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Microsoft might spread out 2015 games

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I have been ranting and raving about how stupid the end of year release calendar is each year. Gamers aren’t all children – they can buy games at any time of year, not just wait until the holiday season. It seems Microsoft has woken up to this, and might just be changing up their plans for 2015.

Speaking to Major Nelson (as transcribed by VideoGamer), Xbox boss Phil Spencer explained that they’re evaluating how things are lining up for next fall (or spring for us in the Southern Hemisphere).

I mean, this fall from a 1st-party/3rd-party standpoint is great. Next fall, I don’t… Honestly it’s not hype at all, I honestly don’t know that we can actually ship all the stuff that thinks it’s trying to ship next fall. It just might be too crowded and we might purposely try to move some things out to spread it. You have to [give them some breathing room], you have to do that.

We don’t have the full lineup for 2015 from Microsoft, but we do know that Rise of the Tomb Raider, Halo 5: Guardians, Quantum Break, Scalebound and Crackdown were probably all going to fall within that period. Spreading things out would be a good idea to give each game its own chance to shine. Spencer notes that there are enough hours in the year for gamers to play great games, but that they want to play things that are current.

And I think as publishers and first parties have success at multiple points of the year it’s just a good thing for us, because having three/four great games ship all in the same week at the end of October, while maybe on some forecast somewhere it feels like that’s the right thing to do, just as an industry I think it’s much more healthy if we have more beats throughout the year where people can ship great games.

Yes! I’m so glad that someone agrees with what I’ve been saying for a while. It would be so great to have more excellent games release during those dry months in the year, instead of everything being grouped around September, October and November. There are so many excellent games coming out at the moment, they inevitably get lost in the shuffle. By spreading them out throughout the year, it gives each game a greater chance of getting noticed, and ensures that gamers don’t get bored during the rest of the year. Of course, it also gives us less time to tackle our backlogs, but none of us mind, right?

Last Updated: November 4, 2014

53 Comments

  1. L337J1MB0B

    November 4, 2014 at 10:43

    If you work in retail you understand why everything comes out right before Christmas.

    Reply

    • Captain JJ the pout

      November 4, 2014 at 10:44

      And why you never get holiday when everyone else does.

      Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        November 4, 2014 at 10:47

        Well the best part of never getting a holiday when everyone else does is getting a holiday when everyone else doesn’t.

        Reply

        • Captain JJ the pout

          November 4, 2014 at 10:49

          That is true. I just wish people didn’t come for holiday in the Western Cape. Damn it. It’s worse than the rest of the year.

          Reply

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            November 4, 2014 at 10:52

            All those Vaalies who don’t know where they’re going. :/

          • Captain JJ the pout

            November 4, 2014 at 10:56

            I know. They come here and drive like crazy people ;P

          • ToshZA

            November 4, 2014 at 11:24

            To be fair, at least they drive. Sunday on the roads truly shows why we’re called “slaapstad”.

          • Captain JJ the pout

            November 4, 2014 at 11:30

            Haha. I know. Very true. It never bothers me until I need to get somewhere quickly.

          • ToshZA

            November 4, 2014 at 11:32

            I’m on the bike – I always need to get somewhere quickly. >_<

          • Captain JJ the pout

            November 4, 2014 at 11:47

            My gf doesn’t want me to get a bike again after I had a pretty bad crash. So I blame her when I’m stuck in traffic 😉

          • ToshZA

            November 4, 2014 at 11:50

            Legit excuse. My sympathies xD But glad you’re ok anyways, crashing is always scary on a bike.

          • Captain JJ the pout

            November 4, 2014 at 11:52

            Wasn’t my first, but was bad enough to warrant my gf’s worry. So it’s fine.
            I still give bikes longing looks when they drive past me though. Can’t take that out of me.

          • ToshZA

            November 4, 2014 at 11:54

            Once a rider, always a rider. Sorry man, one day you’ll be back on 2 wheels, no doubt.

          • Captain JJ the pout

            November 4, 2014 at 11:55

            Yea. I’m thinking that too. 😉

          • ToshZA

            November 4, 2014 at 11:54

            Once a rider, always a rider. Sorry man, one day you’ll be back on 2 wheels, no doubt.

          • ToshZA

            November 4, 2014 at 11:54

            Once a rider, always a rider. Sorry man, one day you’ll be back on 2 wheels, no doubt.

          • Darren Peach

            November 4, 2014 at 11:59

            Vaalies. I am ashamedly afraid that I am a Vaalie.Hey, At least we have Prawns.

          • Captain JJ the pout

            November 4, 2014 at 12:01

            LOL
            Nice.

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            November 4, 2014 at 12:07

            hehe – which ones? District 9 variety or Parktown?

