Xbox boss Phil Spencer wants to bring back old IP, but only with “motivated team”

Phil Spencer has doubled down on his earlier feedback about supporting Xbox studios hoping to revisit older franchises, however he says it could have to be “a motivated group that wishes to go work on one thing and make a distinction,” not simply make a fast buck.

With Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard deal now complete, Spencer appeared on the Official Xbox Podcast and spoke about Microsoft’s view on groups desirous to revive older franchises. Between Xbox Recreation Studios, Uncommon, Bethesda, and Activision Blizzard (thanks, Klobrille for the picture background), Microsoft has entry to a wealth of shelved IPs which might be simply gathering mud, however Spencer says Xbox is not going to pressure any of its studios to work on initiatives they are not enthusiastic about.

“I simply do not suppose {that a} group engaged on one thing that is not their ardour results in the perfect consequence,” Spencer stated, later including: “Once I simply take into consideration, not nearly Activision Blizzard King, you add in Bethesda, you add in Xbox’s historical past, Uncommon… the quantity of franchises that we now have in our portfolio is type of inspiring, it is daunting, I really feel that we’ve got to be an ideal custodian for the content material that we contact. These are reminiscences for individuals on totally different platforms, totally different a long time, and I wish to make it possible for after we’re going again and visiting one thing that we do it with our full means — a motivated group that wishes to go work on one thing and make a distinction, not simply create one thing for monetary acquire or create one thing for a PR announcement and never ship.”

Though Spencer additionally admitted that he would not really feel like Xbox has “achieved an A+ job” at its older franchises to date, earlier than later saying, “If groups wish to return and revisit among the issues that we’ve got and do a full concentrate on it, I will be all in on that.”

Naturally, Spencer cited Xbox Recreation Cross as a great way for studios to present older or dormant franchises a jolt of life with out committing to something too full-on. Throughout his look on the podcast, Spencer additionally defined why we can’t be seeing any Activision Blizzard titles added to Xbox Game Pass until 2024.