September 2nd 2024.
Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox, recently opened up about his decision to turn down exclusivity deals for two popular games, Destiny and Guitar Hero. Despite facing criticism for his record, Spencer stands by his choices and has no regrets.
It's been a decade since Spencer took the reins at Xbox and he has remained a fan-favorite among gamers. However, some have started to question his leadership, particularly when it comes to the confusing messaging around exclusivity policies. Last year, he admitted to being upset about the failure of Xbox exclusive Redfall and the subsequent closure of developer Arkane Austin.
In a recent interview, Spencer revealed that he had the opportunity to make both Destiny and Guitar Hero Xbox exclusives. However, he turned them down, admitting, "I've passed on some of the worst...made some of the worst game choice decisions." Interestingly, Bungie, the developer of Destiny, was once owned by Xbox before becoming an independent studio. It's likely that they approached Spencer with the game in 2013.
But at the time, Destiny didn't really click with Spencer. It wasn't until the release of the House of Wolves expansion in 2015 that he truly saw the potential of the game. By then, Activision had taken over publishing duties. Later on, Bungie left Activision and was eventually acquired by Sony, leaving the future of the studio uncertain.
During his interview at PAX West 2024, Spencer also revealed that he had passed on the popular rhythm game series, Guitar Hero. This was long before he became head of Xbox, sometime before 2005. Activision ended up publishing the game and enjoyed great success with its unique peripherals. However, the series eventually succumbed to oversaturation and was put on hold, although there have been rumors of a potential comeback.
Despite these missed opportunities, Spencer remains unapologetic. He said, "I'm not a regrets type person. Maybe that's a fault of mine, but I passed on so many games. I could look back and say...but no, I try to look forward and be positive about the things that we are doing." While it's not clear what other games he may have passed on, it's known that Xbox also turned down an exclusivity deal with Marvel back in 2014. Although the specifics of the deal are unknown, it's likely related to Sony's Spider-Man game, which was released in 2018.
It's not uncommon for executives to make mistakes, and it's commendable for Spencer to own up to these examples. However, some critics may still believe that it's time for new management at Xbox. It's clear that Spencer didn't see the potential in Destiny or Guitar Hero, but he remains confident in his decisions and looks to the future with optimism.
In conclusion, Phil Spencer's decision to turn down exclusivity deals for Destiny and Guitar Hero may have been a missed opportunity for Xbox, but he has no regrets. Despite facing criticism, he stands by his choices and remains focused on the future. To stay updated on all things gaming, be sure to follow us on Twitter, sign up for our newsletter, and submit your own letters and features through our website.
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