Thursday, September 21st 2023
Phil Spencer Responds to Xbox Roadmap Leak
Microsoft Gaming's chief, Phil Spencer, has issued a public-facing response to the recent leak of potential upcoming Xbox products (2024 to 2028): "We've seen the conversation around old emails and documents. It is hard to see our team's work shared in this way because so much has changed and there's so much to be excited about right now, and in the future. We will share the real plans when we are ready." The information dump (in part) consisted of presentation material prepared for (internal) April 2022 meetings, so it is possible that the Xbox division has changed direction in the meantime. Spencer was also involved in an August 2020 discussion with Microsoft marketing executives, regarding a possible buyout of Nintendo—according to leaked FTC legal case material. It should be noted that Microsoft has made attempts to acquire Nintendo in the past—but their approaches were "laughed off."
The Verge has managed to obtain an email distributed to Microsoft employees, as sent out by an embattled Spencer—he reiterates his public messaging of "real plans" in the company memo: "I know this is disappointing, even if many of the documents are well over a year old and our plans have evolved...We all put incredible amounts of passion and energy into our work, and this is never how we want that hard work to be shared with the community. That said, there's so much more to be excited about, and when we're ready, we'll share the real plans with our players."
He signed off by stating: "In closing, I appreciate all of the work that you pour into Team Xbox to surprise and delight our players. In the days and weeks ahead, let's stay focused on what we can control: continuing the amazing success of Starfield, the upcoming launch of the incredible and accessible Forza Motorsport, and continuing to build games, services and devices that millions of players can enjoy." It was not surprising to see AMD mentioned in the leaked roadmap for a next-generation Xbox console—Team Red has been involved in Microsoft gaming hardware since the days of Xbox One. We doubt that Spencer & Co. will be running off to partner with another firm (e.g NVIDIA) any time soon. Given recent rumblings, plans for "hybrid" cloud gaming intended for the latter half of the decade could have changed.
Sources:
Phil Spencer Tweet, The Verge, Kit Guru
The Verge has managed to obtain an email distributed to Microsoft employees, as sent out by an embattled Spencer—he reiterates his public messaging of "real plans" in the company memo: "I know this is disappointing, even if many of the documents are well over a year old and our plans have evolved...We all put incredible amounts of passion and energy into our work, and this is never how we want that hard work to be shared with the community. That said, there's so much more to be excited about, and when we're ready, we'll share the real plans with our players."
11 Comments on Phil Spencer Responds to Xbox Roadmap Leak
On one hand, yeah plans change and the listed ideas/plans might not happen at all or be delayed, but on the other, it does show what they were seriously considering and shifting resources to.
If I had to have any concern about their roadmap, it's their intention to really focus on monetization of everything.
I mean Microsoft could technically afford to Acquire Sony if it wanted to although that would be instantly blocked thankfully. They are not worth significantly more than Activision.
I think you are underestimating how large Microsoft is and maybe overestimating how big some of these companies are. Companies like Capcom, Square-enix, Ubisoft, EA, Valve, would all be drops in a bucket for Microsoft monetarily wise.
The way you convince companies is to offer them a significant premium over what their shares are worth at the time like they did with Activision. Pretty sure if they offered Valve 30 billion which would be stupid considering what they are worth valve would be like where do we sign.
For Valve, Gabe doesn't like Microsoft to begin with so it's unlikely they will sell so long as he's alive. It's the whole reason they are pushing proton and Linux. They are a private company so really there's nothing MS can do unless gabe agrees.
Microsoft really shouldn't be allowed to buy either. That's too much power in the hands of the few.
www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-sought-to-buy-valve-for-1-billion-report/1100-6394880/
Other companies have tried buying Valve in the past, when they were valued for so much less, and GabeN showed them the door, as long as GabeN remains in control, it won't ever happen, specially with how much he dislikes Microsoft, hell, SteamOS and Proton started being developed in case windows became a mess of a product, remember how he called windows 8 a disaster?
Sure, you could argue that EA lowballed Valve, but if you read what Gabe said afterwards, it is unlikely that he would've been swayed by more money, and with how much money they generate now, I don't think he'd be swayed by atviblz levels of cash, he actually seems to care.
It had no chance of being aproved but would be a hell of a lot better investment than buying activision blizzard :DStill low enough for Microsoft's insanely deep pockets