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Xbox is ready to “rework” their first-party future

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In the previous console cycle, Microsoft was undeniably at the top of their game. The Xbox 360 was one hell of a console, featuring a consistent evolution in its design and showcase of how we played the latest video games. Microsoft also had an ace up their sleeves that Sony struggled to replicate then: Plenty of exclusives. Whether it was company regulars such as Halo or plenty of indie arcade games, the Xbox 360 had them.

Since the Xbox One era began however, those roles have reversed. Sony has managed to pump out dozens of new titles over the last couple of years, while Microsoft’s library began to wane as it relied more on third-party releases with only a scant few exclusives under its belt. While it does take time to make a game, the Xbox One and its protein bar guzzling young brother the Xbox One X need games which draw players into that brand.

That’s a statement that Xboss Phil Spencer agrees with. “We need to grow, and I look forward to doing that,” Spencer said to Bloomberg recently.

Our ability to go create content has to be one of our strengths. We haven’t always invested at the same level. We’ve gone through ups and downs in the investment.

Microsoft had what appeared to be at least a solid pair of titles on their hands, until they cancelled them. Scalebound looked like dragon-riding and slaying fun from Platinum Games, while Fable Legends played like Dungeons ‘n Dragons in its early stages. Interesting games, that were scattered to the winds after the plug was pulled on them.

According to Spencer however, that may have been a good thing in the long run:

That meant we had to stop doing some other things in order to create room for that. And that’s just kind of the nature of running a business. One of the things that I wanted to do when I came into this job … one of the things was our first-party and how I thought about needing to–this is an unfair word, but I’ll say ‘rework’ our first-party. Regretfully, that meant certain things that we were doing, I thought we needed to do something different. It meant getting back to what I think is a core and building from that.

2017 hasn’t been Microsoft at its finest in terms of content output on the digital side. Compared to 2016 where we saw the likes Ori And The Blind Forest, Forza Horizon 3 and Killer Instinct’s third season, and 2017 looks lacklustre in comparison. Hopefully 2018’s second half can prove that X marks the spot.

Last Updated: November 7, 2017

9 Comments

  1. Didn’t they say there wasn’t a first party problem?

    Reply

    • RinceThis

      November 7, 2017 at 13:11

      lol yup

      Reply

    • Gareth Lagesse (eXCheez)

      November 7, 2017 at 16:48

      The Xbox marketing department (Aaron Greenberg et al) is a joke, and blatantly deny anything. It’s great seeing Spencer himself being honest about the situation.

      Reply

  2. Nick de Bruyne

    November 7, 2017 at 11:47

    I feel like people also tend to forget that Microsoft had Mass Effect as an exclusive last-gen. That was a powerhouse exclusive alongside the first party titles. Sony are pumping out the weirdest, quirkiest gems like Nier alongside powerhouse mass appeal games like Horizon, and MS just can’t get by with Halo, Gears and Forza anymore. I LOVED all of those so much and even I’m tired. I’d even say games like Gears need the new God of War treatment, or even what Assassin’s Creed Origins is doing, it needs an overhaul, its just not good enough anymore.

    I hope MS bring something big to the table soon

    Reply

  3. Spathi

    November 7, 2017 at 12:57

    “Microsoft also had an ace up their sleeves that Sony struggled to replicate then: Plenty of exclusives.”

    I don’t believe this is true at all. The Last of Us, Metal Gear Solid, Demon’s Souls, the Uncharted series, Little Big Planet, Gran Turismo, Heavy Rain, God of War, the Ratchet and Clank games, Infamous, Journey etc. were incredible strong showing of exclusives.

    Reply

    • Original Heretic

      November 7, 2017 at 13:01

      PS has some amazing exclusives. That’s what prompted my jump from the X360 to the PS4.

      Reply

    • The D

      November 7, 2017 at 16:59

      Those exclusives were a lot more staggered during the PS3 lifetime, spread thin amongst many third-party titles. On the first-party front, MS was knocking out hit after hit on a regular schedule.

      Reply

  4. RinceThis

    November 7, 2017 at 13:14

    I thought they said all was good? Umm…

    Reply

  5. Norman Foster

    November 8, 2017 at 00:28

    http://alph.st/bb7ce163 Evolution of Xbox. Congrats Phil Spencer and Xbox One X team!

    Reply

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