Xbox CEO Phil Spencer reflects on past strategic missteps and the impact on major franchises, acknowledging significant errors in judgment. This article explores his candid comments, focusing on missed opportunities and the challenges facing upcoming Xbox releases.

Missed Opportunities: Destiny and Guitar Hero

During a PAX West 2024 interview, Spencer revealed that his past decisions to pass on franchises like Bungie's Destiny and Harmonix's Guitar Hero rank among his biggest professional regrets. Despite his close working relationship with Bungie during his early years at Xbox, Destiny's initial concept didn't resonate with him until later. Similarly, he expressed initial skepticism towards Guitar Hero's potential.

While acknowledging these setbacks, Spencer maintains a forward-looking perspective, emphasizing his focus on current and future projects.

Dune: Awakening Faces Xbox Series S Optimization Challenges

Despite past mistakes, Xbox is actively pursuing major franchises. Dune: Awakening, developed by Funcom, is slated for release on Xbox Series S, alongside PC and PS5. However, Funcom's chief product officer, Scott Junior, has highlighted the optimization challenges posed by the Xbox Series S. While acknowledging the difficulties, Junior confirmed the game's compatibility and assured players of smooth performance even on older hardware.

Enotria: The Last Song Experiences Xbox Release Delays Due to Communication Issues

Indie developer Jyamma Games' Enotria: The Last Song has encountered significant delays in its Xbox release. The studio cites a lack of communication and responsiveness from Microsoft as the primary cause, leaving the Xbox version's launch uncertain. The game will launch on PlayStation 5 and PC as planned, but the Xbox release remains stalled due to unresolved issues with accessing the Xbox store page for submission. Jyamma Games CEO Jacky Greco expressed considerable frustration over the situation.