Xbox CEO Phil Spencer reflects on past missteps and "worst decisions" as the gaming landscape shifts. This article examines his candid comments, focusing on upcoming Xbox releases and the challenges they face.

Xbox's CEO Reflects on Past Mistakes and Future Plans

Missed Opportunities: Destiny and Guitar Hero

At PAX West 2024, Phil Spencer discussed pivotal moments in his Xbox career, including significant franchises that eluded Microsoft. He cited Bungie's Destiny and Harmonix's Guitar Hero as among the "worst" decisions, acknowledging the impact of these missed opportunities.

Spencer, whose Xbox tenure began while Bungie was under Microsoft's umbrella, shared his complex feelings about Destiny. He highlighted his learning experience from close proximity to Bungie's development but admitted that Destiny's initial appeal wasn't immediate, only connecting with him after the House of Wolves expansion. Similarly, he revealed initial doubts about Guitar Hero's potential.

Dune: Awakening Faces Xbox Release Challenges

Despite these setbacks, Spencer emphasizes a forward-looking approach, focusing on future acquisitions. Dune: Awakening, Funcom's action RPG adaptation, is slated for release on Xbox Series S, PC, and PS5. However, Funcom's chief product officer, Scott Junior, acknowledged challenges in optimizing the game for Xbox Series S.

Speaking at Gamescom 2024, Junior stated that the PC launch will precede the Xbox release due to necessary optimizations. He confirmed to VG247 that the game will nonetheless perform well even on older hardware.

Enotria: The Last Song Encounters Xbox Release Delays

Indie developer Jyamma Games' Enotria: The Last Song faced unexpected delays on Xbox, weeks before its planned September 19th launch. The studio attributed the delay to a lack of communication and response from Microsoft, despite claiming the game was ready for both Series S and X. Consequently, the PlayStation 5 and PC releases will proceed as planned, leaving the Xbox version's future uncertain.

Jyamma Games CEO Jacky Greco expressed frustration over the lack of communication on Discord and to Insider Gaming, highlighting the significant investment made in porting the game and the lack of response from Xbox regarding an issue preventing them from accessing their store page to submit the game. The studio's official statement reiterates their desire for an Xbox release but acknowledges the difficulty posed by the communication breakdown.