbox, but, you kind of are. Xbox has been completely mediocre for decades. The last time Xbox was competitive was the 360 era. My 360 collection absolutely demolishes my Xbox One collection and so far Series X hasn't had much reason for me to jump to a purchase.

Can you honestly say Xbox is 'competitive'?! I would say not even close.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 13d ago
Silly Mammo13d ago

With the gaming media, Xbox is always just one game away from redemption and success. It's willful ignorance that they think there's a 'magic bullet' that will somehow erase all the moves by Phil & the gang of the last 2 console generations.

"Well there's always next year!" Should be the official Xbox slogan

Chocoburger12d ago (Edited 12d ago )

100% this Mammo!

They've been screwing up for over a decade! Even if they release a game that's of the highest quality, that's nothing in the grand scheme things.

It also doesn't un-do Kinect (with lies based advertising).

Or Kinect 2 (forcing people to spend $100 extra for something they didn't even want!).

Or releasing two consoles with nothing noteworthy twice in a row (One X, Series S|X).

Or releasing unpolished games such as Re:Core, Sea of Thieves, Halo: MCC, Halo Infinite, Redfall, and Starfield.

Let's not forget canceling games as well such as Scalebound,Project Spark, and the Phantom Dust remake.

Finally let's remember the broken promises of vaporware games, languishing in development Hell, such as Perfect Dark, Fable, Everwild, what else am I forgetting?

Redemption is far far FAR AWAY for Microsoft. It'll take a full decade of only making smart pro-consumer decisions and releasing plenty of amazing games in order to make up for it all.

2024? It ain't gonna do squat on its own.

Rols13d ago

It was the same old story in 2020, 2021,2022 and 2023. XBox has never delivered this gen.

Brazz13d ago (Edited 13d ago )

Xbox360, the last time they delivered the goods, over 10 years Ago.

Skuletor13d ago

This headline just reminds me of the "wait 'til E3" comments we'd hear every year, before it was cancelled.

LG_Fox_Brazil13d ago

I wonder if the 2025's version of this article is already written, probably I would say

lodossrage13d ago

That's the same point I was trying to convey when I replied to Obscure

Hofstaderman13d ago (Edited 13d ago )

#wait till e3 2024

Aloymetal13d ago

''2024 Is A Chance At Redemption For Xbox & Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer''
We've been hearing and reading the same crap since the xbone launch, these shills/journos need to come up with something new. Good thing is most gamers know this is all BS, they all read ''"Step right up folks and hold out your money or sub to our service. You don't know what you are going to get, but like always, take our word for it" Signed Lord Phil.

Show all comments (88)
580°

Phil Spencer blames capitalism for games industry woes.

Spencer said publicly traded companies have to show constant growth or else nobody will give them money. "I don't get [the] luxury of not having to run a profitable growing business"

LG_Fox_Brazil18d ago

I don't know Phil... You've being running, and some will say ruining, the Xbox brand for 10 years now, you know?

Profchaos18d ago

I'd say he'sade the best out of a tremendous cluster fk of a situation he was thrown into after Don tanked the Xbox brand from Kinect to the launch of the X1.

The only reason Xbox isn't in the Ms graveyard right now is because of Phil.

So I don't agree with everything he's done but I can see why these drastic pivots and moves have been made

VenomUK17d ago (Edited 17d ago )

You don’t hear Nintendo CEO Shuntaro Furukawa blame capitalism for the phenomenal success of the Switch.

You don’t hear now-departed PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan blame capitalism for the roaring success of the PS5.

Cockney17d ago

He was head of games back in don mattricks day so he should be held accountable for his involvement, the back half of the 360 gen and start of xbone lack of games was all him

Rynxie17d ago

The reason Xbox is not in the Ms graveyard is because of the money they are throwing around to keep the brand alive. Don was just a yes man, the stupidity of the Xbox one was MS doing.

romulus2317d ago

We are well past Don Mattrick at this point, people need to stop using that tired excsue. The issues with xbox for nearly the last ten years have been solely on Phil.

