Head of Xbox and Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has taken to Twitter today to comment on the unfortunate delays of Bethesda's Starfield and Redfall to 2023, admitting that Xbox needs to "better meet" certain expectations.
In his message, Spencer supported the decision to give the development teams more time on both games, but also acknowledged that "delivering quality and consistency is expected," and promised to work harder in this area:
Of course, Spencer had an even bigger issue on his hands with the delay of Halo Infinite back in 2020, which was originally meant to launch alongside the Xbox Series X and S, but ended up being pushed back an entire year.
Today's news is a disappointing blow without a doubt, but it's at least comforting to see that Spencer is taking the feedback on board. Let's hope the extra wait for these games allows the dev teams to create something truly special.
What do you make of Spencer's comments? Let us know down below.
Comments 50
There's nothing wrong with giving developers more time. Most fans know that creating a game is a complex process. It's the fact that Xbox announces things way way too early. This creates too much hype and too many expectations which ultimately lead to disappointment. Stop announcing games so early and fix the management at Xbox Game studios.
It was Todd Howard himself that announced the Starfield release date. Each studio head should be aware of where their games are so this doesn't happen. There is a good reason Bethesda got bought. It is because they pull crap like this or release crap games.
As long as the delays lead to top end AAA game quality experiences then it’s a great decision to delay.
Time will tell and we shall see in 2023.
no xbox games in 2022
The problem is why didn't we know about the delay a month or two ago? Who's checking in on this? It honestly look's like they just went down to Bethesda last week, saw the state of the games and made the tough decision....but did they think it was on track the last time they saw it? When was that? A quarterly update on projects seems like normal business to me. Like Halo the year before it seems like Phil and Co are in the dark as to what's going on until the 11th hour. Just bad management somewhere in the chain.
Sucks. But, BotW2 got pushed back anyway. So let GoW2 just rule the holiday I guess.
Honestly this is a massive letdown and it's extremely concerning how poor the senior management of xbox is when it comes to first party games and supporting their service with their own games. Whilst It is not a bad thing a game which needs to be delayed is getting delayed within the context of xbox as a whole and their recent history it's just embarrassing. Halo infinite came out after a year delay still half complete with a terrible live service, 2022 has no AAA or AA xbox first party games. So in 2 years of the Xbox being out and paying for game pass there is only one AAA or AA game fully made (FH5) being offered on gamepass... If There's no contingency plans and Phil isn't busting his nut to get some amazing game pass deals for AAA games in 2022 then I don't even know what to say.
Let's not kid ourselves, they knew this wouldn't go over well. I don't really mind because I have a lot of Xbox games to buy and play, but not everyone games like I do.
The last thing we want is for the devs to crunch - it’s not good for them and players may end up with a rushed product. Just don’t announce release dates so early.
From a single game perspective sure it makes sense to wait for a good product. From a total Xbox perspective they have bought soooo many studios, they should be making it rain with AAA and other content.
@GhanaViking you make an excellent point about Todd Howard. Why on earth was he saying that the game will be ready by November 2022? Was this all a PR stunt to drive more XGP subscriptions. Surely a game director knows when their game will be done. Also what is Matt Booty doing? Does he even show up to work anymore? Isn't he suppose to be the Head of xbox game studios? Why does he not set realistic milestones? Does he not check the progress of game? Why did he let all those things at The Initiative and Undead Labs happen? I don't understand what his job role is? It's amazing that a company like Microsoft that has had so much success in the software industry has such bad management in its gaming division. Makes no sense
@Chaudy
Matt Booty doing? Does he even show up to work anymore? Isn't he suppose to be the Head of xbox game studios? Why does he not set realistic milestones? Does he not check the progress of game? Why did he let all those things at The Initiative and Undead Labs happen? I don't understand what his job role is? It's amazing that a company like Microsoft that has had so much success in the software industry has such bad management in its gaming division. Makes no sense
He doing nothing like a lot of them at Xbox when it comes to studio management.
I could manage the arse of these guys with half my brain switched off, one eye shut and half a sleep.
Lazy high paid executives, paid far to much money.
Ruining Xbox game development, it’s like they don’t have a clue most of them.
I thought last year was a bit bad, but this year really does dam suck for Xbox.
It’s embarrassing to have all these studios in your back pocket and not have anything to show for it.
