Phil Spencer responds to Lionhead closure, promises Xbox isn't going anywhere

Xbox chief Phil Spencer has moved to reassure fans concerned about the future of Xbox following yesterday's announcement that Lionhead Studios and Press Play Studios are to close.

[Captain_Wormy]

We'll see about that.

[Fin_The_Human]

I think the only people that are worried are the Sony fans.

Company restructuring happens all the time, its part of running a business.

Sony did the something similar last year where they had to let go a lot of employees and also close some Sony stores, does that mean that they are doom...no just means that they will cut off any part that is not making a profit and bleeding money.

[2pacalypsenow]

Difference is Sony didn't dump all their games on the Vita just to sell more vitas and games, they stuck with their console and have offered support for all 3 of their consoles like no one else.

[migh_and_highty]

Sony fans only are worried about a ms studio(s) closure...?

Everyone should be worried, and there's nothing wrong with that. That's a very nasty way to fanboy up a topic that realisticly affects everyone, moreso real peoples livelihoods.

Xbox doesn't have a great presence in Europe as it is, so it's naturally worrying that yet another european studio has closed down.
Studio Liverpool, big big, these two of MS' yesterday, and that's just UK. For those living in the UK hoping to join a veteran studio in the UK to develop games, it's not looking as good as it was 10 years ago.

Your choice may be either go indie and risk your life savings (not everyone can kickstarter what they need) or go contractual and risk potentially weeks without work, it is worrying

[aconnellan]

I'd say this is really the only answer to listen to at the moment.

It really sucks for those involved, but restructuring is a thing that all businesses in all industries go through.

Microsoft was pumping money into those 8 studios and saw that they were getting absolutely no return (2 of them made F2P games, others were small Kinect-based devs), so of course they're going to consider shutting off the money tap.

Funding isn't infinite, as any developer or publisher will tell you

[_-EDMIX-_]

"I think the only people that are worried are the Sony fans"

?

I know right, if your an XB fan, you just welcome Lionhead closing huh bud? /s

I'm sure more folks who own an XB will be upset over this news then some fanboys that had no effect over this.

[-Foxtrot]

The studios Sony closed weren't working on something as big as Fable Legends and for so long.

They trimmed some fat sure but they didn't take off such a huge chunk like Microsoft have just done. It wasn't just Lionhead aswell other smaller studios fell.

[Mr Pumblechook]

When Phil Spencer says that Xbox 'isn't going anywhere' notice he is talking about the software development division and not the hardware platform!

[G20WLY]

^Agreed Pumblechook. Phil says, "Xbox isn't going anywhere"...Yes, Phil, that could very well be the problem you're faced with if you keep on giving up exclusives, cancelling games and closing down development studios.

This is what worries me; People WANT xbox to go somewhere and want to know where it's bloody going. Right now it doesn't even seem like you know - how are the fans supposed to trust that there is a future for the platform outside of PC?

[Erik7357]

Restructuring....closing many studios in xbox division and making First party IPs slowly multi-plat. That's downsizing not restructuring

[vallencer]

@prince-Ali

So you're telling me that because of one group of people, not all the fans mind you obviously, that you want to be exactly like those people? Why not be better then them? Be bigger than them!

[Hueynewton2012]

Bad comparison, eliminating popular studios that drive software sales of your hardware is not the same as closing Sony tech retail stores. These eliminations are Xbox only, not office, or their mobile phone division. It seems they're slowly but surely moving away from Xbox exclusives forever, simply because they can't compete in that category with Sony or Nintendo for that matter in the CONSOLE market.

Move Microsoft-owned software to PC, now there are two areas to profit from instead of one. Why are people making this seem more difficult than what it is?

[AngelicIceDiamond]

@Prince so this link Im about to provide isn't the same as getting shut down but you get the jist of it and will have the same reaction.

http://n4g.com/news/1480794...

Tell me where Xbox fans FLOCKED made hateful comments doom and gloom where's that majority here doing that?

[ONESHOTV2]

2pacalypsenow.... and you think that was a good move.

