Xbox Podcast - everything announced at the Future of Xbox event

2024-02-15

Xbox’s got some news about hardware, exclusivity, and more

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And there you have it!Microsofthas dropped a special edition of the Official Xbox Podcast with an update on the business strategy for Xbox in general. While initial thoughts were that it could be one biggest Xbox events in quite some time, the actual podcast itself didn’t quite go so far as to drop all exclusivity or anything of the like.That said, there’s definitelysomeexclusivity going the way of the dinosaur here, and it’s certainly a change of pace for Xbox regardless of how often the leadership team says that this is a natural extension of what they’ve been doing for the last decade.Everything announced at the Future of Xbox eventXbox boss Phil Spencer believes exclusive games “are going to be a smaller and smaller part of the game industry” within the next decadePhil Spencer shuts down multiplatform concerns, says next-gen Xbox console will “respect the investments that people have made” in the platformXbox chiefs assure players “hardware is a critical component” of the business amid speculation that Microsoft could stop making consoles4 Xbox games are coming to other consoles, but Starfield and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle aren’tMicrosoft teases Xbox Series X’s successor, promising “the largest technical leap you will have ever seen in a hardware generation"Here’s which Xbox games could be coming to PS5 and Switch, based on Phil Spencer’s cluesDiablo 4 is coming to Game Pass on March 28And so are other Activision Blizzard games, eventually, though no specifics were given as to when and whichThere’s going to be a June showcase for Xbox, though that’s basically all we know at this point

That said, there’s definitelysomeexclusivity going the way of the dinosaur here, and it’s certainly a change of pace for Xbox regardless of how often the leadership team says that this is a natural extension of what they’ve been doing for the last decade.

Everything announced at the Future of Xbox event

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2024-02-15T16:33:19.881ZIn the few hours until the event, let’s take a look at what’s been said, and what rumors are circulating shall we?

In the few hours until the event, let’s take a look at what’s been said, and what rumors are circulating shall we?

2024-02-15T16:47:23.221ZLet’s get caught up with what all this is about, shall we? Earlier this month, multiple reports suggested thatMicrosoft was looking into a multiplatform future for some of its biggest games. Those included potential PS5 releases forStarfield, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and more.Obviously, that would mark the biggest shift in Xbox’s strategy since the console’s inception, and it’s thrown fans into something of a frenzy.

Let’s get caught up with what all this is about, shall we? Earlier this month, multiple reports suggested thatMicrosoft was looking into a multiplatform future for some of its biggest games. Those included potential PS5 releases forStarfield, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and more.

Obviously, that would mark the biggest shift in Xbox’s strategy since the console’s inception, and it’s thrown fans into something of a frenzy.

2024-02-15T16:50:53.791ZThat frenzy led to Xboxannouncing an update on “the future of Xbox"for this week. In a message on Twitter, console chief Phil Spencer told concerned fans that “we’re listening and we hear you,” and promised “a business update event […] where we look forward to sharing more details with you about our vision for the future.“That’s tonight’s event, if that wasn’t clear - Spencer will be sitting down with fellow execs Matt Booty and Sarah Bond to share that vision, in roughly three hours from now as I’m writing this.

That frenzy led to Xboxannouncing an update on “the future of Xbox"for this week. In a message on Twitter, console chief Phil Spencer told concerned fans that “we’re listening and we hear you,” and promised “a business update event […] where we look forward to sharing more details with you about our vision for the future.”

That’s tonight’s event, if that wasn’t clear - Spencer will be sitting down with fellow execs Matt Booty and Sarah Bond to share that vision, in roughly three hours from now as I’m writing this.

2024-02-15T16:54:18.850ZEven with that attempt at a clarification, however, rumors and general uncertainty have abounded. At around the same time as Spencer was announcing his update, Halo developer 343 Industries was busy suggesting (via a job advert) thatfuture games in the series would be “for all players, on all platforms”. While that seems to be to be more likely to mean allXboxplatforms than all platforms, period, it does seem to be exactly the kind of slightly unclear statement that has us wondering what we’re likely to see this afternoon.

