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Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer Rumored to Retire Following Next-Gen Xbox Launch

Nomad76

Nomad76

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Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer is reportedly planning to retire after the launch of the next-generation Xbox console, according to reports from gaming industry sources. The information reported by Insider Gaming originates from @TheGhostOfHope, a leaker with a track record for Call of Duty information. Spencer is allegedly working closely with Xbox President Sarah Bond and her team to facilitate a smooth leadership transition. Bond is expected to assume the role of Microsoft Gaming CEO following Spencer's retirement. However, no replacement for Bond's current position as Xbox President has been identified at this time.

Windows Central's Jez Corden has indicated that Spencer's retirement would occur "some time" after the next-generation Xbox launches, though no formal plan is currently in place. Industry reports suggest the next-generation Xbox hardware could arrive as early as 2026 or 2027. This report arrived during a tough time for Xbox, as Microsoft cut jobs across its gaming division affecting many Xbox studios. The company canceled several big-name projects, including Everwild, Perfect Dark, and ZeniMax Online's unannounced MMORPG. Microsoft also shut down The Initiative. Phil Spencer has been in charge of Microsoft's gaming division for more than ten years. He has overseen key efforts such as the launch of Game Pass, the purchase of Activision Blizzard, and various strategic moves that have shaped Xbox's current market standing.



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With the way the gaming department has turned out. Im not really surprised he's decided it was his time to leave.
 
Good.

In 2001, I saved up $700 from my first part time job and bought the Xbox original launch bundle with Halo, Jet Set Radio Future and Dead or Alive 3. Went to the midnight launch and won some trivia contest in the tents they had set up. Won a DVD remote control and dongle pack. Later got Gunvalkyrie and got funny feelings looking at Kelly's ass. Good times.

In 2025, I have no idea what an Xbox is and the answer seems to be "(shrug) It depends?! (thumbs up)". Whatever it is, it's apeing the Switch form factor - which I already enjoyed with my Game Gear in the 90s - and will be fueled by digital licenses under the guise of "Like Nintendo's store, but not shit!" even though MS fumbled that twice already with the Microsoft Store and the Xbox App on PC. And somehow Halo died.

Yeah its time to go. Unless MS goes deep into true emulation on PCs, take your golden parachute and run.
 
Imouto said:
Where's the article about the mass layoffs, studio closures and game cancellations?

You chose to publish this rumor and make the real news a foot note in it?
Click to expand...
Yea, but the REAL news is that they will take all the money saved from the layoffs, closures & cancellations, park it in a hidden, high-interest account somewhere, then just hand it to Philly boy as part of his "Golden Parachute"

And then, shortly afterwards, look for the prices of all M$ hardware to increase significantly to make up for it :(
 
Man just close down the whole Xbox division and focus on PC gaming please, DX12 has been a wreck for so long.
 
Imouto said:
Where's the article about the mass layoffs, studio closures and game cancellations?

You chose to publish this rumor and make the real news a foot note in it?
Click to expand...
Yes, it's like EXTRA EXTRA news today and here be crickets :)
 
Okay, so the next xbox launch is going to be butchered, but at least after that there's a chance they'll become relevant again.

The only notable thing that came out of the brand in the past decade is a controller with the best d-pad, a fridge, and a toaster.
 
IDK whether to cheer or to boo.
 
MS already confirmed that this was FAKE news. But who cares? juste keep lying, something will remain.
 
On a side note. It wouldn't surprise me if M$ were to wind down their gaming department and roll all of the resources in to Activision. I mean Activision has been rolling as a standalone business for decades and they were one of the few giants in the industry before the buyout/merger and thus highly likely to have the infrastructure and resources in place to hit the ground running if there was any sort of spinoff or decoupling.

This could leave the door open for Bobby Koticks return. I mean he did make money hand over fist for all the investors and share holders. Im sure he'd carry on doing the same if M$ offered him the job back.
 
FreedomEclipse said:
On a side note. It wouldn't surprise me if M$ were to wind down their gaming department and roll all of the resources in to Activision. I mean Activision has been rolling as a standalone business for decades and they were one of the few giants in the industry before the buyout/merger and thus highly likely to have the infrastructure and resources in place to hit the ground running if there was any sort of spinoff or decoupling.

This could leave the door open for Bobby Koticks return. I mean he did make money hand over fist for all the investors and share holders. Im sure he'd carry on doing the same if M$ offered him the job back.
Click to expand...

-Astute observation, wouldn't discount this possibility at all. As it is, MS seems to have just a ton of administrative overhead for very little in the way of games actually being released and making money.

If you're going to start gutting, best to do it with the group that doesn't have the track record.
 
Hard to believe that making MS's biggest purchase on video game publisher to force folks into a failing subscription didn't work... Crazy how much the executives get paid.
 
Oh well Indies become even more important.
 
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