Plague-Doctor2717d ago

The PS3 tanked Sony and they recovered during the same generation. The Wii U tanked Nintendo and they delivered a record setting console only a few years later. At the launch of X1 it was keeping pace with the PS4 and in the US was occasionally beating it.

jwillj2k417d ago (Edited 17d ago )

All he had to do was say “the way forward is to make great games.”, drop the mic and make it happen by any means necessary. If you listen to the interview he gave after redfall came out, you’ll hear him say he thought the game was good to go and the internal team rated the game 85 out of 100. 85!! This shows how out of touch he is. He’s literally an empty vessel just collecting his check, running the division off of data-driven analytics, he doesn’t care about xbox and now pulls a Trump, blaming the clouds for his failures.

Cacabunga17d ago

Says the biggest capitalist company.. this moron should stop talking

sinspirit17d ago (Edited 17d ago )

No.. Phil was in charge of European studios and Kinect implementation since 2008. Those European studios he was in charge of were then full time Kinect developers as he was now in charge of all XBox game studios in 2010. This is why game quality has sucked ever since he was in charge and directly why the legendary Lionhead and the actual Rare devs are not there anymore. Phil is actually more to blame than anyone for the bad game quality and the Kinect push. And especially for the terrible XBox One launch.

He was the spearhead implemented employee for Kinect and Microsoft's new vision. The others were the talking heads appointed by XBox. And, honestly watching some of those old interviews it seemed like those XBox employees were possibly maliciously complient by telling exactly what Microsoft's new agenda was with Kinect and always online without dressing it up.

And directly on topic. No, Phil. Capitalism is voting with your wallet. XBox doing bad financially is in fact because of bad products, disappointments, failed deadlines, and especially lying, misleading, and broken promises for products. If you just released really good games and tried to innovate then you'd had a lot of sales.. oh and GamePass is losing out on a ton of sales which can not be recovered from a few microtransaction purchases, monthly sub costs, or even whales. The math is simple when you could have sold a $70 game 5 million times but instead maybe sold 1 million tops and now have to recoup a quarter billion of revenue from lost sales potential of the one title alone. But now you also don't want to release a lot of first party titles because of the direct loss in sales revenue from day 1 GamePass, and you don't want them to release really good games that take a little more time and money to make because you want them to be cost effective for GamePass release. So you intentionally plan to release a lot of AAA shortcomings at this point because the AAA badge is needed but you can't do it too well or GamePass will never actually profit. Even though they had said GamePass is profitable, it is absolutely not by much and never will be. And, they said that Zune was profitable a long time ago but they combined it with an entire category of products when Zune itself was bleeding money. They lose far too many direct sales that even the most generous math can not see how they could be making much money if any at all to make up for this business practice. This is what happens when marketing and trend chasing fool a business into pursuing the wrong thing to stay relevant when the clear answer all along was that they always did good when they just supported developers making genuinely full and good games.

Babadook717d ago (Edited 17d ago )

I kind of agree with you, but Phil is partly to blame.

I blame Peter Moore (for leaving). Everything went to pot soon after.

PapaBop16d ago

How many years ago was this now? I'll give him some credit for what he inherited but lets be honest, he hasn't exactly done anything praise worthy and has done a terrible job managing the studios Microsoft owns.

+ Show (7) more repliesLast reply 16d ago
Eonjay18d ago

I thought he said it was Gen Z. I can't keep up.

Hofstaderman18d ago

Its Gen Z who are extremely capitilist. Lol, Phil is a clown of note.

17d ago
fr0sty17d ago (Edited 17d ago )

He's kinda right, shareholders expect constant growth, which is unsustainable, but it is what they expect nonetheless. That's why, even though the games industry is healthy as it has ever been, because it isn't growing, everyone in the industry is panicking. Even though we're still selling just as many consoles as ever, they expect each generation to just keep on growing and growing, and when that doesn't happen, they start to freak out.