Even with that attempt at a clarification, however, rumors and general uncertainty have abounded. At around the same time as Spencer was announcing his update, Halo developer 343 Industries was busy suggesting (via a job advert) thatfuture games in the series would be “for all players, on all platforms”. While that seems to be to be more likely to mean allXboxplatforms than all platforms, period, it does seem to be exactly the kind of slightly unclear statement that has us wondering what we’re likely to see this afternoon.

2024-02-15T17:01:35.796ZSince then, Phil Spencer and co have clearly been trying to rein in the messaging around the event. One report suggests thatSpencer told Xbox colleagues that Microsoft was not done making consolesamid rumors to the contrary - the thinking being that if Microsoft wasn’t going to be a console-exclusive publisher anymore, it wouldn’t need to make consoles anymore.More recently, Sarah Bond is also said to have told colleagues that"every screen is an Xbox"amid sentiments of a desire to be the leading cross-platform gaming company.

Since then, Phil Spencer and co have clearly been trying to rein in the messaging around the event. One report suggests thatSpencer told Xbox colleagues that Microsoft was not done making consolesamid rumors to the contrary - the thinking being that if Microsoft wasn’t going to be a console-exclusive publisher anymore, it wouldn’t need to make consoles anymore.

More recently, Sarah Bond is also said to have told colleagues that"every screen is an Xbox"amid sentiments of a desire to be the leading cross-platform gaming company.

So what does that actually mean?

For my two cents, if that report proves correct, it could be a smart move from Microsoft. Hi-Fi Rush and Pentiment are both well-received, smaller games that supply a niche very effectively, but are unlikely to appeal to a broader audience. They also stem from some of Xbox’s smaller studios - Tango Gameworks and Obsidian, respectively.

2024-02-15T17:17:30.170ZIf you don’t have any faith in what I have to tell you, then you can ask Ubisoft CEO, Yves Guillemot. During his company’s recent investor briefing,he was asked what he made of rumors of a multiplatform future for Xbox.“They are going to decide what is best for them,” he said. “What you have to look at is that Activision Blizzard used to be multiplatform, so it would have an impact, but not a huge impact on the industry.“Presumably, Guillemot’s suggestion is that Microsoft, having recently bought up a slew of studios across the industry, including Activision-Blizzard, could be about to take some of those studios back to their status quo. Longer-running studios, like Halo’s 343 Industries, Gears of War’s The Coalition, Forza’s Turn 10 Studios, or indeed Rare, might stay firmly under the Xbox umbrella, but the likes of Obsidian, Ninja Theory, and Playground Games might not.

If you don’t have any faith in what I have to tell you, then you can ask Ubisoft CEO, Yves Guillemot. During his company’s recent investor briefing,he was asked what he made of rumors of a multiplatform future for Xbox.

“They are going to decide what is best for them,” he said. “What you have to look at is that Activision Blizzard used to be multiplatform, so it would have an impact, but not a huge impact on the industry.”

Presumably, Guillemot’s suggestion is that Microsoft, having recently bought up a slew of studios across the industry, including Activision-Blizzard, could be about to take some of those studios back to their status quo. Longer-running studios, like Halo’s 343 Industries, Gears of War’s The Coalition, Forza’s Turn 10 Studios, or indeed Rare, might stay firmly under the Xbox umbrella, but the likes of Obsidian, Ninja Theory, and Playground Games might not.

2024-02-15T17:22:19.027ZAlternatively, turn to The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077 studio CD Projekt Red. In a recent tweet, their CEO, Michał Nowakowski, said thattheir games would remain proudly multiplatform. That’s probably good news for The Witcher 4 fans, but it was never really in doubt - until such a time that CDPR gets acquired (a fate quite unlikely for the (eventual) creator of two of the best RPGs of the past decade), I’d imagine its games will show up everywhere the studio can put them. Hey, if The Witcher 3 can fit onto the Nintendo Switch, anything is possible.

Alternatively, turn to The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077 studio CD Projekt Red. In a recent tweet, their CEO, Michał Nowakowski, said thattheir games would remain proudly multiplatform. That’s probably good news for The Witcher 4 fans, but it was never really in doubt - until such a time that CDPR gets acquired (a fate quite unlikely for the (eventual) creator of two of the best RPGs of the past decade), I’d imagine its games will show up everywhere the studio can put them. Hey, if The Witcher 3 can fit onto the Nintendo Switch, anything is possible.