[gangsta_red]

Sony also sold off or broke ties with SOE which were making them a a bunch of games also.

Sony trims the fat, MS trims the fat. That's what happens when these billion dollar companies get fat and have summer around the corner.

[nX]

The thing I'm having a problem with is that besides the fact that Microsoft must've greenlit every project Lionhead started they also are one of the most resourceful companies in the world.

Is it really too much to ask MS to build a network of proper game development studios? All they work on is Halo, Gears and Forza which are far from exiting at this point.

[frostypants]

Know a good way to not make money? Cancel a game just weeks before putting it on the market.

[The_Eternal_one]

That's weird because most of the videos I seen on YouTube were from fans of the series.

[GameNameFame]

Difference was it followed studio expansion. And it was nowhere this level in terms of series of bad news.

I think what you are doing is just damage control.

[Saranya]

Very true!!! i never know that Sony fans love Fable.

[Godmars290]

How are comparing what Sony did regarding divisions of the company to what MS is doing within a division? Things which directly effect the production of product which is suppose to make that division appealing.

Selling off laptops, PCs, cell phones and even buildings has nothing to do with Playstation. MS started this gen saying was going to have content, that they were going to make that content directly, reaffirmed that commitment after the DRM shakeup if not doubled down on it, yet now they're closing studios and canceling games.

[Saranya]

Agree!! Sony fans are worried because they afraid that Spencer can make it better.

[freshslicepizza]

@2pacalypsenow
"Difference is Sony didn't dump all their games on the Vita just to sell more vitas and games, they stuck with their console and have offered support for all 3 of their consoles like no one else."

really? so where is this love from sony for vita software?

ask yourself this, who is trying to make this a huge deal. those who never really had much support for the xbox brand or everyone else?

phil and the ceo of microsoft have both shown commitment o the xbox brand. e3 of this year will show whether or not they are in it for the long haul. fable legends never really did look like a aaa game.

[Bdub2000]

To all fanboys:

I just turned on my X1, it is still running great.

I am still able to play all my fantastic games.

My game library is filled with titles I can only enjoy on a Windows platform.

There are upcoming releases that can only be enjoyed on a Windows platform.

My X1 is still awesome.

That is all. thanks for your "concern"

[UltraNova]

Personally I don't care what each corporation does with their various assets as long as they are straight with us and not lie to us if they are in the process of exiting a market where the only thing keeping it together and is somewhat pro-gamer(yeah this is debatable)inevitably destroying competition and making console gaming for us non-viable.

This is not the time to pick sides and take jabs at each other. We, as in all gamers, need MS and Sony to keep competing with each other. If one exits then our favorite pass time is doomed.

@Bdub2000

Good for you man I'm happy for you. One piece of advice though, do your self a favor and don't do any future planing by yourself.

[TheSaint]

I'm more Sony than MS and I don't want them to stop. No competition isn't a good thing.

[tuglu_pati]

"Phil Spencer responds to Lionhead closure, promises Xbox isn't going anywhere"

http://i.imgur.com/Ufbr5ej....

[nX]

Pretty much, they started doing the necessary steps for this to happen so I wouldn'T be surprised by anything at this point.
In 2 years Xbox could be built into every device that runs Windows 10, would that still mean that "Xbox isn't going anywhere"?

[S2Killinit]

Exactly. It Isnt going anywhere but its becoming a steam machine (aka a pc)

[BG11579]

It could actually not be like the PC, but more like tablet or smart-phones.
A new version of the console each year. Each version has a fixed hardware. Each device can use cloud gaming and computing.

[S2Killinit]

True. I just dont think i like that idea. Basically it means no more consoles if this strategy pays off. Im mainly a console gamer. Always been. I love consoles. They are great value. But what im seeing is that MS will abolish console gaming when they take half the console gamers unto their steam-like/PC "console". This is what Spencer said earlier.

"described by Phil himself, of a future where the Xbox might end up as a service rather than a hardware line. He also spoke of a future where the Xbox hardware could be upgraded, similar to a PC."

I dont know but I dont like where this is heading guys...