This is true of any industry, and it's why anytime a company goes public, their products usually end up going to shit. The shareholders expect more and more and more growth, cuz they want that stock price to keep climbing, and so eventually corners start getting cut, wages start getting cut, employees start getting cut, they start cutting away everywhere they can to try to squeeze a little bit more money out of the product, until they ruin it, and then they move on to the next product.

buffig17d ago

Yeah, but everyone knows how capitalism works. This part didn't need explaining. The problem is that they bought massive plublishers for a gazillion dollars, to the detriment of the industry and now he's acting like he has no choice but to fire thousands of people because he just found out about nasty capitalism

TheEnigma31317d ago

Why I'm glad companies like Valve stayed private.

SyntheticForm17d ago

He'd never blame himself, so he's trying to score points with the kids by blaming capitalism. One of the biggest capitalists is blaming capitalism for his and Xbox's failure.

fr0sty16d ago

I agree with you, which is why I said he's "kinda" right... he's right in the fact that capitalism is behind a lot of investors freaking out that the games industry, while still healthy, is not continually growing unsustainably, but he's also being hypocritical in the same breath after buying half the industry and then laying off thousands of them, and using his own business practices as an excuse to cover for his failures.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 16d ago
mandf18d ago

It won't be until halo and gears are on playstation that xbox fans see phil for who he is. A snake fighting only for himself. The video game industry means nothing to him just his paycheck to those who believe phil is passionate and loves video games you are part of the problem. You never hold ms accountable.

Minute Man 72118d ago

Halo and Gears only when Microsoft drops outta the console market

-Foxtrot18d ago

They don't need to drop out of the market for that to happen

They will always have some kind of console going forward but Halo and Gears could only be a few years away at this rate.

Next gen might look completely different

Tacoboto18d ago

I'd actually hope for Halo to come to PS and Nintendo at this point.

The community rejected a mictotransaction option so MCC is no longer maintained - no new revenue streams and Microsoft listened. Infinite is on Content Updates now instead of Seasons - dwindling playerbase and less excitement. If MS wants the franchise to thrive, that's free money and the same could essentially be said for Gears bringing them abroad.

FinalFantasyFanatic17d ago

@Tacoboto,
To be fair, Halo Infinite had a rocky start to begin with, I think they improved for a while, but fell behind again.

shinoff218317d ago

The writings on the all in huge fking letters. Just read it.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 17d ago
phoenixwing18d ago

I don't blame Phil for that in the slightest. If you were offered to be an executive of a company 9 out of 10 ppl would take the job for the salary and give little crap about how they feel about any given product they sell. He's not wrong that capitalism drives greedy companies but you have to take the good with the bad.

staticall17d ago

@phoenixwing
But the person is doing a bad job and the company (including customers) are suffering because of that, how can you not blame him? The reason for high paying is the decisions you make and the responsibility you take for your actions steering the company in the right direction (if company is doing bad, it's your fault; if company is doing good, it's because of your decisions).

It reminds me of that South Park Bill Owens parody ("Follow that egg" episode), a governor who wants all the money and recognition/respect, but doesn't want to take any responsibility, how backwards is that?!

Petebloodyonion17d ago

@Staticall
Agree but what are your metrics for doing a bad job?
Is Microsoft's share value tanking due to its decision?
Is brand awareness worse than in 2016?

As someone who works in investment, this is how I see it and why Spencer's still around.
1) Grow the Xbox brand awareness by including PC and Gamepass making it a stronger brand by name versus 2015.
2) Showed a plan to evolve profitability by having multiple sources of recurrent income with Gamepass, PC gaming, streaming, and now other platforms
3) made new market integration possible via PC and cloud.
4) Can make hard decisions for the good of the company like cutting jobs.

staticall16d ago

@Petebloodyonion
I would say, we shouldn't look at Microsoft themselves, they have a ton of revenue streams - Windows sales, hardware sales, Office sales, Azure, government contracts, certification programs, etc. We need to look at Xbox - hardware sales are in decline (Xbox 360 > Xbox One > Xbox Series S + X combined). GamePass subscribers aren't growing enough and, according to the Microsoft docs, are at plateau. Games sales are abysmal (both physical and digital, thanks to "Day one on GamePass"). Xbox exclusives doesn't exist anymore (every game is coming to PC). And it didn't start yesterday, this was happening for a long-long time.

