Xbox boss Phil Spencer has told employees that Microsoft has no plans to exit the console business, and that Xbox consoles would continue to be “part of a strategy that involves multiple kinds of devices,” according to Shannon Liao, BDG’s deputy gaming editor. Liao shared the news last week in the latest edition of her Substack industry newsletter, claiming that Spencer spoke during an internal townhall that took place a few days after rumors of Xbox going third-party began spreading, fueled by signs that Hi-Fi Rush, Starfield, and other exclusives were coming to PlayStation and/or Nintendo Switch.
Liao reported:
The company held an internal Tuesday townhall where Spencer told employees that there were no plans to stop making consoles, and that Xboxes would continue to be part of a strategy that involves multiple kinds of devices. Xbox did not immediately return a request for comment.
Spencer told fans that Xbox would be giving an update this week:
We’re listening and we hear you. We’ve been planning a business update event for next week, where we look forward to sharing more details with you about our vision for the future of Xbox. Stay tuned.
We're listening and we hear you. We've been planning a business update event for next week, where we look forward to sharing more details with you about our vision for the future of Xbox. Stay tuned.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) February 5, 2024
Xbox-owned franchises that PlayStation gamers want the most, according to a recent poll:
- Gears of War (1,147 votes)
- Halo (999 votes)
- Indiana Jones (810 votes)
- The Elder Scrolls (807 votes)
- Forza Horizon (701 votes)
- Fable (688 votes)
- Starfield (624 votes)
- Fallout (549 votes)
- Marvel’s Blade (380 votes)
- Hellblade (365 votes)
- DOOM (356 votes)
- Hi-Fi Rush (325 votes)
- Microsoft Flight Simulator (310 votes)
- Banjo-Kazooie (272 votes)
- Forza Motorsport (251 votes)
- Wolfenstein (210 votes)
- Sunset Overdrive (206 votes)
- Avowed (202 votes)
- Age of Empires (199 votes)
- Sea of Thieves (196 votes)
Xbox players are saying:
- “Making Xbox/Microsoft full 3rd party will in the long term be worse for overall gaming.”
- “This statement reads like they giving up. Just saying.”
- “I am furious to hear Xbox has gone third-party. In frustration, I ended up smashing my Xbox Series X.”
- “What benefit do we get while Sony and Nintendo lock away content and games from us? Why reward them?”