2024-02-15T17:43:00.437ZDespite all of this sound and fury, it does seem like Xbox Game Pass (in whatever form that takes, with or without “Xbox” at the front of the name) will continue to be a Big Deal™ for the company.The whole thing where all of Xbox’s first-party titles end up on Game Pass the day of release is, has been, and will remain wild. Though we made our predictions aboutwhat to expect from Xbox in 2024back in January prior to the latest reports, this part remains as true now as it was then. And even money there’s some kind of hardware this year, even if it’s maybe not a traditional console.

Despite all of this sound and fury, it does seem like Xbox Game Pass (in whatever form that takes, with or without “Xbox” at the front of the name) will continue to be a Big Deal™ for the company.The whole thing where all of Xbox’s first-party titles end up on Game Pass the day of release is, has been, and will remain wild. Though we made our predictions aboutwhat to expect from Xbox in 2024back in January prior to the latest reports, this part remains as true now as it was then. And even money there’s some kind of hardware this year, even if it’s maybe not a traditional console.

2024-02-15T17:58:19.501ZSpeaking of Game Pass, now might be a good time to take advantage ofthe meditation app perk that was added this weekfor subscribers. This is not a bit or a joke; a three-month trial to Calm Premium is up for grabs.You know, just in case there’s anything stressful happening today (or any other day) that a little meditation might be able to help out with. I’m not saying it’snecessaryto have right now, but it couldn’t hurt. Especially if you’re the sort of person to, say, really care about console exclusivity.

Speaking of Game Pass, now might be a good time to take advantage ofthe meditation app perk that was added this weekfor subscribers. This is not a bit or a joke; a three-month trial to Calm Premium is up for grabs.You know, just in case there’s anything stressful happening today (or any other day) that a little meditation might be able to help out with. I’m not saying it’snecessaryto have right now, but it couldn’t hurt. Especially if you’re the sort of person to, say, really care about console exclusivity.

2024-02-15T18:17:22.218ZWithout knowing what Spencer plans to talk about, it’s tricky to really measure the impact of a multiplatform push. But in the context of recent months, it does seem a little strange.Microsoft’s purchase of Activision-Blizzard, ostensibly all about shoring up Xbox’s multiplatform potential, only completed in the latter months of 2023. And Xbox leads of all stripes made a lot of noise about the fact that Starfield was coming to Xbox Series consoles and PC, and nothing else. Even if Starfield isn’t one of the first games to come to a new platform, those statements will ring substantially more hollow if Spencer announces ports of Pentiment and Hi-Fi Rush.

Without knowing what Spencer plans to talk about, it’s tricky to really measure the impact of a multiplatform push. But in the context of recent months, it does seem a little strange.

Microsoft’s purchase of Activision-Blizzard, ostensibly all about shoring up Xbox’s multiplatform potential, only completed in the latter months of 2023. And Xbox leads of all stripes made a lot of noise about the fact that Starfield was coming to Xbox Series consoles and PC, and nothing else. Even if Starfield isn’t one of the first games to come to a new platform, those statements will ring substantially more hollow if Spencer announces ports of Pentiment and Hi-Fi Rush.

2024-02-15T18:19:37.712ZOf course, Sony has also been making plenty of noise about the future of PC offerings. God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn and Forbidden West, Marvel’s Spider-Man, Returnal, and The Last of Us Part 1 are among some of PlayStation’s very biggest exclusives, but all of them have made their way to PC since 2020. And with news thatSony plans to be more “aggressive” about releasing on other platforms, maybe this is all a moot point.

Of course, Sony has also been making plenty of noise about the future of PC offerings. God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn and Forbidden West, Marvel’s Spider-Man, Returnal, and The Last of Us Part 1 are among some of PlayStation’s very biggest exclusives, but all of them have made their way to PC since 2020. And with news thatSony plans to be more “aggressive” about releasing on other platforms, maybe this is all a moot point.