In my eyes, brand recognition doesn't mean much, if it doesn't translate to console sales, because Phil took away every reason to buy Xbox console for a regular customer (i used to own Xbox 360 and saw 0 reasons to own Xbox One or Xbox Series).

I would also argue that he didn't make any hard decisions, at least when it comes to games: Crackdown 3, Redfall, Halo Infinite - he was saying that those games are looking fine only to be laughed at on presentation/release. But i would consider that a low blow, because he did cut some jobs. But not from top management (who are responsible for the decisions).

In my eyes, as a console owner/gamer, doing good job as a platform holder = supporting your console with high quality exclusive games (like Nintendo and Sony are doing). I'm fine with releasing the games afterwards on PC, but not right away (otherwise, what's the point of a console?!). Extra services are fine (like PS+ or GamePass, or cloud stuff), but they wouldn't be a reason to buy a console for me. Phil is overfocusing on extra services, not on games. And it doesn't work out and haven't worked out for what, 10 years already? Sorry, i feel like i'm rambling at this point.

Nooderus17d ago

He's a Microsoft executive. Duh

S2Killinit17d ago (Edited 17d ago )

Agree except I think the real snake is MS itself. They are a terrible company. This clown is just the hired man for the job.

phoenixwing17d ago (Edited 17d ago )

Thats basically what I'm trying to say and if you really want to get down to it. It's the board of directors for the company who makes this stuff happen.

jznrpg17d ago (Edited 17d ago )

@Phoenixeing it’s his job as the head of the division to tell those people I think you are wrong and for success we need to this - that’s literally his job. MS motto is a big problem and Phil going a long with it is also his fault. He’s the one guy who can say something.

Abear2117d ago

Agreed they are the problem.

M$ doesn’t care about the quality of the game, they care about the profitability of the game.

When you work for a Co. like M$ you know this. It’s all about money—not the “art” or what’s healthy in the industry for devs and/or the consumers.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 16d ago
M3talDiamond18d ago

First its Gen Z now its capitalism but we can all agree that it definitely isn't Phil

JackBNimble17d ago (Edited 17d ago )

If it wasn't for capitalism there would be no xbox or Microsoft for that matter. But as the head of xbox division it is his responsibility no matter good or bad .... that's what it means to be the boss. If that's to much for him, then he needs to resign.

-Foxtrot18d ago

Kind of funny because when it comes to capitalism Microsoft is one of those great big American companies that just screams it.

They spent billions on Minecraft, Zenimax and Activision yet couldn't afford to save all those jobs they cut. With the money they make within a year they could have, someway.

PhillyDonJawn18d ago ShowReplies(3)
FinalFantasyFanatic17d ago

They've been swallowing up a lot of AI companies too and spending big on that area.

S2Killinit17d ago

If MS gets into AI they will cause the end of humanity the way they are causing the end of console gaming.

FinalFantasyFanatic16d ago

@S2Killinit,

It's between Microsoft and Google, the chances are one of those two will take the AI crown considering the amount of cash they're throwing at that sector. I suppose Microsoft might be the worst out of the two, but Google hasn't been exactly great compared to the old days when they threw around their old adage of "do no evil".

Silly Mammo17d ago

MS is making millions of dollars annually with the Xbox brand. Unfortunately, they're spending billions on acquisitions too

8bitAssassin17d ago

Game Pass games are not free.

Christopher17d ago

He also blames his bank account balance on capitalism.

PhillyDonJawn17d ago

I don't think it work like that. MS is the parent company. The branch has its own budget to maintain.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 16d ago
thorstein18d ago

Making millions, taking million dollar salaries and bonuses but it's the dev in the chair that's preventing profit?

Yeah okay, Phil.

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320°

Phil Spencer, long cast as Xbox's saviour, may be remembered as the man who killed it

Nathan Brown: "Phil Spencer spoke to the press at GDC last week, offering some context/spin on Microsoft’s recent manoeuvres, while dropping a few now-customary hints about the Xbox division’s future plans. I take one issue with this: I am no longer sure Xbox has much of a future to speak of. Moreover: I think Phil Spencer, for so long cast as Xbox’s saviour, may ultimately be remembered as the man who killed it."

