Microsoft and Xbox have faced a challenging few days. First, their ambitious and costly attempt to acquire Call of Duty creator Activision Blizzard was blocked by Britain’s competition regulator on April 26, citing concerns about cloud gaming. Then, Redfall, Xbox’s highly anticipated exclusive game of the year, received overwhelmingly negative reviews upon its release on May 2, criticizing both its technical and creative aspects. The first-person looter shooter developed by Arkane Austin currently has a lackluster overall rating of 61 on OpenCritic. In the aftermath of this disastrous release and the subsequent backlash from fans, Xbox chief Phil Spencer has taken full responsibility for the underwhelming reception of Redfall. In a candid interview on Thursday, Spencer expressed his disappointment and laid out his thoughts on Xbox’s recent failures, community expectations, and the path ahead. “I’m disappointed and upset with myself,” said the head of Xbox regarding Redfall’s poor launch.
Two days after Redfall’s disappointing release, Spencer appeared on the Kinda Funny Xcast show and openly addressed the failures of Xbox’s latest exclusive. “There’s nothing more difficult for me than disappointing the Xbox community,” Spencer admitted, adding, “…To witness the community lose confidence and be disappointed—I’m disappointed and upset with myself.” Spencer acknowledged that Redfall’s critical response fell far short of their internal expectations and was not what they had hoped for. He willingly took accountability for launching a game that needed to be exceptional, especially considering its $70 price tag. “I also recognize that these games cost $70, and I will fully take responsibility for launching a game that needs to be outstanding,” he stated.
In addition, Spencer defended Redfall Developers Arkane Austin against criticism that their latest game was a questionable departure from their usual lineup of titles. While Arkane is renowned for critically acclaimed single-player immersive sims like Dishonored and Prey, Redfall is a co-op looter shooter. “Certainly, there are aspects of quality and execution that we can improve on, but I will never stifle the creative aspirations of our teams,” Spencer affirmed, acknowledging the studio’s proven track record but admitting their failure to meet their own internal goals with Redfall.
Spencer also addressed the British antitrust regulator Competition and Markets Authority’s decision to block Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard. He indicated that the company intends to appeal the ruling, which threatens to prevent Xbox from adding the highly lucrative Call of Duty franchise to its portfolio.
Later in the interview, Spencer discussed the so-called “console wars” and elaborated on Xbox’s position in relation to Sony PlayStation and Nintendo. He confessed that Xbox’s previous generation console, the Xbox One, failed to captivate a crucial generation of gamers who had already established their game libraries over the course of one console generation, making it difficult to persuade them to purchase an Xbox Series X or Series S. Spencer emphasized that Xbox’s goal is not to “out-console” Sony or Nintendo, but rather to focus on their unique services such as Game Pass, cloud gaming, and PC gaming.
Redfall was released on May 2 for PC and Xbox Series S/X but received criticism for its technical and performance issues, as well as its creative and design decisions, resulting in a slew of subpar reviews. The game’s launch was further hampered by its 30fps limit on Xbox consoles. Spencer confirmed that Xbox, as the parent company of Arkane, will work on improving the game and prioritize delivering a 60fps patch for consoles.
Denial of responsibility! SamacharCentrl is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
Basant Kasayap is an entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to Bollywood to regional cinema, she offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