[WelkinCole]

What would help his case if MS buys a dev and make games for the x1 only.

Words are just words.

[n4rc]

Why is it required that they own a studio? Wouldn't it be better for the developer to keep their freedom an simply work with ms on a game by game basis?

It certainly doesnt matter to a Xbox gamer who remedy is owned by, for example. they just want qb.

[WelkinCole]

n4rc

Because that's how you stay in the console race. Look at Nin for example.

If you recall what happened with Mass Effect, BioShock and then Gears.

Luckily MS bough Gears IP this gen

Look at how low the impact of both Titanfall and TR 1 year exclusive sofar.

The key to staying in the game is to have your own inhouse talent that will produce the content for your platform to make it relevant for people to support it.

In the future Remedy might not be there anymore like how EPIC didn't do anymore Gears.

Like MS are finding out the hard way this gen. You can't completely rely on 2nd and 3rd party always.

[n4rc]

But the content is always there.. And games come and go..

Titanfalls impact would have been exactly the same if they were first party.. The only impact there is Sony gamers will get to play their next game as well as Xbox gamers.. That's a win for everyone involved as I see it.

Having content is important, how you get it isn't. There are pros and cons for the platform holder, but really irrelevant to the gamer.

We can agree to disagree but Ive always said 1sr or 2nd party makes no difference at all to the consumer.

[Golden_Mud]

This guy is not James Allard, he doesn't even wish to be like him.

Allard is the one who believed he can actually make a difference with Xbox ,and make it the next big thing.

[Pogmathoin]

Regardless of what happens in the end, Xbox dying would be bad for all gamers. Sony is only were it is because it had continue to innovate because market share seriously dipped. If they have no competition, it gets stale. They will not spend R&D bucks when there is no need to compete, they will, again tell you what you need.....PC gaming, steam boxes will benefit, and it will become a full shift away from hardware, and more about streaming, delivery of content devices..... Be careful what you wish for....

[CaptainObvious878]

Yeah, Phil, you can be totally trusted. MS totally hasn't mislead it's customers time after time.

Maybe I'll finally get my wish and see MS get out of the console space.

[Pogmathoin]

True, not like others have ever mislead a consumer when letting credit card details walk freely into the hands of not so nice people.......

[cfc83]

People shouldn't hate on xb1. If ps4 didn't have competition, Sony would take even more advantage of its user base.

[Fin_The_Human]

Funny how people forget how ignorant Sony was with the PS3, I mean they actually told us to get two jobs to buy a PS3.

The PS4 is what it is because of the XBox and if you can't see that then you're a blind fan.

Edit: PS2 had no competition because Sony killed the Dream Cast with money by making the most popular games exclusive.

[LP-Eleven]

Have you forgotten the statements Don Mattrick made at the launch of the X1? Yeah, execs make silly comments - it happens.

[BlackTar187]

They didn't tell you to get 2 jobs. They said they want you to feel like you'd get 2 jobs to get it.

and like stated above me it's funny to harp on a MIS Quote and yet stick up for the company who said quotes you can't take out of context because no matter what way you read them or hear them they are negative.

It's hard to take anything you say seriously when you repeat a quote incorrectly and completely out of context. If you're going to quote something at least do the research to use it correctly.

For the most part the best console of all time is the pS2 it's up for debate obviously but that happen when PS basically held the entire market itself.

[remixx116]

Hell the ps4 practically has the entire market, and look at the lineup we have this year....it's friggin nuts from 1st part exclusives to 2nd and 3rd party exclusives......

I say let them dominate. Just avoid the BS emulated game prices.

It's looking like the ps2 all over again.

Well......I don't think @fro is enjoying it....

--

xoxo

[2pacalypsenow]

PS2 had no competition and Sony didn't take advantage of anyone. Now Nintendo on the other hand that's another story.

[cfc83]

:-D lol

[Last_Boss]

@Finn

The price point has nothing to with the incredible software the PS3 has. Sony has been around for one more generation than MS, and their first was during the last great mascot era.

