head of xbox before phil spencer head of xbox before phil spencer

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. Neha Chintala notes that Coles involvement was crucial for each option within Blind Driving Assists, and his work started during the preproduction phase. See our ethics statement. We want to make it easier for people to connect and play great games wherever, whenever and however they want. When you talk about Xboxs mission to bring the joy and community of gaming to everyone on the planet, which I absolutely love, this is precisely what I think of when we think about Microsofts mission, which is to empower every person, every organization on the planet to achieve more. I mean, the cloud and Azure have sort of fundamentally allowed us to truly put people at the center of gaming, enabling them to play the games in high fidelity, as you said, wherever, whenever they want on any device. Because Microsoft is becoming so flexible and actively working to keep their customers, theyll likely push the Xbox back to the top of the gaming console list. 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. I had to learn to slow down when going into a turn. The directional pad has also be changed to more closely resemble the Xbox Elite controller, but the face buttons, sticks, triggers, and shoulder buttons remain very similar to the Xbox One design. Along with being able to connect with friends (and strangers), Xbox Live also made it possible to download new content and take multiplayer interaction to a new level. 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. If you feel you dont need this giant suite of features that we made, you can turn them off, you can turn some of the audio cues down, or modify every volume individually. Some of the best Xbox One games are first-party titles, but you'll find loads of other quality games from the likes of Electronic Arts, Bethesda, and Ubisoft that compose a huge library of games worth playing. A mid-generation refresh also helped to make the Xbox One hardware just as appealing if not more so than the PlayStation 4. Even with the next-generation rumors, sales of the 360 continued to assert Microsofts powerful position in the console gaming industry, and by September 2012 the company announced that it had hit the 70-million mark in units sold, and by December that number had jumped to 75 million. This Xbox Series S deal gets you an extra wireless controller for free, All cross-platform games (PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC), You cant share Xbox screenshots or videos directly to Twitter anymore, The best upcoming Xbox Series X games: 2023 and beyond, Dont fall for this fake Xbox controller deal buy this instead, 7 excellent game deals you cant miss during Steams Xbox publisher sale, This Thrustmaster racing wheel and pedals set for Xbox is $60 off. Congrats to the team on 10 years and thanks to all the creators and players who've supported. We hold all teams, and all leaders, to this commitment. Blind/low vision individuals use transportation every day. We have the capability and opportunity to build simply the best, most engaging, most fun entertainment ecosystem anywhere. 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. They need to be considered in the mix. 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. Blind/low vision accessibility is still relatively sparse in video games compared to other accessibility options and design practices. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. On April 18, 2002, Microsoft slashed the price of the Xbox from $299 to $199. Phil Spencer has been with Microsoft for a very long time--longer than many of us at GameSpot have been alive. Ahead of Xbox's 20th anniversary, we sat down with him and Microsoft's gaming A-Team to discuss their wildly ambitious future. Phil Spencer (born January 12, 1968) [3] is an American business executive and the CEO of Microsoft Gaming. For blind/low vision players, each feature within Blind Driving Assists attempts to translate that knowledge through different means. 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. He began his journalism career back in 2010 while still in high school, and subsequently graduated summa cum laude from Ohio University's E.W. On top of everything else, the company continued to lose money on each console sold, and by 2004, the technology that had once been the systems biggest selling point had become one of its most frustrating limitations. Its being used as the backend for more than 5,000 games, so a lot of exciting things that the cloud can enable. In this role, Spencer is accountable for leading Microsoft's gaming business across all devices and services. All Rights Reserved, By submitting your email, you agree to our. On May 12, 2005, Microsoft unveiled the Xbox 360, the next generation of its gaming console. Even with all of the problems for early adopters of the system, the 360 sold amazingly well. Spencer said . They need to consider what kinds of audio cues were used for each thing. All Xbox One games with mouse and keyboard support, Xbox Game Pass new games: whats new and whats leaving in April 2023, The best Xbox One games to play right now. would change course regarding online connection requirements, The best upcoming Xbox Series X games: 2023 and beyond, You cant share Xbox screenshots or videos directly to Twitter anymore, All Xbox One games with mouse and keyboard support, The best Xbox One games to play right now. And thats fantastic to see. The thing that I want to stress here is that we offer a ton of customization, Cole said. [14], In 2018, Spencer delivered the keynote address at the 2018 DICE Summit[15] and spoke at the 2018 Game Awards. Spencer: Yeah, Im so excited about the potential here. In his email, Spencer stated, "Microsoft is committed to our journey for inclusion in every aspect of gaming, among both employees and players. Accessibility features for blind/low vision players need to offer as much information as possible for them to be able to play without any form of sighted assistance. 