Why it matters: As head of Xbox since 2014, Spencer is already one of the most influential and powerful people in gaming, but he finds himself at a pivotal point both in his career and in the industry at large. Additional Crew: Conker: Live and Reloaded. Official sources referred to the new generation as, before unveiling the Xbox Series X name. / Sign up for Verge Deals to get deals on products we've tested sent to your inbox daily. When the acquisition closes, the Activision Blizzard business will report to Phil. The system would run on Windows 2000, making it easy for traditional PC software developers to work within the consoles architecture, and feature more than twice the processing power of the industry-leading PlayStation 2. Activision Blizzard is one of the largest game publishers worldwide across console, PC and mobile, and its home to nearly 400 million monthly active players, along with iconic games including Call of Duty, Candy Crush, World of Warcraft and Diablo. I think thats fundamental to the progress that we need to make, and I think we have years and years of progress to make in this area.. Why trust us? Despite reports of the next big thing arriving any day, the launch of Halo 2 proved that rumors of the Xboxs demise had been greatly exaggerated to the tune of more than 2.5 million units sold in the first 24 hours the game was available. After experimenting with the Project xCloud initiative, Microsoft recently announced that players would be able to access a cloud gaming service. Microsoft aimed to incorporate a cloud gaming service with their existing Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership, starting September 2020. Xbox's boss: Years before game streaming is mainstream For blind/low vision players, each feature within Blind Driving Assists attempts to translate that knowledge through different means. Official sources referred to the new generation as simply Xbox before unveiling the Xbox Series X name. The company made nearly all of its first-party games cross-platform compatible, enabling friends on PC and Xbox One to play together and even allowing players to switch between the two platforms without losing progress. We also believe that creative success and autonomy go hand-in-hand with treating every person with dignity and respect. However, it comes with some extras that might make that price tag sound more reasonable. A weekly roundup of the best things from Polygon. Spencer has been with Microsoft for 25 years, working in various departments. Heres the thing when I think about it. In a new interview, Microsoft's current Xbox head Phil Spencer revealed that, back when Don Mattrick was in charge of the division, the original goal of the team was . CEO Satya Nadella stated that the company internally referred to the xCloud endeavor as . So it won't be long before mobile catches up to desktop in terms . Zachary Boddy (They / Them) is a Staff Writer for Windows Central, primarily focused on covering the latest news in tech and gaming, the best Xbox and PC games, and the most interesting Windows and Xbox hardware. There have been reports of a second, significantly less-powerful machine that will omit a disc drive and be offered at a reduced price. To start, Id like to thank everyone for all of the hard work and dedication that have built this business and this community. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and more - Xbox Wire We also announced this morning that we have surpassed 25 million Game Pass subscribers across console, cloud and PC, a great achievement for all of Team Xbox. Xboxs accessible innovations and developments have benefited disabled players for years. You get a lot of cues from the games audio already like what surface youre driving on, what your cars RPM is, how fast youre going with the wind flying by you, and what we wanted to do was make sure the sounds that we were using to provide this extra information that the blind player needed to get around the track wouldnt conflict with those sounds.. Its about more players and more creators. [6][8] He has participated in Microsoft's E3 conferences since 2010. Phil Spencer, head of Xbox, wants better game preservation across the industry, per Axios. As a company, Microsofts all-in on gaming. Xbox release dates in Japan (February 22, 2002) and Europe (March 14, 2002) soon followed, though the system failed to catch fire in either of the two regions with the same energy that fueled its arrival in North America. Obviously, todays agreement to acquire Activision Blizzard is incredibly exciting. Digital Trends Media Group may earn a commission when you buy through links on our sites. [19], Spencer received the Lifetime Achievement award at the 25th Annual D.I.C.E. It also enabled the Xbox to outsell the just-released Nintendo GameCube in the years that followed, further establishing the Xbox as a force to be reckoned with in the console wars. When Microsoft brought the Xbox One to E3 the following month, things didnt get any easier. While this was nothing to scoff at, the number fell far short of Microsofts initial prediction of 50 million Xbox consoles in households around the world. The conversation between Spencer and Nadella focused on the importance of gaming at Microsoft and in the world. They have been gaming and writing for most of their life starting with the original Xbox, and started out as a freelancer for Windows Central and its sister sites in 2019. How Xbox outgrew the console: inside Phil Spencer's multi-billion You can follow him on Twitter @GamingAngelGabe. If you're looking to stay competitive while playing online multiplayer games versus next-gen console and PC players or are just looking to avoid some wonky console interface that's difficult to navigate, you may want to try using a keyboard and mouse with your Xbox One. Twitter: @RyanFlemingPDX Going back to the birth of personal computing in the 1970s, the ability to play games has been limited by the cost and power of the specific device youre using, whether its an arcade cabinet or a PC, a phone, a tablet, whatever. The Xbox Wireless Controller Remix Special Edition will launch on April 18, just a few days ahead of Earth Day on April 22. While Microsoft was been hit with criticism for the Xbox Series X's slow-growing