[Ricegum]

Yes because Sony is taking advantage of us so much lol. I'd be happy if Xbox packed up and went away from the console market, no more silly timed deals on games and DLC.

[Zeref]

sony doesn't do timed deals and dlc?

[MrEnglish]

Then you are not a gamer and a mindless fanboy, competition is key to any device in any eco system, this will make the company selling that product push to make it as good as possible to be the best for the consumer.

Personal dislike is one thing but to remove them from the market would be stupid and you would not benefit in any way whatsoever.

And your deals and DLC remark.... Hypocrisy at It's finest

[Yetter]

Thats been Sonys MO this generation, i.e. Destiny, CoD

[Aenea]

You really will not want that, honestly, now Sony sometimes feels pressure because customers want features the other one has, the have to set a price point for their hardware that can compete with the other one, if there is no on to compete with they can do what they want.

I really would not want that and you shouldn't either.

[lelo2play]

@Unreal01

Congrats for the most ignorant comment of the day.

Be careful... don't let hatred consume you.

[Petebloodyonion]

Gotta love this one!
DLC! while forgetting that Sony was the 1st company to introduce paid DLC on console with Wipeout pure on PSP in 2005.

But Hey if it help you feel Better... Microsoft is evilllllll!!!!

[Ricegum]

@zeref

To compete with Microsoft, yes they do. But securing exclusive & timed content is something Microsoft had made popular starting with the 360.

[Yetter]

and has since moved away from. The Division will be the last time you see this happen in a very long time on the XB side of things, and thats cause the deal was cut 2 years ago

[Kribwalker]

Lol

Tomb raider 2 was a paid exclusive by Sony to keep it off of the sega Saturn after tomb raider one was on both. Gta San Andreas was paid exclusivity for 1 year on PlayStation 2 to keep it off of Xbox. There were plenty of games Sony paid for timed exclusive or full exclusive before MS even entered the console market, do a little research before you blindly post

[lelo2play]

Actually... Sony started this trend with PS1 and PS2 3rd party exclusive games.

If you want to blame somebody, blame Sony.

[Last_Boss]

Nintendo did it to SEGA, years before. Lol

[Playable_Gamez]

I hate how people blame other people for things people now.

So you are blaming MS for everything anti-consumer Sony is doing just because they did it first?

So it's okay for Sony to make timed-exclusivity deals because MS did first?

I don't understand how people like you have 10 bubbles.

[Ricegum]

@MrEnglish

I suggest you have a good look at the PS2, very little competition there and it was some of the best years for gaming.

And look at my other comment relation to DLC and timed deals. That is not something that Sony started. Stop being quick to call someone a fan boy, usually people who do that are fan boys themselves.

[MrEnglish]

Buddy I'm 40 years old, ive been through all console generations since the Atari 2600.

Your comment history shows you want Xbox out of the console market and left to just Sony, this is pure stupidness, I've been in business long enough and been around tech long enough to know competition is key.

In your opinion gaming when the PS2 was around was some of the best, myself I find that gaming was at It's best just before the PS1 came around. With Sony came a lot of hate from people protecting the purchase mommy and Daddy bought them.

Also I'm a gamer.... I own all consoles, not just one so I dont need to feel that my console has to be king.

I suggest you ask someone who was around before the PS2 era, Those are the times that made it possible for Sony to be popular...

Kids...

[Imalwaysright]

And after the PS2 we got the PS3. €600 at launch, barely any worthwile games until MGS4, extremely difficult to develop for and being outperformed in its initial years by a console that cost €200 less than it. PS3 initial years were the result of them resting on their laurels from the PS2 days.

All in one console, HDD, achievements/trophies, unified online service were all things brought by MS to console gaming.

Oh and Uncharted which is only Sony's 2nd biggest IP after GT is what it is today because Sony saw how successful shooters were doing on the 360.

http://www.nowgamer.com/nau...

I'm not going to sit here and say that MS only did good things for gaming but they, without any doubt shaped many of the things that we came to expect from our consoles.