2024-02-15T18:37:13.622ZThere’s been plenty of armchair analysis about today’s proceedings, and obviously we’ll really just have to wait until Spencer says whatever he has to say before we can really start digging in to what it means.Until then, we can take some joy in the fact that Xbox’s own studios seem to be making fun of the entire situation. The official Sea of Thieves account talking about rowboats being Red, Blue, Green, or White suresoundslike a thinly-veiled nod to Nintendo, Sony, Xbox, and PC - Rare followed up to say they were just talking about rowboats, but personally, I don’t buy it.Rowboats are red,And sometimes they’re blue,Other times they’re green,Occasionally they can be white…Wait, where were we going with this?February 14, 2024

There’s been plenty of armchair analysis about today’s proceedings, and obviously we’ll really just have to wait until Spencer says whatever he has to say before we can really start digging in to what it means.

Until then, we can take some joy in the fact that Xbox’s own studios seem to be making fun of the entire situation. The official Sea of Thieves account talking about rowboats being Red, Blue, Green, or White suresoundslike a thinly-veiled nod to Nintendo, Sony, Xbox, and PC - Rare followed up to say they were just talking about rowboats, but personally, I don’t buy it.

Rowboats are red,And sometimes they’re blue,Other times they’re green,Occasionally they can be white…Wait, where were we going with this?February 14, 2024

One peculiar chapter in the past few days has been the uneasy rumblings of a Nintendo Direct. The developer often pushes two showcases in the early part of the year, with on dedicated to Pokemon Day on February 27, but it’s stayed pretty quiet in recent days.

According to Jeff Grubb, that’s because of the noise that Xbox has been making about today’s show. In a tweet today, he said that the decision to move an incoming Direct had been made because of Microsoft’s podcast, in a manner not entirely different to the decision to delay the reveal of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom in the wake of the death of the UK’s monarch in 2022.

Quite what that means for the future of Xbox, I couldn’t tell you, but that anecdote remains worth sharing.

2024-02-15T19:35:12.209ZWe’re inside 30 minutes away from tonight’s…show? It’s worth noting that this is being released as a podcast, rather than a stream, and that’s somewhat unlike most ways in which developers choose to talk to players at the moment. Just don’t go in expect to Tier 3 Sub to Phil Spencer and you should be fine.

We’re inside 30 minutes away from tonight’s…show? It’s worth noting that this is being released as a podcast, rather than a stream, and that’s somewhat unlike most ways in which developers choose to talk to players at the moment. Just don’t go in expect to Tier 3 Sub to Phil Spencer and you should be fine.

2024-02-15T19:38:15.775ZFor the moment, there’s not a huge amount more to say - I can’t really stress enough that beyond that report about Pentiment and Hi-Fi Rush I mentioned earlier, there’s very little information about what to expect going around tonight. The sentiment does seem to be that we’re waiting to see which games are going multiplatform, rather than whether any games will make the jump, but ultimately, we won’t know that for certain until the podcast starts in just over 20 minutes' time.

For the moment, there’s not a huge amount more to say - I can’t really stress enough that beyond that report about Pentiment and Hi-Fi Rush I mentioned earlier, there’s very little information about what to expect going around tonight. The sentiment does seem to be that we’re waiting to see which games are going multiplatform, rather than whether any games will make the jump, but ultimately, we won’t know that for certain until the podcast starts in just over 20 minutes' time.

2024-02-15T19:56:48.949ZWell, I didn’tthinkwe’d hear much before the premiere, but here we are, with a little tease from long-time Xbox personality, Larry Hryb.So…what’s everyone up to today?🙃February 15, 2024

Well, I didn’tthinkwe’d hear much before the premiere, but here we are, with a little tease from long-time Xbox personality, Larry Hryb.

So…what’s everyone up to today?🙃February 15, 2024

2024-02-15T20:04:38.861ZDiving right into the exclusivity question. “We made the decision that we’re gonna take four games to the other consoles,” says Spencer. “Just four games; not a change to our kind of fundamental exclusive strategy.”

Diving right into the exclusivity question. “We made the decision that we’re gonna take four games to the other consoles,” says Spencer. “Just four games; not a change to our kind of fundamental exclusive strategy.”

2024-02-15T20:06:02.257ZSpencer cites “some specific reasons” for why the company is doing this. Says it’s all about long-term health and the leadership team is always looking to learn and grow.Declines to actually say which four games are coming to other platforms, but previous reports claimed Pentiment and Hi-Fi Rush were coming elsewhere. Does say: not Starfield, not Indiana Jones.

