Phil Spencer: Xbox First-Party Studios Can Make Series X Exclusives, If They Want

Choice is fully up to the developer. Cross-Gen policy is not set in stone, and there are no set rules for first party.

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-firstparty-studios-can-make-series-x-exclusiv/1100-6479862/

Head of Xbox Phil Spencer spoke with German outlet GameStar and revealed that Microsoft's plans for cross-generation titles on both Xbox Series X and Xbox One aren't quite set in stone. While Spencer previously said that he doesn't expect to see next-gen exclusives for the next couple of years, he clarified that it's completely up to Microsoft's first-party studios whether they target both consoles or not.

"We've added a lot of studios to the Xbox Game Studios organization over the last few years and providing them the financial stability, the creative freedom to go build the games that they want to go build," Spencer stated. "Our game creators want to build great games that can reach a large audience of players."

However, Spencer says that the vision for each of their first-party titles starts with the player rather than a system--so the platforms that each individual title hits will be dependent on the developer's vision.

"If a creator comes to us ... and says, 'No, I really want to focus on next generation' with their games, we're completely open to that," Spencer admits. "We're very supportive of that. If a creator comes to us and says, 'I have this vision for reaching these customers across different platforms and different generations.' We're completely supportive of that. It is really about our creators having choice and allowing them to build the games that they want to build to reach the audience that they're looking for and not things that we're mandating to our creators in terms of what they have to go build."

Spencer also confirmed that there are no set rules for developers when it comes to cross-generation support and that he wants "creators creating the games that they want to go build." Players will be able to see these games in action July 23 during the Xbox Games Showcase.

Even though with the PS5, nothing they showed outside of Ratchet looked like it couldnt run on a PS4, and you're definately going to get arbitrarily gated off games on PS5 (like putting Spiderman DLC behind a $499 paywall, etc), its all about optics.

I've said from the beginning of all this, the main "sin" from MS here is in the optics and the phrasing. Its like they cant stop saying monumentally stupid sounding shit from a PR optics standpoint, setting themselves up for roasting and giving ammo to bad faith actors. I agree with the messaging of Sony on principle, but the PRACTICE is actually going to be closer to Microsoft.

That’s cool to hear. Personally I have absolutely zero problem with them making games cross gen for the first couple of years but it’s nice to hear that it’s a choice for them.

Yeah Microsoft making so many moves it will make your head spin. If they hit it off July 23, bringing some great games then the Xbox series x is the way to go. Only brand loyalty would slow down sales.

Microsoft has way more to market right now. Announcements of Xcloud, smart delivery, Gamepass, Xva, All access payment plan, Series S. If they bring 60 fps and good exclusives to counter the Ps5 very limited mostly time limited exclusives I think tides will change !

This whole issue is silly. Any game that is scheduled for release within the next two years was already in development prior to the finalization of the newer consoles. So, supporting the existing consoles should be a none issue. This whole debacle about games being held back is just fanboy noise.

Awesome. Who needs a PBitchC these days?

The part in the original statement I'd most take issue with is old systems being a great place to play all new first party. Would have been better to hear "games might technically be playable on old hardware, but some will chug like shit". There you go, that's PR though.

Anyway, the free hand approach should come as welcome news here. Good job Phil is hm.. flexible on this stuff.

@StrongDeadlift: "nothing they showed outside of Ratchet looked like it couldnt run on a PS4,"

lol

"and you're definately going to get arbitrarily gated off games on PS5 (like putting Spiderman DLC behind a $499 paywall, etc),"

lol

I agree, both of those things are funny. The circumstances of both those quotes, not my statements, to be clear. Both are hilarious.

That is not limited to the PS5. I don't think its arbitrarily gated. Some developers just don't have the resources or can't be bothered with supporting current gen. In Sony's case, to help push the sales of the PS5.

Sony is not going to have many first party exclusives for years. Why would they since there limited to the Ps5. Ps5 numbers will be low in the first couple of years compared to 110 million base ps4 base. Its just not profitable. Thats why they bought many timed exclusives to hold them over. Even if Microsoft will be somewhat held back by cross gen its still better than very limited first party exclusives.

Is it just me or is he sending mixed messages? First he says there will be no first party Series X exclusives for the first two years. Now he's saying it's up to the devs. Does that mean that it just so happened that all of their first party decided not to have series x exclusives?