[TripleCs]

Not saying I want Sony to have a monopoly again but when Sony had a monopoly during the PS1 and PS2 era those were arguably some of the best years in gaming.. Just saying lol

[Aenea]

Yup, if MS stops making consoles all gamers who prefer consoles over PC gaming will be negatively affected. Sony without Xbox competition would be really bad too.

I really do hope the NX is going to be as good hardware wise as the current gen systems and 3rd party developers are going to release all the multiplat AAA games on it as well.

Heck even if Xbox is not going anywhere that would rather be awesome anyways :)

[q8kik]

You guys say that competition is good which is true but not always.
Don't forget that competition has also affected us in a bad way. Having to pay for multiplayer is the thing I despise the most about the PS4 right now....all thanks to your glorified competition.

[uth11]

As a Sony fan, that's exactly what worries me. Nintendo doesn't put up much of a fight, the recent moves by MS make it feel like they've given up trying to compete with Sony and are more interested in stopping SteamOS from getting a foothold in the PC space.

Without real competition, Sony will likely rest on their laurels more.

[cfc83]

No chance of xbox division dissapearing. They will continue to make investments in big titles. I think they are though eventually going to have a windows box in the gen after this. XB1 has sold alot of units, but yes the focus will shift more towards windows gaming on both pc and console.

[Aceman18]

I'm good with or without MS in the console business. I have Sony and Nintendo to hold me down, but I don't think they dropping out just like that.

[Playable_Gamez]

How can you be happy for MS to drop out of console business? What about all the people who like Xbox?

[Aceman18]

Hmm I specifically said (I'm good) meaning myself not caring about anyone else. I wouldn't lose sleep if they decided to leave, but I also said I don't believe they are going to just drop out like that.

Hopefully this answers both your questions lol.

[Der_Kommandant]

Promises can be broken just as quickly as they are made.

[remixx116]

Lol they've already broken a couple....kinect anyone.

[Yui_Suzumiya]

Project Milo anyone? :D

[Masterchief_thegoat]

remixxx116 shot fired

[nix]

"it's not like a switch that can be turned off"

Month later - changed.

[iceman06]

But....can they be unbroken!?!? LOL
On a serious note, very good observation. PR will PR. That's what they get the big bucks for. (that includes ALL PR) But, they also get paid to be able to reverse course, and make changes without causing too many feathers to be ruffled. Seems like, these days, MS is getting their money's worth out of Ol' Phil.

[FITgamer]

Technically they could kill the hardware after this gen and just make Xbox a service and the promise wouldn't be broken.

[tuglu_pati]

H6 on PS console... That will be the day

[TwoForce]

It going to take time to recover.

[Moe-Gunz]

We don't know what to believe. Phil says a lot of things. He's well liked but I'm feeling like a bunch of white noise is being spewed from him and others.

Lets just see what happens.

[Kal-V3]

Xbox BRAND isn't going anywhere...the hardware on the other hand....

[BlackTar187]

This i agree with Hardware maybe but the SW not likely and good MS has some solid games and i think would benefit from becoming a SW first Video games company.

[Masterchief_thegoat]

that what happen if xbox one was a game console first rather than be a 360 upgrade

[lastking95]

Why would the hardware disappear? Unless the combined sales of its hardware and gold sub are losing money i don't see Xbox HW going anywhere.

[JJShredder]

I like Phil but let's face it. The rest of this year is going to be very telling if he's going to live up to his word or not.

Sony will close studios too I'm sure and there wont be nearly as much fallout as this. HOWEVER, Sony has a pretty good track record of pushing out a variety of games and studios while MS has fewer to hang their hat on which is why studio closers will have a larger impact regardless of the reasons why.

[Rookie_Monster]

Phil "I'm proud of the games our 1P Studios have shipped on XB1," he told another, "our plan is continue to build new IP and expand our franchises."

Build new IP and expand our franchise, I like the look of that.

"It's impossible to go into all the detail and I apologize for that,"

Yup, I expect E3 is where you'll hear the big news of new franchises and new core studios.

Glad he made that clear to us Xbox fans.

[Ricegum]

Sorry to say this man but you're really holding onto false hope lol.