exclusive lineup-- several highly anticipated titles like Bethesda's Starfieldand co-op shooter Redfall have been pushed to later in 2023 -- the company is still delivering one of the best deals in gaming: Xbox Game Pass. There's something about Spencer that makes him instantly approachable; combined with his 27 years at Microsoft itself, that makes him the obvious choice to lead the company's gaming wing. The Head of Xbox Wants to Make Upgradable Consoles | Digital Trends When I was a kid, it was crazy to think about having a Galaga machine or a Ms. Pac-man machine in your house. Phil Spencer, as CEO of Microsoft Gaming, plays an integral role in executing these visions and continuing to develop the best Xbox games, fostering a culture of inclusivity and. Why Xbox Isn't Making A Battle Royale Game And that just grows the industry for everyone.. Windows Central is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. The high cost of manufacturing the Xbox didnt do its creator any favors, making the next big event in the systems timeline even more surprising. To get a deeper dive, I spoke to Cole as well as Turn 10 Studios' gameplay & accessibility producer Neha Chintala and head of Xbox Phil Spencer about bringing these features to life and why . Spencer: Microsoft almost abandoned Xbox brand after the Xbox One Microsofts $30 million purchase of Bungie a short time later made headlines in the game industry, but it was Bungies decision to adaptHaloto make the best use of the new consoles abilities and turn it into a first-person shooter. Of course, theres still a place for consoles and PCs and frankly, there always will be, but through the cloud, we will be able to deliver a robust gaming experience to anyone connected to the Internet, even on the least powerful, least expensive devices, devices people already own. Check out Spencer's words below. Theyre expanding that economic opportunity, too. Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox since 2014, is known to players as the guy who. Esta es la informacin. While the last-gen Xbox One isn't as powerful as the Xbox Series X, it's still a worthwhile console and has a huge library of great games. Nadella announced today that Elop will serve as executive vice president of Microsoft's Devices group once the company's $7.17 billion acquisition of Nokia closes, which is expected to occur by the end of April. The console represents a sizeable boost in power from Xbox One X, with 6DDR6 RAM, 12 TFLOPS of GPU power, an NVMe SSD, and support for 8K resolution. Phil Spencer is the head of Xbox, as CEO of Microsoft Gaming. There's no shortage of games to play on either console thanks to Xbox Game Pass, which gives players immediate access to a library of titles old and new. Just two years later, Microsoft was ready to go public with its console, and thats exactly what Bill Gates did at theGame Developers Conference in 2000. See our ethics statement. i wonder if the whole 'bringing xbox back' scheme from phil and the whole 'putting gamers first' and the 'this is the year for xbox' shite was just all smoke and mirrors. That cost, the retail model have limited the audience for creators and the entire industry. BitMe on Instagram: "Adems de eso, a finales de ao pasado, Phil It would allow players to enter the new ecosystem more quickly, and Microsofts own Xbox console exclusives will also be compatible with Xbox One systems for at least a year after the Series X launches. The system resembles a PC tower, but can still be placed on its side, and features a large number of vents in order to keep itself cool. According to Nadella, Spencer will continue to work with Yusuf Mehdi, chief marketing and strategy officer for Xbox; George Peckham, head of Xbox third-party relations; and Mike Angiulo, corporate vice president of hardware development for Xbox. Not every racer needs the same accommodation, and the team wanted to ensure that everyone could find an appropriate range when using this setting. There was no stopping the Internet rumor train once it started chugging along, and before long the new console even had an unofficial code name: Xbox 720.. The acquisition has considerable ramifications for Xbox and the gaming industry as a whole, but it also heralds a shift internally for Microsoft. I ditched my game consoles and went cloud-only for a week. Nadella: Thanks so much, Phil. CEO Satya Nadella stated that the company internally referred to the xCloud endeavor as Netflix for games. With the xCloud preview, you get 50 games. A keyboard and mouse will give you better precision than your standard Xbox One controller so you can keep up in cross-platform games without shelling out money for a top gaming PC. On Tuesday, Microsoft announced its intention to acquire Activision Blizzard in a landmark move for the company. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Still, Microsoft pushed forward with new features aimed at making the Xbox and its heirs the all-purpose online media hub that it was supposed to be all along, with Xbox Live Arcade launching in November 2004. We want to make it easier for people to connect and play great games wherever, whenever and however they want. We expect this acquisition to close in FY23, pending regulatory approvals. Phil Spencer on the future of Xbox: we still want to take risks with games While developing traditional narrative games is harder than it has ever been, Microsoft's Xbox chief sees an. Per tradition, Microsoft had its presentation before Sony, and revealed a $500 price for its console, with Kinect bundled with every system. The notion that Microsoft should develop its own gaming console began gaining traction way back in 1998, with Kevin Bachus, Seamus Blackley, Otto Berkes, and Ted Hase forming the software giants first console team after successfully pitching their idea to Bill Gates. It is being marketed as the worlds most powerful console, with speculation that it could end up being even more powerful than Sonys PlayStation 5. You can change the pitch of the audio cues, and the narrator customizations that we have are the best in any game that Ive seen.. You can submit your questions now anonymously, or post them on our Team Xbox Yammer. [5][6] During his early time at Microsoft he was known by other employees to be