Spencer cites “some specific reasons” for why the company is doing this. Says it’s all about long-term health and the leadership team is always looking to learn and grow.Declines to actually say which four games are coming to other platforms, but previous reports claimed Pentiment and Hi-Fi Rush were coming elsewhere. Does say: not Starfield, not Indiana Jones.

2024-02-15T20:07:13.935Z"I do have a fundamental belief that over the next 5 or 10 years, exclusive games – games that are exclusive to one piece of hardware – are going to be a smaller and smaller part of the game industry,” adds Spencer.

“I do have a fundamental belief that over the next 5 or 10 years, exclusive games – games that are exclusive to one piece of hardware – are going to be a smaller and smaller part of the game industry,” adds Spencer.

2024-02-15T20:08:00.380ZSpencer continuing to say that Xbox wants to be a great platform for creators, but that basically admits success even in the present is regularly multiplatform.

Spencer continuing to say that Xbox wants to be a great platform for creators, but that basically admits success even in the present is regularly multiplatform.

2024-02-15T20:09:44.117ZSpencer talks a little bit about the four games coming to other platforms. Two seem to be live service titles, but two are smaller titles. Sea of Thieves and Grounded for the first two, maybe, with Pentiment and Hi-Fi Rush for the latter? Sure does sound like it.

Spencer talks a little bit about the four games coming to other platforms. Two seem to be live service titles, but two are smaller titles. Sea of Thieves and Grounded for the first two, maybe, with Pentiment and Hi-Fi Rush for the latter? Sure does sound like it.

2024-02-15T20:11:51.240ZContinued talk about growing Xbox as a platform for games and creators and as a publisher while the strategy is reaching more players in more places. Not a lot of detail about what that means.

Continued talk about growing Xbox as a platform for games and creators and as a publisher while the strategy is reaching more players in more places. Not a lot of detail about what that means.

2024-02-15T20:13:25.622ZMatt Booty citing Fortnite and Roblox as examples of multiplatform titles that really do benefit from being that way. Commits to the idea that there will still be games you can play only on Xbox, echoing Spencer saying that just because there are four games coming to other platforms there need be no expectation for others to also come.Kind of sounds like: just because this is happening, don’t assume Halo is coming to PlayStation.

Matt Booty citing Fortnite and Roblox as examples of multiplatform titles that really do benefit from being that way. Commits to the idea that there will still be games you can play only on Xbox, echoing Spencer saying that just because there are four games coming to other platforms there need be no expectation for others to also come.Kind of sounds like: just because this is happening, don’t assume Halo is coming to PlayStation.

2024-02-15T20:14:33.118ZBooty and Sarah Bond also doubling down on the idea of first-party Xbox titles coming first and foremost to Game Pass day and date of release. Bond announces that Activision Blizzard titles are, in fact, coming to Game Pass – starting with Diablo 4.

Booty and Sarah Bond also doubling down on the idea of first-party Xbox titles coming first and foremost to Game Pass day and date of release. Bond announces that Activision Blizzard titles are, in fact, coming to Game Pass – starting with Diablo 4.

2024-02-15T20:15:44.409ZSpencer goes back to tooting the horn of Game Pass in general. How this “new” strategy is really just a continuance of Xbox’s strategy historically. It’s all about expanding the reach of the platform, through various taglines over the last decade. Seems a little revisionist, but I’ll let him have this one.

Spencer goes back to tooting the horn of Game Pass in general. How this “new” strategy is really just a continuance of Xbox’s strategy historically. It’s all about expanding the reach of the platform, through various taglines over the last decade. Seems a little revisionist, but I’ll let him have this one.

2024-02-15T20:16:41.667ZThere’s a trailer for Diablo 4 coming to “Game Pass” even. Not Xbox Game Pass. “Game Pass.“March 28!

There’s a trailer for Diablo 4 coming to “Game Pass” even. Not Xbox Game Pass. “Game Pass.”

March 28!

2024-02-15T20:19:27.772ZSpencer addresses the fact that Xbox has shipped on other platforms before, and frequently.“If you look, with the addition of Activision and Blizzard and ZeniMax, we’re one of the largest game publishers on PlayStation,” he says, “we’re one of the largest publishers on the Nintendo Switch, especially when you put Minecraft into the equation as well.““And now, we’re one of the largest publishers on mobile platforms as well,” Spencer adds. “And that’s not something that we want to back away from.”