[BiggerBoss]

Man, if only they had like 8 more studios to invest in that new IP .../s

[Hoffmann]

But for me, it was Tuesday.

[Hitoemi]

Yeah cause you'd just tell us right. Like you told us lionhead and 8 other studios were closing right? Like Kinects is a impossible to remove addon right? Ms track record isnt very good with the truth there Phillip.

[Rute]

There was a Forbes article back in 2014 that said that the financially sensible thing to do for Microsoft would be to get out of gaming: http://www.forbes.com/sites...

All of the big three (Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft) are barely making a profit in the console business. Each of them have had periods of months or even years of making losses. It's actually quite amazing how persistent they are.

[lastking95]

All that was BS losing 2B per year?.....goes on to buy minecraft for 2B. Yeah that sounds like a company division losing 2B a year lol.

[NotanotherReboot]

Sony have the better roster of studios at this point

[Masterchief_thegoat]

of course

[Hoffmann]

Due to better connections with third party developers, especially from japan they always had.

[GoEasyPlz]

Lol
Not even close, apart from naughty dog, most of their other studios are average at best.

[NotanotherReboot]

Define average?

Naughty Dog--
Crash, Jak, Uncharted, Last of us
Sucker Punch--
Sly Cooper, Infamous
Guerrilla games--
Killzone
Media Molecule--
Littlebigplanet, Tearaway
Sony Japan Studio--
Ape Escape, Gravity Rush
Team Ico--
Ico, Shadow of the Colossus
Santa Monica--
God of War, Twisted Metal
Polyphony Digital --
Gran Turismo
Bend Studio --
Syphon Filter

All these games are critically acclaimed, so how can their respective studios be average?
Try naming as many, if not more, MS studios with games as good as these.

[remixx116]

Lol........what studios did MS have that could compete with sony other than turn 10 and 343.

Naughty dog, studio japan, polyphony digital, media molecule, suckered punch, guerrilla games and Sony Santa monica are all known to put out some damn good games.

Not to mention Sony bend and guerrilla cambridge are about to release there first ps4 console games so it's there first chance to prove themselves.

Lion head hasn't dropped a good game in years and is now shut down along with a couple others and black tusk is about to drop their first gears game/game ever......so what studios does MS have to compete with sony??

[TXIDarkAvenger]

They always did? No need to add fuel to the fire. Lionhead Studios hasn't put out anything good since Fable 2.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

The #1 way to guarantee your studio stays in business if you are part of a big organization like MS or even Sony for that matter... make good games that sell. You can't rely on your past glory, nor can you rely on games that get "media critical success".

[saint_seya]

At least he didnt say "we are commited, and we want to be sure the future matches the expectation" If u know what i mean.

[ScorpiusX]

Good to hear , wouldn't want to learn PC building 101 just to play games . Plus i rather enjoy this console venture of MS.

[Wulfer]

Sounds like it's time to secure that Remedy purchase!

[Golden_Mud]

No, simply no. Staring at the growing economy and how Microsoft is involved in nothing but wrong systematics at the moment, I believe Remedy will have to stay independent to keep their creative freedom.

Microsoft have the mindset of big franchises being primary, if Quantum Break sells big, they'll easily want to acquire Remedy to develop line of games specific to that franchise, if Remedy does not agree, then they'll develop a studio that can do that.

[SKullDugger]

MS destroys everything the touch this console gen. and its really to bad it could have been so much better.

[TXIDarkAvenger]

I'm surprised they haven't already. Maybe once QB releases, we will see.

[Paideia]

As a brand Xbox is certainly not going anywhere. And Microsoft won't stop producing "first parties" either (by lending their original IPs to third party contractors).

But Xbox as traditional console? It's legacy as OG Xbox, X360 and XBOne? It will become history.

[christocolus]

Nice. I would definitely buy a next gen Xbox now just expand your studios and focus on creating more AAA titles and have some big surprises planned for E3 2K16.

[vikingland1]

Glad to hear this.

