Xbox CEO Phil Spencer recently sat down for an interview with Bloomberg to discuss the recent acquisition of Activision Blizzard. During the interview, Spencer revealed that he believes console-exclusive titles will become “something we’re going to see less and less of”.
As transcribed by VGC, Spencer explains how Xbox is dedicated to bringing more players together regardless of their device. He states in the interview that “in the long run, that is good for this industry”. However, Spencer makes it clear that there are likely some people from different companies that don’t love that idea, but once they get over that “hump” that it will be the future of the gaming industry.
One of the key talking points surrounding the Microsoft and Activision deal was the possible exclusivity of Call of Duty, one of the publishers’ biggest selling titles. However, Microsoft has reiterated countless times now that they have no intention to make the first-person shooter and Xbox-exclusive title.
As someone who looks at the big picture, Phil Spencer says that gaming is not about what piece of plastic you have at home. If there is a screen, then it should be possible to play games on it. Microsoft is not only investing in the new Xbox Series consoles and trying to make them as appealing as possible to buy, but it is also constantly looking for ways to expand its reach beyond the current console player base.
One of the main cornerstones of this approach is the cloud. Phil Spencer has talked about opening new Xbox data centers in Nigeria, India and South America, which will not only increase the exposure to Xbox products there but will also influence and create a new generation of players and developers from these areas, which in turn will shape the gaming scene. Phil Spencer is investing in a long future where there is enough geographical diversity in gaming, and adds that the types of games that will be born from there will surely be different from anything available currently on the market.
“I’m always thinking about things that add to our capability,”
In his closing lines, Spencer says no one should be blocked from playing the things they want to play. That he always looks back on the good parts and even the bad incidents like gamergate and learns from them in order to create a better ecosystem for the inclusion of all gamers everywhere on earth. Xbox Game Pass was a step that has shaped the trends of the industry, allowing access and exposure to games for more people than ever before, and the Activision deal is not a goal, but a step in order to make even greater strides in shaping future gaming trends.