Meanwhile the competition is doing more with far less assets at their disposal to keep their fans happy. And as for us Xbox users, what are we left with? We’ll the truth is, not much. Exclusives help separate your console of choice over the other guy’s and are vital for brand recognition. Sony and Nintendo have that thanks to their amazing first party output. Microsoft has only really had Halo and Forza over the years and that formula isn’t working like it once did. Gamers are tired of the same old same old. And let’s be real, this just didn’t start with the Bethesda deal, Xbox couldn’t even manage a consistent release schedule back in the Xbox One days when there wasn’t any Covid so this whole “I’ll let them off the hook” take going around, I’m not buying. The leadership at Xbox has got to be called into question at some point in regards to studio management and why we’re not seeing games that have probably had 4 years or more in development by now.
@Dezzy70 absolutely and I am completely shocked that no one at Microsoft cares. I mean imagine if Apple managed its Macbook development so badly or if Amazon did this with its AWS projects. It wouldn't happen because they have airtight management, something which is seriously missing at Xbox Game Studios. 23 Studios, that is the most in history owned by any home console brand and yet struggling to release games. It makes no sense.
You have to ask, how is Playstation able to release first party Exclusives, consistently year on year at high quality with less Studios than xbox. It really shows how good their studio and project management is.
they were SOOO confident when announcing the release date, what a way to squander any credibility they had left after the Halo Infinite delays
@Kingleo31 that is the perfect comment. You've literally summarised everything so perfectly and I'm glad people are calling Xbox management heads out on this
@Zezimark piss poor. this seems to happen all the time. Phil needs to do more than "take it on board". Xbox' inability to launch compelling software is becoming their trademark.
Honestly dont care..I want all games to release when the developer is genuinely happy...but I'm not fickle like a huge chunk of the entitled cry babies who want it both ways....the ones who moan when games get delayed but then also moan when games release not in the best state and say why didn't they delay it....facepalm
Not giving overly optimistic release dates would help.
@StylesT I literally came here to say this. I would love to see these kids on here make a AAA game and see how quickly they can do it with all of their bosses and people who are funding the game looking down on them.
@Chaudy
All down to good focused project management.
You set goals and milestones for each level of the project and give each specific tasks and time frames.
You have regular reviews to achieve those aims and objectives as a team etc.
You steer the project in the right direction in both cost and time objectives.
@StylesT
You have a certain point but in two years this November apart from FH5 what top end AAA exclusive have Xbox studios put out.
Done forget they had studios before the series x released and new about releasing the series x.
It all didn’t just appear over night after someone thought about it the night before.
We call it PPP
Piss Poor Performance 😂
Honestly Xbox should have been transparent about this earlier. We’ve had no news from the beginning of the year with any project they’ve had. I’m tired of all the false promises from the brand. If Tunic ends up being the biggest exclusive Xbox has this year, that’s sad, but very possible.
To be fair, eventually these games will release. It's just that looking back at MS thinking Halo Infinite was complete, in which state are they??
@Chaudy
Xbox studio management team briefing.
Remember team.
We have to be as much use as chocolate teapot.
Show we can’t organise a piss up in a brewery.
And finally can’t arrange a bunk up in a brothel.
Meeting over.
Am I the only one happy they're giving it the time it needs to be the product they want it to be? I personally feel overwhelmed with the amount of games I currently have in my Game Pass backlog so more time to enjoy them the better.
I understand the games need more time and it’s ok, but right now I’m beyond disappointed at Xbox for literally no having games on 2022, the sad state of Halo Infinite, and the outage that didn’t let you play the games you own…
Hopefully this shakes him awake to the need for stable strong leadership roles in every Xbox owned studio.
Today's news is a disappointing blow without a doubt, but it's at least comforting to see that Spencer is taking the feedback on board. Let's hope the extra wait for these games allows the dev teams to create something truly special.
Tbh I’m not comforted as all it shows me is they’re not learning. They put halo on the box! They delayed it a year…and, let’s be frank, it’s still not finished. I don’t think any of us being sold the year delay to ensure quality thought that that meant the game still would release incomplete.
Phil Spencer can say he hears us all he wants. And I am glad that he’s not just stressing the importance of delays for quality as that’s a separate issue… the good sign is that he’s acknowledging the need for consistency. Which is so important when you’re selling a subscription - which is their focus.
But saying they hear us ultimately isn’t enough if they’re not showing they’re actually listening. And to date we see no proof of that.
