Xbox to Provide Clarity on its Strategy Next Week

Microsoft Head of Xbox Phil Spencer has heard the grousing and says the team will soon provide fans with the update they expect.

“We’re listening and we hear you,” he tweeted today. “We’ve been planning a business update event for next week, where we look forward to sharing more details with you about our vision for the future of Xbox. Stay tuned.”

In case you missed the drama, Spencer is responding to concerns within the Xbox community—which I think are unfounded—about a growing set of rumors suggesting that Microsoft will bring some Xbox exclusive game titles to rival platforms like the PlayStation 5. And you can see the short-sighted nature of critics of this strategy in some of the replies to his tweet. “Phil, we love you, but great games do sell consoles,” one person writes. “I hope the rumors aren’t true,” another adds.

But like many, I hope the rumors are true: Spencer has long championed the notion of meeting gamers where they are, and the $68 billion Activision Blizzard acquisition was predicated on Xbox coming through on this vision.

And that’s exactly what I’m more concerned with, not Microsoft’s other first-party games but rather what Microsoft will do with Activision Blizzard and when. Put more clearly, I want to know which games I will be getting, and when, as a Game Pass Ultimate subscriber. And I’m curious what’s taking so long.

Next will be interesting. Maybe the Windows team can take note and schedule a similar moment of clarity for its customers.