Microsoft has announced that Phil Spencer is now the head of Xbox and I for one am very happy about this. To me Phil has always been the more gaming-oriented person in the company and the one thing the Xbox One needs desperately is a renewed focus on games.
In the official announcement Phil Spencer reaches out straightaway to gamers and the community by stating:
“I am actively listening and I am motivated to do what’s right for fans who’ve invested their time, hearts and money in the products we build. You have been the most important part of the success Xbox has had to-date and you are a critical voice as we continue the journey. Let’s keep the conversation going.”
He then continues to talk specifically about the games and how he see’s the Xbox strength
“The growth of the Xbox community, with over 80 million Xbox owners around the world, is built on the foundation of exclusive franchises, new and original IP and the world’s most popular cross-platform games. Games and gamers have always been at the core of Xbox and the core of my work—and gaming will be our core as we take Xbox forward. “
Granted Phil hasn’t always been on the gamers side by pushing the always online portion of the Xbox One but he has also shown humility by congratulating Sony on their success and appears to be very open to change and listening to the community.
This is honestly the best news I’ve heard come out of Xbox since Don Mattrick left for Zynga last year – and he still has more than enough time before E3 to ensure they have some incredible announcements to make.
It also shows that Microsoft is still invested in the gaming side of the Xbox division. Microsoft has had a seriously hard time over the last year. Is that about to start changing?
Last Updated: April 1, 2014
Alien Emperor Trevor
April 1, 2014 at 09:21
I hope they’re changing for the better. People will forgive a lot if they bring more attention to gaming, and actually deliver on that.
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
April 1, 2014 at 09:22
I don’t know what news to trust and which not to…..
Umar Leonhart
April 1, 2014 at 09:25
This is actually true
Norm the Horrible
April 1, 2014 at 09:28
Ditto!
Jedi JJ
April 1, 2014 at 09:23
One thing we can all choose to believe today…
http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/half-life-3-confirmed-ea-purchases-rights-franchis/2216231/
Because EA is so wonderful and could never EVER ruin a franchise.
Alien Emperor Trevor
April 1, 2014 at 09:25
Wow, that one is just poor.
Jedi JJ
April 1, 2014 at 09:27
They really could’ve used any company. But EA!?!?
Jeez, do they want people to put out a hit on our Steam father?
I think the release to mobile at the bottom is probably the worst
Alien Emperor Trevor
April 1, 2014 at 09:29
The Steam All-Father. Just replace his glasses in that pic with an eye-patch & he’d be a dead ringer for Zeus.
Jedi JJ
April 1, 2014 at 09:34
Well, seeing as he probably lives in the cloud I wouldn’t be surprised.
Admiral Chief Railjack
April 1, 2014 at 09:25
But what about moly moly?
http://westernstandard.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/austinpowers_mole_1.jpg
Umar Leonhart
April 1, 2014 at 09:26
As soon as he became head he started talking about Shenmue….
Look call me what you want. Tell me I’m a hypocrite. But if Shenmue is an X1 exclusive, I would buy the console in a heartbeat, and I wouldn’t care
Alien Emperor Trevor
April 1, 2014 at 09:33
I’d be forced to call you a multi-platform whore instead of a Sony fanboi. I don’t like change. Don’t make me change.
Umar Leonhart
April 1, 2014 at 09:34
I’ll whore myself out to MS if they give us Shenmue…..I’m sorry, change is coming!
Alien Emperor Trevor
April 1, 2014 at 09:45
Can you really handle a new career as a Windows 8 salesman?
CAE9872
April 1, 2014 at 09:50
As a matter of interest – why a no to X1? Price? MS? Other?
Umar Leonhart
April 1, 2014 at 10:05
Weaker system, less videogame orientated, too much stuff surrounding that console that’s unsavory
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
April 1, 2014 at 09:56
Lol, I wouldn’t go that far, but it would hurt me in my gaming gland if Shenmue goes boner exclusive.
Umar Leonhart
April 1, 2014 at 10:04
I would. It’s all or nothing baby. I’ll sell my soul to the devil , I don’t care. Shenmue 🙁
CAE9872
April 1, 2014 at 09:46
Excellent news! He comes across really well in interviews and seems to care about games. Positive move by MS I think.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
April 1, 2014 at 09:51
Yeah, he’s the “everyday man’s executive”, rather than a fake stooge like Major Doos Nelson. However, the guy is an exec, and as always NEVER TRUST THE SUIT!
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
April 1, 2014 at 09:50
They can only improve (under the leadership of Agent Phil). If there’s anyone that can turn this ship around it’s Agent Phil. However, I doubt I’ll ever get a boner. I might be persuaded to via a new Crackdown game, but to be honest, nah… xboner is for the unwashed illiterate masses. It’s the Jacob Zuma of game consoles.
FoxOneZA
April 1, 2014 at 09:53
It’s more like somebody else’s flop up that they are trying to make work. I still won’t be surprised if the Xbox One ends up with the better games this gen.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
April 1, 2014 at 09:54
I’ll only believe it if I see it. But Phil will probably steer them away from Kinect, and that can only mean good things. The minute they divorce themselves from that shitty little peripheral Xbox will be back on track.
Gr8_Balls_o_Fire
April 1, 2014 at 12:25
this
FoxOneZA
April 1, 2014 at 09:51
Nadella is like a breath of fresh air at MS and having Bill Gates back to oversee every product out the door is another shining star at Redmond. It’s a pity that the Xbox One is down on so much of power vs the PS4 or Sony could have had a fight on their hands. A fight so large that would see almost every director that built the PS brand jump ship 😉
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
April 1, 2014 at 10:07
He certainly dresses the part, all informal and casual… I wonder if Nadella will make Windows 9 a must have.
Rince
April 1, 2014 at 10:56
Going to take some work to get a lot of people to forgive him after his fight for DRM.
oVg deprived
April 1, 2014 at 11:04
I was in a game shop the other day and I overheard the employees and customers talking about the XBOX ONE coming to South Africa with a price tag of R9000. NOBODY IS INTERESTED.
They laughed about the machine like its a piece of shit. They then went on about Internet speeds and always on-line gaming and the R800 price tag for old gen games.
My work mates all feel the same and have XBOX 360s and upgraded to a PS4.
I think Microsoft dropped the ball right out of the gate while SONYs snowball started rolling ages ago. NOW THEY WANT TO MAKE IT ABOUT THE GAMES. Very indecisive work model.
http://mmgn.com/xboxone/articles–microsoft-makes-one-final-xbox-one-backflip
Rince
April 1, 2014 at 11:25
Very bad business model. I think they believed they could brow beat us into jut accepting their bullshit DRM and non-second hand policies. Well it didn’t work. At all.
FoxOneZA
April 1, 2014 at 11:49
And now the prices of new PS4 games are sitting at R800 at BT. I won’t be surprised if the Xbox One sells for the same price as the PS4 over and the games sell for cheaper like we have with the 360 and the PS3.
FoxOneZA
April 1, 2014 at 11:48
Those employees sound like the ill-informed ones from BT Games. They were the same ones churning out the 360’s when the console launched and they laughed of the PS3 for it’s insane price tag.
Jeremy
April 8, 2014 at 23:11
Phil Spencer is a piece of shit, Microsoft deserves him.