In execution, it means the same as before. There games are going to be available on the One for the next two years.

@StrongDeadlift:

Did you cry when MS locked Forza 5,Ryse,Killer Instint and other behind a $500 paywall and forced you into a 40% weaker system with Kinect included only to kill it months latter?

Can the PS4 run ray tracing? Can it load games instantly? Can it run 4k games?

No then there is no way for sony to deliver the experience they wanted to deliver with miles morales on PS4.

Now keep hogging your self while you cry about sony ""forcing you to buy a PS"" when you never cry about all the shit MS has force on you starting by $50 for online play,for apps,for free to play games,over priced peripherals and still in 2020 almost 20 freaking years after the xbox launched still using AA on controllers simply to sell you a damn battery pack.😁

Now on topic.

I think that's what happened. He mentioned they want to focus on the player first, and wanting to hit a large audience. They're not going to have a large audience with the Series X for a while.

So they, and their newly acquired studios, may be making games in mind to still support the One S and PCs that scale easily?

Flip-flop, flip-flop, flip-flop

Booty - first two years Xbox games studios will develop games for X1 and XSX

Spencer yesterday - We want every Xbox player to play all the new games from Xbox Game Studios. That’s why Xbox Game Studios titles we release in the next couple of years—like Halo Infinite—will be available and play great on Xbox Series X and Xbox One.

Phil Spencer today : Xbox 1st party can make XSX exclusives, if they want

But I wanna play Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart and Miles Morales though😥

Oh and this is good for Xbox Team I guess. I'll still support MS through PC😉

That damage control was swift! That "We will never force you to buy our consoles" line was probably the biggest load of horseshit ever said by a gaming exec.

Yeah, eventually you are going to move ahead and have everybody develop for the new shit. That goes without saying. Motherfuckers are getting left behind either way. 🤣🤣🤣

Oh that sweet, sweet damage control.

@subspecies: Damage would be a downgrade. By cow logic, this counts as an upgrade.

I'm going to have to meditate on this.

Yeah, messy messaging is exactly what Xbox needs right now...

Translation: games that were already being developed with the Xbox One in mind can be released for the Xbox One and Xbox Series..

games that intend to only be developed for the Xbox Series (ie games that are either in extremely early development or haven't even started development) can be released for the Xbox Series only..

hence, "games will be cross-gen for the first couple of years" because those early games were already being developed during the previous gen..

not very hard to understand if you take off your fanboy goggles..

No that is the spin you just gave it is even easier to undertand.😂

just make good games and people might by your box

LOL everytime this clown opens his mouth it’s something different. How the hell do people put any faith into his words at this point

Yep.

More verbal diarrhea from Spencer. Every week it's a different message, different strategy, different industry perspective.....

I almost feel sorry for the filthy lemmings........almost.

TLHBO

At the end of the day, it's this. Let's see how the 23rd goes.

@tormentos: controllers using AA batteries is better, since you can buy your own 3rd party aa rechargable batteries.

I had no problem paying for online or real download content, but developers hardly ever give you real download content, download content should be like expansion packs for games back in the day, like duke nukem forever's download content was actually worth it, was like actual expansion pack more games should be like that it's just a shame gearbox was crooked and they didnt include the map editor.

Yes, xbox is partly to blame to how crooked this industry is now, i know but i wont support the truely crooked shit.

No is not better for the same damn reason why cell phones and basically every electronic device now comes with rechargeable batteries is not the damn 80's man is 2020,in fact having AA isn't even the problem the problem is MS charging you for a damn charge and play kit,instead of putting a cable and a pair of rechargeable AA batteries.

I do and i think it should be free.

No I don't believe This

Phil Spencer and Satya Nadella told 343 studios Halo better be on xbone the original fat vcr the devs had no choice in this matter IMO I don't believe this guy at all and you all shouldn't either Halo was told to be on xb1 that's a fact from the higher ups. That studio wanted to make the next big halo and they can't do it now.

How good can Halo Infinite gameplay really be if its still running on this crap 1 teraflop console? Its being held back its not gonna be big like destiny or something next gen like that was.

I don't even wanna see it its just gonna be terrible like halo 5 or some crap

@ProtossRushX: 240p bro how else?