Spencer addresses the fact that Xbox has shipped on other platforms before, and frequently.

“If you look, with the addition of Activision and Blizzard and ZeniMax, we’re one of the largest game publishers on PlayStation,” he says, “we’re one of the largest publishers on the Nintendo Switch, especially when you put Minecraft into the equation as well.““And now, we’re one of the largest publishers on mobile platforms as well,” Spencer adds. “And that’s not something that we want to back away from.”

2024-02-15T20:21:58.203ZSpencer continues talking about Xbox growth overall. Constantly talking about the health of players, creators, and business. Says that hardware is “a critical component” of this strategy overall.

Spencer continues talking about Xbox growth overall. Constantly talking about the health of players, creators, and business. Says that hardware is “a critical component” of this strategy overall.

2024-02-15T20:23:31.432ZNotes that not everybody is going to play on Xbox hardware, though. “We fully accepted that we’re going to have Xbox players across all kinds of devices,” he says.

Notes that not everybody is going to play on Xbox hardware, though. “We fully accepted that we’re going to have Xbox players across all kinds of devices,” he says.

2024-02-15T20:26:01.242ZTina Amini kind of sidling into addressing but not really addressing Xbox’s arguably rough 2023. Spencer addresses lack of growth, but for the entire industry in general. Wants people to feel like they’re part of somewhere successful, somewhere growing.Spencer talks about how no matter how good a game is, it’s still about overall growth. “I think there’s an amazing set of games coming in 2024,” says Spencer, “but if we don’t get to growing as an industry, the industry will struggle.”

Tina Amini kind of sidling into addressing but not really addressing Xbox’s arguably rough 2023. Spencer addresses lack of growth, but for the entire industry in general. Wants people to feel like they’re part of somewhere successful, somewhere growing.Spencer talks about how no matter how good a game is, it’s still about overall growth. “I think there’s an amazing set of games coming in 2024,” says Spencer, “but if we don’t get to growing as an industry, the industry will struggle.”

2024-02-15T20:28:50.613ZSpencer claims that the focus at Xbox has been the latter. I’m not sure that’s accurate, but it’s certainly something he’s now said!

Spencer claims that the focus at Xbox has been the latter. I’m not sure that’s accurate, but it’s certainly something he’s now said!

2024-02-15T20:33:57.291ZI… feel like I’m not really understanding what Booty is talking about here. Literally everything he’s saying seems to be true for largely all of the Big Three? Notes that developers want to find the biggest audience possible, to have people enjoy and participate in what they’ve made.“I think we’re in a unique position to deliver on that, just because we are the platform – we build hardware,” says Booty. “We’ve got a first-party games group. And then we’ve got a system that ties that together that brings together your friends, your progression, your achievements, all of that.“I am having trouble determining how that’s any different from PlayStation or Nintendo, but maybe that’s just me. It feels like all of that’s true for the communities on other platforms already.

I… feel like I’m not really understanding what Booty is talking about here. Literally everything he’s saying seems to be true for largely all of the Big Three? Notes that developers want to find the biggest audience possible, to have people enjoy and participate in what they’ve made.“I think we’re in a unique position to deliver on that, just because we are the platform – we build hardware,” says Booty. “We’ve got a first-party games group. And then we’ve got a system that ties that together that brings together your friends, your progression, your achievements, all of that.“I am having trouble determining how that’s any different from PlayStation or Nintendo, but maybe that’s just me. It feels like all of that’s true for the communities on other platforms already.

2024-02-15T20:35:22.746ZBond back up talking about how investments are all about making bigger and bigger games. “How do we actually give more options to game creators so they can have the greatest success?” says Bond.

Bond back up talking about how investments are all about making bigger and bigger games. “How do we actually give more options to game creators so they can have the greatest success?” says Bond.

2024-02-15T20:38:02.066ZAnd there it is, Bond has cited Palworld’s success after launching into Game Pass and PC simultaneously. “They were a game preview, they launched in Game Pass. They also simultaneously launched in Steam,” says Bond.She claims that it’s the combination of these things that led to the outsized success for developer Pocketpair. That’s all just… true, actually. Not much to find umbrage with.