The Xbox community has been very vocal for years that there’s clearly a problem with management over at Xbox. With ensuring these games stay on track. For me there’s zero faith right now in them being able to be consistent with their studios releases. I can’t see how anybody could have faith in them. They need to show they’re making improvements to their management. It’s beyond time.
At this point I wish I hadn't bought a Xbox Series X. I would have ben better spending the money on more PS5 games. Phil Spencer is no better then Don Mattrick and should be forced out like him.
@Bleachedsmiles The problem with management goes all the way to the top. Look at the problems they are having with other 1st party games.
@XenonKnight The problem with management maybe does lie with Phil. He’s a good face to front xbox though. What we see of him comes across as somebody relatable, has a genuine enthusiasm for gaming. But I wonder how many can see him having an ability to be cut throat? Which is what you need if you’re going to get out the moving parts that simply aren’t working. Something tells me he’s not got it in him… so management will likely keep fumbling.
If their aim was to simply sell hardware you could probably get away with putting out one AAA first party game a year…it wouldn’t be great, but it wouldn’t be unusual either.
Xbox’s aim though is to sell a subscription service. Ideally to ensure growth you need to be supporting that service monthly not yearly. Relying on 3rd party leaves no guarantee you’re not left with a quiet month. Stalker 2 should have hit in jan. Two point campus last month etc. things are out of your hands beyond your control. So xbox needs to ensure one of their many studios is offering a game to the subscription service month by month. I have zero faith xbox are capable of this.
@s0u1z problem is they also delayed halo infinite & it still released unfinished , just because they delay a game doesn't always mean it's going to be a good finished game
I don’t mind. November is my busy time. And I have a huge backlog. I think panic is definitely on the table (for us fans) but I want to see what happens at their showcase. I’m not expecting any surprise releases for 2022 outside of maybe Forza, but if they show gameplay of a few big games we’ve been waiting on (Avowed, Fable, Hellblade 2) with 2023 release dates then it will turn this around. It would set up the revolving door of exclusives the start rolling in 23. If we don’t get 2023 release dates on most of these then it’s definitely time to start questioning things. I’m thinking 2023 - Redfall, Starfield, Hellblade 2, and maybe SOD 3. and 2024 Fable, Avowed, Compulsion game, and one or two others.
“We hear you. We hear you. It just doesn’t matter.”
@BartoxTharglod
I have done software development for over 30 years.
There is two scenarios I have seen play out in that time on every major project I participated in...
Scenario 1: Release on time crap or significantly cut content and features
Scenario 2: Release when the software is ready and meeting its original vision.
I choose scenario 2 every time. I would argue that if a team knows when they are going to finish and finishes on time, they did nothing new or ambitious. You only know what needs to be done fully in software development if you have done it before or it is easy.
Yo.
Halo, Gears and Forza 2005-2022
am I right?
@Kingleo31 & @BartoxTharglod well said both 👏👏👏
@StylesT I think it’s about both the macro and the micro. On an individual game level I don’t think many take issue with a game being delayed it it’s not ready. But looking at ALL Xbox game studios they should be getting content out at a reasonable cadence, meanwhile they’ve had ZERO releases so far in 2022 and their biggest two titles of the year pushed back. This is an ongoing and repeated problem. That isn’t the same as “wanting to have it both ways”.
As @aj102404 rightly said “From a total Xbox perspective they have bought so many studios, they should be making it rain with AAA and other (first party) content.”
@somnambulance If Tunic does end up being the biggest Xbox Exclusive of the year, then what an exclusive, truly amazing game!
i hope they will find a good pace on gamepass if 2021 was great 2022 for me is average at best we need big release and more games each month if you compare all the releases from 2021 to 2022 i'm sure you will notice that there was more game releases in the end of the year was frenzy xD
I have no problems with game delays. The issue is that they want us to subscribe to a service that isn’t meeting expectations. “Gamepass pays for itself if you play three full price games.” But we’re not getting this on the regular. I’m playing some indies and I played GotG, but all of these games were well below the $60 price point if I paid cash. It just doesn’t look like I’m getting great value this year. Oh well. Maybe they have something up there sleeve for this showcase.
I'm still sceptical that "delaying" games isn't just a marketing tactic at this point.
While there's initial frustration and disappointment at a game being pushed back, it only gives the public more awareness and anticipation of that game when it finally does release.
