New XBox Head Phil Spencer Emphasizes Quality, Expansion, And Transcendence For The Console's Future
ByNewly appointed Head of Xbox Phil Spencer has waited a long time for his new position. (He's been with Microsoft since graduating from college in the 1980s, according to GameSpot) It wasn't just the prestige of leading one of the most advanced gaming entities in the world, but the chance to continue Xbox's tradition of building the best (or tied for the best with PlayStation) gaming console for fans. In his recent interview with Microsoft Live, he mentioned Microsoft's ability to "change the world" through its vast resources. He was more specific when addressing Xbox's role under his charge.
"We have the ambition to build the best gaming console for fans," Spencer said. "The gaming console plays the best games, has the best entertainment...and to be in a company that has the resource, the ambition, and the drive to make that happen, it's incredibly motivating for someone like me."
Already in his impressive career, Spencer has worked on some of Xbox's most iconic games, beginning with "Fable" and "Rise of Nations" and then moving to the "Halo" series and "Gears of War." He spoke fondly about the social process of creating a game. ("Games are experiences you have with people," he said.) He also recalled one of his most fulfilling moments: when he played a game he designed, "Voo Doo Vince," with his daughters and they responded favorably to it.
Spencer said he met with new Microsoft CEO to discuss their respective visions for the Xbox division, according to GameSpot. Above all else, they seemed focus on building the best product for consumers. In past inteviews, however, Spencer has commented on the potential for Xbox to have greater impacts on its parent company. Last week, he compared Xbox's (potential) role at Microsoft to the iPod's/iPad's role at Apple and called the gaming console "a real catalyst for Microsoft's re-emergence as a consumer company."
Xbox One and all of its inclusive features would appear the first step in Spencer's grand plan to combine the highest quality console with broader goals for expansion and transcendence. He wasn't, however, leading Xbox when One was launched. Over the next few years, we'll see how he uses its new features and if he adds some of his own.