In response to swirling rumors hinting at a potential departure from the exclusive console model for first-party Xbox games, Xbox head Phil Spencer convened an all-staff town hall meeting earlier this week to set the record straight.
Contrary to speculation, Spencer emphasized that the company’s exploration of bringing first-party titles to other platforms did not signal a wavering commitment to Xbox consoles.
Journalist Shannon Liao, in her coverage of the meeting held with internal staff on Tuesday, confirms that while the company is indeed contemplating the expansion of its gaming ecosystem to encompass “multiple kinds of devices,” Xbox remains firmly dedicated to its console lineup. Further details on this strategic direction are expected to be disclosed publicly in the coming week.
good evening! here's your weekly games journalism industry newsletter, as promised. link? why, you'll have to do some digging to find that (it's my full name dot s*bst*ck dot com) pic.twitter.com/cDwbjV1oIu
— Shannon Liao (@Shannon_Liao) February 9, 2024
“During the internal Tuesday townhall, Spencer reassured employees that there are no intentions to halt console production, emphasizing that Xbox consoles will persist as a crucial component of the company’s multifaceted approach,” reports Liao, who notes that Xbox declined to provide additional comment on the matter.
The announcement comes hot on the heels of Spencer’s confirmation earlier this week of Microsoft’s imminent unveiling of its “vision for the future of Xbox” during an upcoming business event.
Meanwhile, Microsoft has responded to recent assertions from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regarding its planned workforce reduction of 1900 employees across Xbox and Activision Blizzard. The FTC had raised concerns that this move contradicted previous assurances made in court regarding Activision’s structural independence.
In a statement to Eurogamer, a Microsoft spokesperson pushed back against the FTC’s stance, stating, “The FTC’s continued opposition fails to acknowledge the substantial changes to the deal itself.
Following last July’s court ruling against the FTC, Microsoft underwent a global restructuring mandated by the UK competition authority, resulting in the exclusion of cloud streaming rights to Activision Blizzard games in the United States.
Microsoft and Sony have entered into a binding agreement ensuring that Call of Duty remains available on PlayStation under even more favorable terms than previously agreed.”