@Hypnotoad107 Indeed. In 18 months since Xbox Series X & S released Xbox Game Studios have only released 4-5 new games for the new consoles - Flight Sim, Psychonauts 2, FH5 and Halo: Infinite. (Technically Flight Sim was an 11 month old game, but let's allow it) That's just not a good return on all the studios they have, especially with things looking quite barren for the next few months.
While personally I like a LOT of the 3rd party games on Game Pass which makes subscribing easily worth it for me, your mileage may vary.
But it's possible to be thrilled by Game Pass but disappointed with XGS output, as I am, they're not mutually exclusive.
Most of MS' main line studios have not long released a title.
Halo (2021) Gears (2019, 2020) Forza (2018, 2020) SoT (2018) SoD 2 (2018)
It's only been just over a year since MS bought Bethesda, whose studios have released a lot of games during 2018 til now. Their most recent two being two PS timed exclusives. Even Bethesda Game Studios, the guys making Starfield, released Fallout 76 in 2018.
The other studio purchases were done in 2018, and all had just launched their titles too.
InXile - Bard's Tale (2018) and Wasteland 3 (2020)
Compulsion - We Happy Few (2018)
Obsidian - PoE (2018) TOW (2020) Grounded (2020)
Double Fine - Psychonauts 2 (2021)
Ninja Theory - Bleeding Edge (2020)
And we've had a pandemic and lockdowns.
Why is everybody so surprised that MS has no games this year?
Yes, they have bought up a lot of studios, but those studios are all fresh off a release. If it happens after the next 3 years, once Xbox has had chance to align the studios' releases properly, and we hopefully don't have another worldwide diaster, then you can complain.
I much prefer to hear of Daily's, meaning more Time and Money is spent on making the Game 'BETTER'. Its much preferred to having a Rushed release with more bugs/issues at launch and/or crunch culture on the dev team to meet an 'unrealistic' target.
Its understandable as ANYONE who understands coding, scripting, game making etc knows that its a very difficult and time consuming thing. Its nothing like TV, Movie, Music etc where you get out exactly what you put in. Code can cause other code that was 'working' to stop working or do something 'unexpected'.
I have always said that Games shouldn't get a 'fixed' date or even a window unless they are 99% sure it will make that window. I don't see why they can't be 'vague' about release windows (hoping for a '2022' release) and then ~6 months out a bit more narrowed in (Q1 2023 release) and then 2-3months out the date (21/03/23).
As for first party Xbox releases, I'm NOT concerned about the perceived lack and no idea of whether or not ANY 1st Party game will release in 2022 - its not as if they won't have 'Exclusives' coming from 3rd Party, ID@Xbox etc -Warhammer: Darktide, Scorn etc...
As for Game Pass, Its NOT just about the Big First Party games. Just because you may not 'get' the 2-3 big first party games that make it more 'cost effective' to subscribe, you are ALSO getting NEW Games every week! Some of those games are also the 'big' AAA releases - games like B4B, MLB21/22, R6:Extinction, Outriders etc and we know games like Plague Tale: Requiem, Scorn, Warhammer: Darktide, Stalker 2 (if still coming in Dec), Atomic Heart to name a few are still coming this year. I've already got my 'Value' in Game Pass - with Marvels GotG and ME:L as well as a few smaller but would of cost me 'more' to play than I spent on my Subscription.
To me, all these delays mean to me is that MS will now likely have to contact other devs to negotiate a Game Pass release to fill those 'gaps'...
@themightyant I agree with you. Largely the problem is the same problem Xbox has had, even before the pandemic. There’s promises of “so many games are coming and soon,” and it’s almost never been the case. I’m not giving them the satisfaction with Psychonauts 2 or Deathloop or even Ghostwire because honestly these titles were nearing completion before they were acquired. The problem isn’t that Starfield is delayed. The problem is that it doesn’t seem Xbox Studios have it together enough to release anything this year and it feels like they aren’t saying anything about it. There’s no justifying that. Sony and Nintendo haven’t seemed to have the same issue at all. Hopefully that June showcase proves me wrong, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we get more promises that don’t pan out.
And, in regards to Tunic, I enjoyed it, but like Death’s Door, I’d say it’s an 8/10 tier game for me. I enjoyed my time with it, I’d recommend it, but I don’t know if it’ll be in my top 10 games this year. That’s just me, personally though. I can see how you like it so much.