And there it is, Bond has cited Palworld’s success after launching into Game Pass and PC simultaneously. “They were a game preview, they launched in Game Pass. They also simultaneously launched in Steam,” says Bond.She claims that it’s the combination of these things that led to the outsized success for developer Pocketpair. That’s all just… true, actually. Not much to find umbrage with.

2024-02-15T20:38:27.690Z"It was the largest third-party Game Pass launch ever,” says Bond. Good for them! Genuinely.

“It was the largest third-party Game Pass launch ever,” says Bond. Good for them! Genuinely.

2024-02-15T20:40:06.371ZBond continues, saying that it’s all about the options Xbox brings to the table, and that the team can see it working.“We’re at the highest level of users on console, the highest level of users on PC, the highest level of users on cloud ever,” says Bond. “We have double-digit growth rate on PC and cloud, places where we’re enabling creators to actually reach new players beyond the console ecosystem.”

Bond continues, saying that it’s all about the options Xbox brings to the table, and that the team can see it working.“We’re at the highest level of users on console, the highest level of users on PC, the highest level of users on cloud ever,” says Bond. “We have double-digit growth rate on PC and cloud, places where we’re enabling creators to actually reach new players beyond the console ecosystem.”

2024-02-15T20:41:11.473ZHere we go. What role does hardware play for Xbox? A big question for folks heading into this business update.

Here we go. What role does hardware play for Xbox? A big question for folks heading into this business update.

2024-02-15T20:43:09.777Z"When we look at our hardware, it really is, and Phil said this earlier, it’s where you get the most flagship, seminal experience of Xbox,” says Bond. True! When you’re playing an Xbox, you’re definitely playing an Xbox.

“When we look at our hardware, it really is, and Phil said this earlier, it’s where you get the most flagship, seminal experience of Xbox,” says Bond. True! When you’re playing an Xbox, you’re definitely playing an Xbox.

2024-02-15T20:44:41.820ZBond goes on to note the Xbox hardware specs also serve as a handy developer target. I’m not going to get into the whole apparent headache that is targeting for the Series S, and seemingly neither is Bond.

Bond goes on to note the Xbox hardware specs also serve as a handy developer target. I’m not going to get into the whole apparent headache that is targeting for the Series S, and seemingly neither is Bond.

2024-02-15T20:48:00.419ZTalks up investments and giving creators “an easy way to access as many players as possible.” Says there’s more creators building for Xbox “than ever before, thousands of them,” due to these investments.Kind of a weird way to say Xbox bought a ton of studios and now they’re working on games for Xbox, but technically true! I won’t speculate whether that includes third-party studios in that number, but “creators” is a broad enough category to include a lot of folks.

Talks up investments and giving creators “an easy way to access as many players as possible.” Says there’s more creators building for Xbox “than ever before, thousands of them,” due to these investments.Kind of a weird way to say Xbox bought a ton of studios and now they’re working on games for Xbox, but technically true! I won’t speculate whether that includes third-party studios in that number, but “creators” is a broad enough category to include a lot of folks.

2024-02-15T20:50:00.204ZHere we go! Bond says there’s exciting stuff to share about hardware “this holiday.” Console refresh? Handheld? Both? Neither? She doesn’t say, but it does at least sound like there’s… something on the horizon.

Here we go! Bond says there’s exciting stuff to share about hardware “this holiday.” Console refresh? Handheld? Both? Neither? She doesn’t say, but it does at least sound like there’s… something on the horizon.

2024-02-15T20:54:46.037Z"We’re also invested in the next-generation roadmap,” Bond continues. “And what we’re really focused on there is delivering the largest technical leap you will have ever seen in a hardware generation.“OK, Sarah Bond. I’m into it. Idowant to see the largest technical leap I’ve ever seen in a hardware generation.

“We’re also invested in the next-generation roadmap,” Bond continues. “And what we’re really focused on there is delivering the largest technical leap you will have ever seen in a hardware generation.“OK, Sarah Bond. I’m into it. Idowant to see the largest technical leap I’ve ever seen in a hardware generation.

2024-02-15T20:55:57.639ZNow talking about the game library and preservation. Spencer notes he enjoyed announcing back compat back when. “People were reading the teleprompter before I could it – I’m a slow reader,” he says.

