Phil Spencer Saved Xbox – Microsoft Was Ready To Ditch Gaming Business After Xbox One’s Weak Start

Next Generation Consoles World Premiere Yesterday Xbox series x and Xbox series s – gaming devices fly off store shelves extremely quickly, and happy owners of new products share their first impressions on various social platforms and Internet forums.

However, if only a few years ago events took an alternative turn, today’s holiday might simply not have happened. The fact is that at the dawn of launch Xbox one in 2013 Microsoft seriously considering the possibility of completely winding up her gaming department… I personally spoke about this in a fresh interview. Phil Spencer

Soon after the formal announcement Xbox one summer 2013 Microsoft leaves Don Mattrick, who held the position of heads of the gaming division in the company. Immediately after that, the vertical of power in the corporation is sharply violated – the launch of the upcoming console will have to be dealt with by an unorganized team consisting of three separate departments. However, thanks to the efforts Mark Whitten, one of the senior managers, start of sales Xbox one runs relatively smoothly

“It was very difficult, and for the pre-release period the situation was extremely unstable. But thanks to the efforts of Mark, as well as everyone else, we managed – the launch of the Xbox One took place almost according to the planned schedule. I admit that by the start of sales, not all the features of the console were completely ready, but the team still wants to say thank you, they did everything they could, “- says Phil Spencer.

But the next few months for the gaming division Microsoft do not pass in the best way – Playstation 4 far ahead Xbox one in matters of sales, and the negative information noise around the American console does not abate.

Amid the unfolding crisis Satya Nadella, just taking over as CEO Microsoft, holds a special meeting where the future of the entire brand is discussed Xbox… Various alternatives were considered – up to the termination of active support for the gaming department of the corporation

It was at this moment Phil Spencer and suggested Nadelle to carry out certain internal restructuring, as well as to choose a new vector of development for the console business. Spencer was convinced that gaming is a huge and attractive part of the market that simply cannot be abandoned

“Is he [Наделла] then my plans did not really understand. Not because he lacked foresight, but simply because he was somewhat far from this whole direction. But he was still ready to believe in us. I asked him to appoint me as the leader of our group and bring all the departments together. It couldn’t be that technical engineers work in one part of the company, platform development managers in another, and internal developers exist elsewhere. All had to be united as one big team. And Nadella agreed, “continues his story Phil Spencer.

Remembering my story in Microsoft, Phil Spencer makes a remark about trying not to be arrogant – even now, when many call him a savior Xbox… The top manager notes that almost all his adult life he was very passionate about the gaming industry, so when the company where he worked was in a certain crisis, he had to make an important decision. Especially considering the fact that almost all other leaders by that time had left the walls of the American corporation in one way or another.

“The reason why I am in office today, to put it bluntly, is that by that time [внутри компании] no one else was left. I love to make fun of myself, remembering how I had to sit at a round table in splendid isolation. But this joke has a fair share of truth. I don’t want to be proud either. It was not that I was appointed head simply because I was managing the development of in-house studios. In fact, at that time I was the only one of the senior employees, “- says Phil Spencer.

Consoles Xbox series x and Xbox series s went on sale 10th of NovemberPhil Spencer personally congratulated Russian gamers on the launch

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