2023 Vox Media, LLC. With plans to release the 360 in November, the company clearly hoped that an early debut almost a full year before the PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii were scheduled to arrive would put the 360 in a good position to dominate the market. I thought that its a racing game, so shouldnt you go as fast as possible all the time? I love that I can go from my PC to my Xbox to my Duo, picking up on any game right where I left off and even using the touch controls on Duo. We deeply value individual studio cultures. It was a big, dramatic change for Microsoft . I didnt really understand how cars worked, Cole said. I and the entire Gaming Leadership Team are deeply enthusiastic about this opportunity. By Jesse Lennox May 1, 2023 3:45AM. So it won't be long before mobile catches up to desktop in terms . However, Spencer acknowledges that studios need to continue learning for this to happen. Ryan Fleming is the Gaming and Cinema Editor for Digital Trends. Nadella: Thanks so much, Phil. While the Xbox seemingly sold well in North America, the overall launch proved troubling for Microsoft, whose expectations for the system were lofty by any consoles standards let alone a brand-new system. Phil Spencer saved Xbox. The original Xbox launched late in 2001, nearly nineteen years ago. Being able to partner and design and think about each assist, what we could do involving Brandon and folks in our process, even during the planning phases has been monumental in developing this feature. These games can be played on Xbox consoles, PC, mobile, and even Steam Deck. Spencer joined Microsoft in 1988 as an intern and has worked in a number of technical roles, leading the development of Microsoft's first CD-ROM-based titles (such as Encarta), development manager for Microsoft Money, and general manager of Microsoft's online and offline consumer productivity products including Microsoft Works and Microsoft Picture It! 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. [22], He serves on the boards of the First Tee of Greater Seattle and the Entertainment Software Association. Speaking with IGN, Turn 10 Studios developers, an accessibility consultant, and Xbox head Phil Spencer discuss the development process behind Blind Driving Assists, the importance of community involvement, and Xboxs desire to create an inclusive and accessible industry. The idea that they are a company of the past must have forced them to develop new products and tailor them to their customers preferences. Eagle-eyed fans. No word yet on who will replace him. And for many players, this can be an investment that limits their ability to play. The game is being added to Xbox Game Pass. The first set of reports surfaced on (of all places) LinkedIn, where several designers and developers added vague descriptions of a mysterious new project they were working on with Microsoft. Accessibility is not about competition. Halo Infinite and Forza Horizon 5 gave a good boost to the console's library following a somewhat sparse first year. Once the Activision Blizzard deal is finally completed, the company's leadership will also report directly to Spencer moving forward. Ahead of the first-ever Xbox & Bethesda Showcase on Sunday, Head of Xbox Phil Spencer hosted a series of conversations with Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, and members of Microsofts Gaming Leadership team on the future of gaming at Microsoft. A lot has changed with the brand since then, bringing more power, more exclusives, and more value to consumers around the world. However, second place also led to a tremendous amount of innovation from Microsoft. Theyre creating entire college campuses on Minecraft. Jerret will continue to be a member of Chris leadership team and leverage critical parts of Microsofts marketing muscle including Communications, Media, and Consumer Sales. 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. Gameplay and accessibility producer Neha Chintala, and senior sound designer Todd Helsley explain the challenges behind opening racing games to blind/low vision individuals. A short time later, he was gone, and after more executive shakeups in the division, Phil Spencer was ultimately made Head of Xbox a position he still holds today. Spencer is also currently the head of the Xbox brand and since being in charge, Phil has pushed for cross-platform play and pioneered backwards compatibility within the Xbox line of consoles. Activision Blizzard wont be a particularly easy acquisition for Microsoft, though. As Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella writes in a publicly shared, company-wide memo, having Spencer report to Myerson is meant to keep gaming close to the group developing operating systems across devices., Combining all our software, gaming and content assets across the Xbox team under a single leader and aligning with the [Operating Systems Group] team will help ensure we continue to do great work across the Xbox business, and bring more of the magic of Xbox to all form factors, including tablets, PCs and phones, Nadella said of the appointment. Now, the brand is set to reimagine itself yet again when the Xbox Series X releases this holiday season. Nadella: Thats right. Turn 10 Studios developers, an accessibility consultant, and Xbox head Phil Spencer discuss the development process behind Blind Driving Assists, the importance of community involvement, and Xbox . published 29 September 2016. 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.. 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. 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. As a leadership team, we know how much exciting but difficult work we have ahead of us, so its crucial that we operate as a single, unified team. Under his tenure, Microsoft has built up a stable of key franchises such as Halo, Gears of War, Fable and Forza. The now-former head of Microsoft Studios will consolidate and oversee the Xbox and Xbox Live creative teams, as well as Xbox Music, Xbox Video, and Microsoft Studios. Spencer has been with Microsoft for 25 years, working in various departments. Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. But the mechanical understandings of when to turn, when to accelerate or decelerate, or the overall feel of driving a vehicle are inherently inaccessible. The Xbox Series X is a next-generation powerhouse that rivals gaming PCs, while the Xbox Series S is an affordable stopgap for those who are curious about trying new games. But in the rush to get the 360 into households, some serious problems with the system got a pass. Heres the thing when I think about it. [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. We talk about Xbox Series X price, whether coronavir. We hold all teams, and all leaders, to this commitment. . With the xCloud preview, you get 50 games. Time is running out. "Combining all our software, gaming and content assets across the Xbox team under a single leader and aligning with the [Operating Systems Group] team will help ensure we continue to do great work across the Xbox business, and bring more of the magic of Xbox to all form factors, including tablets, PCs and phones," said Nadella. He joined the DT staff in 2009 after spending time covering local news, travel features, and politics. He has also been a frequent guest on podcasts, radio programs, and TV spots. Facebook: www.Facebook.com/RyanFlemingPDX And Coles understanding and expertise being blind is just one of many disabled experiences that Xbox looks for when creating games. CEO Satya Nadella stated that the company internally referred to the xCloud endeavor as . You also see the power of the cloud when you look at the evolution of some of our first-party games, like Flight Simulator. You can submit your questions now anonymously, or post them on our Team Xbox Yammer. In this Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom trailer breakdown, Logan Plant highlights Link's four new powers, along with bringing some speculation surrounding some hidden bits tucked away in the gameplay. Phil Spencer, head of Xbox, wants better game preservation across the industry, per Axios. Digital Trends Media Group may earn a commission when you buy through links on our sites. If ever there was a knockout punch at a press conference, this looked to be it. And one of the things Im most excited about is how we are enabling game developers to do just that with AzurePlayFab, which now holds more than 2.5 billion player accounts. Alongside audio indicators, Helsley explains that another feature within Blind Driving Assists, the steering guide, took several years of fine-tuning before it was in an entertaining and usable state. At the Wall Street Journal's Tech Live conference Wednesday (and cataloged by our sister site, The Verge ), head of Xbox Phil Spencer revealed that Microsoft may eventually raise the prices. We believe we can play a leading role in democratizing gaming and defining that future of interactive entertainment, quite frankly, at scale. 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. Teasing the systems vastly improved specs and the potential for both online play and internal storage of downloaded content games and media Gates managed to get the worlds attention. What we wanted to do is build something that fit into the oral landscape of the game already, Helsley said. 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 . For the first couple of decades, the only way you can play the game was to buy the game outright. Larson-Green took a new position within the company in February, and was replaced by former Nokia CEO Stephen Elop. As players and partners, we all know how talented and dedicated the teams and studios are across Activision Blizzard. 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. For Turn 10 Studios, this meant conducting numerous user research surveys, as well as bringing on Brandon Cole, a blind consultant with credits on games like The Last of Us Part 2, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, and The Vale: Shadow of the Crown. CNN's Richard Quest plays video games with the head of Xbox Phil Spencer who talks about the future of the company as they celebrate the console's 20th anniversary. Xbox is a significant section of Microsoft, and it'll only continue to grow as time goes on. You Are the Future of Gaming. When it comes to first-party exclusives, the Series X is still growing. Later that year, production of the Xbox officially ceased, with the final tally of sold consoles sitting at around 24 million units. As we prepare for the next generation, our efforts to make gaming more inclusive, more immersive, more . [18], Since taking over both Xbox and the Gaming division, Spencer has advocated for cross-platform play, as well as launched key initiatives, such as reintroducing backward compatibility to the Xbox platform, the purchase of Mojang and Bethesda, the further development and support of Minecraft, the introduction of Xbox Game Pass, launching the Xbox Adaptive Controller, an increased focus on PC gaming, porting some Microsoft published games to other platforms including the Nintendo Switch, the launch of xCloud, and increasing the number of first-party development studios. We're big fans of the latest Xbox consoles here at Underscored. newsletter, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom leaks early, Nintendo is likely to take these down quickly, The Wes Anderson directs Star Wars AI art fad has its first full movie trailer, The Galactic Menagerie: A Star Wars Story is dividing Star Wars fans and Wes Anderson fans, Sign up for the Creators pushing us to improve, asking "what if" questions, players finding new innovative games from amazing teams etc. Phil is the right person to lead Xbox forward. Early adopters were treated to a multiplayer gaming experience that was entirely new to the console industry, pitting players against competitors from all around the world in a communal environment. The same situation occurred with Bethesda's Deathloop, which initially launched on PS5 and PC in September 2021 and then came to Xbox Series X/S a year later. Lets wrap up by talking about creators, which I know is a huge priority for you and the entire company. Julie Larson-Green was appointed the head of Xbox hardware and studio groups, while Terry Myerson took over development of the Xbox One operating system. Already, more and more people are creating something new and magical every day. The 2018 release of the Xbox Adaptive Controller, feature tags on store pages, award-winning accessibility in titles like Forza Horizon 5, and even an annual showcase highlighting the varying ways in which Xbox and its studios are incorporating accessibility into their projects have put the disabled community at the forefront of Xbox conversations. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella also sent his own email to staff about todays announcements. Why trust us? 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. While the Xbox fanbase continued to grow with the addition of Xbox Live, it wasnt all sunshine and sales in the years to follow. As Microsoft gaming head Phil Spencer notes, these partnerships ultimately shift the accessibility movement to continuously refine and innovate, both for studios and players. 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. Given the ray-tracing capabilities of the PS5 and its own support for 8K resolution, that would be quite a feat. Xbox boss Phil Spencer is celebrating an anniversary with Xbox. Microsoft Head of Xbox Phil Spencer talks about how the Xbox One launch almost killed the Xbox brand. [4] He is currently the head of the Xbox brand and leads the global creative and engineering teams responsible for gaming at Microsoft. Given the four years between the release of the first Xbox and the arrival of its successor, its no surprise that after six years rumors began circulating in March 2011 that the 360 was on its way out and Microsoft was already hard at work on its next console. Xbox head Phil Spencer recently got promoted to Microsoft's executive leadership team, in a big show of confidence for gaming. [9][10][11][12], In late March 2014, Satya Nadella announced in a corporate e-mail that Spencer was to "lead the Xbox, Xbox Live, Groove Music and Movies & TV teams, and Microsoft Studios" as part of the Windows and Devices division. . The Xbox head Phil Spencer has reportedly attempted to reassure members of the Xbox team that the cancellation of the Activision Blizzard deal will not negatively . "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.". We give the updated Mercenaries mode in Resident Evil 4 Remake a spin in this S-Rank gameplay clip, featuring Leon. Marc Whitten, who had served as chief product officer for Xbox, departed earlier this month for audio equipment manufacturer Sonos. Simultaneously, all of Microsoft's gaming leadership now report directly to Spencer, including Jerret West, CMO of Gaming, and his marketing team. More games are also on the way. By submitting your email, you agree to our, Phil Spencer takes over as head of Microsoft's Xboxdivision, Sign up for the Head of Xbox: Phil Spencer's History at Xbox - YouTube Larry Hryb, Xbox Live's Major Nelson, chats with Phil about his history at Microsoft and what led him to his new role as. In addition to video games, Gabe has also covered television, film, and music, and he has done everything from news to reviews and video work. Ive been in many cars, but Ive never been behind the wheel of one. Nadella describes gaming as playing a critical role in the development of metaverse platforms, that the company is looking to develop for Xbox, Microsoft Teams, and beyond. Forza Motorsports new features are not the end of blind/low vision accessibility. But at the same time, like, when you're fishing and you start to see the sunset, I'm like, hurry up catch your fish. This agreement is a testament to the impact our gaming team has delivered, and I am deeply grateful for their hard work and commitment. In particular, the Activision Blizzard deal means a lot for Xbox as a whole. Official sources referred to the new generation as, before unveiling the Xbox Series X name. ID@Xbox has an important program for Xbox. Although itd be amazing if we only had to depend on game streaming services instead of PCs and gaming consoles, we havent arrived at this level of innovation quite yet. / Sign up for Verge Deals to get deals on products we've tested sent to your inbox daily. Elop, said Nadella, will work with Spencer and Myerson when it comes to the Xbox platform. Earlier this year, we announced that our Game Pass subscription had passed 18 million members. Phil Spencer is an American business executive, who is currently CEO of Gaming at Microsoft. 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. 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. Per tradition, Microsoft had its presentation before Sony, and revealed a $500 price for its console, with Kinect bundled with every system. However, it comes with some extras that might make that price tag sound more reasonable. I will be hosting a webcast with investors at 6 a.m. PT with Phil and Amy, as well as Bobby Kotick, the CEO of Activision Blizzard, to share more details on our big ambitions for gaming. Phil Spencer on the Meeting That Almost Ended the Xbox Division at Microsoft. Posted: Mar 31, 2014 8:36 am. . Although the sales of the 360 trailed behind Nintendos Wii, which sold close to 100 million, it outsold the Ps3 by around 5 million. And with the cloud, gaming players can participate fully in the same Xbox experience as people on local hardware. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Phil Spencer, former head of Xbox, will now lead this . Weve shared some highlights from the day in another article, but we also wanted to share one of the days biggest moments on its own. Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Some of the coolest things Ive seen over the past year is how people have used Minecraft to create new worlds in order to maintain even a sense of community and belonging thats so important in times like these. Phil Spencer is the head of Xbox, as CEO of Microsoft Gaming. Im looking forward to how we continue to invest in Game Pass to add more content and bring the service to even more geographies as we make progress.