Now talking about the game library and preservation. Spencer notes he enjoyed announcing back compat back when. “People were reading the teleprompter before I could it – I’m a slow reader,” he says.

2024-02-15T20:56:55.396ZSpencer says that Xbox looks at how Windows has maintained software compatibility and the ability to play older games on current software. Says they try to bring that view to consoles, but it’s more difficult overall.

Spencer says that Xbox looks at how Windows has maintained software compatibility and the ability to play older games on current software. Says they try to bring that view to consoles, but it’s more difficult overall.

2024-02-15T20:59:31.344Z"It’s harder in console, because the line between what the hardware is and what the game is in consoles is traditionally tighter,” says Spencer, “which makes compatibility… you end up doing these generational compatibilities that we’ve built.““But I will say compatibility,” he continues, “the ability to not only play the games, but my saves are still there with our cloud save systems, to try to keep the services up as long as we can so that people can play, is a tenet of what we are as Xbox. It’s our foundation.”

“It’s harder in console, because the line between what the hardware is and what the game is in consoles is traditionally tighter,” says Spencer, “which makes compatibility… you end up doing these generational compatibilities that we’ve built.““But I will say compatibility,” he continues, “the ability to not only play the games, but my saves are still there with our cloud save systems, to try to keep the services up as long as we can so that people can play, is a tenet of what we are as Xbox. It’s our foundation.”

2024-02-15T21:00:59.279ZSpencer once again hyping up the fact that there are “entitlements” across devices when you buy from Xbox or Windows. He… calls this a furthering of game compatibility, which, I mean, I guess? I’m not sure I’d call it that, but Phil Spencer certainly has.

Spencer once again hyping up the fact that there are “entitlements” across devices when you buy from Xbox or Windows. He… calls this a furthering of game compatibility, which, I mean, I guess? I’m not sure I’d call it that, but Phil Spencer certainly has.

2024-02-15T21:01:32.520ZAnd we have finally arrived at the final segment: What does Xbox stand for today? I have zero idea what to expect from this.

And we have finally arrived at the final segment: What does Xbox stand for today? I have zero idea what to expect from this.

2024-02-15T21:02:49.167Z"When you play on Xbox,” says Bond, “what we’re saying is you’re playing on a platform where you know the biggest games in the world are always going to be. You’re playing on a platform where you get to access Game Pass. And all of the games from our incredible range of studios will always launch in Game Pass day one.”

“When you play on Xbox,” says Bond, “what we’re saying is you’re playing on a platform where you know the biggest games in the world are always going to be. You’re playing on a platform where you get to access Game Pass. And all of the games from our incredible range of studios will always launch in Game Pass day one.”

2024-02-15T21:04:50.375ZBond talks about crossplay and save and progression, backwards compatibility, cloud gaming. Xbox stands for these things, apparently.“I think most importantly,” adds Bond, “Xbox is a place where you know when you’re investing in Xbox, you’re investing somewhere that is dedicated to making games more successful and creators more successful, so that they can invest more to bring even better experiences to you all of the time.”

Bond talks about crossplay and save and progression, backwards compatibility, cloud gaming. Xbox stands for these things, apparently.“I think most importantly,” adds Bond, “Xbox is a place where you know when you’re investing in Xbox, you’re investing somewhere that is dedicated to making games more successful and creators more successful, so that they can invest more to bring even better experiences to you all of the time.”

2024-02-15T21:10:37.987ZMatt Booty back up to talk about how big Xbox is now due to buying a bunch of other folks, hyping releases of Hellblade 2, Avowed, and more. Booty also seems to 100% confirm a June showcase, which I think is new as far as definitive announcements go.

Matt Booty back up to talk about how big Xbox is now due to buying a bunch of other folks, hyping releases of Hellblade 2, Avowed, and more. Booty also seems to 100% confirm a June showcase, which I think is new as far as definitive announcements go.

2024-02-15T21:11:35.076ZOh. That’s it! That’s the end. The “podcast” is done with a final farewell about seeing folks in June.

Oh. That’s it! That’s the end. The “podcast” is done with a final farewell about seeing folks in June.

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Planescape: Torment

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Xbox’s got some news about hardware, exclusivity, and more

Everything announced at the Future of Xbox event

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