[GoEasyPlz]

What would Phil know? I'd rather listen to the Sony fans on this site they seem to know everything lol xbox isnt going anywhere sorry guys they have the best racing games, platformers, fps and tps games this generation and will continue their total domination throughout the whole generation. I hope for your guys sake that another doom and gloom article pops up just to help you guys live through another day lol

[SKullDugger]

Wow and I just bought a Xbox one elite from amazon last week I will be returning this console ASAP not getting caught with a 500.00 paper weight. Thanks MS and your bull$hit ways. Thanks for lying to us Phil what a guy....

[UltraAtomic]

I wasn't liking what lion head was doing to fable. However, press play. I feel did an awesome job with Max the cruise of brother hood. I would have never played that game if it didn't come to free with gold. I was hoping for a continuation to the next installment this sux :/

[ABACAB72]

The update to this story shows that Phil is saying "I'm not so sure I'm loved right now". Well, you brought that on yourself, Phil. Suck it up and deal with it.

[II__BONE__II]

I think Phil Spencer is full of crap.
He tries to come off as everybody's favorite gamer. I don't think he has sat down on the couch at home and played a game for the shear pleasure of it since the first Xbox.
He comes out with bleeding heart statements (which is for PR only) like how happy he is for the success of Sony games like the Uncharted series.The sole reason he got timed exclusivity for Tomb Raider was to directly compete with Uncharted 4 which was supposed to release around the same time in an attempt to steal some of Uncharted 4's thunder.
Then he praised Sony for how happy he is about the sales of the PS4 dominating the world market,then states he will not settle for 2nd place he is out to WIN this console war,but,he also states we should not promote console wars they are for fanboys.
Now he is talking in riddles about the future of the Xbox console.

[Kiwi66]

Then all excecs who work for sony , ms & nintendo must be "full of crap" when they say things like praising the other companies etc but thats nothing compared to the crap that fanboys spew out

[II__BONE__II]

Ya but "All other Exec's" are not contradicting themselves every time they make a statement like he does.
When was the last time you seen Shuhei Yoshida make a Statement that he was happy about something Microsoft has done then try to undermine it shortly afterwards?
Spencer is like, smile at you and shake your hand then stab you in the back with the other hand.

[Drasill]

My assumption is that the Xbox team were told by the higher ups that they had to make cuts. I don't think Fable 3 or Fable: The Journey did too well, and Fable Legends seemed the have issues. Wasn't it originally supposed to ship in 2014?

[WelkinCole]

xbox console is not going to die. It's just going to change and be different from the PS. That's really it.

[SprigganN4G]

They are just cutting the shitty studios, thats OK. Fable Legends? that game was doomed since the day it was revealed, that crap wasn't near to be a Fable game.

Quantum Break
Gears of War 4
Scalebound
Crackdown
New Halo
New Forza
Killer Instinct S3
Recore
Sea of Thieves
Halo Wars 2
Cuphead

We, the gamers, are going to have LOTS of games for the Xbox One.

[opinionated]

That's cool. At least they're not ditching first party for something like a steam like service instead. With this and the dude from epic going nuts it would seem Microsoft is trying to make moves. They do a really crappy job at selling what they are trying to do. They did the same with the xone launch, it's just a failure to communicate. Spencer seems like a genuine guy though, if he says he's still committed then shit happens I guess. Why they just didn't release fable legends as a f2p as is seems fishy to me.

[Angerfist]

Friday - Yeah Xbox had a good run for 15 years but we are shutting it down next month. kthxbye

Xbox as a brand itself is too powerful to throw it away. But what about potential future hardware. Sales show that people still want a stationary system that's plug and play (except for 10 GB patches that is).

[joeorc]

many saying its the end of the xbox as a platform is pretty unlikely to be entertained @ Microsoft, now realigning it as a service may infact be whats in the cards. that does not mean its going to take away the "xbox" it just may mean consolidation of internal studios and that's just what they are doing right now, may just be the extent of it all as a platform..its still there, too much investment to just up and throw away.

