Microsoft shakes up Xbox marketing as key exec departs for Roblox

Jerret West is leaving Xbox at the end of the month.

[TOTSUKO]

Won’t be missed. Xbox sucks at marketing in this industry. This is badly needed.

[jznrpg]

I see Xbox stuff everywhere. On cereal boxes, toasters and fridges.. Xbox just sucks.

[Scissorman]

This. Marketing isn't the issue. He's just fleeing the sinking ship.

[DivineHand125]

Unfortunately, Xbox has not done great with marketing this generation. One thing I found odd is that he is leaving Xbox for Roblox. I'm not sure how big Roblox is in comparison to Xbox but I can't imagine him getting better compensation from there. Perhaps he was forced out?

[fr0sty]

It's simple, Roblox is profitable.

[DivineHand125]

@fr0sty Would you leave your place of employment to work somewhere else for less pay just because that business is profitable?

You would have to be a special person to be ok with that.

[zaanan]

That, or he is pulling an Elop.

[DarXyde]

DivineHand125,

Not really. I don't know how much experience you have with working or how far along into your career you are, but profitability does offer an indication of how sustainable your job is. The company that is not profitable (or less profitable) is probably exploring options to cut costs, including axing jobs (we see Microsoft closing studios and really downsizing physical media operations. Valid concern in my opinion).

I doubt that's the only factor at play here and it could be any myriad of reasons why he's out: cut in compensation, not liking the direction of the company, toxic work culture, etc.

Either way, I can see a case for people leaving a job that pays better with less profitability. If you're in the marketing department and your brand isn't doing that great despite your best efforts, you probably want to coast for a while at a more profitable company.

Not saying that's reality, but I can totally see a case for that.

[Tedakin]

Xbox marketing has mostly been trash for a decade. Shake it up as much as you can.

[RhinoGamer88]

Marketing is not the issue at XBOX. Production and its leadership have screwed up royally. XBOX studios, wth are you doing managing these developers?!

[XBManiac]

It is both and all... the best console with the most expensive invest in marketing and the "best" developers and the best online service with the best servers... but... well... also, the worst console with a bad invest in marketing and competition using Microsoft servers for their online services and... What is Xbox now, a console, a service, a platform, a brand, a dead project? This is a marketing problem, maybe.

[XBManiac]

The problem is not the marketing, but how you invest the money in marketing. If you invest far more than the competition and receive less... the problem is the one in charge, isn't it? Well... Phil Spencer was a marketing guy, will he be the next? Unity are hiring... :)

[DivineHand125]

How do you know how much each company invest in marketing and what evidence do you have to indicate Sony spends less than Xbox?

[XBManiac]

Companies in the stock exchange have to publish their data. Make some research, it is for free.

[DivineHand125]

give me a dollar amount?

[CrimsonWing69]

Ok

[gold_drake]

smart move, roblox is huge.