Read Full Story >>
videogameschronicle.com
20d ago
gold_drake20d ago

his decisions over the years were definitely questionable at best.

but MS let him be the head of xbox for this long, so they either dont have anyone else for the job or .. we'll i dont rly know any other reason haha.

-Foxtrot20d ago (Edited 20d ago )

Basically when we had that awful Xbox One reveal in 2013 and Don Mattrick was thrown under the bus as the companies scape goat Phil was pretty much the only one they had who wasn't a typical looking "corporate suit".

Despite the fact him being the head of Microsoft Game Studios and gladly going along with the lack of games nearing the end of the Xbox 360 life where it was basically Kinect, Sports, TV along with the same 3-4 IPs like Halo or Gears he was the best person they had for the job.

They didn't have anyone else basically and from that day onward he was seen as good guy Phil turning the studio around when all he was doing was reversing the silly decisions made and going along with whatever the higher ups or the board wanted for Xbox. Didn't make a difference in the end because everything they "reversed" with the awful Xbox One reveal ended up being implemented in small different ways surgically in recent years with Gamepass.

The guy apparently is such a huge gamer yet played Crackdown 3 and Redfall, thought they were good and released them anyway in those states.

PapaBop20d ago (Edited 20d ago )

Not a typical looking corporate suit? The guy straight up looks like a used car salesman lol. To be fair, after Mattrick, I think anyone with half a brain could succeed him and look semi decent, whenever I think of his name, I immediately remember that "this is how to share your games" video from Sony.

S2Killinit19d ago

when I look at him, its cringe. The guy dresses casually to fool people. But he is as corporate as it gets.

fr0sty19d ago

His cocky smirk I've always found to be incredibly annoying...

MrDead19d ago

I would say his "why bother making games when others are already" decision is what has lead them here. MS does this, but they just buy companies that they want to do a thing then asset strip it and dump it, you can't do that in gaming.

Tody_ZA19d ago

He's the head of Xbox because Microsoft isn't a gaming company and they haven't done anything for gaming in more than a decade. They're a parent company looking to buy more kids to raise as investments. They will profit off ownership, off their games releasing on other platforms, because they can't create anything themselves. Slowly they'll make Xbox as a console completely irrelevant under the mantra of play anywhere. That's why Phil is still there. He shares their corporate vision of making bucks and doing nothing for the gaming industry.

SubtilizZer20d ago

“If they don’t have a story these days they’ll make one”
Drake.

RhinoGamer8820d ago

Phil's top skill is keeping his job, growing his net worth to over $25million, all while underperforming...

SeTTriP20d ago

Gotta respect it, he went from a gaming studio head to making 70billion dollar deals...he is the main character I gotta admit.he looks fun to hang around too.

MrDead19d ago

...why do I feel like I need a shower after reading that? One of the grossest thing I've heard, S tier blowing bubbles grovelling.

jznrpg19d ago (Edited 19d ago )

I don’t respect moves that make gaming worse long term

XBManiac19d ago (Edited 19d ago )

(Phil 'wait for next year' Spencer)
Microsoft made the 71,933 millions deal because it was already started and, with Microsoft, it is not possible to go back and stop it. Does anybody think that deal would be an option in 2023 or 2024, with the nowadays sitiation of the industry? And in 2022? No, nobody would pay that money for Activision-blizzard-king... because it would not be recovered in more than 20 years of really hard and good work. Everybody are selling for less, not buying for more (Embracer, Tencent...). But bad decisions in a company like Microsoft are impossible to fix. It is like a very big Ministery, where if something starts, it can't be stopped. It happened before and Microsoft will do the same again, as they have enough money to burn... well... I hope, because if Microsoft dies... it will be the end of our known world. What could substitute it?

_Decadent_Descent19d ago

I mean, that does take a certain skill. lol

FinalFantasyFanatic19d ago

I guess he has skill as a salesman, look how long he managed to get people to wait on Xbox.

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