The realignment to what the xbox was to what it will or may become has gone through an evolution since its founding as a platform the core founders like Ray Ozzy, Robbie Bach, Ed Fries, etc among the other 10 Founding CEO's who pitched and helped make the xbox what it was has all left Microsoft now, so shake ups Are bound to happen. So the xbox as a platform we have now is not the same as it was during the founding that the xbox even had its start as a presence to what it would become, and the directions changed over the years by many who ended up in charge of the platform and its direction at Microsoft.

Many ways its better, and other ways it is not, but to show a dynamic between both Sony and Microsoft in studio closures..its this:

Studio closure
Since 2004 to present, Microsoft closed 17 total 1st party studio's.

Since 1993 to present, Sony has closed a total of 9 1st party studios.

between the two of the companies the closure of these studios may seem large on the surface, but many of the same people in those closure studios are going into other studios at the same company. Some will of course leave or become indie, develop their own studio or move on to other things.

though with some few warnings Microsoft may not have given to the studios, there of course can be some people on edge over this and for good reason. but the closure of so many studios so quick, again is not so much of portents of things to come, it just may mean they are just set to reorganize those studios to better use.

Now not saying it could not get worse of better as a fact, but its better to wait and see the future developments going forward, before we jump to too many conclusions right now.

just my observation, on the matter

[EDKICK]

Wait what MS closes 6 studios, 5 of which were Kinect only developers not all of which even developed a single game and the world isn't ending. Wow who would of thought. The mass hysteria of ignorant people on this site would have had me think otherwise.

[Bobafret]

It's not hysteria, it's wishful thinking. Many on this site have loathed MS for years.

[jholden3249]

Gosh dang this whole comment section is full of ignorant Sony fans wishing the death of Xbox (whether they admit it or not) and ignorant Xbox fans wishing the death of PS (whether they admit it or not). And I'm sure a few ignorant Nintendo fans wishing the death of both.

Where's the freaking GAMERS at? They all die out last generation of something?

[Kojjikaneshiro]

As an XboX fan I'd be just as concerned if Sony was closing studios.In order for the industry to thrive it has to have healthy competition.If any of the companies goes out it means less choices,less games and pricier games.

[Petebloodyonion]

WOW we should totally worry that Xbox will close down soon!
Same should go for Steam since Valve barely produce games anymore!

But peoples seem to forget that the Xbox 1 is doing better compare to the 360 and what matters to investors isn't the fanboy war but the money they are making.

[SynestheticRoar]

Wonder what microsoft has in store for E3.

[MRJefferson]

The next E3: ladies and gentleman this is the new xbox, as you can see this is the 6gbram version and only 900p 60fps, but later you can buy the 12gb version and 1080p60fps version.

meanwhile on ps5. 4k and 30fps.

[feraldrgn]

Well saying Xbox isn't going anywhere doesn't necessarily rule out killing off the console division & shifting it to PC as a service.

[Bobafret]

And people such as yourself is why Phil constantly has to explain in granular detail what he means. Let it go man.

[knickstr]

Your words and actions don't line up.

[LgbtWarrior]

hes doing a good job, hell he saved the xbox 1. just a rough patch for him. I dont think anyone turned around the company like he did after don mattrick. Phil is pretty amazing. he should move to sony or nintendo.

[MRJefferson]

The next xbox: buy a pc and stuck the xbox logo on the pc case.

[DivineAssault]

I dont believe anything Phil Spencer says anymore.. He did turn xb1 back into a game console n fixed as many problems as he could but their real goal is to have windows selling anything it can.. Xbox is nothing more than a tool for him to get gamers used to it, and begin their original DRM plans..

He is full of it to me.. Best year, best half year, etc.. Yeah ok.. Then they turn around and not only cancel a game, but close 5 or more studios.. Why isnt conker on xb1? Because theyre trying to use the IP to get everyone to buy hololens.. They instead turned gamers off with conkers crackhead appearance..

[Circuitburnout]

Phil does not take pictures very well, as he always looks like a douche even though I know he's a good guy.

[oldassgamer]

Microsoft has a perception problem that they need to clean-up quickly. Their message hasn't been the best lately

[Bobafret]

It is impossible to change perception when you have a vocal minority that hates you no matter what.