an avid gamer, playing games such as Ultima Online in the office. In May 2013, Microsoft finally unveiled what was next for the Xbox brand, and it didnt leave players particularly happy. Read Microsoft Gaming CEO's email to staff about the Activision We hold all teams, and all leaders, to this commitment. Xbox chief Don Mattrick unveiled the next console the Xbox One alongside an improved version of Kinect and unprecedented support for television integration. Phil Spencer: Im thrilled to be joined by Satya Nadella to talk about how Microsoft broadly can drive gaming forward. But in the rush to get the 360 into households, some serious problems with the system got a pass. I switched to a cloud-only gaming life for a week | Digital Trends Games are a source of joy, inspiration, and social connection. Even with all of the problems for early adopters of the system, the 360 sold amazingly well. Already, more and more people are creating something new and magical every day. You also see the power of the cloud when you look at the evolution of some of our first-party games, like Flight Simulator. [16], In January 2022, along with Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard,[17] Spencer was promoted to the role of CEO of Microsoft Gaming. The people theyre making this game accessible for may have never played a racing game, or ever driven a car before. Spencer has spent 25 years at Microsoft. Inclusive design is an important consideration in how we build everything now, starting with recognizing the barriers that people might have, learning from the diversity of experience that people have, Spencer said. To that end, Im excited to announce effective today that Jerret West, CMO of Gaming, and his marketing team will move from Chris Caposselas organization to report directly to me. Phil Spencer shows that the console war is dumb. Under his tenure, Microsoft has built up a stable of key franchises such as Halo, Gears of War, Fable and Forza. Microsoft Names Phil Spencer to Head Xbox and More | Time [4] He is currently the head of the Xbox brand and leads the global creative and engineering teams responsible for gaming at Microsoft. As we prepare for the next generation, our efforts to make gaming more inclusive, more immersive, more . In particular, the Activision Blizzard deal means a lot for Xbox as a whole. With Stadia, a cloud-based gaming service, becoming incredibly popular with gamers, Microsoft had to step up so they could stay in the competition. In many ways, when we look at these opportunities, we start solving for one specific scenario, or even personal situations, and then think about how we can extend that [solution] to many.. A few weeks ago, Xbox Chief Product Officer Marc Whitten said he was leaving Microsoft (after helming the division for some 14 years) for a similar position with Sonos. They need to consider what kinds of audio cues were used for each thing. Microsoft announced a new generation during E3 2019. When it comes to first-party exclusives, the Series X is still growing. [4] He is currently the head of the Xbox brand and leads the global creative and engineering teams responsible for gaming at Microsoft. Related: Fortnite Is Taking Over Twitch (And The World) Xbox boss Phil Spencer announced the company's intentions to sit out the popular Battle Royale wave in response to an inquiry via Twitter.When asked if Microsoft had any plans to focus on a Battle Royale game as a first-party title for the Xbox One, Spencer very clearly denied any plans to do so. Does Phil Spencer's leadership need to be reevaluated? We're big fans of the latest Xbox consoles here at Underscored. Regardless of the preferred platform, the creation of Blind Driving Assists is indicative of the growth of blind/low vision accessibility. The release of the Xbox 360 in the U.S. on November 22, 2005, and in Europe and Japan the following month, resulted in sellouts in nearly every market except Japan, where the system still struggled to find an audience. Eagle-eyed fans. Microsoft Head of Xbox Phil Spencer talks about how the Xbox One launch almost killed the Xbox brand. "It's been a remarkable year for Xbox and I am honored to lead the team at this incredible time for Microsoft and the games industry.". wholeheartedly think that if this year doesn't go well exclusive wise, the xbox brand as a whole will be more of an embarrassment than ever before, probably irreparably so. Xbox's Phil Spencer: 'We're not driven by how many consoles we sell' And Coles understanding and expertise being blind is just one of many disabled experiences that Xbox looks for when creating games. The Xbox Series X impressed us with its zippy load times and gorgeous 4K graphics, and the entry-level $299 Xbox Series S. These games can be played on Xbox consoles, PC, mobile, and even Steam Deck. The content is the driving force behind Game Pass growth, which is why Im so excited about our acquisition of ZeniMax, which brings some of the worlds most iconic, beloved games to the service. Microsoft is committed to our journey for inclusion in every aspect of gaming, among both employees and players. Our oldest currently supported software franchise is in fact our game Microsoft Flight Simulator, which we released three years before the first version of Windows, even. On May 12, 2005, Microsoft unveiled the Xbox 360, the next generation of its gaming console. Coming together, we can accelerate our mission to extend the joy and community of gaming to everyone. In fact, one of the things we have learned from all of the work you all have done is in some sense, it starts after the game is launched because you want to be able to experiment, learn through analytics and continuously change gameplay. Its one of the leading platforms in the creator economy. Scripps School of Journalism in 2016. Weve created an entire organization dedicated to empowering the game industry and developers of every size. Microsofts long-rumored online gaming network had already begun its beta testing phase in August 2002, but the system went public in November with the Xbox Live Starter Kit. However, Microsoft is currently cooking up something interesting for customers, whether they enjoy using a console or like to stream.
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