@somnambulance Not sure Nintendo are all that much better, their release cadence is glacial, but their studios are tiny by comparison and they almost always release high quality.
Re: Death's Door/Tunic. We all like different things. 8/10 still a great score. I'd love to hear some games you preferred, perhaps they won't be my cup of Tea, but perhaps i'll find the next game I love.
@themightyant Nintendo’s had a sturdy release schedule as well as third party exclusives that help pad things out for them, and there’s huge variety in their gaming roster. The might not have the most “serious” of titles, but that doesn’t matter when the games are all so solid. I’ve enjoyed the Switch’s exclusive output a great deal. It may be my favorite console line-up of all time. At the very least, it rivals the SNES for that position, in my eyes, at least.
For this year, I currently have Tunic tied for fifth place in my goty line-up. It’s tied with Horizon Forbidden West, Grand Turismo 7, and Infernax. In all honesty, it’s sort of weird to say, but I think I preferred Infernax out of that lot. My top four this year currently are: 1. Elden Ring, 2. Pokémon Legends Arceus, 3. Kirby and the Forgotten Land, 4. Triangle Strategy. It’s not exactly a deep cuts list this year, unfortunately. That was 2020’s job. Lol. As far as the games I’m looking most forward to, right now Hogwarts, Forspoken, and Shredder’s Revenge are at the top of the list, with some hesitant anticipation for Atomic Heart. There’s a couple indies I’m really interested in as well. Really got my fingers crossed we see Final Fantasy XVI and a Kojima project, but I’m not holding my breath on that yet.
@somnambulance Thanks for the list. I haven't played any of your top 4 yet, i'm often a few years behind baring Game pass and the occasional AAA that I'm desperate for Day 1. I look forward to playing them in due course, especially Elden Ring but I need to find a large slot of clear time for that one, might have to wait till Autumn/Winter.
I find it really difficult to compare games like Tunic or Death's Door with something like Horizon: Forbidden West. But it's probably DD, H:FW and Tunic in that order for me. They'll all likely be on my list at the end of the year. For now so is Her Story (unique FMV game from 2015) and Superliminal (a Portal like puzzle game).
Happy gaming.
@themightyant Ah, you’ve got great taste in choosing Superliminal. What a fantastic game. I preordered the game when it was on a PlayStation showcase years ago and had a blast with it. I’ve not played Her Story, so I’ll have to look into it. I’ve got to recommend The Forgotten City to you, as well. It’s a Gamepass title and was really vying for GotY for me last year. It’s a Skyrim mod turned full game, about going back in time to a Roman city controlled by “the Golden Rule.” The less I say the better it will be for you.
And I definitely recommend Elden Ring for when you have time. I haven’t put so much time into a game since Dragon Quest XI… or actually, I think I superseded those hours and am veering into “not since Skyrim” territory. Lol. I cannot recommend it enough. If it is for you, it is absolutely for you, if that makes sense.
@somnambulance The Forgotten City is on my play list. I actually nominated it for Xbox Game Club here on PX and briefly started it… but unfortunately it got chosen in February when half the years titles seemingly dropped and I ended up putting 125 hours in Horizon instead! It’s on the list to pick up soon again though! (This months game club game is Life is Strange true Colours)
Her Story is a FMV video game. I don’t want to spoil it at all but it’s basically a load of video clips of police interviews told out of order and you have to fill in the blanks of the story. It won a LOT of awards when it first came out. Probably not for everyone but it’s one of the most unique games I’ve ever played, and well worth a play. I still think about it months later. It’s not on console, I played it on tablet, but it’s on mobile too and is pretty cheap. Sam Barlow the director, and I think programmer, also made Telling Lies which is similar and on game pass, but I’m told that’s not quite as good and Her Story is better.
Also put crazy hours into Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age: Definitive Edition (to give it its full name and quote Tim Rodgers legendary and hilarious review for Kotaku) and it rekindled my love for JRPGs which I thought was dead. Wonderful game full of heart. Loved Ni No Kuni for the same reason.
I’m massively looking forward to Elden Eing - been playing FromSoft games since kings field and armoured core - I just don’t have time to get over-invested with a game like that right now, which I’m prone to do sometimes. IRL stuff all more important and could do without the distraction. Will play when thing ease up.
One other small recommendation if you like puzzle games - Gorogoa was unique, not the best, but it’s pretty short and on Game Pass. Happy gaming!
Show Comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...