          • Darren Peach

            November 4, 2014 at 12:23

            Lets just say that they chew chappies.

          • Darren Peach

            November 4, 2014 at 12:23

            Lets just say that they chew chappies.

          • Darren Peach

            November 4, 2014 at 12:23

            Lets just say that they chew chappies.

          • Darren Peach

            November 4, 2014 at 11:59

            Vaalies. I am ashamedly afraid that I am a Vaalie.Hey, At least we have Prawns.

        • RinceThis

          November 4, 2014 at 11:11

          WIN 🙂

          Reply

        • z1n

          November 4, 2014 at 15:34

          Lies you never get holidays. Even Sundays are not sacred!

          Reply

  2. Captain JJ the pout

    November 4, 2014 at 10:43

    This is quite nice.
    Well done MS.

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      November 4, 2014 at 10:51

      If the header is accurate we’ll get a new game every 9 months or so. Unless something out of the ordinary happens.

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief 0

        November 4, 2014 at 10:57

        LOL

        Reply

      • Ceyber, Hans

        November 4, 2014 at 11:04

        What a slut.

        Reply

      • RinceThis

        November 4, 2014 at 11:12

        So a typical Cape Town timeline? Why do you think we’re called the Mother City? Cus it takes 9 fucking months to get anything done 😛

        Reply

        • Alien Emperor Trevor

          November 4, 2014 at 11:28

          lulz it’s true. nap time.

          Reply

        • Admiral Chief 0

          November 4, 2014 at 11:36

          Hahahaha

          Reply

        • Admiral Chief 0

          November 4, 2014 at 11:36

          Hahahaha

          Reply

        • Spaffy

          November 4, 2014 at 11:42

          It took me forever to read this article 😛

          Reply

        • Spaffy

          November 4, 2014 at 11:42

          It took me forever to read this article 😛

          Reply

      • RustedFaith

        November 4, 2014 at 14:16

        rofl

        Reply

  3. Alien Emperor Trevor

    November 4, 2014 at 10:45

    Also, for those of us in the Southern hemisphere it’s called “autumn”. Silly American 😉

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief 0

      November 4, 2014 at 10:55

      Fall is what happens if you miss a step on a ladder

      Reply

      • L337J1MB0B

        November 4, 2014 at 11:00

        What do they call Spring, grow? 😛

        Reply

        • Wardonkey

          November 4, 2014 at 13:53

          Mahindra, we call it rise, no wait…….. thats something else

          Reply

  4. Rock789

    November 4, 2014 at 11:06

    Nicely done. I’m all for this. This ‘wallet’s worst nightmare’ time of the year is kinda nuts, coz there is a ton of content to choose from, but not enough time (and money) available to properly enjoy it all. If it’s a little better spaced out (as in time, not as in ‘happy cookies’ 😉 ), it’d mean that all the games get the rightful attention they deserve (instead of potentially being drowned out by this year’s yearly juggernaut release).

    Reply

  5. RinceThis

    November 4, 2014 at 11:09

    Agreed. Far better to have them staggered through the year.

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      November 4, 2014 at 11:31

      “Damn, we have to delay some of the games because they won’t be ready.”
      “What should we tell the gamers?”
      “Tell them… tell them we’re staggering the games release dates for their benefit.”

      😀

      Reply

      • RinceThis

        November 4, 2014 at 11:35

        Exactly 🙂

        Reply

      • Pieter Kruger

        November 4, 2014 at 11:39

        OR we could just release Drivedud anyway, I mean, it’s already been “staggered” right?????????????

        Reply

      • Pieter Kruger

        November 4, 2014 at 11:39

        OR we could just release Drivedud anyway, I mean, it’s already been “staggered” right?????????????

        Reply

  6. CAE9872

    November 4, 2014 at 11:12

    I whole-heartedly agree with him!

    Reply

  7. Pieter Kruger

    November 4, 2014 at 11:35

    This is sadly just MS copying Sony once again! I mean, Sony’s been having “spread out’…….Gran Turismo 2077, The Very Last Guardian, Drivedud…..

    Reply

    • Jonah Cash

      November 4, 2014 at 11:36

      You are on fire today with your PS4 shots aren’t you?! Had a good nights sleep did we? You should come like this more often…. You make us all smile!!

      Reply

      • Pieter Kruger

        November 4, 2014 at 11:37

        Thnx, NOW STOP ???? ME! ????

        Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      November 4, 2014 at 11:37

      Don’t you mean The Eventual Guardian? 😉 #StayStrongUmar

      Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      November 4, 2014 at 11:37

      Don’t you mean The Eventual Guardian? 😉 #StayStrongUmar

      Reply

  8. Sageville

    November 4, 2014 at 13:53

    Dat header

    Reply

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